Collagen Metabolism in Cutis Laxa Fibroblasts: Increased Collagenase Gene Expression Associated with Unaltered Expression of Type I and Type III Collagen

Collagen metabolism was studied in cutis laxa by analyzing collagen and collagenase gene expression in three dermal fibroblast strains from patients with congenital cutis laxa and comparing them with fibroblasts obtained from age-matched healthy subjects. Normal collagen synthetic activity was observed in the cutis laxa fibroblasts. An increased level of collagenase mRNA and unaltered levels of α1(I) and α1(III) collagen mRNA were found in all cutis laxa cell strains by dot blot hybridization. Reduced levels of elastin mRNA were also detected in these strains. However, no qualitative differences in these mRNA transcripts were detected between the control and cutis laxa fibroblasts by Northern blot analysis. Collagenase activity in fibroblast culture supernatants was then measured using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled type I collagen. Increased collagenolytic activity in cutis laxa fibroblast culture supernatants was also found. These data suggest that increased collagenase expression of fibroblasts is related to the structural abnormality of dermal connective tissue in cutis laxa

The exacerbation risk prediction by fractional exhaled nitric oxide in younger and elder children with bronchial asthma

The usefulness of the Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurements for asthma exacerbation risk prediction in asthmatic children is controversial. Fifty-seven asthmatic children who were regularly treated and had previously been stable for at least 3 months were enrolled. The asthma excerbations risk prediction by the FeNO levels and age contribution on it were investigated. As analyzed all the patients, FeNO cut off value for the significant risk of asthma exacerbation was 36.9 ppb (risk odds was 5.1 [95% C.I., 1.8 to 15.0], chi square valve = 9.0, p=0.0028). However, sensitivity and specificity were not adequate for predicting asthma exacerbation (Sensitivity, 77.8%; Specificity, 59.9%; Area under the curve [AUC], 0.674). These parameters were improved only when 6-10 year old children were assessed (FeNO threshold=39.9 ppb, risk odds=10.2 [3.1 to 33.1], chi square valve 14.8, p=0.0001); Sensitivity, 80.8%; Specificity, 71.8%; AUC, 0.758). High value of FeNO is a risk factor for the asthma exacerbation, and FeNO measurement may be more useful for asthma control in younger children than elder asthmatic children

川崎医科大学における大学連携,産学官連携,対外活動について:その5 : 2012年度半ばから2013年度半ばにかけての活動

川崎医科大学では,大学連携・産学官連携に関連して,地域に根ざした対外活動ならびに国レベルでの活動にも参画している.高等教育機関として,医科単科大学という枠組みを超えた活動である.社会の変化や,参画しているそれぞれの組織の変容に合わせて,本学の参加の状況なども変化して来ている.本稿では2012年度半ばから2013年度前半の活動について報告する.またそれぞれの内包している問題点とともに,それらの中で,本学がどのようにそれぞれの組織への参加者として情報などを有効利用するかについても,考案したい.Kawasaki Medical School is participating in the various external activities in relation to university cooperation and industry-academia-government collaboration, rooted in the community as well as national level. It is an activity as higher teaching institutions, beyond the framework of medical colleges. To meet social changes and transformation of the organization, each of which involved, the situation of the participation of our medical school has also come to change. Activities of the first half of the fiscal year 2013 since mid-2012, is introduced in this article. Among the problems with the enclosing each organization, how to effectively use information as a participant in the organization of each is discussed

川崎医科大学における大学連携,産学官連携等,対外活動について:その6:2013年度半ばから2014年度半ばにかけての活動

川崎医科大学では,大学連携・産学官連携について様々な取組みに参画している.これらのうち筆頭著者が担当している事業の中で,大学コンソーシアム岡山,倉敷市大学連携推進会議,岡山県内の産業クラスター形成に向けた取組を中心に,ここ1年の活動状況を報告するとともに,その他として国際医学生連盟を介した海外医学生の受入についても報告する.これらの中で,大学コンソーシアム岡山については,本年度第1回の代表者会議で,川崎学園として次年度からの脱退も視野に入れたいことを提議しており,今後の展開について慎重な対峙が必要となってきている.The Kawasaki Medical School is participating in various initiatives for university cooperation and industry-academia-government collaboration. Among these matters, the first author is responsible for the following: focusing on efforts to form industrial clusters in Okayama prefecture, the Consortium of Universities in Okayama and the Kurashiki Universities Collaboration meeting. As well as detailing the activities of the past year in this article, we will also report on the acceptance of overseas medical students through the International Federation of Medical Students\u27 Associations (IFMSA). In regards to the Consortium of Universities in Okayama, the educational cooperation "Kawasaki Gakuen" (including Kawasaki Medical School and Kawasaki University for Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare), had proposed withdrawing from the organization at the end of this fiscal year at the first board member\u27s meeting of 2014. This point will need careful consideration in the future

川崎医科大学における大学連携,産学官連携等,対外活動について:その7

川崎医科大学では,大学連携・産学官連携について様々な取組に参画している。これらのうち筆頭著者(大槻)が担当している事業の中で,大学コンソーシアム岡山,倉敷市大学連携推進会議,岡山県内の産業クラスター形成に向けた取組を中心に,ここ1年の活動状況を報告するとともに,その他として国際医学生連盟を介した海外医学生の受入についても報告する。Kawasaki Medical School is participating in various initiatives for university cooperation and industry-academia-government collaboration. Among these matters, the first author (TO) is responsible for the following: focusing on efforts to form industrial clusters in Okayama prefecture, the Consortium of Universities in Okayama and the Kurashiki Universities Collaboration Meeting. As well as detailing the activities of the past year in this article, we will also report on the acceptance of overseas medical students through the International Federation of Medical Students\u27 Associations (IFMSA)