Interleukin-6 Immunology in Macrophage Activation Syndrome Related to Neuroimmunological Diseases.

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) involves an excessive amount of acute inflammatory responses to inflammatory cytokines, particularly interleukin-6 (IL-6). IL-6 is also strongly associated with the pathophysiology of certain neuroimmunological diseases. However, there have so far been few reports of MAS being accompanied by neuroimmunological diseases.

The importance of taste on swallowing function.

The world's population is aging. Pneumonia is the leading cause of death among the older adults, with aspiration pneumonia being particularly common. Aspiration pneumonia is caused by a decline in swallowing function.

Calcium channel blockers may reduce the development of long COVID in females.

With the rising numbers of patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, long coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-a sequelae of COVID-19-has become a major problem. Different sexes and age groups develop different long COVID symptoms, and the risk factors for long COVID remain unclear. Therefore, we performed subgroup analyses of patients with COVID-19, classifying them into different groups.

Selective induction of human gut-associated acetogenic/butyrogenic microbiota based on specific microbial colonization of indigestible starch granules.

Prediction of individualized responses is one of biggest challenges in dietary intervention to modulate human gut microbiota. Bacterial interspecies competition for dietary factors should underlie the inter-subject heterogeneity of microbial responses. Microscale localization of bacterial species around intestinal food structures could provide direct evidence for understanding this, however, little information is currently available.

Lysosomal exocytosis of HSP70 stimulates monocytic BMP6 expression in Sjögren's syndrome.

BMP6 is a central cytokine in the induction of Sjögren's syndrome-associated (SS-associated) secretory hypofunction. However, the upstream initiation leading to the production of this cytokine in SS is unknown. In this study, RNA ISH on salivary gland sections taken from patients with SS indicated monocytic lineage cells as a cellular source of BMP6.

LAMP3 inhibits autophagy and contributes to cell death by lysosomal membrane permeabilization.

A253-control: A253 control for LAMP3 stable overexpression; A253- LAMP3: A253 LAPM3 stable overexpression; CASP1: caspase 1; CASP3: caspase 3; CHX: cycloheximide; CTSB: cathepsin B; CTSD: cathepsin D; CQ: chloroquine; DCs: dendritic cells; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; LGALS3: galectin 3; HCV: hepatitis C virus; HSG-control: HSG control for LAMP3 stable overexpression; HSG-LAMP3: HSG LAMP3 stable overexpression; HSP: heat shock protein; HTLV-1: human T-lymphocyte leukemia virus-1; IXA: ixazomib; LAMP: lysosomal associated membrane protein; MHC: major histocompatibility complex; mAb: monoclonal antibody; OE: overexpression; pepA: pepstatin A; pAb: polyclonal antibody; pSS: primary Sjögren syndrome; qRT-PCR: quantitative real- time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus; SS: Sjögren syndrome; UPR: unfolded protein response; V-ATPase: vacuolar-type proton- translocating ATPase; Y-VAD: Ac-YVAD-cmk; Z-DEVD; Z-DEVD-fmk; Z-VAD: Z-VAD- fmk.

Considerations and Strategies for Restarting Elective Spine Surgery in the Midst of a Pandemic of COVID-19.

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak has rapidly spread to the globe, causing severe global socioeconomic disruption on an unprecedented scale. As the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic is now going to settle down, many medical organizations are in the process of reopening surgical services. This paper describes a few key factors that spine surgeons should consider prior to resuming elective spine services namely, local outbreak situations, availability of hospital resources, manpower and personal protective equipment (PPE).

An open-label, randomized controlled trial of sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim for prophylaxis: results of 52-week follow-up.

Objectives: The aim was to investigate the long-term prophylactic efficacy, drug retention and safety of low-dose sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMX/TMP) prophylaxis against pneumonia (PCP).

Methods: Adult patients with rheumatic diseases receiving prednisolone ≥0.6 mg/kg/day were randomized into the single-strength group (SS; SMX/TMP 400/80 mg daily), the half-strength group (HS; 200/40 mg daily) or the escalation group (ES; starting at 40/8 mg and increasing incrementally to 200/40 mg daily) and treated for 24 weeks, then observed for 52 weeks.

Prebiotic effects of yeast mannan, which selectively promotes Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Bacteroides ovatus in a human colonic microbiota model.

Yeast mannan (YM) is an indigestible water-soluble polysaccharide of the yeast cell wall, with a notable prebiotic effect on the intestinal microbiota. We previously reported that YM increased Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron abundance in in vitro rat faeces fermentation, concluding that its effects on human colonic microbiota should be investigated. In this study, we show the effects of YM on human colonic microbiota and its metabolites using an in vitro human faeces fermentation system.

LAMP3 induces apoptosis and autoantigen release in Sjögren's syndrome patients.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by dysfunction of secretory epithelia with only palliative therapy. Patients present with a constellation of symptoms, and the diversity of symptomatic presentation has made it difficult to understand the underlying disease mechanisms. In this study, aggregation of unbiased transcriptome profiling data sets of minor salivary gland biopsies from controls and Sjögren's syndrome patients identified increased expression of lysosome-associated membrane protein 3 (LAMP3/CD208/DC-LAMP) in a subset of Sjögren's syndrome cases.

Targeting primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is estimated to affect 35 million people worldwide. Hallmarks of the disease are a loss of salivary and lacrimal gland function as well as lymphocytic infiltration, elevated proinflammatory cytokines, and circulating autoantibodies. Patients often experience significant fatigue and a decrease in their quality of life.

Torque-Induced Change in Configuration of a Single NO Molecule on Cu(110).

We demonstrated that a nitric oxide (NO) molecule on Cu(110) acts as an "ON-OFF-ON toggle switch" that can be turned on and off by repulsive force and electron injection, respectively. On the surface, NO molecules exist in three configurations: flat along the [001] direction (ON), upright (OFF), and flat along [001[over ¯]] (ON). An NO-functionalized tip, which was characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy and inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy, can convert an upright NO adsorbate into a flat-lying NO.

Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for Japanese patients with systemic sclerosis: Long-term follow-up on a phase II trial and treatment-related fatal cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to elucidate the efficacy and safety of autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for Japanese patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: A phase II clinical trial included SSc patients diagnosed within the last three years having at least one of the following clinical features: diffuse skin sclerosis with modified Rodman total thickness skin score (mRSS) ≥ 15, refractory digital ulcer or interstitial lung disease (ILD). HSCT were performed after conditioning using cyclophosphamide.