Cinchona ledgerianaから分離したDiaporthe属エンドファイト糸状菌によるキナルアルカロイド産生(発表論文抄録(2012))

We report that an endophytic filamentous fungus species of the genus Diaporthe isolated from Cinchona ledgeriana (Rubiaceae) produces Cinchona alkaloids (quinine, quinidine, cinchonidine, and cinchonine) upon cultivation in a synthetic liquid medium. This study provides evidence that Cinchona alkaloids are produced not only in Cinchona plant cells, but also in the endophytic microbe cells, and will help to elucidate the relationship between endophytic microbes and their host plants.We report that an endophytic filamentous fungus species of the genus Diaporthe isolated from Cinchona ledgeriana (Rubiaceae) produces Cinchona alkaloids (quinine, quinidine, cinchonidine, and cinchonine) upon cultivation in a synthetic liquid medium. This study provides evidence that Cinchona alkaloids are produced not only in Cinchona plant cells, but also in the endophytic microbe cells, and will help to elucidate the relationship between endophytic microbes and their host plants

キナ植物体内に生息するエンドファイト糸状菌もキナアルカロイドを産生する(発表論文抄録(2011))

We report that the endophytic filamentous fungus Diaporthe sp., isolated from Cinchona ledgeriana and cultivated in a synthetic liquid medium, produces Cinchona alkaloids (quinine, quinidine, cinchonidine, and cinchonine). This shows that Cinchona alkaloids are produced not only in Cinchona plant cells, but also in endophytic microbe cells.We report that the endophytic filamentous fungus Diaporthe sp., isolated from Cinchona ledgeriana and cultivated in a synthetic liquid medium, produces Cinchona alkaloids (quinine, quinidine, cinchonidine, and cinchonine). This shows that Cinchona alkaloids are produced not only in Cinchona plant cells, but also in endophytic microbe cells

Curcuma longaから分離したDiaporthe属エンドファイト糸状菌を用いたcurcuminから無色還元誘導体への微生物変換(発表論文抄録(2011))

We investigated the microbial conversion of curcumin (1) using endophytic fungi associated with the rhizome of Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae). We found that Diaporthe sp., an endophytic filamentous fungus, converts curcumin (1) into four colorless derivatives, namely (3R,5R)-tetrahydrocurcumin (2), a novel (3R,5S)-hexahydrocurcumin (3) named neohexahydrocurcumin, (3S,5S)-octahydrocurcumin (4) and meso-octahydrocurcumin (5).We investigated the microbial conversion of curcumin (1) using endophytic fungi associated with the rhizome of Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae). We found that Diaporthe sp., an endophytic filamentous fungus, converts curcumin (1) into four colorless derivatives, namely (3R,5R)-tetrahydrocurcumin (2), a novel (3R,5S)-hexahydrocurcumin (3) named neohexahydrocurcumin, (3S,5S)-octahydrocurcumin (4) and meso-octahydrocurcumin (5)

Rasio Senyawa Enansiomer sesamin di dalam kulit batang Pentaspadon motleyi (Anacardiaceae)

The barks of Pentaspadon motleyi Hook. f. (Anacardiaceae) were collected from the Poso district in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, in 1992 which it has been used traditionally as a remedy for malaria and tuberculosis in the local area. It was found that a mixture of (+)-sesamin (1) and (-)-sesamin (2) in a ratio of 100:86 were present together with lupeol in the bark of Pentaspadon motleyi. This was the first evidence of sesamin being isolated in almost equivalent amounts of (+)- and (-)-forms from a single plant species, and indicates that the biosynthetic pathway of sesamin in the plant is not enantioselective or fuzzy.Kulit batang Pentaspadon motleyi Hook. F (Anacardiaceae ) yang dikoleksi dari daerah Poso (Sulawesi Tengah), Indonesia tahun 1992 dan secara tradisional digunakan untuk pengobatan malaria dan tuberkolosis. Senyawa kimia dalam bentuk campuran (+)-sesamin (1) dan (-)-sesamin (2) dengan perbandingan 100:86 bersama dengan senyawa lupeol telah ditemukan dari kulit batang Pentaspadon motleyi. Ini adalah laporan yang pertama kali bahwa sesamin yang diisolasi yang mempunyai jumlah hampir sama antara (+)-sesamin dan (-)-sesamin dari satu spesies tanaman ini, dan ini menunjukkan bahwa jalan biosíntesis sesamin dalam tanaman tersebut tidak enansioselektif atau tidak begitu jelas

Students' Evaluation for the Network-Utilized Class in ""Virtual University"" Project

All of the 16 faculty members of the Department of Teaching Japanese as a Second Language (TJSL) joined in ""Virtual University"" (VU) project and developed 18 VOD (Video on Demand) materials named ""Invitation to TJSL Research"" about 30-40 minutes long each. They were applied in the ""Network Class"" using ""Quiz"" and ""Bulletin Board"" functions of WebCT to compare the conventional class. The students' evaluation showed that they almost equally favored both classes. The result suggests that the developed materials are effective and they are useful to discuss what to do and what could be problems for the future. The activities in the project and other problems related to VU matters are also discussed

Successful Treatment for Hepatic Encephalopathy Aggravated by Portal Vein Thrombosis with Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration

This report presents the case of a 78-year-old female with hepatic encephalopathy due to an inferior mesenteric venous-inferior vena cava shunt. She developed hepatocellular carcinoma affected by hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis and underwent posterior sectionectomy. Portal vein thrombosis developed and the portal trunk was narrowed after hepatectomy. Portal vein thrombosis resulted in high portal pressure and increased blood flow in an inferior mesenteric venous-inferior vena cava shunt, and hepatic encephalopathy with hyperammonemia was aggravated. The hepatic encephalopathy aggravated by portal vein thrombosis was successfully treated by balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration via a right transjugular venous approach without the development of other collateral vessels

Optical IFU Observations of GOALS Sample with KOOLS-IFU on Seimei Telescope: Initial results of 9 U/LIRGs at z<z < 0.04

We present ionized gas properties of 9 local ultra/luminous infrared galaxies (U/LIRGs) at $z <$ 0.04 through IFU observations with KOOLS-IFU on Seimei Telescope. The observed targets are drawn from the Great Observatories All-sky LIRG Survey (GOALS), covering a wide range of merger stages. We successfully detect emission lines such as H$\beta$, [OIII]$\lambda$5007, H$\alpha$, [NII]$\lambda\lambda$6549,6583, and [SII]$\lambda\lambda$6717,6731 with a spectral resolution of $R$ = 1500-2000, which provides (i) spatially-resolved ($\sim$200-700 pc) moment map of ionized gas and (ii) diagnostics for active galactic nucleus (AGN) within the central $\sim$3--11 kpc in diameter for our sample. We find that [OIII] outflow that is expected to be driven by AGN tends to be stronger (i) towards the galactic center and (ii) as a sequence of merger stage. In particular, the outflow strength in the late-stage (stage D) mergers is about 1.5 times stronger than that in the early-state (stage B) mergers, which indicates that galaxy mergers could induce AGN-driven outflow and play an important role in the co-evolution of galaxies and supermassive black holes.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, and 2 tables, accepted for publication in PAS

Brain metastases in gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma: Insights into the role of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)

Background: Gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinomas rarely metastasize to the central nervous system (CNS). The role of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in patients with these cancers and CNS involvement is presently unknown.Patients and Methods: A multicentre registry was established to collect data from patients with gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinomas and CNS involvement both retrospectively and prospectively. Inclusion in the study required a predefined clinical data set, a central neuro-radiological or histopathological confirmation of metastatic CNS involvement and central assessment of HER2 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridisation (ISH). In addition, expression of E-cadherin and DNA mismatch repair (MMR) proteins were assessed by IHC. Results: One hundred patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The population's median age was 59 years (interquartile range: 54-68), of which 85 (85%) were male. Twenty-five patients were of Asian and 75 of Caucasian origin. HER2 status was positive in 36% (95% CI: 26.6-46.2) of cases. Median time from initial diagnosis to the development of brain metastases (BMets) or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC) was 9.9 months (95% CI: 8.5-15.0). Median overall survival from diagnosis was 16.9 months (95% CI: 14.0-20.7) and was not related to the HER2 status. E-cadherin loss was observed in 9% of cases and loss of expression in at least one DNA MMR proteins in 6%. Conclusions: The proportion of a positive HER2 status in patients with gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma and CNS involvement was higher than expected. The impact of anti-HER2 therapies should be studied prospectively