A study on the foraging behavior of the piscivorous cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii(Department of Bioresource Science and Technology)

博士学位論文要

SYNTHESIS OF 2,3,9,10-TETRAOXYGENATED BENZO[c]PHENANTHRIDINE DERIVATIVES VIA PALLADIUM-MEDIATED ARYL-ARYL COUPLING REACTION

Two 2,3,9,10-tetraoxygenated benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids, 1 2, originally reported as zanthoxyline and broussonpapyrine, respectively, were synthesized using the Pd-mediated intramolecular aryl-aryl coupling reaction as the key step

Spatial distribution of cryoconite granules and microorganisms on Qaanaaq Glacier, Greenland

第6回極域科学シンポジウム分野横断セッション：[IB2] 地球環境変動の解析と地球生命システム学の構築11月19日（木）　統計数理研究所 セミナー室1（D305

Early-term birth and hypoglycaemia

Background : The effect of early-term birth on the development of hypoglycaemia in large-for gestational-age (LGA) neonates is yet to be clarified. This study aimed to clarify the association between hypoglycaemia and early-term birth in LGA neonates. Methods : This single-centre retrospective cohort study evaluated LGA neonates born at term at Tsurugi Municipal Handa Hospital, Japan. Blood glucose levels were measured immediately and at 1, 2, and 4 hours after birth. The association between early-term birth and hypoglycaemia was evaluated using logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of severe hypoglycaemia and hypoglycaemia according to its timing of development was analysed using Fisher’s exact test. Results : In total, 295 neonates were included. Among them, 113 neonates (38.3%) were born at early term and 91 infants (30.8%) had hypoglycaemia. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between early-term birth and hypoglycaemia (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval] : 2.691 [1.597 to 4.535]). However, there was no significant between-group difference among those with severe hypoglycaemia. Conclusions : Among LGA neonates, early-term birth is positively associated with neonatal hypoglycaemia. This indicates that among LGA neonates, those born at early term require more careful observation for hypoglycaemia than do those born at later term

Cultivable Anaerobic Microbiota of Infected Root Canals

Objective. Periapical periodontitis is an infectious and inflammatory disease of the periapical tissues caused by oral bacteria invading the root canal. In the present study, profiling of the microbiota in infected root canals was performed using anaerobic culture and molecular biological techniques for bacterial identification. Methods. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects (age ranges, 34–71 years). Nine infected root canals with periapical lesions from 7 subjects were included. Samples from infected root canals were collected, followed by anaerobic culture on CDC blood agar plates. After 7 days, colony forming units (CFU) were counted and isolated bacteria were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results. The mean bacterial count (CFU) in root canals was (0.5 ± 1.1) × 106 (range 8.0 × 101–3.1 × 106), and anaerobic bacteria were predominant (89.8%). The predominant isolates were Olsenella (25.4%), Mogibacterium (17.7%), Pseudoramibacter (17.7%), Propionibacterium (11.9%) and Parvimonas (5.9%). Conclusion. The combination of anaerobic culture and molecular biological techniques makes it possible to analyze rapidly the microbiota in infected root canals. The overwhelming majority of the isolates from infected root canals were found to be anaerobic bacteria, suggesting that the environment in root canals is anaerobic and therefore support the growth of anaerobes

Molecular approaches underlying the oogenic cycle of the scleractinian coral, Acropora tenuis

This study aimed to elucidate the physiological processes of oogenesis in Acropora tenuis. Genes/proteins related to oogenesis were investigated: Vasa, a germ cell marker, vitellogenin (VG), a major yolk protein precursor, and its receptor (LDLR). Coral branches were collected monthly from coral reefs around Sesoko Island (Okinawa, Japan) for histological observation by in situ hybridisation (ISH) of the Vasa (AtVasa) and Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor (AtLDLR) genes and immunohistochemistry (IHC) of AtVasa and AtVG. AtVasa immunoreactivity was detected in germline cells and ooplasm, whereas AtVG immunoreactivity was detected in ooplasm and putative ovarian tissues. AtVasa was localised in germline cells located in the retractor muscles of the mesentery, whereas AtLDLR was localised in the putative ovarian and mesentery tissues. AtLDLR was detected in coral tissues during the vitellogenic phase, whereas AtVG immunoreactivity was found in primary oocytes. Germline cells expressing AtVasa are present throughout the year. In conclusion, Vasa has physiological and molecular roles throughout the oogenic cycle, as it determines gonadal germline cells and ensures normal oocyte development, whereas the roles of VG and LDLR are limited to the vitellogenic stages because they act in coordination with lipoprotein transport, vitellogenin synthesis, and yolk incorporation into oocytes

Cigarette smoke extract impairs gingival epithelial barrier function

We previously showed that junctional adhesion molecule 1 (JAM1) and coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CXADR), tight junction-associated proteins, have important roles to maintain epithelial barrier function in gingival tissues. Smoking is considered to be a significant risk factor for periodontal disease. The present study was conducted to examine the effects of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on JAM1 and CXADR in human gingival epithelial cells. CSE was found to cause translocation of JAM1 from the cellular surface to EGFR-positive endosomes, whereas CXADR did not. Using a three-dimensional multilayered gingival epithelial tissue model, CSE administration was found to increase permeability to lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan, whereas overexpression of JAM1 in the tissue model prevented penetration by those substrates. Furthermore, vitamin C increased JAM1 expression, and inhibited penetration of LPS and PGN induced by CSE. These findings strongly suggest that CSE disrupts gingival barrier function via dislocation of JAM1, thus allowing bacterial virulence factors to penetrate into subepithelial tissues. Furthermore, they indicate that vitamin C increases JAM1 expression and prevents disruption of gingival barrier function by CSE.Yamaga S., Tanigaki K., Nakamura E., et al. Cigarette smoke extract impairs gingival epithelial barrier function. Scientific Reports 13, 9228 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-36366-z

Transient improvement of urticaria induces poor adherence as assessed by Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8.

Poor adherence to medication is a major public health challenge. Here, we aimed to determine the adherence to oral and topical medications and to analyze underlying associated factors using the translated Japanese version of Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 regarding urticaria treatment. Web-based questionnaires were performed for 3096 registered dermatological patients, along with a subanalysis of 751 registered urticaria patients in this study. The adherence to oral medication was significantly associated with the frequency of hospital visits. Variables that affected the adherence to topical medication included age and experience of drug effectiveness. The rate of responses that "It felt like the symptoms had improved" varied significantly among the dermatological diseases treated with oral medications. Dermatologists should be aware that adherence to the treatment of urticaria is quite low. Regular visits and active education for patients with urticaria are mandatory in order to achieve a good therapeutic outcome by increasing the adherence

Chemotherapy with low-dose capecitabine as palliative treatment in a patient with metastatic breast cancer: a case report

Chemotherapeutic agents are rarely used for symptom management in patients under palliative care setting. This is because chemotherapeutic agents not only have limited efficacy in palliative treatment but are also known to exert severe adverse effects. We describe our experience with a patient with metastatic breast cancer who was successfully treated with low-dose capecitabine, without the development of any severe toxicities and with significant improvement in activities of daily living (ADL) and quality of life (QOL)