Clinical outcomes of challenging out-of-hospital hypothermia management: A retrospective assessment of DOKEI protocol.

Background: Accidental hypothermia (AH) is a major cause of death in mountainous areas globally, and the second highest of mountaineering deaths in Japan, accounting for 37 % in Hokkaido. Managing AH is a significant challenge, particularly when adverse weather complicates the application of recommended rewarming and rapid transfer. To address this, the Hokkaido Police Organization (DOKEI) AH protocol was applied in Hokkaido's remote areas from 2011 to 2022, integrating high-temperature active external rewarming (HT-AER) with on-site sustained treatment.

[TREATMENT OUTCOMES OF BLADDER NECK CONTRACTURE AFTER TRANSURETHRAL PROSTATE SURGERY].

(Introduction) A known complication of the surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is bladder neck contracture (BNC). BNC is often treated using transurethral incision of the bladder neck (TUI-BN); however, there are few reports on the outcomes of TUI-BN. Therefore, we examined the outcomes of patients who underwent TUI-BN after transurethral prostate surgery.

3,5,7,3',4'-Pentamethoxyflavone Enhances the Barrier Function through Transcriptional Regulation of the Tight Junction in Human Intestinal Caco-2 Cells.

The intestinal tight junction (TJ) barrier plays a pivotal role in the regulation of intestinal homeostasis. This study investigated the effects of 3,5,7,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone (PMF), a major polymethoxyflavone found in black ginger, on TJ barrier regulation using intestinal Caco-2 cells. PMF treatment enhanced the TJ barrier integrity in Caco-2 cells, indicated by increased transepithelial electrical resistance (control, 1261 ± 36 Ω·cm; 100 μM PMF, 1383 ± 55 Ω·cm at 48 h, < 0.

[OUTCOMES OF CHRONIC UNILATERAL HEMATURIA TREATED USING DIGITAL FLEXIBLE URETEROSCOPE].

(Objectives) We examined the treatment outcomes in cases of chronic unilateral hematuria treated using flexible ureteroscope for observation and hemostasis. (Methods) The study included 14 patients (7 men and 7 women) with a median age of 56.5 years who underwent ureteroscopy using a digital flexible ureteroscope for chronic unilateral hematuria between March 2014 and August 2019.

Efficiency of 2.45 and 5.80 GHz microwave irradiation for a hydrolysis reaction by thermostable β-Glucosidase HT1.

Microwave irradiation at different frequencies gave unique results for the hydrolyses of glycosyl bonds by β-Glucosidase HT1. With the observed relative complex permittivity data for the reaction buffer, 2.45 GHz microwave radiation affected both waters and ions, while 5.

Peri-operative morbidity and mortality related to radical cystectomy: a multi-institutional retrospective study in Japan.

Unlabelled: What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Radical cystectomy remains associated with comparatively high perioperative morbidity and mortality, despite improvements in surgical techniques and perioperative care. At present, most studies on the complications associated with open radical cystectomy were derived from Western academic high-volume centres, and data from Japan and other Asian countries were very limited. Using the modified Clavien grading system and 11 category grouping reported from MSKCC, we observed that 68% of patients experienced at least one complication within 90 days of surgery, and 17% of patients experienced major complications (90-day mortality rate = 2%), which were compatible with reports from Western high-volume centres.

Tacrolimus induces glomerular injury via endothelial dysfunction caused by reactive oxygen species and inflammatory change.

Background/aims: The immunosuppressive drug tacrolimus (FK506) is used clinically to reduce the rejection rate in patients with kidney transplantation; however, the resultant nephrotoxicity remains a serious problem. In the present study we attempted to elucidate the mechanisms of glomerular injury induced by FK506 and the renoprotective effects of the angiotensin II receptor blocker telmisartan.

Methods: Seven-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: vehicle group, FK506 group, and FK506 + telmisartan group.

Anandamide induces matrix metalloproteinase-2 production through cannabinoid-1 receptor and transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 in human dental pulp cells in culture.

Introduction: Anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine [AEA]) is one of the main endocannabinoids. Endocannabinoids are implicated in various physiological and pathologic functions, inducing not only nociception but also regeneration and inflammation. The role of the endocannabinoid system in peripheral organs was recently described.

Orally administered glucosylceramide improves the skin barrier function by upregulating genes associated with the tight junction and cornified envelope formation.

Dietary glucosylceramide improves the skin barrier function. We used a microarray system to analyze the mRNA expression in SDS-treated dorsal skin of the hairless mouse to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved. The transepidermal water loss of mouse skin was increased by the SDS treatment, this increase being significantly reduced by a prior oral administration of glucosylceramides.

Renal denervation reduces glomerular injury by suppressing NAD(P)H oxidase activity in Dahl salt-sensitive rats.

Background: Renal sympathetic nerve activity has important effects on renal function in chronic kidney disease. Recent studies indicated that beta agonists directly stimulate NAD(P)H oxidase in endothelial cells. Therefore, we investigated whether renal denervation protects renal function through an anti-oxidative effect.

Involvement of the renin-angiotensin system in the development of vascular damage in a rat model of arthritis: effect of angiotensin receptor blockers.

Objective: To explore the involvement of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the development of vascular damage in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rats.

Methods: Angiotensin II (Ang II; 0.25 or 1.

Runt-related gene 2 is involved in the inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-13 expression by roxithromycin in human gingival epithelial cell cultures.

Background And Objective: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 has wide substrate specificity compared with other MMPs and appears to be involved in periodontitis. Previously, we reported that roxithromycin (RXM) inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor expression induced by tumour necrosis factor-alpha in human periodontal ligament cells, but little is known about the effect of RXM on MMP-13 expression in human gingival epithelial cells. We therefore examined the effect of RXM on MMP-13 mRNA expression and production in cultured human gingival epithelial cells.

High dietary protein intake induces endothelial dysfunction in uninephrectomized rats.

High dietary protein (HP) intake is a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). HP intake is associated with the development of albuminuria and glomerulosclerosis in uninephrectomized rats. In such rats, we investigated whether HP intake induces endothelial dysfunction.

Oral adsorbent AST-120 ameliorates endothelial dysfunction independent of renal function in rats with subtotal nephrectomy.

It is important to consider a strategy to halt the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Oral adsorbent AST-120 retards deterioration in renal function, reducing indoxyl sulfate (IS) accumulation. The aim of this study was to determine whether AST-120 improves endothelial dysfunction by reducing oxidative/nitrative stress in a rat-CKD model.

Efficacy of low-dose tacrolimus added to methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Japan: a retrospective study.

The aim of this study was to assess if low-dose tacrolimus is efficacious for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when combined with methotrexate (MTX). The clinical courses of 32 RA patients who received tacrolimus plus MTX were analyzed retrospectively. Disease activity and clinical response were evaluated by DAS28 (disease activity score of 28 joints) and EULAR (European League Against Rheumatism) response criteria.

Abdominal pain as the initial presentation of Takayasu arteritis.

Abdominal pain is rarely described as a clinical manifestation of Takayasu arteritis, although abdominal vascular involvement is common in this disease. We report the case of a 20-year-old female with Takayasu arteritis who complained of chronic and intermittent abdominal pain. Computed tomographic angiography and ultrasonography were useful in evaluating the abdominal arterial involvement.

Anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy increases serum adiponectin levels with the improvement of endothelial dysfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Lower adiponectin levels in circulation are shown to be associated with endothelial dysfunction, which is a crucial feature in the evolution of atherosclerosis. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy on adiponectin levels with endothelial function and arterial stiffness. Fifteen Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) received infusions with infliximab (3 mg/kg) at weeks 0, 2, and 6.

Bilateral ureteral stenosis and duodenal perforation in a patient with dermatomyositis.

We report the case of a 19-year-old man with dermatomyositis who developed abdominal pain and anuria. The examination revealed bilateral ureteral stenosis. The patient also developed multiple ulcerations of the duodenum with perforations.

Roxithromycin inhibits tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression through regulating mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation and Ets-1 expression.

Background And Objective: In periodontitis, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are upregulated in response to locally released inflammatory cytokines, resulting in pathologic processes. Roxithromycin is a 14-membered ring macrolide antibiotic with broad-spectrum antibacterial effects against oral pathogens and immunomodulatory effects. Recently, we reported that roxithromycin inhibits tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced vascular endothelial growth factor expression in human periodontal ligament (HPDL) cell cultures.

Topical ER36009, a RARgamma-selective retinoid, decreases abdominal white adipose tissue and elicits changes in expression of genes related to adiposity and thermogenesis.

Chronic topical treatment of rats with a new RARgamma-selective retinoid, ER36009, resulted in a significant reduction of epididymal white adipose tissue and a significant increase of interscapular brown adipose tissue without affecting food intake. ER36009 markedly decreased PPARgamma, 11beta-HSD1, and Bcl-2 mRNA levels, and increased Bax mRNA in white adipose tissue, while it upregulated UCP1 and UCP3 mRNAs in brown adipose tissue and UCP3 mRNA in gastrocnemial muscle. These results suggest that ER36009 has multiple effects on adipose tissue biology and the energy balance.

Marked improvement induced in photoaged skin of hairless mouse by ER36009, a novel RARgamma-specific retinoid, but not by ER35794, an RXR-selective agonist.

Background: Photoaging (premature skin aging) results largely from repeated exposure of the skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Topical all-trans retinoic acid (RA), the only agent that has been approved for the treatment of photoaging, has been shown to reverse this process. In this study, we evaluated the pharmacologic effects of novel synthetic retinoids, ER36009 and ER35794, on murine wrinkles induced by UVB.

A case of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease that developed relapsing polychondritis.

We report the case of a 56-year-old Japanese man with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease in whom pain and diffuse swelling of the left auricle and bilateral episcleritis developed 3 years after diagnosis. Biopsy of the left ear showed acute chondritis, leading to another diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis. Additionally, he was found to carry human leukocyte antigen DR4, which has been reported to be associated with these inflammatory conditions.