A case of giant urachal cyst in a neonate

AbstractWe report a case of giant urachal cyst in a neonate presenting characteristic features on fetal ultrasonography. A 28-year-old woman of 21 weeks gestation was referred to our hospital for evaluation of a cystic mass in the lower portion of the fetal abdomen. On fetal ultrasonography, at 23 weeks gestation, the two umbilical arteries in the base of the umbilical cord became separated from each other due to the fetal cyst. On fetal MRI, at 25 weeks gestation, the cyst was depicted as a unilocular serous cyst, independent of the surrounding organs such as the kidney, gallbladder and intestines. The cyst had no communication with the bladder or umbilical cord. A male infant was delivered at term. Although the infant was thriving and remained asymptomatic, an enhanced CT examination 13 days after birth showed the cyst was still present without any decrease in size. The infant underwent surgery to make a definite diagnosis and to prevent future complications. The cyst was excised without any complication and finally diagnosed as a urachal cyst based on morphological and pathological findings

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The flammability characteristics of layered fabric assemblies were investigated and the results compared to the burning behavior exhibited by the single-layer components. Women\u27s dress fabrics and lining-fabrics of cotton, wool, polyester, cupra were tested as single- and double-layer assemblies using the Mushroom Apparel Flammability Tester. When face-fabric of cotton which may ignite readily is combined with lining-fabric of polyester which melt, their greate danger lies in the possibility of the molten material coming in contact with the body. Under these conditions extensive and severe burns can occur to the body. Face-fabric of polyester melt which heat is applied and generally drip away from the flame. Because of this fabric may not burn. When combined with lining-fabric of cupra which burn readily, polyester is unable to drip away and may burn strongly. Cupra acts as a support to prevent the burning fiber from dripping away. Fabrics which burn readily and fabrics which melt or drip shall not be used together in the same garment. In the case of face-fabric of wool there is not a marked difference between cupra and polyester. However because of the melting property of polyester, cupra is safer than polyester

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Flammability of the Oshima-Tsumugi fabrics has been studied by static oxygen bomb calorimetry. The amount of heat evolved when these fabrics are burned in the open atmosphere has been determined indirectly using calculations based on Hess\u27 law of summation. The heat of combustion of the silk was reduced from 3870 cal/g to 2470～2830 cal/g by the mudmordanting. Fe salt as a mordant, combined with the silk in the mud mordanting, seems to be capable of catalyzing the silk decomposition and increasing the amount of char residue. Thus the effect of Fe salt is to decrease the amount of flammable gases produced by the pyrolyzing silk. Since the heat evolution is not sufficient to sustain the silk pyrolysis reaction, the mud-dyed Oshima-Tsumugi fabrics are high self-extinguishing

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Test methods and criteria to evaluate the flammability of 100% polyester fabrics for apparel have been studied. Char length and flame-dripping characteristics were measured by a modified FF 3-71 and its stitching methods. Ease of ignition, flame propagation time, rate of heat transfer and flame-dripping characteristics were measured by a modified Mushroom Apparel Flammability Tester method. A modified FF 3-71 method and its criteria are liable to overlook the flame-dripping characteristics of the lightweight polyester fabrics. A modified FF 3-71 stitching method and its criteria are suitable for the pass/fail testing of the flame retardant apparel. A modified Musuroom Apparel Flammability Tester method and its criteria are appropriate to determine the flammability classification of polyester fabrics for apparel

Meta-Analyses of Microarrays of Arabidopsis asymmetric leaves1 (as1), as2 and Their Modifying Mutants Reveal a Critical Role for the ETT Pathway in Stabilization of Adaxial-Abaxial Patterning and Cell Division During Leaf Development

It is necessary to use algorithms to analyze gene expression data from DNA microarrays, such as in clustering and machine learning. Previously, we developed the knowledge-based fuzzy adaptive resonance theory (KB-FuzzyART), a clustering algorithm suitable for analyzing gene expression data, to find clues for identifying gene networks. Leaf primordia form around the shoot apical meristem (SAM), which consists of indeterminate stem cells. Upon initiation of leaf development, adaxial-abaxial patterning is crucial for lateral expansion, via cellular proliferation, and the formation of flat symmetric leaves. Many regulatory genes that specify such patterning have been identified. Analysis by the KB-FuzzyART and subsequent molecular and genetic analyses previously showed that ASYMMETRIC LEAVES1 (AS1) and AS2 repress the expression of some abaxial-determinant genes, such as AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR3 (ARF3)/ETTIN (ETT) and ARF4, which are responsible for defects in leaf adaxial-abaxial polarity in as1 and as2. In the present study, genetic analysis revealed that ARF3/ETT and ARF4 were regulated by modifier genes, BOBBER1 (BOB1) and ELONGATA3 (ELO3), together with AS1-AS2. We analyzed expression arrays with as2 elo3 and as2 bob1, and extracted genes downstream of ARF3/ETT by using KB-FuzzyART and molecular analyses. The results showed that expression of Kip-related protein (KRP) (for inhibitors of cyclin-dependent protein kinases) and Isopentenyltransferase (IPT) (for biosynthesis of cytokinin) genes were controlled by AS1-AS2 through ARF3/ETT and ARF4 functions, which suggests that the AS1-AS2-ETT pathway plays a critical role in controlling the cell division cycle and the biosynthesis of cytokinin around SAM to stabilize leaf development in Arabidopsis thalian

Sequential analysis of carbonaceous materials in Hayabusa-returned samples for the determination of their origin

Preliminary results of the analyses of five carbonaceous materials (particle size of approximately 50 μm) from the Hayabusa spacecraft sample catcher, including their texture, chemistry, and chemical/isotopic compositions, are summarized. The carbonaceous particles underwent sequential analysis using a series of microanalytical instruments located at several research institutes and universities. Collected particles were initially classified into four categories: two categories containing extraterrestrial silicate particles, one category containing metal and quartz particles consistent with contamination from the sample catcher or sample manipulation tools, and a final category containing carbonaceous particles. Analysis of this final category was the main focus of this study. Through examination of the carbonaceous materials, the appropriate analytical processes for sample transportation and handling were optimized to minimize sample damage and terrestrial contamination. Particles were investigated by transmission electron microscopy/scanning transmission electron microscopy, and Ca-carbonate inclusions were found in one particle. In a different particle, a heterogeneous distribution of silicon in a uniform C, N, and O matrix was found. Though further analysis is required for a strict determination of particle origin, the differences in the microstructure and elemental distribution of the carbonaceous particles suggest multiple origins.TEM analyses were performed at JEOL Ltd. XANES analysis was conducted in UVSOR Facility in Institute for Molecular Science, supported by Nanotechnology Platform Program (Molecule and Material Synthesis) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan

Phosphodiesterase III inhibitor promotes drainage of cerebrovascular β-amyloid

The predominant action of cilostazol on Aβ metabolism is likely to facilitate Aβ clearance due to the sustained cerebrovascular function in vivo. Our findings mechanistically demonstrate that cilostazol is a promising therapeutic approach for AD and CAA

Transgenic Monkey Model of the Polyglutamine Diseases Recapitulating Progressive Neurological Symptoms

Age-associated neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and the polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases, are becoming prevalent as a consequence of elongation of the human lifespan. Although various rodent models have been developed to study and overcome these diseases, they have limitations in their translational research utility owing to differences from humans in brain structure and function and in drug metabolism. Here, we generated a transgenic marmoset model of the polyQ diseases, showing progressive neurological symptoms including motor impairment. Seven transgenic marmosets were produced by lentiviral introduction of the human ataxin 3 gene with 120 CAG repeats encoding an expanded polyQ stretch. Although all offspring showed no neurological symptoms at birth, three marmosets with higher transgene expression developed neurological symptoms of varying degrees at 3–4 months after birth, followed by gradual decreases in body weight gain, spontaneous activity, and grip strength, indicating time-dependent disease progression. Pathological examinations revealed neurodegeneration and intranuclear polyQ protein inclusions accompanied by gliosis, which recapitulate the neuropathological features of polyQ disease patients. Consistent with neuronal loss in the cerebellum, brain MRI analyses in one living symptomatic marmoset detected enlargement of the fourth ventricle, which suggests cerebellar atrophy. Notably, successful germline transgene transmission was confirmed in the second-generation offspring derived from the symptomatic transgenic marmoset gamete. Because the accumulation of abnormal proteins is a shared pathomechanism among various neurodegenerative diseases, we suggest that this new marmoset model will contribute toward elucidating the pathomechanisms of and developing clinically applicable therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.ArticleeNeuro.4(2):e0250(2017)journal articl

看護基礎教育に求められる政策コンピテンシー ―「学士課程教育における公共政策学分野の参照基準」との比較から―

【要旨】超高齢社会に対応するための制度改革が頻回に行われ，制度設計にアドボケーターとして看護職の関わりが求められていることから，看護基礎教育において政策の基本を体系的に学ぶことが必要と考え，政策教育プログラム開発に関する研究を行った。 1 年目の研究では看護に関連した政策に現に取り組んでいる 政策企画者等を対象に面接調査を行い，政策教育において獲得すべきコンピテンシー77 項目を抽出し，これを日本公共政策学会の参照基準をもとに 8 つのカテゴリーに分類した。この結果を参照基準と比較すると，参照基準の「政策の働きに関する基本的理解」などの項目は少なかったが，「政策問題を主体的に考える力」の項目は非常に豊富であった。このことは対象者が政策の実践者であったことが影響しており，また，看護教育に対して政策決定に関する“知識”に力点を置くよりも，看護現場の課題を解決するための能力獲得に期待がされていることが明らかとなった。Abstract: With frequent revisions in the medical-care system in response to the aging society, nurses are required to be involved in system design as advocators. This suggests the necessity for nursing students to systematically learn the basics of policy studies in basic nursing education. Given this background, we conducted research into the development of a nursing education program related to policy studies. In the first year of the research, we conducted an interview survey with policy planners who worked on policies related to nursing. From the interview data, we extracted 77 items of competencies to be acquired through the education program, and classified the items into 8 categories based on the academic standards of the Public Policy Studies Association, Japan (PPSAJ). Comparing the results in this study with the items of the academic standards, there were fewer items related to the “Basic understanding of the functions of policy” than those in the standards, but there were many items related to the “Competencies to think independently about policy issues”. These results may be because the participants in the interviews were policy practitioners. The findings suggest that it is important for nursing education to place more emphasis on competencies needed to solve problems in nursing settings than on knowledge about policy making