A Novel Mutation of a Leucine Residue in Coil 1A of Keratin 9 in Epidermolytic Palmoplantar Keratoderma

Keratin 9 mutation was examined in a Japanese kindred of epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma (EPPK), which is a dominantly inherited autosomal disorder of keratinization characterized by diffuse thickening of the palms and soles and by epidermolytic hyperkeratosis histologically. We report herein a novel mutation, a C → G transversion at nucleotide position 541 that converts a leucine residue (CTC) to a valine (GTC) at codon 159. As in all other reported cases of keratin 9 mutation in EPPK, this mutation lies within the highly conserved coil 1A of the rod domain, which is considered to play a role in the correct alignment of the coiled-coil molecules

EVALUATION OF ARM STROKE TECHNIQUE IN FRONT CRAWL SWIMMING

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the high elbow technique in arm stroke motion, and to investigate the relationship between the technique and the swimming performance in front crawl swimming. Subjects were fourteen skilled male swimmers and five unskilled male swimmers. The arm stroke motions of subjects were captured threedimensionally (3-D) at 60 Hz during 25 m front crawl swimming. A new index of the high elbow arm stroke technique (high elbow index) was developed. The index was defined by the 3-D coordinates of the three joints (shoulder, elbow and wrist). As the result, the arm stroke technique of the skilled swimmers was different compared with the unskilled swimmers. Moreover, a significant correlation was obtained between the index and the swimming velocity. The results indicated that the index was effective to evaluate the arm stroke technique and the high elbow technique was effective for improvement of the swimming performance in front crawl swimming

COMPARISON OF BALL IMPACT CHARACTERISTICS BETWEEN SIDE-FOOT AND INSTEP KICKING IN SOCCER

The purpose of this study was to describe the kinematic characteristics during ball impact of soccer side-foot kicking. The foot and ball motions during ball impact phase of the instep and side-foot kicking were captured for two professional footballers using two ultra-high-speed cameras at 2000Hz. In the instep kicking, the foot was forced into plantar flexion, abduction and eversion by ball contact. On the other hand, in the sidefoot kicking, the passive plantar flexion motion was drastically restricted compared to that of instep kicking. Although the foot and ball velocity of the side-foot kicking were lower than those of the instep kicking, the efficiency of ball impact of the side-foot kicking approximately corresponded with that of the instep kicking. The complicated ball impact characteristics of side-foot kicking in highly skilled footballers were illustrated by ultrahigh- speed images

A Case of Funnel Chest Performed Sternal Turnover with Rectus Abdominis Muscle Pedicle

There are two types of surgical procedures for funnel chest: sternal turnover and sternocostal elevation. Both procedures have some merits and some demerits respectively,so the uniformed operative techniques for funnel chest are not concluded. However, it is most important that correction of excavation and prevention of postoperative repiratory dysfunction have completely performed. A 12- year-old boy with severe excavation in the anterior thorax admitted to our hospital was diagnosed as funnel chest.We underwent sternal turnover with rectus abdominis muscle pedicle.Some of reports ordinarily recommended overlap of only sternum to firm plastron and prevent postoperative flail chest. However, we respectively performed conjugation and overlap of both sternum and costal cartilages for more firm fixation of plastron (so-called Ravitch\u27s method),because the overlap of only sternum is not enough to fix plastron firmly.The patient was successfully treated without flail chest postoperative course.The postoperative appearance was satisfactory and respiratory symptom has improved

Combined Loss of JMJD1A and JMJD1B Reveals Critical Roles for H3K9 Demethylation in the Maintenance of Embryonic Stem Cells and Early Embryogenesis

Histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methylation is unevenly distributed in mammalian chromosomes. However, the molecular mechanism controlling the uneven distribution and its biological significance remain to be elucidated. Here, we show that JMJD1A and JMJD1B preferentially target H3K9 demethylation of gene-dense regions of chromosomes, thereby establishing an H3K9 hypomethylation state in euchromatin. JMJD1A/JMJD1B-deficient embryos died soon after implantation accompanying epiblast cell death. Furthermore, combined loss of JMJD1A and JMJD1B caused perturbed expression of metabolic genes and rapid cell death in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). These results indicate that JMJD1A/JMJD1B-meditated H3K9 demethylation has critical roles for early embryogenesis and ESC maintenance. Finally, genetic rescue experiments clarified that H3K9 overmethylation by G9A was the cause of the cell death and perturbed gene expression of JMJD1A/JMJD1B-depleted ESCs. We summarized that JMJD1A and JMJD1B, in combination, ensure early embryogenesis and ESC viability by establishing the correct H3K9 methylated epigenome

The Japanese space gravitational wave antenna; DECIGO

DECi-hertz Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory (DECIGO) is the future Japanese space gravitational wave antenna. DECIGO is expected to open a new window of observation for gravitational wave astronomy especially between 0.1 Hz and 10 Hz, revealing various mysteries of the universe such as dark energy, formation mechanism of supermassive black holes, and inflation of the universe. The pre-conceptual design of DECIGO consists of three drag-free spacecraft, whose relative displacements are measured by a differential Fabry– Perot Michelson interferometer. We plan to launch two missions, DECIGO pathfinder and pre- DECIGO first and finally DECIGO in 2024

DECIGO pathfinder

DECIGO pathfinder (DPF) is a milestone satellite mission for DECIGO (DECi-hertz Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory) which is a future space gravitational wave antenna. DECIGO is expected to provide us fruitful insights into the universe, in particular about dark energy, a formation mechanism of supermassive black holes, and the inflation of the universe. Since DECIGO will be an extremely large mission which will formed by three drag-free spacecraft with 1000m separation, it is significant to gain the technical feasibility of DECIGO before its planned launch in 2024. Thus, we are planning to launch two milestone missions: DPF and pre-DECIGO. The conceptual design and current status of the first milestone mission, DPF, are reviewed in this article