1.Scaling Insulin-Producing Cells by Multiple Strategies
Jinhyuk CHOI ; Fritz CAYABYAB ; Harvey PEREZ ; Eiji YOSHIHARA
Endocrinology and Metabolism 2024;39(2):191-205
In the quest to combat insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), allogenic pancreatic islet cell therapy sourced from deceased donors represents a significant therapeutic advance. However, the applicability of this approach is hampered by donor scarcity and the demand for sustained immunosuppression. Human induced pluripotent stem cells are a game-changing resource for generating synthetic functional insulin-producing β cells. In addition, novel methodologies allow the direct expansion of pancreatic progenitors and mature β cells, thereby circumventing prolonged differentiation. Nevertheless, achieving practical reproducibility and scalability presents a substantial challenge for this technology. As these innovative approaches become more prominent, it is crucial to thoroughly evaluate existing expansion techniques with an emphasis on their optimization and scalability. This manuscript delineates these cutting-edge advancements, offers a critical analysis of the prevailing strategies, and underscores pivotal challenges, including cost-efficiency and logistical issues. Our insights provide a roadmap, elucidating both the promises and the imperatives in harnessing the potential of these cellular therapies for IDDM.
2.Analysis of Association between Norepinephrine Transporter Gene Polymorphisms and Personality Traits of NEO-FFI in a Japanese Population.
Shin NARITA ; Kazuhiko IWAHASHI ; Kenta NAGAHORI ; Maki NUMAJIRI ; Eiji YOSHIHARA ; Nobuyo OHTANI ; Jun ISHIGOOKA
Psychiatry Investigation 2015;12(3):381-387
OBJECTIVE: Norepinephrine is an important chemical messenger that is involved in mood and stress in humans, and is reabsorbed by the norepinephrine transporter (NET). According to Cloninger's theory, the noradrenergic system mediates the personality trait of reward dependence. Thus far, although association studies on NET gene polymorphisms and Cloninger's personality traits have been reported, they yielded inconsistent results. Therefore, in the present study we investigated whether or not the 1287G/A, -182T/C and -3081A/T polymorphisms of the NET gene (SLC6A2) are associated with reward dependence-related traits, as assessed by the five-factor model. METHODS: After written informed consent was obtained from participants, the three NET gene polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and personality was assessed by the Neuroticism Extraversion Openness-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) in 270 Japanese university students. RESULTS: A significant relation was found between the -3081A/T functional promoter polymorphism and NEO-FFI scores: those with the T allele exhibited a lower extraversion (E) score than those without the T allele (Mann-Whitney U-test: z=-3.861, p<0.001). However, there was no correlation between the other NET gene polymorphisms and E score, and no association with other dimensions and these three polymorphisms. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the -3081A/T functional polymorphism in the NET gene may affect the extraversion of reward dependence-related traits, as measured by NEO-FFI. However, we used only the shortened version of NEO-PI-R in this study. Further investigations are necessary using the full version of self-rating personality questionnaires.
Alleles
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Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
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Extraversion (Psychology)
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Humans
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Informed Consent
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Norepinephrine
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Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins*
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Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Surveys and Questionnaires
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Reward
3.No Association between the Polymorphism rs6943555 in the AUTS2 Gene and Personality Traits in Japanese University Students.
Shin NARITA ; Kazutaka IKEDA ; Daisuke NISHIZAWA ; Eiji YOSHIHARA ; Maki NUMAJIRI ; Yuuya ONOZAWA ; Nobuyo OHTANI ; Kazuhiko IWAHASHI
Psychiatry Investigation 2017;14(5):681-686
OBJECTIVE: The autism susceptibility candidate 2 (AUTS2) gene has been implicated in multiple neurological disorders. Several recent studies have revealed that the polymorphism rs6943555 in the AUTS2 gene is broadly associated with human mental function and behavior. Therefore, in the present study we investigated whether the polymorphism rs6943555 is associated with human personality traits in Japanese university students. In addition, our previous study reported that the AUTS2 rs6943555-rs9886351 haplotype is associated with alcohol dependence. As a preliminary analysis, we also examined whether the AUTS2 haplotypes are related to personality traits. METHODS: After written informed consent had been obtained from the participants, two AUTS2 polymorphisms were analyzed, and personality was assessed using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) in 190 university students. In addition, in order to exclude the influence of the results for students with mental health problems, we gave the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to all subjects. RESULTS: In all the subjects, there was a main effect of the polymorphism rs6943555 genotype on reward dependence (p=0.038) and cooperativeness (p=0.031), although the significance was lost on Bonferroni correction. Similarly, on analysis that excluded the subjects with PHQ-9 scores≥10, no significant association with any TCI dimension score among the rs6943555 genotypes was seen. There was no effect of the rs6943555-rs9886351 haplotypes on the TCI dimension scores. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the polymorphism AUTS2 rs6943555 is not associated with personality traits. Further large-scale studies with more subjects using other self-report questionnaires are needed.
Alcoholism
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Asian Continental Ancestry Group*
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Autistic Disorder
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Genotype
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Haplotypes
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Humans
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Informed Consent
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Mental Health
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Nervous System Diseases
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Reward
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Temperament
4.The Prevalence and Characteristics of Symptomatic Uncomplicated Diverticular Disease Among Asian Patients With Unexplained Abdominal Symptoms
Tsumugi JONO ; Yuki KASAI ; Takaomi KESSOKU ; Tomoki OGATA ; Kosuke TANAKA ; Tsutomu YOSHIHARA ; Noboru MISAWA ; Shingo KATO ; Takuma HIGURASHI ; Kunihiro HOSONO ; Masato YONEDA ; Kosuke SEITA ; Takayuki KATO ; Eiji SAKAI ; Takeo KURIHASHI ; Machiko NAKATOGAWA ; Shunsuke OYAMADA ; Seiji FUTAGAMI ; Kok-Ann GWEE ; Atsushi NAKAJIMA
Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility 2024;30(1):87-96
Background/Aims:
The precise incidence of symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) and its effects on the quality of life (QOL) remain unclear, particularly in Asian patients with right-sided SUDD. We assess the prevalence of SUDD and its impact on QOL in a real-world population.
Methods:
Five institutional cohorts of patients who received outpatient treatment for unexplained abdominal symptoms from January 15, 2020 to March 31, 2022, were included. All patients underwent colonoscopy. SUDD was defined as the presence of recurrent abdominal symptoms, particularly pain in the lower right or left quadrant lasting > 24 hours in patients with diverticulosis at the site of pain. The 36-item short-form health survey was used to assess QOL.
Results:
Diverticula were identified in 108 of 361 patients. Among these 108 patients, 31% had SUDD, which was right-sided in 39% of cases.Of the 50 patients with right-sided diverticula, 36% had SUDD, as did 15 of 35 patients with left-sided diverticula (43%). Among the 33 patients with SUDD, diverticula were right-sided, left-sided, and bilateral in 39%, 45%, and 15% of patients, respectively. Diarrhea was more frequent in the SUDD group than in the non-SUDD group. Patients with SUDD had significantly lower physical, mental, and role/social component scores than those without SUDD.
Conclusions
It is important to recognize that patients with SUDD account for as high as 31% of outpatients with unexplained abdominal symptoms; these patients have diarrhea and a low QOL. The presence of right-sided SUDD was characteristic of Asian patients.