Development of a desktop mask charger.

Polypropylene mesh, integrated in N95 respirators and surgical masks that are widely used in the current crisis of COVID-19, filters aerosols via electrostatics in addition to the physical block. However, any contact to water such as storage under high humidity, exposure to exhaling breath, and washing in water removes its charges and thus compromises its filtering efficiency. We developed a desk top device based on a Cockcroft-Walton's voltage multiplier that can restore the electrostatic charge of surgical masks within 1 min and recover the filtering efficiency of the polypropylene mesh from 87% to 97%. The device is easy to operate and safe, thus may be applied for the reuse of surgical masks towards reducing the plastic wastes.

Diverse Alterations of Glomerular Capillary Networks in Focal Segmental Glomerular Sclerosis.

Introduction: Focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) is caused by podocyte injury. It is characterized by obliteration of glomerular capillary tufts with increased extracellular matrix (ECM). Altered communication between podocytes and glomerular endothelial cells (ECs) contributes to sclerosis progression. We focused on EC injury in the FSGS. Methods: A total of 29 FSGS and 18 control biopsy specimens were assessed for clinicopathologic characteristics. CD34 (a marker for EC)-positive capillaries and ECM accumulation were evaluated quantitatively for each variant using computer-assisted image analysis. Results: The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in the FSGS group was significantly lower than that in the control group. The frequency of FSGS variants was 51.7% for cellular; 13.8% for perihilar (PH), tip, and not otherwise specified (NOS); and 6.9% for collapsing. Regarding sclerotic lesions in all FSGS, narrowing or loss of CD34-positive capillaries was observed. Electron microscopy results showed loss of fenestrae, subendothelial space enlargement, and cytoplasmic swelling, indicating EC injury. Computer-assisted image analysis revealed significantly smaller areas of glomerular capillaries in FSGS with or without sclerotic lesions, with increased ECM. Moreover, in comparison with each variant, narrowed capillaries and ECM accumulation were most prominent in the collapsing variant, whereas the tip variant had the least change. Conclusion: EC injury was observed in all FSGS cases, not only in sclerotic lesions but also in nonsclerotic lesions. Severity of EC injury may vary in each variant due to diverse alterations of glomerular capillary networks.

Importance of frequency and morphological characteristics of nodular diabetic glomerulosclerosis in diabetic nephropathy.

The Renal Pathology Society proposed a pathological classification for diabetic nephropathy (DN) (RPS 2010). We retrospectively examined the renal structural-functional relationships using the RPS 2010 classification in 49 DN cases. We also evaluated the importance of the percentage of glomeruli with nodular diabetic glomerulosclerosis and their morphological characteristics (cellular, cellular and extracellular matrix [ECM] or ECM types) in the pathology of DN. The classes of DN (RPS 2010) were significantly correlated with the duration of diabetes mellitus (DM), degree of proteinuria, a decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and the stages of Japanese clinical DM and chronic kidney disease (CKD). When the percentage of glomeruli with nodular glomerulosclerosis (IIIA <25%, IIIB 25-50%, IIIC 50-75%, and IIID >75%) was added to class III in this classification, the classes of DN had a greater correlation with the levels of proteinuria. The morphological characteristics of nodular glomerulosclerosis such as cellular, cellular and ECM, or ECM type were associated with several clinical parameters including the duration of DM, degree of proteinuria, a decreased eGFR, and/or the stages of clinical DM and CKD. Mesangial red blood cell fragments that is indicative of microvascular injury was found in cellular or cellular and ECM types of nodular glomerulosclerosis. The RPS 2010 classification is useful as a DN pathological classification that indicates a good correlation with the clinical characteristics of DN. In addition, the frequency and morphological characteristics of nodular diabetic glomerulosclerosis is important for the evaluation of the pathology in DN.

Endothelial cell injury in acute and chronic glomerular lesions in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Endothelial cell injury may contribute to the progression of various glomerular diseases. In the present study, we examined glomerular capillary injury in acute and chronic glomerular lesions in patients with Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). We selected renal biopsy samples of IgAN (n = 200), and glomerular capillary injury in the acute and chronic glomerular lesions was assessed using immunohistochemistry for CD34 and electron microscopy. We examined the correlations between acute and chronic glomerular lesions and proteinuria, hematuria, and the renal function. The injured glomerular capillaries in the acute glomerular lesions were characterized morphologically by the separation of CD34+ endothelial cells from the glomerular basement membrane and the loss of glomerular endothelial cells and capillaries, together with inflammatory cell infiltration, fibrin exudation, rupture of the glomerular basement membrane, and/or crescent formation. In addition, the injured capillaries in the chronic glomerular lesions were characterized by the loss of CD34+ glomerular endothelial cells and capillaries exhibiting segmental and global glomerular sclerosis with or without fibrous crescents. In the acute glomerular lesions, the presence of endocapillary hypercellularity, fibrinoid necrosis, and cellular and fibrocellular crescents correlated significantly with hematuria, with or without proteinuria. In the chronic glomerular lesions, a significant relationship was evident between segmental or global sclerosis and proteinuria and/or the serum creatinine level. In conclusion, injuries of glomerular capillaries and the loss of endothelial cells occurred in the acute and chronic glomerular lesions in IgAN and may contribute to the development of hematuria, proteinuria, and renal dysfunction.

Comparison of immunosuppressive therapies for IgA nephropathy after tonsillectomy: three-course versus one-course steroid pulse combined with mizoribine.

PURPOSE: It has been reported that steroid pulse therapy for IgA nephropathy improves renal prognosis. However, because of the side effects, steroid dose must be restricted to some cases. Treatment effects of steroid on cases already presenting with reduced renal function are unknown. In this study, we performed tonsillectomy in patients with IgA nephropathy and conducted a comparative study about subsequent immunosuppressive therapy. METHODS: Subjects were patients younger than 70 years of age diagnosed with IgA nephropathy by renal biopsy. Treatment protocols were a single-course steroid pulse combined with mizoribine during a period from August 2006 to June 2010 (Group A; n = 34) and a three-course steroid pulse during a period from July 2010 to March 2013 (Group B; n = 32). Primary end points were excretory amounts of proteinuria, disappearance of proteinuria and hematuria, and exacerbation of renal function. RESULTS: In both the groups, proteinuria decreased significantly 12 months after treatment, and no significant difference in alleviation effects on proteinuria was found between groups. eGFR increased significantly 12 months after treatment in Group A, whereas it tended to decrease in Group B. As for the preservation effect on eGFR, Group A showed significantly higher preservation of eGFR. Similar results were shown in the patients whose eGFR at the start of the treatment was less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2). CONCLUSIONS: Single-course steroid pulse therapy combined with mizoribine was considered to have a protective effect on the renal function in IgA nephropathy, especially accompanying renal dysfunction.

Glomerular endothelial cell injury and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis lesion in idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) lesions have often been discussed as a negative predictor in idopathic membranous nephropathy (MN). The mechanism of the development of FSGS lesion in MN is still uncertain. METHODS: From 250 cases of MN, 26 cases contained FSGS lesion. We compared the clinicopathological characteristics between MN cases with FSGS lesion [MN-FSGS(+)] and MN without FSGS lesion [MN-FSGS(-)], matched for gender, age, stage of MN. RESULTS: The glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was significantly lower in MN-FSGS(+) cases compared to MN-FSGS(-), although nephrotic syndrome, hematuria, and systolic blood pressure levels were not significantly different between the two groups. Pathologically, glomeruli in MN-FSGS(+) cases showed narrowing and loss of glomerular capillaries with separating from GBM or disappearance of CD34+ endothelial cells, and accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in capillary walls, indicating the development of glomerular capillary injury. These findings of endothelial injury were seen even in MN-FSGS(-) cases, but they were more prominent in MN-FSGS(+) than MN-FSGS(-) by computer assessed morphometric analysis. In MN-FSGS(+) cases, 44 out of 534 glomeruli (8.2%) contained FSGS lesions (n = 31, NOS lesion; n = 13, perihilar lesion). Significant thickness of GBM with ECM accumulation was evident in MN-FSGS(+) cases. Podocyte injury with effacement of foot processes was also noted, but the expression of VEGF on podocytes was not different between the two groups, which suggests that the significant thickness of capillary walls may influence the function of VEGF from podocyte resulting in the glomerular capillary injury that contribute to the development of FSGS lesion in MN. CONCLUSION: Glomerular capillary injury was seen in all MN cases. Furthermore, the prominent injuries of glomerular capillaries may be associated with the deterioration of eGFR and the formation of FSGS lesions in MN.

Extraction of sodium and potassium perchlorates with benzo-18-crown-6 into various organic solvents. Quantitative elucidation of anion effects on the extraction-ability and -selectivity for Na(+) and K(+).

To investigate quantitatively the anion effect on the extraction-ability and -selectivity of benzo-18-crown-6 (B18C6) for alkali metal ions, the constants for overall extraction into various diluents having low dielectric constants (K(ex)) and aqueous ion-pair formation (K(MLA)) of B18C6-sodium and potassium perchlorate 1:1:1 complexes (MLA) were determined at 25 degrees C. The K(ex) value was analyzed by the four fundamental equilibrium constants. The K(MLA) values were determined by applying our established method to this perchlorate extraction system. The K(M(B18C6)A) value of the perchlorate is much larger for K(+) than for Na(+), and is much smaller than that of the picrate. The K(M(B18C6)A) value makes a minor contribution to the magnitude of K(ex) for the perchlorate system, but a major contribution to that for the picrate one. The distribution behavior of the B18C6 1:1:1 complexes with the alkali metal perchlorates follows the regular solution theory. For the diluent with a high dipole moment, however, the 1:1:1 complexes somewhat undergo the dipole-dipole interaction. B18C6 always shows very high extraction selectivity for KClO(4) over NaClO(4), which is determined mostly by the much greater log/(log K(MLA)) value for K(+) than for Na(+). The extraction-ability and -selectivity of B18C6 for Na(+) and K(+) ions with a perchlorate ion were compared with those with a picrate ion in terms of the fundamental equilibrium constants. The K(+) extraction-selectivity of B18C6 over Na(+) for the perchlorate system is superior to that for the picrate one, which is caused largely by the greater log/(log K(K(B18C6)A))-log/(log K(Na(B18C6)A)) value for the perchlorate than for the picrate. The perchlorate system is recommended for extraction separation of K(+) from Na(+).