[Anesthetic management for a patient with scoliosis combined with central core disease].

We gave general anesthesia to a patient with scoliosis combined with central core disease (CCD). CCD is a slowly progressive autosomal dominant congenital myopathy. CCD is presented typically in infancy with hypotonia and delay of motor development, characterized by predominantly proximal weakness pronounced in the hip girdle.

Effects of mask fitness and worker education on the prevention of occupational dust exposure.

To decrease the incidence of pneumoconiosis, we examined dust protective mask performance and its relation to pulmonary function as well as the effects of worker education on the proper wearing of masks. One hundred and seventy-eight workers from 15 factories subject to dust exposure participated in this study. All participants were interviewed to obtain relevant personal information and underwent both a mask leakage and a pulmonary function test.

Aquaporin 1 is required for hypoxia-inducible angiogenesis in human retinal vascular endothelial cells.

Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) was first purified from red blood cell membranes and is now known to be an osmolarity-driven water transporter that is widely expressed in many epithelial and endothelial cells outside the brain. Several recent studies have shown strong expression of AQP1 in proliferating tumor microvessels, suggesting that AQP1 may have an important role in tumor angiogenesis. Hypoxia is thought to be a common precursor to neovascularization in many retinal diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, and therefore we analyzed the expression pattern and function of AQP1 in human retinal vascular endothelial cells cultured under hypoxic conditions.

Regulation of Src homology 2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase by advanced glycation end products: the role on atherosclerosis in diabetes.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), among the most important causes of atherosclerosis in diabetes mellitus, stimulate the proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Smooth muscle cells are central in the formation of atherosclerotic lesions, where they show both increased migration and accelerated proliferation. In investigating how AGEs stimulate SMC proliferation, we focused on protein tyrosine phosphatase, especially Src homology 2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase (SHP2), which is considered important in regulating cell proliferation.