Factors Associated With Physical Restraints in a Psychiatric Unit in Japan: a Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with the use and duration of physical restraint (PR) in a psychiatric unit in Japan. METHODS: Medical records of 1308 patients admitted first time to the psychiatric emergency unit of Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included patient age, sex, outpatient treatment, living arrangements, disability pension status, diagnosis (based on ICD-10), and psychotropic medication use at admission (chlorpromazine equivalent dose, imipramine equivalent dose, diazepam equivalent dose, and number of mood stabilisers administered). Logistic regression analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to identify factors associated with the use and duration of PR, respectively. RESULTS: Of 1308 patients, 399 (30.5%) were subjected to PR and 909 (69.5%) were not. Among the 399 patients subjected to PR, 54 were excluded from the multiple regression analysis for duration of PR as they remained subject to PR on the day of discharge. The remaining 345 patients were subject to PR for a median of 10 days. PR utilisation was associated with male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 1.420), treatment at our hospital (OR = 0.260), treatment at other hospitals (OR = 0.645), F3 diagnosis (depression) [OR = 0.290], F4-9 diagnosis (OR = 0.309), and imipramine equivalent dose at admission (unit OR = 0.994). The log-transformed duration of PR was independently associated with the age group of 50 to 69 years (ß = 0.248), the age group of ≥70 years (ß = 0.274), receiving a disability pension (ß = 0.153), an F1 diagnosis (ß = -0.187), an F4-9 diagnosis (ß = -0.182), chlorpromazine equivalent dose at admission (ß = 0.0004), and number of mood stabilisers administered at admission (ß = -0.270). CONCLUSION: Identifying factors associated with the use and duration of PR may lead to reduction in the use and duration of PR.

Correlation between variable-number tandem-repeat-based genotypes and drug susceptibility in Mycobacterium avium isolates.

Little is known about the correlation between genotype and drug susceptibility in Mycobacterium avium (Mav) strains isolated from patients with Mav infections. To examine whether drug susceptibility profile of Mav is associated with genotype, we carried out variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) typing and drug susceptibility testing for Mav isolates from Japanese with nodular-bronchiectasis (NB)-type and cavitary disease (CA)-type diseases. We performed M. avium tandem repeat (MATR)-VNTR typing and drug susceptibility testing by the broth dilution method, using macrolides, rifamycins, ethambutol, isoniazid, aminoglycosides, and quinolones, for Mav isolates from patients with NB and CA-type diseases (NB-Mav and CA-Mav). Based on the VNTR genotyping, the Mav strains were grouped into three clusters. There was no difference with respect to the distribution of NB-Mav and CA-Mav among the clusters. We observed a strong association between VNTR genotype and susceptibility to quinolones (levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, sitafloxacin, and garenoxacin) and ethambutol. There was essentially no significant difference in drug susceptibility between NB- and CA-Mav strains, although NB-Mav was somewhat more resistant to fluoroquinolones, especially gatifloxacin, than CA-Mav. There was a significant association between VNTR genotype and susceptibility to quinolones and ethambutol in Mav isolates from Japanese patients.

Comparative study for the virulence of Mycobacterium avium isolates from patients with nodular-bronchiectasis- and cavitary-type diseases.

Mycobacterium avium (Mav) lung infections, called nodular-bronchiectasis (NB)-type M. avium complex (MAC) disease, are globally increasing. To elucidate whether there are unusual populations of Mav, causing NB-type disease rather than cavitary (CA)-type disease, we compared the virulence of Mav isolates from patients with NB-type (NB-Mav) and those from CA-type (CA-Mav) diseases, based on intracellular growth in various types of human cells. Five strains each of NB-Mav and CA-Mav were compared with each other for their invasiveness and ability to intracellularly replicate in various types of cultured cells of human origin. The two types of Mav isolates showed a similar ability, on average, to replicate in macrophages and lung epithelial cells. Moreover, they showed a similar ability to induce the production of reactive nitrogen intermediates and reactive oxygen intermediates by macrophages and susceptibility to antimicrobial molecules. Therefore, it appears that there is no essential difference in virulence in terms of infectivity to human macrophages and lung cells between Mav strains isolated from NB-MAC disease and those from CA-MAC disease. These findings indicate the importance of further studies to elucidate the mechanism for the establishment of NB-type MAC diseases based on host immunological conditions rather than the pathogenic nature of MAC organisms themselves.

High performance RO membranes for desalination and wastewater reclamation and their operation results.

Reverse osmosis (RO) membrane is one of the most powerful tools for solving the global water crisis, and is used in a variety of water treatment scenes such as drinking water purification, waste-water treatment, boiler feed water production, ultra pure water production for semiconductor industry, etc. The desired performance of RO membrane varies according to quality of feed water being treated, and Toray has been developing RO membranes with suitable characteristic for each operating condition. RO membranes for seawater desalination and wastewater reclamation are especially regarded as most promising targets. Recently, high boron removal and energy saving RO membrane for seawater desalination and low fouling RO membrane for wastewater reclamation have been developed. In this paper, the prospect of attaining these renovative RO membrane, and furthermore, job references will be discussed.

Intracellular Localization of Mycoplasma bovis in the Bronchiolar Epithelium of Experimentally Infected Calves.

Lung tissues from calves infected experimentally with Mycoplasma bovis were examined by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. All inoculated calves had dark red areas of consolidation affecting both left and right lungs, which were characterized microscopically by subacute purulent bronchiolitis with hyperplasia of the surrounding lymphoid tissue. Immunohistochemically, M. bovis antigen was detected on the surface and inside the cytoplasm of bronchiolar epithelial cells in the pneumonic foci. The antigen was also found in the cytoplasm of phagocytes at the margin of bronchiolar exudates. Electron microscopically, numerous organisms were demonstrated in the immunohistochemically-positive sites. These findings suggest that M. bovis organisms adhere to the bronchiolar epithelium and at least some of them invade the epithelium.

Should balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration be the first-line interventional radiologic treatment for bleeding duodenal varices? A case report and review of the literature.

We report a 78-year-old woman who presented with repeated tarry stools, and having lower duodenal variceal bleeding caused by portal hypertension. Endoscopic therapy had been attempted, but was impossible because the endoscope could not be inserted into the lower duodenum. Thus, the lower duodenal variceal bleeding was treated with balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration in combination with embolization using microcoils. Complete hemostasis was achieved without complications, and neither the recurrence of varices nor rebleeding has occurred for the last 3 years. A review of the English-language literature reveals only 11 such cases. The world literature is reviewed.

[Effectiveness of high frequency jet ventilation introduced immediately after cardiac surgery].

It is important to establish the lung protective strategy strictly for serious respiratory failure after cardiac surgery, because the hemodynamic state is unstable. High frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) was introduced in 5 patients with respiratory failure after cardiac surgery. Two had been diagnosed with acute aortic dissection and 3 with angina pectorlis. Off pump coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 2 patients. Hemodynamic variables during HFJV were stable, and the duration of HFJV was 9 to 45 hours. Oxygenations improved immediately by the introduction of HFJV in all patients, and no adverse effect was recognized. Therefore, use of HFJV immediately after cardiac surgery might be an effective respiratory therapy of choice for patients with acute lung injury.

T cell receptor repertoire of infiltrating T cells in lips of Sjögren's syndrome patients.

Infiltrating T cells around salivary glands in the lips of Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) patients are crucial in the pathogenesis of this disease. To analyze the nature of infiltrating T cells, their T cell receptor repertoire was examined with quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The repertoire of V beta transcripts in lips of SjS was not restricted; however, the V beta 2 and V beta 13 genes were predominantly expressed on the T cells of lip specimens in six and four of seven lips, respectively. Predominance of these genes was specific in lips because no predominant V beta transcripts were found in lips from healthy subjects and PBLs from SjS patients. These results indicated that the V beta 2- and V beta 13-positive T cells expanded specifically and preferentially in SjS lips, thereby suggesting the possible role in triggering the autoimmunity of this disease.

Isolation of photochemically active archaebacterial photoreceptor, pharaonis phoborhodopsin from Natronobacterium pharaonis.

A photoreceptor, pharaonis phoborhodopsin for the negative phototaxis of extremely halophilic and alkalophilic archaebacterium, Natronobacterium pharaonis was isolated in a photochemically active state. A detailed examination of the chromatographic separation made it possible to separate contaminating proteins, such as cytochromes. The procedure resulted in a 2938-fold enrichment with a yield of 15.5%. The isolated pharaonis phoborhodopsin had an absorption maximum at 498 nm, an A280/A498 ratio of 1.27 and a single band near 24 kDa on the SDS-polyacrylamide gels. The isolated pharaonis phoborhodopsin underwent a photochemical reaction after flash excitation. The photocyclic reaction closely resembled that of the membrane-bound pharaonis phoborhodopsin.

Properties and the primary structure of a new halorhodopsin from halobacterial strain mex.

A new halorhodopsin-like pigment from the new halobacterial strain mex (Otomo, J., Tomoika, H. and Sasabe, H. (1992) J. Gen. Microbiol. 138, 1027-1037) was partially purified, and its amino acid sequence from helices A to G was determined using PCR technique. Two arginine residues in the A-B interhelix loop segment, a series of six amino acid residues (EMPAGH) in the B-C interhelix segment and most of the residues near the Schiff base of the retinal were found to be conserved in three halorhodopsins (halobium, pharaonis and mex). This result strongly suggests that these residues are essential for anion pumping function in halorhodopsin. The light-induced ion-pump measurements have shown that the selectivity of anion transport between chloride and nitrate in mex halorhodopsin is lower than that of halobium halorhodopsin, but higher than that of pharaonis halorhodopsin. The number of amino acid residues in the B-C interhelix loop segments is different in each halorhodopsin, and it correlates with their anion (chloride and nitrate) selectivity. These results suggest that the length of the B-C segment affects the selectivity of anion transport in halorhodopsin.

Voltage-dependent absorbance change of carotenoids in halophilic archaebacteria.

Membrane vesicles of wild-type Halobacterium sp. mex strain show a wavy absorbance change which has not been so far reported in halophilic archaebacteria. A white mutant strain lacking carotenoids did not show the wavy absorbance change. The wavy absorbance change in the range of 440-590 nm was induced by a red flash (600-640 nm), which photoexcited electrogenic ion pumps, mex bacteriorhodopsin and mex halorhodopsin but not carotenoids. The wavy change was also caused by K+ diffusion potentials without light. These results suggest that the wavy absorbance change in the membrane vesicles is the voltage-dependent absorbance change of the carotenoids.

T-lymphocyte-receptor repertoire of infiltrating T lymphocytes into NOD mouse pancreas.

This study analyzed T-lymphocyte-receptor V beta genes of infiltrating lymphocytes into the pancreases of 12- to 16-wk-old NOD mice with severe insulitis and 5-wk-old mice with mild insulitis by the quantitative polymerase chain reaction method. The V beta transcripts on infiltrating T lymphocytes into pancreases with severe insulitis in older NOD mice were diverse. In contrast, the V beta 11 gene transcript was predominantly expressed on T lymphocytes in the pancreas in younger NOD mice with mild insulitis, suggesting the possible role of V beta 11+ T lymphocytes in triggering insulitis in this species.

Preventive effect of monoclonal anti-L3T4 antibody on development of diabetes in NOD mice.

We analyzed the surface phenotypes of infiltrated cells in pancreases of nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice with monoclonal antibodies to mouse lymphocytes. Most of the infiltrated cells were Thy1+ and Ly1+ T-lymphocytes, and most of them were L3T4+ helper T-lymphocyte subsets. To elucidate the role of L3T4+ T-lymphocytes in the development of insulitis and diabetes in NOD mice, we treated the animals with injections of monoclonal anti-L3T4 antibody. Administration of this antibody prevented the insulitis and diabetes in NOD mice. These results lead to conclusions that the L3T4+ helper T-lymphocytes may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of type I diabetes and that the manipulation of the OKT4+ (Leu3+) T-lymphocyte subset, the human homology of L3T4, with monoclonal antibodies may provide effective therapy for human type I diabetes.

Characterization of immunosuppressive functions of murine peritoneal macrophages induced with various agents.

Murine peritoneal macrophages (M phi s), induced with stimuli such as thioglycollate, zymosan A, OK-432, bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), or live Mycobacterium intracellulare, showed varying levels of inhibitory activity against the concanavalin A (Con A) blastogenic response of splenic T cells. All test M phi s significantly inhibited the interleukin 2 (IL-2)-producing ability of T cells but this inhibition was not enough to explain the observed reduction in T cell Con A mitogenesis. In contrast, they markedly inhibited IL-2-reactive T cell generation, and the inhibition was sufficient to cause the reduction in T cell mitogenesis. A general relationship was observed between immunosuppressive activity of a given M phi and its active oxygen-producing ability (measured in terms of chemiluminescence) in response to phorbol myristate acetate triggering (r = .84, P less than .005). However, the suppressor activity of test M phi s was not reduced by superoxide dismutase and catalase, indicating that active oxygen radicals themselves did not mediate the expression of the immunosuppressive activity of these M phi s. On the other ahnd, indomethacin (an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis) caused a partial reduction in their immunosuppressive activity. The suppressor activity of M phi s induced with intraperitoneal injection of recombinant interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) was markedly reduced in the presence of myoglobin, a scavenger for nitric oxide radical (NO.). Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) failed to affect Con A mitogenesis of splenic T cells, even in combination with IFN-gamma. On the other hand, unsaturated long-chain fatty acids including oleic, linoleic, linolenic, and arachidonic acids markedly reduced the T cell function. These findings suggest some important roles of prostaglandins, NO., and long-chain unsaturated fatty acids as mediators of the expression of immunosuppressive function of the peritoneal M phi s.

Role of CD4+ T lymphocytes and interleukin-5 in antigen-induced eosinophil recruitment into the site of cutaneous late-phase reaction in mice.

Previous studies suggested that the eosinophil recruitment into the site of cutaneous late-phase reaction (LPR) was dependent on IgE antibody and mast cells. In this study, we determined the role of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells in causing antigen-induced eosinophil recruitment of LPR in mouse skin. Eosinophil infiltration into the subcutaneous tissue of ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized BALB/c mice was biphasic, reaching the first peak at 6 h after the subcutaneous challenge with OVA and the second peak at 24 to 48 h. The in vivo depletion of CD4+ T cells by pretreatment with anti-L3T4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) significantly decreased the second peak (at 24 h and 48 h), but not the first peak (at 6 h), of OVA-induced eosinophil infiltration into the skin of OVA-sensitized mice. However, the depletion of CD8+ T cells by pretreatment with anti-Lyt-2 mAb had no significant effect on either the first peak or second peak of OVA-induced cutaneous eosinophilia. Pretreatment with anti-murine interleukin-5 (IL-5) mAb also decreased the second peak, but not the first peak, of OVA-induced cutaneous eosinophilia. In contrast to the inhibitory effects of depletion of CD4+ T cells and of anti-IL-5 mAb on the second peak of antigen-induced cutaneous eosinophilia, disodium cromoglycate and a selective antagonist for platelet activating factor (PAF) CV-6209 decreased the first peak of OVA-induced cutaneous eosinophilia in the mouse. These results indicate that CD4+ T cells, but not CD8+ T cells, cause the second peak of antigen-induced eosinophil recruitment of cutaneous LPR and that IL-5 mediates this eosinophil recruitment. In contrast, the first peak of antigen-induced eosinophil recruitment of cutaneous LPR is mediated by mast cells and PAF.

Distribution of neutral endopeptidase activity in human blood leukocytes.

We investigated the distribution of neutral endopeptidase (NEP; EC 3.4.24.11) activity, a possible regulatory enzyme for neuropeptide-induced leukocyte activations, in each cell type of human blood leukocytes. The NEP activity assessed by an NEP inhibitor phosphoramidon-sensitive Met5-enkephalin degrading activity was present in neutrophils and the common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (CALLA)-positive leukemic cells (59 pmol/min/10(6) cells and 62 pmol/min/10(6) cells, respectively); however, the NEP activity was virtually absent in lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, CALLA-negative leukemic cells, or a promyelocytic cell line HL-60. The enzymatic activity was characterized as NEP on the basis of the values of kinetic parameters (Km = 61 microM, Kcat = 1,692 min-1, and Kcat/Km = 28 min-1 microM-1) and the values of IC50 of two NEP inhibitors phosphoramidon and thiorphan (7.4 nM and 8.4 nM, respectively). The distribution of NEP detected immunocytochemically using anti-NEP monoclonal antibodies was also found to be parallel with the distribution of NEP activity among peripheral blood leukocytes.

The role of tumor necrosis factor, interferon-gamma, transforming growth factor-beta, and nitric oxide in the expression of immunosuppressive functions of splenic macrophages induced by Mycobacterium avium complex infection.

In order to verify the participation of some cytokines in the expression of the suppressor activity of splenic macrophages (M phi s) induced by Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection, we studied whether anticytokine antibodies were capable of blocking their suppressor activity against concanavalin A (ConA)-induced mitogenesis of splenocytes (SPCs). When either anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF), anti-transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), or anti-interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) antibody was added to culture medium, suppressor activity was markedly reduced, in the order of anti-TNF, anti-IFN-gamma, and anti-TGF-beta antibodies. By contrast, neither anti-interleukin-6 (IL-6) nor anti-IL-10 antibody exerted such a blocking effect. Therefore, TNF, IFN-gamma, and TGF-beta seem to be related to the full display of the suppressor function of MAC-induced M phi s. However, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma but not TGF-beta were substantially lacking in inhibitory action against SPC mitogenesis, when added exogenously. Hence, it is unlikely that TNF-alpha and INF-gamma directly modulated the proliferative response of T cells. On the other hand, both TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma potentiated the effector function of the suppressor M phi s. Because their suppressor activity was severely reduced by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine and aminoguanidine, nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitors, an NO-dependent mechanism is important for the expression of the immunosuppressive function of MAC-induced M phi s. Moreover, because these M phi s seem to produce a substantial amount of TNF-alpha in membrane-bound form, cell-to-cell contact might be needed for efficient expression of their suppressor action on target T cells.

Effector molecules in expression of the antimicrobial activity of macrophages against Mycobacterium avium complex: roles of reactive nitrogen intermediates, reactive oxygen intermediates, and free fatty acids.

We studied microbicidal activities of reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI), free fatty acids (FFA), and reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) against Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and the mode of macrophage (mphi) production of these effectors. (1) Intracellular growth of MAC in murine peritoneal mphis was accelerated by scavengers for ROI or RNI and inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase or phospholipase A2, indicating roles of ROI, RNI, and FFA in mphi anti-MAC functions. (2) Acidified NaNO2-derived RNI, FFA (linolenic and arachidonic acids), and the H2O2-mediated halogenation system exhibited a significant anti-MAC bactericidal activity. The combination of RNI with FFA showed a synergistic effect. However, the H2O2-halogenation system in combination with either RNI or FFA showed an antagonism. When Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) was used as a target organism, the combinations of RNI + FFA and RNI + H2O2-halogenation gave a synergistic effect, whereas FFA + H2O2-halogenation showed an antagonism in exerting bactericidal activity. In addition, when ROI generated by the xanthine oxidase-acetaldehyde system was combined with RNI, anti-Lm but not anti-MAC activity was potentiated. (3) ROI production by murine peritoneal mphis was observed immediately after contact with MAC organisms (MAC stimulation) and ceased within 2 h. FFA release was seen 1-24 h after MAC stimulation. RNI production was initiated from 3 h and increased during the first 36 h and continued at least for 4 days. These findings suggest that RNI and FFA rather than ROI are important effectors of anti-MAC functions of mphis, and the collaborating action of RNI with FFA temporarily participates in mphi-mediated killing of MAC in the relatively early phase after MAC stimulation.

Syngeneic monoclonal antibodies against melanoma antigens with species specificity and interspecies cross-reactivity.

The species-specific and the interspecies cross-reactive melanoma antigenic determinants are defined by the monoclonal antibodies raised by syngeneic immunizations. The two types of monoclonal antibodies (M562 or M622 and M2590) were obtained by the fusion of P3U1 murine myeloma cell lines and spleen cells of C57BL/6 mice hyperimmunized with MMC-treated syngeneic B16 melanoma cells. The M2590 antibody recognizes the cross-species melanoma determinant commonly shared among at least mouse, hamster, and human, while the M562 or M622 antibody reacts with the mouse (B16) melanoma antigenic determinant. The immunochemical and physiochemical characteristics of the melanoma antigens on SDS-PAGE analyses show that these two characteristic determinants are present on the same molecule (molecular weight of 31,000) of a glycoprotein. Furthermore, the interspecies cross-reactive melanoma antigenic determinants are possibly composed of the sugar moiety, whereas the species-specific determinants seem to be proteinaceous in nature.