Use and Conservation of Edible Wild Plants in Bhutan

In an investigation of edible wild plants in Bhutan by the authors, plants samples were identified and categorized into 60 families and 172 species and 6 families and 18 species from Divisions Magnoliophyta and Pteridophyta,respectively.Management of the community forest is one effective way for achieving in-situ conservation of edible wild plants. Since gathering edible wild plants in a forest is performed simultaneously with the maintenance and management of the forest in Bhutan, gathering is thought to be helpful to forest conservation.ブータンでの食用野生植物の調査の結果，種子植物で60科172種が，シダ植物で６科18種が確認された。共有林を維持管理していくことは，このような野生植物の生息域内保全に効果的である。ブータンでは食用野生植物の採取は森林の維持管理と一体的に行われているため，森林保全の一助にもなっていると考えられる。Article信州大学農学部紀要 48（1-2）: 75-83(2012)departmental bulletin pape

Comparison of seasonal growth and yield performances of Japanese cabbage varieties in Nagano, Japan

Three cabbage varieties, "Ajioh","Shutoku SP" and "Shinshu 868" were investigated at the AFC field, Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University during 2014. The experiment was established in a simple Randomized Complete Block Design, where these three cabbage varieties were transplanted and harvested at five different seasons. There were some significant differences among the varieties in head weight, head width and head height, as well as the number of leaves and their weight. For seasonal difference, the highest growth and yield performances were observed in Phase 3 (harvested in October) among the varieties. The results obtained indicated that "Shinshu 868" produced the highest head weight (1.64㎏) and the highest head width (19.1㎝) ; while "Ajioh" produced the highest head height (14.4㎝/head). The phase 5 had no head formation due to change in weather condition from October to December.Article信州大学農学部AFC報告 13: 131-136 (2015)departmental bulletin pape

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging assessment for glossopharyngeal neuralgia : value of three-dimensional T2-reversed MR imaging (3D-T2R) in conjunction with other modes of 3D MR imaging

Background: To retrospectively examine the usefulness of gray-scale reversal imaging of T2-weighted images (3D-T2R) in conjunction with other modes of 3D MRI for preoperative assessments in patients with glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN) due to neurovascular compression. Material/Methods: Imaging findings on 3D-T2R, constructive interference in steady state (CISS), and MRA were analyzed with reference to operative charts in 10 patients with GPN. Results: Offending vessels were associated with the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) in 9 of 10 patients (90%). Eight of the 10 patients (80%) had offending vessels located at the supraolivary fossette. Of those eight patients, six (75%) had a shift of the ipsilateral vertebral artery to the affected side. Five (42%) and seven (48%) contact points were associated with the root entry/exit zone and the peripheral nerve system segment, respectively. In six of nine contact points (67%), 3D-T2R demonstrated the pathomorphological features at the contact points better than CISS. Conclusions: The offending vessels were mostly associated with posterior inferior cerebellar arteries, were frequently located at the supraolivary fossette, and had attachments at the root entry/exit zone and at the peripheral segment of the glossopharyngeal nerve, which was well demonstrated on 3D-T2R

Retention of Capsule Endoscopy at the Site of NSAIDs-induced Intestinal Ulcer ―Lessons to Learn―

A 77-year-old man with a history of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) use was admitted to our hospital due to anemia and hypoalbuminemia. Radioisotope scintigraphy indicated protein loss from the small intestine. The patient underwent capsule endoscopy, which was later found to be retained in the ileum. Double-balloon endoscopy showed multiple strictures with ulcers in the small intestine. The capsule was found in proximal to one of the stenosis, and was removed by doubleballoon enteroscopy. Based on endoscopic findings, NSAID-induced enteritis was diagnosed. Although anemia and hypoalbuminemia improved after discontinuing NSAID, the patient developed ileus and underwent partial resection of the ileum. Multiple diaphragm-like strictures were present in the resected intestine. The current case highlights the importance of screening for intestinal strictures when NSAID ulcer is suspected

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Contributes to Helicobacter Pylori VacA-Induced Apoptosis

Vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA) is one of the important virulence factors produced by H. pylori. VacA induces apoptotic cell death, which is potentiated by ammonia. VacA also causes cell death by mitochondrial damage, via signaling pathways that are not fully defined. Our aim was to determine whether endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is associated with VacA-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. We found that C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), a key signaling protein of ER stress-induced apoptosis, was transcriptionally up-regulated following incubation of gastric epithelial cells with VacA. The effect of VacA on CHOP induction was significantly enhanced by co-incubation with ammonium chloride. Phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2)-alpha, which is known to occur downstream of the ER stress sensor PKR-like ERlocalized eIF2-alpha kinase (PERK) and to regulate CHOP expression, was also observed following incubation with VacA in the presence of ammonium chloride. Knockdown of CHOP by siRNA resulted in inhibition of VacA-induced apoptosis. Further studies showed that silencing of the PERK gene with siRNA attenuated VacA-mediated phosphorylation of eIF2-alpha, CHOP induction, expression of BH3-only protein Bim and Bax activation, and cell death induced by VacA with ammonium chloride, indicating that ER stress may lead to mitochondrial dysfunction during VacA-induced toxicity. Activation of ER stress and up-regulation of BH3-only proteins were also observed in human H. pylori-infected gastric mucosa. Collectively, this study reveals a possible association between VacA-induced apoptosis in gastric epithelial cells, and activation of ER stress in H. pylori-positive gastric mucosa

Polyglycolic Acid Felt Sealing Method for Prevention of Bleeding Related to Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection in Patients Taking Antithrombotic Agents

Background and Study Aims. When performing endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for patients on antithrombotic agents, the frequency of delayed bleeding is expected to increase. The endoscopic polyglycolic acid (PGA) felt and fibrin glue sealing method could be a new method for prevention of delayed bleeding. Patients and Methods. The safety and efficacy of the endoscopic tissue sealing method with PGA sheets and fibrin glue for the prevention of post-ESD bleeding were examined in 104 patients taking antithrombotic agents. During the study period, 70 patients taking antithrombotic agents did not undergo the sealing method, 36 patients discontinued antithrombotic agents, and 724 patients had not received antithrombotic therapy. Results. Delayed bleeding rates were 3.8% (4/104) in the sealing group, 12.9% (9/70) in the nonsealing group, 8.3% (3/36) in the discontinuation group, and 4.6% (33/724) in the nonantithrombotic therapy group. Thus, the delayed bleeding rate was significantly lower in the sealing group than in the nonsealing group and comparable to that in the nonantithrombotic therapy group. Conclusions. This PGA felt and fibrin glue sealing method might become a promising post-ESD bleeding prevention method in patients taking antithrombotic agents (UMIN000013990, UMIN000013993)

Vildagliptin vs liraglutide as a second-line therapy switched from sitagliptin-based regimens in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, parallel-group study

Introduction: A step-up strategy for dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitor-based regimens has not yet been established. In addition, similarities and differences between DPP-4 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonists remain to be elucidated in humans. We investigated the pleiotropic effects of vildagliptin vs liraglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes on sitagliptin-based regimens in an open-label, randomized, clinical trial. Materials and Methods: A total of 122 patients with type 2 diabetes that was inadequately controlled by sitagliptin-based regimens were randomly assigned to either vildagliptin (50 mg, twice daily) or liraglutide treatment (0.9 mg, once daily) for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes were glycated hemoglobin and body mass index. Results: Both vildagliptin and liraglutide significantly lowered glycated hemoglobin within 12 weeks after switching from sitagliptin, but liraglutide produced a greater reduction (-0.67 ± 0.12% vs -0.36 ± 0.53%). Liraglutide lowered body mass index, whereas vildagliptin did not affect body mass index. Vildagliptin lowered fasting C-peptide immunoreactivity, but liraglutide did not. Vildagliptin increased serum levels of adiponectin, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, whereas liraglutide had no effect on these levels. Quality of life, assessed using the diabetes treatment satisfaction questionnaire, was not impaired in either group. The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal symptoms, which occurred with similar frequencies in both groups. Conclusions: Vildagliptin-mediated improvements in glycemic control did not correlate with indices for insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity. Switching from sitagliptin to liraglutide is useful in managing hyperglycemia and weight. Each agent exerts unique pleiotropic effects. This trial was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (no. 000004953). © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Diabetes Investigation published by Asian Association of the Study of Diabetes (AASD) and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd

New findings on the fungal species Tricholoma matsutake from Ukraine, and revision of its taxonomy and biogeography based on multilocus phylogenetic analyses

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.Matsutake mushrooms are among the best-known edible wild mushroom taxa worldwide. The representative Tricholoma matsutake is from East Asia and the northern and central regions of Europe. Here, we report the existence of T. matsutake under fir trees in Eastern Europe (i.e., Ukraine), as confirmed by phylogenetic analysis of nine loci on the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. All specimens from Japan, Bhutan, China, North Korea, South Korea, Sweden, Finland, and Ukraine formed a T. matsutake clade according to the phylogeny of the internal transcribed spacer region. The European population of T. matsutake was clustered based on the β2 tubulin gene, with a moderate bootstrap value. In contrast, based on analyses of three loci, i.e., rpb2, tef1, and the β2 tubulin gene, T. matsutake specimens sampled from Bhutan and China belonged to a clade independent of the other specimens of this species, implying a genetically isolated population. As biologically available type specimens of T. matsutake have not been designated since its description as a new species from Japan in 1925, we established an epitype of this fungus, sampled in a Pinus densiflora forest in Nagano, Japan.Peer reviewe