Silkworm larvae (Bombyx mori) can learn cues associated with finding food

The present study investigated the ability of silkworm Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) larvae to learn. Silkworm larvae were trained to consume food that was placed on red paper; consequently they became attracted to red, rather than blue paper even in the absence of food. In contrast, untrained controls had no preference for either red or blue paper. These results suggested that silkworm larvae learned to associate red paper with food, and that they can discriminate colors. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.560946

膵β細胞と膵α細胞の分化表現型はホメオティック遺伝子発現の差異と関連する

To identify the genes that determine differentiation phenotypes, we compared gene expression of pancreatic islet β- and α-cells, which are derived from the common precursor and secrete insulin and glucagon, respectively. The expression levels of homeotic genes including Hox genes known to determine region specificity in the antero-posterior (AP) body axis, tissue-specific homeobox genes, and other 8,734 genes were compared in a β- and α-cell line of MIN6 and αTC1.6. The expression of homeotic genes were surveyed with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using degenerate primers corresponding to invariant amino acid sequences within the homeodomain and subsequently with specific primers. Expression of Hoxc6, Hoxc9, Hoxc10, Pdx1, Cdx2, Gbx2, Pax4, and Hlxb9 genes in MIN6 was higher than those in αTC1.6, while expression of Hoxa2, Hoxa3, Hoxa5, Hoxa6, Hoxa7, Hoxa9, Hoxa10, Hoxa13, Hoxb3, Hoxb5, Hoxb6, Hoxb13, Hoxb8, and Brain4 genes in αTC1.6 was higher than those in MIN6. Out of 8,734 mouse genes screened with high-density mouse cDNA microarrays for MIN6- and αTC1.6-derived cDNA, 58 and 25 genes were differentially over- and under-expressed in MIN6, respectively. GLUTag, which is derived from a large bowel tumor and expresses the proglucagon gene, showed a comparatively similar expression profile to that of αTC1.6 in both homeotic and other genes analyzed in cDNA microarray. Our results are consistent with the interpretation that not only the tissue-specific homeotic genes, but also Hox genes are related to differentiation phenotypes of pancreatic β- and α-cells rather than their regional specification of the body in vertebrates

Phase I study of combined therapy with vorinostat and gefitinib to treat BIM deletion polymorphism-associated resistance in EGFR-mutant lung cancer (VICTROY-J) : a study protocol

The BIM deletion polymorphism is reported to be associated with poor outcomes of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with EGFR-TKIs, including gefitinib. We have shown that a histone deacetylase inhibitor, vorinostat, can epigenetically restore BIM function and apoptosis sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs in EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells with BIM deletion polymorphisms. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of combined treatment of vorinostat with gefitinib in BIM deletion polymorphism positive EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients. BIM deletion polymorphism positive EGFR mutant NSCLC patients treated with at least one EGFR-TKI and one regimen of chemotherapy are being recruited to this study. Vorinostat (200-400mg) will be administered orally once daily on days 1-7, and gefitinib 250 mg orally once daily on days 1-14. With a fixed dose of gefitinib, the dose of vorinostat will be escalated following a conventional 3+3 design. The primary endpoint is to define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of vorinostat combined with 250 mg of gefitinib. This is the first phase I study of combined therapy with vorinostat and gefitinib for NSCLC patients double selected for an EGFR mutation and BIM deletion polymorphism

Phase I/II study of alectinib in lung cancer with RET fusion gene : study protocol

Background : The rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion gene was discovered as a driver oncogene in 1-2% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Alectinib is an approved anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor that may also be effective for RET fusion-positive NSCLC. Methods/Design : RET fusion-positive NSCLC patients treated with at least one regimen of chemotherapy are being recruited. In step 1, alectinib (600 or 450 mg, twice daily) will be administered following a 3+3 design. The primary endpoint is safety. In step 2, alectinib will be administered at the recommended dose (RD) defined by step 1. The primary endpoint is the response rate of RET inhibitor treatment-naïve patients. Conclusion : This is the first study to investigate the safety and preliminary efficacy of alectinib in RET fusion-positive NSCLC patients. If successful, alectinib treatment may lead to substantial and important changes in the management of NSCLC with RET fusion genes

MRGD, a MAS-related G-protein Coupled Receptor, Promotes Tumorigenisis and Is Highly Expressed in Lung Cancer

To elucidate the function of MAS-related GPCR, member D (MRGD) in cancers, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo oncogenic function of MRGD using murine fibroblast cell line NIH3T3 in which MRGD is stably expressed. The expression pattern of MRGD in clinical samples was also analyzed. We found that overexpression of MRGD in NIH3T3 induced focus formation and multi-cellular spheroid formation, and promoted tumors in nude mice. In other words, overexpression of MRGD in NIH3T3 induced the loss of contact inhibition, anchorage-independent growth and in vivo tumorigenesis. Furthermore, it was found that the ligand of MRGD, beta-alanine, enhanced spheroid formation in MRGD-expressing NIH3T3 cells. From investigation of clinical cancer tissues, we found high expression of MRGD in several lung cancers by immunohistochemistry as well as real time PCR. Based on these results, MRGD could be involved in tumorigenesis and could also be a novel anticancer drug target

Successful treatment of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in a patient with gastric and rectal lesions with metachronous and ectopic development

A 75-year-old female, who had an abnormal stomach x-ray finding, was admitted to the hospital for further examination and therapy. Upper GI endoscopy showed reddish and swollen folds on the greater curvature of the gastric body and a biopsy was of this lesion revealed malignant lymphoma (small cell type or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma suspected). The patient was infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), however, in response to the patient's wishes, a total gastrectomy, omentectomy and splenectomy were performed and the histological diagnosis was gastric MALT lymphoma. Two courses of CHOP therapy (cyclophosphamide (CPM) 750 mg/m2/day, day 1, adriamycin (ADM) 50 mg/m2/day, day 1, vincristine sulfate (VCR) 1.4 mg/m2/day, day 1, prednisolone 100 mg/body, day 1–5) were administered as adjuvant chemotherapy. A colonoscopic examination performed about 4.5 yr after the operation revealed rectal submucosal tumors and the biopsied specimens were diagnosed as malignant lymphoma. A transanal focal resection was performed and the histological diagnosis was metachronous and ectopic development of MALT lymphoma. The histological finding was similar to the gastric lesion. About 4 and 7 yr after the first development of rectal MALT lymphoma, MALT lymphomas developed repeatedly in the rectal lesion, however, these were resected repeatedly and no developmenthas occurred during the past two years. This report presents a very rare case of metachronous and ectopic MALT lymphoma development in the gastric and rectal lesions

Economic Development and Law in Sub-Saharan Africa with Specific Reference to Legal Culture, Environmental Conservation and Technology Transfer

本取組は、2015-2017年度関西大学教育研究高度化促進費事業において、研究課題「アフリカの経済発展と法－サブサハラにおける法文化、環境保全、技術移転をめぐる総合的研究」として促進費を受け、ここにその成果の一部を公表するものである

Bone marrow stromal cell antigen-1 (CD157) regulated by sphingosine kinase 2 mediates kidney fibrosis

Chronic kidney disease is a progressive disease that may lead to end-stage renal disease. Interstitial fibrosis develops as the disease progresses. Therapies that focus on fibrosis to delay or reverse progressive renal failure are limited. We and others showed that sphingosine kinase 2-deficient mice (Sphk2−/−) develop less fibrosis in mouse models of kidney fibrosis. Sphingosine kinase2 (SphK2), one of two sphingosine kinases that produce sphingosine 1- phosphate (S1P), is primarily located in the nucleus. S1P produced by SphK2 inhibits histone deacetylase (HDAC) and changes histone acetylation status, which can lead to altered target gene expression. We hypothesized that Sphk2 epigenetically regulates downstream genes to induce fibrosis, and we performed a comprehensive analysis using the combination of RNA-seq and ChIP-seq. Bst1/CD157 was identified as a gene that is regulated by SphK2 through a change in histone acetylation level, and Bst1−/− mice were found to develop less renal fibrosis after unilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury, a mouse model of kidney fibrosis. Although Bst1 is a cell-surface molecule that has a wide variety of functions through its varied enzymatic activities and downstream intracellular signaling pathways, no studies on the role of Bst1 in kidney diseases have been reported previously. In the current study, we demonstrated that Bst1 is a gene that is regulated by SphK2 through epigenetic change and is critical in kidney fibrosis

これまでのプレイスメントテスト実施を振り返る

2002年度の工学部カリキュラム改正において,「基礎科目」が設置されるとともに,基礎教養科目等で習熟度別クラス編成による授業が行われることとなった。このクラス分けのために,現在,本学新入学学生は4月最初にいわゆるプレイスメントテストを受けている。プレイスメントテストについては毎年度,簡単な報告を行ってきたが,2002年度以来5回の実施を経たいま,これまでの経過報告を含めた全体報告を行おうと考えている。まず,プレイスメントテストに関しての経緯・状況を述べ,プレイスメントテストで得られたデータからいくつかの事実を報告する。次に各実施科目でのプレイスメントテストの状況報告を行う。In 2002, we started a new educational program for the freshmen in the faculty of engineering. We put new introductory courses for several subjects in the new program. Then the freshmen in our university started their study in classes to which they are arranged according to their proficiency level. For this classification, the freshmen have to take the "Placement Test" in the beginning of April. Every year since 2002, we have reported the results of the Placement Test briefly. In this article, we will report the processes and results of these five years