Comparison of EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera) adult assemblage between old-growth natural forest and planted coniferous forest basins in Japanese temperate reglOn

The purpose of this study is to clarifythe differences of EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera) adult assemblage between the two basins that have the most corrmon types of Japanese headstream forests, i.e.anold-growth natural forest (ONF) and a planted coniferous forest CPCF) in the Kuroson stream in the Shimanto River basin･ ln the previousstudy, We found that aquatic invertebrate assemblages (larvae) were different between an old-growth natural forest (ONF) and a planted coniferous forest (PCF) basins However, it was better to confirmthe result in other way. Principal components analysis showed the differences also in EPT adult assemblage between the two basins in this study･ Leaf litter, stream water quality, and light availabilitycan differ depending on the forest vegetation. Because the difference of assemblage between the two basins was found both in larvae and adults in the same stream, it is supposed that the differences of forest vegetation would strongly relate withthe difference of aquatic invertebrate assemblage.Article信州大学山地水環境教育研究センター研究報告 6: 83-94(2010)departmental bulletin pape

Riesgo de úlceras por presión (UPP) en pacientes internados en las unidades de cuidados intensivos

Introduction: Limited sensory perception, immobility, sedation, mechanical ventilation, tissue hypoperfusion, edema and moisture are considered predisposing factors for the development of pressure ulcers in critically ill patients. Objective: To characterize pressure ulcers in critically ill patients, determine the association with demographic variables, stay in hospital and clinical conditions, and identify risk factors for the development of pressure ulcers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional was conducted with a sample of patients aged 18 years and older who had no pressure ulcers on admission and had been hospitalized > 24 hours in the Intensive Care Unit. The association of pressure ulcers with each of the variables was assessed using the Mann-Whitney U test, chi-squared test, likelihood ratio, and Fisher’s exact test. Risk factors were identified by multiple logistic regression. Results: Among 324 patients, 46 patients (14.2%) developed pressure ulcers most frequently in sacral and calcaneal regions. Risk factors for pressure ulcers development were age, length of hospital stay and hospital stay before admission to the Intensive Care Unit. Discussion: Such high incidence, location and stage of the identified pressure ulcers expose the vulnerability of intensive care unit patients to this type of injury. Risk factors for pressure ulcers development include aspects related to the patient, hospitalization and disease severity, and their combination should be assessed as part of the daily assessment of the critically ill patient. Conclusions: The occurrence of pressure ulcers in critically ill patients is a multifactorial phenomenon, for which the recognition of risk factors can contribute to the early rapid adoption of measures for their prevention. How to cite this article: Campos, Michelle Mayumi Yoshimura de; Souza, Mariana Fernandes Cremasco de;  Whitaker, Iveth Yamaguchi.  Risco para lesão por pressão em pacientes de unidade de terapia intensiva. Revista Cuidarte. 2021;12(2):e1196. http://dx.doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.1196    Introdução: As limitações na percepção sensorial, a imobilidade, sedação, ventilação mecânica, hipoperfusão tecidual, edema e umidade são fatores que predispõem o aparecimento da lesão por pressão no paciente crítico. Objetivos: Caracterizar as lesões por pressão em pacientes críticos, verificar sua associação com as variáveis demográficas, da internação, condições clínicas e identificar fatores de risco para lesão por pressão. Método: Estudo transversal que incluiu na amostra pacientes com idade >18 anos, ausência de lesão por pressão à admissão e internação >24 horas na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva. Associação da lesão por pressão com as variáveis foi verificada com testes de Mann-Whitney, Qui-quadrado, razão de verossimilhança ou teste exato de Fischer. Fatores de risco foram identificados pela Regressão Logística Multivariada. Resultados: Dos 324 pacientes, 46 (14,2%) desenvolveram lesão por pressão, sendo mais frequente nas regiões sacral e calcânea. Fatores de risco para lesão por pressão foram idade, tempo de internação e permanência na enfermaria antes da Unidade de Terapia Intensiva. Discussão: A incidência elevada, a localização corpórea e o estágio da lesão por pressão observados mostram a vulnerabilidade do paciente de Unidade de Terapia Intensiva a este tipo de lesão. Os riscos para lesão por pressão abrangem fatores relacionados ao paciente, à hospitalização e à gravidade da doença, sendo que a combinação entre eles deve ser valorizada na avaliação diária do paciente crítico. Conclusão: A lesão por pressão no paciente crítico é multifatorial e o reconhecimento dos fatores de risco pode contribuir para implementação precoce de ações para evitar essa lesão. Como citar este artigo: Campos, Michelle Mayumi Yoshimura de; Souza, Mariana Fernandes Cremasco de;  Whitaker, Iveth Yamaguchi.  Risco para lesão por pressão em pacientes de unidade de terapia intensiva. Revista Cuidarte. 2021;12(2):e1196. http://dx.doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.1196   Introducción: Las limitaciones de la percepción sensorial, la inmovilidad, la sedación, la ventilación mecánica, la hipoperfusión tisular, el edema y la humedad se consideran factores que predisponen la aparición de úlceras por presión en pacientes en estado crítico. Objetivo: Caracterizar las úlceras por presión en pacientes críticos, determinar la asociación con variables demográficas, la hospitalización y las condiciones clínicas, e identificar los factores de riesgo para la aparición de úlceras por presión. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal mediante una muestra de pacientes > 18 años que no presentaban úlceras por presión al ingreso y habían estado hospitalizados >24 horas en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. La asociación de las úlceras por presión con las variables se verificó a través de la prueba U de Mann-Whitney, prueba de chi-cuadrado, razón de verosimilitud y el test exacto de Fisher. Los factores de riesgo se identificaron mediante regresión logística múltiple. Resultados: De 324 pacientes, 46 (14.2%) desarrollaron úlceras por presión con mayor frecuencia en las regiones sacra y calcánea. Los factores de riesgo para la aparición de úlceras por presión fueron la edad, la duración de la hospitalización y la estancia hospitalaria antes de ingresar a la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. Discusión: La alta incidencia, la localización y el estadio de las úlceras por lesión observadas revelan la vulnerabilidad del paciente de la unidad de cuidados intensivos a este tipo de lesiones. Entre los riesgos de las úlceras por presión se encuentran factores relacionados con el paciente, la hospitalización y la gravedad de la enfermedad, y su combinación debe valorarse en la evaluación diaria del paciente crítico. Conclusión: La aparición de úlceras por presión en pacientes críticos es un fenómeno multifactorial, para la que el reconocimiento de factores de riesgo puede contribuir a una rápida adopción de medidas para su prevención Como citar este artículo: Campos, Michelle Mayumi Yoshimura de; Souza, Mariana Fernandes Cremasco de;  Whitaker, Iveth Yamaguchi.  Risco para lesão por pressão em pacientes de unidade de terapia intensiva. Revista Cuidarte. 2021;12(2):e1196. http://dx.doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.1196   &nbsp

(electronic) Mitochondrial DNA, Early Online: 1-2 !

Abstract This study reported the 15,435 bp-long complete mitochondrial genome of the relict Epiophlebia superstes (Odonata, Epiophlebiidae), an enigmatic dragonfly of the paraphyletic 'Anisozygoptera' possessing characteristics similar to members of both extant odonate suborders, the Zygoptera and the Anisoptera. This mitogenome comprises the common set of 37 genes and an A þ T-rich control region, and has a gene arrangement identical to those of all available odonates. The genome contains three non-coding inter-genic spacers (s1-s3), which occurs in all of other known odonates, but it lacks the inter-genic spacer s5 typically found in the Anisoptera. This result suggests that E. superstes possesses a mitogenmic organization more closely related to that of the Zygoptera than that of the Anizoptera

Low-Dose Intravenous Alteplase in Wake-Up Stroke

Background and Purpose—We assessed whether lower-dose alteplase at 0.6 mg/kg is efficacious and safe for acute fluid-attenuated inversion recovery-negative stroke with unknown time of onset. Methods—This was an investigator-initiated, multicenter, randomized, open-label, blinded-end point trial. Patients met the standard indication criteria for intravenous thrombolysis other than a time last-known-well >4.5 hours (eg, wake-up stroke). Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive alteplase at 0.6 mg/kg or standard medical treatment if magnetic resonance imaging showed acute ischemic lesion on diffusion-weighted imaging and no marked corresponding hyperintensity on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery. The primary outcome was a favorable outcome (90-day modified Rankin Scale score of 0–1). Results—Following the early stop and positive results of the WAKE-UP trial (Efficacy and Safety of MRI-Based Thrombolysis in Wake-Up Stroke), this trial was prematurely terminated with 131 of the anticipated 300 patients (55 women; mean age, 74.4±12.2 years). Favorable outcome was comparable between the alteplase group (32/68, 47.1%) and the control group (28/58, 48.3%; relative risk [RR], 0.97 [95% CI, 0.68–1.41]; P=0.892). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 22 to 36 hours occurred in 1/71 and 0/60 (RR, infinity [95% CI, 0.06 to infinity]; P>0.999), respectively. Death at 90 days occurred in 2/71 and 2/60 (RR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.06–12.58]; P>0.999), respectively. Conclusions—No difference in favorable outcome was seen between alteplase and control groups among patients with ischemic stroke with unknown time of onset. The safety of alteplase at 0.6 mg/kg was comparable to that of standard treatment. Early study termination precludes any definitive conclusions

Turicibacter and Acidaminococcus predict immune-related adverse events and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor

IntroductionImmune checkpoint inhibitors have had a major impact on cancer treatment. Gut microbiota plays a major role in the cancer microenvironment, affecting treatment response. The gut microbiota is highly individual, and varies with factors, such as age and race. Gut microbiota composition in Japanese cancer patients and the efficacy of immunotherapy remain unknown. MethodsWe investigated the gut microbiota of 26 patients with solid tumors prior to immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy to identify bacteria involved in the efficacy of these drugs and immune-related adverse events (irAEs).ResultsThe genera Prevotella and Parabacteroides were relatively common in the group showing efficacy towards the anti-PD-1 antibody treatment (effective group). The proportions of Catenibacterium (P = 0.022) and Turicibacter (P = 0.049) were significantly higher in the effective group than in the ineffective group. In addition, the proportion of Desulfovibrion (P = 0.033) was significantly higher in the ineffective group. Next, they were divided into irAE and non-irAE groups. The proportions of Turicibacter (P = 0.001) and Acidaminococcus (P = 0.001) were significantly higher in the group with irAEs than in those without, while the proportions of Blautia (P = 0.013) and the unclassified Clostridiales (P = 0.027) were significantly higher in the group without irAEs than those with. Furthermore, within the Effective group, Acidaminococcus and Turicibacter (both P = 0.001) were more abundant in the subgroup with irAEs than in those without them. In contrast, Blautia (P = 0.021) and Bilophila (P= 0.033) were statistically significantly more common in those without irAEs.DiscussionOur Study suggests that the analysis of the gut microbiota may provide future predictive markers for the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy or the selection of candidates for fecal transplantation for cancer immunotherapy

Suppression of Sproutys Has a Therapeutic Effect for a Mouse Model of Ischemia by Enhancing Angiogenesis

Sprouty proteins (Sproutys) inhibit receptor tyrosine kinase signaling and control various aspects of branching morphogenesis. In this study, we examined the physiological function of Sproutys in angiogenesis, using gene targeting and short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown strategies. Sprouty2 and Sprouty4 double knockout (KO) (DKO) mice were embryonic-lethal around E12.5 due to cardiovascular defects. The number of peripheral blood vessels, but not that of lymphatic vessels, was increased in Sprouty4 KO mice compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Sprouty4 KO mice were more resistant to hind limb ischemia and soft tissue ischemia than WT mice were, because Sprouty4 deficiency causes accelerated neovascularization. Moreover, suppression of Sprouty2 and Sprouty4 expression in vivo by shRNA targeting accelerated angiogenesis and has a therapeutic effect in a mouse model of hind limb ischemia. These data suggest that Sproutys are physiologically important negative regulators of angiogenesis in vivo and novel therapeutic targets for treating peripheral ischemic diseases

Novel quantitative immunohistochemical analysis for evaluating PD-L1 expression with phosphor-integrated dots for predicting the efficacy of patients with cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors

IntroductionProgrammed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in tumor tissues is measured as a predictor of the therapeutic efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in many cancer types. PD-L1 expression is evaluated by immunohistochemical staining using 3,3´-diaminobenzidine (DAB) chronogenesis (IHC-DAB); however, quantitative and reproducibility issues remain. We focused on a highly sensitive quantitative immunohistochemical method using phosphor-integrated dots (PIDs), which are fluorescent nanoparticles, and evaluated PD-L1 expression between the PID method and conventional DAB method.MethodsIn total, 155 patients with metastatic or recurrent cancer treated with ICIs were enrolled from four university hospitals. Tumor tissue specimens collected before treatment were subjected to immunohistochemical staining with both the PID and conventional DAB methods to evaluate PD-L1 protein expression.ResultsPD-L1 expression assessed using the PID and DAB methods was positively correlated. We quantified PD-L1 expression using the PID method and calculated PD-L1 PID scores. The PID score was significantly higher in the responder group than in the non-responder group. Survival analysis demonstrated that PD-L1 expression evaluated using the IHC-DAB method was not associated with progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS). Yet, PFS and OS were strikingly prolonged in the high PD-L1 PID score group.ConclusionQuantification of PD-L1 expression as a PID score was more effective in predicting the treatment efficacy and prognosis of patients with cancer treated with ICIs. The quantitative evaluation of PD-L1 expression using the PID method is a novel strategy for protein detection. It is highly significant that the PID method was able to identify a group of patients with a favorable prognosis who could not be identified by the conventional DAB method

DOCK2 is involved in the host genetics and biology of severe COVID-19

「コロナ制圧タスクフォース」COVID-19疾患感受性遺伝子DOCK2の重症化機序を解明 --アジア最大のバイオレポジトリーでCOVID-19の治療標的を発見--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-08-10.Identifying the host genetic factors underlying severe COVID-19 is an emerging challenge. Here we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 2, 393 cases of COVID-19 in a cohort of Japanese individuals collected during the initial waves of the pandemic, with 3, 289 unaffected controls. We identified a variant on chromosome 5 at 5q35 (rs60200309-A), close to the dedicator of cytokinesis 2 gene (DOCK2), which was associated with severe COVID-19 in patients less than 65 years of age. This risk allele was prevalent in East Asian individuals but rare in Europeans, highlighting the value of genome-wide association studies in non-European populations. RNA-sequencing analysis of 473 bulk peripheral blood samples identified decreased expression of DOCK2 associated with the risk allele in these younger patients. DOCK2 expression was suppressed in patients with severe cases of COVID-19. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis (n = 61 individuals) identified cell-type-specific downregulation of DOCK2 and a COVID-19-specific decreasing effect of the risk allele on DOCK2 expression in non-classical monocytes. Immunohistochemistry of lung specimens from patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia showed suppressed DOCK2 expression. Moreover, inhibition of DOCK2 function with CPYPP increased the severity of pneumonia in a Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, characterized by weight loss, lung oedema, enhanced viral loads, impaired macrophage recruitment and dysregulated type I interferon responses. We conclude that DOCK2 has an important role in the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of severe COVID-19, and could be further explored as a potential biomarker and/or therapeutic target