A novel Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, light-yellow-pigmented, and chemo-organoheterotrophic bacterium, designated DF-77T, was isolated from dense mats of filamentous algae collected in March 2004 at Okinawa in Japan. The microorganism grew at 0-2.0% NaCl concentrations (w/v), pH 6.0-9.0, and 20-30 °C. The 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic tree demonstrated that the strain DF-77T is a novel member of the family Flavobacteriaceae and was greatly related to Flagellimonas nanhaiensis SM1704T with sequence similarity of 95.5%. The main fatty acids were iso-C15:1 G, iso-C15:0, and iso-C17:0 3-OH, and the only isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-6. The dominant polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids, an unidentified phosphoaminolipid, and four unidentified lipids. The genome size of strain DF-77T was 3.60 Mbp with a DNA G + C content of 47.5%. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) value between the genomes of strain DF-77T and its closely related species was 69.8-70.7%. The digital DNA - DNA hybridization (dDDH) value of strain DF-77T with the strain of F. nanhaiensis SM1704T was 16.8%. The genome of the strain DF-77T revealed that it encoded several genes involved in bio-macromolecule degradation, indicating a high potential for producing industrially useful enzymes. Consequently, the strain is described as a new species in the genus Flagellimonas, for which the name Flagellimonas algarum sp. nov., is proposed with the type strain DF-77T (= KCTC 72791T = NBRC 114251T).

• MeSH
• DNA, Bacterial genetics   chemistry   MeSH
• Flavobacteriaceae * classification   isolation & purification   genetics   MeSH
• Phospholipids analysis   MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• Genome, Bacterial MeSH
• Nucleic Acid Hybridization MeSH
• Fatty Acids analysis   MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal, 16S genetics   MeSH
• Sequence Analysis, DNA MeSH
• Bacterial Typing Techniques MeSH
• Vitamin K 2 analysis   analogs & derivatives   MeSH
• Base Composition MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Japan MeSH

BACKGROUND: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension results from mechanical obstruction of major pulmonary artery lumina with fibrotic tissue. Main treatment has been pulmonary endarterectomy, a complex surgical procedure removing vascular obstruction. However, at least 40% of patients are not candidates for pulmonary endarterectomy because of technical inoperability, comorbidities, or limited access to surgery. Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) has emerged as an interventional treatment for these patients. OBJECTIVES: The International BPA Registry (NCT03245268) was designed to investigate BPA practice across 18 established centers in the United States, Europe, and Japan. METHODS: A total of 500 patients were prospectively and consecutively enrolled between March 2018 and March 2020, with follow-up until March 2022. Of these, 484 patients were included in the analysis set. RESULTS: Regional differences were seen in patient characteristics (fewer patients with prior pulmonary endarterectomy and more elderly women in Japan) and procedural details (less medical pretreatment, more jugular access, more segments and more occlusive lesions treated per session and patient, less conscious sedation, less contrast and less radiation, shorter intervals between BPA sessions in Japan). Female sex, procedure in Europe/United States, pulmonary hypertension medications at any time, and higher baseline pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), calculated as transpulmonary pressure gradient divided by cardiac output, emerged as independent predictors of complications during BPA. After a median of 5 (Q1-Q3: 3-6) BPA sessions per patient within a median time of 4.9 months (Q1-Q3: 1.7-11.0 months), a 15-mm Hg (38%) decrease in mPAP, a 332 dynes/s/cm-5 (57%) decrease in PVR, and a 3.2% increase in arterial saturation (medians; P < 0.001) were observed, and there were significant improvements in functional class, 6-minute walk distance, serum levels of N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide, and Borg dyspnea index. BPA complications occurred in 11.3% of sessions and 33.9% of patients and were mostly hemoptyses. No patient died within 30 days of BPA. CONCLUSIONS: Our data are in line with previous reports on changes of clinical and hemodynamic parameters and complication rates of BPA. Centers with more experience providing BPAs were more likely to achieve a higher percentage decrease in PVR.

• MeSH
• Pulmonary Artery surgery   MeSH
• Angioplasty, Balloon * methods   MeSH
• Chronic Disease MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Pulmonary Embolism * complications   surgery   MeSH
• Hypertension, Pulmonary * etiology   surgery   therapy   physiopathology   MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Registries * MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Multicenter Study MeSH
• Geographicals
• Europe MeSH
• Japan MeSH
• United States MeSH

Allodiploid hybrid species, Aspergillus latus, belonging to section Nidulantes, is a hybrid of A. spinulosporus and an unknown species closely related to A. quadrilineatus and A. sublatus. This hybrid has often been misidentified as the species in section Nidulantes, such as A. nidulans, A. spinulosporus, A. sublatus, or other cryptic species. Aspergillus latus has not been reported in Japan as well as Asia so far. In this study, we screened 23 clinical strains identified as A. spinulosporus isolated in Japan from 2012 to 2023 and found seven A. latus strains. To characterize the A. latus strains, we conducted comprehensive phenotyping including morphological observation, whole genome sequences, and phylogenetic analysis based on calmodulin (CaM) gene. In addition, we conducted antifungal susceptibility testing for A. latus strains. As a result, the morphological characters of A. latus were more similar to those of A. spinulosporus compared to A. sublatus. However, the ascospore of A. latus differed from that of A. spinulosporus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that different CaM alleles from the same isolate clustered separately with A. spinulosporus and A. sublatus, consistent with its hybrid origin. Furthermore, A. latus strains showed reduced susceptibility to caspofungin and amphotericin B compared to A. spinulosporus, while they were susceptible to azoles. Our results suggest that A. latus has been a causative pathogen of aspergillosis in Japan since 2013.

• MeSH
• Antifungal Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Aspergillus * genetics   classification   isolation & purification   drug effects   MeSH
• Aspergillosis * microbiology   epidemiology   MeSH
• Phylogeny MeSH
• Calmodulin genetics   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests MeSH
• Whole Genome Sequencing MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Japan MeSH

• MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Child Care * MeSH
• Population Growth * MeSH
• Child Day Care Centers MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Letter MeSH
• Geographicals
• Japan MeSH

Glypthelmins quieta is a frog trematode native to North and Central America. This trematode was recently detected in Japan in the American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus, which was introduced from North America to Japan. As the first intermediate host of G. quieta, typically a snail, has not yet been identified in Japan, we conducted a snail survey in eastern Japan to screen for an intermediate host using DNA barcoding based on the nuclear 28S ribosomal RNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1. We sampled 3 different snail species, Orientogalba ollula, Physella acuta, and Sinotaia quadrata histrica (157 individuals in total), and only the freshwater snail Physella acuta, which is also believed to have been introduced from North America to Japan, had sporocysts of G. quieta in its hepatopancreas. The introduction of the intermediate and definitive hosts from North America may have facilitated the invasion of G. quieta into Japan.

• MeSH
• Snails * parasitology   MeSH
• Host-Parasite Interactions MeSH
• RNA, Ribosomal, 28S genetics   MeSH
• Trematoda * genetics   MeSH
• Introduced Species MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Japan MeSH

BACKGROUND: Endovascular treatment (EVT) of tandem lesion (TL) in the anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke (IS) usually requires periprocedural antithrombotic treatment and early initiation of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after carotid stenting. However, it may contribute to an occurrence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) in some cases. We investigated factors influencing the SICH occurrence and assessed the possible predictors of SICH after EVT. METHODS: IS patients with TL in the anterior circulation treated with EVT were enrolled in the multicenter retrospective ASCENT study. A good three-month clinical outcome was scored as 0-2 points in modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and recanalization using the TICI scale. SICH was assessed using the SITS-MOST criteria. Logistic regression analysis was used for the assessment of possible predictors of SICH with adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS: In total, 300 (68.7 % males, mean age 67.3 ± 10.2 years) patients with median of admission NIHSS 17 were analyzed. Recanalization (TICI 2b-3) was achieved in 290 (96.7 %) patients and 176 (58.7 %) had mRS 0-2. SICH occurred in 25 (8.3 %) patients. Patients with SICH did not differ from those without SICH in the rate of periprocedural antithrombotic treatment (64 vs. 57.5 %, p = 0.526) and in the rate of DAPT started within the first 12 h after EVT (20 vs. 42.2 %, p = 0.087). After adjustment, admission NIHSS and admission glycemia were found as the only predictors of SICH after EVT. CONCLUSION: Admission NIHSS and glycemia were found as the only predictors of SICH after EVT for TL. No associations between periprocedural antithrombotic treatment, early start of DAPT after EVT and SICH occurrence were found.

• MeSH
• Time Factors MeSH
• Cerebral Hemorrhage * diagnostic imaging   etiology   therapy   MeSH
• Dual Anti-Platelet Therapy adverse effects   MeSH
• Endovascular Procedures * adverse effects   instrumentation   MeSH
• Fibrinolytic Agents * administration & dosage   adverse effects   MeSH
• Risk Assessment MeSH
• Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors * adverse effects   administration & dosage   MeSH
• Ischemic Stroke * etiology   therapy   diagnosis   diagnostic imaging   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Disability Evaluation * MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Stents MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Multicenter Study MeSH
• Geographicals
• Japan MeSH

International differences in the incidence of many cancer types indicate the existence of carcinogen exposures that have not yet been identified by conventional epidemiology make a substantial contribution to cancer burden1. In clear cell renal cell carcinoma, obesity, hypertension and tobacco smoking are risk factors, but they do not explain the geographical variation in its incidence2. Underlying causes can be inferred by sequencing the genomes of cancers from populations with different incidence rates and detecting differences in patterns of somatic mutations. Here we sequenced 962 clear cell renal cell carcinomas from 11 countries with varying incidence. The somatic mutation profiles differed between countries. In Romania, Serbia and Thailand, mutational signatures characteristic of aristolochic acid compounds were present in most cases, but these were rare elsewhere. In Japan, a mutational signature of unknown cause was found in more than 70% of cases but in less than 2% elsewhere. A further mutational signature of unknown cause was ubiquitous but exhibited higher mutation loads in countries with higher incidence rates of kidney cancer. Known signatures of tobacco smoking correlated with tobacco consumption, but no signature was associated with obesity or hypertension, suggesting that non-mutagenic mechanisms of action underlie these risk factors. The results of this study indicate the existence of multiple, geographically variable, mutagenic exposures that potentially affect tens of millions of people and illustrate the opportunities for new insights into cancer causation through large-scale global cancer genomics.

• MeSH
• Genome, Human genetics   MeSH
• Genomics MeSH
• Hypertension epidemiology   MeSH
• Incidence MeSH
• Carcinoma, Renal Cell * genetics   epidemiology   chemically induced   MeSH
• Tobacco Smoking adverse effects   genetics   MeSH
• Aristolochic Acids adverse effects   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Mutation * MeSH
• Mutagens * adverse effects   MeSH
• Kidney Neoplasms * genetics   epidemiology   chemically induced   MeSH
• Obesity epidemiology   MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Environmental Exposure * adverse effects   analysis   MeSH
• Geography * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH
• Geographicals
• Japan MeSH
• Romania MeSH
• Serbia MeSH
• Thailand MeSH

Citizen Science (CS) is research performed by citizens who are not professional scientists in general. SAFECAST was founded in Japan after the Fukushima accident 2011, motivated by distrust in the perceived biassed information by authorities about radiation situation. Measurements of ambient dose rate (ADR) performed by citizens were intended to verify and complement official data using bGeigieNano designed for purpose, recording ADR, GPS coordinates and date/time allowing projection on digital maps. The project expanded internationally, by mid-2022 containing ⁓180 million measurements. CS generates large amount of data as valuable source for science; it has educational value and serves communication between citizens and professionals. Problems consist in quality assurance (QA): citizens who are no trained metrologists are usually little familiar with notions of representativeness, measurement protocols and uncertainty that are the central QA topics. We discuss variability of response of instruments of the same kind under same ambient conditions and isotropy of response under field conditions.

• MeSH
• Communication MeSH
• Physicians * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Uncertainty MeSH
• Citizen Science * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Japan MeSH

• MeSH
• Endodontics * MeSH
• Internship and Residency MeSH
• Societies, Dental MeSH
• Publication type
• Interview MeSH
• Geographicals
• Japan MeSH

Do 17. století bylo Japonsko téměř výhradně ovlivňováno čínskou lékařskou tradicí. Krátké zkušenosti s evropskou medicínou přerušily v polovině 17. století edikty, jež zemi izolovaly od okolního světa. Díky nizozemské přítomnosti v Nagasaki však někteří z japonských intelektuálů udržovali kontakt se západními lékaři. Právě díky nim se do Japonska postupně rozšířily nejnovější lékařské publikace a učebnice. Tato intelektuální výměna vedla k prudkému nárůstu zájmu o nové objevy a stimulovala rozvoj vědeckého bádání. Lékařství tak hrálo klíčovou roli při následné japonské modernizaci.

Until the 17th century, Japan was almost exclusively influenced by the Chinese medical tradition. A brief experience with European medicine was interrupted in the mid-17th century by edicts that isolated the country from outside world. However, thanks to the Dutch presence in Nagasaki, some Japanese intellectuals maintained contact with Western physicians. Thanks to them, the latest medical publications and textbooks gradually spread to Japan. This intellectual exchange led to a surge of interest in new discoveries and stimulated the development of scientific research. Medicine thus played a crucial role in Japan’s subsequent modernization.

• MeSH
• Anatomy history   MeSH
• History, 18th Century MeSH
• History, 19th Century MeSH
• History of Medicine MeSH
• Check Tag
• History, 18th Century MeSH
• History, 19th Century MeSH
• Publication type
• Historical Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Japan MeSH