FUT2 non-secretor status is associated with Type 1 diabetes susceptibility in Japanese children.

AIM: To examine the contribution of the FUT2 gene and ABO blood type to the development of Type 1 diabetes in Japanese children. METHODS: We analysed FUT2 variants and ABO genotypes in a total of 531 Japanese children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and 448 control subjects. The possible association of FUT2 variants and ABO genotypes with the onset of Type 1 diabetes was statistically examined. RESULTS: The se2 genotype (c.385A>T) of the FUT2 gene was found to confer susceptibility to Type 1A diabetes in a recessive effects model [odds ratio for se2/se2, 1.68 (95% CI 1.20-2.35); corrected P value = 0.0075]. CONCLUSIONS: The FUT2 gene contributed to the development of Type 1 diabetes in the present cohort of Japanese children.

Measurement of Excitation Spectra in the

Excitation spectra of ^{11}C are measured in the ^{12}C(p,d) reaction near the η^{'} emission threshold. A proton beam extracted from the synchrotron SIS-18 at GSI with an incident energy of 2.5 GeV impinges on a carbon target. The momenta of deuterons emitted at 0° are precisely measured with the fragment separator (FRS) operated as a spectrometer. In contrast to theoretical predictions on the possible existence of deeply bound η^{'}-mesic states in carbon nuclei, no distinct structures are observed associated with the formation of bound states. The spectra are analyzed to set stringent constraints on the formation cross section and on the hitherto barely known η^{'}-nucleus interaction.

Variants associated with autoimmune Type 1 diabetes in Japanese children: implications for age-specific effects of cis-regulatory haplotypes at 17q12-q21.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to clarify the significance of previously reported susceptibility variants in the development of autoimmune Type 1 diabetes in non-white children. Tested variants included rs2290400, which has been linked to Type 1 diabetes only in one study on white people. Haplotypes at 17q12-q21 encompassing rs2290400 are known to determine the susceptibility of early-onset asthma by affecting the expression of flanking genes. METHODS: We genotyped 63 variants in 428 Japanese people with childhood-onset autoimmune Type 1 diabetes and 457 individuals without diabetes. Possible association between variants and age at diabetes onset was examined using age-specific quantitative trait locus analysis and ordered-subset regression analysis. RESULTS: Ten variants, including rs2290400 in GSDMB, were more frequent among the people with Type 1 diabetes than those without diabetes. Of these, rs689 in INS and rs231775 in CTLA4 yielded particularly high odds ratios of 5.58 (corrected P value 0.001; 95% CI 2.15-14.47) and 1.64 (corrected P value 5.3 × 10-5 ; 95% CI 1.34-2.01), respectively. Age-specific effects on diabetes susceptibility were suggested for rs2290400; heterozygosity of the risk alleles was associated with relatively early onset of diabetes, and the allele was linked to the phenotype exclusively in the subgroup of age at onset ≤ 5.0 years. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that rs2290400 in GSDMB and polymorphisms in INS and CTLA4 are associated with the risk of Type 1 diabetes in Japanese children. Importantly, cis-regulatory haplotypes at 17q12-q21 encompassing rs2290400 probably determine the risk of autoimmune Type 1 diabetes predominantly in early childhood.

Effect of prosthetic restoration on masticatory function in patients with shortened dental arches: a multicentre study.

The aim of this multicentre study was to investigate the effect of prosthetic restoration for missing posterior teeth on mastication in patients with shortened dental arches (SDAs). Partially dentate patients who had an intact teeth in anterior region and missed distal molar(s) (2-12 missing occlusal units) classified as Kennedy Class I or Class II were recruited from seven university-based dental hospitals in Japan. Of the 125 subjects who underwent baseline (pre-treatment) and follow-up/post-treatment evaluation, 53 chose no replacement of missing teeth and 72 chose treatment with removable partial dentures (n = 53) or implant-supported fixed partial dentures (n = 19). Objective masticatory performance (MP) was evaluated using a gummy jelly test. Perception of chewing ability (CA) was rated using a food intake questionnaire. In the no-treatment group, mean MP and CA scores at baseline were similar to those at follow-up evaluation (P > 0·05). In the treatment group, mean MP after treatment was significantly greater than the pre-treatment mean MP (P < 0·05). However, the mean perceived CA in the treatment groups was similar at pre- and post-treatment (P > 0·05). In a subgroup analysis of subjects in the treatment group, subjects with lower pre-treatment CA showed a significant CA increase after treatment (P = 0·004), but those with higher pre-treatment CA showed a significant decrease in CA (P = 0·001). These results suggest that prosthetic restoration for SDAs may benefit objective masticatory performance in patients needing replacement of missing posterior teeth, but the benefit in subjective chewing ability seems to be limited in subjects with perceived impairment in chewing ability before treatment.

Improved Measurement of the π→eν Branching Ratio.

A new measurement of the branching ratio R_{e/µ}=Γ(π^{+}→e^{+}ν+π^{+}→e^{+}νγ)/Γ(π^{+}→µ^{+}ν+π^{+}→µ^{+}νγ) resulted in R_{e/µ}^{exp}=[1.2344±0.0023(stat)±0.0019(syst)]×10^{-4}. This is in agreement with the standard model prediction and improves the test of electron-muon universality to the level of 0.1%.

Effect of prosthetic restoration on oral health-related quality of life in patients with shortened dental arches: a multicentre study.

The aim of this multicentre prospective study was to investigate the effect of prosthetic restoration for missing posterior teeth in patients with shortened dental arches (SDAs). SDA patients with 2-12 missing occlusal units (a pair of occluding premolars corresponds to one unit, and a pair of occluding molars corresponds to two units) were consecutively recruited from seven university-based dental hospitals in Japan. Patients chose no replacement of missing teeth or prosthetic treatment with removable partial dentures (RPDs) or implant-supported fixed partial dentures (IFPDs). Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) was measured using the oral health impact profile (Japanese version - OHIP-J) at baseline and follow-up/post-treatment evaluation. Of the 169 subjects who completed baseline evaluation, 125 subjects (mean age; 63.0 years) received follow-up/post-treatment evaluation. No-treatment was chosen by 42% (53/125) of the subjects, and 58% (72/125) chose treatment with a RPD (n = 53) or an IFPD (n = 19). In the no-treatment (NT) group, the mean OHIP summary score at baseline was similar to that at follow-up evaluation (P = 0.69). In the treatment (TRT) group, the mean OHIP summary score decreased significantly after the RPD treatment (P = 0.002), and it tended to decrease, though not statistically significant (P = 0.18), after the IFPD treatment. The restoration of one occlusal unit was associated with a 1.2-point decrease in OHIP summary score (P = 0.034). These results suggest that the replacement of missing posterior teeth with RPDs or IFPDs improved OHRQoL. Prosthetic restoration for SDAs may benefit OHRQoL in patients needing replacement of missing posterior teeth.

Characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility of motile aeromonads isolated from freshwater ornamental fish showing signs of septicaemia.

A total of 74 phenotypically identified presumptive motile Aeromonas isolates recovered from septicaemic freshwater ornamental fish in Sri Lanka were genetically characterized by sequencing of rpoD and gyrB genes. rpoD/gyrB phylogeny confirmed only 53 isolates as Aeromonas, among which A. veronii was the predominant species (79.2%), followed by A. hydrophila (7.5%), A. caviae (5.7%), A. jandaei (1.9%), A. dhakensis (3.8%) and A. entero pelogenes (1.9%). The aeromonads confirmed by sequencing were further subjected to 16S rDNA PCR-RFLP which substantiated sequencing results for 83% of isolates. Fingerprinting of A. enteropelogenes (n = 42) using ERIC-PCR revealed no dominant clones, and the majority were genetically distinct. All isolates were screened by PCR for 7 virulence determinant genes (aer, act, ast, alt, fla, ser, exu) and 2 integrase encoding genes (intI1, intI2). Each isolate contained ≥3 of the virulence genes tested for, with a heterogeneous distribution. Of the isolates, 77% harboured the intI1 gene, while none had intI2. In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed highest resistances towards tetracycline (58.5%) and erythromycin (54.7%). Our results indicate the diverse range of aeromonads that could potentially be associated with motile aeromonad septicaemia in ornamental fish. This is the first isolation of A. dhakensis from a septicaemic ornamental fish since its original description from the same host.

Large current MOSFET on photonic silicon-on-insulator wafers and its monolithic integration with a thermo-optic 2 × 2 Mach-Zehnder switch.

n-channel body-tied partially depleted metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) were fabricated for large current applications on a silicon-on-insulator wafer with photonics-oriented specifications. The MOSFET can drive an electrical current as large as 20 mA. We monolithically integrated this MOSFET with a 2 × 2 Mach-Zehnder interferometer optical switch having thermo-optic phase shifters. The static and dynamic performances of the integrated device are experimentally evaluated.

Peroral video cholangioscopy to evaluate indeterminate bile duct lesions and preoperative mucosal cancerous extension: a prospective multicenter study.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Despite the development of peroral video cholangioscopy (PVCS), no prospective multicenter studies have been undertaken to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of PVCS in biliary tract diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to clarify the accuracy of PVCS in evaluating biliary tract lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was a prospective multicenter study at five tertiary referral centers in Japan and included 87 eligible patients with biliary tract diseases who underwent PVCS. The study evaluated the ability of PVCS to diagnose indeterminate biliary tract diseases, detect mucosal cancerous extension preoperatively in extrahepatic bile duct cancers, and predict adverse events. RESULTS: The use of PVCS appearance alone correctly distinguished benign from malignant indeterminate biliary lesions in 92.1 % of patients whereas biopsy alone was accurate in 85.7 %. In extrahepatic bile duct cancer, mucosal cancer extended histologically at least 20 mm in 34.7 % (17/49) of patients. The accuracy rate of PVCS to evaluate the presence or absence of mucosal cancerous extension by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) alone, ERC with PVCS, and ERC with PVCS + biopsy were 73.5 %, 83.7 %, and 92.9 %, respectively. Adverse events were seen in 6.9 % of PVCS patients, but no serious complications were observed. CONCLUSION: PVCS enhanced the accurate diagnosis of biliary tract lesions by providing excellent resolution in combination with biopsy.

The influence of elastic modulus mismatch between tooth and post and core restorations on root fracture.

AIM: To investigate the influence of elastic modulus mismatch between tooth and post and core restorations on mechanisms of root fracture. METHODOLOGY: Three-dimensional mathematical models of a root filled maxillary premolar tooth with supporting periodontium were constructed. The tooth was restored with a cast Ni-Cr alloy or fibre-reinforced composite post and core that was bonded or nonbonded to dentine. In the nonbonded simulation, a nonlinear contact analysis was executed to simulate a friction and a potential sliding phenomenon in the interface between tooth and post and core. Risks of root fracture and debonding at the bonded interface were estimated based on the principal stress of the root and the shear stress on the interface, respectively. RESULTS: The fracture risk of the bonded cast post and core was lower than that of the composite post and core, although the cast restoration exhibited eight times greater stress than the composite. The risk of root fracture based on the tensile stress of the tooth structures was higher with the bonded composite post and core than that with the cast post and core. These stresses doubled when the restorations were not bonded to the tooth structures. The risk of debonding of the cast post and core based on the shear stress was approximately twice that of the composite post and core. CONCLUSIONS: The elastic modulus mismatch appears to be a factor responsible for the debonding of post and cores from root canals, with the potential to increase the risk of root fracture indirectly.

Search for the Θ+ pentaquark via the π(-)p→K(-)X reaction at 1.92 GeV/c.

The Θ(+) pentaquark baryon was searched for via the π(-)p→K(-)X reaction with a missing mass resolution of 1.4 MeV/c(2) (FWHM) at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC). π(-) meson beams were incident on the liquid hydrogen target with a beam momentum of 1.92 GeV/c. No peak structure corresponding to the Θ(+) mass was observed. The upper limit of the production cross section averaged over the scattering angle of 2° to 15° in the laboratory frame is obtained to be 0.26 µb/sr in the mass region of 1.51-1.55 GeV/c(2). The upper limit of the Θ(+) decay width is obtained to be 0.72 and 3.1 MeV for J(Θ)(P)=1/2(+) and J(Θ)(P)=1/2(-), respectively, using the effective Lagrangian approach.

Effectiveness of high-dose barium enema filling for colonic diverticular bleeding.

AIM: Therapeutic barium enema was first reported in 1970. The long-term recurrence rate of colonic diverticular bleeding after therapeutic barium enema was compared with that of endoscopic haemostasis. METHOD: This study included 57 consecutive patients admitted between 2003 and 2008 with colonic diverticular bleeding in whom conservative treatment failed to stop bleeding within 3 h of hospital admission. Lower gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed immediately after admission. In 75% of patients, bleeding was from the right colon, and any identifiable source of bleeding was treated by endoscopic haemostasis. Cases with an undetectable source received high-dose barium impaction therapy. RESULTS: Treatment was as follows: Group A (n = 37) solely by endoscopic haemostasis; Group B (n = 11) solely by therapeutic barium enema group, and Group C (n = 9) by endoscopic haemostasis and therapeutic barium enema. At a follow up of seven (median; range: 1-56) months, recurrent bleeding rates were 18/37 (48.6%), 6/11 (54.5%) and 2/9 (22.2%) (P = 0.3930). CONCLUSION: High-dose barium enema is as effective as endoscopic haemostasis for the prevention of recurrent diverticular bleeding.

A structural equation model relating objective and subjective masticatory function and oral health-related quality of life in patients with removable partial dentures.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between objective masticatory function with respect to masticatory performance and food mixing ability, patients' perception of chewing ability and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). Partially dentate patients with removable partial dentures (n = 131, mean age 67·1 year) participated in the study. Four tests were performed to evaluate objective and subjective masticatory function and OHRQoL. Masticatory performance and food mixing ability were assessed using peanuts or a two-coloured wax cube as test items. Patients' perception of chewing ability was rated using a food intake questionnaire. OHRQoL was measured using the Japanese version of the oral health impact profile. A structural equation model was constructed based on hypothesis in which objective masticatory function would be related to OHRQoL via perceived chewing ability as a mediator. Structural equation modelling analysis found a statistically significant medium effect of perceived chewing ability on OHRQoL and statistically significant medium or small effects of masticatory performance on perceived chewing ability and OHRQoL (P < 0·05); however, the effect of food mixing ability on perceived chewing ability or OHRQoL was not statistically significant (P > 0·05). A fit index indicated that the model fitted well to the data (Goodness-of-fit index = 0·99). These results suggest that perceived chewing ability is a critical factor for OHRQoL and that masticatory performance rather than food mixing ability is important for perceived chewing ability and OHRQoL in patients with removable partial dentures.

A structural equation model to investigate the impact of missing occlusal units on objective masticatory function in patients with shortened dental arches.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of missing occlusal units (MOUs) on objective masticatory function with respect to food comminuting and mixing ability. Sixty partially dentate patients (mean age, 64·1 years) with shortened dental arches participated in the study. Food comminuting ability was assessed using a masticatory performance test with peanuts as a test food. Food mixing ability was assessed using a mixing ability test with a two-coloured wax cube. Maximum bite force (MBF) was measured using a pressure-sensitive film as a mediator for food comminuting and mixing ability. A structural equation model was constructed based on a hypothesis that MOUs would be associated with reduced MBF and impairment of food comminuting and mixing ability. Structural equation modelling analysis found significant direct effects of MOU on median particle size and mixing ability index (MAI) (P < 0·001). In addition, MOU had significant indirect effects on median particle size and MAI with MBF as a mediator (P < 0·05). These results suggest that decrease in occlusal platform area and reduced MBF because of MOUs are associated with the impairment of food comminution and mixing in patients with shortened dental arches.

Factors related to prosthetic restoration in patients with shortened dental arches: a multicentre study.

The aim of this study was to identify the factors related to prosthetic restoration in patients with shortened dental arches (SDA). SDA patients with 2-12 missing occlusal units were consecutively enrolled from seven university-based dental hospitals in Japan. Of the 145 subjects (mean age; 63·4 years), 41% chose no treatment and 59% sought to replace their edentulous spaces with removable partial dentures or implant-supported fixed partial dentures. Restoration decisions were related to tooth loss patterns. Only 3% of subjects missing just second molar(s) sought to receive prosthetic treatment, while the percentage increased to 58% in subjects who were missing first and second molars and 93% in subjects missing premolar(s). Logistic regression analyses found that young age, increased number of missing occlusal units, asymmetric arch and presence of chewing complaint were significant predictors for prosthetic restoration (P<0·05). Increased number of missing occlusal units and asymmetric arch were significant predictors for the presence of chewing complaint (P<0·05). These results suggest that perceived impairment of chewing ability owing to missing occlusal units is a critical factor for prosthetic restoration in SDA patients.

Anticardiolipin antibodies recognize beta 2-glycoprotein I structure altered by interacting with an oxygen modified solid phase surface.

Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) derived from the sera of individuals exhibiting the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) directly bind to beta 2-glycoprotein I (beta 2-GPI), which is adsorbed to an oxidized polystyrene surface. Oxygen atoms were introduced on a polystyrene surface by irradiation with electron or gamma-ray radiation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed the irradiated surfaces were oxidized to generate C-O and C = O moieties. aCL derived from either APS patients or (NZW x BXSB)F1 mice bound to beta 2-GPI coated on the irradiated plates, depending on the radiation dose. Antibody binding to beta 2-GPI on the irradiated plates was competitively inhibited by simultaneous addition of cardiolipin (CL)-coated latex beads mixed together with beta 2-GPI but were unaffected by addition of excess beta 2-GPI, CL micelles, or CL-coated latex beads alone. There was a high correlation between binding values of aCL in sera from 40 APS patients obtained by the anti-beta 2-GPI enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the irradiated plates and those by the beta 2-GPI-dependent aCL ELISA. Therefore, aCL have specificity for an epitope on beta 2-GPI. This epitope is expressed by a conformational change occurring when beta 2-GPI interacts with an oxygen-substituted solid phase surface.

Measurement of jerk-cost using a triaxial piezoelectric accelerometer for the evaluation of jaw movement smoothness.

Jerk-cost as a measure of jaw movement smoothness has been used to evaluate the masticatory function of patients with tooth loss and malocclusion. Jerk-cost measuring systems have thus far been unable to determine the jerk-cost of each chewing phase over time. The purposes of this study were (i) to develop a new method for measuring momentary jerk-cost of the jaw movement using a small triaxial piezoelectric accelerometer and (ii) to test the hypothesis that the lowest smoothness is seen during jaw-opening phase. The accelerometer was attached to the skin of the mentum of each subject. Vertical jaw displacement, acceleration, the jerk, and the time differential of jerk-cost during gum chewing were analysed as a function of time in five normal dentate subjects (n = 5). The system revealed intra-class correlation coefficients of intra-examiner, inter-examiner, and test-retest consistency of substantially high values (0.80-0.88). In all subjects, the highest jerk-cost was observed in the opening phase of each chewing cycle when the gum was parting from the teeth; the lowest jerk-cost was observed in the intercuspal phase throughout the chewing cycle, thus confirming the hypothesis. Significant differences were observed between the opening, closing, and intercuspal chewing phases (N = 5, P = 0.007). The smoothness measurement system used in this study evaluated the momentary smoothness of each chewing phase in the masticatory cycle. The system may serve as a diagnostic tool to evaluate the smoothness of the jaw movement in general dental practice.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate inhibits PDGF-induced chemotaxis of human arterial smooth muscle cells: spatial and temporal modulation of PDGF chemotactic signal transduction.

Activation of the PDGF receptor on human arterial smooth muscle cells (SMC) induces migration and proliferation via separable signal transduction pathways. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (Sph-1-P) can be formed following PDGF receptor activation and therefore may be implicated in PDGF-receptor signal transduction. Here we show that Sph-1-P does not significantly affect PDGF-induced DNA synthesis, proliferation, or activation of mitogenic signal transduction pathways, such as the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade and PI 3-kinase, in human arterial SMC. On the other hand, Sph-1-P strongly mimics PDGF receptor-induced chemotactic signal transduction favoring actin filament disassembly. Although Sph-1-P mimics PDGF, exogenously added Sph-1-P induces more prolonged and quantitatively greater PIP2 hydrolysis compared to PDGF-BB, a markedly stronger calcium mobilization and a subsequent increase in cyclic AMP levels and activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. This excessive and prolonged signaling favors actin filament disassembly by Sph-1-P, and results in inhibition of actin nucleation, actin filament assembly and formation of focal adhesion sites. Sph-1-P-induced interference with the dynamics of PDGF-stimulated actin filament disassembly and assembly results in a marked inhibition of cell spreading, of extension of the leading lamellae toward PDGF, and of chemotaxis toward PDGF. The results suggest that spatial and temporal changes in phosphatidylinositol turnover, calcium mobilization and actin filament disassembly may be critical to PDGF-induced chemotaxis and suggest a possible role for endogenous Sph-1-P in the regulation of PDGF receptor chemotactic signal transduction.

Bacterial community dynamics during reduction of odorous compounds in aerated pig manure slurry.

AIMS: To study the microbial community responsible for the reduction of the polluting load during aerobic digestion of pig slurry. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed bacterial succession by nonculture-based methods and determined the physicochemical parameters and polluting substances during 6 days of aerobic digestion. The bacterial subpopulations evolved by aeration, predominantly Bacillus spp., degraded organic matter and vigorously consumed oxygen, as indicated by low oxidation-reduction potential (ORP). In this phase, the volatile fatty acid (VFA) levels drastically decreased, and VFAs were almost depleted on day 4. Simultaneously, the ammonia concentration decreased to its lowest level on day 4; thereafter, it increased until the end of the process. After the decrease in the total organic carbon content in the supernatant of the decomposed slurry, the ORP increased (approximately 0 mV), and the microbial community showed an abundance of lineages belonging to the phylum Proteobacteria. CONCLUSIONS: Bacillus was the predominant member of the bacterial community driving the VFA-removal process. Their predominance was related to the presence of available carbon, including VFAs and changes in ORP. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Information on the relationships among the involved microbes, polluting materials and physicochemical parameters will aid process design and retrofitting of the process.

Comparisons between a mixing ability test and masticatory performance tests using a brittle or an elastic test food.

A variety of chewing tests and test items have been utilized to evaluate masticatory function. The purpose of this study was to compare a mixing ability test with masticatory performance tests using peanuts or gummy jelly as test foods. Thirty-two completely dentate subjects (Dentate group, mean age: 25.1 years) and 40 removable partial denture wearers (RPD group, mean age: 65.5 years) participated in this study. The subjects were asked to chew a two-coloured paraffin wax cube as a test item for 10 strokes. Mixing Ability Index (MAI) was determined from the colour mixture and shape of the chewed cube. Subjects were asked to chew 3 g portions of peanuts and a piece of gummy jelly for 20 strokes, respectively. Median particle size of chewed peanuts was determined using a multiple-sieving method. Concentration of dissolved glucose from the surface of the chewed gummy jelly was measured using a blood glucose meter. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to test the relationships between the MAI, median particle size and the concentration of dissolved glucose. Mixing Ability Index was significantly related to median particle size (Dentate group: r = -0.56, P < 0.001, RPD group: r = -0.70, P < 0.001), but not significantly related to glucose concentration (Dentate group: r = 0.12, RPD group: r = 0.21, P > 0.05). It seems that ability of mixing the bolus is more strongly related to the ability of comminuting brittle food than elastic food.