Optic Nerve Changes in Ascorbic Acid-deficient Rats

Purpose: To examine changes in the optic nerves of mutant Wistar rats (OD rats) with a hereditary defect in ascorbic acid-synthesizing ability, since there is a lack of information on the role of ascorbic acid in the optic nerve. Methods: OD rats fed a ascorbic acid-deficient diet and deionized water starting 20 days after birth were killed 3 weeks after the start of the experiment. Control rats were fed a usual diet and deionized water containing 2 mg/ml of ascorbic acid. In the recovery experiment, rats fed on a usual diet and deionized water for 3 weeks after weaning were then fed the same deficient diet for 2 more weeks and deionized water containing 2 mg/ml of ascorbic acid. Pairfed control OD rats received the same amount of usual diet as the experimental OD rats ate on the previous day with free access to deionized distilled water containing 2 mg/ml of ascorbic acid. The optic nerve was examined by transmission electron microscopy. Results: The ultrastructural study showed that in the ascorbic acid-deficient rats the number of myelinated nerve fibers in the optic nerve was significantly decreased and the lamellae of the myelinated axons were thin. in the recovery rats the abnormal morphology persisted. The optic nerve of the pair-fed control rats showed no abnormal findings. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the optic nerve needs ascorbic acid for the maintenance of its cell structure probably due to the antioxidative action of ascorbic acid on the lipid membrane of myelin lamellae

Protection of mice from LPS-induced shock by CD14 antisense oligonucleotide.

CD14 is a pattern recognition receptor on myeloid cells and plays a pivotal role in an innate immune system that is responsible for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria infection. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a cell wall component of Gram-negative bacteria, can induce production of a large quantity of proinflammatory cytokines into the circulation mediated by CD14-mediated macrophages and monocytes. These cytokines eventually cause septic shock. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that suppression of a CD14 function by a CD14 antibody led to an inhibition of the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-8. In the present study, we found that CD14 antisense oligonucleotide (ODN) can prevent lethal LPS shock in D-galactosamine-sensitized mice. This ODN inhibited CD14 expression in a mouse macrophage cell line, RAW264.7, and suppressed production of TNF-alpha in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, we designed a consensus antisense ODN that could hybridize human and mouse CD14 RNA, and we evaluated its efficacy. The consensus antisense ODN rescued mice primed with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) from the LPS-induced lethal shock. In this model, the CD14 antisense ODN down-regulated LPS-elicited CD14 expression in the liver, resulting in a decrease in LPS-induced TNF-alpha production. These findings suggest that the CD14 antisense ODN is distributed in the liver and efficiently suppresses LPS-induced TNF-alpha production by reducing CD14 expression on Kupffer cells. This CD14 antisense ODN may be useful for the development of a therapeutic agent against sepsis and septic shock.</p

ムラカミ ハルキ ノルウェイ ノ モリ ニ オケル ホモソーシャル カンケイ ト レンアイ

「文化」の解読(21) : 文化と伝

ムラカミハルキ シキサイ ヲ モタナイ タサキツクル ト カレ ノ ジュンレイ ノ トシ ノ ナゾ ナゼ ツクル ハ シロ カラ キョギ ノ レイプ コクハツ ヲ サレタ ノカ

「文化」の解読(22) : 文化とイデオロギ

ムラカミ ハルキ ト ハマグチ リュウスケ ノ ドライブ マイ カー ショウセツ ト エイガ ノ ヒカク コウサツ

「文化」の解読 (23) : 文化とコミュニケーショ

Virtual imaging-guided RAPN

Objectives : To evaluate whether virtual partial nephrectomy images could help surgeons identify vascular and collecting system around tumors during actual surgery. Materials & methods : We retrospectively analyzed 36 patients who underwent robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) between 2016 and 2017. Virtual partial nephrectomy images were created from preoperative CT images using computer software, and then analyzed. For analysis, blood vessels and collecting system portions within a 5-mm-thick safety margin around the tumor were examined. During analysis, we predicted whether targeted vasculature around the tumor would require clipping or suturing during surgery, and also whether the collecting system would require opening during resection. Surgical outcomes for virtual partial nephrectomy analyses and actual RAPNs were compared and analyzed for sensitivity and specificity. Results : In 36 cases, 119 arteries and 100 veins were targeted on virtual partial nephrectomy images. Arterial suturing or clipping for hemostasis showed a sensitivity and specificity of 83.3% and 84.5%, respectively. For veins, the sensitivity and specificity were 39.1% and 92.2%, respectively. Collecting system opening prediction sensitivity was 85.7%, and specificity was 65.2%. Conclusion : Virtual partial nephrectomy imaging is useful for RAPN planning, particularly regarding arteries and the collecting system. It is hoped that techniques for visualizing veins will improve