Wavefront restoration from lateral shearing data using spectral interpolation.

Although a lateral-shear interferometer is robust against optical component vibrations, its interferogram provides information about differential wavefronts rather than the wavefronts themselves, resulting in the loss of specific frequency components. Previous studies have addressed this limitation by measuring four interferograms with different shear amounts to accurately restore the two-dimensional wavefront. This study proposes a technique that employs spectral interpolation to reduce the number of required interferograms. The proposed approach introduces an origin-shift technique for accurate spectral interpolation, which in turn is implemented by combining two methods: natural extension and least-squares determination of ambiguities in uniform biases. Numerical simulations confirmed that the proposed method accurately restored a two-dimensional wavefront from just two interferograms, thereby indicating its potential to address the limitations of the lateral-shear interferometer.

Acute Effects of Transdermal Administration of Jojoba Oil on Lipid Metabolism in Mice.

Background and objectives: Aroma therapy is a complementary therapy using essential oils diluted with carrier oils. Jojoba oils have been widely used as carrier oils. However, limited information is available regarding their effects on blood biochemical parameters. This study aimed to investigate the effect of transdermal administration of jojoba oil on blood biochemical parameters in mice. Materials and Methods: Eight-week-old male hairless mice were randomly divided into naïve control and treatment groups. In the treatment group, mice were topically administered 4 µL of jojoba oil, per gram of body weight, on the dorsa 30 min before euthanasia. Thereafter, serum biochemical parameters were assayed, and gene expression was analyzed in various tissues via a real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels increased significantly 30 min after topical application of jojoba oil (p < 0.05). Atgl was significantly upregulated in the liver (p < 0.05), and Atgl upregulation in the liver was positively correlated with serum NEFA levels (r = 0.592, p < 0.05). Furthermore, a trend of decreasing fatty acid trafficking-related gene (FABPpm, FATP-1, FATP-3, and FATP-4) expression in the skin after topical application of jojoba oil (p = 0.067, 0.074, 0.076, and 0.082, respectively) was observed. Conclusions: Serum NEFA levels were elevated 30 min after transdermal administration of jojoba oil. The mechanisms of elevated serum NEFA levels might be related to both enhanced lipolysis in the liver and reduced fatty acid trafficking in the skin.

Limited efficacy of low-dose dexamethasone for the treatment of severe COVID-19 pneumonia: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Its symptoms range from mild to severe, with the latter often being life-threatening. This study aims to assess the effects of low-dose dexamethasone (DEX) in mild-to-severe COVID-19 pneumonia and examine the final clinical outcomes to identify the optimal therapeutic dose. METHODS: Clinical data from 132 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia between January and October 2021 at Yamato Municipal Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Based on the ratio of peripheral arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) to inspired fraction of oxygen (FiO2), patients were categorized into the mild (>450, n = 65), moderate (315-450, n = 55), and severe (<315, n = 12) pneumonia groups. The event of interest was defined as the worsening of the patient's condition during treatment (need to increase FiO2 > 0.1). Patients were treated with low-dose DEX (6.6 mg/day) for 10 days. RESULTS: The event-free survival rate decreased significantly in patients with severe pneumonia compared with in those with mild and moderate pneumonia (Bonferroni-adjusted p < 0.02). A total of 16 patients were treated with high-dose corticosteroids because of severe hypoxia. Recovery was observed in all discharged patients with respiratory condition improvement. Low SpO2/FiO2 at admission was significantly associated with serum C-reactive protein levels. CONCLUSIONS: For Japanese patients with COVID-19, severe pneumonia, and SpO2/FiO2 of <315, it may be necessary to administer a dose of corticosteroids of >6.6 mg DEX.

The clinical impact of comorbidities among patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis undergoing anti-fibrotic treatment: A multicenter retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Among patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), few studies have investigated the clinical impact of anti-fibrotic treatment (AFT) with and without comorbidities. The aim of the study was to determine whether Charlson Comorbidity Index score (CCIS) can predict the efficacy of AFT in patients with IPF. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed data extracted from the medical records of IPF patients who received anti-fibrotic agents between 2009 and 2019. The collected data included age, sex, CCIS, pulmonary function test, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) pattern, gender/age/physiology (GAP) score, and 3-year IPF-related events defined as the first acute exacerbation or death within 3 years after starting AFT. RESULTS: We assessed 130 patients (median age, 74 years) who received nintedanib (n = 70) or pirfenidone (n = 60). Median duration of AFT was 425 days. Patients were categorized into high (≥ 3 points) and low (≤ 2 points) CCIS groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of age, sex, duration of AFT, GAP score, or incidence of usual interstitial pneumonia pattern on HRCT except percentage predicted diffusion capacity of lung for carbon monoxide. Also, significant difference was not seen between the groups for 3-year IPF-related events (P = 0.75). Especially, in the low CCIS group but not the high CCIS group, the longer duration of AFT had better disease outcome. CONCLUSION: In the present study, we could not show any relation between CCIS and IPF disease outcomes in patients undergoing AFT, though the longer duration of AFT might be beneficial for IPF outcomes among patients with low CCIS.

Cardiovascular Protective Effects of Polyphenols Contained in Passion Fruit Seeds Namely Piceatannol and Scirpusin B: A Review.

Cardiovascular disease is a global health problem. According to the World Health Organization, ischemic heart disease was the leading cause of death globally in 2019, followed by stroke. The French paradox, which has been known since the early 1990s, describes the lower incidence of ischemic heart disease in French people despite the consumption of a diet rich in saturated fatty acids. This phenomenon has been attributed to the high intake of red wine, which is rich in polyphenols, namely, resveratrol and piceatannol. It is becoming clear that scirpusin B, a dimer of piceatannol, has anti-atherosclerotic properties such as vasodilation, antioxidant effects, and suppression of postprandial hyperglycemia; nonetheless, the effects of scirpusin B on the cardiovascular system have not been fully elucidated. This review aimed to describe the cardiovascular effects of piceatannol and scirpusin B on aortic and coronary artery dilation and cardiac function and to outline the cardiovascular effects of prostacyclin and nitric oxide, as these substances are involved in the vasodilatory effects exerted by these polyphenols.

Nurses' Perceived Problems and Need for Torches During Nighttime Nursing Rounds: A Content Analysis of Semi-Structured Interviews.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to clarify the risks, as perceived by ward nurses, associated with the quality of lighting nurses use during nighttime rounds, and to identify the torch functions nurses need to optimally perform such rounds. METHODS: A semi-structured interview survey was conducted among nurses working in a university hospital. Data were collected regarding nurses' usage of torches during nighttime rounds and whether the color cast by the torches impacts their work efficiency and the risk of medical incidents. Narrative data obtained during the interviews were analyzed using Belerson's method of content analysis. RESULTS: Sixteen nurses participated in this study. Thereupon, 25 categories and 83 subcategories were identified regarding the impact of torchlight on nursing during nighttime rounds, and 10 categories and 38 subcategories were identified regarding the torch functions needed to optimally perform nighttime rounds. The needs included , , , and . CONCLUSIONS: To reduce the risk of medical incidents during nighttime nursing rounds, the use of white-light torches with sufficient brightness and high color rendering is recommended.

The Fab fragment of a novel anti-GPVI monoclonal antibody, OM4, reduces in vivo thrombosis without bleeding risk in rats.

BACKGROUND: Inhibition of GPVI has been proposed as a useful antithrombotic strategy; however, in vivo proof-of-concept animal studies targeting GPVI are lacking. We evaluated a novel anti-human GPVI monoclonal antibody OM4 Fab in rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: OM4 Fab specifically inhibited collagen-induced aggregation of rat platelets in vitro with an IC50 of 20 to 30 microg/mL but not ADP and AA-induced platelet aggregation. After intravenous administration of OM4 Fab, a rapid inhibition of ex vivo platelet aggregation was observed with a gradual recovery within 60 to 90 minutes which corresponded to the decline in OM4 Fab plasma concentration and time-dependent decrease in platelet-bound OM4 Fab. In contrast to previous reports in mice, intravenous OM4 Fab did not deplete platelet GPVI. Injection of OM4 IgG caused acute thrombocytopenia. In a modified Folts model of cyclic flow reduction in rat carotid artery, the number of complete occlusions was significantly reduced by intravenous administration of OM4 Fab (20 mg/kg) before or after mechanical injury to the vessel, without prolongation of bleeding time. CONCLUSION: Fab fragment of the monoclonal antibody OM4 effectively inhibits collagen induced platelet aggregation in vitro and ex vivo, and in vivo thrombosis in rats without prolonging bleeding time. Antibodies against GPVI may have therapeutic potential, inhibiting thrombosis without prolonging bleeding time.

[Case of pneumothorax associated with pulmonary Mycobacterium fortuitum infection].

A 39-year-old man with dyspnea was revealed to have severe pneumothorax and received partial resection of the left upper lobe after unsuccessful drainage. Necrotizing epitheloid granuloma was found in the resected lung and Mycobacterium fortuitum was detected from the lesion. Chemotherapy with levofloxacin and clarithromycin was started one year after surgery because of the newly found nodular shadow near the lesion. The case experienced pyothorax due to pulmonary tuberculosis three years before and Mycobacterium avium pleuritis one year before this episode. Three-time mycobacterial pleural infection in three years seems to be uncommon. Furthermore this is the first report of pneumothorax associated with pulmonary Mycobacterium fortuitum infection.

[Clinical features of pulmonary disease caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum].

We analyzed clinical and microbiological features of six cases involving Mycobacterium fortuitum isolated from sputum or surgical lung specimen. Patients were five men and one woman with an average age of 59. Four cases had a history of pulmonary tuberculosis and three had nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease. Three out of six cases had underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Diabetes mellitus was complicated in five cases. All diseases were in the upper lobes of either lung. Clinical symptoms were mainly cough and sputum, while two cases developed pneumothorax. Although all strains showed low sensitivity to standard anti-tuberculous agents, chemotherapy including those drugs or fluoroquinolones and macrolides were successful in all treated cases.

[Clinical features of chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis treated with voriconazole in patients with chronic respiratory disease].

We analyzed clinical features of chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis (CNPA) in patients with underlying chronic respiratory disease, and evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of voriconazole against CNPA in those patients. Voriconazole therapy was indicated in 45 CNPA patients between October 2005 and September 2007, in 23 patients as first-line treatment and in 22 after lack of response to or intolerance of prior antifungal agent. The most common underlying respiratory disease was sequelae of tuberculosis (n = 23) followed by COPD (n = 13). Cavitary lesions were found in 32 patients. Galactomannan antigen test was positive in 29 patients while 28 patients out of 36 were positive for anti-Aspergillus serum antibody. The antibody-negative group had significantly higher levels of galactomannan antigen than the antibody-positive group. Mycological culture or hyphae were positive in 15 patients. Beta-D glucan level was within the normal limit in 27 patients. Clinical, radiological improvement, or both was obtained in 30 patients after an average voriconazole treatment of 4.8 months, with the main adverse effects being visual disturbance and hepatotoxicity. During the observation period 14 patients died due to CNPA or other causes. Although voriconazole demonstrated good efficacy against CNPA, the outcome is still unsatisfactory.

[Four cases of pulmonary infection due to Mycobacterium szulgai with a review of previous case reports in Japan].

We report 4 cases of pulmonary infection due to Mycobacterium szulgai with review of 23 cases previously reported in Japan. All 4 patients were male and two of them in their 20's were found to have abnormal chest X-ray findings recognized on a health checkup without any symptoms. One case had no previous history of illness and had never smoked. Radiographic study showed thick-walled cavities in 3 cases and multiple small nodules in 2, indicating the difficulty of distinguishing M. szulgai infection from pulmonary tuberculosis or M. kansasii infection. Three cases were treated as pulmonary tuberculosis at first, and later we changed the medication referring to the drug susceptibility. In most cases, rifampicin, ethionamide and ethanbutol were used and the medication regimen was successfully completed in all cases. Considering that the detected M. szulgai could be regarded as pathogen in almost all cases, it is important to evaluate the risk factor of patients and not to delay diagnosis and treatment with adhering to usual diagnostic criteria.

[A case of lung adenocarcinoma with gradual enlargement of thin-walled cavity causing pneumothorax].

A 71-year-old man presented with a thin-walled cavity in his left lung in November 2006. A previous chest CT in 2003 showed a small thin-walled cavity in his left lingula. Although no obvious change was observed in 2004, the cavity increased its size from 11mm to 14mm in diameter and the wall became thicker in June 2006. On the first visit to our hospital in November 2006, the diameter of the cavity was 30mm and some part of the wall was thinner than on the previous CT. The patient developed pneumothorax one month later and underwent segmentectomy of the left lingula after unsuccessful thoracic drainage. Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma was identified in both the pleura and the inner wall around the cavity. Lung adenocarcinoma with gradual enlargement of a thin-walled cavity causing pneumothorax has never been reported before. We report here the natural course of lung adenocarcinoma with a thin-walled cavity.

Highly potent anti-human GPVI monoclonal antibodies derived from GPVI knockout mouse immunization.

Recent progress in the understanding of thrombus formation has suggested an important role for glycoprotein (GP) VI in this process. To clarify the exact role in detail, it is necessary to use specific, high affinity inhibitory antibodies. However, possibly due to the conserved structure of GPVI among species, it has been difficult to obtain potent antibodies. In this study, we developed highly potent anti-human GPVI monoclonal antibodies using GPVI knockout mice for immunization. Fab fragments of these antibodies, named OM1 and OM2, potently inhibit collagen-induced platelet aggregation. The IC(50) values for OM1 and OM2 are 0.6+/-0.05 and 1.7+/-0.5 microg/mL, respectively, showing potency greater than, or equal to that of abciximab (1.7+/-0.3 microg/mL), an anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody. Fab fragments of OM1 and OM2 also potently inhibit collagen-induced ATP release, thromboxane A(2) formation, and platelet adhesion to immobilized collagen under static and flow conditions. Interestingly, platelet aggregation induced with collagen-related peptide was potently inhibited by OM2 but not OM1, indicating that OM1 recognizes an epitope that is different from collagen-related peptide-binding site on GPVI. These results suggest that OM1 and OM2 may be useful tools to understand the role of GPVI in thrombus formation. Furthermore, these antibodies have the potential to be developed as a new class of therapeutic tool.

Efficacy of Kaempferia parviflora in a mouse model of obesity-induced dermatopathy.

Obesity results from excessive energy intake and physical inactivity, and predisposes one to various diseases. One of these reasons is that enlargement of adipocytes raises the lipid metabolic abnormalities that affect various organs. The skin is one such organ, and it has been reported that subcutaneous adipocyte cells secrete various factors and these factors are involved in reduction of dermal collagen fibers and fragility of the skin in obesity. The present study explored the efficacy of Kaempferia parviflora (KP) in preventing obesity-induced dermatopathy. We used Tsumura Suzuki obese diabetes (TSOD) mice as an obesity model. TSOD mice were fed a standard diet (MF) mixed with either an ethanol extract from KP (KPE), polymethoxyflavonoid-rich extract from KP (PMF), or polymethoxyflavonoid-poor extract from KP (X). We then evaluated the effect of these three KP fractions on aging-like skin damage induced by UVB irradiation. KPE and PMF caused a significant decrease of mouse body weight, and suppressed the increase in the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer. In addition, KPE shifted the frequency of subcutaneous adipocyte sizes towards smaller cells possibly via its polypharmacological actions. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the stereostructure of the collagenous fibers in the dermis was better retained in the KPE and PMF groups, in that order. These results offer the first evidence that KPE can attenuate obesity-induced dermatopathy more effectively than PMF, suggesting that KPE (or KP) might be a candidate supplement for preventing obesity-related skin disorders.

Ex vivo evaluation of anti-GPVI antibody in cynomolgus monkeys: dissociation between anti-platelet aggregatory effect and bleeding time.

Recent progress in the understanding of thrombus formation has suggested an important role of glycoprotein (GP)VI. In contrast to its pivotal role in collagen-induced platelet activation, it has been suggested that its blockade does not induce massive bleeding tendency. To demonstrate the dissociation between inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation and bleeding by GPVI blockade, we examined the effects of Fab fragment of OM2, an anti-human GPVI monoclonal antibody on ex vivo collagen-induced platelet aggregation and skin bleeding time after intravenous injection in cynomolgus monkeys. In a dose-escalation study, OM2 potently (> 80%) inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation at the cumulative dose of 0.2 mg/kg with a slight prolongation of bleeding time (1.3 times baseline value). Furthermore, at 18.8 mg/kg, the highest dose tested, prolongation of bleeding time was still mild (1.9 times). In contrast, abciximab, Fab fragment of anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody prolonged bleeding time by 5.0 times at 0.35 mg/kg, the lowest effective dose on platelet aggregation. In a pharmacodynamic study, a bolus injection of OM2 at 0.4 mg/kg produced potent inhibition of collagen-induced aggregation up to six hours after injection, showing longer half-life than that of abciximab. The injection of OM2 Fab did not induce thrombocytopenia and GPVI depletion in monkeys. These results suggest that blockade of GPVI by antibody can exert a potent inhibitory effect on collagen-induced platelet aggregation with a milder prolongation of bleeding time than blockade of GPIIb/IIIa. This study indicates that OM2 has the potential to be developed as a new class of therapeutic tool.

Genotoxic damage in female residents exposed to environmental air pollution in Shenyang city, China.

Air pollution has been suggested to cause genetic damage from investigations of many biological markers that measure cytogenetic damage in humans. Here, we evaluated the genotoxic effects of ambient air pollution by investigating the extent of cytogenetic damage in human blood lymphocytes from rural and industrial female residents of Shenyang city, China, using micronuclei assays and polymorphic analyses of metabolic enzyme and DNA repair genes. After adjustment for potential confounding factors including DNA polymorphisms, industrial female residents were found to have a higher micronuclei frequency. These results provide evidence that micronuclei assays are a sensitive indicator to air pollution-induced genotoxic effects in humans.

GPVI-deficient mice lack collagen responses and are protected against experimentally induced pulmonary thromboembolism.

Platelet glycoprotein VI (GPVI) is now considered to be a major player in platelet-collagen adhesive interactions leading to thrombus formation. GPVI blockade, or its depletion, has been shown in mice to result in complete protection against arterial thrombosis, without significant prolongation of bleeding time. GPVI may therefore represent a useful antithrombotic target. In order to reaffirm the role of GPVI in platelet-collagen interactions, we developed GPVI(null) mice by targeted disruption methodology. GPVI(null) mice platelets failed to respond to a high dose of fibrillar collagen, or convulxin, a GPVI agonist, but showed a normal response to other agonists such as ADP, PMA and arachidonic acid. We report, for the first time, that a proportion of GPVI(null) mice is protected against lethal thromboembolism, induced by the infusion of a mixture of collagen and epinephrine. Greater than 55% of GPVI(null) mice survived the challenge, whereas the maximal survival from the other genotypes was 17% (n=18 per genotype). Washed platelets obtained from GPVI(null) mice showed >90% reduction in adhesion to fibrillar collagen under static conditions. Platelet adhesion to collagen under dynamic conditions using a high shear rate (2600 s(-1)) was dramatically reduced using blood from GPVI(null) mice, while platelets from wild-type and heterozygous animals showed a similar amount of adhesion. Animals from each genotype had essentially similar tail bleeding time, suggesting that a complete deficiency of GPVI, at least in mice, does not result in an enhanced bleeding tendency. These observations clearly establish that blockade of GPVI may attenuate platelet-collagen interactions without adversely affecting the bleeding time.

CYP1A1 inducing potential of airborne particulate extracts collected during a 25-year period (1975-2000).

Samples of airborne particles from Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, Japan, were collected between 1975 and 2000. Major polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) included in the extracts of airborne particles were investigated for their mutagenicity and potential for inducing drug-metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A1, which is considered to be responsible for the activation of PAHs in airborne particle extracts, as well as in cigarette smoke, to carcinogens and is associated with risk of several cancers. There was a dose-related increase in CYP1A1 activity in human lymphoblastoid cells after exposure to airborne particulates containing PAHs. The mutagenicity of the airborne particles collected in summer was lowest and for those collected in spring was lower than in autumn or winter. Likewise, the winter sample had the strongest CYP1A1 inducing potential while the summer sample had the weakest. CYP1A1 inducing potency was strongly related to the amount of benzo(k)fluorathene (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (gamma) = 0.97), benzo[a]pyrene g = 0.96), benzo[g,h,i]perylene (gamma = 0.94), benz[a]anthracene (g = 0.93), chrysene (gamma = 0.93) in the extracts during the 25-year period, while the enzyme activity was measurably related to the amount of pyrene (gamma = 0.64) and fluorathene (gamma = 0.54). During the 25-year period, CYP1A1 inducing potential decreased every year together with a decrease in PAHs in the airborne particle extracts. CYP1A1 inducing potential may be one of the most convenient biomarkers with which to estimate the overall carcinogenicity/mutagenicity of airborne particle extracts.

[A case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by inhalation of Mycobacterium avium from a home bath with a circulating water system].

A 26-year-old man presented with complaints of exertional dyspnea and cough. The patient has already been given corticosteroids at a previous hospital. Chest CT revealed small centrilobular nodules with diffuse ground-glass opacities in both lungs. Lung biopsy specimens at thoracoscopy revealed non-necrotizing granulomas, patchy foci of mononuclear cell infiltration and fibrous thickening of alveolar septa, and Masson's bodies in bronchioles. Sputum culture showed the growth of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). Culture of water from the bath tub of his home showed MAC. Administration of antituberculous drugs and corticosteroids, and avoidance of bathing at home resulted in the improvement of his symptoms and CT findings. We believe the case is hypersensitivity pneumonitis to MAC in an immunocompetent patient, simulating hot tub lung. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by MAC is rare in Japan.