Fibrin monomers derived from thrombogenic dysfibrinogenemia, Naples-type variant (BβAla68Thr), showed almost entirely normal polymerization

ArticleTHROMBOSIS RESEARCH.172:1-3(2018)journal articl

A novel frameshift mutation in the fibrinogen γC terminal region, FGG c.1169_1170 del AT, leading to hypofibrinogenemia

ArticleTHROMBOSIS RESEARCH.159:82-85(2017)journal articl

逆転写酵素・DNAポリメラーゼを用いたRT-PCRによる増幅反応で確認されたペッパーマイルドモットルウイルス（PMMoV）感染ピーマンの果実種子におけるウイルスの効果的な不活性化方法

A method for efficient inactivation Papper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) in harvested seeds of green pepper was examined based on the infectivity on the leaves of Nicotina glutinosa L.(a local host) and a reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based amplification of the viral RNA. The seed homogenates from PMMoV-infected plants produced a large number of necrotic local lesion in N.glutinosa, but soaking the seeds in 10% (w/v) tri-sodium phosphate (Na3PO4) for 20 min or dry sterilization (70C,3h) effectivity eliminated the abundance of PMMoV. However, no necrotic lesion on N.glutinosa or the RT-PCR-basaed amplification was observed with seeds that has been disinfected by Na3PO4 in combination with dry sterilization

Genetic analyses of novel compound heterozygous hypodysfibrinogenemia, Tsukuba I: FGG c.1129+62_65 del AATA and FGG c.1299+4 del A

Epub 2016 Nov 5Introduction: Wefound a novel hypodysfibrinogenemia designated Tsukuba I caused by compound heterozygous nucleotide deletionswith FGG c. 1129+ 62_ 65 del AATA and FGG c. 1299+ 4 del A on different alleles. The former was deep in intron 8 of FGG (IVS-8 deletion) and the latter in exon 9 of FGG (Ex-9 deletion), which is translated for the gamma'-chain, but not the.A-chain. AWestern blot analysis of plasma fibrinogen from our patient revealed an aberrant gamma-chain that migrated slightly faster than the normal B beta-chain. Materials andmethods: To clarify the complex genetic mechanismunderlying Tsukuba I's hypodysfibrinogenemia induced by nucleotide deletions in two regions, we generated two minigenes incorporating each deletion region, transfected them into Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, and analyzed RT-PCR products. We also established CHO cells producing the recombinant variant fibrinogen,gamma' 409.A (Ex-9 deletion). Results and conclusions: Minigene I incorporating the IVS-8 deletion showed two products: a normal splicing product and the unspliced product. Minigene II incorporating the Ex-9 deletion only produced the unspliced product. The established gamma' 409.A-CHOcells secreted variant fibrinogenmore effectively than normal fibrinogen. Therefore, the aberrant splicing products derived from the IVS-8 deletion cause hypofibrinogenemia most likely due to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay and the partial production of normal.A-and gamma'-chains; moreover, the Ex-9 deletion causes hypodysfibrinogenemia due to the absence of normal.A-and gamma'-chain production (hypofibrinogenemia) and augmented aberrant.'-chain production (dysfibrinogenemia). (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.ArticleTHROMBOSIS RESEARCH. 148:111-117 (2016)journal articl

Effect of low-dose human atrial natriuretic peptide on postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing pulmonary resection for lung cancer: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study

ObjectivesWe previously reported that patients with preoperative B-type natriuretic peptide levels of 30 pg/mL or more have increased risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation after pulmonary resection. This study evaluated the effects of human atrial natriuretic peptide on postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing pulmonary resection for lung cancer.MethodsA prospective, randomized study was conducted with 40 patients who had preoperative elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (≥30 pg/mL) and underwent a scheduled pulmonary resection for lung cancer. Results were compared between patients who received low-dose human atrial natriuretic peptide and those who received a placebo. The primary end point was the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation during the first 4 days after surgery.ResultsThe incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation was significantly lower in the human atrial natriuretic peptide group than in the placebo group (10% vs 60%; P < .001). Patients in the human atrial natriuretic peptide group also showed significantly lower white blood cell counts and C-reactive protein levels after surgery.ConclusionsContinuous infusion of low-dose human atrial natriuretic peptide during lung cancer surgery had a prophylactic effect against postoperative atrial fibrillation after pulmonary resection in patients with preoperative elevation of B-type natriuretic peptide levels. A larger sample size is needed to establish the safety and efficacy of this intervention

Development of a UV-transparent Lens Array for Enlarging the Effective Area of Multichannel SiPMs

We developed a UV-transparent lens array that can increase the photon detection efficiency of a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array comprising of 64 pixels ($3\times3$ mm$^2$ each) and 0.2-mm gaps. Through the plano-convex spherical lens on each $3.2\times3.2$ mm$^2$ region, we showed that the loss of photon detection efficiency due to the pixel gaps could be recovered as the incident photons get concentrated on the sensitive regions of the SiPM array. By using a prototype lens array, we achieved approximately 10%-30% relative increase in photon detection efficiency in our target angles of incidence of 30-60 deg.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Proceedings of the 5th International Workshop on New Photon-Detectors (PD18

Effect of Edge-Preserving Adaptive Image Filter on Low-Contrast Detectability in CT Systems: Application of ROC Analysis

Objective. For the multislice CT (MSCT) systems with a larger number of detector rows, it is essential to employ dose-reduction techniques. As reported in previous studies, edge-preserving adaptive image filters, which selectively eliminate only the noise elements that are increased when the radiation dose is reduced without affecting the sharpness of images, have been developed. In the present study, we employed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to assess the effects of the quantum denoising system (QDS), which is an edge-preserving adaptive filter that we have developed, on low-contrast resolution, and to evaluate to what degree the radiation dose can be reduced while maintaining acceptable low-contrast resolution. Materials and Methods. The low-contrast phantoms (Catphan 412) were scanned at various tube current settings, and ROC analysis was then performed for the groups of images obtained with/without the use of QDS at each tube current to determine whether or not a target could be identified. The tube current settings for which the area under the ROC curve (Az value) was approximately 0.7 were determined for both groups of images with/without the use of QDS. Then, the radiation dose reduction ratio when QDS was used was calculated by converting the determined tube current to the radiation dose. Results. The use of the QDS edge-preserving adaptive image filter allowed the radiation dose to be reduced by up to 38%. Conclusion. The QDS was found to be useful for reducing the radiation dose without affecting the low-contrast resolution in MSCT studies