Kanazawa Medical University

About: Kanazawa Medical University is a education organization based out in Kanazawa, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 3103 authors who have published 6322 publications receiving 144592 citations. The organization is also known as: Kanazawa ika daigaku.

PDGFRβ Regulates Adipose Tissue Expansion and Glucose Metabolism via Vascular Remodeling in Diet-Induced Obesity.

Abstract: Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a key factor in angiogenesis; however, its role in adult obesity remains unclear. In order to clarify its pathophysiological role, we investigated the significance of PDGF receptor β (PDGFRβ) in adipose tissue expansion and glucose metabolism. Mature vessels in the epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) were tightly wrapped with pericytes in normal mice. Pericyte desorption from vessels and the subsequent proliferation of endothelial cells were markedly increased in the eWAT of diet-induced obese mice. Analyses with flow cytometry and adipose tissue cultures indicated that PDGF-B caused the detachment of pericytes from vessels in a concentration-dependent manner. M1-macrophages were a major type of cells expressing PDGF-B in obese adipose tissue. In contrast, pericyte detachment was attenuated and vascularity within eWAT was reduced in tamoxifen-inducible conditional Pdgfrb-knockout mice with decreases in adipocyte size and chronic inflammation. Furthermore, Pdgfrb-knockout mice showed enhanced energy expenditure. Consequently, diet-induced obesity and the associated deterioration of glucose metabolism in wild-type mice were absent in Pdgfrb-knockout mice. Therefore, PDGF-B-PDGFRβ signaling plays a significant role in the development of adipose tissue neovascularization and appears to be a fundamental target for the prevention of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Ionic liquid enables simple and rapid sample preparation of human culturing cells for scanning electron microscope analysis

Abstract: Ionic liquid is a kind of salt that stays in a molten state even at room temperature. It does not vaporize at all in vacuum and facilitates electrical conductivity to the sample surfaces for observations with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). In this study, we used an ionic liquid in SEM for the first time to observe fixed human culture cells. The condition for the cell culture using wrapping sheets and SEM settings were varied to elucidate the optimized protocol. Compared to samples prepared by the conventional way, the ionic liquid-treatment of samples gave SEM images of the cellular ultra structures in more detail, enabling observation of microvilli that made bridges between separated cells. In addition, the ionic liquid treatment is less time consuming as well as less laborious compared with the conventional way that includes dehydration, drying, and conductivity treatments. Totally, we concluded the ionic liquid is a useful reagent for SEM sample preparation.

Influence of consumption of cadmium-polluted rice or Jinzu River water on occurrence of renal tubular dysfunction and/or Itai-itai disease.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to clarify whether consumption of cadmium (Cd)-polluted rice or Jinzu River water exerted any influence on the occurrence of renal tubular dysfunction and/or Itai-itai disease. From the participants of health examinations conducted in 1967 and 1968, 3,078 subjects who had resided for >30 years in the present hamlet and were aged >50 years were selected as the target population and were divided according to their residence in 55 hamlets. In a multiple regression analysis, the regression coefficients between rice-Cd concentration and prevalence of abnormal urinary findings (proteinuria, glucosuria, or proteinuria with glucosuria) or patients with Itai-itai disease were statistically significant between both sexes. The correlation between the prevalence of users of Jinzu River water and the occurrence of glucosuria in men as well as abnormal urinary findings in women was not statistically significant. We surmise that eating Cd-polluted rice and drinking and/or cooking with Jinzu River water influenced the occurrence of Itai-itai disease. The occurrence of renal tubular dysfunction is likely to have also been influenced by both factors, with eating Cd-polluted rice having a greater impact on the occurrence of renal tubular dysfunction as compared to drinking and/or cooking with Jinzu River water.