Color-compressive bilateral filter and nonlocal means for high-dimensional images

We propose accelerated implementations of bilateral filter (BF) and nonlocal means (NLM) called color-compressive bilateral filter (CCBF) and color-compressive nonlocal means (CCNLM). CCBF and CCNLM are random filters, whose Monte-Carlo averaged output images are identical to the output images of conventional BF and NLM, respectively. However, CCBF and CCNLM are considerably faster because the spatial processing of multiple color channels are combined into a single random filtering process. This implies that the complexity of CCBF and CCNLM is less sensitive to color dimension (e.g., hyperspectral images) relatively to other BF and NLM methods. We experimentally verified that the execution time of CCBF and CCNLM are faster than the existing fast implementations of BF and NLM, respectively

Performance Tuning of N-Body Codes on Modern Microprocessors: I. Direct Integration with a Hermite Scheme on x86_64 Architecture

The main performance bottleneck of gravitational N-body codes is the force calculation between two particles. We have succeeded in speeding up this pair-wise force calculation by factors between two and ten, depending on the code and the processor on which the code is run. These speedups were obtained by writing highly fine-tuned code for x86_64 microprocessors. Any existing N-body code, running on these chips, can easily incorporate our assembly code programs. In the current paper, we present an outline of our overall approach, which we illustrate with one specific example: the use of a Hermite scheme for a direct N^2 type integration on a single 2.0 GHz Athlon 64 processor, for which we obtain an effective performance of 4.05 Gflops, for double precision accuracy. In subsequent papers, we will discuss other variations, including the combinations of N log N codes, single precision implementations, and performance on other microprocessors.Comment: 32 pages, 2 figure

Integrated education of gross anatomy and CT radiology for current advances in medicine

It is essential to learn human anatomy in 3D for advanced medicine. We designed such an education system by integrating anatomy dissection with diagnostic CT radiology. Cadavers were scanned by CT, and students consulted the postmortem CT images while dissecting the cadaver to gain a better understanding of 3D human anatomy and diagnostic radiology. Students used handheld DICOM viewers at the bench-side (OsiriX on iPod touch). Students had lectures and workshops on diagnostic radiology, and study assignments where they discussed findings in anatomy labs in comparison with CT radiology. This teaching method for gross anatomy was used from 2009, and yielded positive students’ perspectives, and significant improvements in radiology skills at clinical courses.This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Tohru Murakami, Yuki Tajika, Hitoshi Ueno, Sachiko Awata, Satoshi Hirasawa, Maki Sugimoto, Yoshihiko Kominato, Yoshito Tsushima, Keigo Endo, and Hiroshi Yorifuji. An integrated teaching method of gross anatomy and computed tomography radiology. Anat Sci Educ, 2014, which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ doi/10.1002/ase.1430/abstract

重度大動脈弁狭窄症患者の大動脈弁置換術後における血小板機能および高分子量 von Willebrand 因子多量体の急速な回復

AIM: Patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) may have bleeding episodes due to the loss of high-molecular-weight (HMW) von Willebrand factor multimers (VWFMs). The absence of HMW-VWFMs and bleeding tendency are usually corrected after aortic valve replacement (AVR). To investigate the process of VWFM recovery and symptoms in patients with severe AS, we analyzed changes in VWF antigen (VWF:Ag), ADAMTS13 activity (ADAMTS13:AC), and platelet thrombus formation under high shear stress conditions. METHODS: Nine patients with severe AS undergoing AVR were analyzed. RESULTS: Evident deficiency of HMW-VWFMs was observed in six patients before surgery, which was rapidly restored within 8 days after AVR. Median levels of VWF:Ag before surgery, on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 8, 15, and 22, and one year after AVR were 78.1%, 130%, 224%, 155%, 134%, and 142%, respectively. In contrast, ADAMTS13:AC was 50.5%, 35.5%, 25.5%, 25.1%, 30.3%, and 84.6%, respectively. Preoperative thrombus formation but not surface coverage was significantly lower than that on POD 22, which was considered as normal level in each patient. Compared with preoperative levels, thrombus volume was significantly lower on POD 1, but rapidly increased by POD 8. CONCLUSION: Bleeding tendency and loss of HMW-VWFMs observed in patients with severe AS before surgery was rapidly corrected after AVR. Instead, patients were in a VWF-predominant state between POD 8 and 22.博士（医学）・乙第1395号・平成29年3月15日Copyright © 2016 Japan Atherosclerosis Society本論文の著作権は日本動脈硬化学会が保持しています。This article is distributed under the terms of the latest version of CC BY-NC-SA defined by the Creative Commons Attribution License

Anaphylactic shock due to latex allergy

Natural rubber latex (NRL) allergy is one of the most important causes of severe anaphylaxis during medical intervention. We report a pediatric case of latex allergy with multiple surgical histories. A 12-year-old girl developed anaphylactic shock during the pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction restenosis. Latex gloves or medications used during the surgery were suspected to be the cause of anaphylactic shock. We diagnosed her latex allergy on the basis of the results that serum latex-specific IgE, skin prick tests of extract from NRL gloves and recombinant Hev b 6.02 solution were positive. Basophil activation test of NRL gloves was also positive, supporting the diagnosis of immediate allergic reactions caused by NRL. It was speculated that a history of multiple surgeries in infancy became a trigger of sensitization to latex in this patient. Reoperation after the diagnosis of NRL allergy was carried out in a latex-free environment and completed without any allergic symptoms. It would be necessary to perform the pre-screening of latex allergy to prevent the onset of latex allergy especially in the patients with multiple surgical histories

ピエゾ型機械受容チャネル1による歯の発生過程におけるWNTシグナルと一次繊毛発現の調整

Signal transmission from the mechanical forces to the various intracellular activities is a fundamental process during tissue development. Despite their critical role, the mechanism of mechanical forces in the biological process is poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that in the response to hydrostatic pressure (HP), the piezo type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1 (PIEZO1) is a primary mechanosensing receptor for odontoblast differentiation through coordination of the WNT expression and ciliogenesis. In stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED), HP significantly promoted calcium deposition as well as the expression of odontogenic marker genes, PANX3 and DSPP, and WNT related-genes including WNT5b and WNT16, whereas HP inhibited cell proliferation and enhanced primary cilia expression. WNT signaling inhibitor XAV939 and primary cilia inhibitor chloral hydrate blocked the HP-induced calcium deposition. The PIEZO1 activator Yoda1 inhibited cell proliferation but induced ciliogenesis and WNT16 expression. Interestingly, HP and Yoda1 promoted nuclear translocation of RUNX2, whereas siRNA-mediated silencing of PIEZO1 decreased HP-induced nuclear translocation of RUNX2. Taken together, these results suggest that PIEZO1 functions as a mechanotransducer that connects HP signal to the intracellular signalings during odontoblast differentiation

Protective effects of bacteriophage on experimental Lactococcus garvieae infection in yellowtail

The present study describes the in vitro and in vivo survival of Lactococcus garvieae bacteriophages and the potential of the phage for controlling experimental L. garvieae infection in yellowtail. Anti-L. garvieae phages persisted well in various physicochemical (water temperature, salinity, pH) and biological (feed, serum and alimentary tract extracts of yellowtail) conditions, except for low acidity. In the in vivo, the phage PLgY-16 was detected in the spleens of yellowtail until 24 h after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, or the phage was recovered from the intestine of yellowtail 3 h after the oral administration of phage-impregnated feed but undetectable 10 h later. Simultaneous administration of live L. garvieae and phage enhanced recovery of the phage from the spleen or intestine. The survival rate was much higher in yellowtail that received i.p. injection of the phage after i.p. challenge with L. garvieae, compared with that of control fish without phage injection. When fish were i.p.-injected with phage at different hours after L. garvieae challenge, higher protective effects were demonstrated in fish that received phage treatment at the earlier time. Protection was also obtained in yellowtail receiving phage-impregnated feed, in which fish were challenged by an anal intubation with L. garvieae. Anal-intubated L. garvieae were detected constantly in the spleens of the control fish, while they were detected sporadically and disappeared from the phage-treated fish 48 h later. On the other hand, orally administered phage was detected at high plaque-forming units from the intestines and spleens of the phage-treated fish until 48 h later. These results indicate that intraperitoneally or orally administered anti-L. garvieae phage prevented fish from experimental L. garvieae infection, suggesting potential use of the phage for controlling the disease

Pannexin3 regulates odontoblast proliferation and differentiation

Highly coordinated regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation contributes to the formation of functionally shaped and sized teeth; however, the mechanism underlying the switch from cell cycle exit to cell differentiation during odontogenesis is poorly understood. Recently, we identified pannexin 3 (Panx3) as a member of the pannexin gap junction protein family from tooth germs. The expression of Panx3 was predominately localized in preodontoblasts that arise from dental papilla cells and can differentiate into dentin-secreting odontoblasts. Panx3 also co-localized with p21, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor protein, in preodontoblasts. Panx3 was expressed in primary dental mesenchymal cells and in the mDP dental mesenchymal cell line. Both Panx3 and p21 were induced during the differentiation of mDP cells. Overexpression of Panx3 in mDP cells reduced cell proliferation via upregulation of p21, but not of p27, and promoted the Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2)-induced phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8 and the expression of dentin sialophosphoprotein (Dspp), a marker of differentiated odontoblasts. Furthermore, Panx3 released intracellular ATP into the extracellular space through its hemichannel and induced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-ribonucleoside (AICAR), an activator of AMPK, reduced mDP cell proliferation and induced p21 expression. Conversely, knockdown of endogenous Panx3 by siRNA inhibited AMPK phosphorylation, p21 expression, and the phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8 even in the presence of BMP2. Taken together, our results suggest that Panx3 modulates intracellular ATP levels, resulting in the inhibition of odontoblast proliferation through the AMPK/p21 signaling pathway and promotion of cell differentiation by the BMP/Smad signaling pathway

Iroquois homeobox 3 regulates odontoblast proliferation and differentiation mediated by Wnt5a expression

Iroquois homeobox (Irx) genes are TALE-class homeobox genes that are evolutionarily conserved across species and have multiple critical cellular functions in fundamental tissue development processes. Previous studies have shown that Irxs genes are expressed during tooth development. However, the precise roles of genes in teeth remain unclear. Here, we demonstrated for the first time that Irx3 is an essential molecule for the proliferation and differentiation of odontoblasts. Using cDNA synthesized from postnatal day 1 (P1) tooth germs, we examined the expression of all Irx genes (Irx1-Irx6) by RT-PCR and found that all genes except Irx4 were expressed in the tooth tissue. Irx1-Irx3 a were expressed in the dental epithelial cell line M3H1 cells, while Irx3 and Irx5 were expressed in the dental mesenchymal cell line mDP cells. Only Irx3 was expressed in both undifferentiated cell lines. Immunostaining also revealed the presence of IRX3 in the dental epithelial cells and mesenchymal condensation. Inhibition of endogenous Irx3 by siRNA blocks the proliferation and differentiation of mDP cells. Wnt3a, Wnt5a, and Bmp4 are factors involved in odontoblast differentiation and were highly expressed in mDP cells by quantitative PCR analysis. Interestingly, the expression of Wnt5a (but not Wnt3a or Bmp4) was suppressed by Irx3 siRNA. These results suggest that Irx3 plays an essential role in part through the regulation of Wnt5a expression during odontoblast proliferation and differentiation