hTERT promoter polymorphism, -1327C\u3eT, is associated with the risk of epithelial cancer

Telomeres are repetitive nucleotide sequences that cap the end of eukaryotic chromosomes. Attrition of these structures has been associated with carcinogenesis in many tissues, and therefore, they are essential for chromosome stabilization. Telomeres are maintained by telomerase complexes, of which human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is an essential component. A functional polymorphism, -1327C\u3eT (rs2735940), located in the promoter of the hTERT gene is associated with telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes. We hypothesized that this polymorphism might affect susceptibility to various epithelial malignancies. The -1327C\u3eT polymorphism was examined in 1,551 consecutive autopsy cases (mean age, 80.3 years), and we focused on its effect on the risks of overall and each primary malignancies. The polymorphism was further studied in 391 clinical prostate cancer patients who were diagnosed via prostate biopsy, using autopsy cases as controls. In the autopsy cases, the risk of epithelial malignancy, after adjusting for age, sex, smoking, and drinking habits, was significantly lower for the TT genotype than the CC (reference) genotype (adjusted odds ratio = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.42-0.90). Among primary malignancies, latent prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer were the most strongly associated with the polymorphism. In the study using clinical prostate cancer patients, susceptibility to clinical prostate cancer was lower for -1327 T carriers than for -1327 T non-carriers, but this finding was not significant. The data suggest that the hTERT promoter polymorphism, -1327C\u3eT, is an independent factor influencing the risk of various epithelial malignancies in elderly Japanese

Significance of common variants on human chromosome 8q24 in relation to the risk of prostate cancer in native Japanese men

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Common variants on human chromosome 8q24, rs1447295 (C/A) and rs6983267 (T/G), have been recently linked to the prevalence of prostate cancer in European and American populations. Here, we evaluated whether the single-nucleotide polymorphisms rs1447295 and rs6983267 were associated with the risk of sporadic prostate cancer as well as latent prostate cancer in a native Japanese population.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We analyzed genomic DNA samples from 391 sporadic prostate cancer patients, 323 controls who had died from causes unrelated to cancer and 112 Japanese men who were diagnosed as having latent prostate cancer based on autopsy results. The polymorphisms were determined by allelic discrimination using a fluorescent-based TaqMan assay. The A allele of rs1447295 was significantly associated with the risk of sporadic prostate cancer (<it>p </it>= 0.04; age-adjusted OR, 1.34), while the G allele of rs6983267 showed a trend towards being a high-risk allele (<it>p </it>= 0.06; age-adjusted OR, 1.27). No significant difference between these two polymorphisms and the risk of latent prostate cancer was observed in the present Japanese population.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Known variants on human chromosome 8q24 may be risk factors for sporadic prostate cancer in native Japanese men.</p

土壌改質材 FFC エースによるオオムギの生育と収量の促進効果

The effects of a unique soil conditioner, FFC-ace, on photosynthesis, transpiration, growth and yield of barley were examined in a field experiment. FFC-ace well-mixed with sandy soil greatly enhanced root and shoot growth, tillering and the number of grains per stock. The total yield in the treated plot increased by about 172%. The plants grown in the FFC-ace plot were greener and contained a higher level of chlorophyll, compared with the control. Photosynthesis and transpiration, which are tightly linked to productivity were also significantly enhanced at the broad range of photon flux observed in our study. The quality of grain harvested from the FFC-ace plot was similar to the control plot in terms of nutritional and inorganic components. The increased photosynthesis in the FFC-ace treated barley reflects a higher absorption of CO(2) from the atmosphere. It was also noted that the efficiency of water utilization for photosynthesis was significantly greater under the high light intensity in the treated plot. The relationship between application of FFC-ace and absorption of atmospheric CO(2) is discussed. Our investigation provides data showing that application of FFC-ace to soil significantly reduces water requirements for plant growth and yield.本報は，㈱エフエフシー・ジャパンから販売されている土壌改質材FFCエースTMの作物の生長促進効果について，2006年11月から翌年６月，本学農学部内の実験圃場で実施された，オオムギの生育ならびに収量調査に関する試験結果をとりまとめたものである．実施圃場の砂土壌にFFCエースを所定量混和した区画を設け，オオムギの種子を播種した．なお，対照区は非導入土壌とした．定期的に行った生育調査の結果，FFCエースを導入した土壌では非導入の区画と比べて，生育初期における根の生育が良好となり，地上部における分けつ数の増加とともに穂の生長も旺盛となって，１穂当たりの収穫量（粒数）の著しい増加をもたらした．結果，FFCエース導入区における全収量は非導入区と比べて約1.7倍となった．また，それぞれから収穫したオオムギ粒に含まれる栄養価ならびに無機元素類の量には，FFCエースの導入，非導入によって大きな違いは認められず，導入の効果は収量に大きく反映された．事実，調査期間中に行った測定から，FFCエースを投入した土壌で生育するオオムギ葉は高いクロロフィル量を示しており，光合成が促進されているものと考えられた．実際，播種後４ヶ月目以降，光合成ならびに蒸散速度値を測定した結果，FFCエース導入区で生育したオオムギでは常に高い値を示した．また，FFCエースの導入によって強光条件下における水利用効率が促進された．本報告では，FFCエースの投与と空気中からの二酸化炭素の吸収量との関連について考察するとともに，併せて，FFCエースの土壌への導入によって作物の生育に必要な灌水量を大きく減らすことができる可能性についても言及したい

Mizoribine provides effective treatment of sequential histological change of arteritis and reduction of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in an animal model of Kawasaki disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment results in an effective response from patients with acute-phase Kawasaki disease (KD), but 16.5% of them remain nonresponsive to IVIg. To address this therapeutic challenge, we tried a new therapeutic drug, mizoribine (MZR), in a mouse model of KD, which we have established using injections of <it>Candida albicans </it>water-soluble fractions (CAWS).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>CAWS (4 mg/mouse) were injected intraperitoneally into C57BL/6N mice for 5 consecutive days. MZR or IgG was administered for 5 days. After 4 weeks, the mice were sacrificed and autopsied, the hearts were fixed in 10% neutral formalin, and plasma was taken to measure cytokines and chemokines using the Bio-Plex system.</p> <p>The incidence of panvasculitis in the coronary arteries and aortic root was 100% in the control group. The incidence of panvasculitis in the MZR group decreased to 50%. Moreover, the scope and severity of the inflammation of those sites were significantly reduced in the MZR group as well as the IgG group. On the other hand, increased cytokines and chemokines, such as IL-1α, TNF-α, KC, MIP-1α, GM-CSF, and IL-13, in the nontreatment group were significantly suppressed by treatment with MZR, but the MCP-1 level increased. In addition, IL-1α, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-13, and MIP-1α were suppressed by treatment in the IgG group.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The incidence of panvasculitis in the coronary arteries and aortic root was 100% in the control group. The incidence of panvasculitis in the MZR group decreased to 50%. Moreover, the scope and severity of the inflammation of those sites were significantly reduced in the MZR group as well as the IgG group. On the other hand, increased cytokines and chemokines, such as IL-1α TNF-α, KC, MIP-1α, GM-CSF, and IL-13, in the nontreatment group were significantly suppressed by treatment with MZR, but the MCP-1 level increased. In addition, IL-1α, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-13, and MIP-1α were suppressed by treatment in the IgG group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>MZR treatment suppressed not only the incidence, range, and degree of vasculitis, but also inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the plasma of the KD vasculitis model mice, suggesting that MZR may be useful for treatment of KD.</p

Effect of FFC Ceramic Water on the Infection Process of a Fungal Pathogen

In this report, an effect of FFC-ceramic (FFC-Japan Co. Ltd., Tsu) water on the process of infection by a pea fungal pathogen, Mycosphaerella pinodes was investigated. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis showed that both of the FFC-ceramic water and a common ceramic water contained mainly Ca and S elements, of which the relative atomic percentages were 53~56% and 44~45%, respectively. Lesion formation by pycnospores of M. pinodes on pea leaves was inhibited severely by the application with both ceramic waters at the 1/2~1/6 concentration of saturated solution. Cytological observation under microscope showed that germination, germ-tube elongation and penetration were severely inhibited by these ceramic waters. However, such inhibitory effect of FFC-ceramic water was superior to that of the common ceramic water. On ethanol-killed pea epidermal tissues, both FFC-ceramic water and the common ceramic water blocked the germination, germ-tube elongation and penetration by the pathogen, indicating the direct effect of both ceramic waters on the fungus. In this case, the inhibiting effect of FFC ceramic water was more intensive than the common ceramic water. CaSO(4) at a 1/2~1/4 concentration of saturated solution blocked penetration by the fungus on the killed epidermis of onion bulb but scarcely affected germination and germ-tube elongation. Based on these results, we discussed the role of FFC-ceramic water in disease tolerance of plants and its availability for cultivation.本研究は，FFCセラミックス(TM)（株 エフフシージャパン）の植物病原菌の発病抑制効果について調べたものである．FFCセラミック水は原液の1/2～1/6の濃度でエンドウ褐紋病菌の発病を顕著に抑制した．この原因を調べたところ，FFCセラミック水は，病原菌の発芽，発芽管伸長，侵入（貫入）を顕著に阻害することが判明した．FFCセラミック水中にはCa並びにS，O元素が多量に存在し，SEM観察の結果と合わせると，CaSO(4)が多量に含まれることが示唆された．そこで，CaSO(4)飽和液の1/2～1/4濃度で，病原菌に対する作用を調べた結果，発芽あるいは発芽管伸長はほとんど阻害されず，低率ながら侵入も観察された．これらの結果を総合して，FFCセラミック水やCaSO4の栽培場面での応用を考察した

The effect of interchain interaction on the pairing symmetry competition in organic superconductors (TMTSF)2_2X

We investigate the effect of interchain repulsive interaction on the pairing symmetry competition in quasi-one-dimensional organic superconductors (TMTSF)$_2$X by applying random phase approximation and quantum Monte Carlo calculation to an extended Hubbard model. We find that interchain repulsive interaction enhances the $2k_F$ charge fluctuations, thereby making the possibility of spin-triplet $f$-wave pairing dominating over spin-singlet d-wave pairing realistic.Comment: 4 page

Applicability of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (MABC-2) for Japanese Children Aged 3–6 Years: A Preliminary Investigation Emphasizing Internal Consistency and Factorial Validity

This study investigated the applicability of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children – Second Edition (MABC-2) for 3- to 6-year-old Japanese children, particularly addressing its internal consistency and factorial validity. The MABC-2 test set for 3- to 6-year-old children was administered to 252 children. Differences between Japanese children and those of the original normative sample (i.e. United Kingdom children) were investigated along with sex differences. The Japanese children aged 3–6 years were found to have higher Manual Dexterity and Balance component scores than children of the normative sample. Girls scored higher than boys on the Balance component. Results of several analyses showed good internal consistency of the MABC-2. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that a theoretical three-component model of the MABC-2 was not fitted to Japanese children aged 3–6 years. Instead, a new three-component model was postulated and discussed. The new three-component model of the MABC-2, with Manual Dexterity, Static Balance and Ball Skills, and Dynamic Balance, has high factorial validity in Japanese children aged 3–6 years

RNA transcripts for I-J polypeptides are apparently not encoded between the I-A and I-E subregions of the murine major histocompatibility complex

The I-J subregion of the mouse major histocompatibility complex has been reported to encode antigenic determinants expressed by suppressor T cells. Previously, cosmid clones were obtained from mouse sperm DNA that contain all of the sequences between the I-A and I-E subregions, where I-J has been mapped genetically. However, hybridization of these sequences to RNA prepared from several I-J-positive suppressor T-cell hybridomas did not reveal the presence of a transcript. In addition, no rearrangements in this DNA were detected in the suppressor T cells that we have analyzed. Our results indicate that the I-J polypeptides are not encoded between the I-A and I-E subregions of the major histocompatibility complex. We discuss several hypotheses concerning the possible location and expression of I-J genes