Pasteurella multocida pneumonia with hemoptysis: A case report

Pasteurella multocida, which colonizes upper respiratory and digestive tracts, is a leading cause of respiratory diseases in many host species. Here, we describe a case of P. multocida pneumonia with hemoptysis. A 72-year-old female diagnosed with bronchiectasis with a 36-year history presented with a worsened infiltrative and granular shadow in the lower right lobe and lingular segment. Bronchial lavage fluid culturing suggested Pasteurella pneumonia. P. multocida was confirmed by 16S rRNA sequencing. The patient was readmitted to our hospital because of hemoptysis, and she was treated successfully with antibiotic therapy. The possibility of P. multocida infection must be considered in patients who own pets

Genetic association of the functional CDHR3 genotype with early-onset adult asthma in Japanese populations

BackgroundRecent studies have demonstrated that a coding SNP (rs6967330, Cys529→Tyr) in cadherin-related family member 3 (CDHR3), which was previously associated with wheezing illness and hospitalizations in infancy, could support efficient human rhinovirus C (RV-C) entry and replication. Here, we sought to examine the genetic contribution of this variant to the development of adult asthma.MethodsWe performed a candidate gene case–control association study of 2 independent Japanese populations (a total of 3366 adults). The odds ratios (ORs) for association of the A allele at rs6967330 with adult asthma were calculated according to age at onset of asthma. In addition, the effect of the CDHR3 genotype on the development of specific asthma phenotypes was examined.ResultsThe A allele was associated with asthma (OR = 1.56; Mantel–Haenszel p = 0.0040) when the analysis was limited to patients with early-onset adult asthma. In addition, when the analysis was limited to atopic individuals, a stronger association of the CDHR3 variant with early-onset asthma was found, and interaction of the CDHR3 genotype with atopy was demonstrated. Finally, a significant association of this variant was specifically found with a phenotype of asthma characterized by atopy, early-onset, and lower lung function.ConclusionsOur study supports the concept that the CDHR3 variant is an important susceptibility factor for severe adult asthma in individuals who develop the disease in early life. The interaction between the CDHR3 variant and atopy indicates that genetic predisposition to early respiratory viral infection is combined with atopy in promoting asthma

Association analyses of eQTLs of the TYRO3 gene and allergic diseases in Japanese populations

BackgroundTYRO3 is a member of the TAM (TYRO3, AXL, MERTK) receptor tyrosine kinase family and functions to limit type 2 immune responses implicated in allergic sensitization. Recent studies have shown that multiple intronic variants of TYRO3 were associated with asthma, implying that genetic variation could contribute to errant immune activation. We therefore hypothesized that expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) of the TYRO3 gene influence the development of allergic diseases (including asthma and allergic rhinitis) in Japanese populations.MethodsWe performed a candidate gene case–control association study of 8 eQTLs of TYRO3 on atopy, asthma, and allergic rhinitis using 1168 unrelated Japanese adults who had GWAS genotyping. We then examined the genetic impact of rs2297377 (TYRO3) on atopy and allergic rhinitis in 2 other independent Japanese populations.ResultsA meta-analysis of 3 Japanese populations (a total of 2403 Japanese adults) revealed that rs2297377 was associated with atopy and allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.29 and 1.31; P = 0.00041 and 0.0010, respectively). The risk allele at rs2297377 correlated with decreased expression of TYRO3 mRNA. The gene–gene interaction between HLA-DPB1 and TYRO3 was not significant with regard to sensitization. The estimated proportion of atopy and allergic rhinitis cases attributable to the risk genotype was 14% and 16%, respectively.ConclusionsOur study identified TYRO3 as an important susceptibility gene to atopy and allergic rhinitis in Japanese

Migration-tracking integrated phylogeography supports long-distance dispersal-driven divergence for a migratory bird species in the Japanese archipelago

Long-distance dispersal (LDD) outside a species' breeding range contributes to genetic divergence. Previous phylogeographic studies of migratory bird species have not discriminated LDD from vicariant speciation in their diversification process. We conducted an integrative phylogeographic approach to test the LDD hypothesis, which predicts that a Japanese migratory bird subspecies diverged from a population in the coastal region of the East China Sea (CRECS) via LDD over the East China Sea (ECS). Haplotype networks of both mitochondrial and nuclear genes of its three subspecies were reconstructed to examine whether the Japanese subspecies of the Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus superciliosus) diverged from an ancestral CRECS population. A species distribution model (SDM) for the Japanese subspecies was constructed using bioclimatic variables under the maximum entropy algorithm. It was projected backwards to the climate of the last glacial maximum (LGM) to infer the candidate source area of colonization. A migratory route of L. c. superciliosus, which possibly reflects a candidate past colonization route, was tracked by light-level geolocators. Molecular phylogenetic networks suggest that the Japanese subspecies diverged from a population in the CRECS and maintained anciently diverged haplotypes. The SDM inferred that the emerged continental shelf of the ECS and the present CRECS were suitable breeding areas for the Japanese subspecies during the LGM. A major migratory route for L. c. superciliosus was inferred between the CRECS and the Japanese archipelago across the ECS. Our integrative approach supported the LDD hypothesis for divergence of the Japanese subspecies of the Brown Shrike. Shrinkage of the ECS may have been responsible for successful population establishment, due to a sufficient number of migrants overshooting to the Japanese archipelago from the CRECS. Our framework provides a new phylogeographic scenario for this region. Discriminating LDD and vicariance models helps improve our understanding of the phylogeographic histories of migratory species

NMR Relaxometry for the Thermal Stability and Phase Transition Mechanism of Flower-like Micelles from Linear and Cyclic Amphiphilic Block Copolymers

Linear and cyclic amphiphilic block copolymers consisting of poly­(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as the hydrophilic segment and poly­(methyl acrylate) or poly­(ethyl acrylate) as the hydrophobic segments were synthesized and self-assembled to form flower-like micelles. The micelles from linear (methyl acrylate)₁₂(ethylene oxide)₇₃(methyl acrylate)₁₂ (<i>M</i>_n = 1000–3200–1000, <b><i>l</i>-MOM</b>) showed a cloud point (<i>T</i>_c) at 46 °C by the transmittance of the micellar solution, whereas that of cyclic (methyl acrylate)₃₀(ethylene oxide)₇₉ (<i>M</i>_n = 2600–3500, <b><i>c</i>-MO</b>) increased to 72 °C, as previously reported. DLS showed comparable diameters (<b><i>l</i>-MOM</b>, 14 nm; <b><i>c</i>-MO</b>, 12 nm) and <i>T</i>_c values (<b><i>l</i>-MOM</b>, 48 °C; <b><i>c</i>-MO</b>, 75 °C). For the investigation of the difference in <i>T</i>_c and the phase transition mechanism based on the polymer topology, NMR relaxometry was performed to determine the spin–lattice (<i>T</i>₁) and spin–spin (<i>T</i>₂) relaxation times. A decrease in <i>T</i>₂ of the PEO segment in both <b><i>l</i>-MOM</b> and <b><i>c</i>-MO</b> was observed above <i>T</i>_c, suggesting that slow large-scale motions, such as the detachment of a chain end from the core, bridging, and interpenetration of the micelles, were inhibited. <i>T</i>₁ of the PEO segment in <b><i>l</i>-MOM</b> continuously increased in the experimental temperature range, indicating that the segment is hydrated even above its <i>T</i>_c. On the other hand, that of <b><i>c</i>-MO</b> reached a ceiling above its <i>T</i>_c, likely due to the prevention of the rotation of the PEO main chain bonds caused by dehydration. Similar results were obtained for linear (ethyl acrylate)₈(ethylene oxide)₇₉(ethyl acrylate)₈ (<i>M</i>_n = 800–3500–800, <b><i>l</i>-EOE</b>) and its cyclic (ethyl acrylate)₁₅(ethylene oxide)₇₈ (<i>M</i>_n = 1500–3400, <b><i>c</i>-EO</b>)