Validation of a diagnostic flowchart for tuberculous pleurisy in pleural fluid with high levels of adenosine deaminase.

Introduction: Adenosine deaminase (ADA) in pleural fluid is a useful marker for diagnosing tuberculous pleurisy. However, recent studies have reported a lower specificity of pleural fluid ADA levels. We previously developed a diagnostic flowchart for patients with pleural fluid ADA ≥40 U/L, incorporating variables such as pleural fluid lactate dehydrogenase <825 U/L, predominant pleural fluid neutrophils or cell degeneration, and a pleural fluid ADA/total protein ratio <14.

The protective effects of Ninjin'yoeito against liver steatosis/fibrosis in a non-alcoholic steatohepatitis model mouse.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive fibrotic form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Liver fibrosis leads to liver cancer and cirrhosis, and drug therapy for NASH remains lacking. Ninjin'yoeito (NYT) has shown antifibrotic effects in a model of liver fibrosis without steatosis but has not been studied for NASH.

Serial Cultivation of an MSC-Like Cell Line with Enzyme-Free Passaging Using a Microporous Titanium Scaffold.

In vitro studies on adherent cells require a process of passage to dissociate the cells from the culture substrate using enzymes or other chemical agents to maintain cellular activity. However, these proteolytic enzymes have a negative influence on the viability and phenotype of cells. The mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like cell line, C3H10T1/2, adhered, migrated, and proliferated to the same extent on newly designed microporous titanium (Ti) membrane and conventional culture dish, and spontaneous transfer to another substrate without enzymatic or chemical dissociation was achieved.

Impact of Ninjin'yoeito on frailty and short life in klotho-hypomorphic (kl/kl) mice.

With the recent aging of society, the prevention of frailty has become an important issue because people desire both a long and healthy lifespan. Klotho-hypomorphic (kl/kl) mice are known to show phenotypes of premature aging. Ninjin'yoeito (NYT) is a traditional Japanese Kampo medicine used to treat patients with vulnerable constitution, fatigue or physical exhaustion caused by aging and illness.

Conventional and Kampo Medicine Treatment for Mild-to-moderate COVID-19: A Multicenter, Retrospective, Observational Study by the Integrative Management in Japan for Epidemic Disease (IMJEDI Study-observation).

Objective Patients in whom coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was suspected or confirmed between January 1, 2020, and October 31, 2021, were enrolled from Japanese hospitals in this multicenter, retrospective, observational study. Methods Data on the treatment administered (including conventional and Kampo medicine) and changes in common cold-like symptoms (such as fever, cough, sputum, dyspnea, fatigue, and diarrhea) were collected from their medical records. The primary outcome was the number of days without a fever (with a body temperature <37°C).

Evaluation of Preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 Cells Cultured on a Microporous Titanium Membrane Fabricated Using a Precise Mechanical Punching Process.

The surface topography of Titanium (Ti) combined toughness and biocompatibility affects the attachment and migration of cells. Limited information of morphological characteristics, formed by precise machining in micron order, is currently available on the Ti that could promote osteoconduction. In the present study, a pure Ti membrane was pierced with precise 25 μm square holes at 75 μm intervals and appear burrs at the edge of aperture.

Two cases of pseudo-achalasia with lung cancer: Case report and short literature review.

Pseudo-achalasia with lung cancer is a rare complication. We present 2 cases of pseudo-achalasia with lung cancer and summarize previous reports. The previous reports suggested that lung cancer can be complicated with pseudo-achalasia caused by paraneoplastic neurological syndromes rather than direct invasion of the tumor cells to the lower esophageal sphincter, irrespective of the histology of the lung cancer; this can strongly influence the performance status.

Serum extracellular vesicular miR-21-5p is a predictor of the prognosis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease with a poor prognosis. Although the median survival is 3 years, the clinical course varies to a large extent among IPF patients. To date, there has been no definitive prognostic marker.

Synthesis of new tricyclic thiolactams as potent antitumor agent for pancreatic cancer.

We synthesized the novel tricyclic thiolactams 2a-d, 3d-k, having a benzyl or substituted benzyl substituent on the nitrogen of indole subunit, and their preferential cytotoxicity under both nutrient-deprived medium (NDM) and Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) was evaluated against a human pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1. Among the tested compounds, the 4'-hydroxy derivative 3d showed the most potent cytotoxicity in NDM (PC50 1.68μM) although the moderate preferential cytotoxicity (PC50 1.

Regulation of cancer stem cell activities by tumor-associated macrophages.

Recent studies revealed that tumor-associated macrophages play a decisive role in the regulation of tumor progression by manipulating tumor oncogenesis, angiogenesis and immune functions within tumor microenvironments. However, the role of cancer stem cells in the tumorigenic activities of tumor-associated macrophages during the course of transformation and treatment remains largely unknown. Recent studies have clarified the functional aspects of tumor-associated macrophages in the regulation of the tumorigenic activities and anticancer drug responsiveness of cancer stem cells through complex networks formed by distinct sets of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors.

Tumor-infiltrating DCs suppress nucleic acid-mediated innate immune responses through interactions between the receptor TIM-3 and the alarmin HMGB1.

The mechanisms by which tumor microenvironments modulate nucleic acid-mediated innate immunity remain unknown. Here we identify the receptor TIM-3 as key in circumventing the stimulatory effects of nucleic acids in tumor immunity. Tumor-associated dendritic cells (DCs) in mouse tumors and patients with cancer had high expression of TIM-3.

MFG-E8 regulates the immunogenic potential of dendritic cells primed with necrotic cell-mediated inflammatory signals.

Dendritic cells (DC) manipulate tissue homeostasis by recognizing dying cells and controlling immune functions. However, the precise mechanisms by which DC recognize different types of dying cells and devise distinct immunologic consequences remain largely obscure. Herein, we demonstrate that Milk-fat globule-EGF VIII (MFG-E8) is a critical mediator controlling DC immunogenicity in inflammatory microenvironments.

The Diagnostic Value of the Interstitial Biomarkers KL-6 and SP-D for the Degree of Fibrosis in Combined Pulmonary Fibrosis and Emphysema.

The combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) was reported first in 1990, but it has been comparatively underestimated until recently. Although the diagnostic findings of both emphysematous and fibrotic regions are detectable by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest, the degree of progressive fibrosis, which increases with emphysematous lesions, is difficult to evaluate. In this study, we hypothesized that the biomarkers for pulmonary fibrosis, surfactant protein D (SP-D), and KL-6 would serve as good indicators of fibrotic lesions in CPFE.

Increased prevalence of high anti-Cladosporium antibody titers in interstitial lung diseases.

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) represent a large group of different diseases, with a large part comprising idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. Differentiating hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), especially its chronic form and other ILDs, is difficult because of similarities in radiological manifestation and clinical course, and the difficulty of identifying causative antigens. We recently experienced a patient with Cladosporium-induced chronic HP that developed in a household environment, but the cause had been misdiagnosed as idiopathic interstitial pneumonia for several years.

ATM-mediated DNA damage signals mediate immune escape through integrin-αvβ3-dependent mechanisms.

Although the tumor microenvironment plays a critical role in tumor progression and metastasis, the relationship between chemotherapy resistance and modulation of the tumor microenvironment remains unclear. Here, we report a novel mechanism showing how constitutive DNA damage signals in therapy-resistant tumor cells suppress antitumor immunity in an integrin-αvβ3-dependent manner. Integrin-αvβ3 was upregulated on various therapy-resistant tumor cells through chronic activation of ATM/Chk2-and NFκB-mediated pathways.

Altered expression of tight junction molecules in alveolar septa in lung injury and fibrosis.

The dysfunction of alveolar barriers is a critical factor in the development of lung injury and subsequent fibrosis, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. To clarify the pathogenic roles of tight junctions in lung injury and fibrosis, we examined the altered expression of claudins, the major components of tight junctions, in the lungs of disease models with pulmonary fibrosis. Among the 24 known claudins, claudin-1, claudin-3, claudin-4, claudin-7, and claudin-10 were identified as components of airway tight junctions.

Tumor-associated macrophages regulate tumorigenicity and anticancer drug responses of cancer stem/initiating cells.

Recent evidence has unveiled the critical role of tumor cells with stem cell activities in tumorigenicity and drug resistance, but how tumor microenvironments regulate cancer stem/initiating cells (CSCs) remains unknown. We clarified the role of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and their downstream factor milk-fat globule-epidermal growth factor-VIII (MFG-E8) in the regulation of CSC activities. Bone marrow chimeric systems and adoptive cell transfers elucidated the importance of MFG-E8 from TAMs in conferring to CSCs with the ability to promote tumorigenicity and anticancer drug resistance.

A Normal Range of KL-6/MUC1 Independent of Elevated SP-D Indicates a Better Prognosis in the Patients with Honeycombing on High-Resolution Computed Tomography.

Both SP-D and KL-6/MUC1 are established biomarkers of the interstitial pneumonias, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but the causes and clinical outcomes based on their independent effects are not known. Eleven asymptomatic patients, detected with honeycombing on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), were compared with 17 other IPF outpatients having slight respiratory symptoms and honeycombing as well. Although SP-D was increased in both groups, KL-6 was significantly higher in the symptomatic IPF group.

The human cytomegalovirus UL76 gene regulates the level of expression of the UL77 gene.

Background: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can be reactivated under immunosuppressive conditions causing several fatal pneumonitis, hepatitis, retinitis, and gastrointestinal diseases. HCMV also causes deafness and mental retardation in neonates when primary infection has occurred during pregnancy. In the genome of HCMV at least 194 known open reading frames (ORFs) have been predicted, and approximately one-quarter, or 41 ORFs, are required for viral replication in cell culture.

Transcriptional repression by sumoylation of Epstein-Barr virus BZLF1 protein correlates with association of histone deacetylase.

The transition from latent to lytic phases of the Epstein-Barr virus life cycle is triggered by expression of a viral transactivator, BZLF1, that then induces expression of the viral immediate-early and early genes. The BZLF1 protein is post-translationally modified by a small ubiquitin-related modifier-1 (SUMO-1). Here we found that BZLF1 is conjugated at lysine 12 not only by SUMO-1 but also by SUMO-2 and 3.

Transient increases in p53-responsible gene expression at early stages of Epstein-Barr virus productive replication.

Expression of Epstein-Barr Virus BZLF1, a key protein initiating the switch from latent to lytic infection, is known to cause cell growth arrest by accumulating p53 and p21(WAF1/CIP1) in epithelial cells, but its molecular mechanism remains elusive. We found here that the BZLF1 protein stimulates p53 binding to its recognition sequence. The BZLF1 accelerated the rate of p53-DNA complex formation through the interaction with p53 protein and also enhanced p53-specific transcription in vitro.

Cladosporium species-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis in household environments.

Home-related chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is sometimes difficult to discriminate because patients do not have an obvious history of antigen exposure. We report two HP cases which developed in an office area and in a home: a 47-year-old woman with acute-onset HP and a 72-year-old woman with chronic HP followed up as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis following isolation of Cladosporium cladosporioides and Cladosporium herbarum, respectively. Lymphocyte stimulating activity and antibody titer to these fungi were increased in these patients.

TTP at Ser245 phosphorylation by AKT is required for binding to 14-3-3.

Transferrin receptor trafficking protein (TTP) is a key molecule for selective internalization of the transferrin receptor (Tf-R) through endocytic protein complexes. To identify the proteins that directly regulate TTP, we performed a yeast two-hybrid analysis and identified 14-3-3, which can modulate the activation state of target proteins. Subsequent analyses demonstrated that TTP directly binds to multiple 14-3-3 isotypes via its Ser(245) residue (Ser(246) in human) and that these proteins are associated at the plasma membrane.

Modeling of the thermoregulation system in the skunk cabbage: Symplocarpus foetidus.

This paper presents a model of the thermoregulation system of the spadix of skunk cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus which regulates its internal temperature at around 20 degrees C during flowering even when the ambient air temperature drops below freezing. From the temperature responses of the spadix to changing ambient air temperature, we assumed that the thermoregulation system of the spadix is probably one of negative feedback control. The feedback signals are based on the rate of temperature change of the spadix over time.