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Approximately 10% non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) cases progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Liver biopsy, the gold standard for diagnosing NASH and associated liver fibrosis, is invasive with a risk of life-threatening complications. Therefore, reliable non-invasive biomarkers for predicting NASH are required to prevent unnecessary liver biopsies. We evaluated the performance of two non-invasive fibrosis markers, Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) and the FIB-4 index for predicting the fibrosis staging, NAFLD activity scoring (NAS) index, and NASH. We also analyzed the correlation between the two markers. The sensitivities, specificities, positive predictive values (PPV), and negative predictive values of the FIB-4 index, M2BPGi, and a combination of both markers for NASH diagnosis were evaluated. The M2BPGi and FIB-4 index showed a good performance in diagnosing NASH, the fibrosis stage, and the NAS index in NAFLD patients. While both markers were well-correlated with each other in most cases, no correlation was found in some patients. Compared with the FIB-4 index or the M2BPGi alone, a combination of the two showed a higher specificity, PPV, and accuracy for NASH diagnosis. The M2BPGi and the FIB-4 index are easily accessible and reliable liver fibrosis markers. Diseases other than liver disease may cause dissociation between the two markers, causing failure to predict NASH. However, the combination of both markers can compensate for their disadvantages. Because the PPV of the combination was relatively high, patients who test positive for both markers should undergo liver biopsy for NASH diagnosis.

To evaluate the important odor components in raw yellowtail, volatiles from each part of stored yellowtail flesh were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and olfactometry (GC–O). The principal component analysis (PCA) results from GC–MS of 88 volatiles showed that PC1 separated the data into two groups [the dark muscle (DM) long storage] and [the ordinary muscle (OM) + DM no storage + DM short storage]. Eleven compounds, including 2,3-butanedione, in 24 kinds of odors were identified or tentatively estimated using GC–O analysis. The numbers of odors perceived at the maximum split ratio (243) in GC–O analysis were 8 and 12 from OM and DM, respectively, irrespective of storage time. Kovats retention index 1387 (unknown compound, fishy and plastic odor) had the strongest odor in both muscles before and after storage. GC–O analysis showed that DM odors were more intense than those from dorsal OM. Moreover, their intensities increased during storage. Sensory evaluation revealed that DM had a stronger odor than OM throughout the storage period. These findings suggested that odor components, which showed small thresholds, as well as other identified components from DM, such as 2,3-butanedione, contributed to the yellowtail meat odor before and after storage.

Mycobacteriosis and nocardiosis in cultured fish caused by infections with acid-fast bacteria, are responsible for large economic losses globally. In this study, we suggest a novel adjuvant using glycolipids that activates host immune systems. The immune response to glycolipids stimulation was investigated using ginbuna crucian carp. Ginbuna vaccinated with FKC (formalin-killed cells) + glycolipids isolated from Mycobacterium sp., upregulated inflammatory- and Th1-related cytokines, and a DTH (delayed-type hypersensitivity) response was confirmed only in ginbuna vaccinated with FKC + glycolipids. These observations suggest that glycolipids activated host innate and cell-mediated immunity. Subsequently, we evaluated the adjuvant effect of glycolipids against amberjack nocardiosis. In a challenge test, a higher survival rate was observed in amberjack vaccinated with FKC + glycolipids emulsified with conventional oil adjuvant than in fish vaccinated with FKC + oil adjuvant without glycolipids. Therefore, glycolipids potentially could be used as a practical, economical and safe adjuvant for aquaculture fish.

Sample return from asteroids and comets beyond the main belt is considered to be one of the most worthwhile future deep space missions [1]. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is currently entertaining a Jupiter Trojan sample return mission using a solar power sail [2], following the heritage of the Hayabusa sample return mission [3]. Because of high orbital energy corresponding to outer bodies, a sample return capsule (SRC) for such a future mission is expected to reenter the Earth’s atmosphere at velocities higher than 14 km/s and, hence, to encounter much severer aerodynamic heating environments than those of any past SRCs. Especially, the radiative heat transfer is considered to play a significant role in heat transfer processes in the shock layer, since the radiative heat transfer exponentially increases with the atmospheric flight velocity. To optimize the aerothermal design of the SRC and to minimize the mass of the thermal protection system (TPS) equipped with the SRC aeroshell, it is essentially required to accurately predict the aerothermal environments around the SRC along the reentry trajectory.

The prediction of the nonequilibrium radiative heat flux experienced by a sample return capsule relies on a combined approach of numerical simulation and ground test experiments. This paper presents an analysis of the VUV radiation measurements from heated air mixtures carried out in the High Velocity Shock-Tube (HVST) facility at JAXA Chofu Aerospace Centre. The spectral signatures of atomic lines were analyzed under equilibrium and nonequilibrium conditions. The electron number densities were inferred from hydrogen lines and used as a benchmark to assess the ionization model currently implemented in the in-house solvers.

Owing to the increasing importance of genomic information, obtaining genomic DNA easily from biological specimens has become more and more important. This article proposes an efficient method for obtaining genomic DNA from nail clippings. Nail clippings can be easily obtained, are thermostable and easy to transport, and have low infectivity. The drawback of their use, however, has been the difficulty of extracting genomic material from them. We have overcome this obstacle using the protease solution obtained from Cucumis melo. The keratinolytic activity of the protease solution was 1.78-fold higher than that of proteinase K, which is commonly used to degrade keratin. With the protease solution, three times more DNA was extracted than when proteinase K was used. In order to verify the integrity of the extracted DNA, genotype analysis on 170 subjects was performed by both PCR-RFLP and Real Time PCR. The results of the genotyping showed that the extracted DNA was suitable for genotyping analysis. In conclusion, we have developed an efficient extraction method for using nail clippings as a genome source and a research tool in molecular epidemiology, medical diagnostics, and forensic science.

This research studied the eating behavior and genetic factors that cause masked obesity, in which body fat percentage is high even though the body weight is low or normal, a phenomenon that is increasing among young Japanese women. This study performed physical measurement, an eating-behavior survey based on EAT-26, and a genetic polymorphism test that used the non-invasive collection of fingernail clippings on 94 young women. The result showed that 13. 8% of the women have masked obesity, while 39. 4% have masked obesity tendency, and the total of both groups equaled more than half the total number (53. 2%). When the masked obesity group is compared to the standard group, no difference can be seen in the frequency of appearance of β3-adrenergic receptor (β3AR) genetic polymorphism (Trp64Arg) and insulin-induced gene 2 (INSIG2) genetic polymorphism (rs7566605), but there is a significantly higher rating in EAT-26. These results suggest the possibility that unique eating behavior habits of young women are largely involved in causing masked obesity in this population.