Himeji Dokkyo University (姫路獨協大学, Himeji dokkyō daigaku) is a private university in Himeji, Hyōgo, Japan. The predecessor of the school was founded in 1881, and it was chartered as a university in 1986. It has many international students relative to other Japanese universities, and is most known for the strength of its foreign studies program. It is a sister university of Dokkyo University in Tokyo..
ABSTRACT Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a gram-negative bacillus that is widely distributed in the natural environment and is known to cause opportunistic infections. While it has been isolated from diverse wildlife, the relationship between migratory birds and this bacterium is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated fecal samples from migratory slaty-backed gulls ( Larus schistisagus ) breeding in Northern Japan by 16S rRNA sequencing and examined the characteristics of multidrug-resistant bacteria. We found that S. maltophilia represented 41% of all bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences. S. maltophilia capable of growing on agar medium supplemented with multiple antibiotics was present at levels up to 10⁴ CFU/g, and most of the 60 isolates exhibited strong biofilm-forming ability and swimming motility. Although trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole and minocycline were relatively effective, 18% of the isolates showed resistance to both trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole and levofloxacin, which are widely used as therapeutic drugs. All strains carried genes involved in multidrug efflux pumps and aminoglycoside resistance. The frequencies of virulence-associated determinants were as follows: stmPr1 (major extracellular protease), 56.7%, and smf-1 (type 1 fimbriae, biofilm-related gene), 100%. These findings suggest that migratory gulls play a role in the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant S. maltophilia in natural environments. IMPORTANCE Stenotrophomonas maltophilia has emerged as an opportunistic pathogen that causes pneumonia and bloodstream infections. Despite its clinical importance, there are few reports describing its association with migratory birds. This study revealed that the intestines of slaty-backed gulls harbor a high proportion of this bacterium. Among the multidrug-resistant bacteria examined, all isolates were identified as S. maltophilia . While most isolates were susceptible to commonly used antimicrobial agents such as trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole, minocycline, and levofloxacin, some exhibited resistance to these antibiotics. Furthermore, all isolates showed strong biofilm-forming capacity and swimming motility, similar to clinical isolates, thereby possessing the potential to adhere to and develop biofilms on artificial surfaces such as medical devices, as well as on mucosal surfaces. Collectively, these findings indicate that migratory gulls may carry and transport antibiotic-resistant S. maltophilia .
AIM:This retrospective study aimed to identify clinical factors associated with the long-term continuation of anamorelin hydrochloride in real-world clinical practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS:We analyzed 173 patients with lung, gastric, colorectal, or pancreatic cancer who received anamorelin hydrochloride between May 2021 and May 2025. Clinical variables potentially associated with long-term anamorelin continuation were extracted from medical records. Patients were categorized into three groups according to treatment duration: <3 weeks, 3 to <12 weeks, and ≥12 weeks. Univariate and multivariate ordered logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of continued anamorelin use. RESULTS:Multivariate analysis identified the Modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) (odds ratio [OR] = 0.659, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.472- 0.920; p = 0.014), gastric cancer (OR =0.333, 95% CI = 0.135- 0.821; P = 0.017), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) (OR =0.616, 95% CI = 0.448- 0.847; p = 0.003) as significant predictors. CONCLUSION:Lower mGPS, and better ECOG PS were associated with longer continuation of anamorelin, whereas patients with gastric cancer showed a tendency toward shorter duration. These findings provide guidance for patient selection and tailored supportive care in clinical practice.
We recently demonstrated that aromatic (ar)-turmerone analogs ((E)-5-methyl-1-(p-tolyl)hexa-1,4-dien-3-one [A2] and (E)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methylhexa-1,4-dien-3-one [A4]) activate chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), a pathway in the autophagy-lysosome protein degradation system, in SH-SY5Y cells. Our previous studies revealed that the impairment of CMA and microautophagy (mA), another autophagy-related pathway, and dendritic shrinkage were observed in primary cultured Purkinje cells (PCs) expressing causal proteins of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease. In the present study, we first investigated the effects of A2 and A4 on lysosomal protein degradation and dendritic morphology in cerebellar primary cultured PCs. Both compounds enhanced dendritic development and activated CMA in cultured PCs. These effects were significantly suppressed by the inhibitors of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and p38. We next examined the effects of A2 and A4 on PCs expressing several types of SCA-causing proteins (SCA model PCs). Both chemicals ameliorated the dendritic shrinkage and restored the decreased CMA/mA activity in several SCA model PCs. These findings suggest that the ar-turmerone analogs A2 and A4 improve the in vitro phenotype of SCA model PCs through CMA activation, highlighting the therapeutic potential of these analogs for various types of SCAs.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) progresses to renal fibrosis and anemia, ultimately leading to chronic renal failure (CRF). Renal anemia, primarily caused by impaired erythropoietin (EPO) production and dysregulated iron metabolism, reduces QOL and increases cardiovascular risk. To establish an experimental model of CRF-associated anemia, male Wistar rats underwent 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx). In a subset of Nx rats, tacrolimus (TAC, 1 mg/kg, subcutaneously every other day for two weeks starting at week 4) was administered to exacerbate renal injury. Renal function, hematological parameters, iron-related indices, and fibrotic changes were evaluated at defined postoperative time points. The Nx rats developed progressive renal dysfunction and interstitial fibrosis, accompanied by declining hematocrit and reduced plasma EPO levels and attenuation of renal hypoxia-inducible factor-2α expression. TAC administration further aggravated renal injury and anemia and resulted in a lower hematocrit despite detectable circulating EPO levels. This pattern may suggest a relative inadequacy of erythropoietic response under aggravated renal injury conditions rather than absolute EPO deficiency. These findings indicate that the Nx model reproducibly recapitulates key features of CKD-associated anemia. The addition of TAC accelerates pathological progression within this established model and facilitates the induction of advanced renal injury. This experimental system provides a practical preclinical platform for investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying CKD/CRF-related anemia and for evaluating therapeutic strategies targeting fibrosis, iron metabolism, or impaired erythropoietic response.
Background: In rehabilitation medicine, efficient gait analysis is crucial for evaluating postoperative recovery and frailty, especially given the increasing burden on clinicians due to an aging population. Objectives: This study aims to conduct preliminary validation of an automated linear walking evaluation system using 2D AI posture tracking. By evaluating the basic accuracy of the system on healthy individuals, we aim to establish a technical foundation for future introduction into clinical rehabilitation settings. Methods: In this observational study, we utilized a standard visible light camera for practical use. To evaluate accuracy, we compared 2D AI tracking against a gold-standard three-dimensional (3D) motion capture system during normal walking trials with 10 healthy participants. Specifically, we employed Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) to temporally align the asynchronous data streams from the 2D and 3D systems, ensuring precise comparison of joint angles. Results: Following the DTW-based alignment, the similarity with the 3D system was 0.806 ± 0.094 overall (Left: 0.797 ± 0.101, Right: 0.814 ± 0.086). Conclusions: In this preliminary validation, the proposed 2D AI posture tracking showed good agreement with the gold standard 3D motion capture for gait in healthy individuals. While the average systematic bias was within clinically acceptable limits, the observed limits of agreement suggest that this system is currently optimal as a foundational tool for gait screening. These results establish a technical foundation for the clinical application of this system.
