著者

Tsai Jing-Fu Kudo Shin-ichi Yoshizawa Kazunori

出版者

BioMed Central

雑誌

BMC Evolutionary Biology (ISSN:14712148)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.15, pp.258, 2015-11-19

被引用文献数

6

---

Background: Maternal care (egg-nymph guarding behavior) has been recorded in some genera of Acanthosomatidae. However, the origin of the maternal care in the family has remained unclear due to the lack of phylogenetic hypotheses. Another reproductive mode is found in non-caring species whose females smear their eggs before leaving them. They possess pairs of complex organs on the abdominal venter called Pendergrast’s organ (PO) and spread the secretion of this organ onto each egg with their hind legs, which is supposed to provide a protective function against enemies. Some authors claim that the absence of PO may be associated with the presence of maternal care. No study, however, has tested this hypothesis of a correlated evolution between the two traits. Results: We reconstructed the molecular phylogeny of the subfamily Acanthosomatinae using five genetic markers sequenced from 44 species and one subspecies with and without maternal care. Eight additional species from the other two acanthosomatid subfamilies were included as outgroups. Our results indicated that maternal care has evolved independently at least three times within Acanthosomatinae and once in the outgroup species. Statistical tests for correlated evolution showed that the presence of maternal care is significantly correlated with the secondary loss or reduction of PO. Ancestral state reconstruction for the node of Acanthosoma denticaudum (a non-caring species in which egg smearing with developed POs occurs) and A. firmatum (a caring species with reduced POs) suggested egg smearing was still present in their most recent common ancestor and that maternal care in A. firmatum has evolved relatively recently. Conclusions: We showed that maternal care is an apomorphic trait that has arisen multiple times from the presence of PO within the subfamily Acanthosomatinae. The acquisition of maternal care is correlated with the reduction or loss of PO, which suggests an evolutionary trade-off between the two traits resulting from physiological costs. This prediction also implies that presence of maternal care can be highly expected for those groups lacking behavioral data, which invariably also lack the organ. No secondary loss of maternal care was detected in the present tree. We suggest that the loss of maternal care may be suppressed due to the vulnerability of the PO-free condition, which thus maintains maternal care.

著者

Tsai Melody Ohniwa Ryosuke L Kato Yusuke Takeshita Sayaka L Ohta Toshiko Saito Shinji Hayashi Hideo Morikawa Kazuya

出版者

BioMed Central

雑誌

BMC microbiology (ISSN:14712180)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.11, pp.13, 2011-01

被引用文献数

100 26

---

BackgroundThe ability of staphylococci to grow in a wide range of salt concentrations is well documented. In this study, we aimed to clarify the role of cardiolipin (CL) in the adaptation of Staphylococcus aureus to high salinity.ResultsUsing an improved extraction method, the analysis of phospholipid composition suggested that CL levels increased slightly toward stationary phase, but that this was not induced by high salinity. Deletion of the two CL synthase genes, SA1155 (cls1) and SA1891 (cls2), abolished CL synthesis. The cls2 gene encoded the dominant CL synthase. In a cls2 deletion mutant, Cls1 functioned under stress conditions, including high salinity. Using these mutants, CL was shown to be unnecessary for growth in either basal or high-salt conditions, but it was critical for prolonged survival in high-salt conditions and for generation of the L-form.ConclusionsCL is not essential for S. aureus growth under conditions of high salinity, but is necessary for survival under prolonged high-salt stress and for the generation of L-form variants.

著者

Kinoshita Setsuko Wagatsuma Yukiko Okada Masafumi

出版者

BioMed Central

雑誌

International journal of health geographics

巻号頁・発行日

vol.6, pp.34, 2007-07

被引用文献数

28 30

---

BackgroundMalignant neoplasm of the pancreas has become one of the leading causes of death from malignant neoplasm in Japan (the 5th in 2003). Although smoking is believed to be a risk factor, other risk factors remain unclear. Mortality from malignant neoplasm of the pancreas tends to be higher in northern Japan and in northern European countries. A recent study reported that standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for malignant neoplasm of the pancreas were negatively correlated to global solar radiation level. People residing in regions with lower solar radiation and lower temperatures may be at higher risk of development of malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between SMRs for malignant neoplasm of the pancreas and climatic factors, such as the amount of global solar radiation and the daily maximum temperature in Japan.ResultsThe study used multiple linear regression models. Number of deaths and demographic data from 1998 to 2002 were used for the calculation of SMR. We employed mesh climatic data for Japan published in 2006 by the Japan Meteorological Agency. Regression coefficients for the amount of global solar radiation and the daily maximum temperature in males were -4.35 (p = 0.00034) and -2.81 (p < 0.0001) respectively, and those in females were -5.02 (p < 0.0001) and -1.87 (p < 0.0001) respectively. Increased amount of global solar radiation or daily maximum temperature was significantly related to the decreased SMRs for malignant neoplasm of the pancreas in both males and females.ConclusionThis study suggested that low solar radiation and low temperature might relate to the increasing risk of malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. Use of group data has a limitation in the case of evaluating environmental factors affecting health, since the impact of climatic factors on the human body varies according to individual lifestyles and occupations. Use of geographical mesh climatic data, however, proved useful as an index of risk or beneficial factors in a small study area. Further research using individual data is necessary to elucidate the relationship between climatic factors and the development of malignant neoplasm of the pancreas.

著者

Iwanami Keiichi Matsumoto Isao Tanaka Yoko Inoue Asuka Goto Daisuke Ito Satoshi Tsutsumi Akito Sumida Takayuki

出版者

BioMed Central

雑誌

Arthritis research & therapy (ISSN:14786354)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.10, no.6, pp.R130, 2008-11

被引用文献数

31 21

---

IntroductionArthritis induced by immunisation with glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) in DBA/1 mice was proven to be T helper (Th) 17 dependent. We undertook this study to identify GPI-specific T cell epitopes in DBA/1 mice (H-2q) and investigate the mechanisms of arthritis generation.MethodsFor epitope mapping, the binding motif of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II (I-Aq) from DBA/1 mice was identified from the amino acid sequence of T cell epitopes and candidate peptides of T cell epitopes in GPI-induced arthritis were synthesised. Human GPI-primed CD4+ T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APCs) were co-cultured with each synthetic peptide and the cytokine production was measured by ELISA to identify the major epitopes. Synthetic peptides were immunised in DBA/1 mice to investigate whether arthritis could be induced by peptides. After immunisation with the major epitope, anti-interleukin (IL) 17 monoclonal antibody (mAb) was injected to monitor arthritis score. To investigate the mechanisms of arthritis induced by a major epitope, cross-reactivity to mouse GPI peptide was analysed by flow cytometry and anti-GPI antibodies were measured by ELISA. Deposition of anti-GPI antibodies on the cartilage surface was detected by immunohistology.ResultsWe selected 32 types of peptides as core sequences from the human GPI 558 amino acid sequence, which binds the binding motif, and synthesised 25 kinds of 20-mer peptides for screening, each containing the core sequence at its centre. By epitope mapping, human GPI325–339 was found to induce interferon (IFN) γ and IL-17 production most prominently. Immunisation with human GPI325–339 could induce polyarthritis similar to arthritis induced by human GPI protein, and administration of anti-IL-17 mAb significantly ameliorated arthritis (p < 0.01). Th17 cells primed with human GPI325–339 cross-reacted with mouse GPI325–339, and led B cells to produce anti-mouse GPI antibodies, which were deposited on cartilage surface.ConclusionsHuman GPI325–339 was identified as a major epitope in GPI-induced arthritis, and proved to have the potential to induce polyarthritis. Understanding the pathological mechanism of arthritis induced by an immune reaction to a single short peptide could help elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms of autoimmune arthritis.

著者

Inoue Tetsuya Katoh Norio Onimaru Rikiya Shimizu Shinichi Tsuchiya Kazuhiko Suzuki Ryusuke Sakakibara-Konishi Jun Shinagawa Naofumi Oizumi Satoshi Shirato Hiroki

出版者

BIOMED CENTRAL

雑誌

Radiation Oncology (ISSN:1748717X)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.8, pp.69, 2013-03-21

被引用文献数

40

---

Background: To clarify the clinical outcomes of two dose schedule of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using a real-time tumor-tracking radiation therapy (RTRT) system in single institution. Methods: Using a superposition algorithm, we administered 48 Gy in 4 fractions at the isocenter in 2005-2006 and 40 Gy in 4 fractions to the 95% volume of PTV in 2007-2010 with a treatment period of 4 to 7 days. Target volume margins were fixed irrespective of the tumor amplitude. Results: In total, 109 patients (79 T1N0M0 and 30 T2N0M0). With a median follow-up period of 25 months (range, 4 to 72 months), the 5-year local control rate (LC) was 78% and the 5-year overall survival rate (OS) was 64%. Grade 2, 3, 4, and 5 radiation pneumonitis (RP) was experienced by 15 (13.8%), 3 (2.8%), 0, and 0 patients, respectively. The mean lung dose (MLD) and the volume of lung receiving 20 Gy (V20) were significantly higher in patients with RP Grade 2/3 than in those with RP Grade 0/1 (MLD p = 0.002, V20 p = 0.003). There was no correlation between larger maximum amplitude of marker movement and larger PTV (r = 0.137), MLD (r = 0.046), or V20 (r = 0.158). Conclusions: SBRT using the RTRT system achieved LC and OS comparable to other SBRT studies with very low incidence of RP, which was consistent with the small MLD and V20 irrespective of tumor amplitude. For stage I NSCLC, SBRT using RTRT was suggested to be reliable and effective, especially for patients with large amplitude of tumor movement.

著者

Nomura Kyoko Minamizono Sachiko Maeda Eri Kim Roseline Iwata Toyoto Hirayama Junko Ono Kyoichi Fushimi Masahito Goto Takeshi Mishima Kazuo Yamamoto Fumio

出版者

BioMed Central

雑誌

Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine (ISSN:1342078X)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.26, no.30, 2021-03-05

---

Background We aimed to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms as well as suicide-related ideation among Japanese university students during the stay-home order necessitated by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Japan, and offer evidence in support of future intervention to depression and suicide prevention strategies among college and university students. Methods The data for this cross-sectional study were derived from the Student Mental Health Survey conducted from May 20 to June 16, 2020 at a national university in Akita prefecture. Among the 5111 students recruited, 2712 participated in this study (response rate, 53%; mean age ± standard deviation, 20.5 ±3.5 years; men, 53.8%). Depressive symptoms were identified by using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Results The prevalence of moderate depressive symptoms based on a PHQ-9 score ≥10 and suicide-related ideation based on question 9 of PHQ-9 ≥1, which encompasses thoughts of both suicide and self-harm, was 11.7% and 6.7%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that risk factors for depression included being a woman, smoking, alcohol consumption, and social network communication using either video or voice. For suicide-related ideation, alcohol consumption was the only risk factor. Exercise and having someone to consult about worries were associated with decreased risk of both depressive symptoms and suicide-related ideation. Conclusions Negative lifestyles of smoking and drinking, and being a woman, may be important risk factors for depressive symptoms, whereas exercise and having someone to consult about worries may be protective factors.

著者

Namangala Boniface Hachaambwa Lottie Kajino Kiichi Mweene Aaron S. Hayashida Kyouko Simuunza Martin Simukoko Humphrey Choongo Kennedy Chansa Pamela Lakhi Shabir Moonga Ladslav Chota Amos Ndebe Joseph Nsakashalo-Senkwe Mutale Chizema Elizabeth Kasonka Lackson Sugimoto Chihiro

出版者

BioMed Central

雑誌

Parasites & Vectors (ISSN:17563305)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.5, 2012-12-04

被引用文献数

1 36

---

Background: Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a novel strategy which amplifies DNA with high sensitivity and rapidity under isothermal conditions. In the present study, the performance of the repetitive insertion mobile element (RIME)-LAMP and human serum resistance-associated gene (SRA)-LAMP assays were evaluated using clinical specimens obtained from four male patients from Luangwa and Zambezi valleys in Zambia and Zimbabwe, respectively. Findings: The cases reported in this preliminary communication were all first diagnosed by microscopy, through passive surveillance, and confirmed by both RIME-LAMP and SRA-LAMP. A good correlation between microscopy and LAMP was observed and contributed to staging and successful treatment of patient. RIME-LAMP and SRA-LAMP complimented each other well in all the cases. Conclusions: Both RIME-LAMP and SRA-LAMP were able to detect Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense DNA in patient blood and CSF and hence confirmed HAT in the parasitaemic patients. Our study indicates that the LAMP technique is a potential tool for HAT diagnosis, staging and may be useful for making therapeutic decisions. However, no statistically significant conclusion may be drawn due to the limited sample size used in the present study. It is thus imperative to conduct a detailed study to further evaluate the potential of LAMP as a bedside diagnostic test for HAT.

著者

Kishida Takushi Thewissen JGM Hayakawa Takashi Imai Hiroo Agata Kiyokazu

出版者

BioMed Central

雑誌

Zoological Letters (ISSN:2056306X)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.1, 2015-12

被引用文献数

80

---

鯨類の化学感覚能力の一端を解明. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2015-03-05.

著者

Matsumoto Yuki Murakami Yoshie Tsuru Saburo Ying Bei-Wen Yomo Tetsuya

出版者

BioMed Central

雑誌

BMC genomics (ISSN:14712164)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.14, pp.808, 2013-11

被引用文献数

41 2

---

BackgroundCell growth rate reflects an organism’s physiological state and largely relies on the ability of gene expression to respond to the environment. The relationship between cellular growth rate and gene expression remains unknown.ResultsGrowth rate-coordinated changes in gene expression were discovered by analyzing exponentially growing Escherichia coli cells cultured under multiple defined environments, in which osmotic pressure, temperature and starvation status were varied. Gene expression analyses showed that all 3,740 genes in the genome could be simply divided into three clusters (C1, C2 and C3), which were accompanied by a generic trend in the growth rate that was coordinated with transcriptional changes. The direction of transcriptional change in C1 indicated environmental specificity, whereas those in C2 and C3 were correlated negatively and positively with growth rates, respectively. The three clusters exhibited differentiated gene functions and gene regulation task division.ConclusionsWe identified three gene clusters, exhibiting differential gene functions and distinct directions in their correlations with growth rates. Reverses in the direction of the growth rate correlated transcriptional changes and the distinguished duties of the three clusters indicated how transcriptome homeostasis is maintained to balance the total expression cost for sustaining life in new habitats.

著者

Naka Izumi Ohashi Jun Kimura Ryosuke Inaoka Tsukasa Matsumura Yasuhiro

出版者

BioMed Central

雑誌

Lipids in health and disease (ISSN:1476511X)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.12, pp.110, 2013-07

被引用文献数

4 1

---

BackgroundOur previous study demonstrated that the A-allele of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs34623097 located in the upstream region of the β2 adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB2) is significantly associated with risk for obesity in Oceanic populations.MethodsTo investigate whether the ADRB2 polymorphisms explain part of the individual differences in lipid mobilization, energy expenditure and glycogen breakdown, the associations of 10 ADRB2 SNPs with total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels were examined in 128 adults in Tonga.ResultsA multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index revealed that rs34623097 was significantly associated with triglyceride levels (P-value = 0.037). A copy of the rs34623097-A allele increased serum triglyceride levels by 70.1 mg/dL (0.791 mmol/L). None of the ADRB2 SNPs showed a significant association with total-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.ConclusionsIn a Tongan population, a SNP located in the upstream region of ADRB2 is associated with triglyceride levels independent of body mass index.

著者

Tsuboi Hiroto Matsuo Naomi Iizuka Mana Tsuzuki Sayaka Kondo Yuya Tanaka Akihiko Moriyama Masafumi Matsumoto Isao Nakamura Seiji Sumida Takayuki

出版者

BioMed Central

雑誌

Arthritis research & therapy (ISSN:14786354)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.14, no.4, pp.R171, 2012-07

被引用文献数

84 19

---

IntroductionImmunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a new disease entity characterized by high serum IgG4 levels, IgG4-positive plasmacytic infiltration, and fibrosis in various organs. The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanism of upregulation of IgG4 class switch recombination in IgG4-RD.MethodsWe extracted RNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with IgG4-RD (n = 6), Sjögren syndrome (SS) (n = 6), and healthy controls (n = 8), from CD3-positive T cells and CD20-positive B cells sorted from PBMCs of patients with IgG4-RD (n = 3), SS (n = 4), and healthy controls (n = 4), as well as from labial salivary glands (LSGs) of patients with IgG4-RD (n = 11), SS (n = 13), and healthy controls (n = 3). The mRNA expression levels of IgG4-specific class switch-related molecules, such as Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-13), Treg cytokines (IL-10 and TGF-β), and transcriptional factors (GATA3 and Foxp3) were examined with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). IgG4-nonspecific class switch-related molecules, such as CD40, CD154, BAFF, APRIL, IRF4, and AID, were also examined.ResultsThe expression levels of Treg cytokines (IL-10 and TGF-β) and AID were significantly higher in LSGs of IgG4-RD than in SS and the controls (P < 0.05, each). In contrast, those of CD40 and CD154 were significantly lower in PBMCs of IgG4-RD than in SS (P < 0.05, each), whereas CD40 in CD20-positive B cells and CD154 in CD3-positive T cells were comparable in the three groups.ConclusionOverexpression of IL-10, TGF-β, and AID in LSGs might play important roles in the pathogenesis of IgG4-RD, such as IgG4-specific class-switch recombination and fibrosis. IgG4 class-switch recombination seems to be mainly upregulated in affected organs.

著者

Akter Shamima Jesmin Subrina Islam Mazedul Sultana Sayeeda N Okazaki Osamu Hiroe Michiaki Moroi Masao Mizutani Taro

出版者

BioMed Central

雑誌

Nutrition & metabolism (ISSN:17437075)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.9, pp.99, 2012-11

被引用文献数

46 9

---

BACKGROUND:Early age at menarche is associated with increased risk of metabolic syndrome in both China and the West. However, little is known about the impact of age at menarche and metabolic syndrome in South Asian women, including those from low-income country, where age at menarche is also falling. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether age at menarche is inversely associated with metabolic syndrome in Bangladeshi women, who are mostly poor and have limited access to and or poor health care facilities.METHODS:This community-based cross-sectional study was performed using 1423 women aged between 15-75 years from rural Bangladesh in 2009 and 2010. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to standard NCEP-ATP III criteria. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between age at menarche and metabolic syndrome, with adjustment of potential confounding variables, including age, education, marital status, tobacco users, use of contraceptives and number of pregnancies.RESULTS:Early onset of menarche (<12 years) as compared to late onset (>13 years) was found to be associated with a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome (odds ratio=1.55; 95 % confidence interval =1.05-2.30). Age at onset of menarche was also inversely associated with prevalence of high triglycerides (P for trend <0.01) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P for trend = 0.01), but positively associated with prevalence of high fasting blood glucose (P for trend =0.02). However, no significant association was found between age at menarche, high blood pressure and elevated waist circumference.CONCLUSION:Early onset of menarche might promote or trigger development of metabolic syndrome. Thus, knowledge of the history of age at onset of menarche may be critical in identifying women at risk of developing metabolic syndrome and those likely to benefit the most from early interventions.

著者

Olivares-Tirado Pedro Tamiya Nanako Kashiwagi Masayo Kashiwagi Kimikazu

出版者

BioMed Central

雑誌

BMC health services research

巻号頁・発行日

vol.11, pp.103, 2011-05

被引用文献数

32 7

---

Background: In Japan, as the number of elderly covered by the Long-term Care Insurance (LTCI) system hasincreased, demand for long-term care services has increased substantially and consequently growing expendituresare threatening the sustainability of the system. Understanding the predictive factors associated with long-termcare expenditures among the elderly would be useful in developing future strategies to ensure the sustainability ofthe system. We report a set of predictors of the highest long-term care expenditures in a cohort of elderly personswho received consecutive long-term care services during a year in a Japanese city.Methods: Data were obtained from databases of the LTC insurer of City A in Japan. Binary logistic regression wasused to examine the predictors of the highest long-term care expenditures. We used a simplified model thatfocused on the effects of disability status and type of services used, while controlling for several relevant factors.Goodness of fit, a multicollinearity test, and logistic regression diagnostics were carried out for the final model.Results: The study cohort consisted of 862 current users of LTCI system in city A. After controlling for gender andincome, age, increased utilization rate of benefits, decline in functional status, higher care needs level andinstitutional care were found to be associated with the highest LTCI expenditures. An increased utilization rate ofbenefits (OR = 24.2) was a strong main effect predictors of the high LTC expenditures. However, a significantinteraction between institutional care and high care need level was found, providing evidence of the combinedeffect of the two covariates.Conclusions: Beyond to confirm that disability status of elderly persons is the main factor driving the demand ofLTC services and consequently the expenditures, we showed that changes in utilization rate of benefits -a specificinsurance factor- and the use of institutional care conditional on the high care level, were strongest predictors ofthe highest LTC expenditures. These findings could become crucial for tracking policies aimed at ensuring financialsustainability of LTCI from a public insurer perspective in Japan.