Dicyema Pax6 and Zic: tool-kit genes in a highly simplified bilaterian

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dicyemid mesozoans (Phylum Dicyemida) are simple (8–40-cell) cephalopod endoparasites. They have neither body cavities nor differentiated organs, such as nervous and gastrointestinal systems. Whether dicyemids are intermediate between Protozoa and Metazoa (as represented by their "Mesozoa" classification) or degenerate species of more complex metazoans is controversial. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies suggested that they are simplified bilaterians belonging to the Lophotrochozoa. We cloned two genes developmentally critical in bilaterian animals (Pax6 and Zic), together with housekeeping genes (actin, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, and ATP synthase beta subunit) from a dicyemid to reveal whether their molecular phylogeny supported the "simplification" hypothesis, and to clarify evolutionary changes in dicyemid gene structure and expression profiles.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Genomic/cDNA sequence analysis showed that 1) the Pax6 molecular phylogeny and Zic intron positions supported the idea of dicyemids as reduced bilaterians; 2) the aa sequences deduced from the five genes were highly divergent; and 3) <it>Dicyema </it>genes contained very short introns of uniform length. In situ hybridization analyses revealed that <it>Zic </it>genes were expressed in hermaphroditic gonads, and <it>Pax6 </it>was expressed weakly throughout the developmental stages of the 2 types of embryo and in the hermaphroditic gonads.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The accelerated evolutionary rates and very short and uniform intron may represent a part of <it>Dicyema </it>genomic features. The presence and expression of the two tool-kit genes (<it>Pax6 </it>and <it>Zic</it>) in <it>Dicyema </it>suggests that they can be very versatile genes even required for the highly reduced bilaterian like <it>Dicyema</it>. Dicyemids may be useful models of evolutionary body plan simplification.</p

Phenolic Off Flavor Characterization of Commercially Available Wine Yeasts and Selection of the Yeast for Koshu Winemaking

Abstract The grape Koshu is a traditional, Japan specific Vitis vinifera. As the Koshu wine has a relatively flat taste, the sur lies method and the small barrel fermentation have been employed to add richness to the wine. However, the Koshu grape contains relatively high amount of phenolic compounds. Therefore, the screening of phenolic off flavor (POF) negative strains has been carried out using mainly dried yeast products obtained from Lallemand. Of 47 yeast strains tested, the Uvaferm 228, Lalvin ICV Opale, Lalvin V1116 were found to be POF negative. We further examined the performance of winemaking using the yeasts, and the Uvaferm 228 was found to produce Koshu wine having rich aromas with many esters. The results of screening of POF negative yeasts and the GC-MS profile of the Uvaferm 228 are reported

Validation of a dietary balance score

This study assessed the validity of dietary balance scores (DBSs) by investigating the association between DBSs and nutrient adequacy (NA) in two Japanese populations. The participants were 65 community-dwelling Japanese from Tokushima Prefecture and 2,330 community-dwelling Japanese from Aichi Prefecture. Based on food frequency questionnaires or 3-day dietary records, we obtained 18 food groups. The NA score integrates nine beneficial nutrients and two nutrients that should be limited. We calculated four different DBSs: DBS1 consisted of five food groups (score range : 0–20), DBS2 consisted of nine food groups (score range : 0–36), DBS3 consisted of eight food groups (score range : 0–32), and DBS4 consisted of 10 food groups (score range : 0–40). Both the Spearman rank correlation coefficient with NA and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) for the nine beneficial nutrients were then estimated to test the performance of each DBS in predicting nutrient intake. The results showed that DBS1 and DBS4 were positively correlated with NA, while the AUC-ROC showed that DBS4 could moderately discriminate individuals with adequate intake levels of all nine nutrients. These findings suggest DBSs (especially DBS4) are useful in assessing dietary balance in middle-aged and older community-dwelling Japanese

Eribulin Treatment Induces High Expression of miR-195 and Inactivates the Wnt/β - catenin Signaling Pathway in Triple-negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer （TNBC） accounts for 10-15％ of all breast cancer cases and shows a poor prognosis with 30％ distant metastasis. With few specific target molecules and ineffective hormonal and anti-HER2 treatment, an alternative therapeutic method for TNBC is urgently required. Recently, a non-taxane inhibitor of microtubule dynamics called eribulin was developed for breast cancer therapy. Eribulin induces irreversible mitotic mass formation in cancer cells during the G2-M phase, initiating apoptosis; however, the mechanism underlying this eribulin activity remains unclear. We reported previously that exposing non-basal-like （NBL） TNBC cells to eribulin increases miR-195 expression, which in turn decreases the expression of targeted Wnt3a. The present study sought to further clarify the mechanism of this antitumor effect by exploring how eribulin affects Wnt/β - catenin signaling based on miRNA expression changes in TNBC. In an NBL type of human breast cancer cell line （MDA-MB-231 cells）, we compared the expression levels of Wnt/β catenin signaling pathway proteins in cells exposed to an miR-195 mimic （cells transfected with miR-195 and in which Wnt3a expression was suppressed） and in cells exposed to eribulin. Expression levels of Wnt3a, β -catenin, and GSK-3β were measured by ELISA and observed by fluorescence immunostaining. Wnt3a and β -catenin expression was significantly lower and GSK-3β expression was significantly higher in the cells exposed to eribulin and transfected with miR-195 mimic than in the untreated controls, suggesting that eribulin inactivates the Wnt/β -catenin signaling pathway. Therefore, a novel antitumor mechanism of eribulin was determined, whereby eribulin induces high expression of miR-195 to inactivate the Wnt/β -catenin signaling pathway in NBL-type TNBC

Successful Treatment of Protein-Losing Gastroenteropathy with Steroid Pulse and Immunosuppressive Therapies in a Patient with Sjögren Syndrome

We report the case of a 59-year-old female who developed facial edema together with hypoproteinemia. On the basis of 99mTc-human serum albumin scintigraphy and a1-antitrypsin clearance, she was diagnosed with protein-losing gastroenteropathy. Furthermore, she was diagnosed with Sjögren syndrome on the basis of eye and oral dryness, positive result with anti-SSA antibody, and salivary gland biopsy. Her symptoms improved with the use of immunosuppressive agents following steroid pulse therapy. Therefore, steroid pulse therapy and immunosuppressive agents should be considered as possible effective treatment strategies for protein-losing gastroenteropathy associated with autoimmune diseases

Feasibility pilot study of a Japanese teaching kitchen program

BackgroundThis pilot study examined the feasibility of a new lifestyle modification program involving a “Teaching Kitchen” in Japan. Our goal was to explore (1) feasibility of the program; (2) acceptability for class frequency (weekly vs. bi-weekly); and (3) changes in biometrics, dietary intakes, and lifestyle factors.MethodsA total of 24 employees with obesity in a Japanese company were recruited. Participants were randomly divided into two groups (weekly or bi-weekly group), each attending the program consisting of four two-hour classes (lectures on nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, and culinary instructions). Participants were observed for changes in dietary intakes, biometrics, and health related quality of life over the subsequent 3 months. We tested the between-group differences in changes using linear mixed-effect models.ResultsThe program completion rates were 83.3% in total (91.7% for weekly group and 75.0% for bi-weekly group). From baseline to post-intervention, significant decreases were observed in weight (p &lt; 0.001), body mass index (p &lt; 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.03), body fat mass (p &lt; 0.001), and dietary intakes in total fat (p = 0.03) and sodium (p = 0.008) among 17 participants who were available for measurements. Improvements in biometrics remained significant 1 month after the intervention (all p ≤ 0.03 in 14 participants). Participants' health related quality of life was significantly improved in bodily pain, general health, vitality, and mental component score (all p ≤ 0.047).ConclusionsThe new Japanese Teaching Kitchen program is feasible with high program completion rates in Japanese office workers with obesity. While this was a small feasibility study, significant multiple improvements in dietary intakes, biometrics, and health related quality of life suggest that this line of inquiry warrants further exploration to address obesity and obesity-related diseases in Japan

On the origin and evolution of the asteroid Ryugu: A comprehensive geochemical perspective

Presented here are the observations and interpretations from a comprehensive analysis of 16 representative particles returned from the C-type asteroid Ryugu by the Hayabusa2 mission. On average Ryugu particles consist of 50% phyllosilicate matrix, 41% porosity and 9% minor phases, including organic matter. The abundances of 70 elements from the particles are in close agreement with those of CI chondrites. Bulk Ryugu particles show higher δ18O, Δ17O, and ε54Cr values than CI chondrites. As such, Ryugu sampled the most primitive and least-thermally processed protosolar nebula reservoirs. Such a finding is consistent with multi-scale H-C-N isotopic compositions that are compatible with an origin for Ryugu organic matter within both the protosolar nebula and the interstellar medium. The analytical data obtained here, suggests that complex soluble organic matter formed during aqueous alteration on the Ryugu progenitor planetesimal (several 10’s of km), <2.6 Myr after CAI formation. Subsequently, the Ryugu progenitor planetesimal was fragmented and evolved into the current asteroid Ryugu through sublimation

A pristine record of outer Solar System materials from asteroid Ryugu’s returned sample

Volatile and organic-rich C-type asteroids may have been one of the main sources of Earth’s water. Our best insight into their chemistry is currently provided by carbonaceous chondritic meteorites, but the meteorite record is biased: only the strongest types survive atmospheric entry and are then modified by interaction with the terrestrial environment. Here we present the results of a detailed bulk and microanalytical study of pristine Ryugu particles, brought to Earth by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft. Ryugu particles display a close compositional match with the chemically unfractionated, but aqueously altered, CI (Ivuna-type) chondrites, which are widely used as a proxy for the bulk Solar System composition. The sample shows an intricate spatial relationship between aliphatic-rich organics and phyllosilicates and indicates maximum temperatures of ~30 °C during aqueous alteration. We find that heavy hydrogen and nitrogen abundances are consistent with an outer Solar System origin. Ryugu particles are the most uncontaminated and unfractionated extraterrestrial materials studied so far, and provide the best available match to the bulk Solar System composition

A dehydrated space-weathered skin cloaking the hydrated interior of Ryugu

Without a protective atmosphere, space-exposed surfaces of airless Solar System bodies gradually experience an alteration in composition, structure and optical properties through a collective process called space weathering. The return of samples from near-Earth asteroid (162173) Ryugu by Hayabusa2 provides the first opportunity for laboratory study of space-weathering signatures on the most abundant type of inner solar system body: a C-type asteroid, composed of materials largely unchanged since the formation of the Solar System. Weathered Ryugu grains show areas of surface amorphization and partial melting of phyllosilicates, in which reduction from Fe3+ to Fe2+ and dehydration developed. Space weathering probably contributed to dehydration by dehydroxylation of Ryugu surface phyllosilicates that had already lost interlayer water molecules and to weakening of the 2.7 µm hydroxyl (–OH) band in reflectance spectra. For C-type asteroids in general, this indicates that a weak 2.7 µm band can signify space-weathering-induced surface dehydration, rather than bulk volatile loss