The DsbA-L gene is associated with respiratory function of the elderly via its adiponectin multimeric or antioxidant properties

Oxidative stress and inflammation play a key role in the age-related decline in the respiratory function. Adipokine in relation to the metabolic and inflammatory systems is attracting growing interest in the field of respiratory dysfunction. The present clinical and experimental studies investigated the role of the disulfide bond-forming oxidoreductase A-like protein (DsbA-L) gene, which has antioxidant and adiponectin multimeric (i.e. activation) properties, on the respiratory function of the elderly. We performed a retrospective longitudinal genotype-phenotype relationship analysis of 318 Japanese relatively elderly participants (mean age ± standard deviation: 67.0 ± 5.8 years) during a health screening program and an in vitro DsbA-L knock-down evaluation using 16HBE14o-cells, a commonly evaluated human airway epithelial cell line. The DsbA-L rs1917760 polymorphism was associated with a reduction in the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) and %FEV1 and with the elevation of the prevalence of FEV1/FVC < 70%. We also confirmed that the polymorphism was associated with a decreased respiratory function in relation to a decrease in the ratio of high-molecular-weight adiponectin/total adiponectin (as a marker of adiponectin multimerization) and an increase in the oxidized human serum albumin (as an oxidative stress marker). Furthermore, we clarified that DsbA-L knock-down induced oxidative stress and up-regulated the mucus production in human airway epithelial cells. These findings suggest that the DsbA-L gene may play a role in protecting the respiratory function of the elderly, possibly via increased systemic adiponectin functions secreted from adipocytes or through systemic and/or local pulmonary antioxidant properties

Health Checkup and Telemedical Intervention Program for Preventive Medicine in Developing Countries: Verification Study

Background: The prevalence of non-communicable diseases is increasing throughout the world, including developing countries. / Objective: The intent was to conduct a study of a preventive medical service in a developing country, combining eHealth checkups and teleconsultation as well as assess stratification rules and the short-term effects of intervention. / Methods: We developed an eHealth system that comprises a set of sensor devices in an attaché case, a data transmission system linked to a mobile network, and a data management application. We provided eHealth checkups for the populations of five villages and the employees of five factories/offices in Bangladesh. Individual health condition was automatically categorized into four grades based on international diagnostic standards: green (healthy), yellow (caution), orange (affected), and red (emergent). We provided teleconsultation for orange- and red-grade subjects and we provided teleprescription for these subjects as required. / Results: The first checkup was provided to 16,741 subjects. After one year, 2361 subjects participated in the second checkup and the systolic blood pressure of these subjects was significantly decreased from an average of 121 mmHg to an average of 116 mmHg (P<.001). Based on these results, we propose a cost-effective method using a machine learning technique (random forest method) using the medical interview, subject profiles, and checkup results as predictor to avoid costly measurements of blood sugar, to ensure sustainability of the program in developing countries. / Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate the benefits of an eHealth checkup and teleconsultation program as an effective health care system in developing countries

能登半島西方海域における3次元地質構造モデル

In the sea area off the west coast of the Noto Peninsula, there are faults and flexures that have been formed since the Tertiary Period. It is also the area in which the magnitude 6.9 Noto Hanto earthquake occurred on March 25th 2007. Many acoustic surveys have been carried out and have revealed the vertical cross-sections of subsurface sedimentary structures in this area. In this study, we compiled the boundary depths of the sedimentary structures, together with the distribution of faults and flexures, and created a three-dimensional (3D) depth distribution of the boundaries of the subsurface geological structures formed since the Tertiary Period in this area. The obtained 3D depth distribution of the boundaries illuminates the distribution of the flexure structure in the sea area off the city of Hakui at each boundary. We recognized that the boundary depths change steeply for the Quaternary Period reverse faults that lie relatively close to the coast, while little for the faults far from the coast

フランス技術革新制度の進展とベッファ報告の意味―伝統的政策手段への回帰？

National audienceRebuilding the capacity for technological innovation is becoming an important political agenda in European countries, especially in France.This is due to the impact of the American model, which has led the world in technological innovation for the past decade.In fact, the U.S. economy has succeeded in revitalizing its industries by massively transferring scientific and technological knowledge owned by universities and public labs to business world. This is especially true in the IT sector and the biotechnology sector. In European countries as well, knowledge stock is considered as the key to revitalizing old industries and creating new businesses.The so-called "Lisbon Strategy," formulated by the EU Commission in 2000, calls for raising annual R&D spending in EU countries to 3% of GDP by 2010,in order to create a "knowledge-based economy" that will surpass that of the United States.In France, as a pillar of the national strategy, various forms of industry-university collaboration have been conceived, publicly propelled and in part implemented. This type of actions has become a matter of course to strengthen various forms of cooperative research and knowledge and technology transfer between universities and industries.In this paper, we will try to descibe the recent trends in France