Background: Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) and nonsurgical hypoparathyroidism (NS-HypoPT) are rare diseases with hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and high and low parathyroid hormone levels, ...respectively. In Japan, over 20 years have passed since the last survey on these diseases. We carried out a nationwide cross-sectional survey to estimate the prevalence of these diseases in 2018.Methods: We conducted a nationwide mail-based survey targeting hospitals in 2018. From a total of 13,156 departments throughout Japan, including internal medicine, pediatrics, neurology, and psychiatry, 3,501 (27%) departments were selected using a stratified random sampling method. We asked each included department to report the number of patients with PHP and NS-HypoPT in 2017.Results: The overall survey response rate was 52.0% (1,807 departments). The estimated number of patients with PHP and NS-HypoPT was 1,484 (95% confidence interval CI, 1,143–1,825) and 2,304 (95% CI, 1,189–3,419), respectively; the prevalence per 100,000 population was 1.2 and 1.8, respectively.Conclusion: In this study, we generated estimates of the national prevalence of PHP and NS-HypoPT in Japan during 2017, which were found to be higher than those previously reported.
Elderly cancer patients requiring surgical treatment are increasing, and the deterioration of quality of life and shortening of healthy life expectancy due to postoperative complications represent ...major problems. This study investigated the current status of medical treatment, including perioperative evaluations, for elderly cancer patients requiring surgical treatment at cancer treatment facilities nationwide. A total of 436 cancer care facilities around Japan were invited to participate in this web-based survey regarding management of cancer patients ≥ 65 years old who had undergone surgical treatment in 2018. A total of 919 department heads from 245 facilities agreed to participate. Although most respondents answered that performance status, preoperative examinations, and comorbidities were important when deciding on a treatment plan, age, Geriatric Assessment (GA), and guidelines were "not important" for > 10% of all respondents. GA was familiar to 195 department heads (21%), and awareness of GA was significantly lower among respondents from medical education institutions than the other types of hospitals (18.5% vs 26.3%; P = 0.006). This large survey revealed that the use of GA is not widespread, and its awareness in medical education institutions remains low. We believe that accumulating evidence of geriatric oncology surgery is an urgent issue in Japan.
Despite the considerable role of aquatic plant-associated bacteria in host plant growth and nutrient cycling in aquatic environments, the mode of their plant colonization has hardly been understood. ...This study examined the colonization and competition dynamics of a plant growth-promoting bacterium (PGPB) and two plant growth-inhibiting bacteria (PGIB) in the aquatic plant Lemna minor (common duckweed). When inoculated separately to L. minor, each bacterial strain quickly colonized at approximately 10⁶ cells per milligram (plant fresh weight) and kept similar populations throughout the 7-day cultivation time. The results of two-membered co-inoculation assays revealed that the PGPB strain Aquitalea magnusonii H3 consistently competitively excluded the PGIB strain Acinetobacter ursingii M3, and strain H3 co-existed at almost 1:1 proportion with another PGIB strain, Asticcacaulis excentricus M6, regardless of the inoculation ratios (99:1–1:99) and inoculation order. We also found that A. magnusonii H3 exerted its growth-promoting effect over the negative effects of the two PGIB strains even when only a small amount was inoculated, probably due to its excellent competitive colonization ability. These experimental results demonstrate that there is a constant ecological equilibrium state involved in the bacterial colonization of aquatic plants.
In order to cope with cyber-attacks which had been continuously growing in sophistication, in 2011, in the Cyber Security Laboratories, we started our studies on cyber-security technologies, ...constructing the world most advanced technology-infrastructure that enables the observations, analyses, counter-measures, and prevention of cyber-attacks: as the abovementioned example shows, for the purpose of contributing to the solution-provision of social issues, we have been conducting the activities on cyber-security research and development by taking practical approaches. In 2013, under the Cyber-Attack Counter-Measure Research Center, Cyber-Attack ProtectionTactics Research Laboratory and Cyber-Attack Detection and Analysis Laboratory were established. Their missions are to conduct the studies for the establishment of cyber-attack protection tactics which are derived from the fundamental studies on cyber-attack mechanisms and the studies on the recreation of attacks-of course safely-for attack-evaluation and test. In this article, we show the overview of NICT’s research and development activities on the cyber-security technologies conducted during the five years from FY2011 that were conducted following the 3rd Medium- to Long-Term Plan.
Abstract
Properly patterned deposition of cell wall polymers is prerequisite for the morphogenesis of plant cells. A cortical microtubule array guides the two-dimensional pattern of cell wall ...deposition. Yet, the mechanism underlying the three-dimensional patterning of cell wall deposition is poorly understood. In metaxylem vessels, cell wall arches are formed over numerous pit membranes, forming highly organized three-dimensional cell wall structures. Here, we show that the microtubule-associated proteins, MAP70-5 and MAP70-1, regulate arch development. The
map70-1 map70-5
plants formed oblique arches in an abnormal orientation in pits. Microtubules fit the aperture of developing arches in wild-type cells, whereas microtubules in
map70-1 map70-5
cells extended over the boundaries of pit arches. MAP70 caused the bending and bundling of microtubules. These results suggest that MAP70 confines microtubules within the pit apertures by altering the physical properties of microtubules, thereby directing the growth of pit arches in the proper orientation. This study provides clues to understanding how plants develop three-dimensional structure of cell walls.
This study evaluates the effects of various metals on 1,4-dioxane degradation by the following four bacteria: Pseudonocardia sp. D17; Pseudonocardia sp. N23; Mycobacterium sp. D6; and Rhodococcus ...aetherivorans JCM 14343. Eight transition metals Co(II), Cu(II), Fe(II), Fe(III), Mn(II), Mo(VI), Ni(II), and Zn(II) were used as the test metals. Results revealed, for the first time, that metals had not only inhibitory but also stimulatory effects on 1,4-dioxane biodegradation. Cu(II) had the most severe inhibitory effects on 1,4-dioxane degradation by all of the test strains, with significant inhibition at concentrations as low as 0.01–0.1 mg/L. This inhibition was probably caused by cellular toxicity at higher concentrations, and by inhibition of degradative enzymes at lower concentrations. In contrast, Fe(III) enhanced 1,4-dioxane degradation by Mycobacterium sp. D6 and R. aetherivorans JCM 14343 the most, while degradation by the two Pseudonocardia strains was stimulated most notably in the presence of Mn(II), even at concentrations as low as 0.001 mg/L. Enhanced degradation is likely caused by the stimulation of soluble di-iron monooxygenases (SDIMOs) involved in the initial oxidation of 1,4-dioxane. Differences in the stimulatory effects of the tested metals were likely associated with the particular SDIMO types in the test strains.
•Effects of 8 metals on 1,4-dioxane degradation by 4 bacterial strains were studied.•Cu(II) commonly had the most severe inhibitory effects on degradation.•Cu(II) at low concentrations probably inhibited degradation enzymes.•Mn(II) and Fe(III) stimulated degradation depending on the degrading strain.•Stimulation by metals was likely associated with SDIMO types in the strains.
In recent years, several strains capable of degrading 1,4-dioxane have been isolated from the genera
Pseudonocardia
and
Rhodococcus
. This study was conducted to evaluate the 1,4-dioxane degradation ...potential of phylogenetically diverse strains in these genera. The abilities to degrade 1,4-dioxane as a sole carbon and energy source and co-metabolically with tetrahydrofuran (THF) were evaluated for 13
Pseudonocardia
and 12
Rhodococcus
species.
Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans
JCM 13855
T
, which is a 1,4-dioxane degrading bacterium also known as
P. dioxanivorans
CB1190, and
Rhodococcus aetherivorans
JCM 14343
T
could degrade 1,4-dioxane as the sole carbon and energy source. In addition to these two strains, ten
Pseudonocardia
strains could degrade THF, but no
Rhodococcus
strains could degrade THF. Of the ten
Pseudonocardia
strains,
Pseudonocardia acacia
JCM 16707
T
and
Pseudonocardia asaccharolytica
JCM 10410
T
degraded 1,4-dioxane co-metabolically with THF. These results indicated that 1,4-dioxane degradation potential, including degradation for growth and by co-metabolism with THF, is possessed by selected strains of
Pseudonocardia
and
Rhodococcus
, although THF degradation potential appeared to be widely distributed in
Pseudonocardia
. Analysis of soluble di-iron monooxygenase (SDIMO) α-subunit genes in THF and/or 1,4-dioxane degrading strains revealed that not only THF and 1,4-dioxane monooxygenases but also propane monooxygenase-like SDIMOs can be involved in 1,4-dioxane degradation.
Background
Periprosthetic fractures of the acetabulum occurring during primary THA are rare. Periprosthetic occult fractures are defined as those not identified by the surgeon during the procedure ...which might be missed on a routine postoperative radiograph. However, it is unclear how frequently these fractures occur and whether their presence affects functional recovery.
Questions/Purposes
In this study, using routine CT scans that were obtained as part of another primary hip arthroplasty study protocol, we retrospectively assessed (1) the prevalence of occult fractures of the acetabulum occurring during primary THA, (2) the location of occult fractures of the acetabulum during THA, and (3) risk factors contributing to such occult fractures.
Methods
Between 2004 and 2013, our institute performed 585 primary THAs (cementless or hybrid) in 494 patients with DICOM pre- and postoperative CT; during the period in question, all patients undergoing THA underwent CT before and after surgery. Preoperative CT images were taken as part of a CT-based three-dimensional templating software and navigation system. Postoperative CT images were taken an average of 1 week after surgery as part of a different protocol to evaluate cup position, restoration of leg length and offset, volume of postoperative hematoma to assess anticoagulation effects after THA, and fractures that were not found on routine postoperative radiographs (which we defined as occult fractures). Patients with a history of prior pelvic osteotomy, trauma, and infection were excluded (88 patients/99 hips); 406 patients (102 males and 304 females; 486 hips) form the basis of this report. The mean age of the patients was 60 ± 11 years, with a mean BMI of 23 ± 4 kg/m
2
. The mean followup of the patients with periprosthetic fracture of the acetabulum was 58 ± 28 months (range, 12–131 months). Potential risk factors for occult acetabular fracture including age, sex, BMI, preoperative diagnosis, additional dome screw fixation, composition and size of each cup, and acetabular design were examined in multivariate analysis. Acetabular component designs were categorized as true hemispheric, peripheral self-locking, and elliptical; during the period in question the indications for each cup design were based on the brand of stem used. Comparison between preoperative and postoperative CT images was done to detect the fractures. Patients with fractures identified during surgery were treated with additional dome screw fixation and a 3-week period of nonweightbearing. Patients with occult fractures in this series did not receive additional treatment as we had confirmed secure fixation of the cup during surgery.
Results
Occult fractures occurred in 41 hips (8.4%); periprosthetic fractures of the acetabulum were seen during surgery in an additional two hips (0.4%). The superolateral wall was the most frequent location for occult fractures of the acetabulum. After controlling for relevant confounding variables, only the use of peripheral self-locking cups was associated with an increased risk of occult fracture (odds ratio OR, 2.6 compared with hemispheric cups; 95% CI, 1.2–5.6; p < 0.05). All patients with occult fractures showed bone ingrowth fixation at the final followup, without any additional surgical intervention.
Conclusions
Periprosthetic occult fractures of the acetabulum may occur relatively frequently during press-fit impaction. We observed a higher rate of fractures associated with the use of peripheral self-locking components. Occult acetabular fractures not detected on routine postoperative plain films may be ignored if secure fixation of the cup has been confirmed during the operation.
Level of Evidence
Level III, therapeutic study.
Intranasal drug applications show significant therapeutic potential for diverse pharmaceutical modalities. Because the formulation applied to the nasal cavity is discharged to the pharyngeal side by ...mucociliary clearance, the formulation should be dissolved effectively in a limited amount of mucus within its retention time in the nasal cavity. In this study, to develop novel formulations with improved dissolution behavior and compatibility with the intranasal environment, a thin-film formulation including drug and polymer was prepared using a vacuum-drying method. The poorly water-soluble drugs ketoprofen, flurbiprofen, ibuprofen, and loxoprofen were dissolved in a solvent comprising water and methanol, and evaporated to obtain a thin film. Physical analyses using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction analysis (PXRD), and scanning electron microscopy SEM revealed that the formulations were amorphized in the film. The dissolution behavior of the drugs was investigated using an in vitro evaluation system that mimicked the intranasal physiological environment. The amorphization of drugs formulated with polymers into thin films using the vacuum-drying method improved the dissolution rate in artificial nasal fluid. Therefore, the thin film developed in this study can be safely and effectively used for intranasal drug application.
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