A fundamental study assessing the generalized fitting method in conjunction with every possible coalition of N-combinations (G-EPOC) using the appendicitis detection task of computed tomography

Purpose: Increased use of deep learning (DL) in medical imaging diagnoses has led to more frequent use of 10-fold cross-validation (10-CV) for the evaluation of the performance of DL. To eliminate some of the (10-fold) repetitive processing in 10-CV, we proposed a "generalized fitting method in conjunction with every possible coalition of N-combinations (G-EPOC)", to estimate the range of the mean accuracy of 10-CV using less than 10 results of 10-CV. Material and methods: G-EPOC was executed as follows. We first provided (2N-1) coalition subsets using a specified N, which was 9 or less, out of 10 result datasets of 10-CV. We then obtained the estimation range of the accuracy by applying those subsets to the distribution fitting twice using a combination of normal, binominal, or Poisson distributions. Using datasets of 10-CVs acquired from the practical detection task of the appendicitis on CT by DL, we scored the estimation success rates if the range provided by G-EPOC included the true accuracy. Results: G-EPOC successfully estimated the range of the mean accuracy by 10-CV at over 95% rates for datasets with N assigned as 2 to 9. Conclusions: G-EPOC will help lessen the consumption of time and computer resources in the development of computer-based diagnoses in medical imaging and could become an option for the selection of a reasonable K value in K-CV

POEMS Syndrome in a 20-year-old Patient Diagnosed Following a Complaint of Reduced Visual Acuity

We report a case of POEMS syndrome in a 20-year-old patient diagnosed after visiting an eye clinic with a chief complaint of reduced visual acuity. A male university student aged 20 years was referred to our department complaining of blurred vision in both eyes that had persisted for 1 month. He also noted headache, nausea, and paresthesia in the lower extremities around the same time. The visual acuity of his right and left eye was 20/40 and 20/20, respectively. Optic disc edema and serous retinal detachment were present. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed no intracranial abnormalities, while elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure, reduced nerve conduction velocity in both lower extremities, hepatosplenomegaly, M proteinemia, high blood VEGF levels, osteoblastic and osteolytic changes in the spine, and atypical plasma cells in bone lesions were noted. From the above findings, the patient was diagnosed with POEMS syndrome. He received high-dose dexamethasone, thalidomide, and radiotherapy on the sacral mass, followed by high-dose melphalan with autologous stem-cell support, and showed subsequent systemic and ophthalmologic improvement. Here, we report the youngest case ever of POEMS syndrome with ocular manifestation. If patients have optic disc edema in both eyes with no intracranial space-occupying lesion, POEMS syndrome should be considered in differential diagnosis, regardless of age

Exploring Hidden Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Admitted to Shinshu University Hospital

Using the event-triggered recorder, SpiderFlash-t AFIB, which allows us to detect asymptomatic or symptomatic arrhythmia, we examined the prevalence of hidden atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with type 2 diabetes admitted to our hospital. In total, we enrolled 69 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus admitted to the hospital due to hyperglycemia. Averages of HbA1c, age, duration of the disease, and BMI were 8.9 ％, 64.8 years old, 14.8 years, and 26.0 kg/m2, respectively. Neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy were found in 37 (53.6 ％), 27 (39.1 ％), and 27 (39.1 ％), respectively. Macroangiopathy was found in 13 (18.9 ％). In the first series of surveys where we attached the recorder for 7 days no sustained AF events were found, and only 2 transient events. We attached the recorder for 14 days with 39 subjects in the second series of the survey, and fail to find any AF rhythm. This study is the first attempt to reveal the frequency of hidden AF in diabetes. This finding suggests that screening of atrial fibrillation with SpiderFlash-t AFIB for patients with type 2 diabetic patients hospitalized for glycemic control may not be useful in assessing the prevalence of atrial fibrillation.Article信州医学雑誌 69(2): 75-81(2021)departmental bulletin pape

Analysis of subgingival microbiota in monozygotic twins with different severity and progression risk of periodontitis

The study aims to reveal the composition of subgingival bacteria in monozygotic twins with discordant in severity and progression risk of periodontitis. Microbiome analysis indicated that most bacteria were heritable but differed in their abundance and immune response. The dysbiotic bacteria can be considered as risk markers for periodontitis progression

A Study of Cleft Sentences in English Based on Relevance Theory

The analysis of Cleft Sentences has been, so far, mainly made based on the structure of information found in English discourse. However, there are inconsistencies in that approach that become problematic when it is used to explain the semantic or pragmatic structure of Cleft Sentences. In this thesis, we propose that Cleft Sentences should be treated within the framework of Relevance Theory. This theory emphasizes the inferential processes of speakers and hearers in the production of Cleft Sentences. It is within this framework that we can solve some of the above-mentioned problems that occur with the information structure approach

Effectiveness and safety of low-concentrated ozonized water for the reduction of contamination in dental unit water lines

Contamination of dental unit waterlines (DUWL) with heterotrophic bacteria can cause problems in immune compromised patients (aged, tumor and organ transplantation-patients). We focused on the use of low-concentrated ozonized water (OZW) as the biofilm formation restraint system for DUWL. Here, we examined the effects of low-concentrated OZW on the growth of bacteria and related biofilm formation and harmfulness to dental unit components (DUCs) in vitro. Objectives To evaluate the bactericidal effects of OZW on biofilms in DUWL and DUC in vitro. Methods Low-concentrated OZW (0.4 mg/L) was generated using an OZS-PTDX generator. Heterotrophic bacterial biofilms in old DUWL tubes and Candia albicans solution (control microbe) were treated with OZW for 1 h with gentle agitation before static culturing for 96 h in Reasoner's 2A liquid media. The control solutions were 0.1% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), chlorinated tap water (TW), and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) amounts of the microbes were measured and the biofilms of these microbes were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Moreover, surfaces of DUC soaked in OZW and TW were observed by SEM. Results The OZW reduced ATP levels in microbes to 50% compared to TW and PBS treatment, although CPC reduced it below detection limits. SEM observation revealed deformation of microbes cultured with OZW, whereas no changes were seen on DUC surfaces. Conclusions Low-concentrated OZW is bactericidal against heterotrophic bacteria biofilms and it is not harmful to DUC, suggesting that it might be useful in preventing DUWL contamination

Evaluation of the simulator with automatic irrigation control system designed for countermeasures of internal contamination in dental unit water lines

The prevention of nosocomial infections is an imperative task. The dental chair unit (DCU) is an indispensable device used in dental treatment. However, it is known that the dental unit water line (DUWL) can become contaminated with biofilm, consisting mainly of heterotrophic bacteria (HB). Recently, the International Organization for Standardization specified the methods for testing DUWL contamination management. On these grounds, a simulator reproducing DUWL was prepared to standardize the examination method of the DUWL contamination. Objectives To evaluate the reproducibility of the DUWL simulator, monitor the DUWL contamination states, and test the efficacy of a commercial decontaminant for DUWL. Methods The DUWL simulator was assembled by a DCU manufacturing company. The simulator's DUWL was filled with tap water (TW), and left for approximately one year. Neutral electrolyzed water (NEW) was used as a decontaminant for DUWL. Both TW and NEW were passed through DUWL in a timely manner simulating daily dental treatment. Water was sampled from the air turbine hand piece weekly for 4 weeks and used for HB culture. Contamination status was evaluated by measuring bacterial adenosine triphosphate release and by culturing on Reasoner's 2A medium. Results The DUWL released contaminated water had a bacterial count of over 6 × 104 cfu/mL. After passing NEW through DUWL for 1 week, the count drastically decreased to its basal level and remained steady for 4 weeks. However, TW showed no effect on DUWL decontamination throughout the examination periods. Conclusions The DUWL simulator could be useful to examine the efficacy of the decontaminant for DUWL and development of new methods in DUWL contamination management

Ubiquitous organic molecule-based free-standing nanowires with ultra-high aspect ratios

ごくありふれた有機分子からナノ細線をつくり立たせて埋めつくす --立体電子回路や超高感度センサーへ--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-06-30.The critical dimension of semiconductor devices is approaching the single-nm regime, and a variety of practical devices of this scale are targeted for production. Planar structures of nano-devices are still the center of fabrication techniques, which limit further integration of devices into a chip. Extension into 3D space is a promising strategy for future; however, the surface interaction in 3D nanospace make it hard to integrate nanostructures with ultrahigh aspect ratios. Here we report a unique technique using high-energy charged particles to produce free-standing 1D organic nanostructures with high aspect ratios over 100 and controlled number density. Along the straight trajectory of particles penetrating the films of various sublimable organic molecules, 1D nanowires were formed with approximately 10~15 nm thickness and controlled length. An all-dry process was developed to isolate the nanowires, and planar or coaxial heterojunction structures were built into the nanowires. Electrical and structural functions of the developed standing nanowire arrays were investigated, demonstrating the potential of the present ultrathin organic nanowire systems

Lack of impact of the ALDH2 rs671 variant on breast cancer development in Japanese BRCA1/2‐mutation carriers

The aldehyde degrading function of the ALDH2 enzyme is impaired by Glu504Lys polymorphisms (rs671, termed A allele), which causes alcohol flushing in east Asians, and elevates the risk of esophageal cancer among habitual drinkers. Recent studies suggested that the ALDH2 variant may lead to higher levels of DNA damage caused by endogenously generated aldehydes. This can be a threat to genome stability and/or cell viability in a synthetic manner in DNA repair-defective settings such as Fanconi anemia (FA). FA is an inherited bone marrow failure syndrome caused by defects in any one of so far identified 22 FANC genes including hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. We have previously reported that the progression of FA phenotypes is accelerated with the ALDH2 rs671 genotype. Individuals with HBOC are heterozygously mutated in either BRCA1 or BRCA2, and the cancer-initiating cells in these patients usually undergo loss of the wild-type BRCA1/2 allele, leading to homologous recombination defects. Therefore, we hypothesized that the ALDH2 genotypes may impact breast cancer development in BRCA1/2 mutant carriers. We genotyped ALDH2 in 103 HBOC patients recruited from multiple cancer centers in Japan. However, we were not able to detect any significant differences in clinical stages, histopathological classification, or age at clinical diagnosis across the ALDH2 genotypes. Unlike the effects in hematopoietic cells of FA, our current data suggest that there is no impact of the loss of ALDH2 function in cancer initiation and development in breast epithelium of HBOC patients