Phylogenetic Analysis of Cellulolytic Enzyme Genes from Representative Lineages of Termites and a Related Cockroach

The relationship between xylophagous termites and the protists resident in their hindguts is a textbook example of symbiosis. The essential steps of lignocellulose degradation handled by these protists allow the host termites to thrive on a wood diet. There has never been a comprehensive analysis of lignocellulose degradation by protists, however, as it has proven difficult to establish these symbionts in pure culture. The trends in lignocellulose degradation during the evolution of the host lineage are also largely unknown. To clarify these points without any cultivation technique, we performed meta-expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis of cDNA libraries originating from symbiotic protistan communities in four termite species and a wood-feeding cockroach. Our results reveal the establishment of a degradation system with multiple enzymes at the ancestral stage of termite-protistan symbiosis, especially GHF5 and 7. According to our phylogenetic analyses, the enzymes comprising the protistan lignocellulose degradation system are coded not only by genes innate to the protists, but also genes acquired by the protists via lateral transfer from bacteria. This gives us a fresh perspective from which to understand the evolutionary dynamics of symbiosis

Usefulness of Background Coloration in Detection of Esophago-Pharyngeal Lesions Using NBI Magnification

Background and Aim. We evaluated the usefulness of background coloration (BC), a color change in the area between intrapapillary capillary loops (IPCLs) in the early esophago-pharyngeal lesions using NBI with magnificaiton. Methods. Between April 2004 and March 2010, a total of 294 esophago-pharyngeal lesions were examined using NBI with magnification, and the presence of BC and IPCL patterns were assessed. Using BC, discrimination of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or high-grade neoplasia (HGN) from low-grade neoplasia (LGN) or nonatypia was conducted. Results. Among 294 lesions, 209 lesions (71.1) were positive for BC, while 85 (28.9) were negative. In the BC-positive group, 187 lesions (89.5) were diagnosed as SCC/HGN. And 68 lesions (80.0) in the BC-negative group were diagnosed as LGN/nonatypia. Overall accuracy of BC to discriminate SCC/HGN from LGN/nonatypia was 87.3. The sensitivity and specificity were 91.9, 76.7. BC could discriminate SCC/HGN from LGN/nonatypia accurately (P 0.0001). Among 68 lesions classified into the IPCL type IV, the BC-positive group (n = 26) included 21 SCC/HGN lesions, while there were 36 LGN/nonatypia lesions in the 42 BC-negative lesions. Conclusions. BC is a useful finding in differentiating SCC/HGN from LGN/nonatypia lesions in the esophagus especially when it is combined with IPCL pattern classification

Endscopic Submucosal Dissection of a Heterotopic Gastric Mucosa in the Stomach: Report of a Case

A 38-year-old man with a submucosal tumor (SMT) at the anterior wall of the pylorus underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The tumor was 40 mm in diameter with a long stalk extending into the duodenal bulb. In addition, the long stalk had an ulcer with a blood vessel. Removal of this tumor was initially considered to be possible only by distal gastrectomy. However, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) was subsequently proven to be a reliable investigative procedure for evaluating the lesion. The tumor was characterized by its origin in the second layer, and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was performed. En bloc resection of a 32 × 20 × 40 mm area of tissue with tumor-free lateral/vertical margins was accomplished without complication. Histopathological examination confirmed a heterotopic gastric mucosa. By immunostaining, the neoplasm was positive for MUC6 and negative for amylase and trypsin. In this case, EUS was used to investigate a heterotopic gastric mucosa that originated in the second layer, with no infiltration of the fourth layer under the tumor. Therefore, we performed successful ESD at the appropriate layer

ナンキョク ショウワキチ ダイ10 キョジュウトウ ノ パネル コウセイザイ ノ ケイネン ヘンカ ト タイキュウセイ

南極において恒久観測基地として利用された昭和基地第10居住棟(高床式木質パネル構造:1969年1月建設)の一部を復元・解体し、特にその木質パネルの構成材に観点をおいて、約30年間使用された建物の各部位における耐久性を把握することを目的とした。試験は、目視による観察・木材試験・断熱材性能試験を行い、その結果、各部位には壁・床に比べて屋根パネルの構成材の劣化が最も激しく、また極地という厳しい条件下では、パネル構成材の耐久性は特にパネル間の接合部に大きく起因すること、また室内部やパネル内部は30年間使用してもほとんど劣化しないことが明らかになった。The purpose of this study is to determine the durability of the old living hut built in 1969 at Syowa Station, Japan\u27s permanent Antarctic observation facility, especially of its wooden panels. The hut, of high floor type wooden panel construction, was built in January 1969. To determine the durability, part of the hut, which was brought back to Japan after 30 years, was rebuilt, then taken apart again under controlled test conditions. Tests included visual observation, testing of the wooden material, and testing of the performance of the thermal insulation material. The results showed that the material in the roof panels deteriorated considerably more than that in the walls and floors. In the severe polar conditions, the strength of the overall structure depends heavily on the joints between panels. It is clear that material on the indoor sides, and in the interiors of the panels, hardly deteriorated at all after 30 years

Clinicopathological characteristics and treatment strategies in early gastric cancer: a retrospective cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Both endoscopic and surgical approaches are employed in the treatment of early gastric cancer (EGC). The aim of this study was to establish appropriate treatment strategies for early gastric cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We retrospectively examined clinicopathological data of EGC patients who had undergone surgery.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 327 patients (204 males and 123 females, mean age 63.2 years) were eligible for inclusion in the study. The median follow-up period was 31 months. Of 161 mucosal (pT1a) tumors, 87 were mainly undifferentiated and 110 had an undifferentiated component. Four patients with pT1a tumors had lymph node metastases; all these tumors were signet-ring cell carcinomas and were macroscopic type 0-IIc with ulceration, and only one of them had lymphatic invasion. Among patients with submucosal tumors, four of 43 patients with pT1b1 tumors and 37 of 123 patients with pT1b2 tumors had nodal metastases. Lymph node metastases were significantly higher in mixed undifferentiated type group than differentiated type group for both groups, pT1a-pT1b1 (p = 0.0251) and pT1b2 (p = 0.0430) subgroups. Only four of 45 patients with nodal metastases were diagnosed preoperatively by computed tomography (sensitivity 8.9%, specificity 96.2%). Nine patients with pT1b tumors had recurrence after surgery, and died. The sites of initial recurrence were liver, bone, peritoneum, distant nodes, and the surgical anastomosis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The incidence of nodal metastases was approximately 5% in undifferentiated type mucosal (pT1a) tumors, and higher in submucosal (pT1b) tumors. The sensitivity of preoperative diagnosis of nodal metastases in EGC using computed tomography was relatively low in this study. Therefore at present surgery with adequate lymphadenectomy should be performed as curative treatment for undifferentiated type EGC.</p

Ultrastructural studies of sperm penetration in the egg of the European catfish,

The process of sperm penetration into the egg of the European catfish Silurus glanis L. was investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Unfertilized ovum membrane under the internal micropylar aperture shows a critical depression with undulation and short microvilli corresponding to a specialized sperm entry site structure. Twenty seconds after insemination, the fertilizing spermatozoon fused with the egg at this specialized structure, without formation of an earlier fertilization cone, which had been confirmed in eggs of other fish. A cytoplasmic eminence developed however, immediately under the fused sperm head and then disappeared with time after fertilization to form a circular area around the fused sperm head, which in turn became embedded in the circular area with shortening of the flagellum. The micropyle in the catfish egg consisted of a micropylar vestibule and a canal, the internal micropylar canal being wide enough to permit the penetration of only one spermatozoon