Factors that predict in-hospital mortality in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare systemic small-vessel vasculitis associated with asthma, eosinophilia, and necrotizing vasculitis. EGPA is potentially life-threatening and often involves peripheral neuropathies, peptic ulcers, cerebral vessel disease, and cardiovascular disease. However, there is limited understanding of the prognostics factors for patients with EGPA. We investigated the clinical features and factors affecting patients' in-hospital mortality, using a national inpatient database in Japan. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data of EGPA patients who required hospitalization between July 2010 and March 2013, using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database. We evaluated EGPA patients' characteristics and performed multivariate logistic regression analyses to assess the factors associated with in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: A total of 2195 EGPA patients were identified. The mean age was 61.9 years, 42.1% (924/2195) were male, and 41.6% (914/2195) had emergent admission. In-hospital deaths occurred in 97/2195 patients (4.4%). Higher in-hospital mortality was associated with age older than 65 years, disturbance of consciousness on admission, unscheduled admission, respiratory disease, cardio-cerebrovascular disease, renal disease, sepsis, and malignant disease on admission. Lower mortality was associated with female gender and peripheral neuropathies. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed the clinical features of EGPA patients who required hospitalization and the factors associated with their mortality. These results may be useful for physicians when assessing disease severity or treatments for hospitalized EGPA patients.

Using AnnAGNPS to Predict the Effects of Tile Drainage Control on Nutrient and Sediment Loads for a River Basin.

Controlled tile drainage (CTD) can reduce pollutant loading. The Annualized Agricultural Nonpoint Source model (AnnAGNPS version 5.2) was used to examine changes in growing season discharge, sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus loads due to CTD for a ∼3900-km agriculturally dominated river basin in Ontario, Canada. Two tile drain depth scenarios were examined in detail to mimic tile drainage control for flat cropland: 600 mm depth (CTD) and 200 mm (CTD) depth below surface. Summed for five growing seasons (CTD), direct runoff, total N, and dissolved N were reduced by 6.6, 3.5, and 13.7%, respectively. However, five seasons of summed total P, dissolved P, and total suspended solid loads increased as a result of CTD by 0.96, 1.6, and 0.23%. The AnnAGNPS results were compared with mass fluxes observed from paired experimental watersheds (250, 470 ha) in the river basin. The "test" experimental watershed was dominated by CTD and the "reference" watershed by free drainage. Notwithstanding environmental/land use differences between the watersheds and basin, comparisons of seasonal observed and predicted discharge reductions were comparable in 100% of respective cases. Nutrient load comparisons were more consistent for dissolved, relative to particulate water quality endpoints. For one season under corn crop production, AnnAGNPS predicted a 55% decrease (CTD) in dissolved N from the basin. AnnAGNPS v. 5.2 treats P transport from a surface pool perspective, which is appropriate for many systems. However, for assessment of tile drainage management practices for relatively flat tile-dominated systems, AnnAGNPS may benefit from consideration of P and particulate transport in the subsurface.

Long-Term Observations of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Export in Paired-Agricultural Watersheds under Controlled and Conventional Tile Drainage.

Controlled tile drainage (CTD) regulates water and nutrient export from tile drainage systems. Observations of the effects of CTD imposed en masse at watershed scales are needed to determine the effect on downstream receptors. A paired-watershed approach was used to evaluate the effect of field-to-field CTD at the watershed scale on fluxes and flow-weighted mean concentrations (FWMCs) of N and P during multiple growing seasons. One watershed (467-ha catchment area) was under CTD management (treatment [CTD] watershed); the other (250-ha catchment area) had freely draining or uncontrolled tile drainage (UCTD) (reference [UCTD] watershed). The paired agricultural watersheds are located in eastern Ontario, Canada. Analysis of covariance and paired tests were used to assess daily fluxes and FWMCs during a calibration period when CTD intervention on the treatment watershed was minimal (2005-2006, when only 4-10% of the tile-drained area was under CTD) and a treatment period when the treatment (CTD) watershed had prolific CTD intervention (2007-2011 when 82% of tile drained fields were controlled, occupying >70% of catchment area). Significant linear regression slope changes assessed using ANCOVA ( ≤ 0.1) for daily fluxes from upstream and downstream monitoring sites pooled by calibration and treatment period were -0.06 and -0.20 (stream water) (negative values represent flux declines in CTD watershed), -0.59 and -0.77 (NH-N), -0.14 and -0.15 (NO-N), -1.77 and -2.10 (dissolved reactive P), and -0.28 and 0.45 (total P). Total P results for one site comparison contrasted with other findings likely due to unknown in-stream processes affecting total P loading, not efficacy of CTD. The FWMC results were mixed and inconclusive but suggest physical abatement by CTD is the means by which nutrient fluxes are predominantly reduced at these scales. Overall, our study results indicate that CTD is an effective practice for reducing watershed scale fluxes of stream water, N, and P during the growing season.

Rainfall-induced runoff from exposed streambed sediments: an important source of water pollution.

When surface water levels decline, exposed streambed sediments can be mobilized and washed into the water course when subjected to erosive rainfall. In this study, rainfall simulations were conducted over exposed sediments along stream banks at four distinct locations in an agriculturally dominated river basin with the objective of quantifying the potential for contaminant loading from these often overlooked runoff source areas. At each location, simulations were performed at three different sites. Nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment, fecal indicator bacteria, pathogenic bacteria, and microbial source tracking (MST) markers were examined in both prerainfall sediments and rainfall-induced runoff water. Runoff generation and sediment mobilization occurred quickly (10-150 s) after rainfall initiation. Temporal trends in runoff concentrations were highly variable within and between locations. Total runoff event loads were considered large for many pollutants considered. For instance, the maximum observed total phosphorus runoff load was on the order of 1.5 kg ha. Results also demonstrate that runoff from exposed sediments can be a source of pathogenic bacteria. spp. and spp. were present in runoff from one and three locations, respectively. Ruminant MST markers were also present in runoff from two locations, one of which hosted pasturing cattle with stream access. Overall, this study demonstrated that rainfall-induced runoff from exposed streambed sediments can be an important source of surface water pollution.

Combined impacts of future climate and land use changes on discharge, nitrogen and phosphorus loads for a Canadian river basin.

Both climate and land use changes can influence water quality and quantity in different ways. Thus, for predicting future water quality and quantity trends, simulations should ideally account for both projected climate and land use changes. In this paper, land use projections and climate change scenarios were integrated with a hydrological model to estimate the relative impact of climate and land use projections on a suite of water quality and quantity endpoints for a Canadian watershed. Climatic time series representing SRES change scenario A2 were generated by downscaling the outputs of the Canadian Regional Climate Model (version 4.1.1) using a combination of quantile-quantile transformation and nearest neighbor search. The SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model was used to simulate streamflow, nitrogen and phosphorus loading under different climate and land use scenarios. Results showed that a) climate change will drive up maximum monthly streamflow, nitrate loads, and organic phosphorus loads, while decreasing organic nitrogen and nitrite loads; and b) land use changes were found to drive the same water quality/quantity variables in the same direction as climate change, except for organic nitrogen loads, for which the effects of the two stressors had a reverse impact on loading.

Comprehensive nitrogen budgets for controlled tile drainage fields in eastern ontario, Canada.

Excessive N loading from subsurface tile drainage has been linked to water quality degradation. Controlled tile drainage (CTD) has the potential to reduce N losses via tile drainage and boost crop yields. While CTD can reduce N loss from tile drainage, it may increase losses through other pathways. A multiple-year field-scale accounting of major N inputs and outputs during the cropping season was conducted on freely drained and controlled tile drained agricultural fields under corn ( L.)-soybean [ (L.) Merr.] production systems in eastern Ontario, Canada. Greater predicted gaseous N emissions for corn and soybean and greater observed lateral seepage N losses were observed for corn and soybean fields under CTD relative to free-draining fields. However, observed N losses from tile were significantly lower for CTD fields, in relation to freely drained fields. Changes in residual soil N were essentially equivalent between drainage treatments, while mass balance residual terms were systematically negative (slightly more so for CTD). Increases in plant N uptake associated with CTD were observed, probably resulting in higher grain yields for corn and soybean. This study illustrates the benefits of CTD in decreasing subsurface tile drainage N losses and boosting crop yields, while demonstrating the potential for CTD to increase N losses via other pathways related to gaseous emissions and groundwater seepage.

Measuring and modeling the effects of drainage water management on soil greenhouse gas fluxes from corn and soybean fields.

Controlled tile drainage can boost crop yields and improve water quality, but it also has the potential to increase GHG emissions. This study compared in-situ chamber-based measures of soil CH4, N2O, and CO2 fluxes for silt loam soil under corn and soybean cropping with conventional tile drainage (UTD) and controlled tile drainage (CTD). A semi-empirical model (NEMIS-NOE) was also used to predict soil N2O fluxes from soils using observed soil data. Observed N2O and CH4 fluxes between UTD and CTD fields during the farming season were not significantly different at 0.05 level. Soils were primarily a sink for CH4 but in some cases a source (sources were associated exclusively with CTD). The average N2O fluxes measured ranged between 0.003 and 0.028 kg N ha(-1) day(-1). There were some significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) CO2 fluxes associated with CTD relative to UTD during some years of study. Correlation analyses indicated that the shallower the water table, the greater the CO2 fluxes. Higher corn plant C for CTD tended to offset estimated higher CTD CO2 C losses via soil respiration by ∼100-300 kg C ha(-1). There were good fits between observed and predicted (NEMIS-NOE) N2O fluxes for corn (R(2) = 0.70) and soybean (R(2) = 0.53). Predicted N2O fluxes were higher for CTD for approximately 70% of the paired-field study periods suggesting that soil physical factors, such as water-filled pore space, imposed by CTD have potentially strong impacts on net N fluxes. Model predictions of daily cumulative N2O fluxes for the agronomically-active study period for corn-CTD and corn-UTD, as a percentage of total N fertilizer applied, were 3.1% and 2.6%, respectively. For predicted N2O fluxes on basis of yield units, indices were 0.0005 and 0.0004 (kg N kg(-1) crop grain yield) for CTD and UTD corn fields, respectively, and 0.0011 and 0.0005 for CTD and UTD soybean fields, respectively.

Impact of riparian zone protection from cattle on nutrient, bacteria, F-coliphage, and loading of an intermittent stream.

This 5-yr study compared, via an upstream-downstream experimental design, nutrient and microbial water quality of an intermittent stream running through a small pasture (∼2.5 animals ha) where cattle are restricted from the riparian zone (restricted cattle access [RCA]) and where cattle have unrestricted access to the stream (unrestricted cattle access [URCA]). Fencing in the RCA excluded pasturing cattle to within ∼3 to 5 m of the stream. Approximately 88% (26/32) of all comparisons of mean contaminant load reduction for lower, higher, and all stream flow conditions during the 5-yr study indicated net contaminant load reductions in the RCA; for the URCA, this percentage was 38% (12/32). For all flow conditions, mean percent load reductions in the RCA for nutrients and bacteria plus F-coliphage were 24 and 23%, respectively. These respective percentages for the URCA were -9 and -57% (positive values are reductions; negative values are increases). However, potentially as a result of protected wildlife habitat in the RCA, the mean percent load reduction for for "all flow" was -321% for the RCA and 60% for the URCA; for , these respective percentages were -209% (RCA) and 73% (URCA). For "all flow" situations, mean load reductions for the RCA were significantly greater ( < 0.1) than those from the URCA for NH-N, dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), total coliform, , and . For "high flow" situations, mean load reductions were significantly greater for the RCA for DRP, total coliform, and . For "low flow" conditions, significantly greater mean load reductions were in favor of the RCA for DRP, total P, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, , and . In no case were mean pollutant loads in the URCA significantly higher than RCA pollutant loads. Restricting pasturing livestock to within 3 to 5 m of intermittent streams can improve water quality; however, water quality impairment can occur if livestock have unrestricted access to a stream.

Do reductions in agricultural field drainage during the growing season impact bacterial densities and loads in small tile-fed watersheds?

Predicting bacterial levels in watersheds in response to agricultural beneficial management practices (BMPs) requires understanding the germane processes at both the watershed and field scale. Controlling subsurface tile drainage (CTD) is a highly effective BMP at reducing nutrient losses from fields, and watersheds when employed en masse, but little work has been conducted on CTD effects on bacterial loads and densities in a watershed context. This study compared fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) [E. coli, Enterococcus, Fecal coliform, Total coliform, Clostridium perfringens] densities and unit area loads (UAL) from a pair of flat tile-drained watersheds (∼250-467 ha catchment areas) during the growing season over a 10-year monitoring period, using a before-after-control-impact (BACI) design (i.e., test CTD watershed vs. reference uncontrolled tile drainage (UCTD) watershed during a pre CTD intervention period and a CTD-intervention period where the test CTD watershed had CTD deployed on over 80% of the fields). With no tile drainage management, upstream tile drainage to ditches comprised ∼90% of total ditch discharge. We also examined FIB loads from a subset of tile drained fields to determine field load contributions to the watershed drainage ditches. Statistical evidence of a CTD effect on FIB UAL in the surface water systems was not strong; however, there was statistical evidence of increased FIB densities [pronounced when E. coli >200 most probable number (MPN) 100 mL-1] in the test CTD watershed during the CTD-intervention period. This was likely a result of reduced dilution/flushing in the test CTD watershed ditch due to CTD significantly decreasing the amount of tile drainage water entering the surface water system. Tile E. coli load contributions to the ditches were low; for example, during the 6-yr CTD-intervention period they amounted to on average only ∼3 and ∼9% of the ditch loads for the test CTD and reference UCTD watersheds, respectively. This suggests in-stream, or off-field FIB reservoirs and bacteria mobilization drivers, dominated ditch E. coli loads in the watersheds during the growing season. Overall, this study suggested that decision making regarding deployment of CTD en masse in tile-fed watersheds should consider drainage practice effects on bacterial densities and loads, as well as CTD's documented capacity to boost crop yields and reduce seasonal nutrient pollution.

HIV infection of megakaryocytic cell lines.

Thrombocytopenia is a common hematologic disorder in HIV infection and occurs in both asymptomatic and AIDS patients. An autoimmune mechanism has been postulated for the platelet destruction associated with some forms of thrombocytopenia. However, recent studies revealed that megakaryocytes are susceptible to HIV infection and suggested the possibility that HIV can directly impair the platelet production from megakaryocytes. This study was designed to characterize the HIV receptor expression in megakaryocytic cells and the responsiveness to HIV infection. Four different megakaryocytic cell lines at different stages of differentiation were established from the peripheral blood of different individuals with hematologic malignancies. CMK and CMY cells (differentiated cell lines) expressed CD4, but CMS and CTS cells (poorly differentiated cell lines) did not. The HIV coreceptor CXCR4 was also expressed in CMY and CMK cells. HIV-1 (HTLV-IIIB) replicated in CMY cells persistently but not in other three cell lines. CMY cells as well as CMK cells were also susceptible to the lytic infection of HIV-2 (LAV2). Pretreatment of the CMY cells with anti-CD4 antibody inhibited the infection by both HIV-1 and HIV-2. Our results indicate that mature megakaryocytic cells express CD4 along with HIV coreceptors and are susceptible to HIV infection.

Induction of polyploidization in the human erythroleukemia cell line (HEL) by protein kinase inhibitor (K252a) and the phorbol-ester TPA.

Endomitosis (polyploidization) is a distinctive feature of megakaryocyte differentiation. We examined this mechanism in an erythromegakaryocytic cell line, HEL, using a protein kinase inhibitor K252a or a phorbol-ester TPA. HEL cells treated with K252a showed a marked increase in the proportion of CD41 positive cells and polyploid cells as well as in cellular size and nuclear size. TPA showed similar results but induced multi-nucleation instead of enlargement of nuclear size. K252a added at the G1/S boundary phase did not inhibit the first and second round DNA synthesis, but inhibited cell division. K252a did not inhibit the expression of genes involved in mitosis such as cyclin B, cdc25B and cdc2, in the first round S phase. However, the cyclin B associated Cdc2 kinase activity needed for mitosis during the G2/M phase was reduced by K252a. TPA delayed DNA synthesis and expression of these genes, and suppressed Cdc2 kinase activity in the second round G2/M phase. These results suggest that the polyploidization induced by K252a results from inhibiting mitosis possibly caused by suppression of Cdc2 kinase activity. TPA may induce the multi-nucleation through a different mechanism.

Comparative study on the mechanical property of silk thread from cocoons of Bombyx mori L.

Specimens of bave (undegummed silk thread) were collected from cocoons of various origins of parent silkworm races, such as Japanese, Chinese, European, Korean and tropical origins, and from as many races as possible. An apparatus was set up to measure the dynamic elastic modulus of these specimens. In all the categories of the races tested, the elastic modulus was linearly related to the size of bave, regardless of the portion of cocoon layer from which the specimens were taken. This correlation was concluded to be universal to the silk thread of Bombyx mori L. species; however, values of the regression coefficient and of the elastic modulus were susceptible to the origin of silkworm races, depending on whether they were native or improved.

Quantitative morphology of dermal elastic fibers system of the human face during aging.

Human skin has various distributions and arrangements of elastic fiber (EF). Previous reports did not clearly show the distribution of EF in the face skin because of various contents during aging. In this study, a color image analyzer indicated distribution of elastic, oxytalan, and muscle fibers in human face skin. During aging the muscle fiber size and the content of the EF decreased in the modiolus and inferior labial regions of the human skin, and the ratio of the EF was lower than that of oxytalan fiber measured areas. That is, the dimension of oxytalan fiber may reflect the content of EF, and muscle has a role in the distribution of the EF in human face skin. In the deeper regions, small and large EF bundles were found near the sheath of gland and muscles. Therefore, face movement might be an important aspect to maintaining the EF content of human face skin.

The endomysium of human embryonic hyoid muscle during development.

A computer analysis was performed on the endomysium of the hyoid muscle in human fetuses, which ranged in gestational week from 12 to 32 weeks. During development of the human hyoid muscle a level of intramuscular connective tissue as reticular fibers displays a specific change in morphology. We examined quantitates and distributions of endomysium in human hyoid muscles from 12 to 32 weeks. The endomysium of the hyoid muscles formed complex structures, and volume rates increased from 20 weeks gestation. On the other hand, the cross sectional area (CSA) of muscle fibers had almost the same profile. The reticular fibers increased during development from 16 to 28 weeks gestation.

Immunocytochemical study of the maxilla and maxillary sinus during human fetal development.

We quantitatively examined the distribution of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), which is associated with cell division, and of components of the ECMs (collagen types I and III, tenascin and osteonectin) in the immature zones at three sites: palatine, inferior and vertical surface region of the fetal human maxilla as well as the maxillary sinus (MS) at 12, 16, 20, 24, and 28 weeks gestation. The percentage of PCNA-positive cells was the highest at 16 weeks in the immature zones of maxilla. Tenascin and fibrillar collagens (collagen types I and III) were especially present in the cellular zone linked to the bone and cartilage matrices of the immature zones of the maxillary bone at 20-24 weeks gestation. The osteonectin was detected on the maxillary bone from 24 weeks. These distributions of ECMs revealed the specific and contrasting profiles of development in the human maxillary bone and might reflect the formation of paranasal sinus as MS.

Distributions of adipocyte, blood vessel, and muscle fiber in human lateral petrygoid muscle during ageing.

The composition of adipocyte, blood vessel, and muscle fiber during ageing from 30 to 90 years of age was examined by a computer analyzing system in human lateral petrygoid muscle. The human lateral petrygoid muscle, the intramuscular connective tissue with adipocyte and blood vessel, displayed a specific change in morphology during ageing. Numerous adipocyte appeared around the blood vessel in the perimysium of the human petrygoid muscle from 60 years of age. The percentage and size of adipocyte and vein per 10,000 micron 2 of the cross sectional area in the muscle increased as well. However, the cross sectional area of muscle fiber was almost constant. The increase of adipocyte was related with changes of blood vessel and connective tissue in the perimysium.

Comparison between deciduous and permanent incisor teeth in morphology of bovine enamel.

Functional incisor teeth (deciduous and permanent teeth) from Bovidae (14 species) were prepared for scanning electron microscopic observation. Ultrastructural patterns of the enamel layer of deciduous and permanent incisor teeth varied (ex. prisms, arrangement pattern of matrices, and in thickness of enamel layer) in each species. The ultrastructures of prisms in longitudinal sections were classified into three types; A, radial, B, tangential, and C, mix of A and B arrangement enamel; modified Koenigswald's method (1982) in examined species. Type A was found in a large part of permanent and a small part of deciduous incisor teeth, while types B and C were mainly found in the deciduous teeth. These morphological features show the remarkable correlation between permanent and deciduous teeth.

Tonic fiber in Mauremys (Clemmys) japonica jaw muscle.

The jaw muscles of a turtle [Mauremys (Clemmys) japonica (MCJ)], have been analyzed for the histochemical characteristics of their fiber types. Six jaw muscles of the MCJ have been analyzed for histochemical characteristics of their fiber types. In this study, fiber types in two groups of muscles are classified; 1) fast twitch glycolytic (FG), fast twitch oxidative glycolytic (FOG), slow twitch oxidative (SO), and tonic fibers, according to the system of Putnam et al. (1980); 2) reacted differently in similar histochemical tests and classified, respectively, as various types. Especially tonic fibers constituted low percentage in the MAMP (ca., 0.3%), MI (ca., 3.9%) and MPtp (ca., 1.0%) were found. These results suggested that the tonic fiber plays a small part of the function in jaw movement.

Effect of gravity change on the production of thrombopoietic growth factors.

It is reported that the stay in the space develops anemia, thrombocytopenia, and altered function and structure of red blood cell. The mechanism of these abnormalities was not clarified yet. The cloning of the thrombopoietin (TPO), followed by the analysis of TPO and c-mpl (its cellular receptor) knockout mice confirmed its role as the primary regulator of thrombopoiesis. TPO has been shown to stimulate both megakaryocyte colony growth from marrow progenitor cells and the maturation of immature megakaryocyte to form functional platelet. This process includes the massive cytoskeletal rearrangement, such as proplatelet formation and fragmentation of proplatelet. In this study we have focused on the production of thrombopoietic growth factors in mice those were exposed to gravity change by parabolic flight (PF).

Bacteria, viruses, and parasites in an intermittent stream protected from and exposed to pasturing cattle: prevalence, densities, and quantitative microbial risk assessment.

Over 3500 individual water samples, for 131 sampling times, targeting waterborne pathogens/fecal indicator bacteria were collected during a 7-year period from 4 sites along an intermittent stream running through a small livestock pasture system with and without cattle access-to-stream restriction measures. The study assessed the impact of cattle pasturing/riparian zone protection on: pathogen (bacterial, viral, parasite) occurrence, concentrations of fecal indicators, and quantitative microbial risk assessments (QMRA) of the risk of Cryptosporidium, Giardia and Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection in humans. Methodologies were developed to compute QMRA mean risks on the basis of water samples exhibiting potentially human infectious Cryptosporidium and E. coli based on genotyping Crytosporidium, and E. coli O157:H7 presence/absence information paired with enumerated E. coli. All Giardia spp. were considered infectious. No significant pasturing treatment effects were observed among pathogens, with the exception of Campylobacter spp. and E. coli O157:H7. Campylobacter spp. prevalence significantly decreased downstream through pasture treatments and E. coli O157:H7 was observed in a few instances in the middle of the unrestricted pasture. Densities of total coliform, fecal coliform, and E. coli reduced significantly downstream in the restricted pasture system, but not in the unrestricted system. Seasonal and flow conditions were associated with greater indicator bacteria densities, especially in the summer. Norovirus GII was detected at rates of 7-22% of samples for all monitoring sites, and rotavirus in 0-7% of samples for all monitoring sites; pasture treatment trends were not evident, however. Seasonal and stream flow variables (and their interactions) were relatively more important than pasture treatments for initially stratifying pathogen occurrence and higher fecal indicator bacteria densities. Significant positive associations among fecal indicator bacteria and Campylobacter spp. detection were observed. For QMRA, adjusting for the proportion of Cryptosporidium spp. detected that are infectious for humans reduces downstream risk estimates by roughly one order of magnitude. Using QMRA in this manner provides a more refined estimate of beneficial management practice effects on pathogen exposure risks to humans.