Whole-genome analysis of recombinant inbred rice lines reveals a quantitative trait locus on chromosome 3 with genotype-by-environment interaction effects

Elucidating genotype-by-environment interactions is fundamental for understanding the interplay between genetic and environmental factors that shape complex traits in crops. Genotype-by-environment interactions are of practical importance, as they determine the performance of cultivars grown in different environments, prompting the need for an efficient approach for evaluating genotype-by-environment interactions. Here, we describe a method for genotype-by-environment detection that involves comparing linear mixed models. This method successfully detected genotype-by-environment interactions in rice (Oryza sativa) recombinant inbred lines grown at 3 locations. We identified a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 3 that was associated with heading date, grain number, and leaf length. The effect of this QTL on plant growth–related traits varied with environmental conditions, indicating the presence of genotype-by-environment interactions. Therefore, our method enables a powerful genotype-by-environment detection pipeline that should facilitate the production of high-yielding crops in a given environment

Relationship between body composition and BMI in preschool children

Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. Obesity is a state in which body fat accumulates to an abnormal degree, and detailed information about body composition is necessary to investigate the problems of obesity in children. In the present study, we measured body composition using equipment based on the multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis method to measure lean body mass and the quantity of fat. We evaluated differences in body composition in young children from 3 to 5 years old, including differences in relation to gender, and correlated them with measured values of BMI. The fat percentages in girls were higher than in boys, and the muscle percentages (muscle mass/weight × 100) were the opposite. These results show that there were differences in relation to gender. Our evaluations were based on regression analysis of fat percentages in relation to BMI and muscle percentages. A high correlation was found between BMI and fat percentage. The relationship between BMI and muscle percentage was the opposite of the relationship between BMI and fat percentage, and there was a high negative relationship between boys and girls. A significant regression tendency was confirmed from the results of the regression analysis of fat and muscle percentages for BMI in preschool children. This suggests that BMI can also be used to evaluate the fatness or thinness of a preschool child. In short, BMI can be used as an index that can be used to evaluate fat and muscle percentages from early childhood. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Italia

Evaluation of liver function for hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery

In the present study, liver function at pre-operative and postoperative period was evaluated by various examinations. Patients with obstructive jaundice (n=14) and liver tumor (n=6) often have complications such as postoperative hepatic failure (n=4). They were divided into 3 groups: group A (n=7) had postoperative complications, group B (n=13) had uneventful postoperative course and group C (n=4) had postoperative hepatic failure. Liver function had significant correlations with levels of total bilirubin max (T-Bil max), hepaplastin tests (HPT) and ALPratio (post ope/pre-ope). Group C had T-Bil max≧30 mg/dl, HPT≦60% (54.4±14.7), ALPratio≧1.5, and admission ALP≧3000. We determined the level of bilirubin per day in drained blie (V-Bil) in 14 patients who underwent biliary drainage to ensure precise evalution of preoperative liver function. V-Bil was 332.9±140.0 mg/day on average, showing a close correlation with the serum bilirubin decreasing rate "b" and ICG R 15 (p<0.05). V-Bil is useful for evaluation of liver function in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice. In 6 patients without cirrhosis undergoing partial hepatectomy for liver tumor, ALPratio (≧1.5), a blood loss during operation (≧500), and operating time were related to the onset of postoperative hepatic failure

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The Development of a New Setup for Video-assisted Thoracic Surgery

In order to accomplish video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in a much easier and safer way, especially for assistant operators, we have developed a new display system for VATS. The original thoracoscope has been designed for this new system. The monitor is fixed at approximately 10 cm away from the surface of the chest wall just above the operative field. In using this procedure, the operator and assistants can see the patient and the monitor at the same time. According to this new idea, the previous problem in the area of hand–eye coordination and the three-dimensional understanding of this procedure can be improved compared to the image of the conventional thoracoscopy, because it is not necessary for the operator and assistants to look up at the monitors. When the thoracoscopy was placed in an adequate position to resect the target pathology, this new system led to good and easy handling of instruments, as it was with the standard thoracotomy

Abnormal Vaginal Cytology after Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy in Patients with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia

To explore the incidence of abnormal vaginal cytology after total laparoscopic hysterectomy for the treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3, we retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients treated at NHO Shikoku Cancer Center (Japan) in 2014-2019. The cases of 99 patients who underwent a laparoscopic (n=36) or open (n=63) hysterectomy and postoperative follow-up were examined. Abnormal vaginal cytology was detected in 13.9% (5/36) of the laparoscopic-surgery (LS) group and 14.3% (9/63) of the open-surgery (OS) group. A vaginal biopsy was performed at the physicians’ discretion; one LS patient and six OS patients were diagnosed with vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia. The cumulative incidence of abnormal vaginal cytology at 3 years post-hysterectomy was 21.4% (LS group) and 20.5% (OS group), a nonsignificant difference. A multivariate analysis showed that age > 50 years was the only independent risk factor for abnormal vaginal cytology among the covariates examined including age; body mass index; histories of vaginal delivery, abdominal surgery, and smoking; and surgical approach (hazard ratio 8.11; 95% confidence interval 1.73-37.98; p=0.01). These results suggest that the occurrence of abnormal vaginal cytology after a hysterectomy may not be influenced by the laparoscopic procedure but is associated with older age