Area of Compaction to Prevent Uplift by Liquefaction

In this study, shaking table tests, upper seepage flow tests and numerical analyses were conducted to determine the condition of improvement by the compaction method, including the extent of area and the density, to prevent uplift of underground pipes by liquefaction. Based on the results of these investigations, a procedure to determine the improvement conditions was proposed

The role of maternal-specific H3K9me3 modification in establishing imprinted X-chromosome inactivation and embryogenesis in mice

Maintaining a single active X-chromosome by repressing Xist is crucial for embryonic development in mice. Although the Xist activator RNF12/RLIM is present as a maternal factor, maternal Xist (Xm-Xist) is repressed during preimplantation phases to establish imprinted X-chromosome inactivation (XCI). Here we show, using a highly reproducible chromatin immunoprecipitation method that facilitates chromatin analysis of preimplantation embryos, that H3K9me3 is enriched at the Xist promoter region, preventing Xm-Xist activation by RNF12. The high levels of H3K9me3 at the Xist promoter region are lost in embryonic stem (ES) cells, and ES-cloned embryos show RNF12-dependent Xist expression. Moreover, lack of Xm-XCI in the trophectoderm, rather than loss of paternally expressed imprinted genes, is the primary cause of embryonic lethality in 70–80% of parthenogenotes immediately after implantation. This study reveals that H3K9me3 is involved in the imprinting that silences Xm-Xist. Our findings highlight the role of maternal-specific H3K9me3 modification in embryo development

Experimental study of the evaluation of liver function on the opposite side during portacaval anastomosis and ligation of the left portal branch

Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma is likely to accompany liver cirrhosis in which the portal pressure increases with portasystemic shunt. When portal tumor thrombus is present in the primary bifurcation, blood flow differs between the thrombolic lobe and the non-thrombolic lobe. In those cases, it is difficult to evaluate exactly residual liver function by conventional test. Therefore, the following studies were performed. Materials and Methods. Adult mongrel dogs are divided into a control group(Cgroup), group undergoing ligation of the left portal branch(PL group), group undergoing portacaval anastomosis (PCS group) and group undergoing both ligation of the left portal branch and portacaval anastomosis (PL+PCSgroup)(n=5). ICG-R15 andMEGX15 in peripheral venous blood and right hepatic venous blood were determined. Mitchondrial metabolic capacity (adenosine triphosphate level, energy charge)was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography using liver biopsied specimens. Results. The MEGX ratio (right hepatic venous blood MEGX15/peripheral venous blood MEGX 15) positively correlated with energy charge in the right hepatic lobe. Conclusions. In evaluating liver function of the right hepatic lobe during portacaval shunt and the left portal branch ligation, the MEGX ratio may sensitively reflect the mitochondrial function

Role of cyclooxygenase-2-mediated prostaglandin E2-prostaglandin E receptor 4 signaling in cardiac reprogramming

Direct cardiac reprogramming from fibroblasts can be a promising approach for disease modeling, drug screening, and cardiac regeneration in pediatric and adult patients. However, postnatal and adult fibroblasts are less efficient for reprogramming compared with embryonic fibroblasts, and barriers to cardiac reprogramming associated with aging remain undetermined. In this study, we screened 8400 chemical compounds and found that diclofenac sodium (diclofenac), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, greatly enhanced cardiac reprogramming in combination with Gata4, Mef2c, and Tbx5 (GMT) or GMT plus Hand2. Intriguingly, diclofenac promoted cardiac reprogramming in mouse postnatal and adult tail-tip fibroblasts (TTFs), but not in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Mechanistically, diclofenac enhanced cardiac reprogramming by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2, prostaglandin E2/prostaglandin E receptor 4, cyclic AMP/protein kinase A, and interleukin 1β signaling and by silencing inflammatory and fibroblast programs, which were activated in postnatal and adult TTFs. Thus, anti-inflammation represents a new target for cardiac reprogramming associated with aging

Can the liver with Gilbert's syndrome be used as graft of living-related liver transplantation?

Gilbert’s syndrome is the common cause of non hemolytic unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia with a prevalance of 3～7%. Gilbert’s syndrome may introduce a selection of potential liver donors from brain death patients. We present a case of living-related liver transplantation (LRLT) from a donor with Gilbert’s syndrome. A 22-year-old woman had been diagnosed as having liver cirrhosis at the age of 5. She underwent liver transplantation with the donor’s left lobe as the graft. The donor, who was the father of the patient, had been diagnosed with Gilbert’s syndrome. Although the recipient was well until 11 months after surgery, she died of subacute fulminant hepatitis 16 months after surgery. However, it was clear that the liver with Gilbert’s syndrome could be used as a graft of living-related liver transplantation for adult recipients

Disturbance in the protein landscape of cochlear perilymph in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model

Fukuda M., Okanishi H., Ino D., et al. (2024) Disturbance in the protein landscape of cochlear perilymph in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model. PLoS ONE 19, e0303375. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303375.Hearing loss is a pivotal risk factor for dementia. It has recently emerged that a disruption in the intercommunication between the cochlea and brain is a key process in the initiation and progression of this disease. However, whether the cochlear properties can be influenced by pathological signals associated with dementia remains unclear. In this study, using a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), we investigated the impacts of the AD-like amyloid β (Aβ) pathology in the brain on the cochlea. Despite little detectable change in the age-related shift of the hearing threshold, we observed quantitative and qualitative alterations in the protein profile in perilymph, an extracellular fluid that fills the path of sound waves in the cochlea. Our findings highlight the potential contribution of Aβ pathology in the brain to the disturbance of cochlear homeostasis

Effect of intermittent liver ischemia on outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma on liver cirrhosis

The influence on postoperative liver function of intermittent normothermic hepatic ischemia in cirrhotic patients was studied retrospectively. The mean total ischemia time was 88 (range30 - 140) minutes in the hemi-hepatic occlusion group, and68 (range 10 - 187) minutes in the total occlusion group. There were no operative deaths due to hepatic failure. Postoperative liver function improved within 1 week of the opera-tion. There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the groups. Thus normothermic hepatic ischemia is tolerated for up to 180minutes in the cirrhotic liver when an intermittent technique (15 minutes clamped and5 minutes unclamped) is used

ケッカクセイ キョウマクエン ノ シンダン ニオケル キョクショ マスイカ キョウコウキョウ ノ ユウヨウセイ ニ カンスル ケントウ

局所麻酔下胸腔鏡が施行され,胸膜生検検体にて乾酪性肉芽腫を認め,結核性胸膜炎と診断された症例の臨床的検討を行った.対象は,1999 年12 月から2011 年1 月までに局所麻酔下胸腔鏡により病理学的に診断された結核性胸膜炎32例.男性25例,女性7例.平均年齢62.8歳( 24〜89歳).右側胸水が14例,左側胸水が16 例,両側胸水が2 例.胸水リンパ球比率の平均は90.9%,胸水ADA の平均は69.1 IU/l であった.胸水のTb-PCR( tuberculosis-polymerase chain reaction) は全例で陰性,胸水抗酸菌培養は1例のみ陽性で,陽性率は極めて低値であった.胸腔鏡所見では,壁側胸膜のびまん性の白色小結節病変が最も多く19例( 59.4%)で認められ,胸膜肥厚や癒着,血管増生などの非特異的な所見も高率に認めた.胸膜生検検体の結核菌培養陽性率は約40%であった.結節病変を認めた例では,結節病変を認めなかった例と比較してより年齢が若く,発症から検査までの日数が有意に短かった.結核性胸膜炎の診断は,胸水穿刺だけでは診断効率が低く,局所麻酔下胸腔鏡を行うことにより診断効率は大きく向上し,内科医が施行できる安全性の高い極めて有用性の高い検査法といえる.We reviewed our patients with tuberculous pleurisy underwentmedical thoracoscopy. From December 1999 toJanuary 2011, 32 patients were diagnosed as having tuberculouspleurisy by pleural biopsy pathologically. The typicalthoracoscopic findings of tuberculous pleurisy such as diffusesmall white nodules on the parietal pleura were seen in23 cases (71.9 %). Non-specific pleural findings such asthickness on the pleura or adhesion were seen in 9 cases(22.2 %). In all these patients, pathological diagnoses of tuberculouspleurisy were made by pleural biopsies. Sincemedical thoracoscopy is useful for the diagnosis of tuberculouspleurisy, it is recommended as a diagnostic procedurefor cases with pleural effusion