Cancer Cell-Derived Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Is Dispensable for the Progression of 4T1 Murine Breast Cancer

We previously reported that 4T1 murine breast cancer cells produce GM-CSF that up-regulates macrophage expression of several cancer promoting genes, including Mcp-1/Ccl2, Ccl17 and Rankl, suggesting a critical role of cancer cell-derived GM-CSF in cancer progression. Here, we attempted to define whether 4T1 cell-derived GM-CSF contributes to the expression of these genes by 4T1tumors, and their subsequent progression. Intraperitoneal injection of anti-GM-CSF neutralizing antibody did not decrease the expression of Mcp-1, Ccl17 or Rankl mRNA by 4T1 tumors. To further examine the role of cancer cell-derived GM-CSF, we generated GM-CSF-deficient 4T1 cells by using the Crisper-Cas9 system. As previously demonstrated, 4T1 cells are a mixture of cells and cloning of cells by itself significantly reduced tumor growth and lung metastasis. By contrast, GM-CSF-deficiency did not affect tumor growth, lung metastasis or the expression of these chemokine and cytokine genes in tumor tissues. By in-situ hybridization, the expression of Mcp-1 mRNA was detected in both F4/80-expressing and non-expressing cells in tumors of GM-CSF-deficient cells. These results indicate that cancer cell-derived GM-CSF is dispensable for the tuning of the 4T1 tumor microenvironment and the production of MCP-1, CCL17 or RANKL in the 4T1 tumor microenvironment is likely regulated by redundant mechanisms

Do abstraction and power increase moral hypocrisy?

Lammers (2012) reported that participants taking an abstract (vs. concrete) view tended to judge the immoral behavior of others more severely than the same behavior performed by themselves (i.e., moral hypocrisy). In the current study, we examined the effects of construal level (i.e., abstract vs. concrete mindset) on moral judgments in a sample of Japanese university students. In addition, we examined the effect of the individuals’ sense of power, which was previously found to influence moral hypocrisy (Lammers et al., 2010); people in powerful roles were found to be more strict in moral judgments of others’ behavior than their own behavior. However, in Experiment 1, we did not observe moral hypocrisy. Instead, regardless of the actors in scenarios, we found that participants in the abstract condition (vs. concrete condition) judged immoral behavior less severely. Moreover, participants with a greater sense of power were more likely to judge immoral behavior severely. The discrepancy between the current findings and those of previous studies might be related to the scenario used in the current study (stealing a bike in a public bicycle parking area). Participants may have been influenced by the concern of being watched by a third party. We conducted Experiment 2 to investigate the effects of the presence of a third party, but found no significant effects. The results are discussed in terms of the construal level manipulations and immoral behavior in the experimental scenarios.本論文は，2017年度に広島大学教育学部で開講された心理学課題演習において，第1著者の指導により第2著者から第7著者までが実施した研究をもとに執筆したものである。研究の一部は第2著者から第7著者により中国四国心理学会第73回大会学部生研究発表会において報告された

Intestinal Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

A 44-year-old Japanese woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presented to our hospital with abdominal pain. Radiological and endoscopic examinations led to the diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the jejunum, which was subsequently resected. Patients with SLE reportedly have an increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, as demonstrated by our patient. Hence, lymphoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of neoplastic lesions emerging in SLE patients. In addition, flow cytometry using endoscopically biopsied fragments is useful for the immediate diagnosis of lymphoma, leading to timely and accurate preoperative staging

A Program to Improve Social Skills and Interpersonal Skills for High School Students in Blue Valley School District, Kansas State, America

　本研究では，すでに長年にわたって専門的で組織的に展開している，米国カンザス州ブルーバレー学区の高校におけるソーシャルスキルの授業について，①生徒の日常生活に必要なソーシャルスキルを育てるための指導内容の工夫，②障害のある生徒と障害のない生徒の交流及び共同学習を促すための工夫，の観点から分析した。①については，日常生活で直面する問題が題材とされていたこと，学習されたスキルを日常生活全般に渡って使う機会が設定されていたこと，さらには，その使用について振り返りをする時間が授業の中に組み込まれていたこと，の３つが見いだされた。②については，障害のある生徒も障害のない生徒も同じ目標と内容を共有できるようにしていたこと，仲間意識や連帯感の形成過程を視覚的に示すようにしていたこと，互いに支え合う関係を築くことができるような活動を設定していたこと，ピアサポーター育成を授業の中に組み入れていたこと，の４つが導き出された。以上の点は，今後のわが国の高校におけるソーシャルスキルの授業に示唆を与えるものであると 考えられた

Enpp1 is an anti-aging factor that regulates Klotho under phosphate overload conditions

Control of phosphate metabolism is crucial to regulate aging in mammals. Klotho is a well-known anti-aging factor that regulates phosphate metabolism: mice mutant or deficient in Klotho exhibit phenotypes resembling human aging. Here we show that ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (Enpp1) is required for Klotho expression under phosphate overload conditions. Loss-of-function Enpp1 ttw/ttw mice under phosphate overload conditions exhibited phenotypes resembling human aging and Klotho mutants, such as short life span, arteriosclerosis and osteoporosis, with elevated serum 1,25(OH)2D3 levels. Enpp1ttw/ttw mice also exhibited significantly reduced renal Klotho expression under phosphate overload conditions, and aging phenotypes in these mice were rescued by Klotho overexpression, a low vitamin D diet or vitamin D receptor knockout. These findings indicate that Enpp1 plays a crucial role in regulating aging via Klotho expression under phosphate overload conditions

Results of the search for inspiraling compact star binaries from TAMA300's observation in 2000-2004

We analyze the data of TAMA300 detector to search for gravitational waves from inspiraling compact star binaries with masses of the component stars in the range 1-3Msolar. In this analysis, 2705 hours of data, taken during the years 2000-2004, are used for the event search. We combine the results of different observation runs, and obtained a single upper limit on the rate of the coalescence of compact binaries in our Galaxy of 20 per year at a 90% confidence level. In this upper limit, the effect of various systematic errors such like the uncertainty of the background estimation and the calibration of the detector's sensitivity are included.Comment: 8 pages, 4 Postscript figures, uses revtex4.sty The author list was correcte

Analysis of gut microbiome, host genetics, and plasma metabolites reveals gut microbiome-host interactions in the Japanese population

Interaction between the gut microbiome and host plays a key role in human health. Here, we perform a metagenome shotgun-sequencing-based analysis of Japanese participants to reveal associations between the gut microbiome, host genetics, and plasma metabolome. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) for microbial species (n = 524) identifies associations between the PDE1C gene locus and Bacteroides intestinalis and between TGIF2 and TGIF2-RAB5IF gene loci and Bacteroides acidifiaciens. In a microbial gene ortholog GWAS, agaE and agaS, which are related to the metabolism of carbohydrates forming the blood group A antigen, are associated with blood group A in a manner depending on the secretor status determined by the East Asian-specific FUT2 variant. A microbiome-metabolome association analysis (n = 261) identifies associations between bile acids and microbial features such as bile acid metabolism gene orthologs including bai and 7β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Our publicly available data will be a useful resource for understanding gut microbiome-host interactions in an underrepresented population.Tomofuji Yoshihiko, Kishikawa Toshihiro, Sonehara Kyuto, et al. Analysis of gut microbiome, host genetics, and plasma metabolites reveals gut microbiome-host interactions in the Japanese population. Cell Reports 42, 113324 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113324

Observation results by the TAMA300 detector on gravitational wave bursts from stellar-core collapses

We present data-analysis schemes and results of observations with the TAMA300 gravitational-wave detector, targeting burst signals from stellar-core collapse events. In analyses for burst gravitational waves, the detection and fake-reduction schemes are different from well-investigated ones for a chirp-wave analysis, because precise waveform templates are not available. We used an excess-power filter for the extraction of gravitational-wave candidates, and developed two methods for the reduction of fake events caused by non-stationary noises of the detector. These analysis schemes were applied to real data from the TAMA300 interferometric gravitational wave detector. As a result, fake events were reduced by a factor of about 1000 in the best cases. The resultant event candidates were interpreted from an astronomical viewpoint. We set an upper limit of 2.2x10^3 events/sec on the burst gravitational-wave event rate in our Galaxy with a confidence level of 90%. This work sets a milestone and prospects on the search for burst gravitational waves, by establishing an analysis scheme for the observation data from an interferometric gravitational wave detector

バーチャル エコノミー モデル ノ アラタナ イチロンテン GADDY AND ICKES 1999 ノ サイカイシャク オ チュウシン ニシタ テンボウ

This paper aims at indicating a critical review and a new perspective on Russias Virtual Economy Modelby Gaddy and Ickes [1999]. They analyze the non-monetary deals in Russian economy by using an accounting model. But their implications and consequences have some matters that would bring misunderstandings of Russian economic situation. For example, they cant make a clear from their model why Russian households, firms and government transact with non-monetary exchanges. Their virtual economy modelcan describe only how they sacrifice Russian household with the aid of relational capital. And through the relational capital, Russian household, firms and government can survive in the difficult situation of transition economy. We show some reasons why they transact with non-monetary exchanges. First, Russian accountings and financial systems dont work well. Second, when the products that Russian manufactures produce cant be fully sold and they cant have enough cash to meet their settlement, they continue to produce the excess volume for the domestic demands in order to maintain their operations, therefore their excess employments. And they sell the excess products for the domestic demands at a sacrifice with non-monetary exchanges. We suggest that these phenomena will not be virtualbut real, and the non-monetary transactions in Russia will be a temporary phenomenon in order to maintain their operation in its transition

CVIT expert consensus document on primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in 2018

While primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has significantly contributed to improve the mortality in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction even in cardiogenic shock, primary PCI is a standard of care in most of Japanese institutions. Whereas there are high numbers of available facilities providing primary PCI in Japan, there are no clear guidelines focusing on procedural aspect of the standardized care. Whilst updated guidelines for the management of acute myocardial infarction were recently published by European Society of Cardiology, the following major changes are indicated; (1) radial access and drug-eluting stent over bare metal stent were recommended as Class I indication, and (2) complete revascularization before hospital discharge (either immediate or staged) is now considered as Class IIa recommendation. Although the primary PCI is consistently recommended in recent and previous guidelines, the device lag from Europe, the frequent usage of coronary imaging modalities in Japan, and the difference in available medical therapy or mechanical support may prevent direct application of European guidelines to Japanese population. The Task Force on Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention of the Japanese Association of Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics (CVIT) has now proposed the expert consensus document for the management of acute myocardial infarction focusing on procedural aspect of primary PCI