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X-ray scattering has been used to investigate the structures and phase transitions of Xe and Kr films adsorbed on the basal plane of NiCl2. The x-ray scattering measurements were carried out both as a function of temperature at fixed coverage and as a function of coverage at fixed temperature in the monolayer and bilayer coverage regimes. The results indicate that both the monolayers of Xe and Kr adsorbed on the basal plane of NiCl2 form a 2D solid of the simple triangular structure incommensurate with the substrate and 2D melting is first order in the incommensurate solid of Xe but continuous in that of Kr. With the addition of the second-layer atoms the interparticle distance of the adsorbed atoms reduces and the crystallinity of the incommensurate solid improves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nocturia is a common symptom of lower urinary tract syndrome (LUTS). In previous studies, a close association between LUTS and colorectal inflammation has been reported. However, evidence regarding the association between nighttime urinary frequency and ulcerative colitis (UC) is limited. Herein, we investigated the association between nighttime urinary frequency and clinical outcomes of UC., Methods: We surveyed 287 Japanese patients with UC. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the information on the variables studied. Patients were divided into three groups based on nighttime urinary frequency: (1) no voids, (2) one void, and (3) two or more voids. The assessment of clinical outcomes was based on mucosal healing (MH) and clinical remission (CR). The association between nighttime urinary frequency and prevalence of MH and CR was evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analyses., Results: The prevalence of one nighttime frequency and two or more nighttime frequency in this cohort was 35.5% and 26.8%, respectively. The percentage of MH and CR was 24.7% and 59.2%, respectively. Two or more nighttime frequency (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.13-0.73) was independently and inversely associated with MH. In nonelderly patients (<70 years) and patients in CR, an association between two or more nighttime frequency and MH remained significant (non-elderly: adjusted OR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.09-0.72 and only CR: adjusted OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.12-0.90)., Conclusion: Nighttime urinary frequency was independently and inversely associated with MH in Japanese patients with UC. Nighttime urinary frequency may serve as a complementary physical sign of MH in patients with UC., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

This study introduces a novel microfluidic polymer chip system that employs an embedded anionic surfactant (AS) ion-selective fluorescence optode (AS fluorescence optode) as a detector for measuring AS. The AS fluorescent optode comprises a lactone form of rhodamine B (L-RB) embedded in 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether plasticized poly (vinyl chloride) membrane. The AS fluorescence optode demonstrated a linear correlation between fluorescence intensity peak heights and AS concentrations within the range of less than 20 µM under optimal flow conditions. The limit of detection for AS was approximately 0.06 µM. The microfluidic system was utilized to measure AS levels in environmental samples, such as river water and tap water., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry.)

Background: L-ergothioneine (EGT), an antioxidative and anti-inflammatory amino acid, is abundant in various mushroom fruiting bodies. Meanwhile, the effects of EGT-containing mushrooms on human skin are unknown. This study investigated the effects of oral ingestion of a novel EGT-rich strain of Pleurotus species (hiratake) on skin conditions in humans., Methods: We conducted a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial to evaluate skin moisturizing functions and facial conditions in 80 healthy women who were randomly assigned to either a group that was supplemented with hiratake tablets containing 25 mg of EGT/day or a placebo group. Skin moisture content, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and facial scores (VISIA scores) were measured at baseline, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks of supplementation., Results: At 8 weeks, the skin moisture content was significantly higher on the temple in the hiratake group than in the placebo group. The hiratake group also exhibited a significant increase in skin moisture content on the arm at 8 and 12 weeks compared with baseline. At 12 weeks, wrinkle and texture scores were significantly better in the hiratake group than in the placebo group, and plasma EGT concentrations in the hiratake group were 4.7-fold higher than baseline (from 3.4 to 15.9 μM). Furthermore, EGT concentrations in plasma were significantly correlated with improvements in skin moisture content and TEWL on the arm, implying that these skin moisturizing benefits could be partly attributed to EGT. A stratified analysis of participants with a low baseline plasma EGT concentration (< 3.3 μM) revealed that skin moisture content on the temple was significantly higher at 8 and 12 weeks, and skin moisture content on the arm at 12 weeks tended to be higher ( p = 0.074), in the hiratake group than in the placebo group. These findings suggested that oral ingestion of EGT-rich hiratake can improve skin moisturizing functions., Conclusion: EGT-rich hiratake may help maintain skin conditions in healthy women, and EGT may play a role in these beneficial effects., Competing Interests: MH, KM, JK were salaried employees of the Hokuto Corporation, which cultivated some of the mushrooms used in this study. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Hanayama, Mori, Ishimoto, Kato and Kawai.)

Socioeconomic status is a risk factor for poor disease prognosis. No studies of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) have investigated the association between socioeconomic status and erectile dysfunction (ED), although UC is independently positively associated with ED. Therefore, the purpose of this survey to evaluate this issue in Japanese patients with UC. The study enrolled 165 patients with UC. Education status (low, middle, high) and household income (low, middle, high) were classified in three groups using self-administered surveys. The information regarding the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) was obtained using self-administered questionnaires. The definition of mild to moderate or severe ED and severe ED was SHIM score <17 and SHIM score <8, respectively. The prevalence of mild to moderate or severe ED and severe ED was 64.9% and 47.9%, respectively. In crude analysis, household income was inversely associated with mild to moderate or severe ED and severe ED. After adjustment for age, current drinking, current smoking, exercise habit, body mass index, mucosal healing, and duration of UC, high household income was independently and inversely associated with mild to moderate or severe ED (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.05, 0.93], p for trend = .038) and severe ED (adjusted OR 0.26, 95% CI [0.07, 0.85], p for trend = .024). In contrast, no association between education status and ED was found. In conclusion, household income was independently and inversely associated with ED in Japanese UC patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

The association between ulcerative colitis (UC) and erectile dysfunction (ED) has been previously reported. Numerous previous studies have also reported an association between gastrointestinal symptoms and ED. Constipation and diarrhea are common in patients with UC. However, the specific association between bowel movement frequency and ED remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between bowel movement frequency and ED in 164 patients with UC. The definition of ED, moderate to severe ED, and severe ED was the Sexual Health Inventory for Men score <22, <12, and <8, respectively. Bowel movement frequency was divided into three categories: (1) high (More than once a day), (2) normal (once a day, reference), and low (less than one time/day). The definition of constipation was based on the Rome I criteria and/or medication for constipation. The prevalence of constipation and ED was 10.4% and 86.0%, respectively. The rate of high, normal, and low bowel movement frequency was 56.1%, 25.0%, and 18.9%, respectively. High bowel movement frequency was independently and positively associated with ED and moderate to severe ED (ED: adjusted odds ratio [OR] 4.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35-15.98; moderate to severe: adjusted OR 2.98, 95% CI 1.22-7.61). Low bowel movement frequency was independently and positively associated with moderate to severe ED and severe ED (moderate to severe: adjusted OR 3.96, 95% CI 1.27-13.08; severe: adjusted OR 3.20, 95% CI 1.08-9.86). No association between constipation and ED was found. In conclusion, in Japanese patients with UC, both high and low bowel movement frequency were independently and positively associated with ED., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Objective: Recently, a close association between ulcerative colitis (UC) and erectile dysfunction (ED) was reported. An inverse relationship between serum albumin and ED is found in patients with chronic disease. However, the association between serum albumin levels and ED in patients with UC is unclear. This study aims to investigate this issue in Japanese patients with UC., Methods: One hundred and thirty-six Japanese male UC patients were enrolled in this study. Information on serum albumin levels and medications for UC from medical records, Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) score information from self-administered questionnaires and information on the severity of UC from physician reports were obtained from medical records, self-administered questionnaires, and reports from physicians. The participants were divided into tertiles based on the total protein, serum globulin, serum albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, and C-reactive protein levels. The definition of ED and severe ED was SHIM score < 22 and SHIM score < 8, respectively. The association between these serum markers and ED was assessed by multivariate logistic regression., Results: The prevalence of severe ED in the low, moderate, and high albumin groups was 66.0%, 51.0%, and 28.3%, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, the low albumin group was independently and positively associated with severe ED (adjusted odds ratio: 2.74, 95% confidence interval: 1.03-7.48, p for trend =0.044). No association between other marker and ED was found., Conclusion: Serum albumin was independently inversely associated with severe ED in Japanese patients with UC. Hypoalbuminemia might be a useful complementary marker for assessing the prevalence and severity of ED in UC patients., (© 2023 The Japanese Urological Association.)

Aim: Age is a risk factor for constipation. Constipation is common in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and has been positively associated with disease activity, but evidence is limited. This study aimed to assess the association between disease activity and constipation in patients with UC. Methods : The study subjects consisted of 290 Japanese UC patients. The definition of constipation was based on Rome I criteria and/or medication for constipation. Information on and lifestyle habits was obtained from a self-administered questionnaire. Mucosal healing (MH) was defined as Mayo endoscopic subscore 0. Clinical remission (CR) was defined as both the absence of rectal bleeding and no abnormally high stool frequency (<3 times per day). Results: The prevalence of constipation is not associated with MH, CR, duration of UC and disease extent of UC. The prevalence of constipation among age groups, <40, 40-49 years, 50-59 years, 60-69 years, and >70 years was 10.0%, 5.8%, 15.7%, 11.8%, and 25.6%, respectively. >70 years was independently and positively associated with the prevalence of constipation (adjusted odds ratio 3.64 [95% confidence interval 1.26, 10.95], p for trend: .001). Conclusions: Aging was independently and positively associated with the prevalence of constipation in UC., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Objective: To investigate the association between nocturia and constipation in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Constipation has recently been recognized as an important symptom in patients with UC. Although nocturia has been associated with constipation in the general population, the association between nocturia and constipation in UC patients is uncertain., Methods: Consecutive series of 290 Japanese patients with UC, Information on constipation, nocturia, and lifestyle habits was obtained using self-administered questionnaires. The definition of constipation was based on Rome I criteria and/or current medication for constipation. Patients were divided into three groups based on nighttime urination: (1) no nocturia, (2) mild nocturia (nocturnal urination - one), and (3) serious nocturia (nocturnal urination - two or more). Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between nocturia and constipation., Results: Among all of the UC patients, the prevalence of mild nocturia, serious nocturia, and constipation was 35.2%, 26.9%, and 12.4%, respectively. The prevalence of constipation in the none, mild, and serious nocturia groups was 8.2%, 10.8%, and 20.5%, respectively. After adjustment for confounders such as age, sex, current drinking, current smoking, body mass index, and steroid use, nocturia severity was independently and positively associated with constipation (adjusted odds ratio for mild nocturia: 1.55 [95% confidence interval: 0.57-4.28], serious nocturia: 3.19 [95% confidence interval: 1.09-9.81], P for trend=.035)., Conclusion: The severity of nocturia is positively associated with constipation, and physicians should consider the interrelationships between nocturia and constipation in managing UC patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this article., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing; hence, effective treatments are warranted. The therapeutic effect of human carbonic anhydrase I (hCA I) in IBD remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated whether oral tolerization to hCA I would induce antigen-specific protection from intestinal inflammation in vivo. Severe combined immunodeficient mice received hCA I, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) orally for 7 days. Colons and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) were collected 4 weeks after cell transfer. Additionally, the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects were investigated. The comparison between the effects of well-established drugs and hCA I oral administration was investigated. Oral administration of hCA I ameliorated colitis remarkably. hCA I reached the cecum and ameliorated colitis more effectively than mesalazine and similarly to prednisolone. Compared with PBS treatment, hCA I treatment reduced interleukin (IL)-17a, IL-6, and retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt) expression in the colon or MLNs; moreover, hCA I markedly reduced IL-6, IL-17, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels in the MLN. Oral administration of hCA I induced immune tolerance and suppressed colitis in vivo. Thus, hCA I administration could be proposed as a new treatment option for IBD., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Epidemiological evidence on the association between physical activity (PA) and ulcerative colitis (UC) is limited, and the effect of PA on the prognosis of UC is currently unknown. We evaluated the association between PA and clinical outcomes, including clinical remission and mucosal healing (MH), in Japanese patients with UC., Methods: The study subjects were 327 Japanese patients with UC. Subjects were asked about the average time spent per day on 4 types of PA (sedentary, standing, walking, and strenuous activity) and metabolic equivalents (METs) using a validated questionnaire. Clinical outcomes were complete MH, MH, and clinical remission. The association between PA, including hours spent on each type of PA and average daily METs, and clinical outcomes was assessed by multivariate logistic regression., Results: Plentiful strenuous activity was significantly inversely associated with MH and complete MH after adjustment (MH: adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23-0.89; complete MH: adjusted OR 0.24, 95%CI 0.07-0.62; P for trend=0.008). A very high daily MET total was significantly inversely associated with complete MH after adjustment (adjusted OR 0.37, 95%CI 0.16-0.80; P for trend=0.010). In contrast, no association between PA and clinical remission was found (plentiful strenuous activity: adjusted OR 1.10, 95%CI 0.55-2.23; very high daily total METs: adjusted OR 0.74, 95%CI 0.37-1.46)., Conclusion: In Japanese patients with UC, time spent per day on strenuous activity and total PA per day may be significantly inversely associated with complete MH, but not with clinical remission., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: None, (Copyright: © Hellenic Society of Gastroenterology.)

Dietary palmitic acid (PA) promotes liver fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Herein, we clarified the intestinal absorption kinetics of dietary PA and effect of trans-portal PA on the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) involved in liver fibrosis in NASH. Blood PA levels after meals were significantly increased in patients with NASH compared to those in the control. Expression of genes associated with fat absorption and chylomicron formation, such as CD36 and MTP, was significantly increased in the intestine of NASH model rats compared with that in the controls. Plasma levels of glucagon-like peptide-2, involved in the upregulation of CD36 expression, were elevated in NASH rats compared with those in the controls. Furthermore, portal PA levels after meals in NASH rats were significantly higher than those in control and nonalcoholic fatty liver rats. Moreover, PA injection into the portal vein to the liver in control rats increased the mRNA levels associated with the activation of HSCs. Increased intestinal absorption of diet-derived PA was observed in NASH. Thus, the rapid increase in PA levels via the portal vein to the liver may activate HSCs and affect the development of liver fibrosis in NASH.

Background: Although the association between eating habits which can be modified and digestive diseases has been reported, to date, no research has evaluated the association between eating habits and ulcerative colitis (UC). Thus, we investigate the association between eating behavior and clinical outcome in Japanese patients with UC., Methods: Eating quickly, eating until full, and skipping breakfast data was obtained from a self-administered questionnaire. Information on clinical outcome was collected from medical records. Mucosal healing (MH) and partial MH was defined as a Mayo endoscopic subscore of 0 or 0-1, respectively. Age, sex, BMI, current smoking, current drinking, prednisolone use, and anti-TNFα monoclonal antibody use were selected a priori as potential confounding factors., Results: Study subjects consisted of 294 Japanese patients with UC. Eating at speed moderate and eating quickly were independently inversely associated with MH: the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were 0.38 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.16-0.85) and 0.38 (95% CI 0.17-0.81) (p for trend = 0.033). Eating until full was independently inversely associated with MH: the adjusted OR was 0.38 (95% CI 0.27-0.86). MH in patients who skipped breakfast was marginally lower than that in patients who did not skip breakfast. No association between eating habits and clinical remission or partial MH was found., Conclusion: Among patients with UC, eating rate and eating until full may be independently inversely associated with MH but not clinical remission.

The aim of this study was to examine the acid-electrolyzed functional water (FW)-mediated cytokine release in an oral squamous cell carcinoma-derived cell line (OSCC) following treatment with FW. FW is generated by the electrolysis of a sodium chloride solution and accelerate the burn wound healing. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, the cytokine/chemokine secretion profile of HSC3 cells was examined using a cytokine array. FW treatment significantly induced interleukin (IL)-1α secretion, which was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Subsequently, the HSC3 cells were pre-treated with cycloheximide (CHX) for 1 h prior to FW stimulation to determine whether the augmented IL-1α secretion was due to enhanced protein synthesis. CHX pre-treatment did not affect IL-1α secretion suggesting that the secreted IL-1α might have been derived from intracellular storage sites. The amount of IL-1α in the cell lysate of the FW-treated HSC3 cells was significantly lower than that of the non-treated cells. Immunofluorescence staining using a polyclonal antibody against full-length IL-1α revealed a drastic reduction in IL-1α inside the FW- treated cells. IL-1α is synthesized in its precursor form (pIL-1α) and cleaved to produce pro-piece and mature IL-1α (ppIL-1α and mIL-1α) inside the cells. In the present study, only pIL-1α was detected within the HSC3 cells in its resting state. However, FW stimulation resulted in the release of the 33 kDa and two other smaller forms (about 19 kDa) of the protein. These results indicates that FW treatment induces IL-1α secretion, a typical alarmin, from the intracellular storage in OSCC cells., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

Purpose: Bilirubin is known to have antioxidant effects. Several pieces of evidence regarding association between serum bilirubin and UC exist. Three studies found that serum bilirubin was inversely associated with severity of ulcerative colitis (UC), but no evidence regarding an association between serum bilirubin and mucosal healing (MH) has yet been shown. Thus, we evaluated this issue among Japanese patients with UC., Methods: The study subjects consisted of 304 Japanese patients with UC. Serum total bilirubin and indirect bilirubin were divided into quartiles on the basis of the distribution of all study subjects (low, moderate, high, and very high). Several endoscope specialists were responsible for evaluating MH, which was defined as a Mayo endoscopic subscore of 0. The information on clinical remission was collected using medical records., Results: The mean age was 49.9 years, the percentage of male patients was 59.2%, and the percentage of MH was 29.3%. High serum total bilirubin was independently positively associated with MH (OR 2.26 [95%CI 1.13-4.61]. However, after adjustment for confounding factors, the association between total bilirubin and MH disappeared. Very high serum indirect bilirubin was independently positively associated with MH (OR 2.31 [95%CI 1.10-5.00], p for trend = 0.026). No association between bilirubin and clinical remission was found., Conclusions: Among Japanese patients with UC, serum indirect bilirubin, but not total bilirubin, was significantly positively associated with MH but not clinical remission.

Purpose: Mushrooms are reported to have a variety of health-promoting activities. However, little information is available on the effects of intake of polysaccharides from Pleurotus eryngii on obesity. In this study, we investigated the effects of P. eryngii polysaccharides on obesity and gut microbiota in mice fed a high-fat diet., Methods: Soluble polysaccharides were extracted from P. eryngii using hot water. C57BL/6J mice were fed a standard diet (ST), a high-fat diet (HF), or HF with 1% or 5% P. eryngii polysaccharide fraction (LP or HP) for 16 weeks. Adipose tissues were weighed and blood parameters were measured. Expression of genes involved in fatty acid and cholesterol metabolism was assessed by real-time quantitative PCR. The gut microbiota composition was analysed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing., Results: Body weight gain and mesenteric fat tissue were lower in the HP group than in the HF group. In the HP group, serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels decreased, and lipid and total bile acids in faeces increased. Mice in the HP group showed increased expression of the LDLR gene in the liver and GPR43 in fat. The relative abundance of Firmicutes was significantly higher in the HF and HP groups than in the ST group. The abundance of some short-chain fatty acid-producing gut bacteria was altered by P. eryngii polysaccharides., Conclusions: These results provide the first evidence that P. eryngii polysaccharides have anti-obesity and LDL cholesterol-lowering effects in obese mice through increased excretion of bile acids and lipids and altered microbiota.

Grifola frondosa is a mushroom that has anti-obesity effects, but the detailed mechanism is poorly understood. In this study, we found that lipid soluble extracts derived from G. frondosa (GFE) had peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) agonist activity, inducing the expression of PPARδ-target genes in vitro. Furthermore, administration of GFE to high-fat diet-induced obese mice lowered the total blood cholesterol levels, upregulated the expression of PPARδ-target genes in skeletal muscles and improved glucose intolerance. Additionally, analyses of C 2 C 12 myotubes revealed that GFE restored glucose uptake, which was inhibited by sodium palmitate, to normal levels. Unexpectedly, such acceleration was not abolished by a PPARδ antagonist. These results suggest that G. frondosa is a novel functional food that may prevent life-style related diseases like obesity and diabetes, and that these beneficial effects are likely to be mediated through the activation of PPARδ and a PPARδ-independent insulin signaling pathway.

Dendritic cell inhibitory receptor 4 (DCIR4, Clec4a1) is a lectin receptor and a member of mouse dendritic cell immunoreceptor family. Due to the lack of antibodies against DCIR4, expression of DCIR4 protein remains unknown. In this study, we established a specific monoclonal antibody against DCIR4 and investigated the expression of DCIR4 among immune cells. We found that DCIR4 was expressed on non-granulocytic subsets of CD11b + cells in various immune organs including bone marrow, peripheral blood, spleen, skin-associated lymph nodes and mesenteric lymph nodes. DCIR4 + CD11b + cells were dichotomized into DCIR4 High and DCIR4 Low cells distinguished by different levels of DCIR4 expression. By screening a panel of cell surface markers for expression, we found that in bone marrow, blood and spleen the DCIR4 Low and the DCIR4 High cells were Ly-6C + CD43 Low CD11c - inflammatory - monocytes and Ly-6C - CD43 HIgh CD11c + patrolling monocytes, respectively. Using in vitro differentiation system, we also found that differentiation of Ly-6C + monocytes into dendritic cells greatly diminished expression of DCIR4, while that into macrophages did not significantly affect DCIR4 expression. The establishment of the anti-DCIR4 antibody enables clearer definition of monocytes and provides a novel tool to investigate biology of monocytes and their progenies., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) is an aerobic gram-positive coccus that causes infections ranging from non-invasive pharyngitis to severely invasive necrotizing fasciitis. Mutations in csrS/csrR and rgg, negative regulator genes of group A streptococcus, are crucial factors in the pathogenesis of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, which is a severe, invasive infection characterized by sudden onset of shock and multiorgan failure, resulting in a high mortality rate. Here we present a case of group A streptococcal bacteremia in a 28-year-old Japanese woman with no relevant previous medical history. The patient developed progressive abdominal symptoms that may have been due to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, followed by a state of shock, which did not fulfill the proposed criteria for streptococcal toxic shock. The isolate was found to harbor a mutation in the negative regulator csrS gene, whereas the csrR and rgg genes were intact. It was noteworthy that this strain carrying a csrS mutation had caused group A streptococcal bacteremia characterized by acute abdomen as the presenting symptom in a young individual who had been previously healthy. This case indicates that group A streptococcus with csrS mutations has potential virulence factors that are associated with the onset of group A streptococcal bacteremia that does not meet the diagnostic criteria for streptococcal toxic shock syndrome., (Copyright © 2015 Japanese Society of Chemotherapy and The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Hyperlipidemia has been demonstrated to be associated with renal disease, yet the mechanism of renal injury is still poorly understood. Inflammation that occurs with the hyperlipidemia has been considered to play an important role in development of glomerular injury. In the present study, we investigated the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a key inflammatory molecule, on renal injury in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE(-/-)) mice with severe hypercholesterolemia. The 6-wk-old mice were fed a high-fat diet and administered weekly rat anti-IL-6 receptor monoclonal antibody (MR16-1), control rat IgG, or saline for a total of 4 wk. We examined histopathological changes in the kidney and urinary excretion of protein and albumin. Saline- and IgG-treated mice showed remarkable proteinuria at 10 wk of age, whereas MR16-1-treated mice exhibited significantly lower levels. Renal histopathology of saline- and IgG-treated mice revealed striking lipid deposits and foam cells in the glomerular tuft, juxtaglomerular area, and arteriolar wall along with range of mesangial cell proliferation and matrix expansion. Notably, the severity of lipid deposits and mesangial cell proliferation were significantly reduced in MR16-1-treated mice. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that mesangial IL-6 expression was dramatically reduced in MR16-1-treated mice compared with IgG-treated mice. Blocking the IL-6 receptor prevented progression of proteinuria and renal lipid deposit, as well as the mesangial cell proliferation associated with severe hyperlipoproteinemia. These results clearly demonstrate that IL-6 plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia-induced glomerular injury in ApoE(-/-) mice and suggests the usefulness of anti-IL-6 receptor antibody in treatments for hyperlipidemia-induced organ damage.

Chicks at 2, 4 or 6 weeks of age were experimentally infected individually with a nephrosis/nephritis-causing avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) strain Kagoshima-34. The susceptibility of chicks in each group to the infection was compared, based on the clinical signs, excretion of virus in the faeces and antibody titres in the serum. The results showed that although all chicks appeared to be susceptible to IBV infection, the most severe clinical response was observed following infection at 2-week-old. Likewise, whilst the virus was also recovered from the faeces of all the chicks infected, the duration of viral excretion was longest in the 2-week-old chicks. A high antibody titre was detected at 4 weeks post infection (PI) and was maintained for at least another 16 weeks in the 4- and 6-week-old chicks. In contrast, a low antibody titre was detected only between 8 to 12 weeks PI in the 2-week-old chicks. Thereafter, no antibody was detected despite the presence of clinical signs.