Interrelationships Between Serum Levels of Procalcitonin and Inflammatory Markers in Patients Who Visited a General Medicine Department

Various laboratory markers of inflammation are utilized in general practice, but their clinical diagnostic significance is often ambiguous. In the present study, we determined the clinical significance of the examination of serum levels of procalcitonin (PCT) by comparing the PCT levels with the levels of other inflammatory markers, based on a retrospective review of 332 PCT-positive patients, including cases of bacterial infection (20.5%), non-specific inflammation (20.8%), neoplasm (9.9%), connective tissue diseases (8.4%), and non-bacterial infection (7.2%), were analyzed. The serum PCT level was highest in the bacterial infection group (1.94 ng/ml) followed by the non-specific inflammatory group (0.58 ng/ml) and neoplastic diseases group (0.34 ng/ml). The serum PCT level was positively correlated with serum levels of C-reactive protein (rho=0.62), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R; rho=0.69), and ferritin, the plasma level of D-dimer, and white blood cell count, and negatively correlated with the serum albumin level (rho=−0.52), hemoglobin concentration, and platelet count. The serum PCT level showed a stronger positive correlation with the serum sIL-2R level than the other biomarkers. The results suggest that an increased PCT level may indicate not only an infectious state but also a non-bacterial inflammatory condition in the diagnostic process in general practice

Adjustable vertical vibration isolator with a variable ellipse curve mechanism

This paper presents a passive vertical quasi-zero-stiffness vibration isolator intended for relatively small objects. The present isolator has features of compactness, long stroke, and adjustability to various load capabilities. To realize these features, we use constant-force springs, which sustain constant load regardless of their elongation, and propose a variable ellipse curve mechanism that is inspired by the principle of ellipsographs. The variable ellipse curve mechanism can convert the restoring force of the horizontally placed constant-force springs to the vertical restoring force of the vibration isolator. At the same time as converting the direction, the vertical restoring force can be adjusted by changing the ratio of the semi-minor axis to the semi-major one of the ellipse. In this study, a prototype of a class of quasi-zero-stiffness vibration isolator with the proposed variable ellipse curve mechanism is created. Shaking table tests are performed to demonstrate the efficacy of the present mechanism, where the prototype is subjected to various sinusoidal and earthquake ground motions. It is demonstrated through the shaking table tests that the prototype can reduce the response acceleration within the same specified tolerance even when the mass of the vibration isolated object is change

Outcomes of dutasteride discontinuation in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy

To the Editor, Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in elderly males. The current guidelines recommend the use of a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor (5ARI) to treat males with moderate-to-severe LUTS and an enlarged prostate. Combination therapy with an alpha blocker and a 5ARI has proven effective at ameliorating LUTS and reducing the total prostate volume (TPV) and the risk of the disease progression

Shoulder horizontal abduction stretching effectively increases shear elastic modulus of pectoralis minor muscle

Background: Stretching maneuvers for the pectoralis minor muscle, which involve shoulder horizontal abduction or scapular retraction, are performed in clinical and sports settings because the tightness of this muscle may contribute to scapular dyskinesis. The effectiveness of stretching maneuvers for the pectoralis minor muscle is unclear in vivo. The purpose of this study was to verify the effectiveness of stretching maneuvers for the pectoralis minor muscle in vivo using ultrasonic shear wave elastography. Methods: Eighteen healthy men participated in this study. Elongation of the pectoralis minor muscle was measured for 3 stretching maneuvers (shoulder flexion, shoulder horizontal abduction, and scapular retraction) at 3 shoulder elevation angles (30°, 90°, and 150°). The shear elastic modulus, used as the index of muscle elongation, was computed using ultrasonic shear wave elastography for the 9 aforementioned stretching maneuver-angle combinations. Results: The shear elastic modulus was highest in horizontal abduction at 150°, followed by horizontal abduction at 90°, horizontal abduction at 30°, scapular retraction at 30°, scapular retraction at 90°, scapular retraction at 150°, flexion at 150°, flexion at 90°, and flexion at 30°. The shear elastic moduli of horizontal abduction at 90° and horizontal abduction at 150° were significantly higher than those of other stretching maneuvers. There was no significant difference between horizontal abduction at 90° and horizontal abduction at 150°. Conclusions: This study determined that shoulder horizontal abduction at an elevation of 90° and horizontal abduction at an elevation of 150° were the most effective stretching maneuvers for the pectoralis minor muscle in vivo

Effects of time-compressed speech training on multiple functional and structural neural mechanisms involving the left superior temporal gyrus

Time-compressed speech is an artificial form of rapidly presented speech. Training with time-compressed speech (TCSSL) in a second language leads to adaptation toward TCSSL. Here, we newly investigated the effects of 4 weeks of training with TCSSL on diverse cognitive functions and neural systems using the fractional amplitude of spontaneous low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF), resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) with the left superior temporal gyrus (STG), fractional anisotropy (FA), and regional gray matter volume (rGMV) of young adults by magnetic resonance imaging. There were no significant differences in change of performance of measures of cognitive functions or second language skills after training with TCSSL compared with that of the active control group. However, compared with the active control group, training with TCSSL was associated with increased fALFF, RSFC, and FA and decreased rGMV involving areas in the left STG. These results lacked evidence of a far transfer effect of time-compressed speech training on a wide range of cognitive functions and second language skills in young adults. However, these results demonstrated effects of time-compressed speech training on gray and white matter structures as well as on resting-state intrinsic activity and connectivity involving the left STG, which plays a key role in listening comprehension

Overcoming epithelial-mesenchymal transition-mediated drug resistance with monensin-based combined therapy in non-small cell lung cancer

Background The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key process in tumor progression and metastasis and is also associated with drug resistance. Thus, controlling EMT status is a research of interest to conquer the malignant tumors. Materials and methods A drug repositioning analysis of transcriptomic data from a public cell line database identified monensin, a widely used in veterinary medicine, as a candidate EMT inhibitor that suppresses the conversion of the EMT phenotype. Using TGF-β-induced EMT cell line models, the effects of monensin on the EMT status and EMT-mediated drug resistance were assessed. Results TGF-β treatment induced EMT in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines and the EGFR-mutant NSCLC cell lines with TGF-β-induced EMT acquired resistance to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The addition of monensin effectively suppressed the TGF-β-induced-EMT conversion, and restored the growth inhibition and the induction of apoptosis by the EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Conclusion Our data suggested that combined therapy with monensin might be a useful strategy for preventing EMT-mediated acquired drug resistance

Gene network inference and visualization tools for biologists: application to new human transcriptome datasets.

Gene regulatory networks inferred from RNA abundance data have generated significant interest, but despite this, gene network approaches are used infrequently and often require input from bioinformaticians. We have assembled a suite of tools for analysing regulatory networks, and we illustrate their use with microarray datasets generated in human endothelial cells. We infer a range of regulatory networks, and based on this analysis discuss the strengths and limitations of network inference from RNA abundance data. We welcome contact from researchers interested in using our inference and visualization tools to answer biological questions

Effects of time-compressed speech training on multiple functional and structural neural mechanisms involving the left superior temporal gyrus

Time-compressed speech is an artificial form of rapidly presented speech. Training with time compressed speech in a second language leads to adaptation toward time-compressed speech in a second language and toward time compressed speech in different languages. However, the effects of training with time-compressed speech of a second language (TCSSL) on diverse cognitive functions and neural mechanisms beyond time compressed speech-related activation are unknown. We investigated the effects of 4 weeks of training with TCSSL on the fractional amplitude of spontaneous low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) of 0.01–0.08 Hz, resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) with the left superior temporal gyrus (STG), fractional anisotropy (FA), and regional gray matter volume (rGMV) of young adults by magnetic resonance imaging. There were no significant differences in change of performance of measures of cognitive functions or second language skills after training with TCSSL compared with that of the active control group. However, compared with the active control group, training with TCSSL was associated with increased fALFF, RSFC, and FA and decreased rGMV involving areas in the left STG. These results lacked evidence of a far transfer effect of time compressed speech training on a wide range of cognitive functions and second language skills in young adults. However, these results demonstrated effects of time compressed speech training on gray and white matter structures as well as on resting-state intrinsic activity and connectivity involving the left STG, which plays a key role in listening comprehension

Role of dietary amino acid balance in diet restriction-mediated lifespan extension, renoprotection, and muscle weakness in aged mice.

Extending healthy lifespan is an emerging issue in an aging society. This study was designed to identify a dietary method of extending lifespan, promoting renoprotection, and preventing muscle weakness in aged mice, with a focus on the importance of the balance between dietary essential (EAAs) and nonessential amino acids (NEAAs) on the dietary restriction (DR)-induced antiaging effect. Groups of aged mice were fed ad libitum, a simple DR, or a DR with recovering NEAAs or EAAs. Simple DR significantly extended lifespan and ameliorated age-related kidney injury; however, the beneficial effects of DR were canceled by recovering dietary EAA but not NEAA. Simple DR prevented the age-dependent decrease in slow-twitch muscle fiber function but reduced absolute fast-twitch muscle fiber function. DR-induced fast-twitch muscle fiber dysfunction was improved by recovering either dietary NEAAs or EAAs. In the ad libitum-fed and the DR plus EAA groups, the renal content of methionine, an EAA, was significantly higher, accompanied by lower renal production of hydrogen sulfide (H2 S), an endogenous antioxidant. Finally, removal of methionine from the dietary EAA supplement diminished the adverse effects of dietary EAA on lifespan and kidney injury in the diet-restricted aged mice, which were accompanied by a recovery in H2 S production capacity and lower oxidative stress. These data imply that a dietary approach could combat kidney aging and prolong lifespan, while preventing muscle weakness, and suggest that renal methionine metabolism and the trans-sulfuration pathway could be therapeutic targets for preventing kidney aging and subsequently promoting healthy aging

Protective role of podocyte autophagy against glomerular endothelial dysfunction in diabetes.

To examine the cell-protective role of podocyte autophagy against glomerular endothelial dysfunction in diabetes, we analyzed the renal phenotype of tamoxifen (TM)-inducible podocyte-specific Atg5-deficient (iPodo-Atg5-/-) mice with experimental endothelial dysfunction. In both control and iPodo-Atg5-/- mice, high fat diet (HFD) feeding induced glomerular endothelial damage characterized by decreased urinary nitric oxide (NO) excretion, collapsed endothelial fenestrae, and reduced endothelial glycocalyx. HFD-fed control mice showed slight albuminuria and nearly normal podocyte morphology. In contrast, HFD-fed iPodo-Atg5-/- mice developed massive albuminuria accompanied by severe podocyte injury that was observed predominantly in podocytes adjacent to damaged endothelial cells by scanning electron microscopy. Although podocyte-specific autophagy deficiency did not affect endothelial NO synthase deficiency-associated albuminuria, it markedly exacerbated albuminuria and severe podocyte morphological damage when the damage was induced by intravenous neuraminidase injection to remove glycocalyx from the endothelial surface. Furthermore, endoplasmic reticulum stress was accelerated in podocytes of iPodo-Atg5-/- mice stimulated with neuraminidase, and treatment with molecular chaperone tauroursodeoxycholic acid improved neuraminidase-induced severe albuminuria and podocyte injury. In conclusion, podocyte autophagy plays a renoprotective role against diabetes-related structural endothelial damage, providing an additional insight into the pathogenesis of massive proteinuria in diabetic nephropathy