c-jun is differentially expressed in embryonic and adult neural precursor cells

c-jun, a major component of AP-1 transcription factor, has a wide variety of functions. In the embryonic brain, c-jun mRNA is abundantly expressed in germinal layers around the ventricles. Although the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the adult brain is a derivative of embryonic germinal layers and contains neural precursor cells (NPCs), the c-jun expression pattern is not clear. To study the function of c-jun in adult neurogenesis, we analyzed c-jun expression in the adult SVZ by immunohistochemistry and compared it with that of the embryonic brain. We found that almost all proliferating embryonic NPCs expressed c-jun, but the number of c-jun immunopositive cells among proliferating adult NPCs was about half. In addition, c-jun was hardly expressed in post-mitotic migrating neurons in the embryonic brain, but the majority of c-jun immunopositive cells were tangentially migrating neuroblasts heading toward the olfactory bulb in the adult brain. In addition, status epilepticus is known to enhance the transient proliferation of adult NPCs, but the c-jun expression pattern was not significantly affected. These expression patterns suggest that c-jun has a pivotal role in the proliferation of embryonic NPCs, but it has also other roles in adult neurogenesis

Prolyl Isomerase Pin1 Regulates Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast Differentiation into Adipose Cells

isomerase, Pin1, regulates insulin signal transduction. Pin1 reduces responses to insulin stimulation by binding CRTC2 (CREB-regulated transcriptional co-activator 2) and PPARγ (peroxisome prolifereator- activated receptor γ), but conversely enhances insulin signaling by binding IRS-1 (insulin receptor substrate-1), Akt kinase, and Smad3. Therefore, it is still unclear whether Pin1 inhibits or enhances adipose cell differentiation. mice was restored by increasing expression of Pin1. We found that Pin1 binds to phosphoThr172- and phosphoSer271-Pro sites in CREB suppress the activity in COS-7 cells.Pin1 enhanced the uptake of triglycerides and the differentiation of MEF cells into adipose cells in response to insulin stimulation. Results of this study suggest that Pin1 down-regulation could be a potential approach in obesity-related dysfunctions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

A combination of routine laboratory findings and vital signs can predict survival of advanced cancer patients without physician evaluation: a fractional polynomial model

IntroductionThere have been no reports about predicting survival of patients with advanced cancer constructed entirely with objective variables. We aimed to develop a prognostic model based on laboratory findings and vital signs using a fractional polynomial (FP) model.MethodsA multicentre prospective cohort study was conducted at 58 specialist palliative care services in Japan from September 2012 to April 2014. Eligible patients were older than 20 years and had advanced cancer. We developed models for predicting 7-day, 14-day, 30-day, 56-day and 90-day survival by using the FP modelling method.ResultsData from 1039 patients were analysed to develop each prognostic model (Objective Prognostic Index for advanced cancer [OPI-AC]). All models included the heart rate, urea and albumin, while some models included the respiratory rate, creatinine, C-reactive protein, lymphocyte count, neutrophil count, total bilirubin, lactate dehydrogenase and platelet/lymphocyte ratio. The area under the curve was 0.77, 0.81, 0.90, 0.90 and 0.92 for the 7-day, 14-day, 30-day, 56-day and 90-day model, respectively. The accuracy of the OPI-AC predicting 30-day, 56-day and 90-day survival was significantly higher than that of the Palliative Prognostic Score or the Prognosis in Palliative Care Study model, which are based on a combination of symptoms and physician estimation.ConclusionWe developed highly accurate prognostic indexes for predicting the survival of patients with advanced cancer from objective variables alone, which may be useful for end-of-life management. The FP modelling method could be promising for developing other prognostic models in future research

Early Planet Formation in Embedded Disks (eDisk) V: Possible Annular Substructure in a Circumstellar Disk in the Ced110 IRS4 System

We have observed the Class 0/I protostellar system Ced110 IRS4 at an angular resolution of $0.05''$ ($\sim$10 au) as a part of the ALMA large program; Early Planet Formation in the Embedded Disks (eDisk). The 1.3 mm dust continuum emission reveals that Ced110 IRS4 is a binary system with a projected separation of $\sim$250 au. The continuum emissions associated with the main source and its companion, named Ced110 IRS4A and IRS4B respectively, exhibit disk-like shapes and likely arise from dust disks around the protostars. The continuum emission of Ced110 IRS4A has a radius of $\sim$110 au ($\sim0.6''$), and shows bumps along its major axis with an asymmetry. The bumps can be interpreted as an shallow, ring-like structure at a radius of $\sim$40 au ($\sim0.2''$) in the continuum emission, as demonstrated from two-dimensional intensity distribution models. A rotation curve analysis on the C$^{18}$O and $^{13}$CO $J=2$-1 lines reveals the presence of a Keplerian disk within a radius of 120 au around Ced110 IRS4A, which supports the interpretation that the dust continuum emission arises from a disk. The ring-like structure in the dust continuum emission might indicate a possible, annular substructure in the surface density of the embedded disk, although the possibility that it is an apparent structure due to the optically thick continuum emission cannot be ruled out.Comment: 32 pages, 23 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ as one of the first-look papers of the eDisk ALMA Large Progra

Early Planet Formation in Embedded Disks (eDisk). IV. The Ringed and Warped Structure of the Disk around the Class I Protostar L1489 IRS

Constraining the physical and chemical structure of young embedded disks is crucial to understanding the earliest stages of planet formation. As part of the Early Planet Formation in Embedded Disks Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Large Program, we present high spatial resolution ($\sim$0.\!\!^{\prime\prime}1 or $\sim$15 au) observations of the 1.3 mm continuum and $^{13}$CO $J=$ 2-1, C$^{18}$O $J=$ 2-1, and SO $J_N=$ $6_5$-$5_4$ molecular lines toward the disk around the Class I protostar L1489 IRS. The continuum emission shows a ring-like structure at 56 au from the central protostar and a tenuous, optically thin emission extending beyond $\sim$300 au. The $^{13}$CO emission traces the warm disk surface, while the C$^{18}$O emission originates from near the disk midplane. The coincidence of the radial emission peak of C$^{18}$O with the dust ring may indicate a gap-ring structure in the gaseous disk as well. The SO emission shows a highly complex distribution, including a compact, prominent component at $\lesssim$30 au, which is likely to originate from thermally sublimated SO molecules. The compact SO emission also shows a velocity gradient along a slightly ($\sim15^\circ$) tilted direction with respect to the major axis of the dust disk, which we interpret as an inner warped disk in addition to the warp around $\sim$200 au suggested by previous work. These warped structures may be formed by a planet or companion with an inclined orbit, or by a gradual change in the angular momentum axis during gas infall.Comment: 24 pages, 12 figures. Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal as one of the first-look papers of the eDisk ALMA Large Progra