Toward Fully Automated Robotic Platform for Remote Auscultation

Since most developed countries are facing an increase in the number of patients per healthcare worker due to a declining birth rate and an aging population, relatively simple and safe diagnosis tasks may need to be performed using robotics and automation technologies, without specialists and hospitals. This study presents an automated robotic platform for remote auscultation, which is a highly cost-effective screening tool for detecting abnormal clinical signs. The developed robotic platform is composed of a 6-degree-of-freedom cooperative robotic arm, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) camera, and a spring-based mechanism holding an electric stethoscope. The platform enables autonomous stethoscope positioning based on external body information acquired using the LiDAR camera-based multi-way registration; the platform also ensures safe and flexible contact, maintaining the contact force within a certain range through the passive mechanism. Our preliminary results confirm that the robotic platform enables estimation of the landing positions required for cardiac examinations based on the depth and landmark information of the body surface. It also handles the stethoscope while maintaining the contact force without relying on the push-in displacement by the robotic arm.Comment: 8 pages, 11 figure

Isolation and characterization of 52 polymorphic EST-SSR markers for Callitris columellaris (Cupressaceae)

Premise of the study: We developed simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers from expressed sequence tags (ESTs) for Callitris columellaris sensu lato (s.l.) to elucidate population genetic structure and detect outlier loci by genome scan. Methods and Results: mRNA from an individual seedling was subjected to cDNA synthesis and then de novo pyrosequencing. Two hundred and nineteen primer pairs bordering sequence regions were designed from the obtained sequence data. In total, 52 showed polymorphism within 16 individuals representative of the species ' entire range, with the number of alleles per locus and expected heterozygosity ranging from two to 10 and 0.06 to 0.84, respectively. Conclusions: The EST-SSR markers developed in this study will be useful for evaluating the range-wide genetic structure of C. columellaris s.l. and detecting outlier loci under selection, as well as providing useful markers to investigate the conservation genetics and reproductive ecology of the species

Short-term and long-term comparisons of laparoscopy-assisted proximal gastrectomy with esophagogastrostomy by the double-flap technique and laparoscopy-assisted total gastrectomy for proximal gastric cancer

Background Although proximal gastrectomy (PG) is a recognized surgical procedure for early proximal gastric cancer, total gastrectomy (TG) is sometimes selected due to concern about severe gastroesophageal reflux. Esophagogastrostomy by the double-flap technique (DFT) is an anti-reflux reconstruction after PG, and its short-term effectiveness has been reported. However, little is known about the long-term effects on nutritional status and quality of life (QOL). Methods Gastric cancer patients who underwent laparoscopy-assisted PG (LAPG) with DFT or laparoscopy-assisted TG (LATG) between April 2011 and March 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) were reviewed to assess nutritional status, and the Postgastrectomy Syndrome Assessment Scale (PGSAS)-45 was used to assess QOL. Results A total of 36 patients (LATG: 17, LAPG: 19) were enrolled. Four of 17 LATG patients (24%) were diagnosed with Stage ≥II after surgery, and half received S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy. BW and PNI were better maintained in LAPG than in LATG patients until 1-year follow-up. Seven of 16 LATG patients (44%) were categorized as “underweight (BMI Conclusions LAPG with DFT was superior to LATG in postoperative nutritional maintenance, and can be the first option for early proximal gastric cancer

Comparing modeling methods of genomic prediction for growth traits of a tropical timber species, Shorea macrophylla

IntroductionShorea macrophylla is a commercially important tropical tree species grown for timber and oil. It is amenable to plantation forestry due to its fast initial growth. Genomic selection (GS) has been used in tree breeding studies to shorten long breeding cycles but has not previously been applied to S. macrophylla.MethodsTo build genomic prediction models for GS, leaves and growth trait data were collected from a half-sib progeny population of S. macrophylla in Sari Bumi Kusuma forest concession, central Kalimantan, Indonesia. 18037 SNP markers were identified in two ddRAD-seq libraries. Genomic prediction models based on these SNPs were then generated for diameter at breast height and total height in the 7th year from planting (D7 and H7).Results and discussionThese traits were chosen because of their relatively high narrow-sense genomic heritability and because seven years was considered long enough to assess initial growth. Genomic prediction models were built using 6 methods and their derivatives with the full set of identified SNPs and subsets of 48, 96, and 192 SNPs selected based on the results of a genome-wide association study (GWAS). The GBLUP and RKHS methods gave the highest predictive ability for D7 and H7 with the sets of selected SNPs and showed that D7 has an additive genetic architecture while H7 has an epistatic genetic architecture. LightGBM and CNN1D also achieved high predictive abilities for D7 with 48 and 96 selected SNPs, and for H7 with 96 and 192 selected SNPs, showing that gradient boosting decision trees and deep learning can be useful in genomic prediction. Predictive abilities were higher in H7 when smaller number of SNP subsets selected by GWAS p-value was used, However, D7 showed the contrary tendency, which might have originated from the difference in genetic architecture between primary and secondary growth of the species. This study suggests that GS with GWAS-based SNP selection can be used in breeding for non-cultivated tree species to improve initial growth and reduce genotyping costs for next-generation seedlings

Local oncolytic adenovirotherapy produces an abscopal effect via tumor-derived extracellular vesicles

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play important roles in various intercellular communication processes. The abscopal effect is an interesting phenomenon in cancer treatment, in which immune activation is generally considered a main factor. We previously developed a telomerase-specific oncolytic adenovirus, Telomelysin (OBP-301), and occasionally observed therapeutic effects on distal tumors after local treatment in immunodeficient mice. In this study, we hypothesized that EVs may be involved in the abscopal effect of OBP-301. EVs isolated from the supernatant of HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells treated with OBP-301 were confirmed to contain OBP-301, and they showed cytotoxic activity (apoptosis and autophagy) similar to OBP-301. In bilateral subcutaneous HCT116 and CT26 tumor models, intratumoral administration of OBP-301 produced potent antitumor effects on tumors that were not directly treated with OBP-301, involving direct mediation by tumor-derived EVs containing OBP-301. This indicates that immune activation is not the main factor in this abscopal effect. Moreover, tumor-derived EVs exhibited high tumor tropism in orthotopic HCT116 rectal tumors, in which adenovirus E1A and adenovirus type 5 proteins were observed in metastatic liver tumors after localized rectal tumor treatment. In conclusion, local treatment with OBP-301 has the potential to produce abscopal effects via tumor-derived EVs

Immune Modulation by Telomerase-Specific Oncolytic Adenovirus Synergistically Enhances Antitumor Efficacy with Anti-PD1 Antibody

The clinical benefit of monotherapy involving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) such as anti-programmed death-1 antibody (PD-1 Ab) is limited to small populations. We previously developed a telomerase-specific oncolytic adenovirus, Telomelysin (OBP-301), the safety of which was confirmed in a phase I clinical study. Here, we examined the potential of OBP-502, an OBP-301 variant, as an agent for inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD) and synergistically enhancing the efficacy of OBP-502 with PD-1 Ab using CT26 murine colon cancer and PAN02 murine pancreatic cancer cell lines. OBP-502 induced the release of ICD molecules such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and high-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) from CT26 and PAN02 cells, leading to recruitment of CD8-positive lymphocytes and inhibition of Foxp3-positive lymphocyte infiltration into tumors. Combination therapy involving OBP-502 intratumoral administration and PD-1 Ab systemic administration significantly suppressed the growth of not only OBP-502-treated tumors but also tumors not treated with OBP-502 (so-called abscopal effect) in CT26 and PAN02 bilateral subcutaneous tumor models, in which active recruitment of CD8-positve lymphocytes was observed even in tumors not treated with OBP-502. This combined efficacy was similar to that observed in a CT26 rectal orthotopic tumor model involving liver metastases. In conclusion, telomerase-specific oncolytic adenoviruses are promising candidates for combined therapies with ICIs

Molecular database for classifying Shorea species (Dipterocarpaceae) and techniques for checking the legitimacy of timber and wood products

The extent of tropical forest has been declining, due to over-exploitation and illegal logging activities. Large quantities of unlawfully extracted timber and other wood products have been exported, mainly to developed countries. As part of the export monitoring effort, we have developed methods for extracting and analyzing DNA from wood products, such as veneers and sawn timbers made from dipterocarps, in order to identify the species from which they originated. We have also developed a chloroplast DNA database for classifying Shorea species, which are both ecologically and commercially important canopy tree species in the forests of Southeast Asia. We are able to determine the candidate species of wood samples, based on DNA sequences and anatomical data. The methods for analyzing DNA from dipterocarp wood products may have strong deterrent effects on international trade of illegitimate dipterocarp products. However, the method for analyzing DNA from wood is not perfect for all wood products and need for more improvement, especially for plywood sample. Consequently, there may be benefits for the conservation of tropical forests in Southeast Asia. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10265-010-0348-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users