Skewed production of IL-6 and TGFβ by cultured salivary gland epithelial cells from patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

Objective: To determine the cytokine production profile of cultured salivary gland epithelial (SGE) cells obtained from patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS).

Methods: SGE cells obtained from 9 SS patients and 6 normal controls were cultured in the presence of exogenous IFNγ. Cell proliferation and apoptosis in response to IFNγ were determined by WST1 assay and by FACS analysis.

Cellular heat acclimation regulates cell growth, cell morphology, mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, and expression of aquaporins in mouse fibroblast cells.

The heat shock response has been extensively studied by a number of investigators to understand the molecular mechanism underlying the cellular response to severe heat stress (higher than 42°C). But, body or tissue temperature increases by only a few degrees Celsius during physiological events. Therefore, the physiological cellular response to mild heat stress rather than severe heat stress is likely to be more important.

Prediction of the stability of modified RNA duplexes based on deformability analysis: oligoribonucleotide derivatives modified with 2'-O-cyanoethyl-5-propynyl-2-thiouridine as a promising component.

We describe a method to predict the stability of a modified RNA duplex. Ten unique modified RNA duplexes showed a linear relationship between the calculated and experimentally determined duplex stabilities.

Consensus statement on the pathology of IgG4-related disease.

IgG4-related disease is a newly recognized fibro-inflammatory condition characterized by several features: a tendency to form tumefactive lesions in multiple sites; a characteristic histopathological appearance; and-often but not always-elevated serum IgG4 concentrations. An international symposium on IgG4-related disease was held in Boston, MA, on 4-7 October 2011. The organizing committee comprising 35 IgG4-related disease experts from Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Holland, Canada, and the United States, including the clinicians, pathologists, radiologists, and basic scientists.

[Once-weekly bortezomib plus dexamethasone therapy induced complete response, reducing severe gastrointestinal adverse events for a patient with relapsed multiple myeloma - a case report].

A 74-year-old female with relapsed multiple myeloma was treated with twice-weekly bortezomib plus dexamethasone (BD)therapy, but severe gastrointestinal adverse events(grade 3 paralytic ileus and constipation)developed. After changing to once-weekly BD therapy, ≥ grade 3 gastrointestinal adverse events did not develop, and she was able to continue BD therapy. A complete response and a treatment-free interval ≥ 2 years were obtained by 8 courses of BD therapy.

Neuroprotective effects of selective β-1 adrenoceptor antagonists, landiolol and esmolol, on transient forebrain ischemia in rats; a dose-response study.

Although selective beta-1 adrenoceptor antagonists are known to provide neuroprotective effects after brain ischemia, dose-response relationships of their neuroprotective effects have not been examined. The present study was conducted to evaluate whether the degree of brain protection against transient forebrain ischemia would be influenced by different doses of selective beta-1 adrenoceptor antagonists, esmolol and landiolol, in rats. Adult male S.

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-κB facilitate CD40-mediated salivary epithelial cell death.

Objective: Our previous studies indicated that CD40-mediated Fas-dependent apoptosis is important for the glandular destruction of Sjögren's syndrome (SS), although other immune and nonimmune mechanisms are also involved in exocrine dysfunction. We investigated the roles of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in salivary epithelial cell death in SS.

Methods: Expression of p38, phosphorylated p38 (pp38), and IκB-α was examined by Western blotting upon CD40 ligation.

Low-dose cytarabine plus aclarubicin for patients with previously untreated acute myeloid leukemia or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome ineligible for standard-dose cytarabine plus anthracycline.

Background: In order to assess the role of the combination of low-dose cytarabine (Ara-C) plus aclarubicin (CA) in remission induction for patients with untreated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), we retrospectively analyzed the efficacy and safety of CA.

Patients And Methods: Data of twenty patients with untreated AML or high-risk MDS who were ineligible for standard-dose Ara-C plus anthracycline and received CA as remission-induction therapy were analyzed. CA consisted of low-dose Ara-C (10 mg/m(2), subcutaneous injection every 12 hours, for 14 days) and aclarubicin (14 mg/m(2) for patients <70 years old and 10 mg/m(2) for patients ≥70 years old in a one-hour infusion for 4 days).

Angiotensin II-mediated up-regulation of connective tissue growth factor promotes atrial tissue fibrosis in the canine atrial fibrillation model.

Aims: Remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in the production of arrhythmogenic substrate for atrial fibrillation (AF), and is considered to be promoted by the connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). Our objective was to assess the relationship between CTGF and ECM synthesis, and the effect of olmesartan on these processes.

Methods And Results: Fifteen canine AF models were produced by rapid atrial stimulation.

CD4+ T-cell dysfunctions through the impaired lipid rafts ameliorate concanavalin A-induced hepatitis in sphingomyelin synthase 1-knockout mice.

Membrane microdomains consisting of sphingomyelin (SM) and cholesterol appear to be important for signal transduction in T-cell activation. The present study was designed to elucidate the role of membrane SM in vivo and in vitro using sphingomyelin synthase 1 (SMS1) knock out (SMS1(-/-)) mice and Concanavalin A (ConA)-induced hepatitis. After establishing SMS1(-/-) mice, we investigated CD4+ T-cell functions including proliferation, cytokine production and signal transduction in vivo.

Tophaceous gout in the cervical spine.

A 58-year-old woman with a three-year progressive history of chronic arthritis, had become disabled due to general malaise and fever. Her laboratory data revealed hyperuricemia and elevated levels of C-reactive protein. Neither rheumatoid factor nor anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies were present.

Comprehensive diagnostic criteria for IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), 2011.

Background: IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a novel clinical disease entity characterized by elevated serum IgG4 concentration and tumefaction or tissue infiltration by IgG4+ plasma cells. Although IgG4-RD is not rare and is clinically important, its clinical diagnostic criteria have not been established. Comprehensive diagnostic criteria for IgG4-RD, including the involvement of various organs, are intended for the practical use of general physicians and nonspecialists.

Prevention of fasting-mediated bone marrow atrophy by leptin administration.

Leptin is an adipokine that regulates body weight. In the current study, we demonstrate that continuous injection of leptin prevents the lymphocyte reduction observed in fasted mice, especially the immature B cell populations in the bone marrow. Although leptin administration reduced apoptotic cells in the bone marrow of fasted mice, it did not prevent glucocorticoid-mediated apoptosis in vitro.

A history of ischemic heart disease is a common cause of wheezing in the elderly of a Japanese local community.

Objective: We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate which factors have a significant impact on wheezing and QOL in the elderly of a Japanese local community.

Methods: In 2008, 527 participants (250 participants aged 45 to 64 years and 277 participants aged 65 to 88 years) responded to the questionnaire regarding wheezing and disease history. QOL was evaluated by the Short Form-8.

DNA duplexes and triplex-forming oligodeoxynucleotides incorporating modified nucleosides forming stable and selective triplexes.

We have previously reported DNA triplexes containing the unnatural base triad G-PPI·C3, in which PPI is an indole-fused cytosine derivative incorporated into DNA duplexes and C3 is an abasic site in triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) introduced by a propylene linker. In this study, we developed a new unnatural base triad A-ψ·C(R1) where ψ and C(R1) are base moieties 2'-deoxypseudouridine and 5-substituted deoxycytidine, respectively. We examined several electron-withdrawing substituents for R1 and found that 5-bromocytosine (C(Br)) could selectively recognize ψ.

Short-RNA selective binding of oligonucleotides modified using adenosine and guanosine derivatives that possess cyclohexyl phosphates as substituents.

We have developed new artificial oligonucleotides which distinguish short RNA targets from long ones. The modification of the 5' termini of oligonucleotides by using adenosine derivatives that possess a bulky cyclohexyl phosphate moiety at their base moiety and a phosphate group at the position of their 5'-hydroxyl group maximized their short RNA selectivity. The 2'-O-methyl-RNA (5'-XC(m)A(m)A(m)C(m)C(m)U(m)A(m)C(m)U(m)) having these modifications exhibits ca.

Postmortem findings in a woman with history of laminoplasty for severe cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Context: We report the autopsy of a 65-year-old woman who underwent a C3-C7 laminoplasty 4 years after the diagnosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Her sensory disturbance, spasticity, and vesicorectal disturbance, which corresponded to long tract sign, had improved after surgery.

Findings: Cross sections at the C4-C5 level showed a triangular shape because of atrophied ventral gray matter.

Central nervous system event in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the rituximab era.

Central nervous system (CNS) events, including CNS relapse and progression to CNS, are known to be serious complications in the clinical course of patients with lymphoma. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of CNS events in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the rituximab era. We performed a retrospective survey of Japanese patients diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who underwent primary therapy with R-CHOP chemoimmunotherapy between September 2003 and December 2006.

Stable triplex formation using the strong stacking effect of consecutive thionucleoside moieties.

In this study, it was found that the arrangement of consecutive thiocarbonyl groups of s(2)T and m(5)s(2)C remarkably stabilized the pre-protonated form of the triplex, and that the stabilization of the pre-protonated form increased the pKa value of a cytosine derivative in the triplex.

A novel clinical entity, IgG4-related disease (IgG4RD): general concept and details.

IgG4-related disease (IgG4RD) is a novel clinical disease entity characterized by elevated serum IgG4 concentration and tumefaction or tissue infiltration by IgG4-positive plasma cells. IgG4RD may be present in a certain proportion of patients with a wide variety of diseases, including Mikulicz's disease, autoimmune pancreatitis, hypophysitis, Riedel thyroiditis, interstitial pneumonitis, interstitial nephritis, prostatitis, lymphadenopathy, retroperitoneal fibrosis, inflammatory aortic aneurysm, and inflammatory pseudotumor. Although IgG4RD forms a distinct, clinically independent disease category and is attracting strong attention as a new clinical entity, many questions and problems still remain to be elucidated, including its pathogenesis, the establishment of diagnostic criteria, and the role of IgG4.

Impact of diabetes on muscle mass, muscle strength, and exercise tolerance in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: The impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) on muscle mass, muscle strength, and exercise tolerance in patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has not been fully elucidated.

Methods: We enrolled 329 consecutive patients who received cardiac rehabilitation (CR) after CABG (DM group, n=178; non-DM group, n=151) and measured lean body weight, mid-upper arm muscle area (MAMA), and handgrip power (HGP) at the beginning of CR. We also performed an isokinetic strength test of the knee extensor (Ext) and flexor (Flex) muscles and a cardiopulmonary exercise testing at the same time.