Trajectory of body mass index and height changes from childhood to adolescence: a nationwide birth cohort in Japan

To investigate the dynamics of body mass index (BMI) and height changes in childhood leading to obesity in adolescents. BMI Z-scores were calculated using the LMS (lambda-mu-sigma) method based on yearly height and weight information (age 1.5-15 years) from a nationwide Japanese birth cohort that started in 2001 (n = 26,711). We delineated the trajectories of BMI and height changes leading to obesity at age 15 years using mixed effect models. Children who became obese at the age of 15 years kept relatively high BMI z-scores through childhood for both genders, and had an increasing trend over time as opposed to the normal weight group, with an increasing slope during puberty. Early adiposity rebound was associated with overweight or obesity at the age of 15 years. Age at peak height velocity (APHV) occurred earlier in the obese/overweight group at age 15 years than in the normal weight group, and occurred later in the underweight group. Obese adolescents experienced early adiposity rebound timing and maintained a serial BMI z-score increase throughout childhood, with a greater slope at puberty. An earlier peak in height gain during puberty may have contributed to the observed patterns of BMI change

Leaf litter, a critical habitat for juvenile Japanese giant salamander, Andrias japonicus (Amphibia: Caudata)

東広島市椋梨川水系にはオオサンショウウオが生息している。2011 年から，生息状況や産卵，幼生の離散などの生態学的な調査が行われている。この過程で幼生が巣穴から離散した直後の隠れ家や餌となる水生昆虫の生息場所として流水中の落ち葉・落枝が重要な役割を担う可能性が示唆されている。本研究では流水中の落ち葉・落枝の詳細を明らかにするため，河畔林のフロラを調査するとともに，幼生が発見された場所の落ち葉との比較を行った。その結果，流水中の落ち葉・落枝として29種の維管束植物が同定できた。流水中の落ち葉・落枝の大半がコナラやスギなどの木本で，離散後の幼生や餌となる水生昆虫の生息場所として周辺の植生が強い影響を与える可能性が示唆された。Japanese giant salamanders Andrias japonicus inhabit the Mukunashi River around Higashi-Hiroshima City in Hiroshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan; researchers and local people have collaborated to investigate the species’ behavior, particularly its oviposition and the movement of larvae after leaving the nest. In this research we focused on leaf litter in the stream as habitat in which salamander larvae and the aquatic insects which are its critical food cohabit. We studied the flora of the riparian forest to identify the species of leaf litter in the stream among which salamander larvae were found. Leaf litter and branches belonging to 29 species of vascular plants were identified, and most leaves were from the deciduous oak Quercus serrata and the conifer Cryptomeria japonica. It is suggested that the surrounding flora has an important influence on the survival of Japanese giant salamander larvae that have left the nest

miR-155, a Modulator of FOXO3a Protein Expression, Is Underexpressed and Cannot Be Upregulated by Stimulation of HOZOT, a Line of Multifunctional Treg

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in regulating post-transcriptional gene repression in a variety of immunological processes. In particular, much attention has been focused on their roles in regulatory T (Treg) cells which are crucial for maintaining peripheral tolerance and controlling T cell responses. Recently, we established a novel type of human Treg cell line, termed HOZOT, multifunctional cells exhibiting a CD4+CD8+ phenotype. In this study, we performed miRNA profiling to identify signature miRNAs of HOZOT, and therein identified miR-155. Although miR-155 has also been characterized as a signature miRNA for FOXP3+ natural Treg (nTreg) cells, it was expressed quite differently in HOZOT cells. Under both stimulatory and non-stimulatory conditions, miR-155 expression remained at low levels in HOZOT, while its expression in nTreg and conventional T cells remarkably increased after stimulation. We next searched candidate target genes of miR-155 through bioinformatics, and identified FOXO3a, a negative regulator of Akt signaling, as a miR-155 target gene. Further studies by gain- and loss-of-function experiments supported a role for miR-155 in the regulation of FOXO3a protein expression in conventional T and HOZOT cells

The potentiation of Nodal signaling in the right lateral plate mesoderm inverts the left-right specification of the internal organs.

In Xenopus, multiple nodal-related genes are expressed during early embryogenesis. Among them, only Xenopus nodal related-1(Xnr-1) is expressed unilaterally in the left lateral plate mesoderm(LPM) at the late neurula-early tailbud stage. Early studies report that ectopic administration of Xnr-1 in the right hemisphere at the cleavage stage alters the left-right specification of the heart and visceral organs, or else makes a secondary axis. However, because Xnr-1 and other Xnrs function already at the blastula-gastrula stage, it is very difficult to evaluate the correct timing of the effects of excessively administered Xnr-1 from such a method. To elucidate the essential role of Xnr-1 within the left LPM, ectopic potentiation of Nodal signaling in the right lateral plate mesoderm was performed. Right-side injection of Nodal protein changed the laterality of Xnr-1 and Xenopuspitx2, but lefty, and fully (more than 90%) reversed the situs of the internal organs. Polyethyleneimine-based gene transfer of Xnr-1 mRNA in the right LPM also changed the laterality of pitx2 and fully (more than 90%) reversed the situs of the internal organs. Taken together, the potentiation of Xnr-1 signaling in the right LPM induces pitx2 in the right side and fully inverts the left-right axis of the heart and visceral organs, suggesting that the right LPM can transduce Nodal signaling, and only the absence of the Xnr-1 ligand silences the Nodal signaling in the right LPM. Normal left-right balance of Xnr-1 signaling is needed for the normal left-right specification of the internal organs

Checklist of vascular plants of Kui Block Field, Mihara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

広島県三原市久井町に位置する久井岩海は国の天然記念物に指定されている。今回，久井岩海の天然記念物調査に際し，維管束植物（シダ植物，裸子植物，被子植物）のフロラの見直しを行う機会を得た。本稿では，標本および文献にもとづいて久井岩海および周辺地域の維管束植物フロラをまとめた。その結果，維管束植物合計415種（ヒカゲノカズラ植物1種と狭義シダ植物36種，裸子植物6種，被子植物372種。ただし，種以下の下位分類群や雑種は種として数えた）が生育していることが確認された。Kui Block Field, Mihara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, SW Japan is designated as a national natural monument. In this study, a checklist of the vascular plants recorded from Kui Block Field is provided, based on previous publications, herbarium specimens and our recent investigations. 415 species of vascular plants are recorded, consisting of 1 species of lycopods, 36 species of pteridophytes, 6 species of gymnosperms, and 372 species of angiosperms

A preliminary list of the vascular plants of Higashi-hiroshima Campus, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima Pref., SW Japan <Data>

広島大学東広島キャンパスは広島県西条盆地の中央部に位置し，その敷地内には様々な植物が生育している。キャンパス内の維管束植物に関しては学内誌などに断片的に紹介されてきたが，1995年の移転完了後，網羅的な植物相の調査は行われていない。本稿ではキャンパス内の植物相の現状を把握するため，文献および生態実験園とぶどう池周辺を中心に行った調査にもとづいて，東広島キャンパスの維管束植物目録（101科210属286種）をまとめた。A preliminary list of the vascular plants of Higashi-hiroshima Campus in Hiroshima University (Hiroshima Pref., SW Japan) was reported based on own field researches and previous reports. A total of 286 native, naturalized and garden species, including infraspecific taxa, were recorded