Association of a single nucleotide polymorphism in akirin 2 gene with marbling in Japanese Black beef cattle

Background: Marbling defined by the amount and distribution of intramuscular fat, so-called Shimofuri, is an economically important trait of beef cattle in Japan. The c17-25 expressed sequence tag (EST) has been previously shown to possess expression difference in musculus longissimus muscle between low-marbled and high-marbled steer groups, and to be located within genomic region of a quantitative trait locus for marbling. Thus, the akirin 2 (AKIRIN2) gene containing the c17-25 EST sequence was considered as a positional functional candidate for the gene responsible for marbling. In this study, we explored single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the AKIRIN2 and analyzed association of the SNP with marbling. Findings: A SNP in the 3' untranslated region of the AKIRIN2, referred to as c.*188G>A, was the only difference detected between high- and low-marbled steer groups. The SNP was associated with marbling in 3 experiments using 100 sires (P = 0.041), 753 paternal half-sib progeny steers from 4 sires heterozygous for the c.*188G>A (P = 0.005), and 730 paternal half-sib progeny steers from 3 sires homozygous for the A allele at the c.*188G>A (P = 0.047), in Japanese Black beef cattle. The effect of genotypes of the SNP on subcutaneous fat thickness was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that the AKIRIN2 SNP polymorphism is associated with marbling and may be useful for effective marker-assisted selection to increase the levels of marbling in Japanese Black beef cattle

Association of a single nucleotide polymorphism in titin gene with marbling in Japanese Black beef cattle

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

スイタイブ ヒシンジュンセイ スイカンナイ ニュウトウセンガン ニ タイシ ヒ オンゾン スイタイ ビブ セツジョジュツ オ シコウ シタ 1レイ

We report a case of non-invasive intraductal papillary-mucinous carcinoma that was performed spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy. A 74-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because he was pointed out a cystic tumor of the pancreatic body by near doctor. Abdominal ultrasonography and endoscopic ultrasonography showed a cystic tumor with papillary elevated lesion. But there were no evidence of infiltration to another organs. Based on these various examinations a diagnosis non-invasive intraductal papillary-mucinous carcinoma was determined. Then we determined to perform a minimal invasive operation, and underwent spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy. After the operation there were no major complications and he discharged on 45th post operative days. To determine the surgical procedure of non-invasive intraductal papillary-mucinous carcinoma, because of the high incidence of postoperative infections after splenectomy, we should try to preserve the organ function. It was considered that this procedure was a useful method for non-invasive intraductal papillary-mucinous carcinoma of the pancreas body

Protective effect of FK506 and Thromboxane synthase inhibitor on ischemia-reperfusion injury in non-heart-beating donor in rat orthotopic liver transplantation

The study investigated the possibility of pharmacologically modulating hepatic allograft function from non-heart-beating donors (NHBDs)using male Lewisrats. The donors were divided into 4 groups :Group 1 in which the vehicle was administered, Group 2 in which FK506 (tacrolimus a powerful immunosuppressive agent)was administered,Group3 in which OKY046 (a specific thromboxane synthetase inhibitor) was administered and Group 4 in which FK506 and OKY046 were administered. The recipients received orthotopic liver transplantation. The survival rates differed significantly between the recipients that had received liver transplantation from Groups1 and 4. The serum liver enzyme and inflammatory cytokine concentrations of the recipients which had received liver transplantation from Groups 2, 3 and 4 were significantly lower than those of the recipients that had received liver transplantation from Group1. Although there was no significant difference, all parameters were better in the recipients that had received transplantation from Group 4 than those that had received transplantation from Groups 2 and 3. The action mechanisms of FK506 and OKY046 are completely different. Therefore, concomitant use of FK506 and OKY046 might have additive effects on liver transplantation from NHBDs. In conclusion, we demonstrated that pretreatment of NHBDs using FK506 and OKY 046 ameliorated graft viability

スイカン ヒユゴウ ニ ガッペイ シタ スイカンナイ ニュウトウ シュヨウ ノ イチセツジョレイ

We report a case of partial pancreas divisum with Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Tumor (IPMT) that was performed pancreatic segmentectomy. A 68-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because she was pointed out a cystic tumor of the pancreatic body by near doctor. Abdominal ultrasonography and endoscopic retrograde pancreaticography showed a partial pancreas divisum and cystic tumor with small elevated lesion. Based on these various examinations a diagnosis partial pancreas divisum with IPMT was determined. Then we performed a minimal invasive operation, and underwent pancreatic segmentectomy. After the operation there were no major complications and she discharged on 34th post operative days. In a review of the Japanese literature, only three such cases including our case have been reported so far

Distribution of local 137Cs anomalies on the seafloor near the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant

An estimated 3.5 ± 0.7 × 1015 Bq of 137Cs is thought to have been discharged into the ocean following the melt down at Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (F1NPP). While efforts have been made to monitor seafloor radiation levels, the sampling techniques used cannot capture the continuous distribution of radionuclides. In this work, we apply in situ measurement techniques using a towed gamma ray spectrometer to map the continuous distribution of 137Cs on the seafloor within 20 km of the F1NPP. The results reveal the existence of local 137Cs anomalies, with levels of 137Cs an order of magnitude higher than the surrounding seafloors. The sizes of the anomalies mapped in this work range from a few meters to a few hundreds of meters in length, and it is demonstrated that the distribution of these anomalies is strongly influenced by meter scale features of the terrain

Bile-induced DNA strand breaks and biochemical analysis of bile acids in an experimental model of anomalous arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary ducts

A canine experimental model for the anomalous arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary ducts (APBD) was made to investigate the effects of bile acids on carcinogenesis. Seven adult mongrel dogs underwent dorsal pancreatico-cholecystostomy to serve as a functional model for APBD, and six dogs underwent the same procedure with the pancreatic duct ligated as a control group. Bile from the gallbladder was taken 14 months after surgery for bile acid analysis by HPLC. DNA strand breaks in HeLa cells induced by the bile were also investigated in situ by nick translation method. As a result, the fraction of cholic acid tended to be lower, and that of deoxycholic acid slightly higher in APBD-dogs (N.S.). The ursodeoxycholic acid percentage in APBD-dogs significantly decreased compared with that in the control and normal dogs (p<0.05). Extremely high frequency of DNA strand breaks was shown in only two out of seven APBD-dogs. In those two dogs, the cholic acid percentage decreased and that of deoxycholic acid increased extremely. These findings suggest that the alteration of the bile composition in APBD caused frequent DNA strand breaks and repair which might lead to gene mutation and biliary tract carcinoma

Arterial infusion chemotherapy for the patient of unresectable pancreatic carcinoma with multiple liver metastases : a case report

Introduction : Despite various treatment trials for unresectable pancreatic carcinoma with liver metastases, the outcome has not been satisfactory. This paper reports a case of pancreatic carcinoma with multiple liver metastases that responded well to arterial infusion chemotherapy. Case report : A 65-year-old male was diagnosed with multiple liver tumors, and needle biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma. With endoscopic ultrasonography, a tumor in the pancreatic head was detected, and pancreatic carcinoma with multiple liver metastases was diagnosed. He received arterial infusion chemotherapy : cisplatin at a dose of 10mg/body/day and 500mg/body/day of 5-fluorouracil. After 14 days administration, liver metastases had decreased in number and size, but thereafter, because of hepatic arterial occlusion, the same dose of drugs was administered intravenously. The patient was discharged from the hospital and was given chemotherapy 3 days a week on an outpatient basis. Although the chemotherapy was effective, it was stopped because of severe general fatigue 5months after discharge. His general status continued to gradually worsen,and he died 12 months after diagnosis. Conclusions : Prognosis of pancreatic carcinoma with liver metastases is poor however, transarterial infusion chemotherapy may be effective to improve the prognosis and quality of life of the patients

コウド ヒマン ニヨル ヒカ ウメコミシキ CVポート ノ ヘンイ ガ ゲンイン トナリ カテーテル イツダツ オ キタシタ 1レイ

A totally implantable venous access system is evaluated to be safe and useful. We report a case of dislocation of catheter by displacement of implantable port caused by obesity. A 30-year-old woman was implanted a venous access system by subclavian approach and the port was placed into subcutaneous tissue of chest-wall. At 10 days after operation, chest X-P revealed displacement of the port by change of her posture. At the standing position, the port moved about 6 cm in the direction of caudate side, and the tip of catheter was just likely to be dislocated. Then we inserted a catheter via median vein and implanted a port into subcutaneous tissue of forearm. This catheter was not moved by change of her posture. It was considered that a peripheral vein approach was useful in case a subclavian vein aproach was unsuitable

ヒダリガワ タンノウショウ ニ タイシ フククウキョウカ タンノウ テキシュツジュツ オ シコウ シタ 3レイ ノ ケントウ

We experienced a series of 370 cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (Lap-C) between January 1992 and December 2001, of which three cases (0.8%) were left-sided gallbladder. When we perform Lap-C to left-sided gallbladder, we have to recognize the anatomical specificity of this disease, and to avoid the complication like injury of arteries or bile ducts. In this study we performed Lap-C to three cases of left-sided gallbladder. In all cases, the gallbladder bed were located at the left side of the hepatic round ligament, and the cystic duct were connected to normal position of the common bile duct. And in all cases, there were no anomalies of the intrahepatic portal vein. One of these cases, falling of the hepatic round ligament was seen, then we tried to insert a trocar at the left side of the ligament and to pick up it by silk. Then we could get a good view and easily performed Lap-C. In all cases we could underwent Lap-C without complication. We considered that Lap-C was to be a standard operation method for malformation cases like a left-sided gallbladder