Enzymatic Conversion of Cypridina Luciferyl Sulfate to Cypridina Luciferin with Coenzyme A as a Sulfate Acceptor in Cypridina (Vargula) hilgendorfii

In the luminous ostracod Cypridina (presently Vargula) hilgendorfii, Cypridina luciferyl sulfate (3-enol sulfate of Cypridina luciferin) is converted to Cypridina luciferin by a sulfotransferase with 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphate (PAP) as a sulfate acceptor. The resultant Cypridina luciferin is used for the luciferase–luciferin reaction of Cypridina to emit blue light. The luminescence stimulation with major organic cofactors was examined using the crude extracts of Cypridina specimens, and we found that the addition of coenzyme A (CoA) to the crude extracts significantly stimulated luminescence intensity. Further, the light-emitting source in the crude extracts stimulated with CoA was identified as Cypridina luciferyl sulfate, and we demonstrated that CoA could act as a sulfate acceptor from Cypridina luciferyl sulfate. In addition, the sulfate group of Cypridina luciferyl sulfate was also transferred to adenosine 5′-monophosphate (5′-AMP) and adenosine 3′-monophosphate (3′-AMP) by a sulfotransferase. The sulfated products corresponding to CoA, 5′-AMP, and 3′-AMP were identified using mass spectrometry. This is the first report that CoA can act as a sulfate acceptor in a sulfotransferase reaction

Clinical Teaching Behavior Factors

Aims：Challenges of novice nursing educators are initiated when they begin to engage in clinical teaching, often due to lack of support from experienced colleagues. This study was aimed to identify the factors associated with clinical teaching behaviors of novice nurse educators of Diploma Nursing schools in western Japan. Method：Of ２３１ Diploma Nursing schools in Western Japan,９２ institutions（３９．８３％）agreed to participate. The study participants were １４４ novice nursing educators with less than five years of teaching experience. Anonymized self-administered questionnaires including the Scale of Other Educators’ Support（SOES）and organizational education, associated with the Scale of Clinical Teaching Behaviors（SCTB）were mailed to participants. The SOES factors of work and reflection supports, organizational education factors of information-sharing opportunity and mini-workshops were used to determine association with SCTB. The multiple regression analysis with stepwise method was used for SCTB. Results：Conducting to multivariate analysis, age（p =０．０１）, information-sharing among nursing educators（p =０．０４）, participation in mini-workshops on clinical practice（p =０．０４）, and work support（p =０．０３）were significantly associated with the improvement of SCTB. Then, reflection support was significantly associated with the deterioration of SCTB（p =０．０２）. Discussion：The work support meaning direct advice and guidance from other nursing educators can enhance the effectiveness for SCTB. The reflection support encouraged the novice nurses to reflect on their teaching behaviors, but only made them aware of problems to be solved, which lowered the SCTB. The information-sharing opportunity and mini-workshops might be effective opportunities to learn about teaching behaviors to increase the SCTB. Conclusion：The SOES and organizational education factors enhance teaching behaviors measured by SCTB among novice nursing educators. Therefore, in developing novice nursing educators, it is necessary to create opportunities indicating these factors for novice nursing educators to learn about practical training and to collaborate with other nursing educators

Activities of bone morphogenetic proteins in prolactin regulation by somatostatin analogs in rat pituitary GH3 cells

Involvement of the pituitary BMP system in the modulation of prolactin (PRL) secretion regulated by somatostatin analogs, including octreotide (OCT) and pasireotide (SOM230), and a dopamine agonist, bromocriptine (BRC), was examined in GH3 cells. GH3 cells are rat pituitary somato-lactotrope tumor cells that express somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) and BMP system molecules including BMP-4 and -6. Treatment with BMP-4 and -6 increased PRL and cAMP secretion by GH3 cells. The BMP-4 effects were neutralized by adding a BMP-binding protein Noggin. These findings suggest the activity of endogenous BMPs in augmenting PRL secretion by GH3 cells. BRC and SOM230 reduced PRL secretion, but OCT failed to reduce the PRL level. In GH3 cells activated by forskolin, BRC suppressed forskolin-induced PRL secretion with reduction in cAMP levels. OCT did not affect forskolin-induced PRL level, while SOM230 reduced PRL secretion and PRL mRNA expression induced by forskolin. BMP-4 treatment enhanced the reducing effect of SOM230 on forskolin-induced PRL level while BMP-4 did not affect the effects of OCT or BRC. Noggin treatment had no significant effect on the BRC actions reducing PRL levels by GH3 cells. However, in the presence of Noggin, OCT elicited an inhibitory effect on forskolin-induced PRL secretion and PRL mRNA expression, whereas the SOM230 effect on PRL reduction was in turn impaired. It was further found that BMP-4 and -6 suppressed SSTR-2 but increased SSTR-5 mRNA expression of GH3 cells. These findings indicate that Noggin rescues SSTR-2 but downregulates SSTR-5 by neutralizing endogenous BMP actions, leading to an increase in OCT sensitivity and a decrease in SOM230 sensitivity of GH3 cells. In addition, BMP signaling was facilitated in GH3 cells treated with forskolin. Collectively, these findings suggest that BMPs elicit differential actions in the regulation of PRL release dependent on cellular cAMP-PKA activity. BMPs may play a key role in the modulation of SSTR sensitivity of somato-lactotrope cells in an autocrine/paracrine manner

Development of spontaneous neuropathy in NF-κBp50-deficient mice by calcineurin-signal involving impaired NF-κB activation

信州大学博士（医学）・学位論文・平成24年3月28日授与（乙第21144号）・中村朋子Purpose: The transcriptional regulator, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B)/Rel family are involved in neuronal cell death and survival. Previously, we reported that NF-kappa Bp50-deficient (p50-deficient) mice exhibit many features resembling human normal tension glaucoma (NTG). The developmental mechanism of human NTG is not clearly understood, and a radical curative treatment has yet to be established. Our aim is to elucidate the signal cascade which mediates the spontaneous optic neuropathy in p50-deficient mice as a model of NTG. Methods: To demonstrate the expression and activation of pro-apoptotic factors, which mediate the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in p50-deficient mice, western blot (WB) and luciferase reporter assays with retinas from p50-deficient and wild type mice, and cultured RGC-5 cells were performed. Furthermore, we tested the neuroprotective effects of chemical reagents (memantine, lomerizine, and tacrolimus) against N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-susceptible RGC damage according to in vitro experiments with RGC-5 cells. To elucidate the NF-kappa B-mediated death signaling, the effects of chemical reagents on spontaneous optic neuropathy were examined by histopathological studies. Results: WB experiments and luciferase reporter assays showed that NF-kappa B-inducible BCL2-associated X protein (Bax) and a pro-apoptotic factor, activated caspase 3 were expressed in the retina of p50-deficient mice as well as NMDA-treated RGC-5 cells. Further, the constitutively active cleaved forms of calcineurin (CaN), which have been reported to lead to apoptosis, were detected in the retina of p50-deficient mice as well as NMDA-treated RGC-5 cells. Pre-treatment with tacrolimus markedly protected RGC-5 cells from NMDA-induced neurotoxicity, and then both spontaneous RGC death and degenerative changes to the optic nerve in p50-deficient mice were significantly reduced by the chronic administration of tacrolimus. The experiments with cultured RGC-5 cells supported the results of histological examinations with p50-deficient mice, suggesting that CaN activation leads to NF-kappa B-induced Bax activation and caspase 3 activation, and mediates spontaneous optic neuropathy in p50-deficient mice. Conclusions: Research findings show that the chronic administration of tacrolimus significantly reduces spontaneous optic neuropathy in p50-deficient mice. We demonstrated a potential CaN signal cascade, which spontaneously induces age-dependent RGC death and degenerative optic nerve changes in p50-deficient mice.ArticleMOLECULAR VISION. 17:2157-2170 (2011)journal articl

Development of spontaneous neuropathy in NF-kappa Bp50-deficient mice by calcineurin-signal involving impaired NF-kappa B activation

信州大学博士（医学）・学位論文・平成24年3月28日授与（乙第21144号）・中村朋子Purpose: The transcriptional regulator, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B)/Rel family are involved in neuronal cell death and survival. Previously, we reported that NF-kappa Bp50-deficient (p50-deficient) mice exhibit many features resembling human normal tension glaucoma (NTG). The developmental mechanism of human NTG is not clearly understood, and a radical curative treatment has yet to be established. Our aim is to elucidate the signal cascade which mediates the spontaneous optic neuropathy in p50-deficient mice as a model of NTG. Methods: To demonstrate the expression and activation of pro-apoptotic factors, which mediate the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in p50-deficient mice, western blot (WB) and luciferase reporter assays with retinas from p50-deficient and wild type mice, and cultured RGC-5 cells were performed. Furthermore, we tested the neuroprotective effects of chemical reagents (memantine, lomerizine, and tacrolimus) against N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-susceptible RGC damage according to in vitro experiments with RGC-5 cells. To elucidate the NF-kappa B-mediated death signaling, the effects of chemical reagents on spontaneous optic neuropathy were examined by histopathological studies. Results: WB experiments and luciferase reporter assays showed that NF-kappa B-inducible BCL2-associated X protein (Bax) and a pro-apoptotic factor, activated caspase 3 were expressed in the retina of p50-deficient mice as well as NMDA-treated RGC-5 cells. Further, the constitutively active cleaved forms of calcineurin (CaN), which have been reported to lead to apoptosis, were detected in the retina of p50-deficient mice as well as NMDA-treated RGC-5 cells. Pre-treatment with tacrolimus markedly protected RGC-5 cells from NMDA-induced neurotoxicity, and then both spontaneous RGC death and degenerative changes to the optic nerve in p50-deficient mice were significantly reduced by the chronic administration of tacrolimus. The experiments with cultured RGC-5 cells supported the results of histological examinations with p50-deficient mice, suggesting that CaN activation leads to NF-kappa B-induced Bax activation and caspase 3 activation, and mediates spontaneous optic neuropathy in p50-deficient mice. Conclusions: Research findings show that the chronic administration of tacrolimus significantly reduces spontaneous optic neuropathy in p50-deficient mice. We demonstrated a potential CaN signal cascade, which spontaneously induces age-dependent RGC death and degenerative optic nerve changes in p50-deficient mice.ArticleMOLECULAR VISION. 17:2157-2170 (2011)journal articl

Analysis of the phenomenon of speculative trading in one of its basic manifestations: postage stamp bubbles

We document and analyze the empirical facts concerning one of the clearest evidence of speculation in financial trading as observed in the postage collection stamp market. We unravel some of the mechanisms of speculative behavior which emphasize the role of fancy and collective behavior. In our conclusion, we propose a classification of speculative markets based on two parameters, namely the amplitude of the price peak and a second parameter that measures its ``sharpness''. This study is offered to anchor modeling efforts to realistic market constraints and observations.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures and 2 tables, in press in Int. J. Mod. Phys.

Short-Term Results of Canaloplasty Surgery for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in Japanese Patients

Purpose: To report surgical results of canaloplasty surgery for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in Japanese patients. Methods: Eleven eyes of 9 POAG patients underwent canaloplasty surgery at Toyama University Hospital. Three eyes of 3 patients underwent canaloplasty alone and 8 eyes of 6 patients underwent canaloplasty combined with cataract surgery. Canaloplasty was performed with a 10-0 polypropylene tensioning suture and an iTrack™ 250A microcatheter. All patients were followed up for 12 months. Changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) and postoperative complications were examined. Results: Mean preoperative IOP was 23.4 ± 5.5 mm Hg. Mean number of antiglaucoma drops was 2.8 ± 0.6 before canaloplasty and decreased to 1.2 ± 0.8 at 12 months after canaloplasty (p Conclusions: Canaloplasty may be an alternative surgery for POAG patients to reduce IOP to a value of approximately 15 mm Hg

The relation between mindfulness and the fatigue of women with breast cancer: path analysis

Background: Although fatigue is a common and distressing symptom in cancer survivors, the mechanism of fatigue is not fully understood. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relation between the fatigue and mindfulness of breast cancer survivors using anxiety, depression, pain, loneliness, and sleep disturbance as mediators. Methods: Path analysis was performed to examine direct and indirect associations between mindfulness and fatigue. Participants were breast cancer survivors who visited a breast surgery department at a university hospital in Japan for hormonal therapy or regular check-ups after treatment. The questionnaire measured cancer-related-fatigue, mindfulness, anxiety, depression, pain, loneliness, and sleep disturbance. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected from medical records. Results: Two-hundred and seventy-nine breast cancer survivors were registered, of which 259 answered the questionnaire. Ten respondents with incomplete questionnaire data were excluded, resulting in 249 participants for the analyses. Our final model fit the data well (goodness of fit index = .993; adjusted goodness of fit index = .966; comparative fit index = .999; root mean square error of approximation = .016). Mindfulness, anxiety, depression, pain, loneliness, and sleep disturbance were related to fatigue, and mindfulness had the most influence on fatigue (β = − .52). Mindfulness affected fatigue not only directly but also indirectly through anxiety, depression, pain, loneliness, and sleep disturbance. Conclusions: The study model helps to explain the process by which mindfulness affects fatigue. Our results suggest that mindfulness has both direct and indirect effects on the fatigue of breast cancer survivors and that mindfulness can be used to more effectively reduce their fatigue. It also suggests that health care professionals should be aware of factors such as anxiety, depression, pain, loneliness, and sleep disturbance in their care for fatigue of breast cancer survivors. Trial registration: This study was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN number. 000027720) on June 12, 2017

Intraoperative Changes in Idiopathic Macular Holes by Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

Purpose: To examine anatomical changes in idiopathic macular holes during surgery using handheld spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methods: Five eyes of 5 patients who underwent surgery for the repair of idiopathic macular holes were examined. The surgery included standard 25-gauge, 3-port pars plana vitrectomy, removal of the internal limiting membrane (ILM), fluid-air exchange, and 20% sulfur hexafluoride tamponade. Intraoperative SD-OCT images of the macular holes were obtained after ILM removal and under fluid-air exchange using a handheld SD-OCT. From SD-OCT images, the macular hole base diameter (MHBD) was measured and compared. Results: All macular holes were successfully closed after the primary surgery. The mean MHBD under fluid-air exchange was significantly smaller than the mean MHBD after ILM removal and the preoperative mean MHBD. In 1 eye with a stage 3 macular hole, SD-OCT images revealed that the inner edges of the macular hole touched each other under fluid-air exchange. Conclusion: Fluid-air exchange significantly reduced MHBD during surgery to repair macular holes. Fluid-air exchange may be an important step for macular hole closure as it reduces the base diameter of the macular hole

Recovery of macular cone photoreceptors in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to study changes in macular cone photoreceptors in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease patients after high-dose corticosteroid treatment using an adaptive optics (AO) fundus camera.METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 16 eyes of eight patients with new-onset acute VKH disease that were studied retrospectively. After serous retinal detachment (SRD) had resolved, AO images were obtained using the rtx1™ AO fundus camera over a 12-month course. Cone counting was performed in the nasal, temporal, superior and inferior areas of the macula 0.75 mm from the foveal center. A control group of 30 eyes of 30 healthy subjects was established for comparison.RESULTS: In the eyes with VKH disease, the mean cone densities 0.75 mm from the foveal center were 11,847 at baseline (resolution of SRD), and 15,218, 16,684 and 17,686 cones/mm2, at 3, 6, and 12 months later, respectively. The mean cone densities at 3, 6, and 12 months were significantly increased compared to those of baseline (p = 0.007, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively); however, they were significantly lower than that of the healthy control eyes (p < 0.001). The mean cone densities at areas with a previous presence of cystoid spaces were significantly lower than those without cystoid spaces at the baseline, and at 3, 6, and 12 months (p < 0.001, p = 0.007, p < 0.001, and p = 0.008, respectively).CONCLUSIONS: Cone densities were gradually increased after the resolution of SRD in the eyes of VKH disease patients. The presence of cystoid spaces might be a marker of severe damage to cone photoreceptors