Analysis of the Association between Protein Intake and Disability-Adjusted Life Year Rates for Alzheimer's Disease in Japanese Aged over 60.

With advancements in medical technology, the structure of disease is shifting from acute illnesses to chronic conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Consequently, there is an escalating need for evaluations that discourse on the potential effects on healthy life years, as well as disease onset. We aimed to evaluate the associations with AD disability-adjusted life year (AD-DALY) rates and protein intake by sex and age group. For the analysis, we used representative values for males and females in their 60s and aged over 70, extracted from the public dataset of the Global Burden of Disease Study and the National Health and Nutrition Survey in Japan, covering the years 1990 to 2019. In order to evaluate the association between AD-DALY rates and protein intake, we analyzed correlations and stratified multiple regression models. Additionally, we simulated alterations in AD-DALY rates associated with changes in protein intake by utilizing stratified multiple regression models. AD-DALY rates and protein intake indicated significant negative correlations across all sex and age groups. In stratified multiple regression models, significant associations were found between higher protein intake and lower AD-DALY rates in females. In the simulation, when protein intake was increased to 1.5 g/kg/day, AD-DALY rates decreased by 5-9 percent compared with 2019. However, the association between intake of animal and plant protein and AD-DALY rates were found to vary based on sex and age group. The present study suggests the possibility to improve AD-DALY rates by increasing population average protein intake levels in a recommended range.

Body Part Pain Affects Subjective and Objective Handball Performance in Japanese Male National Athletes-Results of Short-Term Practical Monitoring of Athletes' Conditions.

This short-term survey examined the effect of body part pain on subjective and objective handball performance in Japanese male national handball athletes. Fourteen athletes participated in this study. Assessments of pain in 10 body parts and subjective performance (concentration and satisfaction with body movement) were performed using a visual analog scale from 0 to 10 over four consecutive training days. Monitoring of heart rate and body acceleration during training was also performed to quantify the objective performance. Path analysis and linear mixed modeling were employed to assess the relationship between body pain scores and subjective/objective handball performance. Over the four days of the study period, the body part in which most athletes reported pain was the dominant shoulder (6 of 14 athletes), followed by the dominant knee, the dominant elbow, the dominant ankle joint, and the non-dominant ankle joint (3 of 14 athletes). The path analysis revealed that pain in the dominant elbow negatively correlated with concentration (standardized path coefficient = -0.644, p = 0.00), which was associated with satisfaction with body movement (standardized path coefficient = 0.704, p = 0.00). No significant effect of body pain on objective performance (heart rate and body acceleration) was found among the athletes in this study. The results suggested that the elite athletes were practicing with pain. Even if pain does not physically affect athletes' objective performance, pain in the upper extremities, associated with the primary handball movement of throwing, may reduce the quality of practice by lowering athletes' subjective performance.

Quantification of peripapillary nerve fibre elevation and its association with axial length, optic disc tilt, and parapapillary atrophy area in young, healthy eyes.

BACKGROUND: Eyes with peripapillary nerve fibre elevation (pNFE) may have a gap between the optic nerve papillary margin on colour fundus photography and Bruch's membrane opening on cross-sectional optical coherence tomography (OCT). This study was conducted to evaluate the quantification of the height of pNFE in young healthy eyes and examine the relationship between pNFE height and axial length. METHODS: A prospective, observational, cross-sectional study was performed involving 117 right eyes. All participants (mean age 25.8 years) underwent comprehensive ophthalmologic examination involving axial length, fundus photography, and peripapillary and optic disc OCT. pNFE height was defined as the distance between the retinal surface plane and the upper edge of the pNFE in optic disc cross-sectional OCT images. Optic disc tilt was evaluated using a sine curve on retinal nerve fibre layer B-scan images. Parapapillary atrophy (PPA) area in colour fundus images was calculated using ImageJ and corrected using Bennett's formula. We evaluated relationships between pNFE height, axial length, optic disc papillary tilt, and PPA area using Spearman's correlation analysis. RESULTS: Sixty-five eyes had pNFE, with a mean pNFE height of 84.7 µm. pNFE height was significantly positively correlated with axial length (r = 0.32, p < 0.001), optic disc tilt (r = 0.25, p = 0.008), and PPA area (r = 0.27, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: pNFE is not rare in young healthy eyes. Eyes with higher pNFE had a longer axial length and larger optic disc tilt and PPA area.

Effect of the macular shape on hole findings in idiopathic macular hole differs depending on the stage of the macular hole.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between macular shape and idiopathic macular hole (MH) findings using an objective method. We present retrospective observational case series on patients with MH. The shape of the macular area was quantified using quadratic equations, and the ocular shape (OS) index was calculated. The correlation between the OS index and macular hole findings for each stage was evaluated. Pearson's correlation coefficient showed a significant correlation between the OS index and horizontal hole diameter (p = 0.044), bottom diameter (p = 0.006), and vertical bottom diameter (p = 0.024) in stage 2. For stage 4, there was a negative and significant correlation between the OS index and age (p = 0.037), and horizontal (p = 0.021) and vertical (p = 0.027) bottom diameter. Multiple regression analysis showed that the horizontal (p = 0.0070) and vertical (p = 0.031) bottom diameter and OS index were independently and positively correlated in stage 2. In stage 4, the OS index was independently and negatively correlated with the horizontal (p = 0.037) and vertical (p = 0.048) bottom diameter. The ocular shape of the macula affects MH findings, and its impact depends on its stage.

Wayfinding artificial intelligence to detect clinically meaningful spots of retinal diseases: Artificial intelligence to help retina specialists in real world practice.

AIM/BACKGROUND: To aim of this study is to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) that aids in the thought process by providing retinal clinicians with clinically meaningful or abnormal findings rather than just a final diagnosis, i.e., a "wayfinding AI." METHODS: Spectral domain optical coherence tomography B-scan images were classified into 189 normal and 111 diseased eyes. These were automatically segmented using a deep-learning based boundary-layer detection model. During segmentation, the AI model calculates the probability of the boundary surface of the layer for each A-scan. If this probability distribution is not biased toward a single point, layer detection is defined as ambiguous. This ambiguity was calculated using entropy, and a value referred to as the ambiguity index was calculated for each OCT image. The ability of the ambiguity index to classify normal and diseased images and the presence or absence of abnormalities in each layer of the retina were evaluated based on the area under the curve (AUC). A heatmap, i.e., an ambiguity-map, of each layer, that changes the color according to the ambiguity index value, was also created. RESULTS: The ambiguity index of the overall retina of the normal and disease-affected images (mean ± SD) were 1.76 ± 0.10 and 2.06 ± 0.22, respectively, with a significant difference (p < 0.05). The AUC used to distinguish normal and disease-affected images using the ambiguity index was 0.93, and was 0.588 for the internal limiting membrane boundary, 0.902 for the nerve fiber layer/ganglion cell layer boundary, 0.920 for the inner plexiform layer/inner nuclear layer boundary, 0.882 for the outer plexiform layer/outer nuclear layer boundary, 0.926 for the ellipsoid zone line, and 0.866 for the retinal pigment epithelium/Bruch's membrane boundary. Three representative cases reveal the usefulness of an ambiguity map. CONCLUSIONS: The present AI algorithm can pinpoint abnormal retinal lesions in OCT images, and its localization is known at a glance when using an ambiguity map. This will help diagnose the processes of clinicians as a wayfinding tool.

200-Hz longitudinal-mode linewidth found in a free-running mode-locked Yb:fiber laser.

We surveyed the longitudinal-mode linewidth of five homemade mode-locked Yb:fiber lasers by taking the beat note with a Hz-level narrow-linewidth CW laser. We systematically varied the resolution bandwidth of the spectrum analyzer and found that the linewidth can be as narrow as 200 Hz, which surpassed the records for free-running mode-locked lasers in the literature to our best knowledge. Based on the survey, we propose that making the cavity long and simple is a good working hypothesis for narrowing the linewidth and provide practical techniques to reduce the environmental fluctuations.

Characteristics of pigmentary glaucoma in Japanese individuals.

PURPOSE: Myopia is a known risk factor of pigmentary glaucoma (PG), and the increased prevalence of myopia in Asian countries indicates that more cases of PG will likely develop soon. However, there are no diagnostic criteria for PG for Asians. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the characteristics of PG in Japanese individuals and establish three diagnostic signs for PG. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective, case series study of glaucoma patients who visited the Kagoshima University Hospital between January 2015 and January 2020. The inclusion criteria were age <50 years at time of diagnosis and presence of pigmentation in the anterior chamber (AC) angle including a Sampaolesi line. Eyes with pigmentation of the AC angle caused by other types of glaucoma such as uveitis, trauma, exfoliation, or childhood glaucoma were excluded. We investigated the classic diagnostic triad of signs of PG; posterior corneal pigmentation, mid peripheral iris transillumination defect, and pigmentation of the trabecular meshwork. We also examined the Sampaolesi line, iris concavity, and midperipheral iris depigmentation in eyes with PG. RESULTS: Ten eyes of 5 Japanese men and 10 eyes of 5 Japanese women were studied. Their age ranged from 13 to 46 years at the time of diagnosis. One eye had posterior corneal pigmentation and 6 eyes had pigmentation of the trabecular meshwork. None had mid peripheral iris transillumination defect. The Sampaolesi line, iris concavity, and midperipheral iris depigmentation were found in all patients except one patient who lacked the mid peripheral depigmentation. Two eyes had the pigment reversal sign, none had lens pigmentation, and 2 eyes had peripheral retinal degeneration. CONCLUSION: The presence of the Sampaolesi line, iris concavity, and midperipheral iris depigmentation may be appropriate signs for the diagnosis of PG in Asians.

Fine microstructure formation in steel under ultrafast heating and cooling.

This study evaluates phase transformation kinetics under ultrafast cooling using femtosecond X-ray diffraction for the operand measurements of the dislocation densities in Fe-0.1 mass% C-2.0 mass% Mn martensitic steel. To identify the phase transformation mechanism from austenite (γ) to martensite (α'), we used an X-ray free-electron laser and ultrafast heating and cooling techniques. A maximum cooling rate of 4.0 × 103 °C s-1 was achieved using a gas spraying technique, which is applied immediately after ultrafast heating of the sample to 1200 °C at a rate of 1.2 × 104 °C s-1. The cooling rate was sufficient to avoid bainitic transformation, and the transformation during ultrafast cooling was successfully observed. Our results showed that the cooling rate affected the dislocation density of the γ phase at high temperatures, resulting in the formation of a retained γ owing to ultrafast cooling. It was discovered that Fe-0.1 mass% C-2.0 mass% Mn martensitic steels may be in an intermediate phase during the phase transformation from face-centered-cubic γ to body-centered-cubic α' during ultrafast cooling and that lattice softening occurred in carbon steel immediately above the martensitic-transformation starting temperature. These findings will be beneficial in the study, development, and industrial utilization of functional steels.

Development of soil-less substrates capable of degrading organic nitrogen into nitrate as in natural soils.

Soil-less substrates are unable to catalyse nitrification because the addition of a high concentration of organic substances suppresses nitrification. We used a previously developed multiple parallel mineralization method, which enables the use of organic fertilizers in hydroponics, to support nitrification in soil-less substrates. In this method, microorganisms immobilized on porous substrates produced inorganic nitrate from organic substances, as in a natural soil. Phosphate and potassium ions were also released. Microorganisms produced nitrate from organic substances when immobilized on polyurethane resin, rockwool, vermiculite, oyster shell lime, and rice husk charcoal. The optimal amount of organic substance added daily to 100 mL of substrate held 6 mg of organic N. The optimal incubation temperature ranged from 25 to 42 °C. A high relative humidity (51% or higher) was more suitable than drier conditions (20%). The optimal amount of fish fertilizer added to the substrate was 6 mg organic N. The lower the C/N ratio of the organic substance, the better the result. Vegetable plants grew well on inoculated substrates but not on uninoculated substrates. These results show that soil-less substrates can be used to create artificial soils in which plants can be grown with the addition of organic fertilizer, as in a natural soil.

Real-Time PCR Assay for the Diagnosis and Quantification of Co-infections by Diaporthe batatas and Diaporthe destruens in Sweet Potato.

Foot rot disease caused by Diaporthe destruens (formerly Plenodomus destruens) has become a major concern for the production of sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] in Japan. A related fungus Diaporthe batatas, which causes dry rot disease of sweet potato, is native and is widespread in fields in Japan. The similar characteristics of these two pathogens pose a challenge for conventional disease diagnosis. Currently, there are no effective molecular measures for identifying and distinguishing D. destruens and D. batatas. Here, we demonstrate a real-time PCR assay that distinguishes and quantifies D. batatas and D. destruens from co-infected sweet potato. The assay was performed with various simulated DNA combinations of D. batatas and D. destruens ranging from 1:1 to 1:100000. The assay was also used with the ratios of D. batatas: D. destruens: sweet potato DNA ranging from 1:1:1 to 1:1:100000. These assays produced a specific amplification product for each of the pathogens, and quantified the fungal biomass over the entire range tested without detecting false positives. The assay was validated by using infected sweet potato collected from various fields; it showed sufficient sensitivity and specificity to quantify and distinguish D. batatas and D. destruens from these field samples. Thus, our real-time PCR assay would be a useful tool for diagnosis of D. batatas and D. destruens and is expected to provide the foundation for the design of integrated disease management strategies for foot rot disease in sweet potato.

Macular holes following vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: epiretinal proliferation and spontaneous closure of macular holes.

PURPOSE: To describe the characteristics and management of full-thickness macular holes (MHs) that develop after pars plana vitrectomy for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD). METHODS: Retrospective, interventional, consecutive case series. Patients who developed secondary full-thickness MHs after prior pars plana vitrectomy for RD over a 6-year period were included. The main outcome measures included optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings and the clinical course of full-thickness MHs. RESULTS: A total of 11 eyes of 11 consecutive patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 58.8 years (range, 47-70 years). The median time between RD repair and MH diagnosis was 36 months (range, 1 month-11 years). The fovea was attached to 10 eyes (91%) at the time of RD repair. OCT demonstrated epiretinal proliferation (EP) at the hole margin in 10 eyes (91%). MH spontaneously closed in 7 eyes (63%) but reopened in 5 eyes. A total of 7 eyes (63%) required a vitrectomy to repair the MHs. All MHs were closed at the last follow-up visit. CONCLUSION: Full-thickness MHs after pars plana vitrectomy for RD have features that are distinct from that of typical idiopathic MH. The presence of EPs is common, and MHs are prone to spontaneous closure and reopening. These findings suggest that EP may be associated with spontaneous hole closure and that long-term follow-up is necessary even if the MHs close spontaneously.

Real-Time PCR Detection of the Onion Downy Mildew Pathogen Peronospora destructor From Symptomless Onion Seedlings and Soils.

An outbreak of downy mildew disease of onion, caused by Peronospora destructor, in Japan in 2016 necessitated a reevaluation of the primary inoculum sources to optimize disease management. Detection of the P. destructor pathogen in plants with asymptomatic infection and in soil would guide the application of fungicides according to the extent of infection before disease development. Here, we detected P. destructor in both plants and soil using newly developed primer sets (Pd ITS and Pd ITS 614) by both conventional and real-time PCR. Validation by real-time PCR with Pd ITS 614 showed that P. destructor DNA was amplified from symptomless seedlings at 3.7 × 102 to 1.0 × 100 conidium cells/50 mg leaf tissue, suggesting the detection of asymptomatic infection. Real-time PCR with Pd ITS amplified pathogen DNA from field soils at 1.6 × 103 to 8.3 × 101 oospore cells/g of soil. This real-time PCR assay provides a useful tool for identifying and quantifying inoculum sources, which may be the foundation of the design of integrated disease management strategies.

Fine microstructure formation in steel under ultrafast heating.

In this study, phase transformation kinetics was directly evaluated using a femtosecond X-ray diffraction technique for operand measurements of the dislocation densities and carbon concentrations in Fe-0.1mass%C martensitic steel. To identify the reverse transformation mechanism from α' to γ, we used an X-ray free-electron laser and ultrafast heating. A maximum heating rate of 104 °C/s, which is sufficient to avoid diffusive reversion, was achieved, and the reverse transformation during ultrafast heating was successfully observed. Our results demonstrated that a fine microstructure formed because of a phase transformation in which the dislocation density and carbon concentrations remained high owing to ultrafast heating. Fe-C martensitic steels were also found to undergo a massive reverse transformation during ultrafast heating. The formation of a fine microstructure by a simple manufacturing process, without rare elements such as Ti, Nb, or Mo, can be expected. This study will help further the development of functional steels.

RNA sequence analysis data of Peronospora destructor maintained on onions.

Peronospora destructor (Berk.) is an important biotrophic oomycete that causes downy mildew on onion (Allium Cepa L.) worldwide, especially in humid and temperate regions. The disease attacks bulb and seed production of onion, resulting in losses in yield and quality of bulbs. Epidemiological studies have increased our understanding and control of downy mildew on onion; however, little is known about the molecular aspects of P. destructor behavior during infection. Here, we isolated RNA from four samples of sporangia and sporangiophores of P. destructor, which were maintained by spore inoculation onto onions in a growth chamber. We then used an Ion PGM next generation sequencer to acquire and assemble the RNA sequences of P. destructor. By transcriptome shotgun assembly, we obtained 2335 contigs (N50, 884 nucleotides (nt); mean length, 881.6 nt). The data are accessible at NCBI (BioProject PRJNA391849). Our data resource will facilitate further studies of the molecular events during P. destructor infection.

Alterations of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus-Associated Microbiota Decrease Survival of Ca. L. asiaticus in in vitro Assays.

Phloem-inhabiting bacterial phytopathogens often have smaller genomes than other bacterial phytopathogens. It is thought that they depend on both other phloem microbiota and phloem nutrients for colonization of the host. However, the mechanism underlying associations between phloem-inhabiting phytopathogens and other phloem microbiota are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the survival of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), a cause of huanglongbing (citrus greening disease), depends on interplay with a specific subset of CLas-associated microbiota. CLas was not susceptible to oxytetracycline in vitro. However, oxytetracycline treatment eliminated a particular sub-community dominated by the Comamonadaceae, Flavobacteriaceae, Microbacteriaceae, and Pseudomonadaceae, decreasing CLas survival. We speculate that CLas uses ecological services derived from CLas-associated microbiota to colonize the host and to construct a pathogen-associated community that stimulates disease development.

Draft Genome Sequence of Rhizobium sp. Strain TBD182, an Antagonist of the Plant-Pathogenic Fungus Fusarium oxysporum, Isolated from a Novel Hydroponics System Using Organic Fertilizer.

Rhizobium sp. strain TBD182, isolated from a novel hydroponics system, is an antagonistic bacterium that inhibits the mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum but does not eliminate the pathogen. We report the draft genome sequence of TBD182, which may contribute to elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of its fungistatic activity.

Novel Mutations Detected in Avirulence Genes Overcoming Tomato Cf Resistance Genes in Isolates of a Japanese Population of Cladosporium fulvum.

Leaf mold of tomato is caused by the biotrophic fungus Cladosporium fulvum which complies with the gene-for-gene system. The disease was first reported in Japan in the 1920s and has since been frequently observed. Initially only race 0 isolates were reported, but since the consecutive introduction of resistance genes Cf-2, Cf-4, Cf-5 and Cf-9 new races have evolved. Here we first determined the virulence spectrum of 133 C. fulvum isolates collected from 22 prefectures in Japan, and subsequently sequenced the avirulence (Avr) genes Avr2, Avr4, Avr4E, Avr5 and Avr9 to determine the molecular basis of overcoming Cf genes. Twelve races of C. fulvum with a different virulence spectrum were identified, of which races 9, 2.9, 4.9, 4.5.9 and 4.9.11 occur only in Japan. The Avr genes in many of these races contain unique mutations not observed in races identified elsewhere in the world including (i) frameshift mutations and (ii) transposon insertions in Avr2, (iii) point mutations in Avr4 and Avr4E, and (iv) deletions of Avr4E, Avr5 and Avr9. New races have developed by selection pressure imposed by consecutive introductions of Cf-2, Cf-4, Cf-5 and Cf-9 genes in commercially grown tomato cultivars. Our study shows that molecular variations to adapt to different Cf genes in an isolated C. fulvum population in Japan are novel but overall follow similar patterns as those observed in populations from other parts of the world. Implications for breeding of more durable C. fulvum resistant varieties are discussed.

Effect of corn steep liquor on lettuce root rot (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lactucae) in hydroponic cultures.

BACKGROUND: Recent reports indicate that organic fertilisers have a suppressive effect on the pathogens of plants grown under hydroponic systems. Furthermore, microorganisms exhibiting antagonistic activity to diseases have been observed in organic hydroponic systems. This study evaluated the effect of corn steep liquor (CSL) on controlling lettuce root rot disease [Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lactucae (FOL)] in a hydroponic system. The effect of CSL and Otsuka A (a chemical fertiliser) on the inhibition of FOL in terms of mycelial growth inhibition was tested in vivo. RESULTS: Addition of CSL suppressed FOL infection rates. CSL inhibited FOL infection by 26.3-42.5% from 2 days after starting incubation. In comparison, Otsuka A inhibited FOL growth by 5.5-19.4%. In addition, four of 10 bacteria isolated from the nutrient media containing CSL exhibited inhibition zones preventing FOL mycelial growth. CONCLUSIONS: We found that CSL suppressed FOL in lettuce via its antifungal and biostimulatory effects. We suggest that activation of beneficial microorganisms present in CSL may be used to decrease lettuce root rot disease and contribute to lettuce root growth.

Mutation of FVS1, encoding a protein with a sterile alpha motif domain, affects asexual reproduction in the fungal plant pathogen Fusarium oxysporum.

Fusarium oxysporum produces three kinds of asexual spores: microconidia, macroconidia and chlamydospores. We previously analysed expressed sequence tags during vegetative growth and conidiation in F. oxysporum and found 42 genes that were markedly upregulated during conidiation compared to vegetative growth. One of the genes, FVS1, encodes a protein with a sterile alpha motif (SAM) domain, which functions in protein-protein interactions that are involved in transcriptional or post-transcriptional regulation and signal transduction. Here, we made FVS1-disrupted mutants from the melon wilt pathogen F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis. Although the mutants produced all three kinds of asexual spores with normal morphology, they formed markedly fewer microconidia and macroconidia than the wild type. The mutants appeared to have a defect in the development of the conidiogenesis cells, conidiophores and phialides, required for the formation of microconidia and macroconidia. In contrast, chlamydospore formation was dramatically promoted in the mutants. The growth rates of the mutants on media were slightly reduced, indicating that FVS1 is also involved in, but not essential for, vegetative growth. We also observed that mutation of FVS1 caused defects in conidial germination and virulence, suggesting that the Fvs1 has pleiotropic functions in F. oxysporum.