Autistic Traits and Brain Activation during Face-to-Face Conversations in Typically Developed Adults

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviours. The severity of these characteristics is posited to lie on a continuum that extends into the general population. Brain substrates underlying ASD have been investigated through functional neuroimaging studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). However, fMRI has methodological constraints for studying brain mechanisms during social interactions (for example, noise, lying on a gantry during the procedure, etc.). In this study, we investigated whether variations in autism spectrum traits are associated with changes in patterns of brain activation in typically developed adults. We used near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), a recently developed functional neuroimaging technique that uses near-infrared light, to monitor brain activation in a natural setting that is suitable for studying brain functions during social interactions. METHODOLOGY: We monitored regional cerebral blood volume changes using a 52-channel NIRS apparatus over the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and superior temporal sulcus (STS), 2 areas implicated in social cognition and the pathology of ASD, in 28 typically developed participants (14 male and 14 female) during face-to-face conversations. This task was designed to resemble a realistic social situation. We examined the correlations of these changes with autistic traits assessed using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Both the PFC and STS were significantly activated during face-to-face conversations. AQ scores were negatively correlated with regional cerebral blood volume increases in the left STS during face-to-face conversations, especially in males. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate successful monitoring of brain function during realistic social interactions by NIRS as well as lesser brain activation in the left STS during face-to-face conversations in typically developed participants with higher levels of autistic traits

Experimental demonstration of quantum teleportation of a squeezed state

Quantum teleportation of a squeezed state is demonstrated experimentally. Due to some inevitable losses in experiments, a squeezed vacuum necessarily becomes a mixed state which is no longer a minimum uncertainty state. We establish an operational method of evaluation for quantum teleportation of such a state using fidelity, and discuss the classical limit for the state. The measured fidelity for the input state is 0.85$\pm$ 0.05 which is higher than the classical case of 0.73$\pm$0.04. We also verify that the teleportation process operates properly for the nonclassical state input and its squeezed variance is certainly transferred through the process. We observe the smaller variance of the teleported squeezed state than that for the vacuum state input.Comment: 7 pages, 1 new figure, comments adde

Up-regulation of stanniocalcin 1 expression by 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 and parathyroid hormone in renal proximal tubular cells

Stanniocalcin 1 and stanniocalcin 2 are two glycoprotein hormones, which act as calcium phosphate-regulating factor on intestine and kidney. We have previously reported that stanniocalcin 2 expression is positively and negatively controlled by 1,25(OH)2D3 and parathyroid hormone in renal proximal tubular cells. However, it has been unclear whether they regulate the stanniocalcin 1 gene expression. In this study, we identified the opossum stanniocalcin 1 cDNA sequence. The opossum stanniocalcin 1 amino acid sequence had 83% homology with human stanniocalcin 1, and has a conserved putative N-linked glycosylation site. Real-time PCR analysis using opossum kidney proximal tubular (OK-P) cells revealed that the mRNA levels of stanniocalcin 1 gene is up-regulated by both 1,25(OH)2D3 and parathyroid hormone in dose-dependent and time-dependent manners. We also demonstrated that the stanniocalcin 1 expression was increased in parathyroid hormone injected rat kidney. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of stanniocalcin 1 and stanniocalcin 2 were oppositely regulated by phorbol 12,13-myristic acetate, a specific PKC activator. Interestingly, the up-regulation of stanniocalcin 1 gene by 1,25(OH)2D3 and phorbol 12,13-myristic acetate were not prevented in the presence of actinomycin D, an RNA synthesis inhibitor. These results suggest that the stanniocalcin 1 gene expression is up-regulated by 1,25(OH)2D3 and parathyroid hormone through mRNA stabilization in renal proximal tubular cells

Regulation of Npt2b gene promoter activity by RAR/RXR-C/EBP

Inorganic phosphate (Pi) homeostasis is regulated by intestinal absorption via type II sodium-dependent co-transporter (Npt2b) and by renal reabsorption via Npt2a and Npt2c. Although we previously reported that vitamin A-deficient (VAD) rats had increased urine Pi excretion through the decreased renal expression of Npt2a and Npt2c, the effect of vitamin A on the intestinal Npt2b expression remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a metabolite of vitamin A, on the Pi absorption and the Npt2b expression in the intestine of VAD rats, as well as and the underlying molecular mechanisms. In VAD rats, the intestinal Pi uptake activity and the expression of Npt2b were increased, but were reduced by the administration of ATRA. The transcriptional activity of reporter plasmid containing the promoter region of the rat Npt2b gene was reduced by ATRA in NIH3T3 cells overexpressing retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR). On the other hand, CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBP) induced transcriptional activity of the Npt2b gene. Knockdown of the C/EBP gene and a mutation analysis of the C/EBP responsible element in the Npt2b gene promoter indicated that C/EBP plays a pivotal role in the regulation of Npt2b gene transcriptional activity by ATRA. EMSA revealed that the RAR/RXR complex inhibits binding of C/EBP to Npt2 b gene promoter. Together, these results suggest that ATRA may reduce the intestinal Pi uptake by preventing C/EBP activation of the intestinal Npt2b gene

スイコウハーブ ノ ネナラビニ ネノ ブンピツブツ ガ アオガレビョウキン ニ オヨボス エイキョウ

本試験では,ハーブ類が青枯病菌に対して示す発病抑制の作用機構の解明を目的に,ハーブ根の抗菌活性を検討すると共に,ハーブを水耕した培養液を分析して,根からの抗菌物質の溶出の可能性について検討した。抗菌活性試験の結果,ハーブ根の基部,中間部では主にハーブ根圏微生物によるものと考えられる阻止帯が形成され,先端部では主にハーブ分泌物によるものと考えられる阻止帯が形成された。また,ハーブ根圏微生物由来阻止帯から分離した根圏微生物は,青枯病菌に対して抗菌効果を示すことを確認した。さらに,7種のハーブを水耕した培養液では,スイートバジルからオイゲノールを,タイムからチモールを検出したが,これらの精油成分は様々な微生物に抗菌効果を示すことが知られている。以上のことから,今回供試した7種のハーブは,根からの分泌物の抗菌性だけでなく,基部から中間部の発育の進んだ部位の根で青枯病菌に抗菌作用を持つ微生物と共存するなど,複合的に青枯病への抵抗性を有している可能性が考えられた。In order to determine how herbs showed antibacterial activity against Ralstonia solanacearum, inhibition zone by excised herb roots was measured and secreted essential oil components in the nutrient solutions were detected by gas chromatograph. The herbs used in this study were sweet basil, perilla, oregano, thyme, roman chamomile, german chamomile and fennel. The roots of these herbs showed antibacterial activity. The basal part of herb roots produced an inhibition zone by the action of microbes in the rhizosphere environment. These microbes showed antibacterial activity in vitro. On the other hand, the distal part of roots produced an inhibition zone by the action of secretion of essential oils. In addition, essential oil components with antibacterial activity, i.e., eugenol and thymol, were detected in the nutrient solutions grown with basil and thyme, respectively. These results indicate that the herbs used in this experiment show antibacterial activity against Ralstonia solanacearum, possibly because of the presence of microbes in rhizosphere conditions and secretion of essential oils

ハーブ ノ コンショク ガ スイコウトマト ノ アオガレビョウ ハツビョウ ニ オヨボス エイキョウ

本試験では養液栽培において,青枯病の発病抑制効果が期待できるスイートバジル,オレガノ,ローマンカモミールを用いて,ハーブの栽植密度を変えてトマトとの混植試験を行い,ハーブの混植が青枯病発病ならびに培養液中の青枯病菌密度に及ぼす影響を調査した。その結果,対照区と比べて,スイートバジル混植区では青枯病発病が4日遅れ,オレガノ,ローマンカモミール混植区では,青枯病の進行が508日抑制された。さらに,スイートバジル,オレガノ混植区では培養液中の青枯病菌密度が検出限界以下(約10^2 cfu/mL以下)に減少した。以上のことから,ハーブの混植により,青枯病発病抑制,青枯病進行抑制,培養液内の青枯病菌密度低下効果などが得られる可能性が示唆された。The effect of the mixed planting of herbs and tomatoes at different planting density on the incidence of bacterial wilt of tomatoes was investigated in hydroponics. The herbs used in this study were sweet basil, oregano and roman chamomile, all of which are known to have antibacterial activities against Ralstonia solanacearum. The mixed planting with sweet basil delayed the incidence of bacterial wilt disease by four days compared with the control treatment, while the mixed planting with oregano and roman chamomile delayed the development of bacterial wilt disease in tomato plants by five to eight days. Furthermore, the mixed planting with sweet basil and oregano reduced the population density of Ralstonia solanacearum to less than 10^2 cfu/mL in nutrient solutions. These results suggested the effectiveness of mixed planting of herbs and tomatoes for the avoidance of severe damage by bacterial wilt disease

マウスにおいて短期間の食餌性リン制限は回腸fibroblast growth factor 15遺伝子発現量を増加させる

Members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 19 subfamily, including FGF23, FGF15/19, and FGF21, have a role as endocrine factors which influence the metabolism of inorganic phosphate (Pi) and vitamin D, bile acid, and energy. It has been reported that dietary Pi regulates circulating FGF23. In this study, the short-term effects of dietary Pi restriction on the expression of FGF19 subfamily members in mice were analyzed. An initial analysis confirmed plasma FGF23 levels positively correlated with the amount of dietary Pi. On the other hand, ileal Fgf15 gene expression, but not hepatic Fgf21 gene expression, was up-regulated by dietary Pi restriction. In addition, we observed the increase of plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] levels by dietary Pi restriction, and the up-regulation of ileal Fgf15 mRNA expression by 1,25(OH)2D3 and vitamin D receptor (VDR). Importantly, dietary Pi restriction-induced Fgf15 gene expression was prevented in VDR-knockout mice. Furthermore, diurnal variations of plasma triglyceride concentrations and hepatic mRNA expression of the bile acid synthesis enzyme Cyp7a1 as one of Fgf15 negative target genes was influenced by dietary Pi restriction. These results suggest that dietary Pi restriction up-regulates ileal Fgf15 gene expression through 1,25(OH)2D3 and VDR, and may affect hepatic bile acid homeostasis

Hypercholesterolemia and effects of high cholesterol diet in type IIa sodium-dependent phosphate co-transporter (Npt2a) deficient mice

The type IIa sodium-dependent phosphate co-transporter (Npt2a) is important to maintain renal inorganic phosphate (Pi) homeostasis and the plasma Pi levels. It has reported that disorder of Pi metabolism in kidney can be risk factors for cardiovascular disease as well as hypercholesterolemia. However, the relationship between Pi and cholesterol metabolism has not been clarified. The current study investigated the effects of Npt2a gene ablation that is known as hypophosphatemia model on cholesterol metabolism in mice. Npt2a deficient (Npt2a-/-) mice and wild type mice were fed diets with or without 2% cholesterol for 12 days. Plasma lipid and lipoprotein profile analysis revealed that plasma lipid levels (total, LDL and HDL cholesterol) were significantly higher in Npt2a-/- mice than wild type (WT) mice. Interestingly, high cholesterol diet markedly increased plasma levels of total, LDL and HDL cholesterol in WT mice, but not Npt2a-/- mice. On the other hand, there were no differences in body and liver weight, intake and hepatic lipid accumulation between WT and Npt2a-/- mice. These results suggest that ablation of Npt2a gene induces hypercholesterolemia and affects the ability to respond normally to dietary cholesterol

ステロール応答領域結合タンパク質1は腎近位尿細管細胞において25-水酸化ビタミンD3 24-水酸化酵素遺伝子の転写を活性化する

The physiological activity of the steroid derived hormone vitamin D is regulated by several enzymatic steps. Both 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 1a-hydroxylase (CYP27B1) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1) modulate blood levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, an activated form of vitamin D. We previously demonstrated that CYP27B1 expression was trans-activated by sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1), although whether SREBP1 also regulates CYP24A1 transcription was unclear. Here we investigated the ability of SREBP1 to affect CYP24A1 transcription. In a luciferase reporter assay, mouse and human CYP24A1 promoter activity was strongly activated by SREBP1 in opossum kidney proximal tubular cells (OK-P). Three putative SREs (pSREs) were found in the mouse Cyp24a1 gene promoter and the SREBP1 protein showed specific binding to the pSRE1 element in EMSAs. Site-directed mutagenesis of the pSRE1 element strongly decreased SREBP1-mediated Cyp24a1 gene transcription. Moreover, siRNA-mediated SREBP1 knock-down repressed CYP24A1 expression in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HKC-8). In animal studies, mice given various doses of thyroid hormone (T3) showed dose-dependent reductions in renal Srebp1c and Cyp24a1 mRNA levels. Taken together, our results suggest that SREBP1 trans-activates CYP24A1 expression through SREBP binding elements present in the promoter