84 research outputs found
The Minimum Approval Mechanism Implements the Efficient Public Good Allocation Theoretically and Experimentally
May 2013. Revised September 2013
A deep brain photoreceptive molecule in the toad hypothalamus
AbstractWe have isolated a cDNA clone encoding a deep brain photoreceptive molecule from the hypothalamic cDNA library of the toad, Bufo japonicus. The deduced amino acid sequence showed the highest similarity to that of pinopsin (75–76%) among vertebrate retinal opsins, indicating the expression of toad pinopsin in the deep brain. Antibodies raised against the C-terminal tail of toad pinopsin stained cell bodies and the knob-like structures of the cerebrospinal fluid-contacting neurons in the anterior preoptic nucleus. This region is known to play an important role in breeding behavior, suggesting that toad pinopsin acts as a photosensor for the photoperiodic gonadal response
Nuclear resonant scattering of synchrotron radiation by physisorbed Kr on TiO(110) surfaces in multilayer and monolayer regimes
Physisorbed Kr layers on TiO(110) surfaces were investigated by means
of nuclear resonant scattering (NRS) of synchrotron radiation at Kr thicknesses
ranging from multilayer to monolayer. The NRS intensity was measured as a
function of the Kr exposure, from which the NRS signal corresponding to
monolayer was estimated as 0.23 cps. The time spectra measured at various
thicknesses showed a monotonous decay without any quantum beat features. The
recoiless fraction evaluated from the analysis of the time spectrum
revealed a substantial reduction upon temperature rise from 19 to 25 K. As its
origin, an order-disorder phase transition of the monolayer Kr is proposed.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure
Isotropic orbital magnetic moments in magnetically anisotropic SrRuO3 films
Epitaxially strained SrRuO3 films have been a model system for understanding
the magnetic anisotropy in metallic oxides. In this paper, we investigate the
anisotropy of the Ru 4d and O 2p electronic structure and magnetic properties
using high-quality epitaxially strained (compressive and tensile) SrRuO3 films
grown by machine-learning-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The element-specific
magnetic properties and the hybridization between the Ru 4d and O 2p orbitals
were characterized by Ru M2,3-edge and O K-edge soft X-ray absorption
spectroscopy and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements. The
magnetization curves for the Ru 4d and O 2p magnetic moments are identical,
irrespective of the strain type, indicating the strong magnetic coupling
between the Ru and O ions. The electronic structure and the orbital magnetic
moment relative to the spin magnetic moment are isotropic despite the
perpendicular and in-plane magnetic anisotropy in the compressive-strained and
tensile-strained SrRuO3 films; i.e., the orbital magnetic moments have a
negligibly small contribution to the magnetic anisotropy. This result
contradicts Bruno model, where magnetic anisotropy arises from the difference
in the orbital magnetic moment between the perpendicular and in-plane
directions. Contributions of strain-induced electric quadrupole moments to the
magnetic anisotropy are discussed, too
Nuclear resonant scattering of synchrotron radiation by physisorbed Kr on TiO2(110) surfaces in multilayer and monolayer regimes
Physisorbed Kr layers on TiO2(110) surfaces were investigated by means of nuclear resonant scattering (NRS) of synchrotron radiation at Kr thicknesses ranging from multilayer to monolayer. The NRS intensity was measured as a function of the Kr exposure, from which the NRS signal corresponding to monolayer was estimated as 0.23 cps. The time spectra measured at various thicknesses showed a monotonous decay without any quantum beat features. The recoilless fraction f evaluated from the analysis of the time spectrum revealed a substantial reduction upon temperature rise from 19 to 25 K. As its origin, an order-disorder phase transition of the monolayer Kr is proposed
Farnesylation of Retinal Transducin Underlies Its Translocation during Light Adaptation
SummaryG proteins are posttranslationally modified by isoprenylation: either farnesylation or geranylgeranylation. The γ subunit of retinal transducin (Tα/Tβγ) is selectively farnesylated, and the farnesylation is required for light signaling mediated by transducin in rod cells. However, whether and how this selective isoprenylation regulates cellular functions remain poorly understood. Here we report that knockin mice expressing geranylgeranylated Tγ showed normal rod responses to dim flashes under dark-adapted conditions but exhibited impaired properties in light adaptation. Of note, geranylgeranylation of Tγ suppressed light-induced transition of Tβγ from membrane to cytosol, and also attenuated its light-dependent translocation from the outer segment to the inner region, an event contributing to retinal light adaptation. These results indicate that, while the farnesylation of transducin is interchangeable with the geranylgeranylation in terms of the light signaling, the selective farnesylation is important for visual sensitivity regulation by providing sufficient but not excessive membrane anchoring of Tβγ
Elevated C-reactive protein associates with early-stage carotid atherosclerosis in young subjects with type 1 diabetes
WSTĘP. Celem badania była ocena wpływu procesu zapalnego o małym
nasileniu na wczesną fazę rozwoju zaawansowanej miażdżycy tętnic szyjnych u młodych
chorych na cukrzycę typu 1.
MATERIAŁ I METODY. U 55 chorych na cukrzycę typu 1 (22 mężczyzn
i 33 kobiety, w wieku 22,1 ± 3,6 lat (± SD), z cukrzycą trwającą 14,2 ± 5,7 lat)
oraz u 75 osób bez cukrzycy z tej samej grupy wiekowej (28 mężczyzn i 47 kobiet)
wykonano pomiar średniej i maksymalnej grubości kompleksu błony wewnętrznej i
środkowej (IMT, intima-media thickness) w tętnicy szyjnej przy użyciu
ultrasonograficznej prezentacji B. Stężenie białka C-reaktywnego dużej czułości
(hs-CRP, high-sensitive C-reactive protein) oznaczano za pomocą
immunonefelometru z zastosowaniem lateksu.
WYNIKI. U chorych na cukrzycę typu 1 stężenie hs-CRP (mediana
0,35, zakres 0,05–1,47 mg/l u chorych na cukrzycę; mediana 0,14, zakres 0,05–1,44
mg/l u osób bez cukrzycy; p = 0,001) oraz średnia i maksymalna IMT (średnia IMT
0,76 ± 0,09 vs. 0,72 ± 0,04 mm, p = 0,003; maksymalna IMT 0,84 ± 0,11 vs. 0,77
± 0,06, p < 0,0001) były wyraźnie większe niż u osób bez cukrzycy. Stężenie hs-CRP
wykazywało wyraźną zależność ze średnią i maksymalną IMT u chorych na cukrzycę
typu 1 oraz z maksymalną IMT u osób bez cukrzycy. Analiza metodą regresji wielowymiarowej
przeprowadzona łącznie dla grupy chorych na cukrzycę oraz osób bez cukrzycy wykazała,
że stężenie hs-CRP niezależnie koreluje ze średnią oraz maksymalną IMT (odpowiednio:
p = 0,002 i p = 0,023), jak również z rozkurczowym ciśnieniem tętniczym, płcią
i czasem trwania cukrzycy.
WNIOSKI. Dane uzyskane w badaniu wskazują, że u młodych chorych
na cukrzycę typu 1 stężenie hs- -CRP jest podwyższone, co może mieć związek z
wczesną fazą rozwoju zaawansowanej miażdżycy tętnic szyjnych.INTRODUCTION. To evaluate whether low-grade inflammation
contributes to early-stage advanced carotid
atherosclerosis in young subjects with type 1
diabetes. MATERIAL AND METHODS. The mean and maximum
(max) intima-media thicknesses (IMT) of the carotid
artery were assessed using ultrasound B-mode imaging
in 55 patients with type 1 diabetes (22 men
and 33 women, aged 22.1 ± 3.6 years (± SD), duration
of diabetes 14.2 ± 5.7 years) and 75 age-matched
healthy nondiabetic subjects (28 men and
47 women). High-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)
levels were measured with a latex-enhanced immunonephelometer.
RESULTS. The patients with type 1 diabetes had significantly
higher hs-CRP levels (median 0.35, range
0.05–1.47 mg/l vs. median 0.14, range 0.05–1.44 mg/l;
P = 0.001) as well as significantly higher mean IMT
and max IMT than the nondiabetic subjects (mean
IMT 0.76 ± 0.09 vs. 0.72 ± 0.04 mm, P = 0.003; max
IMT 0.84 ± 0.11 vs. 0.77 ± 0.06 mm, P < 0.0001).
Hs-CRP levels were significantly correlated with the
mean and max IMT of patients with type 1 diabetes
and with the max IMT of nondiabetic patients. Multivariate
regression analyses for both diabetic and
nondiabetic subjects as a single group showed that
hs-CRP levels are independently correlated with the
mean IMT and max IMT levels (P = 0.002 and P =
= 0.023, respectively) as well as with diastolic blood
pressure, sex, and duration of diabetes.
CONCLUSIONS. Our data indicate that hs-CRP levels
are elevated in young patients with type 1 diabetes,
possibly corresponding with early-stage advanced
carotid atherosclerosis
Derivation of Human Differential Photoreceptor-like Cells from the Iris by Defined Combinations of CRX, RX and NEUROD
Examples of direct differentiation by defined transcription factors have been provided for beta-cells, cardiomyocytes and neurons. In the human visual system, there are four kinds of photoreceptors in the retina. Neural retina and iris-pigmented epithelium (IPE) share a common developmental origin, leading us to test whether human iris cells could differentiate to retinal neurons. We here define the transcription factor combinations that can determine human photoreceptor cell fate. Expression of rhodopsin, blue opsin and green/red opsin in induced photoreceptor cells were dependent on combinations of transcription factors: A combination of CRX and NEUROD induced rhodopsin and blue opsin, but did not induce green opsin; a combination of CRX and RX induced blue opsin and green/red opsin, but did not induce rhodopsin. Phototransduction-related genes as well as opsin genes were up-regulated in those cells. Functional analysis; i.e. patch clamp recordings, clearly revealed that generated photoreceptor cells, induced by CRX, RX and NEUROD, responded to light. The response was an inward current instead of the typical outward current. These data suggest that photosensitive photoreceptor cells can be generated by combinations of transcription factors. The combination of CRX and RX generate immature photoreceptors: and additional NEUROD promotes maturation. These findings contribute substantially to a major advance toward eventual cell-based therapy for retinal degenerative diseases
上腸間膜動脈限局性の高安動脈炎の一例
腹痛を呈した上腸間膜動脈(superior mesenteric artery: SMA)に限局した高安動脈炎の一例を経験したので,文献的考察を加えて報告する.症例は17歳,男性.心窩部痛・右背部痛を認め,近医を受診し,その際施行した体外式腹部超音波検査(ultrasound: US)でSMA の壁肥厚が疑われ,当院総合診療科を紹介受診した.身体診察では上腹部正中に軽度圧痛を認め,血液生化学検査では血沈(60min)35mm, CRP 3.92mg/dL と軽度上昇を認めた.US では,腹痛を訴える部位に一致してSMA 起始部にびまん性の壁肥厚を認め,血管炎が疑われた.胸部造影・上腹骨盤部単純造影CT 検査(computed tomography: CT)ではSMA 周囲に造影効果を認める軟部影を認め,18F-FDGPET(18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography: PET)/CT 検査ではSMA 起始部付近に腫大と軽度のFDG 集積を認め,動脈炎による集積で矛盾しない所見であった.以上のことから,SMA に限局した高安動脈炎と診断した.ステロイド治療を開始し腹痛は速やかに消褪すると共に,US 所見にも改善がみられた.We report the case of a 17-year-old male who visited a hospital complaining of epigastric and right back pain. Thickening of the wall of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was suspected by ultrasound (US), and he was referred to our hospital. Physical examination revealed median upper abdominal tenderness. Laboratory tests showed an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (60 min) of 35 mm and C-reactive protein of 3.92mg/dL. US examination in our hospital showed diffuse wall thickening at the origin of the SMA. Because the location of the pain and the affected area identified by US were the same, we suspected angiitis. An enhanced area around the SMA was revealed by computed tomography. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed swelling at the origin of the SMA and mild accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose. He was diagnosed with Takayasu arteritis involving the SMA. Steroid therapy was started, and his abdominal pain and US findings improved
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