Background: The potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily Q member 1 (KCNQ1) gene has recently received much attention as a candidate susceptibility gene for type 2 diabetes mellitus, especially in Asian populations. We previously reported that Kcnq1 mutant mice exhibit reduced insulin secretion and hyperglycemia due to a decrease in pancreatic β-cell mass. Through in vivo and in vitro analyses, we ascertained that this mechanism is the result of the downregulation of the non-coding RNA ‘Kcnq1ot1,’ which is expressed in the paternal allele of the Kcnq1 gene region, causing an increase in the expression of the cell cycle inhibitor cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1C (Cdkn1c). It was found that decreased Kcnq1ot1 expression resulted in pancreatic β-cell failure; however, the degree of pancreatic β-cell volume reduction was not severe. Methods: We induced obesity in Kcnq1ot1 truncation mice by feeding them a high-fat diet and evaluated pancreatic β-cell mass. Results: In the present study, we reveal that CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPβ), which is expressed at higher levels in pancreatic β-cells in obese individuals, further increases the expression of Cdkn1c, which is upregulated by the Kcnq1 gene mutation. We found that simultaneous Cdkn1c hypomethylation and C/EBPβ overexpression in pancreatic β-cells causes a synergistic decrease in pancreatic β-cell mass. Conclusion This finding suggests that the synergistic effect of genetic factors such as Kcnq1 gene mutations and environmental factors such as obesity and overeating, which lead to increased expression of C/EBPβ, contribute to the regulation of pancreatic β-cell mass. This study is the first to show that the Kcnq1 gene is related to pancreatic β-cell mass through genetic-environment interactions.

A 76-year-old female was admitted with complaints of dyspnea on exertion and lower leg edema. She had undergone an aortic valve replacement thirty-nine years before and a redo aortic valve replacement and mitral valve replacement twenty-eight years before. She also had hemolytic anemia with jaundice. Echocardiography showed severe paravalvular leakage in the aortic and mitral valves, and a blood flow in the aortic annulus that flows from the aortic side into the left atrium. We diagnosed heart failure and hemolytic anemia due to paravalvular leakage and decided to perform a double-valve replacement for the third time. On operation, after removing the aortic valve through aortotomy, aorto- mitral fibrous continuity was extensively calcified and perforated, and its strength was not enough to sew the prosthetic valve to it. Therefore, we decided to perform the Commando procedure. Aortotomy was extended between the noncoronary aortic sinus and the left coronary aortic sinus until it reached the dome of the left atrium. After the prosthetic mitral valve was excised, annuloplasty of the posterior mitral annulus was performed using a bovine pericardial patch, and the new prosthesis mitral valve was implanted. The anterior part of the annulus corresponding to the aorto-mitral fibrous continuity was reconstructed by sewing the base of a two-tongued triangular bovine pericardial patch to the sewing cuff of the mitral prosthesis. After closing the left atrial ceiling with the posterior patch, the aortic prosthesis was secured to the aortic annulus and the pericardial patch. The anterior patch was used to close the right side of the aortotomy. The postoperative course was uneventful, and postoperative echocardiography revealed no paravalvular leakage.

The patient was a 73-year-old man who was referred to our hospital due to an abnormal thoracic shadow. CT scans revealed Kommerell's diverticulum and saccular aortic arch aneurysm accompanied by abnormal origins of the right aortic arch and the left subclavian artery. Although there were no subjective symptoms, a surgical operation was planned considering the risk of a rupture of the saccular aneurysm. For the surgery, a median sternotomy approach was employed. Under cardiopulmonary bypass, the aortic arch was detached using the open distal method. Further, an open stent graft was inserted, and the aortic arch was replaced with a four-branched artificial blood vessel. After weaning off the cardiopulmonary bypass, coil embolization was performed on the left subclavian artery, and the site was checked to ensure that there was no endoleak. Although hoarseness was noted postoperatively due to paralysis of the right vocal cord, the patient progressed without any other major complications and was discharged 30 days after the operation.

Methods: We included 62 patients who underwent combined LLIF surgery and PPS fixation for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis with spinal canal stenosis. We compared the patient demographics and the accuracy of fluoroscopy-guided PPS placement between two groups: patients who remained in the lateral decubitus position for the pedicle screw fixation (single-position surgery [SPS] group) and those who were turned to the prone position (dual-position surgery [DPS] group). Results: There were 40 patients in the DPS group and 22 in the SPS group. Of the 292 PPSs, only 12 were misplaced. In other words, 280/292 screws (95.9%) were placed correctly in the pedicle’s cortical shell (grade 0). PPS insertion did not cause neurological, vascular, or visceral injuries in either group. The breach rates for the DPS and SPS groups were 4.1% (grade 1, 5 screws; grade 2, 3 screws; grade 3, 0 screw) and 4.1% (grade 1, 2 screws; grade 2, 2 screws; grade 3, 0 screw), respectively. Although there were no statistically significant differences, the downside PPS had more screw malpositioning than the upside PPS. Conclusions We found that PPS insertion with the patient in the decubitus position under fluoroscopic guidance might be as safe and reliable a technique as PPS insertion in the prone position, with a misplacement rate similar to that previously published.

Methods: Preoperative CT data from 26 patients pertaining to adult spinal deformities were investigated in this study. We applied a 3D image processing method for a detailed investigation. Virtual cylinders were used to mimic SAI screws. These were placed to penetrate the sacral iliac joint without violating the other cortex. We then assessed the trajectory of the longest SAI screw and the ideal entry point of SAI using a color mapping method on the surface of the sacrum. We measured the location of the nerve root at S1 in relation to the foramen at S1 and the sacral surface. Results: As per the results of our color mapping, it was determined that areas that received high scores are located medially and caudally to the dorsal foramen of S1. The mean angle between a horizontal line and a line connecting the medial edge of the foramen and nerve root at S1 was 93.5°. The mean distances from the dorsal medial edge of the foramen and sacral surface to S1 nerve root were 21.8 mm and 13.9 mm, respectively. Conclusions The ideal entry point of the SAI screw is located medially and caudally to the S1 dorsal foramen based on 3D digital mapping. It is also shown that this entry point spares the S1 nerve root from possible iatrogenic injuries.

Objective  Thailand is experiencing demographic changes owing to an increase of the older population. Family members feel responsible for providing care and are required to offer a broad range of assistance despite insufficiency of the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources. Therefore, family caregivers go through a considerable amount of distress in their efforts to provide long-term care for older people. The aim of this study was to identify the factors which lead to perceivings of burden for family caregivers caring for varied dependent older people in Thailand, and to determine the magnitude of Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) they experienced in order to develop appropriate strategies for burden alleviation.Methods  A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in August 2017. A total of 314 subjects were recruited from ten randomly selected sub-districts in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The CBI was employed to assess family caregiver burden. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression were utilized to examine the association between independent variables and family caregiver burden. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed to test differences among the five factors of the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI).Results  The prevalence of high caregiving burden was moderate (41.7%). Among CBI factors, time constraint was a significant and major cause of burden. Increased caregiver burden was significantly related to the caregiver’s own health problems (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.06-6.27), caregiver’s poor sleep quality (AOR = 2.71, 95% CI = 1.43-5.11), daily hours providing care ≥ eight hours (AOR = 2.81, 95% CI = 1.61-4.91), care-recipient’s low ADL level (AOR = 3.98, 95% CI = 2.29-6.92), and care-recipient’s low cognition level (AOR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.23-3.67), even after adjusting for other factors.Conclusion  The research finding showed that the prevalence high caregiver burden was moderate. Among the five CBI variables, time constraint was the major cause of burden. Further, caregiver’s own health problems, caregiver’s poor sleep quality, daily hours of providing care ≥ eight hours, care-recipient’s low ADL level, and care-recipient’s low cognition level, were regarded as factors affecting caregiver’s major burden. Thus, both caregivers’ and care-recipients’ factors adversely influenced caregivers’ burden.

BACKGROUND: Le Fort I osteotomy is one of the surgical procedures now routinely and safely performed. It is possible to move the maxilla in three dimensions, but it is necessary to separate the bones around the maxillary sinus. Therefore, with surgery, maxillary sinus mucosal thickening occurs. By knowing the changes in the sinus mucosa after surgery and the factors affecting it, it is possible to better predict the outcomes of surgery and contribute to safer surgery. In this study, thickening of maxillary sinus mucosa before and after surgery in Le Fort I osteotomy was evaluated using multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) images, and the changes in mucosal thickening and the related factors were examined. METHODS: Using MDCT images, the maxillary sinus mucosa of 125 patients who had undergone Le Fort I osteotomy was retrospectively evaluated before surgery, 1 month after surgery, and 1 year after surgery. On the MDCT images, the maxillary sinus was judged as mucosal thickening and classified into three grades according to the proportion occupying the maxillary sinus. In the evaluation of factors related to mucosal thickening, the following eight factors were examined: sex, age, diagnosis, operating time, amount of postoperative bleeding, with/without bone graft, with/without multisegmental osteotomy, and with/without macrolide therapy after surgery. RESULTS: The mean age at the time of surgery was 25.6 ± 8 years. Of all 125 patients, 66 had bilateral thickening, 19 had unilateral thickening, and 40 had no thickening. Factors that were significantly related to mucosal thickening were the operative time for the maxilla, bone grafts, and macrolide therapy after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Operative time for the maxilla, bone grafts, and macrolide therapy after surgery were found to be related to mucosal thickening. In addition, MDCT scanning 1 month after surgery was considered to be appropriate for evaluation of maxillary sinus mucosal thickening.
Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Maxillary Sinus ; Mucous Membrane ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Operative Time ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Osteotomy ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is 1 of the 2 major phenotypes of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which afflicts millions of individuals throughout the world with debilitating symptoms that impair function and quality of life. Further, IBD often affects women during childbearing age. Indeed, UC activity frequently increases during pregnancy, and the medications used to induce remission may adversely affect the health of the mother and the unborn child. We report successful induction of a remission in a UC case who experienced a flare-up in the first trimester of pregnancy. Upon relapse, she was treated with steroids and adsorptive granulomonocytapheresis (GMA) with the Adacolumn plus tacrolimus. This combination therapy induced a stable remission that was maintained during her entire pregnancy. She gave birth to a healthy child at 36 weeks of pregnancy with no maternal or fetal complications. Our experience indicates that GMA, as a non-drug therapeutic intervention with a favorable safety profile, plus tacrolimus might be a relevant treatment option for patients with active IBD during pregnancy. A future study of a large cohort of pregnant patients should strengthen our findings.
Child ; Cohort Studies ; Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Phenotype ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy* ; Quality of Life ; Recurrence ; Steroids ; Tacrolimus* ; Ulcer*

The ability of human deciduous tooth dental pulp cells (HDDPCs) to differentiate into odontoblasts that generate mineralized tissue holds immense potential for therapeutic use in the field of tooth regenerative medicine. Realization of this potential depends on efficient and optimized protocols for the genetic manipulation of HDDPCs. In this study, we demonstrate the use of a PiggyBac (PB)-based gene transfer system as a method for introducing nonviral transposon DNA into HDDPCs and HDDPC-derived inducible pluripotent stem cells. The transfection efficiency of the PB-based system was significantly greater than previously reported for electroporation-based transfection of plasmid DNA. Using the neomycin resistance gene as a selection marker, HDDPCs were stably transfected at a rate nearly 40-fold higher than that achieved using conventional methods. Using this system, it was also possible to introduce two constructs simultaneously into a single cell. The resulting stable transfectants, expressing tdTomato and enhanced green fluorescent protein, exhibited both red and green fluorescence. The established cell line did not lose the acquired phenotype over three months of culture. Based on our results, we concluded that PB is superior to currently available methods for introducing plasmid DNA into HDDPCs. There may be significant challenges in the direct clinical application of this method for human dental tissue engineering due to safety risks and ethical concerns. However, the high level of transfection achieved with PB may have significant advantages in basic scientific research for dental tissue engineering applications, such as functional studies of genes and proteins. Furthermore, it is a useful tool for the isolation of genetically engineered HDDPC-derived stem cells for studies in tooth regenerative medicine.
Cells, Cultured ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Dental Pulp ; cytology ; Humans ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ; cytology ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; Tooth, Deciduous ; cytology ; Transfection

Objective: Many patients in Kagawa University Hospital are administered medicines prepared by the simple suspension method.  Pharmacists in charge of these patients receive inquiries from doctors and nurses regarding the suitability of medicines for the simple suspension method.  Answering these inquiries is complicated and time-consuming as multiple data sources need to be searched.  In order to simplify these complicated procedures, we herein attempted to develop a novel database to provide valuable information that could contribute to the safe performance of the simple suspension method, and evaluated its usefulness.
Method: The specifications of the database were determined by analyzing previously answered inquiries.  To evaluate the usefulness of the database, we used test prescriptions and compared the amount of time required to gather information using the database and the conventional method, i.e., using books alone.  We also analyzed previous prescriptions with the database in order to determine what kinds of problems could be detected.
Results: The investigation of previous prescriptions indicated that some medicines needed to be examined not only for their suitability for the simple suspension method, but also their incompatibility.  Therefore, we added a feature regarding the incompatibility of medicines to the database.  The time required to gather the information needed to answer the test prescription was shorter with our database than with the conventional method.  Furthermore, the database improved the detection of medicines that require particular attention for their properties including incompatibility.  An analysis of previous prescriptions using our database indicated the possibility of incompatibility in half of the previous prescriptions examined.
Conclusion: Our database could rapidly provide information related to the simple suspension method, including the incompatibility of medicines.