Prevention of hypoglycemia by intermittent-scanning continuous glucose monitoring device combined with structured education in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus : A randomized, crossover trial

Aims: We conducted a randomized, crossover trial to compare intermittent-scanning continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) device with structured education (Intervention) to self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) (Control) in the reduction of time below range. Methods: This crossover trial involved 104 adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) using multiple daily injections. Participants were randomly allocated to either sequence Intervention/Control or sequence Control/Intervention. During the Intervention period which lasted 84 days, participants used the first-generation FreeStyle Libre (Abbott Diabetes Care, Alameda, CA, USA) and received structured education on how to prevent hypoglycemia based on the trend arrow and by frequent sensor scanning (≥10 times a day). Confirmatory SMBG was conducted before dosing insulin. The Control period lasted 84 days. The primary endpoint was the decrease in the time below range (TBR; <70 mg/dL). Results: The time below range was significantly reduced in the Intervention arm compared to the Control arm (2.42 ± 1.68 h/day [10.1 %±7.0 %] vs 3.10 ± 2.28 h/day [12.9 %±9.5 %], P = 0.012). The ratio of high-risk participants with low blood glucose index >5 was significantly reduced (8.6 % vs 23.7 %, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The use of isCGM combined with structured education significantly reduced the time below range in patients with T1DM

Will Statistics Give the Sensitivity of the Global Climate System?

I discuss here mathematical analyses associated with the estimation of climate sensitivity (λ), a fundamental property of our climate system. Despite its importance, however, a large gap exists between modelbased and observation-based values of λ. Statistics seems to be effective to characterize λ although a further progress is necessary.JSTさきがけ研究集会　環境問題における数理の可能性. 平成20年6月11日～平成20年6月13日. 札幌

Activities of Algicidal Bacteria and Their Influences on Microbial Communities

It is said that algicidal bacteria can be used as biological control agents for algal blooms. We examined influences of algicidal bacteria on microbial communities in a laboratory experiment as a first step of ecological risk assessment. A microcosm, which consists of wild protozoa, bacterioplankton, and cultured Microcystis aeruginosa NIES 99, was constructed as a model microbial ecosystem of eutrophic lakes with algal blooms. Lysobacter enzymogenes subsp. enzymogenes AL-1 (DSM 1895) was added to the microcosm as an algicidal bacterium. Ciliates, flagellates, fungi, and M. aeruginosa NIES 99 were observed in control runs. In the runs with L. enzymogenes AL-1, although M. aeruginosa NIES 99 was not lysed, the other microbes disappeared. We address that applications of algicidal bacteria to actual lakes are considered to be ecologically risky contrary to the previous ideas.JSTさきがけ研究集会　環境問題における数理の可能性. 平成20年6月11日～平成20年6月13日. 札幌

Glycolytic Synchronization in Yeast Cells via ATP and Other Metabolites: Mathematical Analyses by Two-Dimensional Reaction-Diffusion Models

Possibilities of synchronized oscillations in glycolysis mediated by various extracellular metabolites are investigated theoretically using two-dimensional reaction-diffusion systems, which originate from the existing seven-variable model. Our simulation results indicate the existence of alternative mediators such as ATP and 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate, in addition to already known acetaldehyde or pyruvate. Further, it is also suggested that the alternative intercellular communicator plays a more important role in the respect that these can synchronize oscillations instantaneously not only with difference phases but also with different periods. Relations between intercellular coupling and synchronization mechanisms are also analyzed and discussed by changing the values of parameters such as the diffusion coefficient and the cell density that can reflect intercellular coupling strength