Highly porous melamine-formaldehyde monoliths with controlled hierarchical porosity toward application as a metal scavenger

We report a new synthetic strategy for melamine-formaldehyde (MF) monoliths with controlled hierarchical porosity toward metal-ion scavengers. The obtained MF monoliths possessed micro-, meso- and macroporosity, which allowed efficient adsorption performance of precious metal ions in water. Applications such as recovery/removal of metal ions are expected

Upper limb muscle atrophy associated with in-hospital mortality and physical function impairments in mechanically ventilated critically ill adults : a two-center prospective observational study

Background: Lower limb muscle atrophy is often observed in critically ill patients. Although upper limb muscles can undergo atrophy, it remains unclear how this atrophy is associated with clinical outcomes. We hypothesized that this atrophy is associated with mortality and impairments in physical function. Methods: In this two-center prospective observational study, we included adult patients who were expected to require mechanical ventilation for > 48 h and remain in the intensive care unit (ICU) for > 5 days. We used ultrasound to evaluate the cross-sectional area of the biceps brachii on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 and upon ICU discharge along with assessment of physical functions. The primary outcome was the relationship between muscle atrophy ratio and in-hospital mortality on each measurement day, which was assessed using multivariate analysis. The secondary outcomes were the relationships between upper limb muscle atrophy and Medical Research Council (MRC) score, handgrip strength, ICU Mobility Scale (IMS) score, and Functional Status Score for the ICU (FSS-ICU). Results: Sixty-four patients (43 males; aged 70 ± 13 years) were enrolled. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score was 27 (22–30), and in-hospital mortality occurred in 21 (33%) patients. The decreased cross-sectional area of the biceps brachii was not associated with in-hospital mortality on day 3 (p = 0.43) but was associated on days 5 (p = 0.01) and 7 (p < 0.01), which was confirmed after adjusting for sex, age, and APACHE II score. In 27 patients in whom physical functions were assessed, the decrease of the cross-sectional area of the biceps brachii was associated with MRC score (r = 0.47, p = 0.01), handgrip strength (r = 0.50, p = 0.01), and FSS-ICU (r = 0.56, p < 0.01), but not with IMS score (r = 0.35, p = 0.07) upon ICU discharge. Conclusions: Upper limb muscle atrophy was associated with in-hospital mortality and physical function impairments; thus, it is prudent to monitor it

カフェイン酸フェネチルエステル（CAPE）がラット象牙芽細胞様細胞のVEGF発現と産生に与える影響

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), the main component of propolis, has various biological activities including anti-inflammatory effect and wound healing promotion. Odontoblasts located in the outermost layer of dental pulp play crucial roles such as production of growth factors and formation of hard tissue termed reparative dentin in host defense against dental caries. In this study, we investigated the effects of CAPE on the upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and calcification activities of odontoblasts, leading to development of novel therapy for dental pulp inflammation caused by dental caries. CAPE significantly induced mRNA expression and production of VEGF in rat clonal odontoblast-like KN-3 cells cultured in normal medium or osteogenic induction medium. CAPE treatment enhanced nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) transcription factor activation, and furthermore, the specific inhibitor of NF-κB significantly reduced VEGF production. The expression of VEGF receptor- (VEGFR-) 2, not VEGFR-1, was up regulated in KN-3 cells treated with CAPE. In addition, VEGF significantly increased mineralization activity in KN-3 cells. These findings suggest that CAPE might be useful as a novel biological material for the dental pulp conservative therapy

Association between advance care planning and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling people with dementia: An observational cross-sectional study during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan

ObjectivesAdvance care planning (ACP) is an increasing priority for people with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study evaluated the association between ACP initiation and depressive symptoms among home-dwelling people living with dementia.MethodsAn internet-based questionnaire survey was conducted with Japanese family caregivers of home-dwelling persons with dementia in June 2021. Family caregivers evaluated the level of depressive symptoms in persons with dementia using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Caregivers also rated the quality of life of persons with dementia using the EQ-5D-5L.ResultsA total of 379 family caregivers participated in the survey. Depressive symptoms were reported in 143 persons with dementia (37.7%). A total of 155 persons with dementia (40.9%) had initiated ACP, of which 88 (56.8%) had care professionals involved in ACP conversation. After adjusting for the characteristics of persons with dementia and caregivers, persons with professional involvement showed significantly more severe depressive symptoms compared to those who did not initiate ACP. There was no significant difference in the quality of life of persons with dementia according to ACP initiation.ConclusionsMany home-dwelling persons with dementia experienced depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in cases where care professionals were involved in ACP conversations. Optimal and proactive ACP approaches need to be developed to prevent depressive symptoms in newly diagnosed persons

Hydrated Seal Lip for Live Center in Machine Tools

When performing a cutting operation, a water-soluble cutting fluid may be used for cooling. Labyrinth and oil seals are commonly used in the rotating centers of machine tools to prevent the cutting fluid and dust from entering the inner parts. However, these seals do not demonstrate adequate functionality in a water-based environment. Therefore, a new rotary shaft seal was devised to separate the water-soluble cutting fluid from interacting with air. The rotary shaft seal was made from polyvinyl formal (PVF). Because PVF is a hydrophilic material, it is expected to provide suitable functionality as a seal in a water-based environment. Performance evaluations of PVF and oil seals were experimentally obtained and compared from the point of view of frictional torque, water-soluble cutting fluid leakage volume, and service life as a seal

Oral Exposure to Polystyrene Microplastics of Mice on a Normal or High-Fat Diet and Intestinal and Metabolic Outcomes

マイクロプラスチックの経口摂取が高脂肪食条件下での代謝障害を悪化させる. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-02-24.[Background:] Microplastics (MPs) are small particles of plastic (≤ 5mm in diameter). In recent years, oral exposure to MPs in living organisms has been a cause of concern. Leaky gut syndrome (LGS), associated with a high-fat diet (HFD) in mice, can increase the entry of foreign substances into the body through the intestinal mucosa. [Objectives:] We aimed to evaluate the pathophysiology of intestinal outcomes associated with consuming a high-fat diet and simultaneous intake of MPs, focusing on endocrine and metabolic systems. [Methods:] C57BL6/J mice were fed a normal diet (ND) or HFD with or without polystyrene MP for 4 wk to investigate differences in glucose tolerance, intestinal permeability, gut microbiota, as well as metabolites in serum, feces, and liver. [Results:] In comparison with HFD mice, mice fed the HFD with MPs had higher blood glucose, serum lipid concentrations, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity scores. Permeability and goblet cell count of the small intestine (SI) in HFD-fed mice were higher and lower, respectively, than in ND-fed mice. There was no obvious difference in the number of inflammatory cells in the SI lamina propria between mice fed the ND and mice fed the ND with MP, but there were more inflammatory cells and fewer anti-inflammatory cells in mice fed the HFD with MPs in comparison with mice fed the HFD without MPs. The expression of genes related to inflammation, long-chain fatty acid transporter, and Na⁺/glucose cotransporter was significantly higher in mice fed the HFD with MPs than in mice fed the HFD without MPs. Furthermore, the genus Desulfovibrio was significantly more abundant in the intestines of mice fed the HFD with MPs in comparison with mice fed the HFD without MPs. Muc2 gene expression was decreased when palmitic acid and microplastics were added to the murine intestinal epithelial cell line MODE-K cells, and Muc2 gene expression was increased when IL-22 was added. [Discussion:] Our findings suggest that in this study, MP induced metabolic disturbances, such as diabetes and NAFLD, only in mice fed a high-fat diet. These findings suggest that LGS might have been triggered by HFD, causing MPs to be deposited in the intestinal mucosa, resulting in inflammation of the intestinal mucosal intrinsic layer and thereby altering nutrient absorption. These results highlight the need for reducing oral exposure to MPs through remedial environmental measures to improve metabolic disturbance under high-fat diet conditions

Differential involvement of LUBAC‐mediated linear ubiquitination in intestinal epithelial cells and macrophages during intestinal inflammation

Disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier and dysregulation of macrophages are major factors contributing to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Activation of NF-κB and cell death are involved in maintaining intestinal homeostasis in a cell type-dependent manner. Although both are regulated by linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC)-mediated linear ubiquitination, the physiological relevance of linear ubiquitination to intestinal inflammation remains unexplored. Here, we used two experimental mouse models of IBD (intraperitoneal LPS and oral dextran sodium sulfate [DSS] administration) to examine the role of linear ubiquitination in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and macrophages during intestinal inflammation. We did this by deleting the linear ubiquitination activity of LUBAC specifically from IECs or macrophages. Upon LPS administration, loss of ligase activity in IECs induced mucosal inflammation and augmented IEC death. LPS-mediated death of LUBAC-defective IECs was triggered by TNF. IEC death was rescued by an anti-TNF antibody, and TNF (but not LPS) induced apoptosis of organoids derived from LUBAC-defective IECs. However, augmented TNF-mediated IEC death did not overtly affect the severity of colitis after DSS administration. By contrast, defective LUBAC ligase activity in macrophages ameliorated DSS-induced colitis by attenuating both infiltration of macrophages and expression of inflammatory cytokines. Decreased production of macrophage chemoattractant MCP-1/CCL2, as well as pro-inflammatory IL-6 and TNF, occurred through impaired activation of NF-κB and ERK via loss of ligase activity in macrophages. Taken together, these results indicate that both intraperitoneal LPS and oral DSS administrations are beneficial for evaluating epithelial integrity under inflammatory conditions, as well as macrophage functions in the event of an epithelial barrier breach. The data clarify the cell-specific roles of linear ubiquitination as a critical regulator of TNF-mediated epithelial integrity and macrophage pro-inflammatory responses during intestinal inflammation