Die „Balanced Scorecard“ als Controllinginstrument für Instandhaltungsaufgaben

Die Balanced Scorecard ist ein modernes Managementinstrument das auch schon vielfach als Controllingtool für Instandhaltungsaufgaben Anwendung gefunden hat. Richtig eingesetzt bringt sie frischen Wind und viel Dynamik in das Unternehmen und deren Bereiche. Auch die Instandhaltung kann durch dieses Konzept ihr Image als Kostenverursacher maßgeblich verbessern indem die Strategie in konkrete Aktivitäten umgesetzt und deren Ziele in messbare Kennzahlen dargestellt werden

Quantification of neuropathological findings by image data for the diagnosis of dementia in forensic autopsy cases

The aim of the present study was to quantify neuropathological findings using image analysis software for the diagnosis of dementia in deceased who underwent forensic autopsy. Of the autopsies performed within 48 hours of death and excluding those of patients with head injury, thermal injury, heat stroke, or intracranial lesions, 8 were of autopsy cases clinically diagnosed with dementia and thus included in the dementia group (D). The non-dementia group (non-D) consisted of 6 deceased without dementia. To compare the D and non-D groups, 6 regions and 7 types of pathological findings were observed semi-quantitatively using 4 conventional stainings. Quantitative analysis of collected image data was performed using image analysis software. Semiquantitative analysis of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles was performed with Bielschowsky-Hirano’s silver staining image data. An easy, simple, and effective quantification method of the pathological findings was achieved. However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups, and diagnosis of dementia by the quantification of pathological findings was not successful. Diagnosis of dementia using image data may be possible in future studies with an increased number of autopsies, and by utilizing staining techniques with higher specificity and sensitivity, such as immunohistochemical staining

Organ distribution of p-cresol in HD patients

Background : p-Cresol concentrations are high in the blood of hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, its organ distribution has not yet been investigated in detail. We herein report the distribution of p-cresol in HD patients from forensic autopsy cases. Methods : p-Cresol was measured in the blood, urine, lungs, liver, and kidneys from 4 HD and 4 non-HD cases. Samples were extracted with p-cresol-d8 (internal standard), derivatized, and injected on the GC-MS. Results and Discussion : The total urinary p-cresol/Cr was 79.73 ng/ml in HD cases, which was 16-fold higher than that in non-HD cases. p-Cresol in the blood and kidneys were 30-fold higher or more at 11.92 and 13.08 µg/mL(g), respectively. p-Cresol in the liver and lungs were approximately 20-fold higher at 4.82 and 9.99 µg/g, respectively. p-Cresol was markedly increased in not only the blood, but also the urine and organs of HD cases. The distribution of p-cresol in the blood, urine, and organs differed between HD and non-HD cases. In HD cases, the percentages of conjugated (C) and protein-bound conjugated (PC) urinary p-cresol were 57 and 41%, respectively. C and PC p-cresol was 66% and 25% in the kidneys, respectively, and similar results were obtained in the lungs

Effect of postprandial hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia on vascular responsiveness

Recent clinical studies demonstrated that transient postprandial hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia may contribute to the development of hypertension. Therefore, we investigated influence of acute hyperglycemia and/or hyperinsulinemia induced by glucose or insulin infusion on neuronal and humoral control of vascular tone in rats. Euglycemic male Wistar rats were pithed under anesthesia and arterial blood pressure was measured. Changes in vascular responses to spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and intravenous bolus injections of noradrenaline, angiotensin II, calcitonin generelated peptide (CGRP), acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were studied by infusing various concentration of glucose or insulin. Continuous glucose infusion, which increased both blood glucose and serum insulin levels, significantly augmented adrenergic nerve-mediated pressor responses to SCS without affecting injection of pressor responses to noradrenaline or angiotensin II. In pithed rats with artificially increased blood pressure and blockade of autonomic outflow, glucose infusion attenuated CGRPergic nerve-depressor responses to SCS without affecting depressor responses to injection of CGRP, acetylcholine or SNP. In pithed rats treated with octreotide, which increased blood glucose without increasing serum insulin levels, glucose infusion caused only significant augmentation of adrenergic nervemediated pressor responses. Combined infusion of insulin and glucose, which resulted in increased serum insulin levels with euglycemic, significantly augmented adrenergic nerve-mediated pressor responses and attenuated CGRPergic nerve-mediated depressor responses. The present results suggest that acute hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia increases adrenergic nerve-mediated vasoconstriction, which is partly associated with the blunted CGRPergic nerve function, and that plasma insulin concentration associated with hyperglycemia may be responsible for alteration of neuronal vascular regulation

Immunohistochemical investigation of the coma blister and its pathogenesis

The erythematous patches and vesicles that are observed in coma patients, usually from an overdose of medication, are known as coma blisters. However, it is unknown whether the degenerated sweat gland is a necrosis or apoptosis. We immunohistochemically examined such skin lesions to investigate the characteristics and pathogenesis of the coma blister. Skin lesions were obtained from a forensic autopsy case, a woman in her thirties, of caffeine intoxication. Those lesions were observed in the left femoral, the lower left thigh, and the right knee. Histologically, the skin lesions showed that the keratinocytes had necrosed and the epidermis was thin in some areas. Eccrine sweat gland degeneration was observed. Obvious inflammatory cell infiltrations were not detected. Immunohistochemically, we stained each skin lesion against CD3, CD8, CD45RO, cytokeratin, 70 kD heat shock protein, ubiquitin, 150 kD oxygen regulated protein, and caspase-cleaved keratin 18 neo-epitope M30. They were also stained with an in situ apoptosis detection kit. Degenerated sweat glands featured CD45RO and M30 immunoreactivity. Immunohistochemical staining for CD45RO, CK-L, and M30 might be useful to observe sweat gland degeneration in the coma blister. Therefore, the apoptosis might be related to coma blisters and sweat gland degenerations

A let-7 microRNA-RALB axis links the immune properties of iPSC-derived megakaryocytes with platelet producibility

iPS細胞由来血小板造血における免疫巨核球の制御機構の発見 血小板の大量製造に向けた巨核球マスターセルの品質管理に応用可能. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2024-03-26.Discovering a new microRNA-regulated pathway to boost iPS cell-derived platelet production. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2024-03-26.We recently achieved the first-in-human transfusion of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived platelets (iPSC-PLTs) as an alternative to standard transfusions, which are dependent on donors and therefore variable in supply. However, heterogeneity characterized by thrombopoiesis-biased or immune-biased megakaryocytes (MKs) continues to pose a bottleneck against the standardization of iPSC-PLT manufacturing. To address this problem, here we employ microRNA (miRNA) switch biotechnology to distinguish subpopulations of imMKCLs, the MK cell lines producing iPSC-PLTs. Upon miRNA switch-based screening, we find imMKCLs with lower let-7 activity exhibit an immune-skewed transcriptional signature. Notably, the low activity of let-7a-5p results in the upregulation of RAS like proto-oncogene B (RALB) expression, which is crucial for the lineage determination of immune-biased imMKCL subpopulations and leads to the activation of interferon-dependent signaling. The dysregulation of immune properties/subpopulations, along with the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, contributes to a decline in the quality of the whole imMKCL population

PARTICIPAÇÃO DO PACIENTE COM DORES CRÔNICAS NA CONSTRUÇÃO DA CONDUTA MÉDICA E ADESÃO AO TRATAMENTO

No tratamento de dores crônicas é difícil a definição de um modelo específico para abordagem terapêutica, sendo importante a avaliação individual de cada paciente com participação ativa do mesmo. No Brasil, ainda são escassos os estudos sobre a participação do indivíduo na construção da conduta. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a associação entre a adesão à terapêutica prescrita e o grau de participação dos doentes na construção da conduta médica. Cerca de 87,5% dos pacientes que abandonaram um tratamento não haviam participado da construção do mesmo, o que denota uma correlação positiva entre os a autonomia e a adesão ao tratamento (p=0,004). Apesar da maioria dos pacientes terem conhecimento sobre detalhes da sua doença, ainda está instalado um modelo não participativo, que institui somente ao médico a tomada de decisão, já que estes não são questionados pelo médico quanto as suas necessidades e dificuldades

Plant-Type Trehalose Synthetic Pathway in Cryptosporidium and Some Other Apicomplexans

The trehalose synthetic pathway is present in bacteria, fungi, plants and invertebrate animals, but is absent in vertebrates. This disaccharide mainly functions as a stress protectant against desiccation, heat, cold and oxidation. Genes involved in trehalose synthesis have been observed in apicomplexan parasites, but little was known about these enzymes. Study on trehalose synthesis in apicomplexans would not only shed new light into the evolution of this pathway, but also provide data for exploring this pathway as novel drug target.We have observed the presence of the trehalose synthetic pathway in Cryptosporidium and other apicomplexans and alveolates. Two key enzymes (trehalose 6-phosphate synthase [T6PS; EC 2.4.1.15] and trehalose phosphatase [TPase; EC 3.1.3.12] are present as Class II bifunctional proteins (T6PS-TPase) in the majority of apicomplexans with the exception of Plasmodium species. The enzyme for synthesizing the precursor (UDP-glucose) is homologous to dual-substrate UDP-galactose/glucose pyrophosphorylases (UGGPases), rather than the "classic" UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGPase). Phylogenetic recontructions indicate that both T6PS-TPases and UGGPases in apicomplexans and other alveolates are evolutionarily affiliated with stramenopiles and plants. The expression level of T6PS-TPase in C. parvum is highly elevated in the late intracellular developmental stage prior to or during the production of oocysts, implying that trehalose may be important in oocysts as a protectant against environmental stresses. Finally, trehalose has been detected in C. parvum oocysts, thus confirming the trehalose synthetic activity in this parasite.A trehalose synthetic pathway is described in the majority of apicomplexan parasites including Cryptosporidium and the presence of trehalose was confirmed in the C. parvum oocyst. Key enzymes in the pathway (i.e., T6PS-TPase and UGGPase) are plant-type and absent in humans and animals, and may potentially serve as novel drug targets in the apicomplexans

Seismic Exploration Using Active Sources at Kuchierabujima Volcano, Southwest Japan

Seismic exploration using artificial sources was conducted at Kuchierabujima volcano, southwest Japan in November 2004 by 40 participants from 9 national universities andJapan Meteorological Agency to investigate the subsurface seismic structure. The exploration was the 11th joint experiment under the National Project for Prediction of Volcanic Eruptions. A total of 183 temporal stations equippedwith a 2 Hz vertical component seismometer (including 75 3component seismometers) and a portable data logger were deployed on Kuchierabu Island. Dynamite shots with charges of 10-115 kg were detonated at 19 locations, and seismic signals were successfully recorded. To reveal the P-wave velocity structure, 2955 arrival times of the first motion were picked from the seismograms, and 2187 were classified into ranks A and B. From the record sections and the arrival time data, characteristics reflecting the geological structure were identified. Refracted waves of 5 km/s were observed at stations＞5km from the shot points. Apparent velocities near the shot points depend on the surface geology around the shots. P-wave arrived earlier at stations near the summits. Strongly scattered waves were observed similarly near the summits