101 research outputs found
Synthesis of Viral DNA and Late Capsid Protein L1 in Parabasal Spinous Cell Layers of Naturally Occurring Benign Warts Infected with Human Papillomavirus Type 1
AbstractWe investigated human papillomavirus type 1 (HPV1)-specific transcription, viral DNA replication, and viral protein expression in naturally occurring benign tumors by in situ hybridization, 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation, and immunohistochemistry and obtained results different from other HPV-infected benign tumors characterized so far. Moderate amounts of transcripts with a putative coding potential for E6/E7, E1, and E2 were demonstrated from the first subrabasal cell layer throughout the stratum spinosum and granulosum. In addition very large amounts of E4 and L1 transcripts were present in the same epithelial layers. This finding was substantiated by the demonstration of L1 and E4 protein already in the bottom-most spinous cell layer. Furthermore massive amplification of the viral DNA as measured by BrdU incorporation and different methods of in situ hybridization took place in the lowest 5 to 10 suprabasal cell layers. These findings are in contrast to the assumption that late gene expression and viral DNA synthesis are restricted to the more differentiated cell layers of the epithelium and point to differences in the regulation of the vegetative life cycle between different papillomavirus types
Five major outcomes of digitalization: relevance of a survival personality type during COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic required people to adapt rapidly to the digital transformation of society for social survival, which highlighted the divide between those who can and cannot digitalize. Previous studies investigated factors promoting adaptation to digitalization; however, outcomes from adaptation to a digitalized society have not been sorted into a parsimonious model, even though there should be several multifaceted outcomes (e.g., usefulness, economic profit, and social outcome), each of which is promoted by different factors. If the effects of individual background factors can be revealed, including the technical-environment and survival-relevant personality in relation to each outcome, it would help in the creation of a society where more people play an active role by adapting to digitalization. This study aimed to construct such a model by identifying major outcomes gained in a digitalized society and investigating individual factors that contribute to the degree of gain of each of these outcomes. Five dimensions were identified by online surveys and factor analysis: Socialization (outcomes derived from new social connections created online), Space–time (freedom from time and space constraints), Economics (monetary outcome by using digital services), and Information (ease and amount of acquisition of information) were the positive outcomes, whereas Loneliness (feelings of not being able to keep up with digitization) was identified as a negative outcome. We determined that technical-environmental factors (e.g., familiarity with digital techniques and the amount of money that can be used for digitalization) facilitated gain in four positive outcomes. Notably, leadership and conscientiousness facilitated the Socialization gain while etiquette suppressed it. These factors’ effects would reflect the importance of a personality trait prioritizing construction and maintenance of social relationships. This study implies that material outcomes (i.e., Space–time, Economics, and Information) are promoted by technical-environmental support, whereas social outcomes may additionally require motivation and a positive attitude for purposeful social engagement
Left ventricular mechanics and myocardial calcium dynamics in short-term and long-term hyperthyroid mice
The thyroid hormone is involved in cardiac adaptation to physiological and pathological stimuli. Although short-term hyperthyroidism enhances cardiac performance, longstanding hyperthyroidism can cause impairment of the contractility by pathological Ca2+ handling. Because the thyroid hormone affects cardiovascular hemodynamics by decreasing systemic arterial resistance and increasing circulating blood volume, it is important to accurately analyze left ventricular (LV) mechanics by using an index that is independent of ventricular loading conditions. Therefore, we adopted the end-systolic elastance (Ees), which is obtained by the linear regression of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationships. This reflects sensitive changes in the contractile state in a manner independent of both preload and afterload, providing an index of LV contractility. To better understand the hypertrophy caused by hyperthyroidism, we normalized the Ees according to LV weight for different sized heart. Hyperthyroidism was induced by a daily intraperitoneal injection of triiodothyronine (T3) at a dose of 2,000mg/kg body weight. Mice were divided into three groups: the synchronous control group, the T3 administration for one-week group (T3-short), and the T3 administration for eight-week group (T3-long). We investigated global LV mechanics, the expression of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX), the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA), and the Ca2+ handling of isolated cardiomyocytes in each group. Ees values in the control and T3-short were similar, and those in T3-long were significantly smaller than the control (256±60, 249±70 and 154±57mmHg・ml-1・gLV-1, respectively). The values of arterial elastance in both T3-short and T3-long, which represent afterload, were significantly smaller than the control. NCX expression was decreased in T3-short and declined in a time-dependent manner in T3-long. On the other hand, SERCA expression was rapidly elevated in T3-short and remained high in T3-long. These changes may be beneficial for cardiomyocytes in terms of O2 consumption for excitation-contraction coupling. In isolated cardiomyocyte experiments, cell shortening of T3-long mice was significantly lower than that of the control mice, but the average peak amplitude of Ca^ transients in T3-long was 79% and not significantly different. In conclusion, we evaluated LV contractility by using an Ees index in hyperthyroid mice. Although T3 administration shifted the Ca^ route in excitation-contraction coupling to the O_2-saving energetics, LV contractility was diminished with long-term T3 administration, showed constancy in peak amplitude of the Ca^ transients, and a decrease in NCX activity
ROBOTIC VERSUS LAPAROSCOPIC ROUX-EN-Y-GASTRIC BYPASS: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN A SINGLE CENTER
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is the best treatment option for patients with obesity. As a result of the advancement of technology, the robotic gastric bypass presents promising results, despite its still high costs. AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare patients submitted to a robotic versus a laparoscopic gastric bypass at a single center by a single surgeon. METHODS: This retrospective study collected data from the medical records of 221 patients (121 laparoscopic procedures versus 100 with daVinci platform). The variables analyzed were sex, age, body mass index, comorbidities, surgical time, length of stay, and complications. RESULTS: The mean surgical time for patients in the robotic group was shorter (102.41±39.44 min versus 113.86±39.03 min, p=0.018). The length of hospital stay in robotic patients was shorter (34.12±20.59 h versus 34.93±11.74 h, p=0.007). There were no serious complications. CONCLUSIONS: The group submitted to the robotic method had a shorter surgical time and a shorter hospital stay. No difference was found regarding strictures, bleeding, or leakage
Accelerated tumor growth in mice deficient in DNAM-1 receptor
Since the identification of ligands for human and mouse DNAM-1, emerging evidence has suggested that DNAM-1 plays an important role in the T cell– and natural killer (NK) cell–mediated recognition and lysis of tumor cells. However, it remains undetermined whether DNAM-1 is involved in tumor immune surveillance in vivo. We addressed this question by using DNAM-1–deficient mice. DNAM-1–deficient cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and NK cells showed significantly less cytotoxic activity against DNAM-1 ligand-expressing tumors in vitro than wild-type (WT) cells. The methylcholanthrene (MCA)-induced fibrosarcoma cell line Meth A expressed the DNAM-1 ligand CD155, and DNAM-1–deficient mice showed increased tumor development and mortality after transplantation of Meth A cells. Moreover, the DNAM-1–deficient mice developed significantly more DNAM-1 ligand-expressing fibrosarcoma and papilloma cells in response to the chemical carcinogens MCA and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), respectively, than did WT mice. These results indicate that DNAM-1 plays an important role in immune surveillance of tumor development
Identification of biomarkers in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast with microinvasion
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Widespread use of mammography in breast cancer screening has led to the identification of increasing numbers of patients with ductal carcinoma <it>in situ </it>(DCIS). DCIS of the breast with an area of focal invasion 1 mm or less in diameter is defined as DCIS with microinvasion, DCIS-Mi. Identification of biological differences between DCIS and DCIS-Mi may aid in understanding of the nature and causes of the progression of DCIS to invasiveness.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study, using resected breast cancer tissues, we compared pure DCIS (52 cases) and DCIS-Mi (28 cases) with regard to pathological findings of intraductal lesions, biological factors, apoptosis-related protein expression, and proliferative capacity through the use of immunohistochemistry and the TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no differences in biological factors between DCIS and DCIS-Mi, with respect to levels of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2. The frequency of necrosis and positive expression ratio of survivin and Bax were significantly higher in DCIS-Mi than in DCIS. In addition, apoptotic index, Ki-67 index, and positive Bcl-2 immunolabeling tended to be higher in DCIS-Mi than in DCIS. Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of necrosis and positive survivin expression were independent factors associated with invasion.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Compared with DCIS, DCIS-Mi is characterized by a slightly elevated cell proliferation capacity and enhanced apoptosis within the intraductal lesion, both of which are thought to promote the formation of cell necrotic foci. Furthermore, the differential expression of survivin may serve in deciding the response to therapy and may have some prognostic significance.</p
Etiological factors in primary hepatic B-cell lymphoma
Sixty-four cases of malignant lymphoma involving the liver were examined. Of these, 20 cases were histologically confirmed to be primary hepatic B-cell lymphoma. Twelve of these 20 cases were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and eight cases were mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Of the 12 cases of DLBCL, six were immunohistologically positive for CD10 and/or Bcl6 (indicating a germinal center phenotype), six were positive for Bcl2, and five were positive for CD25. Eight of the 12 DLBCL cases (66.7%) and two of the eight MALT lymphoma cases (25%) had serum anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and HCV RNA. The incidence of HCV infection was significantly higher in the hepatic DLBCL cases than in systemic intravascular large B-cell cases with liver involvement (one of 11 cases, 9.1%) and T/NK-cell lymphoma cases (one of 19 cases, 5.3%) (p < 0.01 for both). Two hepatic DLBCL cases (16.7%) had rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate, and four MALT lymphoma cases (50%) had Sjögren’s syndrome, primary biliary cirrhosis, or autoimmune hepatitis; one case in each of these two groups was complicated by chronic HCV-seropositive hepatitis. Although primary hepatic lymphoma is rare, persistent inflammatory processes associated with HCV infection or autoimmune disease may play independent roles in the lymphomagenesis of hepatic B cells
Research Activities in the Department of Nursing
Research activity at the Department of Nursing is overviewed from the point of research topics, the theme of the projects admitted for grant from the Ministry of Education and Science of Japan, and expected research topics, trying to clarify the needs and challenges of the Department from multilateral aspects in future research activities. The Department of Nursing, Aino University is currently divided into the five areas and further into 12 fields. On the other hand, according to the Scientific Research Grant Program (2015 fiscal year), the research topics in nursing science is subdivided into the five areas; a) basic nursing, b) clinical nursing, c) lifelong developmental nursing, d) elderly nursing, and e) community health nursing
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