Search

• This is the first study of variety discrimination in a Polygonaceae family. • DNA markers based on RNA polymorphism can discriminate buckwheat varieties. • The marker is promising for rutin-rich foods to prevent rutinosidase contamination. • The method is suitable to detect contamination of variety in buckwheat flour/noodles. To discriminate the trace-rutinosidase variety of Tartary buckwheat 'Manten-Kirari', we developed DNA markers based on RNA polymorphism. Specifically, we mapped 17.76 GB RNA sequences, obtained using HiSeq2000, to create 11,358 large contigs constructed de novo from 'Manten-Kirari' RNA derived from GS-FLX+ titanium. From these, we developed eight DNA markers corresponding to single- to four-nucleotide polymorphisms between 'Manten-Kirari' and 'Hokkai T8', which is representative of normal rutinosidase content varieties in Japan. Using these markers, 'Manten-Kirari' was discriminated from 'Hokkai T8' by eight markers, from major Tartary buckwheat varieties by three markers, and from common buckwheats by two markers. We also performed direct PCR from flour and dried noodle made with 'Manten-Kirari' and 'Hokkai T8'. Based on the results, the DNA markers developed are promising for discriminating 'Manten-Kirari'. This is the first study to develop a DNA marker to discriminate varieties in the Polygonaceae family including buckwheat species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Paliperidone palmitate once-monthly injectable (PP1M) is approved in Japan and other countries for the treatment of schizophrenia. During the 6 month Japanese early postmarketing phase vigilance (EPPV) period, 32 deaths were reported. This report reviews potential contributing factors to the fatal outcomes in the PP1M-treated population.Research Design and Methods: All spontaneously reported adverse events following PP1M use received during EPPV from 19 November 2013 to 18 May 2014 were entered into the global safety database and these events were analyzed.Results: During the EPPV period, 10,962 patients were estimated to have been treated with PP1M in Japan. The mortality reporting rate during this EPPV period was higher than that observed in the US or globally after PP1M launch (5.84, 0.43, and 0.38 per 1000 patient-years, respectively), but was consistent with the mortality incidence rates (10.2 per 1000 person-years) observed during interventional clinical studies in Japan and in observational patient cohorts. Of the 32 deaths reported during the Japanese PP1M EPPV period, 19/32 (59.4%) were in patients over 50 years of age, 23/32 (71.9%) reported cardiovascular risk factors and 25/32 (78.1%) received antipsychotic polypharmacy.Conclusions: Based on this review of the 32 fatal cases in the PP1M EPPV period, the observed death rate does not necessarily result from a risk with PP1M treatment in Japanese patients. The higher mortality reporting rates in Japan may be attributed to a variety of factors: the effectiveness of mortality reporting in the unique Japanese EPPV program, the advanced age of the fatal cases, high cardiovascular risk factors, multiple underlying diseases and high antipsychotic polypharmacy among the cases with fatal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurodevelopmental abnormalities have been reported in studies on the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The Wnt-signaling pathway has been implicated in a variety of processes in neurodevelopment, and the frizzled proteins have been identified as receptors for Wnt ligands. Of the frizzled proteins, frizzled-3 (FZD3) is required for formation of the neural crest and for development of major fiber tracts in the CNS. The human FZD3 gene is located on chromosome 8p21, a positive linkage locus for schizophrenia. We analyzed polymorphisms of the FZD3 gene in patients with schizophrenia and control subjects in the Japanese population. We found a significant association between schizophrenia and the FZD3 gene in single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotype analyses. Our data suggest that dysregulation of the Wnt-signaling pathway may be involved in the susceptibility to schizophrenia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nocardia sp. IFM 0896, an actinomycete with biochemical characteristics that differed from Nocardia brasiliensis, was isolated from a 71-year-old Japanese man with a history of tuberculosis and cancer. Although the isolate was tentatively identified as N. brasiliensis, the morphological and physiological characteristics of strain IFM 0896 were different from those of N. brasiliensis IFM 0236T. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogenies and PCR-RFLP analysis of a heat shock protein revealed that Nocardia sp. IFM 0896 belongs to the species N. pseudobrasiliensis. This is the first clinical isolation report of N. pseudobrasiliensis in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the development of a multistage laser frequency stabilization for an interferometric gravitational-wave detector TAMA 300 in Japan. Necessity of laser frequency stabilization for interferometric gravitational-wave detectors to attain their target sensitivity; Suitability of the system for gravitational wave detection; Design of multistage laser frequency stabilization for TAMA 300.

Recently, the printed dipole antenna has attracted attention as a two-dimensional array element which is electromagnetically coupled to an open-type feed line. This paper analyzes the characteristics of the printed dipole which is excited by an infinitely long microstrip line, by applying the method of moment to Richmond's reaction equation. If we assume that the feed line is sufficiently close to the ground plane, the dipole which is placed perpendicular to the feed line is treated as an equivalent parallel element. If the dipole forms a rotation angle with the feed line at the center of the dipole, it is regarded as an equivalent series element. Through a comparison of theoretical and experimental results for their frequency characteristics of equivalent impedances, the appropriateness of the theory has been confirmed. Basic characteristics were examined by numerical analyses for equivalent impedances of a microstripline-fed printed dipole antenna, the distribution of the electric current on the dipole, and the antenna radiation pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Several studies have reported osteomyelitis of the jaw (OMJ) as a side effect of bisphosphonates (BPs), and the risk of oral BPs has been recently clarified. However, other systemic risk factors of OMJ remain unclear. Importantly, the possibility of risk classification based on the clinical characteristics of patients has not been explored. Here, we clarified risk factors of OMJ and evaluate the predictive accuracy of risk indices in osteoporosis patients. Methods:We performed sub-analysis using a database developed for a retrospective cohort study in patients taking medications for osteoporosis at Kyoto University Hospital. Risk indices for OMJ were constructed using logistic regression analysis, and odds ratios (OR) for OMJ cases and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. Potential risk factors included in the statistical analysis were age; sex; diabetes; use of oral BPs, corticosteroids, cancer chemotherapy, antirheumatic drugs, and biologic agents; and their interactions. Risk indices were calculated by the sum of potential risk factors of an individual patient multiplied by the regression coefficients. The discriminatory power of the risk indices was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results:In analysis of all patients, oral BPs (OR: 4.98, 95% CIs: 1.94-12.75), age (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.06-1.60) and sex-chemotherapy interaction (OR: 11.70, 95% CI: 1.46-93.64) were significant risk factors of OMJ. Areas under the ROC curves of these risk indices provided moderate sensitivity or specificity regardless of group (0.683 to 0.718). Conclusions:Our data suggest that oral BP use, age, and sex-chemotherapy are predictors of OMJ in osteoporosis patients. The risk indices are moderately high, and allow the prediction of OMJ incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Oral bisphosphonates (BPs) represent the first line of prevention and treatment for osteoporosis. However, several studies have reported osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), also known as osteomyelitis of the jaw (OMJ), as a side effect of these drugs. Although absolute risk is suggested to be low, information to date on the relative risk or attributable risk has in fact been limited. Here, we estimated risk of oral BPs for OMJ in osteoporosis patients taking oral BPs compared with other osteoporosis drugs. Using an electronic medical records retrieval system and manual confirmation of OMJ, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients taking medications for osteoporosis at Kyoto University Hospital between November 2000 and October 2010. To evaluate relative risks of oral BPs for OMJ, logistic regression analysis was performed and odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CIs) were estimated. In addition, sensitivity analyses were performed according to hierarchical diagnosis. A total of 4129 patients (59.6%) were prescribed BPs while 2794 (40.3%) received other osteoporosis drugs. Absolute risk for OMJ was estimated to range from 0.46% to 0.99% (95% CIs: 0.25–0.66 to 0.69–1.2) among patients receiving oral BPs and 0.071% to 0.17% (95% CIs: 0–0.17 to 0.022–0.33) among patients receiving other osteoporosis drugs. The attributable risks of oral BPs for OMJ were estimated to range from 0.38% to 0.81% (95% CIs: 0.38–0.39 to 0.80–0.81). ORs (95% CIs) adjusted for confounding factors were 5.0 (1.9–12.9) to 6.0 (1.3–26.1) for confirmed cases only. In terms of absolute and attributable risks, the risk of oral BPs for OMJ is considered to be less than 1% in patients with osteoporosis. However, oral BPs may increase the risk of OMJ compared with patients treated with other osteoporosis medications and the risk of side effects should be kept in mind. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]