Dermoscopy of Rippled Pattern Sebaceoma

A 77-year-old Japanese woman presented a dome-shaped pinkish nodule on the scalp. Dermoscopy demonstrated yellowish homogeneous ovoid areas with translucent whitish veil and arborizing vessels. No association with Muir-Torre syndrome was found. Histopathology revealed a smooth-bordered neoplasm in the dermis with partial connection to the epidermis. The tumor was composed mainly of germinative cells. The tumor focally showed a typical “rippled pattern”. There were only a few vacuolated cells suggesting sebaceous differentiation. These cells were highlighted with adipophilin antibody. No nuclear atypia or mitotic figures were observed. We regarded the neoplasm as sebaceoma. Dermoscopy demonstrated clearly visualized yellowish homogeneous ovoid areas. This feature usually corresponds to dermal conglomerations of the cells with sebaceous differentiation. However, this case histopathologically showed only limited area with sebaceous differentiation. We presented a case of rippled-pattern sebaceoma and described its dermoscopic features. This was the first report referring to the dermoscopic features of sebaceoma

顎舌骨筋運動ニューロンと一次求心線維のシナプス接合について

Horseradish peroxidase conjugated with wheat germ agglutinin (HRP-WGA) was injected into the muscle branch of the mylohyoid nerve in rats. HRP-labeled neuronal cell bodies were observed ipsilaterally in the caudal portion of the trigeminal mesencephalic nucleus and the ventromedial division of the trigeminal motor nucleus (Vmo.vm). Electron microscope observations were carried out on sections through Vmo.vm containing HRP-labeled cell bodies. Synaptic contacts were found between HRP-labeled axon terminals and HRP-labeled nerve cells. The results suggested that mylohyoid muscle spindle afferents are synaptic contacts on the mylohyoid motoneurons

RacGAP α2-Chimaerin Function in Development Adjusts Cognitive Ability in Adulthood

SummaryA major concern in neuroscience is how cognitive ability in adulthood is affected and regulated by developmental mechanisms. The molecular bases of cognitive development are not well understood. We provide evidence for the involvement of the α2 isoform of Rac-specific guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase)-activating protein (RacGAP) α-chimaerin (chimerin) in this process. We generated and analyzed mice with global and conditional knockouts of α-chimaerin and its isoforms (α1-chimaerin and α2-chimaerin) and found that α-chimaerin plays a wide variety of roles in brain function and that the roles of α1-chimaerin and α2-chimaerin are distinct. Deletion of α2-chimaerin, but not α1-chimaerin, beginning during early development results in an increase in contextual fear learning in adult mice, whereas learning is not altered when α2-chimaerin is deleted only in adulthood. Our findings suggest that α2-chimaerin acts during development to establish normal cognitive ability in adulthood

Skeletal oxygen and carbon isotope compositions of Acropora coral primary polyps experimentally cultured at different temperatures

We investigated temperature and growth‐rate dependency of skeletal oxygen and carbon isotopes in primary polyps of Acropora digitifera (Scleractinia: Acroporidae) by culturing them at 20, 23, 27, or 31°C. Calcification was most rapid at 27 and 31°C. We obtained a δ18O‐temperature relationship (−0.18‰ °C−1) consistent with reported ranges for Porites, indicating that juvenile Acropora polyps can be used for temperature reconstruction. A growth‐rate dependency of skeletal isotopes was detected in the experimental polyps cultured at lower water temperatures, when the skeletal growth rate of these polyps was also low. The estimated upper calcification flux limit for a kinetic isotope effect to be observed in the δ18O‐growth rate relationship (∼0.4–0.7 g CaCO3 cm−2 yr−1) was similar to the calcification flux in Porites corresponding to a linear extension rate of 5 mm yr−1, the maximum rate at which the kinetic isotope effect is evident. This result suggests that the calcification flux can be used as a measure of growth rate‐related isotope fractionation, that is, the kinetic isotope effect, in corals of different genera and at different growth stages

Does the bromocriptine-rebound method improve embryo quality?

Aim: To examine whether the bromocriptine-rebound (BR) method improves pregnancy outcomes after previous unsuccessful assisted reproductive technology (ART) attempts. Patients/study design : In this study we retrospectively analyzed data from a total of 121 women with normal serum prolactin (PRL) levels and a history of repeated unsuccessful ART procedures. Pregnancy outcomes and hormonal data were compared between the long protocol and BR method. Both procedures were similar, except that in the BR method, bromocriptine was administered daily from day 5 of the preceding cycle until 7 days before ovarian stimulation. Results : The number of fertilized oocytes, cleaved embryos and transplant embryos were significantly higher with the BR method than with the long protocol even though the numbers of retrieved oocyte were same in both groups. The ratio of the good embryos, the clinical pregnancy rate was higher with the BR method than with the long protocol. The embryo score with the BR method were significantly higher than that with the long protocol. Conclusion : BR method could provide the better embryos and improve the transplantation rate in women with previous unsuccessful ART attempts J. Med. Invest. 58 : 63-66, February, 201

Japanese guidelines for atopic dermatitis 2020.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a disease characterized by relapsing eczema with pruritus as a primary lesion, which is frequently encountered in clinical practice. Skin barrier dysfunction leads to enhanced skin irritability to non-specific stimuli and epicutaneous sensitization. In the lesion site, a further inflammation-related reduction in skin barrier function, enhanced irritability and scratching-related stimuli deteriorate eczema, leading to vicious cycle of inflammation. The current strategies to treat AD in Japan from the perspective of evidence-based medicine consist of three primary measures: (i) the use of topical corticosteroids and tacrolimus ointment as the main treatment for the inflammation; (ii) topical application of emollients to treat the cutaneous barrier dysfunction; and (iii) avoidance of apparent exacerbating factors, psychological counseling and advice about daily life. The guidelines present recommendations to review clinical research articles, evaluate the balance between the advantages and disadvantages of medical activities, and optimize medical activity-related patient outcomes with respect to several important points requiring decision-making in clinical practice

The infrared imaging spectrograph (IRIS) for TMT: status report for IRIS imager

The current status of IRIS imager at NAOJ is reported. IRIS (Infrared Imaging Spectrograph) is a first light instrument of TMT (Thirty Meter Telescope). IRIS has just passed the preliminary design review and moved forward to the final design phase. In this paper, optical and mechanical design of IRIS imager and prototyping activities conducted during the preliminary design phase are summarized

ポリADP-リボシル化修飾反応に関わるタンパク質の細胞周期過程における発現および細胞内局在パターンの解析

ポリADP-リボシル化修飾反応は、タンパク質の翻訳後修飾反応のひとつであり、poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase（PARP）が産生するpoly(ADP-ribose)（PAR）が標的タンパク質に共有的もしくは非共有的に結合する。修飾を受けたタンパク質は、活性および局在が変化し、生理的役割が変化する。PARP1は、核に局在し、ヒストンをはじめとする核タンパク質をポリADP-リボシル化修飾する。一方、poly(ADPribose)glycohydrolase（PARG）は、標的タンパク質上に形成されたPAR を加水分解することで、ポリADP-リボシル化修飾反応を終結する。PARP1およびPARG によって形成されるポリADP-リボシル化修飾反応のサイクルは、DNA の修復や染色体の安定性に重要な働きを持つ。しかしながら、細胞分裂期におけるこれらのタンパク質の発現および細胞内局在については明らかになっていない。そこで、本研究では、ヒト子宮頸がん細胞株HeLa 細胞におけるPARP1およびPARG、PAR の細胞周期による細胞内局在および発現量の変化ついて検討した。　HeLa 細胞においてPARP1およびPARG は細胞分裂期に核から細胞質へ移行するとともに発現量が減少した。それに伴い、核におけるPAR の発現が減少した。加えて、細胞分裂期におけるPARP1およびPARG の減少は、転写が抑制されたことが起因となることを明らかにした。以上の結果より、細胞分裂期においてPARP1の発現および核での局在を減少させることで、核におけるポリADP-リボシル化修飾反応を抑制し染色体を不安定化させ細胞分裂を促進していることが示唆された。Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation modification is a post-translational modification of proteins in which poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) produced by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) binds covalently or non-covalently to target proteins. The modified protein changes its activity and localization, which exerts its physiological function. PARP1 localizes to the nucleus and modifies nuclear proteins such as histones by poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation. Poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) terminates the poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation modification reaction by hydrolyzing PAR formed on the target protein. The poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation-modification cycle formed by PARP1 and PARG is important for DNA repair and chromosome stability. However, the expression and subcellular localization of these proteins during mitosis are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the subcellular localization and expression of PARP1, PARG and PAR in human cervical carcinoma cell line, HeLa cells, during the cell cycle.In HeLa cells, the expression levels of PARP1 and PARG decreased with the translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm during cell division. Accordingly, the expression of PAR in the nucleus was reduced. The decrease in PARP1 and PARG during mitosis was attributed to repressed transcription. These results indicate that decreasing PARP1 expression and localization in the nucleus during mitosis leads to the suppression of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation modification reactions in the nucleus, which decreases chromosome stability and promotes cell division.論