The intertidal macrobenthic fauna of the Hatakejima Experimental Field, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, in 2019

ファイル差し替え（2021-05-17）Hatakejima Experimental Field is located in Tanabe Bay, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, which is composed of Hatakejima Island and Komarujima Islet, connected to the former in low tide. Hatakejima Island was purchased by Kyoto University and was designated as the “Hatakejima Experimental Field” in 1968. The year 2019 marks the 50th year of the long-term surveys that have been formally conducted on the experimental field since 1969 (i.e., the Century of Research Project). We conducted a field survey to record the macrobenthic fauna of the experimental field in 2019. A total of 168 species of 11 phyla were recorded in this survey. In each phylum, the number of species is listed as follows in descending order: Mollusca (78 spp.), Arthropoda (27 spp.), Echinodermata (23 spp.), Annelida (21 spp.), Cnidaria (7 spp.), Porifera (3 spp.), Nemertea (3 spp.), Platyhelminthes (2 spp.), Chordata (2 spp.), Bryozoa (1 sp.), and Hemichordata (1 sp.). We also recorded and discussed the influence of recent environmental changes around the Hatakejima Experimental Field. Tropical sea urchin species disappeared in the winter of 2017–2018 following the large meander of the Kuroshio Current, which led to decreasing water temperatures. The population of the seagrass Zostera japonica drastically decreased on the western sandy shore of the island in 2019, most likely because of two big typhoons in September 2018. We must conduct continuous observations to aid the recovery of seagrass-associated communities and protect the experimental field to keep high biodiversity of macrobenthic fauna in the future

Patterns that induce advice in remote cooking support via first person vision communication

Multimedia & Expo Workshops (ICMEW), 2015 IEEE International Conference, June 29 2015 - July 3 2015, Turin.In this study, we introduce a novel scheme for distance learning that aims to teach people how to cook, thereby reaching people who are unable to join online cooking classes, supporting rehabilitation and care for single-living elderly people, and handing down dietary knowledge and culture. Our scheme utilizes a framework of working support through first person vision (FPV) communication, in which a worker with a head-mounted camera works under the guidance of an experienced mentor monitoring the FPV from a distance. To make this scheme fully effective, we investigated the communication that takes place in this environment, i.e., how typical response patterns and absence pauses induce advice. Through experiments, temporal characteristics of such features are found to be tightly related to the occurrences of advice

Rapid Holocene retreat of Ross Ice Shelf recorded in sedimentary 10Be and fatty acid radiocarbon

第3回極域科学シンポジウム　横断セッション「海・陸・氷床から探る後期新生代の南極寒冷圏環境変動」11月27日（火） 国立国語研究所 ２階講

Modeling of the inherence of feedback regulation and stem cell behavior in granulopoiesis

金沢大学医学部附属病院小児科Long-standing controversies in hematopoiesis are the mechanisms of self-maintenance and differentiation commitment of the hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), and regulation of the peripheral control of hematopoiesis. In the present study, we have applied a threedimensional cellular automaton (CA) model to granulopoiesis in order to identify the internally generative theoretical relationship between microscopic mechanisms and macroscopic behavior of hematopoietic processes. The number of mitotic event of the cells in a proliferating phase, the transit time of each of 15 differential stages from HSC to mature cells (designated as Tl to Tl 5, and Tdup for HSC duplication time), and the neighborhood rules for HSC self-renewal were incorporated in this model system as analytical parameters. Homeostatic granulopoiesis was achieved when the following inequalities for the transit times were fulfilled: Tl > Z Tn (n = 2 to 15) and Tdup > 1/2 Tl. Importantly, stabilization of the cell production was induced in a negative feedback manner following external perturbation of the peripheral granulocyte numbers. The Tdup of individual HSC was dramatically fluctuated to produce the offspring responding to this perturbation. A single cell kinetic analysis demonstrated that symmetrical or asymmetrical cell division of the HSC was recruited in a transitional manner resulting in generation of the regulatory effect on the lineage-commitment processes. The inherence of feedback regulation would be a characteristic feature of the emergent dynamical property in the hematopoietic system. The CA modeling will provide the framework to analyze the behavior of HSC and to understand abnormal kinetics of the cells such as minimal residual disease in the treatment of leukemias

Leptospirosis in Squirrels Imported from United States to Japan

We diagnosed leptospirosis in 2 patients exposed to southern flying squirrels imported from the United States to Japan. Patients worked with exotic animals in their company. Leptospira isolates from 1 patient and 5 of 10 squirrels at the company were genetically and serologically identical and were identified as Leptospira kirschneri

Astrocytic dysfunction induced by ABCA1 deficiency causes optic neuropathy

Astrocyte abnormalities have received great attention for their association with various diseases in the brain but not so much in the eye. Recent independent genome-wide association studies of glaucoma, optic neuropathy characterized by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration, and vision loss found that single-nucleotide polymorphisms near the ABCA1 locus were common risk factors. Here, we show that Abca1 loss in retinal astrocytes causes glaucoma-like optic neuropathy in aged mice. ABCA1 was highly expressed in retinal astrocytes in mice. Thus, we generated macroglia-specific Abca1-deficient mice (Glia-KO) and found that aged Glia-KO mice had RGC degeneration and ocular dysfunction without affected intraocular pressure, a conventional risk factor for glaucoma. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that Abca1 deficiency in aged Glia-KO mice caused astrocyte-triggered inflammation and increased the susceptibility of certain RGC clusters to excitotoxicity. Together, astrocytes play a pivotal role in eye diseases, and loss of ABCA1 in astrocytes causes glaucoma-like neuropathy

Met Kinase Inhibitor E7050 Reverses Three Different Mechanisms of Hepatocyte Growth Factor-induced Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Resistance in EGFR Mutant Lung Cancer

PURPOSE: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) induces resistance to reversible and irreversible epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) in EGFR mutant lung cancer cells by activating Met and the downstream PI3K/Akt pathway. Moreover, continuous exposure to HGF accelerates the emergence of EGFR-TKI-resistant clones. We assayed whether a new Met kinase inhibitor, E7050, which is currently being evaluated in clinical trials, could overcome these three mechanisms of resistance to EGFR-TKIs. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The effects of E7050 on HGF-induced resistance to reversible (gefitinib), irreversible (BIBW2992), and mutant-selective (WZ4002) EGFR-TKIs were determined using the EGFR-mutant human lung cancer cell lines PC-9 and HCC827 with an exon 19 deletion, and H1975 with an T790M secondary mutation. PC-9 cells were mixed with HGF-producing fibroblasts, MRC-5 cells, and subcutaneously inoculated into SCID mice and the therapeutic effects of E7050 plus gefitinib were assayed. RESULTS: E7050 circumvented resistance to all of the reversible, irreversible, and mutant-selective EGFR-TKIs induced by exogenous and/or endogenous HGF in EGFR mutant lung cancer cell lines, by blocking the Met/Gab1/PI3K/Akt pathway in vitro. E7050 also prevented the emergence of gefitinib-resistant HCC827 cells induced by continuous exposure to HGF. In the in vivo model, E7050 plus gefitinib resulted in marked regression of tumor growth associated with inhibition of Akt phosphorylation in cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS: A new Met kinase inhibitor, E7050, reverses the three HGF-induced mechanisms of gefitinib resistance, suggesting that E7050 may overcome HGF-induced resistance to gefitinib and next-generation EGFR-TKIs

Long-term recurrence-free survivor after laparoscopic removal of solitary adrenal metastasis from endometrial adenocarcinoma

Solitary adrenal metastasis from endometrial adenocarcinoma is extremely rare. We report herein the case of a laparoscopically resected solitary adrenal metastasis originating from endometrial adenocarcinoma. The patient was a 55-year-old woman who had undergone total abdominal hysterectomy for stage IIIc endometrial carcinoma, followed by 7 courses of adjuvant chemotherapy comprising carboplatin and paclitaxel. However, the patient developed an isolated right adrenal metastasis 15 months postoperatively. The solitary adrenal metastasis (diameter, 5.7 cm) was removed laparoscopically. The patient has now been in good health without recurrence for 5 years and 7 months after laparoscopic surgery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of solitary adrenal metastasis originating from endometrial adenocarcinoma that is controlled for the long term by successful laparoscopic resection

コキュウ コンナン オ ケイキ ニ ハッケンサレ シュウガクテキ チリョウ ニヨリ カンカイ シタ シンコウ セイソウ ガン ノ 1レイ

A 30-year-old man was referred to our hospital for examination and treatment of dyspnea.Clinical examination revealed multiple lung tumor masses with marked elevation -HCG and -fetoprotein. CT showed not only multiple lung tumors but also retroperitoneal tumor mass. Apercutaneous needle biopsy of lung tumor was performed and pathological findings suggestedchoriocarcinoma. Although testicular swelling was not detected, ultrasonography revealed a righttesticular mass lesion. Therefore we diagnosed multiple lung metastases from right testicularcancer with retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis. The induction chemotherapy with bleomycin,etoposide, cisplatin（BEP） for 3 cycles was performed. Subsequently second line chemotherapywith paclitaxel, ifosfamide, nedaplatin（TIN）for 8 cycles followed. After the tumor markers werenormalized, resection of residual lung metastases by video-assisted thoracic surgery（VATS）andright high orchiectomy were performed. Histologically no viable cells were detected. One cyclechemotherapy with TIN was given after first surgery. Secondly, retroperitoneal lymph nodedissection was performed, and pathologically the small amount of viable cancer was detected in theresected specimen. Then post operative chemotherapy with TIN for 2 cycles were performed.The patient is alive without any recurrence 3 years after combined modality therapy

A rare case of concomitant huge exophytic gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the stomach and Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We report an extremely rare case of concomitant huge exophytic GIST of the stomach and Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP).</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>The patient was a 67-year-old man experiencing abdominal distension since September 2006. A physical examination revealed a 25 × 30 cm hard mass that was palpable in the middle and lower left abdomen minimal intrinsic mobility and massive ascites. Since the admitted patient was diagnosed with DIC, surgery could not be performed. The patient received a platelet transfusion and the DIC was treated. Due to this treatment, the platelet count recovered to 7.0 × 10⁴; tumor resection was performed at 16 days after admission. Laparotomy revealed a huge extraluminal tumor arising from the greater curvature of the stomach that measured 25 × 30 cm and had not ruptured into the peritoneal cavity or infiltrated other organs. Partial gastric resection was performed. The resected mass measured 25 × 25 × 20 cm. In cross section, the tumor appeared hard and homogenous with a small polycystic area. Histopathology of the resected specimen showed large spindle cell GIST with >5/50 HPF (high-power field) mitotic activity. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the coagulopathy improved rapidly.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Since the characteristic of tumor in this case was hypervascularity with bleeding and necrotic lesions, coagulopathy was thought to be caused by the trapping of platelets within a large vasculized tumor mass.</p