The Trend Toward Private Pensions

In this comprehensive review of private pension systems in effect world-wide, Turner and Watanabe discuss the fundamental issues facing nations as they adopt and expand private pension systems. Specific policies in effect in several private pension systems are analyzed including those in nations dominating world pension assets (Japan, Germany, the U.K., and the U.S.), as is the country whose system is widely regarded as the model for developing nations, Chile. Turner and Watanabe also provide a compendium on the worldwide trends influencing pension systems and their implications for pension policy.https://research.upjohn.org/up_press/1079/thumbnail.jp

Private Pension Policies in Industrialized Countries: A Comparative Analysis

In this comprehensive review of private pension systems in effect world-wide, Turner and Watanabe discuss the fundamental issues facing nations as they adopt and expand private pension systems. Specific policies in effect in several private pension systems are analyzed including those in nations dominating world pension assets (Japan, Germany, the U.K., and the U.S.), as is the country whose system is widely regarded as the model for developing nations, Chile. Turner and Watanabe also provide a compendium on the worldwide trends influencing pension systems and their implications for pension policy.https://research.upjohn.org/up_press/1079/thumbnail.jp

The Pension Governance in the World ― Promoting Compliance in Social Security Pensions ―

田口正己教授退職記念

Defective Angiogenesis in the Inflammatory Granulation Tissue in Histidine Decarboxylase–deficient Mice but not in Mast Cell–deficient Mice

We have analyzed the role of histamine in the angiogenesis of the granulation tissue in histidine decarboxylase–deficient (HDC−/−) mice, mast cell–deficient mice (WBB6F1-W/WV), and their corresponding wild-type mice (HDC+/+ and WBB6F1+/+). In HDC+/+ mice, subcutaneous implantation of a cotton thread in the dorsum induced granulation tissue formation with angiogenesis, while the topical injection of antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) IgG strongly suppressed them. In HDC−/− mice which showed lower VEGF levels in the granulation tissue, there was notably less angiogenesis and granulation tissue formation than in HDC+/+ mice. The topical injection of histamine or the H2 agonist dimaprit rescued the defective angiogenesis and granulation tissue formation in HDC−/− mice. There was no significant difference in the granulation tissue formation and angiogenesis between WBB6F1-W/WV and WBB6F1+/+ mice. In addition, macrophages in the granulation tissue were found to express HDC. Our findings indicate that histamine derived from nonmast cells plays a significant role in the angiogenesis of the inflammatory granulation tissue

The Runx1 Transcription Factor Inhibits the Differentiation of Naive CD4+ T Cells into the Th2 Lineage by Repressing GATA3 Expression

Differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into helper T (Th) cells is controlled by a combination of several transcriptional factors. In this study, we examined the functional role of the Runx1 transcription factor in Th cell differentiation. Naive T cells from transgenic mice expressing a dominant interfering form of Runx1 exhibited enhanced interleukin 4 production and efficient Th2 differentiation. In contrast, transduction of Runx1 into wild-type T cells caused a complete attenuation of Th2 differentiation and was accompanied by the cessation of GATA3 expression. Furthermore, endogenous expression of Runx1 in naive T cells declined after T cell receptor stimulation, at the same time that expression of GATA3 increased. We conclude that Runx1 plays a novel role as a negative regulator of GATA3 expression, thereby inhibiting the Th2 cell differentiation

Genetic population structure of Hemigrammocypris rasborella (Cyprinidae) inferred from mtDNA sequences

The genetic population structure of the small cyprinid Hemigrammocypris rasborella, distributed widely in lowlands of western Japan, was examined using partial sequence data of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that the populations of the western Kyushu region were markedly differentiated from all eastern populations, such that the groups would be comparable to different species; their divergence was inferred to have occurred in the Late Miocene–Pliocene. Also, a largely divergent mtDNA group (with divergence in the early Pleistocene) was found in the Sanyo and northeastern Shikoku regions, forming a secondary contact zone in the western Kinki with the eastern mtDNA group. To date, these aspects of the population structure of H. rasborella appear to be unique among lowland fishes in western Japan. Deeper understanding of the formation processes of freshwater faunas in western Japan will require further comparisons of the phylogeographic patterns and ecological traits of constituent species