Development of a high-speed bioaerosol elimination system for treatment of indoor air.

We developed a high-speed filterless airflow multistage photocatalytic elbow aerosol removal system for the treatment of bioaerosols such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Human-generated bioaerosols that diffuse into indoor spaces are 1-10 µm in size, and their selective and rapid treatment can reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. A high-speed airflow is necessary to treat large volumes of indoor air over a short period. The proposed system can be used to eliminate viruses in aerosols by forcibly depositing aerosols in a high-speed airflow onto a photocatalyst placed inside the system through inertial force and turbulent diffusion. Because the main component of the deposited bioaerosol is water, it evaporates after colliding with the photocatalyst, and the nonvolatile virus remains on the photocatalytic channel wall. The residual virus on the photocatalytic channel wall is mineralized via photocatalytic oxidation with UVA-LED irradiation in the channel. When this system was operated in a 4.5 m3 aerosol chamber, over 99.8% aerosols in the size range of 1-10 µm were removed within 15 min. The system continued delivering such performance with the continuous introduction of aerosols. Because this system exhibits excellent aerosol removal ability at a flow velocity of 5 m/s or higher, it is more suitable than other reactive air purification systems for treating large-volume spaces.

A Medical Tattooing Technique for Enhancing the Three-Dimensional Appearance of the Nipple-Areola Complex After Flap-Based Nipple Reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION: Medical tattooing is a critical reconstructive component in the surgical process for good esthetic outcomes and improved patient satisfaction. There are many nipple reconstruction methods that use a local flap, but reduced post-operative nipple projection is a common problem. Here, we report a modified tattooing method (3D-E tattoo) that enhances the three-dimensional appearance of the nipple-areola complex (NAC), including Montgomery glands, after flap-based nipple reconstruction. METHODS: The subjects were 110 consecutive patients who underwent nipple reconstruction using the C-V flap technique between April 2017 and June 2019. Of these patients, 49 received traditional medical tattooing (Group T) and 61 underwent 3D-E tattoo (Group 3D). A 10-point subjective evaluation of the 3D appearance of the reconstructed NAC was performed, and the scores were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The procedure time for 3D-E tattoo was about 5 minutes longer than that for traditional tattooing. The average score in Group 3D of 7.8/10 was significantly higher than that of 6.4/10 in Group T. CONCLUSION: Application of 3D techniques or "realism" in tattoo artistry has significant potential to improve the esthetic outcomes of reconstructive surgery. Adoption of simple technical skills to produce a more realistic 3D NAC permitted a symmetrical appearance to be reconstructed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Temporary banking of the nipple-areola complex in breast reconstruction following mastectomy for gigantomastia.

INTRODUCTION: Gigantomastia is a breast disorder characterized by exaggerated rapid growth of the breasts, generally bilaterally. In some severe cases, mastectomy is required to ensure safe delivery or control disease progression or recurrence. Subsequently, most patients want to undergo breast reconstruction, including the nipple-areola complex (NAC). PRESENTATION OF CASE: Here, we report our experience with temporary banking of the NAC in a patient who underwent mastectomy for severe Gigantomastia. Each NAC was temporarily transplanted into the axilla as banking tissue for NAC reconstruction at a later date. Although the color of the NAC was slightly lighter after reconstruction, it mainly kept its original color and texture in addition to medical tattooing technique. At present, there has been no recurrence and the patient is fully satisfied with her appearance. DISCUSSION: In this case, mastectomy was recommended because of an unbearable breast size that disturb a safety delivery, as well as respiratory and cardiac complications and skin ulcer control. Because the disease is not pathologically malignant, temporary preservation of NAC allows it to be safely used again for later nipple reconstruction. CONCLUSION: Temporary banking of the nipple-areola complex in breast reconstruction following breast resection including NAC, would be one of good surgical options for benign breast tumors like　gigantomastia.

Atypical Familial Mediterranean Fever Complicated with Gastrointestinal Amyloidosis Diagnosed due to Paroxysmal Arthralgia and Intractable Diarrhea, Successfully Treated with Tocilizumab.

A 53-year-old man with recurrent episodes of large joint pain and a low-grade fever at irregular intervals for 16 years developed right knee and ankle arthralgia, watery diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Following an ileum and colon biopsy, he was diagnosed with gastrointestinal amyloidosis. We suspected familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) based on his history and administered colchicine; his symptoms subsequently improved. Thus, he was diagnosed with atypical FMF. After tocilizumab administration, the amyloid deposits disappeared. This case suggests that physicians should consider FMF even in cases with atypical symptoms in order to prevent the progression of amyloidosis and that amyloid deposits can be eliminated by interleukin (IL)-6 inhibition.

Carotid Intima-media Thickness and Small Dense Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Increase after One Year of Treatment with Direct-acting Antivirals in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

Objective Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection exert a significantly high sustained viral response (SVR), and patients experience a rebound increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and total cholesterol levels. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a highly reproducible and non-invasive parameter for assessing the atherosclerotic process, and the small dense (sd) LDL level is useful for clinically evaluating the atherogenic risk. Methods A total of 48 patients with chronic HCV infection were treated with DAAs. All patients exhibited an SVR 24 weeks later. We compared the metabolic profiles of the patients, including the sdLDL and IMT values, at the start of DAA treatment with those after one year of treatment. We verified whether the HCV clearance after the administration of DAAs is associated with the development of atherosclerosis. Results The sdLDL, %sdLDL (sdLDL/LDL), and LDL values were exacerbated after a year of treatment; however, the triglyceride level, glycated hemoglobin level, insulin resistance, and body weight remained unaltered. The max-IMT was increased after a year compared to that at the start of treatment. Differences in the max-IMT (dmax-IMT) were greater in men than in women; however, no correlation was observed between the dmax-IMT and genotype, fibrosis, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity, and dialysis status. The %sdLDL at the start and a year later was positively correlated with the dmax-IMT. No correlation was observed among various factors including the LDL, triglyceride, body mass index, insulin resistance and dmax-IMT. In uni- and multivariate analyses, a significant correlation was observed between %sdLDL≥16% at the start of treatment and the sex and dmax-IMT. Conclusion Because the sdLDL and IMT values were exacerbated after a year of DAA treatment, atherosclerosis must be evaluated in patients achieving an SVR.

[Corrigendum] Increased expression levels of ppGalNAc-T13 in lung cancers: Significance in the prognostic diagnosis.

Following the publication of this article, the authors noted that there was an error in Fig. 4. The lines representing the two groups were indicated incorrectly in all graphs in Fig. 4. A corrected version of Fig. 4 is presented below. Furthermore, we regret any inconvenience this error may have caused. [the original article was published in the International Journal of Oncology 49: 1369-1376, 2016; DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2016.3638].

Increased expression levels of ppGalNAc-T13 in lung cancers: Significance in the prognostic diagnosis.

ppGalNAc-T13 is upregulated along with reduced expression of GM1 in high metastatic sublines of the murine Lewis lung cancer cell line, but little is known about the implication of ppGalNAc-T13 expression in human cancers. Since lung cancer cell lines showed high expression levels of ppGalNAc-T13, we analyzed ppGalNAc-T13 expression in surgical lung cancer specimens to examine whether ppGalNAc-T13 can be used as a prognostic marker or a therapeutic target. We analyzed mRNA expression levels of GALNT13 and its variant exon usages in surgical specimens by real-time RT-PCR, and the results were evaluated by correlating with clinical data. Ninety-one surgical specimens were analyzed. Consequently, recurrence-free survival was significantly shorter (P=0.045) in high expression group of GALNT13 mRNA. In the analysis of tumor specific exon usage in GALNT13 RNA sequence, one variant exon was significantly associated with worse prognosis. By contrast, in another variant exon, positive variant expression group showed better prognosis than negative group. We also tried to detect GALNT13 mRNA in 63 serum samples from patients with lung cancers to examine whether GALNT13 mRNA can be measured in body fluids, detecting significant levels in 4 samples. Finally, expression of GM1, ppGalNAc-T13 and trimeric Tn antigen was examined by immunohistochemistry in order to evaluate them as a prognostic factor. It was demonstrated that ppGalNAc-T13 and trimeric Tn antigen had a relationship with worse prognosis in 35 investigated lung cancer patients. In conclusion, our results suggest that ppGalNAc-T13 might be a useful prognostic factor of lung cancers.

Acoustic correlates of English rhythmic patterns for American versus Japanese speakers.

This study investigates acoustic correlates of English rhythmic patterns for 20 American English speakers (AS) and 42 Japanese learners of English (JS). The results indicate that for AS in an English sentence where monosyllabic content and function words alternate, the vowels in content words are over twice as long as those in function words, resulting in alternating long-short vowels. In contrast, the JS show no stress-related duration control and realize a similar rhythmic pattern mostly through recursive high-low fundamental frequency (F0). In a sentence with a sequence of content words in which 4 stressed syllables occur successively, the AS show recursion of strong-weak syllables by means of F0, intensity and first formant, whereas JS show inconsistent stress patterns. These results indicate that the AS apply different strategies for implementing rhythmic alternation depending on sentence stress patterns, and these strategies are different from those of JS.

pp-GalNAc-T13 induces high metastatic potential of murine Lewis lung cancer by generating trimeric Tn antigen.

In order to analyze the mechanisms for cancer metastasis, high metastatic sublines (H7-A, H7-Lu, H7-O, C4-sc, and C4-ly) were obtained by repeated injection of mouse Lewis lung cancer sublines H7 and C4 into C57BL/6 mice. These sublines exhibited increased proliferation and invasion activity in vitro. Ganglioside profiles exhibited lower expression of GM1 in high metastatic sublines than the parent lines. Then, we established GM1-Si-1 and GM1-Si-2 by stable silencing of GM1 synthase in H7 cells. These GM1-knockdown clones exhibited increased proliferation and invasion. Then, we explored genes that markedly altered in the expression levels by DNA microarray in the combination of C4 vs. C4-ly or H7 vs. H7 (GM1-Si). Consequently, pp-GalNAc-T13 gene was identified as up-regulated genes in the high metastatic sublines. Stable transfection of pp-GalNAc-T13 cDNA into C4 (T13-TF) resulted in increased invasion and motility. Then, immunoblotting and flow cytometry using various antibodies and lectins were performed. Only anti-trimeric Tn antibody (mAb MLS128), showed increased expression levels of trimeric Tn antigen in T13-TF clones. Moreover, immunoprecipitation/immunoblotting was performed by mAb MLS128, leading to the identification of an 80 kDa band carrying trimeric Tn antigen, i.e. Syndecan-1. Stable silencing of endogenous pp-GalNAc-T13 in C4-sc (T13-KD) revealed that primary tumors generated by subcutaneous injection of T13-KD clones showed lower coalescence to fascia and peritoneum, and significantly reduced lung metastasis than control clones. These data suggested that high expression of pp-GalNAc-T13 gene generated trimeric Tn antigen on Syndecan-1, leading to the enhanced metastasis.

Rhodium-catalyzed reactions of dithiols and 1,4-bis(bromomethyl)benzenes leading to enantioenriched dithiaparacyclophanes.

We have achieved the first catalytic enantioselective synthesis of planar-chiral dithiaparacyclophanes by means of cationic rhodium(I)/(S)-BINAPHANE complex-catalyzed reactions of dithiols and 1,4-bis(bromomethyl)benzenes. The present method represents the first example of asymmetric synthesis of planar-chiral cyclophanes through catalytic enantioselective construction of the ansa chains.

Characterization of orexin A immunoreactivity in the rat area postrema.

The distribution of orexin A immunoreactivity and the synaptic relationships of orexin A-positive neurons in the rat area postrema were studied using both light and electron microscopy techniques. At the light microscope level, numerous orexin A-like immunoreactive fibers were found within the area postrema. Using electron microscopy, immunoreactivity within fibers was confined primarily to the axon terminals, most of which contained dense-cored vesicles. Both axo-somatic and axo-dendritic synapses made by orexin A-like immunoreactive axon terminals were found, with these synapses being both symmetric and asymmetric in form. Orexin A-like immunoreactive axon terminals could be found presynaptic to two different immunonegative profiles including the perikarya and dendrites. Occasionally, some orexin A-like immunoreactive profiles, most likely to be dendrites, could be seen receiving synaptic inputs from immunonegative or immunopositive axon terminals. The present results suggest that the physiological function of orexin A in the area postrema depends on synaptic relationships with other immunopositive and immunonegative neurons, with the action of orexin A mediated via a self-modulation feedback mechanism.

Coexistence of salusin and vasopressin in the rat hypothalamo-hypophyseal system.

Salusins are two newly discovered TOR-related peptides consisting of 28 and 20 amino acids and designated salusin-alpha and salusin-beta, respectively. Using immunohistochemistry techniques, salusin-like immunoreactivity was detected in the rat hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal tract and immunopositive cells were distributed in the suprachiasmatic, supraoptic and paraventricular nucleus. In the paraventricular nucleus, salusin-like immunoreactivity was observed both in parvocellular and magnocellular neurons. Many salusin-positive nerve fibers and their terminals were identified in the internal layer of the median eminence and posterior pituitary. Less intense salusin-positive staining of fibers and terminals was found in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and external layer of the median eminence. Dual immunostaining was performed to determine if salusin coexisted with vasopressin or oxytocin in the hypothalamus. Most of the salusin-like immunoreactivity was detected in vasopressin- but not in oxytocin-containing neurons in these nuclei. The functional significance of the coexistence of salusin with vasopressin is discussed, including the possibility that salusin participates in the regulation of blood pressure.

Galanin-like peptide in the brain: effects on feeding, energy metabolism and reproduction.

The hypothalamus plays an important role in the regulation of feeding behavior, energy metabolism and reproduction. A novel peptide containing 60 amino acid peptide and a non-amidated C-terminus is produced in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) and has been named galanin-like peptide (GALP) on the basis of a portion of this peptide being homologous with galanin. It acts in the central nervous system (CNS), where it is involved in the regulation of feeding behavior. GALP-producing neurons make neuronal networks with several feeding related peptide-producing neurons. Since GALP is involved in the control of food intake and energy balance, it is possible that it plays an important role in the development of obesity. Furthermore, GALP regulates plasma lateral hypothalamus (LH) levels via the activation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-producing neurons, suggesting that GALP is active in the reproductive system. Thus, interesting findings on the roles of GALP have made across a number of physiological systems. This review will attempt to summarize the research carried out to date on these areas. Because GALP may be involved in feeding behavior, energy metabolism and reproduction, further studies on the morphology and function of GALP-containing neurons in the CNS should increase our understanding of the role of GALP in brain function.

Ultrastructure of orexin-1 receptor immunoreactivities in the spinal cord dorsal horn.

The ultrastructural properties of orexin 1-receptor-like immunoreactive (OX1R-LI) neurons in the dorsal horn of the rat spinal cord were examined using light and electron microscopy techniques. At the light microscopy level, the most heavily immunostained OX1R-LI neurons were found in the ventral horn of the spinal cord, while some immunostained profiles, including nerve fibers and small neurons, were also found in the dorsal horn. At the electron microscopy level, OX1R-LI perikarya were identified containing numerous dense-cored vesicles which were more heavily immunostained than any other organelles. Similar vesicles were also found within the axon terminals of the OX1R-LI neurons. The perikarya and dendrites of some of the OX1R-LI neurons could be seen receiving synapses from immunonegative axon terminals. These synapses were found mostly asymmetric in shape. Occasionally, some OX1R-LI axon terminals were found making synapses on dendrites that were OX1R-LI in some cases and immunonegative in others. The synapses made by OX1R-LI axon terminals were found both asymmetric and symmetric in appearance. The results provide solid morphological evidence that OX1R is transported in the dense-cored vesicles from the perikarya to axon terminals and that OX1R-LI neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord have complex synaptic relationships both with other OX1R-LI neurons as well as other neuron types.

Conditional knockdown of proteasomes results in cell-cycle arrest and enhanced expression of molecular chaperones Hsp70 and Hsp40 in chicken DT40 cells.

The 26 S proteasome is an evolutionarily conserved ATP-dependent protease complex that degrades poly-ubiquitinated proteins and plays essential roles in a critical part of cellular regulation. In vertebrates, the roles of the proteasome have been widely studied by use of specific inhibitors, but not genetically. Here, we generated a cell line Z(-/-/-)/Z-HA, in which the expression of the catalytic subunit of the proteasome, Z (beta2) could be manipulated. This cell line expresses exogenous Z protein under the control of a tetracycline-repressible promoter in a Z-nullizygous genetic background. Treatment of these cells with doxycycline inhibited Z expression and, hence, the function of the proteasome. The latter resulted in accumulation of poly-ubiquitinated proteins and concomitant induction of molecular chaperones Hsp70 and Hsp40. These results suggest a synergistic role for the proteasome with these molecular chaperones to eliminate misfolded or damaged proteins in vivo. Furthermore, knockdown of the proteasome induced apoptotic cell death following cell-cycle arrest at G(2)/M phase. Our Z(-/-/-)/Z-HA cell line would be useful for evaluating proteolytic processes catalyzed by the proteasome in many biological events in vertebrate cells.