JMS (Japan)

Initial hand dressings for burned hands should be compatible with preservation of skin substitutes and grafts, splinting, and active motion. We have developed a standardized glove dressing directed at these requirements. Early experience with this glove dressing has included feasible clinical application, 7- to 10-minute application time, and 90% preservation of total active range of motion in a normal hand placed in the dressing under test conditions.

In nutrient restricted environments, the yeast endosulfines Igo1/2 are activated via TORC1 inhibition and function critically to initiate and coordinate the cellular stress response that promotes survival. We examined expression of αEnsa, the mammalian homolog of yeast endosulfines, in rat stroke. Prominent neuronal upregulation of αEnsa was identified in 3 patterns within the ischemic gradient: (1) neurons in GFAP-/HSF1+ cortex showed upregulation and near-complete nuclear translocation of αEnsa protein within hours of ischemic onset; (2) neurons in GFAP+/HSF1+ cortex showed upregulation in cytoplasm and nuclei that persisted for days; (3) neurons in GFAP+/HSF1- cortex showed delayed cytosolic-only upregulation that persisted for days. Findings were corroborated using in situ hybridization for ENSA mRNA. Rapamycin treatment was found to reduce infarct size and behavioral deficits and, in GFAP+/HSF1+ zones, enhance αEnsa neuronal nuclear translocation and mitigate cell death, relative to controls. Based on the conservation of TOR signaling across species, and on the finding that the Rim15-Igo1/2-PP2A module is triggered by substrate deprivation in eukaryotic yeast, we speculate that αEnsa is activated by substrate deprivation, functioning through the homologous MASTL-αEnsa/ARPP19-PP2A module to promote neuronal survival. In conjunction with recent studies suggesting a neuroprotective role, our data highlight a potential function for αEnsa within ischemic brain.

High flux dialysis membranes often induce considerable amount of internal filtration (IF), which increases convective transport of solutes. Since IF is affected by transmembrane pressure (TMP), accurate measurement of pressure is crucial for evaluation of IF. Aim: This study was performed to measure TMP more accurately using digital signal processing technique, and to design an IF monitoring system. Methods: Study was done for BIOPES dialyzer (1.5m2 surface area, polyethersulfone membrane, JMS Co., Ltd.). In vitro experiment with bovine blood was carried out for 4 hours using different dialysis machines; one with double pump balancing and the other with double chamber balancing. Pressures at inlet/outlet of blood and dialysate were continuously measured by digital pressure gauges, and were treated with digital signal processing technique. Results: With double pump balancing machine, two frequencies of dialysate pressure were observed in frequency spectra of blood pressure. This result indicated that measured pressure was different from its original pressure. Then the noise bands were removed to reconstruct the original pressure. With this digital filtering, IF rate with double pump balancing machine and that with double chamber balancing machine were calculated to 4.8L/4hrs and 3.9L/4hrs, respectively, at blood flow rate 200mL/min and dialysate flow rate 500mL/min. Conclusions: It may be important to recognize that measured pressure was often different from original pressure. The monitoring system using digital signal processing technique may be a useful tool for evaluation of IF rate.

The principle of a patient-specific immunoadsorber (PsIA) is demonstrated. Studies with model systems (HSA/anti-HSA) on immobilization, stability, and leakage form the basis for the presented fast-performance liquid chromatography (FPLC) and batch experiments, which were conducted using two different protein A adsorbers and autologous and heterologous PsIA systems. Experiments to determine the binding capacity of protein A adsorbers and PsIAs are described. In all experiments, the adsorption of plasma IgG, total protein, and C1q and C3d circulating immune complexes were measured. Plasma of patients with autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus) was investigated. Analysis was performed in both the initial plasma and the flow-through or supernatant. Results of the investigations using FPLC and batch experiments were compared. Autologous PsIA systems are suitable for the selective removal of elevated levels of circulating immune complexes in the plasma.