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Context. The Shower Database (SD) of the Meteor Data Center (MDC) has been operating for 15 yr and is used by the entire community of meteor astronomers. It contains meteor showers categorised in individual lists on the basis of their status. Since the inception of the SD, no objective rules for moving showers between individual lists have been established. The content of the SD has not yet been checked for the correctness of the meteor data contained therein. Aims. Our aims are (1) to formulate criteria for nominating meteor showers for established status, (2) to improve the rules for the removal of showers, (3) to verify and enhance the content of the SD, and (4) to improve the user area of the MDC SD. Methods. The criteria for moving showers from the Working list to the Lists of established or removed showers were generated using an empirical evaluation of their impact on the registered showers. The correctness of the parameters of each stream included in the SD was checked by comparing them with the values given in the source publications. Results. We developed a set of criteria for nominating showers to be established. We objectified rules for the temporary and permanent removal of meteor showers from the Working list. Both of our proposed new procedures were approved by a vote of the commission F1 of the IAU in July 2022. We verified more than 1350 data records of the MDC SD and introduced ~1700 corrections. We included new parameters for shower characterisation. As a result of our verification procedure, 117 showers have been moved to the List of removed showers. As of October 2022, the SD contains 923 showers, 110 of which are in the List of established showers and 813 are in the Working list. We also improved the user area of the SD and added a simple tool to allow a quick check of the similarity of a new shower to those in the database.

ImportanceFamilial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an underdiagnosed and undertreated genetic disorder that leads to premature morbidity and mortality due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Familial hypercholesterolemia affects 1 in 200 to 250 people around the world of every race and ethnicity. The lack of general awareness of FH among the public and medical community has resulted in only 10% of the FH population being diagnosed and adequately treated. The World Health Organization recognized FH as a public health priority in 1998 during a consultation meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. The World Health Organization report highlighted 11 recommendations to address FH worldwide, from diagnosis and treatment to family screening and education. Research since the 1998 report has increased understanding and awareness of FH, particularly in specialty areas, such as cardiology and lipidology. However, in the past 20 years, there has been little progress in implementing the 11 recommendations to prevent premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in an entire generation of families with FH. ObservationsIn 2018, the Familial Hypercholesterolemia Foundation and the World Heart Federation convened the international FH community to update the 11 recommendations. Two meetings were held: one at the 2018 FH Foundation Global Summit and the other during the 2018 World Congress of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Health. Each meeting served as a platform for the FH community to examine the original recommendations, assess the gaps, and provide commentary on the revised recommendations. The Global Call to Action on Familial Hypercholesterolemia thus represents individuals with FH, advocacy leaders, scientific experts, policy makers, and the original authors of the 1998 World Health Organization report. Attendees from 40 countries brought perspectives on FH from low-, middle-, and high-income regions. Tables listing country-specific government support for FH care, existing country-specific and international FH scientific statements and guidelines, country-specific and international FH registries, and known FH advocacy organizations around the world were created. Conclusions and RelevanceBy adopting the 9 updated public policy recommendations created for this document, covering awareness; advocacy; screening, testing, and diagnosis; treatment; family-based care; registries; research; and cost and value, individual countries have the opportunity to prevent atherosclerotic heart disease in their citizens carrying a gene associated with FH and, likely, all those with severe hypercholesterolemia as well. This guideline presents updated recommendations for management of familial hypercholesterolemia. (c) 2020 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Importance Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an underdiagnosed and undertreated genetic disorder that leads to premature morbidity and mortality due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Familial hypercholesterolemia affects 1 in 200 to 250 people around the world of every race and ethnicity. The lack of general awareness of FH among the public and medical community has resulted in only 10% of the FH population being diagnosed and adequately treated. The World Health Organization recognized FH as a public health priority in 1998 during a consultation meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. The World Health Organization report highlighted 11 recommendations to address FH worldwide, from diagnosis and treatment to family screening and education. Research since the 1998 report has increased understanding and awareness of FH, particularly in specialty areas, such as cardiology and lipidology. However, in the past 20 years, there has been little progress in implementing the 11 recommendations to prevent premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in an entire generation of families with FH. Observations In 2018, the Familial Hypercholesterolemia Foundation and the World Heart Federation convened the international FH community to update the 11 recommendations. Two meetings were held: one at the 2018 FH Foundation Global Summit and the other during the 2018 World Congress of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Health. Each meeting served as a platform for the FH community to examine the original recommendations, assess the gaps, and provide commentary on the revised recommendations. The Global Call to Action on Familial Hypercholesterolemia thus represents individuals with FH, advocacy leaders, scientific experts, policy makers, and the original authors of the 1998 World Health Organization report. Attendees from 40 countries brought perspectives on FH from low-, middle-, and high-income regions. Tables listing country-specific government support for FH care, existing country-specific and international FH scientific statements and guidelines, country-specific and international FH registries, and known FH advocacy organizations around the world were created. Conclusions and Relevance By adopting the 9 updated public policy recommendations created for this document, covering awareness; advocacy; screening, testing, and diagnosis; treatment; family-based care; registries; research; and cost and value, individual countries have the opportunity to prevent atherosclerotic heart disease in their citizens carrying a gene associated with FH and, likely, all those with severe hypercholesterolemia as well.

Background In systemic sclerosis (SSc), systemic remodeling, microvascular injuries and production of autoantibodies are well known as disease hallmarks. However, the master regulator of these characteristics is still unclear. Microparticle (MP) is a small membrane vesicle, released from various kinds of cells, and distributes systemically through circulation1). Recent reports revealed that MP contains various growth factors, proteases and cytokines including TGF-b2), suggesting that MP can contribute to immune and mesenchymal responses as a conveyor3). and involve with disease process of SSc. Although, the possible involvement of MPs in the pathogenesis of SSc is indicated, the detailed association of MPs including MP subsets with SSc is not well clarified. Objectives To elucidate the association between circulating MP subsets and patients9 characteristic of SSc. Methods Thirty-six patients with SSc and 13 healthy controls were involved in this study. Platelet-rich plasma containing microparticles was isolated from whole blood using gradient centrifugation and analyzed using flow cytometer. MP was defined as particles smaller than 1.0 μm diameter using Megamix®, and identified each MP subsets based on expression of cell type-specific surface markers; platelet (CD31+CD41+), endothelial cell (CD31+CD41-) and monocyte (CD14+CD45+) using fluorescence-tagged antibodies. Clinical information was retrospectively collected from patients9 records, and the correlation with the number of each MP subset was analyzed. Results Mean age of 36 patients with SSc was 60.9±1.8 years, 94% was female, and mean disease duration was 11.2±9.5 years. Patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) was 6 (17%). As for the proportion of MP subsets, platelet-derived MP (PMP) was the largest subset, followed by endothelial cell-derived MP (EMP) and monocyte-derived MP (MoMP) in all samples. In patients with SSc, the number of total MP and all MP subsets were higher than those in healthy controls (p Conclusions These results suggest that MP subsets are associated with extended fibrotic phenotype in patients with SSc, and might be utilized as novel biomarkers. References Bayer C et al. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 6:21–9, 2010. Antonyak MA et al. Method Mol Biol. 1165:147–73, 2014. Budoni M et al. Cell Transplant. 22:369–79, 2013. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic connective tissue disease and characterized by inflammation of synovium of multiple joints, however, its pathogenesis is still unclear (1). Physiologically, microparticle (MP) is categorized as a membrane microvesicle which contains various humoral factors such as cytokines or growth factors and 0.1–1 μm in size (2). And MPs can distribute systemically through circulation. MP is released from almost all cell types and induced by stimulation, stress or apoptosis (3). Thus, we hypothesized that MPs derived from various cells can distribute to the lesion of RA and be associated with systemic disease process of RA. Objectives To clarify the source of MPs in circulation of RA and elucidate their role in the pathogenesis and the possibility for application as a novel disease marker. Methods Twenty patients with RA and 13 healthy controls were involved. Using gradient centrifugation, platelet-rich plasma was isolated from whole blood and applied to flow cytometry. MP is defined as a vesicle less than 1 mm in diameter and Megamix® was used to set a gating condition to detect microparticles (4). Sources of MP (MP subsets) were identified by the expression of cell-specific markers using flow cytometry with fluorescence-conjugated antibodies as follows; platelets MP: CD41 + CD31 + MP, endothelial cell MP: CD41 - CD31 + MP, immune cell MP: CD45 + CD41 - MP, MP derived other cells: CD41 - CD31 - CD45 - MP. Correlation between clinical information and proportion of MP subsets was also analyzed. Comparisons between two groups were examined by Mann-Whitney U-test with Bonferroni correction. Significant difference was defined as corrected p value ( Pc ) Results Mean age of 20 patients with RA was 56±14 years, 95% was female, disease duration was 8.5±8.0 years, and DAS28-ESR was 2.0±1.1. Methotrexate was administered to 75% and average dose was 8.0±2.4 mg/week. Platelet-derived MP covered the largest proportion in all groups. Interestingly, proportion of immune-cell-derived MP was higher ( Pc Pc Conclusions Proportion of circulating immune-cell-derived MPs, especially monocyte-derived MPs, increased in RA and correlate with disease activity. These results suggest that monocyte-derived MPs can be measured as a novel biomarker and involved in the disease process of RA. References Smolen JS et al. Lancet 388: 2023–2038, 2016. van der Pol E et al. 64: 676–705, 2012. Buzas EI et al. Nat Rev Rheumatol 10: 356–364, 2014. Chandler WL et al. J Thromb Haemost 9:1216–1224, 2011. Disclosure of Interest None declared

A new semiquantitative enumeration system was developed to detect Streptococcus mutans in saliva. Using species-specific monoclonal antibodies, the system quickly detected salivary S. mutans in 30 min and classified the results into three levels. In this study, saliva samples collected from 28 young adults aged between 22 and 24 years were subjected to the monoclonal antibody-based detecting system and selective medium-based detecting methods. The results generated from the PCR-confirmed culture method indicated the mean salivary S. mutans counts at level 1, 2 and 3 were 5.7 × 104, 1.3 × 105 and 3.4 × 106 CFU/ml, respectively. The differences between level 3 and 1 and level 3 and 2 were statistically significant (one-way ANOVA; p < 0.01). The results generated from the system were consistent with the data generated from two culture-based commercial products.

Objective This study aimed to assess the use of three-dimensional hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (3D-HyCoSy) as a routine outpatient procedure for evaluating infertile women. Methods In 25 unselected infertile patients, tubal patency and uterine cavity were investigated by 3D-HyCoSy with saline as a contrast medium. The efficacy of the procedure was evaluated with X-ray hysterosalpingography (XHSG) as reference. Results The positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity of predicting tubal patency by 3D-HyCoSy were 100, 33.3, 84.4, and 100%, respectively. The full contour of the uterine cavity was depicted in 96% of cases by 3D-HyCoSy and 64% by XHSG (P < 0.005). The uterine cavity area measured on 3D-HyCoSy correlated well with the volume of contrast medium required on XHSG (r2 = 0.8166). Conclusions 3D-HyCoSy provided advantages of better assessment of uterine cavity over XHSG. Compared with conventional XHSG, the efficacy of 3D-HyCoSy to assess tubal patency was acceptable. In addition, the procedure of 3D-HyCoSy appears to be better tolerated, requiring no sedation or anesthesia and a reduced examination time. Thus, 3D-HyCoSy with saline as a contrast medium is feasible and could comprise a routine outpatient procedure in the initial evaluation of infertile women. Copyright © 2000 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology

The expression of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α in leprosy skin lesions was examined before and during successful treatment in a patient with borderline lepromatous leprosy. Before treatment, immunohistochemical staining of a skin biopsy specimen showed diffuse TNF-α deposits in granulomas and significant TNF-α deposits on infiltrated mononuclear cells. After 1 year's treatment, the skin lesions exhibited a reduction in granulomas, and a concomitant reduction in deposits of TNF-α. Furthermore, the level of expression of TNF-α messenger RNA, as examined using a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method, was reduced markedly after treatment. These findings provide evidence for a correlation between the expression of TNF-α and disease activity suggesting that TNF-α is a useful prognostic indicator for inflammation in leprosy.

This paper is a study on the hybrid position/force control of a two-fingered miniature gripper driven by piezoelectric bimoph cells. The system is composed of the flexible cantilevers and a compact force sensor attached to the tip of one finger. Control action is applied by two piezoelectric bimorph strips placed at the base of each finger. The theoretical model of the electro-mechanical system is developed and applied to the study of a control problem where the gripper is commanded to grasp its object with a time-constant force 0.01 N at a prescribed commanded fingertip position. The PID control algorithm is introduced to drive the gripper.The system control behaviour is examined both theoretically and experimentally.

'93 KACC, 20-22 Oct., 1993.

The Soft Gamma-ray Detector (SGD) on board ASTRO-H (Japanese next high-energy astrophysics mission) is a Compton telescope with narrow fleld-of-view, which utilizes Compton kinematics to enhance its background rejection capabilities. It is realized as a hybrid semiconductor detector system which consists of silicon and CdTe (cadmium telluride) detectors. It can detect photons in a wide energy band (50-600 keV) at a background level 10 times better than that of the Suzaku Hard X-ray Detector, and is complimentary to the Hard X-ray Imager on board ASTRO-H with an energy coverage of 5-80 keV. Excellent energy resolution is the key feature of the SGD, allowing it to achieve good background rejection capability taking advantage of good angular resolution. An additional capability of the SGD, its ability to measure gamma-ray polarization, opens up a new window to study properties of gamma-ray emission processes. Here we describe the instrument design of the SGD, its expected performance, and its development status.

The Giacobinid (Draconid) meteor shower showed a remarkable display with a maximum ZHR of several hundred meteors per hour on October 8, 1985. Visual observations suggest that the maximum occurred immediately before 10 hr UT. FM radio reflection rates suggest that either the main maximum was followed by a secondary maximum, or the time of maximum varied with the mass of the meteoroids. The Giacobinid shower was rich in faint meteors ( r = 3.26 ± 0.40) and consisted of fragile particles. The 1985 apparition, therefore, did not differ from the previous ones in this respect. It occurred unexpectedly and preceded the predicted time by several hours. Our results differ from those of Nagasawa and Kawagoe (1987, Icarus 70, 138–145) but are consistent with other studies.