An LDPCC decoding algorithm based on Bowman-Levin approximation --Comparison with BP and CCCP--

Belief propagation (BP) and the concave convex procedure (CCCP) are both methods that utilize the Bethe free energy as a cost function and solve information processing tasks. We have developed a new algorithm that also uses the Bethe free energy, but changes the roles of the master variables and the slave variables. This is called the Bowman-Levin (BL) approximation in the domain of statistical physics. When we applied the BL algorithm to decode the Gallager ensemble of short-length regular low-density parity check codes (LDPCC) over an additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel, its average performance was somewhat better than that of either BP or CCCP. This implies that the BL algorithm can also be successfully applied to other problems to which BP or CCCP has already been applied.Comment: 2005 IEEE International Symposium on Information Theor

Percutaneous coronary intervention using new-generation drug-eluting stents versus coronary arterial bypass grafting in stable patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease: From the CREDO-Kyoto PCI/CABG registry Cohort-3

AIMS: There is a scarcity of studies comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using new-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: The CREDO-Kyoto PCI/CABG registry Cohort-3 enrolled 14927 consecutive patients who underwent first coronary revascularization with PCI or isolated CABG between January 2011 and December 2013. The current study population consisted of 2464 patients who underwent multi-vessel coronary revascularization including revascularization of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) either with PCI using new-generation DES (N = 1565), or with CABG (N = 899). Patients in the PCI group were older and more often had severe frailty, but had less complex coronary anatomy, and less complete revascularization than those in the CABG group. Cumulative 5-year incidence of a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction or stroke was not significantly different between the 2 groups (25.0% versus 21.5%, P = 0.15). However, after adjusting confounders, the excess risk of PCI relative to CABG turned to be significant for the composite endpoint (HR 1.27, 95%CI 1.04-1.55, P = 0.02). PCI as compared with CABG was associated with comparable adjusted risk for all-cause death (HR 1.22, 95%CI 0.96-1.55, P = 0.11), and stroke (HR 1.17, 95%CI 0.79-1.73, P = 0.44), but with excess adjusted risk for myocardial infarction (HR 1.58, 95%CI 1.05-2.39, P = 0.03), and any coronary revascularization (HR 2.66, 95%CI 2.06-3.43, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In this observational study, PCI with new-generation DES as compared with CABG was associated with excess long-term risk for major cardiovascular events in patients who underwent multi-vessel coronary revascularization including LAD

Metformin reduces androgen receptor and upregulates homeobox A10 expression in uterine endometrium in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) causes anovulation and is associated with a reduced clinical pregnancy rate. Metformin, which is widely used for treating PCOS, can lead to successful pregnancy by restoring the ovulation cycle and possibly improving endometrial abnormality during the implantation period. However, the mechanism by which metformin improves endometrial abnormality remains unknown. Women with PCOS have an aberrant expression of steroid hormone receptors and homeobox A10 (HOXA10), which is essential for embryo implantation in the endometrium. Methods In this study, we examined whether metformin affects androgen receptor (AR) and HOXA10 expression in PCOS endometrium in vivo and in human endometrial cell lines in vitro. Expression of AR and HOXA10 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, fluorescent immunocytochemistry, and western blot analysis. Results AR expression was localized in both epithelial and stromal cells; however, HOXA10 expression was limited to only stromal cells in this study. In women with PCOS, 3 months after metformin treatment, the expression of AR was reduced in epithelial and stromal cells in comparison to their levels before treatment. In contrast, HOXA10 expression in the stromal cells with metformin treatment increased in comparison to its level before treatment. Further, we showed that metformin counteracted the testosterone-induced AR expression in both Ishikawa cells and human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs); whereas, metformin partly restored the testosterone-reduced HOXA10 expression in HESCs in vitro. Conclusions Our results suggest that metformin may have a direct effect on the abnormal endometrial environment of androgen excess in women with PCOS. Trial registration The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Fukushima Medical University (approval no. 504, approval date. July 6, 2006), and written informed consent was obtained from all patients. https://www.fmu.ac.jp/univ/sangaku/rinri.html </jats:sec

A novel splice-site mutation of the HNF1B gene in a family with maturity onset diabetes of the young type 5 (MODY5)

Summary Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a form of monogenic diabetes mellitus characterised by early onset and dominant inheritance. Delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis as type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus is common. Definitive genetic diagnosis is essential for appropriate treatment of patients with MODY. The hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-beta (HNF1B) gene is responsible for MODY type 5 (MODY5), which has distinctive clinical features including renal disease. MODY5 should always be considered by clinicians in patients with early onset diabetes and renal anomalies. We report a case of a 30-year-old Japanese male with early-onset diabetes mellitus, renal anomalies and family history of diabetes that was suggestive of MODY5. Renal histology showed no evidence of diabetic nephropathy. Genetic testing revealed a novel heterozygous splice-site mutation of the HNF1B gene in the family members. It was strongly suggested that the mutation could underlie our patient’s MODY5. Learning points: Genetic diagnosis of MODY is relevant for appropriate treatment. Dominantly inherited early-onset diabetes mellitus with renal cysts suggests MODY5. Scanning the non-coding regions is important for not missing a mutation in HNF1B. </jats:sec

The Limited Effect of a History of COVID-19 on Antibody Titers and Adverse Reactions Following BNT162b2 Vaccination: A Single-Center Prospective Study

Background and Objectives: The need for, and ideal frequency of, the vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) of previously infected individuals have not yet been sufficiently evaluated. The aim of this study was to examine the anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody status and adverse reactions after vaccination among medical staff with or without a history of COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A single-center prospective study was performed at Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital. We investigated the presence of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titer among medical staff before and after mRNA vaccination with the BNT162b2. The levels of immunoglobulin G antibody were quantitatively measured at six points—before vaccination, after the first vaccination, at three points after the second vaccination, and finally, after the third vaccination—and the levels were then compared based on the COVID-19 infection history. Results: The previously infected (before the first vaccination) subjects (n = 17) showed a marked increase in antibody titers two weeks after the first vaccination and four weeks after the second vaccination. Although they were able to maintain a certain level of antibody titers until 30 weeks after the second vaccination, the titers fell in the same way as observed in the non-infected subjects. The subjects who did not receive the third vaccination due to adverse reactions to previous vaccines (n = 1) or who were positive for COVID-19 prior to the third vaccination (n = 2) were excluded from the subsequent analyses. Among non-infected subjects (n = 36), smokers had lower peak antibody titers than the others. The previously infected subjects had a significantly higher incidence of adverse reactions after the first vaccination but had a similar incidence of adverse reactions after the second and third vaccinations compared to the non-infected subjects. Conclusions: A history of COVID-19 may influence only the initial increase in anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers and the occurrence of adverse reactions after the first vaccination