Negative correlation between phospholipase and esterase activity produced by Fusarium isolates

Fusarium species have emerged as one of the more outstanding groups of clinically important filamentous fungi, causing localized and life-threatening invasive infections with high morbidity and mortality. The ability to produce different types of hydrolytic enzymes is thought to be an important virulence mechanism of fungal pathogens and could be associated with the environment of the microorganism. Here, we have measured the production of two distinct lipolytic enzymes, phospholipase and esterase, by sixteen Fusarium isolates recovered from the hospital environment, immunocompromised patients' blood cultures, foot interdigital space scrapings from immunocompromised patients, and foot interdigital space scrapings from immunocompetent patients (4 isolates each). Fourteen of these 16 isolates were identified as Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) and two were identified as F. oxysporum species complex (FOSC). Some relevant genus characteristics were visualized by light and electron microscopy such as curved and multicelled macroconidia with 3 or 4 septa, microconidia, phialides, and abundant chlamydospores. All Fusarium isolates were able to produce esterase and phospholipase under the experimental conditions. However, a negative correlation was observed between these two enzymes, indicating that a Fusarium isolate with high phospholipase activity has low esterase activity and vice versa. In addition, Fusarium isolated from clinical material produced more phospholipases, while environmental strains produced more esterases. These observations may be correlated with the different types of substrates that these fungi need to degrade during their nutrition processes.

Superconductivity induced by longitudinal ferromagnetic fluctuations in UCoGe

From detailed angle-resolved NMR and Meissner measurements on a ferromagnetic (FM) superconductor UCoGe (T(Curie)∼2.5  K and T(SC)∼0.6  K), we show that superconductivity in UCoGe is tightly coupled with longitudinal FM spin fluctuations along the c axis. We found that magnetic fields along the c axis (H∥c) strongly suppress the FM fluctuations and that the superconductivity is observed in the limited magnetic-field region where the longitudinal FM spin fluctuations are active. These results, combined with model calculations, strongly suggest that the longitudinal FM spin fluctuations tuned by H∥c induce the unique spin-triplet superconductivity in UCoGe. This is the first clear example that FM fluctuations are intimately related with superconductivity.

Metamagnetic behavior and Kondo breakdown in heavy-fermion CeFePO

We report that nonmagnetic heavy-fermion (HF) iron oxypnictide CeFePO with two-dimensional XY-type anisotropy shows a metamagnetic behavior at the metamagnetic field H(M)≃4  T perpendicular to the c axis and that a critical behavior is observed around H(M). Although the magnetic character is entirely different from that in other Ce-based HF metamagnets, H(M) in these metamagnets is linearly proportional to the inverse of the effective mass, or to the temperature where the susceptibility shows a peak. This finding suggests that H(M) is a magnetic field breaking the local Kondo singlet, and the critical behavior around H(M) is driven by the Kondo breakdown accompanied by the Fermi-surface instability.

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of the combination of gemcitabine and nedaplatin for elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to retrospectively assess the safety and efficacy of the combination of gemcitabine and nedaplatin in elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

Patients ≥75 years with previously untreated NSCLC who underwent chemotherapy consisting of gemcitabine (800 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8) and nedaplatin (80 mg/m(2) on day 1) every 3 weeks were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

Of the 35 patients, 28 were men and 7 were women, with a mean age of 78 years (range 75-87); 10 patients had stage IIIB disease and 25 patients had stage IV disease. The overall response rate was 45.7% (95% confidence interval 28.8-63.4). The median survival time was 14 months (range 3-44). Grade 3-4 toxicities included neutropenia in 74.3%, thrombocytopenia in 48.6%, anemia in 34.3%, hepatic dysfunction in 11.4%, and infection in 2.9%. There were no treatment-related deaths. There were no differences in response rate and survival between patients aged 75-79 years and patients ≥80 years, although grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia and anemia were significantly more frequent in patients ≥80 years.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the combination of gemcitabine and nedaplatin is effective and well tolerated for selected elderly patients with advanced NSCLC.

Superelastic effect in polycrystalline ferrous alloys

In superelastic alloys, large deformation can revert to a memorized shape after removing the stress. However, the stress increases with increasing temperature, which limits the practical use over a wide temperature range. Polycrystalline Fe-Mn-Al-Ni shape memory alloys show a small temperature dependence of the superelastic stress because of a small transformation entropy change brought about by a magnetic contribution to the Gibbs energies. For one alloy composition, the superelastic stress varies by 0.53 megapascal/°C over a temperature range from -196 to 240°C.

Identification of chemosensitivity markers for postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy using cellular, molecular, and immunohistochemical profiles of advanced carcinomas from gastrointestinal tract

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Background: The prediction of chemotherapeutic efficacy is a fundamental problem. We have developed an effective system to identify prediction markers based on an in vitro approach using a quantitative matrix of chemosensitivity assay (CSA) and protein expression by reverse-phase protein lysate microarrays (RPA), followed by tissue microarrays (TMA). In the present study, we attempted to identify predictive markers by extracting candidate proteins from the “chemosensitivity x protein expression matrix” of 12 cancer cell lines and 12 chemotherapeutic agents, followed by examination using TMA in post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced gastric and colorectal carcinomas.

Methods: The “chemosensitivity x protein expression matrix” was constructed using quantitative data from CSA and RPA. TMA was constructed from parafin-embedded, formalin-fixed surgically removed tissues from 30 gastric and 49 colorectal carcinomas. All subjects had received post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy. Expression and/or localization of candidate marker proteins on TMA were evaluated for the comparison of time to relapse (TTR) between the groups based on the score of each candidate marker protein.

Results: TTR was compared in each binary score for a candidate marker that showed a moderate to high correlation coefficient of the “chemosensitivity x protein expression matrix” of 144 combinations. Among these candidate combinations, it was found that the presence/absence of NFkB protein nuclear localization and the TTR of those patients who received 5-FU based adjuvant chemotherapy differed significantly. The three-year relapse rate was 28% in NFkB absent cases, whereas it was 84% in the present cases.

Conclusions: We identified NFkB nuclear localization as an effective 5-FU based chemotherapeutic prediction marker in the context of gastrointestinal post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy. The combination of CSA, RPA, and TMA technologies may allow rapid identification of chemotherapeutic prediction markers.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Anisotropic magnetic fluctuations in the ferromagnetic superconductor UCoGe studied by direction-dependent 59Co NMR measurements

We have carried out direction-dependent 59Co NMR experiments on a single crystal sample of the ferromagnetic superconductor UCoGe in order to study the magnetic properties in the normal state. The Knight-shift and nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate measurements provide microscopic evidence that both static and dynamic susceptibilities are ferromagnetic with strong Ising anisotropy. We discuss that superconductivity induced by these magnetic fluctuations prefers spin-triplet pairing state.

Serological survey of Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection in Japanese dogs

Antibodies to Encephalitozoon cuniculi were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using E. cuniculi PTP2 recombinant protein and by Western blot analysis on a total of 472 dog serum samples that had been collected in Japan. Of these samples, 21.8% (103/472) had antibodies against E. cuniculi. Each of 5 serum samples that showed high (>1.0) or low (<0.1) OD value was selected randomly and further examined by Western blot using E. cuniculi-native antigens. All samples with high OD values reacted with specific E. cuniculi proteins, including an antigen of approximately 35 kDa corresponding with PTP2; sera with low OD values did not recognize this E. cuniculi band. This study is the first to demonstrate the prevalence of E. cuniculi infection in dogs in Japan.

Unconventional superconductivity and antiferromagnetic quantum critical behavior in the isovalent-doped BaFe2(As1-xPx)2

Spin dynamics evolution of BaFe2(As(1-x)Px){2} was probed as a function of P concentration via 31P NMR. Our NMR study reveals that two-dimensional antiferromagnetic (AF) fluctuations are notably enhanced with little change in static susceptibility on approaching the AF phase from the superconducting dome. Moreover, the magnetically ordered temperature θ deduced from the relaxation rate vanishes at optimal doping. These results provide clear-cut evidence for a quantum-critical point, suggesting that the AF fluctuations associated with the quantum-critical point play a central role in the high-T(c) superconductivity.

Glutamate exocrine dynamics augmented by plasma glutamine and the distribution of amino acid transporters of the rat pancreas

The nutritional and physiological roles of amino acid (AA)s have been investigated for individual organs. In the current study, we focused on the dynamics of glutamate and transport systems in the pancreas. We employed original procedures to obtain rat pancreatic juice (PJ) subjected to intravenous administration of alanyl-glutamine (AG) for AA analysis. The pancreatic expressions of the transporters were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. We found that glutamate was secreted into the PJ in the basal state. The intravenous administration of AG increased the concentration and total amount of glutamate excreted into the PJ. In terms of the transport systems, L-type AA transporter (LAT1) was identified exclusively in the islet cells. Glutamate transporter 1 (GLT1), glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST), vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGUT1) and cystine/glutamic acid transporter (xCT) were found in the islet cells. xCT was identified in the duct cells as well, but was not accompanied by the expression of 4F2 heavy chain (4F2hc) staining in the islets and the acinar cells, similar to neutral AA transporter (ASCT2) or b0,+-type AA transporter 1(BAT1). Excitatory AA transporter (EAAC) was identified only in the acinar cells. Glutamate was exclusively found in the acinar cells. We revealed the novel dynamics of glutamate in the rat PJ. The glutamate secretion into the PJ was augmented by plasma glutamine, indicating the de novo metabolisms of glutamate, together with the local expression of the related transporters.

Magnetic and structural properties of the magnetic shape memory compound Ni(2)Mn(1.48)Sb(0.52)

Magnetization and high resolution neutron powder diffraction measurements on the magnetic shape memory compound Ni(2)Mn(1.48)Sb(0.52) have confirmed that it is ferromagnetic below 350 K and undergoes a structural phase transition at T(M)≈310 K. The high temperature phase has the cubic L2(1) structure with a = 5.958 Å, with the excess manganese atoms occupying the 4(b) Sb sites. In the cubic phase above ≈310 K the manganese moments are ferromagnetically aligned. The magnetic moment at the 4(a) site is 1.57(12) μ(B) and it is almost zero (0.15(9) μ(B)) at the 4(b) site. The low temperature orthorhombic phase which is only fully established below 50 K has the space group Pmma with a cell related to the cubic one by a Bain transformation a(orth) = (a(cub) + b(cub))/2; b(orth) = c(cub) and c(orth) = (a(cub) - b(cub)). The change in cell volume is ≈2.5%. The spontaneous magnetization of samples cooled in fields less than 0.5 T decreases at temperatures below T(M) and at 2 K the magnetic moment per formula unit in fields up to 5.5 T is 2.01(5) μ(B). Neutron diffraction patterns obtained below ≈132 K gave evidence for a weak incommensurate magnetic modulation with propagation vector (2/3, 1/3, 0).

Bio rapid prototyping by extruding/aspirating/refilling thermoreversible hydrogel

This paper reports a method for rapid prototyping of cell tissues, which is based on a system that extrudes, aspirates and refills a mixture of cells and thermoreversible hydrogel as a scaffold. In the extruding mode, a cell-mixed scaffold solution in the sol state is extruded from a cooled micronozzle into a temperature-controlled substrate, which keeps the scaffold in the gel state. In the aspiration mode, the opposite process is performed by Bernoulli suction. In the refilling mode, the solution is extruded into a groove created in the aspiration mode. The minimum width of extruded hydrogel pattern is 114 +/- 15 microm by employing a nozzle of diameter 100 microm, and that of aspirated groove was 355 +/- 10 microm using a 500 microm-diameter nozzle. Gum arabic is mixed with the scaffold solution to avoid peeling-off of the gel pattern from the substrate. Patterning of Sf-9 cell tissue is demonstrated, and the stability of the patterned cell is investigated. This system offers a procedure for rapid prototyping and local modification of cell scaffolds for tissue engineering.

The adaptive responses in several mediators linked with hypertrophy and atrophy of skeletal muscle after lower limb unloading in humans

AIM

To determine the adaptive changes in several molecules regulating muscle hypertrophy and atrophy after unloading, we examined whether unilateral lower limb suspension changes the mRNA and protein levels of SRF-linked (RhoA, RhoGDI, STARS and SRF), myostatin-linked (myostatin, Smad2, Smad3 and FLRG) and Foxo-linked (P-Akt, Foxo1, Foxo3a and Atrogin-1) mediators.

METHODS

A single lower limb of each of eight healthy men was suspended for 20 days. Biopsy specimens were obtained from the vastus lateralis muscle pre- and post-suspension.

RESULTS

The volume of the vastus lateralis muscle was significantly decreased after unloading. The amount of RhoA, RhoGDI or SRF protein in the muscle was not significantly changed post-suspension. An RT-PCR semiquantitative analysis showed increased levels of myostatin mRNA but not Smad2, Smad3 or FLRG mRNA. Unloading did not elicit significant changes in the amount of p-Smad3 or myostatin protein in the muscle. The amount of p-Akt protein was markedly reduced in the unloaded muscle. Lower limb SUSPENSION DID NOT INFLUENCE THE EXPRESSION PATTERN OF FOXO1, FOXO3A OR ATROGIN-1.

CONCLUSION

Unloading inducing a mild degree of muscle atrophy may decrease p-Akt and increase myostatin but not SRF-linked mediators.

High maneuverability guidewire with functionally graded properties using new superelastic alloys

Nitinol shape memory alloys (SMAs) are attracting considerable attention as core materials for medical guidewires because of their excellent flexibility and shape retention. However, since Nitinol guidewires possess low rigidity, the pushability and torquability of the guidewires are insufficient. On the other hand, although guidewires made of stainless steel have high pushability, plastic deformation occurs easily. We have developed a new class of superelastic guidewires with functionally graded properties from the tip to the end by using new SMA core materials such as Cu-Al-Mn-based or Ni-free Ti-Mo-Sn SMAs. The tip portion of the guidewire shows excellent superelasticity (SE), while the body portion possesses high rigidity. These functionally graded characteristics can be realized by microstructural control. These guidewires with functionally graded properties show excellent pushability and torquability and are considerably easier to handle than conventional guidewires with Nitinol or stainless steel cores. Moreover, a metallic catheter using a Ni-free Ti-based SMA with high biocompatibility is introduced.

Stress-assisted large magnetic-field-induced strain in single-variant Co-Ni-Ga ferromagnetic shape memory alloy

The magnetic anisotropy and the magnetic-field-induced strain (MFIS) in a single-variant Co(47.5)Ni(22.5)Ga(30.0) ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (FSMA) have been investigated. From the magnetization curves for the single crystal, the hard c-axis was confirmed, and the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy constant K(u) at 300 K was evaluated to be -1.07 × 10(6) erg cm(-3) for the single-variant Co(47.5)Ni(22.5)Ga(30.0) martensite phase. The magnitude of compressive shear stress for the variant rearrangement was estimated to be 6.0-7.5 MPa from the stress-strain curves. An assisted stress τ(assist) of 6.0 MPa was applied before applying a magnetic field, and then a magnetic stress τ(mag) of 0.3 MPa was added. As a result, a large MFIS of about 7.6 % was obtained at room temperature in the martensite phase of the single-variant Co(47.5)Ni(22.5)Ga(30.0).

Modafinil normalized hyperreflexia after spinal transection in adult rats

STUDY DESIGN

Hyperreflexia occurs after spinal cord injury and can be assessed by measuring low frequency-dependent depression of the H-reflex in the anesthetized animal.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of Modafinil (MOD), given orally, following a complete SCI compared with animals receiving MBET and transected untreated animals and examine if changes exist in Connexin 36 (Cx-36) protein levels in the lumbar enlargement of animals for the groups described.

SETTING

Center for Translational Neuroscience, Little Rock, AR, USA.

METHODS

Adult female rats underwent complete transection (Tx) at T10 level. H-reflex testing was performed 30 days following Tx in one group, and after initiation of treatment with MOD in another group, and after MBET training in the third group. The Lumbar enlargement tissue was harvested and western blots were performed after immunoprecipitation techniques to compare Cx-36 protein levels.

RESULTS

Statistically significant decreases in low frequency-dependent depression of the H-reflex were observed in animals that received MOD and those that were treated with MBET compared with the Tx, untreated group. Statistically significant changes in Cx-36 protein levels were not observed in animals treated with MOD compared with Tx, untreated animals.

CONCLUSION

Normalization of the loss of low frequency -dependent depression of the H-reflex was demonstrated in the group receiving MOD and the group receiving MBET compared with the Tx, untreated group. Further work is needed to examine if Cx-36 protein changes occur in specific subregions of the spinal cord.

Magnetic anisotropy of epitaxially grown Co and its alloy thin films

We have performed a systematic study on the correlation between magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) and crystal structures, such as lattice parameters, stacking fault densities, lattice strain, and so on, for epitaxially grown Co, Co-Pt, and Co-Pd alloy thin films, and have found that the MAE strongly depends on the axial ratio c/a of the hcp crystal lattice. As the c/a of hcp Co decreases down to ∼1.61 which is smaller than 1.622 for bulk Co, the MAE becomes significantly enhanced up to ∼10(6) J m(-3). Similar trends have also been verified for hcp Co-Pt and -Pd. These results, which are qualitatively consistent with the classic single-ion anisotropy model and the recent first principles calculation, suggest a new effective way to control the MAE of magnetic thin films.

Magnetic anisotropy in Ni-Fe-Ga-Co ferromagnetic shape memory alloys in the single-variant state

The effects of the addition of Co on the magnetic anisotropy in Ni(55-x)Fe(18)Ga(27)Co(x) (x = 1-6) single-variant ferromagnetic shape memory alloys have been investigated. By the addition of Co from 1 to 6 at.%, the Curie temperature T(C) is increased from 318 to 405 K, keeping the martensitic transformation temperatures above room temperature. As a result, the value of the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy constant |K(u)| at 300 K increases with increasing x of the Co concentration and the martensite phase of Ni(49)Fe(18)Ga(27)Co(6) exhibits a relatively high value of |K(u)| = 1.15 × 10(5) J m(-3) at 300 K. With increasing Co concentration, on the other hand, the c axis changes from the magnetic easy axis to the hard axis at 4.2 K, that is, the sign of K(u) is reversed from positive to negative between 2 and 3 at.% Co. Furthermore, K(u) in Ni(53)Fe(18)Ga(27)Co(2) is positive below 100 K and negative above 100 K up to T(C), reducing the magnetic anisotropy around 200 K. From the present results, it is evident that the magnetic anisotropy of Ni(55-x)Fe(18)Ga(27)Co(x) (x = 1-6) single-variant ferromagnetic shape memory alloys is very sensitive to Co concentration and also temperature.

Preservation of ultrastructure and immunoreactivity in cryosections of brain tissue stored in a sucrose-gelatin solution at freezing temperatures

We evaluated the preservation of ultra-structure and immunoreactivity in cryosections of central nervous system tissue mounted with and stored in a sucrose-gelatin solution for one month at -20 degrees C or -80 degrees C. The ultra-structure of synaptic structure in these sections was well preserved and comparable to that of freshly cut cryosections. Quantitative analysis of mitochondrial ultra-structure demonstrated gradually lower degrees of preservation in sections stored at -20 degrees C and -80 degrees C compared with that in freshly cut sections. We observed distinct metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1)-immunogold labelling at peri-synaptic sites in freshly cut sections and also in those stored at -20 degrees C and -80 degrees C. Quantitative analysis of mGluR1 immunoreactivity revealed that the total number of immunogold particles per synapse and the number of non-specifically bound particles were similar under all three conditions. However, the percentage of gold particles bound to a specific synaptic region was greatest in freshly cut sections (79.0%) and progressively lower in sections stored at -20 degrees C (76.1%), in which sections were not frozen, and in sections stored at -80 degrees C (68.0%). These data indicate that ultra-thin cryosections may be conveniently stored in a sucrose-gelatin solution at -20 degrees C for cryoultramicrotomy-immunolabelling.

Preparation of ortho-para ratio controlled D2 gas for muon-catalyzed fusion

A negative muon in hydrogen targets, e.g., D2 or D-T mixture, can catalyze nuclear fusions following a series of atomic processes involving muonic hydrogen molecular formation (muon-catalyzed fusion, muCF). The ortho-para state of D2 is a crucial parameter not only for enhancing the fusion rate but also to precisely investigate various muonic atom processes. We have developed a system for controlling and measuring the ortho-para ratio of D2 gas for muCF experiments. We successfully collected para-enriched D2 without using liquid-hydrogen coolant. Ortho-enriched D2 was also obtained by using a catalytic conversion method with a mixture of chromium oxide and alumina. The ortho-para ratio of D2 gas was measured with a compact Raman spectroscopy system. We produced large volume (5-30 l at STP), high-purity (less than ppm high-Z contaminant) D2 targets with a wide range of ortho-para ratios (ortho 20%-99%). By using the ortho-para controlled D2 in muCF experiments, we observed the dependence of muCF phenomena on the ortho-para ratio.

[Primary arterial switch operation for complete transposition of the great arteries (type I) of a neonate weighing 1,378 g]

A 2-day-old female baby, delivered by emergent cesarean section at 35 weeks of gestational age with a birth weight of 1,378 g, was referred to our institute for intensive care of heart failure. By echocardiography and cardiac catheterization, the patient was diagnosed with isolated complete transposition of the great arteries. Primary arterial switch operation was performed at 13 days of age. No technical difficulty arose, imposed by the small size of cardiovascular structure. On the 5th postoperative day, surgical repair of intestinal perforation was performed. Convalescence thereafter was uneventful. She returned home on the 64th postoperative day with the body weight of 2,310 g. We conclude that primary arterial switch operation can be a feasible surgical option even in a neonate with very low birth weight.

[Problems in donor lung evaluation for transplantation with regard to airway infection]

The shortage of donor organs has been 1 of the major obstacles to solid organ transplantation. Typical lung donor criteria include clear lung field on chest radiograph, adequate oxygenation, acceptable lung compliance, and satisfactory bronchoscopic findings. To extend usage of available donors, liberalization of donor lung selection criteria has been facilitated, however, marginal donor lungs must be used with discretion, because donor lung injury, especially that related to infection, has a potential leading to early post-operative death of the recipient. From March 2000 to December 2006, we evaluated 15 braindead donors and at least 1 of the lungs from 9 donors was judged suitable for transplantation. One of 9 recipients developed severe pneumonia cased by carbapenems-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa possibly originating from the donor lungs, eventually leading to death. The chest radiograph and oxygenation of the donor had been satisfactory, however, a moderate amount of mucopurulent secretions was observed by bronchoscopic inspection and the donor had been given a cefozopran for 9 days before the procurement operation. Remaining 8 recipients were free from air-way infection in the early postoperative period. We discuss the status and problems of donor lung evaluation for transplantation with regard to donor lung infection.

Association between lifestyle activity and depressed mood among home-dwelling older people: a community-based study in Japan

In the community-based cross-sectional study, we investigated patterns of lifestyle activities among older people and examined the association between specific types of lifestyle activity and depressed mood status. The participants were 656 men and women aged 65 or older in 2004 who lived in a rural town in Japan, neither institutionalized nor hospitalized and who did not have symptoms of dementia. We found that less interaction with neighbors, society and friends was highly associated with depressed mood for men. Additionally, although they were physically active in gardening/farming, it did not necessarily mean that they were mentally healthy if they did not have close ties with friends, family and children/grandchildren. For women, it seemed important to engage in several types of activities relating to society, leisure and children/grandchildren to be in less depressed mood. Even if they were socially inactive, if they had frequent contact with family and children/grandchildren or going out for pleasure they were less likely to be depressed. Distinguishing gender differences in lifestyle activity patterns and the association of activities with depressed mood will help to guide the development of depression intervention programs.

Intermittent hypoxia does not increase exercise ventilation at simulated moderate altitude

Recent human studies have shown that resting hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR), which is an index of ventilatory chemosensitivity to hypoxia, increased after short-term intermittent hypoxia at rest. In addition, intermittent hypoxia leads to increases in ventilation and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO (2)) during exercise at simulated high altitude, with the increase in ventilation correlated to the change in HVR. However, no study has been made to clarify the relationship between ventilatory chemosensitivity and the exercise ventilation at moderate altitude following intermittent hypoxia during a resting state. The purpose of the present study, therefore, was to elucidate whether intermittent hypoxia at rest induces the increase in ventilation during exercise at moderate altitude that is accompanied by an increase in hypoxic chemosensitivity. Eighteen trained male runners were assigned to three groups, i.e., the first hypoxic group (H-1 group, n = 6), the second hypoxic group (H-2 group, n = 6), and a control group (C group, n = 6). The hypoxic tent system was utilized for intermittent hypoxia, and the oxygen levels in the tent were maintained at 15.5 +/- 0.1 % (simulated 2500 m altitude) for the H-1 group and 12.3 +/- 0.2 % (simulated 4300 m altitude) for the H-2 group. The H-1 and H-2 groups spent 1 hour per day in the hypoxic tent for 1 week. Maximal and submaximal exercise tests while breathing 15.5 +/- 0.01 % O (2) (simulated altitude of 2500 m) were performed before and after intermittent hypoxia. Resting HVR was also determined in each subject using a progressive isocapnic hypoxic method. In the H-2 group, HVR increased significantly (p < 0.05) following intermittent hypoxia, while no change in HVR was found in the H-1 or C group. Neither ventilation nor SaO (2) during maximal and submaximal exercise at a simulated altitude of 2500 m were changed in either group after 1 hour per day for 1 week of intermittent hypoxia. These results suggest that the change in resting hypoxic chemosensitivity after short-term intermittent hypoxia does not affect ventilation during exercise at moderate altitude.

Treatment of a full-thickness articular cartilage defect in the femoral condyle of an athlete with autologous bone-marrow stromal cells

OBJECTIVES

Human bone-marrow stromal cells are believed to be multipotent even in adults. This study assessed the effectiveness of autologous bone-marrow stromal cells, which were embedded within a collagen scaffold, to repair a full-thickness articular cartilage defect in the medial femoral condyle of an athlete.

PATIENT AND METHODS

A 31-year-old male judo player suffering from pain in the right knee was reviewed. A 20 x 30-mm full-thickness cartilage defect (International Cartilage Repair Society classification (ICRS) grade IV) was revealed in the weight-bearing area of the medial femoral condyle. With the informed consent of the patient, the defect was treated with autologous bone-marrow stromal cells. Bone marrow was aspirated from the iliac crest of the patient 4 weeks before surgery. After removing the erythrocytes, the remaining cells were expanded in culture. Adherent cells were collected and embedded within a collagen gel, which was transferred to the articular cartilage defect in the medial femoral condyle. The implant was covered with an autologous periosteal flap.

RESULTS

Seven months after surgery, arthroscopy revealed the defect to be covered with smooth tissues. Histologically, the defect was filled with a hyaline-like type of cartilage tissue which stained positively with Safranin-O. One year after surgery, the clinical symptoms had improved significantly. The patient had reattained his previous activity level and experienced neither pain nor other complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that the transplantation of autologous bone-marrow stromal cells can promote the repair of large focal articular cartilage defects in young, active patients.

Risk factors for chronic kidney disease in a community-based population: a 10-year follow-up study

The purpose of this study was to explore risk factors affecting the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in general population. We conducted a 10-year follow-up study with 123 764 (male: 41 012, female: 82 752) adults aged 40 years and over who received community-based annual examinations. The primary outcome for the analysis was the development of CKD during the follow-up period. Predictors for the development of CKD were obtained by the significant hazard ratios (HR) in Cox regression model by sex. During the follow-up period, 4307 subjects (male: 2048, female: 2259) developed CKD stage I or II, and 19 411 subjects (male: 4257, female: 15 154) developed CKD stage III or higher. The baseline-adjusted predictor of developing CKD included age, glomerular filtration rate, hematuria, hypertension, diabetes, serum lipids, obesity, smoking status, and consumption of alcohol. Treated diabetes in male subjects, and treated hypertension, systolic blood pressure >160 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure >100 mm Hg, diabetes, and treated diabetes in female subjects were associated with more than a doubling of the HR. For the development of CKD stage III or higher, proteinuria of >or= + +, and proteinuria and hematuria were associated with more than a doubling of the HR in male subjects. The prevalence of newly developed CKD over 10 years was 23 718 subjects (19.2%) in adults. This study suggested that not only hypertension and diabetes but also several metabolic abnormalities were independent risk factors for developing CKD.