Feasibility of cryopreserved tracheal xenotransplants with the use of short-course immunosuppression

AbstractObjective: We evaluated the feasibility of discordant xenotransplantation of the cryopreserved trachea with intermittent immunosuppression to help solve the shortage of donor tracheas. Methods: Two experiments were performed with heterotopic transplantation models in 14 guinea pigs and 85 rats. So that the minimal dose of FK506 for viable fresh xenografts could be determined, FK506 was given in escalating doses (0, 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 mg/kg) for recipient animals after xenogeneic transplantation. With the goal of obtaining a long-term survival of the xenografts, the effect of cryopreservation on xenografts was assessed and thereafter different cycles of immunosuppression every third week were evaluated in fresh or cryopreserved xenografts in the second experiment. Results: An FK506 dosage of more than 2.5 mg/kg per day was much more effective than smaller dosages, as demonstrated by morphologic assessment. A higher dosage of FK506 potentially delayed the rejection of xenografts and can thus maintain tracheal xenograft viability for less than 4 weeks in rat recipients. In experiment 2, the cryopreserved xenografts showed less histologic viability than fresh xenografts but greater patency of the lumen. The patency of cryopreserved xenografts was favorably maintained for a longer period than that of fresh xenografts with either the same number or more cycles of immunosuppression. Conclusions: We conclude that the synergistic effect of cryopreservation and adequate intermittent immunosuppression may enable tracheal xenografts to remain viable over longer periods. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2001;121:241-8

Royal Jelly Prevents Osteoporosis in Rats: Beneficial Effects in Ovariectomy Model and in Bone Tissue Culture Model

Royal jelly (RJ) has been used worldwide for many years as medical products, health foods and cosmetics. Since RJ contains testosterone and has steroid hormone-type activities, we hypothesized that it may have beneficial effects on osteoporosis. We used both an ovariectomized rat model and a tissue culture model. Rats were divided into eight groups as follows: sham-operated (Sham), ovariectomized (OVX), OVX given 0.5% (w/w) raw RJ, OVX given 2.0% (w/w) RJ, OVX given 0.5% (w/w) protease-treated RJ (pRJ), OVX given 2.0% (w/w) pRJ, OVX given 17β-estradiol and OVX given its vehicle, respectively. The Ovariectomy decreased tibial bone mineral density (BMD) by 24%. Administration of 17β-estradiol to OVX rats recovered the tibial BMD decrease by 100%. Administration of 2.0% (w/w) RJ and 0.5–2.0% (w/w) pRJ to OVX rats recovered it by 85% or more. These results indicate that both RJ and pRJ are almost as effective as 17β-estradiol in preventing the development of bone loss induced by ovariectomy in rats. In tissue culture models, both RJ and pRJ increased calcium contents in femoral-diaphyseal and femoral-metaphyseal tissue cultures obtained from normal male rats. However, in a mouse marrow culture model, they neither inhibited the parathyroid hormone (PTH)-induced calcium loss nor affected the formation of osteoclast-like cells induced by PTH in mouse marrow culture system. Therefore, our results suggest that both RJ and pRJ may prevent osteoporosis by enhancing intestinal calcium absorption, but not by directly antagonizing the action of PTH

Significantly low level of small RNA accumulation derived from an encapsidated mycovirus with dsRNA genome

AbstractThe role of RNA silencing as an antiviral defence has been well elucidated in plants and invertebrates, but not in filamentous fungi. We have previously determined the complete genome sequence of Magnaporthe oryzae virus 2 (MoV2), a dsRNA virus that infects the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. In this study, we detected small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) from both positive- and negative-strand MoV2 viral RNA, suggesting that the RNA silencing machinery in M. oryzae functions against the mycovirus. Cloning and characterisation of MoV2 siRNAs indicated that, in MoV2, the ratio of virus-derived siRNAs to total small RNA is significantly lower than that in either plant viruses or Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV1), another mycovirus. Nevertheless, any MoV2-encoded proteins did not exhibit RNA silencing suppressor activity in both the plant and fungal systems. Our study suggests the existence of a novel viral strategy employed to evade host RNA silencing

On the Contamination of Sea Water with Salmonella and Fecal Indicator Organisms : I. Occurrence and Distribution of Salmonella and Fecal Indicator Organisms in Coastal Sea Water of Fukuyama

瀬戸内海の環境汚染調査の一環として1972年6月から1974年3月にわたり,福山市沿岸海水を対象にサルモネラと汚染指標菌の動態について調査した。その結果,以下のような成績が得られた。 1. 8地点(A～H)から採取した海水のサルモネラ陽性率は,平均12.1%(28/232)であった。 2. サルモネラ陽性率は地点および季節によって異なり,A地点23.9%(11/46),B地点21.7%(10/46)およびE地点25%(3/12)と陽性率が高く,また季節別では5～10月に高かった。 3. サルモネラ陽性率は港内から港外および沖合部に行くに従って低下した。 4. 分離された42株のサルモネラの菌型またはO群は,S.typhimurium, S.thompson, S.anatum, S.infantis, S.give, S.schleissheim, S.schwarzengrund, S.derby, S,montevideo, S.meleagridis, S,binza, S.senftenbergおよび型別不能のO群B,C1,D,E1であった。 5. これらの菌型・群は,以前に著者らが当地方の飼料工場や河川から分離した菌型と大多数は同じであったことから,陸上環境を汚染しているサルモネラが最終的には海水まで汚染していることが明らかとなった。 6. 従って海水のサルモネラ汚染は水産物のサルモネラ汚染にも影響を及ぼしている。 7. 汚染指標菌は大腸菌群,大腸菌および腸球菌の順で菌数ならびに検出率が高く,大腸菌群はほとんどが陽性であったが,他の2者では陰性例も多かった。 8. これら汚染指標菌の菌数が多い海水ほど,サルモネラ検出率が高い傾向にあった。 9. サルモネラならびに汚染指標菌の検出状況と海水温との関係を検討した結果,サルモネラは汚染指標菌の菌数が多く,しかも,水温が19℃以上の海水から検出される傾向があった。As a part of the survey on environmental pollution of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, a survey on the ecology of Salmonella and fecal indicator organisms in the sea water samples collected at eight stations (A to H) located on the coast of Fukuyama, was conducted in June 1972 through March 1974. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The positive rate for occurrence of Salmonella in the samples collected at the eight stations was 12.1% (28/232) in average. 2. It was observed that the frequency of occurrence of Salmonella in the samples varied depending on the sampling stations and on the seasons. Positive rates in Salmonella detection as high as 23.9% (11/46) at St. A, 21.7% (10/46) at St. B, and 25.0 % (3/ 12) at St. E were observed. In the seasonal observations, a higher positive rate of occurrence of Salmonella was observed in the samples collected during May through October. 3. The frequency of incidence of Salmonella in the samples lowered as the sampling station went from the inner part of Fukuyama Port to the outer part of the Port and the offshore area. 4. Some of the forty-two strains of Salmonella isolated were serotyped to S. typhimurium, S. thompson, S. anatum, S. infantis, S. give, S. schleissheim, S. schwarzengrund, S. derby, S. montevideo, S. meleagridis, S. binza and S. senftenberg, and the O-groups B, C1 , D and E 1. 5. Most of the serotypes isolated in the present study were similar to those isolated previously from the river waters and feed-stuffs in this district by the authors. According to the results, it was proved that those serotypes of Salmonella contaminating the terrestrial environment have also contaminated the coastal marine environment as a terminal stage in the pollutive circulation. 6. The marine contamination with Salmonella may result into the contamination of marine products. 7. The higher values of the MPN and frequency of occurrence of the fecal indicator organisms were observed according to the order to coliforms, E. coli and enterococci. The incidence of coliforms was positive in most of samples examined, but those of the others were negative in some cases. 8. A high tendency of Salmonella recovery was observed in cases that represented high values in the MPN of fecal indicator organisms. 9. As a results of consideration on the relationship between the sea water temperature and the frequency of occurrence of Salmonella and of fecal indicator organisms, it was recognized that there is a high tendency of Salmonella recovery in the sea water samples that showed a high MPN value of fecal indicator organisms and were on a temperature higher than 19° C.本研究の一部は昭和47～49年度文部省科学研究費(特定研究1「瀬戸内海の汚染と指標生物の動熊に関する研究―代表者藤山虎也教授」)によるものである

Robot As Moral Agent: A Philosophical and Empirical Approach

平成29年7月29日 CogSci 2017 : London, Hilton Hotel Metropole, London, England, における発表資

Isoform D of vascular endothelial growth factor in systemic capillary leak syndrome : a case report

Background: Systemic capillary leak syndrome is a rare condition characterized by episodic attacks of hypovolemia due to systemic capillary hyperpermeability, which results in profound hypotension and edema. Although the implication of vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin-2, and C-X-C motif chemokine 10 has been suggested, the pathogenesis of systemic capillary leak syndrome remains unclear. In this report, we describe a case of systemic capillary leak syndrome in which serum isoform D of vascular endothelial growth factor was elevated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of systemic capillary leak syndrome in which isoform D of vascular endothelial growth factor is suggested as the plausible biomarker. Case presentation: A 41-year-old Japanese man was transferred to our emergency department. He was hypotensive, tachycardic, and edematous over the trunk and all four limbs. He received aggressive intravenous fluid therapy and underwent fasciotomy of the right forearm to prevent muscle necrosis. A diagnosis of systemic capillary leak syndrome was suspected. The presence of serum monoclonal immunoglobulin G and κ light chain supported this diagnosis. Prevention of hypotensive crises was unsuccessfully attempted with theophylline, intravenous immunoglobulin, high-dose dexamethasone, bortezomib, melphalan, and prednisolone; however, the patient’s attacks dramatically disappeared after the introduction of thalidomide. The serum of the patient was stored soon after the onset of hypotensive crisis and analyzed to profile possible mediators responsible for the capillary leak. The concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor, angiopoietin-2, and C-X-C motif chemokine 10 were all within normal ranges. Meanwhile, we found that isoform D of vascular endothelial growth factor was elevated, which was normalized after the introduction of thalidomide. Conclusions: In our patient, isoform D of vascular endothelial growth factor (instead of vascular endothelial growth factor) may have been a causative factor of hypotensive crises, since isoform D contributes to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 signaling, which is the major mediator of the permeability-enhancing effects of vascular endothelial growth factor. We suggest the measurement of isoform D of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with systemic capillary leak syndrome in whose serum vascular endothelial growth factor is not elevated