High temporal resolution chemical analysis of H72 ice core in east Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica

The H72 ice core collected in east Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica has been analyzed in detail. Concentrations of Na^+ and Cl^- indicate the highest correlation coefficients, so we can say that both ions in the H72 ice core originated from sea salt. The fluctuation pattern of δ18O below the depth of 45m proves that the δ^(18)O distribution is smoothed by water vapor diffusion in the firn layer. An increasing tendency of NO_3^- and nssSO_4^(2-) concentrations in the shallow layer has not been found in the H72 ice core. The H72 ice core is dated as AD 1837 by the periodic concentration fluctuation of MSA at 73.29m depth. Volcanic signals are detected in 49 layers in the H72 ice core. In the late 19th century many volcanic eruptions were recorded, which explains why many volcanic signals are present in the H72 ice core. It is noted that a year with low temperatures in winter and a low annual minimum δ^(18)O will have high surface mass balance and more snowfall. Considerable nssSO_4^(2-) has been released into the atmosphere by human activity in the 20th century, but we cannot find traces of a recent increase in deposition of nssSO_4^(2-) at the H72 site

Combination of genetic analysis and ancient literature survey reveals the divergence of traditional Brassica rapa varieties from Kyoto, Japan

京の伝統野菜ミブナの育種の歴史を解明. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-06-02.Since ancient times, humans have bred several plants that we rely on today. However, little is known about the divergence of most of these plants. In the present study, we investigated the divergence of Mibuna (Brassica rapa L. subsp. nipposinica L. H. Bailey), a traditional leafy vegetable in Kyoto (Japan), by combining genetic analysis and a survey of ancient literature. Mibuna is considered to have been bred 200 years ago from Mizuna, another traditional leafy vegetable in Kyoto. Mibuna has simple spatulate leaves, whereas Mizuna has characteristic serrated leaves. The quantitative trait loci (QTL) and gene expression analyses suggested that the downregulation of BrTCP15 expression contributed to the change in the leaf shape from serrated to simple spatulate. Interestingly, the SNP analysis indicated that the genomic region containing the BrTCP15 locus was transferred to Mibuna by introgression. Furthermore, we conducted a survey of ancient literature to reveal the divergence of Mibuna and found that hybridization between Mizuna and a simple-leaved turnip might have occurred in the past. Indeed, the genomic analysis of multiple turnip cultivars showed that one of the cultivars, Murasakihime, has almost the same sequence in the BrTCP15 region as Mibuna. These results suggest that the hybridization between Mizuna and turnip has resulted in the establishment of Mibuna

BCAA catabolism in brown fat controls energy homeostasis through SLC25A44.

Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA; valine, leucine and isoleucine) supplementation is often beneficial to energy expenditure; however, increased circulating levels of BCAA are linked to obesity and diabetes. The mechanisms of this paradox remain unclear. Here we report that, on cold exposure, brown adipose tissue (BAT) actively utilizes BCAA in the mitochondria for thermogenesis and promotes systemic BCAA clearance in mice and humans. In turn, a BAT-specific defect in BCAA catabolism attenuates systemic BCAA clearance, BAT fuel oxidation and thermogenesis, leading to diet-induced obesity and glucose intolerance. Mechanistically, active BCAA catabolism in BAT is mediated by SLC25A44, which transports BCAAs into mitochondria. Our results suggest that BAT serves as a key metabolic filter that controls BCAA clearance via SLC25A44, thereby contributing to the improvement of metabolic health

血清トランスフェリン濃度測定の鉄栄養評価への応用

Serum transferrin measurement was performed by radial immunodiffusion for 274 female students in the department of food science in this university after getting the approval of the ethical committee and also the consent of the students. Serum transferrin concentration was measurable in 0.04μ 1 of serum and the average value in the students was 321.6±76.7mg/dl. Transferrin concentration had statistically negative correlation (p<0.01) for MCV (mean corpuscular volume of erythrocytes), transferrin saturation or serum ferritin concentration within the subjects. The 10～90 percentile range within 256 students, who were in normal Hb value, was 240～386mg/dl. The estimated percentage, who suffered from iron deficiency in the subjects, was 10.2% in MCV, 19.3% in transferrin saturation and 11.0% in serum ferritin concentration. Provided that 386mg/dl of transferrin concentration was cut-off value of iron nutrition, the percentage beyond that value was 12.8%. Serum transferrin measurement seemed to be a reliable method for evaluating iron status, which canbe practicedby less than 10μ 1 of sera

Low-Dose Intravenous Alteplase in Wake-Up Stroke

Background and Purpose—We assessed whether lower-dose alteplase at 0.6 mg/kg is efficacious and safe for acute fluid-attenuated inversion recovery-negative stroke with unknown time of onset. Methods—This was an investigator-initiated, multicenter, randomized, open-label, blinded-end point trial. Patients met the standard indication criteria for intravenous thrombolysis other than a time last-known-well >4.5 hours (eg, wake-up stroke). Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive alteplase at 0.6 mg/kg or standard medical treatment if magnetic resonance imaging showed acute ischemic lesion on diffusion-weighted imaging and no marked corresponding hyperintensity on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery. The primary outcome was a favorable outcome (90-day modified Rankin Scale score of 0–1). Results—Following the early stop and positive results of the WAKE-UP trial (Efficacy and Safety of MRI-Based Thrombolysis in Wake-Up Stroke), this trial was prematurely terminated with 131 of the anticipated 300 patients (55 women; mean age, 74.4±12.2 years). Favorable outcome was comparable between the alteplase group (32/68, 47.1%) and the control group (28/58, 48.3%; relative risk [RR], 0.97 [95% CI, 0.68–1.41]; P=0.892). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 22 to 36 hours occurred in 1/71 and 0/60 (RR, infinity [95% CI, 0.06 to infinity]; P>0.999), respectively. Death at 90 days occurred in 2/71 and 2/60 (RR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.06–12.58]; P>0.999), respectively. Conclusions—No difference in favorable outcome was seen between alteplase and control groups among patients with ischemic stroke with unknown time of onset. The safety of alteplase at 0.6 mg/kg was comparable to that of standard treatment. Early study termination precludes any definitive conclusions

Psychiatric disorders and clinical correlates of suicidal patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Tokyo

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital with suicidal behavior (SB) are considered to be especially at high risk of suicide. However, the number of studies that have addressed this patient population remains insufficient compared to that of studies on suicidal patients in emergency or medical settings. The purpose of this study is to seek features of a sample of newly admitted suicidal psychiatric patients in a metropolitan area of Japan.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>155 suicidal patients consecutively admitted to a large psychiatric center during a 20-month period, admission styles of whom were mostly involuntary, were assessed using Structured Clinical Interviews for DSM-IV Axis I and II Disorders (SCID-I CV and SCID-II) and SB-related psychiatric measures. Associations of the psychiatric diagnoses and SB-related characteristics with gender and age were examined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The common DSM-IV axis I diagnoses were affective disorders 62%, anxiety disorders 56% and substance-related disorders 38%. 56% of the subjects were diagnosed as having borderline PD, and 87% of them, at least one type of personality disorder (PD). SB methods used prior to admission were self-cutting 41%, overdosing 32%, self-strangulation 15%, jumping from a height 12% and attempting traffic death 10%, the first two of which were frequent among young females. The median (range) of the total number of SBs in the lifetime history was 7 (1-141). Severity of depressive symptomatology, suicidal intent and other symptoms, proportions of the subjects who reported SB-preceding life events and life problems, and childhood and adolescent abuse were comparable to those of the previous studies conducted in medical or emergency service settings. Gender and age-relevant life-problems and life events were identified.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Features of the studied sample were the high prevalence of affective disorders, anxiety disorders and borderline PD, a variety of SB methods used prior to admission and frequent SB repetition in the lifetime history. Gender and age appeared to have an influence on SB method selection and SB-preceding processes. The findings have important implications for assessment and treatment of psychiatric suicidal patients.</p