Distribution of 36Cl in the Yoro River Basin, Central Japan, and Its Relation to the Residence Time of the Regional Groundwater Flow System

This study investigates the potential of 36Cl in tracing young groundwater with residence times of up to ~50 years. Groundwater samples were obtained from 16 irrigation wells in paddy fields located within an upland–lowland system in the Yoro River basin, Central Japan. The 36Cl/Cl ratios were in the range of 17 to 362 × 10−15. Among the samples with higher Cl− concentrations (>10 mg/L), two samples showed high nitrate concentrations as well (>30 mg/L). Except for these samples, the distribution of 36Cl in groundwater was essentially consistent with previous tritium concentration data measured in 1982 and 1994, considering the time that has elapsed since these earlier measurements were performed. 36Cl/Cl values were less than 30 × 10−15 in lowland areas, with higher values in and around upland areas. The results indicate longer residence times in the regional groundwater flow system (>50 years) than those estimated in previous studies, especially in the area west of the Yoro River. The results demonstrate the ability of 36Cl to trace young groundwater flow, particularly because high values of bomb-derived 36Cl/Cl are easily discriminated from pre-bomb water with low 36Cl/Cl values. Because of its very long half-life (3.01 × 105 years), 36Cl remains even after tritium is no longer available

A Case of Paragonimus westermani Infection by Eating Imperfectly Cooked Wild Boar Flesh

A 19 year old woman was admitted because of abnormal chest X-ray showing smoothly outlined cystic lesion. The eggs of Paragonimus westermani was identified in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid. Anti-Paragonimus westermani antibody was positive in the serum by the ELISA method. Six eggs were observed in one gram of feces before the administration of praziquantel. Praziquantel (75mg/kg) was administered for two day, the egg of Paragonimus westermani disappeared in the feces and the size of cystic lesion in the chest X-ray decreased

RAGE Mediates a Novel Proinflammatory Axis A Central Cell Surface Receptor for S100/Calgranulin Polypeptides

AbstractS100/calgranulin polypeptides are present at sites of inflammation, likely released by inflammatory cells targeted to such loci by a range of environmental cues. We report here that receptor for AGE (RAGE) is a central cell surface receptor for EN-RAGE (e xtracellular n ewly identified RAGE-binding protein) and related members of the S100/calgranulin superfamily. Interaction of EN-RAGEs with cellular RAGE on endothelium, mononuclear phagocytes, and lymphocytes triggers cellular activation, with generation of key proinflammatory mediators. Blockade of EN-RAGE/RAGE quenches delayed-type hypersensitivity and inflammatory colitis in murine models by arresting activation of central signaling pathways and expression of inflammatory gene mediators. These data highlight a novel paradigm in inflammation and identify roles for EN-RAGEs and RAGE in chronic cellular activation and tissue injury

Cervical restenosis caused by progressive ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in patients following laminoplasty: Two case reports

We report two cases of restenosis caused by the progression of thickness of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) seven and more years after laminoplasty, resulting in neurological deterioration needed for revision anterior decompressive surgeries. Neurological recovery after revision anterior excision of OPLL was poor. In both cases, the patients had progressive OPLL, with a non-ossified segment of the ossification foci, in common. After laminoplasty, they also both exhibited osseous fusion of the elevated laminae, but there was discontinuity at the interlaminar space at the peak level of OPLL. Discontinuity of the osseous fusion in the elevated laminae might cause mechanical stress increases at the non-ossified segment of the OPLL and could lead to the progression of OPLL. The present cases showed that long-term progression of OPLL can induce neurological deterioration even after sufficient posterior decompression by laminoplasty. Therefore, when considering risk factors that may be predictive of the progression of OPLL after laminoplasty, it is important to perform strict follow-up examination to check for progression to reduce the risk of myelopathy symptoms that are indicative of neurological deterioration

Molecular identification of 1-Cys peroxiredoxin and anthocyanidin/flavonol 3-O-galactosyltransferase from proanthocyanidin-rich young fruits of persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.)

Fruits of persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) accumulate large amounts of proanthocyanidins (PAs) in the early stages of development. Astringent (A)-type fruits remain rich in soluble PAs even after they reach full-mature stage, whereas non-astringent (NA)-type fruits lose these compounds before full maturation. As a first step to elucidate the mechanism of PA accumulation in this non-model species, we used suppression subtractive hybridization to identify transcripts accumulating differently in young fruits of A- and NA-type. Interestingly, only a few clones involved in PA biosynthesis were identified in A–NA libraries. Represented by multiple clones were those encoding a novel 1-Cys peroxiredoxin and a new member of family 1 glycosyltransferases. Quantitative RT-PCR analyses confirmed correlation of the amount of PAs and accumulation of transcripts encoding these proteins in young persimmon fruits. Furthermore, the new family 1 glycosyltransferase was produced in Escherichia coli and shown to efficiently catalyze galactosylation at 3-hydroxyl groups of several anthocyanidins and flavonols. These findings suggest a complex mechanism of PA accumulation in persimmon fruits

Association of variations in HLA class II and other loci with susceptibility to EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma driven by somatic EGFR mutations is more prevalent in East Asians (30-50%) than in European/Americans (10-20%). Here we investigate genetic factors underlying the risk of this disease by conducting a genome-wide association study, followed by two validation studies, in 3,173 Japanese patients with EGFR mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma and 15,158 controls. Four loci, 5p15.33 (TERT), 6p21.3 (BTNL2), 3q28 (TP63) and 17q24.2 (BPTF), previously shown to be strongly associated with overall lung adenocarcinoma risk in East Asians, were re-discovered as loci associated with a higher susceptibility to EGFR mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, two additional loci, HLA class II at 6p21.32 (rs2179920; P =5.1 × 10(-17), per-allele OR=1.36) and 6p21.1 (FOXP4) (rs2495239; P=3.9 × 10(-9), per-allele OR=1.19) were newly identified as loci associated with EGFR mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma. This study indicates that multiple genetic factors underlie the risk of lung adenocarcinomas with EGFR mutations