Mild electrical stimulation with heat shock reduces inflammatory symptoms in the imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse model

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease caused by immune disorder. The chronic skin inflammation involves inflammatory molecules that are released from T lymphocytes and keratinocytes. Therefore, developing an anti-inflammatory therapy that is suitable for long-term treatment is needed. Electrical stimulation induces biological responses by modulating intracellular signaling pathways. Our previous studies showed that the optimized combination treatment of mild electrical stimulation (MES, 0.1-millisecond; ms, 55-pulses per second; pps) and heat shock (HS, 42°C) modulates inflammatory symptoms of metabolic disorders and chronic kidney disease in mice models and clinical trials. Here, we investigated the effect of MES+HS treatment on imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse model. Topical application of imiquimod cream (15 mg) to mice ear induced keratinocyte hyperproliferation and psoriasis-like inflammation. In MES+HS-treated mice, imiquimod-induced skin hyperplasia was significantly decreased. MES+HS treatment reduced the protein expression of IL-17A and the infiltration of CD3-positive cells in lesioned skin. In addition, MES+HS-treated mice had decreased mRNA expression level of antimicrobial molecules (S100A8 and Reg3γ) which aggravate psoriasis. In IL-17A-stimulated HaCaT cells, MES+HS treatment significantly lowered the mRNA expression of aggravation markers (S100A8, S100A9 and β-defensin2). Taken together, our study suggested that MES+HS treatment improves the pathology of psoriasis via decreasing the expression of inflammatory molecules.

Trend in unequal geographical distribution of doctors by age and sex in Japan from 2004 to 2014

OBJECTIVES

In Japan, the proportion of female doctors and elderly doctors is increasing as in other countries. We investigated the relationship between doctors' demographic changes and their geographical distribution.

STUDY DESIGN

A national database study.

METHODS

We assessed trends in unequal geographical distribution of the number of doctors by sex and age from 2004 to 2014 in Japan.

RESULTS

The Gini coefficient values for the number of female doctors (0.18) were larger than those for male doctors across all generations (0.13-0.14). The Gini coefficient values for the number of elderly doctors aged 60 years and older (male: 0.12, female: 0.18-0.23) were larger than those for majority age groups aged 40-59 years (male: 0.10, female: 0.16-0.17).

CONCLUSION

The persisting geographical maldistribution of doctors may be associated with demographic changes, such as increase in the number of female doctors.

The correlation between Salter's criteria for avascular necrosis of the femoral head and Kalamchi's prognostic classification following the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip

AIMS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between Salter's criteria and Kalamchi's classification of avascular necrosis in patients treated for developmental dysphasia of the hip (DDH).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study involved a retrospective analysis of 123 patients (123 hips) with DDH treated by operative and non-operative reduction before the age of two years, with a minimum follow-up of ten years. Salter's criteria (S1 to S4) were determined from radiographs obtained at one to two years post-reduction, whilst the Kalamchi grade was determined from radiographs obtained at ten or more years of age. Early post-reduction radiographs were also used to evaluate the centre-head distance discrepancy (CHDD) and the occurrence of a dome-shaped deformity of the proximal femoral metaphysis (D-shaped metaphysis). The prognosis was described as good (Kalamchi grade K0 or KI), fair (Kalamchi grade KII) or poor (Kalamchi grade KIII or KIV) for analysis and correlation with the early Salter criteria, CHDD and D-shaped metaphysis.

RESULTS

S1 and S2 criteria were predictive of a poor prognosis. The outcome following S3, S4 and S3 + S4 varied; 18 (40%) had a good prognosis, 17 (38%) a fair prognosis and ten (22%) a poor prognosis. A CHDD ≥ 10% and a D-shaped metaphysis were also predictive of a poor prognosis.

CONCLUSION

The Salter criteria were predictive of the Kalamchi grade of avascular necrosis in patients with DDH aged ten or more years after reduction of the hip. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:1115-20.

Association Between the Fertile Period and Live Birth Post-Kidney Transplantation: A Retrospective Single-Center Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Despite restoration of fertility after kidney transplantation, the benefit is limited in female kidney recipients. Our objective is to determine the reasons for this discrepancy.

METHODS

We evaluated 315 women who underwent kidney transplantation from 1983 to 2015 (a median of age at transplantation [10th-90th percentile] of 32 years [7-55 years]); 230 recipients between the ages of 15 to 49 years old as of March 2016 were observed.

RESULTS

We experienced 10 abortions and 21 live births from our 23 recipients and 2 abortions and 7 live births in 7 recipients from other transplant center. The live birth rate was 8.9 per 1000 female transplant recipients of childbearing age. Seven recipients received either treatments of artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization. Average age at pregnancy was 33.2 ± 3.2 years old, and the fertile period post-transplantation was longer in recipients with live births than those without live births (14.1 ± 7.1 vs 9.9 ± 7.3 years, P < .05). In 42.9% of recipients with live birth, pregnancy-induced hypertension was observed in the last trimester. The gestational age and the average birth weight were 32.8 ± 5.0 months and 2184 ± 632 g, respectively. During follow-up of 14.5 years, there was one case of graft loss, which is a rate of 2.5 per 1000 female recipients.

CONCLUSION

Although pregnancy complications are often observed in kidney recipients, graft survival is less influenced by pregnancy. Importantly, kidney disease at childbearing age disrupts pregnancy even after kidney transplantation.

Molecular cloning, polymorphism, and functional activity of the bovine and water buffalo Mx2 gene promoter region

Background

Bovine Mx2 gene sequences were already reported, but further information about the gene properties is not yet available. The objective of the current study was to elucidate the structural properties of the bovine Mx2 gene mainly the promoter region and its possible functional role. If available, such information would help in assessing the functional properties of the gene, which was reported to confer antiviral action against recombinant VSV.

Results

Examinations on the bovine genomic BAC clone—confirmed to contain the Mx2 gene—revealed 883-bp sequences. A computer scan unequivocally identified a 788-bp promoter region containing a typical TATA box, three ISREs and other promoter-specific motifs. Comparative analysis of nine bovine genomic DNA samples showed 19 nucleotide substitutions suggesting the existence of five different genotypes in the promoter region. The water buffalo Mx2 promoter region was determined by using primers based on the bovine Mx2 promoter region disclosing 893-bp, with 56 substitutions, two insertions, 9 and 1 nt at two different sites. A functional analysis of the putative ISRE indicated that ISRE played a synergetic role in the activation of bovine Mx2 gene transcription.

Conclusion

Bovine and water buffalo Mx2 promoter region was identified disclosing, the conserved ISRE, located in the proximal end of the promoter region like other members of the antiviral family, suggesting functional activity under interferon stimulation.

Clinical features and treatment of patients with esophageal cancer and a history of gastrectomy: a multicenter, questionnaire survey in Kyushu, Japan

It is still controversial whether patients with a history of gastrectomy have high risk of esophageal carcinogenesis. On the other hand, the treatment strategy for esophageal cancer patients after gastrectomy is complicated. The association between histories of gastrectomy and esophageal carcinogenesis was retrospectively analyzed, and the treatment of esophageal cancer patients after gastrectomy was evaluated based on questionnaire data collected from multiple centers in Kyushu, Japan. The initial subject population comprised 205 esophageal cancer patients after gastrectomy. Among them, 108 patients underwent curative surgical treatment, and 70 patients underwent chemoradiation therapy (CRT). The time between gastrectomy and esophageal cancer development was longer in peptic ulcer patients (28.3 years) than in gastric cancer patients (9.6 years). There were no differences in the location of esophageal cancer according to the gastrectomy reconstruction method. There were no significant differences in the clinical background characteristics between patients with and without a history of gastrectomy. Among the 108 patients in the surgery group, the 5-year overall survival rates for stages I (n = 30), II (n = 18), and III (n = 60) were 68.2%, 62.9%, and 32.1%, respectively. In the CRT group, the 5-year overall survival rate of stage I (n = 29) was 82.6%, but there were no 5-year survivors in other stages. The 5-year overall survival rate of patients with CR (n = 33) or salvage surgery (n = 10) was 61.2% or 36%, respectively. For the treatment of gastrectomized esophageal cancer patients, surgery or CRT is recommended for stage I, and surgery with or without adjuvant therapy is the main central treatment in advanced stages, with surgery for stage II, neoadjuvant therapy + surgery for stage III, and CRT + salvage surgery for any stage, if the patient's condition permits.

Resveratrol directly targets DDX5 resulting in suppression of the mTORC1 pathway in prostate cancer

Resveratrol has various attractive bioactivities, such as prevention of cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and obesity-related diseases. Therefore, identifying its direct binding proteins is expected to discover druggable targets. Sirtuin 1 and phosphodiesterases have so far been found as the direct molecular targets of resveratrol. We herein identified 11 novel resveratrol-binding proteins, including the DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box helicase 5 (DDX5, also known as p68), using resveratrol-immobilized beads. Treatment with resveratrol induced degradation of DDX5 in prostate cancer cells. Depletion of DDX5 caused apoptosis by inhibiting mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling. Moreover, knockdown of DDX5 attenuated the inhibitory activities of resveratrol against mTORC1 signaling and cancer cell growth. These data show that resveratrol directly targets DDX5 and induces cancer cell death by inhibiting the mTORC1 pathway.