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Association of low fetuin-A levels with periodontitis in community-dwelling adults
No full textFetuin-A is a liver-secreted glycoprotein isolated from fetal bovine serum. Recent reports of its several pathological functions suggest an association between fetuin-A and systemic diseases. This study therefore examined the correlation between serum fetuin-A level and periodontal status. Data from 356 middle-aged and elderly adults who underwent health examinations in Goto, Japan, during the period from 2008 through 2010 were analyzed. Systemic and periodontal measurements were recorded, and serum fetuin-A level was determined by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Fetuin-A levels for participants with moderate to severe periodontitis were significantly lower than those for participants with no or mild periodontitis. Additionally, fetuin-A level negatively correlated with periodontal clinical attachment loss. Moderate
to severe periodontitis was significantly correlated with low serum fetuin-A levels (odds ratio, 1.69; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-2.69) in logistic regression analysis. Low serum fetuin-A level was correlated with worse periodontal status and could thus potentially serve as a marker of periodontitis
Tissue suction-mediated gene transfer to the beating heart in mice
Get PDFWe previously developed an in vivo site-specific transfection method using a suction device in mice; namely, a tissue suction-mediated transfection method (tissue suction method). The aim of this study was to apply the tissue suction method for cardiac gene transfer. Naked plasmid DNA (pDNA) was intravenously injected in mice, followed by direct suction on the beating heart by using a suction device made of polydimethylsiloxane. We first examined the effects of suction conditions on transgene expression and toxicity. Subsequently, we analyzed transgene-expressing cells and the transfected region of the heart. We found that heart suction induced transgene expression, and that −75 kPa and −90 kPa of suction achieved high transgene expression. In addition, the inner diameter of the suction device was correlated with transgene expression, but the pressure hold time did not change transgene expression. Although the tissue suction method at −75 kPa induced a transient increase in the serum cardiac toxicity markers at 6 h after transfection, these markers returned to normal at 24 h. The cardiac damage was also analyzed through the measurement of hypertrophic gene expression, but no significant differences were found. In addition, the cardiac function monitored by echocardiography remained normal at 11 days after transfection. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that CD31-positive endothelial cells co-expressed the ZsGreen1-N1 reporter gene. In conclusion, the tissue suction method can achieve an efficient and safe gene transfer to the beating heart in mice
Successful Bid Rates and the Number of Bidders: Statistical Analysis of the Premises of the Criticism for a One-Party Bid
No full textIn the domain of public procurement in Japan, government bodies have taken measures to prevent “one-party bids,” where only one party enters a bid in open competitive bidding. However, is the direction taken correct? This study quantitatively examines the general premise that one-party bid is the primary cause of a high successful bid rate (the ratio of a successful bid to a procurer's estimation). Thus, we conduct a multivariate regression analysis on the relationship between variables including the number of bidders, the successful bid rate, and the characteristics of procurement events, using data disclosed by the Japanese government.松本睦樹教授定年退職記念号In Honour of Prof. Mutuki Matumot
Topical povidone iodine inhibits bacterial growth in the oral cavity of patients on mechanical ventilation: a randomized controlled study
Get PDFBACKGROUND: Topical 0.12% chlorhexidine has been used widely to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. However, it is not approved for mucosal application in Japan. The aims of this study were to investigate if topical povidone iodine (i) inhibits bacterial growth and (ii) disrupts the balance of the oral microbiota. METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical trial included 23 patients who underwent mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit. The patients were divided randomly into two groups: the intervention group (n = 16) and the control group (n = 7). All patients received oral cleaning with 3% hydrogen peroxide, followed by irrigation with tap water. The patients in the intervention group received 10% povidone iodine applied topically to the oral cavity. The concentration of total bacteria in the oropharyngeal fluid were determined before, immediately after, 1 h, 2 h, and 3 h after oral care using the Rapid Oral Bacteria Quantification System, which is based on dielectrophoresis and impedance measurements. The number of streptococci, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Candida albicans before, immediately after, 1 h, and 3 h after oral care were estimated based on real-time polymerase chain reaction data. RESULTS: After irrigation of the oral cavity, the number of bacteria decreased, but increased again at 1 h after oral care in the control group; however, in the intervention group, the concentration of bacteria was significantly lower than that in the control group at 1 hour (p = 0.009), 2 h (p = 0.001), and 3 h (p = 0.001) after oral care. The growth of all bacterial species tested was inhibited in the intervention group at 3 h after oral care, suggesting that povidone iodine did not disturb the balance of the oral microbiota. CONCLUSIONS: Topical application of povidone iodine after cleaning and irrigation of the oral cavity inhibited bacterial growth in the oropharyngeal fluid of patients on mechanical ventilation while not disrupting the balance of the oral microbiota. TRIAL REGISTRATION: University Hospitals Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR), UMIN000028307. Registered 1 September 2017
Functions of post-conflict bystander affiliations toward aggressors and victims in bottlenose dolphins
Get PDFPost-conflict affiliations initiated by bystanders (bystander affiliation) toward aggressors or victims have been suggested to represent the function of conflict management in some social living species. However, the function of bystander affiliations toward aggressors and victims has not been examined in marine mammals. In the present study, we investigated the function of bystander affiliations to aggressors and victims in bottlenose dolphins: self-protection, the substitute of reconciliation, social facilitation and tension relief of opponents. These bystander affiliations did not reduce post-conflict attacks by former opponents against group members. Bystander affiliation to aggressors tended to be performed by a bystander who had an affiliative relationship with the aggressor but not with the victim. Bystander affiliation to victims also tended to be initiated by a bystander who had an affiliative relationship with the victim but not the aggressor and was close to former opponents at the end of aggressions. Affiliation among group members who stayed near former opponents during aggressions did not increase after aggressions compared to that under control conditions. Renewed aggressions between former opponents decreased after bystander affiliations in our previous study. Bystanders who showed social closeness to former opponents may initiate bystander affiliation toward their affiliative former opponents because they may feel emotion, such as anxiety and excitement, of former opponents. Bystander affiliation toward aggressors and victims may function as tension relief between former opponents. Bystanders of bottlenose dolphins, who may have a relaxed dominant style, might initiate post-conflict affiliation to affiliative individuals unaffected by the dominance relationships among them, unlike despotic specie
組織吸引圧核酸導入法を用いたマウス心臓への遺伝子導入
No full textWe previously developed an in vivo site-specific transfection method using a suction device in mice; namely, a tissue suction-mediated transfection method (tissue suction method). The aim of this study was to apply the tissue suction method for cardiac gene transfer. Naked plasmid DNA (pDNA) was intravenously injected in mice, followed by direct suction on the beating heart by using a suction device made of polydimethylsiloxane. We first examined the effects of suction conditions on transgene expression and toxicity. Subsequently, we analyzed transgene-expressing cells and the transfected region of the heart. We found that heart suction induced transgene expression, and that −75 kPa and −90 kPa of suction achieved high transgene expression. In addition, the inner diameter of the suction device was correlated with transgene expression, but the pressure hold time did not change transgene expression. Although the tissue suction method at −75 kPa induced a transient increase in the serum cardiac toxicity markers at 6 h after transfection, these markers returned to normal at 24 h. The cardiac damage was also analyzed through the measurement of hypertrophic gene expression, but no significant differences were found. In addition, the cardiac function monitored by echocardiography remained normal at 11 days after transfection. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that CD31-positive endothelial cells co-expressed the ZsGreen1-N1 reporter gene. In conclusion, the tissue suction method can achieve an efficient and safe gene transfer to the beating heart in mice.長崎大学学位論文 学位記番号:博(医歯薬)甲第1232号 学位授与年月日:令和2年3月19日Author: Yota Taniguchi, Natsuko Oyama, Shintaro Fumoto, Hideyuki Kinoshita, Fumiyoshi Yamashita, Kazunori Shimizu, Mitsuru Hashida, Shigeru KawakamiCitation: PLOS ONE, 15(2), e0228203; 202
The characteristics of influenza-like illness management in Japan
Get PDFBackground: This study aimed to make a quantitative assessment of the management of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) in Japanese healthcare settings. Methods: We analysed participants' healthcare-seeking behaviour and physicians' practice in January 2019 using an online survey of 200 households in Japan. Quality of life score, quality-adjusted life years lost, the duration of symptoms, and the duration of absence from work were compared between the influenza ILI group and the non-influenza ILI group with one-to-one propensity score matching. Missing data were imputed using multiple imputation. Results: In total, 261 of the 600 (43.5%) participants had at least one episode of influenza-like illness during January 2019. Of these, 194 (75.5%) visited healthcare facilities, 167 (86.1%) within 2 days of onset of symptoms. A total of 169 out of 191 (88.5%) received a rapid influenza diagnostic test and 101 were diagnosed with influenza, of whom 95.0% were treated with antivirals. The median quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) lost was 0.0055 (interquartile range, IQR 0.0040-0.0072) and median absence from work for a single episode of influenza-like illness was 2 days (IQR 1-5 days). Albeit QALYs lost per episode was not different between two groups, the influenza ILI group showed longer duration of absence from work (5 days, IQR 4-6 days) than the non-influenza ILI group (2 days, IQR 1-3 days). Conclusions: In Japan, most people with influenza-like illnesses visit healthcare facilities soon after symptoms first occur and receive a diagnostic test. Those with influenza are usually treated with antivirals. Absence from work was longer for influenza than other similar illnesses
Reduced Tumorigenicity of Mouse ES Cells and the Augmented Anti-Tumor Therapeutic Effects under Parg Deficiency
Get PDFPolyADP-ribosylation is a post-translational modification of proteins, and poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) polymerase (PARP) family proteins synthesize PAR using NAD as a substrate. Poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) functions as the main enzyme for the degradation of PAR. In this study, we investigated the effects of Parg deficiency on tumorigenesis and therapeutic efficacy of DNA damaging agents, using mouse ES cell-derived tumor models. To examine the effects of Parg deficiency on tumorigenesis, Parg+/+ and Parg−/− ES cells were subcutaneously injected into nude mice. The results showed that Parg deficiency delays early onset of tumorigenesis from ES cells. All the tumors were phenotypically similar to teratocarcinoma and microscopic findings indicated that differentiation spectrum was similar between the Parg genotypes. The augmented anti-tumor therapeutic effects of X-irradiation were observed under Parg deficiency. These results suggest that Parg deficiency suppresses early stages of tumorigenesis and that Parg inhibition, in combination with DNA damaging agents, may efficiently control tumor growth in particular types of germ cell tumor
