Crosstalk between dental pulp stem cells and endothelial cells augments angiogenic factor expression.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate whether the mesenchymal stem cell-endothelial cell crosstalk enhances angiogenic factor expression via nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)-dependent mechanisms.

Materials And Methods: Human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs) and stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) were cocultured for 96 hr, in the presence of NF-κB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) or scramble (control). Vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) and phospho-NF-κB p65 were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Author Correction: Altered humoral immunity to mycobacterial antigens in Japanese patients affected by inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Lifestyle-related signs of locomotive syndrome in the general Japanese population: A cross-sectional study.

Background: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of locomotive syndrome (LS) risk in age groups using the LS risk test proposed by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association. Based on this, this study identified the lifestyle-related signs that lead to LS, by clarifying the association between LS risk and lifestyle factors.

Methods: A total of 728 individuals aged 20-91 years who were without specific mobility disorders were evaluated.

Notch signaling is involved in Fgf23 upregulation in osteocytes.

Fgf23 acts as a phosphaturic factor secreted from osteocytes in bone, but the mechanism regulating Fgf23 is not fully understood. Here, we showed the colocalization of Fgf23, Notch, and Hes1, a downstream target of Notch signaling, in numerous osteocytes in cortical bone of femur in wild-type mice. We generated NICD (Notch intracellular domain)-transgenic mice driven by a 2.

Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural evaluation of matrix components in mandibular condylar cartilage in comparison with growth plate cartilage in cartilage calcification insufficient rats.

Matrix components of growth plate cartilage and mandibular condylar cartilage were immunohistochemically analyzed in cartilage calcification insufficient (CCI) rats, a model for dwarf rats. Reduction in total tibial length, elongation of growth plate, and appearance of noncartilaginous regions in the growth plate were observed in CCI rats. Immunoreactivity for type I collagen and hyaluronic acid (HA) staining were observed in the noncartilaginous region.

Characteristics of facial muscle activity during voluntary facial expressions: Imaging analysis of facial expressions based on myogenic potential data.

Purpose: Facial expressions are formed by the coordination of facial muscles and reflect changes in emotion. Nurses observe facial expressions as way of understanding patients. This study conducted basic research using facial myogenic potential topography to visually determine changes in the location and strength of facial muscle activity associated with voluntary facial expression to examine relationships with facial expressions.

Inhibition of Nuclear Factor Kappa B Prevents the Development of Experimental Periapical Lesions.

Introduction: Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is an important transcriptional regulator of angiogenesis involving B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) signaling pathways. Thus, inhibition of NF-κB may suppress the development of periapical lesions via blockage of angiogenesis. Accordingly, we examined the effects of NF-κB decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) treatment on experimentally induced periapical lesions.

Isometric knee extension force in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients without apparent diabetic polyneuropathy: Data from the Multicenter Survey of the Isometric Lower Extremity Strength in Type 2 Diabetes study.

Objectives: To determine standard reference values for isometric knee extension force using a cohort of Japanese type 2 diabetic patients without diabetic polyneuropathy.

Methods: Patient data were collected from the Multicenter Survey of the Isometric Lower Extremity Strength in Type 2 Diabetes study and compared with previously published data of healthy control subjects. In total, we enrolled 898 patients with type 2 diabetes aged 30-87 years, who did not have diabetic polyneuropathy.

Relationship between social capital and happiness in a Japanese community: A cross-sectional study.

The influence of social capital on happiness is attracting attention around the world. Many studies that investigated the relationship between social capital and happiness suggest that happiness correlates to a positive social environment. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between social capital and happiness in a community with the lowest National Health Insurance expenditures in Miyazaki Prefecture (Japan).

Anti-Mycobacterial Antibodies in Paired Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum Samples from Japanese Patients with Multiple Sclerosis or Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder.

Local synthesis of antibodies and presence of oligoclonal bands in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are hallmarks of multiple sclerosis (MS). We investigated the frequency of antibodies against mycobacterial and relevant human epitopes in the CSF of patients with MS or neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and whether these antibodies differed from those present in the serum. Matched serum and CSF samples from 46 patients with MS, 42 patients with NMOSD, and 29 age-matched and sex-matched control subjects were screened retrospectively for the presence of antibodies against subsp.

Erratum: Kuribayashi, T. et al. Seroprevalence of Immunoglobulin E Antibodies against Japanese Cedar Pollen Allergens Cry j1 and Cry j2 in Dogs Bred in Japan. 2018, , 79.

Due to an error during production, the column title of and are misaligned in the Results section of the published paper [...

Seroprevalence of Immunoglobulin E Antibodies against Japanese Cedar Pollen Allergens Cry j 1 and Cry j 2 in Dogs Bred in Japan.

Levels of Japanese cedar pollen () have increased in Japan and cedar pollinosis caused by Japanese cedar pollen has been reported in dogs. Serum levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) against Cry j 1 and Cry j 2 in dogs raised in institutes and treated at veterinary hospitals in Japan were thus investigated. A total of 71 sera obtained from two institutes and 87 sera obtained from veterinary hospitals in the Hyogo and Kanagawa Prefectures were analyzed in this study.

Effect of oral functional training on immunological abilities of older people: a case control study.

Background: Oral functional ability decreases with age, and systemic immunological ability and quality of life can also deteriorate. Continuous moderate whole-body exercise for older people is known to improve oral functional and their immunological abilities. Here, we evaluated the effect of oral exercise as an alternative training method for highly older people who cannot perform whole-body exercises.

Altered humoral immunity to mycobacterial antigens in Japanese patients affected by inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system.

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) and Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) have been associated to several human autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), but there are conflicting evidence on the issue. The objective of this study is to evaluate their role in Japanese patients affected by inflammatory demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system (IDDs).

Subsp. Induces Specific IgE Production in Japanese People with Allergies.

. The prevalence of allergies is steadily increasing worldwide; however, the pathogenesis is still unclear. We hypothesized that subsp.

Evaluation of nursing interventions using minimally invasive assessments methods for patients in a persistent vegetative state.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of nursing interventions using minimally invasive or non-invasive methods conducive to frequent use in order to assess patients in a persistent vegetative state (PVS).

Methods: We provided three nursing interventions-sitting the patient in an upright position, footbath care, and oral care-to PVS patients (n = 11) and elderly bedridden subjects with consciousness (n = 6) for 3 weeks in addition to ordinary nursing treatments. The Kohnan Score, plasma cortisol and adrenaline levels, General Well-Being Schedule score, and facial expression assessments were used as evaluation methods.

Irx3 and Bmp2 regulate mouse mesenchymal cell chondrogenic differentiation in both a Sox9-dependent and -independent manner.

Sox9, a master regulator of cartilage development, controls the cell fate decision to differentiate from mesenchymal to chondrogenic cells. In addition, Sox9 regulates the proliferation and differentiation of chondrocytes, as well as the production of cartilage-specific proteoglycans. The existence of Sox9-independent mechanisms in cartilage development remains to be determined.

Periostin is required for matricellular localization of CCN3 in periodontal ligament of mice.

CCN3 is a matricellular protein that belongs to the CCN family. CCN3 consists of 4 domains: insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-like domain (IGFBP), von Willebrand type C-like domain (VWC), thrombospondin type 1-like domain (TSP1), and the C-terminal domain (CT) having a cysteine knot motif. Periostin is a secretory protein that binds to extracellular matrix proteins such as fibronectin and collagen.

Keratin 17 Is Induced in Oral Cancer and Facilitates Tumor Growth.

Keratin subtypes are selectively expressed depending on the cell type. They not only provide structural support, but regulate the metabolic processes and signaling pathways that control the growth of the epithelium. KRT17 (keratin 17) is induced in the regenerative epithelium and acts on diverse signaling pathways.

Humoral response against host-mimetic homologous epitopes of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Japanese multiple sclerosis patients.

Several works have demonstrated the existence of a link between Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) and MS in Italy. In this study, we analyzed the serology of MAP in a Japanese population while looking at several markers of MAP.

Structure determination of lipopeptides from Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis and identification of antigenic lipopeptide probes.

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) causes chronic illnesses mostly in ruminants. MAP infection of intestinal tissue triggers a fatal inflammatory disorder, Johne's disease (paratuberculosis). Development of fast and reliable diagnostic methods for Johne's disease in clinically suspected ruminants requires the discovery of MAP-specific antigens that induce immune responses.

A facile one-step strategy for the generation of conditional knockout mice to explore the role of Notch1 in oroesophageal tumorigenesis.

NOTCH1 plays an important role in epithelial differentiation and carcinogenesis. To investigate the impact of Notch1 inactivation in oroesophageal epithelium, we generated conditional knockout (cKO) mice, using a combined construct which induces the expression of single guide RNA targeting Notch1 and Cas9 by the KRT14 promoter. The cKO mice exhibited patchy hair loss and multiple NOTCH1-negative areas in the tongue epithelium, indicative of heterogeneous knockout.

Seroprevalence of IgG1 and IgG4 class antibodies against Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Japanese population.

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the established causative agent of Johne's disease in cattle and other ruminants, and it has also been speculated to be a putative etiological agent of several human autoimmune diseases. It is acknowledged that dairy products deriving from infected animals play a role (could be vehicles) in exposing humans to MAP.

Estimating Annual Individual Doses for Evacuees Returning Home to Areas Affected by the Fukushima Nuclear Accident.

To contribute to the reconstruction and revitalization of Fukushima Prefecture following the 2011 nuclear power disaster, annual individual doses were estimated for evacuees who will return home to Tamura City, Kawauchi Village, and Iitate Village in Fukushima. Ambient external dose rates and individual doses obtained with personal dosimeters were measured at many residential and occupational sites throughout the study areas to obtain fundamental data needed for the estimation. The measurement results indicated that the ratio of individual dose based on a personal dosimeter to the ambient external dose measurement was 0.