Suppression of Dad1 induces cardiomyocyte death by weakening cell adhesion.

As cardiomyocyte loss causes heart failure, inhibition of cardiomyocyte death may be a therapeutic strategy against heart failure. In this study, we have identified defender against cell death 1 (Dad1) as a candidate regulator of cardiomyocyte death, using complementary DNA microarray and siRNA knockdown screening. Dad1 is a subunit of oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) complex that is responsible for protein N-glycosylation; however, its function in cardiomyocytes remains unknown.

Three-dimensional imaging evaluation of facial swelling after orthognathic surgery with compression and Kinesio taping therapy: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Postoperative swelling is a common complication of orthognathic surgery. The authors used three-dimensional (3D) image analysis and body surface temperature to determine the effects of compression taping (CT) and Kinesio taping (KT) by the epidermis, dermis, and fascia method (EDF-KT) on postoperative swelling.

Materials And Methods: The authors conducted a prospective, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial.

Arid5a/IL-6/PAI-1 Signaling Is Involved in the Pathogenesis of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Kidney Injury.

A systemic inflammatory response leads to widespread organ dysfunction, such as kidney dysfunction. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory kidney injury; however, the regulatory mechanism of PAI-1 in injured kidneys remains unclear. PAI-1 is induced by interleukin (IL)-6 in patients with sepsis.

Impact of the lateral skeletal stability following bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy for mandibular asymmetry.

This study evaluated the stability of bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (BSSRO) associated with positional plagiocephaly and temporal and masseter muscles using posteroanterior cephalogram analysis and three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT). This retrospective cohort study included 31 patients who underwent BSSRO for mandibular asymmetry. The cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) and the cephalic index were used as indicators of positional plagiocephaly.

Myeloid cell-specific ablation of Runx2 gene exacerbates post-infarct cardiac remodeling.

Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), a regulator of osteoblast differentiation, is pathologically involved in vascular calcification; however, the significance of Runx2 in cardiac homeostasis remains unclear. Here, we investigated the roles of Runx2 in cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). The expression of Runx2 mRNA and protein was upregulated in murine hearts after MI.

CXCL10 is a novel anti-angiogenic factor downstream of p53 in cardiomyocytes.

Tumor suppressor protein p53 plays crucial roles in the onset of heart failure. p53 activation results in cardiac dysfunction, at least partially by suppressing angiogenesis. Though p53 has been reported to reduce VEGF production by inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor, the anti-angiogenic property of p53 remains to be fully elucidated in cardiomyocytes.

The impact of COVID-19 vaccination on case fatality rates in a city in Southern Brazil.

Background: Recent studies have established that vaccination plays a significant role in reducing COVID-19-related deaths. Here, we investigated differences in COVID-19 case fatality rates (CFRs) among vaccinated and unvaccinated populations, and analyzed whether the age composition of confirmed cases has a significant effect on the variations in the observed CFRs across these groups.

Methods: The study considered 59,853 confirmed cases and 1,687 deaths from COVID-19, reported between January 1 to October 20, 2021, by the Health Department of Londrina, a city in Southern Brazil.

Maresin-1 induces cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through IGF-1 paracrine pathway.

The resolution of inflammation is closely linked with tissue repair. Recent studies have revealed that macrophages suppress inflammatory reactions by producing lipid mediators, called specialized proresolving mediators (SPMs); however, the biological significance of SPMs in tissue repair remains to be fully elucidated in the heart. In this study, we focused on maresin-1 (MaR1) and examined the reparative effects of MaR1 in cardiomyocytes.

Transcription factor old astrocyte specifically induced substance is a novel regulator of kidney fibrosis.

Prevention of kidney fibrosis is an essential requisite for effective therapy in preventing chronic kidney disease (CKD). Here, we identify Old astrocyte specifically induced substance (OASIS)/cAMP responsive element-binding protein 3-like 1 (CREB3l1), a CREB/ATF family transcription factor, as a candidate profibrotic gene that drives the final common pathological step along the fibrotic pathway in CKD. Although microarray data from diseased patient kidneys and fibrotic mouse model kidneys both exhibit OASIS/Creb3l1 upregulation, the pathophysiological roles of OASIS in CKD remains unknown.

[Reliability of the diagnoses of hospital admissions for external causes financed by the Brazilian Unified Health System-SUS in two cities in the State of Paraná, Brazil].

The scope of this article is to analyze the reliability of the diagnoses of hospital admissions for external causes financed by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). The diagnoses for hospital admissions from the Hospital Information System (SIH-SUS) data were compared with those from the research panel created from information culled from authorizations for hospital admission (AIH) complemented with information from other sources. The reliability was analyzed in groups using crude agreement and Kappa statistics.

Influences of CYP2C19 polymorphism on recurrence of reflux esophagitis during proton pump inhibitor maintenance therapy.

Background/aims: Patients with erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have rapid recurrence after treatment withdrawal. The aim is to study the influences of CYP2C19 polymorphism on recurrence of GERD during proton pump inhibitor maintenance therapy.

Methodology: Ninety-nine patients with initial healing of GERD (judged by endoscopy) after 8 wk of treatment with PPIs were enrolled into maintenance therapy for 6 mo with rabeprazole (10 mg/day), omeprazole (20 mg/day) or lansoprazole (15 mg/day).

Quality of external-cause data in the Hospitalization Information System.

Objective: To analyze the coverage and quality of the data on hospitalizations due to external causes in the Hospital Information System of the Brazilian National Health System.

Methods: Hospitalizations recorded in the Hospital Information System of 11 hospitals in two municipalities (Londrina and Maringá, Southern Brazil), in 2004, were compared with hospitalizations identified as consequences of external causes through investigating medical records, complemented with mortality and pre-hospital data. The crude agreement rate, sensitivity and positive predictive value were calculated.

Stent-graft to treat intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunt causing encephalopathy.

Spontaneous intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts (IPSVS) are rare, and angiographic intervention to treat IPSVS has been limited. To our knowledge, we present the first case of an IPSVS between the right portal vein and inferior vena cava accompanied by intractable encephalopathy that was successfully obliterated using a stent-graft deployed in the inferior vena cava to disconnect the portal and systemic venous circulation. Our patient, a 58-year-old woman, has shown no evidence of recurrent portosystemic venous shunt or encephalopathy for 30 months.

Changes in the Th1/Th2 ratio during a 24-week course of an interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin combination therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background And Aim: It has been reported that immunological factors, such as the T-helper cell (Th)1/Th2 ratio, play a part in the mechanisms for the antihepatitis C virus (HCV) effect of the interferon (IFN) alpha-2b plus ribavirin combination therapy. By using flow cytometry, we examined this ratio during a 24-week course of combination therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: We recruited 21 patients with chronic hepatitis C (16 males, five females, genotype 1b, 17 patients; genotype 2a or 2b, four patients) who had been treated by combination therapy.

Acquired factor V inhibitor responsive to corticosteroids in a patient with double cancers.

A 70-year-old woman suffering from HCV-related liver cirrhosis was admitted for abnormal bleeding. Laboratory findings included PT at 46.6 sec, APTT at >212 sec, factor V activity of <3%, and factor V inhibitor of 2 BU.

Treatment effects and predictors of a 24-week course of interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin combination therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background And Aims: In chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 1b and a high viral load, the sustained virological response (SVR) rate remained as low as 2-3% with conventional interferon (IFN) monotherapy, but improved to more than 20% with IFN alpha-2b plus ribavirin combination therapy. This study examined the therapeutic effects and predictors of this combination therapy.

Methods: Subjects were 105 patients with chronic hepatitis C (73 males, 32 females) with a median age of 53 years (range 19-70 years).

Improvement of thrombocytopenia with disappearance of HCV RNA in patients treated by interferon-alpha therapy: possible etiology of HCV-associated immune thrombocytopenia.

We evaluated the relationship between the severity of thrombocytopenia and the serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA level to investigate the mechanism of thrombocytopenia in patients with HCV infection. Patients who had chronic hepatitis without splenomegaly were divided into two groups according to the platelet count, which were 18 patients with a platelet count < or =150 x 10(9)/L and 22 patients with a platelet count >150 x 10(9)/L. HCV RNA, platelet-associated immunoglobulin G (PAIgG), rheumatoid factor (RF), and other immunological parameters were measured and correlations were investigated.

Tuberculous liver abscess not associated with lung involvement.

Hepatic tuberculosis is one of the uncommon forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. We report a 78-year-old woman who developed tuberculous liver abscesses with splenic abscess not associated with pulmonary foci. Ultrasonography and computed tomography of the abdomen showed the low-density lesions in the liver and spleen.

Type C chronic hepatitis with the discovery of a small hepatocellular carcinoma 7 years after successful interferon therapy.

The patient, a 61-year-old man, had sustained injuries in a traffic accident at the age of 26, for which he received a blood transfusion. Since 1988 (age, 49 years), abnormal hepatic function had been detected, and, because of the presence of hepatitis C virus antibodies, he was diagnosed as having type C chronic hepatitis. Based on a liver biopsy that was conducted in July 1992 (age, 53), a histological diagnosis of chronic active hepatitis (F(1)/A(2)) was made.

[Clinical features of elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma].

To clarify the clinical features and to select optimal treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the elderly, 163 patients were divided into the following three groups and retrospectively evaluated: Group O (> or = 70 years of age, 47 cases), Group IM (< 70 and > or = 60 years, 70 cases) and Group Y (< 60 years, 46 cases). There were fewer HBsAg-positive cases and those in clinical stage III in Group O than in Group Y (p < 0.05).

Telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA expression and telomerase activity in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) has been identified as the catalytic subunit of human telomerase. To clarify the clinical significance of hTERT mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we investigated the relationship between telomerase activity and hTERT mRNA in human HCC and non-HCC tissues. The hTERT mRNA was detected in 17 (89.

Levels of telomerase catalytic subunit mRNA as a predictor of potential malignancy.

This study investigated the relationship between the levels of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA and that of telomerase activity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A significant correlation between hTERT mRNA expression and telomerase activity by transfecting the gene encoding hTERT into telomerase-negative human fibroblast cells has clearly been demonstrated. However, the relationship between levels of telomerase activity and that of hTERT mRNA has yet to be elucidated.

Toxicity profile of benzo[a]pyrene in the male LacZ transgenic mouse (MutaMouse) following oral administration for 5 consecutive days.

The toxicity profile of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) was examined in the MutaMouse. The transgenic mouse integrated with lambda gt10 lacZ vectors is used worldwide as an experimental animal in in vivo mutagenesis testing systems. There are few toxicity studies including carcinogenicity in the MutaMouse, and so far only a few carcinogenicity studies of BP accompanied with hematological and plasma biochemical examinations have been conducted even in generic mice.