Metabolic Profiling of the Cerebrospinal Fluid in Pediatric Epilepsy

To characterize metabolic profiles within the central nervous system in epilepsy, we performed gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS)-based metabolome analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in pediatric patients with and without epilepsy. The CSF samples obtained from 64 patients were analyzed by GC-MS/MS. Multivariate analyses were performed for two age groups, 0-5 years of age and 6-17 years of age, to elucidate the effects of epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs on the metabolites. In patients aged 0-5 years (22 patients with epilepsy, 13 without epilepsy), epilepsy patients had reduced 2-ketoglutaric acid and elevated pyridoxamine and tyrosine. In patients aged 6-17 years (12 with epilepsy, 17 without epilepsy), epilepsy patients had reduced 1,5-anhydroglucitol. Valproic acid was associated with elevated 2-aminobutyric acid, 2-ketoisocaproic acid, 4-hydroxyproline, acetylglycine, methionine, N-acetylserine, and serine. Reduced energy metabolism and alteration of vitamin B6 metabolism may play a role in epilepsy in young children. The roles of 1,5-anhydroglucitol in epilepsy in older children and in levetiracetam and zonisamide treatment remain to be explained. Valproic acid influenced the levels of amino acids and related metabolites involved in the metabolism of serine, methionine, and leucine

Effect of cyclic bis(3′–5′)diguanylic acid and its analogs on bacterial biofilm formation

Cyclic bis(3′–5′)diguanylic acid (cyclic-di-GMP) functions as a second messenger in diverse species of bacteria to trigger wide-ranging physiological changes. We measured cyclic-di-GMP and its structural analogs such as cyclic bis(3′–5′)guanylic/adenylic acid (cyclic-GpAp), cyclic bis(3′–5′)guanylic/inosinic acid (cyclic-GpIp) and monophosphorothioic acid of cyclic-di-GMP (cyclic-GpGps) for effects on the biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We constructed a knockout mutant of SA0701, which is a GGDEF motif protein relevant to diguanylate cyclase from S. aureus 2507. We confirmed that the biofilm formation of this mutant (MS2507ΔSA0701) was reduced. Cyclic-di-GMP corresponding to physiological intracellular levels given in the culture recovered the biofilm formation of MS2507ΔSA0701, whereas its analogs did not, indicating that unlike a previous suggestion, cyclic-di-GMP was involved in the positive regulation of the biofilm formation of S. aureus and its action was structurally specific. At a high concentration (200 μM), cyclic-di-GMP and its analogs showed suppression effects on the biofilm formation of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, and according to the quantification study using costat analysis, the suppression potential was in the order of cyclic-di-GMP, cyclic-GpGps, cyclic-GpAp and cyclic-GpIp, suggesting that the suppression effect was not strictly specific and the change of base structure quantitatively affected the suppression activity

シアワセ トワ ナニカ セイジン ジョセイ オ タイショウ ト シタ インタビュー チョウサ カラ トクシュウ ヤムコト ト スコヤカサ

This is an investigation about when and how Japanese middle-aged women feel shiawase (a feeling of happiness) in their daily lives. Ten married women aged 34-35 of different family structures and employment statuses were interviewed by telephone. Unlike the traditional investigation about women\u27s psychological well-being,this investigation is aimed at looking into women\u27s feeling of happiness more concretely. The detailed questions asked at the interview included when and how they felt shiawase,life satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment plus what their ikigai(things that give them a sense of being alive) and their personal goals were.The results show that the relationships with their husbands and children in general strongly influenced the women\u27s sense of shiawase. However,their satisfaction and personal goals were associated with paidworks and / or hobbies or other activities outside the home. Their sense of fulfillment depended on whether they accomplished their roles as housewives or as workers. Some women referred to their children as ikigai,while others did not. As the social norms and life styles of married women in ]apan have been changing,the women are trying to find the meaning of their own lives as independent people

Faunal studies of sap beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) in primary and secondary tropical rainforests in the middle reaches of the Baram River Basin, Borneo

This study presents a species inventory of sap beetles (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), together with descriptions of their habitat types, in lowland tropical rainforests in the middle reaches of the Baram River Basin, Borneo (Sarawak, Malaysia). Thirty-two nitidulid species belonging to 14 genera from six subfamilies were collected by banana-baited traps. There was no significant difference in species richness, abundance, diversity, or species composition between the primary and secondary forests, with 13 species being shared

Dating of Hydrothermal Mineralization in Active Hydrothermal Fields in the Southern Mariana Trough

Ages of sulfide and sulfate mineralized samples collected from active hydrothermal fieldsin the Southern Mariana Trough were determined. In addition to samples collected fromactive and inactive chimneys, and sulfide breccia during dive expeditions, massive sulfideores obtained by shallow drilling were studied. We applied 230Th/234U radioactive disequilibriumdating technique to sulfide minerals, as the collected mineralized samples weredominated by marcasite, pyrite and sphalerite. In addition, electron spin resonance (ESR)dating was applied to a few barite-rich samples, for comparison purpose. A laser stepheating 39Ar-40Ar dating of the basement volcanic rock samples was also attempted.Sulfide chimneys and ores collected from a hydrothermal mound located beside thespreading axis range in age from 1,000 yearsof continuous hydrothermal activity would be necessary for the formation of a massivesulfide deposit.Sulfide chimneys and breccia collected from two hydrothermal fields located on an offaxisknoll are up to 9,000 years old. Sulfide breccia collected from an active site on thespreading axis are 2,740 and 7,190 years old. Geophysical studies provided evidence forabundant magma supply in the Southern Mariana Trough, which would have fueledhydrothermal activities in this area for long duration. While geophysical evidence forcrustal velocity anomaly below the off-axis knoll suggests mineralization at the off-axissites is considered to be in the late-stage of the hydrothermal activity, the discrete ages fromthe on-axis site might reflect episodic hydrothermal activities related to diking eventsproposed by geophysical and geological studies