Influence of genetic factors on the ephedrine alkaloid composition ratio of Ephedra plants

We investigated the ephedrine alkaloid [(-)-ephedrine and (+)-pseudoephedrine] composition ratio of a crude Chinese herbal drug described in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia \u27Ephedra herb (Chinese name: Mahuang)\u27. There were marked changes in the alkaloid composition ratio of wild plants in areas where both male and female clusters coexisted. However, in genetically homogeneous areas with the growth of male or female clusters alone, all of the coefficients of the regression lines were positive, but each gradient varied. This suggests that the alkaloid composition ratio has a clear tendency in each individual. Based on this, we cultivated individuals for vegetative propagation, and evaluated the alkaloid content ratio. Those propagated by separating the roots showed a specific tendency regardless of the cultivation area (Wakayama, Tanegashima). Those propagated by separating the herbaceous stem showed a specific tendency regardless of the soil or harvest time. In addition, we surveyed the (-)-ephedrine content ratio of 3- to 6-year-old strains. There was a high positive correlation coefficient between the previous and subsequent years. These findings suggest that the ephedrine alkaloid composition ratio of Ephedra herb depends on genetic factors, but not on environmental factors or the growth period

Spatial distribution and risk factors of Schistosoma haematobium and hookworm infections among schoolchildren in Kwale, Kenya

Background: Large-scale schistosomiasis control programs are implemented in regions with diverse social and economic environments. A key epidemiological feature of schistosomiasis is its small-scale heterogeneity. Locally profiling disease dynamics including risk factors associated with its transmission is essential for designing appropriate control programs. To determine spatial distribution of schistosomiasis and its drivers, we examined schoolchildren in Kwale, Kenya. Methodology/Principal findings: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 368 schoolchildren from six primary schools. Soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni eggs in stool were evaluated by the Kato-Katz method. We measured the intensity of Schistosoma haematobium infection by urine filtration. The geometrical mean intensity of S. haematobium was 3.1 eggs/10 ml urine (school range, 1.4?9.2). The hookworm geometric mean intensity was 3.2 eggs/g feces (school range, 0?17.4). Heterogeneity in the intensity of S. haematobium and hookworm infections was evident in the study area. To identify factors associated with the intensity of helminth infections, we utilized negative binomial generalized linear mixed models. The intensity of S. haematobium infection was associated with religion and socioeconomic status (SES), while that of hookworm infection was related to SES, sex, distance to river and history of anthelmintic treatment. Conclusions/Significance: Both S. haematobium and hookworm infections showed micro-geographical heterogeneities in this Kwale community. To confirm and explain our observation of high S. haematobium risk among Muslims, further extensive investigations are necessary. The observed small scale clustering of the S. haematobium and hookworm infections might imply less uniform strategies even at finer scale for efficient utilization of limited resources

Serological Surveillance Development for Tropical Infectious Diseases Using Simultaneous Microsphere-Based Multiplex Assays and Finite Mixture Models

Background:A strategy to combat infectious diseases, including neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), will depend on the development of reliable epidemiological surveillance methods. To establish a simple and practical seroprevalence detection system, we developed a microsphere-based multiplex immunoassay system and evaluated utility using samples obtained in Kenya.Methods:We developed a microsphere-based immuno-assay system to simultaneously measure the individual levels of plasma antibody (IgG) against 8 antigens derived from 6 pathogens: Entamoeba histolytica (C-IgL), Leishmania donovani (KRP42), Toxoplasma gondii (SAG1), Wuchereria bancrofti (SXP1), HIV (gag, gp120 and gp41), and Vibrio cholerae (cholera toxin). The assay system was validated using appropriate control samples. The assay system was applied for 3411 blood samples collected from the general population randomly selected from two health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) cohorts in the coastal and western regions of Kenya. The immunoassay values distribution for each antigen was mathematically defined by a finite mixture model, and cut-off values were optimized.Findings:Sensitivities and specificities for each antigen ranged between 71 and 100%. Seroprevalences for each pathogen from the Kwale and Mbita HDSS sites (respectively) were as follows: HIV, 3.0% and 20.1%; L. donovani, 12.6% and 17.3%; E. histolytica, 12.8% and 16.6%; and T. gondii, 30.9% and 28.2%. Seroprevalences of W. bancrofti and V. cholerae showed relatively high figures, especially among children. The results might be affected by immunological cross reactions between W. bancrofti-SXP1 and other parasitic infections; and cholera toxin and the enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), respectively.Interpretation:A microsphere-based multi-serological assay system can provide an opportunity to comprehensively grasp epidemiological features for NTDs. By adding pathogens and antigens of interest, optimized made-to-order high-quality programs can be established to utilize limited resources to effectively control NTDs in Africa

Effect of home reliner on occlusal relationships and oral mucosa: viscoelastic analyses by smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulation

AbstractBackgroundFor decades, many reports have expressed negative opinions about home reliner (HR), because it may result in residual ridge resorption. Recently, some clinical studies evaluated HR. However, the effect of HR on occlusal relationships and the oral mucosa remains unclear. Here, we dynamically analyzed the situation in which a patient applies HR to an upper complete denture.MethodsWe numerically simulated the effect of HR on occlusal relationships and the oral mucosa. In the simulation, the thickness of HR was set to 2mm as a proper amount and 4mm as an excessive amount. The loading points were set at the center of the right and left occlusal surfaces of the denture.ResultsCompared with the case without using HR, at proper amounts (2mm on the right and left sides), HR suppressed the depression of the ill-fitting denture, and stress on the oral mucosa was decreased. In the excessive HR model (4mm on the right and left sides), the vertical occlusal dimension was increased, and stress on the oral mucosa originally fitted with the denture base was increased. When the denture was modeled in an inclined position (2mm on the left side and 4mm on the right side), stress on the oral mucosa on the left buccal side was markedly increased.ConclusionIt was found that when an improper amount of HR was applied, the occlusal vertical dimension increased and the oral mucosa was pressured more than that under non-HR conditions

Sustained heterozygosity across a self-incompatibility locus in an inbred ascidian.

Because self-incompatibility loci are maintained heterozygous and recombination within self-incompatibility loci would be disadvantageous, self-incompatibility loci are thought to contribute to structural and functional differentiation of chromosomes. Although the hermaphrodite chordate, Ciona intestinalis, has two self-incompatibility genes, this incompatibility system is incomplete and self-fertilization occurs under laboratory conditions. Here, we established an inbred strain of C. intestinalis by repeated self-fertilization. Decoding genome sequences of sibling animals of this strain identified a 2.4-Mbheterozygous region on chromosome 7. A self-incompatibility gene, Themis-B, was encoded within this region. This observation implied that this self-incompatibility locus and the linkage disequilibrium of its flanking region contribute to the formation of the 2.4-Mb heterozygous region, probably through recombination suppression. We showed that different individuals in natural populations had different numbers and different combinations of Themis-B variants, and that the rate of self-fertilization varied among these animals. Our result explains why self-fertilization occurs under laboratory conditions. It also supports the concept that the Themis-B locus is preferentially retained heterozygous in the inbred line and contributes to the formation of the 2.4-Mb heterozygous region. High structural variations might suppress recombination, and this long heterozygous region might represent a preliminary stage of structural differentiation of chromosomes

Utility of a novel Exoscope, ORBEYE, in re-resection for recurrent brain tumor

Background: Re-resections is one of the treatment options for recurrence brain tumors, including both benign and malignant brain tumors, such as meningioma and glioblastoma. Re-resection for recurrent brain tumor sometimes needs extension of original craniotomy. However, extending original craniotomy is troublesome and can easily damage the adhered brain tissue and reconstruct of bone flap sometimes cause cosmetic problems, thus ideal way to re-resect recurrent brain tumor is to use the same original craniotomy.However, when using an operative microscope, performing re-resections without extending craniotomy requires the surgeon to operate in an awkward position. A recently developed high-definition (4 K-HD) 3-D exoscope system, ORBEYE, can improve this problem. In this study, we analyzed the utility of 4 K-HD 3-D exoscope system, ORBEYE, for re-resecting recurrent brain tumor. Methods: We report 32 cases managed by re-resecting recurrent brain tumor by ORBEYE. Perioperative clinical, surgical, and radiographic data were retrospectively examined. Results: Re-resecting tumors for recurrent brain tumor by ORBEYE were successfully performed for all 32 resections, using ORBEYE, without any severe postoperative neurological deficit. In addition, we could avoid extending original craniotomy as much as possible by adjusting the ORBEYE camera angle. Conclusion: Re-resecting tumors for recurrent brain tumors by ORBEYE are feasible and can avoid extending original craniotomy as much as possible

The impact of removing the epiretinal membrane and inner limiting membrane for sustained subretinal fluid by macular neovascularization refractory to anti-VEGF therapy

Purpose: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy is the most prevalent intervention for exudative lesions secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and other macular neovascularization (MNV). However, in some cases refractory to the latest anti-VEGF agents is associated with epiretinal membrane (ERM) or vitreomacular traction. We applied a vitrectomy to remove those pathologies which may be effective for reducing the exudation. Observations: In this case report, we present 2 cases with sustained subretinal fluid and macular neovascularization secondary to nAMD or dome-shaped macula that poorly responded to anti-VEGF therapy. In both cases, removing thin ERM or vitreomacular traction with an inner limiting membrane peeling promptly resolved the subretinal fluid and no recurrence was observed thereafter. Conclusions and importance: Vitrectomy could be an effective modality for anti-VEGF drug-resistant MNV cases with vitreomacular traction or ERM even in the anti-VEGF era

Symbiotic Bradyrhizobium japonicum Reduces N(2)O Surrounding the Soybean Root System via Nitrous Oxide Reductase

N(2)O reductase activity in soybean nodules formed with Bradyrhizobium japonicum was evaluated from N(2)O uptake and conversion of (15)N-N(2)O into (15)N-N(2). Free-living cells of USDA110 showed N(2)O reductase activity, whereas a nosZ mutant did not. Complementation of the nosZ mutant with two cosmids containing the nosRZDFYLX genes of B. japonicum USDA110 restored the N(2)O reductase activity. When detached soybean nodules formed with USDA110 were fed with (15)N-N(2)O, they rapidly emitted (15)N-N(2) outside the nodules at a ratio of 98.5% of (15)N-N(2)O uptake, but nodules inoculated with the nosZ mutant did not. Surprisingly, N(2)O uptake by soybean roots nodulated with USDA110 was observed even in ambient air containing a low concentration of N(2)O (0.34 ppm). These results indicate that the conversion of N(2)O to N(2) depends exclusively on the respiratory N(2)O reductase and that soybean roots nodulated with B. japonicum carrying the nos genes are able to remove very low concentrations of N(2)O