Chemokine expression in human 3-dimensional cultured epidermis exposed to PM2.5 collected by cyclonic separation

Kono Maori,Okuda Tomoaki,Ishihara Nami,Hagino Hiroyuki,Tani Yuto,Okochi Hiroshi,Tokoro Chiharu,Takaishi Masayuki,Ikeda Hidefumi,Ishihara Yasuhiro 한국독성학회 2023 Toxicological Research Vol.39 No.1

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure has a risk of inducing several health problems, especially in the respiratory tract. The skin is the largest organ of the human body and is therefore the primary target of PM2.5. In this study, we examined the effects of PM2.5 on the skin using a human 3-dimensional cultured epidermis model. PM2.5 was collected by cyclonic separation in Yokohama, Japan. Global analysis of 34 proteins released from the epidermis revealed that the chemokines, chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 1 (CXCL1) and interleukin 8 (IL-8), were significantly increased in response to PM2.5 exposure. These chemokines stimulated neutrophil chemotaxis in a C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2-dependent manner. The oxidative stress and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathways may be involved in the increased expression of CXCL1 and IL-8 in the human epidermis model. Interestingly, in the HaCaT human keratinocyte cell line, PM2.5 did not affect chemokine expression but did induce IL-6 expression, suggesting a different effect of PM2.5 between the epidermis model and HaCaT cells. Overall, PM2.5 could induce the epidermis to release chemokines, followed by neutrophil activation, which might cause an unregulated inflammatory reaction in the skin.

Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome-like Symptoms in Japanese Patients with Inactive Inflammatory Bowel Disease

( Toshihiko Tomita ),( Yu Kato ),( Mayu Takimoto ),( Takahisa Yamasaki ),( Takashi Kondo ),( Tomoaki Kono ),( Katsuyuki Tozawa ),( Yoko Yokoyama ),( Hisatomo Ikehara ),( Yoshio Ohda ),( Tadayuki Oshim 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회(구 대한소화관운동학회) 2016 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.22 No.4

Background/Aims Few studies are available that have investigated the risk factors for overlapping irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms in patients with inactive inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The present study has 3 objectives: (1) to assess the prevalence of IBS-like symptoms in Japanese patients with inactive IBD using Rome III criteria, (2) to examine the relationship of IBS-like symptoms to health related quality of life (HR-QOL), and (3) to investigate associations for developing IBS-like symptoms in patients with inactive IBD. Methods IBS-like symptoms were evaluated using the Rome III questionnaire for functional gastrointestinal disorders. HR-QOL and hospital anxiety and depression scale were evaluated. Results IBS-like symptoms were found in 17.5% (7/40) of patients with inactive ulcerative colitis, 27.1% (29/107) of patients with inactive Crohn’s disease (CD), and 5.3% (23/438) of healthy control subjects. The QOL level was significantly lower and anxiety score was significantly higher in inactive CD patients with IBS-like symptoms than in those without such symptoms (P = 0.003, P = 0.009). Use of anti-anxiety drugs was associated with the presence of IBS symptoms (P = 0.045). HR-QOL score was lower and anxiety score was higher in patients with inactive ulcerative colitis, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions The prevalence of IBS-like symptoms in inactive IBD patients was significantly higher than in healthy controls. Inactive CD patients with IBS-like symptoms has low QOL and anxiety; suggesting that anxiety may be associated with symptom development in such patients.

Prevalence of Gastric Motility Disorders in Patients with Functional Dyspepsia

( Haruki Asano ),( Toshihiko Tomita ),( Kumiko Nakamura ),( Takahisa Yamasaki ),( Takuya Okugawa ),( Takashi Kondo ),( Tomoaki Kono ),( Katsuyuki Tozawa ),( Yoshio Ohda ),( Tadayuki Oshima ),( Hirokaz 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회(구 대한소화관운동학회) 2017 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.23 No.3

Background/Aims Gastric motility abnormalities have been considered to be pathophysiological features of functional dyspepsia (FD) that are closely related to dyspepsia symptoms, especially postprandial distress syndrome (PDS). The aims of this study are to (1) investigate the prevalence of gastric motility disorders and (2) evaluate the association between gastric motility abnormalities and dyspeptic symptoms using gastric scintigraphy in the PDS type of FD. Methods Forty healthy subjects and 94 PDS type FD patients were enrolled in the study. The volunteers and patients ingested a radiolabeled (technetium-99m) solid test meal, and scintigraphic images were recorded. Gastric accommodation and emptying were assessed by scintigraphic imaging. The patients` dyspeptic symptoms were also explored using self-completed symptom questionnaires with 10 variables (4 scales, 0-3 points) at the same time. Results In 94 Japanese FD patients, the prevalence of impaired gastric accommodation and delayed emptying were 14.9% (14/94) and 10.6% (10/94), respectively. Gastric motility abnormalities were seen in 25.5% (24/94) of FD patients. There was no association between gastric motility abnormalities and dyspeptic symptoms. Conclusions Gastric motility abnormalities were seen in 25.5% of Japanese PDS type FD patients. However, there was no association between gastric motility abnormalities and dyspeptic symptoms on gastric scintigraphy. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2017;23:392-399)

Esophagography in Patients With Esophageal Achalasia Diagnosed With High-resolution Esophageal Manometry

( Takahisa Yamasaki ),( Toshihiko Tomita ),( Sumire Mori ),( Mayu Takimoto ),( Akio Tamura ),( Ken Hara ),( Takashi Kondo ),( Tomoaki Kono ),( Katsuyuki Tozawa ),( Yoshio Ohda ),( Tadayuki Oshima ),( 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회(구 대한소화관운동학회) 2018 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.24 No.3

Background/Aims High-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM) is considered to be the gold standard for the diagnosis of achalasia. However, the Japan Esophageal Society recommends that esophagography is also accurate in either diagnosing or excluding the disorder. Accordingly, we compared the efficacy of esophagography and HREM in diagnosing achalasia patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Methods HREM was performed in 126 patients with dysphagia. The final diagnosis of achalasia was done using HREM. Demographic data, symptoms, quality of life (QOL) were also obtained. We assessed the patients who were not able to be diagnosed by esophagography and compared the diagnostic values for esophagography with HREM-based achalasia diagnosis as the gold standard. Results A total of 48 cases of patients with achalasia, including 21 men and 27 women (mean age, 48.4 ± 19.6 years), were included in the study. Two patients were excluded. Of the remaining 46 patients, 36 (78.3%) patients were diagnosed as having achalasia by esophagography. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of esophagography were 78.3%, 88.0%, and 83.0%, respectively. Patients with type III achalasia had significantly lower physical QOL score than those with type I or II achalasia. Although the mental QOL score in patients with type III achalasia tended to decrease compared with that in patients with type I and II achalasia, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions Diagnosing esophageal achalasia by using esophagography alone has limited yield. Therefore, HREM should be used in patients with dysphagia and in whom achalasia cannot be diagnosed using EGD or esophagography. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2018;24:403-409)

VCS의 지연추적과 프린지 회전에 대한 상관결과 고찰

Oh, Se-Jin,Yeom, Jae-Hwan,Roh, Duk-Gyoo,Oh, ChungSik,Jung, Jin-Seung,Chung, Dong-Kyu,Oyama, Tomoaki,Kawaguchi, Noriyuki,Kobayashi, Hideyuki,Kono, Yusuke,Ozeki, Kensuke,Onuki, Hirohumi 한국융합신호처리학회 2012 융합신호처리학회 논문지 (JISPS) Vol.13 No.4

본 논문에서는 VCS의 지연추적과 프린지 회전 모듈의 문제로 인한 상관결과에 대해 고찰한다. VCS는 FX 형식의 상관기로서 도플러 효과에 의한 전체로부터 도달하는 신호의 지연시간과 프린지 위상을 보정하기 위해 지연추적과 프린지 회전 모듈을 채용하고 있다. 관측데이터는 상관기에서 지연추적과 프린지 회전을 통하여 위상정보도 함께 보정되는데, AIPS에서 상관기보다 장시간의 상관적분을 수행함에 따라 위상이 안정되지 않은 것을 확인하였다. 그리고 상관결과의 해석에서 Delay 값이 정상보다 수십 nsec 정도 오차가 발생하였다. 또한 프린지 회전모듈에서 프린지 초기위상을 결정하지 않아서 상관결과의 위상이 FFT segment 단위로 연결되지 않는 것도 확인하였다. 본 논문에서는 이러한 문제들을 해결하기 위해 지연추적 모듈과 프린지 회전 모듈의 경우 위상보정을 담당하는 모듈의 부호가 반대로 동작하는 것과 관측데이터의 초기위상을 사용하도록 수정하였다. 그리고 프린지 회전 파라미터 계산모듈에 오류가 있는 것을 발견하여 VCS의 로직을 담당하는 프로그램을 개선하였다. 이상의 문제점들에 대해서 상관처리 실험을 통하여 본 논문에서 수정 제안한 알고리즘들이 데이터 해석결과에서 정확함을 확인하여, 개발한 VCS 하드웨어 상관기가 정상적으로 동작하는 것을 확인하였다. In this paper, we investigate the correlation result due to the problems of delay tracking and fringe rotation module in the VCS(VLBI Correlation Subsystem). The VCS, FX-type correlator, adopts the delay tracking and fringe rotation module in order to compensate the delay change and fringe phase of wave signal from the radio source by Doppler's effect. The phase of observed data is also compensated by means of delay tracking and fringe rotation in the correlator, but we confirmed that the phase is unstable by applying long integration period of AIPS(Astronomical Image Processing System) rather than correlator. And the delay value of observed data has the errors of several tens nanoseconds than normal case at the analysis of correlation result. In addition, we found that the phase of correlation results is not connected as the unit of FFT-segment because the initial fringe phase at the fringe rotation module is not correctly determined. In this paper, in order to solve these problems, the original direction of 90 degree phase jump is reversely modified when the bit-shift occurred at the delay tracking. And the initial fringe phase at the fringe rotation module is correctly modified by using the initial phase of observed data. In addition, the parameter calculation module was abnormally operated as designed in the fringe rotation. So, the logical program by the VCS is modified so as to calculate the parameters correctly. Through the experiments of correlation processing over the above problems, the modified proposal algorithm is adequately corrected to the data analysis results, so that the experimental results make it clear for us to operate the developed VCS hardware correlator normally.

Prevalence and Self-recognition of Chronic Constipation: Results of an Internet Survey

( Akio Tamura ),( Toshihiko Tomita ),( Tadayuki Oshima ),( Fumihiko Toyoshima ),( Takahisa Yamasaki ),( Takuya Okugawa ),( Takashi Kondo ),( Tomoaki Kono ),( Katsuyuki Tozawa ),( Hisatomo Ikehara ),( 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회(구 대한소화관운동학회) 2016 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.22 No.4

Background/Aims Although chronic constipation is a common symptom, to date no international consensus has been reached regarding its definition. The aims of this study were (1) to investigate defecation habits and (2) to examine the prevalence of constipation using the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine (JSIM) and the Rome III criteria using an online survey. Methods An online questionnaire composed of items on the frequency, interval, form of defecation, the management, and self-recognition of constipation (reference standard of constipation) was created. A total of 5155 valid responses were received. In addition, constipation symptoms were evaluated through a survey using the JSIM and the Rome III criteria. Results In the internet survey, 28.4% of the respondents considered themselves to be constipated. Stratified by sex, significantly more females (37.5%) than males (19.1%) considered themselves to be constipated (P < 0.001). The prevalence of constipation among the respondents was 28.0% using the Rome III, but only 10.1% using the JSIM. The diagnostic accuracy was 73.2% for the Rome III and 78.1% for the JSIM, while the diagnostic specificity was 81.1% for the Rome III and 97.5% for the JSIM. However, the diagnostic sensitivities for both measures were low, at 52.2% and 29.2% for the Rome III and the JSIM, respectively. Conclusions The online survey developed for this study was able to provide clarification regarding defecation patterns. The results also suggest a discrepancy between the self-recognized prevalence of constipation in Japan and prevalence of constipation based on the JSIM criteria.

A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial on the effect of magnesium oxide in patients with chronic constipation

Sumire Mori,Toshihiko Tomita,Kazuki Fujimura,Haruki Asano,Tomohiro Ogawa,Takahisa Yamasaki,Takashi Kondo,Tomoaki Kono,Katsuyuki Tozawa,Tadayuki Oshima,Hirokazu Fukui,Takeshi Kimura,Jiro Watari,Hiroto 대한소화기 기능성질환∙운동학회 2019 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.25 No.4

Background/Aims Magnesium oxide (MgO) has been frequently used as a treatment for chronic constipation (CC) since the 1980s in Japan. The aim of this study is to evaluate its therapeutic effects of MgO in Japanese CC patients. Methods We conducted a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. Thirty-four female patients with mild to moderate constipation were randomly assigned to either placebo (n = 17) or MgO group (n = 17) 0.5 g × 3/day for 28 days. Primary endpoint was overall improvement over the 4-week study period. Secondary endpoints were changes from baseline in spontaneous bowel movement (SBM), response rates of complete spontaneous bowel movement (CSBM), stool form, colonic transit time (CTT), abdominal symptom, and quality of life. Results One patient failed to complete the medication regimen and was omitted from analysis: data from 16 placebo and 17 MgO patients were analyzed. The primary endpoint was met by 25.0% of placebo vs 70.6% of MgO group (P = 0.015). MgO significantly improved SBM changes compared to placebo (P = 0.002). However, MgO did not significantly improved response rates of CSBM compared to placebo (P = 0.76). In addition, MgO significantly improved Bristol stool form scale changes (P < 0.001) and significantly improved CTT compared to the placebo group (P < 0.001). MgO significantly improved the Japanese version of the patient assessment of constipation quality of life (P = 0.003). Conclusion Our placebo-controlled study demonstrated that MgO was effective treatment for improving defecation status and shortened CTT in Japanese CC patients with mild to moderate symptoms. Background/Aims Magnesium oxide (MgO) has been frequently used as a treatment for chronic constipation (CC) since the 1980s in Japan. The aim of this study is to evaluate its therapeutic effects of MgO in Japanese CC patients. Methods We conducted a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. Thirty-four female patients with mild to moderate constipation were randomly assigned to either placebo (n = 17) or MgO group (n = 17) 0.5 g × 3/day for 28 days. Primary endpoint was overall improvement over the 4-week study period. Secondary endpoints were changes from baseline in spontaneous bowel movement (SBM), response rates of complete spontaneous bowel movement (CSBM), stool form, colonic transit time (CTT), abdominal symptom, and quality of life. Results One patient failed to complete the medication regimen and was omitted from analysis: data from 16 placebo and 17 MgO patients were analyzed. The primary endpoint was met by 25.0% of placebo vs 70.6% of MgO group (P = 0.015). MgO significantly improved SBM changes compared to placebo (P = 0.002). However, MgO did not significantly improved response rates of CSBM compared to placebo (P = 0.76). In addition, MgO significantly improved Bristol stool form scale changes (P < 0.001) and significantly improved CTT compared to the placebo group (P < 0.001). MgO significantly improved the Japanese version of the patient assessment of constipation quality of life (P = 0.003). Conclusion Our placebo-controlled study demonstrated that MgO was effective treatment for improving defecation status and shortened CTT in Japanese CC patients with mild to moderate symptoms.