Influenza 2014-2015 among pregnant Japanese women: primiparous vs multiparous women.

This study was performed to determine whether multiparous pregnant women are prone to influenza. A questionnaire survey was conducted at 19 centres located throughout Japan, targeting all 6,694 postpartum women within 7 days after birth before leaving the hospital. All women gave birth during the study period between March 1, 2015, and July 31, 2015. Data regarding vaccination and influenza infection in or after October 2014, age, previous experience of childbirth, and number and ages of cohabitants were collected. Seventy-eight percent (n = 51,97) of women given questionnaires responded. Of these, 2,661 (51 %) and 364 (7.0 %) women reported having been vaccinated and having contracted influenza respectively. Multiparous women had a higher risk of influenza regardless of vaccination status (8.9 % [121/1362] vs 5.7 % [74/1299], relative risk [95 % confidence interval], 1.80 [1.36 to 2.38] for vaccinated and 9.3 % [112/1198] vs 4.3 % [57/1328], 2.18 [1.60 to 2.97] for unvaccinated women) compared to primiparous women. The risk of influenza increased with increasing number of cohabitants: 4.8 % (100/2089), 7.5 %, (121/1618), 9.0 %, (71/785), and 10.4 % (58/557) for women with 1, 2, 3, and ≥4 cohabitants respectively. Family size is a risk factor for influenza infection in pregnancy.

Comparison of plasma metabolite concentrations and enzyme activities in beef cattle raised by different feeding systems in Korea, Japan and New Zealand.

Concentrations of metabolites and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and activities of enzymes related to energy metabolism were measured in plasma of Korean and Japanese beef cattle, which were raised by the indoor feeding system programmed to feed larger amount of roughage in their growing periods and larger amount of concentrate diet in their finishing periods (Japanese feeding system), and grazing New Zealand beef cattle. By the Japanese beef grading system, Korean and Japanese beef cattle showed high beef quality score, average grade 3.3 and 3.6, respectively. The plasma free fatty acid and lactate concentrations and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities in Korean beef cattle were significantly higher than those in Japanese beef cattle. The plasma lactate concentration in Korean beef cattle was 8.40 mmol/l, which was similar to the values observed in lactic acidosis. The higher activities of plasma LDH, MDH and AST may indicate slight liver damage by slightly acidotic conditions in Korean beef cattle. New Zealand beef cattle fed on pasture which they harvest by grazing showed significantly lower plasma glucose, cholesterol, lactate and IRI concentrations and enzyme activities than those in Korean and Japanese beef cattle fed on larger amount of concentrate diets. Plasma metabolite concentrations and energy metabolism-related enzyme activities may be good indicators for evaluating metabolic conditions of beef cattle raised by different feeding systems.

Effect of supplementation of Agaricus mushroom meal extracts on enzyme activities in peripheral leukocytes of calves.

To investigate the effect of Agaricus mushroom meal on the energy metabolism in animal tissues; plasma glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) concentrations and activities of enzymes related to energy metabolism in plasma and peripheral leukocytes were measured in Japanese Black WagyuxHolstein F1 calves supplemented with Agaricus blazei Murill (A. blazei) extract in milk-replacer at the dose of 60g/head/day for 4 weeks. Activities of malate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase in cytosol and glutamate dehydrogenase in mitochondria, and the malate dehydrogenase/lactate dehydrogenase ratio in cytosol in peripheral leukocytes of calves with A. blazei were significantly higher than those in control calves without A. blazei. It was concluded that supplementation of Agaricus mushroom meal extract was effective in activation of enzymes related to energy metabolism in peripheral leukocytes of calves.

Comparison of activities of enzymes related to energy metabolism in peripheral leukocytes and livers between Holstein dairy cows and ICR mice.

Activities of enzymes related to energy metabolism and isoenzyme patterns of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined in peripheral leukocytes and livers of Holstein dairy cows and Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice. In dairy cow liver, activities of enzymes in glycolysis, malate-aspartate shuttle and lipogenesis were lower, but activities of glucose-6-phosphatase in gluconeogenesis were higher than those in mouse liver. Glucokinase activities were below detection limit in leukocytes and liver of the cows. Dairy cow leukocytes and liver showed the isoenzyme patterns with dominance of LDH-1, -2 and-3, whereas mouse leukocytes and liver showed that LDH-5 was dominant. The LDH isoenzyme patterns were very similar between leukocytes and liver in each animal species. Some enzymes in leukocytes may reflect those enzymes activities in liver and be a useful indicator for energy metabolism in animals.

Changes in peripheral leukocytes enzymes activity and plasma metabolite concentrations in growing Holstein calves.

Plasma metabolite and immunoreactive insulin concentrations and activities of enzymes related to energy metabolism in peripheral leukocytes were measured in growing Holstein calves. A ratio of girth of abdomen divided by girth of thorax (A/T ratio) of calves was significantly elevated after weaning, and the A/T ratio maybe a good indicator to evaluate rumen development. Plasma glucose and free fatty acid concentrations were changed in calves accompanying change in feeding. Activities of lactate dehydrogenase with pyruvate as substrate (LDH-P) and hexokinase (HK) in cytosolic fractions of peripheral leukocytes decreased significantly after weaning the calves reflecting the change of energy source from milk replacer with high percentages of fat and glucose and lactose as absorbable carbohydrate to pelleted feed containing starch as less absorbable carbohydrate and roughage. Some peripheral leukocyte enzymes such as LDH and HK may be good indicators to evaluate changes in energy metabolism of growing calves.

Activities of enzymes in some types of peripheral leucocytes may reflect the differences in nutrient metabolism between dogs and cats.

Plasma metabolites and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) concentrations and enzyme activities of some types of peripheral leucocytes were measured to clarify one aspect of the differences in nutrient metabolism between dogs and cats. There were no significant differences in plasma concentrations of glucose, triglyceride, free fatty acids and IRI between dogs and cats. Higher total cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol concentrations were observed in feline plasma, and H/T ratio (HDL/total cholesterol concentrations) was significantly lower than that in canine plasma. The cytosolic activities of fructokinase (FK), pyruvate kinase (PK), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly higher and the activities of cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and mitochondrial glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) were significantly lower in feline leucocytes than those in canine leucocytes. Higher activities of FK, PK and G6PD, which regulate the rate of biosynthesis of fatty acids, may reflect the different characteristics in nutrient metabolism in feline tissues from canine tissues.

Laser cooling of calcium ions by use of ultraviolet laser diodes: significant induction of electron-shelving transitions.

Calcium ions are laser cooled in a Paul trap by use of a grating-stabilized UV laser diode. Unusual quantum jumps or fluctuations in the fluorescence signal are observed without application of any shelving lasers. It has become clear that such phenomena can be ascribed to shelving transitions induced by background 393-nm spontaneous photons emitted from the laser medium. Shelving transitions are suppressed by use of an interference filter, and the ions are successfully cooled to crystallization temperature with sufficient reproducibility.

Atherosclerotic aneurysm of the intrathoracic segment of the subclavian artery: a case report.

True aneurysms of the intrathoracic segment of the subclavian artery are extremely rare. Atherosclerosis is the most common etiology. The surgical approach and timing of repair remain controversial. We successfully treated a patient with a large proximal subclavian artery aneurysm which was secondary to atherosclerosis. The patient was asymptomatic for 30 years as the aneurysm enlarged. Three-dimensional computed tomography provided the most useful information regarding anatomy of the cervical vasculature. The patient underwent closure of the inlet port of the aneurysm and repair using a 6-mm Dacron bypass graft (Gelsoft , VASCTEK, Scotland) via a minimally invasive surgical approach.

Appearance of peculiar vessels with immunohistological features of high endothelial venules in the dermis of moxibustion-stimulated rat skin.

Morphological changes of the dermal blood vessels ofmoxibustion-stimulated rat skin were examined with reference to the lymphocyte migration. After long-term stimulation with direct moxibustion to the acupoint tsu-san-li (St-36), peculiar vessels that possess immunohistological features of high endothelial venules could be observed in the moxa-stimulated acupoint dermis. Endothelial cells of the vessels had well-developed Golgi apparatus in their plump cytoplasms, and they strongly expressed intercellular adhesion molecule-1 on the luminal surface. These data suggest that the appearance of the peculiar vessels in the dermis acts toward the active infiltration of blood-lymphocytes into the acupoint skin.

Surgical treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms located close to the visceral arteries: report of three cases.

The standard surgical treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is in situ replacement of the infrarenal aorta, which is associated with a low mortality rate. On the other hand, thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAA) remain a formidable challenge and the complications that can occur may be severe including neurologic dysfunction and renal failure. We report herein three cases of patients with AAA located very close to the visceral arteries, for which in situ replacement of the infrarenal aorta was not feasible due to severe inflammation and adhesion. Therefore, aortic stump closure and in situ bypass grafting was performed to avoid reconstruction of the visceral arteries. No major complications or operation-related deaths occurred. Thus, while in situ replacement is usually recommended over bypass grafting for patients whose aneurysms are located very close to the visceral arteries, aortic stump closure and in situ bypass grafting should be considered as a more effective surgical option.

Laser cooling and isotope separation of Cd(+) ions conf ined in a linear Paul trap.

Cadmium ions in a natural isotope mixture have been trapped in a linear Paul trap and laser cooled. The fluorescence spectra from all even isotopes, including the (108)Cd(+) isotopes with a natural abundance of 0.89%, were observed. Additionally, we eliminated the heavier isotopes from the trapping region by adjusting the tuning of the laser frequency and by changing the dc voltage applied to the end electrodes.

High-power second-harmonic generation with picosecond and hundreds-of-picosecond pulses of a cw mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser.

A cw mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser was efficiently frequency doubled with a lithium triborate crystal in an external enhancement cavity. Second-harmonic output powers of 1.28 W and 860 mW have been generated at 399 nm with fundamental pulse widths of 1.5 and 320 ps, respectively. At the 1.5-ps pulse width the conversion efficiency was 75%. The spectral width of the 320-ps pulses, produced by modification of a laser cavity, is as narrow as the bandwidth of a normal cw, multimode, narrow-bandwidth Ti:sapphire laser. The frequency-doubled output can be thus used as a high-power, narrow-bandwidth light source in the UV region.

Tunable 397-nm light source for spectroscopy obtained by frequency doubling of a diode laser.

Continuous-wave radiation of 1.8 mW at 397 nm was generated by frequency doubling a 100-mW GaAlAs diode laser in a lithium iodate crystal placed in an external enhancement cavity. The radiation had a narrow linewidth and a continuous frequency-scanning range of 6 GHz. The UV radiation obtained was applied to laser cooling of calcium ions stored in a rf trap.

Continuous-wave sum-frequency generation near 194 nm in beta-BaB(2)O(4) crystals with an enhancement cavity.

Continuous-wave coherent radiation tunable near 194 nm has been generated by sum-frequency generation in beta-BaB(2)O(4) placed inside an external enhancement cavity. An output power of 16 microW has been obtained with a walk-off-compensated configuration of beta-BaB(2)O(4) crystals.

Laser cooling of trapped Ca(+) and measurement of the 3(2)D(5/2) state lifetime.

We describe the laser cooling of Ca(+) ions in a rf ion trap and the measurement of its 3(2)D(5/2) state lifetime. The ions are cooled to below 1 K by radiation from a frequency-doubled Ti:sapphire laser and a laser diode. The radiative lifetime is measured by observing the change in fluorescence when the ions, which are optically pumped to the metastable state, return to the cooling cycle. The lifetime of the 3(2)D(5/2) state is measured to be 0.77 +/- 0.07 s.