Reflection-Symmetry Protected Antiferromagnetic Topological Insulator in Three-Dimensional Heavy-Fermion Systems

We study the topological properties of an antiferromagnetic phase with reflection symmetry in three-dimensional heavy-fermion systems. We here propose a reflection-symmetric topological state in the three-dimensional antiferromagnetic phase and demonstrate how the paramagnetic phase changes into the antiferromagnetic topological phase of f -electron materials such as SmB6.Comment: 6pages, 2figure

Impact of Potentially Inappropriate Medications on Kidney Function in Chronic Kidney Disease: Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a major public health burden. Potential inappropriate medications (PIMs) are common in patients with CKD. However, its impact on kidney outcomes has not been adequately elucidated for middle-aged patients. This study aimed to clarify the prescription status of PIMs for middle-aged patients with CKD and its effect on kidney function decline. Methods: Using an administrative claims database in Japan, a retrospective cohort study was conducted among Japanese patients with CKD (aged 20–74) who underwent annual health check-ups at least three times between April 2008 and December 2020. PIM exposure was defined as medications to be avoided in older adults as defined by the 2019 American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria. The association between the number of prescribed PIMs and the decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was examined using logistic regression models adjusted for clinical characteristics and laboratory variables. Results: A total of 43, 143 patients with CKD (mean age 57 years, median eGFR: 52 mL/min/1.73 m2) were analyzed, and approximately 40% of the patients were prescribed one or more PIMs. The most commonly prescribed PIMs were pain medications (18.5%), followed by gastrointestinal medications (9.8%), central nervous system medications (8.6%), and cardiovascular medications (8.6%). After adjustment, exposure to 2 or ≥3 PIMs was associated with an increased risk of 30% eGFR decline (adjusted odds ratio 1.71 [95% confidence interval, 1.24–2.37] and 1.65 [95% confidence interval, 1.08–2.52], respectively) as compared to the control group. Conclusion: This study showed that middle-aged patients with CKD who were prescribed ≥2 PIM had an increased risk of progression of CKD. Further studies are needed to analyze whether deprescribing steps contribute to reduce PIM prescriptions and prevent CKD progression

Current Topics in Food and Biodynamic Chemistry Research

Studies on chemical structures, metabolisms and physiological significances of food and bioactive natural products are currently being addressed in our laboratory to explain their health effects in humans. Some novel molecules and functions of food and nutrients were discovered, and new foodstuffs and products were developed. The researches were carried out on stable authentic phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide; membrane lipid glycation and its inhibitors; cancer growth suppression by conjugated triene fatty acids; antiangiogenicity of rice bran tocotrienol; glucosidase inhibition by mulberry 1-deoxynojirimycin; and high quality broccoli products regarding hepatoprotective sulforaphane contents

Regulation of Syk activity by antiviral adaptor MAVS in FcεRI signaling pathway

BackgroundMast cells are the major effector cell type for IgE-mediated allergic reactions. Recent studies revealed a role for mast cells in orchestrating the host response to viral infections.ObjectiveWe studied the relationship between FcεRI (high-affinity IgE receptor) and RIG-I-like receptor (RLR)-mediated antiviral signaling pathways.MethodsMast cells (BMMCs) were cultured from bone marrow cells from mice deficient in MAVS or other RLR signaling molecules. MAVS expression was restored by retroviral transduction of MAVS-deficient BMMCs. These cells were stimulated with IgE and antigen and their activation (degranulation and cytokine production/secretion) was quantified. FcεRI-mediated signaling events such as protein phosphorylation and Ca2+ flux were analyzed by western blotting and enzyme assays. WT and mutant mice as well as mast cell-deficient KitW−sh/W−sh mice engrafted with BMMCs were subjected to passive cutaneous anaphylaxis.ResultsUnexpectedly, we found that mast cells devoid of the adaptor molecule MAVS exhibit dramatically increased cytokine production upon FcεRI stimulation, despite near-normal degranulation. Consistent with these observations, MAVS inhibited tyrosine phosphorylation, thus catalytic activity of Syk kinase, the key signaling molecule for FcεRI-mediated mast cell activation. By contrast, mast cells deficient in RIG-I, MDA5 or IRF3, which are antiviral receptor and signaling molecules upstream or downstream of MAVS, exhibited reduced or normal mast cell activation. MAVS-deficient mice showed enhanced late-phase responses in passive cutaneous anaphylaxis.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that the adaptor MAVS in the RLR innate immune pathway uniquely intersects with the adaptive immune FcεRI signaling pathway

Primary Uterine Lymphoma: A Case Report

Primary lymphoma of the uterus is a rare disease, the reported characteristic MR imaging findings being homogeneous intermediate signal intensity of the indistinct mass on T1- and T2-weighted images, and the preservation of endometrial lining and uterine architecture. We report a case of primary uterine lymphoma which showed tumoral necrosis, endometrial disruption and diffuse anterior vaginal wall involvement

Mast Cells Are Required for Full Expression of Allergen/SEB-Induced Skin Inflammation

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic pruritic inflammatory skin disease. We recently described an animal model in which repeated epicutaneous applications of a house dust mite extract and Staphylococcal enterotoxin B induced eczematous skin lesions. In this study we showed that global gene expression patterns are very similar between human AD skin and allergen/staphylococcal enterotoxin B–induced mouse skin lesions, particularly in the expression of genes related to epidermal growth/differentiation, skin barrier, lipid/energy metabolism, immune response, or extracellular matrix. In this model, mast cells and T cells, but not B cells or eosinophils, were shown to be required for the full expression of dermatitis, as revealed by reduced skin inflammation and reduced serum IgE levels in mice lacking mast cells or T cells (TCRβ−/- or Rag1−/-). The clinical severity of dermatitis correlated with the numbers of mast cells, but not eosinophils. Consistent with the idea that T helper type 2 (Th2) cells play a predominant role in allergic diseases, the receptor for the Th2-promoting cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin and the high-affinity IgE receptor, FcεRI, were required to attain maximal clinical scores. Therefore, this clinically relevant model provides mechanistic insights into the pathogenic mechanism of human AD