Prediction of 4f7-4f65d1 transition energy of Eu2+ in oxides based on first-principles calculations and machine learning

In order to establish a method to predict the 4f7-4f65d1 transition energy of Eu2+ in oxides, linear regression models were created based on first-principles calculations and machine learning. The model clusters consisting of the central Eu2+ and O2- ions closer than the nearest cation were constructed and the 4f7-4f65d1 absorption energy of Eu2+ in these clusters were calculated by first-principles many-electron calculation using the relativistic discrete variational multi-electron (DVME) method. However, the 4f7-4f65d1 absorption energies of Eu2+ in oxides calculated by relatively simple first-principles calculations tend to be overestimated by ca. 1.6 eV. In order to improve the accuracy of the prediction, we performed machine learning considering the calculated absorption energy as well as the other electronic and structural parameters as the attributes. As a result, the regression formula to predict the 4f7-4f65d1 absorption energy of Eu2+ in oxides has been created by machine learning. The 4f7-4f65d1 absorption energy predicted by this model are in good agreement with the experimental ones. Therefore, accuracy of the prediction was significantly improved compared to the simple first-principles calculations. In a similar way, a predictive model of the 4f65d1-4f7 emission energy of Eu2+ in oxides has been also create

シン サルコイドーシス シンダン ノ テビキ ニオケル カクシュ シンダン モダリティー ノ ケントウ

Background : Sarcoidosis is a multiple organ granulomatous disease of undefined cause. Although cardiac involvement often leads to adverse outcomes in patients with sarcoidosis, diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis（CS）remains difficult due to the lack of sensitive diagnostic tests. Purpose : To determine an appropriate combination of diagnostic tests for detecting CS. Method and Results : Thirteen patients were diagnosed with CS from December ２００６ to November２０１０by the use of２００６revised guidelines for diagnosing CS of the Japanese Society of Sarcoidosis and Other Granulomatous Disorders. Positive rate of each major or minor criterion in the guidelines was examined. We also evaluated positive rate of each diagnostic test. In the major criteria, basal thinning of the ventricular septum showed a high positive rate of７１．４％, although the others were less than５０％. In the minor criteria, positive rates of abnormal electrocardiogram findings and abnormal echocardiogram were７６．９％ and８４．６％, respectively. Late gadolinium enhancement （LGE）of the myocardium on cardiac MRI scanning（CMR）showed a positive rate of１００％ ; however, CMR was not performed in four patients due to life-threatening arrhythmia. All１３patients showed abnormal findings at least in either echocardiogram or LGE on CMR. Conclusion : Echocardiography is a convenient diagnostic test for detecting CS. The combination of cardiac MRI and echocardiography may improve diagnostic sensitivity

Genomic Reassortants of Pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 Virus and Endemic Porcine H1 and H3 Viruses in Swine in Japan

From 2010 to 2013 in Japan, we isolated 11 swine influenza viruses (SIVs) from pigs showing respiratory symptoms. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses showed that 6 H1N1 viruses originated from the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (pdm 09) virus and the other 5 viruses were reassortants between SIVs and pdm 09 viruses, representing 4 genotypes. Two H1N2 viruses contained H1 and N2 genes originated from Japanese H1N2 SIV together with internal genes of pdm 09 viruses. Additionally, 1 H1N2 virus contained a further NP gene originating from Japanese H1N2 SIV. One H1N1 virus contained only the H1 gene originating from Japanese H1 SIV in a pdm 09 virus background. One H3N2 virus contained H3 and N2 genes originating from Japanese H3N2 SIV together with internal genes of pdm 09 virus. The results indicate that pdm 09 viruses are distributed widely in the Japanese swine population and that several reassortments with Japanese SIVs have occurred

A polymorphism in the glucocorticoid receptor gene is associated with refractory hypotension in premature infants

Glucocorticoids play an important role in endocrine control. The association of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene polymorphisms with altered sensitivity to glucocorticoid therapy has been reported in adults. However, there are few such reports in infants. The present study analyzed the prevalence of four GR polymorphisms in preterm infants born before 30 weeks of gestation and determined the associations between these polymorphisms and clinical outcomes in the infants. Methods: Totally, 41 preterm infants born at two hospitals in Fukushima were retrospectively screened for the presence of four GR gene polymorphisms, using a TaqMan single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping assay. The effect of GR gene polymorphisms on clinical outcomes during hospitalization was evaluated. The following primary clinical outcomes were assessed: refractory hypotension in the acute phase and/or severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, maximum dopamine and dobutamine doses administered, and total hydrocortisone dose administered in the first 48 h of life. Multivariate analysis with logistic regression was used to assess the association between clinical factors and refractory hypotension. Results: Of the four GR polymorphisms, only the BclI polymorphism was detected. The genotype distribution was as follows: C/C, 33; C/G, 8; and G/G, 0 infants. Significant differences were observed between the C/C and C/G genotypes with respect to the following variables: refractory hypotension (6% vs. 50%), dopamine dose [3.0 (2.0–4.0) vs. 4.8 (4.0–7.5) μg/kg/min], dobutamine dose [2.4 (0.0–3.6) vs. 4.0 (0–10.0) μg/kg/min], and total hydrocortisone dose administered in the first 48 h of life [2.0 (0–10.0) vs. 6.0 (0–12.0) mg/kg]. Multivariate analysis showed that the BclI genotype (C/C) was significantly less associated with refractory hypotension in the acute phase (odds ratio, 0.008; 95% confidence interval, 0.000–0.371; p = 0.013). Conclusion: The incidence of refractory hypotension in infants with the C/C genotype was initially expected to be higher than that in infants with the C/G genotype. However, the results of this study were rather different from what we originally expected. The suppressive effect of antenatal steroid use on the HPA axis of the preterm infants with the BclI variant may be associated with refractory hypotension in the acute phase

Perinatal factors affecting platelet parameters in late preterm and term neonates.

Platelets parameters including platelet count (PLT), plateletcrit (PCT), mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) are associated with various physiological and pathological functions in various disease. However, few studies have addressed whether perinatal factors may be associated with platelet parameters at birth in a large cohort of late preterm and term neonates. The aim of this study to investigate perinatal factors affecting platelet parameters in late preterm and term neonates. We retrospectively investigated platelet parameters including PLT, PCT, MPV, and PDW on the first day of life in 142 late preterm and 258 term neonates admitted to our NICU from 2006 through 2020. PLT, MPV, PCT, PDW on Day 0 did not significantly differ between the two groups. In term neonates, multivariate analysis revealed that PCT correlated with being small for gestational age (SGA) (β = -0.168, P = 0.006), pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) (β = -0.135, P = 0.026) and male sex (β = -0.185, P = 0.002). PLT was associated with SGA (β = -0.186, P = 0.002), PIH (β = -0.137, P = 0.024) and male sex (β = -0.166, P = 0.006). In late preterm neonates, multivariate analysis revealed that PLT were associated with PIH, whereas no factors associated with PDW and MPV were found. In all patients studied, chorioamnionitis (CAM) was significantly associated with MPV (CAM = 10.3 fL vs. no CAM = 9.7 fL, P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that SGA, male sex and PIH were associated with PCT and PLT. This study demonstrates that different maternal and neonatal complications affect platelet parameters in late preterm and term neonates

Volumetric Analysis of Gallbladder in Extremely Premature Infants

Background: We hypothesized that gallbladder (GB) volume is affected by serial changes during the early infancy period in extremely premature infants. Methods: We conducted a prospective study of extremely premature infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Fukushima Medical University Hospital, Fukushima City, Japan between January 2014 and December 2015. GB volume was measured by an abdominal ultrasound ellipsoid method between Day 0 and Day 56 after birth within 60 minutes before enteral feeding. We calculated GB volume (mL)/weight (kg), which was evaluated as GV/W. Results: In total, 30 infants were included. The median gestational age of the infants was 26 weeks 5 days (range, 23 weeks 1 day–28 weeks 6 days), and the median birth weight was 731 g (range, 398–1220 g). The detection rate of GB decreased in the infants over time; the rates were > 93% between Day 0 and Day 7 and < 77% between Day 10 and Day 56 after birth. GV/W decreased in the infants over time. The median GV/W values were 0.18 (range, 0.05–0.59) in infants on admission and constantly < 0.05 in those between Day 10 and Day 56 after birth. There was no correlation of GV/W with clinical variables after birth. Conclusion: It is considered that GB volume is not affected by serial changes without nonfavorable course of enteral nutrition