人体解剖標本画像データベースの構築と公開

Image databases on four types of gross anatomy specimens were designed, constructed and demonstrated at two public exhibitions. Registrated specimens are collections at the faculty of medicine, the Univertsity of Tokyo. They consist of 1) mammalian skulls and skeletons collected by Dr. Ryousei Koganei, 2) dissected human bodies for gross anatomy coures at the faculty of medicine, 3) fixed brains of distinguished scholars, artists and statesmen, and 4) "plastinations" which are plastic embedded animal specimens made by newly developed technique at Medical Museum, the University of Tokyo between 1991 and 1994. Three types of database were constructed; a specimen database and a slide database contain text fields whereas an image databese contains not only text fields but also image fields. As a service device, Internet is thought to be adequate for researchers to look for some specific specimens whereas a magnet-optical disk or CD-ROM is convenient for students to look thorough information. Problems on distributing images and information of human specimens to public are also discussed

Heating Has No Effect on the Net Protein Utilisation from Egg Whites in Rats

Egg whites (EW) are a good source of protein; however, they are typically heated prior to consumption. Therefore, we investigated the effects of different heating conditions on the protein utilisation rate of EW. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=36, 198±1 g) were divided into six groups and fed American Institute of Nutrition-76 chow containing unheated EW, soft-boiled EW, boiled EW, milk whey protein, soybean protein, or no protein over a 10-day period using pair-feeding. Urine and faeces were sampled daily beginning on day 5 to measure nitrogen content and the net protein utilisation (NPU) rate. The soybean protein group had a significantly lower level of food intake and was thus excluded from subsequent analyses. The NPU value was similar among the unheated, soft-boiled, and boiled EW groups (97.5±0.4, 96.5±0.1, and 96.5±0.7, resp.). The EW group values were significantly higher than the whey group values (90.5±1.0). These results show that EW serve as a good source of protein, irrespective of heating

Identification and molecular variations of CAN-SINEs from the ZFY gene final intron of the Eurasian badgers (genus Meles)

The short interspersed nucleotide elements (SINEs) are specific to the taxa and thought to be one of powerful phylogenetic gene markers. Especially, the SINE sequences, which exist uniquely in genome of order Carnivora, are named CAN-SINEs. Among the Eurasian badgers (genus Meles), a member of the family Mustelidae in order Carnivora, the Japanese badger (M. anakuma) was previously reported to have an insertion of CAN-SINE in the final intron of the zinc finger protein gene on Y chromosome (ZFY). In the present study, we examined occurrence of the CAN-SINE of the ZFY final intron in the Eurasian badgers, and three continental and four Japanese haplotypes were identified from a total of 40 male badgers. Among the Eurasian badger CAN-SINEs, a 12-bp deletion specific to the Japanese haplotypes was found, whereas the 12-bp region (non-deletion) in the continental haplotypes consisted of one 6-bp direct repeat and 6-bp microsatellite-like sequences. Moreover, the continental haplotypes were phylogenetically divided into three lineages: eastern Eurasia, Caucasus and western Eurasia. These genetic differentiations supported the classification recently proposing that genus Meles are grouped into the European badger (M. meles), the Southwest Asian badger (M canescens), the Northwest & Central Asian badger (M. leucurus) and the Japanese badger (M. anakuna). In addition, the number of adenines in the poly A/T rich tails was polymorphic among all lineages of Eurasian badgers, and geographically variable within the Japanese badgers

Anti-neutrophil extracellular trap antibody in a patient with relapse of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: a case report

Background: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are web-like DNA decorated with antimicrobial proteins, such as myeloperoxidase (MPO), which are extruded from activated neutrophils. Although NETs are essential in innate immunity, an excessive formation of NETs has adverse effects, e.g., induction of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA), to the hosts. Since ANCA can induce NET formation in the primed neutrophils, a positive feedback loop can be formed between NETs and ANCA, which is called "ANCA-NETs vicious cycle." Case presentation: A 79-year-old Japanese woman developed hydralazine-induced pauci-immune necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis with MPO-ANCA. Although the illness improved after cessation of hydralazine, MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis relapsed 16 months later. Remission was achieved 5 months after beginning of administration of prednisone. In order to determine the involvement of ANCA-NETs vicious cycle in this patient, we examined NET degradation and induction activities in sera obtained at the disease onset (Serum A; MPO-ANCA, 107 IU/ml), at relapse (Serum B; MPO-ANCA, 195 IU/ml), at 3 months after treatment (Serum C; MPO-ANCA, 4.5 IU/ml), and at remission (Serum D; MPO-ANCA, 2.4 IU/ml). NET degradation activity was low in the all sera. NET induction activity was high in Sera A, B, and C but not in D. Additionally, we demonstrated the presence of anti-NET antibody (ANETA) in Sera B and C but not in A or D. Conclusions: The collective findings suggest NET induction potential of ANETA in the present patient and that the ANETA could contribute to the enhancement of NETs resulting in amplification of the ANCA-NETs vicious cycle

Notes on autumn-winter stomach contents of the Stone Marten (Martes foina) in the Balkan Mountains, Central Bulgaria

We studied autumn-winter food (November-February, 1997-2003) of the Stone Marten in the Balkan Mountains, Central Bulgaria. A total of 26 stomachs (18 of males and eight of females) were examined, of which contents was expressed as the number of occurrence and relative frequency of occurrence. The result clearly showed that rodents are primary prey for the Stone Marten. Birds and insects were the following categories consumed. The edible dormouse was detected as a prey for the first time in Bulgaria. Besides, wild ungulates and domestic animals were occasionally scavenged, while neither fruits nor artificial materials were detected in the marten stomachs. Thus, our study showed that the Stone Marten in the Balkan Mountains tended to be more carnivorous in winter

Introduction and expansion history of the masked palm civet, Paguma larvata, in Japan, revealed by mitochondrial DNA control region and cytochrome b analysis

The masked palm civet (Paguma larvata) in Japan is considered as an alien species; however, the details on introduction routes to Japan and the expansion history are still unclear. In the present study, to further solve these questions, we analyzed the mitochondrial DNA control region (523 base-pairs) of 226 individuals from Japan and Taiwan, and identified 13 haplotypes, which are phylogenetically closely related to each other. Then, we combined the present control region data with the previously reported cytochrome b sequences, and found multiple haplotypes in Shikoku, Gunma, and Tokyo. The population in Shikoku was formed by several genetic lineages, one of which was not found in other areas, indicating the differentiation of the Shikoku population from those in Central Honshu. In addition, animals with the major cytochrome b haplotype in Eastern Japan in the previous study were found to have three different haplotypes in control region. The results strongly show multiple introduced routes of P. larvata in Eastern Japan. Our study much contributes to further understanding of the expansion history of P. larvata on the Japanese islands, in conjunction with previous genetic data