The 10 sea urchin receptor for egg jelly proteins (SpREJ) are members of the polycystic kidney disease-1 (PKD1) family

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mutations in the human polycystic kidney disease-1 (<it>hPKD1</it>) gene result in ~85% of cases of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, the most frequent human monogenic disease. PKD1 proteins are large multidomain proteins involved in a variety of signal transduction mechanisms. Obtaining more information about members of the PKD1 family will help to clarify their functions. Humans have five hPKD1 proteins, whereas sea urchins have 10. The PKD1 proteins of the sea urchin, <it>Strongylocentrotus purpuratus</it>, are referred to as the Receptor for Egg Jelly, or SpREJ proteins. The SpREJ proteins form a subfamily within the PKD1 family. They frequently contain C-type lectin domains, PKD repeats, a REJ domain, a GPS domain, a PLAT/LH2 domain, 1–11 transmembrane segments and a C-terminal coiled-coil domain.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The 10 full-length SpREJ cDNA sequences were determined. The secondary structures of their deduced proteins were predicted and compared to the five human hPKD1 proteins. The genomic structures of the 10 SpREJs show low similarity to each other. All 10 SpREJs are transcribed in either embryos or adult tissues. SpREJs show distinct patterns of expression during embryogenesis. Adult tissues show tissue-specific patterns of SpREJ expression.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Possession of a REJ domain of about 600 residues defines this family. Except for SpREJ1 and 3, that are thought to be associated with the sperm acrosome reaction, the functions of the other SpREJ proteins remain unknown. The sea urchin genome is one-fourth the size of the human genome, but sea urchins have 10 SpREJ proteins, whereas humans have five. Determination of the tissue specific function of each of these proteins will be of interest to those studying echinoderm development. Sea urchins are basal deuterostomes, the line of evolution leading to the vertebrates. The study of individual PKD1 proteins will increase our knowledge of the importance of this gene family.</p

Formulas to Estimate Appropriate Surgical Amounts of Unilateral Recession-Resection in Intermittent Exotropia with Distance-Near Disparity

The purpose of this study was to derive new formulas to provide an optimal surgical procedure and optimal amount of recession-resection (RR) surgery in intermittent exotropia (IXT) with a disparity in angle of deviation depending on the fixation distance. The records of 117 consecutive patients with IXT who underwent RR surgery between March 2008 and December 2011 at Okayama University Hospital were retrospectively examined. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed using the observed corrective angle of deviation at distance or near fixation as the dependent variable, and amounts of lateral rectus muscle (LR) recession (mm) and medial rectus muscle (MR) resection, and age at surgery (years) as independent variables. Two simultaneous formulas were derived: corrective angle of deviation at distance fixation (°)=1.8×recession (mm)+1.6× resection (mm)+0.15×age (years)–6.6, and corrective angle at near fixation (°)=1.5×recession (mm)+1.7× resection (mm)+0.18×age (years)–3.8. Comparisons of coefficient values of the formulas between distance and near fixation revealed that LR recession was more affected by the corrective angle in distance than near fixation. MR resection was more affected at near than distance fixation. We found that our new formulas estimated the appropriate amount of unilateral RR surgery

Origin of carbon and essential fatty acids in higher trophic level fish in headwater stream food webs

Dietary carbon sources in headwater stream food webs are divided into allochthonous and autochthonous organic matters. We hypothesized that: 1) the dietary allochthonous contribution for fish in headwater stream food webs positively relate with canopy cover; and 2) essential fatty acids originate from autochthonous organic matter regardless of canopy covers, because essential fatty acids, such as 20:5&omega;3 and 22:6&omega;3, are normally absent in allochthonous organic matters. We investigated predatory fish Salvelinus leucomaenis stomach contents in four headwater stream systems, which are located in subarctic region in northern Japan. In addition, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios, fatty acid profile, and stable carbon isotope ratios of essential fatty acids were analyzed. Bulk stable carbon analysis showed the major contribution of autochthonous sources to assimilated carbon in S. leucomaenis. Surface baits in the stomach had intermediate stable carbon isotope ratios between autochthonous and allochthonous organic matter, indicating aquatic carbon was partly assimilated by surface baits. Stable carbon isotope ratios of essential fatty acids showed a positive relationship between autochthonous sources and S. leucomaenis across four study sites. This study demonstrated that the main supplier of dietary carbon and essential fatty acids was autochthonous organic matter even in headwater stream ecosystems under high canopy cover

Differences in the Stability and Amount of Postoperative Exodrift with Age after Unilateral Lateral Rectus Muscle Recession and Medial Rectus Muscle Resection of Intermittent Exotropia

We investigated variances in the stability and amount of postoperative exodrift among age groups of intermittent exotropia (XPT) patients who underwent unilateral lateral rectus muscle recession and medial rectus muscle resection. We analyzed the cases of 110 consecutive patients who underwent the surgery in 2004-2011, dividing the patients into groups by their age at surgery: <10, 10-19, and ≥20 years. We performed a regression analysis (dependent variable: postoperative exodrift (°); independent variable: number of days post-surgery) using the formula of curve lines. When the tangent line slope was = 0.01 (°/days) for each group, we defined the numbers of days until alignment became stable as the ‘stable days.’ We evaluated the between-group differences in the amount of exodrift calculated for the stable days. The coefficients and coefficients of determination for the fitting curves were: <10 year group: f(x)=12.2 (1−e−0.0183x) (r2=0.588, p<0.05); 10-19 year group: f(x)=10.0 (1−e−0.0178x) (r2=0.453, p<0.05); ≥20 year group: f(x)=3.40 (1−e−0.0382x) (r2=0.217, p<0.05). There were 389 , 388, and 153 stable days, and the estimated postoperative exodrift with long-term follow-up was 11.5±3.7°, 9.3±4.4°, and 4.1±3.6° for the < 10 year, 10-19 year, and ≥ 20 year groups, respectively (≥20 year vs. other 2 groups, p<0.05). Longer periods and more postoperative exodrift were associated with younger age at surgery. The postoperative evaluation was approx. ≥ 1 year post-surgery in patients aged < 20. These findings may contribute to evaluating XPT’s success rate and prognoses

2004ネン ナンキョク ニオケル イリョウ イガク ケンキュウ ニカンスル ケンキュウ シュウカイ ノ ホウコク

004年の「南極における医療・医学研究集会」が8月28日,国立極地研究所で開催された.主な内容は「南極の高所がヒトに与える影響」,「南極でのストレスがアミノ酸脂肪酸代謝に与える影響」,「越冬基地におけるレジオネラ菌調査」,「南極における紫外線障害とその対策」,「46次隊の医学研究計画」であった.16施設から合計22名が参加し,口頭発表10演題,ポスター発表1演題,文書発表1演題について,活発な討論が行われた.A meeting on Antarctic Medical Research was held at NIPR on August 28, 2004. Twenty two members participated in the meeting with ten oral presentations, one poster presentation and one report paper. The main subjects were The human responses in the Antarctic highland", The influence of the cold stress on the amino acids and lipid metabolism", Legionella contamination at the Antarctic wintering stations". The JARE-46 medical research program" was also reported and discussed

2006ネン ナンキョク イガク イリョウ ケンキュウ シュウカイ ホウコク

南極医学医療研究集会は,わが国の南極医学研究と医療問題についての研究成果を報告・討論し,次期の観測隊における医学研究に寄与することを目的として毎年行われている.2006年の本研究集会は8月26日,国立極地研究所講堂で行われた.27施設から42名が参加し18の演題報告がなされ,近年では最大規模の研究集会となった. 参加者は越冬経験医師をはじめ,共同研究を行っている大学や研究機関の研究者,関連領域の研究を行っている宇宙開発機構やスポーツ科学研究所などの研究者,南極に興味のある一般病院の臨床医など多彩であった. 2004年より昭和基地に導入されたテレビ会議システムを活用して,昭和基地の医師もリアルタイム映像で討論に参加した.また韓国,中国の越冬医師が初めて参加した.これは3カ国の極地研究所による事前の準備と連携により実現した.集会では各国の南極基地の医療状況や医学研究活動が報告され,活発な意見交換がなされた.南極医学医療研究分野におけるアジア連携の端緒となることが期待される.A workshop on Antarctic Medical Research and Medicine 2006 was held at the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) on 26 August, 2006. Forty two participants from 27 institutes attended. The members consist of medical doctors with Antarctic experience, human biologists, research scientists in other fields, logistic staff members of the expedition and also medical doctors interested in Antarctica. The current resident doctor at Syowa Station joined the discussion through a telecommunication system. Doctors with Antarctic experience from China and Korea also participated in the workshop. They gave presentations on their Antarctic activities, followed by an active discussion session. Eighteen presentations were given on various topics, including the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 in medical research, space medicine, telemedicine, an international comparative study of medical operations, psychological surveys, Antarctic high-altitude medicine, Legionella surveillance and nutritional studies

Combined immunohistochemistry of β-catenin, cytokeratin 7, and cytokeratin 20 is useful in discriminating primary lung adenocarcinomas from metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND: It is important to discriminate between primary and secondary lung cancer. However, often, the discriminating diagnosis of primary lung acinar adenocarcinoma and lung metastasis of colorectal cancer based on morphological and pathological findings is difficult. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of immunohistochemistry of β-catenin, cytokeratin (CK) 7, and CK20 for the discriminating diagnosis of lung cancer. METHODS: We performed immunohistochemistry of β-catenin, CK7, and CK20 in 19 lung metastasis of colorectal cancer samples, 10 corresponding primary colorectal cancer samples and 11 primary lung acinar adenocarcinoma samples and compared the levels of accuracy of the discriminating diagnosis by using antibodies against these antigens. RESULTS: Positive staining of β-catenin was observed in all the lung metastasis of colorectal cancer samples as well as in the primary colorectal cancer samples but in none of the primary lung acinar adenocarcinoma samples. Positive staining of CK7 was observed in 90.9% of the primary lung acinar adenocarcinoma samples and in 5.3% of the lung metastasis of colorectal cancer samples, but in none of the primary colorectal cancer samples. Positive staining of CK20 was observed in all the primary colorectal cancer samples and in 84.2% of the lung metastasis of colorectal cancer samples, but in none of the primary lung acinar adenocarcinoma samples. CONCLUSION: Combined immunohistochemistry of β-catenin, CK7, and CK20 is useful for making a discriminating diagnosis between lung metastasis of colorectal cancer and primary lung acinar adenocarcinoma. This method will enable accurate diagnosis of a lung tumor and will be useful for selecting appropriate therapeutic strategies, including chemotherapeutic agents and operation methods

Yokukansan Inhibits Neuronal Death during ER Stress by Regulating the Unfolded Protein Response

Recently, several studies have reported Yokukansan (Tsumura TJ-54), a traditional Japanese medicine, as a potential new drug for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of AD, particularly in neuronal death. Therefore, we examined the effect of Yokukansan on ER stress-induced neurotoxicity and on familial AD-linked presenilin-1 mutation-associated cell death.We employed the WST-1 assay and monitored morphological changes to evaluate cell viability following Yokukansan treatment or treatment with its components. Western blotting and PCR were used to observe the expression levels of GRP78/BiP, caspase-4 and C/EBP homologous protein.Yokukansan inhibited neuronal death during ER stress, with Cnidii Rhizoma (Senkyu), a component of Yokukansan, being particularly effective. We also showed that Yokukansan and Senkyu affect the unfolded protein response following ER stress and that these drugs inhibit the activation of caspase-4, resulting in the inhibition of ER stress-induced neuronal death. Furthermore, we found that the protective effect of Yokukansan and Senkyu against ER stress could be attributed to the ferulic acid content of these two drugs.Our results indicate that Yokukansan, Senkyu and ferulic acid are protective against ER stress-induced neuronal cell death and may provide a possible new treatment for AD