Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation (RSD) is known to impair learning and memory. Previous studies have demonstrated that RSD induces an impairment of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP). In most of these studies, RSD was set up prior to LTP induction. In this work, we focused on RSD after LTP induction. We investigated the effect of RSD for 24-48 h after induction of LTP in the dentate gyrus on LTP maintenance and whether a REM rebound after 48 h RSD affected LTP. RSD rats were deprived of REM sleep by stroking their backs using a brush, whereas control rats were allowed to sleep freely. Another control group of rats was awoken during non-REM sleep (NRS) under the same conditions (NRS group). REM-deprived rats displayed a faster decay of population spike amplitudes compared with the control and NRS groups over a 24-h recording time. After 48 h RSD, there was no difference in the population spike amplitudes before or after 4 h of release from RSD. These results suggest that REM sleep after LTP induction in the dentate gyrus plays an essential role in LTP maintenance, whereas a REM rebound does not restore the RSD-induced impairment of LTP.

To understand the genetics of steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS), we conducted a genome-wide association study in 987 childhood SSNS patients and 3,206 healthy controls with Japanese ancestry. Beyond known associations in the HLA-DR/DQ region, common variants in NPHS1-KIRREL2 (rs56117924, P[4.94E-20, odds ratio (OR) [1.90)

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although Kupffer cells (Kcs) play an important role in the liver's immune response, their role in colon cancer metastasis to the liver is unclear. We here analyzed the relationship between Kcs and tumor cells (tcs) in colon cancer metastasis to the liver. fischer 344 (f344) rats were divided into control group (Kc+ group) and Kc elimination group (Kc-group), in which Kc elimination was induced by cl 2 MDP liposome injection. rcn-H4 colon cancer cells were injected into the rats of both groups, and the relationship between the two types of cells was observed by intravital microscopy (iVM) for 6 h. Moreover, to investigate the effect of Kcs on liver metastasis formation, Kcs were eliminated at different time points before and after the tc injection. the number of metastatic nodules 2 weeks after the injection was evaluated. in the Kc-group, iVM revealed that the number of adherent tcs had increased 1.5-fold at 6 h after the tc injection as compared with in the Kc+ group. Moreover, in the Kc+ group, 74% of the tcs adhered to the Kcs, and Kc activation and Kc phagocytosis of the tcs were observed. two weeks after the injection, the number of metastatic nodules was significantly increased in rats in which the Kcs had been eliminated before the injection, but not in rats in which the Kcs had been eliminated after the injection. Kc activation and Kc phagocytosis of tcs decreased colon cancer cell metastasis to the liver. Materials and methodsAnimals. Male fischer 344 (f344) rats, weighing 200-250 g, were obtained from clea japan, inc. (tokyo, japan). the animal experiments were carried out in a humane manner after approval was received from the animal experiment committee of the university of tsukuba.Cell lines. rcn-H4 cells (17,18), derived from liver metastasis of an f344 rat colon adenocarcinoma cell line, were provided by the riken cell Bank (ibaraki, japan). the cells were maintained in rPMi-1640 medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fBS, 100 u/ml penicillin g, and 100 g/ml streptomycin in humidified 95% air-5% CO 2 at 37˚C. KC elimination. Kcs were eliminated by use of cl 2 MDP liposomes, as reported by van rooijen et al (19). The Kupffer cells decrease metastasis of colon cancer cells to the liver in the early stageHiDeKi MatSuMura, taDaSHi KonDo, KoicHi ogaWa, taKafuMi taMura, KiyoSHi fuKunaga, SoicHiro Murata and noBuHiro oHKoHcHi

Background Practice patterns and bleeding complications of percutaneous native kidney biopsy (PNKB) have not recently been investigated and the Japanese Society of Nephrology performed a nationwide questionnaire survey in 2018. Methods The survey consisted of nine sections about PNKB: (1) general indications; (2) indications for high-risk patients;(3) informed consent; (4) pre-biopsy evaluation; (5) procedures; (6) sedation; (7) post-biopsy hemostasis, bed rest, and examinations; (8) bleeding complications; and (9) specimen processing. A supplementary survey examined bleeding requiring transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE). Results Overall, 220 directors of facilities (nephrology facility [NF], 168; pediatric nephrology facility [PF], 52) completed the survey. Indications, procedures, and monitoring protocols varied across facilities. Median lengths of hospital stay were 5 days in NFs and 6 days in PFs. Gauge 14, 16, 18 needles were used in 5%, 56%, 33% in NFs and 0%, 63%, 64% in PFs. Mean limits of needle passes were 5 in NFs and 4 in PFs. The bed rest period was 16-24 h in 60% of NFs and 65% of PFs. Based on 17,342 PNKBs, incidence rates of macroscopic hematuria, erythrocyte transfusion, and TAE were 3.1% (NF, 2.8%; PF, 6.2%), 0.7% (NF, 0.8%; PF, 0%), and 0.2% (NF, 0.2%; PF, 0.06%), respectively. Forty-six percent of facilities processed specimens all for light microscopy, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy, and 21% processed for light microscopy only. Timing of bleeding requiring TAE varied among PNKB cases. Conclusion Wide variations in practice patterns of PNKB existed among facilities, while PNKBs were performed as safely as previously reported.

The relationship between the degree of exposure and biological effects of acrylonitrile (AN) was studied in 102 workers whose exposure period exceeded five years, and in 62 matched controls, all of whom had been randomly sampled from six acrylic fibre factories in Japan. The six factories were classified into three groups on the basis of AN concentration at workplaces. The most highly exposed group of subjects showed an eight-hour average AN concentration of 4-2 ppm by personal sampling, a mean urinary AN concentration of 360 tg/l and a mean urinary thiocyanate concentration of 11 4 mg/l. Medical examination, including the indocyanine green excretion test and multiple clinical chemistry determinations, failed to detect any health effect attributable to AN. Slight liver damage may possibly occur in more highly exposed workers. Urinary AN and thiocyanate determinations may provide more accurate estimates of low-grade exposure (less than 5 ppm).

Methamphetamine (MA) abuse induces deficits in cognitive performance that are related to dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The medial portion of the prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in rats that is crucial for cognitive function has been shown to undergo long-term potentiation (LTP) in the projections from the hippocampus. However, no study has been performed to evaluate the influence of MA on synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal-mPFC pathways. In the present experiments, we investigated the effects of repeated MA administration on hippocampal-mPFC LTP, together with MA-induced stereotyped behaviors. Repeated MA administration produced behavioral sensitization and LTP impairment in the hippocampal-mPFC pathways. The MA-induced impairment of hippocampal-mPFC LTP was prevented by the pretreatment of dopamine 1 (D1) but not dopamine 2 (D2) receptor antagonists, while D1 and D2 receptor antagonists attenuated the MA-induced stereotyped behaviors. These findings suggest that D1 receptors are crucial for the MA-induced deterioration of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal-mPFC circuits. Impairment of LTP associated with D1 receptor dysfunction may underlie cognitive deficits in MA-dependent subjects.