Glycated Albumin in Gingival Crevicular Fluid from Patients With Diabetes

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) patients have a high prevalence of periodontitis. DM-associated periodontitis (DM-P) is characterized by severe inflammation and tissue destruction. To diagnose DM-P is important for cures of periodontitis and DM. The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of glycated albumin (GA), a DM marker, and calprotectin, an inflammatory marker, in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from patients with periodontitis and DM. Methods: Seventy-eight subjects participated in this study were the patients with DM, chronic periodontitis (CP), DM-P and healthy individuals (H). GCF and blood were collected from four groups. GA and calprotectin in GCF were analyzed using western blotting and ELISA, and their levels were compared among H, DM, CP, and DM-P groups. GA and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in blood were determined, and the correlation between GCF GA level and blood HbA1c or GA level was investigated. ROC analysis for GCF GA level to predict DM was performed. Results: GA was identified in GCF, and its amount and concentration in GCF samples from DM and DM-P were significantly higher than those of non-DM groups (H and CP). Calprotectin amount in GCF from CP and DM-P was significantly higher than that in H and DM groups. GCF GA level was positively correlated to blood HbA1c and GA level. ROC analysis of GCF GA level showed an optimal cut-off value to predict DM. Conclusions: GA showed a high level in GCF from DM patients. GA and calprotectin in GCF may be useful markers to diagnose DM-associated periodontitis

Polaprezinc Protects Mice against Endotoxin Shock

Polaprezinc (PZ), a chelate compound consisting of zinc and l-carnosine (Car), is an anti-ulcer drug developed in Japan. In the present study, we investigated whether PZ suppresses mortality, pulmonary inflammation, and plasma nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels in endotoxin shock mice after peritoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and how PZ protects against LPS-induced endotoxin shock. PZ pretreatment inhibited the decrease in the survival rate of mice after LPS injection. PZ inhibited the increases in plasma NO as well as TNF-α after LPS. Compatibly, PZ suppressed LPS-induced inducible NO synthase mRNA transcription in the mouse lungs. PZ also improved LPS-induced lung injury. However, PZ did not enhance the induction of heat shock protein (HSP) 70 in the mouse lungs after LPS. Pretreatment of RAW264 cells with PZ suppressed the production of NO and TNF-α after LPS addition. This inhibition likely resulted from the inhibitory effect of PZ on LPS-mediated nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation. Zinc sulfate, but not Car, suppressed NO production after LPS. These results indicate that PZ, in particular its zinc subcomponent, inhibits LPS-induced endotoxin shock via the inhibition of NF-κB activation and subsequent induction of proinflammatory products such as NO and TNF-α, but not HSP induction

Geranylgeranylacetone Ameliorates Inflammatory Response to Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in Murine Macrophages: Inhibition of LPS Binding to The Cell Surface

We investigated whether pretreatment with geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), a potent heat shock protein (HSP) inducer, could inhibit proinflammatory cytokine liberation and nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated murine macrophages. The levels of NO and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) released from murine macrophage RAW 264 cells were increased dose- and time-dependently following treatment with LPS (1 µg/ml). GGA (80 µM) treatment 2 h before LPS addition significantly suppressed TNF-α and NO productions at 12 h and 24 h after LPS, respectively, indicating that GGA inhibits activation of macrophages. However, replacement by fresh culture medium before LPS treatment abolished the inhibitory effect of GGA on NO production in LPS-treated cells. Furthermore, GGA inhibited both HSP70 and inducible NO synthase expressions induced by LPS treatment despite an HSP inducer. When it was examined whether GGA interacts with LPS and/or affects expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and CD14 on the cell surface, GGA inhibited the binding of LPS to the cell surface, while GGA did not affect TLR4 and CD14 expressions. These results indicate that GGA suppresses the binding of LPS to the cell surface of macrophages, resulting in inhibiting signal transduction downstream of TLR4

AGEs increase IL-6 and ICAM-1 expression

Background and Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for periodontal diseases and may exacerbate the progression of the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) cause DM complications relative to levels of glycemic control and larger amounts accumulate in the periodontal tissues of patients with periodontitis and DM. In the present study, we investigated the effects of AGEs on the expression of inflammation-related factors in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) in order to elucidate the impact of AGEs on DM-associated periodontitis. Materials and Methods: HGFs were cultured with or without AGEs. Cell viability was examined, and RNA and protein fractions were isolated from AGE-treated cells. The expression of IL-6, ICAM-1, and the receptor for AGE (RAGE) was investigated using RT-PCR, quantitative real-time PCR, and ELISA, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity was measured using a kit with 2’,7’-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. Human monocytic cells (THP-1) labelled with a fluorescent reagent were co-cultured with HGFs treated with AGEs and IL-6 siRNA, and the adhesive activity of THP-1 cells to HGFs was assessed. The expression of IL-6 and ICAM-1 was examined when HGFs were pretreated with recombinant human IL-6 (rhIL-6), the siRNAs of RAGE and IL-6, and inhibitors of MAPK and NF-κB, and then cultured with and without AGEs. The phosphorylation of MAPK and NF-κB was assessed using Western blotting. Results: AGEs increased the mRNA and protein expressions of RAGE, IL-6, ICAM-1 and ROS activity in HGFs, and promoted the adhesion of THP-1 cells to HGFs, but had no effect on cell viability until 72 h. rhIL-6 increased ICAM-1 expression in HGFs, while the siRNAs of RAGE and IL-6 inhibited AGE-induced IL6 and ICAM1 mRNA expression, and IL-6 siRNA depressed AGE-induced THP-1 cell adhesion. AGEs increased the phosphorylation of p38 and ERK MAPKs, p65 NF-κB, and IκBα, while inhibitors of p38, ERK MAPKs, and NF-κB significantly decreased AGE-induced IL-6 and ICAM-1 expression. Conclusions: AGEs increase IL-6 and ICAM-1 expression via the RAGE, MAPK and NF-κB pathways in HGFs and may exacerbate the progression of the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases

２ 型糖尿病患者における医療者との関係構築スキル尺度の開発および信頼性と妥当性の評価

Background and Purpose: To prevent interruption of diabetic care, it is necessary for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to build good relationships with medical staff. It is important that both patients with T2DM and medical staff strive for the common goal of good diabetes control. Therefore, measures capable of considering more concrete skills specific to patients with T2DM than the existing scale are required. Here, a skill scale for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to build relationships with medical staff was developed, and its reliability and validity were verified.　Methods: As a theoretical framework for our scale, we used the 50-item list of social skills for adolescents created by Goldstein et al. We created 76 items based on a previous study, interviews with nurses specializing in diabetes care, and our own clinical experiences. The content validity and surface validity were verified, and we carefully selected 56 items for use in the scale. All items were evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale. Valid responses to the questionnaire were obtained from 262 Japanese patients with T2DM. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to verify the construct validity. The 18-item Kikuchi Scale of Social Skills (KiSS-18) was used to investigate the criterion-related validity. The content validity index (CVI) was used to assess of content validity. The skill scale scores between the continuous diabetes care group and those with a history of diabetes care interruption were compared to determine the known-groups validity. Cronbach’s alpha, item-total correlations, and good-poor analysis were used to determine the internal consistency of the scale.　Results: Our scale contained four factors and 36 items based on exploratory factor analysis: “problem-solving skills” (Factor 1), “coping skills” (Factor 2), “communication skills” (Factor 3), and “feelings-consciousness skills” (Factor 4). The four factors of this scale together had a cumulative contribution ratio of 56.12%, and construct validity was confirmed. The correlation coefficient with KiSS-18 was r = 0.590, and was significant (p < 0.01). The item-level content validity indexes ( I-CVIs) of the scale were 0.80 – 1.00, the scale-level content validity index ( S-CVI/Ave) was 0.95: CVI exceeded the standard. The total score of the scale was significantly lower for patients with a history of diabetes care interruption (p < 0.01). The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the four factors for the 36 items was 0.960, while that of the factors was 0.791 – 0.960. Item-total correlation analysis indicated that all items were significantly correlated (r = 0.313 – 0.798, p < 0.01), and good-poor analysis indicated that all items showed a significant difference (p < 0.001).　Conclusions: This study confirmed the reliability and validity of a new scale for patients with T2DM in Japan. This scale could be useful to support patients with T2DM.背景・目的：糖尿病の通院中断予防には、患者と医療者が良好な関係を築けるようなスキルを高めることが必要である。 2 型糖尿病患者と医療者は良好な糖尿病コントロールの維持を共通目標とし、両者の努力が重要である。これより、 2 型糖尿病患者には既存尺度よりも特有で具体的なスキルを考慮した尺度が必要と考えた。本研究は 2 型糖尿病患者における医療者との関係構築スキル尺度を開発し、信頼性と妥当性を検証することを目的とした。　方法：本尺度の理論的枠組みには、ゴールドステインらの作成した若者のための社会的スキルを用いた。先行研究、糖尿病看護に携わる看護師への面接、研究者の臨床経験を基に 76 項目を作成した。その後、内容妥当性と表面妥当性を検証し、原案 56 項目を作成した。全項目は 5 段階のリッカート尺度で評価した。日本の 2 型糖尿病患者 262 名の有効回答を得た。データは探索的因子分析を行った。妥当性の検討として、基準関連妥当性はKiSS-18、内容妥当性は内容妥当性指標 (CVI) を用い、既知集団妥当性は通院中断経験の有無と尺度得点の比較を行った。信頼性の検討はクロンバックα、I-T 相関分析、G-P 分析を行った。結果：探索的因子分析により 4 因子 36 項目を抽出した。 4 因子は、「問題解決スキル」、「対処スキル」、「コミュニケーションスキル」、「感情自覚スキル」と命名した。本尺度の累積寄与率は56.12%であった。KiSS-18との相関係数は0.590と有意な相関であった（p < 0.01）。 CVI は各項目 0.80 〜 1.00、尺度全体 0.95 と基準を上回っていた。通院中断経験者は尺度総得点が有意に低かった（p < 0.01）。尺度全体のクロンバックα係数は 0.960 であった。全項目において、I-T 相関分析は有意な相関であり (r = 0.313 〜 0.798, p < 0.01)、G-P 分析では有意差が得られた（p < 0.001）。　結論：本研究は日本の 2 型糖尿病を持つ患者において信頼性と妥当性のある尺度と確認できた

コロナ禍のオンライン実習に 360度カメラを導入した効果と課題

　COVID‐19の感染拡大により、オンライン実習においてリアリティを追及した実習が行えるように、実習先施設の映像を360度カメラで撮影し、その映像をVRゴーグルにより視聴する実習を取り入れ、その効果と課題を明らかにすることを目的に、介護福祉養成課程3回生18名にアンケート調査を実施した。その結果、360度カメラによる映像の視聴は実習最終日よりも実習19日目の情報収集の段階で学びが大きい(p < .009)ことが明らかになり、細かい点までの観察が繰り返しでき、介護者・利用者双方からの仮想体験が可能で、学生の気づきに効果があった。一方で、映像酔いや目への負担など、身体的負担につながることも示された。さらに、感情面では実習前から実習後にマイナス感情からプラス感情へと改善（ｐ < .001）が確認できた。今後も、ポストコロナや大災害により突然平穏な日常が奪われる可能性があることを視野に入れ、実習先施設と連携を強化する中でオンラインを活用した実習体験プログラムを構築することが重要である

シニクコウ シンシュツエキ チュウ ノ バイオマーカー オ モチイタ シシュウビョウ シンダン

Periodontal diseases cause an inflammation and degradation of periodontal tissues and missing of teeth. The incidence rate of periodontal diseases is high in middle-aged and elderly people. A reasonable diagnosis of periodontal diseases is very important to keep teeth, however, conventional examinations of periodontal diseases is not necessarily exact and objective. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) is an exudate secreted from periodontal tissues and contains many components including proteolytic enzymes, inflammatory cytokines, blood-associated proteins, cellular and bacterial fragments. Because some proteins in GCF are related to inflammation, tissue degradation and bone metabolism, those proteins have been studying as a diagnostic marker of periodontal diseases. GCF is noninvasively collected using a sterile paper strip and biomarkers are determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and enzyme activity assay. We identified calprotectin, an inflammationrelated protein, in GCF and calprotectin level in GCF from periodontitis sites was significantly higher than that of healthy control. Calprotectin level in GCF was positively correlated to gingival index and other biomarkers and decreased by periodontal treatments. Resistin is an adipocytokine and its level increases in some inflammatory diseases. Resistin level in GCF from periodontitis sites was high compared to the level of healthy control samples. Procollagen type I C-terminal peptide (PICP) is a biomarker for bone metabolism and its level was high in GCF collected from periodontitis sites. These results suggested that calprotectin, resistin and PICP are useful biomarkers for periodontal diseases. On the other hand, we showed that glycated albumin (GA), a marker of diabetes mellitus (DM), was contained in GCF and GA level in GCF from DM patients was significantly higher than that of non-DM individuals. Components in GCF may be biomarkers of systemic diseases as well as periodontal diseases and their determination will be useful diagnostic examination of some diseases. Recently, we have been studying the determining system of GCF calprotectin, including microchip ELISA, surface plasmon resonance assay and immuno-chromatography assay. When GCF biomarkers are determined using the determining systems, we will simply, exactly and objectively diagnose periodontal diseases at our dental offices

Self-assembled monolayer of light-harvesting core complexes of photosynthetic bacteria on an amino-terminated ITO electrode

Light-harvesting antenna core (LH1-RC) complexes isolated from Rhodospirillum rubrum and Rhodopseudomonas palustris were successfully self-assembled on an ITO electrode modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. Near infra-red (NIR) absorption, fluorescence, and IR spectra of these LH1-RC complexes indicated that these LH1-RC complexes on the electrode were stable on the electrode. An efficient energy transfer and photocurrent responses of these LH1-RC complexes on the electrode were observed upon illumination of the LH1 complex at 880 nm

大学を拠点とする多職種による子育て支援事業 “子育てコラボサロンどーなつ”の実践

　地域における子どもとその養育者の多様な悩みや問題に対応するために、看護学科と社会福祉学科の教員がそれぞれの専門性を活かして協働する子育て支援事業として、"子育てコラボサロンどーなつ″ を2018年度に開設した。 本稿は2019年度に実施した保育士・幼稚園等専門職を対象とする講座および子育て中の保護者を対象とする講座の活動内容、参加者およびボランティアとして参加した学生のアンケート結果をまとめて報告する。 講座の参加者はいずれの回も少人数であったものの、子どもと保護者が安心して参加し、講義や参加者同士の交流を通して子育てに前向きになれるような働きかけができた。 また、本事業のコンセプトである「多職種の専門性を活かした協働」と「大学を拠点とした活動」の強みを活かして「子育て支援のコミュニティ形成」に向けて一歩を踏み出すことができた