PANICLE PHYTOMER2 (PAP2), encoding a SEPALLATA subfamily MADS-box protein, positively controls spikelet meristem identity in rice

In rice panicle development, new meristems are generated sequentially in an organized manner and acquire their identity in a time- and position-dependent manner. In the panicle of the panicle phytomer2-1 (pap2-1) mutant, the pattern of meristem initiation is disorganized and newly formed meristems show reduced competency to become spikelet meristems, resulting in the transformation of early arising spikelets into rachis branches. In addition, rudimentary glumes and sterile lemmas, the outermost organs of the spikelet, elongate into a leafy morphology. We propose that PAP2 is a positive regulator of spikelet meristem identity. Map-based cloning revealed that PAP2 encodes OsMADS34, a member of the SEPALLATA (SEP) subfamily of MADS-box proteins. PAP2/OsMADS34 belongs to the LOFSEP subgroup of MADS-box genes that show grass-specific diversification caused by gene duplication events. All five SEP subfamily genes in rice are expressed exclusively during panicle development, while their spatial and temporal expression patterns vary. PAP2 expression starts the earliest among the five SEP genes, and a low but significant level of PAP2 mRNA was detected in the inflorescence meristem, in branch meristems immediately after the transition, and in glume primordia, consistent with its role in the early development of spikelet formation. Our study provides new evidence supporting the hypothesis that the genes of the LOFSEP subgroup control developmental processes that are unique to grass species

Genetic analysis of typical wet-type age-related macular degeneration and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in Japanese population

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of blindness in the elderly. Caucasian patients are predominantly affected by the dry form of AMD, whereas Japanese patients have predominantly the wet form of AMD and/or polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Although genetic association in the 10q26 (ARMS2/HTRA1) region has been established in many ethnic groups for dry-type AMD, typical wet-type AMD, and PCV, the contribution of the 1q32 (CFH) region seem to differ among these groups. Here we show a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the ARMS2/HTRA1 locus is associated in the whole genome for Japanese typical wet-type AMD (rs10490924: \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$p = 4.1 \times 10 ^{ - 4}$$\end{document}, OR = 4.16) and PCV (rs10490924: \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$p = 3.7 \times 10 ^{ -8}$$\end{document}, OR = 2.72) followed by CFH (rs800292: \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$p = 7.4 \times 10 ^{ -5}$$\end{document}, OR = 2.08; \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$p = 2.6 \times {10^{ - 4}}$$\end{document}, OR = 2.00), which differs from previous studies in Caucasian populations. Moreover, a SNP (rs2241394) in complement component C3 gene showed significant association with PCV (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$p = 2.5 \times {10^{ - 3}}$$\end{document}, OR = 3.47). We conclude that dry-type AMD, typical wet-type AMD, and PCV have both common and distinct genetic risks that become apparent when comparing Japanese versus Caucasian populations

Amantadine can Ameliorate Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction and Nocturnal Polyuria in Patients with Parkinson Disease and Vascular Parkinsonism

Background:Amantadine is a drug used for patients with Parkinson\u27s disease (PD) and vascular parkinsonism (VP). These patients often have lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and nocturnal polyuria (NP). Thus, we investigated the effect of amantadine on these in parkinsonian patients.Methods:Twenty-two patients with LUTS, including 13 with PD and nine with VP, were recruited. We performed a urinary questionnaire, frequency-volume chart, and residual urine (RU) measurement before and after daily administration of 150 mg and 300 mg amantadine.Results:Before amantadine administration, mean daytime urinary frequency was 9.07(standard error [SE], 0.64), nighttime urinary frequency 2.89 (0.24), urinary urgency per week 24.2 (6.69), urge incontinence per month 15.1( 9.94), urine volume per void 145.6( 12.6) mL, and residual urine volume 12.5( 6.30) mL. After daily 150 mg amantadine administration, mean daytime and nighttime urinary frequency, urinary urgency, and urge incontinence decreased to 6.9( 0.42), 1.97( 0.21), 13.0( 3.58), and 14.2( 10.2), respectively, and urine volume per void increased to 174.1( 11.3) mL. NP( N=8) was ameliorated in six patients. No patient had side effects. After daily 300 mg amantadine administration( N=8), mean daytime and nighttimeurinary frequency, urinary urgency, and urge incontinence decreased to 6.90 (0.33), 1.69 (0.10), 5.88 (1.61), and 2.31 (0.61), respectively, and urine volume per void increased to180.2 (15.0) mL. NP (N=4) was ameliorated in two patients. One patient developed hallucination, and two patients developed flashing sensation.Conclusion:Amantadine has beneficial effects on LUTS and NP in patients with VP and PD

IF5–pyridine–HF: air- and moisture-stable fluorination reagent

IF5–pyridine–HF, an air- and moisture-stable solid, can be used as a fluorination reagent for the introduction of fluorine atoms to the α-position of the sulfur atom in sulfides. The desulfurizing–fluorination reactions of benzylic sulfides, thioacetals, and 2-(methylthio)-1,3-dithiane derivatives were also performed using this reagent

Autologous and heterotopic transplantation of adipose stromal vascular fraction ameliorates stress urinary incontinence in rats with simulated childbirth trauma

Introduction: Autologous transplantation of adipose stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is a cost-effective and technically accessible option for cell therapy. Clinical study of SVF transplantation for male stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is underway, but the effectiveness remains unknown for female SUI, majority of which is caused by childbirth trauma. Methods: Vaginal Distension (VD) rats were generated as in vivo model for female SUI. To quantitate the severity of SUI, leak point pressure (LPP) was measured by placing a bladder catheter. There was a characteristic waveform of LPP with two-peaks, and we counted the second peak as an LPP value. Adipose SVF was separated from inguinal fat and delivered into external urethral sphincter (EUS) through transperineal injection. LPP was measured 7 or 14 days after SVF transplantation. Tissue damage and collagen synthesis around the EUS were visualized by Masson's trichrome and eosin staining. Antibody against α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was used to stain smooth muscle or activated stromal cells. Donor SVF cells were distinguished from recipient EUS tissue by tracking with GFP transgene. Results: VD procedure decreased the frequency at which the normal LPP waveform appeared and lowered the LPP value. SVF injection normalized the waveform as well as the level of LPP. VD disrupted histological structure of EUS and SVF failed to differentiate into striatal muscles. Instead, SVF increased α-SMA positive cells and collagen synthesis but the phenomena depended on VD stimulus. GFP tracking indicated that the transplanted SVF cells persisted for four weeks and synthesized α-SMA protein simultaneously. Conclusions: Autologous transplantation of adipose SVF displayed bulking effects through collagen synthesis. However, such heterotopic activation was dependent on tissue damage. Keywords: Adipose stromal vascular fraction, Stress urinary incontinence, Vaginal distension model rat, Leak point pressure, Collagen synthesi