230 research outputs found

    Junior Recital

    Full text link
    List of performers and performances

    Quantitative analysis of bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) gene expression in calf and adult bovine ovaries

    Get PDF
    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It has been reported that calf oocytes are less developmentally competent than oocytes obtained from adult cows. Bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and growth and differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) play critical roles in folliculogenesis, follicular development and ovulation in mammalian ovaries. In the present study, we attempted to compare the expression patterns of <it>BMP15 </it>and <it>GDF9 </it>in the cells of calf and cow ovaries to determine a relationship between the level of these genes and the low developmental competence of calf oocytes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Bovine tissues were collected from 9-11 months-old calves and from 4-6 years-old cows. We characterized the gene expression of BMP15 and GDF9 in calf and adult bovine oocytes and cumulus cells using quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) and <it>in situ </it>hybridization. Immunohistochemical analysis was also performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The expression of <it>BMP15 </it>and <it>GDF9 </it>in cumulus cells of adult ovaries was significantly higher than that in calf ovaries, as revealed by QPCR. <it>GDF9 </it>expression in the oocytes of calf ovaries was significantly higher than in those of the adult ovaries. In contrast, <it>BMP15 </it>expression in the oocytes of calf and adult ovaries was not significantly different. The localization of gene expression and protein were ascertained by histochemistry.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our result showed for the first time BMP15 and GDF9 expression in bovine cumulus cells. <it>BMP15 </it>and <it>GDF9 </it>mRNA expression in oocytes and cumulus cells was different in calves and cows.</p

    Senior Recital

    Full text link
    Program listing performers and works performe

    Evaluation of Asthenopia Caused by Game Consoles

    Get PDF
    A visual function test and a questionnaire survey on asthenopia were performed before and after the use of a game console and compared to clarify the influence of the use of a game console on the visual function and asthenopia of healthy young people. The subjects were 20 healthy young persons aged 20.0 ± 0.5 years (17 females and 3 males). The near point, the rate of high frequency component (HFC) of accommodative microfluctuation, and lacrimal secretion were measured and an original questionnaire survey on asthenopia was performed before and after carrying out a task using a game console. The task was continuous playing of an action race game,‘MARIOKART 8’ (Nintendo) using Wii U (Nintendo), for 2 hours at a visual distance of 170 cm. The near point was 11.86D before the task and it significantly extended to 10.98D after the task (p < 0.05). The rates of HFC of the dominant eye before and after the task were 13.3 and 8.6%, respectively. Those of the non-dominant eye were 8.4 and 8.2%, respectively. And the lacrimal secretions were 21.2 and 21.0 mm, respectively. All the tasks showed no significant changes after each task in any parameter. The score of the subjective questionnaire survey was 14.6 before the task and it significantly increased to 34.8 after the task (p < 0.05). The task of continuous 2-hour operation of the game console significantly extended the near point and caused subjective fatigue

    A new therapeutic strategy with istradefylline for postural deformities in Parkinson’s disease

    Get PDF
    Aim of the study. Postural deformities are common in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. Several treatment options have been reported, but responses to these treatments appear unpredictable. Istradefylline is a novel drug for PD. Cases of PD patients whose postural deformities were improved after withdrawal of dopamine agonists and initiation of istradefylline are presented. Materials and Methods. Four consecutive patients with postural deformities including antecollis, Pisa syndrome, and camptocormia were recruited and treated with istradefylline in combination with withdrawal of dopamine agonists, which are possible causes of postural deformities. Results. The dopamine agonists were discontinued an average of 26 months after the development of the postural deformities, and istradefylline was initiated an average of 1.3 months after dopamine agonist withdrawal. Three patients with preserved paraspinal muscle volume showed good responses to the treatment regimen at least two months after dopamine agonist withdrawal. Conclusions and clinical Implications. Postural deformities caused by dopamine agonists generally improve less than two weeks after dopamine agonist withdrawal. Given the response time in the present study, the response was unlikely to be caused solely by dopamine agonist withdrawal. Istradefylline can be a potential therapeutic option; however, appropriate selection of patients for treatment with istradefylline is warranted

    Novel protein extraction approach using micro-sized chamber for evaluation of proteins eluted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections

    Get PDF
    We describe a novel antigen-retrieval method using a micro-sized chamber for mass spectrometry (MS) analysis to identify proteins that are preferentially eluted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. This approach revealed that heat-induced antigen retrieval (HIAR) from an FFPE sample fixed on a glass slide not only improves protein identification, but also facilitates preferential elution of protein subsets corresponding to the properties of antigen-retrieval buffers. Our approach may contribute to an understanding of the mechanism of HIAR

    Convocation

    Full text link
    Program listing performers and works performe
    corecore