Complete mitochondrial genome sequences for Crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci and Acanthaster brevispinus

BACKGROUND: The crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci (L.), has been blamed for coral mortality in a large number of coral reef systems situated in the Indo-Pacific region. Because of its high fecundity and the long duration of the pelagic larval stage, the mechanism of outbreaks may be related to its meta-population dynamics, which should be examined by larval sampling and population genetic analysis. However, A. planci larvae have undistinguished morphological features compared with other asteroid larvae, hence it has been difficult to discriminate A. planci larvae in plankton samples without species-specific markers. Also, no tools are available to reveal the dispersal pathway of A. planci larvae. Therefore the development of highly polymorphic genetic markers has the potential to overcome these difficulties. To obtain genomic information for these purposes, the complete nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial genome of A. planci and its putative sibling species, A. brevispinus were determined and their characteristics discussed. RESULTS: The complete mtDNA of A. planci and A. brevispinus are 16,234 bp and 16,254 bp in size, respectively. These values fall within the length variation range reported for other metazoan mitochondrial genomes. They contain 13 proteins, 2 rRNA, and 22 tRNA genes and the putative control region in the same order as the asteroid, Asterina pectinifera. The A + T contents of A. planci and A. brevispinus on their L strands that encode the majority of protein-coding genes are 56.3% and 56.4% respectively and are lower than that of A. pectinifera (61.2%). The percent similarity of nucleotide sequences between A. planci and A. brevispinus is found to be highest in the CO2 and CO3 regions (both 90.6%) and lowest in ND2 gene (84.2%) among the 13 protein-coding genes. In the deduced putative amino acid sequences, CO1 is highly conserved (99.2%), and ATP8 apparently evolves faster any of the other protein-coding gene (85.2%). CONCLUSION: The gene arrangement, base composition, codon usage and tRNA structure of A. planci are similar to those of A. brevispinus. However, there are significant variations between A. planci and A. brevispinus. Complete mtDNA sequences are useful for the study of phylogeny, larval detection and population genetics

Epigenetic modulation of Fgf21 in the perinatal mouse liver ameliorates diet-induced obesity in adulthood

The nutritional environment to which animals are exposed in early life can lead to epigenetic changes in the genome that influence the risk of obesity in later life. Here, we demonstrate that the fibroblast growth factor-21 gene (Fgf21) is subject to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α–dependent DNA demethylation in the liver during the postnatal period. Reductions in Fgf21 methylation can be enhanced via pharmacologic activation of PPARα during the suckling period. We also reveal that the DNA methylation status of Fgf21, once established in early life, is relatively stable and persists into adulthood. Reduced DNA methylation is associated with enhanced induction of hepatic FGF21 expression after PPARα activation, which may partly explain the attenuation of diet-induced obesity in adulthood. We propose that Fgf21 methylation represents a form of epigenetic memory that persists into adulthood, and it may have a role in the developmental programming of obesity

A Case of Dermatomyositis with Esophageal Fistula in Whom Blind Mucosal Biopsy Detected Occult Oropharyngeal Carcinoma

We present a case of anti-transcription intermediary factor 1 (anti-TIF-1) antibody-positive dermatomyositis with concomitant esophageal fistula and extensive truncal erythema. The characteristic cutaneous features and presence of anti-TIF-1 antibodies were predictive for internal malignancy. However, repeated examinations for internal malignancy showed none, and blind mucosal biopsy was needed to diagnose oropharyngeal carcinoma. We should note the possibility of occult nasopharyngeal carcinoma and consider performing blind mucosal biopsy in dermatomyositis with esophageal fistula, especially with extensive truncal erythema

Samtykke som opphevelsesgrunn av advokaters taushetsplikt

Oppgaven tar for seg problemstillinger som kan oppstå i situasjoner der det blir aktuelt å samtykke til opphevelse av advokaters taushetsplikt. Oppgaven behandler hensynene bak taushetsplikten og avveier disse mot hensyn til klienten, advokaten og samfunnet

Survey of the current status of cancer rehabilitation in Japan

Purpose: To elucidate the current status of cancer rehabilitation in institutions nationwide. Method: A questionnaire survey regarding the current status of cancer rehabilitation in 1693 health care institutions was conducted by mail. The survey first asked whether rehabilitation was being conducted for cancer patients, and in facilities in which it was being conducted, it then asked about the content of the rehabilitation, the stage of the cancer patients, etc. Facilities in which cancer rehabilitation was not being conducted were surveyed in regard to whether there was a need for cancer rehabilitation. Results: Valid replies were obtained from 1045 (62.0%) institutions, and 864 (82.7%) of them conducted rehabilitation for cancer patients. A high proportion of the content of the rehabilitation was found to be related to physical function. Activities of daily living guidance and training were also found to be conducted in a high proportion. Low proportions of the facilities conducted content that was specialized for cancer. Of the 181 facilities in which rehabilitation was not being conducted for cancer patients, 171 (94.5%) replied that they felt that rehabilitation was needed for cancer patients. Conclusions: Based on the results of this fact-finding survey it will be necessary to consider strategies for popularizing and developing rehabilitation programs for cancer patients in Japan

Multicenter, Open Label, Randomized Controlled Superiority Trial for Availability to Reduce Nocturnal Urination Frequency: Study Protocol for a TOP-STAR Study

Nocturia is a common disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus that can reduce the quality of life. Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors increase the urine volume and are often discontinued when polyuria occurs, although tofogliflozin, which has a short half-life in the blood, may improve nocturia by managing hyperglycemia and hypertension, without aggravating nocturia. As excessive sodium intake worsens nocturia and increases urine volume, sodium restriction is also effective in managing nocturia. This multicenter, open-label, randomized parallel-group trial will examine 80 patients with type 2 diabetes who experienced nocturia. After the baseline examination, the patients are randomly stratified into two groups and receive tofogliflozin treatment with or without sodium restriction for 12 weeks. The primary outcome is nocturia frequency at 12 weeks. The secondary outcomes are the frequency of daytime urine, changes in urine volume, and changes in home blood pressure

Multicenter, Open Label, Randomized Controlled Superiority Trial for Availability to Reduce Nocturnal Urination Frequency: Study Protocol for a TOP-STAR Study

Nocturia is a common disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus that can reduce the quality of life. Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors increase the urine volume and are often discontinued when polyuria occurs, although tofogliflozin, which has a short half-life in the blood, may improve nocturia by managing hyperglycemia and hypertension, without aggravating nocturia. As excessive sodium intake worsens nocturia and increases urine volume, sodium restriction is also effective in managing nocturia. This multicenter, open-label, randomized parallel-group trial will examine 80 patients with type 2 diabetes who experienced nocturia. After the baseline examination, the patients are randomly stratified into two groups and receive tofogliflozin treatment with or without sodium restriction for 12 weeks. The primary outcome is nocturia frequency at 12 weeks. The secondary outcomes are the frequency of daytime urine, changes in urine volume, and changes in home blood pressure