Role of photoreceptor-specific retinol dehyrogenase (prRDH) in the retinoid cycle in vivo

Journal ArticleThe retinoid cycle is a recycling system that replenishes the 11-cis-retinal chromophore of rhodopsin and cone pigments. Photoreceptor-specific retinol dehydrogenase (prRDH) catalyzes reduction of all-trans-retinal to all-trans-retinol and is thought to be a key enzyme in the retinoid cycle. We disrupted mouse prRDH (human gene symbol RDH8) gene expression by targeted recombination and generated a homozygous prRDH knockout (prRDH-/-) mouse. Histological analysis and electron microscopy of retinas from 6-8 week-old prRDH-/- mice revealed no structural differences of the photoreceptors or inner retina. For brief light exposure, absence of prRDH did not affect the rate of 11-cis-retinal regeneration or the decay of Meta II, the activated form of rhodopsin. Absence of prRDH did, however, cause significant accumulation of all-trans-retinal following exposure to bright lights, and delayed recovery of rod function as measured by electroretinograms and single cell recordings. Retention of all-trans-retinal resulted in slight overproduction of A2E, a condensation product of all-trans-retinal and phosphatidylethanolamine. We conclude that prRDH is an enzyme that catalyzes reduction of all-trans-retinal in the rod outer segment, most noticeably at higher light intensities and prolonged illumination, but is not an essential enzyme of the retinoid cycle

急性期病院におけるリハビリテーション練習中の事故分析

藤田医科大

Strengthening Primary Health Care Through Community Health Workers: Investment Case And Financing Recommendations

A report released this week at the Third International Conference on Financing for Development found that there is a strong case for investing in Community Health Worker (CHW) programs as part of integrated health systems. The report was released by leaders from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Republic of Liberia, the U.N. Secretary General's Special Envoy for Financing the Health MDGs and for Malaria, Partners in Health, the Clinton Foundation, the African Leaders Malaria Alliance, and the MDG Health Alliance. The authors encourage domestic governments, international financers, bilateral and multilateral donors, and the broader global health community to finance and support the scale up of CHW programs as part of community-based primary health care through a set of specific recommendations. The authors participated in the crafting of the report and its recommendations as part of a distinguished panel chaired by Ray Chambers, the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Financing the Health MDGs and for Malaria, and Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Effects of Protective Measures against COVID-19 on Auditory Communication for People with Hearing Loss

WHO has recommended various measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including mask-wearing and physical distancing. However, these changes impair communication for individuals with hearing loss. We investigated the changes in auditory communication associated with COVID-19 measures in 269 patients (male: 45.7%, female: 54.3%, median age: 54 y.o.). Most patients with hearing loss had difficulty engaging in auditory communication with people wearing masks, especially in noisy surroundings or with physical distanc-ing. These difficulties were noticeable in patients with severe hearing loss. Developing communication support strategies for people with hearing loss is an urgent need while COVID-19 measures are in place

Expression analysis of microRNAs in murine cochlear explants

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play functional roles in sound transduction in cochlea. This study focuses on the validity of cochlear culture as an in vitro experimental tool, in view of miRNA expression. E15 cochleae were dissected and maintained in vitro for 48 h before extraction of miRNAs. MiRNA expression was comprehensively screened in explanted cochleae using a miRNA array that covers 380 miRNAs. A strong correlation was observed between expression levels of miRNAs in in vitro and in in vivo cochleae. Levels of 43 miRNAs were altered in vitro and these changes were reproducible over three trials. These findings indicate that in vitro miRNA profiling is a viable method for analysis of gene expression and action of chemical compounds on cochleae

Visualization of the non-steady state oblique detonation wave phenomena around hypersonic spherical projectile

We studied experimentally the shock waves and combustion waves generated by a hypersonic spherical projectile in an explosive mixture. An acetylene/oxygen mixture diluted with argon (2C2H2 + 5O2 + 7Ar) was used with various initial pressures (detonation cell sizes) to observe optically with a shadowgraph imaging system a shock-induced combustion (SIC), a stable oblique detonation wave (ODW), and a wave called a Straw Hat type consisting of a strong SIC and ODW. The criticality of stabilizing an ODW around a projectile is expressed by the ratio of the projectile diameter, d, to the cell size, λ, as d/λ = 3.63–4.84. Although the Straw Hat type wave in the vicinity of criticality is an unstable phenomena, it has been mainly observed by a single frame picture to date, so that it is difficult to discuss the time history of its wave structure. In this study, it was remarkable to directly carry out continuous optical observations using a high speed video camera which can continuously film 100 pictures with a 1 μs frame speed so as to allow an investigation of the sustaining mechanism of the unstable wave structure. Our results allowed the identification of an increase in unsteadiness in the relative distance between the projectile fronts and the transition points to an ODW as the time increased. They also showed local explosions in the SIC region near transition point transformed the ODW front upstream

Natural history of medium-sized atrial septal defect in pediatric cases

AbstractBackgroundThe indication for surgical repair of atrial septal defect (ASD) is pulmonary to systemic blood flow ratio (Qp/Qs)>2.0, and therapeutic strategy depends on the facility in cases of Qp/Qs 1.5–2.0. Defect size increases with age, but hemodynamic changes of medium-sized ASD (Qp/Qs 1.5–2.0) are unknown.Methods and resultsFrom April 1, 1985 to March 31, 2008, we experienced 125 cases of cardiac catheterization for ASD. Twelve cases were re-evaluated without surgical repair. The first and second catheterizations were performed at median ages of 7 years (range, 2–13 years) and 16 years (range, 5–19 years), respectively. The mean follow-up period was 7 years. Qp/Qs increased from 1.6 to 2.0 during follow-up (p<0.05). Of four cases with Qp/Qs<1.5 at initial presentation, three had Qp/Qs≥1.5 at second inspection. Right ventricle diastolic volume (RVEDV/LVEDV) also increased.ConclusionsQp/Qs and RVEDV/LVEDV of medium-sized ASD increase together in childhood. Re-evaluation before adulthood should be considered in patients with no indications of ASD closure in childhood

Immediate changes in transcription factors and synaptic transmission in the cochlea following acoustic trauma: A gene transcriptome study

Pathologic mechanisms in cochleae immediately following the onset of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) remain unclear. In this study, mice were exposed to 120 dB of octave band noise for 2 h to induce NIHL. Three hours after noise exposure, expression levels of the whole mouse genome in cochleae were analyzed by RNA-seq and DNA microarray. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) exhibiting >2-fold upregulation or downregulation in noise-exposed cochleae compared to controls without noise exposure were identified. RNA-seq and microarray analyses identified 273 DEGs regulated at 3 h post-noise (51 upregulated and 222 downregulated). Bioinformatic analysis revealed that these DEGs were associated with the functional gene pathway "neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction" and included 28 genes encoding receptors for neurotransmitters such as gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate. Other DEGs included 25 genes encoding transcription factors. Downregulation of 4 neurotransmitter receptors (Gabra3, Gabra5, Gabrb1, Grm1) and upregulations of 5 transcription factors (Atf3, Dbp, Helt, Maff, Nr1d1) were validated by RT-PCR. The differentially regulated transcription factor Atf3 immunolocalized to supporting cells and hair cells in the organ of Corti at 12-h post-noise. The present data serve as a basis for further studies aimed at developing medical treatments for acute sensorineural hearing loss

The impact of uncertainty in society on the use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine: a comparative study on visits to alternative/traditional/folk health care practitioners

Background: While traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) is gaining increased interest worldwide, the structural factors associated with the usage of TCAM at the social level have not been sufficiently explored. We aim to understand the social structure of uncertainty in society that affects the TCAM usage for men and women. Methods: We studied 32 countries using data from the International Social Survey Programme and the World Bank. In this study, we defined TCAM usage as visits to an alternative/traditional/folk health care practitioner during the past 12 months. We performed a correlation analysis and used a generalized linear model . Results: The prevalence of TCAM usage in terms of visits to practitioners was 26.1% globally, while usage varied across the 32 countries. Generalized linear models showed that unemployment rate was associated with the prevalence of TCAM usage in terms of visits to practitioners. Conclusions: At the social-structural level TCAM usage involving visits to practitioners was related to job insecurity. Job insecurity led to a decrease in TCAM usage regarding visits to practitioners. These findings suggest that it is necessary to consider the social-structural factors of uncertainty in society when designing health policies related to TCAM

Effect of composition and stereoregularity on phase-transition behavior of aqueous N-ethylacrylamide/N-n-propylacrylamide copolymer solutions

Radical copolymerizations of N-ethylacrylamide and N-n-propylacrylamide (NNPAAm) at various ratios were carried out at -40°C, in toluene in the presence of 3-methyl-3-pentanol, or in N-ethylacetamide. Syndiotactic-rich copolymers with racemo diad contents of 67.1–70.2%, and isotactic-rich copolymers with meso diad contents of 60.9–64.5% were prepared. Syndiotactic-rich copolymers with NNPAAm compositions of ≥92.9 mol% exhibited large hystereses in the phase-transition temperatures of their aqueous solutions. Isotactic-rich copolymers with NNPAAm compositions of 39.2–67.6 mol% exhibited large hystereses in the phase-transition temperatures of their aqueous solutions. Those of composition >67.6 mol% were insoluble in water. Stereosequence analysis suggested that isotactic sequences favored intramolecular hydrogen bonding between contiguous NNPAAm units, more than syndiotactic sequences. Enhanced intramolecular hydrogen bonding in isotactic sequences was responsible for the large hystereses and insolubility of isotactic-rich copolymers with high NNPAAm compositions