Aqueous/Aqueous Micro Phase Separation: Construction of an Artificial Model of Cellular Assembly

To artificially construct a three-dimensional cell assembly, we investigated the availability of long-duration microdroplets that emerged near a critical point in an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) with the hydrophilic binary polymers, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and dextran (DEX), as host containers. We found that erythrocytes (horse red blood cells; RBCs) and NAMRU mouse mammary gland epithelial cells (NMuMG cells) were completely and spontaneously entrapped inside DEX-rich microdroplets. RBCs and NMuMG cells were located in the interior and at the periphery of the droplets at PEG/DEX = 5%:5%. In contrast, the cells exhibited opposite localizations at PEG/DEX = 10%:5%, where, interestingly, NMuMG cells apparently assembled to achieve cell adhesion. We simply interpreted such specific localizations by considering the alternative responses of these cells to the properties of the PEG/DEX interfaces with different gradients in polymer concentrations

人工膝関節置換術後の関節周囲感染が疑われる症例の発生頻度は、術中麻酔維持使用薬剤の選択と関連するか（プロポフォールによる全静脈麻酔と、セボフルランでの麻酔維持での比較）：後ろ向きコホート研究

PURPOSE: Periprosthetic joint infection is a serious complication of total knee arthroplasty. Though there are many factors that might increase its risk, the use of propofol for maintaining general anesthesia could theoretically increase the incidence of infection because of its lipid component that supports bacterial growth. Nevertheless, the relationship between anesthetic maintenance agents and the occurrence of periprosthetic joint infection remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of suspected early-onset periprosthetic joint infection between patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty under propofol vs sevoflurane anesthesia. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients in the national inpatient Diagnosis Procedure Combination database in Japan who underwent total knee arthroplasty. Suspected periprosthetic joint infection was surrogately defined as the need for arthrocentesis or debridement within 30 days of surgery. Propensity score matching was performed between patients who received either propofol or sevoflurane for anesthetic maintenance to determine the proportion of those with infection. RESULTS: Eligible patients (n = 21,899) were categorized into either the propofol (n = 7,439) or sevoflurane (n = 14,460) groups. In the 5,140 propensity-matched patient pairs, there was no significant difference in the proportion of arthrocentesis or debridement [1.3% propofol vs 1.7% sevoflurane; respectively (relative risk, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.55 to 1.04; P = 0.10)] between the groups. The mean (SD) length of stay in the propofol group was significantly longer than in the sevoflurane group [32.5 (18.4) days vs 31.4 (14.4) days, respectively; mean difference, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.5 to 1.8; P < 0.001]. CONCLUSION: Propensity score analysis suggested no significant association between the choice of anesthetic maintenance agent and the occurrence of suspected early-onset periprosthetic joint infection in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.博士（医学）・甲第700号・平成31年3月15日© Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society 2018This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Canadian journal of anaesthesia. The final authenticated version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12630-018-1139-6

Milan Ultrasound Criteria predict relapse of ulcerative colitis in remission

Introduction Bowel ultrasound is a non-invasive alternative to endoscopy for assessing the disease activity of ulcerative colitis; however, it is unclear whether bowel ultrasound can predict subsequent relapse from remission. Materials and Methods A retrospective cohort study enrolled patients with ulcerative colitis who underwent bowel ultrasound between July 2018 and July 2021 during clinical remission (patient-reported outcome-2 ≤ 1 and no rectal bleeding) for at least 3 months and were followed up for 1 year. Ultrasonographic findings (bowel wall thickness, bowel wall flow, bowel wall stratification, and enlarged lymph nodes), Milan Ultrasound Criteria, Mayo endoscopic subscore, C-reactive protein, and fecal calprotectin levels and their association with subsequent clinical relapse were assessed. Relapse was defined as rectal bleeding score ≥ 1, stool frequency score ≥ 2, or treatment intensification for symptoms. Results 31% of the patients (18/58) relapsed within 1 year. No single ultrasonographic finding predicted relapse, whereas Milan Ultrasound Criteria > 6.2 (p = 0.019), Mayo endoscopic subscore ≥ 1 (p = 0.013), and fecal calprotectin ≥ 250 μg/g (p = 0.040) were associated with a shorter time to relapse in the log-rank test. Milan Ultrasound Criteria > 6.2 (hazard ratio 3.22; 95% confidence interval 1.14-9.08, p = 0.027) and Mayo endoscopic subscore ≥ 1 (hazard ratio 8.70; 95% confidence interval 1.11-68.1, p = 0.039) showed a higher risk of relapse according to a Cox proportional hazards model. Discussion/Conclusion Bowel ultrasound can predict subsequent clinical relapse from remission in patients with ulcerative colitis using the Milan Ultrasound Criteria

Dendrochirotid holothurians (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Dendrochirotida) including four new species, from off Misaki, Japan

Yamana, Yusuke, Kohtsuka, Hisanori (2018): Dendrochirotid holothurians (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Dendrochirotida) including four new species, from off Misaki, Japan. Zootaxa 4455 (3): 429-453, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4455.3.

FIGURE 1 in A new species of Chiridota (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Apodida: Chiridotidae) from Japan, and First record of C. rigida from Japan

FIGURE 1. Photographs of Chiridota rigida Semper, 1867 collected from Wakayama, Japan. A, preserved specimen (WMNH-INV- 2017 - 40); and B, living specimen (anterior half only: WMNH-INV- 2017 - 25) of lateral view, dorsal upper. C, content of wheel-papilla (WMNH-INV- 2017 - 40). D, internal organs, dorsal upper (WMNH-INV- 2017 - 39). Abbreviations: ad, anterior dorsal; av, anterior ventral; ca, calcareous ring; go, genital organ; ma, madreporite; pd, posterior dorsal; po, Polian vesicle; pv, posterior ventral; st, stone canal; te, tentacle

Intoxication with massive doses of amlodipine and candesartan requiring venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Abstract Background Calcium channel blockers and angiotensin II receptor blockers are commonly prescribed to treat hypertension. Massive overdoses can cause both distributive and cardiogenic shock because of their effects on vascular smooth muscles and severe myocardial depression. Case Presentation We present the case of a 46‐year‐old man who was brought to our emergency department after ingesting 1210 mg amlodipine and 936 mg candesartan. The patient's hemodynamic status deteriorated despite treatment with vasopressors, calcium gluconate, and hyperinsulinemia‐euglycemia therapy with mechanical ventilation. Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was initiated for refractory shock. The patient was weaned off extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on day 5 and discharged on day 18 of hospitalization. Conclusion When medical therapies are ineffective, aggressive venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation should be considered for the management of refractory shock in the setting of calcium channel blocker with angiotensin II receptor blocker overdose

Four new dendrochirotid holothurians collected from the Seto Inland Sea and the western part of the Sea of Japan, western Japan

Yamana, Yusuke, Nakaguchi, Kazumitsu, Yamaguchi, Shuhei, Katoh, Mikio, Ogawa, Akito, Ohtsuka, Susumu (2021): Four new dendrochirotid holothurians collected from the Seto Inland Sea and the western part of the Sea of Japan, western Japan. Zootaxa 5023 (1): 1-43, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5023.1.

Three New Infaunal Species of Taeniogyrus (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Apodida: Chiridotidae: Taeniogyrinae) from Southern Coast of Wakayama, Japan

Yamana, Yusuke, Tanaka, Hayato, Hirabayashi, Isao, Dan, Ichinosuke, Hirai, Atsushi, Ogawa, Akito (2022): Three New Infaunal Species of Taeniogyrus (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea: Apodida: Chiridotidae: Taeniogyrinae) from Southern Coast of Wakayama, Japan. Species Diversity 27 (1): 139-158, DOI: 10.12782/specdiv.27.139, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.12782/specdiv.27.13