Gastric-type adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix: clinical features and future directions

The concept of gastric-type mucinous carcinoma of the uterine cervix (GAS) has been accepted worldwide because of its aggressive clinical behaviour and the absence of high-risk human papilloma virus infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) 2020 classification divides cervical tumours into two categories: human papilloma virus-associated and human papilloma virus-independent. Hence, GAS is now classified as an human papilloma virus-independent gastric type. Because clinical studies have reported that GAS is refractory to conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, especially at an advanced stage, and has aggressive features with widespread dissemination to unusual sites, such as the omentum, peritoneum and distant organs, it is urgent to establish new treatment strategies by comparing the molecular profiles of human papilloma virus-associated adenocarcinomas. A series of genetic mutations characteristic to GAS encourage the development of future treatment strategies such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

Highly stretchable and sensitive silicone composites with positive piezoconductivity using nickel powder and ionic liquid

Conductive rubber composites are mixtures of stretchable rubber and conductive materials. They can achieve conductivity and high elasticity and are used in soft robots and wearable devices. In general, these composites exhibit high electrical resistance owing to their bonds between the fillers breaking during elongation. However, there are several types of composite materials that decrease resistance by increasing contact between the conductive materials during elongation through optimization of the shape and size of the filler. These composite materials can rapidly decrease the resistance and are expected to be applicable to switch in electric circuits and sensors. However, to use such composite materials in circuits, the electrical resistance at the time of resistance reduction must be sufficiently low to not affect the electric circuit. To achieve this, a considerable amount of filler must be mixed; however, this reduces the elasticity of the composite. Simultaneously achieving elasticity of the composite and a sufficient decrease in the resistance is challenging. This study developed a conductive rubber composite gel by mixing silicone rubber, ionic liquid, and metal filler. Consequently, the composite achieved an elongation rate of over six times and a decrease in the resistance of less than 1/10⁵. In addition, this composite material was used as a switch circuit wherein an electric circuit is turned on and off according to elongation through a connection to a DC power source.

High quantum yield photochemical water oxidation using a water-soluble cobalt phthalocyanine as a homogenous catalyst

We demonstrated high catalytic activity (TON = 670, TOF_max = 2.7 s^-1) of a water-soluble cobalt phthalocyanine complex (CoPcTS, PcTS = phthalocyaninetetrasulfonate) for visible light-driven photochemical water oxidation and investigated its reaction mechanism by electrochemical and spectroscopic measurements.

Psychological disturbances and their association with sleep disturbances in patients admitted for cardiovascular diseases

BACKGROUND

Depression and anxiety are common mental health problems that are strongly associated with sleep disturbances, according to community-based researches. However, this association has not been investigated among patients admitted for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We examined the prevalence of depression and anxiety in inpatients with various CVDs and their association with sleep disturbances.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 1294 patients hospitalized for CVDs in a Japanese university hospital were evaluated for their mental status using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) using pulse oximetry, and for sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

RESULTS

Patient characteristics were as below: mean age, 63.9±14.7 years; 25.7% female. Overall, 18.9% had depression (HADS-depression≥8) and 17.1% had anxiety (HADS-anxiety≥8). The presence of depression was associated with female sex, older age, higher plasma brain natriuretic peptide level, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, and the prevalence of heart failure. Overall, 46.5% patients were categorized as having a poor sleep quality (PSQI>5), and 28.5% patients had SDB (3% oxygen desaturation index>15). Although depression and anxiety were not associated with SDB, they were independently associated with poor sleep quality (OR = 3.09, 95% CI 2.19-4.36; OR = 3.93, 95% CI 2.71-5.69, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Depression and anxiety were not uncommon in patients with CVDs. Poor sleep quality could be an important risk factor linked to psychological disturbances.

Identification of human glycerophosphodiesterase 3 as an ecto phospholipase C that converts the G protein-coupled receptor 55 agonist lysophosphatidylinositol to bioactive monoacylglycerols in cultured mammalian cells

A family of glycerol-based lysolipid mediators comprises lysophosphatidic acid as a representative phospholipidic member but also a monoacylglycerol as a non-phosphorus-containing member. These critical lysolipid mediators are known to be produced from different lysophospholipids by actions of lysophospholipases C and D in mammals. Some members of the glycerophosphodiesterase (GDE) family have attracted recent attention due to their phospholipid-metabolizing activity. In this study, we found selective depletion of lysophosphatidylinositol among lysophospholipids in the culture medium of COS-7 cells transfected with a vector containing glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase 2 (GDPD2, GDE3). Thin-layer chromatography and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry of lipids extracted from GDE3-transfected COS-7 cells exposed to fluorescent analogs of phosphatidylinositol (PI) revealed that GDE3 acted as an ecto-type lysophospholipase C preferring endogenous lysophosphatidylinositol and PI having a long-chain acyl and a short-chain acyl group rather than endogenous PI and its fluorescent analog having two long chain acyl groups. In MC3T3-E1 cells cultured with an osteogenic or mitogenic medium, mRNA expression of GDE3 was increased by culturing in 10% fetal bovine serum for several days, concomitant with increased activity of ecto-lysophospholipase C, converting arachidonoyl-lysophosphatidylinositol, a physiological agonist of G protein-coupled receptor 55, to arachidonoylglycerol, a physiological agonist of cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2. We suggest that GDE3 acts as an ecto-lysophospholipase C, by switching signaling from lysophosphatidylinositol to that from arachidonoylglycerol in an opposite direction in mouse bone remodeling.

A low level of lysophosphatidic acid in human gingival crevicular fluid from patients with periodontitis due to high soluble lysophospholipase activity: Its potential protective role on alveolar bone loss by periodontitis

We previously detected a submicromolar concentration of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in human saliva. Here, we compare LPA concentrations in human gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from patients with periodontitis and healthy controls, and examine how the local LPA levels are regulated enzymatically. The concentrations of LPA and its precursor lysophospholipids in GCF was measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The LPA-producing and LPA-degrading enzymatic activities were measured by quantifying the liberated choline and free fatty acid, respectively. The concentration of LPA in GCF of periodontitis patients was lower than that of healthy controls, due to higher soluble lysophospholipase activity toward LPA. LPA was found to prevent survival of Sa3, a human gingival epithelium-derived tumor cell line, activate Sa3 through Ca²⁺ mobilization, and release interleukin 6 from Sa3 in vitro. Furthermore, local injection of LPA into the gingiva attenuated ligature-induced experimental alveolar bone loss induced by oral bacteria inoculation in a rat model of periodontitis in vivo. A high concentration of LPA in human GCF is necessary to maintain normal gingival epithelial integrity and function, protecting the progression of periodontitis.

Suppression of experimental cerebral malaria by disruption of malate:quinone oxidoreductase

Background

Aspartate, which is converted from oxaloacetate (OAA) by aspartate aminotransferase, is considered an important precursor for purine salvage and pyrimidine de novo biosynthesis, and is thus indispensable for the growth of Plasmodium parasites at the asexual blood stages. OAA can be produced in malaria parasites via two routes: (i) from phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) in the cytosol, or (ii) from fumarate by consecutive reactions catalyzed by fumarate hydratase (FH) and malate:quinone oxidoreductase (MQO) in the mitochondria of malaria parasites. Although PEPC-deficient Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium berghei (rodent malaria) parasites show a growth defect, the mutant P. berghei can still cause experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) with similar dynamics to wild-type parasites. In contrast, the importance of FH and MQO for parasite viability, growth and virulence is not fully understood because no FH- and MQO-deficient P. falciparum has been established. In this study, the role of FH and MQO in the pathogenicity of asexual-blood-stage Plasmodium parasites causing cerebral malaria was examined.

Results

First, FH- and MQO-deficient parasites were generated by inserting a luciferase-expressing cassette into the fh and mqo loci in the genome of P. berghei ANKA strain. Second, the viability of FH-deficient and MQO-deficient parasites that express luciferase was determined by measuring luciferase activity, and the effect of FH or MQO deficiency on the development of ECM was examined. While the viability of FH-deficient P. berghei was comparable to that of control parasites, MQO-deficient parasites exhibited considerably reduced viability. FH activity derived from erythrocytes was also detected. This result and the absence of phenotype in FH-deficient P. berghei parasites suggest that fumarate can be metabolized to malate by host or parasite FH in P. berghei-infected erythrocytes. Furthermore, although the growth of FH- and MQO-deficient parasites was impaired, the development of ECM was suppressed only in mice infected with MQO-deficient parasites.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that MQO-mediated mitochondrial functions are required for development of ECM of asexual-blood-stage Plasmodium parasites.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-017-1898-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Nonmechanical compact probe for cross-sectional velocity measurement based on differential laser Doppler velocimetry

In this study, we propose and demonstrate a nonmechanical compact probe for cross-sectional velocity measurement based on differential laser Doppler velocimetry. The system introduces a method that combines simultaneous multipoint measurement using spatial encoding and nonmechanical scanning of measurement points, in which spatially encoded measurement points aligned along the transverse direction are scanned in the axial direction by changing the wavelength. The use of a waveguide-type LiNbO₃ phase shifter array for serrodyne frequency shifting is feasible for the system based on fiber optics with an easily handled probe. To miniaturize the probe, a multimode fiber is introduced in the receiving optics and the parameters of the lens system in the transmitting optics are optimized. For the experiment, an eight-channel probe was assembled on an aluminum plate with an 8 cm × 8 cm area size. The experimental results reveal that the cross-sectional two-dimensional velocity distribution was successfully measured using the easily handled compact probe for the first time.

The development and piloting of a leadership questionnaire for general dental practitioners: preliminary results from the North West of England and Tokyo

OBJECTIVES

Key reforms in England and Japan have called for greater clinical leadership from general dental practitioners to deliver improvements in the quality of care for patients. In England, the reorganisation of the National Health Service has led to the development of Local Professional Networks to ensure services are clinically led, patient and outcome focused. In Japan, the rapidly changing demographics have led to calls for general dental practitioners to become more active in meeting the emerging population health challenges. Both require engagement at a strategic and a local level. However, little is known about what is meant by clinical leadership in dentistry or what training needs exist. The aim of this study was to develop and pilot a questionnaire to understand what general dental practitioners feel is important about clinical leadership and how they rate themselves.

METHODS

A 61-item questionnaire was developed from the literature, an earlier qualitative study and refined through cognitive interviews. Questionnaires were distributed to general dental practitioners across the North West of England and Tokyo, using random sequence generation. For each item, the participant had to record whether they thought the statement was an important component of clinical leadership and how they rated themselves. Both were rated using a seven-point Likert scale. Data reduction was undertaken using principal component analysis to examine for factor loadings within the questionnaire. Differences in mean scores were also used to highlight substantive differences in how general dental practitioners rated the different components of leadership and how they rated themselves.

RESULTS

The response rate for the pilot was low (22.9% and 7.5% for North West and Tokyo respectively). The items that were considered to be important in leadership reduced to two components in the North West (accounting for 62.1% of the total variance): 'How to lead' and 'How not to lead'. In Tokyo, 56.4% of the total variance was explained by three components: 'Demonstrating personal qualities', 'Working with others' and 'How not to lead'. When the self-rated items were reduced, three factors were found to be important in the North West: 'Working with others', 'Setting direction' and 'Managing services' (55.1% of the variance). 'Working with others', 'Demonstrating personal qualities', 'Pragmatism', 'Setting direction' and 'Improving services' were found to be important in Tokyo (52.8% of the variance). The questionnaire items relating to integrity, team-working and having a positive attitude during difficult times were rated highly by both groups. Items relating to providing vision for team, being assertive and having a positive attitude had the greatest mean difference, suggesting possible areas of training need.

CONCLUSION

The nature of the pilot study and the poor response rate makes any conclusion difficult to infer. Among those that participated, leadership was understood to be more important at a practice level rather than at a strategic level. The questionnaire should be refined further based on the results of the pilot and the data reduction.

Improvement of EMC in MPPT Control of Photovoltaic System Using Auto-Tuning Adaptive Velocity Estimator

<div class=""abs_img""> <img src=""[disp_template_path]/JRM/abst-image/00270005/04.jpg"" width=""300"" /> Proposed modified-IC method</div> Output by a photovoltaic array is nonlinear and changes with solar irradiation and cell temperature. Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is needed to maximize the energy produced. Most MPPT techniques include the time derivative of current and voltage. These electrical signals are disturbed by high-frequency noise such as from the power device switching. Lowpass filters are used to reduce circuit noise, but estimation error occurs when the maximum power point is calculated. We therefore apply an adaptive observer to estimate the time derivative of noisy signals. Specifically, we propose an auto-tuning velocity estimator with a forgetting factor based on the adaptive observer. We also improve the incremental conductance method by using an auto-tuning velocity estimator. </span>

Light-induced systemic regulation of photosynthesis in primary and trifoliate leaves of Phaseolus vulgaris: effects of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) versus spectrum

The objectives of this work using Phaseolus vulgaris were to examine whether the light spectrum incident on mature primary leaves (PLs) is related to leaf-to-leaf systemic regulation of developing trifoliate leaves (TLs) in photosynthetic characteristics, and to investigate the relative importance of spectrum and photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) in light-induced systemic regulation. Systemic regulation was induced by altering PPFD and the spectrum of light incident on PLs using a shading treatment and lighting treatments including either white, blue, green or red light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Photosynthetic characteristics were evaluated by measuring the light-limited and light-saturated net photosynthetic rates and the amounts of nitrogen (N), chlorophyll (Chl) and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco; EC 4.1.1.39). Shading treatment on PLs decreased the amounts of N, Chl and Rubisco of TLs and tended to decrease the photosynthetic rates. However, we observed no systemic effects induced by the light spectrum on PLs in this study, except that a higher amount of Rubisco of TLs was observed when the PLs were irradiated with blue LEDs. Our results imply that photoreceptors in mature leaves have little influence on photosynthetic rates and amounts of N and Chl of developing leaves through systemic regulation, although the possibility of the action of blue light irradiation on the amount of Rubisco cannot be ruled out. Based on these results, we concluded that the light spectrum incident on mature leaves has little systemic effect on developing leaves in terms of photosynthetic characteristics and that the light-induced systemic regulation was largely accounted for by PPFD.