Comparison of 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence analysis and conventional culture in the environmental survey of hospital

学位記番号：医博甲160

Some Possible Changes in the "Authoritative Principle" in Germany through the Modernization of Accounting Rules

研究論

会計学の学び方

Ⅰ 学問研究の魅力と経営学部での学修方

横断像と矢状断像における椎間関節角度の加齢性変化 : 変性すべり症症例との比較

Background: Despite facet joints being three-dimensional structures, previous computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging studies have evaluated facet joint orientation in only the axial plane. Facet joint orientation in the sagittal plane has rarely been studied using these imaging techniques. The aim of this study was to elucidate facet joint orientation in both the axial and sagittal planes on computed tomography. Methods: A total of 568 patients (343 men, 225 women) (excluding orthopedic outpatients) for whom abdominal and pelvic computed tomography scans were obtained at our hospital between September 2010 and October 2012 were included. Mean age was 63 (range 21-90) years. Patients were divided into a degenerative spondylolisthesis group (67 patients; 30 men, 37 women) and a control group (313 patients; 313 men, 188 women). Facet joint orientation was evaluated in the control group according to patient age (≤50, 51-60, 61-70, or ≥71 years). The findings in the control group were then compared with those in the degenerative spondylolisthesis group. The orientation of the lumbar facet joints at each level was measured in the axial and sagittal planes on computed tomography images. Results: Facet joint angles decreased with age at L4/5 and L5/S1 in women in the axial plane and at L4/5 in men and L3/4 and L4/5 in women in the sagittal plane. The variation in facet joint angle was greatest at L4/5 in women. Patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis showed more sagittally and horizontally oriented facet joints in the axial and sagittal planes; facet tropism showed an association with degenerative spondylolisthesis in the axial plane. Conclusions: The axial and sagittal orientation of facet joints in the lower lumbar vertebra, especially L4/5, was negatively correlated with age. This finding could help to explain why older people are more prone to degenerative spondylolisthesis

SNARE Proteins LjVAMP72a and LjVAMP72b Are Required for Root Symbiosis and Root Hair Formation in Lotus japonicus

SNARE (soluble N-ethyl maleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) proteins mediate membrane trafficking in eukaryotic cells. Both LjVAMP72a and LjVAMP72b are members of R-SNARE and belong to a symbiotic subgroup of VAMP72 in Lotus japonicus. Their sequences are closely related and both were induced in the root upon rhizobial inoculation. The expression level of LjVAMP72a in the nodules was higher than in the leaves or roots; however, LjVMAP72b was expressed constitutively in the leaves, roots, and nodules. Immunoblot analysis showed that not only LjVAMP72a but also LjVAMP72b were accumulated in a symbiosome-enriched fraction, suggesting its localization in the symbiosome membrane during nodulation. Since there was 89% similarity between LjVAMP72a and LjVAMP72b, knockdown mutant by RNAi suppressed both genes. The suppression of both genes impaired root nodule symbiosis (RNS). The number of bacteroids and the nitrogen fixation activity were severely curtailed in the nodules formed on knockdown roots (RNAi-LjVAMP72a/72b). Arbuscular mycorrhization (AM) was also attenuated in knockdown roots, indicating that LjVAMP72a and LjVAMP72b were required to establish not only RNS but also AM. In addition, transgenic hairy roots of RNAi-LjVAMP72a/72b suppressed the elongation of root hairs without infections by rhizobia or arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Amino acid alignment showed the symbiotic subclade of VAMP72s containing LjVAMP72a and LjVAMP72b were a conserved six amino acid region (HHQAQD) within the SNARE motif. Taken together, our data suggested that LjVAMP72a and LjVAMP72b positively controlled both symbioses and root hair formation by affecting the secretory pathway