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Background/Aim: Sepsis is a life-threatening biological condition that induces systemic tissue and organ dysfunction and confers a high mortality risk. Although the use of hydrocortisone in combination with ascorbic acid and thiamine (HAT therapy) significantly reduced mortality from sepsis or septic shock in a previous study, it did not improve mortality in subsequent randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Therefore, no definitive conclusion has been established on the benefits of HAT therapy for sepsis or septic shock. We performed a meta-analysis to assess the treatment outcomes of HAT therapy in patients with sepsis or septic shock. Patients and Methods: We searched databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane Library) for RCTs using the terms "ascorbic acid", "thiamine", "sepsis", "septic shock", and "RCT". The primary outcome of this meta-analysis was the mortality rate, and the secondary outcomes were the incidence of new-onset acute renal injury (AKI), intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (ICU-LOS), change in the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score within 72 hours, and duration of vasopressor use. Results: Nine RCTs were identified and included in the outcome evaluation. HAT therapy did not improve the 28-day and ICU mortality, new-onset AKI, ICULOS, or SOFA scores. However, HAT therapy significantly shortened the duration of vasopressor use. Conclusion: HAT therapy did not improve mortality, the SOFA score, renal injury, or ICU-LOS. Further studies are needed to confirm whether it shortens the duration of vasopressor use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of dust particles in low-pressure plasmas is a 3-step process. The first one corresponds to nucleation and growth of nanoparticles by chain reactions between ions and gas molecules, the second one is agglomeration of the nanoparticles to form larger particles, and finally, the particles grow by radical deposition on their surfaces. In this work, the nucleation time for carbon dust particles was studied in low pressure acetylene/argon radio frequency (RF) plasmas. Since the self-bias voltage on a powered electrode was drastically affected by the transition from the nucleation to the agglomeration phases, the nucleation time was measured by observing the self-bias voltage time evolution. The nucleation time increases with the gas temperature and decreases when the gas pressure and the RF power are increased. A kinetic model, involving balance between diffusion and charging times of the nanoparticles as well as the chain reactions, is used to explain the exponential dependence of the nucleation time on the gas temperature. The balance between the times was especially indispensable to get good agreement between the model and the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In dusty plasmas, dust particles are negatively charged and massive so as to be affected by gravity. In microgravity experiments with a cylindrical discharge, the dust particles move their equilibrium position with changing their arrangements from an isotropic closedpacked structure to anisotropic linear chains. The Coulomb potential dominant in the isotropic structure was evaluated based on mesurement of plasma parameters of ion density and electron temperature. It was found that the Coulomb coupling parameters of the ratio of the potential to thermal energy were large enough to solidify Coulomb crystals of the dust particles. Neverthless the Coulomb potential can not overcome the potential forming the linear chains which appares in a microgravity condition, so-called wake potential induced by ion stream along the axis of the cylindrical discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Concomitant proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICPI) were determined as risk factors of acute kidney injury. To identify the type of PPI associated with ICPI-induced nephritis, we used the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database. Patients and Methods: ICPIs (nivolumab, pembrolizumab, ipilimumab, atezolizumab, durvalumab, and avelumab) and PPIs (esomeprazole, omeprazole, vonoprazan, rabeprazole, and lansoprazole) were selected as suspected nephritis-inducing drugs. Results: The cases of concomitant use of atezolizumab and rabeprazole, ipilimumab and omeprazole, ipilimumab and lansoprazole, nivolumab and esomeprazole, nivolumab and omeprazole, nivolumab and rabeprazole, nivolumab and lansoprazole, pembrolizumab and esomeprazole, as well as pembrolizumab and lansoprazole had a significantly higher reported odds ratio than monotherapy cases. Conclusion: Male patients or patients using ICPIs and PPIs (excluded vonoprazan) concomitantly should be monitored for renal function after chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenza viruses A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B are known seasonal viruses that undergo annual mutation. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) contains anti-seasonal influenza virus globulins. Although the virus-neutralizing (VN) titer is an indicator of protective antibodies, changes in this titer over extended time periods have yet to be examined. In this study, variations in hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and VN titers against seasonal influenza viruses in IVIG lots over extended time periods were examined. In addition, the importance of monitoring the reactivity of IVIG against seasonal influenza viruses with varying antigenicity was evaluated. A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B influenza virus strains and IVIG lots manufactured from 1999 to 2014 were examined. The HI titer was measured by standard methods. The VN titer was measured using a micro-focus method. IVIG exhibited significant HI and VN titers against all investigated strains. Our results suggest that the donor population maintains both specific and cross-reactive antibodies against seasonal influenza viruses, except in cases of pandemic viruses, despite major antigen changes. The titers against seasonal influenza vaccine strains, including past strains, were stable over short time periods but increased slowly over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, and a number of reports have shown a relationship between CKD and CVD in pre-dialysis or maintenance dialysis patients. However, few studies have reported serial observations during dialysis initiation and maintenance. Therefore, we examined whether the incidence of heart disease events differed between CKD patients with and without a history of coronary heart disease (CHD) at dialysis initiation.Methods: The subjects were patients in the 17 centers participating in the Aichi Cohort Study of Prognosis in Patients Newly Initiated into Dialysis (AICOPP) from October 2011 to September 2013. We excluded nine patients whose outcomes were unknown, as determined by a survey conducted at the end of March 2015. Thus, we enrolled 1,515 subjects into the study. We classified patients into 2 groups according to the history of CHD (i.e., a CHD group and a non-CHD group). Propensity scores (PS) represented the probability of being assigned to a group with or without a history of CHD. Onset of heart disease events and associated mortality and all-cause mortality were compared in PS-matched patients by using the log-rank test for Kaplan-Meier curves. Factors contributing to heart disease events were examined using stepwise multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis.Results: There were 254 patients in each group after PS-matching. During observation, heart disease events occurred in 85 patients (33.5%) in the CHD group and 48 (18.9%) patients in the non-CHD group. The incidence was significantly higher in the CHD group (p < 0.0001). The CHD group was associated with higher incidence of heart disease events (vs. the non-CHD group, hazard ratio = 1.750, 95% confidence interval = 1.160-2.639). In addition, comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, low body mass index, and low serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were associated with higher incidence of events.Conclusion: History of CHD at dialysis initiation was associated with a higher incidence of heart disease events and mortality and all-cause mortality.Trial Registration: UMIN 000007096 . Registered 18 January 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. This study investigated the clinical course of myeloperoxidase-antineutrophil cytoplasm autoantibody (MPO-ANCA)-associated vasculitis after starting dialysis. Methods. A retrospective review was conducted of the clinical charts of dialysis-dependent patients with MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis who attended one of 8 associated clinics over the past 21 years. Results. Eighty-nine patients were included in the study; 88 had microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and 1 had granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Of the 88 patients with MPA, 18 had renal-limited vasculitis. Twenty-one relapses occurred among 13 patients (frequency, 0.05 relapses/person-year; 95% confidence interval, 0.03 - 0.08). Mean time from start of dialysis to relapse was 65 - 59 months. Cox multivariate analysis showed that pulmonary involvement was a predictor of relapse (hazard ratio [HR], 21.4) and mortality (HR, 4.60), and that patient age (HR, 1.10) and cyclophosphamide use (HR, 0.20) were significant predictors of mortality. Postdialysis 1- and 5-year survival rates were 83.0% and 65.6%, respectively; infection was the most frequent cause of death. Conclusion. Pulmonary involvement was a predictor of relapse and mortality. Although relapse can occur long after the start of dialysis, incidence was low among dialysis-dependent patients. Prolonged maintenance immunosuppressive therapy might be limited to patients with pulmonary involvement in dialysis-dependent ANCA-associated vasculitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: To elucidate the mechanism responsible for developing acute kidney injury in patients with diabetes mellitus, we also evaluated the issue of whether advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) influence the expressions of multi antimicrobial extrusion protein (MATE1/ SLC47A1) in tubular cells. Materials and methods: To detect changing expression of MATE1/SLC47A1 in dose- and time-dependent manners, human proximal tubular epithelial cells were incubated with AGEaggregated- human serum albumin. As a function assay for MATE1/SLC47A1, human proximal tubular epithelial cells were incubated with cisplatin or carboplatin. Results: On incubation with AGEs, the expressions of MATE1/SLC47A1 were decreased in tubular cells. In addition, the toxicities of cisplatin were increased in tubular cells that had been pretreated with AGEs. However, the toxicities of carboplatin were smaller than that of cisplatin in proximal tubular epithelial cells. Conclusion: The expression of the MATE1/SLC47A1 is decreased by AGEs, which increases the risk for proximal tubular injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maintenance of low serum urate levels is important for the management of gout. Achieving the recommended serum urate levels of less than 6.0 mg/dL is difficult in elderly (65 years of age or older) patients with renal impairment. Xanthine oxidase inhibitors allopurinol and febuxostat are used for this purpose. Although febuxostat had been shown to be efficacious in elderly patients, its safety and efficacy in elderly female patients with hyperuricemia remain unclear. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of febuxostat in elderly female patients. Methods: We studied a retrospective cohort study. The study included elderly Japanese patients (65 years of age or older) who were treated with febuxostat at Fujita Health University Hospital from January 2012 to December 2013. The treatment goal was defined as achievement of serum urate levels of 6.0 mg/dL or lower within 16 weeks; this was the primary endpoint in the present study. Adverse events of febuxostat were defined as more than twofold increases in Common Terminology Criteria for adverse events scores from baseline. Results: We evaluated 82 patients treated with febuxostat during the observation period and classified them into male (n=53) and female (n=29) groups. The mean time to achievement of the treatment goal was significantly shorter in the female group (53 days) than in the male group (71 days). There were no significant differences in adverse events between the 2 groups. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the efficacy of febuxostat in elderly female patients is superior to that in elderly male patients and that the safety is equivalent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to obtain the particle temperature in complex plasmas, a new method based on the pair distribution function (PDF) is investigated. From the PDF, the mean square displacement is obtained. To estimate the temperature, the particle motion is also traced. The fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis of the motion data indicates that the fundamental and second harmonic frequencies are found. The model for a single frequency is expanded to calculate the temperature under the multiple frequencies conditions. The temperature is estimated to be 0.08 to 0.17 eV. This is consistent with the temperature obtained from the conventional method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), West Nile virus (WNV), and dengue virus (DenV) are causal agents of Japanese encephalitis, West Nile fever, and dengue fever, respectively. JEV is considered to be indigenized and widespread in Japan, whereas WNV and DenV are not indigenized in Japan. Globulin products seem to reflect the status of the donor population according to antivirus neutralization activity. However, the anti-JEV, -WNV, and -DenV neutralization activities of globulin products derived from donors in Japan have not been clarified. Furthermore, potential candidates for the development of an effective immunotherapeutic drug for encephalitis caused by JEV, WNV, or DenV have also not been identified. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the overall status of the donor population in Japan based on globulin products by evaluating anti-JEV, -WNV, and -DenV neutralizing activities of intravenous immunoglobulin. Overall, intravenous immunoglobulin products showed stable neutralizing activity against JEV but showed no or only weak activity against WNV or DenV. These results suggest that the epidemiological level against WNV and DenV in the donor population of Japan is still low, suggesting that these viruses are not yet indigenized. In addition, JEV vaccinations and/or infections in the donor population do not induce a cross-reactive antibody against WNV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bisphenol A [BPA, 2,2-bis(4-hydoxyphenyl)propane], an industrial chemical used in the production of polycarbonate, epoxide resin, and polyarylate, is considered to be an endocrine-disrupting chemical. BPA may be present in some hollow-fiber dialyzers used in hemodialysis. In this study, we tested the amounts of BPA eluted from various hollow fibers. Furthermore, we measured the BPA concentration in the sera of 22 renal disease predialysis patients, as well as 15 patients who were receiving hemodialysis, to see if there is BPA accumulation in these patients. The elution test of BPA showed that a much larger amount of BPA was eluted from polysulfone (PS), and polyester-polymeralloy hollow fibers. Among renal disease patients who had not undergone hemodialysis, the serum BPA concentration increased as the renal function deteriorated, showing a significant negative association. In a crossover test between PS and cellulose (Ce) dialyzers, the predialysis serum BPA concentration of PS dialyzer users decreased after changing to a Ce dialyzer, and the serum BPA increased again after switching back to PS dialyzers. In patients who were using PS dialyzers, the BPA level significantly increased after a dialysis session. However, in the Ce dialyzer users, the BPA level decreased. Since accumulation of BPA could affect the endocrine or metabolic system of the human body, it is important to perform further investigations on dialysis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract??The mushroom genusAmanitahas a spectrum of chemical compounds affecting survival and performance of animals. Ibotenic acid is one of such compounds found in someAmanitamushrooms. We studied the effects of ibotenic acid and its derivative, muscimol, on egg-to-pupa survival, pupation time, and pupal size in fiveDrosophilaspecies (Diptera: Drosophilidae),Drosophila bizonata,Drosophila angularis,Drosophila brachynephros,Drosophila immigrans, andDrosophila melanogaster. The first three species are mycophagous and use a wide range of mushrooms for breeding, whereasD. immigransandD. melanogasterare frugivorous. We reared fly larvae on artificial medium with 500, 250, 125, and 62.5??g/ml of ibotenic acid and/or musimol. The three mycophagous species were not susceptible to ibotenic acid, whereas the two frugivorous species were affected. In experiments withD. melanogaster, muscimol was less toxic than ibotenic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-thermal nature of chemical reactions in plasma chemistry is considered to be suitable for next-generation energy production from plasma-material syntheses and renewable sources. As emerging multidisciplinary applications, plasma medicine and plasma agriculture are currently topical applications that make use of atmospheric pressure plasmas. Here, we conduct a systematic review of the literature over the last 40 years to evaluate the history and progress of dry processes with regard to atmospheric pressure plasma technologies as well as material synthesis and thin-film deposition. In this review, selected breakthroughs are reviewed. Finally, near-future major challenges are addressed to encourage new multidisciplinary research across the plasma science and technology community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dramatic advances are being made in dry processing technologies. Atomic scale precision below 10 nm is now possible with fine patterning technologies for high-volume manufacturing of semiconductor devices. The isotropic and anisotropic nature of both film deposition and etching is versatile for nanoscale fabrication of three-dimensional features, such as high-aspect-ratio (HAR) features. Here we conduct a systematic review of the literature over the last 40 years to evaluate the history and progress of dry processes with regard to fine pattern transfer, HAR feature formation, and multiple patterning as lithographic techniques. Finally, we address the major challenges shared across the plasma science and technology community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semiconductor device production has grown year on year, with high-volume manufacturing supported by advances in plasma processes. In plasma-based processing, ions and reactive species synergistically enhance chemical reactions, whose kinetics is in a nonequilibrium state in the region of the surface subjected to ion bombardment. To control such processing, methods for process monitoring, equipment control, modeling and simulation, and controlling plasma-induced damage, are required. Here, we conduct a systematic review of the literature over the last 40 years to evaluate the history and progress of dry processes in regard to intelligent process-control. We also address the challenges of implementing “virtual product development” utilizing information technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two plasma systems for basic and applied research on fine-particle plasmas have been developed. One is a planar-magnetron plasma system, by which fine particles are suspended apart from the region of plasma production and are driven upward, for the basic research of fine-particle plasmas. Fine particles are observed to be horizontally arranged even when they have a size of 6.5 um. The other one is a hot-filament-assisted plasma chemical vapor deposition system for nano-carbon synthesis. Synthesis processes have been analyzed by mass spectroscopy, light scattering and self-bias voltage. It was shown that negatively charged carbon fine particles were confined for a long time in plasmas during generation and growth. Synthesized carbon fine particles were confirmed to contain single-walled carbon nanotubes by analyzing the results of Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is characterized by an aberrant structure of O-glycans in the IgA1 hinge region. Recently, under-galactosylated IgA1 has been found to be increased in Caucasian IgAN patients. Thus, we examined this in Japanese IgAN patients. Methods. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of binding between Helix aspersa (HAA) and serum IgA was performed in Japanese IgAN patients and the HAA–IgA binding levels were compared among IgAN patients (n = 41), patients with other forms of kidney disease (OKD, n = 43) and healthy controls (n = 38). The clinicopathological severity of IgAN was then analysed between patients with high and low HAA–IgA binding levels. The levels were also compared in 11 patients before and after the combination of tonsillectomy and steroid pulse therapy. Furthermore, we examined the O-glycan structure of IgA1 hinge glycopeptides by mass spectrometry (MS). Results. The HAA–IgA binding levels were significantly higher in IgAN patients compared with either healthy controls (P = 0.0025) or those with OKD (P = 0.016). To reflect the absolute level of under-galactosylated IgA, we multiplied the HAA–IgA binding level by the serum IgA concentration to produce an indicative value. The specificity and sensitivity of this value were 89% and 66%, respectively. MS showed that peak distribution of IgA1 hinge glycopeptides was shifted to smaller molecular weights in high HAA–IgA-binding IgAN patients. There was no correlation between the HAA–IgA binding level and either disease severity or the use of combination therapy. Conclusions. HAA–IgA binding is significantly increased in Japanese IgAN patients. This potential IgAN marker is not affected by disease severity or therapeutic intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]