BackgroundChronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) can be classified into CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP). CRSwNP displays more intense eosinophilic infiltration and the presence of Th2 cytokines. Mucosal eosinophilia is associated with more severe symptoms and often requires multiple surgeries because of recurrence; however, even in eosinophilic CRS (ECRS), clinical course is variable. In this study, we wanted to set objective clinical criteria for the diagnosis of refractory CRS.MethodsThis was a retrospective study conducted by 15 institutions participating in the Japanese Epidemiological Survey of Refractory Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis (JESREC). We evaluated patients with CRS treated with endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), and risk of recurrence was estimated using Cox proportional hazard models. Multiple logistic regression models and receiver operating characteristics curves were constructed to create the diagnostic criterion for ECRS.ResultsWe analyzed 1716 patients treated with ESS. To diagnose ECRS, the JESREC scoring system assessed unilateral or bilateral disease, the presence of nasal polyps, blood eosinophilia, and dominant shadow of ethmoid sinuses in computed tomography (CT) scans. The cutoff value of the score was 11 points (sensitivity: 83%, specificity: 66%). Blood eosinophilia (>5%), ethmoid sinus disease detected by CT scan, bronchial asthma, aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs intolerance were associated significantly with recurrence.ConclusionWe subdivided CRSwNP in non‐ECRS, mild, moderate, and severe ECRS according to our algorithm. This classification was significantly correlated with prognosis. It is notable that this algorithm may give useful information to clinicians in the refractoriness of CRS before ESS or biopsy.
Objective. To regenerate permanent cartilage, it is crucial to know not only the necessary conditions for chondrogenesis, but also the sufficient conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the signal sufficient for chondrogenesis.Methods. Embryonic stem cells that had been engineered to fluoresce upon chondrocyte differentiation were treated with combinations of factors necessary for chondrogenesis, and chondrocyte differentiation was detected as fluorescence. We screened for the combination that could induce fluorescence within 3 days. Then, primary mesenchymal stem cells, nonchondrogenic immortalized cell lines, and primary dermal fibroblasts were treated with the combination, and the induction of chondrocyte differentiation was assessed by detecting the expression of the cartilage marker genes and the accumulation of proteoglycan-rich matrix. The effects of monolayer, spheroid, and 3-dimensional culture systems on induction by combinations of transcription factors were compared. The effects of the combination on hypertrophic and osteoblastic differentiation were evaluated by detecting the expression of the characteristic marker genes.Results. No single factor induced fluorescence. Among various combinations examined, only the SOX5, SOX6, and SOX9 combination (the SOX trio) induced fluorescence within 3 days. The SOX trio successfully induced chondrocyte differentiation in all cell types tested, including nonchondrogenic types, and the induction occurred regardless of the culture system used. Contrary to the conventional chondrogenic techniques, the SOX trio suppressed hypertrophic and osteogenic differentiation at the same time.Conclusion. These data strongly suggest that the SOX trio provides signals sufficient for the induction of permanent cartilage.Utilizing the differentiation and proliferation capabilities of stem cells, regenerative medicine attempts to treat irreversible organ failures that cannot be dealt with by conventional medical treatment. In the skeletal area, cartilage has a relatively poor regenerative capacity and, thus, may benefit most from regenerative medicine. Conditions such as osteoarthritis and congenital skeletal defects are apparent targets that have great medical and socioeconomic impact. To make cartilage regenerative medicine a reality, it is essential to know the conditions that are both necessary and sufficient for chondrogenesis.A number of factors have been shown to be vital for chondrogenesis. These factors include the sexdetermining region Y-type high mobility group box (SOX) family of transcription factors (1), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) (2), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) (3), Indian hedgehog (IHH) (4), bone morphoDr. Ikegawa
In an attempt to find a suitable freezing method for goat semen, two experiments were conducted to study the influence of trehalose on the cryopreservation of goat spermatozoa. In experiment 1, goat spermatozoa were frozen in trehalose extender (0.375 M) alone (100%) or at different combinations of trehalose with Tris-citric acid-glucose (TCG) extender (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%). Final concentrations of 20% (v:v) egg yolk and 4% (v:v) glycerol were employed in the extenders (osmolality = 370, pH = 7). Sperm motility was assessed using a computer-assisted sperm analysis system and acrosome integrity was assessed using fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled peanut agglutinin (FITC-PNA). The sperm-motility parameters improved significantly by increasing the concentration of trehalose (P < 0.05) and significantly high recovery rates for the motility parameters were also achieved by a high concentration of trehalose (P < 0.05). Motility of the frozen-thawed spermatozoa after a 3-h incubation improved significantly with increasing concentrations of trehalose in the extender (P < 0.05). The 75% and 100% trehalose extenders yielded a significant increase in the percentage of spermatozoa with intact acrosome (P < 0.05). In experiment 2, merocyanine 540/Yo-Pro staining was used to study the influence of trehalose on membrane fluidity compared with that of sucrose and TCG. Percentage of cells with high merocyanine fluorescence was significantly higher in spermatozoa treated with trehalose than sucrose or TCG (P < 0.05), indicating a significantly highest membrane fluidity of sperm samples extended with trehalose solution. We thus conclude that the substitution of a Tris-citric acid diluent composition with trehalose significantly improves the freezability of goat spermatozoa. Furthermore, the cryoprotective effects of trehalose observed in this study may be due to enhanced sperm membrane fluidity before freezing.
In human proximal tubules, organic cations are taken up from blood into cells by human organic cation transporter 2 [hOCT2/ solute carrier (SLC) 22A2] and then eliminated into the lumen by apical H ϩ /organic cation antiporters, human multidrug and toxin extrusion 1 (hMATE1/SLC47A1) and hMATE2-K (SLC47A2). To evaluate drug interactions of cationic drugs in the secretion process, epithelial cells engineered to express both hOCT2 and hMATE transporters are required to simultaneously evaluate drug interactions with renal basolateral and apical organic cation transporters. In the present study, therefore, we assessed the drug interaction between cimetidine and metformin with double-trans- ]metformin from the basolateral side, suggesting that cimetidine at a low concentration inhibits apical hMATE1, rather than basolateral hOCT2. Actually, in concentration-dependent inhibition studies by a single transporter expression system, such as human embryonic kidney 293 stably expressing hMATE1, hMATE2-K, or hOCT2, cimetidine showed higher affinity for hMATEs than for hOCT2. These results suggest that apical hMATE1 is involved in drug interactions between cimetidine and cationic compounds in the proximal tubular epithelial cells.
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