Effects of Model-Based Iterative Reconstruction in Low-Dose Paranasal Computed Tomography: A Comparison with Filtered Back Projection and Hybrid Iterative Reconstruction

Iterative reconstruction (IR) improves image quality compared with filtered back projection (FBP). This study investigated the usefulness of model-based IR (forward-projected model-based iterative reconstruction solution [FIRST]) in comparison with FBP and hybrid IR (adaptive iterative dose reduction three-dimensional processing [AIDR 3D]) in low-dose paranasal CT. Twenty-four patients with paranasal sinusitis who underwent standard-dose CT (120 kV) and low-dose CT (100 kV) scanning before and after medical treatment were enrolled. Standard-dose CT scans were reconstructed with FBP (FBP120), and low-dose CT scans with FBP (FBP100), AIDR 3D, and FIRST. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) in three anatomical structures and effective doses were compared using Mann–Whitney U test. Two radiologists independently evaluated the visibility of 16 anatomical structures, overall image quality, and artifacts. Effective doses in lowdose CT were significantly reduced compared with those in standard-dose CT (0.24 vs 0.43 mSv, p<0.001). FIRST achieved significantly higher SNR (p<0.01, respectively) and CNR (p<0.001, respectively) of evaluated structures and significant improvement in overall image quality (p<0.001), artifacts (p<0.001), and visibility related to muscles (p<0.05) compared to FBP120, FBP100, and AIDR 3D. FIRST allowed radiation-dose reduction, while maintaining objective and subjective image quality in low-dose paranasal CT

Osh proteins regulate COPII-mediated vesicular transport of ceramide from the endoplasmic reticulum in budding yeast

Lipids synthesized at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are delivered to the Golgi by vesicular and non-vesicular pathways. ER-to-Golgi transport is crucial for maintaining the different membrane lipid composition and identities of organelles. Despite their importance, mechanisms regulating transport remain elusive. Here we report that in yeast coat protein complex II (COPII) vesicle-mediated transport of ceramide from the ER to the Golgi requires oxysterol-binding protein homologs, Osh proteins, which have been implicated in lipid homeostasis. Because Osh proteins are not required to transport proteins to the Golgi, these results indicate a specific requirement for the Osh proteins in the transport of ceramide. In addition, we provide evidence that Osh proteins play a negative role in COPII vesicle biogenesis. Together, our data suggest that ceramide transport and sphingolipid levels between the ER and Golgi are maintained by two distinct functions of Osh proteins, which negatively regulate COPII vesicle formation and positively control a later stage, presumably fusion of ceramide-enriched vesicles with Golgi compartments.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación BFU2011-24513Junta de Andalucía P09-CVI-450

Comportamiento productivo y reproductivo de vacas Nelore de diferentes edades en un sistema a pastoreo del trópico boliviano

Productive and reproductive behavior of Nelore cows of different ages in a grazing system of the Bolivian tropics Resumen El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar el comportamiento productivo y reproductivo de vacas adultas y en crecimiento de la raza Nelore en condiciones de pastoreo del trópico boliviano. El trabajo de investigación se realizó de octubre de 2016 a octubre de 2017 en la Hacienda Ganadería E7, Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Se utilizaron 100 vacas para el estudio. Se dividieron en dos grupos: Grupo adulto: GA, 28 vacas ≥ 5 años de edad y Grupo en crecimiento: GC, 72 vacas ≤ 5 años de edad. Los pesos entre ambos grupos analizados para GA y GC mostraron diferencia entre ellas (p≤0,05) durante todo el ensayo. Las vacas adultas tuvieron los menores intervalo parto-parto (GA: 380±28; GC: 506 ±18 días, p≤0,003), El estado corporal entre ambos grupos analizados también mostró diferencias entre los grupos (p≤0,05) el mejor estado corporal (GA: 2,4±0,06; GC: 2,2±0,02, p≤0,002), el mayor peso vivo adulto (GA: 461 ±7; GC: 418±5 kg, p≤0,0001) y mayor peso del ternero sin mostrar diferencias p≥0,05 (GA: 34,1±0,8; GC: 32,3±0,5 kg). Se concluye que las vacas adultas poseen un mejor comportamiento productivo y reproductivo, y además sería importante mantener en el rodeo un porcentaje mayor de ellas para los sistemas estudiados. Palabras clave: peso adulto; estado corporal; intervalo parto-parto: peso el ternero al nacimiento Abstract The objective of the work was to evaluate the productive and reproductive behavior of adult and growing cows of the Nelore race under grazing conditions of the Bolivian tropics. The research work was carried out from October 2016 to October 2017 at rancher farm E7 in Colonia San Juan, Santa Cruz, Bolivia. 100 total cows were used for the study. They were divided into two groups: Adult group: GA, 28 cows ≥ 5 years of life and Growing group: GC, 72 cows ≤ to 5 years of life. The weights between both groups analyzed for GA and GC showed differences between them (p≤0.05) throughout the trial. The body condition between both groups analyzed also showed differences between the groups (p≤0.05). Adult cows had the lowest calving interval (GA: 380 ± 28, GC: 506 ± 18 days, p≤0.003), the best body condition (GA: 2.4 ± 0.06, GC: 2.2 ± 0.02, p≤0.002), the highest live weight (GA: 461 ± 7, GC: 418 ± 5 kg, p≤0,0001) and greater weight of the calf without showing differences p≥0.05 (GA: 34.1 ± 0.8, GC: 32.3 ± 0.5 kg). It is concluded that adult cows have a better productive and reproductive behavior, and it would also be important to maintain a greater percentage of them in the herd for the systems studied. Keywords: adult weight; body condition; calving interval; weight the calf at birth

A gene variant in the Atp10d gene associates with atherosclerotic indices in Japanese elderly population

AbstractBackgroundATP10D belongs to a subfamily of P-type ATPases implicated in phospholipids translocation from the exoplasmic to the cytoplasmic leaflet of cellular biological membrane. Previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified that a variant in Atp10d gene (rs2351791) associates with serum lipid profile and myocardial infarction. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of this variant on atherosclerosis in Japanese elderly population.MethodConsecutive autopsy cases registered in JG-SNP study were recruited (n = 1536). The samples were pathologically assessed for atherosclerosis using macroscopic examination of the formalin-fixed arteries, and coronary stenotic index (CSI), intracranial atherosclerotic index (ICAI) and pathological atherosclerotic index (PAI), which represent systemic arteries were calculated. The variant rs2351791 (G/T) in Atp10d gene was genotyped by Taqman genotyping assay and association determined.ResultBoth CSI and ICAI were significantly higher in GG genotype than GT genotype and TT genotype (p = 0.003 and p = 0.001, respectively). Both associations remained significant in minor allele dominant model after adjusting for age, hypertension, diabetes, HDL, smoking and drinking (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). PAI was not associated with this variant. Consistent with the previous report, plasma HDL cholesterol level was lower in GG genotype compared to GT + TT genotypes (p = 0.001).ConclusionThe rs2351791 SNP in the Atp10d gene affects the susceptibility for cardiac and intracranial vascular stenosis in the elderly Japanese population

Impact of Gestational Age at Delivery on Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring During the Second Stage of Labor

Objective: To clarify whether gestational age at delivery affects the interpretation level of fetal heart rate (FHR) tracings in the second stage of labor in primiparous and singleton pregnancies.Methods: The database at one tertiary hospital in Japan was retrospectively reviewed for women with singleton fetuses in cephalic presentation and vaginal labor at ≥37+0 gestational weeks between June 1, 2011, and March 31, 2013. Continuous FHR tracings in the second stage of labor were subdivided into 10-minute intervals, each of which we called a window, from the beginning through delivery, and were assessed according to the five-tier classification proposed by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, in which level 1 is normal, level 2 is subnormal, and levels 3-5 are abnormal patterns. Subjects were divided into two groups, including early term (37 0/7 to 38 6/7 weeks) and full term (39 0/7 to 41 6/7 weeks), according to the delivery age.Results: In total, 914 parturient women were eligible for the study protocol, including 228 and 686 women in early and full term, respectively. Vacuum extraction was more often observed in full term than in early term (P=0.007). Although the maximal level, number of level-5 windows, number of level-4 windows, and number of level-3 and level-4 windows were similar between the groups, the summation of level-4 windows ≥3 was significantly higher in full term than in early term (P=0.004).Conclusion: Full term delivery has a higher risk than does early term delivery from the standpoint of FHR monitoring

The ceramide synthase subunit lac1 regulates cell growth and size in fission yeast

Cell division produces two viable cells of a defined size. Thus, all cells require mechanisms to measure growth and trigger cell division when sufficient growth has occurred. Previous data suggest a model in which growth rate and cell size are mechanistically linked by ceramide-dependent signals in budding yeast. However, the conservation of mechanisms that govern growth control is poorly understood. In fission yeast, ceramide synthase is encoded by two genes, Lac1 and Lag1. Here, we characterize them by using a combination of genetics, microscopy, and lipid analysis. We showed that Lac1 and Lag1 co-immunoprecipitate and co-localize at the endoplasmic reticulum. However, each protein generates different species of ceramides and complex sphingolipids. We further discovered that Lac1, but not Lag1, is specifically required for proper control of cell growth and size in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We propose that specific ceramide and sphingolipid species produced by Lac1 are required for normal control of cell growth and size in fission yeast.Junta de Andalucía P18-FRJ1132Universidad de Sevilla VIPPIT-2020-I.5Japan Society for the Promotion of Science JP19H02922, JP21K19088Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades BFU2017-89700-

Inadequate Folic Acid Intake Among Women Taking Antiepileptic Drugs During Pregnancy in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to assess characteristics of pregnant women taking antiepileptic drugs with inadequate folic acid intake. This cross-sectional study examined pregnant women taking antiepileptic drugs who were registered in the Japanese Drug Information Institute in Pregnancy (JDIIP) database between October 2005 and December 2016. Participants were classified into two groups according to when they started folic acid supplementation (before pregnancy: ‘adequate’, after pregnancy or never: ‘inadequate’). Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate factors associated with inadequate folic acid intake. Of 12,794 registrants, 468 pregnant women were taking antiepileptics during the first trimester. Of these, we analysed data from 456 women who had no missing data. As a result, inadequate folic acid intake was noted among 83.3% of them, suggesting that the current level of folic acid intake is insufficient overall. Younger age, smoking, alcohol drinking, multiparity, unplanned pregnancy, and being prescribed AEDs by paediatric or psychiatric departments were independent factors associated with inadequate folic acid intake. As planned pregnancy was the strongest factor, healthcare professionals should ensure that childbearing women taking antiepileptics are informed of the importance of planned pregnancy. In addition, healthcare professionals must gain a better understanding of folic acid intake, as the prevalence of adequate intake differed according to which departments prescribed antiepileptic drugs

Structural analysis of the GPI glycan

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring of proteins is an essential post-translational modification in all eukaryotes that occurs at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and serves to deliver GPI-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) to the cell surface where they play a wide variety of vital physiological roles. This paper describes a specialized method for purification and structural analysis of the GPI glycan of individual GPI-APs in yeast. The protocol involves the expression of a specific GPI-AP tagged with GFP, enzymatic release from the cellular membrane fraction, immunopurification, separation by electrophoresis and analysis of the peptides bearing GPI glycans by mass spectrometry after trypsin digestion. We used specifically this protocol to address the structural remodeling that undergoes the GPI glycan of a specific GPI-AP during its transport to the cell surface. This method can be also applied to investigate the GPI-AP biosynthetic pathway and to directly confirm predicted GPI-anchoring of individual proteins.FEDER/Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades BFU2017-89700-PJapan Society for the Promotion of Science JP19H0292

Ceramide chain length–dependent protein sorting into selective endoplasmic reticulum exit sites

Protein sorting in the secretory pathway is crucial to maintain cellular compartmentalization and homeostasis. In addition to coat-mediated sorting, the role of lipids in driving protein sorting during secretory transport is a longstanding fundamental question that still remains unanswered. Here, we conduct 3D simultaneous multicolor high-resolution live imaging to demonstrate in vivo that newly synthesized glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins having a very long chain ceramide lipid moiety are clustered and sorted into specialized endoplasmic reticulum exit sites that are distinct from those used by transmembrane proteins. Furthermore, we show that the chain length of ceramide in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane is critical for this sorting selectivity. Our study provides the first direct in vivo evidence for lipid chain length–based protein cargo sorting into selective export sites of the secretory pathway.Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO; grant number BFU2017-89700-P)University of Seville (VIPPIT-2020-I.5)Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JP25221103, JP17H06420, and JP18H05275)Swiss National Science Foundation (grant no. 163966)Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) under project IDs s726 and s84