Continuous partially hydrolyzed guar gum intake reduces cold-like symptoms: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded trial in healthy adults.

OBJECTIVE: Partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG), a water-soluble dietary fiber produced by the controlled partial enzymatic hydrolysis of guar gum beans, has various physiological roles. PHGG is expected to influence the immune function and prevent infections. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of continuous ingestion of PHGG for 12 weeks on the development of cold-like symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A placebo-controlled, double blind, randomized, parallel-group comparative study was conducted. 96 healthy Japanese adults received 5.2 g PHGG or placebo daily for 12 weeks. Cold-like symptoms were assessed based on patient diary, and the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in stool and blood immune markers at baseline and at weeks 6 and 12. RESULTS: The cumulative number of "no symptoms" days for all symptoms was significantly larger in the PHGG than in the placebo group. The result of the analysis by severity of cold-like symptoms also showed significant differences, with the PHGG group having a lower severity of cold-like symptoms. Propionic acid at weeks 6 and 12 and n-butyric acid and total SCFAs at week 12 were significantly higher in the PHGG than in the placebo group. The Interferon-γ level was significantly lower at week 6 in the PHGG than in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: PHGG intake may affect immune function and suppress cold-like symptoms through the production of SCFAs in healthy adults.

Blister beetle dermatitis caused by cantharidin in South Sudan in Op TRENTON: a case series.

Cantharidin-producing blister beetles are found worldwide. The pathognomonic feature of their toxin is a blistering dermatitis that presents an environmental health hazard. Cutaneous exposure to cantharidin can produce blistering dermatitis, most commonly seen on exposed skin, in the Bentiu region of South Sudan. This should be treated with appropriate cleaning, debridement and regular dressing changes to cope with extensive initial exudate. The best dressing combinations found were initial treatment with povidone-iodine and hydrocolloid, followed by hydrocolloid only. Hydrocolloid dressings were found to be the most effective at staying in place with South Sudan's high humidity. Prevention strategies should include covering exposed skin, wearing wide-brimmed hats, neck scarves and enclosed footwear, and avoidance of working under white light. Medical personnel should engage with the chain of command to include appropriate force protection education within the arrivals brief.

Surgical correction for sinus venosus atrial septal defect with partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection in a dog.

A 5-year-old male toy poodle was referred for corrective surgery of an atrial septal defect. A sinus venosus-type atrial septal defect (ASD) with partial anomalous venous connection, suspected pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary edema was confirmed by radiography, echocardiography, and cardiac computed tomography. Thoracic radiographs showed right heart enlargement. Echocardiography revealed right atrial and ventricular dilatation with mild flattening of the interventricular septum. Left-to-right shunt flow through the ASD was observed on color Doppler examination. Surgical correction of the sinus venosus ASD with a partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection was performed under cardiopulmonary bypass. A follow-up evaluation at 1 year after surgery showed resolution of the right-sided volume overload and no evidence of recurrence of ASD. Complications were not observed. Our findings indicate that surgical correction under cardiopulmonary bypass is a valid treatment option for an ASD with a partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

Inflammation and vascular remodeling in the ventral hippocampus contributes to vulnerability to stress.

During exposure to chronic stress, some individuals engage in active coping behaviors that promote resiliency to stress. Other individuals engage in passive coping that is associated with vulnerability to stress and with anxiety and depression. In an effort to identify novel molecular mechanisms that underlie vulnerability or resilience to stress, we used nonbiased analyses of microRNAs in the ventral hippocampus (vHPC) to identify those miRNAs differentially expressed in active (long-latency (LL)/resilient) or passive (short-latency (SL)/vulnerable) rats following chronic social defeat. In the vHPC of active coping rats, miR-455-3p level was increased, while miR-30e-3p level was increased in the vHPC of passive coping rats. Pathway analyses identified inflammatory and vascular remodeling pathways as enriched by genes targeted by these microRNAs. Utilizing several independent markers for blood vessels, inflammatory processes and neural activity in the vHPC, we found that SL/vulnerable rats exhibit increased neural activity, vascular remodeling and inflammatory processes that include both increased blood-brain barrier permeability and increased number of microglia in the vHPC relative to control and resilient rats. To test the relevance of these changes for the development of the vulnerable phenotype, we used pharmacological approaches to determine the contribution of inflammatory processes in mediating vulnerability and resiliency. Administration of the pro-inflammatory cytokine vascular endothelial growth factor-164 increased vulnerability to stress, while the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam attenuated vulnerability. Collectively, these results show that vulnerability to stress is determined by a re-designed neurovascular unit characterized by increased neural activity, vascular remodeling and pro-inflammatory mechanisms in the vHPC. These results suggest that dampening inflammatory processes by administering anti-inflammatory agents reduces vulnerability to stress. These results have translational relevance as they suggest that administration of anti-inflammatory agents may reduce the impact of stress or trauma in vulnerable individuals.

Two-step relaxation mode analysis with multiple evolution times applied to all-atom molecular dynamics protein simulation.

Proteins implement their functionalities when folded into specific three-dimensional structures, and their functions are related to the protein structures and dynamics. Previously, we applied a relaxation mode analysis (RMA) method to protein systems; this method approximately estimates the slow relaxation modes and times via simulation and enables investigation of the dynamic properties underlying the protein structural fluctuations. Recently, two-step RMA with multiple evolution times has been proposed and applied to a slightly complex homopolymer system, i.e., a single [n]polycatenane. This method can be applied to more complex heteropolymer systems, i.e., protein systems, to estimate the relaxation modes and times more accurately. In two-step RMA, we first perform RMA and obtain rough estimates of the relaxation modes and times. Then, we apply RMA with multiple evolution times to a small number of the slowest relaxation modes obtained in the previous calculation. Herein, we apply this method to the results of principal component analysis (PCA). First, PCA is applied to a 2-µs molecular dynamics simulation of hen egg-white lysozyme in aqueous solution. Then, the two-step RMA method with multiple evolution times is applied to the obtained principal components. The slow relaxation modes and corresponding relaxation times for the principal components are much improved by the second RMA.

Facilitation of bone resorption activities in synovial lavage fluid patients with mandibular condyle fractures.

The aim of this study was to investigate the bone resorption effect of the mediators delivered in joint cavity of patients with mandibular condyle fractures by detecting osteoclast markers using cellular biochemistry methods, and by analysing bone resorption activities via inducing osteoclast differentiation of the infiltrated cells from arthrocentesis. Sixteen joints in 10 patients with mandibular condyle fractures were evaluated. The control group consisted of synovial fluid (SF) samples from seven joints of four volunteers who had no clinical signs or symptoms involving the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or disc displacement. We collected SF cells from all patients during therapeutic arthrocentesis. The infiltrating cells from TMJ SF were cultured, differentiated into tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive osteoclast-like cells and examined bone resorption activities. We also investigated factors related to osteoclast induction of SF, using ELISA procedures. Osteoclast-like cells were induced from the SF cells obtained from all patients with condylar fractures. These multinucleated giant cells were positive for TRAP and actin, and had the ability to absorb dentin slices. The levels of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), soluble form of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (sRANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG), in SF samples from the patients, were significantly higher than in the controls. These findings indicate that bone resorption activities in SF from patients with mandibular condyle fractures were upregulated and may participate in the pathogenesis and wound healing.

X-ray topography using the forward transmitted beam under multiple-beam diffraction conditions.

X-ray topographs are taken for a sapphire wafer with the [0001] surface normal, as an example, by forward transmitted synchrotron x-ray beams combined with two-dimensional electronic arrays in the x-ray detector having a spatial resolution of 1 µm. They exhibit no shape deformation and no position shift of the dislocation lines on the topographs. Since the topography is performed under multiple-beam diffraction conditions, the topographic images of a single diffraction (two-wave approximation condition) or plural diffractions (six-wave approximation condition) can be recorded without large specimen position changes. As usual Lang topographs, it is possible to determine the Burgers vector of each dislocation line. Because of high parallelism of the incoming x-rays and linear sensitivity of the electronic arrays to the incident x-rays, the present technique can be used to visualize individual dislocations in single crystals of the dislocation density as high as 1 × 10(5) cm(-2).

Ex vivo effects of naphthoquinones on allergen-sensitized mononuclear cells in mice.

Naphthoquinone (NQ), one of the extractable chemical compounds of diesel exhaust particles, enhances allergic asthma traits in mice. However, it remains unknown whether: (1) several types of NQs have the same potential to facilitate allergies; and (2) NQs synergistically disrupt the functional phenotypes of immune cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of two types (1,2- and 1,4-) of NQs on sensitized mononuclear cells using an ex vivo assay. Male BALB/c mice were repeatedly and intraperitoneally administered ovalbumin (OVA: 20 µg) plus alum with or without two different doses of each NQ. After the final administration, splenocytes (mononuclear cells) were isolated from these mice and cultured in the presence of OVA. Helper T-related cytokines in the culture supernatants and downstream molecules were then evaluated. Protein levels of interferon-γ were higher in the supernatants from 1,2-NQ and 1,4-NQ at low dose + OVA-exposed mononuclear cells following the OVA stimulation than in those from OVA-exposed mononuclear cells. Interleukin (IL)-13 levels were higher in the supernatants from low dose NQs + OVA-exposed mononuclear cells. IL-17 levels were significantly higher in the supernatants from low dose 1,2-NQ + OVA-exposed mononuclear cells. The quantity of phosphorylated STAT6 in the nuclei of these cells was significantly greater in the low dose NQ + OVA groups than in the OVA group. These findings suggest NQs differently enhance allergen sensitization in the context of the Th response against mononuclear cells such as lymphocytes.

Diesel exhaust particles exacerbate allergic rhinitis in mice by disrupting the nasal epithelial barrier.

BACKGROUND: Diesel exhaust particles (DEP), traffic-related air pollutants, are considered environmental factors that affect allergic diseases adversely. However, the exact effect of DEP on allergic rhinitis (AR) is unclear. OBJECTIVE: We thought to investigate the effect of DEP on seasonal AR using a mouse model. METHODS: Ragweed-pollen-sensitized mice were nasally challenged with ragweed pollen in the presence or absence of DEP. The frequency of sneezing was evaluated immediately after each nasal challenge. The expression of a tight junction (TJ) protein, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), was examined by immunohistochemistry in AR mice. RPMI 2650 cells were used for in vitro examination of paracellular permeability. RESULTS: Mice challenged with ragweed pollen plus DEP showed increased frequency of sneezing compared with mice challenged with pollen alone. Interestingly, intranasal DEP pretreatment before ragweed pollen challenge increased ragweed-pollen-induced sneezing to levels comparable with the co-administration group. In vitro examination revealed that DEP reduced ZO-1 expression in RPMI 2650 cells. In addition, intranasal administration of DEP, but not ragweed pollen, disrupted nasal mucosal TJs in vivo. The effect of a single DEP treatment on ragweed-induced sneezing and ZO-1 expression persisted for at least 4 days and was inversely correlated. Finally, an antioxidant substance, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, inhibited DEP-mediated TJ disruption and exacerbation of sneezing in AR. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: DEP disrupts TJs by a reactive oxygen species-mediated pathway, leading to the increased permeability of nasal epithelial cells. This may result in the promotion of allergen delivery into subepithelial tissues contributing to the exacerbation of immediate allergic responses.

Effects of cedar pollen extract on the immune system in vitro

No disponible

Cerebellopontine angle mass mimicking lingual nerve injury after dental implant placement: a case report.

This is a rare case report of a cerebellopontine angle (CPA) mass mimicking lingual nerve injury after a dental implant placement. Lingual nerve injury is a common complication following dental implant placement. CPA masses are likely to cause symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia, and thus can mimic and be easily confused with oral diseases. We experienced a case of CPA mass mimicking lingual nerve injury after dental implant placement. The patient was a 57-year-old Japanese female who complained of glossalgia. She underwent dental implant placement in the mandible before visiting our clinic. Panoramic x-ray radiography revealed no abnormalities; the salivary flow rate by gum test was 7.0 ml/10 min. She was diagnosed with lingual nerve injury and secondary burning mouth syndrome. Vitamin B12 and oral moisturizer did not provide relief; furthermore, numbness in the lower lip emerged. A Semmes Weinstein test demonstrated elevation of her sensitivity threshold. Finally, magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 20-mm diameter mass in the CPA. The patient is now being followed under conservative management. Our experience underscores the importance of including CPA mass in the differential diagnosis of dental diseases.

Impact of the efficacy of thrombolytic therapy on the mortality of patients with acute submassive pulmonary embolism: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of thrombolytic therapy in patients with submassive pulmonary embolism (PE) remains unclear. Previous meta-analyses have not separately reported the proportion of patients with submassive PE. OBJECTIVE: We assessed the effect of thrombolytic therapy on mortality, recurrent PE, clinical deterioration requiring treatment escalation and bleeding in patients with submassive PE. METHODS: The MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify all relevant randomized controlled trials comparing adjunctive thrombolytic therapy with heparin alone as initial treatments in patients with acute submassive PE, and reported 30-day mortality or in-hospital clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 1510 patients were enrolled in this meta-analysis. No significant differences were apparent in the composite endpoint of all-cause death or recurrent PE between the adjunctive thrombolytic therapy arm and the heparin-alone arm (3.1% vs. 5.4%; RR, 0.64 [0.32-1.28]; P = 0.2). Adjunctive thrombolytic therapy significantly reduced the incidence of the composite endpoint of all-cause death or clinical deterioration (3.9% vs. 9.4%; RR, 0.44; P < 0.001). There were no statistically significant associations for major bleeding when adjunctive thrombolytic therapy was compared with heparin therapy alone (6.6% vs. 1.9%; P = 0.2). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis shows that adjunctive thrombolytic therapy does not significantly reduce the risk of mortality or recurrent PE in patients with acute submassive PE, but that adjuvant thrombolytic therapy prevents clinical deterioration requiring the escalation of treatment in patients with acute submassive PE. Bleeding risk assessment might be the most successful approach for improving clinical outcomes and patient-specific benefit.

In vitro action of sho-seiryu-to on allergen-exposed mononuclear cells.

Although Sho-seiryu-to (SST), used as a traditional herbal (Kampo) medicine mainly in China and Korea, is shown to have immunomodulating potential, such as an anti-allergic one, its underlying mechanism has not been completely clarified. To partially address the issue, we explored its effects on allergen-exposed mononuclear cells. Male balb/c mice were intraperitoneally administered ovalbumin (OVA: 20 μg) plus alum or vehicle twice (Day 0 and Day 14). At Day 21, mice were sacrificed and splenocytes (mononuclear cells) were isolated and cultured in the presence or absence of OVA with or without SST. Thereafter, helper T-related cytokines in the culture supernatants were evaluated by means of ELISA. Protein level of interferon-γ was lower than 5.0 pg/mL in the supernatants from OVA– non-exposed or -exposed mononuclear cells in the presence or absence of OVA stimulation. On the other hand, SST induced the cytokine from both types of mononuclear cells in the presence (P < 0.05) or absence of OVA stimulation as compared to corresponding control. By contrast, interleukin (IL)-4 level tended to be decreased by SST in OVA-non-exposed mononuclear cells as did IL-13 in both non-exposed and exposed mononuclear cells as compared to vehicle. In conclusion, immunoregulating efficacy by SST on allergy-prone subjects may include, at least in part, restoring helper T balance mainly through hyperproduction of IFN-γ against mononuclear cells such as lymphocytes.

Clinical comparison between arthrocentesis and conventional conservative treatment with maxillomandibular fixation for unilateral high condylar fractures.

This study aimed to compare the effects of arthrocentesis and conventional closed reduction for unilateral mandibular condyle fractures. A total of 30 patients with unilateral condylar fractures were evaluated. Patients with a high condylar fracture and magnetic resonance evidence of joint effusion (JE) were divided into two groups: those treated with intra-articular irrigation and betamethasone injection (group I) and those given conservative treatment and rigid maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) (group II). All patients were assessed for mandibular range of motion (ROM), protrusive movements, lateral excursion movements on the fractured and non-fractured sides, pain in the temporomandibular joint and malocclusion, both before and after treatment. There were no significant differences in regard to protrusion, lateral excursion movement and incidence of malocclusion at 12 months after treatment between the groups (P > 0.05). In group I, ROM and joint pain showed good improvement from the early stages of treatment, and those patients had better outcomes as compared to group II for those parameters at 1 and 3 months after injury. The present findings indicate that arthrocentesis may be more effective and provide faster healing than conventional closed reduction.

Plant homeodomain finger protein 11 promotes class switch recombination to IgE in murine activated B cells.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms of the Plant homeodomain finger protein 11 (PHF11) are strongly associated with high serum IgE levels and clinical severity of atopic patients. However, the precise mechanism has not been fully elucidated. We investigated the role of Phf11 in class switch recombination (CSR) to IgE by activated B cells. METHODS: We generated Phf11 transgenic (Lckd-Phf11-Tg) mice that express the exogenous murine Phf11 in lymphocytes under the control of distal Lck promoter. We examined IL-4-induced CSR to IgE in activated Lckd-Phf11-Tg B cells in vitro. We analyzed production of ovalbumin (OVA)-specific IgE and nose-scratching symptoms in Lckd-Phf11-Tg mice using an OVA-induced allergic rhinitis model. RESULTS: The exogenous Phf11 promoted CSR to IgG1 and IgE in activated B cells with an increase in germ line transcript (GLT) γ1 and GLT ε expression. The exogenous Phf11 augmented transcriptional activity of the GLT γ1 and GLT ε promoters through permissive histone modifications and binding of NF-κB and STAT6. Furthermore, the exogenous Phf11 bound to the GLT ε promoter with increased binding of NF-κB. Silencing of the endogenous Phf11 reduced the frequency of CSR to IgE and GLT ε expression, but not to IgG1 or GLT γ1 expression, in activated B cells. In an allergic rhinitis model, Lckd-Phf11-Tg mice showed a significant increase in the production of OVA-specific IgE and the frequency of nose scratching. CONCLUSION: Phf11 accelerates CSR to IgE in activated B cells by increasing the transcriptional activity of GLT ε promoter and contributes to the exacerbation of allergic responses. These findings provide a novel therapeutic target for allergic diseases.

Estimation of the congestion area volume in potential living donor remnant livers.

BACKGROUND: Living donor liver transplantation is widely performed in adult patients. One of the problems in this setting is a small-for-size graft, which results in dysfunction and poor prognosis of a transplantation. A right liver graft was devised to overcome this problem; furthermore, inclusion of the middle hepatic vein (MHV) has been suggested to greatly improve recipient outcomes. However, extended right hepatectomy involves a surgical risk for the living donor in terms of congestion of the left paramedian sector. The volume of the venoocclusive region of a living donor liver possibly varies depending on the collateral patterns of veins draining the cranial part of segment 4 (S4). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We were analyzed the normal livers of 50 patients who underwent triphasic contrast-enhanced multidetector row computed tomography during preoperative and postoperative examinations. The patient pathologies consisted of gastric cancer (n = 25), colon cancer (n = 1), or renal cancer (n = 24). We calculated the volume of the entire liver as well as those of the right graft and left remnant lobes for comparison with the drainage volume of each hepatic vein and its branches. RESULTS: On the basis of the anatomic venous drainage of the cranial part of S4 (V4sup), we classified hepatic veins as group A (n = 31), the V4sup joined the left hepatic vein or the MHV distal to the vein draining S8 area (MV8), or group B (n = 19), V4sup joined the MHV proximal to MV8. The mean volume of the congested area was 6.9% in group A and 15.9% in group B. The venoocclusive areas in the remnant livers were estimated to be larger in group B (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The collateral pattern of V4sup and MV8 as well as preoperative volumetric analysis are important for graft selection to decide the line of transection.