The repeating dislodgement of an ASO device

Transcatheter closure with an Amplatzer Septal Occluder (ASO) has become the standard treatment for secundum atrial septal defect (ASD). However, this procedure is associated with complications, such as device dislodgement. A 52-year-old woman was admitted with exertional dyspnea. Transesophageal echocardiography showed an ASD involving a 29 mm defect. Calculated Qp/Qs was 5.6 and all the rims were > 5 mm, with the exception of the posterior rim, which was 3 mm. Transcatheter ASD closure with an ASO was performed under general anesthesia. During emergence from anesthesia, tachycardia developed and the ASO device became dislodged. Hemodynamic changes associated with the end of anesthetic administration were believed to have led to device dislodgement. In a second transcatheter ASD closure, a low dose of propofol and remifentanil was maintained during emergence from anesthesia to reduce hemodynamic changes. However, device dislodgement occurred with nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. Finally, surgical ASD closure was performed. The large defect size, high Qp/Qs, and rim deficiency may have predisposed to device dislodgement after transcatheter ASD closure with ASO. The risk of device dislodgement should be considered in advance of surgery and, in high-risk cases, the patient's cardiovascular status should be closely monitored

Detection of miRNA in Cell Cultures by Using Microchip Electrophoresis with a Fluorescence-Labeled Riboprobe

The analysis of a microRNA (miRNA), miR-222 isolated from the PC12 cell line, was performed by use of the ribonuclease (RNase) protection assay, cyanine 5 (Cy5)-labeled miR-222 riboprobe, and a Hitachi SV1210 microchip electrophoresis system, which can be used to evaluate the integrity of total RNA. The fluorescence intensity corresponding to the protected RNA fragment increased in a dose-dependent manner with respect to the complementary-strand RNA. More highly sensitive detection of miRNA by microchip electrophoresis than by conventional method using fluorescence-labeled riboprobe could be obtained in 180 s. An obvious increase in miR-222 expression induced by nerve growth factor in PC12 cells could be observed. These results clearly indicate the potential of microchip electrophoresis for the analysis of miRNA using RNase protection assay with a fluorescence-labeled riboprobe

Targeting diamondback moths in greenhouses by attracting specific native parasitoids with herbivory-induced plant volatiles

植物の香りで特定の天敵を誘引し、標的とした害虫の発生抑制に成功 --植物の香りを用いた新しい害虫防除法--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2020-12-02.We investigated the recruitment of specific parasitoids using a specific blend of synthetic herbivory-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) as a novel method of pest control in greenhouses. In the Miyama rural area in Kyoto, Japan, diamondback moth (DBM) (Plutella xylostella, Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) larvae are an important pest of cruciferous crops in greenhouses, and Cotesia vestalis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a larval parasitoid of DBM, is found in the surrounding areas. Dispensers of HIPVs that attracted C. vestalis and honey feeders were set inside greenhouses (treated greenhouses). The monthly incidence of DBMs in the treated greenhouses was significantly lower than that in the untreated greenhouses over a 2-year period. The monthly incidences of C. vestalis and DBMs were not significantly different in the untreated greenhouses, whereas monthly C. vestalis incidence was significantly higher than monthly DBM incidence in the treated greenhouses. Poisson regression analyses showed that, in both years, a significantly higher number of C. vestalis was recorded in the treated greenhouses than in the untreated greenhouses when the number of DBM adults increased. We concluded that DBMs were suppressed more effectively by C. vestalis in the treated greenhouses than in the untreated greenhouses

Clinical Characteristics of Fragile X Syndrome Patients in Japan

[Background] Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a well-known X-linked disorder clinically characterized by intellectual disability and autistic features. However, diagnosed Japanese FXS cases have been fewer than expected, and clinical features of Japanese FXS patients remain unknown. [Methods] We evaluated the clinical features of Japanese FXS patients using the results of a questionnaire-based survey. [Results] We presented the characteristics of seven patients aged 6 to 20 years. Long face and large ears were observed in five of seven patients. Macrocephaly was observed in four of five patients. The meaningful word was first seen at a certain time point between 18 and 72 months (median = 60 months). Developmental quotient or intellectual quotient ranged between 20 and 48 (median = 29). Behavioral disorders were seen in all patients (autistic spectrum disorder in six patients, hyperactivity in five patients). Five patients were diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction analysis, and two patients were diagnosed by the cytogenetic study. All physicians ordered FXS genetic testing for suspicious cases because of clinical manifestations. [Conclusion] In the present study, a long face, large ears, macrocephaly, autistic spectrum disorder, and hyperactivity were observed in almost cases, and these characteristics might be common features in Japanese FXS patients. Our finding indicated the importance of clinical manifestations to diagnosis FXS. However, the sample size of the present study is small, and these features are also seen to patients with other disorders. We consider that genetic testing for FXS should be performed on a wider range of intellectually disabled cases

Coordinated regulation of hepatic and adipose tissue transcriptomes by the oral administration of an amino acid mixture simulating the larval saliva of Vespa species

Genes mapped on Fig. 3. (XLSX 13 kb