[キョウホク] ガゾウセキ ノ チイキテキ トクチョウ

Shaanbei，　the　northern　Shaanxi　region　in　China，　is　one　of　area　where　Han　dynasty　pictorial　stones　are　distributed． Shaanbei　pictorial　stones，　so　called，　have　been　studying　without　focusing　on　peculiarity　of　the　region．　What　features do　they　have？How　are　those　distributed？In　this　study　the　present　author　classified　the　pictori．al　stones，　pointed　out several　things　from　the　result　of　classification．　Those　are：there　were　about　4　types　of　pictorial　Stones　that　are　di．ffer from　each　other　in　those　styles；those　stones　appeared　in　the　same　age；those　range　in　same　area，　their　distributions have　no　rul．e． Ordinary　pictorial　stones　and　bricks　have　it’s　own　feature　that　shows　the　difference　of　studio，　every　gropes　of　those have　iでs　own　distribution．　Shaanbei　pictoria且stones，　however，　have　no　regularity　in　their　distribution．　The　rapid increasing　of　tomb　with　pictorial．　stones　in　this　region，　importing　designs　from　pictorial　Stone　in　Shan　dong，　and　the existence　of　different　types　of　pictorial　stones，　these　features　of　Shaanbei　pictorial　stones　show　that　this　region　created　a official－oriented　Society

ボソウ ソウショク ニオケル ショウズイズ ノ テンカイ

Albino　fish，　phoenix，　silver　pot，　flowing　up　alcohol　spring＿etc， people　enthusiastically　believed　in　these　auspicious　omens　durirlg　the Han　dynasty　period，　particularly　in　Eastern　Han．　The　pictures　had been　increasing　as　one　of　an　important　subject　in　funeral　pictorial　art during　Eastern　Han．　This　paper　focuses　on　the　role　of　figures　of auspicious　omens　in　funeral　pictorial　art，　and　on　the　change　of circumstance　between　Heaven　and　human． 　　　There　are　two　types　of　styles　in　auspicious　omens　figures：“111ustrating 　style”and“Composing　style”．　The　Illustrating　style，　showsomen 　figures　depicted　in　flamed　space　to　show　each　omen　clearly， sometimes　adding　written　explanations．　This　style　comes　from catalogues　that　show　what　type　they　are　or　when　they　will　appear． Auspicious　omens　were　regarded　as　good　response　from　Heaven　to　the emperor’s　conduct，　and　they　were　also　considered　to　legitimize　the　Handynasty， 　so　that　there　were　several　kinds　of　catalogues，　and　the　spread of　these　catalogues　made　the　symbolic　power　of　omens　hard，　and　made omens　image　popular． 　　　In　the　Composing　style　the　omen　figure　is　one　of　many　elements and　figures，　and　together　they　compose　a　full　picture．　This　type　of omen　has　for　a　long　time　been　applied　to　depict　heaven　or　paradise．　In the　middle　part　of　Eastern　Han，　these　omens　started　to　be　drawn together　with　subjects　of　the　human　world，　for　example　structures， humans，　and　trees．　But　as　I　show，　at　that　time　these　omen　figures look　as　if　there　is　no　relation　with　other　figures　of　humanity，　and　seem to　be　arranged　in　blanc　space．　These　omens　express　harmony　of“Qi” ene「gy・ 　　　In　the　latter　part　of　Eastern　Han　small　changes　happened　with their　expression：The　figure　of　composing　style　became　more　active， they　started　to　interact　with　other　figures　in　the　picture． 　　　This　change　relate　with　the　people’s　way　of　thillking　about　how auspicious　omens　would　appear．　Auspicious　omens　were　not　only　for the　sovereign　any　more，　and　Heaven　came　to　respond　to　people’s virtuous　behavior　by　the　arrival　of　auspicious　omens． 　　　The　figures　of　auspicious　omens　are　not　only　representing　the peace　of　Han　dynasty　by　their　consistent　expression　of　Qi　energy，　but they　also　praise　the　ancestors，　the　deceased，　or　descendants　for VlrtuousneSS

Regulation of Pancreatic β Cell Mass by Cross-Interaction between CCAAT Enhancer Binding Protein β Induced by Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Activity

During the development of type 2 diabetes, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress leads to not only insulin resistance but also to pancreatic beta cell failure. Conversely, cell function under various stressed conditions can be restored by reducing ER stress by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). However, the details of this mechanism are still obscure. Therefore, the current study aims to elucidate the role of AMPK activity during ER stress-associated pancreatic beta cell failure. MIN6 cells were loaded with 5-amino-1-ϐ-D-ribofuranosyl-imidazole-4-carboxamide (AICAR) and metformin to assess the relationship between AMPK activity and CCAAT enhancer binding protein ϐ (C/EBPϐ) expression levels. The effect of C/EBPϐ phosphorylation on expression levels was also investigated. Vildagliptin and metformin were administered to pancreatic beta cell-specific C/EBPϐ transgenic mice to investigate the relationship between C/EBPϐ expression levels and AMPK activity in the pancreatic islets. When pancreatic beta cells are exposed to ER stress, the accumulation of the transcription factor C/EBPϐ lowers the AMP/ATP ratio, thereby decreasing AMPK activity. In an opposite manner, incubation of MIN6 cells with AICAR or metformin activated AMPK, which suppressed C/EBPϐ expression. In addition, administration of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor vildagliptin and metformin to pancreatic beta cell-specific C/EBPϐ transgenic mice decreased C/EBPϐ expression levels and enhanced pancreatic beta cell mass in proportion to the recovery of AMPK activity. Enhanced C/EBPϐ expression and decreased AMPK activity act synergistically to induce ER stress-associated pancreatic beta cell failure

Investigation for the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine in Japanese CKD patients treated with hemodialysis

Background: Dialysis patients are predisposed to severe disease and have a high mortality rate in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to their comorbidities and immunocompromised conditions. Therefore, dialysis patients should be prioritized for vaccination. This study aimed to examine how long the effects of the vaccine are maintained and what factors affect antibody titers. Methods: Hemodialysis patients (HD group) and age- and sex-matched non-dialysis individuals (Control group), receiving two doses of BNT162b2 vaccine, were recruited through the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy (JSDT) Web site in July 2021. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin (IgG) (SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers) was measured before vaccination, 3 weeks after the first vaccination, 2 weeks after the second vaccination, and 3 months after the second vaccination, and was compared between Control group and HD group. Factors affecting SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers were also examined using multivariable regression analysis and stepwise regression analysis (least AIC). In addition, we compared adverse reactions in Control and HD groups and examined the relationship between adverse reactions and SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers. Results: Our study enrolled 123 participants in the Control group (62.6% men, median age 67.0 years) and 206 patients in the HD group (64.1% men, median age 66.4 years). HD group had significantly lower SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers at 3 weeks after the first vaccination (p < 0.0001), 2 weeks after second vaccination (p = 0.0002), and 3 months after the second vaccination (p = 0.045) than Control group. However, the reduction rate of SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers between 2 weeks and 3 months after the second vaccination was significantly smaller in HD group than in Control (p = 0.048). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that dialysis time was identified as the significant independent factors for SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers at 2 weeks after the second vaccination in HD group (p = 0.002) and longer dialysis time resulted in higher maximum antibody titers. The incidences of fever and nausea after the second vaccination were significantly higher in the HD group (p = 0.039 and p = 0.020). Antibody titers in those with fever were significantly higher than those without fever in both groups (HD: p = 0.0383, Control: p = 0.0096). Conclusion: HD patients had significantly lower antibody titers than age- and sex-matched non-dialysis individuals over 3 months after vaccination. Dialysis time was identified as a factor affecting SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers in HD group, with longer dialysis time resulting in higher maximum SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers

T-Cell Response and Antibody Production Induced by the COVID-19 Booster Vaccine in Japanese Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Treated with Hemodialysis

Humoral and cellular responses are critical in understanding immune responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination. Here, we evaluated these responses in hemodialysis (HD) patients after the booster vaccination. SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin (IgG) levels, neutralizing antibody titers, and the T-SPOT®.COVID test (T-SPOT) were measured prior to, three weeks after, and three months after the booster administration. The HD group had significantly higher SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels and neutralizing antibody titers against the original strain at three weeks and three months after the booster vaccination compared to the control group, albeit the HD group had lower SARS-CoV-2 IgG levels and neutralizing antibody titers before the booster administration. Moreover, the HD group had significantly higher T-SPOT levels at all three time points compared to the control group. The HD group also had significantly higher local and systemic adverse reaction rates than the control group. By booster vaccination, HD patients could acquire more effective SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral and cellular immunity than the control group

Mitochonic Acid 5 (MA-5) Facilitates ATP Synthase Oligomerization and Cell Survival in Various Mitochondrial Diseases

Mitochondrial dysfunction increases oxidative stress and depletes ATP in a variety of disorders. Several antioxidant therapies and drugs affecting mitochondrial biogenesis are undergoing investigation, although not all of them have demonstrated favorable effects in the clinic. We recently reported a therapeutic mitochondrial drug mitochonic acid MA-5 (Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2015). MA-5 increased ATP, rescued mitochondrial disease fibroblasts and prolonged the life span of the disease model “Mitomouse” (JASN, 2016). To investigate the potential of MA-5 on various mitochondrial diseases, we collected 25 cases of fibroblasts from various genetic mutations and cell protective effect of MA-5 and the ATP producing mechanism was examined. 24 out of the 25 patient fibroblasts (96%) were responded to MA-5. Under oxidative stress condition, the GDF-15 was increased and this increase was significantly abrogated by MA-5. The serum GDF-15 elevated in Mitomouse was likewise reduced by MA-5. MA-5 facilitates mitochondrial ATP production and reduces ROS independent of ETC by facilitating ATP synthase oligomerization and supercomplex formation with mitofilin/Mic60. MA-5 reduced mitochondria fragmentation, restores crista shape and dynamics. MA-5 has potential as a drug for the treatment of various mitochondrial diseases. The diagnostic use of GDF-15 will be also useful in a forthcoming MA-5 clinical trial

Defect of Interferon γ Leads to Impaired Wound Healing through Prolonged Neutrophilic Inflammatory Response and Enhanced MMP-2 Activation.

Interferon (IFN)-&gamma; is mainly secreted by CD4+ T helper 1 (Th1), natural killer (NK) and NKT cells after skin injury. Although IFN-&gamma; is well known regarding its inhibitory effects on collagen synthesis by fibroblasts in vitro, information is limited regarding its role in wound healing in vivo. In the present study, we analyzed how the defect of IFN-&gamma; affects wound healing. Full-thickness wounds were created on the backs of wild type (WT) C57BL/6 and IFN-&gamma;-deficient (KO) mice. We analyzed the percent wound closure, wound breaking strength, accumulation of leukocytes, and expression levels of COL1A1, COL3A1, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). IFN-&gamma;KO mice exhibited significant attenuation in wound closure on Day 10 and wound breaking strength on Day 14 after wound creation, characteristics that are associated with prolonged neutrophil accumulation. Expression levels of COL1A1 and COL3A1 mRNA were lower in IFN-&gamma;KO than in WT mice, whereas expression levels of MMP-2 (gelatinase) mRNA were significantly greater in IFN-&gamma;KO than in WT mice. Moreover, under neutropenic conditions created with anti-Gr-1 monoclonal antibodies, wound closure in IFN-&gamma;KO mice was recovered through low MMP-2 expression levels. These results suggest that IFN-&gamma; may be involved in the proliferation and maturation stages of wound healing through the regulation of neutrophilic inflammatory responses

Anemia in a neonate with placental mesenchymal dysplasia

Causes of intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) are uncertain in most placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) cases. Our case showed high α-fetoprotein levels in the maternal circulation, markedly dilated subchorionic vessels, and neonatal hemoglobin concentration of 8.4 g/dL, suggesting that fetal anemia may explain some adverse outcomes in PMD pregnancies