広域教育網構築に向けた2つの双方向衛星通信システムの接続

現在、日本国内で通信衛星を利用した双方向型(多地点型)画像・音声会議システムとしては、主に大学や国立教育研究機関を相互に結ぶSpace Collaboration System (SCS)と、国立大学医学部附属病院間を結ぶMedical Information Network by Communication Satellite for University Hospitals (MINCS-UH、愛称MINCS)が並存している。2システムを融合すれば、地上局数は180となり、全国の国立大学のほとんどをカバーでき、医療者の効率のよい再教育体制が構築できると共に、学際的研究をより発展させることが期待される。そこで、両システムを接続して双方向型の番組放映が可能であるか確認した。試験には、SCS地上固定局が3局、MINCSは講義校1局と質問校2局が参加した。その結果、システム間相互に信号をやり取りする部分でいくつかの不具合が発生したが、最終的には双方向での音声・画像による模擬的会議に成功した。これにより、両システムを接続して全国180の地上局を有する大規模衛星講義(会議)システムの有効性を確認できた。既存のシステムを活用し、さらに大規模な双方向型の通信システムを構築することは、教育機会の均等化、地域格差の是正、さらには災害対策としても有効であると考えられる。In Japan, two systems for two-way (multi-point) audiovisual satellite communication are currently in connecting mainly universities and national educational research organizations, and the "Medical Information Network by Communication Satellite for University Hospitals" (MINCS), which connects 30 of the 42 National University Hospitals. If these systems were connected, the number of earth stations would exceed 180, connecting most National Universities. This would facilitate the development of efficient ongoing education programs for the medical staff and allow the development of interdisciplinary study. Therefore, we attempted to connect the two systems in order to examine the possibility of two-way programming. Three MINCS earth stations and three SCS earth stations took part in the experiment. Teleconference in both directions was successful despite of some problems with signal exchange. The use of existing systems along with construction of a largerscale multi-point communication system would be useful in equalizing educational opportunities by correction of regional gaps. This system also has potential as a communication medium for use in disasters

Interferon-alpha-induced mTOR activation is an anti-hepatitis C virus signal via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt-independent pathway.

OBJECT: The interferon-induced Jak-STAT signal alone is not sufficient to explain all the biological effects of IFN. The PI3-K pathways have emerged as a critical additional component of IFN-induced signaling. This study attempted to clarify that relationship between IFN-induced PI3-K-Akt-mTOR activity and anti-viral action. RESULT: When the human normal hepatocyte derived cell line was treated with rapamycin (rapa) before accretion of IFN-alpha, tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT-1 was diminished. Pretreatment of rapa had an inhibitory effect on the IFN-alpha-induced expression of PKR and p48 in a dose dependent manner. Rapa inhibited the IFN-alpha inducible IFN-stimulated regulatory element luciferase activity in a dose-dependent manner. However, wortmannin, LY294002 and Akt inhibitor did not influence IFN-alpha inducible luciferase activity. To examine the effect of PI3-K-Akt-mTOR on the anti-HCV action of IFN-alpha, the full-length HCV replication system, OR6 cells were used. The pretreatment of rapa attenuated its anti-HCV replication effect in comparison to IFN-alpha alone, whereas the pretreatment with PI3-K inhibitors, wortmannin and LY294002 and Akt inhibitor did not influence IFN-induced anti-HCV replication. CONCLUSION: IFN-induced mTOR activity, independent of PI3K and Akt, is the critical factor for its anti-HCV activity. Jak independent mTOR activity involved STAT-1 phosphorylation and nuclear location, and then PKR is expressed in hepatocytes

THE ION EXCHANGER CHARACTER OF INSOLUBLE COLLAGEN FRACTION ISOLATED FROM BOVINE NASAL SEPTAL CARTILAGE

The insoluble collagen fraction (ICF) prepared from bovine nasal cartilage was chemically modified with acetic anhydride, glyoxal or glycine methyl ester in the presence of water-soluble carbodiimide. Chondroitinsulfate C (ChS-C), cartilage proteoglycan (PPL of Schubert s preparation), RNA, albumin r-globulin, or cytochrome c was applied to ICF- or modified ICF-column at pH 3.40 (at pH 7.30 for cytochrome c), and the column was eluted by the pH gradient elution (pH 3.40-7.30) followed by linear NaCl gradient elution (0-1.0 M) at pH 7.30. When smaller amounts of ChS-C were applied to ICF-column at pH 3.40, ChS-C was eluted only by NaCl gradient elution at pH 7.30. With the increasing doses of ChS-C applied to ICF-column, the NaCl-eluted peak of ChS-C was increased to reach the maximum, and then the ChS-C peaks eluted in weakly acidic range began to appear. The elution patterns of biopolymers from ICF- and modified CF-columns appeared to be associated with the nature and number of dissociable acidic and basic groups distributed on the surface of respective species of those macromolecules. Three polar (acidic, neutral, and basic) regions on the ICF fibrils, assumed from uneven distribution of acidic and basic amino acid residues of collagen polypeptide chains10> are proposed for reasonable interpretation of the elution patterns of the biopolymers possessing different pI values from the columns of ICF and modified ICFs, which display pH-dependent bifunctional ion exchanger property

Prescription Surveillance and Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing to Identify Pathogens during Outbreaks of Infection

Syndromic surveillance, including prescription surveillance, offers a rapid method for the early detection of agents of bioterrorism and emerging infectious diseases. However, it has the disadvantage of not considering definitive diagnoses. Here, we attempted to definitively diagnose pathogens using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) immediately after the prescription surveillance system detected an outbreak. Specimens were collected from 50 patients with respiratory infections. PCR was used to identify the pathogens, which included 14 types of common respiratory viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Infectious agents including M. pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus, enterovirus, and parainfluenza virus were detected in 54% of patients. For the rapid RSV diagnosis kit, sensitivity was 80% and specificity was 85%. For the rapid adenovirus diagnosis kit, no positive results were obtained; therefore, sensitivity could not be calculated and specificity was 100%. Many patients were found to be treated for upper respiratory tract infections without the diagnosis of a specific pathogen. In Japan, an outbreak of M. pneumoniae infection began in 2011, and our results suggested that this outbreak may have included false-positive cases. By combining syndromic surveillance and PCR, we were able to rapidly and accurately identify causative pathogens during a recent respiratory infection outbreak