Search

Ken Takata, Kentaro Uchida, Shotaro Takano, Manabu Mukai, Gen Inoue, Hiroyuki Sekiguchi, Jun Aikawa, Masayuki Miyagi, Dai Iwase, Masashi Takaso Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa, 252-0374, JapanCorrespondence: Kentaro UchidaDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Minami-Ku Kitasato, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa, 252-0374, JapanTel/Fax +81-042-778-9217Email kuchida@med.kitasato-u.ac.jpPurpose: Obesity is associated with the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Furthermore, synovial basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is linked to the severity of KOA. We previously demonstrated that bFGF and mast cell (MC) marker expression were elevated in the synovial tissues (ST) of KOA patients with obesity. However, it remains unclear whether MCs contribute to bFGF expression and regulation.Patients and Methods: Radiographically diagnosed KOA patients (n=249) were assigned to groups based on the body mass index (BMI) classifications used by the World Health Organization: normal-weight (NW, BMI < 25 kg/m2, n=95), overweight (OW, BMI ≥ 25 and < 30, n=109) and obese (OB, ≥ 30 kg/m2, n=45). BFGF expression in the ST was examined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and compared across the BMI groups. Additionally, BFGF and interleukin (IL) 13 expression were examined in freshly extracted MC-rich (THY-1-, CD3-, CD14-, and CD19-) and MC-poor (THY-1+, CD3+, CD14+, or CD19+) fractions from ST. Moreover, regulation of BFGF expression by IL-13 was studied in CD14-negative (fibroblast-rich) and CD14-positive (M&phis;-rich) and cells in culture.Results: BFGF expression was significantly higher in OB than in NW patients. Furthermore, although IL13 was significantly higher in the MC-rich than the MC-poor fraction, BFGF expression was comparable. Recombinant human IL-13 stimulated expression of BFGF in synovial fibroblast cells.Conclusion: BFGF expression is higher in the ST of KOA patients with obesity. Increased numbers of MCs may contribute to the elevated BFGF expression through IL-13 in KOA patients with obesity.Keywords: obesity, mast cell, osteoarthritis, BFGF, IL13, synovial tissues

Ken Takata,1 Kentaro Uchida,1,2 Manabu Mukai,1 Shotaro Takano,1 Jun Aikawa,1 Dai Iwase,1 Hiroyuki Sekiguchi,2 Masayuki Miyagi,1 Gen Inoue,1 Masashi Takaso1 1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa 252-0374, Japan; 2Shonan University of Medical Sciences Research Institute, Chigasaki City, Kanagawa 253-0083, JapanCorrespondence: Kentaro Uchida Tel/Fax +81-42-778-9217Email kuchida@med.kitasato-u.ac.jpPurpose: The mechanisms governing evidence that obesity is a risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA) are not well understood. We previously reported an increase in mast cell (MC) marker expression in the osteoarthritic synovial membrane (SM) of patients with obesity. We hypothesized that an enzyme produced by MC, β-tryptase, may be increased in the SM of obese patients with knee OA and contribute to synovial inflammation. This study investigated the expression of the β-tryptase encoding gene, TPSB2, in the SM of obese patients with knee OA and β-tryptase-mediated regulation of IL-1β in synovial cells.Patients and Methods: A total of 216 patients radiographically diagnosed with knee OA were grouped according to the World Health Organization’s body mass index classifications: normal weight (NW; < 25 kg/m2), overweight (OW; 25– 29.99 kg/m2) and obese (OB; ≥ 30 kg/m2). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was conducted to examine TPSB2 expression in the SM among the three groups. We also examined TPSB2 and IL1B expression in MC-rich (CD3-CD14-CD19-CD90-) and MC-poor (CD3+, CD14+, CD19+, or CD90+) fractions freshly isolated from synovial tissue. Further, the effect of β-tryptase on IL1B expression was investigated in cultured CD14-positive (macrophage-rich fraction) and CD14-negative (fibroblast-rich fraction) cells.Results: There was significantly elevated TPSB2 expression in the OW and OB groups compared to the NW group. The MC-rich fraction had significantly higher levels of TPSB2, CD117 and CD203c than the MC-poor fraction. Recombinant human β-tryptase stimulated IL1B expression in both the synovial fibroblast and macrophage fractions.Conclusion: Obese patients with knee OA showed elevated TPSB2 expression in the SM. Tryptase may play a role in synovial inflammation in obese patients with OA.Keywords: obese, mast cell, osteoarthritis, tryptase, synovial membrane

Kosuke Murata,1 Kentaro Uchida,1 Shotaro Takano,1 Shintaro Shoji,1 Dai Iwase,1 Gen Inoue,1 Jun Aikawa,1 Yuji Yokozeki,1 Hiroyuki Sekiguchi,2 Masashi Takaso11Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa 252-0374, Japan; 2Shonan University of Medical Sciences Research Institute, Chigasaki City, Kanagawa 253-0083, JapanPurpose: While research has identified diabetes mellitus (DM) as a risk factor for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Studies suggest that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression is elevated in osteoarthritic lesions of OA patients and in target tissues of insulin resistance such as adipose tissue and skeletal muscle in patients with DM. TLR4 is associated with inflammation and catabolic response via regulation of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). We hypothesized that TLR4 and MMP expression may be increased in the synovial tissue (SYN) of KOA patients with diabetic pathology. We therefore investigated TLR and MMP expression in the SYN of KOA patients with and without high haemoglobin A1c concentrations.Patients and methods: A total of 171 patients radiographically diagnosed with KOA were grouped based on their HbA1c concentration (HbA1c ≥6.5 and HbA1c

Kentaro Uchida,1 Shotaro Takano,1 Gen Inoue,1 Dai Iwase,1 Jun Aikawa,1 Ken Takata,1 Ryo Tazawa,1 Ayumu Kawakubo,1 Hiroyuki Sekiguchi,2 Masashi Takaso11Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa 252–0374, Japan; 2Shonan University of Medical Sciences Research Institute, Chigasaki City, Kanagawa 253–0083, JapanPurpose: While research suggests that obesity is a risk factor for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), the mechanisms are not fully understood. Mast cell (MC) numbers are increased in the osteoarthritic synovium and in the adipose tissue of obese individuals. We hypothesized that MC numbers are increased in the synovium of obese KOA patients. This study investigated MC marker and MC-generated cytokine/growth factor expression in the synovium of obese KOA patients.Patients and methods: Patients radiographically diagnosed with KOA (male: 38, female: 132) were allocated to three groups based on their body mass index (BMI): normal (

Performance tests are carried out on the subcooling system for the Large Helical Device (LHD) helical coils. The studies have shown that the coil temperature is around 3.6 K under a steady heat load of 100 W from outside of the coil case in the system, which has maintained the above performance.

The cryogenic stability of the Large Helical Device (LHD) helical coils is improved by installing an additional cooler like subcooled helium at 3.0 K. The temperature rise by excitation is analyzed as it is required for maintaining low temperatures for better heat transfer.

A study is conducted to investigate the performance of large helical device in pool-cooled superconducting magnet over last six years. The experimental results show that degradation is not observed in the coil performance and the stable operation is demonstrated.

The behavior of conductor motions in the helical coils of the Large Helical Device is described and discussed.

Helical coils for the Large Helical Device were studied to determine excitation properties and cryogenic stability.

The first excitation of helical coils of the Large Helical Device has successfully taken place.

The Large Hadron Collider cryogenic system was observed during cooling and excitation tests.

Context: Pulmonary manifestations of immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) are diverse, but nodular lymphoid hyperplasia (NLH) is not a well-documented manifestation. Recently, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was found in IgG4-related lymphadenopathy. We postulated that a subset of NLH cases might represent IgG4-RD with EBV-positive lymphocytes as in IgG4-related lymphadenopathy. Design: Immunohistochemistry with IgG and IgG4 was performed on 26 NLH cases in our files (1994-2014) and on 9 controls including diffuse lymphoid hyperplasia without nodule formation (n = 2), usual interstitial pneumonia with increased lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates (n = 5), and reactive mediastinal lymph nodes (n = 2). IgG4+ and IgG+ cells were counted from 3 high-power fields (HPF) in hot spots. EBV in situ hybridization (ISH) was performed in cases with high IgG4+ count (n = 15). Results: Average IgG4+ plasma cell count in NLH was 43 per HPF (range, 2-139) with average IgG4+ to IgG+ ratio of 0.25 (range, 0.030.46). Three of 26 cases had a markedly increased IgG4+ count (range, 55-139) and IgG4+ to IgG+ ratio (>0.4). No serum IgG4 level was available in these cases. The average IgG4+ count of control cases was 36 per HPF (range, 0-92) with average IgG4+ to IgG+ ratio of 0.34 (range, 0.0-0.67). EBV-ISH was negative in all cases tested. Conclusions: The average IgG4+ count and IgG4+ to IgG+ ratio in our 26 NLH cases were below the thresholds for pulmonary IgG4-RD and lacked significant difference from non-NLH cases. However, 3 of 26 NLH cases met the criteria for IgG4+ cells recommended by the consensus guideline, suggesting a possibility that a subset of NLH cases might be associated with IgG4-RD. EBV does not seem to play a role in this cohort., M. Bois (1); H. Sekiguchi (2); J. Ryu (2); E. Yi. (1) (1) Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and (2) Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, [...]