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• Augmented reality is useful for tumor resection. • Tablet type augmented reality is suitable for macroscopic procedures. • Presurgical discussions is essential for augmented reality. To date, several researchers have introduced augmented reality navigation (ARN) into neurological surgery. While its application in brain tumor surgery seems promising, reports on its utility have been limited, thus warranting further evaluation. To clarify the stages and approaches in which ARN is useful and assess the effect of presurgical discussion with surgeons, we assessed usefulness using a hand-held ARN system we had developed, which displays three-dimensional (3D) virtual structures overlaid on a real-time image of the surgical field via a tablet PC monitor. The system was tested in 20 patients undergoing various procedures, with the first 10 consecutive cases being unselected and the following 10 cases being selected, for whom 3D models were prepared per the surgeons' request. Thereafter, the surgeons ranked its usefulness during each stage of surgery. Consequently, case selection and presurgical discussions with surgeons considerably improved the usefulness, with the "useful" gradings improving from 50% to 88% across all surgical stages. Accordingly, usefulness improved from 50% to 90%, 67% to 100%, and 40% to 80% during the skin incision and craniotomy, dura incision, and intradural procedure stages, respectively. ARN was useful for superficial tumor resection, but less so for deep-seated tumor resection, except when using the transcortical and interhemispheric approaches. In conclusion, a tablet-type ARN can be useful during skin incisions, craniotomy and dura incisions, superficial tumor resections, and transcortical and interhemispheric approaches for deep-seated tumors. Case selection and presurgical discussions with surgeons were essential for the efficacy of ARN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Skipping breakfast has become a common trend that may lead to obesity and type 2 diabetes. Previous studies, which imposed a single incidence of breakfast skipping, did not observe any decrease in 24-h energy expenditure. Furthermore, the effects of breakfast skipping on diurnal blood glucose profiles over 24 h are contradictory. Objective The aim of this study was to clarify the influence of 6 consecutive days of breakfast skipping and sedentary behavior on energy metabolism and glycemic control. Methods Ten young men participated in 2 trials (with or without breakfast) that lasted for 6 consecutive days, and the 2 trials were conducted 1 wk apart with a repeated-measures design. During the meal intervention, each subject's blood glucose was measured using the continuous glucose monitoring system. If breakfast was skipped, subjects ate large meals at lunch and dinner such that the 24-h energy intake was identical to that of the 3-meal condition. At 2200 on the fifth day, the subjects entered a room-sized respiratory chamber, where they remained for 33 h, and were instructed to carry out sedentary behavior. Results The glucose levels were similar between the 2 meal conditions during the first 5 d of meal intervention, but the blood glucose at 2300 was higher in the breakfast-skipping condition than in the 3-meal condition. Breakfast skipping elevated postprandial glycemic response after lunch on the first day of meal intervention. On the sixth day, there were no significant differences in 24-h energy expenditure and substrate oxidation. When subjects remained in a metabolic chamber, the level of physical activity significantly decreased, glycemic stability slightly deteriorated, and mean blood glucose over 24 h was higher in the breakfast-skipping trial than in the 3-meal trial. Conclusions Sedentary lifestyle and repeated breakfast skipping caused abnormal glucose fluctuations, whereas 24-h energy metabolism remained unaffected. Clinical Trial Registry: This trial was registered at http://www.umin.ac.jp/english/ as UMIN000032346. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Human sleep is generally consolidated into a single prolonged period, and its metabolic consequence is to impose an extended period of fasting. Changes in sleep stage and homeostatic sleep drive following sleep onset may affect sleeping metabolic rate through cross talk between the mechanisms controlling energy metabolism and sleep. The purpose of this study was to isolate the effects of sleep stage and time after sleep onset on sleeping metabolic rate. Methods The sleeping metabolic rate of 29 healthy adults was measured using whole room indirect calorimetry, during which polysomnographic recording of sleep was performed. The effects of sleep stage and time after sleep onset on sleeping metabolic rate were evaluated using a semi-parametric regression analysis. A parametric analysis was used for the effect of sleep stage and a non-parametric analysis was used for the effect of time. Results Energy expenditure differed significantly between sleep stages: wake after sleep onset (WASO) > stage 2, slow wave sleep (SWS), and REM; stage 1 > stage 2 and SWS; and REM > SWS. Similarly, carbohydrate oxidation differed significantly between sleep stages: WASO > stage 2 and SWS; and stage 1 > SWS. Energy expenditure and carbohydrate oxidation decreased during the first half of sleep followed by an increase during the second half of sleep. Conclusions This study identified characteristic phenotypes in energy expenditure and carbohydrate oxidation indicating that sleeping metabolic rate differs between sleep stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The neuronavigator has become indispensable for brain surgery and works in the manner of point-to-point navigation. Because the positional information is indicated on a personal computer (PC) monitor, surgeons are required to rotate the dimension of the magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography scans to match the surgical field. In addition, they must frequently alternate their gaze between the surgical field and the PC monitor. Objective To overcome these difficulties, we developed an augmented reality-based navigation system with whole-operation-room tracking. Methods A tablet PC is used for visualization. The patient's head is captured by the back-face camera of the tablet. Three-dimensional images of intracranial structures are extracted from magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography and are superimposed on the video image of the head. When viewed from various directions around the head, intracranial structures are displayed with corresponding angles as viewed from the camera direction, thus giving the surgeon the sensation of seeing through the head. Whole-operation-room tracking is realized using a VICON tracking system with 6 cameras. Results A phantom study showed a spatial resolution of about 1 mm. The present system was evaluated in 6 patients who underwent tumor resection surgery, and we showed that the system is useful for planning skin incisions as well as craniotomy and the localization of superficial tumors. Conclusions The main advantage of the present system is that it achieves volumetric navigation in contrast to conventional point-to-point navigation. It extends augmented reality images directly onto real surgical images, thus helping the surgeon to integrate these 2 dimensions intuitively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Evaluation method of contributing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was proposed. • A heat load simulation-based method was proposed for the quantitative evaluation. • Effect of improving housing performance is evaluated from multiple perspectives. • Blood pressure, energy consumption, and CO 2 emissions are predicted and assessed. • Effectiveness of energy efficient houses that benefit resident health was confirmed. In 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was adopted by all United Nations Member States. The indoor environment of residences affects the health of occupants regarding SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Meanwhile, a vast amount of energy is used to supply power to houses worldwide, which emit sufficient volumes of CO 2 and affect climate change regarding SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). A key step to delivering on these SDGs is improving the thermal insulation of houses and housing equipment performance to reduce energy consumption and protect the health of the occupants by improving the indoor environment. This study presents an evaluation method for quantifying the contribution of improving housing performance toward delivering the SDGs. The proposed approach is primarily based on the results of heat load simulations. Meanwhile, blood pressure is predicted as an indicator of health by using the interior environment obtained by the simulation. A case study was performed, and the results demonstrated the effectiveness of improving the housing performance of newly constructed houses compared to heating and retrofit. The proposed method is versatile and can be adjusted for application to alternative locations, house designs, and lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies have suggested an emerging link between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients with OSA are less likely to remain in sinus rhythm after radiofrequency catheter ablation of AF. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of appropriate treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on recurrences of AF after ablation. Methods: This study prospectively included 153 patients (128 men; 60±9 years) who underwent extensive encircling pulmonary vein isolation for drug refractory AF. The standard overnight polysomnographic evaluation was performed 1 week after ablation, and the total duration and the number of central or obstructive sleep apnea or hypopnea episodes were examined. Results: Of 153 patients, 116 patients were identified as having OSA. Data regarding the use of CPAP and recurrences of AF were obtained in 82 patients. The remaining 34 patients with OSA were defined as the no-CPAP group. Polysomnography revealed no sleep-disordered breathing in 37 patients. During a mean follow-up period of 18.8±10.3 months, 51 (33%) patients experienced AF recurrences after ablation. A Cox regression analysis revealed that the left atrial volume (hazard ratio [HR] 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–1.23; P<.05), concomitant OSA (HR 2.61; 95% CI 1.12–6.09; P<.05), and usage of CPAP therapy (HR 0.41; 95% CI 0.22–0.76; P<.01) were associated with AF recurrences during the follow-up period. Conclusions: Patients with untreated OSA have a higher recurrence of AF after ablation. Appropriate treatment with CPAP in patients with OSA is associated with a lower recurrence of AF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background and objectives: Sleep apnea is highly prevalent in patients with heart disease. However, the association between sleep apnea and ventricular arrhythmias is unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between sleep apnea and electrophysiologic characteristics and clinical outcome after catheter ablation in patients having ventricular arrhythmias. Methods and results: Forty-four patients with ventricular tachycardia (VT) or premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) without structural heart diseases (57% men; mean age: 55±15 years) underwent a sleep study. Subjects with an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) ≥10/h were considered to have sleep apnea. Electrophysiologic studies were performed on all patients, and 35 patients underwent catheter ablation therapy. Seventeen patients (39%) had sleep apnea with an average AHI of 27±17/h. Electrophysiologic characteristics of ventricular arrhythmias showed that sites of VT/PVCs origin in the pulmonary artery and the aortic sinus of Valsalva were detected in 27% and 20% patients with sleep apnea, which was a relatively higher rate than that in patients without sleep apnea (8% and 0%, respectively). Successful catheter ablation was achieved in 11 patients (85%) with sleep apnea and 17 (77%) without sleep apnea. During a mean follow-up period of 13.5±7.3 months after catheter ablation, 5 patients (45%) with sleep apnea and 1 patient (6%) without sleep apnea experienced recurrent VT/PVCs. Comparing the outcome between the two groups, the VT/PVCs recurrence rate was significantly higher in patients with sleep apnea than in those without sleep apnea (p =0.02). Conclusions: Ventricular arrhythmia patients with sleep apnea have a high recurrence of arrhythmias after successful catheter ablation. Patients with ventricular arrhythmias should be systematically assessed for sleep apnea owing to the potential detrimental effects of sleep apnea in the follow-up period. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine metabolic rate and substrate oxidation during sleep in relation to time of sleep and sleep stage. Twelve male subjects free from sleep-disordered breathing slept for 469 ± 8.7 (mean ± SE) minutes until natural awakening in a whole-body indirect calorimeter, and polysomnographic documentation of sleep was recorded. Energy expenditure decreased during the first half of the night, reached a nadir (a 35% decrease), and remained relatively stable until awakening. Similarly, fat oxidation decreased from the onset of sleep. On the other hand, carbohydrate oxidation showed no remarkable changes from the onset of sleep but began to increase before awakening. Because distribution of sleep stages is not uniform throughout the night, with rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep tending to appear later in the sleep, effect of sleep stage on energy metabolism was isolated by analysis of covariance with time as a covariate. Subsequent comparison of metabolic rate by 1-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni post hoc analysis revealed that energy expenditure during REM sleep was significantly greater than that during sleep stages 2 and 3/4 (stage 2, 25.248 ± 0.961; stage 3/4, 24.825 ± 0.935; REM, 25.712 ± 0.928 kcal kg−1 fat-free mass d−1). Carbohydrate oxidation during REM sleep was significantly greater than that during sleep stage 3/4 (stage 3/4, 12.229 ± 1.071; REM, 13.986 ± 1.291 kcal kg−1 fat-free mass d−1). Respiration quotient was statistically different among sleep stages, but Bonferroni post hoc analysis failed to identify significant differences (stage 2, 0.850 ± 0.010; stage 3/4, 0.846 ± 0.011; REM, 0.861 ± 0.013). The increases in energy expenditure and carbohydrate oxidation during REM sleep are consistent with a notion that changes in energy metabolism in brain are manifested as small fluctuations in whole-body energy metabolism during sleep. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The prevalence and characteristics of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in patients with ventricular arrhythmias, such as premature ventricular complexes and ventricular tachycardia, are unknown. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of SDB in patients with severe ventricular arrhythmias and normal left ventricular (LV) function. Thirty-five patients (63% men, mean age 57.4 ± 13.8 years) underwent a sleep study. All patients had ventricular tachycardia or frequent premature ventricular complexes (≥300/hour) and had been referred to the cardiology department for medication, catheter ablation therapy, or the implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator. Patients with heart failure with LV ejection fractions <50% were excluded; in the remaining patients, the mean LV ejection fraction was 63.9 ± 8.0%. Twenty-one patients (60%) had SDB with apnea-hypopnea indexes ≥5/hour, and the average apnea-hypopnea index was 22.7 ± 17.9/hour. Twelve patients (34%) had moderate to severe SDB, with an average apnea-hypopnea index of 33.6 ± 16.6/hour. Central dominant sleep apnea was evident in 3 patients with SDB. The average age and body mass index were significantly higher in patients with SDB than in those without SDB (age 62.0 ± 12.8 vs 50.6 ± 12.7 years, body mass index 26.3 ± 4.0 vs 21.2 ± 2.0 kg/m2). In conclusion, this study found a high prevalence of SDB in patients with ventricular arrhythmias and normal LV function. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: To report our therapeutic results in prostate cancer using double-mutated adenovirus AxdAdB-3, which has a mutation of E1A and deletion of E1B 55KD. Advanced prostate cancer can harbor multiple genetic alterations, including p53 and Rb/E2F/p16, and is often refractory to hormonal ablation. Virotherapy has been used to target these genetic abnormalities using mutant oncolytic adenovirus for the management of other cancers. Methods: The cytopathic effects of AxdAdB-3 were examined in human prostate carcinoma cell lines (DU145, PC3, and LNCaP) and human normal prostate-derived cell lines (PrEC and PrSC) with AxE1AdB and dl922-947 by crystal violet staining and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The therapeutic efficacy of AxdAdB-3 for the treatment of prostate cancer was investigated in an orthotopic prostate cancer model established with DU145 in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. Results: AxdAdB-3 induced potent cytopathic effects in the prostate cancer cell lines tested. AxdAdB-3 showed no cytotoxicity in the normal prostate-derived cell lines PrEC and PrSC. In vivo, AxdAdB-3 showed apparent antitumor effect in the orthotopic prostate cancer model and significantly improved survival. Conclusions: These results suggest that AxdAdB-3 could be a promising tool for virotherapy against prostate cancer in patients with disease resistant to hormonal therapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objectives: To investigate the therapeutic effect of AxdAdB-3, a double-restricted oncolytic adenovirus harboring a mutant E1A and an E1B-55KD deletion, on human bladder cancer cell lines and the SCID mouse model of orthotopic bladder cancer. Methods: The cytopathic effects of AxdAdB-3 were evaluated in several cell lines (YTS-1, YTS-3, T24, J82, 5637) derived from human bladder or ureteral cancer and in a normal bladder mucosa-derived cell line (HCV29) with AxCAlacZ (control) or AxE1AdB (E1B-55KD-defective adenovirus) or dl922-947 (E1A-mutated adenovirus). The efficacy of bladder instillation therapy with AxdAdB-3 for orthotopic bladder cancer of SCID mice was investigated. The oncolytic effects were monitored by ultrasound examination. Results: AxdAdB-3 caused the oncolysis of bladder cancer cell lines in vitro, and it was more cytopathic than AxE1AdB or dl922-947 in the cancer cell lines. AxdAdB-3 was not cytotoxic against HCV29. Direct instillation of AxdAdB-3 into the bladder of the orthotopic model inhibited tumor growth, leading to significantly prolonged survival. Conclusions: Oncolytic viral therapy delivered by instillation of AxdAdB-3 is a promising tool for treating bladder cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cell motility is highly dependent on the organization and function of microdomains composed of integrin, proteolipid/tetraspanin CD9, and ganglioside (Ono, M., Handa, K., Sonnino, S., Withers, D. A., Nagai, H., and Hakomori, S. (2001) Biochemistry 40, 6414–6421; Kawakami, Y., Kawakami, K., Steelant, W. F. A., Ono, M., Baek, R. C., Handa, K., Withers, D. A., and Hakomori, S. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 34349–34358), later termed ‘glycosynapse 3’ (Hakomori, S., and Handa, K. (2002) FEBS Lett. 531, 88–92, 2002). Human bladder cancer cell lines KK47 (noninvasive and nonmetastatic) and YTS1 (highly invasive and metastatic), both derived from transitional bladder epithelia, are very similar in terms of integrin composition and levels of tetraspanin CD9. Tetraspanin CD82 is absent in both. The major difference is in the level of ganglioside GM3, which is several times higher in KK47 than in YTS1. We now report that the GM3 level reflects glycosynapse function as follows: (i) a stronger interaction of integrin α3 with CD9 in KK47 than in YTS1; (ii) conversion of benign, low motility KK47 to invasive, high motility cells by depletion of GM3 by P4 (D-threo-1-phenyl-2-palmitoylamino-3-pyrrolidino-1-propanol) treatment or by knockdown of CD9 by the RNA interference method; (iii) reversion of high motility YTS1 to low motility phenotype like that of KK47 by exogenous GM3 addition, whereby the α3-to-CD9 interaction was enhanced; (iv) low GM3 level activated c-Src in YTS1 or in P4-treated KK47, and high GM3 level by exogenous addition caused Csk translocation into glycosynapse, with subsequent inhibition of c-Src activation; (v) inhibition of c-Src by ‘PP2’ in YTS1 greatly reduced cell motility. Thus, GM3 in glycosynapse 3 plays a dual role in defining glycosynapse 3 function. One is by modulating the interaction of α3 with CD9; the other is by activating or inhibiting the c-Src activity, possibly through Csk translocation. High GM3 level decreases tumor cell motility/invasiveness, whereas low GM3 level enhances tumor cell motility/invasiveness. Oncogenic transformation and its reversion can be explained through the difference in glycosynapse organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To clarify sleep disorder risk factors among student athletes, this study examined the relationship between lifestyle habits, competition activities, psychological distress, and sleep disorders.Methods: Student athletes (N = 906; male: 70.1%; average age: 19.1 ± 0.8 years) in five university sports departments from four Japanese regions were targeted for analysis. Survey items were attributes (age, gender, and body mass index), sleep disorders (recorded through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), lifestyle habits (bedtime, wake-up time, smoking, drinking alcohol, meals, part-time jobs, and use of electronics after lights out), competition activities (activity contents and competition stressors), and psychological distress (recorded through the K6 scale). The relation between lifestyle habits, competition activities, psychological distress, and sleep disorders was explored using logistic regression analysis.Results: Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis with attributes as adjustment variables showed that "bedtime," "wake-up time," "psychological distress," "part-time jobs," "smartphone/cellphone use after lights out," "morning practices," and "motivation loss stressors," were risk factors that were independently related to sleep disorders.Conclusions: Sleep disorders among student athletes are related to lifestyle habits such as late bedtime, early wake-up time, late night part-time jobs, and use of smartphones/cellphones after lights out; psychological distress; and competition activities such as morning practices and motivation loss stressors related to competition. Therefore, this study suggests the importance of improving these lifestyle habits, mental health, and competition activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of exogenous gangliosides GM3 on human bladder cancer cell lines and the severe combined immunodeficiency mouse model of orthotopic bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: Human bladder cancer cell lines YTS-1, T24, 5637, and KK47 were used in the study. In vitro cytotoxicity of GM3 was assessed using the cell counting kit-8. Cell adhesion was determined using a spreading assay. Phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor was determined by Western blotting. In vivo, the orthotopic bladder cancer model was established using severe combined immunodeficiency mice and GM3 was administered intravesically by way of a transurethral catheter. Results: GM3 inhibited the proliferation of all the bladder cancer cell lines tested. The addition of GM3 decreased cell adhesion and epidermal growth factor-dependent phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor. Direct instillation of GM3 into the bladder of the orthotopic model significantly inhibited tumor growth. Conclusion: Our results suggest exogenous GM3 as a potential therapeutic agent for treating bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: To report results from a 2-year longitudinal survey of lower urinary tract function and quality of life (QOL) in men after radical retropubic prostatectomy (RP) for localized prostate cancer. Methods: Between November 2001 and September 2003, self-report assessments were provided to 225 patients who underwent RP alone. The University of California Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index (UCLA PCI), the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and the IPSS QOL score were administered before and 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after RP. Results: The overall mean total IPSS and IPSS QOL score progressively improved with time. The mean scores of several components improved significantly postoperatively. No significant difference was observed in nocturia between the baseline assessment and any of the postoperative follow-up assessments. The IPSS of the younger patients continued to recover significantly more rapidly than that of the older patients after RP. According to the UCLA PCI scores, urinary function substantially declined just after RP and continued to recover but scored lower than the baseline. The mean total IPSS and IPSS QOL scores observed in men with a UCLA PCI urinary function score of 80 or more were significantly better than in men with scores less than 80 at 24 months postoperatively. Conclusions: Radical retropubic prostatectomy has a significant beneficial effect on lower urinary tract symptoms. The rate of improvement was lowest for nocturia among the seven symptoms of IPSS. Urinary continence after RP and age can affect the recovery of voiding function. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Human plasma membrane-associated sialidase (NEU3), specifically hydrolyzing gangliosides, plays crucial roles in the regulation of cell surface functions. Here we demonstrate that NEH3 mRNA level are increased in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) compared with adjacent non-tumor tissues, significantly correlating with elevation of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pleiotropic cytokine that has been implicated in immune responses and pathogenesis of several cancers, including RCCs. In human RCC ACHN cells, IL-6 treatment enhanced NEU3 promoter luciferase activity 2.5-fold and the endogenous sialidase activity significantly. NEU3 transfection or IL-6 treatment resulted in both suppression of apoptosis and promotion of cell motility, and the combination had synergistic effects. NEU3 scarcely affected MAPK- or IL-6-induced STAT3 activation but promoted the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt cascade in both IL-6-dependent and -independent ways. Consistent with these data, NEU3 markedly inhibited staurosporine-induced caspase-3 activity and enhanced IL-6-dependent inhibition, which was abolished by LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor. Furthermore, IL-6 promoted Rho activation, and the effect was potentiated by NEU3, leading to increased cell motility that was again affected by LY294002. NEU3 silencing by siRNA resulted in the opposite: decreased Akt phosphorylation and inhibition of Rho activation. Gycolipid analysis showed a decrease in ganglioside GM3 and increase in lactosylceramide after NEU3 transfection, with these lipids apparently affecting cell apoptosis and motility. The results indicate that NEU3 activated by IL-6 exerts IL-6-mediated signaling, largely via the PI3K/Akt cascade, in a positive feedback manner and contributes to expression of a malignant phenotype in RCCs. NEU3 thus may be a useful target for RCC diagnosis and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monosialosyl globopentaosylceramide (MSGb5), originally described as stage-specific embryonic antigen-4, is expressed in testicular germ cell tumors and in aggressive cases of human renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Clarification of the molecular mechanisms regulating synthesis of MSGb5 is very important to understand testicular carcinogenesis and the malignant progression of human RCC. For this purpose, we have investigated α2,3-sialyltransferase involved in the synthesis of MSGb5. We used the method of expression cloning combined with polymerase chain reaction targeted to sialylmotif to isolate a cDNA clone from RCC cell line ACHN library. The cloned cDNA was found to be identical to the previously cloned ST3Gal II in sequence. A soluble recombinant form of the protein in COS-1 cells showed an enzyme activity of α2,3-sialyltransferase toward globopentaosylceramide (Gb5) in addition to asialo-GM1 and GM1a. Transient transfection of COS-7 and ACHN cells with this cDNA induced an increase of MSGb5, whereas stable transfection of antisense ST3Gal II cDNA suppressed expression of MSGb5 in ACHN cells. The ST3Gal II mRNA level was increased in 7 of 8 RCC cell lines and in all six RCC tissues surgically obtained, although it was not necessarily consistent with the MSGb5 level in RCC cell lines. This study indicates that ST3Gal II is a MSGb5 (stage-specific embryonic antigen-4) synthase and that its increased expression level is closely related to renal carcinogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of intensity, type, and time of day of physical activity on sleep are not well understood. An appropriate increase in core body temperature, due to physical activity during daytime, aids sleep in older adults. Our previous study showed that evening exercise has more positive effects on sleep quality in older adults when compared with morning exercise. However, older adults who do not exercise form a large part of the population. This study aimed to examine the distinct effects of low-intensity exercise and housework during the evening on sleep quality in older women. This randomized crossover study included 10 healthy older women aged 65–79 years. The participants engaged in low-intensity physical activity for 30 min, either aerobic exercise (70 steps per minute), housework (at the same intensity), or remained sedentary (control) 3 h before bedtime. Sleep was recorded polysomnographically, and self-reported sleep quality was assessed the next morning using the Oguri-Shirakawa-Azumi sleep inventory, Middle-Aged and Aged version (OSA-MA) questionnaire. Compared with the control trial, core body temperature was significantly elevated in participants after each activity trial (0.5 ± 0.4 and 0.4 ± 0.4 °C for housework and aerobic exercise, respectively). There was a significant difference in sleep latency (14.2 ± 19.1, 9.9 ± 15.6, and 4.2 ± 3.5 min for control, housework, and aerobic exercise, respectively; ANOVA P = 0.011) among the trials. The delta power density after aerobic exercise was significantly higher than that after the control trial. We observed an increase of 53% and 15% in delta power during the 1st hour of sleep as a result of aerobic exercise and housework, respectively. The total score on OSA-MA was significantly higher after aerobic exercise (91.0 ± 5.4, 88.1 ± 6.9, and 108.6 ± 5.9 points for control, housework, and exercise, respectively). Engaging in low-intensity aerobic exercise in the evening improved polysomnographic and self-reported sleep quality. Although housework increased core body temperature to the same level as that observed after aerobic exercise, self-reported sleep quality after housework was lower than that after aerobic exercise. • Low-intensity exercise and housework elevated core body temperature by ~0.5 °C. • Sleep latency tended to be shorter for exercise and housework than for control. • Low-intensity exercise in the evening improved self-reported sleep quality. • Delta power was highly related with sleep quality after exercise. • Delta power increased by 53% during the 1st hour of sleep after evening exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of AxdAdB-3 with Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-fiber modification (AxdAdB3-F/RGD), which enables integrin-dependent infection in bladder cancers. Methods: Flow cytometric analysis was applied to evaluated adenovirus-mediated gene transduction into various cells. The cytopathic effects of AxdAdB3-F/RGD were evaluated in bladder cancer cell lines and a normal bladder mucosa-derived cell line (HCV29) with AxCAZ3-F/RGD (control) or AxdAdB-3. The efficacy of bladder instillation therapy with AxdAdB3-F/RGD for orthotopic bladder cancer was investigated in nude mice. Results: Expression of coxsackievirus adenovirus receptor (CAR) and integrins (αvβ3 and αvβ5) vary in different bladder cancer cell lines. The susceptibility of various cell lines to adenovirus was associated with the expression of CAR. AxdAdB-3 was more cytopathic in CAR-positive bladder cancer cells than in CAR-negative cells, whereas AxdAdB3-F/RGD caused effective oncolysis in both CAR-positive and CAR-negative bladder cancer cells. AxdAdB3-F/RGD was not cytotoxic to HCV29 cells. Direct instillation of AxdAdB3-F/RGD into the bladder of the orthotopic model, established by CAR-deficient human bladder cancer cells, inhibited tumor growth and led to significantly elongated survival. Conclusion: E1A and E1B double-restricted oncolytic adenovirus with RGD fiber modification has enhanced infectivity and oncolytic effects to CAR-deficient bladder cancers, suggesting the therapeutic potential of AxdAdB3-F/RGD for bladder cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]