Influence of obtaining medical records and laboratory data on the sensitivity of diagnostic imaging assessment by radiological technologists.

The purpose of this study is to clarify the influence of acquiring medical record information and laboratory data on the sensitivity of detecting imaging findings among Japanese radiological technologists (RTs). RTs were presented with patient's information in three distinct sequences for detecting imaging findings. True positives (TP) were identified and categorized into three groups: Group 1 (image + chief complaint), Group 2 (image + chief complaint + medical record), and Group 3 (image + chief complaint + medical record + laboratory data).

COMPARISON BETWEEN THE FAST STRATEGIES OF A VIRTUAL REALITY PERIMETRY AND THE HUMPHREY FIELD ANALYZER IN PATIENTS WITH GLAUCOMA.

Purpose: This study compared the agreement between the Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA) SITA Fast strategy and a novel virtual reality head-mounted visual perimetry device (VisuALL) in glaucoma patients.

Design: This is prospective observational study.

Participants: This study was conducted on 62 eyes of 39 glaucoma subjects.

[Effectiveness of Radiological Technologists in Reporting Computed Tomography Findings in After-hour Emergencies].

Purpose: This study investigated the effectiveness of assistive work of radiological technologists (RTs) in conducting computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during emergencies.

Methods: In total, 2681 examinations in 2294 patients who underwent CT or MRI during our after-hours clinic hours were conducted. The emergency of the diseases was classified into three categories: emergency diseases, semi-emergency diseases, and non-emergency diseases.

Development and structural determination of an anti-PrP aptamer that blocks pathological conformational conversion of prion protein.

Prion diseases comprise a fatal neuropathy caused by the conversion of prion protein from a cellular (PrP) to a pathological (PrP) isoform. Previously, we obtained an RNA aptamer, r(GGAGGAGGAGGA) (R12), that folds into a unique G-quadruplex. The R12 homodimer binds to a PrP molecule, inhibiting PrP-to-PrP conversion.

Defined TLR3-specific adjuvant that induces NK and CTL activation without significant cytokine production in vivo.

Ligand stimulation of the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) triggers innate immune response, cytokine production and cellular immune activation in dendritic cells. However, most TLR ligands are microbial constituents, which cause inflammation and toxicity. Toxic response could be reduced for secure immunotherapy through the use of chemically synthesized ligands with defined functions.

Selection of an aptamer against mouse GP2 by SELEX.

Microfold (M) cells are intestinal epithelial cells specialized for sampling and transport of luminal antigens to gut-associated lymphoid tissue for initiation of both mucosal and systemic immune responses. Therefore, M-cell targeted vaccination has the potential to be a better immunization strategy. Glycoprotein 2 (GP2), an antigen uptake receptor for FimH(+) bacteria on M cells, can be a good target for this purpose.

Toll-like receptor 3 recognizes incomplete stem structures in single-stranded viral RNA.

Endosomal Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) serves as a sensor of viral infection and sterile tissue necrosis. Although TLR3 recognizes double-stranded RNA, little is known about structural features of virus- or host-derived RNAs that activate TLR3 in infection/inflammatory states. Here we demonstrate that poliovirus-derived single-stranded RNA segments harbouring stem structures with bulge/internal loops are potent TLR3 agonists.

Anti-prion activity of an RNA aptamer and its structural basis.

Prion proteins (PrPs) cause prion diseases, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The conversion of a normal cellular form (PrP(C)) of PrP into an abnormal form (PrP(Sc)) is thought to be associated with the pathogenesis. An RNA aptamer that tightly binds to and stabilizes PrP(C) is expected to block this conversion and to thereby prevent prion diseases.

Development of RNA aptamer and its ligand binding assay on microchip electrophoresis.

Microchip electrophoresis (ME) coupled with fluorescence detection was used to estimate the binding activity of aptamer in each systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) round for a target molecule. This approach is a non-radioisotopic, rapid and simple platform, and electrophoretic separation appears to be an effective technique for aptamers of oligonucleotide molecules. We tried to obtain gonadotropin-specific RNA aptamer by the above approach.

[Development of clinical trial education program for pharmaceutical science students through small group discussion and role-playing using protocol].

The acquirement of basic knowledge of clinical trials and professional attitude in their practices is a general instructional objective in the Model Core Curriculum for Pharmaceutical Education. Unfortunately, the previous program of clinical trial education was not effective in the acquirement of a professional attitude in their practices. Then, we developed the new clinical trial education program using protocol through small group discussion (SGD) and roll-playing.

Transcriptional changes in CiFT-introduced transgenic trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf.).

Ectopic expression of a Flowering Locus T (CiFT) from Citrus confers an early flowering phenotype on trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf.).

Unique quadruplex structure and interaction of an RNA aptamer against bovine prion protein.

RNA aptamers against bovine prion protein (bPrP) were obtained, most of the obtained aptamers being found to contain the r(GGAGGAGGAGGA) (R12) sequence. Then, it was revealed that R12 binds to both bPrP and its beta-isoform with high affinity. Here, we present the structure of R12.

Increased inhibitory ability of conjugated RNA aptamers against the HCV IRES.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) translation begins within the internal ribosome entry site (IRES). We have previously isolated two RNA aptamers, 2-02 and 3-07, which specifically bind to domain II and domain III-IV of the HCV IRES, respectively, and inhibit IRES-dependent translation. To improve the function of these aptamers, we constructed two conjugated molecules of 2-02 and 3-07.

Differences in seasonal expression of flowering genes between deciduous trifoliate orange and evergreen Satsuma mandarin.

To determine differences in seasonal flowering between evergreen and deciduous woody perennials, endogenous expression of flowering-related genes was investigated in Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.) and its close relative, trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.

Structural studies of an RNA aptamer containing GGA repeats under ionic conditions using microchip electrophoresis, circular dichroism, and 1D-NMR.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies have shown that RNA/DNA oligomers with GGA repeat sequences contain unique G-quadruplex structures in the presence of K(+) or Na(+) ions. In this study, we used microchip electrophoresis to study the structure of an RNA aptamer against bovine prion protein that possessed four GGA-triplet repeats (wt2). We analyzed the structural changes and characterized dimer formation of the aptamer.

Anti-bovine prion protein RNA aptamer containing tandem GGA repeat interacts both with recombinant bovine prion protein and its beta isoform with high affinity.

In order to obtain RNA aptamers against bovine prion protein (bPrP), we carried out in vitro selection from RNA pools containing a 55-nucleotide randomized region to target recombinant bPrP. Most of obtained aptamers contained conserved GGA tandem repeats (GGA)(4) and aptamer #1 (apt #1) showed a high affinity for both bPrP and its beta isoform (bPrP-beta). The sequence of apt #1 suggested that it would have a G-quadruplex structure, which was confirmed using CD spectra in titration with KCl.

Structural analysis of r(GGA)4 found in RNA aptamer for bovine prion protein.

RNA aptamers for bovine prion protein (bPrP) were obtained by in vitro selection. It was found that the r(GGA) triplet repeat was frequently present in these aptamers. We already reported that both DNA and RNA containing the GGA repeat form unique quadruplex structures.

Rabbit antibody detection with RNA aptamers.

Antibody-based detection systems are widely used, but in the cases of immunoprecipitations and enzyme-linked immunoassays, they can be laborious. These techniques require the preparation of at least two kinds of non-cross-reactive immunoglobulin Gs (IgGs), usually made from different species against the single target molecule. Aptamers composed of nucleic acids possess strict recognition ability for the target molecule's three-dimensional structure and, thus, are considered to act like IgG.

Detection of structural changes of RNA aptamer containing GGA repeats under the ionic condition using the microchip electrophoresis.

We performed in vitro selection against bovine prion protein (bPrP) using RNA pools with thirty-nucleotides randomized regions. Among the obtained RNA aptamers, RNA aptamer wt2 possessed four GGA triplets. It is known that RNA and DNA oligomers containing GGA repeat sequences show a G-quadruplex structure in the presence of K+ or Na+ ions using the NMR and crystallographic studies.

Increased CiFT abundance in the stem correlates with floral induction by low temperature in Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.).

After several years in the juvenile phase, adult citrus trees show seasonal periodicity of flowering. A prolonged exposure to low temperature is one of the most important environmental cues for floral induction in citrus. In the present study, the expression of flowering-related genes during the annual cycle of flowering and inductive low-temperature treatment in Satsuma mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc.

Analysis of the interaction between human TLR3 ectodomain and nucleic acids.

Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) recognizes dsRNA of viral origin and polyriboinosine-polyribocytidylic acid (poly (I:C)). TLR3 mediates the activation of IRF-3 and NF-kappaB and thereby the secretion of type I interferons and inflammatory cytokines. However, the mechanism of this activation is poorly understood.

In vitro selection of RNA aptamers against cellular and abnormal isoform of mouse prion protein.

Prion disease is caused by conformational change of normal cellular type of prion protein (PrP(c)) folding into abnormal type (PrP(sc)). We succeeded to isolate anti-PrP(c) aptamers. In the presence of competitor RNA, anti-PrP(c) aptamers showed high affinity to PrP(c) (Kd = 10 nM).

Designing and analysis of a potent bi-functional aptamers that inhibit protease and helicase activities of HCV NS3.

Nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a multi-functional enzyme having protease and helicase activities. NS3 is essential for HCV replication and proliferation. Previously, we obtained RNA aptamers against NS3 protease domain (Protease aptamer; deltaNEO-III and G9-II) and helicase domain (helicase aptamer; #5), and they inhibited the enzyme activities, respectively.

Expression of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase but not prevention by its gene ablation of hepatocarcinogenesis with fibrosis caused by a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined diet in rats and mice.

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and effects of iNOS gene ablation on the hepatocarcinogenesis associated with fibrosis caused by a choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined (CDAA) diet, were examined in male F344 rats and C57BL/6J wild-type and iNOS-/- mice. Western blot, RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analyses revealed increased expression of iNOS protein and mRNA in the livers of rats and wild-type mice fed a CDAA diet for 12-80 weeks, associated with elevated serum NO(x) and liver nitrotyrosine levels. iNOS-/- mice demonstrated greater liver injury and fibrosis in the early stage than their wild-type counterparts, but this did not significantly affect the incidence and multiplicity of altered foci, adenomas and hepatocellular carcinomas in spite of immunohistochemical iNOS expression in these lesions.

Application of microchip electrophoresis in the analysis of RNA aptamer-protein interactions.

DNA and RNA can be separated by microchip electrophoresis (ME) and detected using an intercalating fluorescent dye. The advantages of this method are short sensing times (<3 min), avoidance of a radioisotope labeling detection system, relatively low costs, and reduced labor intensity. In the present study, RNA aptamer-protein or -peptide interactions were analyzed using ME and the regression of free aptamers corresponding to unbound RNA was detected as the target protein or peptide increased in a dose-dependent manner.