Arabidopsis thaliana FLO2 is Involved in Efficiency of Photoassimilate Translocation, Which is Associated with Leaf Growth and Aging, Yield of Seeds and Seed Quality.

FLO2, FLOURY ENDOSPERM 2, is highly conserved in higher plants, and rice FLO2 has been predicted to be involved in regulation of accumulation of storage compounds. We analyzed the function of Arabidopsis thaliana FLO2 (AtFLO2) because A. thaliana set structurally different seeds from those of rice.

Phosphorylation of rice sucrose synthase isoforms promotes the activity of sucrose degradation.

Sucrose is utilized as an initial material for production of the storage substances. Sucrose synthase reversibly catalyzes reactions of the sucrose degradation and its synthesis between sucrose with UDP and UDP-glucose with fructose. They also had the activity of the reactions for sucrose degradation of sucrose with ADP, and sucrose synthesis from ADP-glucose and fructose.

A simple Gateway-assisted construction system of TALEN genes for plant genome editing.

TALEN is an artificial nuclease being applied for sequence-specific genome editing. For the plant genome editing, a pair of TALEN genes is expressed in the cells, and a binary plasmid for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation should be assembled. We developed a novel procedure using the Gateway-assisted plasmids, named Emerald-Gateway TALEN system.

Comparison between Ki67 labeling index determined using image analysis software with virtual slide system and that determined visually in breast cancer.

Background: In recent papers, Ki67 labeling index (LI) has been used to classify breast cancer patients into the low and high Ki67LI groups for comparison studies, which showed significant differences in many prognostic factors. It has not been clarified whether image analysis software can be used for calculating LI in breast cancer. In our study, we examined whether Ki67LI in breast cancer calculated using image analysis software correlates with that measured on the basis of visual.

Efficient removal of perchlorate ion from water by a water-insoluble M2L4 type compound.

Reaction of CuSO4·5H2O with 1,3-bis(benzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene (m-bbitrb) provides a new positively charged M2L4 type molecule, [SO4⊂Cu2(m-bbitrb)4]SO4. This compound includes SO4(2-) inside and outside the cationic cage. Despite this compound being insoluble in water, it shows highly efficient perchlorate removal activity from water by the exchange with SO4(2-) outside the cage.

Effect of combination therapy with alogliptin and lansoprazole on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The main purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of a combination of alogliptin [a dipeptydil peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitor] and lansoprazole [a proton pump inhibitor (PPI)] compared with alogliptin mono-therapy on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study was a multicenter randomized open-label study. One hundred type 2 diabetic patients were randomly assigned to either the alogliptin with lansoprazole group or the alogliptin mono-therapy group.

Successful resolution of esophageal granulomas in a dog infected with Spirocerca lupi.

A 13-year-old female Labrador Retriever presented with chronic regurgitation. Radiography and computed tomography (CT) revealed nodules in the caudal esophagus. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy followed by histopathological examination revealed esophageal granulomas caused by Spirocerca lupi.

[Present condition of home care treatment at Shinshiro Municipal Hospital].

Shinshiro Municipal Hospital is situated in a mountainous region of Oku-Mikawa area at the East side of Aichi prefecture. Because of this geographical location, there are relatively higher numbers of elderly patients living alone in comparison to other regions of Japan. Our hospital consists of a general ward (255 beds), recuperation area combined with a medical care ward (46 beds), and a visiting nurse care unit.