Accurate and simple method for quantification of hepatic fat content using magnetic resonance imaging: a prospective study in biopsy-proven nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

To assess the degree of hepatic fat content, simple and noninvasive methods with high objectivity and reproducibility are required. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one such candidate, although its accuracy remains unclear. We aimed to validate an MRI method for quantifying hepatic fat content by calibrating MRI reading with a phantom and comparing MRI measurements in human subjects with estimates of liver fat content in liver biopsy specimens. The MRI method was performed by a combination of MRI calibration using a phantom and double-echo chemical shift gradient-echo sequence (double-echo fast low-angle shot sequence) that has been widely used on a 1.5-T scanner. Liver fat content in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD, n = 26) was derived from a calibration curve generated by scanning the phantom. Liver fat was also estimated by optical image analysis. The correlation between the MRI measurements and liver histology findings was examined prospectively. Magnetic resonance imaging measurements showed a strong correlation with liver fat content estimated from the results of light microscopic examination (correlation coefficient 0.91, P < 0.001) regardless of the degree of hepatic steatosis. Moreover, the severity of lobular inflammation or fibrosis did not influence the MRI measurements. This MRI method is simple and noninvasive, has excellent ability to quantify hepatic fat content even in NAFLD patients with mild steatosis or advanced fibrosis, and can be performed easily without special devices.ArticleJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY. 45(12):1263-1271 (2010)journal articl

PHI-1, an Endogenous Inhibitor Protein for Protein Phosphatase-1 and a Pan-Cancer Marker, Regulates Raf-1 Proteostasis

Raf-1, a multifunctional kinase, regulates various cellular processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration, by phosphorylating MAPK/ERK kinase and interacting with specific kinases. Cellular Raf-1 activity is intricately regulated through pathways involving the binding of regulatory proteins, direct phosphorylation, and the ubiquitin-proteasome axis. In this study, we demonstrate that PHI-1, an endogenous inhibitor of protein phosphatase-1 (PP1), plays a pivotal role in modulating Raf-1 proteostasis within cells. Knocking down endogenous PHI-1 in HEK293 cells using siRNA resulted in increased cell proliferation and reduced apoptosis. This heightened cell proliferation was accompanied by a 15-fold increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Importantly, the observed ERK1/2 hyperphosphorylation was attributable to an upregulation of Raf-1 expression, rather than an increase in Ras levels, Raf-1 Ser338 phosphorylation, or B-Raf levels. The elevated Raf-1 expression, stemming from PHI-1 knockdown, enhanced EGF-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation through MEK. Moreover, PHI-1 knockdown significantly contributed to Raf-1 protein stability without affecting Raf-1 mRNA levels. Conversely, ectopic PHI-1 expression suppressed Raf-1 protein levels in a manner that correlated with PHI-1\u27s inhibitory potency. Inhibiting PP1 to mimic PHI-1\u27s function using tautomycin led to a reduction in Raf-1 expression. In summary, our findings highlight that the PHI-1-PP1 signaling axis selectively governs Raf-1 proteostasis and cell survival signals

Recognition of the "team medical-care" in medical field.

チーム医療に対して高い関心が寄せられていることから,チーム医療として認識される具体的な事柄や各職種に対する認識,その利点や職種間の認識の違いなどを明らかにする目的で,岡山県内の病院の看護師,診療放射線技師,臨床検査技師,計652名に対してアンケート調査を行った｡有効回答者数470名で,その内訳は看護師207名,診療放射線技師91名,臨床検査技師172名であった｡結果はチーム医療と認識される具体的な事柄については,異業種間カンファレンスがチーム医療を促進する事柄として認識されているが,整備･実施されていないことがうかがえた｡各職種に対する認識については,職種別･経験年数別にみても,医師,看護師,理学･作業療法士はチーム医療のメンバーとして認識されている割合が高かった｡また,経験年数別では,10～14年の人までは統計上ややばらつきがみられるが,経験年数15年以上の人はあらゆる職種をチーム医療のメンバーであると考え,その重要性を認識していることがわかった｡チーム医療の利点については,どの職種も共通して｢患者中心の医療｣と考えている割合が高かった｡Recently, the "team medical-care" has been received increasing attention in medical field. Therefore we have to develop a clear understanding of "team medical-care". The purpose of this study is to investigate things regarded as "team medical-care" by co-medical, recognition of other category of license, the advantages of "team medical-care" and recognition against the "team medical-care" by different category of license. Total 652 nurses, clinical radiological technologists and clinical laboratory technologists who are working at 8 hospitals in Okayama prefecture were examined by using questionnaire and 470 members (72.1%) responded to it. They were nurses 207 (44.0%), clinical radiological technologists 91 (19.4%), clinical laboratory technologists 172 (36.6%). Majority of respondents recognized that the medical conference consisted of different category of license promoted the "team medical-care", and ninety percent of participants prompted more frequent medical conference. In both by category of license and years of experience, they regarded doctor, nurse, physical therapist and occupational therapist as the menber of the "team medical-care" at high rate. The respondences which have over 15 years of experience regarded all category of license as the menber of the "team medical-care", while the respondences which have less than 10 to 14 years of experience showed disperision of the recongnition. The advantages of "team medical-care" were highly perceived as "patient-centered medical care" by all category of license

The novel p53 target gene IRF2BP2 participates in cell survival during the p53 stress response

The tumor suppressor p53 contributes to the cellular fate after genotoxic insults, mainly through the regulation of target genes, thereby allowing e.g. repair mechanisms resulting in cell survival or inducing apoptosis. Unresolved so far is the issue, which exact mechanisms lead to one or the other cellular outcome. Here, we describe the interferon regulatory factor-2-binding protein-2 (IRF2BP2) as a new direct target gene of p53, influencing the p53-mediated cellular decision. We show that upregulation of IRF2BP2 after treatment with actinomycin D (Act.D) is dependent on functional p53 in different cell lines. This occurs in parallel with the down-regulation of the interacting partner of IRF2BP2, the interferon regulatory factor-2 (IRF2), which is known to positively influence cell growth. Analyzing the molecular functions of IRF2BP2, it appears to be able to impede on the p53-mediated transactivation of the p21- and the Bax-gene. We show here that overexpressed IRF2BP2 has an impact on the cellular stress response after Act.D treatment and that it diminishes the induction of apoptosis after doxorubicin treatment. Furthermore, the knockdown of IRF2BP2 leads to an upregulation of p21 and faster induction of apoptosis after doxorubicin as well as Act.D treatment

Support team and its effects on house remodeling for aged and handicapped persons

地域で生活する高齢者･障害者にとって,住宅環境の整備は必須の要件である｡津山市では在宅生活を支援する立場にある保健婦やホームヘルパー,作業療法士等保健･福祉関係者と,建築関係者が共同で支援チームをつくり住宅改造に関わってきた｡本研究では,この支援チームが関わった事例と直接関わらないで当事者と業者のみで改造を実施した事例を比較し,支援チームが関わることの効果をみた｡調査方法は,各事例の家庭を訪問して面接聞き取り調査を行った｡調査内容は調査票を用いて改造箇所,生活空間,介護量,外出の状況について尋ねた｡改造前後の変化を比較して,支援チームの効果について以下のことが明らかになった｡ 1.支援チームの関与による浴室の改造は,入浴が可能となり生活空間が広がるなど改善が認められた｡ 2.離床を目的にした玄関･廊下･居室の改造は,外出などの日常生活行動を広げ,本人のQOLを高めることに役立つ｡以上より住宅の改造が,介護者の介護負担を必ずしも直接軽減するとは限らないが,高齢者･障害者の介護の質に変化を与えることが示唆された。The maintenance and improvement of housing environments are essential for aged and handicapped persons living in a local communities. The support team consists of public health nurses, home helpers, occupational therapists and architects took part in giving an advices for house remodeling in Tsuyama City. We compared the effectiveness of the participation of the team before and after remodeling of housing environment. An interview was conducted at each cases for places of remodeling, living spaces, quantity of care and ease of going. The results are as follows ; 1. The remodeling of bathrooms, participating support team improved the living spaces to be able to take bath. 2. The remodeling of entrances and corridors for leaving beds, improved the living space and the QOL of care recipients. The results suggest that the remodeling of houses dose not always lighten care burdens for caring, but changes the quality of care for aged and handicapped persons

インターアクション ノウリョク ノ イクセイ オ メザシタ チョウカイ キョウザイ ノ サクセイ ニ ムケテ

論文Thesi

Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 variant

オミクロンBA.2.86株のウイルス学的特性の解明. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2024-01-30.A comprehensive systematic characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 strain BA.2.86. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2024-01-31.In late 2023, several SARS-CoV-2 XBB descendants, notably EG.5.1, were predominant worldwide. However, a distinct SARS-CoV-2 lineage, the BA.2.86 variant, also emerged. BA.2.86 is phylogenetically distinct from other Omicron sublineages, accumulating over 30 amino acid mutations in its spike protein. Here, we examined the virological characteristics of the BA.2.86 variant. Our epidemic dynamics modeling suggested that the relative reproduction number of BA.2.86 is significantly higher than that of EG.5.1. Additionally, four clinically available antivirals were effective against BA.2.86. Although the fusogenicity of BA.2.86 spike is similar to that of the parental BA.2 spike, the intrinsic pathogenicity of BA.2.86 in hamsters was significantly lower than that of BA.2. Since the growth kinetics of BA.2.86 are significantly lower than those of BA.2 both in vitro and in vivo, the attenuated pathogenicity of BA.2.86 is likely due to its decreased replication capacity. These findings uncover the features of BA.2.86, providing insights for control and treatment

Kansai University Library 100th anniversary

目次 【序文】記念誌の刊行にあたって（図書館長　内田慶市）図書館創設100周年によせて（学長　楠見晴重）記念誌の編集について【第1部　この20年を振り返って】高槻図書室開館（広瀬雅子）…3阪神・淡路大震災（高橋真澄）…8図書館システムの変遷（徳岡久実・濱生快彦）…12図書館ビジョン7項目の制定（濱生快彦）…20図書館におけるアウトソーシング（高橋真澄）…26電子展示（濱生快彦）…36市民利用開始（広瀬雅子）…41図書館ウェブサイト（濱生快彦）…442010プロジェクトによる新図書館（高橋真澄・田中恵美）…48図書館リニューアル工事（新谷大二郎）…60図書館の現在と未来（堀口和弘）…68【第2部　図書館に想う】関西大学図書館創設100周年に寄せて（市川訓敏）…79図書館の思い出、図書館への思い（北川勝彦）…85図書館在職時の思い出（柴田真一）…91数々の貴重書（田中登）…95関西大学図書館100周年にあたって : 私の夢想する図書館（内田慶市）…100【第3部　図書館の文庫・コレクション】文庫・コレクションの紹介（鵜飼香織）…111【第4部　資料編】図書館年譜（明治19.3 ～平成26.7）…119サービスに係る統計（総合図書館）…146サービスに係る統計（高槻図書室・ミューズ大学図書館・堺キャンパス図書館）…148蔵書数の推移…149図書費執行額の推移…150展示一覧…152他大学図書館との協定一覧…160【「図書館コラム」】新人時代の思い出（高松和美）…11エレベーターにまつわる話（吉田有輝）…19泣き別れたり、親子になったり（嶋田有理香）…35貴重なのは本だけ？貴重書担当のつぶやき（大上良樹）…40会長校のころ（金東瀅）…46『コアラ博士』にまつわるあれこれ（松本和剛）…57広報誌『KULione 』誕生秘話（白髪友賀）…59本と夢を運んだテレリフト（芝谷秀司）…66LOUIS VUITTON（加藤博之）…7