Snapshot multispectral imaging using a pixel-wise polarization color image sensor.

This study proposes a new imaging technique for snapshot multispectral imaging in which a multispectral image was captured using an imaging lens that combines a set of multiple spectral filters and polarization filters, as well as a pixel-wise color polarization image sensor. The author produced a prototype nine-band multispectral camera system that covered from visible to near-infrared regions and was very compact. The camera's spectral performance was evaluated using experiments; moreover, the camera was used to detect the freshness of food and the activity of wild plants and was mounted on a vehicle to obtain a multispectral video while driving.

Efficacy and Cost Effectiveness of the Acupuncture Treatment Using a New Skin Stimulus Tool Called M-Test Which Is a Measure Based on Symptoms Accompanied with Body Movements: A Pragmatic RCT Targeting Hemodialysis Patients.

M-Test can simultaneously reduce hemodialysis patients' diverse symptoms. Its diagnosis and treatment are based on simple movements that can be performed by anyone and allow determining which meridians have problems by analyzing symptoms accompanied with movement. It also enables to conduct a safe and effective treatment with use of microcorn which is a noninvasive treatment tool. This time we conducted microcorn intervention on hemodialysis patients based on diagnosis of M-Test. As a result, almost all of the dialysis patients' complaints have been relieved while the score of HR-QOL increased. According to our calculation of cost effectiveness, it confirmed that it is very cost-effective.

Recognition of human emotions from cerebral blood flow changes in the frontal region: a study with event-related near-infrared spectroscopy.

BACKGROUNDS AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to develop a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-based system that recognizes pleasant and unpleasant human emotions based on cerebral blood flow (CBF) in order to understand the minds of patients whose brain function is severely impaired. The forehead region is easily accessible to NIRS measurements, whereas the role of the anterior prefrontal cortex (PFC) in the processing of emotion remains to be elucidated. METHODS: Initially, using event-related NIRS we examined changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) as an indicator of regional CBF changes, which reflect brain activity directly related to emotions, but not to cognitive operations in the anterior frontal regions, during viewing affective pictures. The event-related potentials (ERPs), systemic blood pressure, and pulse rate were also measured simultaneously. RESULTS: The event-related analysis of changes in oxy-Hb for a 6 s-picture presentation period showed that very unpleasant emotion was accompanied by an increase in oxy-Hb in the bilateral ventrolateral PFCs, while very pleasant emotion was accompanied by a decrease in oxy-Hb in the left dorsolateral PFC. There were no significant differences in either ERPs or autonomic nervous system activities between the two emotional states. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest the possibility of recognizing patients' emotions from CBF changes.

A promoter SNP (-1323T>C) in G-substrate gene (GSBS) correlates with hypercholesterolemia.

Factors predisposing to the phenotypic features of higher total cholesterol (TC) have not been clearly defined. Here we report an association between a promoter SNP (-1323T>C) in G-substrate gene (GSBS) and TC levels in 368 adult individuals from an east-central area of Japan. Age and gender-adjusted levels of LDL-cholesterol, TG, TC, and HDL-cholesterol were analyzed. When we separate the subjects into two genotypic groups regarding T allele, those who bear the T allele had significantly higher plasma TC levels than the others who lack the T allele (mean; 239.6 mg/dl vs. 210.6 mg/dl; p=0.003; Mann-Whitney test). Of the 341 individuals with the T allele, approximately 80% individuals presented with hypercholesterolemia, whereas only 44% were hypercholesterolemic among the 27 individuals without the T allele (p=0.0001). These results indicate a significant elevating effect of plasma TC levels by a SNP in the putative regulatory region of the G-substrate gene in our studied population. These data suggest that genetic variation at the G-substrate gene may be one of the determinants for plasma lipoprotein levels.

Growth hormone receptor variant (L526I) modifies plasma HDL cholesterol phenotype in familial hypercholesterolemia: intra-familial association study in an eight-generation hyperlipidemic kindred.

Defect of growth hormone receptor (GHR) is classically known to cause Laron syndrome, characterized by short stature, specific facial appearance, elevated serum growth hormone levels, and decreased insulin-like growth factor I levels. In addition, an increased cardiovascular risk due to elevated plasma total and LDL cholesterol levels marks another feature of the disease. Growth hormone (GH) plays an important role in the regulation of lipoprotein metabolism. GH status was found to be an independent determinant of plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in humans. We studied a total of 207 members of eight-generation extended family of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) in which affected members presented with various lipoprotein phenotypes. Intra-familial correlation analysis of a modifier effect of a Leu526Ile substitution in GHR gene was carried out among 95 carriers for LDL receptor gene (LDLR) mutation and 112 non-carriers. When plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) levels in the LDLR-mutation carriers were compared, a significant lowering effect of HDL-c was observed with the Leu allele; the values were lowest among Leu/Leu homozygotes (mean +/- SD = 37 +/- 2 mg/dl), highest in Ile/Ile homozygotes (50 +/- 4 mg/dl), and intermediate among Leu/Ile heterozygotes (41 +/- 2 mg/dl) (P = 0.0021). The results indicate a significant modification of the phenotype of FH with the defective LDLR allele, by GHR Leu variation in the kindred studied.

Hypertriglyceridemia associated with amino acid variation Asn985Tyr of the RP1 gene.

Factors predisposing to the phenotypic features of hypertriglyceridemia have not been clearly defined. Here we report an association between a missense coding region polymorphism Asn985Tyr in the retinitis pigmentosa 1 gene ( RP1) and plasma triglyceride (TG) levels in 332 adult individuals from an east-central area of Japan. Age and gender-adjusted levels of LDL-cholesterol, TG, and HDL-cholesterol were analyzed. When we separate the subjects into two genotypic groups regarding this amino acid variation, those who lack the 985-Asn allele (asparagine at residue 985) had significantly higher plasma TG levels than the others who had at least one 985-Asn allele (mean: 175.8 mg/dl vs 123.3 mg/dl; P=0.0006, Mann-Whitney test). Similarly, the former subjects had significantly lower HDL-cholesterol levels than the latter (mean: 48.0 mg/dl vs 53.8 mg/dl; P=0.038). Of the 280 individuals without a 985-Asn allele, approximately half of the individuals presented with hypertriglyceridemia, whereas only a quarter were hypertriglyceridemic among 52 individuals with the 985-Asn allele ( P=0.04). Although this SNP marker may itself be in linkage disequilibrium with other unexamined functional variants within this locus, our data suggest that genetic variation at the RP1 locus is one of the likely candidate determinants for plasma triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol metabolisms.

Apolipoprotein H variant modifies plasma triglyceride phenotype in familial hypercholesterolemia: a molecular study in an eight-generation hyperlipidemic family.

In the course of investigating familial coronary artery disease in Utah, we studied 196 members of an eight-generation extended family of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), in which 73 members were affected with type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia (HLPIIa; high plasma cholesterol) and 11 members with type IIb hyperlipoproteinemia (HLPIIb; high plasma cholesterol as well as plasma triglyceride). A splice-site mutation of the LDL receptor (LDLR) gene (IVS14 + G > A) co-segregated with elevated plasma cholesterol among all the members, but not with the elevated plasma triglyceride and VLDL cholesterol levels seen in HLPIIb patients. The apolipoprotein H (apoH) gene plays a role in plasma triglyceride removal and lipoprotein lipase enhancement. Intra-familial correlation analysis of the modifier effect of Val247Leu substitution in the apoH gene was carried out among 84 LDLR-mutation carriers and 112 non-carriers. When plasma triglyceride levels in the LDLR-mutation carriers were compared, the values were lowest among V/V homozygotes (mean +/- SD = 145 +/- 53 mg/dl), highest in L/L homozygotes (277 +/- 177 mg/dl), and intermediate among V/L heterozygotes (191 +/- 102 mg/dl) (p = 0.0015). All eleven patients who presented with HLPIIb had inherited both the defective LDLR allele and an apoH 247Leu allele, whereas all 45 carriers of the defective LDLR allele not carrying the apoH Leu allele presented with HLPIIa but not HLPIIb (p = 0.0001). These results indicate a significant modification of the phenotype of FH with a defective LDLR allele, by apoH Leu variation in our studied family.