Enhancement of Secondary Cell Wall Formation in Poplar Xylem Using a Self-Reinforced System of Secondary Cell Wall-Related Transcription Factors

The secondary cell wall (SCW) in the xylem is one of the largest sink organs of carbon in woody plants, and is considered a promising sustainable bioresource for biofuels and biomaterials. To enhance SCW formation in poplar (Populus sp.) xylem, we developed a self-reinforced system of SCW-related transcription factors from Arabidopsis thaliana, involving VASCULAR-RELATED NAC-DOMAIN7 (VND7), SECONDARY WALL-ASSOCIATED NAC-DOMAIN PROTEIN 1/NAC SECONDARY WALL THICKENING-PROMOTING FACTOR3 (SND1/NST3), and MYB46. In this system, these transcription factors were fused with the transactivation domain VP16 and expressed under the control of the Populus trichocarpa CesA18 (PtCesA18) gene promoter, creating the chimeric genes PtCesA18pro::AtVND7:VP16, PtCesA18pro::AtSND1:VP16, and PtCesA18pro::AtMYB46:VP16. The PtCesA18 promoter is active in tissues generating SCWs, and can be regulated by AtVND7, AtSND1, and AtMYB46; thus, the expression levels of PtCesA18pro::AtVND7:VP16, PtCesA18pro::AtSND1:VP16, and PtCesA18pro::AtMYB46:VP16 are expected to be boosted in SCW-generating tissues. In the transgenic hybrid aspens (Populus tremula x tremuloides T89) expressing PtCesA18pro::AtSND1:VP16 or PtCesA18pro::AtMYB46:VP16 grown in sterile half-strength Murashige and Skoog growth medium, SCW thickening was significantly enhanced in the secondary xylem cells, while the PtCesA18pro::AtVND7:VP16 plants showed stunted xylem formation, possibly because of the enhanced programmed cell death (PCD) in the xylem regions. After acclimation, the transgenic plants were transferred from the sterile growth medium to pots of soil in the greenhouse, where only the PtCesA18pro::AtMYB46:VP16 aspens survived. A nuclear magnetic resonance footprinting cell wall analysis and enzymatic saccharification analysis demonstrated that PtCesA18pro::AtMYB46:VP16 influences cell wall properties such as the ratio of syringyl (S) and guaiacyl (G) units of lignin, the abundance of the lignin beta-aryl ether and resinol bonds, and hemicellulose acetylation levels. Together, these data indicate that we have created a self-reinforced system using SCW-related transcription factors to enhance SCW accumulation

精神科外来看護師が捉える家族支援の充実度に関する研究

目的：精神科外来看護師が捉える家族支援の充実度とそれに関連する家族支援の内容を明らかにすることである 方法：全国の精神科外来の看護責任者1,204人を対象に質問紙調査を実施した．家族支援の充実度は，「充実している」から「充実していない」までの5件法とした．充実度は「どちらでもない」の回答を除いて2群（充実群・非充実群）に分け，各調査項目について，2群間の差をX2検定で分析した． 結果：有効回答は234人であり，充実群は20.3％，非充実群は45.0％であった．18項目の支援のうち，充実群が非充実群よりも有意に高い実施率の支援は「家族の不安な気持ちを受け止める」「家族の苦労をねぎらう」など9項目であった（p＜0.001～p＜0.017）．また，充実群は，非充実群よりも，支援のための専用の場所が有ること（p＝0.001），家族が集う場が有ること（p＝0.037）が有意に高かった． 結論：家族支援を充実させるためには，外来環境を整えていくこと等が必要である．Purpose: To clarify the level and content of nurses’ support for the families of psychiatric outpatients from the perspective of the nurses. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted on 1204 head nurses of psychiatric outpatients nationwide. For the degree of family support, a five-level scale was used, with responses ranging from “full” to “not full.” The degree of fullness was divided into two groups (full and non-full groups), and for each survey item, the difference between the two groups was analyzed by the X2 test. Results: There were 234 valid responses, 20.3% in the full group and 45.0% in the non-full group. Among the 18 items of support, 9 items were frequently performed by the full group (p＜0.001 to p＜0.017). In addition, compared with the non-full group, the full group indicated that their facilities have“ a dedicated place for support” (p＝0.001) and“ a place for families to gather” (p＝0.037). Conclusion: In order to improve family support, it is necessary to set up an outpatient environment such as a support locations.報

Development of the Japanese version of an information aid to provide accurate information on prognosis to patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer receiving chemotherapy: a pilot study

Abstract Background Without explicit prognostic information, patients may overestimate their life expectancy and make poor choices at the end of life. We sought to design the Japanese version of an information aid (IA) to provide accurate information on prognosis to patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to assess the effects of the IA on hope, psychosocial status, and perception of curability. Methods We developed the Japanese version of an IA, which provided information on survival and cure rates as well as numerical survival estimates for patients with metastatic NSCLC receiving first-line chemotherapy. We then assessed the pre- and post-intervention effects of the IA on hope, anxiety, and perception of curability and treatment benefits. Results A total of 20 (95%) of 21 patients (65% male; median age, 72 years) completed the IA pilot test. Based on the results, scores on the Distress and Impact Thermometer screening tool for adjustment disorders and major depression tended to decrease (from 4.5 to 2.5; P = 0.204), whereas no significant changes were seen in scores for anxiety on the Japanese version of the Support Team Assessment Schedule or in scores on the Hearth Hope Index (from 41.9 to 41.5; p = 0.204). The majority of the patients (16/20, 80%) had high expectations regarding the curative effects of chemotherapy. Conclusion The Japanese version of the IA appeared to help patients with NSCLC maintain hope, and did not increase their anxiety when they were given explicit prognostic information; however, the IA did not appear to help such patients understand the goal of chemotherapy. Further research is needed to test the findings in a larger sample and measure the outcomes of explicit prognostic information on hope, psychological status, and perception of curability

A Case of X-Linked Hypophosphatemic Rickets with Dentin Dysplasia in Mandibular Third Molars

X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH) is a disease characterized by impaired bone mineralization, and its dental features include gingival abscesses and large pulp spaces due to dentin dysplasia. A 20-year-old woman with XLH was referred to oral surgery for extraction of mandibular third molars. She was diagnosed with XLH at approximately 1 year of age and was treated thereafter. There was no history of gingival abscesses, and panoramic radiographic and computed tomographic examinations revealed no evidence of dentin dysplasia. However, histopathological examination of the extracted teeth showed dentin dysplasia, including interglobular dentin. In this XLH patient, dentin dysplasia was revealed histologically even though no obvious abnormality was found on visual and radiographic examinations. These findings suggest that in patients with XLH, oral management must take dentin dysplasia of the permanent teeth into consideration even if the patient’s general condition is well controlled with conventional therapy

Low lung diffusing capacity is associated with high cardio-ankle vascular index in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Previous studies have demonstrated that arterial stiffness is independently associated with the severity of pulmonary emphysema observed on computed tomography (CT) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). An inverse correlation exists between emphysema severity on CT image and lung diffusing capacity; however, the relationship between lung diffusing capacity and arterial stiffness in patients with COPD remains unclear. We retrospectively analyzed the data of 30 patients with COPD. Percent predicted diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide divided by alveolar volume (%DLco/VA) was used as an index of lung diffusing capacity. We used the Goddard score as an index of the severity of pulmonary emphysema on CT image and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) as an index of arterial stiffness. CAVI was inversely correlated with %DLco/VA (r = −0.539, p = 0.002) but not correlated with Goddard score (rs = 0.236, p = 0.209). None of the other respiratory parameters investigated, including forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), FEV1/forced vital capacity ratio, and percent predicted FEV1, were correlated with CAVI. In multiple regression analysis, systolic blood pressure (β = 0.404, p = 0.006), %DLco/VA (β = −0.379, p = 0.012), and modified Borg scale score for dyspnea (β = 0.304, p = 0.033) were significant predictors of CAVI. Lung diffusing capacity is a significant independent predictor of arterial stiffness in patients with COPD. The evaluation of %DLco/VA in patients with COPD might be useful for predicting high CAVI and the development of cardiovascular disease in the future

Cloning and functional characterization of a novel up-regulator, cartregulin, of carnitine transporter, OCTN2

Acetylcarnitine exerts therapeutic effects on some neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease. OCTN2 is known as a transporter for acetylcarnitine, but its expression in the brain is very low. To examine a brain-specific transporter for acetylcarnitine, we screened a rat brain cDNA library by hybridization using a DNA probe conserved among an OCTN family. A cDNA homologous to OCTN2 cDNA was isolated. The cDNA encoded a novel 146-amino acid protein with one putative transmembrane domain. The mRNA was expressed not only in rat brain but also in some other tissues. The novel protein was localized in endoplasmic reticulum when expressed in COS-7 cells but exhibited no transport activity for acetylcarnitine. However, when co-expressed with OCTN2, it enhanced the OCTN2-mediated transport by about twofold. The enhancement was accompanied by an increase in the levels of mRNA and protein. When OCTN2 was expressed in Xenopus oocytes by injection of its cRNA, its transport activity was enhanced by co-expression of the novel protein. These data suggest that the novel protein increases OCTN2 by stabilizing the mRNA in endoplasmic reticulum. The protein may be an up-regulator of OCTN2 and is tentatively designated cartregulin