Гомосексуальный субъект в пространстве публичного: нарративное измерение камин-аута

<div><p>Background</p><p>Although <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (<i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i>) infection is closely associated with the development of peptic ulcer, its involvement in pathophysiology in the lower intestinal tract and gastrointestinal (GI) motility remains unclear. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a gut hormone produced in the lower intestinal tract and involved in GI motility. Here, we investigated the effect of <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> infection on the link between GLP-1 expression and motility of the GI tract.</p><p>Methods</p><p>C57BL/6 mice were inoculated with a <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> strain. Twelve weeks later, the <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i>-infected mice underwent <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> eradication treatment. GI tissues were obtained from the mice at various time intervals, and evaluated for the severity of gastric inflammatory cell infiltration and immunohistochemical expression of GLP-1 and PAX6 in the colonic mucosa. Gastrointestinal transit time (GITT) was measured by administration of carmine-red solution.</p><p>Results</p><p>GLP-1 was expressed in the endocrine cells of the colonic mucosa, and PAX6 immunoreactivity was co-localized in such cells. The numbers of GLP-1- and PAX6-positive cells in the colon were significantly increased at 12 weeks after <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> infection and showed a positive correlation with each other. The GITT was significantly longer in <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i>-infected mice than in non-infected controls and showed a positive correlation with GLP-1 expression. When <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i>-infected mice underwent <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> eradication, GITT and PAX6/GLP-1 expression did not differ significantly from those in untreated <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i>-infected mice.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p><i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> infection may impair GI motility by enhancing the colonic GLP-1/PAX6 expression.</p></div

Effects of short-term pulmonary rehabilitation on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Although the rehabilitation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) improves both exercise capacity and quality of life, a standard protocol for COPD patients has not been established. To clarify whether physiologic and quality-of-life improvements can be achieved by an inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program 5 days per week for 3 weeks, 18 patients with COPD were enrolled in a rehabilitation program. The physical exercise training regimen consisted of respiratory muscle stretch gymnastics and cycle ergometer exercise training. Pulmonary function tests, an incremental ergometer exercise test, a 6-min walking test, and a quality of life assessment by the Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire were administered before and after the program. The peak VO2, an indicator of maximal exercise capacity, did not increase, although the 6-min walking distance, an indicator of functional exercise capacity, increased significantly after rehabilitation. There was a significant improvement in the quality of life in terms of dyspnea, fatigue, and emotional state. These findings suggest that even a 3-week program may be beneficial for COPD patients. Increases in functional exercise capacity, even without an increase in maximal exercise capacity, are helpful for reducing dyspnea and improving quality of life parameters in patients with COPD.</p

Electrospray deposition and direct patterning of polylactic acid nanofibrous microcapsules for tissue engineering

Electrospun nanofibers composed of biodegradable polymers are attractive candidates for cell culture scaffolds in tissue engineering. Their fine-meshed structures, resembling natural extracellular matrices, effectively interact with cell surfaces and promote cell proliferation. The application of electrospinning, however, is limited to two-dimensional (2D) or single tube-like scaffolds, and the fabrication of arbitrary three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds from electrospun nanofibers is still very difficult due to the fibers’ continuous and entangled form. To address this issue, in this paper, we describe the use of phase-separation-assisted electrospray and electrostatic focusing to perform continuous direct 3D patterning of nanofibrous microcapsules of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA). These microcapsules exhibit fiber-particle duality because they are composed of nanofibers suitable for cell attachment while also being easy to handle as particles for direct 3D patterning. By varying the flow rate of the polymer solution and the humidity of the electrospray atmosphere during electrospraying, the diameter of the microcapsule and its surface porosity can be controlled. The utility of the direct-patterning process is demonstrated by fabricating high-aspect-ratio microscaffolds and subsequent cell cultures. The nanofibrous and hollow structure of the microcapsules combined with the direct 3D patterning process offers a new approach for fabricating tailor-made scaffolds for regenerative medicine

Studies on the treatment for intractable asthma Part 2. Evaluation of the pharmacological action of various Kampo Medicines on lymphocyte and neutrophil functions in intractable asthmatics

The pharmacological action of Sho-saiko-to and Hange-koboku-to, components of Saiboku-to, as well as that of Sho-seiryu-to were compared with that of Saiboku-to and examined in intractable asthmatics with respect to both lymphocyte functions, including interleukin 2 (IL-2) production and IL-2 receptor expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated by Candida, and on neutrophil functions, including leukotriene C(4) (LTC(4)) and superoxide (O(2)(-)) production by peripheral blood neutrophils. The results revealed, first, that, Sho-saiko-to, Hange-koboku-to, and Sho-seiryu-to did not have significant suppressive effects on IL-2 production and IL-2 receptor expression by Candia, though Saiboku-to caused significant suppression of these same parameters. Second, after 2 or 3 months oral administration to intractable asthmatics Saiboku-to (TJ-96) suppressed LTC(4) production by peripheral blood neutrophils in response to Candida and Ca-ionophore. Third, in vitro, Saiboku-to caused dose-dependent suppression of both LTC(4) and O(2)(-) production by peripheral blood neutrophils. Sho-saiko-to and Sho-seiryu-to also had suppressive effects on both LTC(4) and O(2)(-) production, with Sho-saiko-to causing the strongest suppression among these drugs. These results indicate that Saiboku-to might be useful in the treatment of intractable asthma due to its suppressive effect on type IV allergy caused by lymphocyte activation by Candida. Moreover, its inhibitory effect of LTC(4) and O(2)(-) production by neutrophils prevents prolonged broncho-constriction and irreversible changes in small airways

Studies on the treatment for intractable asthma Part 1. Inhibitory effect of Saiboku-to on type IV allergy in intractable asthma

In an effort to clarify the clinical and pharmacological effects of Saiboku-to in intractable asthmatics, the effect of a 6 month administration of Saiboku-to on the production of antigen-specific lymphokines were studied. The results revealed, first, that a significant decrease in attacks and steroid-sparing effects were obtained after 3 to 4 months administration of Saiboku-to (P<0.05). Second, peripheral blood lymphocyte blastogenesis by Candida was significantly suppressed after 3 months (P<0.05), though it was not by PHA. Moreover interleukin 2 (IL-2) production and neutrophil chemotatic activity (NCA) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated by Candida were significantly decreased after 3 months (P<0.01), but not by PHA. Third, in vitro production of both IL-2 and NCA by Candida were suppressed in a dose dependent manner and the augmented expression of IL-2 receptors by Candida was decreased by Saiboku-to. These results suggest that the action mechanism of Saiboku-to in intractable asthma seems to be the suppression of type IV allergy. Therefore Saiboku-to therapy might be a useful treatment for intractable asthma due to its relatively less serious side effects as compared with corticosteroids

Novel Repositioning Therapy for Drug-Resistant Glioblastoma: In Vivo Validation Study of Clindamycin Treatment Targeting the mTOR Pathway and Combination Therapy with Temozolomide

Multimodal therapy including surgery, radiation treatment, and temozolomide (TMZ) is performed on glioblastoma (GBM). However, the prognosis is still poor and there is an urgent need to develop effective treatments to improve survival. Molecular biological analysis was conducted to examine the signal activation patterns in GBM specimens and remains an open problem. Advanced macrolides, such as azithromycin, reduce the phosphorylation of p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K), a downstream mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) effector, and suppress the proliferation of T-cells. We focused on its unique profile and screened for the antitumor activity of approved macrolide antibiotics. Clindamycin (CLD) reduced the viability of GBM cells in vitro. We assessed the effects of the candidate macrolide on the mTOR pathway through Western blotting. CLD attenuated p70S6K phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. These effects on GBM cells were enhanced by co-treatment with TMZ. Furthermore, CLD inhibited the expression of the O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) protein in cultured cells. In the mouse xenograft model, CLD and TMZ co-administration significantly suppressed the tumor growth and markedly decreased the number of Ki-67 (clone MIB-1)-positive cells within the tumor. These results suggest that CLD suppressed GBM cell growth by inhibiting mTOR signaling. Moreover, CLD and TMZ showed promising synergistic antitumor activity