TIME ANALYSIS OF SONKYO MOTION IN PROFESSIONAL SUMO-WRESTLERS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the spend time for sonkyo motion in professional sumo-wrestlers. The sumo tournament which held in September 2007 was videotaped. And using this film, the motion time was measured. Moreover 5 motion phases were defined in matches respectively. Results indicated that Yokoduna (the highest ranker) showed the longest motion time in these wrestlers. It is generous that slow speed motion indicates having room to breathe. This may suggest that Yokoduna has the dignity as the highest in rank. Therefore Yokoduna showed this result. However there is no evidence to clarify that thing. It is necessarily to correct more data of motion time in order to clarify the relationship between motion time and rank in further study

The diagnostic role of fiberoptic bronchoscopy in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary diseases

Fifty-six bronchoscopies were carried out for the diagnosis of pulmonary diseases in 50 immunocompromised patients with various underlying diseases. In 30 of these patients, bronchoscopy provided useful findings. The diagnostic sensitivities (positive/procedures) for transbronchial lung biopsy bronchoalveolar lavage, aspiration of intra-bronchial sputum and brushing were 55.1%, 29.4%, 8.3% and 0%, respectively. Overall diagnostic sensitivity was higher for non-infectious diseases than for infectious ones. Also, there was a tendency for the diagnostic sensitivity to be higher in cases whose pulmonary infiltrates were extensive. In two samples of lavage fluid positive for the isolation of cytomegalovirus, the virus was not significant etiologically. Complications from bronchoscopy occurred in nine patients, but were not serious. However, no prolonged patient survival was noted with the use of diagnostic bronchoscopy. We consider that bronchoscopy is a safe method for the diagnosis of pulmonary diseases in immunocompromised patients, but that further studies are required in order to confirm the clinical significance of this procedure

Pulmonary Tuberculous Scar as a Factor Affecting Detection of Lung Cancer

To evaluate the radiologic influence of tuberculous scar on the detection of lung cancer, the results of radiologic screening were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 308, 565 persons above 40 years old underwent the screening from 1986 to 1988. For screening, 100-mm indirect chest radiographs were interpreted by two physicians, and compared to findings on one-year old films if necessary. The screening detected 175 peripheral lung cancers and 25,238 tuberculous scars. Both diseases were prevalent in the elderly. Twenty-seven of 175 lung cancers coexisted with tuberculous scar. The high incidence of tuberculous scar in the elderly caused the seeming increase in the incidence of coexistence of lung cancer. In 14 of 21 coexistent cases reviewed, lung cancer was identified retrospectively on one-year old radiographs. In six patients, lung cancer was misinterpreted as a part of tuberculous scar, despite comparison to one-year old films. The present study suggests that radiographs showing tuberculous scar should be carefully compared to previous films taken at least two years earlier

A Case of Pulmonary Sarcoma with Significant Extension into the Right Lung

A female patient in her 30s was referred to us with a mass approximately 8 centimeters in diameter in right lung segment 6. Bronchoscopy was done, and a tumorous lesion obstructing right B6 was found. Biopsy of this lesion supported suspicions of sarcoma or spindle cell carcinoma. Contrast-enhanced CT showed that the mass extended to and obstructed the right main pulmonary artery. A skip lesion was also suspected in the periphery of pulmonary artery trunk. The tumor was removed by right pneumonectomy accompanied by resection of the main and left pulmonary arteries under cardiopulmonary bypass. The pulmonary artery trunk and the left pulmonary artery were reconstructed with a vascular graft. Collectively, intimal sarcoma originating from the right main pulmonary artery with extension into the right lung was diagnosed. Significant extension of pulmonary artery sarcoma into the lung, as was observed in the present case, is considered to be rare, and to our knowledge this is the first report in which the primary lesion was biopsied by bronchoscopy

Autonomous, bidding, credible, decentralized, ethical, and funded (ABCDEF) publishing [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]

Scientists write research articles, process ethics reviews, evaluate proposals and research, and seek funding. Several strategies have been proposed to optimize these operations and to decentralize access to research resources and opportunities. For instance, we previously proposed the trinity review method, combining registered reports with financing and research ethics assessments. However, previously proposed systems have a number of shortcomings, including how to implement them, e.g., who manages them, how incentives for reviewers are paid, etc. Various solutions have been proposed to address these issues, employing methods based on blockchain technologies, called “decentralized science (DeSci)”. Decentralized approaches that exploit these developments offer potentially profound improvements to the troubled scientific ecosystem. Here, we propose a system that integrates ethics reviews, peer reviews, and funding in a decentralized manner, based on Web3 technology. This new method, named ABCDEF publishing, would enhance the speed, fairness, and transparency of scientific research and publishing

In vivo imaging of zebrafish retinal cells using fluorescent coumarin derivatives

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The zebrafish visual system is a good research model because the zebrafish retina is very similar to that of humans in terms of the morphologies and functions. Studies of the retina have been facilitated by improvements in imaging techniques. <it>In vitro </it>techniques such as immunohistochemistry and <it>in vivo </it>imaging using transgenic zebrafish have been proven useful for visualizing specific subtypes of retinal cells. In contrast, <it>in vivo </it>imaging using organic fluorescent molecules such as fluorescent sphingolipids allows non-invasive staining and visualization of retinal cells <it>en masse</it>. However, these fluorescent molecules also localize to the interstitial fluid and stain whole larvae.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We screened fluorescent coumarin derivatives that might preferentially stain neuronal cells including retinal cells. We identified four coumarin derivatives that could be used for <it>in vivo </it>imaging of zebrafish retinal cells. The retinas of living zebrafish could be stained by simply immersing larvae in water containing 1 μg/ml of a coumarin derivative for 30 min. By using confocal laser scanning microscopy, the lamination of the zebrafish retina was clearly visualized. Using these coumarin derivatives, we were able to assess the development of the zebrafish retina and the morphological abnormalities induced by genetic or chemical interventions. The coumarin derivatives were also suitable for counter-staining of transgenic zebrafish expressing fluorescent proteins in specific subtypes of retinal cells.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The coumarin derivatives identified in this study can stain zebrafish retinal cells in a relatively short time and at low concentrations, making them suitable for <it>in vivo </it>imaging of the zebrafish retina. Therefore, they will be useful tools in genetic and chemical screenings using zebrafish to identify genes and chemicals that may have crucial functions in the retina.</p

Concentration of mitochondrial DNA mutations by cytoplasmic transfer from platelets to cultured mouse cells

Accumulation of mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is thought to be responsible for mitochondrial, and other, diseases and biological phenomena, such as diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and aging. Mouse models may elucidate the relationship between mutations in mtDNA and these abnormalities. However, because of the difficulty of mtDNA manipulation, generation of mouse models has not sufficiently progressed to enable such studies. To overcome this difficulty and to establish a source of diverse mtDNA mutations, we here generated cultured mouse cells containing mtDNA derived from an mtDNA mutator mouse that accumulates random mtDNA mutations with age. Mutation analysis of the obtained transmitochondrial cytoplasmic hybrid cells (cybrids) revealed that the cells harbored diverse mtDNA mutations occurring at a higher frequency than in mouse tissues, and exhibited severe respiration defects that would be lethal in tissues or organs. Abnormal respiratory complex formation and high stress on the mitochondrial protein quality control system appeared to be involved in these severe respiration defects. The mutation rates of the majority of highly accumulated mutations converged to either approximately 5%, 10%, or 40%, suggesting that these mutations are linked on the respective mtDNA molecules, and mtDNA in cybrid cells likely consisted of mtDNA molecules clonally expanded from the small population of introduced mtDNAs. Thus, the linked mutations in these cybrid cells cannot be evaluated individually. In addition, mtDNA mutations homologous to confirmed pathogenic mutations in human were rarely observed in our generated cybrids. However, the transmitochondrial cybrids constitute a useful tool for concentrating pathogenic mtDNA mutations and as a source of diverse mtDNA mutations to elucidate the relationship between mtDNA mutations and diseases