Erratum: Persistence of the Z=28 Shell Gap Around ^{78}Ni: First Spectroscopy of ^{79}Cu [Phys. Rev. Lett. 119, 192501 (2017)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.192501.

Peritoneal dialysis as therapy for electrolyte and acid base disorders

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) does not demand special equipment and its fluid composition can be easily changed according to the individual condition. Nine patients with chronic or acute renal failure presented severe metabolic alkalosis (MA). Hemodialysis (HD) proved virtually ineffective and the MA persisted. Physiological saline solution was adopted as the main component of the PD fluid for the treament of MA. By this method, CI– can be shifted from PD fluid to extracellular fluid (ECF) and HCO3– from ECF to PD fluid by ionic gradient. Therefore, pH and base excess (BE) of these patients both improved to the normal range after several fluid exchanges. The lowering effect of BE (ΔBE/L) ranged from 0.99 to 2.6. Hyposaline and normo-osmol solution (Na+ 70 mEq/L) were used for one patient with hypernatremia and consciousness disturbance. Serum (S)-Na decreased from 170 to 138 mEq/L, and consciousness became almost clear with the use of 15 L of PD fluid. Hypersaline solution (Na+ 190 mEq/L) was used for two patients with hyponatremia (S-Na 113 and 121 mEq/L). S-Na rose to within the normal range after 16 and 9 L in the two cases. A fluid mixed with distilled water, 10% NaCl and 7% NaHCO3 (HCO3– 34 - 68 mEq/L) was used to treat lactic acidosis in two patients. By this method, HCO3– can be shifted from PD fluid to ECF and lactic acid from ECF to PD fluid. Two patients recovered from prolonged shock, and pH was corrected by 10 L and 4 L, respectively. PD should be considered for application in other diseases besides renal failure.

The B allele with a 5·8 kb deletion in intron 1 of the ABO gene is the major allele in Japanese individuals with Bm and A1 Bm phenotypes

B_m and A₁ B_m phenotypes are the most frequent ABO variants in the Japanese population. The B antigen on B_m red blood cells is only detectable by adsorption and elution tests, and plasma B-transferase activity is usually detected at half or less levels compared with that of common B. Recently, a B allele lacking an erythroid cell-specific transcription enhancer in intron 1 of the ABO gene was identified from individuals with B_m and A₁ B_m phenotypes, which could explain the unique serologic properties of B_m . In the Japanese Red Cross Society, eight Blood Centers tested blood samples from donors throughout Japan and collected blood samples from 888 B_m and 415 A₁ B_m individuals. DNA analysis revealed that 1300 of 1303 (99·77%) individuals had the B allele with a 5·8 kb deletion (c.28 + 5110_10889del), which included the enhancer element.

Evaluation of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field Strength Using the Cosmic-Ray Shadow of the Sun

We analyze the Sun's shadow observed with the Tibet-III air shower array and find that the shadow's center deviates northward (southward) from the optical solar disk center in the "away" ("toward") interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) sector. By comparing with numerical simulations based on the solar magnetic field model, we find that the average IMF strength in the away (toward) sector is 1.54±0.21_{stat}±0.20_{syst} (1.62±0.15_{stat}±0.22_{syst}) times larger than the model prediction. These demonstrate that the observed Sun's shadow is a useful tool for the quantitative evaluation of the average solar magnetic field.

Crystalline structure of pulverized dental calculus induces cell death in oral epithelial cells

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Dental calculus is a mineralized deposit attached to the tooth surface. We have shown that cellular uptake of dental calculus triggers nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation, leading to the processing of the interleukin-1β precursor into its mature form in mouse and human phagocytes. The activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome also induced a lytic form of programmed cell death, pyroptosis, in these cells. However, the effects of dental calculus on other cell types in periodontal tissue have not been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine whether dental calculus can induce cell death in oral epithelial cells.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

HSC-2 human oral squamous carcinoma cells, HOMK107 human primary oral epithelial cells and immortalized mouse macrophages were exposed to dental calculus or 1 of its components, hydroxyapatite crystals. For inhibition assays, the cells were exposed to dental calculus in the presence or absence of cytochalasin D (endocytosis inhibitor), z-YVAD-fmk (caspase-1 inhibitor) or glyburide (NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor). Cytotoxicity was determined by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and staining with propidium iodide. Tumor necrosis factor-α production was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Oral epithelial barrier function was examined by permeability assay.

RESULTS

Dental calculus induced cell death in HSC-2 cells, as judged by LDH release and propidium iodide staining. Dental calculus also induced LDH release from HOMK107 cells. Following heat treatment, dental calculus lost its capacity to induce tumor necrosis factor-α in mouse macrophages, but could induce LDH release in HSC-2 cells, indicating a major role of inorganic components in cell death. Hydroxyapatite crystals also induced cell death in both HSC-2 and HOMK107 cells, as judged by LDH release, indicating the capacity of crystal particles to induce cell death. Cell death induced by dental calculus was significantly inhibited by cytochalasin D, z-YVAD-fmk and glyburide, indicating NLRP3 inflammasome involvement. In permeability assays, dental calculus attenuated the barrier function of HSC-2 cell monolayers.

CONCLUSION

Dental calculus induces pyroptotic cell death in human oral epithelial cells and the crystalline structure plays a major role in this process. Oral epithelial cell death induced by dental calculus might be important for the etiology of periodontitis.

Persistence of the Z=28 Shell Gap Around ^{78}Ni: First Spectroscopy of ^{79}Cu

In-beam γ-ray spectroscopy of ^{79}Cu is performed at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory of RIKEN. The nucleus of interest is produced through proton knockout from a ^{80}Zn beam at 270  MeV/nucleon. The level scheme up to 4.6 MeV is established for the first time and the results are compared to Monte Carlo shell-model calculations. We do not observe significant knockout feeding to the excited states below 2.2 MeV, which indicates that the Z=28 gap at N=50 remains large. The results show that the ^{79}Cu nucleus can be described in terms of a valence proton outside a ^{78}Ni core, implying the magic character of the latter.

Health state utility values and patient-reported outcomes before and after vertebral and non-vertebral fractures in an osteoporosis clinical trial

We assessed the health state utility value (HSUV) reductions associated with vertebral fractures using data collected in the Japanese Osteoporosis Intervention Trial-03 (JOINT-03). Our analysis revealed that assessment of HSUVs after morphometric vertebral fracture is important to capture the burden of vertebral fractures.

INTRODUCTION

Evaluation of the HSUV after fracture is important to calculate the quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) of osteoporosis patients, which is essential information in the context of health economic evaluation.

METHODS

JOINT-03 study patients were aged ≥65 years and treated with risedronate and vitamin K₂ or risedronate alone. Radiographic information and patient-reported outcomes measured by EQ-5D and a visual analogue scale (VAS) were assessed at registration and followed up after 6, 12, and 24 months. According to differences among the dates of these assessments and the radiographic information, we classified the follow-up HSUVs calculated based on EQ-5D results into before or after fracture categories regardless of clinical symptoms.

RESULTS

Among 2922 follow-up HSUVs, 201 HSUVs were categorized as HSUVs that were observed after incident vertebral fractures on X-ray films. The median time from the detection of an incident vertebral fracture until the EQ-5D assessment was 53 days (25th percentile, 0 day; 75th percentile, 357 days). The impact of incident vertebral fractures on HSUVs was quantified as -0.03. Among the five health profile domains on the EQ-5D, an incident vertebral fracture had significant effects on anxiety/depression, self-care, and usual activities.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that incident morphometric vertebral fracture was associated with impairment of the HSUV for patients with osteoporosis not only immediately but also several months after the fracture.

Sequence and localization of an ultraviolet (sws1) opsin in the retina of the Japanese sardine Sardinops melanostictus (Teleostei: Clupeiformes)

A full-length complementary (c)DNA encoding ultraviolet (UV)-sensitive opsin (sws1) was isolated from the retina of the Japanese sardine Sardinops melanostictus. The sws1 phylogenetic tree showed a sister group relationship with the Cypriniformes, following the ray-finned fish phylogeny. By expressing reconstituted opsin in vitro, it was determined that the maximum absorbance spectrum (λ_max ) of sws1 is around 382 nm, being intermediate in position between two subtypes of sws1 pigment that are UV sensitive (λ_max  = 355-380 nm) and violet sensitive (λ_max  = 388-455 nm), which have been reported to date. The ocular media transmitted >20% transmittance of light in the range of 360-600 nm. In situ hybridization analyses revealed that sws1 messenger (m)RNA is localized in a central single cone surrounded by four double cones in a square mosaic. The square mosaic occupies the ventro-temporal quadrant of the retina and the in situ hybridization signals were dominant in this area suggesting that the fish may use UV vision when looking upward. Based on these results, considerable significances of potential UV sensitivity, in relation to characteristic habits of S. melanostictus, are discussed.

Experience of Quatro-Therapy With Everolimus to Minimize Calcineurin Inhibitor for Kidney Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND

This study was divided into three phases, on the occasion of the introduction of everolimus (EVR) in our hospital.

METHODS

In the first phase, a study group of six maintenance patients (three living related donors, three deceased donors) who had a history of malignant disease with less than 500 mg/day of proteinuria were enrolled; a high serum creatinine and upper limit of duration after kidney transplant operation was not considered. EVR was discontinued in four of the six patients because of side effects or worsening renal function. The second phase comprised a study group of 12 maintenance patients (12 living related donors) who were more than 5 years after kidney transplant operation with serum creatinine <3 ng/mL and proteinuria <500 mg/day. In two patients, EVR was discontinued because of a skin rash or general fatigue, but EVR was continued in 10 cases. Calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) dosage was reduced and renal function improved, and mean estimated glomerular filtration rate recovered from 42.3 mL/min to 44.8 mL/min, with no rejections occurring. In the third phase, a study group of eight de novo transplant patients who were 2 to 3 weeks after transplant operation were examined. In one case, EVR was discontinued because of proteinuria but was restarted with a stepwise increasing method after 4 months and was continued without any side effects.

RESULTS

Our study indicates that EVR was a useful drug for the maintenance of kidney transplant recipients for the optimal patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In de novo cases, EVR plus a high dose of mizoribine and low CNI protocol was a useful regimen without serious adverse effects.

Antibacterial Titanium Plate Anodized by being Discharged in NaCl Solution Exhibits Cell Compatibility

Implant surfaces should be modified to achieve excellent cell compatibility as well as antibacterial activity. Our previous study demonstrated that titanium plates anodized by being discharged in NaCl (Ti-Cl) exhibited high antibacterial activity. Since Ti-Cl was prepared with a NaCl solution, we hypothesized that Ti-Cl would exhibit low toxicity toward cells. The aims of this study were to characterize the surface of Ti-Cl and investigate the cell compatibility (MC3T3-E1 and L929 cells) of Ti-Cl. The results demonstrated that, since the TiCl3 formed on the Ti-Cl surface was hydrolyzed into HCl, HClO, and TiOH after immersion in pure distilled water, TiCl3 contributed to the antibacterial activity of Ti-Cl. On the other hand, TiO formed on the Ti-Cl surface enhanced cell extension and cell growth through a larger adsorption of fibronectin compared with the pure titanium control. These findings suggest that antibacterial titanium is a promising material for use in dental implant systems.