Geographical Distributions of Planktic Forminifera in Japan Sea Sueface Sediments

金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科東北大学Promoting Environmental Pesearch in Pan-Japan Sea Area : Young Researchers\u27 Network, Schedule: March 8-10,2006,Kanazawa Excel Hotel Tokyu, Japan, Organized by: Kanazawa University 21st-Century COE Program, Environmental Monitoring and Prediction of Long- & Short- Term Dynamics of Pan-Japan Sea Area ; IICRC(Ishikawa International Cooperation Research Centre), Sponsors : Japan Sea Research ; UNU-IAS(United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies)+Ishikawa Prefecture Government ; City of Kanazaw

Planktic foraminiferal assemblages and stable isotope records of the southern Japan Sea during the last 27,000 years

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All local anesthetics bind to the biomembrane by its nitrogen atom in the molecule

The interaction between various local anesthetics and the phospholipid membrane was examined by ^1HNMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) spectroscopy. In order to measure the extent of proximity of various local anesthetics to the membrane, We examinined the chemical shift value and broadening of half-width of choline methyl signal of the membrane. Electrostatic interaction was seen between positively charged nitrogen atom of local anesthetics and negatively charged oxygen atom of phospholipid membrane. It was also determined that binding ability to the membrane of tetracaine and dibucaine, both of which possess two positively charged nitrogen atoms, was stronger than that of anesthetics such as lidocaine, procaine and bupivacaine, possessing only one positively charged nitrogen atom. On the other hand, when the positively charged nitrogen atom is surrounded by bulky carbon chains, such as cocaine, the chemical shift and broadening of half-width of choline methyl signal in the membrane were virtually unaffected. The binding ability of local anesthetics to the phospholipid membrane was found to be directly proportional to the anesthetic potency, suggesting that positively charged nitrogen atom of local anesthetics plays an important role in the action mechanism of local anesthetics

The Role of Nephritis-Associated Plasmin Receptor (NAPlr) in Glomerulonephritis Associated with Streptococcal Infection

It is well known that glomerulonephritis can occur after streptococcal infection, which is classically referred to as acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN). The pathogenic mechanism of APSGN has been described by so-called immune complex theory, which involves glomerular deposition of nephritogenic streptococcal antigen and subsequent formation of immune complexes in situ and/or the deposition of circulating antigen-antibody complexes. However, the exact entity of the causative antigen has remained a matter of debate. We isolated a nephritogenic antigen for APSGN from the cytoplasmic fractions of group A streptococcus (GAS) depending on the affinity for IgG of APSGN patients. The amino acid and the nucleotide sequences of the isolated protein revealed to be highly identical to those of reported plasmin(ogen) receptor of GAS. Thus, we termed this antigen nephritis-associated plasmin receptor (NAPlr). Immunofluorescence staining of the renal biopsy tissues with anti-NAPlr antibody revealed glomerular NAPlr deposition in essentially all patients with early-phase APSGN. Furthermore, glomerular plasmin activity was detected by in situ zymography in the distribution almost identical to NAPlr deposition in renal biopsy tissues of APSGN patients. These data suggest that NAPlr has a direct, nonimmunologic function as a plasmin receptor and may contribute to the pathogenesis of APSGN by maintaining plasmin activity

Overexpression of Chitinase 3-Like 1/YKL-40 in Lung-Specific IL-18-Transgenic Mice, Smokers and COPD

We analyzed the lung mRNA expression profiles of a murine model of COPD developed using a lung-specific IL-18-transgenic mouse. In this transgenic mouse, the expression of 608 genes was found to vary more than 2-fold in comparison with control WT mice, and was clustered into 4 groups. The expression of 140 genes was constitutively increased at all ages, 215 genes increased gradually with aging, 171 genes decreased gradually with aging, and 82 genes decreased temporarily at 9 weeks of age. Interestingly, the levels of mRNA for the chitinase-related genes chitinase 3-like 1 (Chi3l1), Chi3l3, and acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) were significantly higher in the lungs of transgenic mice than in control mice. The level of Chi3l1 protein increased significantly with aging in the lungs and sera of IL-18 transgenic, but not WT mice. Previous studies have suggested Chi3l3 and AMCase are IL-13-driven chitinase-like proteins. However, IL-13 gene deletion did not reduce the level of Chi3l1 protein in the lungs of IL-18 transgenic mice. Based on our murine model gene expression data, we analyzed the protein level of YKL-40, the human homolog of Chi3l1, in sera of smokers and COPD patients. Sixteen COPD patients had undergone high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) examination. Emphysema was assessed by using a density mask with a cutoff of −950 Hounsfield units to calculate the low-attenuation area percentage (LAA%). We observed significantly higher serum levels in samples from 28 smokers and 45 COPD patients compared to 30 non-smokers. In COPD patients, there was a significant negative correlation between serum level of YKL-40 and %FEV1. Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between the serum levels of YKL-40 and LAA% in COPD patients. Thus our results suggest that chitinase-related genes may play an important role in establishing pulmonary inflammation and emphysematous changes in smokers and COPD patients

Japan Sea planktic foraminifera in surface sediments: Geographical distribution and relationships to surface water mass

Modern planktic foraminifera in 51 surface sediments from the Japan Sea, a marginal sea of the western North Pacific, were studied to reveal the relationships between geographical distribution and surface water masses in the Japan Sea. Twenty-four species belonging to 10 genera were identified, of which nine species, namely Neogloboquadrina incompta, Neogloboquadrina pachyderma, Globigerina quinqueloba, Globigerina bulloides, Globigerinoides ruber, Neogloboquadrina dutertrei, Pulleniatina obliquiloculata, Globigerinoides tenellus, and Globigerinita glutinata are predominant. We recognized four geographical distribution patterns of these dominant species that are related to hydrographic conditions in the Japan Sea. The transitional water formed by the mixture between the warm Tsushima Current and cold waters in the Japan Sea is optimal for N. incompta, while the distribution of N. pachyderma is matched with cold water in the northern Japan Sea. Globigerina quinqueloba and G. bulloides appear to be associated with less saline, nutrient-rich river water from the Changjiang (Yangtze River), and G. ruber, N. dutertrei, P. obliquiloculata, G. tenellus, and G. glutinata can be regarded as indicators of Tsushima Current Water. © by the Palaeontological Society of Japan