Analysis of extracellular vesicles as a potential index for monitoring differentiation of neural lineage cells from induced pluripotent stem cells.

To improve cell production efficacy, it is important to evaluate cell conditions during culture. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted from various cells are involved in stem cell differentiation. As EVs carry information about their source cells, we hypothesized that they may serve as a noninvasive index of cell conditions.

Glomerulopathy with distinctive fibrillar deposits but lacking glomerular deposition of type III collagen.

A 62-year-old woman with nephrotic syndrome underwent a renal biopsy. Under light microscopy, the biopsy findings included lobulation and enlargement of glomeruli, occasional thickening of glomerular capillary walls, and narrowing of the capillary lumen by swollen endothelial cells. Congo red staining was negative for amyloid.

Regulation of Matrix Metalloproteinases-2 and -9 Gene Expression in Cultured Human Fetal Membrane Cells by Influenza Virus Infection.

In order to understand a possible etiology of adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with intrauterine influenza virus infection, we examined the effect of influenza virus infection on gene expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in cultured amnion epithelial, amnion mesenchymal and chorion trophoblast cells prepared from human fetal membrane tissues by gelatin zymography, Western blotting and reverse transcriptase-PCR. The cells were infected with influenza A (H1N1) virus. The levels of pro-MMP-9 activity in culture supernatants of three types of cells were increased during the period of 24-48 h after the virus infection as compared to those of mock infection.

Duplex ultrasound for the prediction of vascular events associated with arteriovenous fistulas in hemodialysis patients.

Objective: To determine if duplex ultrasound (US) for arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) can predict vascular events (VEs; thrombosis and stenosis).

Methods: Duplex US was performed for vascular access evaluation in 2557 maintenance hemodialysis (HD) patients between October 1, 2013 and March 31, 2016. Of these patients, 2184 patients were finally included in this study.

Involvement of histone H3 phosphorylation via the activation of p38 MAPK pathway and intracellular redox status in cytotoxicity of HL-60 cells induced by Vitex agnus-castus fruit extract.

We have demonstrated that an extract from the ripe fruit of Vitex angus-castus (Vitex), might be a promising anticancer candidate. In order to further provide a molecular rationale for clinical development in anticancer therapy, a detailed mechanism underlying the efficacy of Vitex against HL-60 cells was investigated. Vitex induced a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell viability associated with induction of apoptosis and G(2)/M cell cycle arrest, both of which were suppressed by the addition of SB203580, an inhibitor for p38 MAPK.

Differences in permissive cytomegalovirus infection between primary cultured human fetal membrane chorion and amnion cells.

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of viral intrauterine infection in developed countries. It has been shown that CMV DNA was frequently detected in the fetal membranes when the placenta was infected in utero. However, it is still not clear whether CMV replicates in constituent cells of the fetal membranes.

Cytotoxicity of Vitex agnus-castus fruit extract and its major component, casticin, correlates with differentiation status in leukemia cell lines.

We have demonstrated that an extract from the ripe fruit of Vitex agnus-castus (Vitex) exhibits cytotoxic activities against various types of solid tumor cells, whereas its effects on leukemia cells has not been evaluated to date. In this study, the effects of Vitex and its major component, casticin, on leukemia cell lines, HL-60 and U-937, were investigated by focusing on proliferation, induction of apoptosis and differentiation. Identification and quantitation by NMR spectroscopy showed that casticin accounted for approximate 1% weight of Vitex.

Possible roles of proinflammatory and chemoattractive cytokines produced by human fetal membrane cells in the pathology of adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with influenza virus infection.

Pregnant women are at an increased risk of influenza-associated adverse outcomes, such as premature delivery, based on data from the latest pandemic with a novel influenza A (H1N1) virus in 2009-2010. It has been suggested that the transplacental transmission of influenza viruses is rarely detected in humans. A series of our study has demonstrated that influenza virus infection induced apoptosis in primary cultured human fetal membrane chorion cells, from which a factor with monocyte differentiation-inducing (MDI) activity was secreted.

A case of anemia with schistocytosis, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure caused by adenomyosis.

A 51-year-old woman with adenomyosis was admitted because of anemia with schistocytosis, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure (ARF). Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) was considered. Plasma exchange and steroid therapies improved laboratory results.

A case of hypokalemia-induced fatal arrhythmia caused by indapamide in an anorexic elderly patient.

An 84-year-old man was referred to our hospital for atrioventricular block and severe hypokalemia. He had been treated for hypertension since 2007 with indapamide, a thiazide-like diuretic. His laboratory data had not been tested for a long time.

A case presenting with rapid renal damage caused by immunoglobulin D lambda-type multiple myeloma accompanied by granular lymphocyte proliferative disorder.

A 69-year-old man was referred to our hospital for severe anemia. The atypical lymphocyte count, including granular lymphocytes, was 2,750/μL. Lymphocyte surface marker analysis showed CD3+, CD5+, CD16+, and CD56+ cells.

Lactate dehydrogenase leakage as a marker for apoptotic cell degradation induced by influenza virus infection in human fetal membrane cells.

Objective: In order to elucidate the implication of apoptosis in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage from influenza virus-infected cells, the effects of a general caspase inhibitor, N-t-Boc-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone (Boc-D-fmk), on LDH leakage, apoptosis induction and virus proliferation were examined.

Methods: Cultured human fetal membrane chorion and amnion cells were incubated with or without Boc-D-fmk after influenza virus infection. LDH leakage was estimated by measuring LDH activities in the culture supernatants and cell lysates.

Cytotoxic effects of flavonoids against a human colon cancer derived cell line, COLO 201: a potential natural anti-cancer substance.

The proliferation of a human colon carcinoma cell line, COLO 201, was effectively suppressed through apoptosis in the presence of flavonoids, an ethanol extract from Vitex agnus-castus fruits. The induction of apoptosis was not inhibited by the presence of an anti-oxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, whereas only HO-1 gene expression levels increased among other typical oxidative stress-associated genes examined after Vitex treatment. These results suggest that Vitex treatment activates a pathway associated with HO-1 gene activation, resulting in the induction of apoptosis in COLO 201.

Direct contribution of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression to apoptosis induction in primary smooth chorion trophoblast cells of human fetal membrane tissues.

We have previously demonstrated that apoptosis induction is observed only in smooth chorion laeve trophoblast cells, and not in amnion epithelial cells of human fetal membrane tissues prepared at the term. Apoptosis induction was suppressed by the presence of an inhibitor specific for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), suggesting that intracellular oxidative stress plays a critical role in this process. In this study, we transfected the iNOS gene into primary cultured chorion and amnion cells to examine the direct contribution of iNOS gene expression to the apoptosis induction in these cells.

Sucutiniranes A and B, new cassane-type diterpenes from Bowdichia nitida.

Two new cassane-type diterpenes, sucutiniranes A (1) and B (2), have been isolated from the seeds of Bowdichia nitida together with 6alpha-acetoxyvouacapane (3) and 6alpha,7beta-diacetoxyvouacapane (4), and the structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by using 2D NMR data and chemical correlations. Sucutinirane A (1) and 3 showed a moderate cytotoxicity against human colon carcinoma COLO201 cells, and 6alpha,7beta-diacetoxyvouacapane (4) showed in vitro antiplasmodial activity against parasite Plasmodium falciparum 3D7.

Imbalance between ROS production and elimination results in apoptosis induction in primary smooth chorion trophoblast cells prepared from human fetal membrane tissues.

We have previously demonstrated that induction of apoptosis was observed in the smooth chorion trophoblast cells of human fetal membranes prepared at term, and that apoptosis progressed rapidly during in vitro incubation of the tissues. Furthermore, we identified the contribution of ROS production system (e.g.

Effects of mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors on tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene expression and apoptosis induction in cultured human fetal membrane chorion cells infected with influenza virus.

Objectives: We investigated the involvement of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha gene expression, apoptosis induction and virus replication in cultured human fetal membrane chorion cells infected with influenza virus.

Methods: Influenza virus-infected chorion cells were incubated in the absence or presence of inhibitors of p38 MAP kinase, SB203580 and SB202190. TNF-alpha mRNA and hemagglutinin viral RNA (HA vRNA) were amplified with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction techniques.

Characterization of monocyte differentiation-inducing (MDI) factors derived from human fetal membrane chorion cells undergoing apoptosis after influenza virus infection.

Influenza virus infection during pregnancy has been implicated as one of cause of premature delivery, abortion and stillbirth. We have reported that cultured human fetal membrane chorion cells undergoing apoptosis by influenza virus infection secrete unidentified heat-stable monocyte differentiation-inducing (MDI) factors. In this study, cellular, biological and immunochemical characteristics of MDI factors were investigated using human monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction and cell adhesion assays.

Contribution of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 to apoptosis induction in smooth chorion trophoblast cells of human fetal membrane tissues.

We examined the contribution of apoptosis- and oxidative stress-associated genes to apoptosis induction in trophoblast cells of human fetal membrane tissues undergoing apoptosis during in vitro incubation. RT-PCR analyses demonstrated an increased level of HO-1, Mn-SOD, Cox-2, iNOS, TNFalpha, TNFR1, IL-1beta, IL-6, Bax, Bak, and Bad gene expression, while Bcl-2 mRNA expression level decreased. Western blot analyses demonstrated an increase in iNOS, Cox-2, and HO-1 protein levels; a decrease in pro-caspase-3 and 9, proform-PARP, and Apaf-1 protein levels; a leakage of cytochrome c from the mitochondria.

Inhibition of influenza-virus-induced apoptosis in chorion cells of human fetal membranes by nordihydroguaiaretic Acid.

Objectives: It has been postulated that the pathogenesis of influenza virus infection involves not only the virus-proliferation-mediated apoptotic cell death in infected cells, but also a direct reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced cellular injury in the infected organs. We examined effects of an antioxidant, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), on apoptosis induction and viral proliferation. Subsequently, the results were compared with those of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), another antioxidant.

Human gastric signet ring carcinoma (KATO-III) cell apoptosis induced by Vitex agnus-castus fruit extract through intracellular oxidative stress.

We have previously reported that an ethanol extract of the dried ripe fruit of Vitex agnus-castus (Vitex) displays cytotoxic activity against certain kinds of human cancer cell line resulting in the induction of apoptosis. In this paper, we investigate the molecular mechanism of apoptosis induced by Vitex using a human gastric signet ring carcinoma cell line, KATO-III. DNA fragmentation was observed in Vitex-treated KATO-III cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner.

Induction of pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression and apoptosis in human chorion cells of fetal membranes by influenza virus infection: possible implications for maintenance and interruption of pregnancy during infection.

Human fetal membranes are composed of amnion, chorion and decidua tissues, which play a critical role in defense barriers as well as maintenance of pregnancy and parturition. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, produced by the tissues are postulated to facilitate parturition. Influenza virus infection is one of causes of pregnancy-associated complications, such as premature delivery, abortion and stillbirth.

Predominant contribution of IFN-beta expression to apoptosis induction in human uterine cervical fibroblast cells by influenza-virus infection.

We have been investigating an apoptosis induction in human fetal membrane cells by influenza virus (IV) infection and the contribution of apoptosis induction to the viral infection-defense response between a fetus and the maternal body. For studying any role of uterine cells in the anti-viral response, we investigated the molecular mechanism of the apoptotic induction in human uterine cervical fibroblast cell line (HCF) by IV infection. IV type A and B infection induced DNA fragmentation in HCF.

Apoptosis induced by influenza virus-hemagglutinin stimulation may be related to fluctuation of cellular oxidative condition.

Primary cultivated amnion epitherial cells prepared from amnion tissue of human fetal membrane (Amnion-cells) were stimulated with influenza virus-hemagglutinin (IV-HA), fractionated from a commercialized IV-HA vaccine by DEAE Sephacel column chromatography. From 72-96 h after stimulation, chromosomal DNA fragmentation and the appearance of in situ TUNEL stained-positive cells were revealed. Amnion-cell DNA fragmentation was inhibited in the presence of glycophorin A or C purified from the human erythrocyte membrane fraction, but not inhibited with free N-acetyl-neuraminic acid.