Cloning of cDNAs for the Precursor Protein of a Low-Molecular-Weight Subunit of the Inner Layer of the Egg Envelope (Chorion) of the Fish Oryzias latipes

AbstractcDNA clones for L-SF, the precursor of a low-molecular-weight subunit (ZI-3) of the inner layer of the Oryzias latipes egg envelope were isolated from Lambda ZAP cDNA libraries constructed from the poly(A)+ RNA of the liver of spawning female fish and estrogen-treated male fish. Among them, a clone, L-SF41, is 1473 bp long and contains an open reading frame encoding a signal peptide of 19 amino acids and L-SF protein of 420 amino acids. L-SF protein seems to be glycosylated, judging from the result of the glycanase digestion. L-SF protein contains a domain similar to ZP-domains in ZP3 of some mammalian species. Northern blot analysis employing XhoI-SmaI fragments of the cloned cDNA as probes revealed that expression of the L-SF gene occurred exclusively in the livers of spawning female fish and estrogen-treated male fish and that there was no mRNA encoding L-SF in the ovary of the spawning female fish

Expanding application of digital pathology in Japan - from education, telepathology to autodiagnosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Digital pathology, i.e., applications of digital information technologies to pathology practice, has been expanding in the recent decades and the mode of pathology diagnostic practice is changing with enhanced precision. In the present study the changing processes of digital pathology in Japan were investigated and trends to future were discussed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The changing status of digital pathology was investigated through reviewing the records of annual meetings of the Japanese Research Society of Telepathology and Pathology Informatics (JRST-PI) and of the Japanese pathology related medical and informatics journals. The results of the Japanese questionnaire survey conducted in 2008-2009 on telepathology and virtual slide were also reviewed. In addition effectiveness of an experimental automatic pathology diagnostic aid system using computer artificial intelligence was investigated by checking its rate of correct diagnosis for given prostate carcinoma digital images.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Telepathology played a central role in the development of digital pathology in Japan. Both macroscopic and microscopic pathology digital images were routinely generated and used for diagnostic purposes in major hospitals. Virtual slide (VS) digital images were used first for education then for conference, consultation and also gradually for routine diagnosis and telepathology. The experimental automatic diagnostic aid system achieved the rate of correct diagnosis around 95% for prostate carcinoma and its use for automatic mapping of cancerous areas in a given tissue image was successful.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Advance in the digital information technologies gave revolutionary impacts on pathology education, conference, consultation, diagnosis, telepathology and also on pathology diagnostic procedures in Japan. The future will be bright for pathologists by the advanced digital pathology but we should pay attention to make the technologies and their effects under our control.</p

The Effect of Touching a Dolphin on the EEG Slow Waves hi Children

Among animal-facilitated therapies, dolphin-facilitated therapy has been shown to beneficially affect human behavior, emotion and speech ability. We recently showed that touching a dolphin reduced the respiratory rate and state anxiety in healthy children. In this study, we collected electroencephalographic data (EEG), widely used for examining various brain functions, before and after touching dolphins. We examined the relationship between EEG power spectra and individual trait anxiety scores. The results showed that the appearance of slow waves in the frontal area increased significantly after touching a dolphin. Furthermore, the difference in slow wave activity was negatively, but significantly, correlated with trait anxiety in the frontal area. This negative correlation showed that slow wave power was greater in subjects with lower trait anxiety, indicating that touching a dolphin may be more effective for subjects with low trait anxiety than those with high trait anxiety. However, even though the increase in slow wave power was lower in subjects with high trait anxiety, touching a dolphin appeared to affect brain rhythms by increasing slow waves

Effects of Viewing Ikehana on Breathing in Humans

Flower arrangements are widely used for decoration, but also for emotional healing. Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement, dating back over 600 years. Although ikebana has been used for psychological rehabilitation, no research has examined its effect on physiological responses in individuals. We examined the effect of viewing photos of ikebana on anxiety and respiratory responses. For controls, we used photos of ikebana that were artificially changed from real, beautiful photos to non-beautiful altered photos. Participants\u27 sense of beauty was measured by a visual analogue scale (VAS). Values were significantly higher while viewing the real photos compared to altered photos (P < 0.05). The VAS score differences between the real and altered photos were also significantly higher in subjects with low trait anxiety (P < 0.05). There was no significant change in respiratory rate (RR) between subjects viewing real and retouched photos. However, the mean difference in RR when viewing real photos compared to retouched photos was higher in subjects with low trait anxiety scores. There was no correlation between VAS score differences and trait anxiety scores. However, differences in RR when viewing real photos compared to viewing retouched photos had a significantly negative correlation (P < 0.05). Results indicated that RR was slower when viewing photos of ikebana in subjects with higher trait anxiety. Our findings suggest that viewing beautiful things may relax individuals who have high anxiety

A Case of Pulmonary Hamartoma Showing Rapid Growth

A 65-year-old man was admitted for detailed examination of a growing nodular shadow in the left lung. The nodular shadow was initially detected in a routine chest X-ray check-up in March 2012 that warranted regular chest X-ray follow-up. The nodular shadow increased in size from 12 × 15 mm to 15 × 20 mm within five months. The calculated tumor doubling time (TDT) in our case was approximately 132.2 days. A malignant tumor was strongly suspected based on the rapid growth, and tumorectomy was thus performed. Cartilaginous tissue accounted for most of the pathological specimen, but a small amount of an epithelial component was observed histologically, and we diagnosed a hamartoma. Hamartoma generally shows slow annual growth, but it is important to recognize that rapid enlargement occurs in some cases