Novel function of transglutaminase 2 in extracellular histone-induced acute lung injury.

Extracellular histones induce endothelial damage, resulting in lung haemorrhage; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Factor XIII, as a Ca-dependent cross-linking enzyme in blood, mediates fibrin deposition. As another isozyme, transglutaminase 2 (TG2) has a catalytic activity distributing in most tissues.

CD140b and CD73 are markers for human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived erythropoietin-producing cells.

Renal anemia in chronic kidney disease is treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO). However, some patients with anemia do not respond well to rhEPO, emphasizing the need for a more biocompatible EPO. Differentiation protocols for hepatic lineages have been modified to enable production from human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived EPO-producing cells (EPO cells).

Clinical medication review type III of polypharmacy reduced unplanned hospitalizations in older adults: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Aim: To analyze the impact of clinical medication reviews (CMR) on reducing unplanned hospitalizations owing to polypharmacy among older adults using an intervention.

Methods: Our meta-analysis complied with PRISMA guidelines. The literature review comprised a search for articles published between January 1972 and March 2017 on MEDLINE and Google Scholar.

Chondroitin sulfate protects vascular endothelial cells from toxicities of extracellular histones.

Extracellular histones induce lethal thrombosis by promoting platelet aggregation, neutrophil migration, and cell injuries. Heparin, which has negative charges, can bind to extracellular histones; however, heparin strongly inhibits the activation of coagulation. Since chondroitin sulfate (CS) shows less effect on the coagulation system than heparin does, CS has the potential to become an effective drug for lethal thrombosis with high risk of bleeding.

Clinical medication review tool for polypharmacy: Mapping approach for pharmacotherapeutic classifications.

Aim: Polypharmacy is an extremely important problem, because it increases the risk of adverse drug reactions. The aim of the current study was to create a clinical medication review tool to detect inappropriate medication use, and assess this new method with elderly Japanese patients.

Methods: The new method involves optimizing prescription drugs from indications, based on the chronic disease-anatomical therapeutic class code list.

Complement component 5 promotes lethal thrombosis.

Extracellular histones promote platelet aggregation and thrombosis; this is followed by induction of coagulation disorder, which results in exhaustion of coagulation factors. Complement component 5 (C5) is known to be associated with platelet aggregation and coagulation system activation. To date, the pathological mechanism underlying liver injury has remained unclear.

Pharmacist blood pressure management programs using telemonitoring systems are useful for monitoring side effects of antihypertensive drugs in a community pharmacy.

We previously started pharmacist blood pressure (BP) management programs using telemonitoring systems for monitoring side effects of antihypertensive drugs in a community pharmacy. The present case demonstrates that pharmacist BP management programs using telemonitoring systems are useful for monitoring side effects of antihypertensive drugs in a community pharmacy.

Cancer Stem Cells: The Potential Targets of Chinese Medicines and Their Active Compounds.

The pivotal role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in the initiation and progression of malignancies has been rigorously validated, and the specific methods for identifying and isolating the CSCs from the parental cancer population have also been rapidly developed in recent years. This review aims to provide an overview of recent research progress of Chinese medicines (CMs) and their active compounds in inhibiting tumor progression by targeting CSCs. A great deal of CMs and their active compounds, such as Antrodia camphorate, berberine, resveratrol, and curcumin have been shown to regress CSCs, in terms of reversing drug resistance, inducing cell death and inhibiting cell proliferation as well as metastasis.

Lower Blood Pressure-Induced Renal Hypoperfusion Promotes Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity.

Background And Aims: Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity primarily occurs in the proximal tubules, and tubular injuries reduce glomerular filtration rates. Lower blood pressure causes renal hypoperfusion, which promotes ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI). Our study examined the relationship between lower blood pressure-induced renal hypoperfusion and cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.

[The Synergistic Effect of Problem-based Learning Combined with the Jigsaw Method in a Pharmacotherapy Course].

To promote problem-solving ability within a pharmacotherapy course, we developed new problem-based learning (PBL) and information and communication technologies (ICT) support systems, and introduced the "Jigsaw Method," an active learning method in which, similar to parts of a jigsaw puzzle, students are dependent on each other to create the full picture, to succeed. We conducted 10 PBL modules (one case per module), each lasting one week. To encourage constructive group work, information sharing, and student understanding in the individual modules, we implemented a Jigsaw Method-based wiki worksheet system in which students were to identify patient problems and check each other's work on an e-portfolio system.

Significance of downregulation of renal organic cation transporter (SLC47A1) in cisplatin-induced proximal tubular injury.

Background/aim: To elucidate the mechanism responsible for developing acute kidney injury in patients with diabetes mellitus, we also evaluated the issue of whether advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) influence the expressions of multi antimicrobial extrusion protein (MATE1/SLC47A1) in tubular cells.

Materials And Methods: To detect changing expression of MATE1/SLC47A1 in dose- and time-dependent manners, human proximal tubular epithelial cells were incubated with AGE-aggregated-human serum albumin. As a function assay for MATE1/SLC47A1, human proximal tubular epithelial cells were incubated with cisplatin or carboplatin.

Comparison between Long- and Short-Acting Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents in the Period Required for Haemoglobin Stabilisation in Treatment of Anaemia in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Comparative studies of the potency of long- and short-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (L-ESAs and S-ESAs) on erythropoietic activity in patients with chronic kidney disease without dialysis have not been performed, although L-ESAs are used in many countries. We performed a retrospective analysis of non-dialysis (ND) patients who had received L-ESA or S-ESA. More days were needed for the S-ESA-treated group (368 d) to reach the haemoglobin (Hb) reference range than for the L-ESA-treated group (126 d).

Inhibition of eukaryotic elongation factor-2 confers to tumor suppression by a herbal formulation Huanglian-Jiedu decoction in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: An oriental medicinal formulation, Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (HLJDD), has been well documented in few Traditional Chinese Medicine Classics 1300 years ago for treatment of heat and dampness-related diseases. Its effect is well accepted in Asian community, including China, Japan and Korea. Recent studies have postulated HLJDD as a regimen for cancer treatment, especially liver cancer, but the underlying mechanism is unknown.

Efficacy and safety of febuxostat in elderly female patients.

Background: Maintenance of low serum urate levels is important for the management of gout. Achieving the recommended serum urate levels of less than 6.0 mg/dL is difficult in elderly (65 years of age or older) patients with renal impairment.

Use of pharmacist blood pressure telemonitoring systems in diagnosis of nocturnal hypertension in a young healthy male.

Blood pressure (BP) telemonitoring systems and pharmacist management programs were introduced into Haruka Community Pharmacy. A 22-year-old healthy male came to the community pharmacy, although he was not in a diseased state, he had been informed previously that he had a moderately high BP during a routine examination. He continued home BP telemonitoring for 28 days.

Risk factors for an early dialysis start in patients with diabetic nephropathy end-stage renal disease.

Background: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have symptoms related to severe anemia, edema, and heart failure. Although dialysis improves ESRD syndromes, the optimum timing for initiation of dialysis is unclear. Recent observational studies have suggested that early commencement of dialysis can be harmful.

The influence of severe hypoalbuminemia on the half-life of vancomycin in elderly patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus hospital-acquired pneumonia.

Background: Vancomycin (VCM) treatment outcomes depend on the characteristics of the patient, and it is well known that hypoalbuminemia is a risk factor for poor treatment outcomes, as reported in a previous study. However, the reason that severe hypoalbuminemia has an influence on the treatment outcome of VCM remains unknown.

Objective: To elucidate the association between severe hypoalbuminemia and VCM treatment outcomes, we examined pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) parameters in elderly patients with severe hypoalbuminemia.

Involvement of protein kinase C in reduction of aggregated protein and phosphorylation of CREB in glomeruli.

We previously demonstrated the cAMP-PKA pathway to be associated with the reduction in aggregated proteins such as immune complex in glomeruli. The aim of this study was to clarify whether PKC is involved in the reduction of aggregated protein and phosphorylation of CREB in aggregated protein-loaded glomeruli. Mice were injected with aggregated bovine serum albumin (a-BSA), and glomeruli were isolated.

Advanced-glycation-end-product-cholesterol-aggregated-protein accelerates the proliferation of mesangial cells mediated by transforming-growth-factor-beta 1 receptors and the ERK-MAPK pathway.

Hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia are considered critical to the development of diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this study is to clarify the effect of cholesterol on advanced-glycation-end-products and the mechanisms behind the advanced-glycation-end-product-cholesterol-aggregated bovine serum albumin (BSA)-induced proliferation of mesangial cells. Mesangial cells were treated with advanced-glycation-end-product-cholesterol-aggregated-BSA, and RNA and protein were isolated.

Hepatoprotective effect and its possible mechanism of Coptidis rhizoma aqueous extract on carbon tetrachloride-induced chronic liver hepatotoxicity in rats.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Coptidis rhizoma is traditionally used for heat-clearing and toxic-scavenging and it belongs to liver meridian in Chinese medicine practice. Clinically, Coptidis rhizoma can be used for hepatic and biliary disorders, yet details in the therapies of liver diseases and underlying mechanism(s) remain unclear. Our previous study demonstrated that Coptidis rhizoma aqueous extract (CRAE) against CCl(4)-induced acute liver damage was related to antioxidant property.

Myoclonus after dextromethorphan administration in peritoneal dialysis.

Objective: To report a case of myoclonus that developed after administration of dextromethorphan.

Case Summary: A 64-year-old man was diagnosed with chronic renal failure due to diabetic nephropathy. The patient started on peritoneal dialysis 6 months before he was hospitalized.

[Development of new problem-based learning to promote problem-solving ability in therapeutics at Meijo University].

Pharmacy students in the six-year education system are expected to combine their knowledge obtained from many lectures and to develop problem-solving abilities in therapeutics. These two expectations are considered to be difficult in the conventional education system. Therefore we introduced a new problem-based learning (PBL) method in the class on "pharmacotherapeutics," which was held in the first semester of the fourth year.

F-actin reorganization and inactivation of rho signaling pathway involved in the inhibitory effect of Coptidis Rhizoma on hepatoma cell migration.

Hypothesis: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most malignant human tumors and one of the risk factors is its highly metastatic property. Coptidis Rhizoma aqueous extract (CRAE) is able to suppress the migration and invasion of HCC cells, MHCC97-L, and F-actin reorganization and Rho signaling inhibition is involved.

Main Methods: CRAE was prepared and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry.

Chinese medicines as a resource for liver fibrosis treatment.

Liver fibrosis is a condition of abnormal proliferation of connective tissue due to various types of chronic liver injury often caused by viral infection and chemicals. Effective therapies against liver fibrosis are still limited. In this review, we focus on research on Chinese medicines against liver fibrosis in three categories, namely pure compounds, composite formulae and combination treatment using single compounds with composite formulae or conventional medicines.

Effects of kynurenine metabolites on mesangial cell proliferation and gene expression.

In the present study, we examined the effects of kynurenine metabolites on cultured mesangial cells (MCs) and demonstrated for the first time that they affect MC proliferation and gene expression. Anthranilic acid and 3-hydroxy-DL-kynurenine suppressed MC proliferation by 32% and 43%, respectively at 10(-6) M compared to the control. In contrast, quinolinic acid and l-kynurenine promoted MC proliferation by 49% and 35% at 10(-8) M respectively, although promoting activities declined at higher concentrations.