経済学の成績に対する数学学習の効果 : コントロール関数アプローチによる推定と予備検定

要旨あり原著論

Robotic Renal Autotransplantation: A Feasibility Study in a Porcine Model

We investigated the feasibility of robotic renal autotransplantation (RAT) in a porcine model to reduce invasiveness of RAT. Five pigs underwent robotic RAT using the da Vinci® robotic system. A robotic left nephrectomy was performed in all cases. Robotic RAT was performed on the left side in all but one case. Four ports were used. In 3 cases, the kidney was taken out through the GelPort® and irrigated on ice with Ringer’s solution. In 2 cases, a complete intracorporeal robotic RAT was performed. An end-to-side anastomosis was performed between the renal vein and the external iliac vein and between the renal artery and the external iliac artery. Ureteroneocystostomy was also performed in 2 cases. All cases were performed robotically without open conversion. The median (IQR) console time was 3.1 (0.7) h, and the operative time was 3.8 (1.1) h. The estimated blood loss was 30 (0) ml. The warm ischemia time was 4.0 (0.2) min, and the cold ischemia time was 97 (17) min. Intracorporeal transarterial hypothermic renal perfusion was feasible in the 2 complete intracorporeal robotic RAT cases by using a perfusion catheter through a laparoscopic port. Robotic RAT has the potential to be a new minimally invasive substitute for conventional open surgery

Brown adipose tissue dysfunction promotes heart failure via a trimethylamine N-oxide-dependent mechanism.

Low body temperature predicts a poor outcome in patients with heart failure, but the underlying pathological mechanisms and implications are largely unknown. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) was initially characterised as a thermogenic organ, and recent studies have suggested it plays a crucial role in maintaining systemic metabolic health. While these reports suggest a potential link between BAT and heart failure, the potential role of BAT dysfunction in heart failure has not been investigated. Here, we demonstrate that alteration of BAT function contributes to development of heart failure through disorientation in choline metabolism. Thoracic aortic constriction (TAC) or myocardial infarction (MI) reduced the thermogenic capacity of BAT in mice, leading to significant reduction of body temperature with cold exposure. BAT became hypoxic with TAC or MI, and hypoxic stress induced apoptosis of brown adipocytes. Enhancement of BAT function improved thermogenesis and cardiac function in TAC mice. Conversely, systolic function was impaired in a mouse model of genetic BAT dysfunction, in association with a low survival rate after TAC. Metabolomic analysis showed that reduced BAT thermogenesis was associated with elevation of plasma trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels. Administration of TMAO to mice led to significant reduction of phosphocreatine and ATP levels in cardiac tissue via suppression of mitochondrial complex IV activity. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of flavin-containing monooxygenase reduced the plasma TMAO level in mice, and improved cardiac dysfunction in animals with left ventricular pressure overload. In patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, body temperature was low along with elevation of plasma choline and TMAO levels. These results suggest that maintenance of BAT homeostasis and reducing TMAO production could be potential next-generation therapies for heart failure.We thank Kaori Yoshida, Keiko Uchiyama, Satomi Kawai, Naomi Hatanaka, Yoko Sawaguchi, Runa Washio, Takako Ichihashi, Nanako Koike, Keiko Uchiyama, Masaaki Nameta (Niigata University), Kaori Igarashi, Kaori Saitoh, Keiko Endo, Hiroko Maki, Ayano Ueno, Maki Ohishi, Sanae Yamanaka, Noriko Kagata (Keio University) for their excellent technical assistance, C. Ronald Kahn (Joslin Diabetes Center and Harvard Medical School) for providing the BAT cell line, Evan Rosen (Harvard Medical School) for providing us Ucp-Cre mice, Kosuke Morikawa (Kyoto University), Tomitake Tsukihara (University of Hyogo) and Shinya Yoshikawa (University of Hyogo) for their professional opinions and suggestions. Tis work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientifc Research (A) (20H00533) from MEXT, AMED under Grant Numbers JP20ek0210114, and AMED-CREST under Grant Number JP20gm1110012, and Moonshot Research and Development Program (21zf0127003s0201), MEXT Supported Program for the Strategic Research Foundation at Private Universities Japan, Private University Research Branding Project, and Leading Initiative for Excellent Young Researchers, and grants from the Takeda Medical Research Foundation, the Vehicle Racing Commemorative Foundation, Ono Medical Research Foundation, and the Suzuken Memorial Foundation (to T.M.). Support was also provided by a Grants-in-Aid for Young Scientists (Start-up) (26893080), and grants from the Uehara Memorial Foundation, Kowa Life Science Foundation, Manpei Suzuki Diabetes Foundation, SENSHIN Medical Research Foundation, ONO Medical Research Foundation, Tsukada Grant for Niigata University Medical Research, Te Nakajima Foundation, SUZUKEN memorial foundation, HOKUTO Corporation, Mochida Memorial Foundation for Medical & Pharmaceutical Research, Grants-in-Aid for Encouragement of Young Scientists (A) (16H06244), Daiichi Sankyo Foundation of Life Science, AMED Project for Elucidating and Controlling Mechanisms of Aging and Longevity under Grant Number JP17gm5010002, JP18gm5010002, JP19gm5010002, JP20gm5010002, JP21gm5010002, Astellas Foundation for Research on Metabolic Disorders, Research grant from Naito Foundation, Te Japan Geriatrics Society (to I.S.); by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientifc Research (C) (19K08974), Yujin Memorial Grant, Sakakibara Memorial Research Grant from Te Japan Research Promotion Society for Cardiovascular Diseases, TERUMO Life Science Foundation, Kanae Foundation (to Y.Y.), JST ERATO (JPMJER1902), AMED-CREST (JP20gm1010009), the Takeda Science Foundation, the Food Science Institute Foundation (to S.F.), and by a grant from Bourbon (to T.M., I.S. and Y.Y.).S

miR-3941: A novel microRNA that controls IGBP1 expression and is associated with malignant progression of lung adenocarcinoma

Immunoglobulin (CD79a) binding protein 1 (IGBP1) is universally overexpressed in lung adenocarcinoma and exerts an anti-apoptotic effect by binding to PP2Ac. However, the molecular mechanism of IGBP1 overexpression is still unclear. In the present study, we used a microRNA (miRNA) array and TargetScan Human software to detect IGBP1-related miRNAs that regulate IGBP1 expression. The miRNA array analysis revealed more than 100 miRNAs that are dysregulated in early invasive adenocarcinoma. On the other hand, in silico analysis using TargetScan Human revealed 79 miRNAs that are associated with IGBP1 protein expression. Among the miRNAs selected by miRNA array analysis, six (miR-34b, miR-138, miR-374a, miR-374b, miR-1909, miR-3941) were also included among those selected by TargetScan analysis. Real-time reverse transcription PCR (real-time RT-PCR) showed that the six microRNAs were downregulated in invasive adenocarcinoma (IGBP1+) relative to adjacent normal lung tissue (IGBP1−). Among these microRNAs, only miR-34b and miR-3941 depressed luciferase activity by targeting 3′UTR-IGBP1 in the luciferase vector. We transfected miR-34b and miR-3941 into lung adenocarcinoma cell lines (A549, PC-9), and both of them suppressed IGBP1 expression and cell proliferation. Moreover, the transfected miR-34b and miR-3941 induced apoptosis of a lung adenocarcinoma cell line, similarly to the effect of siIGBP1 RNA. As well as miR-34b, we found that miR-3941 targeted IGBP1 specifically and was able to exclusively downregulate IGBP1 expression. These findings indicate that suppression of miR-3941 has an important role in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma at an early stage

JASMINE: Near-infrared astrometry and time-series photometry science

The Japan Astrometry Satellite Mission for INfrared Exploration (JASMINE) is a planned M-class science space mission by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. JASMINE has two main science goals. One is Galactic archaeology with a Galactic Center survey, which aims to reveal the Milky Way’s central core structure and formation history from Gaia-level (∼25 ${\mu}$as) astrometry in the near-infrared (NIR) Hw band (1.0–1.6 ${\mu}$m). The other is an exoplanet survey, which aims to discover transiting Earth-like exoplanets in the habitable zone from NIR time-series photometry of M dwarfs when the Galactic Center is not accessible. We introduce the mission, review many science objectives, and present the instrument concept. JASMINE will be the first dedicated NIR astrometry space mission and provide precise astrometric information on the stars in the Galactic Center, taking advantage of the significantly lower extinction in the NIR. The precise astrometry is obtained by taking many short-exposure images. Hence, the JASMINE Galactic Center survey data will be valuable for studies of exoplanet transits, asteroseismology, variable stars, and microlensing studies, including discovery of (intermediate-mass) black holes. We highlight a swath of such potential science, and also describe synergies with other missions