Xylem K+ loading modulates K+ and Cs+ absorption and distribution in Arabidopsis under K+-limited conditions

Potassium (K+) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth. The transcriptional regulation of K+ transporter genes is one of the key mechanisms by which plants respond to K+ deficiency. Among the HAK/KUP/KT transporter family, HAK5, a high-affinity K+ transporter, is essential for root K+ uptake under low external K+ conditions. HAK5 expression in the root is highly induced by low external K+ concentration. While the molecular mechanisms of HAK5 regulation have been extensively studied, it remains unclear how plants sense and coordinates K+ uptake and translocation in response to changing environmental conditions. Using skor mutants, which have a defect in root-to-shoot K+ translocation, we have been able to determine how the internal K+ status affects the expression of HAK5. In skor mutant roots, under K+ deficiency, HAK5 expression was lower than in wild-type although the K+ concentration in roots was not significantly different. These results reveal that HAK5 is not only regulated by external K+ conditions but it is also regulated by internal K+ levels, which is in agreement with recent findings. Additionally, HAK5 plays a major role in the uptake of Cs+ in roots. Therefore, studying Cs+ in roots and having more detailed information about its uptake and translocation in the plant would be valuable. Radioactive tracing experiments revealed not only a reduction in the uptake of 137Cs+ and 42K+in skor mutants compared to wild-type but also a different distribution of 137Cs+ and 42K+ in tissues. In order to gain insight into the translocation, accumulation, and repartitioning of both K+ and Cs+ in plants, long-term treatment and split root experiments were conducted with the stable isotopes 133Cs+ and 85Rb+. Finally, our findings show that the K+ distribution in plant tissues regulates root uptake of K+ and Cs+ similarly, depending on HAK5; however, the translocation and accumulation of the two elements are different

Oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity involves TRPM8 in the mechanism of acute hypersensitivity to cold sensation

Oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (OPN) is commonly associated with peripheral hypersensitivity to cold sensations (CS) but the mechanism is unknown. We hypothesized that the transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8), a putative cold and menthol receptor, contributes to oxaliplatin cold hypersensitivity. To determine whether the TRPM8 is involved in acute OPN, varying concentrations of menthol were topically applied to the tongues of healthy subjects (n = 40) and colorectal cancer patients (n = 36) before and after oxaliplatin administration. The minimum concentration of menthol to evoke CS at the menthol application site was determined as the CS detection threshold (CDT). In healthy subjects, the mean CDT was 0.068. Sex and age differences were not found in the CDT. In advanced colorectal cancer patients, the mean CDT significantly decreased from 0.067% to 0.028% (P = 0.0039) after the first course of oxaliplatin infusions, and this marked CS occurred in patients who had grade 1 or less neurotoxicity, and grade 2 neurotoxicity, but not in those with grade 3 neurotoxicity. Further, the mean baseline CDT in oxaliplatin-treated patients was significantly higher than that of chemotherapy-naïve patients and healthy subjects (0.151% vs. 0.066%, P = 0.0225), suggesting that acute sensory changes may be concealed by progressive abnormalities in sensory axons in severe neurotoxicity, and that TRPM8 is subject to desensitization on repeat stimulation. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of undertaking CDT test in a clinical setting to facilitate the identification of early neurotoxicity. Moreover, our results indicate potential TRPM8 involvement in acute OPN

Case report: A case of unilateral combined central retinal vein occlusion, incomplete central retinal artery occlusion, and papillitis following a third dose of COVID-19 vaccination

PurposeThe aim of this study was to present a case of severe visual loss due to retinal arteriovenous occlusion and papillitis in one eye following vaccination against coronavirus disease (COVID-19).MethodsA 45-year-old man undergoing treatment for hypertension had severely reduced visual acuity in the right eye 1 day after receiving a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Moderna. Clinical examination showed that the best-corrected visual acuity in the right eye was counting fingers. Other findings included circumferential retinal hemorrhage, perimacular ischemic color, severe macular edema, and severe optic disc swelling, indicating the presence of central retinal vein occlusion, incomplete central retinal artery occlusion, and papillitis. Based on the possibility of post-vaccination inflammation and/or abnormal immune response, three courses of steroid pulse therapy were administered, and the visual acuity slightly improved to 20/1,000.ResultsThree months after the onset of symptoms, macular edema disappeared; conversely, retinal thinning of the macula and extensive non-perfusion areas mainly on the nasal side were noted.ConclusionThe findings in this case suggest that inflammation and abnormal immune response after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination may lead to combined retinal arteriovenous occlusion and papillitis

De Novo Mutations in GNAO1, Encoding a Gαo Subunit of Heterotrimeric G Proteins, Cause Epileptic Encephalopathy

Heterotrimeric G proteins, composed of α, β, and γ subunits, can transduce a variety of signals from seven-transmembrane-type receptors to intracellular effectors. By whole-exome sequencing and subsequent mutation screening, we identified de novo heterozygous mutations in GNAO1, which encodes a Gαo subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins, in four individuals with epileptic encephalopathy. Two of the affected individuals also showed involuntary movements. Somatic mosaicism (approximately 35% to 50% of cells, distributed across multiple cell types, harbored the mutation) was shown in one individual. By mapping the mutation onto three-dimensional models of the Gα subunit in three different complexed states, we found that the three mutants (c.521A>G [p.Asp174Gly], c.836T>A [p.Ile279Asn], and c.572_592del [p.Thr191_Phe197del]) are predicted to destabilize the Gα subunit fold. A fourth mutant (c.607G>A), in which the Gly203 residue located within the highly conserved switch II region is substituted to Arg, is predicted to impair GTP binding and/or activation of downstream effectors, although the p.Gly203Arg substitution might not interfere with Gα binding to G-protein-coupled receptors. Transient-expression experiments suggested that localization to the plasma membrane was variably impaired in the three putatively destabilized mutants. Electrophysiological analysis showed that Gαo-mediated inhibition of calcium currents by norepinephrine tended to be lower in three of the four Gαo mutants. These data suggest that aberrant Gαo signaling can cause multiple neurodevelopmental phenotypes, including epileptic encephalopathy and involuntary movements

Brief Measure for Screening Complicated Grief: Reliability and Discriminant Validity

BACKGROUND: Complicated grief, which is often under-recognized and under-treated, can lead to substantial impairment in functioning. The Brief Grief Questionnaire (BGQ) is a 5-item self-report or interview instrument for screening complicated grief. Although investigations with help-seeking samples suggest that the BGQ is valid and reliable, it has not been validated in a broader population. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A questionnaire was mailed to a randomly selected sample (n = 5000) residing in one of 4 areas of Japan. The BCQ was examined for responders who were bereaved more than 6 months and less than 10 years (n = 915). Non-specific psychological distress was assessed with the K6 screening scale. Multiple group confirmatory factor analysis supported a uni-dimensional factor structure and the invariance of parameters across gender and age. Cronbach's alpha was sufficiently high (alpha = .75) to confirm internal consistency. Average Variance Extracted (0.39) was higher than the shared covariance (0.14) between BGQ and K6, suggesting discriminant validity. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study support the reliability and validity of the BGQ in the Japanese population. Future studies should examine predictive validity by using structured interviews or more detailed scales for complicated grief

DOCK2 is involved in the host genetics and biology of severe COVID-19

「コロナ制圧タスクフォース」COVID-19疾患感受性遺伝子DOCK2の重症化機序を解明 --アジア最大のバイオレポジトリーでCOVID-19の治療標的を発見--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-08-10.Identifying the host genetic factors underlying severe COVID-19 is an emerging challenge. Here we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 2, 393 cases of COVID-19 in a cohort of Japanese individuals collected during the initial waves of the pandemic, with 3, 289 unaffected controls. We identified a variant on chromosome 5 at 5q35 (rs60200309-A), close to the dedicator of cytokinesis 2 gene (DOCK2), which was associated with severe COVID-19 in patients less than 65 years of age. This risk allele was prevalent in East Asian individuals but rare in Europeans, highlighting the value of genome-wide association studies in non-European populations. RNA-sequencing analysis of 473 bulk peripheral blood samples identified decreased expression of DOCK2 associated with the risk allele in these younger patients. DOCK2 expression was suppressed in patients with severe cases of COVID-19. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis (n = 61 individuals) identified cell-type-specific downregulation of DOCK2 and a COVID-19-specific decreasing effect of the risk allele on DOCK2 expression in non-classical monocytes. Immunohistochemistry of lung specimens from patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia showed suppressed DOCK2 expression. Moreover, inhibition of DOCK2 function with CPYPP increased the severity of pneumonia in a Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, characterized by weight loss, lung oedema, enhanced viral loads, impaired macrophage recruitment and dysregulated type I interferon responses. We conclude that DOCK2 has an important role in the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of severe COVID-19, and could be further explored as a potential biomarker and/or therapeutic target

Role of civil society organizations in sustainable transportation planning : a case study of better environmentally sound transportation (BEST) in Vancouver, Canada

Much has been researched and written about automobile dependency, its history, and the various problems it causes, but only a little has been written about the opportunities and constraints faced by civil society organizations as they work to reverse the political and social dynamics that create the cycle of automobile dependency. This thesis studies the opportunities and constraints that transportation-advocacy and -education groups face in working toward their goals of promoting sustainable transportation planning, through a study of the role and experience of Better Environmentally Sound Transportation, BEST, a well-organized sustainable transportation advocacy and education organization in the Greater Vancouver region. The findings of this research show that civil society can play an important role in sustainable transportation planning, and does so in the case of BEST'S work in Vancouver. Opportunities that BEST has captured in promoting sustainable transportation planning are: willingness of local and regional policy- and decision-makers to work on sustainable transportation issues, existence of other sustainable initiatives in the region, growing awareness of sustainable transportation related issues amongst general public, and willingness of competent and committed people to lead and play active roles in civil society organizations like BEST. Constraints facing BEST in promoting sustainable transportation planning, however, lie in: a lack of secure and stable core funding for organizations like BEST, limited access to decision-making at higher levels of government such as the Provincial, the complex and counterintuitive nature of sustainable transportation issues, and a variety of structural, institutional, and political constraints. The research identified potentially useful strategies to overcome these constraints including: making alliances with scholars and other NGOs, having a wide range of programs mobilizing the organization's membership and the public at large, becoming pro-active in securing the necessary core funding, and strategic planning for prioritizing its work.Applied Science, Faculty ofCommunity and Regional Planning (SCARP), School ofGraduat

Charge and spin states of Ru and Cu in magnetic superconductor RuSr2GdCu2O8 studied by NMR

Electronic and magnetic properties of RuSr2GdCu2O8 have been investigated by electric resistivity, magnetization, and Cu-, Ru-NMR measurements. Magnetic order (TM5133 K) and superconductivity [Ts(onset);52 K] have been confirmed. We observed two kinds of Ru-NMR signals (the hyperfine fields of 101Ru are 590 kOe and 290 kOe), suggesting a charge segregation of Ru5+ (S-3/2) and Ru4+ (S=1) in the RuO2 layers. The hyperfine field at the Cu site is diminishingly small, indicating magnetic interactions between CuO2 and RuO2 layers are weak. Assuming that holes are inherently doped in the CuO2 layers from the (Ru4+, Ru5+)O2 layers, the high-Tc superconductivity can occur under weak magnetic interactions between Ru and Cu spins in RuSr2GdCu2O8

Novel cell therapy with ex vivo cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells significantly impacts angiogenesis in the murine ischemic limb model

Introduction: Autologous mononuclear cells (MNCs) have been used in vascular regenerative therapy since the identification of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). However, the efficacy of autologous EPC therapy for diseases such as diabetes and connective tissue disorders is limited due to deficiencies in the number and function of EPCs. To address this, we developed a novel RE-01 cells that enriches pro-angiogenic cells from peripheral blood MNCs (PBMNCs). Methods: PBMNCs were collected from healthy volunteers following ethical guidelines. RE-01 cells were cultured in the presence of specific growth factors for 5 days without media change. Flow cytometry was used to analyze cell surface markers. Tube formation assays, EPC culture assays, and mRNA analysis were performed to evaluate angiogenic potential. The efficacy of RE-01 cells upon transplantation into ischemic hind limbs of mice was evaluated. Results: RE-01 cells exhibited a significant increase in pro-angiogenic cells such as M2 macrophages and angiogenic T cells, in contrast to PBMNCs, while the number of inflammatory cells reduced. In vitro assays demonstrated the enhanced angiogenic abilities of RE-01 cells, supported by increased mRNA expression of angiogenesis-related cytokines. In vivo studies using mouse ischemic hind limb models have shown that blood flow and angiogenesis improved following RE-01 cell transplantation. Transplantations for 3 consecutive days significantly improved the number of pericyte-recruited vessels in the severely ischemic hind limbs of mice. Conclusions: RE-01 cells showed promising results in enhancing angiogenesis and arteriogenesis, possibly owing to the presence of M2 macrophages and angiogenic T cells. These cells also demonstrated anti-fibrotic effects. The efficacy of RE-01 cells has been confirmed in mouse models, suggesting their potential for treating ischemic vascular diseases. Clinical trials are planned to validate the safety and efficacy of RE-01 cell therapy in patients with connective tissue disease and unhealed ulcers. We hope that this new RE-01 cell therapy will prevent many patients from undergoing amputation

A Role of Medial Olivocochlear Reflex as a Protection Mechanism from Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Revealed in Short-Practicing Violinists.

Previous studies have indicated that extended exposure to a high level of sound might increase the risk of hearing loss among professional symphony orchestra musicians. One of the major problems associated with musicians' hearing loss is difficulty in estimating its risk simply on the basis of the physical amount of exposure, i.e. the exposure level and duration. The aim of this study was to examine whether the measurement of the medial olivocochlear reflex (MOCR), which is assumed to protect the cochlear from acoustic damage, could enable us to assess the risk of hearing loss among musicians. To test this, we compared the MOCR strength and the hearing deterioration caused by one-hour instrument practice. The participants in the study were music university students who are majoring in the violin, whose left ear is exposed to intense violin sounds (broadband sounds containing a significant number of high-frequency components) during their regular instrument practice. Audiogram and click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs) were measured before and after a one-hour violin practice. There was a larger exposure to the left ear than to the right ear, and we observed a left-ear specific temporary threshold shift (TTS) after the violin practice. Left-ear CEOAEs decreased proportionally to the TTS. The exposure level, however, could not entirely explain the inter-individual variation in the TTS and the decrease in CEOAE. On the other hand, the MOCR strength could predict the size of the TTS and CEOAE decrease. Our findings imply that, among other factors, the MOCR is a promising measure for assessing the risk of hearing loss among musicians