Periostin as a novel biomarker for postoperative recurrence of chronic rhinosinitis with nasal polyps

We previously reported that chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) was subdivided into four chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) subtypes using the JESREC scoring system. We sought to identify the gene expression profile and biomarkers related with CRSwNP by RNA-sequence. RNA-sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes between nasal polyps (NPs) and inferior turbinate mucosa from 6 patients with CRSwNP, and subsequently, quantitative real-time PCR was performed to verify the results. ELISA was performed to identify possible biomarkers for postoperative recurrence. In the RNA-sequencing results, periostin (POSTN) expression was the highest in NP. We focused on POSTN and investigated the protein level of POSTN by immunohistochemistry and ELISA. POSTN was diffusely expressed in moderate and severe eosinophilic CRS using immunohistochemistry, and its staining pattern was associated with the severity of the phenotype of the CRSwNP (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference between the POSTN high/low groups for postoperative recurrence when the cutoff point was set at 115.5 ng/ml (P = 0.0072). Our data suggests that the protein expression level of POSTN was associated with the severity of CRSwNP, and serum POSTN can be a novel biomarker for postoperative recurrence of CRSwNP

Bladder dysfunction and urinary tract infection caused by abdominal pseudocyst with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt: A case report with literature review

The lower urinary tract dysfunction of the neurogenic bladder often worsens owing to dysfunction of the bladder itself. We treated a patient with spina bifida who experienced bladder dysfunction that worsened owing to an abdominal pseudocyst that developed as a complication of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. After removal of the pseudocyst, the urinary tract infection was controlled and bladder dysfunction was alleviated to a basal level

Forebrain Ptf1a Is Required for Sexual Differentiation of the Brain

The mammalian brain undergoes sexual differentiation by gonadal hormones during the perinatal critical period. However, the machinery at earlier stages has not been well studied. We found that Ptf1a is expressed in certain neuroepithelial cells and immature neurons around the third ventricle that give rise to various neurons in several hypothalamic nuclei. We show that conditional Ptf1a-deficient mice (Ptf1a cKO) exhibit abnormalities in sex-biased behaviors and reproductive organs in both sexes. Gonadal hormone administration to gonadectomized animals revealed that the abnormal behavior is caused by disorganized sexual development of the knockout brain. Accordingly, expression of sex-biased genes was severely altered in the cKO hypothalamus. In particular, Kiss1, important for sexual differentiation of the brain, was drastically reduced in the cKO hypothalamus, which may contribute to the observed phenotypes in the Ptf1a cKO. These findings suggest that forebrain Ptf1a is one of the earliest regulators for sexual differentiation of the brain

「信貴山縁起」と横スクロール形式のまんが表現について/「WEB コミックの国際標準規格の研究」より

WEB上にまんが表現が移行するということは、「単行本」や「雑誌」がWEBの環境下で新たな適応を求められることを意味する。現在のまんが表現は「コマ」を映画の1カットに見立て「モンタージュ」的に接続する一方、2頁単位の「見開き」に「構成」として配置するものであるが、そのような方法はWEB上では一度解体する。本研究では「横スクロール」形式によってiPadなどのタブレット上に帯状に描かれたまんがを表示する技法において、紙のまんがに替わる新しい文法形式を検証するため、中世の絵巻物「信貴山縁起」の手法の解析を行った。その結果、画面を上下二分割する中心軸上で読者の視線を上下させる技法を確認し、それがiPad対応の横スクロールまんがにも用いることができることを確認した。その他「異時間図法」など、絵巻の技法は応用可能であることが確認できた。「絵巻」と「横スクロール形式のWEBコミック」の方法上の互換性は高く、そこに「紙のまんが」や「アニメーションの技法」をどのようにあらためて導入するかが次の重要な課題である。Transitioning the presentation of MANGA on the web means that a new adaptation under the web environment is desired for the presentational syntax of MANGA, which has been defined through print media such as \u27books\u27 and \u27magazines\u27. The current presentation of MANGA is something that is a continuation of \u27frames\u27 selected as 1 scene of a video and joined in a \u27montage\u27-like manner, arranged as a \u27composition\u27 in two-page unit \u27spreads\u27, however this type of method is momentarily demolished on the web. In this study, we performed an analysis of the techniques of the medieval picture scroll “The Legend of Mount Shigi（Shigisan-engi）", in order to verify the new syntactical form taking the place of \u27paper MANGA\u27, through the technique of displaying comics drawn as a strip for tablets such as the iPad via a \u27horizontal scroll\u27 format. Those results confirmed a technique of causing the reader\u27s line of sight to go up and down via a core dividing the image into two upper and lower parts, and confirmed that it can also be utilized for horizontal scroll MANGA for the iPad. We were able to confirm that others picture scroll techniques such as \u27drawing of different times

The Exopolysaccharide Produced by <i>Lactobacillus paracasei</i> IJH-SONE68 Prevents and Ameliorates Inflammatory Responses in DSS–Induced Ulcerative Colitis

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. IBD includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). CD can occur in any part of the gastrointestinal tract, whereas UC mainly occurs in the colon and rectum. We previously demonstrated that a novel exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by a plant-derived bacterium, Lactobacillus paracasei IJH-SONE68, prevents and improves the inflammation in contact dermatitis model mice via oral administration. To evaluate the preventive effect of the EPS against other inflammatory diseases, in the present study, we employed dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC model mice. The stool consistency, hematochezia, and colonic atrophy of the mice were improved by the orally administered EPS. We also evaluated the cytokine transcription. Overexpression of the mouse macrophage inflammatory protein 2 mRNA in the colon as a functional homolog of human interleukin-8 was decreased by the orally administered EPS. However, the expression of interleukin-10, which is known as an anti-inflammatory cytokine, was stimulated in the EPS-administrated group. Based on these results, we conclude that the IJH-SONE68-derived EPS is a promising lead material for the development of drugs useful in treating inflammatory diseases such as UC

Plant-Derived Lactobacillus paracasei IJH-SONE68 Improves the Gut Microbiota Associated with Hepatic Disorders: A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Our previous clinical study has shown that the exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by a plant-derived lactic acid bacterium, Lactobacillus paracasei IJH-SONE68, improves chronic allergy status in humans. In addition, an inhibition of visceral fat accumulation was observed following the intake of EPS during animal experimentation. In the present study, we have further evaluated the health-promoting effects of a spray-dried powder of pineapple juice that is fermented with the IJH-SONE68 strain. This was conducted in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial at Hiroshima University from May 2019 to July 2021. Eighty healthy volunteers at range of ages 23&ndash;70, with a body mass index between 25 and 29.99, were enrolled. After the 12 weeks of the experimental period were complete, although the average visceral fat area in both groups similarly decreased, there was no significant difference in the content of visceral fat area or in the obesity-related physical parameters in both groups. Further, we found that the serum liver function indices (AST and ALT) in the test group decreased within a statistically determined trend (p = 0.054). The fecal microflora analysis revealed, in the test group, a statistically significant increase in the relative abundance changes within Anaerostipes, which has been reported to help suppress hepatic inflammation

The Exopolysaccharide Produced by Lactobacillus paracasei IJH-SONE68 Prevents and Ameliorates Inflammatory Responses in DSS–Induced Ulcerative Colitis

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. IBD includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). CD can occur in any part of the gastrointestinal tract, whereas UC mainly occurs in the colon and rectum. We previously demonstrated that a novel exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by a plant-derived bacterium, Lactobacillus paracasei IJH-SONE68, prevents and improves the inflammation in contact dermatitis model mice via oral administration. To evaluate the preventive effect of the EPS against other inflammatory diseases, in the present study, we employed dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC model mice. The stool consistency, hematochezia, and colonic atrophy of the mice were improved by the orally administered EPS. We also evaluated the cytokine transcription. Overexpression of the mouse macrophage inflammatory protein 2 mRNA in the colon as a functional homolog of human interleukin-8 was decreased by the orally administered EPS. However, the expression of interleukin-10, which is known as an anti-inflammatory cytokine, was stimulated in the EPS-administrated group. Based on these results, we conclude that the IJH-SONE68-derived EPS is a promising lead material for the development of drugs useful in treating inflammatory diseases such as UC