Neurosecretory Protein GL Induces Fat Accumulation in Chicks.

We recently found a previously unidentified cDNA in chicken hypothalamus which encodes the precursor for neurosecretory protein GL (NPGL). A previous study showed that intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion of NPGL caused body mass gain in chicks. However, it was not clear which part(s) of the body gained mass. In the present study, we investigated which tissues increased in mass after chronic i.c.v. infusion of NPGL in chicks. We found that NPGL increased the masses of the liver, abdominal fat, and subcutaneous fat, while NPGL did not affect the masses of muscles, including pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, and biceps femoris. Oil Red O staining revealed that fat deposition had occurred in the liver. In addition, the size of the lipid droplets in the abdominal fat increased. Furthermore, we found an upregulation of lipogenesis and downregulation of lipolysis in the abdominal fat, but not in the liver. These results indicate that NPGL is involved in fat storage in chicks

Localization and function of neurosecretory protein GM, a novel small secretory protein, in the chicken hypothalamus.

Recently, we discovered a novel cDNA encoding the precursor of a small secretory protein, neurosecretory protein GL (NPGL), in the hypothalamic infundibulum of chickens. NPGL plays an important role in the regulation of growth and feeding. A database search indicated that the NPGL gene has a paralogous gene: neurosecretory protein GM (NPGM), also in chickens. We identified cDNA encoding the NPGM precursor in chickens. Morphological analysis showed that NPGM-containing cells are specifically localized in the medial mammillary nucleus (MM) and infundibular nucleus (IN) in the hypothalamus. In addition, we found that NPGM and NPGL are co-localized, especially in the MM. The expression levels of NPGM mRNA gradually decreased during post-hatch development, in contrast to those of NPGL mRNA. Moreover, we investigated the relationship between NPGM and other known factors. NPGM was found to be produced in histaminergic neurons in the MM. NPGM and histidine decarboxylase, a histamine-producing enzyme, displayed similar expression patterns during post-hatch development. Acute intracerebroventricular injection of NPGM decreased food intake, similar to the effect of histamine. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the localization and function of NPGM in the brain of vertebrates. These results will further advance the understanding mechanisms underlying energy homeostasis

The Relationship between Symptom Flare of Atopic Dermatitis and Airborne Japanese Cedar and Cypress Pollen Counts: A Self-Scoring Diary Study

Background. With an increase in Japanese cedar and cypress (JC) pollinosis, the relationship between JC pollen and atopic dermatitis (AD) has been studied. Some reports suggest that JC pollen can be one exacerbating factor for AD, but there has been no report that discusses JC pollen counts relating to AD symptom flare although actual airborne JC pollen counts can widely fluctuate throughout the pollen season. Objective. The relationship between symptom flare of AD and airborne JC pollen counts was examined. Methods. We monitored JC pollen counts in real time and divided the counts into low and high level. We then analyzed self-scored “itch intensity” recorded by 14 AD patients through a self-scoring diary. Results. Among the 14 patients, 7 had significantly higher itch intensity while the pollen counts were high. Conclusion. Even during the pollen season, actual airborne pollen counts can widely fluctuate. Our study suggested that symptom flare of AD could be influenced by the actual pollen counts

カイゴフクシシ ヨウセイ キョウイク オ ウケテイル Aタンキダイガクブ ガクセイ ノ イリョウテキケア ニ タイスル リシュウ イシ

平成24年4月から「社会福祉士及び介護福祉士法」が一部改正され、介護実践の場では介護福祉士による医療的ケアの実施が可能になった。介護福祉士の養成教育においては、平成27年度以降の介護福祉士国家試験から医療的ケアの内容が追加される。　この事に対する学生達の受け止め方を把握するため、アンケートを実施した。結果は２年間の在学中に医療的ケアの履修を希望する学生は全体の64.4％である。履修に対しては「利用者の命や生活改善のため」であり、また「介護福祉士として行える行為は積極的に取り組みたい」である。しかしその中に「医療的ケアを行うのは不安だ」という思いと、専門職として「介護に専念」すべきであるという考えもある。その基盤には「医療職との連携の強化」と「責任、待遇、保証を明らかに」する事が必要であるとしている。また「利用者の命や生活改善」に視点を定めることが、医療的ケアの履修意思の向上に繋がることが示唆された。The Social Welfare Worker (Shakaihukushishi) and Certified Careworker (Kaigohukushishi) Act was revised partly from April, 2012, and the careworker was able to perform the medical care at an institution or the client’s home.In the training education, the contents of the curriculum will be added to the National ceritifying examination after 2015.After conducting a survey among students, most students (over64.4%) accept the new provisions as it focuses on the quality of living and improvement of client’s daily lives.Some students are anxious as they realize the need for professional training to be able to deal with the medical care of client’s.The new Act clarifies the responsibility, treatment and guaranteed needs in addition to reinforcing the cooperation with qualified medical staff .Also, specifying a viewpoint was suggested to” the life and the improvement of living of the client’s” and leading was suggested to the improvement of the study intention of the medical care

Lymphocyte Responses to Chymotrypsin- or Trypsin V-Digested β-Lactoglobulin in Patients with Cow's Milk Allergy

<p/> <p>Chymotrypsin- or trypsin V- (a mixture of trypsin and chymotrypsin) digested β-lactoglobulin (BLG) peptides were prepared and were confirmed to have much less immunoglobulin (lg)G and lgE reactivity compared with intact BLG by IgG inhibition enzymelinked immunosorbent assay and IgE dot blotting. The lymphocyte responses to intact BLG and these peptides were examined using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 10 patients with cow's milk allergy. The PBMCs from most patients had lower lymphocyte responses to chymotrypsin- and trypsin V-digested BLG peptides than those to intact BLG. However, PBMCs from one and two patients retained significant proliferative responses to both peptides and to only the former peptide, respectively. Interferon-c production stimulated by chymotrypsin-digested peptides was still detectable in all five patients tested. Chymotrypsindigested BLG reduced lgE reactivity but still induced some lymphocyte responses.</p

Author Correction: Localization and function of neurosecretory protein GM, a novel small secretory protein, in the chicken hypothalamus.

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