Association of taurine intake with changes in physical fitness among community-dwelling middle-aged and older Japanese adults: an 8-year longitudinal study.

Introduction: Taurine has diverse valuable biological functions, including antioxidant activity and regulation of osmotic pressure. Maintaining physical fitness from middle age is important for healthy life expectancy. Although taurine administration improves muscle endurance and strength, its role in maintenance remains unclear.

Gas6 derived from cancer-associated fibroblasts promotes migration of Axl-expressing lung cancer cells during chemotherapy.

Alterations to the tumor stromal microenvironment induced by chemotherapy could influence the behavior of cancer cells. In the tumor stromal microenvironment, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an important role. Because the receptor tyrosine kinase Axl and its ligand Gas6 could be involved in promoting non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we investigated the role of Gas6 secreted by CAFs during chemotherapy in NSCLC.

Flow-cytometric enrichment of Pacific bluefin tuna type A spermatogonia based on light-scattering properties.

We previously established surrogate broodstock in which the donor germ cells transplanted into the peritoneal cavities of xenogeneic recipients were capable of developing into functional eggs and sperm in teleost fish. In this transplantation system, only the undifferentiated germ cells such as type A spermatogonia (ASG) or a portion of the ASG population were capable of being incorporated into the genital ridges of the recipients and undergo gametogenesis. Therefore, the use of enriched ASGs can be expected to achieve efficient donor-cell incorporation.

PSF1 (Partner of SLD Five 1) is a Prognostic Biomarker in Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Surgery Following Preoperative Chemotherapy or Chemoradiotherapy.

Background: PSF1 (Partner of SLD Five 1) is an evolutionarily conserved DNA replication factor that is part of the GINS (Go, Ichi, Nii, and San) complex . The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between PSF1 expression and prognosis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with surgery following preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy.

Methods: Sixty-nine patients with NSCLC treated with surgery following preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy who did not achieve pathologic complete response were enrolled.

Tumor microenvironment for cancer stem cells.

Tumor tissues consist of heterogeneous cancer cells including cancer stem cells (CSCs) that can terminally differentiate into cancer cells. Tissue-specific stem cells in normal organs maintain their stemness in a specific microenvironment, the stem cell niche; several studies have suggested that there are specific microenvironments that maintain CSCs in an immature phenotype. Cell types in a CSC niche vary from fibroblasts, to endothelial cells, immune cells, and so on; these non-cancer cells have been suggested to change their original features in the normal tissue/organ and to acquire a phenotype that protects CSCs from anticancer therapies.

Flow-cytometric isolation and enrichment of teleost type A spermatogonia based on light-scattering properties.

The transplantation of germ cells is a powerful tool both for studying their development and for reproductive biotechnology. An intraperitoneal germ cell transplantation system was recently developed for use in several teleost species. Donor germ cells transplanted into the peritoneal cavity of hatchlings migrated toward and were incorporated into the recipient's genital ridges, where they underwent gametogenesis.

Teratogenic effects of bis-diamine on the developing cardiac conduction system.

Background: Congenital heart defects, including conotruncal anomalies, are often associated with arrhythmias. Bis-diamine induces conotruncal anomalies in embryos when administered to pregnant female rats. To investigate the mechanism of arrhythmia in conotruncal anomalies, we histologically examined the development of the cardiac conduction system in this animal model.