Effect of temperature on achene germination in five Mutisieae understory herbaceous species（Asteraceae）

We measured the final germination rates of achenes, the number of days needed to accomplish 50% of the final germination（T50）, and mortalities under various temperatures in the range 5 to 25℃for five understory peren-nial herbs（four species with large achenes of ca. 10 mg weight : Pertya robusta, P . triloba, P . rigidula and Ain-sliaea acerifolia var. subapoda, and one species with small achenes（1mg）: A. apiculata）to investigate variation of these traits. Achenes were collected in Ogawa and Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture, and in Iwakuni in Fukui Prefec-ture. T50 ranged from 35 to 76 days at 5℃and became shorter with increasing temperature. The final germina-tion rates of most samples were over 95%. Ainsliaea acerifolia had the longest T50（76 days）and the lowest final germination rate（86.1%）at 5℃, showing a dormant ability to some extent. Moreover, A. apiculata possessing small achenes showed a lower final germination rate（83%）at 25℃, and dormancy at higher temperatures. Fun-gal attack was thought to cause the death of achenes during the germination period, and mortalities increased with increasing temperature. However, there were no significant differences in final germination rates and T50s between two populations of P . robusta from Ogawa and Mito, though the Ogawa population had a higher mor-tality than the Mito population（27% vs. 18% at 25℃）. Mortalities were higher in P . triloba and P . rigidula than in the other species. There were intra- and interspecific variations of temperature dependency of achene mortal-ity during germination, and these variations may be one of the factors limiting the distribution of each species

Functional expression of thiocyanate hydrolase is promoted by its activator protein, P15K

AbstractThiocyanate hydrolase (SCNase) is a cobalt-containing enzyme with a post-translationally modified cysteine ligand, γCys131-SO2H. When the SCNase α, β and γ subunits were expressed in Escherichia coli, the subunits assembled to form a hetero-dodecamer, (αβγ)4, like native SCNase but exhibited no catalytic activity. Metal analysis indicated that SCNase was expressed as an apo-form irrespective of the presence of cobalt in the medium. On the contrary, SCNase co-expressed with P15K, encoded just downstream of SCNase genes, in cobalt-enriched medium under the optimized condition (SCNase(+P15K)) possessed 0.86 Co atom/αβγ trimer and exhibited 78% of the activity of native SCNase. SCNase(+P15K) showed a UV–Vis absorption peak characteristic of the SCNase cobalt center. About 70% of SCNase(+P15K) had the γCys131-SO2H modification. These results indicate that SCNase(+P15K) is the active holo-SCNase. P15K is likely to promote the functional expression of SCNase probably by assisting the incorporation of cobalt ion

Crystal structure of A3B3 complex of V-ATPase from Thermus thermophilus

Vacuolar-type ATPases (V-ATPases) exist in various cellular membranes of many organisms to regulate physiological processes by controlling the acidic environment. Here, we have determined the crystal structure of the A3B3 subcomplex of V-ATPase at 2.8 Å resolution. The overall construction of the A3B3 subcomplex is significantly different from that of the α3β3 sub-domain in FoF1-ATP synthase, because of the presence of a protruding ‘bulge' domain feature in the catalytic A subunits. The A3B3 subcomplex structure provides the first molecular insight at the catalytic and non-catalytic interfaces, which was not possible in the structures of the separate subunits alone. Specifically, in the non-catalytic interface, the B subunit seems to be incapable of binding ATP, which is a marked difference from the situation indicated by the structure of the FoF1-ATP synthase. In the catalytic interface, our mutational analysis, on the basis of the A3B3 structure, has highlighted the presence of a cluster composed of key hydrophobic residues, which are essential for ATP hydrolysis by V-ATPases

Risk-adjusted therapy for pediatric non-T cell ALL improves outcomes for standard risk patients: results of JACLS ALL-02

This study was a second multicenter trial on childhood ALL by the Japan Childhood Leukemia Study Group (JACLS) to improve outcomes in non-T ALL. Between April 2002 and March 2008, 1138 children with non-T ALL were enrolled in the JACLS ALL-02 trial. Patients were stratified into three groups using age, white blood cell count, unfavorable genetic abnormalities, and treatment response: standard risk (SR), high risk (HR), and extremely high risk (ER). Prophylactic cranial radiation therapy (PCRT) was abolished except for CNS leukemia. Four-year event-free survival (4yr-EFS) and 4-year overall survival (4yr-OS) rates for all patients were 85.4% ± 1.1% and 91.2% ± 0.9%, respectively. Risk-adjusted therapy resulted in 4yr-EFS rates of 90.4% ± 1.4% for SR, 84.9% ± 1.6% for HR, and 66.5% ± 4.0% for ER. Based on NCI risk classification, 4yr-EFS rates were 88.2% in NCI-SR and 76.4% in NCI-HR patients, respectively. Compared to previous trial ALL-97, 4yr-EFS of NCI-SR patients was significantly improved (88.2% vs 81.2%, log rank p = 0.0004). The 4-year cumulative incidence of isolated (0.9%) and total (1.5%) CNS relapse were significantly lower than those reported previously. In conclusion, improved EFS in NCI-SR patients and abolish of PCRT was achieved in ALL-02

幼児の家庭における食生活についての研究 : 第1報 昭和59年名古屋市内享栄学園幼稚園児の栄養摂取状態についての検討(自然科学編)

名古屋市の中心部幼稚園における年齢5～6才の園児48名(男子20名・女子28名)を対象とし,昭和59年11月1日～3日にわたり,栄養摂取状態について調査を行なった。(1)性別,栄養素別平均摂取量をしらべた結果は,エネルギー,たん白質,脂肪,鉄,ビタミンA,ビタミンB_1,ビタミンB_2およびビタミンCのいずれの栄養素もその所要量をそれぞれ充足していたが,カルシウム摂取量については男子のみが所要量を9%も下回り,女子はそれを上回っており,両者との問で危険率5%で有意差が認められた。ついで,その栄養摂取量について男子と女子との間に有意差が認められたのは,エネルギーで,男子が危険率1%で女子のそれよりも有意に高い値であった。なお,間食についても,1日の栄養バランスが乱れるような不適正なエネルギー摂取量の園児がかなり認められた。(2)上記の栄養素別摂取量を個人別にみた場合は,個人差が大きくすべての栄養素について,それぞれの所要量に対する未満園児が認められた。3)摂取総エネルギーに対するPFC比のうち,F比が30%以上の園児が,男子では20名中10名,女子では23名中17名も認められ,さらにそれらの園児のP/S比をみると,男子では10名中8名が,女子では17名中14名が1.0以下であった。このことから園児の飽和脂肪酸の過剰摂取の傾向について無視し得ないことがわかった。(4)食塩の平均摂取量では男子は4.6g,女子では3.9gであった。(5)粗繊維の平均摂取量は,男子では3.4g,女子では2.5gであり,低繊維食への傾向が認められた。Investigations were carried out from November 15t through 3rd, 1984 concerning the nutrition intake by 48 children (5 to 6 years old, 20 males and 28 females attending a kindergarten in the central part of Nagoya city). (1) The results of an investigation on the average intakes by sex and by nutritive element showed that the intakes of energy, protein, fat, iron, vitamin A, B_1, B_2 and C all satisfied their required amounts, but that calcium intake by male children was as much as 9% less than its requirement while female children took more calcium than required. The difference between males and females was statistically significant (p<0.05). Energy intake also differed significantly between both sexes : male children took significantly more energy than female children(p<0.01). (2) When the above -mentioned nutrition intake by nutritive element was examined individually there were large variations between individual children and each of the element requirements was not satisfied by some of the children. (3) Of the ratios of PFC to total energy intake the F ratio was above 30% for 10 male children out of 20, and for as many as 17 female children out of 23. Their P/ S ratio was below 1.0 for eight male children out of 10, and for 14 female children out of 17. The results shows a non-negligible tendency among kindergarten children towards excessive intake of saturated fatty acids. (4) The average salt intake was 4.6g for male children and 3.9g for female children. (5) The average crude fiber intake was 3.4g for male children and 2.5g for female children. A tendency towards low fiber diet was found

A multicenter randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nelfinavir in patients with mild COVID-19

Nelfinavir, an orally administered inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus protease, inhibits the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in vitro. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of nelfinavir in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We included unvaccinated asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic adult patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection within 3 days before enrollment. The patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive oral nelfinavir (750 mg; thrice daily for 14 days) combined with standard-of-care or standard-of-care alone. The primary endpoint was the time to viral clearance, confirmed using quantitative reverse-transcription PCR by assessors blinded to the assigned treatment. A total of 123 patients (63 in the nelfinavir group and 60 in the control group) were included. The median time to viral clearance was 8.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.0 to 12.0) days in the nelfinavir group and 8.0 (95% CI, 7.0 to 10.0) days in the control group, with no significant difference between the treatment groups (hazard ratio, 0.815; 95% CI, 0.563 to 1.182; P = 0.1870). Adverse events were reported in 47 (74.6%) and 20 (33.3%) patients in the nelfinavir and control groups, respectively. The most common adverse event in the nelfinavir group was diarrhea (49.2%). Nelfinavir did not reduce the time to viral clearance in this setting. Our findings indicate that nelfinavir should not be recommended in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The study is registered with the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT2071200023). IMPORTANCE The anti-HIV drug nelfinavir suppresses the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in vitro. However, its efficacy in patients with COVID-19 has not been studied. We conducted a multicenter, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of orally administered nelfinavir in patients with asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic COVID-19. Compared to standard-of-care alone, nelfinavir (750 mg, thrice daily) did not reduce the time to viral clearance, viral load, or the time to resolution of symptoms. More patients had adverse events in the nelfinavir group than in the control group (74.6% [47/63 patients] versus 33.3% [20/60 patients]). Our clinical study provides evidence that nelfinavir, despite its antiviral effects on SARS-CoV-2 in vitro, should not be recommended for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 having no or mild symptoms