Identification and expression of the lamprey Pax6 gene: evolutionary origin of the segmented brain of vertebrates

The Pax6 gene plays a developmental role in various metazoans as the master regulatory gene for eye patterning. Pax6 is also spatially regulated in particular regions of the neural tube. Because the amphioxus has no neuromeres, an understanding of Pax6 expression in the agnathans is crucial for an insight into the origin of neuromerism in the vertebrates. We have isolated a single cognate cDNA of the Pax6 gene, LjPax6, from a Lampetra japonica cDNA library and observed the pattern of its expression using in situ hybridization. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that LjPax6 occurs as an sister group of gnathostome Pax6. In lamprey embryos, LjPax6 is expressed in the eye, the nasohypophysial plate, the oral ectoderm and the brain. In the central nervous system, LjPax6 is expressed in clearly delineated domains in the hindbrain, midbrain and forebrain. We compared the pattern of LjPax6 expression with that of other brain-specific regulatory genes, including LjOtxA, LjPax2/5/8, LjDlx1/6, LjEmx and LjTTF1. Most of the gene expression domains showed conserved pattern, which reflects the situation in the gnathostomes, conforming partly to the neuromeric patterns proposed for the gnathostomes. We conclude that most of the segmented domains of the vertebrate brain were already established in the ancestor common to all vertebrates. Major evolutionary changes in the vertebrate brain may have involved local restriction of cell lineages, leading to the establishment of neuromeres.</p

ザイリョウ ノ コトナル タイヒ セヨ ニ ヨル トウモロコシ ショキ セイイク ノ ソウイ / ショキ セイイク ト ドジョウブツリ セイ ト ノ カンケイ

材料が異なる3種類の堆肥を用い,トウモロコシの初期生育の相違を,地上部窒素含有量(窒素吸収量)と土壌物理性の変化から検討した。1/5,000aワグナーポットに,各堆肥を乾物で,38g,76g,114g,152gを施与し,播種後4週間後に,地上部乾物重と窒素含有率を測定した。地上部窒素含有量と地上部乾物重との間には,正の相関関係が認められ,同じ窒素含有量で比較すると,単位乾物重当たりの体積が大きい(比重が小さい)堆肥を施与した場合の方が,トウモロコシの地上部乾物重が大きかった。混和した堆肥の単位乾物重当たり体積が大きいほど,土壌の空隙率が増加し,トウモロコシの生育量を大きくしたものと示唆された。In this paper, the dry matter production and the nitrogen content of the top of corn seedlings were measured after cultivation for four weeks in 1/5,000a Wagner pots containing soils mixed with different volumes of dry compost at 38, 76, 114, and 152 grams, respectively. As a result, a positive correlation between the dry matter and total nitrogen content in the top was recognized. Among applied compost carrying the same nitrogen content, corn seedling growth was promoted if compost with more volume was used. The improvement of soil physical condition by increasing its aeration seems to promote corn seedling growth in the early stage

Management of vocal fold lesions in difficult laryngeal exposure patients in phonomicrosurgery.

[Objectives]Endolaryngeal microsurgery using a direct laryngoscope is a well-established procedure in phonosurgery. Adequate laryngeal exposure is essential, but in some cases sufficient view of the glottis cannot be obtained, leading to treatment failure. This study reports how to manage vocal fold lesions in difficult laryngeal exposure (DLE) cases. [Methods]From 2003 to 2009, 212 patients underwent endolaryngeal microsurgery at Kyoto Medical Center and Kyoto University Hospital. Phonomicrosurgery was performed under sniffing (Boyce–Jackson) position with triangular shaped laryngoscope for laryngeal exposure. However, in DLE cases, the posture and laryngoscope were modified as needed to adequately expose the lesion. Fiberoptic laryngeal surgery (FLS) with local anesthesia was also used for the most difficult cases. [Results]The number of the patients with DLE was 14 (6.6%). Endolaryngeal microsurgery was possible in DLE cases by selecting the appropriate posture and laryngoscope. However, the procedure could not be completed in two patients with an anterior web and a vocal fold cyst, both of which required a subsequent revision procedure. Fiberoptic laryngeal surgery with topical anesthesia was a feasible alternative for these cases. [Conclusions]Phonosurgery was possible even in DLE cases. It is important to modify the setup of direct laryngoscopy as needed to obtain adequate exposure. Fiberoptic surgery may also be used in certain difficult cases

Offshore-origin warm water inflows toward Totten Ice Shelf, East Antarctica

The Tenth Symposium on Polar Science/Ordinary sessions: [OM] Polar Meteorology and Glaciology, Thu. 5 Dec. / 2F Auditorium , National Institute of Polar Researc

Strong ice-ocean interaction beneath Shirase Glacier Tongue in East Antarctica

Mass loss from the Antarctic ice sheet, Earth’s largest freshwater reservoir, results directly in global sea-level rise and Southern Ocean freshening. Observational and modeling studies have demonstrated that ice shelf basal melting, resulting from the inflow of warm water onto the Antarctic continental shelf, plays a key role in the ice sheet’s mass balance. In recent decades, warm ocean-cryosphere interaction in the Amundsen and Bellingshausen seas has received a great deal of attention. However, except for Totten Ice Shelf, East Antarctic ice shelves typically have cold ice cavities with low basal melt rates. Here we present direct observational evidence of high basal melt rates (7–16 m yr−1) beneath an East Antarctic ice shelf, Shirase Glacier Tongue, driven by southward-flowing warm water guided by a deep continuous trough extending to the continental slope. The strength of the alongshore wind controls the thickness of the inflowing warm water layer and the rate of basal melting

Successful recovery from a subclavicular ulcer caused by lenvatinib for thyroid cancer: a case report

Background: There are currently no effective therapeutic methods for locally recurrent, metastatic, or progressive radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer. However, multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as lenvatinib or sorafenib have been approved for patients with RAI-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer as a second targeted therapy, and these agents can prolong patient survival. However, several cases have been reported that TKIs have caused fatal complications such as fistula formation or bleeding. Case presentation: We report a case of a 53-year-old woman, who underwent repeated neck dissections and RAI therapy after total thyroidectomy in an outside hospital. Pathology revealed a papillary carcinoma of the tall cell variant. Locoregional recurrence was not under control; therefore, she visited our hospital. Although surgery was performed for locoregional recurrences three times in our hospital, they were not under control and distant metastases were found in the lung and bone a year later. Therefore, although sorafenib was initiated, the locoregional recurrence progressed 6months later and computed tomography (CT) showed a 7-cm mass in the right subclavicular lesion. Lenvatinib was started at a dose of 24mg daily. However, although tumor was rapidly reduced, an ulcer occurred in the right subclavicular lesion and was gradually increasing in size. The pulsation of subclavicular artery was found in the deep portion of the ulcer. Therefore, a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap was transplanted to cover the ulcer. Lenvatinib was an antiangiogetic TKI; therefore, it was preoperatively discontinued for 8days and postoperatively for 12days. The postoperative course was uneventful. Conclusions: Fistula formation or bleeding is known to be a severe side effect of antiangiogenic TKIs such as lenvatinib or sorafenib. There is a possibility that severe complications can occur when initiating TKIs in patients whose tumor has invaded into the skin, vessels, trachea, esophagus, and other areas. Therefore, it is necessary to use antiangiogenic TKIs very carefully. It is important to determine the appropriate time to start TKIs; however, there is no established protocol for this, and it is a problem that needs urgent attention

Cell surface markers of functional phenotypic corneal endothelial cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2014

PURPOSE. Cultured human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) are anticipated to serve as an alternative to donor corneas for the treatment of corneal endothelial dysfunction. However, corneal endothelial cells (CECs) tend to exhibit fibroblastic transformation, thereby losing their functional phenotype when cultured. The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of surface markers of CECs displaying fibroblastic phenotypes as a means of cell characterization. METHODS. The expression levels of 242 cell surface antigens were screened in cultured human and monkey CECs using flow cytometry. An expression intensity ratio of nonfibroblastic/ fibroblastic CECs &gt; 2 and of fibroblastic/nonfibroblastic CECs &gt; 2 were selected as indicating nonfibroblastic and fibroblastic markers, respectively. Nonfibroblastic and fibroblastic CECs were mixed, and CD73-positive and -negative cells were sorted using flow cytometry and further cultured. The functional phenotype of the sorted cells was evaluated according to morphology and the expression of function-related (Na þ /K þ -ATPase and ZO-1) and fibroblastic (type I collagen and fibronectin) markers. RESULTS. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that CD98, CD166, and CD340 are elevated in HCECs of nonfibroblastic phenotype, while CD9, CD49e, CD44, and CD73 are markers of fibroblastic phenotype HCECs. The CECs that sorted as CD73-negative exhibited normal hexagonal morphology and expressed functional markers, whereas CECs that sorted as CD73-positive exhibited the fibroblastic phenotype. CONCLUSIONS. These markers will be useful for quality control to characterize the phenotype of cells destined for tissue engineering-based therapy. In addition, this selection protocol will provide a novel method for purification of functional cells

Ambient fine and coarse particles in Japan affect nasal and bronchial epithelial cells differently and elicit varying immune response

Ambient particulate matter (PM) epidemiologically exacerbates respiratory and immune health, including allergic rhinitis (AR) and bronchial asthma (BA). Although fine and coarse particles can affect respiratory tract, the differences in their effects on the upper and lower respiratory tract and immune system, their underlying mechanism, and the components responsible for the adverse health effects have not been yet completely elucidated. In this study, ambient fine and coarse particles were collected at three different locations in Japan by cyclone technique. Both particles collected at all locations decreased the viability of nasal epithelial cells and antigen presenting cells (APCs), increased the production of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1β from bronchial epithelial cells and APCs, and induced expression of dendritic and epithelial cell (DEC) 205 on APCs. Differences in inflammatory responses, but not in cytotoxicity, were shown between both particles, and among three locations. Some components such as Ti, Co, Zn, Pb, As, OC (organic carbon) and EC (elemental carbon) showed significant correlations to inflammatory responses or cytotoxicity. These results suggest that ambient fine and coarse particles differently affect nasal and bronchial epithelial cells and immune response, which may depend on particles size diameter, chemical composition and source related particles types