Surgical Treatment of dialysis-associated spondylosis

【Objective】The purposes of this study were to classify the lesions of dialysis-associated spondylosis and evaluate the results of surgical treatment. 【Subjects and methods】The subjects were 87 patients (43 men and 44 women) who underwent surgery. These patients were studied in terms of lesion classification, surgical method, duration of dialysis, duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative complications. 【Results】Among patients with cervical spine involvement, 13 had destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA), 29 had amyloid deposition, and 8 had a dens axis lesion. Among patients with lumbar spine involvement, 20 had DSA, and 17 had amyloid deposition. With regard to 6 patients with a dens axis lesion involving atlantoaxial subluxation, each had posterior fusion (PF) of the occiput to the upper cervical spine. With regard to the patients with lumbar DSA, 10 patients had posterolateral fusion (PLF), 8 patients had posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and 2 patients had laminectomy. The duration of dialysis in cases of a dens axis lesion varied between 25 and 35 years, with the mean duration being 28.9 years. 【Conclusions】All patients who underwent surgery for dens axis lesions were long-term dialysis patients who had been on dialysis for 25 years. Lumbar spine DSA was treated with PLIF in patients with lateral slipping and marked instability, with laminectomy in patients with a narrowed intervertebral disk space and no instability

Destruxin E Decreases Beta-Amyloid Generation by Reducing Colocalization of Beta-Amyloid-Cleaving Enzyme 1 and Beta-Amyloid Protein Precursor

Alzheimer-disease-associated beta-amyloid (A beta) is produced by sequential endoproteolysis of beta-amyloid protein precursor (beta APP): the extracellular portion is shed by cleavage in the juxtamembrane region by beta-amyloid-cleaving enzyme (BACE)/beta-secretase, after which it is cleaved by presenilin (PS)/gamma-secretase near the middle of the transmembrane domain. Thus, inhibition of either of the secretases reduces A beta generation and is a fundamental strategy for the development of drugs to prevent Alzheimer disease. However, it is not clear how small compounds reduce A beta production without inhibition of the secretases. Such compounds are expected to avoid some of the side effects of secretase inhibitors. Here, we report that destruxin E (Dx-E), a natural cyclic hexadepsipeptide, reduces A beta generation without affecting BACE or PS/gamma-secretase activity. In agreement with this, Dx-E did not inhibit Notch signaling. We found that Dx-E decreases colocalization of BACE1 and beta APP, which reduces beta-cleavage of beta APP. Therefore, the data demonstrate that Dx-E represents a novel A beta-reducing process which could have fewer side effects than secretase inhibitors. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Base

New Universality Class of Quantum Criticality in Ce- and Yb-based Heavy Fermions

A new universality class of quantum criticality emerging in itinerant electron systems with strong local electron correlations is discussed. The quantum criticality of a Ce- or Yb-valence transition gives us a unified explanation for unconventional criticality commonly observed in heavy fermion metals such as YbRh2Si2 and \beta-YbAlB4, YbCu5-xAlx, and CeIrIn5. The key origin is due to the locality of the critical valence fluctuation mode emerging near the quantum critical end point of the first-order valence transition, which is caused by strong electron correlations for f electrons. Wider relevance of this new criticality and important future measurements to uncover its origin are also discussed.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figure

Effect of probiotics on gut microbiome in patients with administration of surgical antibiotic prophylaxis: A randomized controlled study

Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) is recommended for the prevention of surgical site infections. However, there is a concern about adverse effects of SAP, such as antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). To prevent AAD, administration of probiotics has been investigated. Although recent advances in next-generation sequencing makes it possible to analyze the gut microbiome, the effect of probiotics on the gut microbiome in the patients with SAP remains unknown. To test a hypothesis that SAP influences the gut microbiome and probiotics prevent the influence, a randomized controlled study was conducted with patients who underwent spinal surgery at Nagasaki University Hospital. After obtaining informed consent, the patients were automatically classified into the non-probiotics group and the probiotics group. In the probiotics group, the patients took 1 g of Enterococcus faecium 129 BIO 3B-R, 3 times a day on postoperative days (PODs) 1–5. The feces of all patients were sampled before administration of SAP and on PODs 5 and 10. We compared alpha and beta diversity and differential abundance analysis of the gut microbiome before and after SAP. During the study period, a total of 33 patients were evaluated, comprising 17 patients in the non-probiotics group and 16 in the probiotics group. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding patient characteristics. In alpha and beta diversity, there were no significant differences among all combinations. In differential abundance analysis at operational taxonomic unit level, Streptococcus gallolyticus and Roseburia were significantly increased in the non-probiotics group and significantly decreased in the probiotics group

Different Characteristics of Cognitive Impairment in Elderly Schizophrenia and Alzheimer's Disease in the Mild Cognitive Impairment Stage

We compared indices of the revised version of the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS-R) and scaled scores of the five subtests of the revised version of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-R) in 30 elderly schizophrenia (ES) patients and 25 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients in the amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) stage (AD-aMCI). In the WMS-R, attention/concentration was rated lower and delayed recall was rated higher in ES than in AD-aMCI, although general memory was comparable in the two groups. In WAIS-R, digit symbol substitution, similarity, picture completion, and block design scores were significantly lower in ES than in AD-aMCI, but the information scores were comparable between the two groups. Delayed recall and forgetfulness were less impaired, and attention, working memory and executive function were more impaired in ES than in AD-aMCI. These results should help clinicians to distinguish ES combined with AD-aMCI from ES alone

Laughter and humor as complementary and alternative medicines for dementia patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The number of dementia patients has increased worldwide, with an estimated 13.7 million dementia patients in the Asia Pacific region alone. This number is expected to increase to 64.6 million by the year 2050.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>As a result of advances in research, there several pharmacological therapies available for the treatment of dementia patients. However, current treatments do not suppress the disease process and cannot prevent dementia, and it will be some time before these goals are realized. In the meantime, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is an important aspect in the treatment of dementia patients to improve their quality of life throughout the long course of the disease. Considering the individuality of dementia patients, applicability of laughter and humor therapy is discussed. Even though there are many things that need to be elucidated regarding the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of laughter and humor, both may be good CAM for dementia patients if they are applied carefully and properly.</p> <p>Summary</p> <p>In this debate article, the physiological basis and actual application of laughter and humor in the treatment of dementia patients are presented for discussion on the applicability to dementia patients.</p

Investigation of Activity Concentrations of NORMs for Industrial Use in Japan

Natural radioactive nuclides are contained in natural materials, namely, ores, rocks and oils. These materials are frequently used as industrial raw materials. If these materials contain natural radioactive nuclides in high concentration, workers can be exposed to radiation at a serious level. Therefore, it is important to investigate the activities in these materials. In this study, natural materials which are actually used as industrial raw materials were collected and the activities in them were determined using ICP-MS and gamma ray spectrometry. The activities of 238U series, 232Th series and 40K in these materials were lower than values suggested in RS-G-1.7

Behavior of 14C-organic materials in Japanese paddy fields

Transuranic (TRU) waste containing radionuclides is generated during the operation and dismantling of reprocessing facilities and mixed oxide (MOX) fuel fabrication facilities. In Japan, TRU waste for geological disposal is categorized into four groups in accordance with physical properties and the concentration of radioactive materials. Group 2 waste among four groups of TRU waste includes hull and end piece wastes, which are comprised of the debris and residue from the shearing and dissolution of the spent fuel assemblies. The key nuclide in a geological repository for Group 2 waste is 14C, and leaching of 14C -organic materials from simulated hull wastes has been reported. Because 14C is long-lived and has very little sorption properties, the possible migration of 14C from a TRU repository site to the biosphere through groundwater presents some concern. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the behavior of 14C in the human habitation sphere on the assumption the 14C derived from TRU wastes. In our research project, soil-soil solution distribution coefficients (Kd) and soil-to-rice plant transfer factors (TF) of 14C have been determined by laboratory experiments to clarify the behavior of 14C in Japanese rice paddy fields. Acetic acid as a 14C source in irrigated paddy soils was rapidly incorporated and decomposed by soil microbes. Although the most of the 14C was released into the air as gas forms, some of the 14C was assimilated into the microbial cells. The main chemical species of 14C gas released into the air was 14CO2, and a part of the 14CO2 could be used by photosynthesis of the rice plants. Only a small amount of the 14C was absorbed through the roots. The transferred 14C to the rice plants was detected even in white rice. Human expose to 14C through rice intake must be considered in the safety assessment of TRU waste disposal. This work has been partially supported by the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan.56th Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Societ

Surgical Treatment of dialysis-associated spondylosis

【Objective】The purposes of this study were to classify the lesions of dialysis-associated spondylosis and evaluate the results of surgical treatment. 【Subjects and methods】The subjects were 87 patients (43 men and 44 women) who underwent surgery. These patients were studied in terms of lesion classification, surgical method, duration of dialysis, duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative complications. 【Results】Among patients with cervical spine involvement, 13 had destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA), 29 had amyloid deposition, and 8 had a dens axis lesion. Among patients with lumbar spine involvement, 20 had DSA, and 17 had amyloid deposition. With regard to 6 patients with a dens axis lesion involving atlantoaxial subluxation, each had posterior fusion (PF) of the occiput to the upper cervical spine. With regard to the patients with lumbar DSA, 10 patients had posterolateral fusion (PLF), 8 patients had posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and 2 patients had laminectomy. The duration of dialysis in cases of a dens axis lesion varied between 25 and 35 years, with the mean duration being 28.9 years. 【Conclusions】All patients who underwent surgery for dens axis lesions were long-term dialysis patients who had been on dialysis for 25 years. Lumbar spine DSA was treated with PLIF in patients with lateral slipping and marked instability, with laminectomy in patients with a narrowed intervertebral disk space and no instability