EFSO at different geographical locations verified with observing-system experiments

ひとつひとつの観測データが気象予測に与える影響を簡易に評価する手法を確認 --北極の観測データは7日先の北米気象予測の改善に貢献することも明らかに--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-04-30.An ensemble-based forecast sensitivity to observations (EFSO) diagnosis has been implemented in an atmospheric general circulation model–ensemble Kalman filter data assimilation system to estimate the impacts of specific observations from the quasi-operational global observing system on weekly short-range forecasts. It was examined whether EFSO reasonably approximates the impacts of a subset of observations from specific geographical locations for 6-hour forecasts, and how long the 6-hour observation impacts can be retained during the 7-day forecast period. The reference for these forecasts was obtained from 12 data denial experiments in each of which a subset of three radiosonde observations launched from a geographical location was excluded. The 12 locations were selected from three latitudinal bands comprising (i) four Arctic regions, (ii) four midlatitude regions in the Northern Hemisphere, and (iii) four tropical regions during the Northern Hemisphere winter of 2015/16. The estimated winter-averaged EFSO-derived observation impacts well corresponded to the 6-hour observation impacts obtained by the data denials and EFSO could reasonably estimate the observation impacts by the data denials on short-range (6-hour to 2-day) forecasts. Furthermore, during the medium-range (4-day to 7-day) forecasts, it was found that the Arctic observations tend to seed the broadest impacts and their short-range observation impacts could be projected to beneficial impacts in Arctic and midlatitude North American areas. The midlatitude area located just downstream of dynamical propagation from the Arctic toward the midlatitudes. Results obtained by repeated Arctic data-denial experiments were found to be generally common to those from the non-repeated experiments

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®)-induced pneumonia

SummaryWe report the first case of oseltamivir-induced pneumonia. A 50-year-old man was diagnosed with influenza and prescribed oseltamivir. He had a persistent high fever, and developed a productive cough with peripheral blood eosinophilia and his chest radiograph showed ground glass opacity. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and histological findings obtained from transbronchial lung biopsy suggested eosinophilic pneumonia with component of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia. Drug lymphocyte stimulation test against oseltamivir was positive. In spite of discontinuation of oseltamivir, his condition did not ameliorate. He was treated with prednisolone for oseltamivir-induced lung injury and the symptoms improved immediately. We should recognize oseltamivir-induced pneumonia as a differential diagnosis in the case of developing pneumonia following treatment with oseltamivir

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®)-induced pneumonia

SummaryWe report the first case of oseltamivir-induced pneumonia. A 50-year-old man was diagnosed with influenza and prescribed oseltamivir. He had a persistent high fever, and developed a productive cough with peripheral blood eosinophilia and his chest radiograph showed ground glass opacity. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and histological findings obtained from transbronchial lung biopsy suggested eosinophilic pneumonia with component of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia. Drug lymphocyte stimulation test against oseltamivir was positive. In spite of discontinuation of oseltamivir, his condition did not ameliorate. He was treated with prednisolone for oseltamivir-induced lung injury and the symptoms improved immediately. We should recognize oseltamivir-induced pneumonia as a differential diagnosis in the case of developing pneumonia following treatment with oseltamivir

Overexpression of Cbfa1 in osteoblasts inhibits osteoblast maturation and causes osteopenia with multiple fractures

Targeted disruption of core binding factor α1 (Cbfa1) showed that Cbfa1 is an essential transcription factor in osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Furthermore, both in vitro and in vivo studies showed that Cbfa1 plays important roles in matrix production and mineralization. However, it remains to be clarified how Cbfa1 controls osteoblast differentiation, bone formation, and bone remodelling. To understand fully the physiological functions of Cbfa1, we generated transgenic mice that overexpressed Cbfa1 in osteoblasts using type I collagen promoter. Unexpectedly, Cbfa1 transgenic mice showed osteopenia with multiple fractures. Cortical bone, which was thin, porous, and enriched with osteopontin, was invaded by osteoclasts, despite the absence of acceleration of osteoclastogenesis. Although the number of neonatal osteoblasts was increased, their function was impaired in matrix production and mineralization. Furthermore, terminally differentiated osteoblasts, which strongly express osteocalcin, and osteocytes were diminished greatly, whereas less mature osteoblasts expressing osteopontin accumulated in adult bone. These data indicate that immature organization of cortical bone, which was caused by the maturational blockage of osteoblasts, led to osteopenia and fragility in transgenic mice, demonstrating that Cbfa1 inhibits osteoblast differentiation at a late stage