Detection of ranunculus mild mosaic virus in weed species in Japan.

Ranunculus (Ranunculus asiaticus L.) is one of the most popular cut flowers in Japan. However, the infection rate of ranunculus mild mosaic virus (RanMMV) in ranunculus plants has been gradually increasing during cultivation, suggesting that RanMMV may be transmitted from weeds to ranunculus plants in cultivation fields. In our survey, RanMMV in R. japonicus, R. tachiroei, R. cantoniensis, Geranium carolinianum, Vicia sativa, V. tetrasperma and V. hirsute in ranunculus fields and noncultivation regions in Japan was detected. Ranunculaceae weeds grow all year in cultivation fields, unlike R. asiaticus, indicating that these weeds may be a source of RanMMV infection. In addition, a pairwise comparison of CP genes between RanMMV isolates taken from R. asiaticus, R. japonicus, and R. tachiroei showed high nucleotide (98·1-100%) and amino acid (98·5-100%) identities. These results support the hypothesis that RanMMV may be transmitted between Ranunculaceae weeds and R. asiaticus plants. Thus, virus control should focus on removing host weeds from the cultivation fields.

Copy number loss in the region of the ASPN gene in patients with acetabular dysplasia: ASPN CNV in acetabular dysplasia.

OBJECTIVES: We have previously investigated an association between the genome copy number variation (CNV) and acetabular dysplasia (AD). Hip osteoarthritis is associated with a genetic polymorphism in the aspartic acid repeat in the N-terminal region of the asporin (ASPN) gene; therefore, the present study aimed to investigate whether the CNV of ASPN is involved in the pathogenesis of AD. METHODS: Acetabular coverage of all subjects was evaluated using radiological findings (Sharp angle, centre-edge (CE) angle, acetabular roof obliquity (ARO) angle, and minimum joint space width). Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. Agilent's region-targeted high-density oligonucleotide tiling microarray was used to analyse 64 female AD patients and 32 female control subjects. All statistical analyses were performed using EZR software (Fisher's exact probability test, Pearson's correlation test, and Student's t-test). RESULTS: CNV analysis of the ASPN gene revealed a copy number loss in significantly more AD patients (9/64) than control subjects (0/32; p = 0.0212). This loss occurred within a 60 kb region on 9q22.31, which harbours the gene for ASPN. The mean radiological parameters of these AD patients were significantly worse than those of the other subjects (Sharp angle, p = 0.0056; CE angle, p = 0.0076; ARO angle, p = 0.0065), and all nine patients required operative therapy such as total hip arthroplasty or pelvic osteotomy. Moreover, six of these nine patients had a history of operative or conservative therapy for developmental dysplasia of the hip. CONCLUSIONS: Copy number loss within the region harbouring the ASPN gene on 9q22.31 is associated with severe AD. A copy number loss in the ASPN gene region may play a role in the aetiology of severe AD.Cite this article: T. Sekimoto, M. Ishii, M. Emi, S. Kurogi, T. Funamoto, Y. Yonezawa, T. Tajima, T. Sakamoto, H. Hamada, E. Chosa. Copy number loss in the region of the ASPN gene in patients with acetabular dysplasia: ASPN CNV in acetabular dysplasia. Bone Joint Res 2017;6:439-445. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.67.BJR-2016-0094.R1.

Screening for musculoskeletal problems in Japanese schoolchildren: a cross-sectional study nested in a cohort.

OBJECTIVES: To clarify the frequency of musculoskeletal problems in public elementary and junior high school children and to determine the advantages and problems of musculoskeletal examinations. STUDY DESIGN: School-based cross-sectional study nested in a cohort. METHODS: We examined 41,376 public elementary and junior high school children (aged 6-15 years) in Miyazaki, Japan, from 2008 to 2014. Participation was voluntary. Participants received an in-school primary musculoskeletal examination (clinical examination with check items and a questionnaire) and a secondary examination at an orthopaedic outpatient clinic as indicated. Estimated prevalence rates for musculoskeletal problems were calculated from the results of both examinations. RESULTS: The total estimated prevalence of musculoskeletal problems was 8.6%. Prevalence by school grade ranged from 3.2% to 13.7%. Estimated prevalence rates increased as grade increased and were higher in junior high school students than in elementary school students. The secondary examination identified musculoskeletal problems on the back (65.4%), knee (8.1%), ankle or feet (7.3%) and elbow (5.4%). Of those referred for a secondary examination, 44.4% had not reported musculoskeletal complaints on the initial questionnaire. Overall, 69.8% of problems diagnosed in the secondary examination were previously undiagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: School-based musculoskeletal examination enables early detection of abnormal growth and disorders of the locomotive organs and is expected to support children's musculoskeletal growth and development. We recommend musculoskeletal examinations as part of school check-ups in Japan. Our findings suggest musculoskeletal examinations should be conducted for students in higher elementary school grades and for all junior high school students. Evaluation should include both direct clinical examination and questionnaires.

Possible association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the 3' untranslated region of HOXB9 with acetabular overcoverage.

OBJECTIVES: Excessive acetabular coverage is the most common cause of pincer-type femoroacetabular impingement. To date, an association between acetabular over-coverage and genetic variations has not been studied. In this study we investigated the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of paralogous Homeobox (HOX)9 genes and acetabular coverage in Japanese individuals to identify a possible genetic variation associated with acetabular over-coverage. METHODS: We investigated 19 total SNPs in the four HOX9 paralogs, then focused in detail on seven of those located in the 3' untranslated region of HOXB9 (rs8844, rs3826541, rs3826540, rs7405887, rs2303485, rs2303486, rs79931349) using a case-control association study. The seven HOXB9 SNPs were genotyped in 316 subjects who had all undergone radiological examination. The association study was performed by both single-locus and haplotype-based analyses. RESULTS: The genotype and allele frequencies of the five HOXB9 SNPs showed significant association with acetabular over-coverage compared with controls (rs7405887 OR = 3.16, p = 5.29E-6, 95% CI 1.91 to 5.25). A significant difference was also detected when haplotypes were evaluated (OR = 2.59, p = 2.61E-5, 95% CI 1.65 to 4.08). The two HOXB9 SNPs (rs2303485, rs2303486) were associated with decreased acetabular coverage (rs2303485 OR = 0.524, p = 0.0091, 95% CI 0.322 to 0.855; rs2303486 OR = 0.519, p = 0.011, 95% CI 0.312 to 0.865). CONCLUSIONS: The five HOXB9 SNPs (rs8844, rs3826541, rs3826540, rs7405887, rs79931349) were associated with acetabular over-coverage. On the other hand, the two SNPs (rs2303485 and rs2303486) were associated with the lower acetabular coverage. The association of rs2303486 would be consistent with the previous study. Therefore, the HOXB9 SNPs might be involved in the morphogenesis of acetabular coverage, and could be an independent risk factor for developing pincer-type femoroacetabular impingement. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2015;4:50-5.

Kumanasamuha geaster sp. nov., an anamorph of Chorioactis geaster from Japan.

A new species of Kumanasamuha is described and illustrated from axenic single-spore isolates of Chorioactis geaster. The characteristics of conidia and hyphae are the same as the dematiaceous hyphomycete observed on decayed trunks of Quercus spp., where C. geaster appeared in the field in Japan. Our results indicated that C. geaster in situ colonizes decayed trunks of Quercus spp.

In vivo 19F NMR comparative study of 5-fluorouracil, 1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-5-fluorouracil (FT) and an FT-uracil coadministration system in mouse tumors.

The suppression of alpha-fluoro-beta-alanine (FBAL) formation from 5-fluorouracil (FU) is an important subject in relation to tumor chemotherapy. This is the first comparative study of FU, 1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)-5-fluorouracil (FT, a prodrug of FU) and of FT+uracil as a coadministration system (UFT) under an oral dose using the in vivo 19F NMR method. The slow release of FU from FT and the suppression of the catabolism of FU to FBAL in mouse livers and tumors by the coadministration of uracil with FT were demonstrated using consecutive NMR measurements. The applicability of the in vivo 19F NMR method to the drug evaluation in tumors and livers of small animals was successfully tested.

Speech recognition by an artificial neural network using findings on the afferent auditory system.

An artificial neural network which uses anatomical and physiological findings on the afferent pathway from the ear to the cortex is presented and the roles of the constituent functions in recognition of continuous speech are examined. The network deals with successive spectra of speech sounds by a cascade of several neural layers: lateral excitation layer (LEL), lateral inhibition layer (LIL), and a pile of feature detection layers (FDL's). These layers are shown to be effective for recognizing spoken words. Namely, first, LEL reduces the distortion of sound spectrum caused by the pitch of speech sounds. Next, LIL emphasizes the major energy peaks of sound spectrum, the formants. Last, FDL's detect syllables and words in successive formants, where two functions, time-delay and strong adaptation, play important roles: time-delay makes it possible to retain the pattern of formant changes for a period to detect spoken words successively; strong adaptation contributes to removing the time-warp of formant changes. Digital computer simulations show that the network detect isolated syllables, isolated words, and connected words in continuous speech, while reproducing the fundamental responses found in the auditory system such as ON, OFF, ON-OFF, and SUSTAINED patterns.

A model of neural network for spatiotemporal pattern recognition.

A model of neural network to recognize spatiotemporal patterns is presented. The network consists of two kinds of neural cells: P-cells and B-cells. A P-cell generates an impulse responding to more than one impulse and embodies two special functions: short term storage (STS) and heterosynaptic facilitation (HSF). A B-cell generates several impulses with high frequency as soon as it receives an impulse. In recognizing process, an impulse generated by a P-cell represents a recognition of stimulus pattern, and triggers the generation of impulses of a B-cell. Inhibitory impulses with high frequency generated by a B-cell reset the activities of all P-cells in the network. Two examples of spatiotemporal pattern recognition are presented. They are achieved by giving different values to the parameters of the network. In one example, the network recognizes both directional and non-directional patterns. The selectivities to directional and non-directional patterns are realized by only adjusting excitatory synaptic weights of P-cells. In the other example, the network recognizes time series of spatial patterns, where the lengths of the series are not necessarily the same and the transitional speeds of spatial patterns are not always the same. In both examples, the HSF signal controls the total activity of the network, which contributes to exact recognition and error recovery. In the latter example, it plays a role to trigger and execute the recognizing process. Finally, we discuss the correspondence between the model and physiological findings.