Phylogenetic position of a whale-fall lancelet (Cephalochordata) inferred from whole mitochondrial genome sequences

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The lancelet <it>Asymmetron inferum </it>(subphylum Cephalochordata) was recently discovered on the ocean floor off the southwest coast of Japan at a depth of 229 m, in an anaerobic and sulfide-rich environment caused by decomposing bodies of the sperm whale <it>Physeter macrocephalus</it>. This deep sulfide-rich habitat of <it>A. inferum </it>is unique among the lancelets. The distinguishing adaptation of this species to such an extraordinary habitat can be considered in a phylogenetic framework. As the first step of reconstruction of the evolutionary processes in this species, we investigated its phylogenetic position based on 11 whole mitochondrial genome sequences including the newly determined ones of the whale-fall lancelet <it>A. inferum </it>and two coral-reef congeners.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our phylogenetic analyses showed that extant lancelets are clustered into two major clades, the <it>Asymmetron </it>clade and the <it>Epigonichthys </it>+ <it>Branchiostoma </it>clade. <it>A. inferum </it>was in the former and placed in the sister group to <it>A. lucayanum </it>complex. The divergence time between <it>A. inferum </it>and <it>A. lucayanum </it>complex was estimated to be 115 Mya using the penalized likelihood (PL) method or 97 Mya using the nonparametric rate smoothing (NPRS) method (the middle Cretaceous). These are far older than the first appearance of large whales (the middle Eocene, 40 Mya). We also discovered that <it>A. inferum </it>mitogenome (mitochondrial genome) has been subjected to large-scale gene rearrangements, one feature of rearrangements being unique among the lancelets and two features shared with <it>A. lucayanum </it>complex.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study supports the monophyly of genus <it>Asymmetron </it>assumed on the basis of the morphological characters. Furthermore, the features of the <it>A. inferum </it>mitogenome expand our knowledge of variation within cephalochordate mitogenomes, adding a new case of transposition and inversion of the <it>trnQ </it>gene. Our divergence time estimation suggests that <it>A. inferum </it>remained a member of the Mesozoic and the early Cenozoic large vertebrate-fall communities before shifting to become a whale-fall specialist.</p

Congenital prepubic sinus: A case report and review of the literature

AbstractCongenital prepubic sinus (CPS) is an extremely rare anomaly, which is often associated with purulent discharge from a midline opening overlying the pubis. CPS was first described by Campbell et al. in 1987 and they suggested that it might represent a variation in normal embryological development. Several theories have been proposed regarding the pathogenesis of CPS. However, the etiology of CPS is still unclear because the anatomical and pathological features of CPS often differ from each other. We report a case of CPS and review the literature to improve the global understanding of CPS

Myelodysplastic Syndrome-Associated SRSF2 Mutations Cause Splicing Changes by Altering Binding Motif Sequences

Serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 2 (SRSF2) is a member of the SR protein family that is involved in both constitutive and alternative mRNA splicing. Mutations in SRSF2 gene are frequently reported in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It is imperative to understand how these mutations affect SRSF2-mediated splicing and cause MDS. In this study, we characterized MDS-associated SRSF2 mutants (P95H, P95L, and P95R). We found that those mutants and wild-type SRSF2 proteins showed nuclear localization in HeLa cells. In vitro splicing reaction also revealed that mutant proteins associated with both precursor and spliced mRNAs, suggesting that the mutants directly participate in splicing. We established the human myeloid leukemia K562 cell lines that stably expressed myc-tagged wild-type or mutant SRSF2 proteins, and then performed RNA-sequence to analyze the splicing pattern of each cell line. The results revealed that both wild-type and mutants affected splicing of approximately 3,000 genes. Although splice site sequences adjacent to the affected exons showed no significant difference compared to the total exons, exonic motif analyses with both inclusion- and exclusion-enhanced exons demonstrated that wild-type and mutants have different binding sequences in exons. These results indicate that mutations of SRSF2 in MDS change binding properties of SRSF2 to exonic motifs and this causes aberrant splicing

Mesozoic origin and ‘out-of-India’ radiation of ricefishes (Adrianichthyidae)

The Indian subcontinent has an origin geologically different from Eurasia, but many terrestrial animal and plant species on it have congeneric or sister species in other parts of Asia, especially in the Southeast. This faunal and floral similarity between India and Southeast Asia is explained by either of the two biogeographic scenarios, ‘into-India’ or ‘out-of-India’. Phylogenies based on complete mitochondrial genomes and five nuclear genes were undertaken for ricefishes (Adrianichthyidae) to examine which of these two biogeographic scenarios fits better. We found that Oryzias setnai, the only adrianichthyid distributed in and endemic to the Western Ghats, a mountain range running parallel to the western coast of the Indian subcontinent, is sister to all other adrianichthyids from eastern India and Southeast–East Asia. Divergence time estimates and ancestral area reconstructions reveal that this western Indian species diverged in the late Mesozoic during the northward drift of the Indian subcontinent. These findings indicate that adrianichthyids dispersed eastward ‘out-of-India’ after the collision of the Indian subcontinent with Eurasia, and subsequently diversified in Southeast–East Asia. A review of geographic distributions of ‘out-of-India’ taxa reveals that they may have largely fuelled or modified the biodiversity of Eurasia.journal articl

Effects of Sea Breeze on Urban Areas Using Computation Fluid Dynamic&mdash;A Case Study of the Range of Cooling and Humidity Effects in Sendai, Japan

Sea breezes have a significant influence on the urban environment of coastal cities. Therefore, the study of the sea breeze cooling range and its relationship with specific humidity is of great significance for improving the urban environment of coastal cities. This study aims to reproduce the climate of Sendai using the regional Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, clarify the influence range of sea breezes in Sendai, and create an urban environmental climate map. The results revealed a strong correlation between the measured temperatures and the calculated results, and that the cooling effect range of sea breezes was mainly concentrated in the coastal area. In addition, the temperature rise mitigation effect changed over time, and although the maximum mitigation effect range affected a part of the urban area, it did not reach the inland area. In comparison, the specific humidity increased over time from the coastal area to the inland area. It was found that sea breezes mainly affected a part of the urban area and coastal areas in terms of temperature, but affected inland areas in terms of specific humidity. The results show that the range of the cooling effect of sea breezes on temperature was only concentrated within 5 km of the coast; in terms of moderating the temperature rise, there was an effect within the area ~7 km from the coast. In terms of humidity, the effect of sea breezes occurred approximately 1 h later than the effect of temperature

Effects of Sea Breeze on Urban Areas Using Computation Fluid Dynamic—A Case Study of the Range of Cooling and Humidity Effects in Sendai, Japan

Sea breezes have a significant influence on the urban environment of coastal cities. Therefore, the study of the sea breeze cooling range and its relationship with specific humidity is of great significance for improving the urban environment of coastal cities. This study aims to reproduce the climate of Sendai using the regional Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, clarify the influence range of sea breezes in Sendai, and create an urban environmental climate map. The results revealed a strong correlation between the measured temperatures and the calculated results, and that the cooling effect range of sea breezes was mainly concentrated in the coastal area. In addition, the temperature rise mitigation effect changed over time, and although the maximum mitigation effect range affected a part of the urban area, it did not reach the inland area. In comparison, the specific humidity increased over time from the coastal area to the inland area. It was found that sea breezes mainly affected a part of the urban area and coastal areas in terms of temperature, but affected inland areas in terms of specific humidity. The results show that the range of the cooling effect of sea breezes on temperature was only concentrated within 5 km of the coast; in terms of moderating the temperature rise, there was an effect within the area ~7 km from the coast. In terms of humidity, the effect of sea breezes occurred approximately 1 h later than the effect of temperature

A role of the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P)-S1P receptor 2 pathway in epithelial defense against cancer (EDAC)

At the initial step of carcinogenesis, transformation occurs in single cells within epithelia, where the newly emerging transformed cells are surrounded by normal epithelial cells. A recent study revealed that normal epithelial cells have an ability to sense and actively eliminate the neighboring transformed cells, a process named epithelial defense against cancer (EDAC). However, the molecular mechanism of this tumor-suppressive activity is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated a role for the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P)-S1P receptor 2 (S1PR2) pathway in EDAC. First, we show that addition of the S1PR2 inhibitor significantly suppresses apical extrusion of RasV12-transformed cells that are surrounded by normal cells. In addition, knockdown of S1PR2 in normal cells induces the same effect, indicating that S1PR2 in the surrounding normal cells plays a positive role in the apical elimination of the transformed cells. Of importance, not endogenous S1P but exogenous S1P is involved in this process. By using FRET analyses, we demonstrate that S1PR2 mediates Rho activation in normal cells neighboring RasV12-transformed cells, thereby promoting accumulation of filamin, a crucial regulator of EDAC. Collectively these data indicate that S1P is a key extrinsic factor that affects the outcome of cell competition between normal and transformed epithelial cells

Congenital urethroperineal fistula

Background: Congenital urethroperineal fistula is an extremely rare anomaly in which a second channel rises from the prostatic urethra and opens onto the perineum. This entity resembles the hypospadiac type of urethral duplication, but resection of the ventral channel is simple and curative. Case: A 4-year-old healthy boy had a small pimple on his perineum that yielded a small amount of whity discharge. Discharge occurred every one month for three years. The patient had no history of incontinence or urinary tract infection. Physical examination revealed a small opening to the median perineal raphe below the scrotum. Voiding cystourethrogram showed a normal urethra but no fistula was demonstrated. Fistulography failed due to closure of external orifice at the small pimple. MRI revealed abnormal sagittal tract from the pimple to the prostatic urethra. A circular incision was made around the pimple and the dissection was performed along the fistula. The fistula was ligated. Histopathologic examination of the fistula revealed that it was lined with squamous epithelium. Two months after surgery, incision of the abscess was performed. He has been well with 8 months postoperatively. Conclusion: Simple resection of the ventral channel of the urethroperineal fistula is curative. While both are rare entities, differentiation to the hypospadiac type of urethral duplication is crucial for definite treatment