Thalidomide Prevents the Progression of Peritoneal Fibrosis in Mice

Thalidomide is clinically recognized as a therapeutic agent for multiple myeloma and has been known to exert anti-angiogenic actions. Recent studies have suggested the involvement of angiogenesis in the progression of peritoneal fibrosis. The present study investigated the effects of thalidomide on the development of peritoneal fibrosis induced by injection of chlorhexidine gluconate (CG) into the mouse peritoneal cavity every other day for 3 weeks. Thalidomide was given orally every day. Peritoneal tissues were dissected out 21 days after CG injection. Expression of CD31 (as a marker of endothelial cells), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), α-smooth muscle actin (as a marker of myofibroblasts), type III collagen and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β was examined using immunohistochemistry. CG group showed thickening of the submesothelial zone and increased numbers of vessels and myofibroblasts. Large numbers of VEGF-, PCNA-, and TGF-β-positive cells were observed in the submesothelial area. Thalidomide treatment significantly ameliorated submesothelial thickening and angiogenesis, and decreased numbers of PCNA- and VEGF-expressing cells, myofibroblasts, and TGF-β-positive cells. Moreover, thalidomide attenuated peritoneal permeability for creatinine, compared to the CG group. Our results indicate the potential utility of thalidomide for preventing peritoneal fibrosis

A case of a chronic expanding hematoma in a hemodialysis patient

A 70-year-old woman undergoing chronic maintenance hemodialysis had felt a mass in her left hip 4 years prior. As the mass gradually expanded, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. The MRI findings showed mosaic patterns with various signal intensities inside the mass and a low-signal band at its periphery. Because of the slow expansion of the mass over a course of at least 4 years and its characteristic MRI findings, the patient was diagnosed with a chronic expanding hematoma (CEH), a comparatively rare type of hematoma. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a CEH occurring in a hemodialysis patient in the English literature

Gray matter alterations in early and late relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis evaluated with synthetic quantitative magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract: Extensive gray matter (GM) involvement has been demonstrated in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. This study was aimed to identify GM alterations in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients using synthetic quantitative MRI (qMRI). We assessed myelin volume fraction (MVF) in each voxel on the basis of R1 and R2 relaxation rates and proton density in 14 early and 28 late (disease duration 5 years, respectively) RRMS patients, and 15 healthy controls (HCs). The MVF and myelin volumes of GM (GM-MyVol) were compared between groups using GM-based spatial statistics (GBSS) and the Kruskal-Wallis test, respectively. Correlations between MVF or GM-MyVol and disease duration or expanded disability status scale were also evaluated. RRMS patients showed a lower MVF than HCs, predominantly in the limbic and para-limbic areas, with more extensive areas noted in late RRMS patients. Late-RRMS patients had the smallest GM-MyVol (20.44 mL; early RRMS, 22.77 mL; HCs, 23.36 mL). Furthermore, the GM-MyVol in the RRMS group was inversely correlated with disease duration (r = -0.43, p = 0.005). In conclusion, the MVF and MyVol obtained by synthetic qMRI can be used to evaluate GM differences in RRMS patients

血液透析患者の栄養状態ならびに栄養摂取状況が生活の質(QOL)に及ぼす影響

血液透析患者において透析治療を長期に継続していく上で種々の透析合併症の予防のため適切な食事療法の実践が重要である｡厳格な食事療法は生活の質(QOL)や栄養状態の低下に繋がる可能性もある｡本研究では､外来血液透析患者70名を対象に栄養摂取状況と栄養状態及び QOL について評価､解析を行った｡その結果､約30%の患者が栄養状態にﾘｽｸありと判定された｡栄養状態と食事摂取量には相関は認められなかったが､栄養状態が低下した群では､豆類の摂取量が少なかった｡透析患者の栄養状態と QOL を詳細に解析すると女性は栄養状態が低下しても包括的尺度(SF-36)､腎疾患特異的尺度ともに比較的維持されていたが､男性は栄養状態の悪化により有意な低下が認められた｡SF-36 では身体的健康度だけでなく､精神的健康度も悪化していた｡男性患者にはより早期からの栄養面での管理と指導が重要であり､またきめ細やかなｹｱや周囲の人々からの精神的な支えや理解が大切である｡For patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis treatment, appropriate nutrition therapy is important to prevent complications. However, strict dietary regimens sometimes reduce the Quality of Life(QOL)and nutritional status. In this study, we examined and analyzed the nutrient intake, nutritional status, and QOL of 70 outpatients undergoing hemodialysis. As the results, approximately 30% of the subjects were judged to have nutritional problems. Although no association was observed between the nutritional status and amount of food intake, the consumption of bean products was lower in subjects with a reduced nutritional status. Analysis of the nutritional status and QOL of the dialysis patients showed that female subjects had favorable scores on the Short-Form 36(SF-36)Health Survey and Kidney Disease Quality of Life(KDQOL)despite a reduction in the nutritional status; however, a significant score reduction was observed in male subjects in association with the deterioration of their nutritional status. The results of SF-36 showed not only physical, but also mental health deteriorations. For male patients, early dietary interventions and guidance, as well as thoughtful care, emotional support, and understanding from people around them are essential

Deepwater response in the African cultivated rice Oryza glaberrima

ABSTRACTPartial submergence of Oryza sativa deepwater rice elicits enhancement of internodal elongation, referred to as deepwater response, conferred by three types of genes, SNORKEL1/2 (SK1/2), SEMIDWARF1 (SD1), and ACCELERATOR OF INTERNODE ELONGATION 1 (ACE1). We investigated the presence and expression of these genes in the African cultivated rice Oryza glaberrima and the relationship between these genes and the deepwater response of O. glaberrima. In 49 of the 50 accessions tested, one or two SK genes were identified, which could be divided into three types of SK1 and four types of SK2. The accessions with the SK2 type whose expression was induced by submergence demonstrated rapid internodal elongation under submergence. In most of these accessions, submergence also increased the expression of SD1 and ACE1 genes. However, the accessions did not possess the haplotype of SD1 that is associated with high deepwater response in O. sativa. In contrast, they possessed the type of ACE1 gene similar to that in O. sativa deepwater rice. These results indicate that the molecular mechanisms underlying induction of deepwater response in O. glaberrima are similar to that found in deepwater rice of O. sativa and suggest that most O. glaberrima cultivars, including upland cultivars, can exhibit rapid internodal elongation under submergence

Bubble point pressures of binary mixtures of ethanol with propane, dimethyl ether or trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and correlation with equations of state and Wong-Sandler mixing rules

For the design of spray propellants, bubble point pressures were measured for binary mixtures of ethanol with propane, dimethyl ether (DME) or trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R1234ze(E)), with a static type apparatus at (293.15–313.15) K. Experimental data were correlated with the Peng-Robinson (PR) and Stryjek-Vera (PRSV) equations of state using the Wong-Sandler (WS) mixing rules. The NRTL activity coefficient model in the WS mixing rules was effective for correlation of systems that exhibited large non-idealities (ethanol - propane, ethanol - R1234ze(E)). Correlation of the bubble point pressures with the PRSV equation of state and WS mixing rules was to within an average of 2.391% absolute deviation in pressure for all systems, which is considered to be sufficient for design of spray devices with propellants that have low global warming potential