Unusual Carbonaceous Dust Distribution in PN G095.2+00.7

We investigate the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon features in the young Galactic planetary nebula PN G095.2+00.7 based on mid-infrared observations. The near- to mid-infrared spectra obtained with the AKARI/IRC and the Spitzer/IRS show the PAH features as well as the broad emission feature at 12 {\mu}m usually seen in proto-planetary nebulae (pPNe). The spatially resolved spectra obtained with Subaru/COMICS suggest that the broad emission around 12 {\mu}m is distributed in a shell-like structure, but the unidentified infrared band at 11.3 {\mu}m is selectively enhanced at the southern part of the nebula. The variation can be explained by a difference in the amount of the UV radiation to excite PAHs, and does not necessarily require the chemical processing of dust grains and PAHs. It suggests that the UV self-extinction is important to understand the mid-infrared spectral features. We propose a mechanism which accounts for the evolutionary sequence of the mid-infrared dust features seen in a transition from pPNe to PNe.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Identification of the nuclear export signal in the helix–loop–helix inhibitor Id1

AbstractId proteins play important roles in cellular differentiation and proliferation by negatively regulating basic helix–loop–helix transcription factors. Although their intracellular localization may change depending on the biological situation, little is known about the molecular determinants underlying such changes. Here we report the identification of a nuclear export signal (NES) in Id1. The identified NES was different from that of Id2, but had the ability to confine heterologous green fluorescent protein to the cytoplasm. Thus, our results indicate that the intracellular localization of Id1 is regulated differently from that of Id2

The relationship between ambulatory ability before surgery and the D-dimer value after total hip arthroplasty: the evaluation of ambulatory ability by the timed "Up & Go" test.

We examined whether ambulatory ability before surgery might influence the post-operative D-dimer level after total hip arthroplasty (THA). One hundred two patients with hip osteoarthritis receiving THA were included in the current study. The patients were all female, and their ages ranged from 45 to 81 (average 65.0 +- 9.3 years). Age, operated side, body mass index (BMI), disease duration before surgery, pre-operative pain evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS), total cholesterol value, maximal circumference of the lower leg of the operated side, and timed &#34;Up &#38; Go&#34;test (TUG) before surgery, were retrospectively investigated to examine their relationship with D-dimer levels on post-operative day 7. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the D-dimer value: over 10 microg/ml (Group D), and under (Group N). Patients in group D (N= 52)were older, had a higher BMI, and had less ambulatory ability than patients in group N (N= 50). As age showed a relationship with the D-dimer value on the 7th day and TUG results, patients in the 2 groups were further subdivided into 50's, 60's, and 70's age brackets. In the 50's bracket, patients in group D had higher BMI than patients in group N, but time for TUG was not significantly different. In the 60's and 70's bracket, patients in group D had less ambulatory ability than patients in group N, but the time for TUG was not directly correlated with the D-dimer value. The results suggest that pre-operative low ambulatory ability in patients with osteoarthritis over 60 years might influence the postoperative D-dimer after THA, indicating the potential risk for post-operative deep venous thrombosis.</p

Clinically Significant Nonperfusion Areas on Widefield OCT Angiography in Diabetic Retinopathy

[Purpose] To investigate the distribution of clinically significant nonperfusion areas (NPAs) on widefield OCT angiography (OCTA) images in patients with diabetes. [Design] Prospective, cross-sectional, observational study. [Participants] One hundred and forty-four eyes of 114 patients with diabetes. [Methods] Nominal 20 × 23 mm OCTA images were obtained using a swept-source OCTA device (Xephilio OCT-S1), followed by the creation of en face images 20-mm (1614 pixels) in diameter centering on the fovea. The nonperfusion squares (NPSs) were defined as the 10 × 10 pixel squares without retinal vessels, and the ratio of eyes with the NPSs to all eyes in each square was referred to as the NPS ratio. The areas with probabilistic differences (APD) for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) (APD[PDR] and APD[NPDR]) were defined as sets of squares with higher NPS ratios in eyes with PDR and NPDR, respectively. The P ratio (NPSs within APD[PDR] but not APD[NPDR]/all NPSs) was also calculated. [Main Outcome Measures] The probabilistic distribution of the NPSs and the association with diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity. [Results] The NPSs developed randomly in eyes with mild and moderate NPDR and were more prevalent in the extramacular areas and the temporal quadrant in eyes with severe NPDR and PDR. The APD(PDR) was distributed mainly in the extramacular areas, sparing the areas around the vascular arcades and radially peripapillary capillaries. The APD(PDR) contained retinal neovascularization more frequently than the non-APD(PDR) (P = 0.023). The P ratio was higher in eyes with PDR than in those with NPDR (P < 0.001). The multivariate analysis designated the P ratio (odds ratio, 8.293 × 107; 95% confidence interval, 6.529 × 102–1.053 × 1013; P = 0.002) and the total NPSs (odds ratio, 1.002; 95% confidence interval, 1.001–1.003; P < 0.001) as independent risk factors of PDR. Most eyes with NPDR and 4-2-1 rule findings of DR severity had higher P ratios but not necessarily greater NPS numbers. [Conclusions] The APD(PDR) is uniquely distributed on widefield OCTA images, and the NPA location patterns are associated with DR severity, independent of the entire area of NPAs. [Financial Disclosure(s)] Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references

Development of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in a patient with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia/lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma: clonal identity between two B-cell neoplasms

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM)/ lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) is an indolent mature B-cell neoplasm. In rare cases of WM/LPL, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) develops as a result of histologic transformation. In this report, we present a case of DLBCL developing in a patient with WM/LPL. Combination chemotherapy for DLBCL was effective and complete remission was eventually achieved. We attempted to determine the clonal relatedness between WM/LPL and DLBCL in the patient by analyzing complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) in the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene. A common CDR3 sequence was found in tumor cells of DLBCL and those of WM/LPL, indicating that tumor cells of DLBCL are clonally identical to those of WM/LPL. Therefore, in the present case, DLBCL is developed from WM/LPL cells by clonal evolution

Genome-wide identification of pistil-specific genes expressed during fruit set initiation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

Fruit set involves the developmental transition of an unfertilized quiescent ovary in the pistil into a fruit. While fruit set is known to involve the activation of signals (including various plant hormones) in the ovary, many biological aspects of this process remain elusive. To further expand our understanding of this process, we identified genes that are specifically expressed in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) pistils during fruit set through comprehensive RNA-seq-based transcriptome analysis using 17 different tissues including pistils at six different developmental stages. First, we identified 532 candidate genes that are preferentially expressed in the pistil based on their tissue-specific expression profiles. Next, we compared our RNA-seq data with publically available transcriptome data, further refining the candidate genes that are specifically expressed within the pistil. As a result, 108 pistil-specific genes were identified, including several transcription factor genes that function in reproductive development. We also identified genes encoding hormone-like peptides with a secretion signal and cysteine-rich residues that are conserved among some Solanaceae species, suggesting that peptide hormones may function as signaling molecules during fruit set initiation. This study provides important information about pistil-specific genes, which may play specific roles in regulating pistil development in relation to fruit set

TREM2 Expression in Schizophrenia

TREM2 and TYROBP are causal genes for Nasu–Hakola disease (NHD), a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by bone lesions and early-onset progressive dementia. TREM2 forms a receptor signaling complex with TYROBP, which triggers the activation of immune responses in macrophages and dendritic cells, and the functional polymorphism of TREM2 is reported to be associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The objective of this study was to reveal the involvement of TYROBP and TREM2 in the pathophysiology of AD and schizophrenia. Methods: We investigated the mRNA expression level of the 2 genes in leukocytes of 26 patients with AD and 24 with schizophrenia in comparison with age-matched controls. Moreover, we performed gene association analysis between these 2 genes and schizophrenia. Results: No differences were found in TYROBP mRNA expression in patients with AD and schizophrenia; however, TREM2 mRNA expression was increased in patients with AD and schizophrenia compared with controls (P < 0.001). There were no genetic associations of either gene with schizophrenia in Japanese patients. Conclusion: TREM2 expression in leukocytes is elevated not only in AD but also in schizophrenia. Inflammatory processes involving TREM2 may occur in schizophrenia, as observed in neurocognitive disorders such as AD. TREM2 expression in leukocytes may be a novel biomarker for neurological and psychiatric disorders

Changes in Choroidal Structures in Eyes with CSC after Photodynamic Therapy

Purpose To determine the structural changes in the choroid after half-dose photodynamic therapy (hPDT) in eyes with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Methods This was a retrospective interventional study of 29 eyes of 29 patients who underwent hPDT for chronic CSC with serous retinal detachment (SRD) and were followed for ≥3 months. Enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomographic (EDI-OCT) images of the subfoveal choroid were converted to binary images. The central choroidal thickness (CCT), the cross sectional subfoveal choroidal area, the hyporeflective and hyperreflective areas of the inner, outer, and whole choroid were determined at the baseline, and at 1, 3, and 12 months after the hPDT. Results The SRDs were resolved in 26 (89.7%) eyes at 3 months after the hPDT. The mean CCT (P = 0.001), the total choroidal area (P = 0.001), and the hypo-reflective area (P = 0.003) of the whole choroid were significantly decreased from the baseline at 3 months. The hyperreflective area of whole choroid was not significantly changed during the study period (P = 0.083). The hyperreflective but not the hyporeflective area of the inner choroid was significantly decreased at 3 months (P = 0.001, P = 1.000, respectively). The hyporeflective but not the hyperreflective area of the outer choroid was significantly decreased at 3 months (P = 0.001, P = 1.000, respectively). Conclusions The hyperreflective area of the inner choroid and hyporeflective area of the outer choroid were significantly decreased after hPDT for chronic CSC. Because the hyperreflective and hyporeflective area correspond to the choroidal stroma and vessels, respectively, the decreased CCT and subfoveal choroidal area after hPDT may be attributed to a decrease in the exudative changes in the inner choroidal stroma and the reduction of the dilation of the outer choroidal vessels