Complete nucleotide sequence of the Cryptomeria japonica D. Don. chloroplast genome and comparative chloroplast genomics: diversified genomic structure of coniferous species

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The recent determination of complete chloroplast (cp) genomic sequences of various plant species has enabled numerous comparative analyses as well as advances in plant and genome evolutionary studies. In angiosperms, the complete cp genome sequences of about 70 species have been determined, whereas those of only three gymnosperm species, <it>Cycas taitungensis</it>, <it>Pinus thunbergii</it>, and <it>Pinus koraiensis </it>have been established. The lack of information regarding the gene content and genomic structure of gymnosperm cp genomes may severely hamper further progress of plant and cp genome evolutionary studies. To address this need, we report here the complete nucleotide sequence of the cp genome of <it>Cryptomeria japonica</it>, the first in the Cupressaceae sensu lato of gymnosperms, and provide a comparative analysis of their gene content and genomic structure that illustrates the unique genomic features of gymnosperms.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The <it>C. japonica </it>cp genome is 131,810 bp in length, with 112 single copy genes and two duplicated (<it>trn</it>I-CAU, <it>trn</it>Q-UUG) genes that give a total of 116 genes. Compared to other land plant cp genomes, the <it>C. japonica </it>cp has lost one of the relevant large inverted repeats (IRs) found in angiosperms, fern, liverwort, and gymnosperms, such as <it>Cycas </it>and <it>Gingko</it>, and additionally has completely lost its <it>trn</it>R-CCG, partially lost its <it>trn</it>T-GGU, and shows diversification of <it>acc</it>D. The genomic structure of the <it>C. japonica </it>cp genome also differs significantly from those of other plant species. For example, we estimate that a minimum of 15 inversions would be required to transform the gene organization of the <it>Pinus thunbergii </it>cp genome into that of <it>C. japonica</it>. In the <it>C. japonica </it>cp genome, direct repeat and inverted repeat sequences are observed at the inversion and translocation endpoints, and these sequences may be associated with the genomic rearrangements.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The observed differences in genomic structure between <it>C. japonica </it>and other land plants, including pines, strongly support the theory that the large IRs stabilize the cp genome. Furthermore, the deleted large IR and the numerous genomic rearrangements that have occurred in the <it>C. japonica </it>cp genome provide new insights into both the evolutionary lineage of coniferous species in gymnosperm and the evolution of the cp genome.</p

Low-grade B-cell lymphoma presenting primarily in the bone marrow

Cases of low-grade B-cell lymphoma presenting primarily in the bone marrow are rare, and its clinicopathology remains unclear. We retrospectively examined patients with low-grade B-cell lymphoma presenting primarily in the bone marrow. Fourteen patients met the inclusion criteria, including 5 with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL), 3 with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, 2 with follicular lymphoma (FL), and 4 with low-grade B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (LGBCL-NOS). The median age was 69.5 years (range, 42-89 years), and a slight male predominance was noted (9 men and 5 women, 1.8: 1). Immunohistochemically, all cases were positive for CD20. One case was positive for CD138. Both cases of FL were positive for CD10 and B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2), and immunoglobulin heavy locus (IgH)/B-cell lymphoma 2 rearrangement was observed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The myeloid differentiation primary response gene (88) leucine to proline mutation was observed in 3 of 5 LPL, 1 of 2 FL, and 2 of 4 LGBCL-NOS patients. Paraproteinemia was observed in 10 patients; IgM and IgG paraproteinemia were observed in 6 and 3 patients, respectively. In this patient series, 3 patients had died at a median follow-up of 36.5 months; the cause of death of 1 LPL patient was malignant lymphoma itself. Thus, low-grade B-cell lymphoma presenting primarily in the bone marrow has various subtypes, and approximately one-third of the patients had LGBCL-NOS. The immunophenotypic features and myeloid differentiation primary response gene (88) leucine to proline mutation data of LGBCL-NOS suggested that some cases present with characteristics similar to those of LPL or marginal zone lymphoma

A at Single Nucleotide Polymorphism-358 Is Required for G at -420 to Confer the Highest Plasma Resistin in the General Japanese Population

Insulin resistance is a feature of type 2 diabetes. Resistin, secreted from adipocytes, causes insulin resistance in mice. We previously reported that the G/G genotype of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at −420 (rs1862513) in the human resistin gene (RETN) increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes by enhancing its promoter activity. Plasma resistin was highest in Japanese subjects with G/G genotype, followed by C/G, and C/C. In this study, we cross-sectionally analyzed plasma resistin and SNPs in the RETN region in 2,019 community-dwelling Japanese subjects. Plasma resistin was associated with SNP-638 (rs34861192), SNP-537 (rs34124816), SNP-420, SNP-358 (rs3219175), SNP+299 (rs3745367), and SNP+1263 (rs3745369) (P<10−13 in all cases). SNP-638, SNP -420, SNP-358, and SNP+157 were in the same linkage disequilibrium (LD) block. SNP-358 and SNP-638 were nearly in complete LD (r2 = 0.98), and were tightly correlated with SNP-420 (r2 = 0.50, and 0.51, respectively). The correlation between either SNP-358 (or SNP-638) or SNP-420 and plasma resistin appeared to be strong (risk alleles for high plasma resistin; A at SNP-358, r2 = 0.5224, P = 4.94×10−324; G at SNP-420, r2 = 0.2616, P = 1.71×10−133). In haplotypes determined by SNP-420 and SNP-358, the estimated frequencies for C-G, G-A, and G-G were 0.6700, 0.2005, and 0.1284, respectively, and C-A was rare (0.0011), suggesting that subjects with A at −358, generally had G at −420. This G-A haplotype conferred the highest plasma resistin (8.24 ng/ml difference/allele compared to C-G, P<0.0001). In THP-1 cells, the RETN promoter with the G-A haplotype showed the highest activity. Nuclear proteins specifically recognized one base difference at SNP-358, but not at SNP-638. Therefore, A at -358 is required for G at −420 to confer the highest plasma resistin in the general Japanese population. In Caucasians, the association between SNP-420 and plasma resistin is not strong, and A at −358 may not exist, suggesting that SNP-358 could explain this ethnic difference

Hyperglycemia in non-obese patients with type 2 diabetes is associated with low muscle mass: The Multicenter Study for Clarifying Evidence for Sarcopenia in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Hyperglycemia is a risk factor for sarcopenia when comparing individuals with and without diabetes. However, no studies have investigated whether the findings could be extrapolated to patients with diabetes with relatively higher glycemic levels. Here, we aimed to clarify whether glycemic control was associated with sarcopenia in patients with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study participants consisted of patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 746, the average age was 69.9 years) and an older general population (n = 2, 067, the average age was 68.2 years). Sarcopenia was defined as weak grip strength or slow usual gait speed and low skeletal mass index. RESULTS: Among patients with type 2 diabetes, 52 were diagnosed as having sarcopenia. The frequency of sarcopenia increased linearly with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level, particularly in lean individuals (HbA1c <6.5%, 7.0%, ≥6.5% and <7.0%: 18.5%; HbA1c ≥7.0% and <8.0%: 20.3%; HbA1c ≥8.0%: 26.7%). The linear association was independent of major covariates, including anthropometric factors and duration of diabetes (HbA1c <6.5%: reference; ≥6.5% and <7.0%: odds ratio [OR] 4.38, P = 0.030; HbA1c ≥7.0% and <8.0%: 4.29, P = 0.024; HbA1c ≥8.0%: 7.82, P = 0.003). HbA1c level was specifically associated with low skeletal mass index (HbA1c ≥8.0%: OR 5.42, P < 0.001) rather than weak grip strength (OR 1.89, P = 0.058) or slow gait speed (OR 1.13, P = 0.672). No significant association was observed in the general population with a better glycemic profile. CONCLUSIONS: Poor glycemic control in patients with diabetes was associated with low muscle mass

Dosimetry in Radiography

Utilization of radiation in medical treatment is increasing more and more ; consequently, It becomes more important to estimate exposure dose correctly. Altough there are many reports about exposue dose for patients, most of them merely describe the results of the measurements by parts of the body. Exposure dose differs with equipment, instruments, screen-firm system, contition of radiography, and so on. This paper describes the relation between skin dose and contitions of radiography, and also shows the result of measurement of "TPR" which needs to know the absorbed dose of each organ

A frameshift mutation of the chloroplast matK coding region is associated with chlorophyll deficiency in the Cryptomeria japonica virescent mutant Wogon-Sugi

Wogon-Sugi has been reported as a cytoplasmically inherited virescent mutant selected from a horticultural variety of Cryptomeria japonica. Although previous studies of plastid structure and inheritance indicated that at least some mutations are encoded by the chloroplast genome, the causative gene responsible for the primary chlorophyll deficiency in Wogon-Sugi, has not been identified. In this study, we identified this gene by genomic sequencing of chloroplast DNA and genetic analysis. Chloroplast DNA sequencing of 16 wild-type and 16 Wogon-Sugi plants showed a 19-bp insertional sequence in the matK coding region in the Wogon-Sugi. This insertion disrupted the matK reading frame. Although an indel mutation in the ycf1 and ycf2 coding region was detected in Wogon-Sugi, sequence variations similar to that of Wogon-Sugi were also detected in several wild-type lines, and they maintained the reading frame. Genetic analysis of the 19 bp insertional mutation in the matK coding region showed that it was found only in the chlorophyll-deficient sector of 125 full-sibling seedlings. Therefore, the 19-bp insertion in the matK coding region is the most likely candidate at present for a mutation underlying the Wogon-Sugi phenotype

International Family Test of Eurasian Larch Species

Research Materia

ANATOMICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF LARIX SIBIRICA GROWN IN SOUTH-CENTRAL SIBERIA

Tracheid length, microfibril angle, spiral grain, wood density, MOE, MOR, compressive strength, modulus of rigidity and their inter-relationships were investigated for fifty Siberian larch trees (Larix sibirica) collected from five natural stands. No inter-stand variation in tracheid length, microfibril angle and spiral grain was observed. No effect of tracheid length and microfibril angle on the mechanical properties was observed. Inter-stand variation in wood density was significant, especially for mature wood. The wood from the Baikal site in the eastern range of the natural distribution had a very high density. The wood from the Altai site in the mountain range had a low density, especially within the latewood. Minimum density within a ring seemed to be the major source of variation for average density within the heartwood, whereas the effect of maximum density on average density was greater within the sapwood. Wood density, which was much higher for a given ring width than in plantation-grown Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi), had a major effect on the mechanical properties