東アジアに分布するタイラギ類の遺伝的・形態学的多様性に関する研究

熊本大

NMDAR2B tyrosine phosphorylation regulates anxiety-like behavior and CRF expression in the amygdala

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Anxiety disorders are a highly prevalent and disabling class of psychiatric disorders. There is growing evidence implicating the glutamate system in the pathophysiology and treatment of anxiety disorders, though the molecular mechanism by which the glutamate system regulates anxiety-like behavior remains unclear.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, we provide evidence suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation of the NMDA receptor, an ionotropic glutamate receptor, contributes to anxiety-like behavior. The GluN2B subunit of the NMDA receptor is tyrosine-phosphorylated: Tyr-1472 is the major phosphorylation site. Homozygous knock-in mice that express a Tyr-1472-Phe mutant of GluN2B, which prevents phosphorylation of this site, show enhanced anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus-maze test. Expression of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), which is important for the regulation of anxiety-like behavior, is increased in the amygdala of the knock-in mice. Furthermore, injection of CRF receptor antagonist attenuated the enhanced anxiety-like behavior of the knock-in mice. We also show that elevated plus-maze exposure simultaneously induced de-phosphorylation of Tyr-1472 and increased CRF expression.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These data suggest that Tyr-1472 phosphorylation on GluN2B is important for anxiety-like behavior by negative regulation of CRF expression in the amygdala.</p

Ambient dose rate in Mikurashima Island after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

No detailed ambient dose rate has been reported, either before or after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (F1-NPP) accident, for Mikurashima Island, one of the islands within the authority of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Thus, the ambient dose rate on Mikurashima Island was observed 4.5 years after the F1-NPP accident. A car-borne survey and a foot patrol survey of the ambient dose rates were conducted over the entire island using a 3-in × 3-in NaI(Tl) scintillation spectrometer. The average ambient dose rate was 27 nGy h^-1 (12 – 45 nGy h^-1) and a higher dose distribution was observed for the northern and eastern areas of Mikurashima Island. However, the impact from the F1-NPP accident (i.e., the presence of artificial radionuclides) was mainly observed for the mountain area of the island (4 – 9 nGy h^-1; located about the center to south-southeast direction). Based on the measured ambient dose rate, the estimated annual effective dose after the accident was 0.09 mSv y^-1

ゲンパツセイ コウジョウセンガン ノ ネンレイ ニヨル リンショウ ビョウリガクテキ トクチョウ オヨビ ヨゴ ノ ヒカク ケントウ

Two-hundred thirty-six patients with primary thyroid cancer who received operation were divided into two groups by age, i.e.,５９patients of age ＜４５years（Early adulthood, EA）and１７７ patients of age≧４５years（advanced age, AA）. Clinicopathologic factors and disease-free survival （DFS）were compared between the two groups. There was no difference in clinicopathologic factors except for higher proportion of patients with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma in the AA patients than in the EA patients（６．７％ vs. ０％, p＝０．０４１）. DFS was significantly longer in the AA patients than in the EA patients（disease-free rates at１０years after operation，９４．８％ vs. ７２．５％, p＝０．００３１）. Overall survival was not different between the two groups. The EA patients who showed shorten DFS were divided into two groups，１７ patients of age ＜３０ years （juvenile and young adult, JYA）and ４２ patients of age ≧３０ years, and DFS of each group was compared with that of the AA patients. Although disease-free survival rates at １０ years of the JYA patients were not different（９２．６％ vs.９４．８％, p＝０．１２５）, those of patients of age ≧３０years were significantly lower than those of the AA patients（７０．０％ vs. ９４．８％, p＝０．００２１）. These findings suggest that patients with primary thyroid cancer who are ≧３０ years old in the young adulthood should be observed carefully after operation for early detection of relapse

Psychiatric-disorder-related behavioral phenotypes and cortical hyperactivity in a mouse model of 3q29 deletion syndrome

3q29 microdeletion, a rare recurrent copy number variant (CNV), greatly confers an increased risk of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as intellectual disability. However, disease-relevant cellular phenotypes of 3q29 deletion syndrome remain to be identified. To reveal the molecular and cellular etiology of 3q29 deletion syndrome, we generated a mouse model of human 3q29 deletion syndrome by chromosome engineering, which achieved construct validity. 3q29 deletion (Df/+) mice showed reduced body weight and brain volume and, more importantly, impaired social interaction and prepulse inhibition. Importantly, the schizophrenia-related impaired prepulse inhibition was reversed by administration of antipsychotics. These findings are reminiscent of the growth defects and neuropsychiatric behavioral phenotypes in patients with 3q29 deletion syndrome and exemplify that the mouse model achieves some part of face validity and predictive validity. Unbiased whole-brain imaging revealed that neuronal hyperactivation after a behavioral task was strikingly exaggerated in a restricted region of the cortex of Df/+ mice. We further elucidated the cellular phenotypes of neuronal hyperactivation and the reduction of parvalbumin expression in the cortex of Df/+ mice. Thus, the 3q29 mouse model provides invaluable insight into the disease-causative molecular and cellular pathology of psychiatric disorders

若年性乳腺線維腺腫

A １２-year-old, premenarchal girl with a rapidly growing breast lump was transferred to our hospital. Ultrasonography revealed a ７．９×７．７×３．３cm large well-circumscribed hypoechoic tumor in the medial region of her right breast. After ２ months of this first visit, the breast lump had enlarged to１０ cm in diameter and was consequently subjected to a wide excision. Size of the tumor was９．５×９．２×３．０cm. Histopathological diagnosis was fibroadenoma without any malignant component. One year after the operation, a new lump with a diameter of４cm was detected in the lateral region of her right breast that had a similar appearance of the previous tumor. The tumor was excised as earlier and diagnosed as fibroadenoma. We present an extremely rare case of a rapidly growing breast fibroadenoma in a premenarchal girl. To the best of our knowledge, there were only ２１ cases reported in Japan. Since the patient is concerned that another asynchronous fibroadenoma might occur, she needs a long-term and careful follow-up

キョウクウキョウカ ニ セツジョ シタ ジュウカクナイ イショセイ フクコウジョウセン センシュ

A woman in her ６０s who was diagnosed as having hypercalcemia and hyperparathyroidism was referred to our hospital. Serum calcium and intact parathyroid hormone levels were１１．４mg/ ml and １０７ pg/ml, respectively. Chest computed tomography revealed an enhanced mass measuring approximately１．５cm located in the anterior mediastinum. ９９mTc-Methoxy-isobutylisonitrile scintigraphy demonstrated an anterior mediastinal mass. These findings suggested an ectopic parathyroid tumor located in the mediastinum. The patient underwent resection of the parathyroid tumor with video-assisted thoracic surgery（VATS）. The operation time was １１４ min. The postoperative day１（POD１）calcium level rapidly decreased to８．３mg/ml. The patient was discharged on POD５, and there have been no signs of recurrence １ year after the surgery. Parathyroidectomy by VATS for ectopic mediastinal parathyroid tumors is advantageous because it is less invasive and more cosmetic. VATS may be used as a standard approach for ectopic mediastinal parathyroid tumors. We report the surgical treatment of a case of ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma using video-assisted thoracoscope

中毒性多結節性甲状腺腫

A woman in her 80s who was diagnosed with multiple thyroid tumors and subclinical hyperthyroidism 1 year previously was referred to our outpatient clinic due to deteriorated hyperthyroidism. She was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy 4 years ago. Her cardiac function has been stabilized with medical conservative treatment. Blood autoantibody levels, including TSAb and TRAb, were within normal ranges. Ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed multiple tumor lesions in both thyroid lobes. Tc-99m scintigraphy showed multiple hot nodules in both thyroid lobes. Because the patient’s thyroid function had deteriorated, we selected surgical total thyroidectomy rather than radioisotope treatment as the most appropriate treatment. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen demonstrated multiple nodular lesions with a maximum size of 23 mm and a microlesion of papillary carcinoma 2 mm in diameter in the thyroid. A few days after surgery, thyroid function blood levels declined to the normal range

本学の教育理念及びVision 150 を活かした共通英語教育開発のための基礎研究：１年目のまとめと考察

The aim of this paper is to report the results of our first-year research project named “fundamental research on developing new English language courses by actualizing the philosophy of education at DWCLA and principles of the vision 150 (English 2020)”. The paper consists of six parts. First, the overall research project English 2020 is briefly introduced. The second part discusses the aims of English language learning at the university. This is followed by the analyses of studentsʼ four skills on the TOEIC IP test. Next, we analyzed first-year studentsʼ strategies of English language learning. We also carried out a voluntary English class called “English salon” and reflected on these practices. Finally, the agendas of our monthly meetings regarding the research project up to the present time are briefly reported.論