Hannaella oleicumulans sp. nov. and Hannaella higashiohmiensis sp. nov., two novel oleaginous basidiomycetous yeast species

滋賀県の土壌から新種の油脂酵母2種を発見 --日本の土壌微生物の可能性を開拓--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-10-04.Two-of-a-kind strike oil: Discovery of oil-forming yeast species boosts hope for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-10-04.Three strains of novel oleaginous yeast species were isolated from soil samples collected in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the D1/D2 region of the large subunit (LSU) of the rRNA genes indicated that these novel yeast species are members of the genus Hannaella. The results of molecular phylogenetic analysis indicated that strains 38–3 and 8s1 were closely related to Hannaella oryzae. They differed by 10 nucleotide substitutions and one gap (1.77 %) in the D1/D2 region of the LSU of the rRNA genes and by 17–18 nucleotide substitutions and 10–11 gaps (5.45–5.85 %) in the ITS region. Strain 51–4 differed from the type strain of the most closely related species, Hannaella pagnoccae, by 26 nucleotide substitutions (4.46 %) in the D1/D2 region of the LSU of the rRNA genes and by 20 nucleotide substitutions and six gaps (5.42 %) in the ITS region. The names proposed for these previously undescribed species are Hannaella oleicumulans sp. nov. and Hannaella higashiohmiensis sp. nov

Characterization of chromosome structures of Falconinae (Falconidae, Falconiformes, Aves) by chromosome painting and delineation of chromosome rearrangements during their differentiation

Karyotypes of most bird species are characterized by around 2n = 80 chromosomes, comprising 7–10 pairs of large- and medium-sized macrochromosomes including sex chromosomes and numerous morphologically indistinguishable microchromosomes. The Falconinae of the Falconiformes has a different karyotype from the typical avian karyotype in low chromosome numbers, little size difference between macrochromosomes and a smaller number of microchromosomes. To characterize chromosome structures of Falconinae and to delineate the chromosome rearrangements that occurred in this subfamily, we conducted comparative chromosome painting with chicken chromosomes 1–9 and Z probes and microchromosome-specific probes, and chromosome mapping of the 18S–28S rRNA genes and telomeric (TTAGGG) n sequences for common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) (2n = 52), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) (2n = 50) and merlin (Falco columbarius) (2n = 40). F. tinnunculus had the highest number of chromosomes and was considered to retain the ancestral karyotype of Falconinae; one and six centric fusions might have occurred in macrochromosomes of F. peregrinus and F. columbarius, respectively. Tandem fusions of microchromosomes to macrochromosomes and between microchromosomes were also frequently observed, and chromosomal locations of the rRNA genes ranged from two to seven pairs of chromosomes. These karyotypic features of Falconinae were relatively different from those of Accipitridae, indicating that the drastic chromosome rearrangements occurred independently in the lineages of Accipitridae and Falconinae

<ノート>寿命終末期のマウス脳内で特異的に発現している小分子RNA

[Synopsis] The organismal life span is supposed to be mechanistically linked to the system of sexual reproduction specified by a yet uncharacterized species-specific life program. On the basis of previous studies, we predicted that small non-coding RNA serves as the primary signal that directs the termination of the maximum life span inherent in each species. Here, we prepared small-sized transcripts from the whole brain of newborn mice and extremely aged ones, and compared the transcriptome of the two age groups by deep sequencing. Annotation of their transcriptional differences identified a few kinds of microRNA markedly up-regulated in the older mouse brain. In particular, the miR-29 family was noteworthy for its high expression level. A functional attribution to this microRNA in the molecular mechanism for the determination of the murine life span was proposed. [要約] 生物種固有の生物寿命は老化の結果としての偶発的な死とは無関係な先天的要因により規定されており，その決定機構には有性生殖のシステムが何らかの様式で関与していると考えられる。原生動物をモデル生物として行われてきた一連の研究から，寿命終了と連動して開始される有性生殖の際に発現する小分子非コードRNA が寿命決定のマスター因子であるとの知見が得られた。この現象が大きな生物学的意義を有し生物進化の過程で保存される性格のものであれば，同様な寿命決定機構が高等動物でも作動していることになる。そのような仮定のもとに，寿命決定因子候補としての小分子RNA の同定を目的として新生マウスと老齢マウスの全脳から短鎖RNA をそれぞれ調製し，それらの塩基配列を網羅的に決定した。各転写産物のアノテーションの結果，老齢マウス脳の方ではmiR-29 などの数種類のmicroRNA が顕著に発現していることがわかった

The Role of the Left Inferior Frontal Gyrus in Introspection during Verbal Communication

Conversation enables the sharing of our subjective experiences through verbalizing introspected thoughts and feelings. The mentalizing network represents introspection, and successful conversation is characterized by alignment through imitation mediated by the mirror neuron system (MNS). Therefore, we hypothesized that the interaction between the mentalizing network and MNS mediates the conversational exchange of introspection. To test this, we performed hyperscanning functional magnetic resonance imaging during structured real-time conversations between 19 pairs of healthy participants. The participants first evaluated their preference for and familiarity with a presented object and then disclosed it. The control was the object feature identification task. When contrasted with the control, the preference/familiarity evaluation phase activated the dorso-medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, precuneus, left hippocampus, right cerebellum, and orbital portion of the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), which represents introspection. The left IFG was activated when the two participants’ statements of introspection were mismatched during the disclosure. Disclosing introspection enhanced the functional connectivity of the left IFG with the bilateral superior temporal gyrus and primary motor cortex, representing the auditory MNS. Thus, the mentalizing system and MNS are hierarchically linked in the left IFG during a conversation, allowing for the sharing of introspection of the self and others

Rationale and design of a multicenter randomized study comparing the efficacy and safety of esaxerenone versus trichlormethiazide in patients with uncontrolled essential hypertension: EXCITE‐HT study

Abstract The next‐generation mineralocorticoid receptor blocker (MRB) esaxerenone has favorable antihypertensive effects in patients who do not respond to treatment with first‐line antihypertensive agents and may be beneficial as a second‐line treatment. However, MRBs are currently considered a fourth‐line treatment as there is no clinical evidence comparing the efficacy of esaxerenone with other classes of antihypertensive agents. The multicenter, randomized, open‐label, parallel‐group EXCITE‐HT study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of esaxerenone as a second‐line agent in the treatment of Japanese patients with uncontrolled essential hypertension. After a 4‐week run‐in period, patients will receive either esaxerenone or trichlormethiazide for 12 weeks per the package insert and the Japanese Society of Hypertension Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension. At Weeks 4 and 8, the dose of esaxerenone or trichlormethiazide may be increased. Blood pressure (home [morning and bedtime] and office), serum biomarkers, and urinary biomarkers will be measured. The primary efficacy endpoint is the change from baseline in morning home systolic blood pressure/diastolic blood pressure to the end of treatment. The EXCITE‐HT study is expected to validate the non‐inferiority of esaxerenone to trichlormethiazide and provide the first evidence for the early use of esaxerenone as a second‐line agent in the treatment of Japanese patients with uncontrolled essential hypertension instead of its current use as a fourth‐line agent

Statistical model of trajectories of reduced mobility in older people with locomotive disorders: a prospective cohort study with group-based trajectory model

Abstract Background Today we experience “Super-aged society”, and a drastic increase in the number of older people needing assistance is an urgent matter for everyone from medical and socio-economical standpoints. Locomotive organ dysfunction due to musculoskeletal disorders is one of the main problems in these patients. Although the concepts of frailty and sarcopenia have been proposed for functional decline, pain remains the main and non-negligible complaint in these of such disorders. This prospective cohort study aimed to observe the changes of reduced mobility in patients with locomotive disorders and to determine the risk factors for functional deterioration of those patients using statistical modeling. Methods A cohort of older adults with locomotive disorders who were followed up every 6 months for up to 18 months was organized. Pain, physical findings related to the lower extremities, locomotive function in performing daily tasks, and Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale-25 (GLFS-25) score were collected to predict the progress of deterioration. Group-based trajectory analysis was used to identify subgroups of changes of GLFS-25 scores, and multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate potential predictors of the GLFS-25 trajectories. Results Overall, 314 participants aged between 65 and 93 years were included. The participants were treated with various combinations of orthopedic conservative treatments on an outpatient basis. The in-group trajectory model analysis revealed a clear differentiation between the four groups. The mild and severe groups generally maintained their GLFD-25 scores, while the moderate group included a fluctuating group and a no change group.　This study showed that comorbidity of osteoporosis was related to GLFS-25 score over 18 months. Age was a weak factor to be moderate or severe group, but gender was not. In addition, the number of pain locations, number of weak muscles, one-leg standing time, grip strength and BMI significantly contributed to the change in GLFS-25 score. Conclusions This study proposes an effective statistical model to monitor locomotive functions and related findings. Pain and comorbid osteoporosis are significant factors that related to functional deterioration of activities. In addition, the study shows a patient group recovers from the progression and their possible contributing factors