Characterization of mouse switch variant antibodies by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The amino acid sequences of mouse monoclonal antibodies have been characterized completely by mass spectrometry. Antibodies used in the present study were derived from mouse switch variant cell lines that produce four kinds of immunoglobulin Gs (IgGs). The amino acid sequences of these antibodies had not been estimated from the corresponding DNA sequence, so the sequences of IgGs derived from other strains were used as references in this study. Intra- and interchain disulfide bonds of the IgGs were reduced and carboxymethylated and the products were subjected to proteolytic digestion. The existence of N-linked oligosaccharides also was taken into account. The capabilities and limitations of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and capillary liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry are discussed in the structural characterization of the antibodies. Based on our results, allotypes of the antibodies examined are discussed. This study shows that amino acid sequences of proteins, such as IgG, can be investigated without information about the corresponding DNA sequence if appropriate reference sequences derived from other strains can be used

Analysis of the Chagas disease situation in Japan: A cross sectional study and cost-effectiveness analysis of a Chagas disease screening program

Background: Japan is estimated to host 3000 cases of Chagas disease (CD). However, there are no epidemiological data and policies for prevention and care. We aimed to analyze the current situation of CD in Japan and identify possible barriers to seeking care. Methods: This cross-sectional study included Latin American (LA) migrants living in Japan from March 2019 to October 2020. We obtained blood samples to identify participants infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, and data about sociodemographic information, CD risk factors, and barriers to access to the Japanese national health care system (JNHS). We used the observed prevalence to calculate the cost-effectiveness analysis of the screening of CD in the JNHS. Findings: The study included 428 participants, most of them were from Brazil, Bolivia and Peru. The observed prevalence was 1.6% (expected prevalence= 0.75%) and 5.3% among Bolivians. Factors associated with seropositivity were being born in Bolivia, having previously taken a CD test, witnessing the triatome bug at home, and having a relative with CD. The screening model was more cost-effective than the non-screening model from a health care perspective (ICER=200,320 JPY). Factors associated with access to JNHS were being female, length of stay in Japan, Japanese communication skills, source of information, and satisfaction about the JNHS. Interpretation: Screening of asymptomatic adults at risk of CD may be a cost-effective strategy in Japan. However, its implementation should consider the barriers that affect LA migrants in access to the JNHS. Funding: Nagasaki University and Infectious Diseases Japanese Association

Catalytic Direct Oxidation of Methane to Methanol by Redox of Copper Mordenite

Expectations for industrial implementation of direct conversion of CH4 to CH3OH are growing with the increasing demand for energy-efficient chemical processes. In this study, catalytic production of CH3OH by direct oxidation of CH4 with O2 was performed using Cu zeolite catalysts in a CH4/O2/H2O flow reaction. Among the various Cu zeolites investigated, the Cu-MOR catalyst exhibited relatively high CH3OH production with a turnover number of 7.4 molCH3OH/molCu over 24 h (CH4 conversion: 0.011%). The catalytically active Cu species and catalytic cycle were investigated by in-situ simultaneous X-ray absorption and infrared spectroscopy. The results suggest that the key to the catalytic cycle over Cu-MOR is the redox of Cu(I)/Cu(II) species. Furthermore, H2O-adsorption-included dynamic Cu species are revealed to be catalytically active

Cross-sectional survey of depressive symptoms and suicide-related ideation at a Japanese national university during the COVID-19 stay-home order

Background We aimed to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms as well as suicide-related ideation among Japanese university students during the stay-home order necessitated by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Japan, and offer evidence in support of future intervention to depression and suicide prevention strategies among college and university students. Methods The data for this cross-sectional study were derived from the Student Mental Health Survey conducted from May 20 to June 16, 2020 at a national university in Akita prefecture. Among the 5111 students recruited, 2712 participated in this study (response rate, 53%; mean age ± standard deviation, 20.5 ±3.5 years; men, 53.8%). Depressive symptoms were identified by using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Results The prevalence of moderate depressive symptoms based on a PHQ-9 score ≥10 and suicide-related ideation based on question 9 of PHQ-9 ≥1, which encompasses thoughts of both suicide and self-harm, was 11.7% and 6.7%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that risk factors for depression included being a woman, smoking, alcohol consumption, and social network communication using either video or voice. For suicide-related ideation, alcohol consumption was the only risk factor. Exercise and having someone to consult about worries were associated with decreased risk of both depressive symptoms and suicide-related ideation. Conclusions Negative lifestyles of smoking and drinking, and being a woman, may be important risk factors for depressive symptoms, whereas exercise and having someone to consult about worries may be protective factors

ゲンパツ フメイ ガン ニオケル PET/CT ケンサ ノ ユウヨウセイ ニツイテ

We reported the utility of１８F-FDG-PET/CT examination for patients with cancer of unknownprimary origin. Twenty six patients（13 men, 13 women, aged 27-91 years, mean 71）were examined.The indication for PET/CT examination was tumor maker elevation（14 patients）, suspectedmetastatic tumor（14）and metastasis diagnosed histopathologically（3）. Patients weretold not to eat for at least four hours and a PET/CT image was obtained one hour after theadministration of 3.7MBq/kg FDG. From April to August 2006, 33 patients diagnosed with a cancerof unknown primary origin were referred to our hospital for PET/CT examination from anoutside institution. Twenty six patients could be investigated for outcomes. Seventeen patientsshowed an abnormal accumulation, with 14 of the 17 having their primary regions detected histopathologicallyor clinically. For one patient, the abnormal accumulation could not be determined toshow the origin. For 2 patients, it was difficult to diagnose if these abnormal accumulationsshowed the primary region or not, but CT examinations were helpful for a diagnosis. Seven of the9 patients who showed no abnormal accumulation were treated conservatively and the primaryregion for their cancer could not be detected during the follow up study. In 21 of 26 patients, theseresults were useful to select an appropriate therapy to be applied or a relevant examination. Weconsidered PET/CT examination, where it is possible to scan the whole body at one time, was veryuseful to get both morphologic and metabolic information. PET/CT examination showed a highersensitivity for detecting abnormal lesions than other imaging modalities

Pain Evaluation During Colonoscopy by the Erythema Index of the Facial Image

[Background] Endoscopy of the digestive tract is useful but is associated with significant pain to the patient. Its safety and tolerability could be improved by an immediate and objective method to evaluate the pain level and give feedback to the examiner. However, under the current circumstances, it is difficult to measure and assess the pain level objectively.[Methods] We previously developed a discomfort assessment device that measures the changes in brain activity caused by changes in the pain level by extracting the changes in the erythema index from facial color data. In this study, to evaluate the usefulness of this discomfort assessment device, the association between the changes in the erythema index of facial images during colonoscopy and the subjective pain level during the examination were evaluated. For the recording of the subjective pain level during the examination, a subjective pain level recording device that we developed to measure grip strength over time was used. The subjective pain level, facial image, and percutaneous venous oxygen saturation during the examination were recorded in 30 patients who underwent colonoscopy at our hospital. [Results] The duration of colonoscopy was divided into the insertion section and the removal section. The subjective pain level was found to be significantly greater during the insertion section than during the removal section, and the changes in the erythema index of the facial images were significantly different between the two groups. [Conclusion] These findings indicate that the erythema index changes on facial images determined by the discomfort assessment device may facilitate objective evaluation of the pain level during colonoscopy

Systematic NMR Analysis of Stable Isotope Labeled Metabolite Mixtures in Plant and Animal Systems: Coarse Grained Views of Metabolic Pathways

BACKGROUND: Metabolic phenotyping has become an important 'bird's-eye-view' technology which can be applied to higher organisms, such as model plant and animal systems in the post-genomics and proteomics era. Although genotyping technology has expanded greatly over the past decade, metabolic phenotyping has languished due to the difficulty of 'top-down' chemical analyses. Here, we describe a systematic NMR methodology for stable isotope-labeling and analysis of metabolite mixtures in plant and animal systems. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The analysis method includes a stable isotope labeling technique for use in living organisms; a systematic method for simultaneously identifying a large number of metabolites by using a newly developed HSQC-based metabolite chemical shift database combined with heteronuclear multidimensional NMR spectroscopy; Principal Components Analysis; and a visualization method using a coarse-grained overview of the metabolic system. The database contains more than 1000 (1)H and (13)C chemical shifts corresponding to 142 metabolites measured under identical physicochemical conditions. Using the stable isotope labeling technique in Arabidopsis T87 cultured cells and Bombyx mori, we systematically detected >450 HSQC peaks in each (13)C-HSQC spectrum derived from model plant, Arabidopsis T87 cultured cells and the invertebrate animal model Bombyx mori. Furthermore, for the first time, efficient (13)C labeling has allowed reliable signal assignment using analytical separation techniques such as 3D HCCH-COSY spectra in higher organism extracts. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Overall physiological changes could be detected and categorized in relation to a critical developmental phase change in B. mori by coarse-grained representations in which the organization of metabolic pathways related to a specific developmental phase was visualized on the basis of constituent changes of 56 identified metabolites. Based on the observed intensities of (13)C atoms of given metabolites on development-dependent changes in the 56 identified (13)C-HSQC signals, we have determined the changes in metabolic networks that are associated with energy and nitrogen metabolism

Mycobacteria Exploit Host Hyaluronan for Efficient Extracellular Replication

In spite of the importance of hyaluronan in host protection against infectious organisms in the alveolar spaces, its role in mycobacterial infection is unknown. In a previous study, we found that mycobacteria interact with hyaluronan on lung epithelial cells. Here, we have analyzed the role of hyaluronan after mycobacterial infection was established and found that pathogenic mycobacteria can grow by utilizing hyaluronan as a carbon source. Both mouse and human possess 3 kinds of hyaluronan synthases (HAS), designated HAS1, HAS2, and HAS3. Utilizing individual HAS-transfected cells, we show that HAS1 and HAS3 but not HAS2 support growth of mycobacteria. We found that the major hyaluronan synthase expressed in the lung is HAS1, and that its expression was increased after infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Histochemical analysis demonstrated that hyaluronan profoundly accumulated in the granulomatous legion of the lungs in M. tuberculosis-infected mice and rhesus monkeys that died from tuberculosis. We detected hyaluronidase activity in the lysate of mycobacteria and showed that it was critical for hyaluronan-dependent extracellular growth. Finally, we showed that L-Ascorbic acid 6-hexadecanoate, a hyaluronidase inhibitor, suppressed growth of mycobacteria in vivo. Taken together, our data show that pathogenic mycobacteria exploit an intrinsic host-protective molecule, hyaluronan, to grow in the respiratory tract and demonstrate the potential usefulness of hyaluronidase inhibitors against mycobacterial diseases

Why Are Outcomes Different for Registry Patients Enrolled Prospectively and Retrospectively? Insights from the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF).

Background: Retrospective and prospective observational studies are designed to reflect real-world evidence on clinical practice, but can yield conflicting results. The GARFIELD-AF Registry includes both methods of enrolment and allows analysis of differences in patient characteristics and outcomes that may result. Methods and Results: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and ≥1 risk factor for stroke at diagnosis of AF were recruited either retrospectively (n = 5069) or prospectively (n = 5501) from 19 countries and then followed prospectively. The retrospectively enrolled cohort comprised patients with established AF (for a least 6, and up to 24 months before enrolment), who were identified retrospectively (and baseline and partial follow-up data were collected from the emedical records) and then followed prospectively between 0-18 months (such that the total time of follow-up was 24 months; data collection Dec-2009 and Oct-2010). In the prospectively enrolled cohort, patients with newly diagnosed AF (≤6 weeks after diagnosis) were recruited between Mar-2010 and Oct-2011 and were followed for 24 months after enrolment. Differences between the cohorts were observed in clinical characteristics, including type of AF, stroke prevention strategies, and event rates. More patients in the retrospectively identified cohort received vitamin K antagonists (62.1% vs. 53.2%) and fewer received non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (1.8% vs . 4.2%). All-cause mortality rates per 100 person-years during the prospective follow-up (starting the first study visit up to 1 year) were significantly lower in the retrospective than prospectively identified cohort (3.04 [95% CI 2.51 to 3.67] vs . 4.05 [95% CI 3.53 to 4.63]; p = 0.016). Conclusions: Interpretations of data from registries that aim to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with AF must take account of differences in registry design and the impact of recall bias and survivorship bias that is incurred with retrospective enrolment. Clinical Trial Registration: - URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier for GARFIELD-AF (NCT01090362)