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Background The CAV1-CAV2 locus has been associated with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and intraocular pressure. However, its association with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) was inconclusive. Therefore, we evaluated this association in Chinese and Japanese. Methods Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, rs4236601 and rs1052990) from previous genome-wide association studies of POAG were genotyped in a total of 2220 study subjects: a Hong Kong Chinese cohort of 537 NTG patients and 490 controls, a Shantou Chinese cohort of 102 NTG and 731 controls and an Osaka Japanese cohort of 153 NTG and 207 controls. Subgroup analysis by gender was conducted. Outcomes from different cohorts were combined using meta-analysis. Results SNP rs4236601 was significantly associated with NTG in the two Chinese cohorts (Pmeta = .0019, OR = 4.55, I2 = 0). In contrast, rs4236601 was monomorphic in the Osaka cohort. The association of rs1052990 was insignificant in a meta-analysis combining Chinese and Japanese cohorts (Pmeta = .81, OR = 1.05; I2 = 64%), and the OR tended towards opposite directions between Chinese (OR = 1.26) and Japanese (OR = 0.69). Gender-specific effects of the SNPs were not statistically significant in the logistic regression or Breslow-day tests of ORs (P > .05), although rs4236601 was significant in males (P = .0068; OR = 10.30) but not in females (P = .14; OR = 2.65) in the meta-analysis of Chinese subjects. Conclusions In this study, we confirmed the association of rs4236601 at the CAV1-CAV2 locus with NTG in Chinese. SNP rs4236601 is monomorphic, and rs1052990 tends towards a different direction in the Japanese cohort. Further studies are warranted to verify the ethnic difference and gender-specific effects of this locus.

Aim Appetite loss has been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Among older people, decreased appetite can result in poor nutrition and subsequent loss of independent living. We examined the factors related to appetite loss in persons with AD and MCI to provide evidence for countermeasures to prevent appetite loss and progression of cognitive impairment. Methods We included 1238 older adults undergoing outpatient treatment at the Center for Comprehensive Care and Research on Memory Disorders (Medical Center for Dementia) at the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology in Obu, Japan. The Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire, an appetite questionnaire for older people, was used to evaluate appetite. Appetite loss in persons diagnosed with AD or MCI was divided into two groups according to the Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire scores, and logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify independent factors associated with appetite loss. The following variables were used to evaluate for covariates: general information, functional evaluation and medications. Results The AD and MCI groups contained 853 and 385 individuals, respectively. In both groups, depression and difficulty in maintaining attention while eating were significantly associated with poor appetite. Among persons with AD, lower vitality, more comorbidities, non-use of antidementia drugs and use of psychotropic drugs were also significantly associated with poor appetite. Conclusions The present study recognized possible factors individually associated with appetite loss among persons with AD or MCI. Future studies are required to examine supportive strategies to treat poor appetite in these populations. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1236-1243.

The electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structure is a kind of photonic crystal that can be used in microwave and millimeter-wave frequency regions. In this paper, we present the analysis and design of two types of periodic structure circuit with one-dimensional (1-D) EBG structures using alternately arranged, linear, tapered microstrip line (MSL) elements. In order to design the circuits, we calculated their frequency characteristics on the basis of transmission line models. First, we found an ABCD matrix using a model consisting of very short, series-connected MSL elements. Thereafter, we converted these ABCD matrices into S matrices. Based on the theoretical analyses, we fabricated two types of circuits on printed circuit boards (PCBs) and evaluated their frequency characteristics. The results of evaluation showed that one of the circuits had a stopband of 2 GHz bandwidth and the other had a passband in the center of the stopband. The measured and calculated results were found to be in good agreement. Copyright © 2010 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Background: The endothelial cell surface glycoprotein thrombomodulin (TM) inhibits vascular coagulation and inflammation via regulation of thrombin-mediated activation of protein C. Porphyromonas gingivalis is the major periodontopathic bacterium and has been found in vessel walls and atherosclerotic lesions in humans. P. gingivalis-derived cysteine proteases (gingipains) are known to enhance inflammatory and coagulant responses of vascular endothelial cells. However, it has not been elucidated whether gingipains affect vascular endothelial TM. Methods: Purified arginine-specific gingipains (Rgps) and lysine-specific gingipain (Kgp) from P. gingivalis were used to investigate the effects of gingipains on recombinant human TM by immunoblot analyses. Flow cytometry and activated protein C assay were carried out to examine the effects of gingipains on vascular endothelial cell surface TM. Immunohistochemistry was performed to investigate TM expression in microvascular endothelia in gingival tissues taken from patients with periodontitis. Results: Rgps and Kgp cleaved TM in vitro. Endothelial cell surface TM was also degraded by Rgps. Thrombin-mediated activation of protein C was reduced by Rgps through TM inactivation. Gingival microvascular endothelial TM was reduced in patients with periodontitis. Conclusions: P. gingivalis gingipains induced the degradation and inactivation of endothelial TM, which may promote vascular coagulation and inflammation. In addition, in vivo relevance was demonstrated by reduced expression of TM in gingival microvascular endothelia in patients with periodontitis, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of periodontitis.

Aquaporin 3 (AQP3) is the predominant water channel protein in human keratinocytes and acts as an inflammatory mediator in some lesions. A chronic, inflammatory process of periodontitis is related with a dramatic change of surrounding fluid homeostasis to plasma extravasation. The exact pattern of aquaporin (AQP) water channel expression and its mechanism in periodontal disease is still unknown. We describe herein an up-regulated AQP3 expression in the epithelial lesion with chronic periodontitis and its functional role. The levels of AQP3 expression in inflamed gingival epithelial tissues were significantly higher than those of healthy subjects. Consistent with these results, AQP3 expression (i.e., levels of mRNA and protein) in cultured rat primary gingival epithelial cells and the human gingival epithelial cell line Ca9-22 were strongly increased in response to TNF-alpha treatment through the 55 kDa TNF-alpha receptor (TNFR I). In this context, small interfering RNA- (siRNA)-mediated "aqp-3 gene silencing," which could reduce AQP3 expression by more than 65%, significantly attenuated selected proinflammatory events of ICAM-1 expression induced by TNF-alpha in Ca9-22. A sixfold increase in leukocyte adherence to TNF-alpha-stimulated epithelial cells was demonstrated by an adherence assay (P < 0.001) and pretreatment with AQP3 siRNA and anti-ICAM-1 antibody reduced leukocyte retention by 85% (P < 0.001). Our study indicates for the first time a novel important mode in the regulation of the inflammatory response through TNF-alpha/TNFR I ligation at the site of epithelial lesions by specialized membrane channel AQP3 and ICAM-1 protein, which is closely implicated in the development of periodontitis mechanisms.

Although inwardly rectifying potassium (KIR) channels are known to have important functional roles in arteries and arterioles, knowledge of these channels in pericyte-containing microvessels is limited. A working hypothesis is that KIR channel activity affects the membrane potential and thereby the contractile tone of abluminal pericytes whose contractions and relaxations may regulate capillary perfusion. Because pericyte function is thought to be particularly important in the retina, we used the perforated-patch technique to monitor the ionic currents of pericytes located on microvessels freshly isolated from the rat retina. In addition, because changes in ion channel function may contribute to microvascular dysfunction in the diabetic retina, we also recorded from pericyte-containing microvessels of streptozotocin-injected rats. Using barium to identify KIR currents, we found that there is a topographical heterogeneity of these currents in the pericyte-containing microvasculature of the normal retina. Specifically, the KIR current detected at distal locations is strongly rectifying, but the proximal KIR current is weakly rectifying and has a smaller inward conductance. However, soon after the onset of diabetes, these differences diminish as the rectification and inward conductance of the proximal KIR current increase. These diabetes-induced changes were reversed by an inhibitor of polyamine synthesis and could be mimicked by spermine, whose concentration is elevated in the diabetic eye. Hence, spermine is a candidate for mediating the effect of diabetes on the function of microvascular KIR channels. In addition, our findings raise the possibility that functional changes in KIR channels contribute to blood flow dysregulation in the diabetic retina.

Objective: Arginine-specific cysteine proteases (Rgps) from Porphyromonas gingivalis are important virulent factors of periodontal diseases. However, there is no therapeutic drug that inhibits proinflammatory events induced by these enzymes. In this study, we investigated proinflammatory activities of Rgps and activated coagulation factor X (FXa) and examined the effect of DX-9065a, a new selective inhibitor of FXa, on proinflammatory events induced by these proteinases. Methods: Human gingival fibroblasts were stimulated with Rgps and FXa in the presence or absence of DX-9065a, and then interleukin-6 (IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) release, their mRNA expression, and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), northern blotting, and a gel-mobility shift method, respectively. Results: Rgps and FXa activated IL-6 and MMP-1 release in human gingival fibroblasts through their amidolytic activities and in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and NF-κB dependent manners. DX-9065a inhibited FXa-induced IL-6 mRNA expression and NF-κB activation. DX-9065a inhibited amidolytic activities of FXa and Rgps in vitro and ex vivo. Conclusion: Rgps and FXa are potent inflammatory mediators and DX-9065a may be a useful therapeutic drug for periodontal disease.

In the present study, we investigated the effect of prostglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) and combination of PGF2alpha and interleukin(IL)-1beta on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 production in human gingival fibroblasts (HGF). PGF2alpha enhanced MMP-1 production in a dose-dependent manner in HGF. Combination of PGF2alpha and IL-1beta induced a synergistic increase of MMP-1 production in HGF. Furthermore, fluprostenol, a specific FP receptor agonist, increased MMP-1 production and induced a synergistic enhancement of IL-1beta-induced MMP-1 production in HGF, similar to PGF2alpha. FP receptor mRNA expression was detected in HGF, by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Northern blot analysis revealed that PGF2alpha enhanced MMP-1 mRNA expression in HGF and that PGF2alpha increased MMP-1 mRNA levels induced by IL-1beta. In conclusion, we suggest that PGF2alpha increases MMP-1 production in HGF and synergistically enhances MMP-1 production in IL-1beta-stimulated HGF. PGF2alpha may be involved in degradation of connective tissue in periodontal lesions.

1. The inwardly rectifying K+ channel current (IK(IR)) recorded from isolated retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells showed poor dependence on external K+ ([K+]o) and low sensitivity to block by Ba2+. We examined the molecular identity and specific subcellular localization of the KIR channel in RPE cells. 2. The Kir7.1 channel current heterologously expressed in HEK293T cells (human embryonic kidney cell line) showed identical properties to those of the RPE IK(IR), i.e. poor dependence on [K+]o and low sensitivity to Ba2+ block. 3. Expression of Kir7.1 mRNA and protein was detected in RPE cells by RT-PCR and immunoblot techniques, respectively. 4. Immunohistochemical studies including electron microscopy revealed that the Kir7.1 channel was localized specifically at the proximal roots of the apical processes of RPE cells, where Na+,K+-ATPase immunoreactivity was also detected. 5. The middle-distal portions of apical processes of RPE cells in the intact tissue exhibited immunoreactivity of Kir4.1, a common KIR channel. In the isolated RPE cells, however, Kir4.1 immunoreactivity was largely lost, while Kir7.1 immunoreactivity remained. 6. These data indicate that the only IK(IR) recorded in isolated RPE cells is derived from the functional Kir7.1 channel localized at the root of apical processes. Co-localization with Na+,K+-ATPase suggests that the Kir7.1 channel may provide the pathway for recycling of K+ to maintain pump activity and thus is essential for K+ handling in RPE cells.

To generate 3D computer graphics models, we need to obtain their surface geometrical data as well as texture data. This task is usually quite laborious. When real objects are on hand, there are scanners to acquire these data directly. This paper is concerned with an efficient method to acquire texture data for an object whose geometrical data are already known. We set up 320 viewpoints around an object and select a minimal number of viewpoints to cover all of its surfaces. Photographs are taken from the viewpoints. For the surfaces not in the photographs, new photographs are usually taken from viewpoints closer to the object. Lastly, those photographs are mapped exactly onto the object's surface. This method has the advantage of not requiring exact setting of viewpoint positions, since the actual camera positions are found by moving known geometrical data virtually. We conducted experiments with three models whose geometrical data were acquired through CT. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Syst Comp Jpn, 32(4): 14–24, 2001

There has been a rapid technical progress in three-dimensional (3D) computer graphics. But gathering surface and texture data is yet a laborious task. This paper addresses the problem of mapping photographic images on the surface of a 3D object whose geometric data are already known. We propose an efficient and handy method for acquiring textures and mapping them precisely on the surface, employing a digital camera alone. We describe an algorithm for selecting a minimal number of camera positions that can cover the entire surface of a given object and also an algorithm to determine camera’s position and direction for each photograph taken so as to paste it to the corresponding surfaces precisely. We obtained a matching accuracy within a pixel on a surface through three experimental examples, by which the practicability of our method is demonstrated.

This paper proposes an algorithm for relational matching, which is important in pattern recognition, by using the Hopfield model as one of the neural network models. First, the objective function for relational matching is derived and the computer simulation of the neural networking for relational matching according to this objective function is conducted by use of a simple model. Next, the local minima in connection with the Hopfield model is avoided by using triangular noise and its effectiveness is verified in the network for relational matching. This method differs from the conventional simulated annealing method and, by adding noise to the network, the network will reach only one stationary state for which results will be derived by this method.

This paper considers the construction of the trainable classification system by redrawing a computer-generated Fourier hologram (CGFH), which is based on the previously proposed method of pattern classification using CGFH. CGFH has a flexibility that can be synthesized by computation, and it is expected that a flexible pattern classifier will be constructed if the adjustment of the weight in the proposed system can be realized through the redrawing of CGFH. However, if CGFH is constructed by the traditional method by the size-reduction of a photograph, the required processing such as size reduction and developing will make it difficult to redraw CGFH on the optical system. To solve this problem, this paper considers a system which generates CGFH directly on the glass substrate, by a laser beam scanning on a thin film. Using the proposed direct-drawn CGFH (DDCGFH) system, a basic experiment is made on the construction of the pattern classification system by learning (i.e., redrawing of CGFH). First, an investigation is presented on the coding of CGFH suited to the DDCGFH construction system, together with a result of experiment for DDCGFH. Then the construction of the classification system by redrawing DDCGFH is considered. The algorithm and the result of basic experiment are reported.

Although optical fiber communication systems have recently been utilized in many fields, most of these have been realized by using a light source-detector pair. Therefore, two fibers have been needed for bidirectional communication. Alternately, for small-scale systems such as communication between personal computers and measuring systems, for which not too high a speed is required, a single-fiber half-duplex optical communication can be realized by using an LED as source and detector. However, the LED as source stores many excess charge carriers, and the LED as detector has a large depletion capacitance. Therefore, the transceiver must be constructed to minimize these effects for possible high-speed communication. This paper proposes a transceiver applied to a multivibrator, which has both functions of switching between transmitting- and receiving-mode and modulating the data to FSK signal. The characteristics of trial system including the methods of data-input and demodulation are investigated. Although the transmitting speed by the proposed method depends on the LED characteristics, we have established a transmitting speed of about 200 k-bit/s in unidirection by the trial system.