X-Ray bright optically faint active galactic nuclei in the Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam wide survey

We construct a sample of X-ray bright optically faint active galactic nuclei by combining Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam, XMM-Newton, and infrared source catalogs. 53 X-ray sources satisfying i band magnitude fainter than 23.5 mag and X-ray counts with EPIC-PN detector larger than 70 are selected from 9.1 deg^2, and their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and X-ray spectra are analyzed. 44 objects with an X-ray to i-band flux ratio F_X/F_i>10 are classified as extreme X-ray-to-optical flux sources. SEDs of 48 among 53 are represented by templates of type 2 AGNs or starforming galaxies and show signature of stellar emission from host galaxies in the optical in the source rest frame. Infrared/optical SEDs indicate significant contribution of emission from dust to infrared fluxes and that the central AGN is dust obscured. Photometric redshifts determined from the SEDs are in the range of 0.6-2.5. X-ray spectra are fitted by an absorbed power law model, and the intrinsic absorption column densities are modest (best-fit log N_H = 20.5-23.5 cm^-2 in most cases). The absorption corrected X-ray luminosities are in the range of 6x10^42 - 2x10^45 erg s^-1. 20 objects are classified as type 2 quasars based on X-ray luminsosity and N_H. The optical faintness is explained by a combination of redshifts (mostly z>1.0), strong dust extinction, and in part a large ratio of dust/gas.Comment: 25 pages, 14 figures, 5 tables, accepted for publication in PAS

Multi-locus sequence typing of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis strains in Japan between 1973 and 2004

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) was responsible for a worldwide pandemic during the 1980s and 1990s; however, changes in the dominant lineage before and after this event remain unknown. This study determined S. Enteritidis lineages before and after this pandemic event in Japan using multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Thirty S. Enteritidis strains were collected in Japan between 1973 and 2004, consisting of 27 human strains from individual episodes, a bovine strain, a liquid egg strain and an eggshell strain. Strains showed nine phage types and 17 pulsed-field profiles with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. All strains had homologous type 11 sequences without any nucleotide differences in seven housekeeping genes. These MLST results suggest that S. Enteritidis with the diversities revealed by phage typing and pulsed-field profiling has a highly clonal population. Although type 11 S. Enteritidis may exhibit both pleiotropic surface structure and pulsed-field type variation, it is likely to be a stable lineage derived from an ancestor before the 1980s and/or 1990s pandemic in Japan

前立腺癌における血清γ-セミノプロティンの測定

前立腺癌の新しいマーカーとして, γ-セミノプロテイン(γ-Sm)と前立腺性酸性ホスファターゼ(PAP)とを比較評価した.未治療前立腺癌におけるγ-SMおよびPAPのsensitivityは, それぞれ81%, 67%であった.γ-Smはすべての病期で前立腺肥大症と比較して陽性率が高かった.前立腺癌ではγ-SmとPAPは相関を示さなかった.γ-SmとPAPを同時に測定することにより, 感度が上昇した.γ-SmおよびPAPのspecificityはそれぞれ87%と90%であった.内分泌療法を施行した病期D2において, γ-SmはPAPよりもより多く正常化した.以上より, γ-Smは前立腺癌のもう1つの有用なマーカーであるといえるSerum gamma-seminoprotein (gamma-Sm) was evaluated as a new marker for prostatic cancer in comparison with prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP). The sensitivity of gamma-Sm and PAP for untreated prostatic cancer was 81% and 67%, respectively. gamma-Sm showed a higher positive rate over all stages than in benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). There was no correlation between gamma-Sm and PAP in prostatic cancer. Improved sensitivity was obtained by simultaneous measurement of gamma-Sm and PAP. Specificity of gamma-Sm and PAP for BPH was 87% and 90%, respectively. gamma-Sm normalized after endocrine therapy for stage D2 more often than did PAP. These results indicate that gamma-Sm is another useful marker to evaluate prostatic cancer

BioGlue® coronary embolism during open heart surgery

AbstractIn cases of iatrogenic coronary embolism during cardiac surgery or percutaneous coronary intervention, small air bubbles or foreign bodies are directly injected, which usually result in serious adverse events if not treated promptly. We herein describe the case of a patient who developed acute myocardial infarction resulting in shock due to BioGlue® (CryoLife, Atlanta, GA, USA)-induced coronary embolism during the surgical repair of aortic dissection and was treated for retrieval of the material using a thrombectomy catheter.<Learning objective: Coronary embolism caused by surgical adhesives is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication. It is important for surgeons to promptly recognize and treat this serious condition in consultation with cardiologists.

Noninvasive Demonstration of Dual Coronary Artery Fistulas to Main Pulmonary Artery with 64-Slice Multidetector-Computed Tomography: A Case Report

Coronary artery fistulas, including coronary pulmonary fistulas, are usually discovered accidently among the adult population when undergoing invasive coronary angiographies. We report here a 58-year-old woman with dual fistulas originating from the left anterior descending coronary artery and right coronary sinus to the main pulmonary artery, demonstrating noninvasively with multidetector-computed tomography (MDCT) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE)

Effect of mass chemotherapy and piped water on numbers of Schistosoma haematobium and prevalence in Bulinus globosus in Kwale, Kenya.

From June 1982 to May 1986 in a small village in Kwale, Kenya, we studied seasonal fluctuations in populations of Bulinus globosus, prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection in this snail, and effects of chemotherapy and piped water supply on infection rate of snails. In the perennially-flowing Pemba River, relatively small numbers of snails were collected; they were found only during the hot dry season (December to March). In a tributary stream, the Kadingo River, whose flow ceased at the end of both the cool and hot dry seasons, snail numbers peaked at the end of the cool dry season (October to November) and at the beginning of the hot dry season (January). Large numbers of infected snails were found in the Kadingo River from November to January (short rainy season and beginning of dry season). Selective mass chemotherapy with metrifonate and provision of piped water were begun in February and March 1984. These control measures achieved a significant reduction in the infection rate of snails (P < 0.001); the annual infection rate for the 2 years before treatment was 9.3% and 13.1%, and for the 2 years after treatment was 3.5% and 3.4%

A distinct effect of transient and sustained upregulation of cellular factor XIII in the goldfish retina and optic nerve on optic nerve regeneration

Unlike in mammals, fish retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) have a capacity to repair their axons even after optic nerve transection. In our previous study, we isolated a tissue type transglutaminase (TG) from axotomized goldfish retina. The levels of retinal TG (TG R) mRNA increased in RGCs 1-6 weeks after nerve injury to promote optic nerve regeneration both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we screened other types of TG using specific FITC-labeled substrate peptides to elucidate the implications for optic nerve regeneration. This screening showed that the activity of only cellular coagulation factor XIII (cFXIII) was increased in goldfish optic nerves just after nerve injury. We therefore cloned a full-length cDNA clone of FXIII A subunit (FXIII-A) and studied temporal changes of FXIII-A expression in goldfish optic nerve and retina during regeneration. FXIII-A mRNA was initially detected at the crush site of the optic nerve 1 h after injury; it was further observed in the optic nerve and achieved sustained long-term expression (1-40 days after nerve injury). The cells producing FXIII-A were astrocytes/microglial cells in the optic nerve. By contrast, the expression of FXIII-A mRNA and protein was upregulated in RGCs for a shorter time (3-10 days after nerve injury). Overexpression of FXIII-A in RGCs achieved by lipofection induced significant neurite outgrowth from unprimed retina, but not from primed retina with pretreatment of nerve injury. Addition of extracts of optic nerves with injury induced significant neurite outgrowth from primed retina, but not from unprimed retina without pretreatment of nerve injury. The transient increase of cFXIII in RGCs promotes neurite sprouting from injured RGCs, whereas the sustained increase of cFXIII in optic nerves facilitates neurite elongation from regrowing axons. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Effect of Piped Water Supply on Human Water Contact Patterns in a Schistosoma haematobium-Endemic Area in Coast Province, Kenya

The effect of a piped water supply on human water contact in a Schistosoma haematobium-endemic area in Coast Province, Kenya was studied. After the construction of five community standpipes and one shower unit, there was a 35.1% reduction in the number of people observed using river water, a 44.1% reduction in the frequency of contact with river water, and a 25.4% reduction in the amount of contact. The frequency of river water contact per person also decreased significantly, but the amount of contact per person did not decrease. The total frequency of contact decreased significantly except for washing clothes by the river, washing utensils, and fishing. The frequency per person did not change for most of the activities and significantly increased for washing clothes. The frequency of river water contact in households with high piped water consumption showed a significant decrease compared with those with low piped water consumption. The volume of consumption of piped water was inversely proportional to the distance from the home to the community standpipe. These results indicate that in the study area, the effect of a piped water supply on river water contact behavior was heterologous while the total river water contact decreased significantly, and that the piped water had a beneficial effect on some villagers but very little effect on others