SLITRK1-mediated noradrenergic projection suppression in the neonatal prefrontal cortex

SLITRK1 is an obsessive-compulsive disorder spectrum-disorders-ssociated gene that encodes a neuronal transmembrane protein. Here we show that SLITRK1 suppresses noradrenergic projections in the neonatal prefrontal cortex, and SLITRK1 functions are impaired by SLITRK1 mutations in patients with schizophrenia (S330A, a revertant of Homo sapiensspecific residue) and bipolar disorder (A444S). Slitrk1-KO newborns exhibit abnormal vocalizations, and their prefrontal cortices show excessive noradrenergic neurites and reduced Semaphorin3A expression, which suppresses noradrenergic neurite outgrowth in vitro. Slitrk1 can bind Dynamin1 and L1 family proteins (Neurofascin and L1CAM), as well as suppress Semaphorin3A-induced endocytosis. Neurofascin-binding kinetics is altered in S330A and A444S mutations. Consistent with the increased obsessive-compulsive disorder prevalence in males in childhood, the prefrontal cortex of male Slitrk1-KO newborns show increased noradrenaline levels, and serotonergic varicosity size. This study further elucidates the role of noradrenaline in controlling the development of the obsessive-compulsive disorder-related neural circuit

SOX9 is a novel cancer stem cell marker surrogated by osteopontin in human hepatocellular carcinoma

The current lack of cancer stem cell (CSC) markers that are easily evaluated by blood samples prevents the establishment of new therapeutic strategies in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, we examined whether sex determining region Y-box 9 (SOX9) represents a new CSC marker, and whether osteopontin (OPN) can be used as a surrogate marker of SOX9 in HCC. In HCC cell lines transfected with a SOX9 promoter-driven enhanced green fluorescence protein gene, FACS-isolated SOX9+ cells were capable of self-renewal and differentiation into SOX9-cells, and displayed high proliferation capacity in vitro. Xenotransplantation experiments revealed that SOX9+ cells reproduced, differentiated into SOX9-cells, and generated tumors at a high frequency in vivo. Moreover, SOX9+ cells were found to be involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and activation of TGFb/Smad signaling. Gain/loss of function experiments showed that SOX9 regulates Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, including cyclin D1 and OPN. Immunohistochemistry of 166 HCC surgical specimens and serum OPN measurements showed that compared to SOX9-patients, SOX9+ patients had significantly poorer recurrence-free survival, stronger venous invasion, and higher serum OPN levels. In conclusion, SOX9 is a novel HCCCSC marker regulating the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway and its downstream target, OPN. OPN is a useful surrogate marker of SOX9 in HCC

First Data Release of the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program

The Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program (HSC-SSP) is a three-layered imaging survey aimed at addressing some of the most outstanding questions in astronomy today, including the nature of dark matter and dark energy. The survey has been awarded 300 nights of observing time at the Subaru Telescope and it started in March 2014. This paper presents the first public data release of HSC-SSP. This release includes data taken in the first 1.7 years of observations (61.5 nights) and each of the Wide, Deep, and UltraDeep layers covers about 108, 26, and 4 square degrees down to depths of i~26.4, ~26.5, and ~27.0 mag, respectively (5sigma for point sources). All the layers are observed in five broad bands (grizy), and the Deep and UltraDeep layers are observed in narrow bands as well. We achieve an impressive image quality of 0.6 arcsec in the i-band in the Wide layer. We show that we achieve 1-2 per cent PSF photometry (rms) both internally and externally (against Pan-STARRS1), and ~10 mas and 40 mas internal and external astrometric accuracy, respectively. Both the calibrated images and catalogs are made available to the community through dedicated user interfaces and database servers. In addition to the pipeline products, we also provide value-added products such as photometric redshifts and a collection of public spectroscopic redshifts. Detailed descriptions of all the data can be found online. The data release website is https://hsc-release.mtk.nao.ac.jp/.Comment: 34 pages, 20 figures, 7 tables, moderate revision, accepted for publication in PAS

標準体型高齢者の頭部挙上角度の違いからみた仙骨部・臀部血流量の比較

　本研究は、高齢者の体型差を考慮した褥瘡予防ケア開発の為の基礎研究として、標準体型高齢者の褥瘡予防におけるベッド挙上角度はどの角度が望ましいのかを明らかにするために、標準体型高齢者17 名を対象に頭部挙上20 度時、25 度時、30 度時の各仙骨部、臀裂部、左右臀部の計4 箇所の血流量を測定した。　結果及び考察として、仙骨部時間経過別血流量では、先行研究でも言われている通り、前期高齢者においては頭部挙上30 度までなら仙骨部には負荷をかけないといった結果が実証された。また、左右の臀部時間経過別血流量では、頭部挙上25 度時と30 度時のベースライン血流量から一部の時間経過において血流量が有意に増加しており、臀部は圧迫を受けやすい部位でもあり血流量増加の原因はうっ滞である可能性もあることから、今後圧迫状況も踏まえた検証の必要性が示唆された

温熱作用に関して手浴が全身浴の代用となる可能性の検証―表面皮膚温の変化および温度感覚・快適感覚から―

　温熱作用に関して手浴が全身浴の代用が可能かについて、健康な女子大生18 名を対象に比較検証した。方法は、全身浴と手浴を別日に実施し、湯温約40℃の全身浴及び手浴を10 分間行いその後60 分安静とした。左右の手背・前腕・下腿・足背の8 箇所の皮膚温を連続測定し、温度感覚と快適感覚も調べた。全身浴と手浴は、どちらも左右の手背・前腕・下腿の皮膚温を上昇させ実施後60 分までその影響が続き、実施後60 分値に差がなく、基準値より有意に高く同様の温熱作用を及ぼした。温度感覚は、手浴と全身浴とも浸水していた手は実施後に高まり両者で差がなかった。手浴中湯外の部分は、実施後は全身浴より低いが、終了時には全身浴と差がなくなっていた。快適感覚は、手浴も全身浴も実施後の快適感は高まるが、終了時は手浴の方が高かった。以上より、手浴は全身浴の代用として有効であり、手浴の温熱作用は全身浴と比べて快適感が高い可能性が示唆された

BioHackathon series in 2011 and 2012: penetration of ontology and linked data in life science domains

The application of semantic technologies to the integration of biological data and the interoperability of bioinformatics analysis and visualization tools has been the common theme of a series of annual BioHackathons hosted in Japan for the past five years. Here we provide a review of the activities and outcomes from the BioHackathons held in 2011 in Kyoto and 2012 in Toyama. In order to efficiently implement semantic technologies in the life sciences, participants formed various sub-groups and worked on the following topics: Resource Description Framework (RDF) models for specific domains, text mining of the literature, ontology development, essential metadata for biological databases, platforms to enable efficient Semantic Web technology development and interoperability, and the development of applications for Semantic Web data. In this review, we briefly introduce the themes covered by these sub-groups. The observations made, conclusions drawn, and software development projects that emerged from these activities are discussed

The Hyper Suprime-Cam SSP survey: Overview and survey design

Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) is a wide-field imaging camera on the prime focus of the 8.2-m Subaru telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. A team of scientists from Japan, Taiwan, and Princeton University is using HSC to carry out a 300-night multi-band imaging survey of the high-latitude sky. The survey includes three layers: the Wide layer will cover 1400 deg2 in five broad bands (grizy), with a 5 σ point-source depth of r ≈ 26. The Deep layer covers a total of 26 deg2 in four fields, going roughly a magnitude fainter, while the UltraDeep layer goes almost a magnitude fainter still in two pointings of HSC (a total of 3.5 deg2). Here we describe the instrument, the science goals of the survey, and the survey strategy and data processing. This paper serves as an introduction to a special issue of the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan, which includes a large number of technical and scientific papers describing results from the early phases of this survey

Discovery of genome of an immunodeficiency-associated virus-like virus from pig feces in Japan

Immunodeficiency-associated stool virus (IASV) is an unclassified virus, for which the only genome information is available from a patient infected by human immunodeficiency virus. In domestic animals, one report described detection of IASV-like virus in pig feces, whereas no nucleotide sequence information of this virus is currently available. Using deep sequencing method, we detected a DNA fragment homologous to IASV in several pig feces in Japan. The sequence of the PCR product in this sample had 70% homology to that of IASV. The infectious rate of the IASV-like virus was 72.9% among the 9 pig farms, from which the samples were collected. There was no clear correlation between the presence of IASV-like virus and the fecal characteristics

Immunomodulatory effects of Lactobacillus biogenic administration in dogs

Lactobacillus biogenics were administered to four dogs for 56 days. The regulatory T cell (Treg) count was found to be increased in all four dogs on 56 days. On day 112, 56 days after completion of Lactobacillus probiotic administration, the percentage of Tregs was found to be decreased in three dogs. Plasma IgA levels tended to increase after stopping Lactobacillus administration. Metagenomic analysis of bacterial flora found in dog feces revealed that Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Fusobacteria were predominantly found in all 4 dogs. Analysis of fecal microbiomes of species level on day 56 showed that 99 % members of genus Prevotella belonged to species copri. This study demonstrates some of the immunomodulatory effects of Lactobacillus probiotics on dogs