Short communication: Detection of mastication speed during rumination in cattle using 3-axis, neck-mounted accelerometers and fast Fourier transfer algorithm

There have been limited reports on mastication speed during cattle rumination. The objective of this study was to establish a method to detect mastication speed based on data obtained during rumination through the use of a 3-axis accelerometer attached to the neck. A 3-axis accelerometer was attached to 6 dry Holstein cattle. When rumination behavior was observed, the accelerometer and the high-speed camera simultaneously recorded acceleration at the neck and moving image of the head movement. Based on the number of mastication movements recorded on video, mastication speed A was calculated. Data obtained from the 3-axis accelerometer were analyzed with fast Fourier transfer algorithm and identified as mastication speed B. The vibration of the neck recorded in the accelerometer during rumination was considered as mastication movement. Using Bland-Altman plot analysis, the mean difference between mastication speed A and mastication speed B was 0.041 s/bite, and the 95% limits of agreement ranged from -0.080 to 0.161. Since mastication movement occurred periodically, it was possible to detect the movement using spectrum analysis, as mastication speed B. Although there were some differences between calculated speeds and speeds obtained from spectrum analysis, there was clinical compatibility between mastication speed A and B. This study showed the feasibility of establishing a detection method for mastication speed during rumination, which might provide a basic procedure for studying the purpose of mastication and the variable factors involved.

6-Methyladenine may enhance immunostimulatory activity of bacterial genomic DNA

Background and Aim

CpG motifs in DNA sequences are recognized by TLR9 and activate immune cells. Bacterial genomic DNA (gDNA) has modified cytosine bases (5-methylcytosine (5mC)) and modified adenine bases (6-methyladenine (6mA)). It is well-known that 5mC inhibits immune activation by CpG DNA; however, it is still unclear whether 6mA inhibits immune activation by CpG DNA. In this study, we tried to examine whether the existence of 6mA affected the immunostimulatory activity of gDNA.

Materials and Methods

We focused on adenine methyltransferases (MTases) expressed by Mycobacterium bovis BCG (BCG). Each adenine MTases has specific target sites. Therefore, we used oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) with 6mA on the target sequences of MTases from BCG. We stimulated murine bone-marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) with ODNs harboring 6mA or ODNs without 6mA. We then compared the immunostimulatory activity of ODNs with 6mA to ODNs without 6mA using. We also developed adenine MTase-deficient BCG. We analyzed whether 6mA on gDNA from BCG is involved in the immunostimulatory activity of BCG gDNA.

Results

Our results showed that 6mA located at the target sequence of mamA, an adenine MTase from BCG, enhanced IL-12p40 production from BMDMs stimulated with CpG DNA.

We also observed that gDNA from mamA-deficient BCG induced less IL-12p40 from BMDMs than gDNA from mamA-intact BCG.

Conclusion

We concluded from these results that adenine methylation on ODNs may enhance immune activity induced by bacterial gDNA.

Dispensable role of chemokine receptors in migration of mycobacterial antigen-specific CD4+ T cells into mycobacteria-infected lung

Mycobacterial antigen-specific CD4+ Th1 cells have a pivotal role in protective immunity against mycobacterial infections, including pulmonary tuberculosis. In the course of infection, Th1 cells differentiate in the lung-draining lymph nodes and migrate into the infected lung. Chemokine receptors on T cells are involved in T cell migration into the intestine and skin. However, the role of chemokine receptors in the migration of CD4+ T cells into the lung has not yet been determined. To address this issue, the role of chemokine receptors in T cell migration into the mycobacteria-infected lung was analyzed using mycobacterial Ag85B peptide 25-specific T cell receptor-transgenic (P25) CD4+ T cells. P25 T cells in the Mycobacterium bovis BCG-infected lung and lung-draining mediastinal lymph nodes (MedLN) expressed the chemokine receptors, CCR5, CCR6, CXCR3, and CXCR5, which bind chemokines produced by the BCG-infected lung. To further analyze the role of chemokine receptors in the migration of BCG-primed P25 T cells into the lung and medLN, P25 T cells were adoptively transferred into BCG-infected wild-type mice and their migration into the lung was monitored. Unexpectedly, blocking chemokine receptor function with pertussis toxin, a G-protein inhibitor, failed to suppress migration of T cells into the infected lung. However, the treatment completely blocked migration of the MedLN P25 T cells into the recipient lymph node. These results suggest that the interaction of chemokine receptors on mycobacterial antigen-specific Th1 cells with chemokines is dispensable for their migration into the mycobacteria-infected lung.

Cloning and Protein Expression of eccB5 Gene in ESX-5 System from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) is the causative agent of tuberculosis in human. One of the major M. tuberculosis virulence factors is early secretory antigenic target of 6-kDa (ESAT-6), and EccB5 protein encoded by eccB5 is one of its components. EccB5 protein is a transmembrane protein in ESX-5 system. The aim of this study is to explore the characteristics of wild-type EccB5 and its mutant form N426I. We expressed the EccB5 protein by cloning the mutant and wild-type eccB5 gene in Escherichia coli (E. coli). We compared the protein structure of wild type and mutant form of EccB5 and found changes in structure around Asn426 (loop structure) in wild type and around Ile426 (β-strand) in the mutant. The truncated recombinant protein of EccB5 was successfully cloned and expressed using plasmid pCold I in E. coli DH5α and E. coli strain Rosetta-gami B (DE3) and purified as a 38.6 kDa protein by using the affinity column. There was no detectable adenosine triphosphatase activity in truncated forms of EccB5 and its mutant. In conclusion, our study reveals successful cloning and protein expression of truncated form of eccB5 gene of M. tuberculosis. EccB5 protein in ESX-5 system may be an important membrane component involved in the transport machinery of type VII secretion system, which is essential for growth and virulence.

P97 Effect of rhythm control therapy for asymptomatic atrial fibrillation

Background/Introduction

Cather ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) as rhythm control therapy has widely spread. However, the indication of CA for the patients with asymptomatic AF is controversial (2016 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with EACTS). 

Purpose

This study was aimed to examine the effect of CA for asymptomatic AF patients.

Methods

In a total of 522 consecutive patients who were hospitalized for the initial CA for AF, 123 patients (23.6%) who were asymptomatic were retrospectively analyzed. "Asymptomatic AF" was defined when the patients had no complaints during the medical interviews. Quality of life (QOL) was evaluated with the AF QOL Questionnaire score (AFQLQ, invented by the Japanese Society of Electrocardiology) before CA and at 1 year after a single CA.

Results

A total of 79 patients were persistent AF (64.2%). Sinus rhythm maintenance rate at 3 yeas after CA was 57.0% in a single session and 84.8% in multiple sessions. In cardiac echo data at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after CA, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left atrium diameter (LAD) were improved in the initial three months after a single CA (LVEF; 62.8 ± 8.0%→64.4 ± 6.5%, p = 0.045, LAD; 39.7 ± 6.1mm→35.3 ± 7.0mm, p = 0.0002). In LA volume measured with CT before and after CA, LA reverse remodeling was observed (102.7 ± 32.3ml→72.4 ± 24.1ml, p<.0001). In AFQLQ2 (severity of symptoms), there was no significant difference (16.3 ± 2.2→15.9 ± 1.7 out of 18, p = 0.69). However, in AFQLQ1 (frequency of symptoms) and AFQLQ3 (limitations of activities and mental anxiety), the score was improved (20.2 ± 4.5→23.4 ± 1.1 out of 24, p<.0001 and 47.6 ± 7.8→51.3 ± 6.1 out of 56, p = 0.0001).  Moreover, in low LVEF patients (LVEF < 50%, n = 8), LVEF was remarkably improved (44.1 ± 4.0%→56.3 ± 10.8%, p = 0.034).

Conclusions

The improvement of LVEF and LA reverse remodeling can be expected at the early stage after CA, because of the reduction of AF burden. Moreover, the further improvement of QOL can be expected after CA, even in the patients with "asymptomatic" AF.

P1444 Occurrence and predictors of right ventricular dysfunction after pericardiocentesis

Background—The changes in cardiac function that occur after pericardiocentesis are unclear.Purpose—This study was performed to assess right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) function with echocardiography before and after pericardiocentesis.

Method and Results—In total, 19 consecutive patients who underwent pericardiocentesis for more than moderate pericardial effusion were prospectively enrolled from August 2015 to October 2017. Comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography was performed before, immediately after (within 3 hours), and 1 day after pericardiocentesis to investigate the changes in RV and LV function. RV dysfunction is defined as meeting three of the four criteria: a TAPSE of <17 mm, an S’ of <9.5 cm, an FAC of <35%, and an RV free wall longitudinal strain >−20%. The mean age of all patients was 72.6 ± 12.2 years. The changes of echocardiographic parameters related to RV function are shown in Table. After pericardiocentesis, RV inflow and outflow diameters increased and the parameters of RV function significantly decreased. These abnormal values or RV dysfunction remained at 1 day after pericardiocentesis. Conversely, no parameters of LV function parameters changed after pericardiocentesis. Of 19 patients, 13 patients showed RV dysfunction immediately after pericardiocentesis and 6 patients did not. RV free wall longitudinal strain before pericardiocentesis was higher in patients with post-procedural RV dysfunction (−18.9 ± 3.6%) than in those without (−28.4 ± 6.3%). ROC analysis revealed that a RV free wall longitudinal strain cut-off value of −23.0% had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 83.3% for predicting the occurrence of RV dysfunction after pericardiocentesis (AUC = 0.910).

Conclusions—The occurrence of RV dysfunction after pericardiocentesis should be given more attention. Pre-existing RV dysfunction maybe related to the occurrence of RV dysfunction after pericardiocentesis.

Changes in RV function before and after Before Immediately after One day after P−value Basal right ventricular linear dimension (mm) 32.8 ± 5.0 37.1 ± 4.4† 33.6 ± 5.4 0.028 Mid-cavity right ventricular linear dimension (mm) 34.5 ± 4.6 38.8 ± 5.3† 37.0 ± 5.6 0.0504 Proximal right ventricular outflow diameter (mm) 30.2 ± 4.0 33.9 ± 3.5† 31.4 ± 3.9 0.014 TAPSE (mm) 20.0 ± 4.2 13.6 ± 4.3* 14.7 ± 3.9 <0.001 S" (cm/s) 12.6 ± 3.3 8.7 ± 2.4* 9.1 ± 2.4 <0.001 Fractional area change (%) 48.3 ± 5.9 37.8 ± 8.0* 40.0 ± 9.0 <0.001 Right ventricular free wall strain (%) −21.3 ± 6.3 −15.8 ± 6.7* −16.9 ± 5.2 0.036 Tricuspid regurgitation velocity peak (m/s) 2.41 ± 0.29 2.43 ± 0.25 2.34 ± 0.32 0.37

Epstein-Barr virus reactivation by persistent apical periodontal pathogens

AIM

To assess whether Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation is triggered by persistent apical periodontitis-related microbes using in vitro and ex vivo methodologies.

METHODOLOGY

Surgically removed human periapical granulomas (n = 50) and healthy gingival tissues (n = 10) were analysed to determine the presence of EBV and seven persistent apical periodontitis-related microbes. In addition, real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mRNA expression of BZLF-1, an immediate-early gene of EBV. Expression of latent membrane protein (LMP)-1 and ZEBRA, an early lytic protein of EBV encoded by BZLF-1, was also examined using triple-colour immunofluorescence staining. n-Butyric acid produced by the microbes was quantified, and luciferase assays were performed in association with bacterial lysates. In addition, Daudi cells were cultured with bacterial lysates, and the expression levels of BZLF-1 mRNA and ZEBRA protein were determined.

RESULTS

EBV DNA and BZLF-1 mRNA were detected in 47 out of 50 periapical granulomas, but not in healthy gingival tissues. The EBV DNA copy number and the number of Fusobacterium nucleatum were significantly positively correlated with BZLF-1 expression in periapical granulomas. The number of Prevotella intermedia was slightly correlated with BZLF-1 expression; however, the other microbes were not. CD79a-positive B cells in periapical granulomas, but not those in healthy gingival tissues, expressed both LMP-1 and ZEBRA. n-Butyric acid production was the highest in F. nucleatum and the lowest in P. intermedia. Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans and the other tested microbes did not produce n-butyric acid. An F. nucleatum lysate exhibited significantly increased BZLF-1-luciferase activity in the same manner of commercial butyric acid, whereas P. intermedia did not. F. nucleatum also induced the expression of BZLF-1 mRNA and ZEBRA protein by Daudi cells, indicating that EBV reactivation was induced.

CONCLUSION

Among the persistent apical periodontitis-related bacteria that were tested, F. nucleatum most strongly reactivated latent EBV, whereas E. faecalis and C. albicans as well as the other microbes did not.

N6-methylated adenine on the target sites of mamA from Mycobacterium bovis BCG enhances macrophage activation by CpG DNA in mice

CpG motifs in DNA sequences are recognized by Toll-like receptor 9 and activate immune cells. Bacterial genomic DNA (gDNA) has modified cytosine bases (5-methylcytosine [5 mC]) and modified adenine bases (6-methyladenine [6 mA]). 5 mC inhibits immune activation by CpG DNA; however, it is unclear whether 6 mA inhibits immune activation by CpG DNA. Mycobacterium bovis BCG (BCG) has three adenine methyltransferases (MTases) that act on specific target sequences. In this study, we examined whether the 6 mA at the target sites of adenine MTases affected the immunostimulatory activity of CpG DNA. Our results showed that only 6 mA located at the target sequence of mamA, an adenine MTase from BCG, enhanced interleukin (IL)-12p40 production from murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) stimulated with CpG DNA. Enhancement of IL-12p40 production in BMDMs was also observed when BMDMs were stimulated with CpG DNA ligated to oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) harboring 6 mA. Accordingly, we then evaluated whether gDNA from adenine MTase-deficient BCG was less efficient with regard to stimulation of BMDMs. Indeed, gDNA from a mamA-deficient BCG had less ability to activate BMDMs than that from wild-type BCG. We concluded from these results that adenine methylation on ODNs and bacterial gDNA may enhance immune activity induced by CpG DNA.

P4544Impact of hyponatremia improvement on one-year outcomes in patients with acute decompensated heart failure

Background

Impact of hyponatremia improvement on prognosis in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) remains unclear.

Methods

Patients hospitalized for ADHF at 19 hospitals in Japan were enrolled between October 2014 and March 2016. Hyponatremia was defined as serum sodium concentration less than 135 mmol/l. Primary endpoint was composite of all-cause death and heart failure rehospitalization one year after discharge.

Results

Among 3805 patients enrolled, 486 patients with hyponatremia at admission showed higher in-hospital mortality (13.3% vs. 5.4%, p<0.001). Of 486 hyponatremic patients, 396 patients were discharged alive. One hundred forty-three patients showed persistent hyponatremia at discharge (group P), whereas 253 patients showed improvement of hyponatremia (group I). Baseline characteristics are shown in the table. Patients in group I showed higher sodium concentration at admission (132±3 mmol/l vs. 130±4 mmol/l, p<0.001) and more increase in serum sodium concentration at discharge (7±4 mmol/l vs. 1±5 mmol/l, p<0.001). One-year survival rate free from primary endpoint was not different between the groups (56.4% in group P vs. 58.5% in group I, p=0.79). After adjusting for confounders, improvement of hyponatremia was not associated with better prognosis (hazard ratio 1.00; 95% confidence interval 0.70–1.45, p=0.99). Hyponatremia improvement showed significant interaction with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 40% (p=0.01). In patients with LVEF<40%, improvement of hyponatremia was associated with better prognosis (hazard ratio 0.48, 95% confidence interval 0.28–0.85, p=0.01) whereas not in patients LVEF≥40%.

Patient characteristics Group P (n=143) Group I (n=253) p value Age (years) 81 (72–86) 81 (72–87) 0.73 Female 71 (49.7) 110 (43.5) 0.24 Ischemic etiology 42 (29.4) 81 (32.0) 0.58 Prior hospitalization 62 (43.7) 98 (39.5) 0.42 SBP at admission (mmHg) 140±36 144±38 0.40 HR at admission (bpm) 92±23 95±29 0.27 Atrial Fibrillation 47 (32.9) 103 (40.7) 0.12 NYHA class IV 60 (42.2) 138 (54.8) 0.02 Intravenous inotropic use 35 (24.5) 59 (23.3) 0.80 LVEF <40% 54 (37.8) 95 (37.6) 0.97 Values are median (interquartile range), mean ± standard deviation or number (%).

Conclusion

Improvement of hyponatremia at discharge was not associated with better prognosis in patients hospitalized for ADHF.

Direct Measurement of the Cosmic-Ray Proton Spectrum from 50 GeV to 10 TeV with the Calorimetric Electron Telescope on the International Space Station

In this paper, we present the analysis and results of a direct measurement of the cosmic-ray proton spectrum with the CALET instrument onboard the International Space Station, including the detailed assessment of systematic uncertainties. The observation period used in this analysis is from October 13, 2015 to August 31, 2018 (1054 days). We have achieved the very wide energy range necessary to carry out measurements of the spectrum from 50 GeV to 10 TeV covering, for the first time in space, with a single instrument the whole energy interval previously investigated in most cases in separate subranges by magnetic spectrometers (BESS-TeV, PAMELA, and AMS-02) and calorimetric instruments (ATIC, CREAM, and NUCLEON). The observed spectrum is consistent with AMS-02 but extends to nearly an order of magnitude higher energy, showing a very smooth transition of the power-law spectral index from -2.81±0.03 (50-500 GeV) neglecting solar modulation effects (or -2.87±0.06 including solar modulation effects in the lower energy region) to -2.56±0.04 (1-10 TeV), thereby confirming the existence of spectral hardening and providing evidence of a deviation from a single power law by more than 3σ.

Dispensable role of chemokine receptors in migration of mycobacterial antigen-specific CD4+ T cells into Mycobacterium-infected lung

Mycobacterial antigen-specific CD4⁺ Th1 cells have pivotal role in protective immunity against mycobacterial infections including pulmonary tuberculosis. In the course of the infection, Th1 cells differentiate in the lung-draining lymph nodes and migrate into the infected lung. Chemokine receptors on T cells are involved in T cell migration into the intestine and skin. However, role of chemokine receptors in the migration of CD4⁺ T cells into the lung is not yet established. To address the issue, the role of chemokine receptors in T cell migration into the mycobacteria-infected lung was analyzed using mycobacterial Ag85B peptide 25-specific T cell receptor-transgenic (P25) CD4⁺ T cells. The P25 T cells in the Mycobacterium bovis BCG-infected lung and lung-draining mediastinal lymph node expressed chemokine receptors CCR5, CCR6, CXCR3 and CXCR5 which bind chemokines expressed by the BCG-infected lung. To further analyze the role of the chemokine receptors in the migration of the BCG-primed P25 T cells into the lung or mediastinal lymph node, the P25 T cells were adoptively transferred into the BCG-infected wild type mice, and their migration into the lung was monitored. Unexpectedly, blocking of chemokine receptor function with pertussis toxin, a G-protein inhibitor, failed to suppress migration of the T cells into the infected lung although the treatment completely blocked migration of the mediastinal lymph node P25 T cells into the recipient lymph node. The results suggest that interaction of chemokine receptors on mycobacterial antigen-specific Th1 cells with chemokines is dispensable in their migration into the mycobacteria-infected lung.

The CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET) on the International Space Station: Results from the First Two Years of Operation

The CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET) space experiment, which has been developed by Japan in collaboration with Italy and the United States, is a high-energy astroparticle physics mission on the International Space Station (ISS). The primary goals of the CALET mission include investigation of possible nearby sources of high-energy electrons, detailed study of galactic cosmic-ray acceleration and propagation, and search for dark matter signatures. With a long-term observation onboard the ISS, the CALET experiment measures the flux of cosmic-ray electrons (including positrons) up to 20 TeV, gamma-rays to 10 TeV, and nuclei up to 1,000 TeV based on its charge separation capability from Z = 1 to 40. Since the start of science operation in mid-October, 2015, a continuous observation has been maintained without any major interruptions. The number of triggered events over 10 GeV is nearly 20 million per month. By using the data obtained during the first two-years, here we present a summary of the CALET observations: 1) Electron+positron energy spectrum, 2) Nuclei analysis, 3) Gamma-ray observation with a characterization of the on-orbit performance. The search results for the electromagnetic counterparts of LIGO/Virgo gravitational wave events are also discussed.

Recent results from the LHCf and RHICf experiments

The Large Hadron Collider forward and the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider forward experiments measured forward particles produced in high-energy hadron collisions at the LHC and RHIC. Using compact calorimeters neutral particles produced in pseudorapidities η >8.4 and η >6.0 are observed by the respective experiments. Because the collision energies ranging from 0.51 TeV to 13 TeV correspond to the cosmic-ray equivalent energies of 1014 to 1017 eV, the measurements are important to understand the hadronic interaction relevant to extensive air shower measurements. This paper reviews recent results of LHCf and initial performance of RHICf that took data in the 2017 RHIC operation.

Emission of water-window soft x-rays under optically thin conditions using low-density foam targets

The effect of optical thickness in a bismuth water-window soft x-ray source is considered by comparing the emission from laser-produced plasmas of a 7.5% atomic density foam target and a solid-density target. The number of photons recorded in the 4 nm region was comparable for both targets at a plasma-initiating laser pulse duration of 6 ns. From experiments at different pulse durations of 150 ps and 6 ns, self-absorption (opacity) effects were found to be relatively small for bismuth plasmas as compared to those of tin, based on the same emission mechanism and which are used in 13.5 nm sources for extreme ultraviolet lithography.

Extended Measurement of the Cosmic-Ray Electron and Positron Spectrum from 11 GeV to 4.8 TeV with the Calorimetric Electron Telescope on the International Space Station

Extended results on the cosmic-ray electron + positron spectrum from 11 GeV to 4.8 TeV are presented based on observations with the Calorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET) on the International Space Station utilizing the data up to November 2017. The analysis uses the full detector acceptance at high energies, approximately doubling the statistics compared to the previous result. CALET is an all-calorimetric instrument with a total thickness of 30 X_{0} at normal incidence and fine imaging capability, designed to achieve large proton rejection and excellent energy resolution well into the TeV energy region. The observed energy spectrum in the region below 1 TeV shows good agreement with Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02) data. In the energy region below ∼300  GeV, CALET's spectral index is found to be consistent with the AMS-02, Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi-LAT), and Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE), while from 300 to 600 GeV the spectrum is significantly softer than the spectra from the latter two experiments. The absolute flux of CALET is consistent with other experiments at around a few tens of GeV. However, it is lower than those of DAMPE and Fermi-LAT with the difference increasing up to several hundred GeV. The observed energy spectrum above ∼1  TeV suggests a flux suppression consistent within the errors with the results of DAMPE, while CALET does not observe any significant evidence for a narrow spectral feature in the energy region around 1.4 TeV. Our measured all-electron flux, including statistical errors and a detailed breakdown of the systematic errors, is tabulated in the Supplemental Material in order to allow more refined spectral analyses based on our data.

Selection of target elements for laser-produced plasma soft x-ray sources

We demonstrated the upper limitation to the number of shots, i.e., target lifetime, together with the number of photons emitted in the water-window soft x-ray spectral region from a number of targets used as sources in this spectral region, for multi-shot irradiation at the same position on the target surface. The spectra involved result from unresolved transition arrays originating from n=3-n=4 transitions in medium-Z element plasmas and from n=4-n=4 transitions originating in high-Z plasmas. The output flux was maintained for the highest number of shots in the case of the high melting point element molybdenum, and the total output in the water window was 7.7×10¹³  photons/sr at a laser power density of 1.2×10¹⁴  W/cm².