[Review of our home nutrition therapy cases].

The provision of home care service, 20 years since it was established, is becoming more important. The aging population is now at its highest ever level, and the number of patients in need of nutrition therapy is increasing. We have provided a home care service since 1996, mainly for the provision of home palliative care.

Induction of microRNA-214-5p in human and rodent liver fibrosis.

Background: miRNAs are non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression in a wide range of biological contexts, including a variety of diseases. The present study clarified the role of miR-214-5p in hepatic fibrogenesis using human clinical tissue samples, livers from rodent models, and cultured hepatic stellate cells.

Methods: The expression of miR-214-5p and genes that are involved in liver fibrosis were analyzed in hepatitis C virus-infected human livers, rodent fibrotic livers, a human stellate cell line (LX-2), and the cells from intact mouse livers using real-time PCR.

[Current status of home palliative care].

In order to push forward with home palliative care under the regional alliance in Iwaki city, we worked toward building a medical network. The current main four actions are: 1 ) Educational medical training course for palliative skill-improvement in the regional party of Iwaki city medical associate, 2 ) Combined educational and medical training for home palliative care and an assembly of regional alliance, 3 ) Critical path for the regional alliance of palliative care, and 4 ) Iwaki palliative therapy research. However, the present status of these actions has not been working well in supporting of home palliative care under the hospital-clinic cooperation.

Down-regulation of cyclin E1 expression by microRNA-195 accounts for interferon-β-induced inhibition of hepatic stellate cell proliferation.

Recent studies have suggested that interferons (IFNs) have an antifibrotic effect in the liver independent of their antiviral effect although its detailed mechanism remains largely unknown. Some microRNAs have been reported to regulate pathophysiological activities of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). We performed analyses of the antiproliferative effects of IFNs in HSCs with special regard to microRNA-195 (miR-195).

Suppression of type I collagen production by microRNA-29b in cultured human stellate cells.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression through imperfect base pairing with the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of target mRNA. We studied the regulation of alpha 1 (I) collagen (Col1A1) expression by miRNAs in human stellate cells, which are involved in liver fibrogenesis. Among miR-29b, -143, and -218, whose expressions were altered in response to transforming growth factor-beta1 or interferon-alpha stimulation, miR-29b was the most effective suppressor of type I collagen at the mRNA and protein level via its direct binding to Col1A1 3'UTR.

Production of a recombinant mouse monoclonal antibody in transgenic silkworm cocoons.

In the present study, we describe the production of transgenic silkworms expressing a recombinant mouse mAb in their cocoons. Two transgenic lines, L- and H-, were generated that carried cDNAs encoding the L- and H-chains of a mouse IgG mAb, respectively, under the control of the enhancer-linked sericin-1 promoter. Cocoon protein analysis indicated that the IgG L- or H-chain was secreted into the cocoons of each line.

Translational enhancement of recombinant protein synthesis in transgenic silkworms by a 5'-untranslated region of polyhedrin gene of Bombyx mori Nucleopolyhedrovirus.

Previously, we established a method to produce recombinant proteins (r-proteins) in cocoons of germline transgenic silkworms, and showed that a step(s) in post-transcription processes was rate-limiting in obtaining a high yield of r-proteins. In this study, we examined whether the 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) of the polyhedrin gene (pol) of nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) has a translational enhancer activity in the r-protein expression by middle silk gland (MSG) cells of silkworm Bombyx mori (Bm). Sericin 1 gene (ser1) promoter-driven transformation vectors were constructed in which pol5'-UTRs of NPVs isolated from four different species, Bm, Spodoptera frugiperda, Ectropis oblique, and Malacosoma neustria, were each placed upstream of a reporter gene.

A germline transgenic silkworm that secretes recombinant proteins in the sericin layer of cocoon.

A silk thread of the silkworm, Bombyx mori, is composed of the insoluble inner fibroin and the hydrophilic outer sericin layer, which are synthesized in the posterior and middle silk gland (MSG), respectively. This study aimed to develop a novel sericin 1 gene (ser1) promoter-driven recombinant expression system using transgenic silkworms, in which recombinant proteins are synthesized in MSG and secreted into the sericin layer. To obtain a high level of gene expression, we tested whether a baculovirus-derived enhancer, hr3, and a trans-regulator, IE1, are capable of stimulating the transcriptional activity of the ser1 promoter, using a transient gene expression system.

Down syndrome candidate region 1,a downstream target of VEGF, participates in endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a principal stimulator of angiogenesis. However, the downstream targets of VEGF in endothelial cells (ECs) are not entirely clarified. Survey of downstream targets of VEGF in human ECs identified a number of genes, including Down syndrome candidate region 1 (DSCR1).