Taurine's health influence on Japanese high school girls

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in children and adolescents has been increasing at an alarming rate. MS risks during childhood and adolescence adversely affect health conditions in later life. Thus, the characterization of their MS risks is a critical research field. The aims of this study are to survey the health status of Japanese adolescent females, a poorly characterized population, and to investigate the potential relationship between their MS risks and dietary factors like potassium (K) and taurine.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Anthropometric characteristics of 243 healthy school girls aged 13 to 18 years were measured. Serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and plasma levels of glucose and insulin were analyzed in fasting blood samples. We assessed overweight, disturbed lipid prolife, higher blood pressure (hBP) and higher plasma glucose (hGlc) levels as indicators of MS risks. The relationships between MS risks and urinary K or taurine excretion were investigated by dividing into higher and lower groups at medians of their urinary excretions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Half of junior high school (JHS) and one-quarter of senior high school (SHS) girls had at least one MS risk. The quite common risk was hGlc, the rates being 21% in JHS girls and 14% in SHS. The prevalence of being overweight and obesity were only small portions, the rate being 0% and 0% in JHS girls, and 10% and 1% in SHS, respectively. Substantial differences in the prevalence of hBP were observed between JHS (22%) and SHS (4%) girls. Furthermore, higher urinary K excretion group showed a significant decrease in triglyceride level (<it>P </it>= 0.03) and increase in HDL level (<it>P </it>= 0.003) compared with the lower. Also, the higher urinary taurine excretion group exhibited a significant reduction in triglyceride level (<it>P </it>= 0.04) compared with the lower.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results indicate that control of plasma glucose level rather than body weight is a crucial task in Japanese pubertal girls, and that a dietary habit rich in K and taurine could improve their lipid profile. Nutritional education based on these findings would help to prevent the future development of MS in Japanese female adolescents.</p

RIM1 confers sustained activity and neurotransmitter vesicle anchoring to presynaptic Ca2+ channels.

International audienceThe molecular organization of presynaptic active zones is important for the neurotransmitter release that is triggered by depolarization-induced Ca2+ influx. Here, we demonstrate a previously unknown interaction between two components of the presynaptic active zone, RIM1 and voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs), that controls neurotransmitter release in mammalian neurons. RIM1 associated with VDCC beta-subunits via its C terminus to markedly suppress voltage-dependent inactivation among different neuronal VDCCs. Consistently, in pheochromocytoma neuroendocrine PC12 cells, acetylcholine release was significantly potentiated by the full-length and C-terminal RIM1 constructs, but membrane docking of vesicles was enhanced only by the full-length RIM1. The beta construct beta-AID dominant negative, which disrupts the RIM1-beta association, accelerated the inactivation of native VDCC currents, suppressed vesicle docking and acetylcholine release in PC12 cells, and inhibited glutamate release in cultured cerebellar neurons. Thus, RIM1 association with beta in the presynaptic active zone supports release via two distinct mechanisms: sustaining Ca2+ influx through inhibition of channel inactivation, and anchoring neurotransmitter-containing vesicles in the vicinity of VDCCs

Toward understanding transcriptional regulatory networks in abiotic stress responses and tolerance in rice

長崎大学学位論文 [学位記番号]博（医歯薬）甲第1168号 [学位授与年月日]令和元年6月5

Convalescence of atypical reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome in human immunodeficiency virus infection

Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS) is an uncommon neurological disorder which shows the diffuse edema in white matter of occipital lobe of brain. In this report, we describe a RPLS case with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, whose lesion was improved with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). A HIV-infected man, who was diagnosed as a mental deterioration with Central Pontine Myelinolysis (CPM) appearing high intensity pontine lesion in brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), improved with HAART. No episode of hyponatremia or hypertension was observed in his clinical course. Evaluation of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping in diffusion weight imaging (DWI) was performed in brain MRI at the onset and four months after commencement of HAART. ADC mapping enabled to interpret the pontine lesion as RPLS. HAART improved the mental deterioration within two weeks and the elevated ADC value at the onset was normalized at four-month clinical course

ホッカイドウ バッカイコウ ニ ライユウ スル ゴマフアザラシ（Phoca largha）ノ フユ-ハル ニ オケル リヨウ カイイキ オヨビ ハンショク カイイキ ノ スイテイ

1990年代後半以降，北海道日本海側においてはゴマフアザラシの来遊個体数が急増し，新たな上陸場も多数形成されている。それらの上陸場の中でも，稚内市抜海港は顕著に個体数増加が見られている。本研究では抜海港を利用する個体に衛星発信機を装着し，彼らの利用海域および繁殖海域を推定することを目的とした。発信機を装着した個体のうち2個体（メス1，オス1）はオホーツク海へ，他の2個体（オス2）は間宮（タタール）海峡へと移動した。また，オホーツク海，間宮海峡のどちらの海域へ移動した個体においても海氷域を利用し，常に海氷縁辺部に滞在する個体と，海氷域を利用せず沿岸域に滞在する個体が確認された。海氷縁辺部を利用した2個体はどちらも体サイズが大きく，海氷域を利用していた期間は上陸割合が増加する傾向があったことから，繁殖に参加した成獣であると考えられた。したがって，抜海港に来遊するゴマフアザラシの繁殖海域は，少なくともオホーツク海と間宮海峡の海氷域であることが推察された。一方，海氷域を利用しなかった2個体はどちらも体サイズが小さく，未成熟個体であったと考えられ，成獣と同様にオホーツク海あるいは間宮海峡への移動が確認された。以上のことから，抜海港には少なくともオホーツク海由来の個体と間宮海峡由来の個体が来遊してきていることが示唆された。Spotted seals migrating to the northern Japan Sea of Hokkaido increased rapidly after the late 1990s. Since then, many new hauled-out sites have been established. The population growth was observed at these newly formed haulout groups but the increase was especially large at the port of Bakkai in Wakkanai-city. In this study, we tracked the movement of 4 spotted seals captured in Bakkai using satellite transmitters, and estimated the utilization and breeding areas of the individuals using this site. As a result, 2 seals (both males) moved to the Tatar Strait, while the others (one male, one female) migrated to the Okhotsk Sea. At both sites, seals used several environments as haul-out sites: some seals used sea-ice area and stayed for the whole time while the others used the coastal region. Since two seals using the edge of the sea-ice were both large in body size, and their landing frequencies became higher as the time spent around the sea-ice increased, they are thought to be adult seals which were breeding. This suggests the breeding area of spotted seals migrating to the port of Bakkai are located on the sea-ice region within the Okhotsk Sea and Tatar Strait. On the other hand, because the seals using non sea-ice area were both small in body size, we considered them to be immature sub-adults, and they too, moved to the Okhotsk Sea or Tatar Strait like the adults. In conclusion, it is suggested that individuals which use the port of Bakkai as haulout sites are migrants from the Okhotsk Sea or Tatar Strait

Identification of a consensus element recognized and cleaved by IRE1α

IRE1α is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-located transmembrane RNase that plays a central role in the ER stress response. Upon ER stress, IRE1α is activated and cleaves specific exon–intron sites in the mRNA encoding the transcription factor X-box-binding protein 1 (XBP1). In addition, previous studies allow us to predict that IRE1α targets several RNAs other than the XBP1. In fact, we have identified CD59 mRNA as a cleavage target of IRE1α. However, it is not yet clear how IRE1α recognizes and cleaves target RNAs. To address this question, we devised a unique method that combines an in vitro cleavage assay with an exon microarray analysis, and performed genome-wide screening for IRE1α cleavage targets. We identified 13 novel mRNAs as candidate IRE1α cleavage targets. Moreover, an analysis of the novel cleavage sites revealed a consensus sequence (CUGCAG) which, when accompanied by a stem-loop structure, is essential for IRE1α-mediated cleavage. The sequence and structure were also conserved in the known IRE1α cleavage targets, CD59 and XBP1. These findings provide the important clue to understanding the molecular mechanisms by which IRE1α recognizes and cleaves target RNAs

Association of the GCKR rs780094 polymorphism with metabolic traits including carotid intima-media thickness in Japanese community-dwelling men, but not in women

Background: The glucokinase regulator gene (GCKR) rs780094 has been shown to be strongly associated with some metabolic traits and atherosclerotic parameters, while the association between GCKR rs780094 and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) has not been fully investigated in the general population. The associations between the GCKR rs780094 genotype and metabolic traits including CIMT were examined in a Japanese community-dwelling population. Methods: A total of 2491 Japanese adults (907 men and 1584 women) who participated in a medical screening program for the general population from 29 to 94 years of age during 2008 to 2010 were enrolled. GCKR rs780094 was genotyped by the TaqMan polymerase chain reaction method, and associations with metabolic markers including CIMT were evaluated. Results: GCKR rs780094 AA genotype was significantly associated with higher TG (p < 0.001 vs. GG), lower HDL-C (p = 0.021 vs. GG), and lower HbA1c (p = 0.023 vs. GG). The AA genotype showed significantly thinner CIMT (p = 0.001 vs. GX). These associations were seen only in men. Conclusions: GCKR rs780094 was associated with TG, HDL-C, and HbA1c levels, as well as with CIMT in Japanese community-dwelling men, but not women

Review Article : Feudalism or Absolute Monarchism?

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68809/2/10.1177_009770049001600304.pd

Human immune and gut microbial parameters associated with inter-individual variations in COVID-19 mRNA vaccine-induced immunity

COVID-19 mRNA vaccines induce protective adaptive immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in most individuals, but there is wide variation in levels of vaccine-induced antibody and T-cell responses. However, the mechanisms underlying this inter-individual variation remain unclear. Here, using a systems biology approach based on multi-omics analyses of human blood and stool samples, we identified several factors that are associated with COVID-19 vaccine-induced adaptive immune responses. BNT162b2-induced T cell response is positively associated with late monocyte responses and inversely associated with baseline mRNA expression of activation protein 1 (AP-1) transcription factors. Interestingly, the gut microbial fucose/rhamnose degradation pathway is positively correlated with mRNA expression of AP-1, as well as a gene encoding an enzyme producing prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which promotes AP-1 expression, and inversely correlated with BNT162b2-induced T-cell responses. These results suggest that baseline AP-1 expression, which is affected by commensal microbial activity, is a negative correlate of BNT162b2-induced T-cell responses.journal articl