Biology subjects

Watanabe, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Watanabe, S..

9 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2018

Relationships of trainee dentists’ empathy and communication characteristics with simulated patients’ assessment in medical interviews

ObjectivesWe aimed to clarify the characteristics of communication between trainee dentists and simulated patients (SPs) and to examine how the level of trainee dentists self-reported empathy influences assessment by SPs in medical interviews.\n\nMaterials and methodsThe study involved 100 trainee dentists at Okayama University Hospital and eight SPs. The trainee dentists conducted initial interviews with the SPs after completing the Japanese version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy. Their interviews were recorded and analyzed using the Roter Interaction Analysis System. The SPs assessed the trainees communication immediately after each interview. The trainee dentists were classified into two groups (more positive and less positive groups) according to SP assessment scores.\n\nResultsCompared with the less positive trainees, the more positive trainees scored higher on the [Emotional expression] and lower on the [Medical data gathering] Roter Interaction Analysis System categories. There was no difference in [Dental data gathering] between the two groups. The SPs of more positive trainees had higher rates of [Positive talk] and [Emotional expression] and lower rates of [Medical information giving] and [Dental information giving]. The trainees with more positive ratings from SPs had significantly higher Jefferson Scale of Empathy total scores.\n\nConclusionThe results of this study suggest that responding to the SPs emotions is a relevant characteristic of dentist-SP communication to SPs positive assessment in medical interviews. Further, trainees self-reported empathy was related with the SPs assessment of trainees communication, which indicated that patient satisfaction can be improved by increasing the dentists empathy. Thus, an empathic attitude among dentists is a significant determinant of patient satisfaction.

scientific communication and education↗

bioRxiv2018

Skull base invasive low-grade meningiomas, a distinct genetic subgroup: A microarray gene expression profile analysis.

IntroductionMeningioma is the most common adult primary brain tumor originating from meningeal coverings of the brain and spinal cord. Commonly, World Health Organization (WHO) grade-I meningiomas are slowly growing and surgically curative, some present with clinically aggressive behavior, invading the skull base bone and soft tissues by extending into the extracranial spaces.\n\nMethodsTo detect the genetic background of the Skull Base Invasive Low-grade Meningioma (SBILM), we conducted a comprehensive analysis of gene expression was conducted on 32 meningioma samples.\n\nResultsThe cluster analysis of the gene expression profile demonstrated a distinctive clustering pattern of the SBILM. Based on the clinical behavior and the microarray findings, they might be a distinct subgroup of meningiomas.\n\nConclusionFurther studies on characterization of genes specifically expressed by the SBILM could lead to the development of diagnostic tools, differentiating it from other WHO grade-I meningiomas and assist in the appropriate management and follow-up strategy, and open the door for development of pharmacological therapies.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2018

Using deep learning for bamboo forest detection from Google Earth images.

Classifying and mapping vegetation are very important tasks in environmental science and natural resource management. However, these tasks are not easy because conventional methods such as field surveys are highly labor intensive. Automatic identification of target objects from visual data is one of the most promising ways to reduce the costs for vegetation mapping. Although deep learning has become a new solution for image recognition and classification recently, in general, detection of ambiguous objects such as vegetation still is considered difficult. In this paper, we investigated the potential for adapting the chopped picture method, a recently described protocol for deep learning, to detect plant communities in Google Earth images. We selected bamboo forests as the target. We obtained Google Earth images from three regions in Japan. By applying the deep convolutional neural network, the model successfully learned the features of bamboo forests in Google Earth images, and the best trained model correctly detected 97% of the targets. Our results show that identification accuracy strongly depends on the image resolution and the quality of training data. Our results also highlight that deep learning and the chopped picture method can potentially become a powerful tool for high accuracy automated detection and mapping of vegetation.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2018

Network-guided Discovery of Influenza Virus Replication Host Factors

The position of host factors required for viral replication within a human protein-protein interaction (PPI) network can be exploited to identify drug targets that are robust to drug-mediated selective pressure. Host factors can physically interact with viral proteins, be a component of pathways regulated by viruses (where proteins themselves do not interact with viral proteins) or be required for viral replication but unregulated by viruses. Here, we demonstrate a method of combining a human PPI network with virus-host protein interaction data to improve antiviral drug discovery for influenza viruses by identifying target host proteins. Network analysis shows that influenza virus proteins physically interact with host proteins in network positions significant for information flow. We have isolated a subnetwork of the human PPI network which connects virus-interacting host proteins to host factors that are important for influenza virus replication without physically interacting with viral proteins. The subnetwork is enriched for signaling and immune processes. Selecting proteins based on network topology within the subnetwork, we performed an siRNA screen to determine if the subnetwork was enriched for virus replication host factors and if network position within the subnetwork offers an advantage in prioritization of drug targets to control influenza virus replication. We found that the subnetwork is highly enriched for target host proteins - more so than the set of host factors that physically interact with viral proteins. Our findings demonstrate that network positions are a powerful predictor to guide antiviral drug candidate prioritization.\n\nIMPORTANCEIntegrating virus-host interactions with host protein-protein interactions, we have created a method using these established network practices to identify host factors (i.e. proteins) that are likely candidates for antiviral drug targeting. We demonstrate that interaction cascades between host proteins that directly interact with viral proteins and host factors that are important to influenza replication are enriched for signaling and immune processes. Additionally, we show that host proteins that interact with viral proteins are in network locations of power. Finally, we demonstrate a new network methodology to predict novel host factors and validate predictions with an siRNA screen. Our results show that integrating virus-host proteins interactions is useful in the identification of antiviral drug target candidates.

systems biology↗

bioRxiv2018

In vitro characterization of multidrug-resistant influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses carrying a dual amino acid substitution associated with reduced susceptibility to neuraminidase inhibitors

We detected influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses carrying dual H275Y/I223R, H275Y/I223K, or H275Y/G147R substitutions in their neuraminidase protein, respectively. These viruses showed cross-resistance to oseltamivir and peramivir and reduced susceptibility to zanamivir. The H275Y/G147R virus retained its replication capability at least in vitro, but the H275Y/I223R and H275Y/I223K viruses did not.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2018

Transient kinetic analysis of SWR1C-catalyzed H2A.Z deposition unravels the impact of nucleosome dynamics and the asymmetry of stepwise histone exchange

The SWR1C chromatin remodeling enzyme catalyzes an ATP-dependent replacement of nucleosomal H2A with the H2A.Z variant, regulating key DNA-mediated processes, such as transcription and DNA repair. Here we investigate the transient kinetic mechanism of the histone exchange reaction employing ensemble FRET, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), and the steady state kinetics of ATP hydrolysis. Our studies indicate that SWR1C modulates nucleosome dynamics on both the millisecond and microsecond timescales, poising the nucleosome for the dimer exchange reaction. The transient kinetic analysis of the remodeling reaction performed under single turnover conditions unraveled a striking asymmetry in the ATP-dependent replacement of nucleosomal dimers, promoted by localized DNA translocation. Taken together, our transient kinetic studies identify new intermediates and provide crucial insights into the SWR1C-catalyzed dimer exchange reaction, as well as shedding light on how the mechanics of H2A.Z deposition might contribute to transcriptional regulation in vivo.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2018

Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis of Human Lung Reveals Complex Multicellular Changes During Pulmonary Fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating disorder that results in the progressive replacement of normal lung tissue with fibrotic scar. Available therapies slow disease progression, but most patients go on to die or require lung transplantation. Single-cell RNA-seq is a powerful tool that can reveal cellular identity via analysis of the transcriptome, but its ability to provide biologically or clinically meaningful insights in a disease context is largely unexplored. Accordingly, we performed single-cell RNA-seq on lung tissue obtained from eight transplant donors and eight recipients with pulmonary fibrosis and one bronchoscopic cryobiospy sample. Integrated single-cell transcriptomic analysis of donors and patients with pulmonary fibrosis identified the emergence of distinct populations of epithelial cells and macrophages that were common to all patients with lung fibrosis. Analysis of transcripts in the Wnt pathway suggested that within the same cell type, Wnt secretion and response are restricted to distinct non-overlapping cells, which was confirmed using in situ RNA hybridization. Single-cell RNA-seq revealed heterogeneity within alveolar macrophages from individual patients, which was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. These results support the feasibility of discovery-based approaches applying next generation sequencing technologies to clinically obtained samples with a goal of developing personalized therapies.\n\nOne Sentence SummarySingle-cell RNA-seq applied to tissue from diseased and donor lungs and a living patient with pulmonary fibrosis identifies cell type-specific disease-associated molecular pathways.

systems biology↗

bioRxiv2017

Intracellular production of hydrogels and synthetic RNA granules by multivalent enhancers

Non-membrane bound, hydrogel-like entities, such as RNA granules, nucleate essential cellular functions through their unique physico-chemical properties. However, these intracellular hydrogels have not been as extensively studied as their extracellular counterparts, primarily due to technical challenges in probing these materials in situ. Here, by taking advantage of a chemically inducible dimerization paradigm, we developed iPOLYMER, a strategy for rapid induction of protein-based hydrogels inside living cells. A series of biochemical and biophysical characterizations, in conjunction with computational modeling, revealed that the polymer network formed in the cytosol resembles a physiological hydrogel-like entity that behaves as a size-dependent molecular sieve. We studied several properties of the gel and functionalized it with RNA binding motifs that sequester polyadenine-containing nucleotides to synthetically mimic RNA granules. Therefore, we here demonstrate that iPOLYMER presents a unique and powerful approach to synthetically reconstitute hydrogel-like structures including RNA granules in intact cells.

synthetic biology↗

bioRxiv2016

The NCA-1 ion channel functions downstream of Gq and Rho to regulate locomotion in C. elegans

The heterotrimeric G protein Gq positively regulates neuronal activity and synaptic transmission. Previously, the Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor Trio was identified as a direct effector of Gq that acts in parallel to the canonical Gq effector phospholipase C. Here we examine how Trio and Rho act to stimulate neuronal activity downstream of Gq in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Through two forward genetic screens, we identify the cation channels NCA-1 and NCA-2, orthologs of mammalian NALCN, as downstream targets of the Gq/Rho pathway. By performing genetic epistasis analysis using dominant activating mutations and recessive loss-of-function mutations in the members of this pathway, we show that NCA-1 and NCA-2 act downstream of Gq in a linear pathway. Through cell-specific rescue experiments, we show that function of these channels in head acetylcholine neurons is sufficient for normal locomotion in C. elegans. Our results suggest that NCA-1 and NCA-2 are physiologically relevant targets of neuronal Gq-Rho signaling in C. elegans.

genetics↗