Assessing the effects of a short-term green tea intervention in skin microvascular and oxygen tension in older and younger adults

Green tea consumption has been associated with a reduction in cardiovascular disease risk factors. However, there is little evidence examining its potential differing effect between younger and older populations, while little is known on its effect on the circulatory system when oxygen demand is higher. Therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of green tea consumption on microvascular functioning in both an older and younger population. Fifteen young [24 (4.0)] and fifteen older [61 (4.0)] participants, consumed two cups of green tea daily for 14 days. We used Laser Doppler Flowmetry to assess cutaneous microvascular function and Transcutaneous Oxygen Pressure to assess skin oxygen tension. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were also assessed on both visits. We observed significant improvements in axon-mediated microvascular vasodilation for the younger group [1.6 (0.59) vs 2.05 (0.72), p<0.05] and the older group [1.25 (0.58) vs 1.65 (0.5) p<0.05]. Improvements in skin oxygen tension were also noted for both groups in both noted TcPO2 measures (i.e. 1.25 (0.58) vs 1.65 (0.5) (p<0.05), for ΔTcPO2max for the older group, between visits) respectively. Improvements were also observed for systolic blood pressure in both the younger [120 (10) vs 112 (10), p<0.05] and older group [129 (12) v 124 (11), p<0.001]. In conclusion, we observed statistically-significant improvements in microvascular function and skin oxygen tension. Our results suggest that green tea may prove beneficial as a dietary element in lifestyle interventions aiming to lower cardiovascular disease risk, in both older and younger populations

Heat Transfer Enhancement of Falling Film Evaporation of HFO-1233zd(E) and HFC-134a on a Horizontal Tube by Thermal Spray Coating

A falling film evaporator can reduce the amount of refrigerant compared with a flooded evaporator. Required functions for the heat transfer surface in falling liquid film evaporation are thin liquid film formation without breaking at low heat flux, nucleate boiling promotion in liquid film, and suppression of liquid entrainment at high heat flux. In this study, a porous thermal spray coating using copper as the coating material was made on a copper cylinder. The heat transfer performance of falling film evaporation and pool boiling was evaluated using HFO1233zd(E) as the refrigerant, and the obtained results were compared with those for HFC-134a. The test cylinder was heated by a cartridge heater inserted at the center. Falling film evaporation experiments had been conducted with a film mass flow rate of 3.3×10-2 kg/(m·s), heat flux of 10 to 85 kW/m2, and a saturation temperature at 20 ºC. The effects of the thermal spray coating, heat flux and thermo-physical properties of the refrigerants on heat transfer performance were investigated. The heat transfer coefficient increased with increasing heat flux. For the thermal spray coating, a large hysteresis effect according to the heating procedure with increasing or decreasing heat flux was observed in the characteristics of the heat transfer coefficient. The heat transfer enhancement factor by the thermal spray coating was up to 4.8. The value was higher than that for HFC-134a, especially under high heat flux condition. In the comparison between pool boiling and falling film evaporation heat transfer, falling film produced higher heat transfer coefficients for the thermal spray coating while the heat transfer on the smooth surface deteriorated due to partial dryout. The fine porous structure enhanced liquid spreading by the capillary force and evaporation from the liquid film surface by vapor bubble agitation

Transcatheter Arterial Embolization Using Ethanol in a Dialysis Patient for Contracting Enlarged Polycystic Kidneys

The mass effect of nephromegaly in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease may cause pain and symptoms by compressing the alimentary tract, lungs, and heart. Conventional therapies exist to contract enlarged polycystic kidneys including surgical and interventional procedures. A surgical nephrectomy is often difficult to perform in dialysis patients due to the associated risks related to surgery. In contrast, renal transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with metallic coils, which is a less invasive interventional procedure, can also be utilized to contract enlarged kidneys in dialysis patients as an effective treatment. However, metallic coils present the possibility of recanalization and cost issues. Thus, we used ethanol instead of coils in renal TAE to resolve these issues. We report a dialysis patient with enlarged polycystic kidneys and poor oral intake due to abdominal distention that was successfully treated by TAE with absolute ethanol

Effects of HLA-DRB1 alleles on susceptibility and clinical manifestations in Japanese patients with adult onset Still’s disease

BackgroundHLA-DRB1 alleles are major determinants of genetic predisposition to rheumatic diseases. We assessed whether DRB1 alleles are associated with susceptibility to particular clinical features of adult onset Still’s disease (AOSD) in a Japanese population by determining the DRB1 allele distributions.MethodsDRB1 genotyping of 96 patients with AOSD and 1,026 healthy controls was performed. Genomic DNA samples from the AOSD patients were also genotyped for MEFV exons 1, 2, 3, and 10 by direct sequencing.ResultsIn Japanese patients with AOSD, we observed a predisposing association of DRB1*15:01 (p = 8.60 × 10−6, corrected p (Pc) = 0.0002, odds ratio (OR) = 3.04, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.91–4.84) and DR5 serological group (p = 0.0006, OR = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.49–3.83) and a protective association of DRB1*09:01 (p = 0.0004, Pc = 0.0110, OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.18–0.66) with AOSD, and amino acid residues 86 and 98 of the DRβ chain were protectively associated with AOSD. MEFV variants were identified in 49 patients with AOSD (56.3%). The predisposing effect of DR5 was confirmed only in patients with AOSD who had MEFV variants and not in those without MEFV variants. Additionally, DR5 in patients with AOSD are associated with macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) and steroid pulse therapy.ConclusionThe DRB1*15:01 and DR5 are both associated with AOSD susceptibility in Japanese subjects. A protective association between the DRB1*09:01 allele and AOSD was also observed in these patients. Our data also highlight the effects of DRB1 alleles in susceptibility to AOSD

Breaking Seed Dormancy: Effect of Heat and Vimpel® on Oil Palm Seed Germination (EIaeis guineensis Jacq)

Oil palm (E. guineensis) is native to Africa and among highest oilseeds crop in the world, having a dormant seeds which require pre-treatments to quicken the germination process. The objective of this experiment is to evaluate the effects of Vimpel growth regulator on germination of Oil palm seedlings. The viable seeds of oil palm were treated with vimpel solution at different stages of the germination process tagged as A (+ Vimpel before heat), B (+Vimpel after heat), C (+Vimpel without heat) D (0 vimpel) E (+ Vimpel prior and after heat) and F (Water prior and after heating/Control) and then subjected to six different temperature regime i.e. 2,4,6,8, 10 and 12 weeks in the germination chamber. The result indicates that group A had the highest germination percentage at 10 weeks of heat treatment followed by B at 8 weeks of temperature while group F (control) had the lowest percentage. Conclusively, the vimpel growth regulator has significant effects in facilitating the germination process by 40 days against 80 days of heat treatment currently use in the oil palm seed germination

How to resolve confusion in the clinical setting for the diagnosis of heterozygous COL4A3 or COL4A4 gene variants? Discussion and suggestions from nephrologists

Both thin basement membrane nephropathy (TBMN) and autosomal dominant Alport syndrome (ADAS) are types of hereditary nephritis resulting from heterozygous mutations in COL4A3 or COL4A4 genes. Although TBMN is characterized by hematuria and thinning of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) with excellent renal prognosis, some patients develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD) later in life. In contrast, although AS is characterized by progressive nephropathy with lamellation of the GBM, there are some patients diagnosed with ADAS from a family history of ESRD but who only suffer from hematuria with GBM thinning. These findings indicate a limitation in distinction between TBMN and ADAS. Diagnosis of AS is significant because it facilitates careful follow-up and early treatment, whereas diagnosis of TBMN can underestimate the risk of ESRD. However, some experts are against using the term ADAS as the phenotypes of heterozygous variants vary from no urinary abnormality to ESRD, even between family members with the same mutations, indicating that unknown secondary factors may play a large role in the disease severity. These diagnostic difficulties result in significant confusion in clinical settings. Moreover, recent studies revealed that the number of patients with chronic kidney disease caused by these gene mutations is far higher than previously thought. The aim of this article is to review differing opinions regarding the diagnosis of heterozygous COL4A3 or COL4A4 variants, and to highlight the importance for nephrologists to recognize this disease, and the importance of the need to reclassify this disease to minimize the current confusion.論文http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_650

Corticosteroids pulse therapy and oral corticosteroids therapy for IgA nephropathy patients with advanced chronic kidney disease: results of a multicenter large-scale long-term observational cohort study

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Transcatheter Arterial Embolization Therapy for a Massive Polycystic Liver in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Patients

Polycystic liver is the most common extra-renal manifestation associated with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), comprising up to 80% of all features. Patients with polycystic liver often suffer from abdominal discomfort, dyspepsia, or dyspnea; however, there have been few ways to relieve their symptoms effectively and safely. Therefore, we tried transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), which has been used in treating hepatocellular carcinoma. We enrolled four patients with ADPKD in Seoul National University Hospital, suffering from enlarged polycystic liver. We embolized the hepatic arteries supplying the dominant hepatic segments replaced by cysts using polyvinyl alcohol particles and micro-coils. The patients were evaluated 12 months after embolization for the change in both liver and cyst volumes. Among four patients, one patient was lost in follow up and 3 patients were included in the analysis. Both liver (33%; 10%) and cyst volume (47.7%; 11.4%) substantially decreased in two patients. Common adverse events were fever, epigastric pain, nausea, and vomiting. We suggest that TAE is effective and safe in treating symptomatic polycystic liver in selected ADPKD patients

Pulmonary Manifestations of Plasma Cell Type Idiopathic Multicentric Castleman Disease: A Clinicopathological Study in Comparison with IgG4-Related Disease

Plasma cell type idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (PC-iMCD) occasionally manifests as parenchymal lung disease. This study aimed to elucidate the detailed clinicopathological features of lung lesions in PC-iMCD and compare the findings with those in immunoglobulin (Ig) G4-related disease (IgG4-RD), the most difficult differential diagnosis of PC-iMCD. We analyzed the clinicopathological findings and immunohistochemical expression patterns of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Igs in lung specimens from 16 patients with PC-iMCD and 7 patients with IgG4-RD. Histologically, pulmonary PC-iMCD could not be differentiated from IgG4-RD based on lesion distribution patterns, the number of lymphoid follicles and obliterative vasculitis, or fibrosis types. The eosinophil count was higher in the IgG4-RD group than in the PC-iMCD group (p = 0.004). The IgG4/IgG-positive cell ratio was significantly higher in the IgG4-RD group (p < 0.001). The IgA-positive cell count and IL-6 expression intensity were higher in the PC-iMCD group than in the IgG4-RD group (p < 0.001). Based on these findings, we proposed a new diagnostic approach to differentiate lung lesions of PC-iMCD and IgG4-RD. Our approach can be utilized to stratify patients with suspected lung-dominant PC-iMCD to identify candidates for strong immunosuppressive treatment, including IL-6 blockade, at an early stage