A New Photosensory Function for Simple Photoreceptors, the Intrinsically Photoresponsive Neurons of the Sea Slug Onchidium

Simple photoreceptors, namely intrinsically light-sensitive neurons without microvilli and/or cilia, have long been known to exist in the central ganglia of crayfish, Aplysia, Onchidium, and Helix. These simple photoreceptors are not only first-order photosensory cells, but also second-order neurons (interneurons), relaying several kinds of sensory synaptic inputs. Another important issue is that the photoresponses of these simple photoreceptors show very slow kinetics and little adaptation. These characteristics suggest that the simple photoreceptors of the Onchidium have a function in non-image-forming vision, different from classical eye photoreceptors used for cording dynamic images of vision. The cited literature provides evidence that the depolarizing and hyperpolarizing photoresponses of simple photoreceptors play a role in the long-lasting potentiation of synaptic transmission of excitatory and inhibitory sensory inputs, and as well as in the potentiation and the suppression of the subsequent behavioral outputs. In short, we suggest that simple photoreceptors operate in the general potentiation of synaptic transmission and subsequent motor output; i.e., they perform a new photosensory function

Ultrasonographic evaluation of leg muscle and fatty tissue thickness in postoperative patients with gastrointestinal disease

術後の健康回復の促進に向けた看護ケアの基礎的資料を得るため,超音波診断装置(周波数は7.5MHz)を用いて,開腹による胃あるいは大腸手術を受けた患者を対象に,手術経過に伴う下肢の筋組織厚および皮下脂肪厚の変化を明らかにした.術前,術後離床日,術後10日目,術後20日目の合計4回,下肢の大腿直筋上,大腿二頭筋上,長指伸筋上,ヒラメ筋上にプローブを当て,組織厚を測定した.開腹による胃または大腸手術を行なった患者のうち,合計4回の測定結果が得られた16名を分析対象とした.4箇所の測定部位の筋組織厚および皮下脂肪厚をそれぞれ合計し,筋組織厚総和および皮下脂肪厚総和を算出し,術前値との比較を行なった.その結果,下肢の筋組織厚総和は,術後離床日,術後10日目,術後20日目に有意な減少を認めた.一方,下肢の皮下脂肪厚総和は,術後には有意な減少を認めず,ほとんど変化しないことが明らかになった.胃手術群と大腸手術群の比較においては,胃手術群は,術後10日目から術後20日目にさらに減少し,回復の傾向を示さなかったが,大腸手術群は,術後10日目から術後20日目に下肢の筋組織厚が回復の傾向を示した.よって,開腹術後患者,特に胃手術患者に対して,より細やかな看護観察と栄養評価,および食事摂取量を増やす看護介入の必要性が示唆された.In order to obtain basic data for use in postoperative nursing care intended to promote the recovery of patients after surgery, the authors examined postoperative changes in lower limb muscular tissue thickness and subcutaneous fat thickness by ultrasonography (7.5 MHz) in patients who underwent open surgery of the stomach or large intestine. The ultrasound probe was placed on the skin above the following muscles: quadriceps femoris, biceps femoris muscle, extensor digitorum longus, and soleus. Measurements were taken on 4 occasions: before surgery, and on the 1st, 10th and 20th day after postoperative mobilization. Of all patients who underwent open surgery of the stomach or large intestine, 16 patients were selected for analysis and ultrasonic measurements. Muscular tissue and subcutaneous fat thicknesses at each of the four sites of measurement were totaled to yield measures of total muscular tissue and total subcutaneous fat. Postoperative and preoperative parameters were then compared. The total lower limb muscular tissue thickness at each of the 4 postoperative measurement points was significantly less than the preoperative thickness, whereas the total lower limb subcutaneous fat thickness showed no significant decrease after surgery and remained almost unchanged from the preoperative value. Comparing patients undergoing different types of surgery, leg muscular tissue thickness showed a tendency to recover on the 10th and 20th day after surgery in the colorectal surgery group, while the gastric surgery group showed further decreases in this parameter on the 10th and 20th day, with no trend towards recovery evident over the timeframe investigated. These results suggest the necessity of active nursing intervention for patients after open gastric surgery.G

Expression of anti-fungal peptide, β-defensin 118 in oral fibroblasts induced by C. albicans β-glucan-containing particles

Objective: Although oral fibroblasts are thought to have the potential to enhance host defenses against Candida albicans , it is unknown whether they are able to recognize Candida cell components to increase the expression of antifungal peptides, such as defensin factors, against Candida infection. Methodology: We performed expression profiles of defensin genes induced by heat-killed C. albicans in oral immortalized fibroblasts (GT1) using cDNA microarray analysis. From those results, quantitative RT-PCR was used to examine the effects of Candida β-glucan-containing particles (β-GPs) on β-Defensin 118 (DEFB 118) expression in oral mucosal cells. Furthermore, the antifungal activities of recombinant DEFB 118 against C. albicans and C. glabrata were investigated using fungicidal assays. Results: Microarray analysis showed that DEFB118, β-Defensin 129 (DEFB129), and α-Defensin 1 (DEFA1) genes were induced by heat-killed C. albicans and that their mRNA expressions were also significantly increased by live as well as heat-killed C. albicans . Next, we focused on DEFB118, and found that GT1, primary fibroblasts, and RT7 (oral immortalized keratinocytes) constitutively expressed DEFB118 mRNA expression in RT-PCR. Furthermore, C. albicans β-GPs significantly increased the expression of DEFB118 mRNA in GT1 and primary fibroblasts. Although DEFB118 mRNA expression in RT7 was significantly induced by both live and heat-killed C. albicans, C. albicans β-GPs failed to have an effect on that expression. Finally, recombinant DEFB118 significantly decreased the survival of both strains of C. albicans in a dose-dependent manner, whereas no effects were seen for both C. glabrata strains. Conclusion: DEFB118, induced by C. albicans β-GPs from oral fibroblasts, may play an important role in oral immune responses against C. albicans infection

Effects of CEACAM1 in oral keratinocytes on HO-1 expression induced by Candida β-glucan particles

Objective: Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) is a member of the carcinoembryonic antigen family. Although its expression has been found in chronic oral inflammatory epithelium, this study aimed to know whether CEACAM1 in oral keratinocytes participates in host immune response against Candida albicans . Methodology: We investigated CEACAM1 expression in oral keratinocytes induced by C. albicans as well as by Candida cell wall component β-glucan particles (β-GPs). Furthermore, the effects of CEACAM1 on β-GPs-induced heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression and its related signals were examined. Results: Fluorescence staining showed CEACAM1 expression in oral keratinocytes (RT7) cells, whereas quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR indicated that both live and heat-killed C. albicans increased CEACAM1 mRNA expression in RT7 cells. Examinations using quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting indicated that CEACAM1 expression was also increased by β-GPs derived from C. albicans . Specific siRNA for CEACAM1 decreased HO-1 expression induced by β-GPs from C. albicans as well as the budding yeast microorganism Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Moreover, knockdown of CEACAM1 decreased β-GPs-induced ROS activity in the early phase and translocation of Nrf2 into the nucleus. Conclusion: CEACAM1 in oral keratinocytes may have a critical role in regulation of HO-1 for host immune defense during Candida infection

iPSC screening for drug repurposing identifies anti‐RNA virus agents modulating host cell susceptibility

RNAウイルスの感染を阻害する既存薬の同定 --複数の異なるRNAウイルスに対して宿主細胞の感受性を下げることにより感染を抑制する薬剤--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-04-07.iPS cells in drug screenings for COVID-19. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-04-07.Human pathogenic RNA viruses are threats to public health because they are prone to escaping the human immune system through mutations of genomic RNA, thereby causing local outbreaks and global pandemics of emerging or re‐emerging viral diseases. While specific therapeutics and vaccines are being developed, a broad‐spectrum therapeutic agent for RNA viruses would be beneficial for targeting newly emerging and mutated RNA viruses. In this study, we conducted a screen of repurposed drugs using Sendai virus (an RNA virus of the family Paramyxoviridae), with human‐induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to explore existing drugs that may present anti‐RNA viral activity. Selected hit compounds were evaluated for their efficacy against two important human pathogens: Ebola virus (EBOV) using Huh7 cells and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) using Vero E6 cells. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), including raloxifene, exhibited antiviral activities against EBOV and SARS‐CoV‐2. Pioglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, also exhibited antiviral activities against SARS‐CoV‐2, and both raloxifene and pioglitazone presented a synergistic antiviral effect. Finally, we demonstrated that SERMs blocked entry steps of SARS‐CoV‐2 into host cells. These findings suggest that the identified FDA‐approved drugs can modulate host cell susceptibility against RNA viruses

本学看護学部における3年次OSCEの実施と今後の課題

本報告は、2013年4月に開設した当看護学部において、2015年8月に3年生に対して初めて行ったOSCE (客観的臨床能力試験)の準備から実施までの総括である。一連の記録やマニュアル等から経過を振り返り、今後の改善点を検討した結果、学生の基礎技術の習熟に資する自主練習環境の整備、模擬患者の効果的な導入、評価者役や模擬患者役として実習病院や近隣機関の関係者が教育に参加できるような協力関係の構築が課題として示された