Natural history of medium-sized atrial septal defect in pediatric cases

AbstractBackgroundThe indication for surgical repair of atrial septal defect (ASD) is pulmonary to systemic blood flow ratio (Qp/Qs)>2.0, and therapeutic strategy depends on the facility in cases of Qp/Qs 1.5–2.0. Defect size increases with age, but hemodynamic changes of medium-sized ASD (Qp/Qs 1.5–2.0) are unknown.Methods and resultsFrom April 1, 1985 to March 31, 2008, we experienced 125 cases of cardiac catheterization for ASD. Twelve cases were re-evaluated without surgical repair. The first and second catheterizations were performed at median ages of 7 years (range, 2–13 years) and 16 years (range, 5–19 years), respectively. The mean follow-up period was 7 years. Qp/Qs increased from 1.6 to 2.0 during follow-up (p<0.05). Of four cases with Qp/Qs<1.5 at initial presentation, three had Qp/Qs≥1.5 at second inspection. Right ventricle diastolic volume (RVEDV/LVEDV) also increased.ConclusionsQp/Qs and RVEDV/LVEDV of medium-sized ASD increase together in childhood. Re-evaluation before adulthood should be considered in patients with no indications of ASD closure in childhood

Remarkable sequence similarity between the dinoflagellate-infecting marine girus and the terrestrial pathogen African swine fever virus

Heterocapsa circularisquama DNA virus (HcDNAV; previously designated as HcV) is a giant virus (girus) with a ~356-kbp double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genome. HcDNAV lytically infects the bivalve-killing marine dinoflagellate H. circularisquama, and currently represents the sole DNA virus isolated from dinoflagellates, one of the most abundant protists in marine ecosystems. Its morphological features, genome type, and host range previously suggested that HcDNAV might be a member of the family Phycodnaviridae of Nucleo-Cytoplasmic Large DNA Viruses (NCLDVs), though no supporting sequence data was available. NCLDVs currently include two families found in aquatic environments (Phycodnaviridae, Mimiviridae), one mostly infecting terrestrial animals (Poxviridae), another isolated from fish, amphibians and insects (Iridoviridae), and the last one (Asfarviridae) exclusively represented by the animal pathogen African swine fever virus (ASFV), the agent of a fatal hemorrhagic disease in domestic swine. In this study, we determined the complete sequence of the type B DNA polymerase (PolB) gene of HcDNAV. The viral PolB was transcribed at least from 6 h post inoculation (hpi), suggesting its crucial function for viral replication. Most unexpectedly, the HcDNAV PolB sequence was found to be closely related to the PolB sequence of ASFV. In addition, the amino acid sequence of HcDNAV PolB showed a rare amino acid substitution within a motif containing highly conserved motif: YSDTDS was found in HcDNAV PolB instead of YGDTDS in most dsDNA viruses. Together with the previous observation of ASFV-like sequences in the Sorcerer II Global Ocean Sampling metagenomic datasets, our results further reinforce the ideas that the terrestrial ASFV has its evolutionary origin in marine environments

Acute inflammation at a mandibular solitary horizontal incompletely impacted molar

Acute inflammation is frequently seen in the elderly around incompletely impacted molars located apart from molars or premolars. To identify the factors causing acute inflammation in the solitary molars without second molars or without second and first molars, ages of patients and rates of acute inflammation in 75 horizontal incompletely impacted mandibular molars in contact or not in contact with molars in subjects 41 years old or older were studied using orthopantomographs. Acute inflammation was seen in nine third molars out of 48 third molars in contact with second molars (18.8%), whereas acute inflammation was seen in 11 molars out of 19 solitary molars without second molars or without first and second molars (57.9%) (p < 0.01). The mean age of 48 subjects with third molars in contact with the second molar was 50.42 ± 7.62 years, and the mean age of 19 subjects with isolated molars was 65.16 ± 10.41 years (p < 0.0001). These indicate that a solitary horizontal incompletely impacted molar leads more frequently to acute inflammation along with aging due to possible bone resorption resulting from teeth loss

The Stroop effect for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder

注意欠陥/多動性障害（Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ; AD/HD）および広汎性発達障害（Pervasive Developmental Disorder ; PDD)における干渉効果を検討することを目的とし、AD/HD群21名、PDD群23名、対照群101名を対象にストループテストを行い、Word Reading (WR)課題、Color Naming (CN)課題、Incongruent Color Naming (ICN)課題について評価した。対照群から得られた成績に95％の信頼区間を設け、AD/HD群およびPDD群の成績と比較した結果、AD/HD群においては大多数の症例が信頼区間の範囲内の成績を示した。一方、PDD群ではICN課題において23例中2例、ICN-CNにおいて23例中4例、ICN／CNにおいて23例中4例が95％信頼区間外の成績を示した。To clarify the interference effect in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) and pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), the Stroop test was performed with 21 children with AD/HD, 23 children with PDD and 101 normal subjects. Word reading, color naming (CN) and incongruent color naming (ICN) were measured, then, such indices as ICN-CN and ICN/CN as well as ICN scores were evaluated. Results obtained from children with AD/HD and PDD were compared with those from normal subjects applying the confidence interval of 95%. Most of the children with AD/HD were plotted within the range of 95% confidence interval. As for the PDD, 2 of 23 in ICN, 4 of 23 in ICN-CN and ICN/CN were plotted out of the 95% confidence interval. Further work on the characterization of the phenotype of PDD plotted out of the 95% confidence interval may aid in extending the clinical application of this test

Development of Exchange Activities with the International Students for Nurturing Global Human Resources: Focusing on Communication Skills, Cooperativity and Flexibility

This research project developed and practiced some exchange activities with international university students to nurture global human resources at the kindergarten level. The project was constructed with four strategic approaches to focus on developing communication skills, cooperativity and flexibility in children. The studies concluded that children's amical feeling toward international students have acted as a springboard to seek active interaction and to provide support when needed. Developmental level of children should also be considered to promote communication and flexibility. Further research on flexibility is necessary both in literature and in practice

健常児・者におけるVictoria版Stroop Testの年齢による変化の検討

Victoria版Stroop Testにおける課題達成所要時間の年齢による変化について検討し、併せて各年齢群別標準値を得ることを目的とした。5歳1ヶ月から49歳0ヶ月の健常児・者193名を対象に、黒色で印刷された文字の色を読む（Word Reading:WR）課題、丸型カラーバッチの色名を言う（Color Naming:CN）課題、文字と印刷された色が異なる（Incongruent Color Naming:ICN）課題を行い、ICN課題達成所要時間に対するCN課題達成所要時間の差（以下ICN-CN）と比（以下ICN／CN）について年齢を説明変数とする単回帰分析を行った。その結果、全てにおいて年齢による有意な変化が見られ、成績が最良となる年齢は、WR課題において29.7歳、CN課題において29.0歳、ICN課題において30.2歳、ICN-CNにおいて31.0歳、ICN／CNにおいて34.5歳であることが明らかになった。また、各課題達成所要時間の差異についての一要因の分散分析を行った結果、有意差（F（2,576）＝179.312,p<.001）が認められた。多重比較（Turkey HSD)の結果、各課題間に有意差（WR課題とCN課題：p<.01、WR課題とICN課題：p<.001、CN課題とICN課題：p<.001）が認められ、WR課題、CN課題、ICN課題の順に有意な遅延を示した

Functional expression of thiocyanate hydrolase is promoted by its activator protein, P15K

AbstractThiocyanate hydrolase (SCNase) is a cobalt-containing enzyme with a post-translationally modified cysteine ligand, γCys131-SO2H. When the SCNase α, β and γ subunits were expressed in Escherichia coli, the subunits assembled to form a hetero-dodecamer, (αβγ)4, like native SCNase but exhibited no catalytic activity. Metal analysis indicated that SCNase was expressed as an apo-form irrespective of the presence of cobalt in the medium. On the contrary, SCNase co-expressed with P15K, encoded just downstream of SCNase genes, in cobalt-enriched medium under the optimized condition (SCNase(+P15K)) possessed 0.86 Co atom/αβγ trimer and exhibited 78% of the activity of native SCNase. SCNase(+P15K) showed a UV–Vis absorption peak characteristic of the SCNase cobalt center. About 70% of SCNase(+P15K) had the γCys131-SO2H modification. These results indicate that SCNase(+P15K) is the active holo-SCNase. P15K is likely to promote the functional expression of SCNase probably by assisting the incorporation of cobalt ion

顎舌骨筋運動ニューロンと一次求心線維のシナプス接合について

Horseradish peroxidase conjugated with wheat germ agglutinin (HRP-WGA) was injected into the muscle branch of the mylohyoid nerve in rats. HRP-labeled neuronal cell bodies were observed ipsilaterally in the caudal portion of the trigeminal mesencephalic nucleus and the ventromedial division of the trigeminal motor nucleus (Vmo.vm). Electron microscope observations were carried out on sections through Vmo.vm containing HRP-labeled cell bodies. Synaptic contacts were found between HRP-labeled axon terminals and HRP-labeled nerve cells. The results suggested that mylohyoid muscle spindle afferents are synaptic contacts on the mylohyoid motoneurons

Rainstorm and Flood Disasters: Case study of Shelter Management by Manila Municipal DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction) Teams during Tropical Storm Mario (Fung Wong) in 2014

Floods are the leading cause of natural disaster-related deaths worldwide. This study aimed at assessing disaster preparedness and response by local Barangay (municipal) DRR (disaster risk reduction) teams during the flooding caused by tropical storm Mario in Manila in 2014. A cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted, consisting of interviews in which five shelter managers participated. In total, 325 evacuees were received in 4 evacuation centers, whereas the remaining shelter received 30 families housed in tents. Only 3 shelters (60%) had some food and non-food items available prior to the arrival of evacuees. WASH (Water, sanitation and hygiene) services were insufficient; latrines were available in 4 (80%) shelters, but no latrine was available for displaced people housed in tents. Only 3 (60%) shelters had toilets cleaned regularly. Detergents, toothbrushes and toothpastes were provided in 3 (60 %) shelters, whereas only 2 (40%) had diapers for babies and none (0%) had hygienic period items for ladies. Food items were daily distributed in 3 (60%) shelters. Health services were not satisfactory, as medical consultations were organized but irregularly in 3 (60%) of the five shelters. Disaster preparedness and response in Barangay shelters were not satisfactory, suggesting the necessity for the central government to support local DRR volunteer teams. It is recommended to provide the volunteers with an inexpensive ICT (information and communications technology) tool to collect disaster preparedness data so that relief efforts will be more than sufficient at the time of disaster