AIR POLLUTION REDUCE PRODUCTION AND LEAVE AREA OF RED RADISH (Rapahanus sativus cv. Red Chime) AND CHINESE VEGETABLE (Brassica campestris var. rosularis cv. ATU171)

Joint Research on Environmental Science and Technology for the Eart

Conservative Therapy for Nonspecific Granuloma of the Larynx Using a Beclomethasone Dipropionate Inhaler

Nonspecific granuloma of the larynx is a benign tumor that usually occurs on the posterior glottis. Conventional treatment for this laryngeal lesion has consisted of surgical resection. However, this lesion has a strong tendency to recur postoperatively and may require multiple repeated operative procedures. Conservative treatment, consisting mainly of beclomethasone dipropionate inhalation therapy, was instituted in 20 cases with good results. We discussed the effect of beclomethasone dipropionate on this lesion as well as the etiology of this disease

Elevated CO2 Could Reduce Spikelet Fertility and Grain Appearance Quality of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Grown under High-temperature Conditions

Two Japanese rice cultivars with different heat-tolerance, Hinohikari (sensitive) and Nikomaru (tolerant), were grown in pots inside open-top chambers and exposed to ambient CO2 (400 µmol mol-1) or elevated CO2 (550 µmol mol-1) from the beginning of the tillering stage to maturity. The study was conducted in Nagasaki, in the Kyushu region of Japan, where heat stress on rice has become increasingly evident. Although elevated CO2 significantly improved the net hotosynthesis and whole-plant growth of the cultivars, there were no significant effects on grain yield, which in turn reduced harvest index. In both cultivars, adverse effects occurred with elevated CO2, such as reductions in spikelet fertility and grain appearance quality, which are typical manifestations of heat stress in rice. During the flowering period, the air temperature was high that spikelet fertility was reduced even under ambient CO2 conditions for both cultivars. These results suggest that, under high-temperature conditions, elevated CO2 could induce or exacerbate the manifestations of heat stress in rice. Because transpiration rate in the flag leaf was significantly reduced by the exposure to elevated CO2, it is possible that elevated CO2 increased plant temperature via a reduction in transpiration during flowering period, although we did not detect significance of the increase in leaf and panicle temperature. To ensure a more confident conclusion, further studies focusing on the effects of elevated CO2 on the determinants of spikelet fertility and grain appearance quality with other cultivars in different year are required

Comparison of rapid immunochromatographic assays using sputum and urine for Streptococcus pneumoniae detection in adult patients with respiratory tract infection

Aim: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequently detected bacterium in pneumonia. RAPIRUN Streptococcus pneumoniae (RAPIRUN) using sputum and BinaxNow Streptococcus pneumoniae (BinaxNow) using urine have been used as rapid diagnostic methods for S. pneumoniae detection in Japan; however, their correlation with quantitative culture tests has not been well evaluated.Methods: A prospective study was conducted on adult patients with respiratory tract infections whose sputum and urine samples were available in six hospitals. Sputum and urine samples were tested at each site, and quantitative sputum cultures were performed. The performance of RAPIRUN and BinaxNow was compared in cases in which quantitative culture showed S. pneumoniae.Results: A total of 192 patients were analyzed. Of these, 167 were diagnosed with pneumonia (87.0%) including 161 of community-acquired pneumonia. Of the 192 cases, 86 (44.8%) were culture-proven for S. pneumoniae. There were 83 and 57 RAPIRUN- and BinaxNow-positive cases, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of RAPIRUN were 84.9% and 90.6%, respectively, and those of BinaxNOW were 55.8% and 91.5%, respectively, indicating that RAPIRUN was significantly superior in sensitivity (p < 0.0001) with almost equal specificity (p = 0.317). Positive and negative percent agreements of both tests were 59.3% (κ, 0.114 [95% CI, 0.053–0.281]) and 99.1% (κ, 0.942 [95% CI, 0.830–1]), respectively, indicating they were well matched in specificity but not in sensitivity. The positivity rate of RAPIRUN increased with an increase in the number of bacteria (p< 0.0001) but not BinaxNow (p = 0.275).Conclusion: In adult patients with respiratory tract infections in whom sputum collection is feasible, RAPIRUN will increase the diagnostic efficacy of S. pneumoniae infection

Abnormally High Levels of Virus-Infected IFN-γ+CCR4+CD4+CD25+ T Cells in a Retrovirus-Associated Neuroinflammatory Disorder

BACKGROUND:Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a human retrovirus associated with both HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), which is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease, and adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). The pathogenesis of HAM/TSP is known to be as follows: HTLV-1-infected T cells trigger a hyperimmune response leading to neuroinflammation. However, the HTLV-1-infected T cell subset that plays a major role in the accelerated immune response has not yet been identified. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Here, we demonstrate that CD4(+)CD25(+)CCR4(+) T cells are the predominant viral reservoir, and their levels are increased in HAM/TSP patients. While CCR4 is known to be selectively expressed on T helper type 2 (Th2), Th17, and regulatory T (Treg) cells in healthy individuals, we demonstrate that IFN-gamma production is extraordinarily increased and IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, and Foxp3 expression is decreased in the CD4(+)CD25(+)CCR4(+) T cells of HAM/TSP patients as compared to those in healthy individuals, and the alteration in function is specific to this cell subtype. Notably, the frequency of IFN-gamma-producing CD4(+)CD25(+)CCR4(+)Foxp3(-) T cells is dramatically increased in HAM/TSP patients, and this was found to be correlated with disease activity and severity. CONCLUSIONS:We have defined a unique T cell subset--IFN-gamma(+)CCR4(+)CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells--that is abnormally increased and functionally altered in this retrovirus-associated inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system

Epidemiology and Clinical Features of Pulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacteriosis in Nagasaki, Japan

Background and Objectives: Recent reports indicate that the incidence of nontuberculous mycobacterial-lung disease (NTM-LD) is increasing. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology and clinical features of NTM-LD patients in Nagasaki prefecture, Japan to identify the negative prognostic factors for NTM-LD in Japan. Methods: The medical records of patients newly diagnosed with NTM-LD in eleven hospitals in Nagasaki prefecture between January 2001 and February 2010 were reviewed. Data regarding the annual population of each region and the incidence of all forms of tuberculosis were collected to assess geographic variations in NTM-LD incidence, isolates, and radiological features. Results: A total 975 patients were diagnosed with NTM-LD. The incidence increased over the study period and reached 11.0 and 10.1 per 100,000 population in 2008 and 2009, respectively. M. intracellulare was the most common pathogen in the southern region, and M. avium most common in other regions. The most common radiographic pattern was the nodular-bronchiectatic pattern. Age >60 years, body mass index <18.5 kg/m2, underlying lung disease, and cavitary pattern were the negative prognostic factors at the 1-year follow-up. Conclusions: The incidence of NTM-LD has been increasing in Nagasaki prefecture. The isolates and radiographic features of patients vary markedly by region