変形性膝関節炎患者膝関節液中の細胞外マトリックス成分と可溶性VCAM-1

It is generally accepted that the number of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee must increase in the future because of the increase of the aged. The pathogenic mechanisms of OA haven't been elucidated yet, but it is supposed that mediate pannus may cause the factors for irreversible cartilage damage in the inflammatory process. Therefore it is very important to find and predict OA at the early stage. Now there were many indices to determine joint damage with OA, for example, cytokines including IL, TNF, TGF, matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMPs), proteoglycan (PG), hyaluronate (HA), super oxide, adhesion molecules including, ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and PECAM. In this study, we measured that the soluble VCAM-1 (sVCAM-1), soluble collagen (sCOLL), heparansulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), uronic acis and CRP in synovial fluids (SF) with OA. A positive correlation between the level of sVCAM-1 and sCOLL (ρ = 0.652) was noted. However there was no factor showing a correlation with CRP. It was suggested that the levels of sVCAM-1 and sCOLL in the synovia fluid were active inflammation indices of knee damage, as the different aspects from CRP. The level of HSPG also showed a unique trend because HSPG on the cell surface was quickly digested endocytosis, so that it was not suitable for the inflammatory index in synovial fluid with OA.変形性膝関節炎(OA)患者は,高齢化社会の到来とともに今後ますます増加するものと考えられる｡OAの発症メカニズムについては,関節軟骨の破壊･修復やパンヌス形成に関わる多くの関連因子(サイトカイン,マトリックス分解酵素,分解酵素抑制因子,プロテオグリカン,活性酸素,細胞接着因子など)について,多面的に研究が進んでいる｡しかし,膝関節の炎症初期の病態のメカニズムについては,なお詳細に解明されておらず,関節炎初期の炎症指標の検索が今後さらに必要と考えられる｡本研究で私たちは, OA患者膝関節液中の細胞外マトリックス構成成分であるコラーゲン,へパラン硫酸プロテオグリカン,ウロン酸および炎症の最も初期に血管内皮細胞に出現するVCAM-1等の可溶化成分濃度を測定した｡患者膝関節液(SF)中の可溶性コラーゲン量と可溶性VCAM-1(sVCAM-1)量とは有意な正の相関関係が(ρ=0.652)観察された｡しかし,ヘパラン硫酸プロテオグリカン(HSPG)と可溶性コラーゲン(sCOLL)値間には有意な相関関係は確認されなかった｡また,一般に炎症の指標として用いられるCRP値とも比戟検討したが,CRP値と他の測定項目値とは一定の相関関係は存在しなかった。以上の結果より,OA患者のSF中の炎症マーカ-として,急性炎症時には従来の炎症指標蛋白質であるCRP値が有力であるというSipe JDの報告から推測するとsCOLLとsVCAM-1はCRP値と一定の相関を示さないことより,CRPの動態とは異なった炎症指標としての有用性が考えられる｡しかし,HSPGはエンドサイトシスにより速やかに代謝されるためSF中への解離が少なく,炎症指標としての可能性は低いと考えられる

リウマチ因子陽性ヒト血清中の免疫グロブリンGクラスリウマチ因子と免疫複合体ならびにCRPとの相関性

We measured the concentration of three immunoglobulin classes of rheumatoid factors (Ig-RFs), C3d binding IgG immune complex (C3d-IC), C1q binding IgG immune complex (C1q-IC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in 74 samples of human sera with high levels of RF (24.0~2350.0IU/ml). In sera with high levels of C3d-IC (>15.0μg/ml), there was a positive correlation between the levels of CRP and the IgG-RF, but there was no correlation between the levels of CRP and the immune complexes (C3d-IC and C1q-IC). And then, there was a positive correlation between the levels of CRP and IgG-RF or C3d-IC and IgG-RF when the levels of C1q-IC in patients sera were higher than 80.0μg/ml. However, there was no correlation between the levels of CRP and C1q-IC in these patients sera containing high levels of both C3d-IC and C1q-IC. These results indicated that the determination of C3d-IC, C1q-IC, IgG-RF and CRP in human sera containing RF denote different implications as inflammatory indexes on progression of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.一般に慢性関節リウマチの診断ならびに活動性の一指標として、日常臨床検査では患者血清中のリウマチ因子の測定が実施されている。本論文ではRF検査依頼が有り、高RF値（24.0～2350.0IU/ml）を示した患者血清74検体について、免疫グロブリンクラス別RF値を測定するとともに自己IgGと補体との免疫複合体（IC）であるC1q-IgG・IC（C1q-IC）、C3d-IgG・IC（C3d-IC）ならびにCRP値を測定し、それらの測定値間の相関性について統計学的検討を行った。C3d-IC値が15.0μg/ml以上の高値を示す患者血清では、CRP値とIgGクラスのRF（IgG-RF）値間については正の相関結果がが得られた。また、C1q-IC値が80.0μg/ml以上の場合にもCRP値とIgG-RF値間およびC3d-IC値とIgG-RF値間では正の相関結果が得られた。しかし、C3d-ICならびにC1q-ICともに高値例の患者血清中のCRP値とC1q-IC値間には有意な相関は観察されなかった。以上の結果より、慢性関節リウマチの活動度を判定する上で、従来から炎症マーカーとしてCRP値が利用されているが、血清中に免疫複合体が高レベルに検出される患者については、炎症の指標としてCRP以外にもC1q-ICやC3d-ICおよびIgG-RF等を加えた総合的な判断が必要であることが示唆される

ヒト血清リポタンパク質とシクロデキストリンのアガロースゲル内における相互作用

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are cyclic oligosaccharides with low molecular weight. They have been known to bind to some serum lipoproteins and to form complexes. To elucidate whether each serum lipoprotein subclass could be separated by electrophoresis using CDs, we performed preliminary experiment, in which lipoprotein-CDs interaction was examined on electrophoresis with agarose gel. When the supporting agarose gel containing both α-CD and β-CD was prepared and was applied to isoelectric focusing for fractionating serum lipoproteins, apoB lipoproteins were found to be clearly separated into several fractions on this electrophoresis. This finding suggested that apoB lipoprotein may be detected as isolated form by arranging amounts of added CDs.シクロデキストリンは低分子量の環状オリゴ糖で, リポタンパク質と複合体を形成する｡シクロデキストリンを使用した電気泳動による血清リポタンパク質サブクラスの分離の可能性を明らかにするために, リポタンパク質とシクロデキストリンとの泳動用ゲル内での相互作用について検討をおこなった｡その結果,α-CDとβ-CDの2種類のCDをアガロースゲルに添加し,このゲルを泳動用支持体として等電点電気泳動をおこなったところ,apoB含有リポタンパク質が数分画分離された｡したがって,ゲル内へのシクロデキストリンの適正な添加条件が設定できるならば,apoB含有リポタンパク質サブクラスの分離が可能となることが示唆された

IgG Heavy-Chain Subclass Typing of Human Serum M-Protein -Optimal condition for the separation and the detection with high resolution of agarose gel isoelectrofocusing-

IgG Heavy-Chain subclass typing of human serum M-protein were isoelectrofocussed (IEF) in agarose gel, and then the bands of IgG were detected with peroxidase-conjugated anti-human IgG1-4 monoclonal antibodies on the same isoelectrofocussed agarose gel plate. This IEF enzyme immunodetection patterns were composed of four to eight discrete bands (The range of pI was 6.0 to 9.0). These bands were dependent on immunofixationbands. It was very specific and clear to detect the subclass of IgG Type M-protein in human serum using this method

Hygroscopic mineral dust particles as influenced by chlorine chemistry in the marine atmosphere

Morphology and elemental compositions of individual dust particles were investigated with the use of Asian dust samples collected at a site along the Sea of Japan side of the archipelago. Our results indicate the preferential formation of chloride in Ca-containing dust particles (0.1 < Cl/Ca < 0.65) in cases when the particles contain little or no sulfate. Most of them are in an amorphous state and nearly spherical even under high vacuum. A likely explanation for the results is that highly soluble salts such as calcium chloride (CaCl2) are formed as a result of heterogeneous reactions of dust particles with chloride precursor gases (mostly, HCl) in the marine atmosphere. The chloride formation is expected to play an important role in enhancing the hygroscopicity of dust particles. Copyright 2009 by the American Geophysical Union

Anti-cytokine autoantibodies are ubiquitous in healthy individuals

AbstractAnti-cytokine autoantibodies in healthy individuals have been widely reported but the occurrence is variable and inconstant. We hypothesized that cytokine-binding in vivo may explain their variable and infrequent detection. Therefore, we focused on the detection of the cytokine-autoantibody complexes and found that anti-cytokine autoantibody to IL-2, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α, vascular endothelial growth factor and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor were present in all 15 individuals evaluated, while those to IL-3, osteopontin and macrophage-colony stimulating factor were not detected in anyone. Autoantibodies against IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and interferon-gamma were variously detected. Thus, we discovered that anti-cytokine autoantibodies to multiple cytokines are ubiquitous in healthy individuals

Significant Impact of Age on Mortality and Non-significant Impact of Age on Thrombosis and Major Bleeding in Patients with COVID-19: From the CLOT-COVID Study.

AIM: There is scarce data on the impact of age on clinical outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHOD: The CLOT-COVID Study was a retrospective, multicenter cohort study enrolling 2894 consecutive hospitalized patients with COVID-19 among 16 centers in Japan from April 2021 to September 2021. We divided the entire cohort into five groups according to age strata; -19, 20-39, 40-59, 60-79, and 80- years. RESULTS: Most patients under 19 had mild COVID-19 on admission (99%), while older patients had more severe COVID-19. The incidence rates of clinical outcomes during hospitalization in patients aged ≤ 19, 20-39, 40-59, 60-79, and 80 ≥ years were 0.0%, 0.5%, 2.2%, 2.7%, and 1.5% for thrombosis; 0.0%, 1.2%, 1.5%, 3.4%, and 2.0% for major bleeding; and 0.0%, 0.4%, 2.0%, 12.1%, and 16.8% for all-cause death, respectively. In the stratified analysis according to COVID-19 severity on admission, the incidences of thrombosis were generally higher among patients with more severe status, although those were not significantly different among age strata in all sub-types of COVID-19 severity. However, the incidences of all-cause death were significantly higher with increasing age in all sub-types of COVID-19 severity. CONCLUSIONS: In the current large observational study of patients with COVID-19, the risk of mortality became markedly higher with increased age. However, the risks of thrombosis and major bleeding did not necessarily increase as age increases, which seemed to be consistent irrespective of COVID-19 severity on admission

The current status of thrombosis and anticoagulation therapy in patients with COVID-19 in Japan: From the CLOT-COVID study

BACKGROUND: Data on thrombosis and current real-world management strategies for anticoagulation therapy are scarce but important for understanding current issues and unmet needs of an optimal management of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHOD: The CLOT-COVID Study (thrombosis and antiCoaguLatiOn Therapy in patients with COVID-19 in Japan Study: UMIN000045800) was a retrospective, multicenter cohort study enrolling consecutive hospitalized patients with COVID-19 among 16 centers in Japan from April 2021 to September 2021, and we tried to capture the status of the patients in the fourth and fifth waves of the COVID-19 infections in Japan. We enrolled consecutive hospitalized patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and had a positive polymerase chain reaction test obtained from the hospital databases. RESULTS: Among 2894 patients with COVID-19, 1245 (43%) received pharmacological thromboprophylaxis. The proportion of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis increased according to the severity of the COVID-19 in 9.8% with mild COVID-19, 61% with moderate COVID-19, and 97% with severe COVID-19. The types and doses of anticoagulants varied widely across the participating centers. During the hospitalization, 38 patients (1.3%) and 126 (4.4%) underwent ultrasound examinations for the lower extremities and contrast-enhanced computed tomography examinations, respectively, and 55 (1.9%) developed thrombosis, mostly venous thromboembolism (71%). The incidence of thrombosis increased according to the severity of the COVID-19 in 0.2% with mild COVID-19, 1.4% with moderate COVID-19, and 9.5% with severe COVID-19. Major bleeding occurred in 57 patients (2.0%) and 158 (5.5%) died, and 81% of them were due to respiratory failure from COVID-19 pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: In the present large-scale observational study, pharmacological thromboprophylaxis for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 was common especially in patients with severe COVID-19, and management strategies varied widely across the participating centers. The overall incidence of thrombosis was substantially low with an increased incidence according to the severity of the COVID-19

First Data Release of the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program

The Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program (HSC-SSP) is a three-layered imaging survey aimed at addressing some of the most outstanding questions in astronomy today, including the nature of dark matter and dark energy. The survey has been awarded 300 nights of observing time at the Subaru Telescope and it started in March 2014. This paper presents the first public data release of HSC-SSP. This release includes data taken in the first 1.7 years of observations (61.5 nights) and each of the Wide, Deep, and UltraDeep layers covers about 108, 26, and 4 square degrees down to depths of i~26.4, ~26.5, and ~27.0 mag, respectively (5sigma for point sources). All the layers are observed in five broad bands (grizy), and the Deep and UltraDeep layers are observed in narrow bands as well. We achieve an impressive image quality of 0.6 arcsec in the i-band in the Wide layer. We show that we achieve 1-2 per cent PSF photometry (rms) both internally and externally (against Pan-STARRS1), and ~10 mas and 40 mas internal and external astrometric accuracy, respectively. Both the calibrated images and catalogs are made available to the community through dedicated user interfaces and database servers. In addition to the pipeline products, we also provide value-added products such as photometric redshifts and a collection of public spectroscopic redshifts. Detailed descriptions of all the data can be found online. The data release website is https://hsc-release.mtk.nao.ac.jp/.Comment: 34 pages, 20 figures, 7 tables, moderate revision, accepted for publication in PAS