Characterization of Tight Junctions and Their Disruption by UVB in Human Epidermis and Cultured Keratinocytes

It has not been confirmed whether tight junctions (TJs) function as a paracellular permeability barrier in adult human skin. To clarify this issue, we performed a TJ permeability assay using human skin obtained from abdominal plastic surgery. Occludin, a marker protein of TJs, was expressed in the granular layer, in which a subcutaneously injected paracellular tracer, Sulfo-NHS-LC-Biotin (556.59Da), was halted. Incubation with ochratoxin A decreased the expression of claudin-4, an integral membrane protein of TJs, and the diffusion of paracellular tracer was no longer prevented at the TJs. These results demonstrate that human epidermis possesses TJs that function as an intercellular permeability barrier at least against small molecules (∼550Da). UVB irradiation of human skin xenografts and human skin equivalents (HSEs) resulted in functional deterioration of TJs. Immunocytochemical staining of cultured keratinocytes showed that occludin was localized into dot-like shapes and formed a discontinuous network when exposed to UVB irradiation. Furthermore, UVB irradiation downregulated the active forms of Rac1 and atypical protein kinase C, suggesting that their inactivation caused functional deterioration of TJs. In conclusion, TJs function as a paracellular barrier against small molecules (∼550Da) in human epidermis and are functionally deteriorated by UVB irradiation

Neutrophil S100A9 supports M2 macrophage niche formation in granulomas

慢性炎症「肉芽腫」における好中球の新しい炎症制御系の解明 --M2マクロファージの新たな誘導メカニズム解明--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-02-17.In search of inflammatory Achilles heel. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-03-10.Mycobacterium infection gives rise to granulomas predominantly composed of inflammatory M1-like macrophages, with bacteria-permissive M2 macrophages also detected in deep granulomas. Our histological analysis of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin-elicited granulomas in guinea pigs revealed that S100A9-expressing neutrophils bordered a unique M2 niche within the inner circle of concentrically multilayered granulomas. We evaluated the effect of S100A9 on macrophage M2 polarization based on guinea pig studies. S100A9-deficient mouse neutrophils abrogated M2 polarization, which was critically dependent on COX-2 signaling in neutrophils. Mechanistic evidence suggested that nuclear S100A9 interacts with C/EBPβ, which cooperatively activates the Cox-2 promoter and amplifies prostaglandin E2 production, followed by M2 polarization in proximal macrophages. Because the M2 populations in guinea pig granulomas were abolished via treatment with celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, we propose the S100A9/Cox-2 axis as a major pathway driving M2 niche formation in granulomas

高齢者アセスメント表の看護基礎教育への適用 : 演習後のアンケート結果{1996～1997}(その1)

4年制の看護大学生を村象に、高齢者アセスメント表を適用し演習終了後に調査を実施した。1996年（調査I）と1997年（調査II）の2年間の調査を検討した結果、次のことが明らかになった。1）高齢者アセスメント表の難易度は、調査Iの結果が有意に「容易」と回答した者が多かった。（p<0.01） 2）高齢者アセスメント表の記入による効果は、いずれも共通して順位1位として、（2）潜在的な問題の把撞ができるをあげていた。2位以下は異なっていた。調査IIの（1）ニーズが把握しやすいが、調査1の同じ項目に比べて有意に高かった。（p<0.05） 3）問題領域選定表の難易度は、調査IIの結果が有意に「容易」と回答した者が多かった。（p<0.05） 4）問題領域別検討指針の有効性は、調査IIが有意に理解できたと回答した者が多かった。（p<0.05） 5）詳細検討用紙の難易度・問題領域別検討指針の理解度・ケアプランの難易度は、調査Iと調査IIの結果には有意な差はみられなかった

Clinical Efficacy of Endocytoscopy for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Endocytoscopy (EC) is a contact-type optical endoscope that allows in vivo cellular observation during gastrointestinal endoscopy and is now commercially available not only in Japan but also in Asian, European Union, and Middle Eastern countries. EC helps conduct a highly accurate pathological prediction without biopsy. Initially, EC was reported to be effective for esophageal diseases. Subsequently, its efficacy for stomach and colorectal diseases has been reported. In this narrative review, we searched for clinical studies that investigated the efficacy of EC. EC seems to accurately diagnose gastrointestinal diseases without biopsy. Most of the studies aimed to clarify the relationship between endocytoscopic findings of gastrointestinal neoplasia and pathological diagnosis. Some studies have investigated non-epithelial lesions or diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease or infectious diseases. However, there are few high-level pieces of evidence, such as randomized trials; thus, further studies are needed

特別養護老人ホームにおける看護の実態調査(その1) : S県の特別養護老人ホームにおける

特別養護老人ホームは、措置制度による運営から介護報酬による経営へ変わり、多くの課題が明らかになってきている。本稿では、特養の医療体制に着目し、施設長・看護職責任者・寮母職責任者を対象に、看護の実態を調査した。その結果、看護業務の現状と今後のあり方については、3者ともに最も多くの人が「医療的業務が主で生活援助が従」と回答した。看護職増員の必要性については、3者ともに半数以上が「必要」と回答した。「理由」は、3者ともに「施設内医療の必要性」をあげた者が8割以上を占めた。看護職の今後のあり方については、医療知識・技術を深め高齢者の健康状態の把握や状態変化への適切な対処ができ他職種と連携でき、介護職への医療技術指導ができることが望まれていることが明らかにされた

Evolutionary loss of complexity in human vocal anatomy as an adaptation for speech

Human speech production obeys the same acoustic principles as vocal production in other animals but has distinctive features: A stable vocal source is filtered by rapidly changing formant frequencies. To understand speech evolution, we examined a wide range of primates, combining observations of phonation with mathematical modeling. We found that source stability relies upon simplifications in laryngeal anatomy, specifically the loss of air sacs and vocal membranes. We conclude that the evolutionary loss of vocal membranes allows human speech to mostly avoid the spontaneous nonlinear phenomena and acoustic chaos common in other primate vocalizations. This loss allows our larynx to produce stable, harmonic-rich phonation, ideally highlighting formant changes that convey most phonetic information. Paradoxically, the increased complexity of human spoken language thus followed simplification of our laryngeal anatomy.</jats:p

Calcinosis Cutis Long after Rhinoplasty with Silicone

Rhinoplasty is a plastic surgery procedure to reconstruct the nose. Silicone alloplastic materials are most widely used as implants for rhinoplasty, but calcification on the surface occurs with long-term usage. Herein, we report a case of gruel-like calcification approximately 50 years after silicone implant rhinoplasty. In this case, calcification on the silicone surface might have transformed into gruel-like deposits, which presented as a subcutaneous mass at the dorsal area of the nose. The precise mechanism is unclear; a pH change in the tissue might have occurred during the process of inflammation, leading to the dissolution of calcified deposits