Expression of Bitter Taste Receptors in the Intestinal Cells of Non-Human Primates

(1) Background: Recent studies have investigated the expression of taste-related genes in the organs of various animals, including humans; however, data for additional taxa are needed to facilitate comparative analyses within and among species. (2) Methods: We investigated the expression of taste-related genes in the intestines of rhesus macaques, the non-human primates most commonly used in experimental models. (3) Results: Based on RNAseq and qRT-PCR, genes encoding bitter taste receptors and the G-protein gustducin were expressed in the gut of rhesus macaques. RNAscope analysis showed that one of the bitter receptors, TAS2R38, was expressed in some cells in the small intestine, and immunohistochemical analysis revealed the presence of T2R38-positive cells in the villi of the intestines. (4) Conclusions: These results suggest that bitter receptors are expressed in the gut of rhesus macaques, supporting the use of macaques as a model for studies of human taste, including gut analyses

Determination of individual factors associated with hallux valgus using SVM-RFE

Introduction This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the factors related to hallux valgus (HV) and their importance using support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE). Methods A total of 864 participants aged ≥ 18 years were enrolled. The Manchester scale was used to determine the presence of HV (summed scores for both feet ≥ 4). The questionnaire included items such as age, sex, height, weight, and foot measurements. These internal factors were analyzed to determine if they are related to HV using SVM-RFE. Results The results of tenfold cross-validation using SVM-RFE revealed that the numbers of feature selections were 10, 10, and 9 for age, sex, and body weight, respectively, and these factors were shown to be related to HV. HV was found to be more common in women than in men (women, 24.9%; men, 7.6%), but the sex difference was not significant in older people. Conclusion Age and sex were found to be important factors associated with HV identified via feature selection using SVM-RFE

カーネーション キリバナ ノ ヒンシツ ホジ ニ オヨボス ケイジョウ トウ ガンユウリョウ ノ エイキョウ ナラビニ バイヨウチュウ ノ キオン オヨビ ニッシャリョウ ト ノ カンケイ

1999年2月から6月まで毎月1回,同一温室から収穫されたスタンダード・タイプ・カーネーション`フランシスコ\u27の切り花の形状,品質保持期間並びに期間別糖含有量を調査すると共に,品質保持と温室内気象条件の関係について調査した。1.切り花の生体重は2, 3月が大きくこれ以後6月まで低下したが,品質保持期間は3月が4.7日と短く,5月が5.9日で最も長かった。2.5月収穫の花弁のフルクトースとグルコース含有量は各々10mg, 6.5mg・100mg^DWで最も高く,3月は6.0mg, 4.8mg・100mg^DWと低かった。3.切り花収穫前10日間と11日から20日までの日中並びに夜間の平均気温と切り花の品質保持期間の間に有意な相関関係が認められ,回帰式から夜温14℃前後,昼温22℃前後が栽培の適温と推定された。We obtained carnation cut flowers \u27Fransisco\u27 from a greenhouse on the first Monday every month in February to June, and investigated the relationship between vase life and content of sugars in the cut flowers. Correlations between the longevity of vase life and temperatures in the greenhouse and amount of solar radiation during the growing period were also investigated. 1. Fresh weight and stem diameter of the cut flowers were highest in February and March, and decreased from April to June. Mean vase life was shortest in March (4.5 days) and longest in May (5.9 days). 2. Fructose and glucose contents in petals were highest in May (10.0mg and 6.5mg・100mg^ DW) and lowest in March (6.0mg and 4.8mg・100mg^ DW). 3. The vase life of carnation was highly correlated with day-time or night-time mean temperatures in 20 days to harvest, and it was estimated that the optimum growing temperature for long vase life of the cut flower was around 22℃ in day-time and 14℃ in night-time

Post-intervention Status in Patients With Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab During REGAIN and Its Open-Label Extension

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo

Minimal Symptom Expression' in Patients With Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody-Positive Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab

The efficacy and tolerability of eculizumab were assessed in REGAIN, a 26-week, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), and its open-label extension