Evolution of cis-regulatory modules for the head organizer gene goosecoid in chordates: comparisons between Branchiostoma and Xenopus

Background: In cephalochordates (amphioxus), the notochord runs along the dorsal to the anterior tip of the body. In contrast, the vertebrate head is formed anterior to the notochord, as a result of head organizer formation in anterior mesoderm during early development. A key gene for the vertebrate head organizer, goosecoid (gsc), is broadly expressed in the dorsal mesoderm of amphioxus gastrula. Amphioxus gsc expression subsequently becomes restricted to the posterior notochord from the early neurula. This has prompted the hypothesis that a change in expression patterns of gsc led to development of the vertebrate head during chordate evolution. However, molecular mechanisms of head organizer evolution involving gsc have never been elucidated.Results: To address this question, we compared cis-regulatory modules of vertebrate organizer genes between amphioxus, Branchiostoma japonicum, and frogs, Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis. Here we show conservation and diversification of gene regulatory mechanisms through cis-regulatory modules for gsc, lim1/lhx1, and chordin in Branchiostoma and Xenopus. Reporter analysis using Xenopus embryos demonstrates that activation of gsc by Nodal/FoxH1 signal through the 5′ upstream region, that of lim1 by Nodal/FoxH1 signal through the first intron, and that of chordin by Lim1 through the second intron, are conserved between amphioxus and Xenopus. However, activation of gsc by Lim1 and Otx through the 5′ upstream region in Xenopus are not conserved in amphioxus. Furthermore, the 5′ region of amphioxus gsc recapitulated the amphioxus-like posterior mesoderm expression of the reporter gene in transgenic Xenopus embryos.Conclusions: On the basis of this study, we propose a model, in which the gsc gene acquired the cis-regulatory module bound with Lim1 and Otx at its 5′ upstream region to be activated persistently in anterior mesoderm, in the vertebrate lineage. Because Gsc globally represses trunk (notochord) genes in the vertebrate head organizer, this cooption of gsc in vertebrates appears to have resulted in inhibition of trunk genes and acquisition of the head organizer and its derivative prechordal plate

Impact of deposition pressure and two-step growth technique on the photoresponsivity enhancement of polycrystalline BaSi2 films formed by sputtering

We investigate the influence of deposition pressure in the range 0.25–1.0 Pa on the photoresponsivity of 200 nm thick BaSi2 films grown by sputtering at 600 °C. BaSi2 films formed at 0.8 Pa exhibit a high photoresponsivity. The deposited Ba-to-Si atomic ratio depends significantly on the sputtering pressure. That\u27s why the pressure influences the photoresponsivity. BaSi2 films grown by a two-step growth technique show much higher photoresponsivity almost equivalent to those grown by molecular beam epitaxy. The photoresponsivity reaches 0.75 A W−1 at 2.0 eV at a bias voltage of 0.5 V applied between the top and bottom electrode

15-Deoxy-Δ12,14 Prostaglandin J2 Reduces the Formation of Atherosclerotic Lesions in Apolipoprotein E Knockout Mice

AIM: 15-deoxy-Δ¹²,¹⁴ prostaglandin J₂ (15d-PGJ₂) is a ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) having diverse effects such as the differentiation of adipocytes and atherosclerotic lesion formation. 15d-PGJ₂ can also regulate the expression of inflammatory mediators on immune cells independent of PPARγ. We investigated the antiatherogenic effect of 15d-PGJ₂. METHODS: We fed apolipoprotein (apo) E-deficient female mice a Western-type diet from 8 to 16 wk of age and administered 1 mg/kg/day 15d-PGJ₂ intraperitoneally. We measured atherosclerotic lesions at the aortic root, and examined the expression of macrophage and inflammatory atherosclerotic molecules by immunohistochemical and real-time PCR in the lesion. RESULTS: Atherosclerotic lesion formation was reduced in apo E-null mice treated with 15d-PGJ₂, as compared to in the controls. Immunohistochemical and real-time PCR analyses showed that the expression of MCP-1, TNF-α, and MMP-9 in atherosclerotic lesions was significantly decreased in 15d-PGJ₂ treated mice. The 15d-PGJ₂ also reduced the expression of macrophages and RelA mRNA in atherosclerotic lesions. CONCLUSION: This is the first report 15d-PGJ₂, a natural PPARγ agonist, can improve atherosclerotic lesions in vivo. 15d-PGJ₂ may be a beneficial therapeutic agent for atherosclerosis

早期負荷インプラント用カスタムトレーについて

This clinical report discusses a custom made tray used for fabrication of the superstructure of early load implants. The activities of the dental technician impressions and bite taking simultaneously in implant operations. The results of the observations led to the manufacture of a custom made tray with a duplicate denture made from the full denture used. The bite-seating impression was performed with the custom made tray, and the superstructure was installed in four treatment days. The progress is excellent, and the patient expresses satisfaction with the result. As a result of this study, it was possible to made the bite-seating impression by the full denture in use. After the operation, the superstructure could be made in a short time. Only very small adjustments of the vertical dimension and horizontal position were necessary because the custom made tray made from a duplicate denture

画像誘導システム(IGI)を用いた口腔インプラント手術

In recent years, as the needs for the dental implant treatment needs, dental implant therapy has been demanded of oral rehabilitation, esthetic restorations, and improvement QOL more highly. Image guided implantation system (IGI) is able to archive the highest level of accuracy when performing dental implant surgery by sophisticated planning software and real time navigation. IGI was introduced to implant special outpatient on dental and internal medicine clinic health sciences university of Hokkaido in 2005. We reports that some cases by IGI were experienced. As the result, IGI allowed safety invasive surgery with enhanced accuracy and efficiency and shorter operation time than past surgery methods

Risk perception regarding a nuclear accident and common factors related to health among guardians residing near a restarted nuclear power plant in Japan after the Fukushima accident

Ten years have passed since the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident in Japan, and nine of 33 reactors have gradually been restarted following the new regulations outlined by the Nuclear Regulatory Authority. The purpose of the study was to assess the risk perception regarding a nuclear accident and to identify common factors related to health among guardians residing near the Genkai Nuclear Power Plant (GNPP), one of the nuclear power plants restarted after the FDNPP accident. We distributed self-administered questionnaires to approximately 3400 guardians of children in 36 kindergartens located around the GNPP, including the precautionary action zone and the urgent protective action planning zone. We obtained responses from 2249 guardians. Results showed that 58.9% of guardians thought that genetic effects would occur among the generations who were children at the time of the FDNPP accident. In contrast, 28.8% of guardians were anxious about their children consuming foods from Fukushima. Regression analysis showed that females were 1.9 times more anxious about administering prophylactic stable iodine (SI) than male guardians. A total of 1.5 times more female than male guardians considered that genetic effects would occur in the generations who were children at the time of the FDNPP accident. Interestingly, there was no significant relationship between overall risk perception and the distance of guardians’ residence to the GNPP