Negative regulation of hepatitis B virus replication by forkhead box protein A in human hepatoma cells

AbstractHepatitis B virus (HBV) replication is controlled by liver-enriched transcriptional factors, including forkhead box protein A (FOXA) members. Here, we found that FOXA members are directly and indirectly involved in HBV replication in human hepatic cells. HBV replication was elevated in HuH-7 treated with individual FOXA members-specific siRNA. Reciprocally, the downregulation of HBV replication was observed in FOXA-induced HuH-7. However, the mechanism of downregulation is different among FOXA members at the level of HBV RNA transcription, such as precore/pg RNA and 2.1kb RNA. In addition, FOXA1 and FOXA2 suppressed nuclear hormone receptors, such as HNF4α, that are related to HBV replication

Effects of mechanical insufflation-exsufflation on compartmental chest wall volume in patients with chronic cervical spinal cord injuries

　The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of mechanical insufflationexsufflation (MI-E) on volume change of the chest wall and each compartment of the chest wall in patients with cervical spinal cord injury using optoelectronic plethysmography (OEP).　Fourteen male patients with chronic cervical spinal cord injuries were included with the following characteristics: age, 56.2 ± 13.6 years; height, 168.4 ± 5.5 cm; body weight, 62.3 ± 12.7 kg; median number of days after injury, 387 days (range, 200-3575 days). The change of chest wall volume was significantly greater during MI-E of ≥ ±30 cmH2O than when taking a deep breath. The volume change in the upper and lower thorax compartment was significantly greater during MI-E of ≥ ±30 cmH2O than when taking a deep breath. However, MI-E made no significant difference to the volume of the upper and lower thorax compartment between pressures of ±30 cmH2O and ±50 cmH2O. The volume change in the abdomen compartment was slightly greater during MI-E than when taking a deep breath, but this was not statistically significant.　The findings of this study indicate the possibility of maintenance or improvement of the compliance of the chest wall, especially the rib cage in patients with spinal cord injuries, using MI-E. In turn, these findings could lead to the prevention of pulmonary complications

High Efficiency Microwave Flow Chemistry Towards Synthesis of Functional Materials and Pharmaceutical Cores

[EN] Microwave (MW) heating benefits organic synthesis by affording higher product yields in shorter time periods than conventional heating, yet it suffers from poor scalability and is limited to polar solvents in typical batch mode reactors. Herein, we report a microwave flow reactor using a solid-state semiconductor MW generator. The tunable, single-mode MW heating allows high efficiency, scalable organic synthesis, rapid reaction optimization and is applicable to non-polar solvents (o-Xylene and CPME can be rapidly heated to ca. 260 oC). Auto-frequency tuning compensates for changes in the microwave absorption properties (permittivity, epsilon) with increasing temperature, affording excellent temperature and process control. This technology unlocked unprecedented g/h productivity of C60/fullerene-indene monoadduct (IC60MA) and facilitated a novel, transition metal-free amide-styrene coupling reaction for synthesis of amide-containing pharmaceutical cores in up to 65 g/h (Figure 1). An ortho-Claisen rearrangement reaction was rapidly optimised.The authors gratefully acknowledge the technical support from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology and the University of Shizuoka, as well as financial support from NEDO, Shizuoka Prefectural Government. Joshua P. Barham is grateful for financial support from JSPS (KAKENHI Grant Number JP18F19030). The authors are grateful for Shizuoka University (Prof. Noboyuki Mase’s group) and Gifu Pharmaceutical University (Prof. Hironao Sajiki’s group) for their research in this area.Barham, J.; Koyama, E.; Sugiyama, J.; Norikane, Y.; Egami, H.; Hamashima, Y. (2019). High Efficiency Microwave Flow Chemistry Towards Synthesis of Functional Materials and Pharmaceutical Cores. En AMPERE 2019. 17th International Conference on Microwave and High Frequency Heating. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 409-417. https://doi.org/10.4995/AMPERE2019.2019.9860OCS40941

An epidemiologically rare case of Vibrio vulnificus infection that occurred in October in an inland city of Japan

　A 68-year-old man with alcohol addiction, who lived in the suburbs of Tsuyama, an inland city located in northeast Okayama prefecture, was transported to the emergency unit of the Tsuyama Central Hospital in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA). Despite rigorous systemic investigation and treatment, the patient died 2 hours after arrival. After his death, Vibrio vulnificus was isolated from his blood culture. 　Vibrio vulnificus causes fatal infection in humans, usually only in areas located close to the sea where appropriate temperature and suitable salt concentration for its growth are available. Therefore, its occurrence is epidemiologically restricted ; in Japan, the western coastal areas, especially in summers, are reported to be the high-risk regions. This is a rare case because it occurred in a city approximately 50 kilometers from both the Sea of Japan and the Pacific coast of Okayama, and at the end of October in 2011. Economic development and distribution systems have made it possible to transport various food products from coastal areas or abroad to any place in a short time, such that these infections can potentially develop in areas other than expected. We should be aware of the increasing risk of Vibrio vulnificus infection during any season and at any place, especially in patients with abnormal liver function

Assessment of chest movements in tetraplegic patients using a three-dimensional motion analysis system

We used optoelectronic plethysmography (OEP) to evaluate the effects of posture on chest and abdominal movements during respiration in patients with chronic-stage complete spinal cord injuries. The subjects were five cervical injury patients (male, C4-C8 injury, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grade A) and five healthy people matched to each of the cervical injury patients for age, height, and weight. The chest wall movement each of the subjects was recorded using OEP during six quiet breathing and three deep breathing periods in each of the following positions: supine, with the trunk elevated to 30°, and with the trunk elevated to 60°. Data on the chest wall volume and compartment volumes (upper thorax, lower thorax, abdomen) were then compared among the postures. During quiet breathing in the tetraplegic patients, the change in upper thorax volume was smaller at the end of inhalation than at the end of exhalation, presenting as a paradoxical breathing pattern. During deep breathing in the tetraplegic patients, abdominal volume accounted for a large portion of the change in total chest wall volume. Posture affected the recorded abdominal volume; volume was greatest in the supine position and decreased as the posture became more upright

Investigation into the safety of driving by individuals with higher brain dysfunction

Dangerous driving by drivers with diseases or disabilities such as dementia, epilepsy, or higher brain dysfunction is viewed as a problem In Worldwide. Given that the majority of such cases of dangerous driving are caused by impairments to cognitive function resulting from these conditions, there is an urgent need to create systems to detect drivers with cognitive functional disability and develop criteria for safe resumption of driving. Because driving would understandably be extremely dangerous for people with higher brain dysfunction, particularly in cases of attention dysfunction, we first examined the correlation between the Clinical Assessment of Attention (CAT), a theoretical task offering an index of attention function, and the cathode ray tube (CRT) driving aptitude test. We then examined correlations between CRT total score and CRT sub-scores. Only the time required for the position Stroop test had a moderate correlation (r=-0.43, p<0.01) with CRT total score. Correlations between CRT total score and sub-scores relating to reaction speed showed a strong correlation. Other than reaction speed, items with significant moderate to strong correlations were also seen in the maintenance of moderate mental tension, attention distribution and situation processing skill. The present results show a correlation between CAT score and CRT total score, indicating that CRT total score places relative weights on speed of information processing and suppression of stereotypes, representing a very meaningful result

Different Characteristics of Cognitive Impairment in Elderly Schizophrenia and Alzheimer's Disease in the Mild Cognitive Impairment Stage

We compared indices of the revised version of the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS-R) and scaled scores of the five subtests of the revised version of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-R) in 30 elderly schizophrenia (ES) patients and 25 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients in the amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) stage (AD-aMCI). In the WMS-R, attention/concentration was rated lower and delayed recall was rated higher in ES than in AD-aMCI, although general memory was comparable in the two groups. In WAIS-R, digit symbol substitution, similarity, picture completion, and block design scores were significantly lower in ES than in AD-aMCI, but the information scores were comparable between the two groups. Delayed recall and forgetfulness were less impaired, and attention, working memory and executive function were more impaired in ES than in AD-aMCI. These results should help clinicians to distinguish ES combined with AD-aMCI from ES alone

秋葉原「Tokyo Times Tower」調査報告 : 超高層住宅の商品企画調査 その1

This report clarifies the types and features of a super-high-rise apartment building, \u27Tokyo Times Tower\u27, built as part of a development in the area of Akihabara station, and estimates its value as a well-designed \u27product\u27 for sale. Its characteristics are examined from the angles of product planning, sales method, and design manuals. The researchers also refer to the results of a survey completed by the potential residents which the researchers believe will suggest proper conditions of location and plans to be supplied for the upcoming multistory apartment buildings

Low-Damage and High-Rate Sputtering of Silicon Surfaces by Ethanol Cluster Ion Beam

To realize the high-rate and low-damage sputtering of a Si surface, the effect of irradiating an ethanol cluster ion beam on a Si surface was investigated. The sputtering depths in Si substrates induced by the ethanol cluster ion beam irradiation were larger than those in SiO2 substrates, which was due to a chemical sputtering effect. The lattice disorder and the surface roughness of the Si substrates decreased with increasing retarding voltage