Additional file 2: Figure S2. of Sepsis induces incomplete M2 phenotype polarization in peritoneal exudate cells in mice

Time course of LPS-induced expression of M1 and M2 cytokines/chemokines in PE cells. PE cells harvested from mice at 6 h (A, C, and E) and 20 h (B, D, and F) after sham or CLP operation were cultured in the presence or absence of LPS (1 μg/ml) for 0 h, 3 h, and 6 h (n = 4 or 5 for each group). Real-time PCR was used to analyze the expression of TNF-α (A and B), IL-10 (C and D), and CCL22 (E and F). The fold changes are expressed relative to the expression levels at 0 h of sham-PE cells obtained at 6 h post-surgery. (PDF 424 kb

Additional file 1: Figure S1. of Sepsis induces incomplete M2 phenotype polarization in peritoneal exudate cells in mice

SOCS1 and SOCS3 expression in PE cells after CLP. PE cells were harvested from mice at 6 h or 20 h after sham or CLP operation (n = 4 or 5 for each group). The mRNA expression levels of marker enzymes SOCS3 (A) and SOCS1 (B) were analyzed by real-time PCR. The fold changes are expressed relative to sham-PE cells harvested at 6 h post-surgery. In (C), the ratio of SOCS3/SOCS1 is shown. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM. **P <0.01, *P <0.05, CLP vs. sham animals. (PDF 389 kb

Clinical characteristics of α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (α-PVP) poisoning

<p><b>Context:</b> α-Pyrrolidinovalerophenone (α-PVP) is a synthetic cathinone that has been abused in recent years. The clinical presentation of acute α-PVP poisoning has not been well characterized.</p> <p><b>Objective:</b> To elucidate the clinical features of acute α-PVP poisoning.</p> <p><b>Materials and methods:</b> This retrospective case series included eight subjects that visited our hospital emergency department (ED) between March 2012 and November 2014 and had analytically confirmed blood α-PVP levels. Data related to subject demographics, clinical history, laboratory findings, blood drug levels, and outcome were collected.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> The median age of the eight study subjects was 27 (range; 21–63) years, and six were male. Drug preparations had been administered by rectal insertion (three subjects) or inhalation (five subjects). The time between drug exposure and presentation at the ED was 8.5 (1–24) h and blood α-PVP concentrations ranged from 1.0 to 52.5 ng/ml. Although psychiatric and neurological findings were reported before arrival at the ED in 5/8 and 7/8 subjects, respectively, these were only observed in 1/8 and 2/8 subjects, respectively, at the ED. Symptoms of high body temperature (3/8), tachycardia (5/8), hypertension (3/8), acid-base balance disorder (5/8), coagulopathy (4/6), blood creatinine phosphokinase >190 U/l (6/8), and a blood lactate level > 1.7 mmol/l (5/7) were observed. All subjects survived and were discharged.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> This retrospective case series showed that after acute exposure to α-PVP, transient neuropsychiatric findings were accompanied by more persistent sympathomimetic physical findings, disorders of acid-base balance and blood coagulation, high blood creatinine phosphokinase, and hyperlactacidemia.</p

Flow chart of patients included in the study.

<p>In total, 1,377 patients were enrolled from the Japan Trauma Data Bank between 2004 and 2012. Emergency resuscitative thoracotomy (ERT): 484. Closed-chest compressions (CCC): 895. Survivors for > 24 h after emergency department arrival: ERT group, 22; CCC group, 156.</p

<i>Cha</i>-<i>Koji</i>, comprising green tea leaves fermented with <i>Aspergillus luchuensis var kawachii kitahara</i>, increases regulatory T cell production in mice and humans

<p>Green tea leaves fermented with <i>Aspergillus luchuensis var kawachii kitahara</i> (<i>Cha</i>-<i>Koji</i>) are a health food containing live <i>A. luchuensis</i>. In this study, we examined the effects of <i>Cha</i>-<i>Koji</i> on the immune system and the enteric environment. First, we designed a clinical trial; after ingesting <i>Cha</i>-<i>Koji</i> daily for 28 days, blood parameters and the fecal composition of the participants were analyzed. Similarly, mice were administered (oral administration) with <i>Cha</i>-<i>Koji</i> suspension or its vehicle for 14 days. Thereafter, both humans and mice were examined by analyzing their immune cell phenotypes and intestinal microbiota. Regulatory T cell (Treg) numbers were significantly increased after administering <i>Cha</i>-<i>Koji</i>. An increase of <i>Clostridium</i> subcluster XIVa, that were known to be rich in butyrate-producing bacterium, was observed in human feces, but not in mice. These results suggest that <i>Cha</i>-<i>Koji</i> has the ability to increase Treg production in both humans and mice, irrespective of the presence of enteric butyrate.</p> <p>“<i>Cha</i>-<i>Koji</i>” increases regulatory T cells in mice and humans.</p