The TrkC-PTPσ complex governs synapse maturation and anxiogenic avoidance via synaptic protein phosphorylation.

The precise organization of pre- and postsynaptic terminals is crucial for normal synaptic function in the brain. In addition to its canonical role as a neurotrophin-3 receptor tyrosine kinase, postsynaptic TrkC promotes excitatory synapse organization through interaction with presynaptic receptor-type tyrosine phosphatase PTPσ. To isolate the synaptic organizer function of TrkC from its role as a neurotrophin-3 receptor, we generated mice carrying TrkC point mutations that selectively abolish PTPσ binding.

Molecular mechanism of contactin 2 homophilic interaction.

Contactin 2 (CNTN2) is a cell adhesion molecule involved in axon guidance, neuronal migration, and fasciculation. The ectodomains of CNTN1-CNTN6 are composed of six Ig domains (Ig1-Ig6) and four FN domains. Here, we show that CNTN2 forms transient homophilic interactions (K ∼200 nM).

An Alternative Approach to Determining Metabolic Syndrome Component Cutoffs in Children and Adolescents Using Segmental Regression Analysis.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increasing in children and adolescents. Although some diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome exist, further research is needed to determine appropriate age-, sex-, and race-specific cutoffs for each component. Health examinations were conducted in 1,679 children aged 6-15 years in 9 regions of Japan.

Structural and functional characterization of the IgSF21-neurexin2α complex and its related signaling pathways in the regulation of inhibitory synapse organization.

The prevailing model behind synapse development and specificity is that a multitude of adhesion molecules engage in transsynaptic interactions to induce pre- and postsynaptic assembly. How these extracellular interactions translate into intracellular signal transduction for synaptic assembly remains unclear. Here, we focus on a synapse organizing complex formed by immunoglobulin superfamily member 21 (IgSF21) and neurexin2α (Nrxn2α) that regulates GABAergic synapse development in the mouse brain.

Effects of Overweight on Risk of Thyroid Nodules in Children and Adolescents: The Fukushima Health Management Survey.

Context: Examining how overweight/obesity impacts thyroid nodule development in children and adolescents by sex and age can speculate on the mechanism.

Objective: We examined whether overweight in children and adolescents are associated with thyroid nodule development by sex and age.

Design: Approximately 300,000 participants who underwent thyroid ultrasonography in the Fukushima Health Management Survey after a nuclear accident were enrolled.

Workplace factors associated with willingness to undergo human immunodeficiency virus testing during workplace health checkups.

Background: To examine workplace factors associated with willingness to undergo human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing during workplace health checkups.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used an Internet-based self-administered questionnaire to obtain data from a pool of 24,287 Japanese workers. Binary and multiple logistic regression analyses evaluated the association between workplace factors and HIV testing.

α-Synuclein Preformed Fibrils Bind to β-Neurexins and Impair β-Neurexin-Mediated Presynaptic Organization.

Synucleinopathies form a group of neurodegenerative diseases defined by the misfolding and aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn). Abnormal accumulation and spreading of α-syn aggregates lead to synapse dysfunction and neuronal cell death. Yet, little is known about the synaptic mechanisms underlying the α-syn pathology.

Designer molecules of the synaptic organizer MDGA1 reveal 3D conformational control of biological function.

MDGAs (MAM domain-containing glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchors) are synaptic cell surface molecules that regulate the formation of trans-synaptic bridges between neurexins (NRXNs) and neuroligins (NLGNs), which promote synaptic development. Mutations in MDGAs are implicated in various neuropsychiatric diseases. MDGAs bind NLGNs in cis on the postsynaptic membrane and physically block NLGNs from binding to NRXNs.

Delayed Diagnosis and Prognostic Impact of Breast Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Breast screening services were suspended for several months owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We estimated the potential impact on breast cancer mortality using long-term global observations. However, the magnitude of the impact may vary across countries; therefore, we conducted an analysis and modeling study of this impact in Japan.

SorCS1 inhibits amyloid-β binding to neurexin and rescues amyloid-β-induced synaptic pathology.

Amyloid-β oligomers (AβOs), toxic peptide aggregates found in Alzheimer's disease, cause synapse pathology. AβOs interact with neurexins (NRXs), key synaptic organizers, and this interaction dampens normal trafficking and function of NRXs. Axonal trafficking of NRX is in part regulated by its interaction with SorCS1, a protein sorting receptor, but the impact of SorCS1 regulation of NRXs in Aβ pathology was previously unstudied.

Developmental trajectories at a high risk for childhood overweight/obesity.

Background: The associations between developmental patterns (trajectories) in children and maternal factors have been widely investigated, but paternal effects on these trajectories are unclear. This study aimed to determine child and parental factors involved in developmental trajectories at high risk for causing adverse cardiovascular (CV) profiles in children.

Methods: We analyzed longitudinal anthropometric data from birth to the present and CV profiles of 1,832 healthy volunteers (51% girls) aged 3-15 years who participated in a nationwide study between July 2012 and January 2014.

Association of marital status and access to dental care among the Japanese population: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Health disparities according to marital status have been reported worldwide. Although spouses provide an important social network that influences heath behaviors, limited studies have examined the association between marital status and access to dental care. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the association between marital status and access to dental care.