Collective fusion activity determines neurotropism of an en bloc transmitted enveloped virus

麻疹（はしか）ウイルスが「協力」して脳炎を引き起こす仕組みを解明 --新規治療薬の開発やウイルス共通の進化メカニズム解明に期待--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-01-30.Measles virus (MeV), which is usually non-neurotropic, sometimes persists in the brain and causes subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) several years after acute infection, serving as a model for persistent viral infections. The persisting MeVs have hyperfusogenic mutant fusion (F) proteins that likely enable cell-cell fusion at synapses and "en bloc transmission" between neurons. We here show that during persistence, F protein fusogenicity is generally enhanced by cumulative mutations, yet mutations paradoxically reducing the fusogenicity may be selected alongside the wild-type (non-neurotropic) MeV genome. A mutant F protein having SSPE-derived substitutions exhibits lower fusogenicity than the hyperfusogenic F protein containing some of those substitutions, but by the wild-type F protein coexpression, the fusogenicity of the former F protein is enhanced, while that of the latter is nearly abolished. These findings advance the understanding of the long-term process of MeV neuropathogenicity and provide critical insight into the genotype-phenotype relationships of en bloc transmitted viruses

Effects of Lactobacillus gasseri

Some Lactobacillus spp. suppress Helicobacter pylori in the stomach and have potential therapeutic applications for the treatment of gastrointestinal conditions. In this study, the effects of Lactobacillus strains on functional dyspepsia associated with H. pylori infection were examined. Volunteers were screened using the 13C-urea breath test (UBT) and H. pylori stool test, and 131 participants who met the selection criteria (mean age: 48.9 years) were randomly given L. gasseri OLL2716-containing yogurt or placebo yogurt once daily for 12 weeks. Gastrointestinal symptoms (epigastric pain, bloating, postprandial fullness, nausea, and heartburn) and the levels of serum pepsinogen (PG), 13C-UBT, and H. pylori stool antigen were assessed. No significant differences were observed between the groups in UBT results, H. pylori stool antigens, or the serum PGI/II ratio. In the L. gasseri group, postprandial fullness was significantly lower at the end of the trial compared to the initial level (p<0.05) and significantly fewer patients had a VAS score of >10 for bloating compared to the placebo group (p<0.05). Dietary supplementation with L. gasseri OLL2716-containing yogurt may effectively suppress dyspeptic symptoms in H. pylori-infected patients. This study was registered at the University Hospital Medical Network Clinical Trial Registry (UMIN000016746)

Clinical Study Effects of Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2716 on Helicobacter pylori-Associated Dyspepsia: A Multicenter Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial

Some Lactobacillus spp. suppress Helicobacter pylori in the stomach and have potential therapeutic applications for the treatment of gastrointestinal conditions. In this study, the effects of Lactobacillus strains on functional dyspepsia associated with H. pylori infection were examined. Volunteers were screened using the 13 C-urea breath test (UBT) and H. pylori stool test, and 131 participants who met the selection criteria (mean age: 48.9 years) were randomly given L. gasseri OLL2716-containing yogurt or placebo yogurt once daily for 12 weeks. Gastrointestinal symptoms (epigastric pain, bloating, postprandial fullness, nausea, and heartburn) and the levels of serum pepsinogen (PG), 13 C-UBT, and H. pylori stool antigen were assessed. No significant differences were observed between the groups in UBT results, H. pylori stool antigens, or the serum PGI/II ratio. In the L. gasseri group, postprandial fullness was significantly lower at the end of the trial compared to the initial level ( &lt; 0.05) and significantly fewer patients had a VAS score of &gt;10 for bloating compared to the placebo group ( &lt; 0.05). Dietary supplementation with L. gasseri OLL2716-containing yogurt may effectively suppress dyspeptic symptoms in H. pylori-infected patients

大学を核とした総合型地域スポーツクラブの創設・育成・運営の可能性について : 仙南広域スポーツ研究会の活動報告から

In 1995, the (then) Ministry of Education launched the "Project for the General-purpose Local Sports Clubs Development Model," and in 2000 it devised the Basic Plan for the Promotion of Sports, which set the target of "developing at least one general-purpose local sports club in each municipality nationwide by 2010." Meanwhile, revision of the School Education Act made it compulsory for all universities to undergo regular third-party evaluation, and universities themselves were required to make tangible local contributions. As a result, some universities started to establish and operate general-purpose local sports clubs as a project for contributing to the local community. This paper investigates the possibility of establishing, developing and operating general-purpose local sports clubs centering on universities, including the development status of the general-purpose local sports clubs in Miyagi Prefecture. It also reports on the activities of the Support Project for General-purpose Local Sports Clubs

Distribution and Sedimentation Model of PCB in Tokyo Bay

1995年の束京湾の海水中の懸濁態PCB濃度と1960～1993年の底泥中のPCB濃度の鉛直分布を再現する数値モデルを作成し, このモデルを用いて将来のPCB濃度予測を行った. その結果, 2050年になっても東京湾の海水中, 底泥中のPCB濃度は顕著には減少しないことが明らかとなった.The concentration of particulate PCB in the sea water and its historical sedimentation pattern in Tokyo Bay are reproduced by the simple two-dimensional numerical model. Using this numerical model, the prediction of future PCB concentration in the sea water of Tokyo Bay is carried out