A breast milk production model for achieving exclusive breastfeeding in low-risk primiparas who had vaginal births at 4 months postpartum: A prospective cohort study.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the thresholds of milk production for predicting the achievement of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) at 4 months postpartum.

Methods: The inclusion criteria were singleton, low-risk primiparas, non-cesarean section, and healthy mothers and infants. Temporary feeding of artificial milk in the past was included.

A longitudinal study of the association of epidural anesthesia and low-dose synthetic oxytocin regimens with breast milk supply and breastfeeding rates.

Breastfeeding is known to improve maternal and child health. However, epidural anesthesia (EDA) and synthetic oxytocin (synOT) are suggested to have negative effects on breastfeeding. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of intrapartum synOT and EDA on breast milk supply, breastfeeding rates, and maternal salivary oxytocin levels.

Changes in Salivary Oxytocin Level of Term Pregnant Women after Aromatherapy Footbath for Spontaneous Labor Onset: A Non-Randomized Experimental Study.

Background: Aromatherapy is usually used to stimulate labor. However, its specific physiological effects have been scarcely examined. We evaluated whether an aromatherapy footbath increases oxytocin levels in term pregnant women.

Determination of optimal 25-hydroxyvitamin D cutoff values for the evaluation of restless legs syndrome among pregnant women.

Study Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with restless legs syndrome (RLS). However, a cutoff value for serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) level associated with RLS has yet to be clearly determined. We evaluated the association between 25(OH)D and RLS in pregnant women.

Assessing urine ammonium concentration by urine osmolal gap in chronic kidney disease.

Acidemia is one of the risk factors for end-stage kidney disease and increases the mortality rate of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although urinary ammonium (U-NH ) is the crucial component of renal acid excretion, U-NH concentration is not routinely measured. To estimate U-NH , urine osmolal gap (UOG = urine osmolality - [2(Na + K ) + urea + glucose]) is calculated and the formula (U-NH  = UOG/2) has traditionally been used.

Effects of epidural anesthesia on postpartum maternity blues and fatigue and its relation to changes in oxytocin.

Aims: This study aimed to clarify (a) the association of the delivery mode (i.e., epidural anesthesia or no epidural) with women's changes in longitudinal salivary oxytocin (OT) levels from late pregnancy to early postpartum, and (b) the association of these changes with postpartum maternity blues (MB) and fatigue.

Changes in salivary oxytocin levels and bonding disorder in women from late pregnancy to early postpartum: A pilot study.

Objectives: This pilot study aimed to 1) follow the longitudinal changes in the salivary oxytocin level of pregnant women from late pregnancy to early postpartum, 2) examine the factors related to these changes, and 3) clarify the association of these changes with mother-infant bonding.

Methods: This study used a longitudinal observational design and questionnaires to obtain objective and subjective data. For oxytocin evaluation, saliva samples were collected and their oxytocin levels were measured at 4-time points [i.

Serial measurement of electrolyte and citrate concentrations in blood-primed continuous hemodialysis circuits during closed-circuit dialysis.

Background: For continuous renal replacement therapy in small infants, due to the large extracorporeal volume involved, blood priming can be necessary to prevent hypotension and hemodilution. Because packed red blood cells (RBCs) have high levels of potassium and citrate, closed-circuit dialysis is often performed. We assessed the metrics of closed-circuit dialysis and serial citrate concentration changes.

Effects of breast stimulation for spontaneous onset of labor on salivary oxytocin levels in low-risk pregnant women: A feasibility study.

Objectives: This preliminary study aimed to 1) determine changes in the salivary oxytocin (OT) level during breast stimulation for promoting the spontaneous onset of labor in low-risk term pregnancies, and 2) clarify the feasibility of the breast stimulation intervention protocol in terms of practicality and acceptability.

Methods: We used a single arm trial design. Sixteen low-risk pregnant women between 38 and 40 weeks of gestation with cephalic presentation participated.

Changes in salivary oxytocin after inhalation of clary sage essential oil scent in term-pregnant women: a feasibility pilot study.

Objectives: This pilot study using a quasi-experimental design was conducted to evaluate the feasibility (i.e., limited efficacy, practicality, and acceptability) of our intervention protocol involving inhalation of the scent of clary sage essential oil by pregnant women and measurement of their preinhalation and postinhalation oxytocin levels.

Constitutional abnormalities of IDH1 combined with secondary mutations predispose a patient with Maffucci syndrome to acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Maffucci syndrome is a nonhereditary disorder caused by somatic mosaic isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 or 2 (IDH1 or IDH2) mutations and is characterized by multiple enchondromas along with hemangiomas. Malignant transformation of enchondromas to chondrosarcomas and secondary neoplasms, such as brain tumors or acute myeloid leukemia, are serious complications. A 15-year-old female with Maffucci syndrome developed B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL).

Sublethal Photothermal Stimulation with a Micropulse Laser Induces Heat Shock Protein Expression in ARPE-19 Cells.

Purpose/Aim of the Study. Subthreshold micropulse diode laser photocoagulation is an effective treatment for macular edema. The molecular mechanisms underlying treatment success are poorly understood.

Detection of the heterogeneous O-glycosylation profile of MT1-MMP expressed in cancer cells by a simple MALDI-MS method.

Background: Glycosylation is an important and universal post-translational modification for many proteins, and regulates protein functions. However, simple and rapid methods to analyze glycans on individual proteins have not been available until recently.

Methods/principal Findings: A new technique to analyze glycopeptides in a highly sensitive manner by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) using the liquid matrix 3AQ/CHCA was developed recently and we optimized this technique to analyze a small amount of transmembrane protein separated by SDS-PAGE.

ZF21 protein, a regulator of the disassembly of focal adhesions and cancer metastasis, contains a novel noncanonical pleckstrin homology domain.

Directional migration of adherent cells on an extracellular matrix requires repeated formation and disassembly of focal adhesions (FAs). Directional migration of adherent cells We have identified ZF21 as a regulator of disassembly of FAs and cell migration, and increased expression of the gene has been linked to metastatic colon cancer. ZF21 is a member of a protein family characterized by the presence of the FYVE domain, which is conserved among Fab1p, YOPB, Vps27p, and EEA1 proteins, and has been shown to mediate the binding of such proteins to phosphoinositides in the lipid layers of cell membranes.

Ectodomain shedding of neuroglycan C, a brain-specific chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, by TIMP-2- and TIMP-3-sensitive proteolysis.

Neuroglycan C (NGC) is a transmembrane-type of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan with an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like module that is exclusively expressed in the CNS. Because ectodomain shedding is a common processing step for many transmembrane proteins, we examined whether NGC was subjected to proteolytic cleavage. Western blotting demonstrated the occurrence of a soluble form of NGC with a 75 kDa core glycoprotein in the soluble fraction of the young rat cerebrum.

Identification and functions of chondroitin sulfate in the milieu of neural stem cells.

The behavior of cells is generally considered to be regulated by environmental factors, but the molecules in the milieu of neural stem cells have been little studied. We found by immunohistochemistry that chondroitin sulfate (CS) existed in the surroundings of nestin-positive cells or neural stem/progenitor cells in the rat ventricular zone of the telencephalon at embryonic day 14. Brain-specific chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs), including neurocan, phosphacan/receptor-type protein-tyrosine phosphatase beta, and neuroglycan C, were detected in the ventricular zone.

Expression and identification of a new splice variant of neuroglycan C, a transmembrane chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, in the human brain.

Neuroglycan C (NGC) is a transmembrane chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan with an EGF module. We studied the expression of NGC in the human brain, mainly in the hippocampus, and confirmed some observations by conducting experiments using rat brain. In humans, NGC mRNA was expressed exclusively in the brain, especially in the immature brain.

Testosterone content of developing eggs and sex reversal in the medaka (Oryzias latipes).

To understand the effect of testosterone on sex differentiation, the quantities of testosterone (T) and estradiol-17beta (E2) in developing eggs of medaka (Oryzias latipes) were measured by radioimmunoassay, and the influence on sex differentiation of treating embryos with exogenous androgens was also examined. Endogenous T of eggs dispersed into the environmental water at spawning, and precipitously declined to a minimum level during incubation for 2 days post-fertilization (dpf). It did not significantly increase during development.

Changes in the amounts of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in rat brain after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia.

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans have been shown to participate in the pathogenesis of neuronal damages in the injured adult central nervous system (CNS). Upregulated expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans has been reported around the injured sites and depletion of these chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans brings about increased axonal regeneration in the injured adult CNS. To examine if chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans are also involved in the pathologic process of hypoxia-ischemia in the neonatal brain, expressions of three chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, neurocan, phosphacan, and neuroglycan C, were examined in rat brains after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia.

Estradiol-17beta content in developing eggs and induced sex reversal of the medaka (Oryzias latipes).

To clarify the effect of exogenous estradiol-17beta (E2) on sex differentiation, the E2 content of developing eggs of Oryzias latipes was measured by radioimmunoassay. Endogenous E2 was present in lower concentrations in ovulated, mature eggs in the ovarian cavity than in intrafollicular oocytes. The E2 content of eggs precipitously declined to a minimum level by 2 days post-fertilization.

Neuroglycan C, a brain-specific part-time proteoglycan, with a particular multidomain structure.

Neuroglycan C (NGC) is a transmembrane-type of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan that is exclusively expressed in the central nervous system. NGC gene expression is developmentally regulated, and is altered by addiction to psychostimulants and by nerve lesion. Its core protein has a particular multidomain structure differing from those of other known proteoglycans, and this protein is modified post-translationally in various ways such as phosphorylation and glycosylation.

Glycosylation site for chondroitin sulfate on the neural part-time proteoglycan, neuroglycan C.

Neuroglycan C (NGC) is a membrane-spanning chondroitin sulfate (CS) proteoglycan that is expressed predominantly in the central nervous system (CNS). NGC dramatically changed its structure from a proteoglycan to a nonproteoglycan form with cerebellar development, whereas a small portion of NGC molecules existed in a nonproteoglycan form in the other areas of the mature CNS, suggesting that the CS glycosylation of NGC is developmentally regulated in the whole CNS. As primary cultured neurons and astrocytes from cerebral cortices expressed NGC in a proteoglycan form and in a nonproteoglycan form, respectively, CS glycosylation seems to be regulated differently depending on cell type.

Developmental changes in the biochemical and immunological characters of the carbohydrate moiety of neuroglycan C, a brain-specific chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan.

Neuroglycan C (NGC), a brain-specific transmembrane proteoglycan, is thought to bear not only chondroitin sulfate but also N- and O-linked oligosaccharides on its core protein. In this study, we isolated and purified NGC from rat brains at various developmental stages by immunoaffinity column chromatography or by immunoprecipitation, and examined the structural characters of its carbohydrate moiety. The chondroitin sulfate disaccharide composition of NGC at postnatal day 10 was significantly different from those of two secreted chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, neurocan and phosphacan, purified from the brain at the same developmental stage; higher levels of 4-sulfate unit and E unit, a disulfated disaccharide unit, and a lower level of 6-sulfate unit.

Phosphorylation of neuroglycan C, a brain-specific transmembrane chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, and its localization in the lipid rafts.

Neuroglycan C (NGC) is a brain-specific transmembrane chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan. In the present study, we examined whether NGC could be phosphorylated in neural cells. On metabolic labeling of cultured cerebral cortical cells from the rat fetus with (32)P(i), serine residues in NGC were radiolabeled.