Seasonal variations and a demographic analysis of digital evacuation incidence for constipation management: A Japanese population-based cohort study.

Objective Digital evacuation (DE) is an intervention used to address severe constipation. Literature exists on easily administered laxatives; however, reports on mildly invasive DE usage are limited. This study aimed to elucidate the fundamental data regarding constipation management using a comprehensive national database of DE incidence.

Deletion of UCP1 in Tg2576 Mice Increases Body Temperature and Exacerbates Alzheimer's Disease-Related Pathologies.

We previously demonstrated that the Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like model mice, Tg2576, housed at a high ambient temperature of 30 °C for 13 months, exhibited increased body temperature, which increased amyloid-β (Aβ) levels and tau stability, leading to tau phosphorylation and ultimately inducing memory impairment. Here, we aimed to exclude the possible effect of environmental factors associated with the difference in ambient temperature (23 °C vs. 30 °C) and to further clarify the effects of elevated body temperature on AD-like pathologies.

Polydactyly-derived allogeneic chondrocyte cell-sheet transplantation with high tibial osteotomy as regenerative therapy for knee osteoarthritis.

Allogeneic cell therapies are not fully effective in treating osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK). We recently reported that transplantation of autologous chondrocyte cell-sheets along with open-wedge high tibial osteotomy promoted hyaline cartilage repair in humans. Here we describe our regenerative therapy for OAK using polydactyly-derived allogeneic chondrocyte cell-sheets (PD sheets) and temperature-responsive culture inserts.

Sustained high body temperature exacerbates cognitive function and Alzheimer's disease-related pathologies.

Global warming is a serious public health threat to people worldwide. High body temperature is one of the important risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the body temperature of AD patients has been found to be significantly higher than that of elderly control subjects. However, the effects of high body temperature on cognitive function and AD pathologies have not been completely elucidated.

Effect of secondary particle size of nickel oxide nanoparticles on cytotoxicity in A549 cells.

The effect of nanoparticle type, shape, as well as primary and secondary particle size on toxicity remains poorly characterized. In this study, suspensions of nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles with the same primary particle size (< 50 nm) but different secondary particle sizes were prepared, and their cytotoxicity was investigated. A planetary ball mill wet nanopulverizer with zirconium milling balls of decreasing sizes (φ: 0.

Infected simple renal cyst due to Streptococcus pneumoniae rapidly diagnosed by the melting temperature mapping method: a case report.

Background: Spontaneous infection of preexisting solitary renal cysts has been documented in adults but is extremely rare in children. To date, no cases of simple renal cysts infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae have been described. Recently, reports have described the diagnosis of bacterial infection using the 16 S rRNA gene as well as the accompanying antimicrobial stewardship for microorganisms that are difficult to culture and for culture-negative cases after preceding antibacterial administration.

Novel cytokine marker available for skin irritation testing of medical devices using reconstructed human epidermis models.

In biological safety evaluation of medical devices, false-negative results have been observed during skin irritation testing using the reconstructed human epidermis (RhE) model when measuring cell viability as a single marker. Therefore, to improve testing accuracy, this study conducted a comprehensive survey and performance evaluation of cytokines to identify a second marker. In addition to IL-1α, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) was newly identified as a candidate marker, in the Bio-Plex assay of EpiDerm model exposed to polymer sample extracts.

Surgical removal of cataract in an Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) by phacoemulsification and aspiration.

A twenty-year-old male Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) presented at the Rakuno Gakuen University Animal Medical Center with a 10-year history of bilateral blindness and cataracts. Surgical treatment of bilateral cataracts by extracapsular lensextraction using phacoemulsification and aspiration (PEA) was performed under general anesthesia. An anterior capsulectomy was performed using micro iris scissors and micro anterior lens capsule forceps.

[Qualitative Real-Time PCR Method for Poisonous Entoloma rhodopolium-Related Species in Japan: Real-Time PCR Method for Entoloma Mushrooms].

Qualitative real-time PCR method for three poisonous Entoloma rhodopolium-related species in Japan was established using specific primers and FAM, VIC, Texas Red, Cy5-labeled probes. The use of multicolor probes can extend the method to simultaneous detection of different targets. Standard plasmids were constructed as reference materials.

Usefulness of Ultrasound in Evaluating the Diaphragm in Neonates and Infants With Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernias.

This report describes the evaluations of 2 patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernias using ultrasound (US). Identifying the size of the diaphragmatic defect is important when determining the type of surgical repair required. In case 1, the US evaluation of a Bochdalek hernia showed the rim of the anterolateral diaphragm; therefore, thoracoscopic primary repair was performed.

Spontaneous Regression of Lymphangiomas in a Single Center Over 34 Years.

Background: A lymphangioma, also called a lymphatic malformation, is a congenital condition that frequently occurs in young children. It is classified into 3 groups depending on the size of the cysts (macrocystic, microcystic, and mixed). Spontaneous regression occurs in some cases; however, the characteristics of patients who show regression have not been studied previously.

Evaluation of Pigment Distribution and Depth Analysis Methods for Decorative Soft Contact Lenses.

Objectives: This study evaluates pigment component distribution and depth in decorative soft contact lenses (DSCLs) using a variety of analytical methods.

Methods: We sampled 18 DSCLs using optical microscopy, optical coherence tomography analysis, Z-stack analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) to evaluate the distribution and depth of pigment components.

Results: Pigment distribution in DSCLs was easily observed with optical methods including Z-stack analysis.

Deep-intronic variant of fukutin is the most prevalent point mutation of Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy in Japan.

Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD), which is caused by mutations in the fukutin gene, is the second most common form of childhood muscular dystrophy in Japan. The founder haplotype is the most prevalent in the chromosomes of Japanese FCMD patients, and corresponds to an SVA retrotransposal insertion in the 3'-untranslated region of fukutin. Although other mutations have been reported, the mutation corresponding to the second most prevalent haplotype in Japanese FCMD patients remained unknown.

ABCG1 and ABCG4 Suppress γ-Secretase Activity and Amyloid β Production.

ATP-binding cassette G1 (ABCG1) and ABCG4, expressed in neurons and glia in the central nervous system, mediate cholesterol efflux to lipid acceptors. The relationship between cholesterol level in the central nervous system and Alzheimer's disease has been reported. In this study, we examined the effects of ABCG1 and ABCG4 on amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing, the product of which, amyloid β (Aβ), is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

[Polyploidy induction by spherical size standard polystyrene particles in a Chinese hamster cell line CHL].

To investigate relationships between particle (as a model of aggregates) size in a nanomaterial test suspension and its cytotoxicity, a series of eleven sizes of polystyrene (PS) particles were tested in the cytotoxicity test and the chromosome aberration test by using a Chinese hamster cell line CHL. The PS particles were spheres with defined diameters ranging from 0.1 to 9.

ABCA1, ABCG1, and ABCG4 are distributed to distinct membrane meso-domains and disturb detergent-resistant domains on the plasma membrane.

ATP-binding cassette A1 (ABCA1), ABCG1, and ABCG4 are lipid transporters that mediate the efflux of cholesterol from cells. To analyze the characteristics of these lipid transporters, we examined and compared their distributions and lipid efflux activity on the plasma membrane. The efflux of cholesterol mediated by ABCA1 and ABCG1, but not ABCG4, was affected by a reduction of cellular sphingomyelin levels.

Inverse correlations between serum ADAMTS13 levels and systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, and serum C-reactive protein levels observed at a general health examination in a Japanese population: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Although a defect in ADAMTS13 activity is known to cause platelet thrombosis resulting in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), recent evidence has revealed that low plasma ADAMTS13 concentrations may increase the risk of ischemic vascular diseases. Furthermore, reduced plasma ADAMTS13 activity has been reported in acute systemic inflammation or sepsis. These findings prompted us to examine whether ADAMTS13 may play a role in more diverse diseases, not limited to TTP.

Biodegradable Polymers Induce CD54 on THP-1 Cells in Skin Sensitization Test.

Currently, nonanimal methods of skin sensitization testing for various chemicals, biodegradable polymers, and biomaterials are being developed in the hope of eliminating the use of animals. The human cell line activation test (h-CLAT) is a skin sensitization assessment that mimics the functions of dendritic cells (DCs). DCs are specialized antigen-presenting cells, and they interact with T cells and B cells to initiate immune responses.

miR126 positively regulates mast cell proliferation and cytokine production through suppressing Spred1.

The protein known as Spred1 (Sprouty-related Ena/VASP homology-1 domain-containing protein) has been identified as a negative regulator of growth factor-induced ERK/mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. Spred1 has also been implicated as the target of microRNA-126 (miR126), a miRNA located within the Egfl7 gene, and is involved in the regulation of vessel development through its role in regulating VEGF signaling. In this study, we examined the role of miR126 and Spred1 in the hematopoietic system, as miR126 has been shown to be overexpressed in leukemic cells.

Suppression of Sproutys has a therapeutic effect for a mouse model of ischemia by enhancing angiogenesis.

Sprouty proteins (Sproutys) inhibit receptor tyrosine kinase signaling and control various aspects of branching morphogenesis. In this study, we examined the physiological function of Sproutys in angiogenesis, using gene targeting and short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown strategies. Sprouty2 and Sprouty4 double knockout (KO) (DKO) mice were embryonic-lethal around E12.

[Effectivity of the novel serum-free medium STK2 for proliferating human mesenchymal stem cells].

To apply human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) to regenerative medicines, it is necessary to multiply hMSC in vitro in a short period. In addition, it is desirable that the medium which is used for the hMSC multiplication is not supplemented with the serum, because the addition of the serum has risks of infection. In this study, we cultured hMSC with three kinds of medium used for multiplying hMSC (DMEM, MSCGM, STK2) and compared hMSC proliferation in each medium.

FoxO3a regulates hematopoietic homeostasis through a negative feedback pathway in conditions of stress or aging.

Stress or aging of tissue-specific stem cells is considered central to the decline of tissue homeostasis in the elderly, although little is known of molecular mechanisms underlying hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) aging and stress resistance. Here, we report that mice lacking the transcription factor forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a) develop neutrophilia associated with inhibition of the up-regulation of negative regulator of cell proliferation, Sprouty-related Ena/VASP homology 1 domain-containing proteins 2 (Spred2) and AKT and ERK activation, in HSCs during hematopoietic recovery following myelosuppressive stress conditions. Compared with aged wild-type mice, more severe neutrophilia was also observed in aged Foxo3a-deficient mice.