Molecular epidemiological tracing of a cattle rabies outbreak lasting less than a month in Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud Vampire bat-transmitted cattle rabies cases are typically encountered in areas where the disease is endemic. However, over the period of a month in 2009, an outbreak of cattle rabies occurred and then ended spontaneously in a small area of the Rio Grande do Sul State in southern Brazil. To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of this rabies outbreak in Rio Grande do Sul, 26 nucleotide sequences of rabies virus (RABV) genomes that were collected in this area were analyzed phylogenetically.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud Nucleotide sequence identities of the nucleoprotein gene and G–L intergenic region of the 26 RABVs were greater than 99.6 %. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all RABVs clustered with the vampire bat-related cattle RABV strains and that the RABVs were mainly distributed in southern Brazil.\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud The findings of the present study suggested that a small population of rabid vampire bats carrying a single RABV strain produced a spatiotemporally restricted outbreak of cattle rabies in southern Brazil.This study was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research\ud (24580453) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and the\ud Strategic Research Base Development Program, “International joint research\ud and training of young researchers for zoonosis control in a globalized world”,\ud and a matching fund subsidy from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,\ud Science and Technology of Japan (S0991023 and S1491007)

Site‐specific methylation patterns of the GAL and GALR1/2 genes in head and neck cancer: Potential utility as biomarkers for prognosis

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136246/1/mc22577.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136246/2/mc22577_am.pd

Molecular and geographic analyses of vampire bat-transmitted cattle rabies in central Brazil

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Vampire bats are important rabies virus vectors, causing critical problems in both the livestock industry and public health sector in Latin America. In order to assess the epidemiological characteristics of vampire bat-transmitted rabies, the authors conducted phylogenetic and geographical analyses using sequence data of a large number of cattle rabies isolates collected from a wide geographical area in Brazil.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Partial nucleoprotein genes of rabies viruses isolated from 666 cattle and 18 vampire bats between 1987 and 2006 were sequenced and used for phylogenetic analysis. The genetic variants were plotted on topographical maps of Brazil.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, 593 samples consisting of 24 genetic variants were analyzed. Regional localization of variants was observed, with the distribution of several variants found to be delimited by mountain ranges which served as geographic boundaries. The geographical distributions of vampire-bat and cattle isolates that were classified as the identical phylogenetic group were found to overlap with high certainty. Most of the samples analyzed in this study were isolated from adjacent areas linked by rivers.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study revealed the existence of several dozen regional variants associated with vampire bats in Brazil, with the distribution patterns of these variants found to be affected by mountain ranges and rivers. These results suggest that epidemiological characteristics of vampire bat-related rabies appear to be associated with the topographical and geographical characteristics of areas where cattle are maintained, and the factors affecting vampire bat ecology.</p

Efficacy of Mucosal Cutting Biopsy for the Histopathological Diagnosis of Gastric Submucosal Tumors

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors occur frequently. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) is performed commonly for diagnosis. However, the success rate of histological diagnosis is insufficient when the submucosal tumor (SMT) is small. Recently, another technique, mucosal cutting biopsy (MCB) has been reported. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MCB. Method: Between January 2012 and August 2018, MCB and EUS-FNA were performed 16 and 31 times for diagnosing gastric SMT. The diagnostic rate, the rate of successful immunohistochemistry, and the safety were reviewed. Difficult locations for EUS-FNA were also evaluated. Results: The mean SMT sizes measured on MCB and EUS-FNA were 21.2 and 36.2 mm. The diagnostic rates of MCB and EUS-FNA were almost the same (88 vs. 81%), but successful immunohistochemistry was significantly higher in the MCB group (93 vs. 59%, p = 0.03). In the subgroup of SMTs &#x3c; 20 mm, the successful histological diagnosis rate from EUS-FNA was relatively low. There were no complications. Failures of EUS-FNA were more frequent in the middle third of the stomach. Conclusions: MCB was an effective procedure for diagnosing gastric SMT, especially in the case of small SMTs located at the middle third of the stomach

MDCT findings of extrapancreatic nerve plexus invasion by pancreas head carcinoma: correlation with en bloc pathological specimens and diagnostic accuracy

金沢大学医薬保健研究域Objective: To elucidate the multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) findings of extrapancreatic nerve plexus (PLX) invasion by pancreas head carcinoma (PhC) by "point-by-point" correlation with en bloc pathological specimens and to assess their diagnostic accuracy. Methods: Each pathological section of PhC and adjusted double oblique multiplanar reconstruction MDCT images were correlated in 554 sections from 37 patients. The diagnostic accuracy of the MDCT patterns derived was assessed by blind reading. Results: PLX invasion with fibrosis showed mass or strand shape (85.6%) or coarse reticula (13.3%). The CT findings were divided into fine reticular and linear, coarse reticular, mass and strand, and nodular patterns. PLX invasion was revealed pathologically in 92% of the regions of investigation showing the mass and strand pattern and 63% of the coarse reticular pattern (all continuous with PhC), and they were highly suggestive of PLX invasion by PhC on MDCT images (p < 0.001). Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values of these MDCT findings in the diagnosis of PLX invasion were 100% (25/25), 83.3% (10/12), 94.6% (35/37), 92.6% (25/27) and 100% (10/10), respectively. Conclusion: The mass and strand pattern and the coarse reticular pattern continuous with PhC on MDCT images were highly suggestive of PLX invasion by PhC. © 2010 European Society of Radiology

The Modern Development of the Residence Life Program in Higher Education

This document focuses on the Residence Life Program in higher education. A paradigm shift from teaching to learning has facilitated significant changes in higher education. Student affairs and services have regained attention as a feature of educational systems that facilitate an improvement in student learning outcomes, including human development globally. In particular, the Residence Life Program is symbolic of changes in student affairs and services. Residence Life plays a crucial role in student learning and life on campus. However, it also faces pressure to promote this educational approach for students despite the challenges of efficient management and a shortage of resources. This document considers the case of the Residence Life Program in Japan, the USA, and China. These three countries have a different student character and social background to higher education. We explore the contexts and processes of the development of the Residence Life Programs in diverse environments surrounding higher education. Residence Life Programs have various styles in each country. There are high expectations in the Residence Life Program because students can communicate with other students and faculty in the program, and in the classroom. Resident assistants have an essential role in building this community. The common tasks in three countries are developing student leaders and professionals who facilitate student learning through the educational approach of the Residence Life Program and evaluate and assess the programs based on the student learning outcomes.はじめに… 安部有紀子 1 第１章　米国における学寮と学寮プログラムの歴史的展開 －その理念と担い手に焦点を当てて－… 橋場論 5 第２章　米国学寮プログラムにおける学習者中心主義の影響について… 安部有紀子 19 第３章　中国における学寮教育の特質　－現代書院制教育に着目して－… 日暮トモ子 37 第４章　日本における学寮の歴史的展開と特徴　－「教育」と「厚生」の視点からみた戦後初期の「学寮像」…－ 蝶慎一 53 第５章　多様化する日本の大学の学寮機能… 望月由起 67 第６章 　１節　国際教育寮におけるレジデントアシスタント（RA）の育成－2大学の事例から－… 水野（林貴子 81 　２節　RAを取り巻く課題と教育的支援の検討－一橋大学小平国際学生宿舎での取り組み－… 植松希世子 95 　３節　麗澤大学グローバルドミトリーにおけるユニットリーダー育成… 北澤泰子 107 おわりに… 橋場論 11

Analysis of gut microbiome, host genetics, and plasma metabolites reveals gut microbiome-host interactions in the Japanese population

Interaction between the gut microbiome and host plays a key role in human health. Here, we perform a metagenome shotgun-sequencing-based analysis of Japanese participants to reveal associations between the gut microbiome, host genetics, and plasma metabolome. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) for microbial species (n = 524) identifies associations between the PDE1C gene locus and Bacteroides intestinalis and between TGIF2 and TGIF2-RAB5IF gene loci and Bacteroides acidifiaciens. In a microbial gene ortholog GWAS, agaE and agaS, which are related to the metabolism of carbohydrates forming the blood group A antigen, are associated with blood group A in a manner depending on the secretor status determined by the East Asian-specific FUT2 variant. A microbiome-metabolome association analysis (n = 261) identifies associations between bile acids and microbial features such as bile acid metabolism gene orthologs including bai and 7β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Our publicly available data will be a useful resource for understanding gut microbiome-host interactions in an underrepresented population.Tomofuji Yoshihiko, Kishikawa Toshihiro, Sonehara Kyuto, et al. Analysis of gut microbiome, host genetics, and plasma metabolites reveals gut microbiome-host interactions in the Japanese population. Cell Reports 42, 113324 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113324

Association between serum calcium levels and prognosis, hematoma volume, and onset of cerebral hemorrhage in patients undergoing hemodialysis

Background: High serum calcium levels should be avoided in patients on hemodialysis (HD) because they can induce cardiovascular diseases and worsen the patient\u27s prognosis. In contrast, low serum calcium levels worsen the prognosis of patients with cerebral hemorrhage in the general population. So far, whether serum calcium levels in patients on HD are associated with cerebral hemorrhage remains unknown. This study aimed to reveal the association between serum calcium and cerebral hemorrhage in patients on HD, including in-hospital death, volume of hematoma, and onset of cerebral hemorrhage. Methods: This cross-sectional case-control study included 99 patients on HD with cerebral hemorrhage at a single center between July 1, 2007 and December 31, 2017. Controls included 339 patients on HD at a single HD center between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012. Data on serum calcium level, patient demographics, and comorbid conditions were collected, and associations between cerebral hemorrhage and subsequent death were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Further, the association of these backgrounds and hematoma volume was evaluated by multiple regression analysis. Results: Of the 99 patients, 32 (32%) died from cerebral hemorrhage. The corrected serum calcium level (odds ratio [OR], 2.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43-4.35; P < 0.001) and antiplatelet drug use (OR, 3.95; 95% CI, 1.50-10.4; P = 0.005)had significant effects on the prognosis. Moreover, the corrected serum calcium (P = 0.003) and antiplatelet drug use (P = 0.01) were significantly correlated with hematoma volume. In the patients, the corrected serum calcium level (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.07-2.22; P = 0.02) was associated with the onset of cerebral hemorrhage, as was pre-hemodialysis systolic blood pressure (per 10 mmHg) (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.23-1.59; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Although the precise mechanisms remain unknown, a high serum calcium level is associated with cerebral hemorrhage in patients on HD. Thus, we should pay attentions to a patient\u27s calcium level