Helicobacter pylori is an important factor in the development of gastroduodenal ulcers and gastric cancer. Although H. pylori eradication therapy has been employed, the eradication rate has decreased ...in recent years owing to an increase in clarithromycin-resistant strains. We previously reported the anti-infective effect of herbal medicines against several bacterial species. Here, we evaluated the growth inhibitory activity of herbal medicines alone and in combination with antimicrobials against H. pylori.
Nine of 37 herbal medicines inhibited the growth of H. pylori ATCC700392. In particular, modified Gingyo-san showed the strongest growth inhibitory activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 512 μg/ml for not only ATCC700392 but also clarithromycin-resistant strains having a 23 S rRNA mutation. Results of Time-Kill Kinetics Assay showed that 1 mg/mL modified Gingyo-san treatment for one hour killed 50% of the H. pylori population. Furthermore, modified Gingyo-san showed additive effects with clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and metronidazole against H. pylori ATCC700392 and clarithromycin-resistant strains.
Our findings showed that modified Gingyo-san inhibits the growth of H. pylori and improves antimicrobial susceptibility when used in combination. Therefore, modified Gingyo-san has the potential to enhance the eradication rate of clarithromycin-resistant H. pylori.
This study describes the achievements of a program that provides technology education about radiation to develop practical core engineers, then the effects of the programed were discussed. An ...education program starting at an early age and continuous and consistent educational agendas through seven years of college has been constructed in collaboration with regional organizations. Subjects relating to atomic energy or nuclear engineering were regrouped as “Subjects Related to Atomic Power Education” for most grades in each department. These subjects were included in the syllabus and the student guide book to emphasize a continuous and consistent policy throughout the seven-year period of college study, comprising the five-year system and the additional two-year advanced course. Furthermore, the content of lectures, experiments, and internships was enriched and realigned in collaboration with the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), Okayama University, and Chugoku Electric Power Co., Inc. Additional educational materials were developed from inspection visits by teaching staff to atomic energy facilities were also used in the classes. Two student experiment textbooks were developed to promote two of the subjects related to atomic energy: “Cloud Chamber Experiment” and “A Test of γ-ray Inverse Square Law.” In addition to the expansion and rearrangement of atomic power education, research on atomic power conducted for graduation thesis projects was undertaken to enhance educational and research activities. Some examples are as follows: “Study on the Relation between γ Dose Rate and Rainfall in Northern Okayama Area,” “Remote Sensing of Radiation Dose Rate by Customizing an Autonomous Robot,” and “Nuclear Reaction Analysis for Composition Measurement of BN Thin Films.” It should be noted that an atomic-energy-related education working group has been in place officially to continue the above activities in the college since 2011. In consequence, although government subsidy has been decreasing, both human and material resources have been enhanced, and many students with a satisfactory understanding of atomic energy are being developed.
This paper describes the achievements of a program in which technology education is provided to cultivate practical core engineers for low-level radiation. It was made possible by means of (1) an ...introductory education program starting at an early age and a continuous agenda throughout college days and (2) regional collaboration. First, with regard to the early-age introductory education program and the continuous education agenda, the subjects of study related to atomic energy or nuclear engineering were reorganized as “Subjects related to Atomic Power Education” for all grades in all departments. These subjects were included in the syllabus and the student guide book, emphasizing a continuous and consistent policy throughout seven-year college study, including the five-year system and additional two-year advanced course. Second, to promote practical education, the contents of lectures, experiments, and internships were enriched and realigned in collaboration with the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Okayama University and The Cyugoku Electric Power Co., Inc. In addition to the expansion and rearrangement of atomic power education, research on atomic power conducted for graduation thesis projects were undertaken to enhance the educational and research activities. In consequence, it has been estimated that there is now a total of fourteen subject areas in atomic energy technology, more than eight-hundred registered students in the department, and thirteen members of the teaching staff related to atomic energy technology. Furthermore, the “Tsuyama model” is still being developed. This program was funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
Glial cells such as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes play crucial roles in the central nervous system. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and the biological functions ...of glial cells, simple and rapid techniques for glial cell-specific genetic manipulation in the mouse cerebrum would be valuable. Here we uncovered that the Gfa2 promoter is suitable for selective gene expression in astrocytes when used with the piggyBac system and in utero electroporation. In contrast, the Blbp promoter, which has been used to induce astrocyte-specific gene expression in transgenic mice, did not result in astrocyte-specific gene expression. We also identified the Plp1 and Mbp promoters could be used with the piggyBac system and in utero electroporation to induce selective gene expression in oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, using our technique, neuron-astrocyte or neuron-oligodendrocyte interactions can be visualized by labeling neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes differentially. Our study provides a fundamental basis for specific transgene expression in astrocytes and/or oligodendrocytes in the mouse cerebrum.
Aim
We aimed to develop a novel noninvasive test using an artificial intelligence (AI)/neural network (NN) system (named nonalcoholic steatohepatitis NASH‐Scope) to screen nonalcoholic fatty liver ...disease (NAFLD) and NASH.
Methods
We enrolled 324 and 74 patients histologically diagnosed with NAFLD for training and validation studies, respectively. Two independent pathologists histologically diagnosed patients with NAFLD for validation study. Additionally, 48 subjects who underwent a medical health checkup and did not show fatty liver ultrasonographically and had normal serum aminotransferase levels were categorized as the non‐NAFLD group. NASH‐Scope was based on 11 clinical values: age, sex, height, weight, waist circumference, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, γ‐glutamyl transferase, cholesterol, triglyceride, and platelet count.
Results
The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of NASH‐Scope for distinguishing NAFLD from non‐NAFLD in the training study and validation study were 99.7% versus 97.2%, 97.8% versus 97.8%, 99.7% versus 98.6%, 97.8% versus 95.7%, and 0.999 versus 0.950, respectively. Those for distinguishing NASH with fibrosis from NAFLD without fibrosis were 99.5% versus 90.7%, 84.3% versus 93.3%, 94.2% versus 98.0%, 98.6% versus 73.7%, and 0.960 versus 0.950. These results were excellent, even when the output data were divided into two categories without any gray zone.
Conclusions
The AI/NN system, termed as NASH‐Scope, is practical and can accurately differentially diagnose between NAFLD and non‐NAFLD and between NAFLD without fibrosis and NASH with fibrosis. Thus, NASH‐Scope is useful for screening nonalcoholic fatty liver and NASH.
Aim
To develop a novel noninvasive test using an artificial intelligence (AI)/neural network (NN) system (named Fibro‐Scope) to determine the fibrosis stage in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
...Methods
Three hundred twenty‐four and 110 patients with histologically diagnosed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were enrolled for training and validation studies, respectively. Two independent pathologists histologically diagnosed patients with NAFLD for the validation study. Fibro‐Scope was undertaken using 12 items: age, sex, height, weight, waist circumference, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, γ‐glutamyl transferase, cholesterol, triglyceride, platelet count, and type 4 collagen 7s.
Results
Differentiation of F0 versus F1–4 using the Fibro‐Scope revealed 99.5% sensitivity, 90.9% specificity, 97.4% positive predictive value, and 98.0% negative predictive value in a training study with gray zone analysis, which was also effective in the analysis without gray zone. Discrimination was also excellent when comparing F0–1 versus F2–4 and F0–2 versus F3–4. In a validation study with gray zone analysis, differentiation of F0 from F1–4 using Fibro‐Scope was also excellent. The discrimination of F0–1 from F2–4 using Fibro‐Scope with gray zone analysis showed over 80% sensitivity and specificity in the histological diagnosis of both pathologists, but was lower without the gray zone analysis. The discrimination of F0–2 from F3–4 was effective in the analysis with gray zone; however, their sensitivity and specificity were slightly inferior in the analysis without gray zone.
Conclusions
Artificial intelligence/neural network algorithms termed Fibro‐Scope are easy to use and can accurately differentially diagnose minimal, moderate, and advanced fibrosis. Fibro‐Scope will promote rapid NASH diagnosis and facilitate diagnosing the fibrosis stage in NASH.
Tumor cells secrete membrane vesicles of various sizes, termed extracellular vesicles (EVs), which have gained increasing attention as potential tumor diagnostic markers. Tumor-derived EVs are ...enriched with high-mannose-type glycans. Here, we report the affinity isolation of EVs from human melanoma A375 cells by using high-mannose-type glycan-specific agglutinin from Oscillatoria Agardhii (OAA). Glycan analysis of melanoma EVs revealed the presence of high-mannose-type glycans with structural units preferred by OAA. We showed that in solution, OAA binds to melanoma EVs in a high-mannose-type glycan-dependent manner. Furthermore, OAA-immobilized beads were found to capture 60% of the particles and most proteinous components from melanoma EVs. Major EV glycoproteins that potentially interact with OAA were identified to be cluster of differentiation 109 (CD109), integrin α6 and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 10 (ADAM10). In addition to melanoma EVs, OAA captured EVs from human lung cancer, glioblastoma and colon cancer cells, but not those from endothelial cells and fibroblasts. These results indicate that OAA-immobilized beads may serve as a novel platform for affinity-capture of tumor-derived EVs.
•Human melanoma cell-derived small EVs express high-mannose type glycans.•OAA is an agglutinin from the freshwater cyanobacterium Oscillatoria Agardhii.•OAA binds to the small EVs in a high-mannose-type glycan-dependent manner.•OAA captures small EVs secreted from various types of tumor cells.
Allium macrostemon Bunge, commonly referred to as "no-biru" in Japan, is a widespread wild onion species found across the country. Despite being deeply entwined in ancient Japanese culture, it ...remains an underutilized crop in Japan. Determining the origins of its domestic populations and understanding their genetic composition is crucial to highlighting the plant's historical significance in Japan. This study aims to bridge this knowledge gap by examining the genetic diversity of 47 A. macrostemon samples from various regions in Japan using RAD-Seq. Our analyses distinguished unique population structures, dividing the samples into three distinct groups: A, B, and C. Notably, groups A and B showed clear evidence of bulb propagation, while group C did not. Group C formed four subgroups: C1, C2, C3, and C4. Hybridization between subgroup C1 and either group A, B, or both, resulted in the emergence of subgroups C2, C3, and C4. Thus, groups A, B, and C1 are posited as the ancestral populations. Additionally, our morphological observations indicated distinct differences among these three groups. Our findings also suggest that human migration may have influenced the plant's distribution, hinting at active usage in the past that later waned, causing its current underutilized status.
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