Genetic basis of lineage-specific evolution of fruit traits in hexaploid persimmon

Frequent polyploidization events in plants have led to the establishment of many lineage-specific traits representing each species. Little is known about the genetic bases for these specific traits in polyploids, presumably due to plant genomic complexity and their difficulties in applying genetic approaches. Hexaploid Oriental persimmon (Diospyros kaki) has evolved specific fruit characteristics, including wide variations in fruit shapes and astringency. In this study, using whole-genome diploidized/quantitative genotypes from ddRAD-Seq data of 173 persimmon cultivars, we examined their population structures and potential correlations between their structural transitions and variations in nine fruit traits. The population structures of persimmon cultivars were highly randomized and not substantially correlated with the representative fruit traits focused on in this study, except for fruit astringency. With genome-wide association analytic tools considering polyploid alleles, we identified the loci associated with the nine fruit traits; we mainly focused on fruit-shape variations, which have been numerically characterized by principal component analysis of elliptic Fourier descriptors. The genomic regions that putatively underwent selective sweep exhibited no overlap with the loci associated with these persimmon-specific fruit traits. These insights will contribute to understanding the genetic mechanisms by which fruit traits are independently established, possibly due to polyploidization events

Metformin directly binds the alarmin HMGB1 and inhibits its proinflammatory activity

Metformin is the first-line drug in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In addition to its hypoglycemic effect, metformin has an anti-inflammatory function, but the precise mechanism promoting this activity remains unclear. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an alarmin that is released from necrotic cells and induces inflammatory responses by its cytokine-like activity and is, therefore, a target of anti-inflammatory therapies. Here we identified HMGB1 as a novel metformin-binding protein by affinity purification using a biotinylated metformin analogue. Metformin directly bound to the C-terminal acidic tail of HMGB1. Both in vitro and in vivo, metformin inhibited inflammatory responses induced by full-length HMGB1 but not by HMGB1 lacking the acidic tail. In an acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury model in which HMGB1 released from injured cells exacerbates the initial injury, metformin effectively reduced liver injury and had no additional inhibitory effects when the extracellular HMGB1 was blocked by anti-HMGB1-neutralizing antibody. In summary, we report for the first time that metformin suppresses inflammation by inhibiting the extracellular activity of HMGB1. Because HMGB1 plays a major role in inflammation, our results suggest possible new ways to manage HMGB1-induced inflammation

A case of accidental ingestion of a partial denture base removed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy

Summary.The majority of accidental ingestions and aspirations of dental foreign bodies occur during dental treatment.However,most of them are naturally excreted without any problem although the time to excretion varies.Among dental foreign bodies,removable partial dentures involve the risk of causing perforation of the digestive tract due to the morphology of the clasp;therefore,improper treatment or measures may cause serious complications.Now,there are increasing opportunities to proactively use an endoscope to remove foreignsubstances from the gastrointestinal tract.We report a case of accidental ingestion of a removable partial denture,extracted by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.It is important to remove blunt foreign substances by endoscopy at an early stage.Simultaneously,it is imperative to enhance cooperation between dentistry and medicine and take appropriate measures

1P358 Structural analysis of the Mammalian Exocyst Complex(13. Membrane transport,Poster Session,Abstract,Meeting Program of EABS & BSJ 2006)

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Good's syndrome with clinical manifestation after thymectomy: A case report

Good's syndrome is a rare condition of immunodeficiency that is characterized by thymoma and hypogammaglobulinemia. A 74-year-old Japanese woman underwent total thymothymectomy for type AB thymoma (2015 WHO classification). She developed recurrent infectious diseases caused by Escherichia coli (bacteremia), Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumonia and bacteremia) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (bacteremia) in the year after thymectomy. The serum levels of immunoglobulin were significantly low (IgG 157mg/dL), which suggested that her infectious diseases were associated with Good's syndrome. Although she began receiving intravenous immunoglobulin every four weeks, she died of pneumonia a week after the second administration of immunoglobulin. When physicians encounter patients with recurrent infection who have a medical history of thymoma, the detection of hypogammaglubulinemia can be a key clue to the diagnosis of Good's syndrome. Keywords: Good's syndrome, Thymoma, Immunodeficiency, Hypogammaglobulinemi