Polyunsaturated fatty acids-enriched lipid from reduced sugar alcohol mannitol by marine yeast Rhodosporidiobolus fluvialis Y2

Brown macroalgae is a promising marine biomass for the production of bioethanol and biodiesel fuels. Here we investigate the biochemical processes used by marine oleaginous yeast for assimilating the major carbohydrate found in brown macroalgae. Briefly, yeast Rhodosporidiobolus fluvialis strain Y2 was isolated from seawater and grown in minimal medium containing reduced sugar alcohol mannitol as the sole carbon source with a salinity comparable to seawater. Conditions limiting nitrogen were used to facilitate lipid synthesis. R. fluvialis Y2 yielded 55.1% (w/w) and 39.1% (w/w) of lipids, per dry cell weight, from mannitol in the absence and presence of salinity, respectively. Furthermore, mannitol, as a sugar source, led to an increase in the composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid (C18:2) and linolenic acid (C18:3), compared to glucose. This suggests that oxidation of mannitol leads to the activation of NADH-dependent fatty acid desaturases in R. fluvialis Y2. Such fatty acid composition may contribute to the cold-flow properties of biodiesel fuels. Our results identified a salt-tolerant oleaginous yeast species with unique metabolic traits, demonstrating a key role as a decomposer in the global carbon cycle through marine ecosystems. This is the first study on mannitol-induced synthesis of lipids enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids by marine yeast

Posttraumatic cartilage degradation progresses following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A second-look arthroscopic evaluation

BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated that posttraumatic knee osteoarthritis progresses even after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Few reports described zone-specific cartilaginous damages after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. This study aimed to compare the status of articular cartilage at anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with that at second-look arthroscopy. METHODS: This study included 20 patients (20 knees, 10 males and 10 females, mean age 22.4 years, Body mass index 24.4 kg/m2) that underwent arthroscopic anatomic double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and second-look arthroscopy. Mean periods from injury to reconstruction and from reconstruction to second-look arthroscopy were 3.4 and 15.3 months, respectively. Cartilage lesions were evaluated arthroscopically in the 6 articular surfaces and 40 articular subcompartments independently, and these features were graded with the International Cartilage Repair Society articular cartilage injury classification; comparisons were made between the grades at reconstruction and at second-look arthroscopy. Furthermore, clinical outcomes were assessed at reconstruction and at second-look arthroscopy, using the Lysholm knee score, Tegner activity scale, International Knee Documentation Committee score, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, side-to-side difference of the KT-2000 arthrometer, and pivot shift test. RESULTS: Each compartment showed a deteriorated condition at second-look arthroscopy compared with the pre-reconstruction period. A significant worsening of the articular cartilage was noted in all compartments except the lateral tibial plateau and was also observed in the central region of the medial femoral condyle and trochlea after reconstruction. However, each clinical outcome was significantly improved postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Good cartilage conditions were restored in most subcompartments at second-look arthroscopy. Furthermore, posttraumatic osteoarthritic changes in the patellofemoral and medial compartments progressed even in the early postoperative period, although good knee stability and clinical outcomes were obtained. Care is necessary regarding the progression of osteoarthritis and the appearance of knee symptoms in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Student Support with Learning Assistants at the College of Nursing during the COVID-19 Pandemic

本学では,2017 年度にラーニングアシスタント(以下，LA)制度が設置された。実習室小委員会でも,2018 年度より,学生の看護技術習得支援を目的に,LA を導入している。2020 年度は,新型コロナウイルス感染症拡大により,前期科目が在宅学習となった。そのため,LA による下級生支援活動はWeb にて実施され,LA28 名は,オンライン質問会開催や演習と実習に関するスライド作成などの活動を行った。LA活動についての下級生へのアンケートの結果,回答者の93％が「LA の活動は,在宅学習や大学生活の支援につながった」と回答した。コロナ禍においても,LA による下級生支援が可能であり,今後も,状況に応じた学習者支援が必要であることが示唆された。The learning assistant (LA) system was implemented in our college in 2017. In 2018, the Nursing Learning Lab room committee began offering the LA system to students to provide support for nursing skills practice. However, as a result of the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, students were required to study at home starting in early 2020. Therefore, a support service for students in the lower grades, conducted by the LA system, was implemented online. A total of 28 LAs created slides relating to "nursing exercises and clinical nursing training" and held online consultation meetings. A questionnaire regarding LA support was sent to students who use the LA service; 93% of respondents stated that "LA supported home study or university life." The LA system made it possible to support students in the lower grades during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study suggests that student support appropriate to the situation is required

PRRX1 promotes malignant properties in human osteosarcoma

Paired related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) is a marker of limb bud mesenchymal cells, and deficiency of p53 or Rb in Prrx1-positive cells induces osteosarcoma in several mouse models. However, the regulatory roles of PRRX1 in human osteosarcoma have not been defined. In this study, we performed PRRX1 immunostaining on 35 human osteosarcoma specimens to assess the correlation between PRRX1 level and overall survival. In patients with osteosarcoma, the expression level of PRRX1 positively correlated with poor prognosis or the ratio of lung metastasis. Additionally, we found PRRX1 expression on in 143B cells, a human osteosarcoma line with a high metastatic capacity. Downregulation of PRRX1 not only suppressed proliferation and invasion but also increased the sensitivity to cisplatin and doxorubicin. When 143B cells were subcutaneously transplanted into nude mice, PRRX1 knockdown decreased tumor sizes and rates of lung metastasis. Interestingly, forskolin, a chemical compound identified by Connectivity Map analysis using RNA expression signatures during PRRX1 knockdown, decreased tumor proliferation and cell migration to the same degree as PRRX1 knockdown. These results demonstrate that PRRX1 promotes tumor malignancy in human osteosarcoma

Bilateral Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear Combined with Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Tear

The case of an individual with a bilateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear combined with a medial meniscus (MM) posterior root tear is described. A 34-year-old Japanese man with bilateral ACL rupture that occurred > 10 years earlier was diagnosed with bilateral ACL tear combined with MM posterior root tear (MMPRT). We performed a transtibial pullout repair of the MMPRT with ACL reconstruction. The tibial tunnels for the MM posterior root repair and ACL reconstruction were created separately. Postoperatively, a good clinical outcome and meniscal healing were obtained. Our surgical technique may thus contribute to anatomical MM posterior root repair and ACL reconstruction

カンゴ キョウイク ニ オケル フクスウ ノ キョウイク キカン ガ カンヨスル ユニフィケーション ノ トリクミ ト カノウセイ

看護学士課程増加に伴い，教育と看護実践の乖離に対する問題を解決するためにユニフィケーションが授業に取り入れられるようになった．これまで国内で報告されてきたユニフィケーションを取り入れた授業実践からは，学生だけでなく関係者それぞれに看護職の専門職としての自覚と自律性促進，専門的能力の発揮機会の獲得，大学における共同研究の推進，効果的な継続教育といった効果があることが示されている．例えば，先行研究では，大学の看護学部の演習に病院の救命センターの看護師が参加することは，演習に対する学生の満足感が高くなり，救急看護への興味関心も変化することが報告されている．しかしながら，教育機関と医療機関とでの取り組みは報告されているが，複数の教育機関が関与するユニフィケーションについては報告されていない．そこでA大学看護学部2年生の必修科目である「成人看護学Ⅱ」の演習に，ユニフィケーションの取り組みとして，A大学の教員以外に，臨床看護師，他の大学の看護教員，看護系大学院生が教員として参加する授業を設計・実施した．ユニフィケーションを取り入れた演習では，臨床経験や教育経験の豊富な教員の参加は，学生の学習目標を達成する後押しとなったと考えられた．また，臨床看護師が演習に参加することは，新人看護師のレディネスを把握することにつながっていた．他の教育機関の教員が演習に参加することは授業参観の機会となり，自身の授業改善の示唆を得ることにつながっていた．看護系大学院生にとってはプレFD（Faculty Development）としての機能を果たす可能性が示唆された．また，複数の教育機関が関与することで，学生や医療機関，教育機関に様々な可能性をもたらすと考えられた．ユニフィケーションを取り入れた演習は学習目標達成の促進，新人看護師のレディネスの把握，授業参観の機会といった様々な効果が期待できる．しかし，他の授業に取り入れる，あるいは継続していくためには，教育機関と医療機関，教育機関同士の協力が必要である．今後もユニフィケーションを取り入れた授業実践が教育機関を超えて多くの分野で行われることを期待したい．Unification is incorporated into classes to bridge the gap between nursing education and practice as the number of bachelor’s degree programs increases. Such classroom practices have been reported in Japan, and are expected to be effective not only for the students but also for the people concerned in promoting awareness and autonomy as nurses, gaining opportunities to demonstrate professional skills, promoting joint research at universities, and effective continuing education. For example, previous studies have reported that the participation of hospital emergency center nurses in university nursing department exercises increases students’ satisfaction with the exercises and changes their interest in emergency nursing. Although previous studies have reported initiatives between educational and medical institutions, there are no reports on unification involving multiple educational institutions. Therefore, we designed and implemented a class in which clinical nurses,teachers from other facilities, and graduate students in nursing participated in this activity as part of “Adult Nursing II,” a compulsory subject at the Faculty of Nursing of A University, as instructors. In the unification exercise, the participation of instructors with extensive clinical and educational experience encouraged students to achieve their learning goals. Moreover, the participation of clinical nurses helped understand the readiness of the freshers, and that of faculty members from other educational institutions provided an opportunity to observe the class, leading to suggestions for improving them. The exercise could function as a pre-FD (Faculty Development) for nursing graduate students. Moreover, the involvement of multiple educational institutions is expected to bring various possibilities to students and medical and educational institutions. Exercises that incorporate unification can have various effects, such as promotion of achievement of learning goals, understanding of readiness of the freshers, and opportunities to observe classes. However, cooperation between institutions and medical and/or educational institutions is necessary to incorporate unification into other classes or to continue it. We hope that unification will be practiced in many fields beyond educational institutions.教育実践レポー

Ultrasound-dependent RNAi using TatU1A-rose bengal conjugate

Tat-U1A-rose bengal conjugate (TatU1A-RB) was prepared as an ultrasound-sensitive RNA carrier molecule. This molecule consists of Tat cell-penetrating peptide, U1A RNA-binding protein, and rose bengal as a sonosensitizer. We demonstrated that TatU1A-RB delivered RNA via the endocytosis pathway, which was followed by ultrasound-dependent endosomal escape and cytosolic dispersion of the RNA. A short hairpin RNA (shRNA) delivered by TatU1A-RB mediated RNA interference (RNAi) ultrasound-dependently. Even by ultrasound irradiation through blood cells, RNAi could be induced with TatU1A-RB and the shRNA. This ultrasound-dependent cytosolic RNA delivery method will serve as the basis for a new approach to nucleic acid therapeutics