Screening of bacterial DNA in bile sampled from healthy dogs and dogs suffering from liver- or gallbladder-associated disease

Although the biliary system is generally aseptic, gallbladder microbiota has been reported in humans and some animals apart from dogs. We screened and analyzed the bacterial deoxyribonucleic acid in canine gallbladders using bile sampled from 7 healthy dogs and 52 dogs with liver- or gallbladder-associated disease. PCR screening detected bacteria in 17.3% of diseased dogs (9/52) and none in healthy dogs. Microbiota analysis of PCR-positive samples showed that the microbial diversity differed between liver- and gallbladder-associated disease groups. Thus, a specific bacterial community appears to occur at a certain frequency in the bile of diseased dogs

Loss of histone H4K20 trimethylation predicts poor prognosis in breast cancer and is associated with invasive activity

INTRODUCTION: Loss of histone H4 lysine 20 trimethylation (H4K20me3) is associated with multiple cancers, but its role in breast tumors is unclear. In addition, the pathological effects of global reduction in H4K20me3 remain mostly unknown. Therefore, a major goal of this study was to elucidate the global H4K20me3 level in breast cancer tissue and investigate its pathological functions. METHODS: Levels of H4K20me3 and an associated histone modification, H3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3), were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in a series of breast cancer tissues. Univariate and multivariate clinicopathological and survival analyses were performed. We also examined the effect of overexpression or knockdown of the histone H4K20 methyltransferases, SUV420H1 and SUV420H2, on cancer-cell invasion activity in vitro. RESULTS: H4K20me3, but not H3K9me3, was clearly reduced in breast cancer tissue. A reduced level of H4K20me3 was correlated with several aspects of clinicopathological status, including luminal subtypes, but not with HER2 expression. Multivariate analysis showed that reduced levels of H4K20me3 independently associated with lower disease-free survival. Moreover, ectopic expression of SUV420H1 and SUV420H2 in breast cancer cells suppressed cell invasiveness, whereas knockdown of SUV420H2 activated normal mammary epithelial-cell invasion in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: H4K20me3 was reduced in cancerous regions of breast-tumor tissue, as in other types of tumor. Reduced H4K20me3 level can be used as an independent marker of poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. Most importantly, this study suggests that a reduced level of H4K20me3 increases the invasiveness of breast cancer cells in a HER2-independent manner

Social communication impairments and restricted, repetitive patterns ("Kodawari") considered from the "Comprehension" section of the WISC-IV in autism spectrum disorder

Background: Many studies have used the Wechsler Intelligence Scale (WISC) to examine the characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, most studies have been based on profile analysis, not on content analysis. Objective: The objective of the present study was to apply the WISC-IV to clinical assessment of ASD and clarify how the characteristics of the disorder were reflected in specific items. Methods: The study participants were 20 patients aged 5-16 years diagnosed with ASD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). We recruited 20 patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 20 patients with other disorders (neurotic disorders) as controls. We then compared the scores of the ninth item of the WISC-IV ("Comprehension") among the three groups. Results: The differences observed between the ASD vs. the other disorders group were not significant by the standard scoring method. Thus, a two-level scoring method of 0 and ≥1 point was adopted. As a result, significantly more participants in the ASD group scored 0 points compared with the ADHD and other disorders grou

Characterization of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus strains isolated from migratory waterfowl in Mongolia on the way back from the southern Asia to their northern territory

AbstractH5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses were isolated from dead wild waterfowl at Khunt, Erkhel, Doityn Tsagaan, Doroo, and Ganga Lakes in Mongolia in July 2005, May 2006, May 2009, July 2009, and May 2010, respectively. The isolates in 2005 and 2006 were classified into genetic clade 2.2, and those in 2009 and 2010 into clade 2.3.2. A/whooper swan/Mongolia/6/2009 (H5N1) experimentally infected ducks and replicated systemically with higher mortality than that of the isolates in 2005 and 2006. Intensive surveillance of avian influenza in migratory waterfowl flying from their nesting lakes in Siberia to Mongolia in every autumn indicate that HPAI viruses have not perpetuated at their nesting lakes until 2009. The present results demonstrate that wild waterfowl were sporadically infected with H5N1 HPAI viruses prevailing in domestic poultry in the southern Asia and died in Mongolia on the way back to their northern territory in spring

Effect of extracted garlic powder ingestion for two months on exercise-induced immunological responses

Introduction. Exhaustive exercise is associated with an increased risk of upper respiratory tract infection. Previously, allicin supplementation has been reported to reduce the incidence of common cold symptoms and production of exercise-induced interleukin (IL)-6. However, it is not clear if daily ingestion of the edible portion of whole garlic (Allium sativum) alters the exercise-induced immunological response. The present study investigated the effects of extracted garlic powder ingestion for 2 months on immune cell counts, natural killer cell activity (NKCA), as well as changes in cytokines, cortisol, and lactic acid in response to high-intensity cycling exercise. Methods. The present study employed a before-after study design. Six sedentary male participants (age, 22.0±0.3 years) consumed extracted garlic powder for 2 months, and underwent 45 minutes of cycling exercise at 80% of the heart rate reserve once before and once after the supplementation period. A thousand milligrams of extracted garlic powder, comparable to 6 g (1 clove) of raw garlic, was ingested every day. Blood samples were obtained at the following five time points: before exercise, 0 min, 30 min, 60 min, and 120 min after exercise. We measured NKCA, leukocyte counts, neutrophil counts, lymphocyte counts, as well as levels of serum IL-6, IL-10, cortisol, and lactic acid. Repeated measures ANOVA was used for statistical analyses. When interaction effects were significant, measurement values at the various time points were compared between pre- and post-supplementation period using the paired t-test. Changes were deemed statistically significant when p\u3c0.05. Results. We observed no significant difference in pre-exercise measurements between pre- and post-supplementation periods. In addition, we found no significant interaction effect for leukocytes, neutrophils, NKCA, IL-10, and cortisol. However, we did identify a significant interaction effect for lymphocytes, IL-6, and lactic acid (p=0.033, p=0.030, and p\u3c0.001, respectively). Lymphocyte counts were significantly lower post-supplementation relative to pre-supplementation immediately after exercise (p=0.014). In addition, IL-6 was significantly lower post-supplementation relative to pre-supplementation immediately and 30 minutes after exercise (p=0.015 and p=0.018, respectively). Lactic acid levels were significantly lower post-supplementation relative to pre-supplementation immediately after exercise (p=0.018). Conclusions. The extracted garlic powder did not significantly influence exercise-induced responses by leukocytes, neutrophils, NKCA, IL-10, or cortisol. However, exercise-induced responses by lymphocytes, IL-6, and lactic acid were suppressed after ingestion of extracted garlic powder. Thus, daily ingestion of the edible portion of whole garlic may suppress exercise-induced immunological responses and lactic acid levels

A Report on Overseas Teaching Practicum by Graduate Students in Elementary/Secondary Schools in the United States (Ⅶ)

The present reports is on the 7th overseas teaching practicum in the United States by 15 graduate students of Hiroshima University, Japan, partly organized by Hiroshima University Global Partnership School Center since 2007. The group was comprised of 13 elementary school and 2 secondary school education major graduate students. They planned and conducted lessons in English in three local public schools in North Carolina. The expected outcomes of this project were: 1) to self-develop practical instructional competence by teaching pupils with diverse backgrounds in the U.S.; 2) to enhance the abilities in developing teaching materials through hands-on teaching experiences in English; and 3) to acquire the abilities to design, implement and evaluate programs for promoting global partnership. In addition, the teaching experience was followed by cross-cultural study visits to Raleigh, NC and Washington, D.C. It helped to boost our group motivation that the local media, newspaper and TV, and the city Board of Education covered our visit. It is hoped that this project will enhance the students’ teaching competence in designing quality materials/lessons and classroom communication skills in English

ジョシ シンタイソウ センシュ ニ オケル チュウショク ノ エネルギーリョウ ガ エネルギー セッシュリョウ ヤ タイシボウリツ ニ オヨボス エイキョウ

本研究は減量期の女子新体操選手に対する5週間の昼食提供が1日の総エネルギー摂取量や体重,体脂肪率に及ぼす影響を検討することを目的とした。対象者は16名(年齢19.5±1.0歳)であり,昼食のエネルギー量は561±74kcal,たんぱく質量は29.2±4.3gであった。身体特性は昼食提供前(提供前)と昼食提供後(提供後)の計2回,栄養素等摂取量は提供前と昼食提供中(提供中)を調べた。統計解析は対応のあるt-検定,Wilcoxonの符号付き順位和検定,McNemar検定,Pearsonの積率相関係数,Spearmanの順位相関係数を用いた。昼食を提供した結果,総エネルギー摂取量,食事別エネルギー摂取量および総エネルギー消費量には提供前と提供中で有意な違いがみられず,昼食エネルギー摂取割合は提供前(23.3±10.4%)に比べて提供中(36.5±15.3%)が有意に増加した(p=0.005)。提供前と提供後で除脂肪体重には有意差がみられなかったものの,体重(48.4±3.2kgから47.6±3.2kg, p=0.001)および体脂肪率(13.4±2.0%から12.3±1.6%,p=0.008)は有意に低下した。しかし,体脂肪率の変化量は食事別エネルギー摂取割合の変化量との間に有意な関連がみられなかった。以上より,昼食提供は1日のエネルギー摂取量,食事別エネルギー摂取量に影響を与えず,昼食エネルギー摂取割合を増加させ,体脂肪率を減少させることが示された。体脂肪率と各因子間には有意な関連がみられなかったが,昼食を摂ることは減量期の選手にとって重要である可能性が示唆された。The present study aimed to examine the effect of lunch on total energy intake, body weight, and body fat percentage during weight reduction periods. Sixteen female rhythmic gymnasts (mean age, 19.5±1.0 years) participated in this study. School lunch was provided (561±74kcal, 29.2±4.3g protein) for five weeks. Physical characteristics were assessed twice, before (Before) and after (After) the lunch-providing period. Dietary intake was assessed twice, Before and during the lunch-providing period. The paired t-test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, McNemar test, Pearson\u27s product moment correlation coefficient, and Spearman\u27s rank correlation coefficient were used for the statistical analyses. After the lunch-providing period, no significant differences were found in total energy intake, each meal energy intake, and total energy expenditure relative to Before and during the lunch providing-period, but a significant increase was found in the ratio of lunch to total energy intake (23.3±10.4% to 36.5±15.3%, p=0.005). Moreover, significant decreases in body weight (48.4±3.2kg to 47.6±3.2kg, p=0.001) and body fat percentage (13.4±2.0% to 12.3±1.6%, p=0.008), but not lean body mass, were observed relative to Before. However, changes in body fat percentage were not correlated with changes in the ratio of each meal energy intake. From these results, providing lunch does not affect total energy intake or each meal energy intake, but increases the ratio of lunch to total energy intake and decreases body fat percentage. The body fat percentage was not correlated with each factor. Our findings suggest the importance of providing lunch to female rhythmic gymnasts during weight reduction periods

Current status of space gravitational wave antenna DECIGO and B-DECIGO

Deci-hertz Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (DECIGO) is the future Japanese space mission with a frequency band of 0.1 Hz to 10 Hz. DECIGO aims at the detection of primordial gravitational waves, which could be produced during the inflationary period right after the birth of the universe. There are many other scientific objectives of DECIGO, including the direct measurement of the acceleration of the expansion of the universe, and reliable and accurate predictions of the timing and locations of neutron star/black hole binary coalescences. DECIGO consists of four clusters of observatories placed in the heliocentric orbit. Each cluster consists of three spacecraft, which form three Fabry-Perot Michelson interferometers with an arm length of 1,000 km. Three clusters of DECIGO will be placed far from each other, and the fourth cluster will be placed in the same position as one of the three clusters to obtain the correlation signals for the detection of the primordial gravitational waves. We plan to launch B-DECIGO, which is a scientific pathfinder of DECIGO, before DECIGO in the 2030s to demonstrate the technologies required for DECIGO, as well as to obtain fruitful scientific results to further expand the multi-messenger astronomy.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure