Purinergic inhibitory regulation of esophageal smooth muscle is mediated by P2Y receptors and ATP-dependent potassium channels in rats

Purines such as ATP are regulatory transmitters in motility of the gastrointestinal tract. The aims of this study were to propose functional roles of purinergic regulation of esophageal motility. An isolated segment of the rat esophagus was placed in an organ bath, and mechanical responses were recorded using a force transducer. Exogenous application of ATP (10-100 μM) evoked relaxation of the esophageal smooth muscle in a longitudinal direction under the condition of carbachol (1 μM) -induced precontraction. Pretreatment with a non-selective P2 receptor antagonist, suramin (500 μM), and a P2Y receptor antagonist, cibacron blue F3GA (200 μM), inhibited the ATP (100 μM) -induced relaxation, but a P2X receptor antagonist, pyridoxal phosphate-6-azophenyl-2,4-disulfonic acid (50 μM), did not affect it. A blocker of ATP-dependent potassium channels (KATP channels), glibenclamide (200 μM), inhibited the ATP-induced relaxation and application of an opener of KATP channels, nicorandil (50 μM), produced relaxation. The findings suggest that ATP is involved in inhibitory regulation of the longitudinal smooth muscle in the muscularis mucosae of the rat esophagus via activation of P2Y receptors and then opening of KATP channels.

Mutual interaction of neurons and astrocytes derived from iPSCs with APP V717L mutation developed the astrocytic phenotypes of Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND

The development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) technology has enabled human cellular disease modeling for inaccessible cell types, such as neural cells in the brain. However, many of the iPSC-derived disease models established to date typically involve only a single cell type. These monoculture models are inadequate for accurately simulating the brain environment, where multiple cell types interact. The limited cell type diversity in monoculture models hinders the accurate recapitulation of disease phenotypes resulting from interactions between different cell types. Therefore, our goal was to create cell models that include multiple interacting cell types to better recapitulate disease phenotypes.

METHODS

To establish a co-culture model of neurons and astrocytes, we individually induced neurons and astrocytes from the same iPSCs using our novel differentiation methods, and then co-cultured them. We evaluated the effects of co-culture on neurons and astrocytes using immunocytochemistry, immuno-electron microscopy, and Ca2+ imaging. We also developed a co-culture model using iPSCs from a patient with familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) patient (APP V717L mutation) to investigate whether this model would manifest disease phenotypes not seen in the monoculture models.

RESULTS

The co-culture of the neurons and astrocytes increased the branching of astrocyte processes, the number of GFAP-positive cells, neuronal activities, the number of synapses, and the density of presynaptic vesicles. In addition, immuno-electron microscopy confirmed the formation of a tripartite synaptic structure in the co-culture model, and inhibition of glutamate transporters increased neuronal activity. Compared to the co-culture model of the control iPSCs, the co-culture model of familial AD developed astrogliosis-like phenotype, which was not observed in the monoculture model of astrocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

Co-culture of iPSC-derived neurons and astrocytes enhanced the morphological changes mimicking the in vivo condition of both cell types. The formation of the functional tripartite synaptic structures in the co-culture model suggested the mutual interaction between the cells. Furthermore, the co-culture model with the APP V717L mutation expressed in neurons exhibited an astrocytic phenotype reminiscent of AD brain pathology. These results suggest that our co-culture model is a valuable tool for disease modeling of neurodegenerative diseases.

Smoking and diabetes cause telomere shortening among alcohol use disorder patients

The length of telomeres located at the ends of chromosomes has attracted attention as an indicator of cellular and individual aging. Various diseases or stresses cause telomere shortening, and it has been reported that alcohol use disorder patients actually have shorter telomeres than healthy patients. However, the factors that contribute to the reduction in telomere length among alcohol use disorder patients have not been clarified in detail. Therefore, in this study, we explored the factors that reduce telomere length in alcohol use disorder patients. A questionnaire survey and a measurement of leukocyte telomere length were conducted among alcohol use disorder patients. The mean telomere length of leukocyte was measured by ∆∆Ct analysis using a real-time PCR. We compared the telomere length between alcohol use disorder patients and the control group (Japanese special health check-up examinee). Moreover, we searched for factors associated with telomere length from drinking/smoking characteristics and history of comorbidities. A total of 74 subjects had alcohol use disorder, and 68 were in the control group. Compared to the control group, alcohol use disorder patients had significantly shorter telomere lengths (p < 0.001). A multivariate analysis revealed that a longer duration of smoking resulted in a significantly shorter telomere length (p = 0.0129). In addition, a comparison of the telomere length between the groups with and without a history of suffering from each disease revealed that telomere length was significantly shorter in the group with diabetes than in the group without diabetes (p = 0.0371). This study reveals that in individuals with alcohol dependence, particularly, prolonged smoking habits and the presence of diabetes contribute to telomere shortening. Medication and support for abstinence from alcohol has been mainly provided for alcohol use disorder patients. Our findings demonstrate a potential support approach via smoking cessation programs and controlling diabetes, which may be helpful to suppress the shortening of healthy life expectancy among alcohol use disorder patients.

Group III secreted phospholipase A2 -driven lysophospholipid pathway protects against allergic asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by recurrent episodes of airway obstruction, hyperresponsiveness, remodeling, and eosinophilia. Phospholipase A2 s (PLA2 s), which release fatty acids and lysophospholipids from membrane phospholipids, have been implicated in exacerbating asthma by generating pro-asthmatic lipid mediators, but an understanding of the association between individual PLA2 subtypes and asthma is still incomplete. Here, we show that group III-secreted PLA2 (sPLA2 -III) plays an ameliorating, rather than aggravating, role in asthma pathology. In both mouse and human lungs, sPLA2 -III was expressed in bronchial epithelial cells and decreased during the asthmatic response. In an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma model, Pla2g3-/- mice exhibited enhanced airway hyperresponsiveness, eosinophilia, OVA-specific IgE production, and type 2 cytokine expression as compared to Pla2g3+/+ mice. Lipidomics analysis showed that the pulmonary levels of several lysophospholipids, including lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), were decreased in OVA-challenged Pla2g3-/- mice relative to Pla2g3+/+ mice. LPA receptor 2 (LPA2 ) agonists suppressed thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) expression in bronchial epithelial cells and reversed airway hyperresponsiveness and eosinophilia in Pla2g3-/- mice, suggesting that sPLA2 -III negatively regulates allergen-induced asthma at least by producing LPA. Thus, the activation of the sPLA2 -III-LPA pathway may be a new therapeutic target for allergic asthma.

Activity Detection in Indoor Environments Using Multiple 2D Lidars

In health monitoring systems for the elderly, a crucial aspect is unobtrusively and continuously monitoring their activities to detect potentially hazardous incidents such as sudden falls as soon as they occur. However, the effectiveness of current non-contact sensor-based activity detection systems is limited by obstacles present in the environment. To overcome this limitation, a straightforward yet highly efficient approach involves utilizing multiple sensors that collaborate seamlessly. This paper proposes a method that leverages 2D Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) technology for activity detection. Multiple 2D Lidars are positioned in an indoor environment with varying obstacles such as furniture, working cohesively to create a comprehensive representation of ongoing activities. The data from these Lidars is concatenated and transformed into a more interpretable format, resembling images. A convolutional Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) Neural Network is then used to process these generated images to classify the activities. The proposed approach achieves high accuracy in three tasks: activity detection, fall detection, and unsteady gait detection. Specifically, it attains accuracies of 96.10%, 99.13%, and 93.13% for these tasks, respectively. This demonstrates the efficacy and promise of the method in effectively monitoring and identifying potentially hazardous events for the elderly through 2D Lidars, which are non-intrusive sensing technology.

Antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of fractionated crude lectins from boiled kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)

In this study, we investigated the biological profile of lectins isolated from raw and boiled Japanese red Kintoki beans (red kidney beans [RKB]; Phaseolus vulgaris). Lectins in beans showing agglutination activity were retained after heating. Raw and boiled RKB lectins were fractionated using carboxymethyl- and diethylaminoethyl-Sepharose, respectively. Boiled RKB lectins were evaluated for carbohydrate specificity as well as cytokine-inducing and antiproliferative activities against cancer cells and compared with raw RKB lectins. Raw RKB lectins showed specificity for thyroglobulin and fetuin, whereas boiled lectins showed specificity for N-acetylneuraminic acid. Raw RKB lectins showed low resistance to proteases and tolerated temperatures greater than 80°C for 5 min. Notably, lectins from raw and boiled beans showed antiproliferative activity against five types of cancer cells B16, LM8, HeLa, HepG2, and Colo 679. In particular, lectins from raw beans exhibited a significantly stronger activity than those from boiled beans. Anti-inflammatory effects were notably observed in crude extracts from raw and boiled beans. Specifically, lectins fractionated from boiled beans markedly inhibited the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6. Overall, our results showed that RKB lectins from boiled beans exert anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects and could be developed as potential chemopreventive agents. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Japanese red kidney beans (RKB) are cultivated in numerous parts of the temperate zone and consumed in many countries. Lectins from boiled beans exhibited anticancer activity, similar to lectins from raw beans. Additionally, crude and fractionated lectins from boiled beans showed anti-inflammatory activity. Thus, boiled RKB lectins have the potential to be used as a bioactive protein for medical research and could be developed as anticancer agents.

A Novel Long Noncoding RNA in Osteocytes Regulates Bone Formation through the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

The vast majority of transcribed RNAs are noncoding RNAs. Among noncoding RNAs, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which contain hundreds to thousands of bases, have received attention in many fields. The vast majority of the constituent cells in bone tissue are osteocytes, but their regulatory mechanisms are incompletely understood. Considering the wide range of potential contributions of lncRNAs to physiological processes and pathological conditions, we hypothesized that lncRNAs in osteocytes, which have not been reported, could be involved in bone metabolism. Here, we first isolated osteocytes from femurs of mice with osteocyte-specific GFP expression. Then, through RNA-sequencing, we identified osteocyte-specific lncRNAs and focused on a novel lncRNA, 9530026P05Rik (lncRNA953Rik), which strongly suppressed osteogenic differentiation. In the IDG-SW3 osteocyte line with lncRNA953Rik overexpression, the expression of Osterix and its downstream genes was reduced. RNA pull-down and subsequent LC-MS/MS analysis revealed that lncRNA953Rik bound the nuclear protein CCAR2. We demonstrated that CCAR2 promoted Wnt/β-catenin signaling and that lncRNA953Rik inhibited this pathway. lncRNA953Rik sequestered CCAR2 from HDAC1, leading to deacetylation of H3K27 in the Osterix promoter and consequent transcriptional downregulation of Osterix. This research is the first to clarify the role of a lncRNA in osteocytes. Our findings can pave the way for novel therapeutic options targeting lncRNAs in osteocytes to treat bone metabolic diseases such as osteoporosis.

A mild form of POC1B-associated retinal dystrophy with relatively preserved cone system function

PURPOSE

Biallelic variants in POC1B are rare causes of autosomal recessive cone dystrophy associated with generalized cone system dysfunction. In this report, we describe the clinical characteristics of a Japanese male patient with POC1B-associated retinopathy with relatively preserved cone system function.

METHODS

We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) to identify the disease-causing variants and a comprehensive ophthalmic examination, including full-field and multifocal electroretinography (ffERG and mfERG).

RESULTS

Our WES analysis identified novel compound heterozygous POC1B variants (p.Arg106Gln and p.Arg452Ter) in the patient. His unaffected mother carried the p.Arg452Ter variant heterozygously. The patient experienced decreased visual acuity in his 50s. At the age of 63, his corrected visual acuity was 20/22 in the right and 20/20 in the left eye. Fundus and fundus autofluorescence images for each eye showed no remarkable finding, except for a subtle hyperautofluorescent spot in the fovea of the left eye. Cross-sectional optical coherence tomography demonstrated blurred but a relatively preserved ellipsoid zone. The ffERG showed that amplitudes of rod and standard-flash responses were within the reference range, whereas the cone and light-adapted 30-Hz flicker amplitudes were close to, or slightly below, the reference range. The mfERG revealed substantially reduced responses with relative preservation of central function.

CONCLUSIONS

We reported the case of an older patient with POC1B-associated retinopathy, demonstrating late-onset visual decrease, good visual acuity, and relatively preserved cone system function. The disease condition was much milder than previously reported in patients with POC1B-associated retinopathy.

Plasmonic Metal Nanostructures Meet Triplet-Triplet Annihilation-Based Photon Upconversion Systems: Performance Improvements and Application Trends

Improving the performance of upconversion systems based on triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA-UC) can have far-reaching implications for various fields, including solar devices, nano-bioimaging, and nanotherapy. This review focuses on the use of localized surface plasmon (LSP) resonance of metal nanostructures to enhance the performance of TTA-UC systems and explores their potential applications. After introducing the basic driving mechanism of TTA-UC and typical sensitizers used in these systems, we discuss recent studies that have utilized new sensitizers with distinct characteristics. Furthermore, we confirm that the enhancement in upconverted emission can be explained, at least in part, by the mechanism of "metal-enhanced fluorescence", which is attributed to LSP resonance-induced fluorescence enhancement. Next, we describe selected experiments that demonstrate the enhancement in upconverted emission in plasmonic TTA-UC systems, as well as the emerging trends in their application. We present specific examples of studies in which the enhancement in upconverted emission has significantly improved the performance of photocatalysts under both sunlight and indoor lighting. Additionally, we discuss the potential for future developments in plasmonic TTA-UC systems.

PDGF Receptors and Signaling Are Required for 3D-Structure Formation and Differentiation of Human iPSC-Derived Hepatic Spheroids

Human iPSC-derived liver organoids (LO) or hepatic spheroids (HS) have attracted widespread interest, and the numerous studies on them have recently provided various production protocols. However, the mechanism by which the 3D structures of LO and HS are formed from the 2D-cultured cells and the mechanism of the LO and HS maturation remain largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that PDGFRA is specifically induced in the cells that are suitable for HS formation and that PDGF receptors and signaling are required for HS formation and maturation. Additionally, in vivo, we show that the localization of PDGFRα is in complete agreement with mouse E9.5 hepatoblasts, which begin to form the 3D-structural liver bud from the single layer. Our results present that PDGFRA play important roles for 3D structure formation and maturation of hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo and provide a clue to elucidate the hepatocyte differentiation mechanism.

Factors associated with viral RNA shedding and evaluation of potential viral infectivity at returning to school in influenza outpatients after treatment with baloxavir marboxil and neuraminidase inhibitors during 2013/2014-2019/2020 seasons in Japan: an observational study

BACKGROUND

This study assessed the differences in daily virus reduction and the residual infectivity after the recommended home stay period in Japan in patients infected with influenza and treated with baloxavir (BA), laninamivir (LA), oseltamivir (OS), and zanamivir (ZA).

METHODS

We conducted an observational study on children and adults at 13 outpatient clinics in 11 prefectures in Japan during seven influenza seasons from 2013/2014 to 2019/2020. Virus samples were collected twice from influenza rapid test-positive patients at the first and second visit 4-5 days after the start of treatment. The viral RNA shedding was quantified using quantitative RT-PCR. Neuraminidase (NA) and polymerase acidic (PA) variant viruses that reduce susceptibility to NA inhibitors and BA, respectively, were screened using RT-PCR and genetic sequencing. Daily estimated viral reduction was evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses for the factors such as age, treatment, vaccination status, or the emergence of PA or NA variants. The potential infectivity of the viral RNA shedding at the second visit samples was determined using the Receiver Operator Curve based on the positivity of virus isolation.

RESULTS

Among 518 patients, 465 (80.0%) and 116 (20.0%) were infected with influenza A (189 with BA, 58 with LA, 181 with OS, 37 with ZA) and influenza B (39 with BA, 10 with LA, 52 with OS, 15 with ZA). The emergence of 21 PA variants in influenza A was detected after BA treatment, but NA variants were not detected after NAIs treatment. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the daily viral RNA shedding reduction in patients was slower in the two NAIs (OS and LA) than in BA, influenza B infection, aged 0-5 years, or the emergence of PA variants. The residual viral RNA shedding potentially infectious was detected in approximately 10-30% of the patients aged 6-18 years after five days of onset.

CONCLUSIONS

Viral clearance differed by age, type of influenza, choice of treatment, and susceptibility to BA. Additionally, the recommended homestay period in Japan seemed insufficient, but reduced viral spread to some extent since most school-age patients became non-infectious after 5 days of onset.

Lower cognitive function as a risk factor for anemia among older Japanese women from the longitudinal observation in the SONIC study

AIM

The aging-related increase in the incidence of anemia potentially affects the mortality risk. Lower cognitive function is common among older adults, and anemia is one of the causes of cognitive decline. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has investigated whether cognitive decline is a risk factor for anemia in older people. Therefore, in this study, we used a 3-year longitudinal evaluation to examine the association of cognitive function with anemia in community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

This longitudinal study enrolled participants without anemia (diagnosed based on the World Health Organization's criteria) at baseline. Cognitive function was assessed using the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the association between cognitive function at baseline and the presence of anemia 3 years later.

RESULTS

Participants were in the 69-71 and 79-81 years age groups, and 974 older people (48.6% men) were enrolled, of whom 126 (12.9%) had anemia after 3 years. After adjusting, cognitive function at baseline was associated with anemia in women, but not in men.

CONCLUSIONS

Older Japanese women with lower cognitive function have an increased risk for anemia 3 years later. The adoption of a lifestyle that utilizes or improves cognitive function might be important to prevent anemia in older women. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; ••: ••-••.

Three-dimensional visualization of neural networks inside bone by Osteo-DISCO protocol and alteration of bone remodeling by surgical nerve ablation

Bone is one of the largest organ systems in humans and is considered to regulate whole-body homeostasis in cooperation with other organs. We have previously reported that a sympathetic or sensory nervous system inside bone regulates bone homeostasis. However, the detailed regulatory mechanism, including the distribution of nerves inside bone, remains unknown. Although a two-dimensional histological analysis has been widely used to evaluate the structure of nerves or blood vessels, the actual structure is more complex, suggesting that it should be evaluated three-dimensionally. Here, we established a novel bone tissue clearing technique (Osteo-DISCO) for murine bones which enabled us to visualize the detailed distribution of nerves or blood vessels inside bone. Interestingly, we found that there is a specific nerve entry site in each long bone and that surgical ablation of the specific nerve fibers entering bone tissue led to decreased bone formation and impaired bone regeneration. Furthermore, we revealed that the administration of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which is primarily released from sensory nerves, suppressed the bone loss caused by surgical nerve ablation. An in vitro study also indicated that CGRP directly promotes osteoblast activity, suggesting that sensory nerves inside bone can regulate osteogenesis via the secretion of CGRP.

Upregulation of PODXL and ITGB1 in pancreatic cancer tissues preoperatively obtained by EUS-FNAB correlates with unfavorable prognosis of postoperative pancreatic cancer patients

The upregulation of PODXL and ITGB1 in surgically resected pancreatic cancer tissues is correlated with an unfavorable postoperative prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PODXL and ITGB1 are useful preoperative markers for the prognosis of postoperative pancreatic cancer patients in comparison with the TNM staging system. Immunohistochemistry was performed using anti-PODXL and anti-ITGB1 antibodies on 24 pancreatic cancer tissue samples preoperatively obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to investigate if the UICC TNM stage and upregulation of PODXL and ITGB1 were correlated with postoperative overall survival rates. Univariate analysis revealed that PODXL, TNM stage, lymphatic invasion and the combination of PODXL with ITGB1 are correlated with postoperative survival. Multivariate analysis demonstrated TNM stage and the combination of PODXL with ITGB1 to be correlated with postoperative survival, and the combination of PODXL with ITGB1 most accurately predicted the postoperative outcomes of pancreatic cancer patients before resection. Therefore, upregulation of PODXL and ITGB1 may indicate preoperative neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer patients by accurately predicting the postoperative prognosis.

Ostracods had colonized estuaries by the late Silurian

The fossil record of terrestrialization documents notable shifts in the environmental and physiological tolerances of many animal and plant groups. However, for certain significant components of modern freshwater and terrestrial environments, the transition out of marine settings remains largely unconstrained. Ostracod crustaceans occupy an exceptional range of modern aquatic environments and are invaluable palaeoenvironmental indicators in the fossil record. However, pre-Carboniferous records of supposed non-marine and marginal marine ostracods are sparse, and the timing of their marine to non-marine transition has proven elusive. Here, we reassess the early environmental history of ostracods in light of new assemblages from the late Silurian of Vietnam. Two, low diversity but distinct ostracod assemblages are associated with estuarine deposits. This occurrence is consistent with previous incidental reports of ostracods occupying marginal and brackish settings through the late Silurian and Devonian. Therefore, ostracods were pioneering the occupation of marginal marine and estuarine settings 60 Myr before the Carboniferous and they were a component of the early phase of transition from marine to non-marine environments.

222 nm ultraviolet radiation C causes more severe damage to guard cells and epidermal cells of Arabidopsis plants than does 254 nm ultraviolet radiation

Lamps that emit 222 nm short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV) radiation can be safely used for sterilization without harming human health. However, there are few studies on the effects of 222 nm UVC (222-UVC) radiation exposure on plants compared with the effects of germicidal lamps emitting primarily 254 nm UVC (254-UVC) radiation. We investigated the growth inhibition and cell damage caused by 222-UVC exposure to Arabidopsis plants, especially mitochondrial dynamics, which is an index of damage caused by UVB radiation. Growth inhibition resulted from 254-UVC or 222-UVC exposure depending on the dose of UVC radiation. However, with respect to the phenotype of 222-UVC-irradiated plants, the leaves curled under 1 kJ m⁻² and were markedly bleached under 10 kJ m⁻² compared with those of plants irradiated with 254-UVC. The cellular state, especially the mitochondrial dynamics, of epidermal and mesophyll cells of Arabidopsis leaves exposed to 254-UVC or 222-UVC radiation was investigated using Arabidopsis plants expressing mitochondrial matrix-targeted yellow fluorescent protein (MT-YFP) under the control of Pro35S to visualize the mitochondria. 222-UVC (1 or 5 kJ m⁻²) severely damaged the guard cells within the epidermis, and YFP signals and chloroplast autofluorescence in guard cells within the epidermis exposed to 222-UVC (1 or 5 kJ m⁻²) were not detected compared with those in cells exposed to 254-UVC radiation. In addition, 222-UVC irradiation led to mitochondrial fragmentation in mesophyll cells, similar to the effects of 254-UVC exposure. These results suggest that 222-UVC severely damages guard cells and epidermal cells and that such damage might have resulted in growth inhibition.

Association of anthropometric indices of obesity with hypertension among public employees in northern Ethiopia: findings from a cross-sectional survey

OBJECTIVES

The burden of hypertension is increasing in low-income countries, including Ethiopia. Obesity is widely known to be associated with hypertension, but different anthropometric indices of obesity might differ in association with hypertension, which is largely unknown in northern Ethiopia.

DESIGN

Data from our previous cross-sectional epidemiological survey were statistically analysed.

SETTING

Public employees in the regional capital city in northern Ethiopia.

PARTICIPANTS

The data of 1380 participants (823 men and 557 non-pregnant women) aged 25 and 64 years were analysed.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The presence of hypertension was the outcome measure and multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio in men and women separately. The area under the curve (AUC) for three anthropometric indices for discriminating hypertension was also obtained. Separate analyses were conducted for waist circumference and waist-hip ratio analyses further adjusted for BMI.

RESULTS

BMI was linearly associated with hypertension in men (OR for 1 SD increase in BMI 1.45, p=0.001) and women (OR for 1 SD increase in BMI 1.41, p=0.01). The association of waist circumference was independent of BMI both in men (OR for 1 SD increase in waist circumference: 1.74, p=0.002) and women (OR for 1 SD increase in waist circumference: 1.57, p=0.029). The association of waist-hip ratio with hypertension adjusted for BMI was significant in men (OR for 1 SD increase in the waist-hip ratio: 1.46, p<0.001), but was weak and non-significant in women. The AUC for BMI was 0.64 in men and 0.67 in women, while AUC for waist circumference was 0.69 both in men and women.

CONCLUSIONS

Waist circumference was associated with hypertension independent of BMI among public employees in northern Ethiopia.

Relapse prevention group therapy via video-conferencing for substance use disorder: protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial in Indonesia

BACKGROUND

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease. In Indonesia, the availability of formal treatment for SUD falls short of the targeted coverage. A standardised therapeutic option for SUD with potential for widespread implementation is required, yet evidence-based data in the country are scarce. In this study, we developed a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)-based group telemedicine model and will investigate effectiveness and implementability in a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

METHODS

A total of 220 participants will be recruited from the social networks of eight sites in Indonesia: three hospitals, two primary healthcare centres and three rehabilitation centres. The intervention arm will participate in a relapse prevention programme called the Indonesia Drug Addiction Relapse Prevention Programme (Indo-DARPP), a newly developed 12-week module based on CBT and motivational interviewing constructed in the Indonesian context. The programme will be delivered by a healthcare provider and a peer counsellor in a group therapy setting via video-conferencing, as a supplement to participants' usual treatments. The control arm will continue treatment as usual. The primary outcome will be the percentage increase in days of abstinence from the primarily used substance in the past 28 days. Secondary outcomes will include addiction severity, quality of life, motivation to change, psychiatric symptoms, cognitive function, coping, and internalised stigma. Assessments will be performed at baseline (week 0), post-treatment (week 13), and 3 and 12 months post-treatment completion (weeks 24 and 60). Retention, participant satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness will be assessed as the implementation outcomes.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committees of Universitas Indonesia and Kyoto University. The results will be disseminated via academic journals and international conferences. Depending on trial outcomes, the treatment programme will be advocated for adoption as a formal healthcare-based approach for SUD.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

UMIN000042186.

Shell density of planktonic foraminifera and pteropod species Limacina helicina in the Barents Sea: Relation to ontogeny and water chemistry

Planktonic calcifiers, the foraminiferal species Neogloboquadrina pachyderma and Turborotalita quinqueloba, and the thecosome pteropod Limacina helicina from plankton tows and surface sediments from the northern Barents Sea were studied to assess how shell density varies with depth habitat and ontogenetic processes. The shells were measured using X-ray microcomputed tomography (XMCT) scanning and compared to the physical and chemical properties of the water column including the carbonate chemistry and calcium carbonate saturation of calcite and aragonite. Both living L. helicina and N. pachyderma increased in shell density from the surface to 300 m water depth. Turborotalita quinqueloba increased in shell density to 150-200 m water depth. Deeper than 150 m, T. quinqueloba experienced a loss of density due to internal dissolution, possibly related to gametogenesis. The shell density of recently settled (dead) specimens of planktonic foraminifera from surface sediment samples was compared to the living fauna and showed a large range of dissolution states. This dissolution was not apparent from shell-surface texture, especially for N. pachyderma, which tended to be both thicker and denser than T. quinqueloba. Dissolution lowered the shell density while the thickness of the shell remained intact. Limacina helicina also increase in shell size with water depth and thicken the shell apex with growth. This study demonstrates that the living fauna in this specific area from the Barents Sea did not suffer from dissolution effects. Dissolution occurred after death and after settling on the sea floor. The study also shows that biomonitoring is important for the understanding of the natural variability in shell density of calcifying zooplankton.

Supramolecular Nanofibers from Collagen-Mimetic Peptides Bearing Various Aromatic Groups at N-Termini via Hierarchical Self-Assembly

Self-assembly of artificial peptides has been widely studied for constructing nanostructured materials, with numerous potential applications in the nanobiotechnology field. Herein, we report the synthesis and hierarchical self-assembly of collagen-mimetic peptides (CMPs) bearing various aromatic groups at the N-termini, including 2-naphthyl, 1-naphtyl, anthracenyl, and pyrenyl groups, into nanofibers. The CMPs (R-(GPO)n: n > 4) formed a triple helix structure in water at 4 °C, as confirmed via CD analyses, and their conformations were more stable with increasing hydrophobicity of the terminal aromatic group and peptide chain length. The resulting pre-organized triple helical CMPs showed diverse self-assembly into highly ordered nanofibers, reflecting their slight differences in hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance and configuration of aromatic templates. TEM analysis demonstrated that 2Np-CMPn (n = 6 and 7) and Py-CMP6 provided well-developed natural collagen-like nanofibers and An-CMPn (n = 5-7) self-assembled into rod-like micelle fibers. On the other hand, 2Np-CMP5 and 1Np-CMP6 were unable to form nanofibers under the same conditions. Furthermore, the Py-CMP6 nanofiber was found to encapsulate a guest hydrophobic molecule, Nile red, and exhibited unique emission behavior based on the specific nanostructure. In addition to the ability of CMPs to bind small molecules, their controlled self-assembly enables their versatile utilization in drug delivery and wavelength-conversion nanomaterials.

Attempt to Develop Rat Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Model Using Yamakagashi (Rhabdophis tigrinus) Venom Injection

Disseminated intravascular coagulation, a severe clinical condition caused by an underlying disease, involves a markedly continuous and widespread activation of coagulation in the circulating blood and the formation of numerous microvascular thrombi. A snakebite, including that of the Yamakagashi (Rhabdophis tigrinus), demonstrates this clinical condition. Thus, an animal model using Yamakagashi venom was constructed. Yamakagashi venom was administered to rats, and its lethality and the changes in blood coagulation factors were detected after venom injection. When 300 μg venom was intramuscularly administered to 12-week-old rats, (1) they exhibited hematuria with plasma hemolysis and died within 48 h; (2) Thrombocytopenia in the blood was observed in the rats; (3) irreversible prolongation of prothrombin time in the plasma to the measurement limit occurred; (4) fibrinogen concentration in the plasma irreversibly decreased below the measurement limit; and (5) A transient increase in the plasma concentration of D-dimer was observed. In this model, a fixed amount of Rhabdophis tigrinus venom injection resulted in the clinical symptom similar to the human pathology with snakebite. The use of the rat model is very effective in validating the therapeutic effect of human disseminated intravascular coagulation condition due to snakebite.

Sodium-calcium exchanger 1 is the key molecule for urinary potassium excretion against acute hyperkalemia

The sodium (Na⁺)-chloride cotransporter (NCC) expressed in the distal convoluted tubule (DCT) is a key molecule regulating urinary Na⁺ and potassium (K⁺) excretion. We previously reported that high-K⁺ load rapidly dephosphorylated NCC and promoted urinary K⁺ excretion in mouse kidneys. This effect was inhibited by calcineurin (CaN) and calmodulin inhibitors. However, the detailed mechanism through which high-K⁺ signal results in CaN activation remains unknown. We used Flp-In NCC HEK293 cells and mice to evaluate NCC phosphorylation. We analyzed intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_in) using live cell Ca²⁺ imaging in HEK293 cells. We confirmed that high-K⁺-induced NCC dephosphorylation was not observed without CaN using Flp-In NCC HEK29 cells. Extracellular Ca²⁺ reduction with a Ca²⁺ chelator inhibited high-K⁺-induced increase in [Ca²⁺]_in and NCC dephosphorylation. We focused on Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger (NCX) 1, a bidirectional regulator of cytosolic Ca²⁺ expressed in DCT. We identified that NCX1 suppression with a specific inhibitor (SEA0400) or siRNA knockdown inhibited K⁺-induced increase in [Ca²⁺]_in and NCC dephosphorylation. In a mouse study, SEA0400 treatment inhibited K⁺-induced NCC dephosphorylation. SEA0400 reduced urinary K⁺ excretion and induced hyperkalemia. Here, we identified NCX1 as a key molecule in urinary K⁺ excretion promoted by CaN activation and NCC dephosphorylation in response to K⁺ load.

Quantitative evaluation of stress in Japanese anesthesiology residents based on heart rate variability and psychological testing

Clinical anesthesiologists, particularly residents, work in stressful environments. However, evidence-based physiological and psychological tests to evaluate stress are still lacking. In this single-center study of 33 residents, we investigated the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV), which had the potential to screen residents' stress levels using Holter electrocardiography (ECG) and psychological mood as assessed by the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire. HRV analysis revealed 2 findings. Firstly, standard deviation of the average of 5-min normal-to-normal R-R intervals (SDANN) was significant lower than that of same-aged healthy volunteers (69.3 ± 27.9 vs. 137.0 ± 43.0 ms, P < 0.05), which indicated suppression of autonomic nervous system activity throughout their work. Secondly, at induction of anesthesia, significant higher low frequency/high frequency ratio (LF/HF ratio: 1.326 vs. 0.846; P < 0.05) and lower HF (3326 vs. 5967 ms²; P < 0.05) and lower standard deviation of normal-to-normal R-R intervals (SDNN: 50.5 vs. 79.4 ms; nervous system was suppressed at the induction of anesthesia: expected to be the most stressful period of their work. On the other hand, deviation scores of POMS questionnaire elucidated that all the residents were within normal range of psychological mood, and without any significant diurnal changes with respect to total mood disturbance deviation (TMD) scores (48 vs. 47; P = 0.368). HRV elucidated physiological stress among anesthesiology residents quantitatively by evaluating autonomic nervous activities, especially at induction of anesthesia. These changes in HRV could be observed regardless of psychological mood.

A Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay Targeting Neisseria gonorrhoeae penA-60.001

Ceftriaxone (CRO) is widely used as the first-line treatment for gonococcal infections. However, CRO-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains carrying mosaic penA-60.001 have emerged recently and disseminated worldwide. To meet the urgent need to detect these strains, we report here a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay system that targets N. gonorrhoeaepenA-60.001. This assay system can differentiate N. gonorrhoeae strains carrying mosaic penA-60.001 from strains carrying other penA alleles.

Filtration-induced production of conductive/robust Cu films on cellulose paper by low-temperature sintering in air

Cellulose paper is an attractive substrate for paper electronics because of its advantages of flexibility, biodegradability, easy incorporation into composites, low cost and eco-friendliness. However, the micrometre-sized pores of cellulose paper make robust/conductive films difficult to deposit onto its surface from metal-nanoparticle-based inks. We developed a Cu-based composite ink to deposit conductive Cu films onto cellulose paper via low-temperature sintering in air. The Cu-based inks consisted of a metallo-organic decomposition ink and formic-acid-treated Cu flakes. The composite ink was heated in air at 100°C for only 15 s to give a conductive Cu film (7 × 10^-5 Ω cm) on the cellulose paper. Filtration of the Cu-based composite ink accumulated Cu flakes on the paper, which enabled formation of a sintered Cu film with few defects. A strategy was developed to enhance the bending stability of the sintered Cu films on paper substrates using polyvinylpyrrolidone-modified Cu flakes and amine-modified paper. The resistance of the Cu films increased only 1.3-fold and 1.1-fold after 1000 bending cycles at bending radii of 5 mm and 15 mm, respectively. The results of this study provide an approach to increasing the bending stability of Cu films on cellulose paper.

Time Course Analysis of Skeletal Muscle Pathology of GDE5 Transgenic Mouse

Glycerophosphodiesterase 5 (GDE5) selectively hydrolyses glycerophosphocholine to choline and is highly expressed in type II fiber-rich skeletal muscles. We have previously generated that a truncated mutant of GDE5 (GDE5dC471) that lacks phosphodiesterase activity and shown that transgenic mice overexpressing GDE5dC471 in skeletal muscles show less skeletal muscle mass than control mice. However, the molecular mechanism and pathophysiological features underlying decreased skeletal muscle mass in GDE5dC471 mice remain unclear. In this study, we characterized the skeletal muscle disorder throughout development and investigated the primary cause of muscle atrophy. While type I fiber-rich soleus muscle mass was not altered in GDE5dC471 mice, type II fiber-rich muscle mass was reduced in 8-week-old GDE5dC471 mice. Type II fiber-rich muscle mass continued to decrease irreversibly in 1-year-old transgenic mice with an increase in apoptotic cell. Adipose tissue weight and blood triglyceride levels in 8-week-old and 1-year-old transgenic mice were higher than those in control mice. This study also demonstrated compensatory mRNA expression of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) components, including nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α1, γ, and ε subunits) and acetylcholinesterase in type II fiber-rich quadriceps muscles in GDE5dC471 mice. However, we did not observe morphological changes in NMJs associated with skeletal muscle atrophy in GDE5dC471 mice. We also found that HSP70 protein levels are significantly increased in the skeletal muscles of 2-week-old GDE5dC471 mice and in mouse myoblastic C2C12 cells overexpressing GDE5dC471. These findings suggest that GDE5dC471 mouse is a novel model of early-onset irreversible type II fiber-rich myopathy associated with cellular stress.

Tumor Content Chart-Assisted HER2/CEP17 Digital PCR Analysis of Gastric Cancer Biopsy Specimens

Evaluating HER2 gene amplification is an essential component of therapeutic decision-making for advanced or metastatic gastric cancer. A simple method that is applicable to small, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens is desirable as an adjunct to or as a substitute for currently used HER2 immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization protocols. In this study, we developed a microfluidics-based digital PCR method for determining HER2 and chromosome 17 centromere (CEP17) copy numbers and estimating tumor content ratio (TCR). The HER2/CEP17 ratio is determined by three variables—TCR and absolute copy numbers of HER2 and CEP17—by examining tumor cells; only the ratio of the latter two can be obtained by digital PCR using the whole specimen without purifying tumor cells. TCR was determined by semi-automatic image analysis. We developed a Tumor Content chart, which is a plane of rectangular coordinates consisting of HER2/CEP17 digital PCR data and TCR that delineates amplified, non-amplified, and equivocal areas. By applying this method, 44 clinical gastric cancer biopsy samples were classified as amplified (n = 13), non-amplified (n = 25), or equivocal (n = 6). By comparison, 11 samples were positive, 11 were negative, and 22 were equivocally immunohistochemistry. Thus, our novel method reduced the number of equivocal samples from 22 to 6, thereby obviating the need for confirmation by fluorescence or dual-probe in situ hybridization to < 30% of cases. Tumor content chart-assisted digital PCR analysis is also applicable to multiple sites in surgically resected tissues. These results indicate that this analysis is a useful alternative to HER2 immunohistochemistry in gastric cancers that can serve as a basis for the automated evaluation of HER2 status.