Associations between infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practice and attitudes toward intimate partner violence (IPV) in Timor-Leste.

BACKGROUND: Both the proportions of malnutrition among children and women's justifying partner's intimate partner violence (IPV) are high in Timor-Leste. However, no study has looked at the associations between acceptable infant and young child feeding (IYCF) and women's attitudes toward IPV, as a women's empowerment index. In light of the lack of evidence described above, the study objective was to examine associations between IYCF practice and attitudes toward IPV in Timor-Leste and other women's characteristics. METHODS: A secondary analysis of children's records from the Demographic and Health Survey Timor-Leste 2016 was conducted using a cross-sectional design. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to investigate associations between acceptable IYCF and women's agreement that men are justified in beating their wives for five specific reasons and socio-economic factors. RESULTS: The day before the survey, 33.4% of mothers gave their child at least the minimum dietary diversity and 46.4% at least the minimum meal frequency; and 15.0% practiced acceptable IYCF. Among all respondents, 17.5% did not agree that all five specific reasons for beating are justified. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of acceptable IYCF for mothers who did not agree was 1.51 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-2.09) compared to those who agreed. The aOR of acceptable IYCF for mothers who worked outside the home was 1.48 (95% CI 1.16-1.96) compared to those who did not. Compared to mothers in the poorest quintile, the aORs of acceptable IYCF among those in the poorer, middle, richer, and richest quintiles were 1.33 (95% CI 0.83-2.21), 1.90 (95% CI 1.15-3.14), 2.01 (95% CI 1.17-3,45), and 2.99 (95% CI 1.63-5.50) respectively. Compared to children aged 6-11 months, the aORs of acceptable IYCF for children aged 12-17 months and 18-23 months were 2.14 (95% CI 1.54-2.97) and 1.63 (95% CI 1.14-2.34), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Acceptable IYCF was associated with mothers' attitudes toward wife-beating, wealth quintile, and mother's work. Factors that we found associated with IYCF were all related to women's empowerment. It implies that women's empowerment is a key to improving mothers' childcare. Merely promoting a specific childcare practice may not be enough for better child health.

Acetabular cartilage abnormalities in elderly patients with femoral neck fractures.

INTRODUCTION: Both hemiarthroplasty (HA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA) are widely accepted surgical procedures for hip replacement following displaced femoral neck fractures. However, in cases involving an intact joint line before surgery, the choice between HA and THA remains debatable. This study investigated the prevalence of acetabular cartilage and labral abnormalities in elderly patients with femoral neck fractures. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients underwent hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures between April 2020 and February 2021. After excluding 4 patients, 33 patients (6 men and 27 women; mean age = 82.2 [range = 67-98] years) with fractures in 12 left and 21 right hips were included. After femoral head removal during arthroplasty, the acetabulum was macroscopically examined for the presence of cartilage and labral lesions. Acetabular cartilage abnormalities were classified as either overall degeneration or partial damage according to the cartilage damage classification system. RESULTS: Acetabular cartilage abnormalities, including overall degeneration or partial damage, were found in all hips (100%). Out of the 33 hips, overall degeneration, partial damage, and labral abnormalities were detected in 32 (96.9%), 16 (48.4%), and 9 (27.2%) hips, respectively. DISCUSSION: In this study, most elderly patients with femoral neck fractures exhibited acetabular cartilage and labral abnormalities, which were already present at the time of surgery. Therefore, surgeons should carefully examine these abnormalities as they may impact postoperative outcomes such as pain and function.

Seroprevalence of Antibodies Against Paracoccidioides Spp. in Captive Dolphins from Three Aquaria in Japan.

The skin disease paracoccidioidomycosis ceti occurs in several dolphin species globally. Infection by the unculturable fungi Paracoccidioides brasilensis or other Paracoccidioides spp. results in chronic cutaneous and granulomatous lesions. In this study we used immunohistochemistry to investigate the seroprevalence of antibodies to Paracoccidioides spp. in captive dolphins from three aquaria in Japan. We had previously reported that there were serological cross-reactions for Paracoccidioides spp. with related species in the order Onygenales. We hypothesized that the degree of serological cross-reactions for Paracoccidioides spp. might be lower in areas, such as Japan, where the fungal diseases coccidiodomycosis and paracoccidiodomycosis are not endemic. Sera from 41 apparently healthy dolphins, including 20 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (BD: Tursiops truncatus), 6 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (IPBD: Tursiops aduncus), 2 F1 generation of a cross between BD and IPBD (F1), 3 Pacific white-sided dolphins (PWD: Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), 2 pantropical spotted dolphins (PSD: Stenella attenuata), 6 false killer whales (FKW: Pseudorca crassidens), and 2 rough-toothed dolphins (RTD: Steno bredanensis) were investigated. Sera from three dolphins with paracoccidioidomycosis ceti were used as a positive control. The yeast-form cells of Paracoccidioides spp. in the cutaneous tissue sample derived from the first Japanese paracoccidioidomycosis ceti case were used as the antigen for the immunohistochemistry. Of the 41 dolphins tested, 61.0% had antibodies against Paracoccidioides spp. This indicates that dolphins of several species in Japanese aquaria have likely been exposed to the pathogen Paracoccidioides spp.

A case of stranded Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) with lobomycosis-like skin lesions in Kinko-wan, Kagoshima, Japan.

Lobomycosis is a chronic fungal disease caused by the etiologic agent, Lacazia loboi, in the skin and subcutaneous tissues in humans and dolphins in tropical and transitional tropical climates. An Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) stranded in Kagoshima, Japan, had severe skin lesions characterized by granulomatous reactions and hyperkeratosis that were similar to those of the lobomycosis, but no fungal organism was observed in the skin lesion. In this paper, we report a stranded Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin with lobomycosis-like lesions based on pathological examinations in Japan.

Effect of adding screening ultrasonography to screening mammography on patient recall and cancer detection rates: a retrospective study in Japan.

PURPOSE: To determine whether adding screening ultrasonography to screening mammography can reduce patient recall rates and increase cancer detection rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the results of mammography and ultrasonography breast screenings performed at the Total Health Evaluation Center Tsukuba, Japan, between April 2011 and March 2012. We also reviewed the modalities and results of diagnostic examinations from women with mammographic abnormalities who visited the Tsukuba Medical Center Hospital for further testing. RESULTS: Of 11,753 women screened, cancer was diagnosed in 10 (0.22%) of the 4529 participants who underwent mammography alone, 23 (0.37%) of the 6250 participants who underwent ultrasonography alone, and 5 (0.51%) of the 974 participants who underwent mammography and ultrasonography. The recall rate due to mammographic abnormalities was 4.9% for women screened only with mammography and 2.6% for those screened with both modalities. The cancer detection rate was 0.22% for women screened only with mammography (positive predictive value, 4.5%) and 0.31% for those screened with both modalities (positive predictive value, 12.0%). Of the 211 lesions presenting as mammographic abnormalities investigated further, diagnostic ultrasonography found no abnormalities in 63 (29.9%) and benign findings in 69 (33.7%). The rest 36.4% needed mammography, cytological or histological examinations or follow-up in addition to diagnostic ultrasonography. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to reduce the recall rate in screening mammography by combining mammography and ultrasonography for breast screening.

[Evaluation of serum total carnitine values in persons with severe motor and intellectual disabilities with enteral (tube) feeding].

OBJECTIVE: The nutritive evaluation and the serum carnitine values were measured for persons with severe motor and intellectual disabilities with enteral (tube) feeding. METHODS: In Shimada Rehabilitation Center, twenty one people who had serum albumin levels of 3.4 g/dl or less, and were taking nutrition with enteral (tube) feeding, were tested. Body weight, blood samples, and serum carnitine levels were measured. RESULTS: The total carnitine value was less than the standard value in 19 patients. The total carnitine value decreased in the group taking valporate sodium (VPA), compared to the values from the group non-taking VPA. CONCLUSIONS: From our evaluation, we think that daily carnitine supplements is essential for persons with sever motor and intellectual disabilities taking VPA to maintain carnitine levels in the blood, and regular urine test should be done for earlier detection secondary lack complications from the secondary lack of carnitine.

Anti-obesity role of adzuki bean extract containing polyphenols: in vivo and in vitro effects.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of polyphenol-rich adzuki bean extract on lipid metabolism, triglyceride accumulation and proinflammatory cytokine secretion in vivo and in vitro. RESULTS: For the in vivo study, rats were divided into four groups: group C was fed a control diet, group A was fed the control diet with 1% adzuki bean extract, group CF was fed a high fat diet, and group AF was fed a high fat diet with 1% adzuki bean extract. For the in vitro study, the ability of adzuki bean extract to suppress triglyceride incorporation, glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase activity and inflammatory response was investigated in cultured human adipocytes. Data from the animal study showed that adzuki bean extract improved lipid metabolism in both the normal and high-fat diet groups. Adzuki bean extract treatment in the high-fat group resulted in significant reductions in total hepatic lipid accumulation and lipid secretion into the feces. Incubation of adipocytes with adzuki bean extract significantly decreased triglyceride accumulation, glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase activity and inflammatory responses without affecting cell viability. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrate that adzuki bean extract has high potential to serve as a natural anti-obesity agent.

Standing nail deformity of the great toes with multiple brachymetacarpia and brachyphalangia of the hand.

We report the surgical treatment of two patients who had rare complex anomalies of the foot and hand. The nails of their great toes curved dorsally as if they were standing on the nail matrix. They had difficulty in flexing the interphalangeal joint of the great toe. Their hands showed multiple and sporadic brachymetacarpia and brachyphalangia.

Expanded narrow subcutaneous-pedicled island forehead flap for reconstruction of the forehead.

To reconstruct the subsequent defects after resection of a unilateral large forehead lesion, we devised a revised method, "expanded narrow subcutaneous-pedicled island forehead flap." After unilateral forehead skin was expanded by a tissue expander, the flap was designed on the upper half of the expanded forehead skin nourished by the subcutaneous adipomuscular pedicle, including the supratrochlear or supraorbital artery. The elevated flap was then transposed or rotated 180 degrees toward the defect. The donor site was closed with upward advancement of the lower half of the expanded skin. Four patients were treated with this method. The flaps survived completely without serious complications, and acceptable results were obtained in all patients. This method has the advantage of increased freedom of flap design and transfer, providing an effective use of unaffected skin, less scars left on the forehead, and less formation of the dog-ear compared with the conventional procedure.

Improved efficacy and safety of in utero cell transplantation in sheep using an ultrasound-guided method.

In the present study, we investigated the suitability of two methods for the transplantation of cells into ovine fetuses. The first method was an ultrasound-guided cell injection via the uterine wall. The second involved hysterotomic cell injection with an incision in the uterine wall exposing the amnion. Monkey embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived hematopoietic cells were used as donor cells. After transplantation, the abortion rate associated with the hysterotomic injection method was significantly higher than that of the ultrasound-guided injection method (8/13 versus 4/24; P < 0.01). The fetuses were delivered to examine the engraftment of transplanted monkey hematopoietic cells. Monkey cells were detected in one of the five animals (20%) in the hysterotomic injection group, and 14 of 20 animals (70%, P < 0.05) in the ultrasound-guided injection group. Therefore, the ultrasound-guided method was effectively shown to be minimally invasive for in utero transplantation and can produce a higher rate of engraftment for transplanted cells.

Sustained macroscopic engraftment of cynomolgus embryonic stem cells in xenogeneic large animals after in utero transplantation.

Because embryonic stem (ES) cells are able to proliferate indefinitely and differentiate into any type of cell, they have the potential for providing an inexhaustible supply of transplantable cells or tissues. However, methods for the in vitro differentiation of human ES cells are still quite limited. One possible strategy would be to generate differentiated cells in vivo. In view of future clinical application, we investigated the possibility of using xenogeneic large animals for this purpose. We transplanted nonhuman primate cynomolgus ES cells into fetal sheep at 43-67 gestational days (full term 147 days, n=15). After birth, cynomolgus tissues, which were mature teratomas, had been engrafted in sheep when more than 1 x 10(6) ES cells were transplanted at <50 gestational days. Despite the sustained engraftment, both cellular and humoral immune responses against the ES cells were detected, and additional transplantation was not successful in the animals. At 2 weeks post-transplantation, the ES cell progeny proliferated when transplanted at 48 (<50) gestational days, whereas they were cleared away when transplanted at 60 (>50) gestational days. These results support the rapid development of the xenogeneic immunological barrier in fetal sheep after 50 gestational days. Notably, a large number of Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells were present around the ES cell progeny, but macrophages were absent when the transplant was conducted at <50 gestational days, implying that regulatory T cells and premature innate immunity might have contributed to the sustained engraftment. In conclusion, long-term macroscopic engraftment of primate ES cells in sheep is feasible despite the xenogeneic immunological barrier.

Effect of royal jelly on bisphenol A-induced proliferation of human breast cancer cells.

Royal jelly is known as a functional food containing many useful minerals. In this study, we found an anti-environmental estrogen activity of royal jelly. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental estrogen that stimulates proliferation of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Royal jelly inhibited the growth-promoting effect of BPA on MCF-7 cells, even though it did not affect the proliferation of cells in the absence of BPA. In addition, this inhibiting effect of royal jelly was heat-stable.

In vivo tumor formation from primate embryonic stem cells.

To achieve human embryonic stem (ES) cell-based transplantation therapies, allogeneic transplantation models of nonhuman primates would be particularly useful. In this chapter, we describe an example of this model. We prepared cynomolgus ES cells genetically marked with the green fluorescent protein. The cells were transplanted into the allogeneic fetus because the fetus is immunologically premature and does not induce immune responses to transplanted cells. In addition, fetal tissue compartments are rapidly expanding, presumably providing space for engraftment. At 3 mo posttransplantation, a fluorescent teratoma, obviously derived from transplanted ES cells, was found in the fetus. However, transplanted cell progeny were also detected (approx 1%) in multiple fetal tissues. The cells were solitary and indistinguishable from surrounding host cells as assessed by in situ polymerase chain reaction. Transplanted cynomolgus ES cells can engraft in allogeneic fetuses. The cells will, however, form a tumor if they "leak" into an improper space, such as the thoracic cavity.

Improved safety of hematopoietic transplantation with monkey embryonic stem cells in the allogeneic setting.

Cynomolgus monkey embryonic stem cell (cyESC)-derived in vivo hematopoiesis was examined in an allogeneic transplantation model. cyESCs were induced to differentiate into the putative hematopoietic precursors in vitro, and the cells were transplanted into the fetal cynomolgus liver at approximately the end of the first trimester (n = 3). Although cyESC-derived hematopoietic colony-forming cells were detected in the newborns (4.1%-4.7%), a teratoma developed in all newborns. The risk of tumor formation was high in this allogeneic transplantation model, given that tumors were hardly observed in immunodeficient mice or fetal sheep that had been xeno-transplanted with the same cyESC derivatives. It turned out that the cyESC-derived donor cells included a residual undifferentiated fraction positive for stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA)-4 (38.2% +/- 10.3%) despite the rigorous differentiation culture. When an SSEA-4-negative fraction was transplanted (n = 6), the teratoma was no longer observed, whereas the cyESC-derived hematopoietic engraftment was unperturbed (2.3%-5.0%). SSEA-4 is therefore a clinically relevant pluripotency marker of primate embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Purging pluripotent cells with this surface marker would be a promising method of producing clinical progenitor cell preparations using human ESCs.

Hematopoietic microchimerism in sheep after in utero transplantation of cultured cynomolgus embryonic stem cells.

BACKGROUND: Although directed differentiation of human embryonic stem (ES) cells would enable a ready supply of cells and tissues required for transplantation therapy, the methodology is limited. We have developed a novel method for hematopoietic development from primate ES cells. We first cultured cynomolgus monkey ES cells in vitro and transplanted the cells in vivo into fetal sheep liver, generating sheep with cynomolgus hematopoiesis. METHODS: Cynomolgus ES cells were induced to mesodermal cells on murine stromal OP9 cells with multiple cytokines for 6 days. The cells (average 4.8 x 10 cells) were transplanted into fetal sheep in the liver (n=4) after the first trimester (day 55-73, full term 147 days). The animals were delivered at full term, and two of them were intraperitoneally administered with human stem-cell factor (SCF). RESULTS: Cynomolgus hematopoietic progenitor cells were detected in bone marrow at a level of 1% to 2% in all four sheep up to 17 months posttransplant. No teratoma was found in the lambs. After SCF administration, the fractions of cynomolgus hematopoiesis increased by several-fold (up to 13%). Cynomolgus cells were also detected in the circulation, albeit at low levels (<0.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term hematopoietic microchimerism from primate ES cells was observed after in vitro differentiation to mesodermal cells, followed by in vivo introduction into the fetal liver microenvironment. The mechanism of such directed differentiation of ES cells remains to be elucidated, but this procedure should allow further investigation.

Accurate mass measurement in nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry by alternate switching of high voltage between sample and reference sprayers.

An electrospray dual sprayer, which generates separate sample and reference sprays by alternately switching the high voltage between the two sprayers, is described. The technique permits accurate mass measurements in nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to be obtained using a quadrupole/orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometer (Q-TOF). Similar to the method employed with a dual ESI source (Wolff JC et al., Anal. Chem. 2001; 73: 2605), the two sprays are orthogonal with respect to each other, but can be independently sampled without any baffle between these sprays. The reference sprayer is used in the original configuration of the ESI source and was optimized for a 1-2 muL/min flow, whereas the sample sprayer can be either a conventional glass capillary or a borosilicate tip of the type used for nano-ESI. Both sprayers can be positioned close to the cone so as to give maximum ion currents. The sample and reference sprays are independently generated by raising the potentials on the sample and reference sprayers to 1.4 and 3.0 kV, respectively; the high voltages can be rapidly turned on and off in ca. 1 ms. A nano-ESI-MS or nano-flow LC/ESI-MS experiment using a Q-TOF coupled with the above system gave mass accuracies within 3 ppm for measurements of ions up to m/z 1000 using subpicomole samples.

[Abnormal findings of dichotic listening test in patients with childhood adrenoleukodystrophy].

Ten Japanese boys with childhood-onset adrenoleukoqdystrophy (ALD) were evaluated with dichotic listening test (DLT). Six cases showed abnormal findings especially of laterality index (L.I.) calculated from the score of each ear. Some of them showed no abnormal findings with other auditory examinations containing auditory brainstem responses (ABR). One patient showed abnormal L.I. of DLT at an early stage. The abnormality of laterality index was similar to the so-called "strong left-ear suppression" in patients who underwent callosotomy. Although all of these six patients had a high signal lesion at the splenium of the corpus callosum in a T3-weighted MRI sequence, it was difficult to evaluate the width of demyelinated area. DLT could detect the early damage of connecting fibers mediating inter-hemispheric transfer of auditory information, and might be a useful method for evaluating the cerebral function of auditory processing in patients with childhood ALD.

Engraftment and tumor formation after allogeneic in utero transplantation of primate embryonic stem cells.

BACKGROUND: To achieve human embryonic stem (ES) cell-based transplantation therapies, allogeneic transplantation models of nonhuman primates would be useful. We have prepared cynomolgus ES cells genetically marked with the green fluorescent protein (GFP). The cells were transplanted into the allogeneic fetus, taking advantage of the fact that the fetus is so immunologically immature as not to induce immune responses to transplanted cells and that fetal tissue compartments are rapidly expanding and thus providing space for the engraftment. METHODS: Cynomolgus ES cells were genetically modified to express the GFP gene using a simian immunodeficiency viral vector or electroporation. These cells were transplanted in utero with ultrasound guidance into the cynomolgus fetus in the abdominal cavity (n=2) or liver (n=2) at the end of the first trimester. Three fetuses were delivered 1 month after transplantation, and the other, 3 months after transplantation. Fetal tissues were examined for transplanted cell progeny by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and in situ polymerase chain reaction of the GFP sequence. RESULTS: A fluorescent tumor, obviously derived from transplanted ES cells, was found in the thoracic cavity at 3 months after transplantation in one fetus. However, transplanted cell progeny were also detected (approximately 1%) without teratomas in multiple fetal tissues. The cells were solitary and indistinguishable from surrounding host cells. CONCLUSIONS: Transplanted cynomolgus ES cells can be engrafted in allogeneic fetuses. The cells will, however, form a tumor if they "leak" into an improper space such as the thoracic cavity.

Fas-mediated apoptosis is involved in the elimination of gene-transduced hepatocytes with E1/E3-deleted adenoviral vectors.

Gene-transduced hepatocytes with E1/E3-deleted adenoviral vectors are eliminated immediately and the expression of transduced genes disappears rapidly following the vector administration. In this report, we analysed the involvement of apoptotic cell death in the elimination of hepatocytes infected with adenoviral vectors. An E1/E3-deleted adenoviral vector expressing Escherichia coli ß-galactosidase (LacZ) was injected via the portal vein into congenitally Fas-deficient mice (lpr), Fas ligand-deficient mice (gld) and their control mice, MRL and C3H. 5-Bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-ß-D-galactoside (X-gal) staining of the liver specimens showed that 80-100% of hepatocytes were LacZ positive at 7 days after virus administration, suggesting that most of the hepatocytes received the injected adenoviral vectors. In normal mice, the number of LacZ-positive cells decreased dramatically at 14 and 21 days after transduction and few positive cells were observed at day 28. ß-Galactosidase activity, quantified by the O-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside assay, gave comparable results to X-gal staining. At days 14 or 21, many apoptotic hepatocytes and apoptotic infiltrating cells were detected with the terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end-labelling (TUNEL) in situ apoptosis detection method. This observation suggested that the apoptotic process was associated with the elimination of adenovirus-infected hepatocytes. To test the involvement of the Fas-Fas ligand interaction in this apoptotic process, the period of transgene expression was measured in 1pr and gld mice, which had received the same amount of AxCALacZ. X-Gal histochemical analysis detected many LacZ-positive cells in 1pr or gld mice liver even at 21 or 28 days after AxCALacZ injection. There were significant differences in the reduction rates of ß-galactosidase activity of liver homogenates between lpr and MRL, or gld and C3H mice. Based on these observations, we conclude that the Fas-mediated apoptotic process is involved in the elimination of hepatocytes infected with E1/E3-deleted adenoviral vectors.