Fundus autofluorescence and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography findings of leopard spots in nanophthalmic uveal effusion syndrome

金沢大学附属病院眼科Purpose: To describe fundus autofluorescence (FAF) imaging and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) findings of leopard spots in nanophthalmic uveal effusion syndrome. Methods: A 34-year-old man with retinal detachment associated with nanophthalmic uveal effusion syndrome in the right eye underwent sclerotomy three times. After the final surgery, the subretinal fluid resolved gradually. Then, SD-OCT examination, FAF photography, fluorescein angiography (FA), and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) were performed simultaneously with the spectralis Heidelberg retina angiograph + OCT system. Results: SD-OCT revealed focal thickening of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layer at the same locations as leopard spots, which appeared hypofluorescent on FA and ICGA. These spots showed hyperautofluorescence on FAF imaging. Six months later, focal thickening of the RPE layer became smaller on OCT and hyperautofluorescence was attenuated on FAF imaging. Conclusions: Simultaneous imaging of the fundus with multiple modalities including OCT, FAF, FA, and ICGA indicates that leopard spots in the fundus of uveal effusion syndrome may show hyperautofluorescence and correspond to focal thickening of the RPE layer by SD-OCT. This imaging method may help elucidate the pathology of various fundus lesions in vivo. © 2010 Springer-Verlag

Influences of protein ingestion on glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1-immunoreactive endocrine cells in the chicken ileum

Influences of a specific dietary nutrient on glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1-containing cells in the chicken intestine are not yet clear. Significance of dietary protein level on GLP-1-containing cells in the chicken ileum was investigated. Chickens fed control or experimental diets of varying protein levels were examined using immunohistochemical and morphometrical techniques. We show that the protein ingestion had an impact on the activities of GLP-1-immunoreactive cells in the chicken ileum. Weight gains declined with decreasing dietary crude protein (CP) levels, but no significant differences were detected in the daily feed intake and villous height. GLP-1-immunoreactive cells with a round or oval shape were frequently observed in the lower CP level groups (4.5% and 0%). Frequencies of occurrence of GLP-1-immunoreactive cells were 41.1 +/- 4.1, 38.5 +/- 4, 34.8 +/- 3.1 and 34.3 +/- 3.7 (cells/mm(2), mean +/- SD) for dietary CP level of 18%, 9%, 4.5% and 0% groups, respectively and significant differences were recognized between the control and lower CP level groups (P<0.05). Multiple regression analysis indicated a significant correlation between the daily protein intake and frequencies of occurrence of GLP-1-immunoreactive cells. The protein ingestion is one of the signals that influence GLP-1-containing cells in the chicken small intestine.ArticleANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL. 85(5):581-587 (2014)journal articl

Japan and the European Union in the global economy. Bruegel Blueprint 22, 9 April 2014

This book is the final output of a strategic European Union-Japan research partnership, which we initiated in order to deepen our understanding of two major economies facing similar challenges and opportunities. This publication brings together scholars from Kobe University and Bruegel along with selected outside contributors from Japan and the EU from government and leading policy institutions

Purinergic P2Y(6) receptors heterodimerize with angiotensin AT1 receptors to promote angiotensin II-induced hypertension

The angiotensin (Ang) type 1 receptor (AT1R) promotes functional and structural integrity of the arterial wall to contribute to vascular homeostasis, but this receptor also promotes hypertension. In our investigation of how Ang II signals are converted by the AT1R from physiological to pathological outputs, we found that the purinergic P2Y6 receptor (P2Y6R), an inflammation-inducible G protein (heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide–binding protein)–coupled receptor (GPCR), promoted Ang II–induced hypertension in mice. In mice, deletion of P2Y6R attenuated Ang II–induced increase in blood pressure, vascular remodeling, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction. AT1R and P2Y6R formed stable heterodimers, which enhanced G protein–dependent vascular hypertrophy but reduced β-arrestin–dependent AT1R internalization. Pharmacological disruption of AT1R-P2Y6R heterodimers by the P2Y6R antagonist MRS2578 suppressed Ang II–induced hypertension in mice. Furthermore, P2Y6R abundance increased with age in vascular smooth muscle cells. The increased abundance of P2Y6R converted AT1R-stimulated signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells from β-arrestin–dependent proliferation to G protein–dependent hypertrophy. These results suggest that increased formation of AT1R-P2Y6R heterodimers with age may increase the likelihood of hypertension induced by Ang II

Relationship between mitochondrial DNA polymorphism and postnatal growth of Japanese beef cattle

Correlation coefficients (r) between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes, maternal lineage (ML), birth weight (BWT), preweaning average daily gain (PREADG), weaning weight (WT6), post weaning average daily gain (POSTADG) and yearling weight (WT12) were computed in Japanese Black beef cattle within the same herd and management. The objective was to study the relationship between maternal and postnatal growth traits and to investigate if postnatal growth of calves to yearling age could be accurately predicted from mtDNA genotype at an early age. Blood samples and phenotypic records from 129 cattle which were part of a QTL mapping herd were utilized. mtDNA from the displacement-loop (D-loop) region (496 bp) was genotyped and classified into sub-groups 2 and 3 haplotypes and sequenced. General linear models procedure was utilized to adjust for genetic and non-genetic effects on postnatal growth traits. Simple and multiple linear regressions were fitted to predict postnatal growth traits from mtDNA haplotypes and the coefficients of determination (R2 ) were computed. Results revealed 19 maternal lineages and four mtDNA types (1, 11, 73 and a new hitherto unreported one). There were strong, positive and highly significant (P0.05) ranging from -0.05 to 0.1. Prediction of postnatal growth from mtDNA yielded very low R2 values ranging from 0.002 for BWT to 0.019 for WT6. The addition of ML, sub-group 2 and sub-group 3 haplotype information did not lead to any appreciable improvement in prediction accuracy. It was concluded that mtDNA polymorphism has no significant association with postnatal growth from birth to yearling age, and by implication, nuclear rather than cytoplasmic DNA, is most likely responsible for genetic variation observed in postnatal growth of Japanese Black cattle. Therefore, mtDNA genotyping at an early age has no bearing on future growth performance of calves

NPH3- and PGP-like genes are exclusively expressed in the apical tip region essential for blue-light perception and lateral auxin transport in maize coleoptiles

Phototropic curvature results from differential growth on two sides of the elongating shoot, which is explained by asymmetrical indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) distribution. Using 2 cm maize coleoptile segments, 1st positive phototropic curvature was confirmed here after 8 s irradiation with unilateral blue light (0.33 μmol m−2 s−1). IAA was redistributed asymmetrically by approximately 20 min after photo-stimulation. This asymmetric distribution was initiated in the top 0–3 mm region and was then transmitted to lower regions. Application of the IAA transport inhibitor, 1-N-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA), to the top 2 mm region completely inhibited phototropic curvature, even when auxin was simultaneously applied below the NPA-treated zone. Thus, lateral IAA movement occurred only within the top 0–3 mm region after photo-stimulation. Localized irradiation experiments indicated that the photo-stimulus was perceived in the apical 2 mm region. The results suggest that this region harbours key components responsible for photo-sensing and lateral IAA transport. In the present study, it was found that the NPH3- and PGP-like genes were exclusively expressed in the 0–2 mm region of the tip, whereas PHOT1 and ZmPIN1a, b, and c were expressed relatively evenly along the coleoptile, and ZmAUX1, ZMK1, and ZmSAURE2 were strongly expressed in the elongation zone. These results suggest that the NPH3-like and PGP-like gene products have a key role in photo-signal transduction and regulation of the direction of auxin transport after blue light perception by phot1 at the very tip region of maize coleoptiles