Inflammatory, metabolic, and sex-dependent gene-regulatory dynamics of microglia and macrophages in neonatal hippocampus after hypoxia-ischemia.

Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is a major cause of perinatal death and long-term disabilities worldwide. Post-ischemic neuroinflammation plays a pivotal role in HI pathophysiology. In the present study, we investigated the temporal dynamics of microglia (CX3CR1) and infiltrating macrophages (CCR2) in the hippocampi of mice subjected to HI at postnatal day 9.

TDLAS-based water vapor monitoring in narrow channels of polymer electrolyte fuel cells using a single-ended fiber-optic sensor.

The dehydration of electrolyte membranes in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) operating under low-humidity conditions is a critical issue for achieving their high efficiency and high power density. To reduce the membrane dryout, it's necessary to investigate and control the water transport within working fuel cells. This study developed a single-ended fiber-optic sensor based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) and applied it to the real-time monitoring of the water vapor concentration in the narrow flow channel of a PEFC.

Glasgow-Blatchford score combined with nasogastric aspirate as a new diagnostic algorithm for patients with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Objectives: The Glasgow-Blatchford score (GBS) is a widely used risk assessment tool for patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. However, it only identifies a relatively low proportion of patients at low risk for adverse events and poor outcomes. We developed a simple diagnostic algorithm combining the GBS and nasogastric aspirate and evaluated its diagnostic performance.

Esophageal xanthoma with nearby coexistent squamous cell carcinoma observed using magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging.

We report the case of a 63-year-old man who underwent annual surveillance esophagogastroduodenoscopy, during which a small squamous cell carcinoma and a tiny yellowish granular lesion were found in the middle esophagus, slightly apart from each other. Magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging of the yellowish granular lesion showed yellowish spots and blots scattered within an approximately 2-mm area. The larger spots appeared nodular and were overlaid with tortuous microvessels.

Tadalafil treatment in mice for preeclampsia with fetal growth restriction has neuro-benefic effects in offspring through modulating prenatal hypoxic conditions.

We have demonstrated that tadalafil facilitates fetal growth in mice with L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced preeclampsia (PE) with fetal growth restriction (FGR). Tadalafil is a selective phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor that dilates the maternal blood sinuses in the placenta, thereby facilitating the growth of the fetus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of tadalafil treatment for PE and FGR on the developing brain in FGR offspring using an L-NAME-induced mouse model of PE with FGR.

TADAFER II: Tadalafil treatment for fetal growth restriction - a study protocol for a multicenter randomised controlled phase II trial.

Introduction: There is no proven therapy to reverse or ameliorate fetal growth restriction (FGR). Sildenafil, a selective phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, has been reported to potentially play a therapeutic role in FGR, but this has not been established. Tadalafil is also a selective PDE5 inhibitor.

Amniotic Fluid Natriuretic Peptide Levels in Fetuses With Congenital Heart Defects or Arrhythmias.

Background: We have previously demonstrated that umbilical cord plasma natriuretic peptide (NP) levels reflect the severity of heart failure (HF) in fetuses with congenital heart defects (CHD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of amniotic fluid (AF) NP levels in the assessment of HF in fetuses with CHD or arrhythmia.

Methods and results: This was a prospective observational study at a tertiary pediatric cardiac center.

Safety trial of tadalafil administered for the treatment of preeclampsia.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety of clinical usage of tadalafil in women with preeclampsia. Maternal, fetal, and neonatal adverse events were closely examined in eight preeclampsia patients receiving tadalafil treatment. There were no maternal adverse events associated with 10 mg/day of tadalafil.

Management of fetal growth restriction using the contraction stress test: a case-control study.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a concerning health issue. However, studies on FGR management are limited due to its rarity. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the contraction stress test (CST) for FGR management.

Placental growth factor as a predictor of the efficacy of tadalafil treatment for fetal growth restriction.

We recently demonstrated the efficacy of tadalafil treatment for fetal growth restriction (FGR). This study aimed to evaluate the utility of serum placental growth factor (PlGF) level for predicting the efficacy of tadalafil for the treatment of FGR. The correlations between serum level of PlGF and fetal growth velocity were retrospectively assessed in nine pregnant women receiving tadalafil for FGR before 30 weeks' gestation.

Cardiac function and tadalafil used for treating fetal growth restriction in pregnant women without cardiovascular disease.

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate tadalafil for the treatment of fetal growth restriction (FGR) and the cardiac function in pregnant women without cardiovascular disease who used tadalafil for this reason.

Materials And Methods: We examined nine pregnant women without cardiovascular disease who were using tadalafil to treat FGR. Maternal heart rate, systolic blood pressure (BP), and echocardiographic findings were assessed before and after tadalafil use.

Plasma natriuretic peptide levels in fetuses with congenital heart defect and/or arrhythmia.

Objective: Diagnosing fetal heart failure remains challenging because it is difficult to know how well the fetal myocardium will perform as loading conditions change. In adult cardiology, natriuretic peptides (NPs) are established markers of heart failure. However, the number of studies investigating NP levels in fetuses is quite limited.

Tadalafil Improves L-NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester-Induced Preeclampsia With Fetal Growth Restriction-Like Symptoms in Pregnant Mice.

Background: We investigated the efficacy and mechanisms of tadalafil, a selective phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, in treating preeclampsia (PE) with fetal growth restriction (FGR) using L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced PE with FGR in pregnant mice as our experimental model.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice were divided into 2 groups 11 days postcoitum (d.p.

Safety and dose-finding trial of tadalafil administered for fetal growth restriction: A phase-1 clinical study.

Aim: We designed a safety and dose-finding trial of tadalafil administered for fetal growth restriction (FGR).

Methods: Three cases were initially commenced on 10 mg/day and monitored for major adverse events. Should a major adverse event be observed in one or more of the three cases, an examination into its relation with tadalafil would be conducted by a safety evaluation committee.

Treatment using tadalafil for severe pre-eclampsia with fetal growth restriction.

For severe pre-eclampsia (PE) with fetal growth restriction (FGR), the only effective treatment is early delivery of the placenta. Clinicians are often forced to end the pregnancy because of maternal indications. We report a case of severe PE with FGR in which the PE was temporarily improved and pregnancy successfully prolonged with tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor.

Retrospective study of tadalafil for fetal growth restriction: Impact on maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to assess tadalafil treatment in pregnant women with fetal growth restriction (FGR) in terms of maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 11 Japanese singleton pregnant women with FGR who received tadalafil along with conventional management for FGR at Mie University Hospital from July 2015 to February 2016 (tadalafil group). These women were matched for maternal age, parity, gestational age, and estimated fetal weight at enrollment with 14 singleton pregnant women who received only the conventional management for FGR in 2014 (conventional management group).

Early-onset fetal growth restriction treated with the long-acting phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor tadalafil: a case report.

Background: Severe early-onset fetal growth restriction occurs in 0.4 % of all pregnancies, and the prognoses of these patients are dismal. Severely growth-restricted fetuses (far below 500 g) are thought to be nonviable.

Cranial irradiation induces transient microglia accumulation, followed by long-lasting inflammation and loss of microglia.

The relative contribution of resident microglia and peripheral monocyte-derived macrophages in neuroinflammation after cranial irradiation is not known. A single dose of 8 Gy was administered to postnatal day 10 (juvenile) or 90 (adult) CX3CR1GFP/+ CCR2RFP/+ mouse brains. Microglia accumulated in the subgranular zone of the hippocampal granule cell layer, where progenitor cell death was prominent.

Resident microglia, rather than blood-derived macrophages, contribute to the earlier and more pronounced inflammatory reaction in the immature compared with the adult hippocampus after hypoxia-ischemia.

The mechanisms of neuronal injury after hypoxia-ischemia (HI) are different in the immature and the adult brain, but microglia activation has not been compared. The purpose of this study was to phenotype resident microglia and blood-derived macrophages in the hippocampus after HI in neonatal (postnatal day 9, P9) or adult (3 months of age, 3mo) mice. Unilateral brain injury after HI was induced in Cx3cr1(GFP/+) Ccr2(RFP/+) male mice on P9 (n = 34) or at 3mo (n = 53) using the Vannucci model.

Postnatal weight gain induced by overfeeding pups and maternal high-fat diet during the lactation period modulates glucose metabolism and the production of pancreatic and gastrointestinal peptides.

The impact of rapid weight gain on glucose metabolism during the early postnatal period remains unclear. We investigated the influence of rapid weight gain under different nutritional conditions on glucose metabolism, focusing on the production of pancreatic and gastric peptides. On postnatal day (PND) 2, C57BL/6N pups were divided into three groups: control (C) pups whose dams were fed a control diet (10%kcal fat) and nursed 10 pups each; maternal high-fat diet (HFD) pups whose dams were fed an HFD (45%kcal fat) and nursed 10 pups each; and overfeeding (OF) pups whose dams were fed the control diet and nursed 4 pups each.

A maternal mouse diet with moderately high-fat levels does not lead to maternal obesity but causes mesenteric adipose tissue dysfunction in male offspring.

The impact of an increase in maternal fat consumption on fetal metabolic programming separately from maternal obesity remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to document the effect of in utero high-fat diet exposure on the development of metabolic syndrome characteristics in offspring. C57BL/6 female mice were fed either a control diet (10% fat) or a moderately high-fat (MHF) diet (45% fat) until delivery.

Maternal high-fat diets cause insulin resistance through inflammatory changes in fetal adipose tissue.

Objectives: Epidemiological and animal studies have shown that maternal obesity predisposes the offspring to obesity and the metabolic syndrome, possibly via late-onset metabolic programming of the fetus. Little is known, however, about the metabolic effect of maternal obesity on the fetus. This study investigated the effect of a maternal high-fat diet (HFD) on fetal growth and glucose metabolism using a diet-induced obesity mouse model.

Effects of the Rho kinase inhibitor, hydroxyfasudil, on bladder dysfunction and inflammation in rats with HCl-induced cystitis.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the Rho kinase inhibitor, hydroxyfasudil, on bladder function in a rat model of HCl-induced chemical cystitis, and to elucidate the possible mechanisms associated with its therapeutic effect.

Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats with HCl-induced cystitis were given hydroxyfasudil (10 mg/kg, i.p.