Efficacy and safety of early administration of remdesivir in hemodialysis patients with COVID-19: A case report and literature review.

Rationale: Although the mortality of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has decreased after the emergence of the Omicron variant, it remains high in patients on hemodialysis (HD). Remdesivir (RDV) is considered as the first line drug for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, however the evidence regarding the usage in HD patients is lacking because clinical trials of RDV have excluded HD patients for safety reasons. Thus, accumulation of knowledge on the regimen, efficacy, and tolerability of RDV in HD patients is important.

Patellar height changes sequentially after medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy: Evaluation using shear wave elastography.

Background: This study was performed to evaluate changes in patellar tendon tissue after medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) using shear wave elastography (SWE) and to clarify the factors contributing to patellar height changes after MOWHTO.

Methods: The study cohort comprised 24 knees of 24 patients. Patellar tendon length, thickness, and elasticity were evaluated using SWE preoperatively, 2 weeks postoperatively, and 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.

Itaconate reduces proliferation and migration of fibroblast-like synoviocytes and ameliorates arthritis models.

Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) play critical roles in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Itaconate (ITA), an endogenous metabolite derived from the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, has attracted attention because of its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimicrobial effects. This study evaluated the effect of ITA on FLS and its potential to treat RA.

Itaconate ameliorates autoimmunity by modulating T cell imbalance via metabolic and epigenetic reprogramming.

Dysregulation of Th17 and Treg cells contributes to the pathophysiology of many autoimmune diseases. Herein, we show that itaconate, an immunomodulatory metabolite, inhibits Th17 cell differentiation and promotes Treg cell differentiation by orchestrating metabolic and epigenetic reprogramming. Mechanistically, itaconate suppresses glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation in Th17- and Treg-polarizing T cells.

Acute compartment syndrome of the lower limb after revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a case report.

Introduction: Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is one of the most serious orthopedic diseases causing complications and requiring emergency surgery. Most cases of ACS are associated with fractures and crush injuries. However, surgical procedures can also cause ACS.

Changes in patellar baja progress until 3 months after medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate sequential patellar height changes as well as the factors leading to these changes after medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO).

Methods: The study cohort constituted 37 knees from 36 patients who underwent MOWHTO for varus knee. The Caton-Deschamps index (CDI) for patellar height was measured preoperatively and at 2 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.

Inhibitor of NF-κB Kinase Subunit ε Contributes to Neuropsychiatric Manifestations in Lupus-Prone Mice Through Microglial Activation.

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by multiorgan dysfunction. Neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) occurs in 30-40% of lupus patients and is the most severe presentation of SLE, frequently resulting in limitation of daily life. Recent studies have shown that microglia, tissue-resident macrophages in the central nervous system, are involved in the pathogenesis of NPSLE.

Moyamoya Disease Associated with a Deficiency of Complement Component 6.

Objectives: Complement component 6 (C6) deficiency is a very rare genetic defect that leads to significantly diminished synthesis, secretion, or function of C6. In the current report, we demonstrate a previously undescribed, homozygous missense mutation in exon 17 of the C6 gene (c.2545A>G p.

Protective Role of Optineurin Against Joint Destruction in Rheumatoid Arthritis Synovial Fibroblasts.

Objective: Optineurin (OPTN) is an autophagy adaptor/receptor that acts as an intrinsic negative regulator of osteoclast differentiation. RANKL expressed by rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (RASFs) is primarily responsible for the development of bone erosions in patients with RA. The aim of the present study was to explore the role of OPTN in the pathogenesis of joint destruction in RA.

MicroRNA-9 ameliorates destructive arthritis through down-regulation of NF-κB1-RANKL pathway in fibroblast-like synoviocytes.

We investigated the effect of miR-9 on fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from RA patients and animal arthritis model. The binding of miR-9 to NF-κB1 3'UTR was analyzed by luciferase reporter assay and immunoprecipitation. ChIP assay and luciferase promoter assay were performed to identify the binding of NF-κB1 to RANKL promoter and its activity.

Autophagy promotes citrullination of VIM (vimentin) and its interaction with major histocompatibility complex class II in synovial fibroblasts.

We aimed to investigate the involvement of macroautophagy/autophagy in autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through citrullination of VIM (vimentin) and its interaction with MHC class II in synovial fibroblasts (SFs). The cell surface expression of MHC class II and B7 costimulatory molecules on SFs was analyzed by flow cytometry after treatment with IFNG/IFN-γ (interferon gamma). Intracellular citrullinated autoantigens in SFs were analyzed by immunoblotting using serum from anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA)-positive patient as a primary antibody.

Draft Genome Sequence of the Phenol-Degrading Bacterium sp. Strain P-10, Isolated from Trichloroethene-Contaminated Aquifer Soil.

A batch culture was enriched on phenol with trichloroethene-contaminated aquifer soil as an inoculum. Cupriavidus sp. strain P-10 was isolated from the culture using a diluted plating method.

CHK1 cleavage in programmed cell death is intricately regulated by both caspase and non-caspase family proteases.

Background: CHK1 is an important effector kinase that regulates the cell cycle checkpoint. Previously, we showed that CHK1 is cleaved in a caspase (CASP)-dependent manner during DNA damage-induced programmed cell death (PCD) and have examined its physiological roles.

Methods And Results: In this study, we investigated the behavior of CHK1 in PCD.

DCK is frequently inactivated in acquired gemcitabine-resistant human cancer cells.

Although gemcitabine is the most effective chemotherapeutic agent against pancreatic cancer, a growing concern is that a substantial number of patients acquire gemcitabine chemoresistance. To elucidate the mechanisms of acquisition of gemcitabine resistance, we developed gemcitabine-resistant cell lines from six human cancer cell lines; three pancreatic, one gastric, one colon, and one bile duct cancer. We first analyzed gemcitabine uptake using three paired parental and gemcitabine resistant pancreatic cancer cell lines (PK-1 and RPK-1, PK-9 and RPK-9, PK-59 and RPK-59) and found that uptake of gemcitabine was rapid.

Preparation of two-dimensionally ordered microbeads structure dispensed with an ink-jet and its application to ELISA.

In order to the increase sensitivity of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using micro-droplet reaction system formed by ink-jet, we employed small dots of two-dimensionally well-ordered structure of polystyrene (PS) microbeads (710 +/- 25 microm in diameter) formed on the surface of polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS). An aqueous suspension of polystyrene microbeads (5 microm) was ejected on the PDMS plate with ink-jet. The PS beads were automatically assembled by capillary force accompanied with solvent evaporation.

A flow-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on a polydimethylsiloxane microchip for the rapid determination of immunoglobulin A.

A flow-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchip has been developed for the rapid determination of immunoglobulin A (IgA). The analytical principle of this integrated method is the same as the conventional sandwich-type ELISA. A primary antibody (anti-IgA) was adsorbed on the surface of a PDMS microchannel, and then an antigen (IgA) and a secondary antibody (anti-IgA HRP labeled) were reacted successively.

Checkpoint kinase 1 is cleaved in a caspase-dependent pathway during genotoxic stress-induced apoptosis.

Checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) plays important roles in genotoxic stress-induced cell cycle checkpoint and in normal cell cycle progression. Here, we show that Chk1 is cleaved in the treatment of apoptotic dose of etoposide (ETP) or cisplatin (CIS) but not of viable dose in HeLa S3 cells. The cleavage of Chk1 was completely inhibited by an irreversible and cell-permeable pan-caspase inhibitor, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp (OMe) fluoromethylketone (z-VAD-fmk).

Development of a surface-reaction system in a nanoliter droplet made by an ink-jet microchip.

A surface-reaction system in a nanoliter water pool using an ink-jet microchip was developed. The reaction system in the nanodroplets formed on a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) coated glass slide increased the diffusion-controlled reaction without using a nano-pump, specialized connector or highly sensitive detector. When nanoliter droplets were placed on the PDMS surface with a distance of 100 microm between them by the ink-jet microchip, the repeatabilities of the fluorescence intensity were 2.