Relationship between Plasma Fibrinogen Levels and Pulmonary Function in the Japanese Population: The Takahata Study

Background:Plasma fibrinogen is considered a biomarker of respiratory disease, owing to the relationship between plasma fibrinogen and pulmonary function established in Western populations. However, such a relationship has not yet been confirmed in an Asian population. We assessed this relationship in the general Japanese population.Methods:Totally, 3,257 men and women aged ≥40 years who participated in a community-based annual health checkup in Takahata, Japan, from 2004 to 2006, underwent spirometry, and their plasma fibrinogen levels were determined.Results:We found an inverse relationship between spirometric measures (percent predicted forced vital capacity [%FVC] and forced expiratory volume in 1s [%FEV₁], and FEV₁/FVC) and plasma fibrinogen levels in men, but not in women. The plasma fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in subjects with restrictive, obstructive, and mixed ventilatory disorders than in those with normal spirometry results. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that in men, plasma fibrinogen levels were predictive for %FVC and %FEV₁ (independent of age, body mass index, and cigarette smoking) but not for FEV₁/FVC.Conclusions:Plasma fibrinogen was significantly associated with pulmonary function in Japanese men, and as such, plasma fibrinogen might be a potent biomarker for pulmonary dysfunction in men.     

Effects of Al-dopant at Ni or Co sites in LiNi0.6Co0.3Ti0.1O2 on interlayer slabs (Li–O) and intralayer slabs (TM–O) and their influence on the electrochemical performance of cathode materials

In order to satisfy the energy demands of the electromobility market, further improvements in cathode materials are receiving much attention, especially high energy density cathode materials for Li-ion batteries (LIBs). In this work, the self-propagating combustion (SPC) method is use to synthesise undoped LiNi_0.6Co_0.3Ti_0.1O₂ (LNCT), novel nano-sized Al-doped LiNi_0.6Co_0.3−xAl_xTi_0.1O₂ (LCA) and LiNi_0.6−xCo_0.3Al_xTi_0.1O₂ (LNA) (x = 0.01) cathode materials. LNCT, LCA and LNA were annealed at 700 °C for 24 h. Following the synthesis, the phase, chemical structure and purity of the materials were analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Based on the XRD results, all materials exhibit a single-phase structure with rhombohedral layered structure. Based on the HRTEM and EDX results, all samples exhibit polyhedral-like shapes, while the Al-doped samples display smaller crystallite sizes compared to the undoped sample. As for the electrochemical performances, the initially discharged capacity of LCA (238.6 mA h g⁻¹) is higher than that of LNA (214.7 mA h g⁻¹) and LNCT (150.5 mA h g⁻¹). However, LNA has a lower loss of capacity after the 50^th cycle compared to the LCA sample, which makes it a more excellent candidate for electrochemical applications. The main reason for the excellent electrochemical behaviour of LNA is due to lower cation mixing. Furthermore, Rietveld refinements reveal that the LNA sample has a longer atomic distance of Li–O and shorter TM–O in the cathode structure, which makes Li⁺ ion diffusion more efficient, leading to excellent electrochemical performance. These findings further proved the potential of the novel nano cathode material of LiNi_0.6−xCo_0.3Al_xTi_0.1O₂ (LNA) to replace the existing commercialized cathode materials for rechargeable Li-ion batteries.

Al substitute into Ni site increase Li–O and reduce M–O atomic distance lead to excellent cycleability with high energy density.     

Occurrence of a mosquito vector in bird houses: Developmental consequences and potential epidemiological implications

Even with continuous vector control, dengue is still a growing threat to public health in Southeast Asia. Main causes comprise difficulties in identifying productive breeding sites and inappropriate targeted chemical interventions. In this region, rural families keep live birds in backyards and dengue mosquitoes have been reported in containers in the cages. To focus on this particular breeding site, we examined the capacity of bird fecal matter (BFM) from the spotted dove, to support Aedes albopictus larval growth. The impact of BFM larval uptake on some adult fitness traits influencing vectorial capacity was also investigated. In serial bioassays involving a high and low larval density (HD and LD), BFM and larval standard food (LSF) affected differently larval development. At HD, development was longer in the BFM environment. There were no appreciable mortality differences between the two treatments, which resulted in similar pupation and adult emergence successes. BFM treatment produced a better gender balance. There were comparable levels of blood uptake and egg production in BFM and LSF females at LD; that was not the case for the HD one, which resulted in bigger adults. BFM and LSF females displayed equivalent lifespans; in males, this parameter was shorter in those derived from the BFM/LD treatment. Taken together these results suggest that bird defecations successfully support the development of Ae. albopictus. Due to their cryptic aspects, containers used to supply water to encaged birds may not have been targeted by chemical interventions.     

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase deficiency with confirmed molecular diagnosis: An important cause of hypoglycemia in children

Objectives:To draw attention towards fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) deficiency as an important cause of hypoglycemia and lactic acidosis and to implement preventive strategies.Methods:This observational, cross-sectional study was conducted on 7 Saudi patients with genetically confirmed FBPase deficiency from 2008 to 2018 at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Results:Participants ranged in age from 1-10 years, and all presented with recurrent hypoglycemia. All but one had associated severe metabolic acidosis, and 3 patients (42.9%) presented with hypoglycemia and severe acidosis since birth. The mean duration from presentation to diagnosis was 39.4 months, as other diagnoses, like glycogen storage diseases and mitochondrial diseases needed to be ruled out. Development was normal apart from speech delay in one patient with a novel variant of the FBP1 gene. All patients have homozygous variants in the FBP1 gene.Conclusion:Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase is an important cause of hypoglycemia and acidosis; therefore, it is important to offer early molecular diagnostics in any child presenting with these symptoms. Molecular diagnostics should always be undertaken to confirm the diagnosis and for further preventive strategies.     

Indirect effects of cigarette butt waste on the dengue vector Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Despite major insecticide-based vector control programs, dengue continues to be a major threat to public health in urban areas. The reasons for this failure include the emergence of insecticide resistance and the narrowing of the spectrum of efficient products. Cigarette butts (CBs), the most commonly discarded piece of waste, also represent a major health hazard to human and animal life. CBs are impregnated with thousands of chemical compounds, many of which are highly toxic and none of which has history of resistance in mosquitoes. This study was performed to examine whether exposure to CB alters various biological parameters of parents and their progeny. We examined whether the mosquito changes its ovipositional behaviors, egg hatching, reproductive capacity, longevity and fecundity in response to CB exposure at three different concentrations. Females tended to prefer microcosms containing CBs for egg deposition than those with water only. There were equivalent rates of eclosion success among larvae from eggs that matured in CB and water environments. We also observed decreased life span among adults that survived CB exposure. Extracts of CB waste have detrimental effects on the fecundity and longevity of its offspring, while being attractive to its gravid females. These results altogether indicate that CB waste indirectly affect key adult life traits of Aedes aegypti and could conceivably be developed as a novel dengue vector control strategy, referring to previously documented direct toxicity on the larval stage. But this will require further research on CB waste effects on non-target organisms including humans.     

Short telomeres in an oral precancerous lesion: Q-FISH analysis of leukoplakia

J Oral Pathol Med (2012) 41 : 372–378 Objectives: A precancerous condition is a lesion that, if left untreated, leads to cancer or can be induced to become malignant. In the oral region, leukoplakia is a lesion that has been regarded as precancerous. In cases of oral carcinoma, we have frequently noticed that a type of leukoplakia histologically demonstrating hyper‐orthokeratosis and mild atypia (ortho‐keratotic dysplasia; OKD) is often associated with carcinoma, either synchronously or metachronously. Therefore, we consider OKD‐type leukoplakia to be a true precancerous lesion. Materials and Methods: In an attempt to clarify the relationship between OKD as a precancerous condition in the oral mucosa and telomere length, we estimated telomere lengths in this type of leukoplakia using quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization, and also quantified the frequency of anaphase–telophase bridges (ATBs) in comparison with squamous cell carcinoma in situ (CIS) and the background tissues of CIS and OKD. Results: Ortho‐keratotic dysplasia was frequently associated with squamous cell carcinoma (45.0%) and showed significantly shorter telomeres than normal control epithelium, CIS, or the background of CIS or OKD. The frequency of ATBs was much higher in OKD than in control epithelium or CIS. Conclusion: Ortho‐keratotic dysplasia appears to be frequently associated with carcinoma, chromosomal instability, and excessively shortened telomeres, not only in the lesion itself but also in the surrounding background. Therefore, when this type of leukoplakia is recognized in the oral region, strict follow‐up for oral squamous cell carcinoma is necessary, focusing not only on the areas of leukoplakia, but also the surrounding background.