Clinical impact of albuminuria in diabetic nephropathy

金沢大学医薬保健研究域医学系Patients suffering from diabetic nephropathy, resulting in end-stage renal failure, are increasing in number. The pathophysiology of diabetic nephropathy remains to be fully investigated. In the clinical setting, the presence of albuminuria/overt proteinuria and a low glomerular filtration rate may predict poor renal prognosis, but the prognosis of the normoalbuminuric renally insufficient diabetic patient remains controversial. In addition to the measurement of urinary albumin excretion, biomarker studies to detect diabetic nephropathy more specifically at the early stage have been performed worldwide. There is a growing body of evidence for remission and/or regression of diabetic nephropathy, which may be an indicator for cardiovascular and renal risk reduction. Deeper insights into the pathological characteristics as well as the clinical impact of albuminuria on renal and cardiovascular outcome are required. © 2011 Japanese Society of Nephrology

Centromere/kinetochore is assembled through CENP-C oligomerization

Kinetochore is an essential protein complex required for accurate chromosome segregation. The constitutive centromere-associated network (CCAN), a subcomplex of the kinetochore, associates with centromeric chromatin and provides a platform for the kinetochore assembly. The CCAN protein CENP-C is thought to be a central hub for the centromere/kinetochore organization. However, the role of CENP-C in CCAN assembly needs to be elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that both the CCAN-binding domain and the C-terminal region that includes the Cupin domain of CENP-C are necessary and sufficient for chicken CENP-C function. Structural and biochemical analyses reveal self-oligomerization of the Cupin domains of chicken and human CENP-C. We find that the CENP-C Cupin domain oligomerization is vital for CENP-C function, centromeric localization of CCAN, and centromeric chromatin organization. These results suggest that CENP-C facilitates the centromere/kinetochore assembly through its oligomerization.Hara M., Ariyoshi M., Sano T., et al. Centromere/kinetochore is assembled through CENP-C oligomerization. Molecular Cell 83, 2188 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2023.05.023

Ambient fine and coarse particles in Japan affect nasal and bronchial epithelial cells differently and elicit varying immune response

Ambient particulate matter (PM) epidemiologically exacerbates respiratory and immune health, including allergic rhinitis (AR) and bronchial asthma (BA). Although fine and coarse particles can affect respiratory tract, the differences in their effects on the upper and lower respiratory tract and immune system, their underlying mechanism, and the components responsible for the adverse health effects have not been yet completely elucidated. In this study, ambient fine and coarse particles were collected at three different locations in Japan by cyclone technique. Both particles collected at all locations decreased the viability of nasal epithelial cells and antigen presenting cells (APCs), increased the production of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1β from bronchial epithelial cells and APCs, and induced expression of dendritic and epithelial cell (DEC) 205 on APCs. Differences in inflammatory responses, but not in cytotoxicity, were shown between both particles, and among three locations. Some components such as Ti, Co, Zn, Pb, As, OC (organic carbon) and EC (elemental carbon) showed significant correlations to inflammatory responses or cytotoxicity. These results suggest that ambient fine and coarse particles differently affect nasal and bronchial epithelial cells and immune response, which may depend on particles size diameter, chemical composition and source related particles types

失語症看護熟達度自己評価尺度の信頼性と妥当性の検討

The purpose of the study is a development of scale for measuring "knowledge and practice of aphasia patient nursing care" of nurses. Aphasia patient care proficiency self-assessment scale, which consists of 15 items, is simple for respondents to be able to respond in a short time and its credibility and validity have been recognized. The scale has obtained 0.87 of correlation coefficient by test-retest method conducted for 193 of nurses of recovery wings, showing 0.82�`0.87 of Cronbach �� confidence coefficient between each subscale, and its internal coincidence has been confirmed. In addition, two major factors, i.e. "aphasia patient care knowledge factor" and "aphasia care factor" have been extracted, showing 47.5% of cumulative contribution with 0.52�`0.79 of factor loading. Further, as a result of principal component analysis, cumulative contributions of "aphasia patient care knowledge factor"and"aphasia care factor" were 54.5% and 69.5% respectively, and the validity of constructive concept has been recognized

急性期脳血管障害患者における嚥下障害の予後予測

Purpose: Stroke is a major etiological factor in dysphagia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting difficulty of oral intake in patients with acute cerebrovascular disorder. Subjects: We recruited the stroke patients with suspected stroke-related dysphagia who were referred to speech, language, and hearing therapists at the emergency hospital for a swallowing examination between March 2009 and March 2010. Method: Multivariate analyses were performed to identify variables significantly associated with thepossibility of oral intake. Results: The mean age of the patients was 76.8 (SD12.7) years. A total of 158 patients suffered from ischemic stroke while 56 suffered from hemorrhagic stroke. At the point of discharge from the hospital, 107 patients (50.0%) resumed a regular diet. Logistic regression analysis identified 12 factors that significantly predicted the resumption of normal oral intakes. Conclusions: Normal or slight disturbance of consciousness (Japan Coma Scale: 0 or I-1), a food test profile score of 4 or above, normal swallowing sound on cervical auscultation, and a score > 0 on the Barthel Index were predictors of oral intake in patients with acute stage of cerebrovascular disorder

アルコール専門病院における治療プログラムの実際 : 依存症者の回復力向上を目指す支援に焦点をあてて

In this study we investigated treatment programs at hospitals specializing alcoholism therapy and verified the relationships between these programs and improvements in alcoholics\u27 resilience. First, using previous studies on alcoholism and resilience, we investigated the considerations of recovery from alcoholism on the basis of the concept of resilience. The actual conditions of hospitals specializing in alcoholism therapy were then investigated to determine the effects of these programs on alcoholics\u27 resilience. These results revealed that the main treatment programs of these hospitals had the following objectives: (1) knowledge of one\u27s true self; (2) increased understanding of alcoholism and the development of coping skills; (3) establishment of interpersonal relationships; and (4) contemplationabout way of life in the future (continuing recovery). These four objectives overlapped with the components of resilience, which indicated the ability of alcoholics to overcome their illness and return to a healthy status. These findings indicate that the treatment programs at hospitals specializing in alcoholism therapy provide support that promotes these patients\u27 resilience