Enhancement of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and its electric field-induced change through interface engineering in Cr/Fe/MgO

Recently, perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) and its voltage control (VC) was demonstrated for Cr/Fe/MgO. In this study, we shed light on the origin of large voltage-induced anisotropy change in Cr/Fe/MgO. Analysis of the chemical structure of Cr/Fe/MgO revealed the existence of Cr atoms in the proximity of the Fe/MgO interface, which can affect both magnetic anisotropy (MA) and its VC. We showed that PMA and its VC can be enhanced by controlled Cr doping at the Fe/MgO interface. For Cr/Fe (5.9 Å)/Cr (0.7 Å)/MgO with an effective PMA of 0.8 MJ/m³, a maximum value of the voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) effect of 370 fJ/Vm was demonstrated due to Cr insertion.

Relation between histological prostatitis and lower urinary tract symptoms and erectile function

BACKGROUND

Chronic prostatitis (CP) significantly worsens a patient's quality of life (QOL), but its etiology is heterogeneous. Although the inflammatory process must be associated with CP symptoms, not all patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and histological prostatitis complain of CP symptoms. The relation between the severity of histological inflammation and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and erectile function is not fully understood.

METHODS

This study comprised 26 men with suspected prostate cancer but with no malignant lesion by pathological examination of prostate biopsy specimens. LUTS were assessed by several questionnaires including the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), QOL index, Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), and the National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), and erectile function was assessed by the Sexual Health Inventory for Men. Prostate volume (PV) measured by transabdominal ultrasound, maximum flow rate by uroflowmetry, and serum concentration of prostate-specific antigen were also evaluated. All data collections were performed before prostate biopsy. Histological prostatitis was assessed by immunohistochemical staining with anti-CD45 antibody as the Quick score. The relation between the Quick score and several factors was assessed by Pearson correlation coefficient and a multivariate linear regression model after adjustment for PV.

RESULTS

The Pearson correlation coefficient showed a correlation between the Quick score and several factors including PV, IPSS, QOL index, OABSS, and NIH-CPSI. A multivariate linear regression model after adjustment for PV showed only the NIH-CPSI to be associated with the Quick score. The relation between the Quick score and each domain score of the NIH-CPSI showed only the subscore of urinary symptoms to be an associated factor.

CONCLUSION

We found a correlation only between histological prostatitis and LUTS, but not erectile dysfunction. Especially, the subscore of urinary symptoms (residual feeling and urinary frequency) was associated with histological prostatitis.

Atherosclerosis is associated with erectile function and lower urinary tract symptoms, especially nocturia, in middle-aged men

Background

Atherosclerosis is a systematic disease in which plaque builds up inside the arteries that can lead to serious problems related to quality of life (QOL). Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), erectile dysfunction (ED), and late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) are highly prevalent in aging men and are significantly associated with a reduced QOL. However, few questionnaire-based studies have fully examined the relation between atherosclerosis and several urological symptoms.

Materials and methods

The study comprised 303 outpatients who visited our clinic with symptoms of LOH. Several factors influencing atherosclerosis, including serum concentrations of triglyceride, fasting blood sugar, and total testosterone measured by radioimmunoassay, were investigated. We also measured brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and assessed symptoms by specific questionnaires, including the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM), Erection Hardness Score (EHS), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), QOL index, and Aging Male Symptoms rating scale (AMS). Stepwise associations between the ratio of measured/age standard baPWV and clinical factors including laboratory data and the scores of the questionnaires were compared using the Jonckheere–Terpstra test for trend. The associations between the ratio of measured/age standard baPWV and each IPSS score were assessed in a multivariate linear regression model after adjustment for serum triglyceride, fasting blood sugar, and total testosterone.

Results

Regarding ED, a higher level of the ratio of measured/age standard baPWV was associated with a lower EHS, whereas no association was found with SHIM. Regarding LUTS, a higher ratio of measured/age standard baPWV was associated with a higher IPSS and QOL index. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the ratio of measured/age standard baPWV and AMS. A multivariate linear regression model showed only nocturia to be associated with the ratio of measured/age standard baPWV for each IPSS score.

Conclusion

Atherosclerosis is associated with erectile function and LUTS, especially nocturia.

Observation of perpendicular exchange bias in an Ir-doped Fe2O3/Co ultrathin film system

The perpendicular exchange bias of an Fe₂O₃ thin film coupled with a ferromagnet was observed for the first time.

Genetic variants of Kudoa septempunctata (Myxozoa: Multivalvulida), a flounder parasite causing foodborne disease

Foodborne disease outbreaks caused by raw olive flounders (Paralichthys olivaceus) parasitized with Kudoa septempunctata have been reported in Japan. Origins of olive flounders consumed in Japan vary, being either domestic or imported, and aquaculture-raised or natural. Although it is unknown whether different sources are associated with different outcomes, it is desirable to identify whether this is the case by determining whether unique K. septempunctata strains occur and if so, whether some are associated with foodborne illness. We here developed an intraspecific genotyping method, using the sequence variation of mitochondrial genes. We collected olive flounder samples from foodborne disease outbreaks, domestic fish farms or quarantine offices and investigated whether K. septempunctata genotype is associated with pathogenicity or geographic origin. The 104 samples were classified into three genotypes, ST1, ST2 and ST3. Frequency of symptomatic cases differed by genotypes, but the association was not statistically significant. Whereas K. septempunctata detected from aquaculture-raised and natural fish from Japan were either ST1 or ST2, those from fish inspected at quarantine from Korea to Japan were ST3. Our method can be applied to phylogeographic analysis of K. septempunctata and contribute to containing the foodborne disease. The genotype database is hosted in the PubMLST website (http://pubmlst.org/kseptempunctata/).

A change in objective sleep duration is associated with a change in the serum adiponectin level of women with overweight or obesity undergoing weight loss intervention

BACKGROUND

Although the serum adiponectin level is inversely correlated to body mass index and closely associated with obesity and related diseases, neither the impact of weight loss on the adiponectin level nor other factors that might influence the adiponectin level during weight loss intervention are well documented.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study is to assess the change in the serum adiponectin level during weight loss intervention and to determine if sleep parameters affect the serum adiponectin level.

METHODS

Ninety women with overweight or obesity aged 25 to 65 years completed a 7-month cognitive behavioural therapy based weight loss intervention that included dieting, exercise and stress management. Serum adiponectin level, body fat percent, symptoms of depression and anxiety and objective sleep parameters, assessed by actigraphy, were measured at baseline and at the end of the intervention.

RESULTS

The serum adiponectin level was significantly increased after the weight loss intervention (P < 0.001). In a multiple regression analysis, the change of the adiponectin level was positively associated with the magnitude of body fat loss (β = -0.317, P < 0.001) and an increase of sleep minutes (β = 0.210, P = 0.043).

CONCLUSION

An increase in objective sleep duration was related to a significantly increased serum adiponectin level independently of the change of body fat during the weight loss intervention.

ABO-Incompatible Living Kidney Transplants: Evolution of Outcomes and Immunosuppressive Management

ABO-incompatible living kidney transplantation (ABO-ILKT) has steadily become more widespread. However, the optimal immunosuppressive regimen for ABO-ILKT remains uncertain. We aimed to determine the longitudinal changes in the outcomes from ABO-ILKT compared with those from ABO-compatible living kidney transplantation (ABO-CLKT) over the last 25 years. Of 1195 patients who underwent living kidney transplantations (LKT) at our institute between 1989 and 2013, 1032-including 247 ABO-ILKT and 785 ABO-CLKT cases-were evaluated for graft survival, patient survival, infectious adverse events, and renal function. The patients were divided into four groups according to the transplantation era and ABO-compatibility. In the past decade, ABO-ILKT and ABO-CLKT recipients yielded almost equivalent outcomes with respect to the 9-year graft survival rates, which were 86.9% and 92.0%, respectively (hazard ratio [HR] 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59-3.22, p = 0.455). The graft survival rate for ABO-ILKT conducted between 2005 and 2013 was better than that for ABO-ILKT conducted between 1998 and 2004 (HR 0.30, 95% CI 0.13-0.72, p = 0.007). ABO-ILKT recipients showed substantial improvements in the graft survival rate over time. Graft survival was almost identical over the past decade, regardless of ABO-incompatibility. Currently, ABO-ILKT is an acceptable treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease.

Postoperative rebound of antiblood type antibodies and antibody-mediated rejection after ABO-incompatible living-related kidney transplantation

The purpose of this study is to examine whether postoperative antiblood type antibody rebound is attributed to kidney allograft rejection in ABO blood type-incompatible (ABO-I) living-related kidney transplantation (KTx). A total of 191 ABO-I recipients who received ABO-I living-related KTx between 2001 and 2013 were divided into two groups: Group 1 consisted of low rebound [(≦1:32), N = 170] and Group 2 consisted of high rebound [(≧1:64), N = 21], according to the levels of the rebounded antiblood type antibodies within 1 year after transplantation. No prophylactic treatment for rejection was administered for elevated antiblood type antibodies, regardless of the levels of the rebounded antibodies. Within 1 year after transplantation, T-cell-mediated rejection was observed in 13 of 170 recipients (13/170, 8%) in Group 1 and in 2 of 21 recipients (2/21, 10%) in Group 2 (Groups 1 vs. 2, P = 0.432). Antibody-mediated rejection was observed in 15 of 170 recipients (15/170, 9%) and 2 of 21 recipients (2/21, 10%) in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.898). In this study, we found no correlation between the postoperative antiblood type antibody rebound and the incidence of acute rejection. We concluded that no treatment is necessary for rebounded antiblood type antibodies.

Influence of preoperative anti-HLA antibodies on short- and long-term graft survival in recipients with or without rituximab treatment

We investigated the relationship between preoperative anti-HLA antibodies (donor-specific antibody, DSA) and the graft survival rate in recipients who had or had not received rituximab (Rit) treatment. The subjects were categorized into four groups as follows: DSA+Rit-, n = 39; DSA-Rit-, n = 121; DSA+Rit+, n = 74; and DSA-Rit+, n = 47. We examined the influence of preoperative DSA on the incidence of graft rejection and the survival rate of recipients who had or who had not received rituximab before transplantation. The 6-month acute rejection rates based on graft biopsies were 39%, 19%, 15%, and 0% for the DSA+Rit-, DSA-Rit-, DSA+Rit+, and DSA-Rit+ groups. The rates of chronic antibody-mediated rejection after more than 6 months were 50%, 22%, 18%, and 0%. The 5-year graft survival rate was significantly lower in the DSA+Rit- group (84%) than in the other groups (95% for DSA-Rit-, 98% for DSA+Rit+, and 91% for DSA-Rit+). The rate of the appearance of de novo anti-HLA antibodies was higher in the groups that did not receive rituximab treatment. The rate of graft loss associated with chronic antibody-mediated rejection was also higher in the DSA+Rit- group than in the other groups (P = 0.01). The presence of DSA and the administration of rituximab had strong impacts on not only short-term graft rejection, but also long-term graft rejection and its association with the graft survival time.

Renal sinus exposure as an independent factor predicting asymptomatic unruptured pseudoaneurysm formation detected in the early postoperative period after minimally invasive partial nephrectomy

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the incidence of asymptomatic unruptured renal artery pseudoaneurysm detected by 3-D computed tomography arteriography in the early period after minimally invasive partial nephrectomy, including laparoscopic and robotic partial nephrectomy.

METHODS

From February 2012 to November 2013, 101 patients underwent minimally invasive partial nephrectomy for renal masses. Computed tomography arteriography was carried out 3-4 days after surgery; radiologists diagnosed renal artery pseudoaneurysm in a blinded manner. Factors influencing the occurrence of renal artery pseudoaneurysm were analyzed with the logistic regression model.

RESULTS

The incidence of renal artery pseudoaneurysm was unexpectedly high at 21.7% when detected by computed tomography arteriography during the early period after minimally invasive partial nephrectomy. The renal artery pseudoaneurysm group showed a significantly larger tumor size (P = 0.02), significantly higher N component score (P = 0.01) and higher incidence of renal sinus exposure or opening of the collecting system (P < 0.01) compared with the no renal artery pseudoaneurysm group. Although these aforementioned factors were found to be significant by univariate analysis, multivariate analysis showed that renal sinus exposure was the only significant independent predictive factor for occurrence of renal artery pseudoaneurysm. Tumor-related factors, such as the N component of the nephrometry scoring system or tumor size, did not show an independent influence on the occurrence of renal artery pseudoaneurysm.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study shows an unexpectedly high incidence of asymptomatic unruptured renal artery pseudoaneurysm detected by computed tomography arteriography in the early period after minimally invasive partial nephrectomy. Renal sinus exposure is an independent significant factor predicting the occurrence of renal artery pseudoaneurysm. Avoidance of deep excision into the renal sinus could reduce the risk of renal artery pseudoaneurysm.

Clinical and pathological analyses of transplant glomerulopathy cases

AIM

Transplant glomerulopathy (TG) is included as one of the criteria of chronic active antibody-mediated rejection (c-AMR) in Banff 09 classification. In this report, we discuss the clinical and pathological analyses of cases of TG after renal transplantation.

PATIENTS

TG was diagnosed in 86 renal allograft biopsy specimens (BS) obtained from 50 renal transplant patients followed up at our institute between January 2006 and October 2012. We retrospectively reviewed the data of these 86 BS and 50 patients.

RESULTS

Among the 50 patients, 42 (84%) had a history of acute rejection (AR); of these, 30 (60%) had acute antibody-mediated rejection (a-AMR). Among the 86 BS of TG, the TG was mild in 35 cases (cg1 in Banff classification), moderate in 28 cases (cg2) and severe in 23 cases (cg3). Peritubular capillaritis was present in 74 BS (86%), transplant glomerulitis in 65 (76%), interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IF/TA) in 71 (83%), thickening of the peritubular capillary (PTC) basement membrane in 72 (84%), and interstitial inflammation in 40 (47%). C4d deposition in the PTC was present in 49 BS (57%); 39 of these 49 BS showed diffuse C4d deposits in the PTC (C4d3), while the remaining 10 BS showed focal deposits (C4d2). Diffuse C4d deposition in the glomerular capillaries (GC) was seen in 70 BS (81%), while focal C4d deposition in the GC was seen in 9 (11%). In the assay using plastic beads coated with HLA antigen performed in 67 serum samples obtained in the peri-biopsy period, circulating ant-HLA alloantibody was detected in 55 (82%); in 33 of the 55 (49%) samples, donor-specific antibodies (DSA) were detected. Among our study, the findings in 22 BS (26%) fully met the criteria for c-AMR in Banff '09 classification, including TG, C4d deposition in the PTC and presence of DSA, while those in 27 BS were suspicious of c-AMR. Deterioration of the renal allograft function after the biopsies was seen in 31 patients (62%), of which 11 lost their graft.

CONCLUSIONS

We suggest that histopathological changes of transplant glomerulopathy might be accompanied by inflammation of the microvasculature, such as transplant glomerulitis and peritubular capillaritis, thickening of the peritubular capillary basement membrane, and circulating anti-HLA antibodies. C4d deposition in the PTC is not always present in biopsy specimens of TG. We speculated that C4d deposition in the GC, rather than that in the PTC might be a more characteristic manifestation of TG. Many of the patients with TG had a history of AR. Anti-HLA antibody Class II, particularly when the antibody was DSA Class II, appeared to be associated with the development of TG. The prognosis of grafts exhibiting TG was not too good even under the currently used immunosuppressive protocol.

Higher sleep fragmentation predicts a lower magnitude of weight loss in overweight and obese women participating in a weight-loss intervention

Background:

Sleep has been identified as having an influence on the success of weight-loss interventions; however, knowledge of the mechanisms and the extent to which sleep disturbances affect the magnitude of weight reduction is inconclusive.

Objective:

To determine if sleep duration and quality can predict the magnitude of weight reduction in a weight-loss intervention program for overweight and obese women.

Methods:

Ninety overweight and obese women aged 25–65 years completed the 7-month weight-loss phase of our weight-loss intervention. Sleep duration and quality were evaluated before the intervention by the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a self-report questionnaire, and by actigraphy. Serum levels of ghrelin, leptin, cortisol and insulin also were measured at baseline. Insulin resistance was measured by the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

Results:

The mean reduction rate of body mass index (BMI) after the intervention was 13.6%. Multiple linear regression revealed that the number of wake episodes (WEs) per night had a significant relationship with the reduction of BMI even after adjusting for other clinical variables (β=−0.341, P=0.001). The participants with five or more WEs per night (high-WE group) had a significantly lower reduction in BMI compared with those with fewer than five (normal-WE group), after adjusting for confounding variables. In contrast, the PSQI-assessed parameters, reflecting the subjective assessments of sleep quality and duration, failed to detect an association with the reduction in BMI. Baseline HOMA-IR was significantly higher in the high-WE group than in the normal-WE group after adjusting for confounding variables.

Conclusions:

Higher sleep fragmentation, as manifested by the increased number of WEs, predicts a lower magnitude of weight reduction in persons participating in weight-loss programs.

Novel CD8 T cell alloreactivities in CCR5-deficient recipients of class II MHC disparate kidney grafts

Recipient CD4 T regulatory cells inhibit the acute T cell-mediated rejection of renal allografts in wild-type mice. The survival of single class II MHC-disparate H-2(bm12) renal allografts was tested in B6.CCR5(-/-) recipients, which have defects in T regulatory cell activities that constrain alloimmune responses. In contrast to wild-type C57BL/6 recipients, B6.CCR5(-/-) recipients rejected the bm12 renal allografts. However, donor-reactive CD8 T cells rather than CD4 T cells were the primary effector T cells mediating rejection. The CD8 T cells induced to bm12 allografts in CCR5-deficient recipients were reactive to peptides spanning the 3 aa difference in the I-A(bm12) versus I-A(b) β-chains presented by K(b) and D(b) class I MHC molecules. Allograft-primed CD8 T cells from CCR5-deficient allograft recipients were activated during culture either with proinflammatory cytokine-stimulated wild-type endothelial cells pulsed with the I-A(bm12) peptides or with proinflammatory cytokine-simulated bm12 endothelial cells, indicating their presentation of the I-A(bm12) β-chain peptide/class I MHC complexes. In addition to induction by bm12 renal allografts, the I-A(bm12) β-chain-reactive CD8 T cells were induced in CCR5-deficient, but not wild-type C57BL/6, mice by immunization with the peptides. These results reveal novel alloreactive CD8 T cell specificities in CCR5-deficient recipients of single class II MHC renal allografts that mediate rejection of the allografts.