Behavioral impairment in SHATI/NAT8L knockout mice via dysfunction of myelination development

We have identified SHATI/NAT8L in the brain of mice treated with methamphetamine. Recently, it has been reported that SHATI is N-acetyltransferase 8-like protein (NAT8L) that produces N-acetylaspatate (NAA) from aspartate and acetyl-CoA. We have generated SHATI/NAT8L knockout (Shati−/−) mouse which demonstrates behavioral deficits that are not rescued by single NAA supplementation, although the reason for which is still not clarified. It is possible that the developmental impairment results from deletion of SHATI/NAT8L in the mouse brain, because NAA is involved in myelination through lipid synthesis in oligodendrocytes. However, it remains unclear whether SHATI/NAT8L is involved in brain development. In this study, we found that the expression of Shati/Nat8l mRNA was increased with brain development in mice, while there was a reduction in the myelin basic protein (MBP) level in the prefrontal cortex of juvenile, but not adult, Shati−/− mice. Next, we found that deletion of SHATI/NAT8L induces several behavioral deficits in mice, and that glyceryltriacetate (GTA) treatment ameliorates the behavioral impairments and normalizes the reduced protein level of MBP in juvenile Shati−/− mice. These findings suggest that SHATI/NAT8L is involved in myelination in the juvenile mouse brain via supplementation of acetate derived from NAA. Thus, reduction of SHATI/NAT8L induces developmental neuronal dysfunction

Induction of neuronal axon outgrowth by Shati/Nat8l via energy metabolism in mice cultured neurons

A novel N-acetyltransferase, Shati/Nat8l, was identified in the nucleus accumbens of mice repeatedly treated with methamphetamine (METH). Shati/Nat8l has been reported to inhibit the pharmacological action induced by METH. Shati/Nat8l produces N-acetylaspartate from aspartate and acetyl-CoA. Previously, we reported that overexpression of Shati/Nat8l in nucleus accumbens attenuates the response to METH by N-acetylaspartylglutamate (which is derived from N-acetylaspartate)-mGluR3 signaling in the mice brain. In the present study, to clarify the type of cells that produce Shati/Nat8l, we carried out in-situ hybridization for the detection of Shati/Nat8l mRNA along with immunohistochemical studies using serial sections of mice brain. Shati/Nat8l mRNA was detected in neuronal cells, but not in astrocytes or microglia cells. Next, we investigated the function of Shati/Nat8l in the neuronal cells in mice brain; then, we used an adeno-associated virus vector containing Shati/Nat8l for transfection and overexpression of Shati/Nat8l protein into the primary cultured neurons to investigate the contribution toward the neuronal activity of Shati/Nat8l. Overexpression of Shati/Nat8l in the mice primary cultured neurons induced axonal growth, but not dendrite elongation at day 1.5 (DIV). This finding indicated that Shati/Nat8l contributes toward neuronal development. LY341495, a selective group II mGluRs antagonist, did not abolish this axonal growth, and N-acetylaspartylglutamate itself did not abolish axon outgrowth in the same cultured system. The cultured neurons overexpressing Shati/Nat8l contained high ATP, suggesting that axon outgrowth is dependent on energy metabolism. This study shows that Shati/Nat8l in the neuron may induce axon outgrowth by ATP synthesis and not through mGluR3 signaling

聖隷クリストファー大学看護学部における国際交流事業への取り組み：アメリカ看護研修に参加する学生の“activeness” をはぐくむ活動と課題

委員会等活動報告Special Articles　本稿では、本学看護学部が取り組む国際交流事業の一つ、アメリカ看護研修について、2015 年度に行われた研修運営の実際と参加者の反応を概説し、参加者の“activeness”をはぐくむ活動を振り返り、今後の研修運営に向けた課題について検討した。短期的な課題としては、チーム形成の促進、現地研修への適応の促進、気づきを学びに繋げる支援であり、2016 年度の研修運営に対策を盛り込んだ。長期的な課題としては、大学教育においてより魅力的で、参加者の“activeness”をはぐくむ効果があり、海外留学奨学金の受給を可能にするような研修へと、質の改善を図ることであり、そのための研修による効果をどのように評価するか、評価の時期や内容についての見直しの必要性が示唆された

聖隷クリストファー大学看護学部における国際交流事業の歴史的経緯 : 交流協定校との協定締結から現在まで（2004 － 2017）

報告Reports　本稿では、本学看護学部による国際交流事業の歴史を振り返り、現在の課題について整理するために、これまで国際交流協定を結んだ大学・専門職養成機関との協定締結までの経緯と、その後の交流事業の実績と現状を検討した。看護学部は、2004 年に本学が中国の第三軍医大学との間で初めて交流協定を締結してから13 年間に、ナンヤン理工学院、サミュエルメリット大学、カトリック・サンジ大学の４校に協定校を増やし、総じて学生208 名と教職員101 名を研修・引率・研究交流の目的で派遣し、協定校からも学生171 名と教職員102 名を受け入れてきた。今後の看護学部の課題としては、１）感染対策としての予防接種の実施の必要性と、事故発生時の引率者の対応等の危機管理の問題、２）看護研修の単位認定や研修の受け入れ時期の問題等のカリキュラムの問題、３）受け入れの際の研修施設への謝礼やもてなしの経費の予算化等、組織上の問題が示唆される

Neuropsychological assessment of visuo-perceptual processing in children with neurodevelopmental disorders

Rey 複雑図形検査（Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test）は視空間構成能力や視覚性記憶，実行機能などを評価する神経心理学的検査である。本研究では板書のノートテイクや漢字の書字などの学習場面でのつまずきがみられる３名の神経発達障害をともなう子どもを対象に Rey 複雑図形検査を実施し，視覚認知処理過程に関する検討をおこなった。３名はいずれもまとまりのある要素を細分化させた方略を用いて図形を描画しており，視覚構成能力に関する指標において著しい低値を認め，視知覚能力の発達の未成熟さが推測された。本検査は子どもの抱える学習上の問題の把握に有用であり，神経発達障害における視覚認知能力の発達的経過に関するさらなる検討が必要と考えられた。独立行政法人日本学術振興会　科研費（25870931

看護学部における新入生セミナーの活動

報告Reports　本学看護学部では、新入生が抱く入学時の不安や緊張を和らげる目的で学生スタッフ参画による「新入生セミナー」が実施されている。この新入生セミナーは150 名前後の在学生スタッフが主体となって、１年間にわたり企画、運営を行う組織的活動である。この自主的な活動は新入生に対する効果だけでなく、在学生スタッフに対しても、主体的活動による達成感やリーダーシップの獲得、縦と横のつながりの形成などの効果があると考えられる。在学生スタッフの意欲的な活動は、新入生のモデルとなり、スタッフへの自主的な参加へとつながる形で10 年以上継続されている。今回、本学部の新入生セミナーの活動についての概要を報告する

Inhibition of Small Maf Function in Pancreatic β-Cells Improves Glucose Tolerance Through the Enhancement of Insulin Gene Transcription and Insulin Secretion

The large-Maf transcription factor v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog A (MafA) has been found to be crucial for insulin transcription and synthesis and for pancreatic beta-cell function and maturation. However, insights about the effects of small Maf factors on beta-cells are limited. Our goal was to elucidate the function of small-Maf factors on beta-cells using an animal model of endogenous small-Maf dysfunction. Transgenic (Tg) mice with beta-cell-specific expression of dominant-negative MafK (DN-MafK) experiments, which can suppress the function of all endogenous small-Mafs, were fed a high-fat diet, and their in vivo phenotypes were evaluated. Phenotypic analysis, glucose tolerance tests, morphologic examination of beta-cells, and islet experiments were performed. DN-MafK-expressed MIN6 cells were also used for in vitro analysis. The results showed that DN-MafK expression inhibited endogenous small-Maf binding to insulin promoter while increasing MafA binding. DN-MafK Tg mice under high-fat diet conditions showed improved glucose metabolism compared with control mice via incremental insulin secretion, without causing changes in insulin sensitivity or MafA expression. Moreover, up-regulation of insulin and glucokinase gene expression was observed both in vivo and in vitro under DN-MafK expression. We concluded that endogenous small-Maf factors negatively regulates beta-cell function by competing for MafA binding, and thus, the inhibition of small-Maf activity can improve beta-cell function

High-density magnetic-vacancy inclusion in Co2MnGa single crystal probed by spin-polarized positron annihilation spectroscopy

Co2MnGa is a Weyl semimetal exhibiting giant anomalous Hall and Nernst effects. Using spin-polarized positron annihilation spectroscopy, we examined a Bridgman-grown Co2MnGa single crystal with a nearly perfect L21-ordered structure and a reference Co2MnAl polycrystal with a Mn-Al-disordered B2 structure. We found that a large amount of magnetic vacancies (more than 100 ppm) were included in the Co2MnGa crystal but not the Co2MnAl crystal. We discuss possible reasons for the inclusion of vacancies, the role of vacancies in the development of the ordered structure, and the electronic states associated with the vacancies. Towards the development of Co2MnGa-based devices, the manners for reducing vacancies as well as the influence of vacancies on the electrical transport properties should be considered