Effect of Plant-species Richness on Microbial Composition and Rumen Function

Symposium mini revie

Thrombocytopenia in Preterm Infants with Intrauterine Growth Restriction

Sick preterm infants often have thrombocytopenia at birth, and this is often associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), or birth weights less than the 10th percentile. The pathogenesis of the thrombocytopenia and its importance in IUGR are still unclear. We studied the characteristics of preterm IUGR infants with thrombocytopenia. Twenty-seven singleton Japanese preterm IUGR infants were born between January 2002 and June 2007 at Okayama University Hospital. Infants with malformation, chromosomal abnormalities, alloimmune thrombocytopenia, sepsis, and maternal aspirin ingestion were excluded. The infants were divided into group A (n&#65309;8), which had thrombocytopenia within 72h after birth, and group B (n&#65309;19), which did not. There were significant differences in birth weight, head circumference, umbilical artery (UA)-pulsatility index (PI), middle cerebral artery-PI, UA-pH, UA-pO2, and UA-pCO2. The infants in group A were smaller, had abnormal blood flow patterns, and were hypoxic at birth. We speculate that the infants with thrombocytopenia were more severely growth-restricted by chronic hypoxia. Thrombocytopenia is an important parameter for chronic hypoxia in the uterine.</p

Selective Inference for Changepoint detection by Recurrent Neural Network

In this study, we investigate the quantification of the statistical reliability of detected change points (CPs) in time series using a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN). Thanks to its flexibility, RNN holds the potential to effectively identify CPs in time series characterized by complex dynamics. However, there is an increased risk of erroneously detecting random noise fluctuations as CPs. The primary goal of this study is to rigorously control the risk of false detections by providing theoretically valid p-values to the CPs detected by RNN. To achieve this, we introduce a novel method based on the framework of Selective Inference (SI). SI enables valid inferences by conditioning on the event of hypothesis selection, thus mitigating selection bias. In this study, we apply SI framework to RNN-based CP detection, where characterizing the complex process of RNN selecting CPs is our main technical challenge. We demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed method through artificial and real data experiments.Comment: 41pages, 16figure

Bounded P-values in Parametric Programming-based Selective Inference

Selective inference (SI) has been actively studied as a promising framework for statistical hypothesis testing for data-driven hypotheses. The basic idea of SI is to make inferences conditional on an event that a hypothesis is selected. In order to perform SI, this event must be characterized in a traceable form. When selection event is too difficult to characterize, additional conditions are introduced for tractability. This additional conditions often causes the loss of power, and this issue is referred to as over-conditioning. Parametric programming-based SI (PP-based SI) has been proposed as one way to address the over-conditioning issue. The main problem of PP-based SI is its high computational cost due to the need to exhaustively explore the data space. In this study, we introduce a procedure to reduce the computational cost while guaranteeing the desired precision, by proposing a method to compute the upper and lower bounds of p-values. We also proposed three types of search strategies that efficiently improve these bounds. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in hypothesis testing problems for feature selection in linear models and attention region identification in deep neural networks.Comment: 47pages, 14figure

A strong association of axillary osmidrosis with the wet earwax type determined by genotyping of the ABCC11 gene

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Two types of cerumen occur in humans: the wet type with brownish, sticky earwax, and the dry type with a lack of or reduced ceruminous secretion. The wet type is common in populations of European and African origin, while the dry type is frequently seen in Eastern Asian populations. An association between axillary odor and the wet-type earwax was first identified approximately 70 years ago. The data were based on a phenotypical analysis of the two phenotypes among the Japanese by a researcher or by self-declaration of the subjects examined, and were not obtained using definite diagnostic methods. Recently, we identified a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; rs17822931) of the <it>ABCC11 </it>gene as the determinant of the earwax types. In the present study, to determine whether the SNP can serve as a diagnostic marker for axillary osmidrosis (AO), we examined genotypes at rs17822931 in 79 Japanese AO individuals. AO was defined here as a clinical condition of individuals with a deep anxiety regarding axillary odor and had undergone the removal of bilateral axillary apocrine glands.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A comparison of the frequencies of genotypes at rs17822931 in the 79 AO individuals and in 161 Japanese from the general population showed that AO was strongly associated with the wet earwax genotype. A total of 78 (98.7%) of 79 AO patients had either the GG or GA genotype, while these genotypes were observed in 35.4% (57/161) of the subjects from the general population (<it>p </it>< 1.1 × 10^-24, by Fisher's exact test).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The strong association between the wet-earwax associated <it>ABCC11-</it>genotypes (GG and GA) and AO identified in this study indicates that the genotypes are good markers for the diagnosis of AO. In addition, these results suggest that having the allele G is a prerequisite for the axillary odor expression. In other words, the ABCC11 protein may play a role in the excretory function of the axillary apocrine gland. Together, these results suggest that when an AO individual visiting a hospital is diagnosed with dry-type earwax by <it>ABCC11</it>-genotyping, surgical removal of their axillary glands may not be indicated.</p

27ゲージ硝子体システムを用いた白内障手術を施行した先天白内障症例の1例

先天白内障は,放置すれば弱視をきたし,永続的な視力低下を来す状態である.重症例では早期の白内障手術および術後の弱視訓練により良好な視力発達が得られる場合が多い.しかし,小児に対する白内障手術は成人のものとは異なり,難易度の高いものである.難易度が高い原因としては,従来法では,白内障手術時に後嚢切開および前部硝子体切除を行った後に眼内レンズを挿入するという難易度の高い手技にある.もし,後嚢切開が不完全に終われば,予定した眼内レンズ挿入もできなくなってしまう.今回我々は,白内障手術時に眼内レンズを挿入後に硝子体手術の手技を応用した手技を用い,27ゲージという極小の創からトロッカーという管腔構造をもつ器具を,経強膜的に毛様体扁平部へ刺入させ,トロッカーを介して硝子体カッターにて後嚢切開,前部硝子体切除を行い.合併症もなく安全に手術終了することができた.27ゲージの創は無縫合で終了可能であった.本方法は合併症も少なく,術後の炎症の軽減にも有用な方法であると考えられる.Congenital cataracts can cause amblyopia if not treated. In severe cases, early identification and treatment with cataract surgery as well as visual training are all necessary for positive visual development. However, cataract surgery during childhood seems to be more difficult to perform than with adults. One of the reasons for this difficulty is because the posterior capsulotomy is necessary to reduce the risk of causing posterior capsule opacity after cataract surgery. Usually, posterior capsulotomy is performed through the corneal side port. If posterior capsulotomy is incomplete, intra ocular lens (IOL) implantation may also be impossible. Regarding our experiences, posterior capsulotomy and anterior vitrectomy was performed safely with 27 gauze vitreous surgery system after IOL implantation. Additionally, no suture was needed in the wounds of 27 gauze vitreous surgery system. Our surgery for the treatment of congenital cataract was useful for intraoperative safety and less inflammation post-surgery

Autosomal dominant pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 with a novel splice site mutation in MR gene

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Autosomal dominant pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 (PHA1) is a rare inherited condition that is characterized by renal resistance to aldosterone as well as salt wasting, hyperkalemia, and metabolic acidosis. Renal PHA1 is caused by mutations of the human mineralcorticoid receptor gene (<it>MR</it>), but it is a matter of debate whether <it>MR </it>mutations cause mineralcorticoid resistance via haploinsufficiency or dominant negative mechanism. It was previously reported that in a case with nonsense mutation the mutant mRNA was absent in lymphocytes because of nonsense mediated mRNA decay (NMD) and therefore postulated that haploinsufficiency alone can give rise to the PHA1 phenotype in patients with truncated mutations.</p> <p>Methods and Results</p> <p>We conducted genomic DNA analysis and mRNA analysis for familial PHA1 patients extracted from lymphocytes and urinary sediments and could detect one novel splice site mutation which leads to exon skipping and frame shift result in premature termination at the transcript level. The mRNA analysis showed evidence of wild type and exon-skipped RT-PCR products.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>mRNA analysis have been rarely conducted for PHA1 because kidney tissues are unavailable for this disease. However, we conducted RT-PCR analysis using mRNA extracted from urinary sediments. We could demonstrate that NMD does not fully function in kidney cells and that haploinsufficiency due to NMD with premature termination is not sufficient to give rise to the PHA1 phenotype at least in this mutation of our patient. Additional studies including mRNA analysis will be needed to identify the exact mechanism of the phenotype of PHA.</p

A Role of Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase 3 (Akp3) in Inorganic Phosphate Homeostasis

Background/Aims: Hyperphosphatemia is a serious complication of late-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD). Intestinal inorganic phosphate (Pi) handling plays an important role in Pi homeostasis in CKD. We investigated whether intestinal alkaline phosphatase 3 (Akp3), the enzyme that hydrolyzes dietary Pi compounds, is a target for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in CKD. Methods: We investigated Pi homeostasis in Akp3 knockout mice (Akp3-/-). We also studied the progression of renal failure in an Akp3-/- mouse adenine treated renal failure model. Plasma, fecal, and urinary Pi and Ca concentration were measured with commercially available kit, and plasma fibroblast growth factor 23, parathyroid hormone, and 1,25(OH)2D3 concentration were measured with ELISA. Brush border membrane vesicles were prepared from mouse intestine using the Ca2+ precipitation method and used for Pi transport activity and alkaline phosphatase activity. In vivo intestinal Pi absorption was measured with oral 32P administration. Results: Akp3-/- mice exhibited reduced intestinal type II sodium-dependent Pi transporter (Npt2b) protein levels and Na-dependent Pi co-transport activity. In addition, plasma active vitamin D levels were significantly increased in Akp3-/- mice compared with wild-type animals. In the adenine-induced renal failure model, Akp3 gene deletion suppressed hyperphosphatemia. Conclusion: The present findings indicate that intestinal Akp3 deletion affects Na+-dependent Pi transport in the small intestine. In the adenine-induced renal failure model, Akp3 is predicted to be a factor contributing to suppression of the plasma Pi concentration

Use of Human Senses as Sensors

This paper is an overview of our recent findings obtained by the use of human senses as sensors, suggesting that human senses might be indispensable sensors, not only for practical uses but also for gaining a deeper understanding of humans. From this point of view, two kinds of studies, both based on semantic responses of participants, deserve emphasis. One study assessed the efficacy of the photocatalytic elimination of stains or bio-aerosols from an air environment using TiO2 as well as the photocatalytic deodorizing efficacy of a TiO2-type deodorizer; the other study evaluated the changes in perception of a given aroma while inhaling the fragrance of essential oils. In the latter study, we employed a sensory test for evaluating changes in perception of a given aroma. Sensory tests were conducted twice, when participants were undergoing the Kraepelin mental performance test (mental arithmetic) or an auditory task (listening to environmental natural sounds), once before the task (pre-task) and once after the task (post-task). The perception of fragrance was assessed by 13 contrasting pairs of adjectives as a function of the task assigned to participants. The obtained findings illustrate subtle nuances regarding how essential oils manifest their potency and how olfactory discrimination and responses occur in humans