LO-mode phonon of KCl and NaCl at 300 K by inelastic x-ray scattering measurements and first principles calculations

Longitudinal-optical (LO) mode phonon branches of KCl and NaCl were measured using inelastic x-ray scattering (IXS) at 300 K and calculated by the first-principles phonon calculation with the stochastic self-consistent harmonic approximation. Spectral shapes of the IXS measurements and calculated spectral functions agreed well. We analyzed the calculated spectral functions that provide higher resolutions of the spectra than the IXS measurements. Due to strong anharmonicity, the spectral functions of these phonon branches have several peaks and the LO modes along Gamma-L paths are disconnected

Effects of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors on ultrafiltration in patients with peritoneal dialysis: a protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial (EMPOWERED)

The version of record of this article, first published in Clinical and Experimental Nephrology, is available online at Publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-024-02467-w.Background: Volume overload is common and associated with high mortality in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Traditional strategies including diuretics, water/salt restriction, and icodextrin-based solutions cannot always fully correct this condition, necessitating novel alternative strategies. Recent studies confirmed the expression of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) in the human peritoneum. Experimental data suggest that SGLT2 inhibitors decrease glucose absorption from the PD solution, thereby increasing the ultrafiltration volume. This trial aims to assess whether SGLT2 inhibitors increase the ultrafiltration volume in patients on PD. Methods: The EMPOWERED trial (trial registration: jRCTs051230081) is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Patients with clinically diagnosed chronic heart failure are eligible regardless of the presence of diabetes if they use at least 3 L/day glucose-based PD solutions. Participants will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive empagliflozin 10 mg once daily and then placebo or vice versa. Each treatment period will last 8 weeks with a 4-week washout period. This study will recruit at least 36 randomized participants. The primary endpoint is the change in the daily ultrafiltration volume from baseline to week 8 in each intervention period. The key secondary endpoints include changes in the biomarkers of drained PD solutions, renal residual function, and anemia-related parameters. Conclusions: This trial aims to assess the benefit of SGLT2 inhibitors in fluid management with a novel mechanism of action in patients on PD. It will also provide insights into the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on solute transport across the peritoneal membrane and residual renal function

Effect of Environmental Change while Climbing Mt. Daisen on Forced Vital Capacity and Forced Expiratory Volume % in Young Women

The aim of the present study was to clarify the effects of environmental change while climbing Mt. Daisen on forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume % in young women in summer. Seven healthy Japanese women (age: 22.6 ± 4.2 years) volunteered to climb Mt. Daisen (1,709m), located in Tottori prefecture, in August. Participants\u27 expiratory forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume % (FEV_%) and arterial oxygen saturation (SpO_2) were measured at 4 points (Ground: 10m, Rest point: 780m, Summit: 1,709m, Goal point: 780m). The measurements were conducted soon after the subjects\u27 arrival at each point. The degree of dyspnea sensation was measured at Ground, Rest point, Goal point and at each station. There were no significant changes in FVC. FEV_% at the summit was significantly lower than at the Ground and Rest point. No significant differences were found in SpO_2 at each measuring point. The degree of dyspnea sensation at each station soon after the subjects\u27 arrival was significantly higher than those at the Rest point. The results of this study indicated mild airway contraction induced by stresses on the respiratory system from increasing exercise intensity during an ascent of Mt. Daisen

Discrimination of Dormant and Active Hematopoietic Stem Cells by G₀ Marker Reveals Dormancy Regulation by Cytoplasmic Calcium

Quiescent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are typically dormant, and only a few quiescent HSCs are active. The relationship between “dormant” and “active” HSCs remains unresolved. Here we generate a G0 marker (G0M) mouse line that visualizes quiescent cells and identify a small population of active HSCs (G0Mlow), which are distinct from dormant HSCs (G0Mhigh), within the conventional quiescent HSC fraction. Single-cell RNA-seq analyses show that the gene expression profiles of these populations are nearly identical but differ in their Cdk4/6 activity. Furthermore, high-throughput small-molecule screening reveals that high concentrations of cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca2+]c) are linked to dormancy of HSCs. These findings indicate that G0M separates dormant and active adult HSCs, which are regulated by Cdk4/6 and [Ca2+]c. This G0M mouse line represents a useful resource for investigating physiologically important stem cell subpopulations

Discrimination of Dormant and Active Hematopoietic Stem Cells by G₀ Marker Reveals Dormancy Regulation by Cytoplasmic Calcium

Quiescent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are typically dormant, and only a few quiescent HSCs are active. The relationship between “dormant” and “active” HSCs remains unresolved. Here we generate a G0 marker (G0M) mouse line that visualizes quiescent cells and identify a small population of active HSCs (G0Mlow), which are distinct from dormant HSCs (G0Mhigh), within the conventional quiescent HSC fraction. Single-cell RNA-seq analyses show that the gene expression profiles of these populations are nearly identical but differ in their Cdk4/6 activity. Furthermore, high-throughput small-molecule screening reveals that high concentrations of cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca2+]c) are linked to dormancy of HSCs. These findings indicate that G0M separates dormant and active adult HSCs, which are regulated by Cdk4/6 and [Ca2+]c. This G0M mouse line represents a useful resource for investigating physiologically important stem cell subpopulations

Relationship between Protection against Cold and the Physiological Index during a Cold Environment

A snow cave is a bivouac shelter used in mountain climbing that is widely used as a shelter against the cold during winter. In the outdoors, wind velocity and air temperature have an influence on temperature change. It could stabilize body temperature if it can control the convection of ambient air. This paper could develop a theory focusing on the relation between physiological indexes and the protection against the cold while staying in a snow cave. For example, protection against the cold could be thermal insulation underwear, thermal insulation gloves, thermal insulation socks, a steam warmed temperature sheet and a rescue sheet. Measurement items were heart rate, blood pressure, rectal temperature, score of a subjective thermal sensation and the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system. It was clarified that the protection against the cold could be effective for the decrease of the physiological index. These field studies suggest that they would enable the adaptation in the adjustment range of the autonomic nervous system given these protections against the cold

The Japanese Clinical Practice Guideline for acute kidney injury 2016

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a syndrome which has a broad range of etiologic factors depending on different clinical settings. Because AKI has significant impacts on prognosis in any clinical settings, early detection and intervention are necessary to improve the outcomes of AKI patients. This clinical guideline for AKI was developed by a multidisciplinary approach with nephrology, intensive care medicine, blood purification, and pediatrics. Of note, clinical practice for AKI management which was widely performed in Japan was also evaluated with comprehensive literature search

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

GUANIDINOACETIC ACID(GAA) IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE(CKD) AND DIABETES MELLITUS(DM)

GAA is the precursor of creatine, an essential in the energy metabolism of muscle and nerve tissue. GAA is mainly produced in the kidney. GAA production was reported to be suppressed in the streptozotocin-induced DM rats. However, GAA metabolism has not been really investigated in CKD or DM patients. In this study, we determined serum level(S) and urinary excretion(U) of GAA and creatinine(Cr) in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) and DM. The subjects were 15 healthy adults, 92 patients with CGN and 27 patients with non insulin-dependent DM nephropathy. S and U-GAA were determined with HPLC. As shown in the Table describing mean values, U-GAA of early stage CKD patients was significantly lower than healthy subject. And S-GAA decreased with loss of renal function or with U-Cr, especially in DM patients. N S-Cr U-Cr S-GAA U-GAA (mg/dL) (mg/day) (μg/dL) (mg/day) Normal 15 0.9 1633 38.2 103.0 CGN(Ccr>90mL/min) 12 1 1742 41.1 41.3⁎ CGN(Ccr<90mL/min) 24 1.5⁎ 1385⁎ 37.7 39.2⁎ CGN(Ccr<30mL/min) 56 7.1⁎ 715⁎ 24.4⁎ 5.9⁎ DM(Ccr>60mL/min) 16 0.9 775⁎ 27.8⁎ 46.2⁎ DM(Ccr<60mL/min) 11 5.0⁎ 581⁎ 22.1⁎ 2.3⁎ In conclusion, GAA production in the kidney decreased in CKD patients, suggesting GAA deficiency was a reason of muscle wasting of CKD and DM patients

Effects of guanidinoacetic acid(gaa) supplementation in rats with chronic renal failure(crf)

GAA is the precursor of creatine(CRT), an essential in the energy metabolism of muscle and nerve tissue. GAA is mainly produced in the kidney. We reported the GAA deficiency in CRF patients. This study was designed to assess the effects of GAA supplementation(10 mg,100 mg/day orally for 4 weeks respectively) for the muscle capabilities in CRF rats prepared by 5/6 nephrectomy. Muscle power was assessed by the sliding angle of the inclined screen test, and physical strength was evaluated by the time to survive in water (forced swimming method). GAA and CRT concentrations in serum, muscle and other organs were significantly decreased in CRF rats. GAA administrations significantly increased CRT content in muscle, and improved muscle capabilities dose-dependently. muscle power physical strength sliding angle; ° swimming time; min Sham 55.2±0.9 52.0±3.8 CRF(GAA 0) 42.3±1.9* 21.9±1.2* CRF(GAA 10 mg) 47.4±1.3*$25.5±1.1*$ CRF(GAA 100 mg) 48.8±2.1*$29.0±3.3*$ *; p<0.05 vs Sham $; p<0.05 vs GAA 0In conclusion, we demonstrated a deficiency of GAA and CRT, and muscle weekness in CRF rats. However, oral GAA supplementation could recover muscle content of CRT and muscle capabilities in these rats