Search

Periodontitis has been implicated as a risk factor for metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerotic vascular diseases, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Although bacteremias from dental plaque and/or elevated circulating inflammatory cytokines emanating from the inflamed gingiva are suspected mechanisms linking periodontitis and these diseases, direct evidence is lacking. We hypothesize that disturbances of the gut microbiota by swallowed bacteria induce a metabolic endotoxemia leading metabolic disorders. To investigate this hypothesis, changes in the gut microbiota, insulin and glucose intolerance, and levels of tissue inflammation were analysed in mice after oral administration of Porphyromonas gingivalis, a representative periodontopathogens. Pyrosequencing revealed that the population belonging to Bacteroidales was significantly elevated in P. gingivalis-administered mice which coincided with increases in insulin resistance and systemic inflammation. In P. gingivalis-administered mice blood endotoxin levels tended to be higher, whereas gene expression of tight junction proteins in the ileum was significantly decreased. These results provide a new paradigm for the interrelationship between periodontitis and systemic diseases.

In this research, body technology was established for side collisions with new IIHS MDB as a representative case. In the conventional body structure, most of the load received from the barrier is absorbed by bending deformation of the door beam and B-pillar, etc. For that reason, the body is subjected to large deformation before reaching the maximum load, and the deformation increases further when subjected to a high-energy collision. Therefore, the objective of this research is to create a structure that increases the load from the initiation of impact and suppresses the deformation of the car body. An arched door beam was developed to reduce the bending moment by the axial load in the longitudinal direction generated during the deformation and to increase the load in the lateral direction. A principle equation was developed that uses the shape of the door beam as a variable. A prototype of the arched door beam was fabricated, and its performance was evaluated by an impactor test. A full-car simulation was conducted using a mass-produced sedan as a base, to which the arched door beam was added to verify the performance of the complete vehicle. The results of the impactor tests were evaluated using the load gradient, which was defined as the generated load divided by the amount of deformation. Compared to conventional straight door beams, the load gradient was 7.1 times higher. Full-car simulation results showed that for a gasoline-powered vehicle body weight, the body load gradient of the proposed structure was 4.7 times higher, and the body deformation adjacent to the dummy shoulder was reduced by 210 mm. Spine acceleration of the dummy was reduced by 56%. The body structure proposed in this research has the effect of increasing the load gradient and reducing body deformation and spine acceleration. It is expected to be applicable to EVs and FCVs, which require more energy absorption due to their increased vehicle weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment results in an effective response from patients with acute-phase Kawasaki disease (KD), but 16.5% of them remain nonresponsive to IVIg. To address this therapeutic challenge, we tried a new therapeutic drug, mizoribine (MZR), in a mouse model of KD, which we have established using injections of Candida albicans water-soluble fractions (CAWS). Methods CAWS (4 mg/mouse) were injected intraperitoneally into C57BL/6N mice for 5 consecutive days. MZR or IgG was administered for 5 days. After 4 weeks, the mice were sacrificed and autopsied, the hearts were fixed in 10% neutral formalin, and plasma was taken to measure cytokines and chemokines using the Bio-Plex system. The incidence of panvasculitis in the coronary arteries and aortic root was 100% in the control group. The incidence of panvasculitis in the MZR group decreased to 50%. Moreover, the scope and severity of the inflammation of those sites were significantly reduced in the MZR group as well as the IgG group. On the other hand, increased cytokines and chemokines, such as IL-1α, TNF-α, KC, MIP-1α, GM-CSF, and IL-13, in the nontreatment group were significantly suppressed by treatment with MZR, but the MCP-1 level increased. In addition, IL-1α, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-13, and MIP-1α were suppressed by treatment in the IgG group. Results The incidence of panvasculitis in the coronary arteries and aortic root was 100% in the control group. The incidence of panvasculitis in the MZR group decreased to 50%. Moreover, the scope and severity of the inflammation of those sites were significantly reduced in the MZR group as well as the IgG group. On the other hand, increased cytokines and chemokines, such as IL-1α TNF-α, KC, MIP-1α, GM-CSF, and IL-13, in the nontreatment group were significantly suppressed by treatment with MZR, but the MCP-1 level increased. In addition, IL-1α, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-13, and MIP-1α were suppressed by treatment in the IgG group. Conclusion MZR treatment suppressed not only the incidence, range, and degree of vasculitis, but also inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the plasma of the KD vasculitis model mice, suggesting that MZR may be useful for treatment of KD.

Provides information on a study which examined the formation of polystyrene thin film by the synchroton radiation chemical vapor-deposition method using a styrene monomer. Process of chemical vapor deposition using styrene monomer; Effect of irradiated polystyrene on silicon substrate; Observation on the behavior of synchrotron radiation.

Objectives Various inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), have been reported to play roles in Kawasaki disease (KD). Recently, anti-TNF-α therapy was reported to show efficacy in patients who do not respond to high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. However, there are many gaps in our understanding of the role that TNF-α plays in the development of KD arteritis as well as whether anti-TNF-α therapy causes any histological changes in the arteritis. Accordingly, the present histopathological study was carried out to elucidate the inhibitory effect of anti-TNF-α therapy on vasculitis as well as the role of TNF-α in the development of vasculitis in a murine model of KD vasculitis. Methods We used two anti-TNF-α drugs (etanercept and infliximab) to treat a Candida albicans-induced murine model of KD vasculitis. We investigated the histopathological changes in terms of the incidence of vasculitis, the scope of lesions and the degree of inflammation. Results Administration of etanercept to the mice reduced not only the incidence of vasculitis but also the scope of lesions and the degree of inflammation. Conclusion Based on the histological findings, TNF-α is deeply involved in the development of vasculitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]