High-resolution simulation of propagation of interplanetary shock wave caused by a coronal mass ejection observed on November 13, 2003

We simulated the three-dimensional (3D) propagation of a shock wave caused by a coronal mass ejection (CME) on November 13, 2003. The 3D simulations were performed using a high-resolution adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) technique. The AMR technique enabled us to resolve near the sun with (0.06R_◎)^3-sized cells and to resolve the entire shock front with (0.24R_◎)^3-sized cells in an interplanetary simulation within a (500R_◎)^3-sized computational box. The solar wind was measured by an imaginary spacecraft positioned at point L1 in the simulations. A model fitted for solar wind density fluctuations observed by the ACE spacecraft was employed, and models in which some CME parameters were changed were employed for comparison. The relationships between the CME parameters and the solar wind fluctuations were also investigated, and the results were compared with the solar wind data observed at point L1 by the ACE spacecraft

Lactobacillus helveticus SBT2171 Attenuates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Mice

We recently reported that Lactobacillus helveticus SBT2171 (LH2171) inhibited the proliferation and inflammatory cytokine production of primary immune cells in vitro, and alleviated collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice, a model of human rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we newly investigated whether LH2171 could relieve the severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a murine model of multiple sclerosis (MS), which is an autoimmune disease, but develop the symptoms by different mechanisms from RA. In MS and EAE, main cause of the disease is the abnormality in CD4+ T cell immunity, whereas in RA and CIA, is that in antibody-mediated immunity. The intraperitoneal administration of LH2171 significantly decreased the incidence and clinical score of EAE in mice. LH2171 also reduced the numbers of pathogenic immune cells, especially Th17 cells, in the spinal cord at the peak stage of disease severity. Interestingly, before the onset of EAE, LH2171 administration remarkably decreased the ratio of Th17 cells to CD4+ T cells in the inguinal lymph nodes (LNs), where pathogenic immune cells are activated to infiltrate the central nervous system, including the spinal cord. Furthermore, the expression of interleukin (IL)-6, an inflammatory cytokine essential for Th17 differentiation, decreased in the LNs of LH2171-administered mice. Moreover, LH2171 significantly inhibited IL-6 production in vitro from both DC2.4 and RAW264.7 cells, model cell lines of antigen-presenting cells. These findings suggest that LH2171 might down-regulate IL-6 production and the subsequent Th17 differentiation and spinal cord infiltration, consequently alleviating EAE symptoms

Newly Developed Fully Covered Metal Stent for Unresectable Malignant Biliary Stricture

We herein report two patients with unresectable malignant biliary stricture who underwent stenting with a newly developed fully-covered metal stent. In the first case of lower-middle bile duct cancer, a stent was placed through the stenosis. In the second case of middle bile duct stricture due to lymph node metastases from gallbladder cancer, a stent was placed in the bile duct across the stenosis. No procedure-related complications were observed. Unevenness of the outer surface and a low shortening ratio are expected to lessen the occurrence of complications characteristic of covered metal stents such as stent migration and bile duct kinking

Impact of a learning health system on acute care and medical complications after intracerebral hemorrhage

Introduction: Patients with stroke often experience pneumonia during the acute stage after stroke onset. Oral care may be effective in reducing the risk of stroke‐associated pneumonia (SAP). We aimed to determine the changes in oral care, as well as the incidence of SAP, in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, following implementation of a learning health system in our hospital. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 1716 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage who were hospitalized at a single stroke center in Japan between January 2012 and December 2018. Data were stratified on the basis of three periods of evolving oral care: period A, during which conventional, empirically driven oral care was provided (n = 725); period B, during which standardized oral care was introduced, with SAP prophylaxis based on known risk factors (n = 469); and period C, during which oral care was risk‐appropriate based on learning health system data (n = 522). Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate associations between each of the three treatment approaches and the risk of SAP. Results: Among the included patients, the mean age was 71.3 ± 13.6 years; 52.6% of patients were men. During the course of each period, the frequency of oral care within 24 hours of admission increased (P < .001), as did the adherence rate to oral care ≥3 times per day (P < .001). After adjustment for confounding factors, a change in the risk of SAP was not observed in period B; however, the risk significantly decreased in period C (odds ratio 0.61; 95% confidence interval 0.43‐0.87) compared with period A. These associations were maintained for SAP diagnosed using strict clinical criteria or after exclusion of 174 patients who underwent neurosurgical treatment. Conclusions: Risk‐appropriate care informed by the use of learning health system data could improve care and potentially reduce the risk of SAP in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage in the acute stage

BioHackathon series in 2011 and 2012: penetration of ontology and linked data in life science domains

The application of semantic technologies to the integration of biological data and the interoperability of bioinformatics analysis and visualization tools has been the common theme of a series of annual BioHackathons hosted in Japan for the past five years. Here we provide a review of the activities and outcomes from the BioHackathons held in 2011 in Kyoto and 2012 in Toyama. In order to efficiently implement semantic technologies in the life sciences, participants formed various sub-groups and worked on the following topics: Resource Description Framework (RDF) models for specific domains, text mining of the literature, ontology development, essential metadata for biological databases, platforms to enable efficient Semantic Web technology development and interoperability, and the development of applications for Semantic Web data. In this review, we briefly introduce the themes covered by these sub-groups. The observations made, conclusions drawn, and software development projects that emerged from these activities are discussed

A New Method to Measure Water Vapor Content of the Polar Middle Atmosphere Using Potochemical Reaction "H2O + hν(121.6nm) → OH*+H"

A method of water vapor measurement in the upper troposphere and the stratosphere of the polar region is described. This technique is due to the photochemical reactions, H_2O+hν (Lyman-alpha line) &xrarr;OH (A^2Σ^+)+H, OH (A^2Σ^+)&xrarr;OH (X^2II)+hν (309nm), and has several advantages such as fast response and high sensitivity, besides being relatively free from contamination. Results of laboratory experiments suggest that this method is possibly very useful for monitoring the content of water vapor under a very dry atmospheric condition like the polar middle atmosphere

A note on the new type hygrometer using the photochemical reaction: H2O+hν(Ly-α line) → OH*+H, and OH*→ OH + hν(λ=309nm)

The fluorescence effect of OH^*, and the attenuation effect of the Ly-α light source intensity due to the photochemical reactions, [chemical formula] are useful for measuring the atmospheric water vapor content. A prototype hygrometer was built applying these effects, and the procedure for data reduction was confirmed. We examined the feasibility of this data reduction method in the practical airbone use of the instrument in the troposphere. The results confirm the instrument can be used to measure the water vapor content not only in the stratosphere but also in the troposphere

Endoscopic Ultrasound for Early Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer

Detection of small pancreatic cancers, which have a better prognosis than large cancers, is needed to reduce high mortality rates. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is the most sensitive imaging modality for detecting pancreatic lesions. The high resolution of EUS makes it particularly useful for detecting small pancreatic lesions that may be missed by other imaging modalities. Therefore, EUS should be performed in patients with obstructive jaundice in whom computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) does not identify a definite pancreatic lesion. Interest in the use of EUS for screening individuals at high risk of pancreatic cancer, including those with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) and familial pancreatic cancer is growing. Contrast-enhanced EUS can facilitate differential diagnosis of small solid pancreatic lesions as well as malignant cystic lesions. In addition, EUS-guided fine needle aspiration can provide samples of small pancreatic lesions. Thus, EUS and EUS-related techniques are essential for early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer

Learning about Enzyme Stability against Organic Co-Solvents from Structural Insights by Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry.

Sproß J, Yamashita Y, Gröger H. Learning about Enzyme Stability against Organic Co-Solvents from Structural Insights by Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry. Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology. 2020;21(14):1968-1971.Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) enables the investigation of protein folding in solution. Herein we present a proof-of-concept for obtaining structural information about the folding of a protein in dependency of the amount of an organic co-solvent in the aqueous medium by means this IMS-MS method. By analyzing the protein with native nano-electrospray ionization (ESI)-IMS-MS, the impact of acetonitrile (ACN) as a representative organic co-solvent and/or pH values on the folding of an enzyme was successfully evaluated in a fast and straightforward fashion exemplified for an ene reductase from Gluconobacter oxydans. The IMS-MS results are in agreement with the findings from the NADPH-based spectrophotometric enzyme activity tests under analogous conditions, thus also rationalizing these "wet" analytical data. For this ene reductase, a higher tolerance against ACN in the presence of a buffer was observed by both analytical methods. The results suggest that this IMS-MS methodology could be a useful complementary tool to existing methods in process optimization and fine tuning of solvent conditions for biotransformations. © 2020 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim