Lymph Node Fibroblastic Reticular Cells Construct the Stromal Reticulum via Contact with Lymphocytes

The sophisticated microarchitecture of the lymph node, which is largely supported by a reticular network of fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) and extracellular matrix, is essential for immune function. How FRCs form the elaborate network and remodel it in response to lymphocyte activation is not understood. In this work, we established ERTR7+gp38+VCAM-1+ FRC lines and examined the production of the ER-TR7 antigen. Multiple chemokines produced by FRCs induced T cell and dendritic cell chemotaxis and adhesion to the FRC surface. FRCs can secrete the ER-TR7 antigen as an extracellular matrix component to make a reticular meshwork in response to contact with lymphocytes. The formation of the meshwork is induced by stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-α or lymphotoxin-α in combination with agonistic antibody to lymphotoxin-β receptor in a nuclear factor-κB (RelA)–dependent manner. These findings suggest that signals from lymphocytes induce FRCs to form the network that supports the movement and interactions of immune effectors within the lymph node

ダイニゲンゴ ト シテノ ニホンゴ ライティング ヒョウカ ワークショップ-ヒョウカ キジュン ノ ケントウ-

本稿では、第二言語としての日本語におけるアカデミック・ライティングの評価基準作成の一環として行われたライティング評価ワークショップについて報告する。日本語教育においても近年ライティングの重要性は認識されてきたが、その評価方法に関しては、日本語教育学界で共有できるライティング評価基準がないこともあり、個々の日本語教師の判断に任されてしまうことが多い。しかし、大規模試験に日本語教師が直接関わることはなくとも、機関やクラスのライティング評価において信頼性、公平性を保つためには評価に関する共通の認識が必要である。そこで、筆者らは広く活用できる評価の基本的枠組み(ガイドライン)を提案することを目的に、独自の評価基準を作成した。本稿では、以上の観点から作成された評価基準を用いたワークショップの経緯と実際の状況を報告するとともに、提示した評価基準が有効に機能したか、また、採点者間ミーティングやアンケートから日本語教師がライティング評価をどのように捉えているかを考察、検討する。 ワークショップで使用したのは、「目的・内容」「構成・結束性」「読み手」「日本語A:正確さ」「日本語B:適切さ」の5 トレイトを0～6 のレベルで評価するマルチプル・トレイト評価表である。 参加した20 名の日本語教師による2 種の小論文の評価結果は全体的に信頼性の高いものであること、一致しやすい小論文やトレイトがある反面そうでないものがあること、また単発的な個人レベルでの評価のずれは誰にでも起こりうることが示唆された。さらに、提示した評価基準が総体的には有効に機能した可能性が示された。 アンケートからは、採点者間ミーティングは高く評価されたものの、その手順や方法、評価基準のレベル記述に改善点のあることが分かった。今後、日本語教育学界でライティング評価の基本的枠組みを共有していくためにも、公のワークショップの機会の設けられることが望まれる。This is a report on a writing assessment workshop that was conducted as part of an effort to develop a scoring rubric for academic writing in Japanese as a second language. Although the importance of writing performance has gained greater recognition, to date there are no common scoring rubrics, and scoring procedures are left to individual teachers. Scoring rubrics, however, are necessary in both large-scale examinations and at institutions. Classroom teachers must also be able to make fair and reliable assessments. In order to propose basic guidelines, the authors created a scoring rubric which can be utilized in various academic writing assessments. This paper aims to report on the progress and practice of the workshop, the effectiveness of the scoring rubric, and the teachers\u27responses. A multiple-trait scoring rubric, in which each trait has a level of 0-6 was used for the workshop. The traits used were "Aim & Content," "Organization & Cohesion," " Reader," "Language Use A: Accuracy" and "Language Use B: Appropriateness. "Twenty Japanese language teachers with experience in teaching writing and writing assessment participated in the workshop.The results of their assessment of two types of essays showed highly reliable coefficients, and revealed that some essays and traits were easy for raters to agree on, while others were not. It was also revealed that occasional differences in assessment could be observed among raters. On the whole, however, the scoring rubric was functioning effectively. The results of a questionnaire showed that the meetings among raters were considered to be meaningful, but that the procedure for conducting the rater meetings and definition of"Scoring rubric B: Level descriptor" should be further improved. Public workshops would be worthwhile for the development of common guidelines for assessing writing in Japanese as a second language

Biodistribution and Pharmacokinetics of O-Palmitoyl Tilisolol, a Lipophilic Prodrug of Tilisolol, after Intravenous Administration in Rats

The purpose of this study was to modify the biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of tilisolol, a β-blocker, using the palmitoyl prodrug approach. After intravenous administration of tilisolol and O-palmitoyl tilisolol in rats, drug concentrations were determined in blood, bile, urine, and several tissues. The concentration-time profiles of tilisolol and O-palmitoyl tilisolol were analyzed pharmacokinetically. The blood concentrations of O-palmitoyl tilisolol after intravenous administration of O-palmitoyl tilisolol were about 10-fold higher than those of tilisolol after intravenous administration of tilisolol. The biliary excretion rates of O-palmitoyl tilisolol and tilisolol after intravenous administration of O-palmitoyl tilisolol were about 10- to 100-fold larger than those of tilisolol after intravenous administration of tilisolol. In addition, the hepatic uptake clearance of O-palmitoyl tilisolol after intravenous administration of O-palmitoyl tilisolol was 3.6-fold higher than that of tilisolol after the intravenous administration of tilisolol. In the in vitro experiments, it was demonstrated that the distribution ratios between blood cells and plasma (blood/plasma) of O-palmitoyl tilisolol and tilisolol was 95.7 and 55.5%, respectively. These findings suggest that O-palmitoyl tilisolol exists as a binding form with biological components, especially blood cells, in systemic circulation. In conclusion, the palmitoyl prodrug approach is useful as a drug delivery system to deliver the parent drug to the liver

Synthesis and Electrical Properties of Cation Deficient Perovskite-type Oxides in the Ln-A-Ti-AI-0 System (Ln = La, Nd;A=Ca, Sr).

The effects of ion vacancy on the crystal structure and the electrical conductivity of perovskite-type oxides were investigated. The cation and oxide ion deficient perovskite-type oxides LnA2-xTi2AlO9-d(Ln=La, Nd;A=Ca, Sr) were synthesized. Single-phase samples of LnA2-xTi2AlO9-d were prepared by heating at 1673 K in air in the compositional range of x=0-0.3 for both A = Ca and Sr. The crystal structures were cubic perovskite-type for A = Sr and orthorhombic perovskite-type for A=Ca. Lattice parameters of LnA2-xTi2AlO9-d increased with increasing amounts of A cation vacancies. All the samples exhibited semiconducting behavior in the temperature range of 573-1023 K in air. The measurements of conductivity for LnA2-xTi2AlO9-d as a function of oxygen partial pressure revealed n-type conductivity at oxygen partial pressure less than 0.21 arm. The conductivities of LnA2-xTi2AlO9-d increased with increasing amount of A cation and oxide ion vacancies for both A=Ca and Sr

Successful long-term management for postoperative sternal infection with multiple disseminated lymphadenitis caused by Mycobacterium abscessus

Abstract Background Postoperative sternal infection caused by Mycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus) is rare, but associated with a high 2-year mortality rate of 40%. Decision-making around treatment strategy is challenging. Here, we present a successfully treated case of postoperative M. abscessus sternal infection with multiple disseminated lymphadenitis. Case presentation The patient, an 80-year-old woman with anterior mediastinal tumor and myasthenia gravis, underwent extended thymectomy under median sternotomy. Redness appeared around the scar two months after the operation. Sternal wires were removed, debridement was performed, and the wound was kept open. Mycobacterium abscessus was isolated from the wound culture. The disseminated lesions in the right axillary, parasternal, and bilateral supraclavicular lymph nodes, rendered surgical options for infection control difficult; therefore, she was treated conservatively with antibiotics and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). The wound diminished but infectious granulation tissue remained after NPWT. Two disseminated lesions were percutaneously punctured and drained of pus, which resulted in negative cultures. Additional debridement and wound closure were performed. She was discharged after switching to oral antibiotics. No recurrence was observed five months after the antibiotics were completed (total sensitive antibiotics use: 366 days). Conclusions Repeated culture assessment of disseminated lesions is recommended to facilitate the development of appropriate therapeutic strategies. Localized procedures may be an option for patients with controlled disseminated lesions evidenced by negative cultures