Genome Analysis Revives a Forgotten Hybrid Crop Edo-dokoro in the Genus Dioscorea

忘れられた作物「えどどころ」の起原 --ゲノム解析が明らかにする青森県三八上北地域に残る栽培イモの歴史--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-08-10.A rhizomatous Dioscorea crop “Edo-dokoro” was described in old records of Japan, but its botanical identify has not been characterized. We found that Edo-dokoro is still produced by four farmers in Tohoku-machi of Aomori Prefecture, Japan. Rhizomes of Edo-dokoro are a delicacy to the local people and are sold in the markets. Morphological characters of Edo-dokoro suggest its hybrid origin between the two species, D. tokoro and D. tenuipes. Genome analysis revealed that Edo-dokoro is likely originated by hybridization of a male D. tokoro to a female D. tenuipes, followed by a backcross with a male plant of D. tokoro. Edo-dokoro is a typical minor crop possibly maintained for more than 300 years but now almost forgotten from the public. We hypothesize that there are many such uncharacterized genetic heritages passed over generations by small scale farmers that await serious scientific investigation for future use and improvement by using modern genomics information

A novel magnetic resonance-based method to measure gene expression in living cells

In unicellular and multicellular eukaryotes, elaborate gene regulatory mechanisms facilitate a broad range of biological processes from cell division to morphological differentiation. In order to fully understand the gene regulatory networks involved in these biological processes, the spatial and temporal patterns of expression of many thousands of genes will need to be determined in real time in living organisms. Currently available techniques are not sufficient to achieve this goal; however, novel methods based on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may be particularly useful for sensitive detection of gene expression in opaque tissues. This report describes a novel reporter gene system that monitors gene expression dynamically and quantitatively, in yeast cells, by measuring the accumulation of inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) using MR spectroscopy (MRS) or MR spectroscopic imaging (MRI). Because this system is completely non-invasive and does not require exogenous substrates, it is a powerful tool for studying gene expression in multicellular organisms, as well

Ten Initial Cases of Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy for Treatment of Esophageal Motility Disorders at Okayama University Hospital

Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for treatment of esophageal motility disorders has recently been reported to be highly effective and less invasive than other treatment. POEM was recently introduced in Okayama University Hospital under the supervision of a physician from a high-volume center. To verify the safety and efficacy of POEM during its introduction in our institution. We examined 10 cases in whom POEM was performed between January 2016 and April 2017. The patients included 7 men and 3 women, with a median age (range) of 49 years (17-74) and median symptom duration of 6 years (1-21). Seven patients had a straight esophagus, and the remaining 3 had a sigmoid esophagus. According to the Chicago classification, 6 patients were diagnosed with type I achalasia, 2 with type II achalasia, and 2 with distal esophagus spasm. Treatment outcomes and adverse events were evaluated. Treatment success was defined as a > 3 decrease in Eckardt score or a score of <3 at the time of discharge. The treatment success rate was 90%, with the average Eckardt score decreasing significantly, from 4.7 to 0.9 (p<0.05). No mucosal perforation, severe infection, mediastinitis, severe bleeding, or gastroesophageal reflux occurred intraoperatively or postoperatively. POEM was introduced to Okayama University Hospital, and the first 10 cases were accomplished safely and effectively under the supervision of an expert physician from a high-volume center

Comparison of Two Electrosurgical Modes for Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection of Superficial Colorectal Neoplasms: A Prospective Randomized Study

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is reportedly one of the standard treatment strategies for large superficial colorectal neoplasms in Japan because of its high en bloc resection rate. A few technical issues regarding ESD should be considered, one of which is the selection of the Endo-cut I mode versus the Swift-coagulation mode as the electrosurgical unit mode setting during submucosal dissection. We seek to determine which of these two modes is more suitable for submucosal dissections of colorectal tumors with regard to procedure time and safety

A case of metastatic cecal cancer with mutation in the BRAF oncogene and poor survival

　A 79-year-old woman visited a previous hospital with a complaint of general fatigue. The patient was diagnosed with cecal cancer with multiple liver metastases and lymph node metastases on colonoscopy, abdominal ultrasonography and CT scan, and was referred to our division for treatment. Based on the diagnosis of non-curative colonic cancer, we planned to perform systematic chemotherapy after local surgical treatment. We performed an ileocecal resection, and the specimen showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with mutation in the BRAF oncogene. After the surgical treatment, the tumor grew rapidly and the patient died from cancer on the 19th postoperative day without having the opportunity to undergo chemotherapy. 　Multiple genetic and epigenetic alterations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are involved in the process of colorectal carcinogenesis. Some of the alterations have been identified as predictive and prognostic biomarkers. A mutation in the BRAF oncogene was reported to be associated with a very unfavorable prognosis in colorectal cancers. Some of the cases with rapid progression are suggested to have the BRAF oncogene mutation. According to our experience, chemotherapy before surgical treatment might improve the prognosis of cases with the BRAF mutation

Observer agreement for the diagnosis of intestinal acute graft‑vs.‑host disease based on the presence of villous atrophy in the terminal ileum

Intestinal graft‑vs.‑host disease (GVHD) is a serious complication of allo‑hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‑HSCT). Villous atrophy in the terminal ileum is considered a useful diagnostic indicator for GVHD. However, the inter‑ and intra‑observer agreement regarding the ileocolonoscopic findings indicative of acute intestinal GVHD, i.e., villous atrophy in the terminal ileum, are currently insufficient in multiple institutions. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the incidence of villous atrophy in the terminal ileum to diagnose acute intestinal GVHD and determine the inter‑ and intra‑observer agreement regarding this result for experienced endoscopists from multiple institutions. Consecutive patients who underwent allo‑HSCT were referred to our institution between May 2008 and September 2015. A total of 54 patients underwent total ileocolonoscopy after allo‑HSCT due to suspected intestinal acute GVHD. Subsequently, three observers from different institutions evaluated the cases for the presence of villous atrophy in the terminal ileum. In this study, the pathology results were a gold standard to evaluate the predictive value of ileocolonoscopy detection. Definitive pathological and non‑pathological GVHD was diagnosed in 22 and 32 cases, respectively. The results of examining whether villous atrophy could predict GVHD were as follows. For three observers (A, B and C), the sensitivity of villous atrophy in the terminal ileum was 86.4, 77.3 and 79.2%, respectively, whereas the specificity was 62.5, 62.5 and 86.7%, respectively. The positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of villous atrophy for GVHD were as follows: The PPV of appearance was 61.3, 58.6 and 82.6%, respectively, whereas the NPV was 87.0, 80.0 and 83.9%, respectively. Kappa coefficients for the inter‑observer reliability were 0.85, 0.63 and 0.63 for observers A and B, A and C, and B and C, respectively. The intra‑observer kappa coefficient was 0.88 for observer A, 0.73 for observer B and 0.75 for observer C. A substantial observer agreement was achieved for the analysis of villous atrophy in the terminal ileum and the agreement for the predictive histological diagnosis was also excellent. Based on the results of the present study, identification of villous atrophy in the terminal ileum was a clinically effective diagnostic parameter, even if different endoscopists were involved in the diagnosis at multiple institutions. The present study was registered as a trial with the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN; registration no. UMIN000025390)

長唄の三味線に於ける和音の音響学的研究(生活科学)

単振動の波形を用いて高さの異なる2音乃至3音の合成波を求めた。その合成波は純正調や十二平均律の音階の場合と殆ど同じである。二度は唸りを生じ, 不協和, 三度は唸りの数が多くなり唸りの感じが弱まり可なり良い協和, 四度五度は唸りが消えて最もよい協和, 六度は稍動揺性が現われるが我慢の出来る程度の協和, 七度は更に動揺性が増して悪い協和, 八度は動揺性が消えて1音かと思われる程のよい協和, 九度は動揺性があって悪い協和, 十度も動揺性はあるが我慢の出来る協和, 十一度十二度は動揺性が消えてよい協和である。三味線では1オクターブを越えた和音が可なり多くあり, 又完全四度完全五度及完全八度が多く用いられることは三味線の機構から来る特徴である

等しい大さの六個の側孔を有する金属製風琴管(一端開)の側孔一個宛を, 連続二個宛を, 連続三個宛を開けた場合の側孔の補正(生活科学)

側孔1個宛, 連続2個宛, 連続3個宛開けた場合何れも管長が長い方が短い方よりも空気タンクの圧力が大きい時に倍音が出易い。又圧力変化が水柱にして3.2cmから9.2cmに変れば音程が圧力と共に増し最高半音から1音の3/4位に達する。全補正係数及び側孔補正係数に就ては此等を夫々C_0,C_hとし同一管長の場合タンクの圧力をpとすればC_0=k_0/p^が略成立する。但しk_0,m_0は或常数である。又圧力一定の場合, 管長をlとすればC_0=K_0/l^及びC_h=K_h/l^が略成立する

TRITIUM, HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN ISOTOPE COMPOSITIONS IN MONTHLY PRECIPITATION SAMPLES COLLECTED AT TOKI, JAPAN

Monthly precipitation samples have been collected at Toki, Japan, from November 2013 to March 2017. In this report, selected data were analysed to identify the regional hydrogen and oxygen isotope compositions. Tritium (3H) concentration in the precipitation ranged from 0.10 to 0.61 Bq L−1 and higher 3H concentrations were observed in spring rather than in other seasons. This range was similar to values reported in Chiba City, Japan. 3H concentration and the ratio d-excess, and δD values were roughly clustered according to each separate season. These regional hydrogen and oxygen isotope compositions will be used for environmental assessments of effects of the deuterium plasma experiments of the large fusion test device