Numerical simulations of tropical cyclone‐ocean interaction with a high‐resolution coupled model

The tropical cyclone‐ocean interaction was investigated using a high‐resolution tropical cyclone ocean coupled model. The model design consisted of the NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory tropical cyclone prediction model which was coupled with a multilayer primitive equation ocean model. Coupling between the hurricane and the ocean models was carried out by passing into the ocean model the wind stress, heat, and moisture fluxes computed in the hurricane model. The new sea surface temperature (SST) calculated by the ocean model was then used in the tropical cyclone model. A set of idealized numerical experiments were performed in which a tropical cyclone vortex was embedded in both easterly and westerly basic flows of 2.5, 5, and 7.5 m s−1 with a fourth experiment run with no basic flow specified initially. The profile of the tangential wind for Hurricane Gloria at 1200 UTC 22, September 1985 was used as the initial condition of the tropical cyclone for each of the experiments. The model ocean was initially horizontally homogenous and quiescent. To clarify the impact of the ocean response to the hurricane\u27s behavior, analogous experiments were also carried out with the SST kept constant (control cases). The experiments indicated that the cooling of the sea surface induced by the tropical cyclone resulted in a significant impact on the ultimate storm intensity due to the reduction of total heat flux directed into the tropical cyclone above the regions of decreased SST. The sea surface cooling produced by the tropical cyclones was found to be larger when the storms moved slower. In the experiments run without an initial basic flow, the maximum SST anomaly was about −5.6°C with a resulting difference in the minimum sea level pressure and maximum surface winds of 16.4 hPa and −7 m s−1, respectively. In contrast, in the experiments run with the 7.5 m s −1 basic flow, the maximum SST anomalies ranged from about 2.6° to 3.0°C with a difference in the minimum sea level pressure and maximum surface winds of about 7.3 hPa and −2.7 m s−1. The tropical cyclone‐ocean coupling significantly influenced the storm track only for the case with no basic flow and the 2.5 m s−1 easterly flow. In these cases the storm with the ocean interaction turned more to the north and east (no basic flow) or the north (2.5 m s−1 easterly flow) of the experiments with constant SST. In the first case, the storm by 72 hours was located over 70 km to the east‐southeast of the control case. A possible explanation for this track deviation is related to a systematic weakening of the mean tangential flow at all radii of the storm due to the interaction with the ocean and resulting alteration of the beta drift

Pathogenesis of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus by aquaporin-2 C-terminus mutations

Pathogenesis of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus by aquaporin-2 C-terminus mutations.BackgroundWe previously reported three aquaporin-2 (AQP2) gene mutations known to cause autosomal-dominant nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) (Am J Hum Genet 69:738, 2001). The mutations were found in the C-terminus of AQP2 (721delG, 763 to 772del, and 812 to 818del). The wild-type AQP2 is a 271 amino acid protein, whereas these mutant genes were predicted to encode 330 to 333 amino acid proteins due to the frameshift mutations leading to the creation of a new stop codon 180 nucleotides downstream. The Xenopus oocyte expression study suggested that the trafficking of the mutant AQP2s was impaired.MethodsTo determine the cellular pathogenesis of these NDI-causing mutations in mammalian epithelial cells, Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells were stably transfected with the wild-type AQP2, or the 763 to 772del mutant AQP2, or both. Cells were grown on the membrane support to examine the localization of AQP2 proteins by immunofluorescence microscopy.ResultsConfocal immunofluorescence microscopy showed that the wild-type AQP2 was expressed in the apical region, whereas the mutant AQP2 was apparently located at the basolateral region. Furthermore, the wild-type and mutant AQP2s were colocalized at the basolateral region when they were cotransfected, suggesting the formation of mixed oligomers and thereby mistargeting.ConclusionMixed oligomers of the wild-type and the 763 to 772del mutant AQP2s are mistargeted to the basolateral membrane due to the dominant-negative effect of the mutant. This defect is very likely to explain the pathogenesis of autosomal-dominant NDI. The mistargeting of the apical membrane protein to the basolateral membrane is a novel molecular pathogenesis of congenital NDI

Impact of non-motor fluctuations on QOL in patients with Parkinson’s disease

IntroductionLong-term levodopa treatment in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD) often causes motor fluctuations, which are known to affect their quality of life (QOL). These motor fluctuations may be accompanied by fluctuations in non-motor symptoms. There is no consensus on how non-motor fluctuations affect QOL.MethodsThis was a single-center, retrospective study and included 375 patients with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD) who visited the neurology outpatient department of Fukuoka University Hospital between July 2015 and June 2018. All patients were evaluated for age, sex, disease duration, body weight, and motor symptoms by the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III, depression scale by the Zung self-rating depression scale, apathy scale, and cognitive function by the Japanese version of The Montreal Cognitive Assessment. A nine-item wearing-off questionnaire (WOQ-9) was used to assess the motor and non-motor fluctuations. QOL in PwPD was investigated using the eight-item Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-8).ResultsIn total, 375 PwPD were enrolled and classified into three groups according to the presence or absence of motor and non-motor fluctuations. The first group included 98 (26.1%) patients with non-motor fluctuations (NFL group), the second group included 128 (34.1%) patients who presented with only motor fluctuations (MFL group), and the third group included 149 (39.7%) patients without fluctuations in motor or non-motor symptoms (NoFL group). Among them, the PDQ-8 SUM and SI were significantly higher in the NFL group than in the other groups (p < 0.005), implying that the NFL group had the poorest QOL among groups. Next, multivariable analysis showed that even one non-motor fluctuation was an independent factor that worsened QOL (p < 0.001).ConclusionThis study showed that PwPD with non-motor fluctuation had a lower QOL than those with no or only motor fluctuation. Moreover, the data showed that PDQ-8 scores were significantly reduced even with only one non-motor fluctuation

ADAMTS-1: A metalloproteinase-disintegrin essential for normal growth, fertility, and organ morphology and function

金沢大学医薬保健研究域医学系A disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) represents a protein family possessing both metalloproteinase and disintegrin domains. ADAMTS-1, an ADAM family member cloned from cachexigenic colon adenocarcinoma, is unusual in that it contains thrombospondin type I motifs and anchors to the extracellular matrix. To elucidate the biological role of ADAMTS-1, we developed ADAMTS-1-null mice by gene targeting. Targeted disruption of the mouse ADAMTS-1 gene resulted in growth retardation with adipose tissue malformation. Impaired female fertilization accompanied by histological changes in the uterus and ovaries also resulted. Furthermore, ADAMTS-1(-/-) mice demonstrated enlarged renal calices with fibrotic changes from the ureteropelvic junction through the ureter, and abnormal adrenal medullary architecture without capillary formation. ADAMTS-1 thus appears necessary for normal growth, fertility, and organ morphology and function. Moreover, the resemblance of the renal phenotype to human ureteropelvic junction obstruction may provide a clue to the pathogenesis of this common congenital disease

Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis Presenting with Myocarditis as an Initial Symptom: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

A 66-year-old woman with a history of bronchial asthma had shortness of breath and fatigue upon mild exercise. She was diagnosed as congestive heart failure. A blood test showed eosinophilia without the presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA), and a myocardial biopsy specimen revealed eosinophilic infiltration in the myocardium. Eosinophilia was improved when she was administered short-term methylprednisolone. After that, she had numbness and pain in her lower limbs with re-elevation of eosinophils. She had dysesthesia and hypalgesia in the distal part of the limbs. Sural nerve biopsy revealed axonal degeneration and thickness of the arterial wall, indicating a diagnosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Two courses of steroid pulse therapy were performed, resulting in marked improvement of her sensory symptoms. ANCA-negative EGPA might be associated with myocarditis and peripheral neuropathy. A sufficient immunotherapy should have been considered to prevent rapid progression

リードカナリーグラス PHALARISARUNDINACEA L. ニ オケル テイ アルカロイド ヒンシュ ノ セイイク トクセイ ト カンブツ セイサン ト ノ カンケイ

リードカナリーグラスの低アルカロイド品種である「パラトン」および「ヴェンチャー」の生育特性を明らかにして,そこから両品種の品質特性を知るために,各単播草地の1番草,再生草を用いて調査を行った。その結果,両品種とも既存分げつの草丈,節間長,茎葉比の3形質は相互に密接な対応関係を示した。主な特徴として,茎数密度の推移は1番草の生育開始直後で500～1,000本/m^2あったが,節間の伸長開始後は急減して約300本に収斂した。再生草では刈取り直後に新分げつが多発して,各刈取り時を上回り,最大で1,600本(3回刈り後)の茎数密度を示した。全乾物重と草丈の間にはr=0.963の高い正の相関がみられ,また,茎葉比と全乾物重の間にも類似の関係が認められたが,茎葉比1.5以下の範囲での収量増加が大きいのに対して,1.5以上では,収量増加の割合は低減した。To examine the growth and qualitative characteristics of the recently introduced low-alkaloid cultivars \u27Palaton\u27 and \u27Venture\u27 of reed canarygrass. a study was conducted using the first crop and aftermath community of the pure stand of \u27Palaton\u27 and \u27Venture\u27. In both of the cultivars, a close mutual relation was observed among the following four characteristics : plant length of existing tillers, internodes, culm-foliage ratio (C/F). In addition, the number of tillers was 500 to 1,000 stems per square meter immediately after the first crop began to grow but decreased sharply after the internode\u27s elongation period. In the case of the aftermath, a large number of new tillers began to grow just after the grass was harvested ; these new tillers were more than the tiller number at each harvest and reached a peak of 1,600 stems after three times of harvesting. A positive correlation (r=0.963**) was recognized between dry matter accumulation and plant length, and a similar correlation was also found between C/F and yield. While the increase in yield was great when C/F was 1.5 or less, the increase ratio fell when the C/F was more than 1.5

ラット ノ ショクフン コウドウ ノ ソシ ガ キソ タイシャ リョウ オヨビ タイ セイブン ニ オヨボス エイキョウ

本試験はラットの食糞行動の阻止が基礎代謝量および体成分に及ぼす影響を明らかにすることを目的として行った。基礎代謝量の測定には8匹のSD系ラットを用い,平均体重が等しくなるように食糞行動を阻止した4匹と食糞行動を許容した4匹に配分した。飼料の制限を課して体成分を測定した試験には12匹のSD系ラットを用い,平均体重が等しくなるように試験開始時の補正用に4匹,食糞行動を阻止した4匹,食糞行動を許容した4匹に配分した。飼料の制限から72時間後の熱発生量には有意な差は認められなかったが,食糞行動阻止区の二酸化炭素発生量は食糞行動許容区の値よりも有意に高かった。食糞行動阻止区のラットは0.69というRQ(呼吸商)の値から判断すると食糞行動許容区よりも12時間早く飢餓状態に到達していた。食糞行動阻止区ラットの体脂肪は食糞行動許容区の値よりも有意に低くかった。これらの結果は,食糞行動の阻止が体脂肪の利用を促進することを示唆している。This study aims to clarify the effect of coprophagy on heat production and body composition of fasting rats. Eight male Sprague-Dawley (SD) strain rats were used to determine heat production under coprophagy -prevented and -allowed conditions. Twelve male SD strain rats were used to determine whole body chemical composition under coprophagy -prevented and -allowed conditions. Though heat production 72hrs from the starting point showed no significant difference, carbon dioxide generation in the coprophagy-prevented group was significantly higher than that in coprophagy-allowed group. Rats in the coprophagy-prevented group attained the fasting condition, which was indicated in the RQ value of 0.69, 12hrs earlier in comparison with coprophagy-allowed group rats. Ether extracts in the coprophagy-prevented rat body were significantly lower than that in the coprophagy-allowed rat. These results suggest that coprophagy prevention accelerates body fat utilization

セイチョウ ステージ ガ コトナル ラット ノ エイヨウ キュウシュウ ニ タイスル モウチョウ ノ ヤクワリ

本試験は栄養素の消化・吸収に対する盲腸の役割を成長ステージの異なるラットで比較することを目的として行った。盲腸を摘出したラット(盲腸摘出区)と疑似開腹のラット(対照区)を,成長期(6-13週齢時)と維持期(14-22週齢時)にわたる16週間の成長試験と,成長期終了時(13週齢時)と維持期終了時(22週齢時)に全糞採取法による消化試験を実施した。成長期の増体量は対照区と盲腸摘出区で差が認められなかったが,維持期は,盲腸摘出区が有意(P<0.05)に低かった。飼料摂取量は,成長期に盲腸摘出区が有意(P<0.05)に高かったが,維持期は両区間に差は認められなかった。飼料効率は,試験期間を通じて,盲腸摘出区が有意(P<0.05)に低く,維持期ではその差は飼料効率との相対比が30から40%と大きかった。糞重量は,逆に試験期間を通じて盲腸摘出区が有意(P<0.05)に高かった。結腸容積は,成長期に盲腸摘出区が有意(P<0.05)に大きくなったが,維持期には差が認められなくなった。CP, ADFならびエネルギー消化率は,成長期では,盲腸摘出区で有意(P<0.05)に低くなった。維時期では,CPの消化率は,両区間の差は認められなかったが,ADFならびにエネルギーの消化率は,盲腸摘出区で有意(P<0.05)に低くなった。以上の結果から,盲腸は繊維を発酵分解する微生物の棲息場所として重要で,これによる栄養素の消化・吸収にも影響を及ぼすことが示唆された。また,維持期の飼料効率に関して試験区間の数値的な差は成長期と同等であったが,その差は飼料効率に相対して大きくなり,盲腸は栄養素の利用に消化・吸収に先駆けて関係していると推察された。This study aimed to examine the role of the caecum in nutrition absorption during the different growth stages of rats. Four caecectomized rats and 6 sham-operating rats were used in this study. Feeding period was 16 weeks, which was divided into the growth stage (6-13 weeks old) and the maintenance stage (14-22 weeks old). Digestive tests using the total faeces collection method were conducted twice at 13weeks old and 22weeks old. In the present results, body weight gain showed no significant difference during the growth period. But caecectomy significantly reduced body weight gain during the maintenance period. Feed intake significantly increased with caecectomy during the growth period, but no significant difference was shown during the maintenance period. Feed efficiency was significantly reduced by caecectomy in both test periods, with the difference in the maintenance period relatively large. Feces amount significantly increased with caecectomy in both test periods. But there was no significant difference in the maintenance period. Digestibilities of CP, ADF, and energy were significantly reduced by caecectomy during the growth period, and significant differences appeared in ADF and energy digestibilities during the maintenance period. These results suggested that the caecum plays an important role as a fermentation site for digestive matter, and has an effect on nutrition digestibility. While the numerical differences for feed efficiency were the same when those of different growth stages were compared, relative differences for feed efficiency in the maintenance stage were larger than those in the growth stage. Therefore the caecum is related to the utilization of nutrition prior to their digestibility

ウサギ ノ セイエキセイジョウ ト ジョウガコウドウ ニ タイスル CP オヨビ TDN ノ エイキョウ

ウサギの精液性状と乗駕行動に対するCP, TDN量の影響について以下の2試験を行った。試験1では,約12カ月齢の成熟雄ウサギ8頭を供試し,飼料中のCPとTDN量の差に関してCP 12%,TDN 55%とCP 16%,TDN 65%の比較について2回の試験を行った。高温環境下(26.8±0.2℃)での第1試験では平均体重が両区共に減少し,乗駕行動は認められず,精液は採取できなかった。適温環境下(20.2±0.6℃)で行った第2試験では,後肢に不都合が生じたウサギを除いて全ての個体で乗駕行動が認められ,採取精液は一般的な性状値の範囲内にあり,差は認められなかった。試験2では,約12カ月齢の成熟雄ウサギ12頭を供試し,CPとTDNの摂取量の影響を比較した。CP 12%,TDN 55%の飼料を自由摂取とした対照区と摂取量を60%に制限した制限区の2区を設けた。栄養摂取量の少ない制限区では増体量が低下したが,対照区では変化が認められなかった。乗駕行動は全ての個体で認められ,採取精液は一般的な性状値の範囲にあり,試験区間に有意差は認められなかった。本試験成績から増体量はCPとTDNの摂取量の低下で減少するが,飼料中のCPおよびTDN量は高温環境下の乗駕行動を高めることはできず,さらに今回試みた範囲での飼料中栄養量の変化では精液性状に影響しないことが示唆された。Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of CP and TDN levels in rabbit diets on mounting behavior and spermatogenesis. In experiment 1, 8 Japanese white rabbits (male), aged about 12 months, were used in evaluating CP (12 and 16%) and TDN (55 and 65%) in two trials. In the first trial under high environmental temperature (26.8±0.2℃) conditions, both groups (the control group, CP 12-TDN 55%, and the experimental group, CP 16-TDN 65%) showed minus body weight gain. Mounting behavior was not observed, therefore semen could not be collected. In the second trial under adapted environmental temperatures (20.2±0.6℃), mounting behavior was recognized in all rabbits without accident and semen was collected. Semen inspected was within the typical range of values for rabbits in the control and experimental groups. In experiment 2, 12 Japanese white rabbits (male), aged about 12 months, were used in evaluating CP and TDN intake. They were classified into two groups ; the control group was fed CP 12-TDN 55% diet ad libitum and the experimental group was fed the same diet restricted to 60% of the control. Less nutritional intake induced low body weight gain in the experimental group, while there was a slight change of body weight in the control group. Semen was collected from all animals and was within the typical range of values for rabbits with no significant difference. The present results suggest that body weight decreased with low CP and TDN intake and/or with the increase in environmental temperature ; that dietary levels of CP and TDN failed to increase mounting behavior in high environmental temperature conditions ; and that spermatogenesis is not affected by the dietary CP and TDN levels in this study

ラット ニ オケル テイ カンキョウ カ ノ ホコウ ウンドウ ガ タイ シボウ チクセキ ニ オヨボス エイキョウ

本試験は低温環境下で飼育されるラットの体脂肪減少に対する歩行運動の影響を検討した。試験には3週齢の雄ラット25匹を用いた。個別ケージに収容して,19匹は18±2℃の調温室で,6匹は24±2℃の調温室で7日間予備飼育をした。給与飼料は市販の維持繁殖用固形飼料を用いた。予備飼育の間に平均体重が等しくなるように各区にラットを振り分けた。試験区は試験開始時の体成分を測定する7匹のラットを配した補正区,24±2℃で自由行動のラット6匹を配した区,18±2℃で自由行動のラット6匹を配した区,同様に18±2℃で14m/分の歩行運動を課したラット6匹を配した区とした。増体量,体組成に対する環境温度の影響については18±2℃区と24±2℃区の自由行動を許容した区間で検討した。歩行運動区のラットは18±2℃の環境下で毎日短時間歩行運動に馴らした。本試験期間中の歩行運動は毎日3時間モーター付きの回転槽で行い,対照区のラットも3時間は餌が摂取できないように回収した。試験開始時に補正区のラットはジエチルエーテルで屠殺し,他のラットも4週間後の試験終了時に同様の処理を行い,常法で体組成の成分を分析した。その結果を相互の区間で比較したところ,増体量に有意差は見られなかったが,総飼料摂取量は18±2℃区が有意に(P<0.05)に多くなった。18±2℃区の飼料効率と粗タン白質蓄積率は24±2℃区に比べて有意(P<0.05)に低かった。18±2℃での歩行運動は増体量,飼料摂取量,飼料効率を有意(P<0.05)に低くした。さらに飼料由来の化学成分の蓄積率の結果から,歩行運動区の粗脂肪,熱量の値は対照区に比べて有意(P<0.05)に低くなった。本試験成績において低温環境は飼料摂取量を高めるが,増体量を高めず,適度な歩行運動はその消費エネルギーを飼料中の粗脂肪に由来していることを示唆した。The present study aimed to examine the effects of walking exercise on the body fat deposition of rats fed under low environmental temperature. Twenty-five male rats, aged 3 weeks, were used. They were given commercial feed. The 19 rats at 18±2℃ were divided into three experimental groups as follows : a supplementary group (7 rats) as a donor of start point ; free-moving control group (6 rats) ; and a walking exercise (14m/min.) group (6 rats). The effects of environmental temperature on body weight gain and body composition were then examined comparing the free-moving groups in the 18±2℃ and the 24±2℃ rooms. The 6 rats in the walking exercise group were trained to walk for a short period per day for 7 days. Walking exercise was conducted for 3 hours every day using a walking motor wheel : rats in the control group had their feed removed for 3 hours. At the start of the experiment, the rats in the supplementary group were killed with diethyl ether while the other rats were killed similarly at the end of the experiment (4 weeks later). Chemical composition of the whole body was analyzed, then compared with those of other groups. A comparison of environmental temperature showed no significant difference in body weight gain, but total feed intake for 4 weeks in the 18±2℃ group was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of the 24±2℃ group. Furthermore, feed efficiency and accumulated ratio of crude protein in the 18±2℃ group were significantly (P<0.05) smaller than those of 24±2℃ group. Walking exercise in a 18±2℃ room temperature significantly (P<0.05) reduced feed intake and feed efficiency. Furthermore, in the results showing the accumulated ratio of chemical composition from feed, the values for ether extracts and calorie in the exercise group were significantly (P<0.05) lower than those of the freree-moving control group. The present result suggests that the low environmental temperature increased feed intake, but it did not affect body weight gain. This indicates that appropriate walking exercise under low environmental temperature may be using energy derived from fat