Development of an In Vitro Chloroplast Splicing System: Sequences Required for Correct pre-mRNA Splicing.

Chloroplast genomes in land plants include approximately 20 intron-containing genes. Most of the introns are similar to the group II introns found in fungi, algae and some bacteria, but no self-splicing has been reported. To analyze splicing reactions in chloroplasts, we developed a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) chloroplast-based in vitro system.

The microscopic transition process from high-density to low-density amorphous state of SnI.

A molecular crystalline SnIundergoes pressure-induced solid-state amorphization via molecular dissociation to the high-density amorphous (HDA) state, which we call Am-I. In the present study, we examine the reverse transition process from Am-I to the low-density amorphous (LDA) state, called Am-II. We first measure the structure factor on decompression from 30 GPa down to 1.

Number of metastatic lymph nodes and zones as prognostic factors in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Objectives: Characterizing pathological nodes (pNs) by location alone is sometimes inadequate as patients with pN1 or pN2 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) show prognostic heterogeneity. We aimed to assess the relationship of the number of metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) and zones with prognosis in NSCLC patients.

Methods: We analysed 1393 patients who underwent lobectomy with mediastinal LN dissection for NSCLC at the Osaka International Cancer Institute between January 2006 and December 2015.

The role of ROC75 as a daytime component of the circadian oscillator in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

The circadian clocks in chlorophyte algae have been studied in two model organisms, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Ostreococcus tauri. These studies revealed that the chlorophyte clocks include some genes that are homologous to those of the angiosperm circadian clock. However, the genetic network architectures of the chlorophyte clocks are largely unknown, especially in C.

Do SnI molecules deform on heating and pressurization in the low-pressure crystalline phase?

A SnI molecule lowers its symmetry from T to [Formula: see text] on the liquid-liquid transition. Because it is possible to lower the molecular symmetry without violating the crystalline symmetry, it is worth examining whether the deformation occurs in the crystalline phase field. Extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements on the crystalline state were carried out to investigate the change in the environment around a Sn atom at high pressures and temperatures.

Superconductivity under pressure in the Dirac semimetal PdTe.

The Dirac semimetal PdTe was recently reported to be a type-I superconductor (T   =  1.64 K, [Formula: see text] mT) with unusual superconductivity of the surface sheath. We here report a high-pressure study, [Formula: see text] GPa, of the superconducting phase diagram extracted from ac-susceptibility and transport measurements on single crystalline samples.

C-reactive Protein Level on Postoperative Day One is Associated with Chronic Postsurgical Pain After Mastectomy.

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase reactant released in response to inflammation or tissue injury. Inflammation is one of the pathogenic factors related to transition from acute postsurgical pain (APSP) to chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP). Although several risk factors are reportedly associated with CPSP, the effects of CRP levels on CPSP have not been examined.

Early results of total arch replacement under partial sternotomy.

Objective: Partial sternotomy with limited skin incision has been utilized for cardiac surgery. We, therefore, started to apply the partial sternotomy for total arch replacement since 2013 in selected cases. The aim of this study reported the results of our early experiences.

Author Correction: Volcanic influence on centennial to millennial Holocene Greenland temperature change.

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.

Volcanic influence on centennial to millennial Holocene Greenland temperature change.

Solar variability has been hypothesized to be a major driver of North Atlantic millennial-scale climate variations through the Holocene along with orbitally induced insolation change. However, another important climate driver, volcanic forcing has generally been underestimated prior to the past 2,500 years partly owing to the lack of proper proxy temperature records. Here, we reconstruct seasonally unbiased and physically constrained Greenland Summit temperatures over the Holocene using argon and nitrogen isotopes within trapped air in a Greenland ice core (GISP2).

Meniscal pullout repair following meniscal ossicle resection: a case report.

We present this case of a meniscal ossicle of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus that was treated by an arthroscopic ossicle resection followed by a pullout repair of the remaining meniscus. A 49-year-old businessman complained of catching and left knee pain. Radiographic and arthroscopic findings revealed a meniscal ossicle embedded in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus and posterior horn tear.

Inhibitory effects of constituents from Euphorbia lunulata on differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 cells.

A new flavonol galactopyranoside, myricetin 3-O-(2'',3''-digalloyl)-β-D-galactopyranoide (1), and 23 known constituents, including myricetin 3-O-(2''-galloyl)-β-D-galactopyranoide (2), myricitrin (3), myricetin (4), quercetin 3-O-(2'', 3''-digalloyl)-β-D-galactopyranoide (5), quercetin 3-O-(2''-galloyl)-β-D-galactopyranoide (6), hyperin (7), isoquercetrin (8), quercetin (9), kaempferol (10), apigenin (11), luteolin (12), 3-O-methylquercetin (13), 5,7,2',5'-tetrahydroxyflavone (14), 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (15), 1,2,6-tri-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (16), 1,3,6-tri-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose (17), gallic acid (18), protocatechuic acid (19), 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid (20), 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone (21), 3,3'-di-O-methylellagic acid (22), ellagic acid (23) and esculetin (24) were isolated from Euphorbia lunulata Bge. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis. Isolated hydrolysable tannins, flavonoids, and flavonol galactopyranoside gallates showed significant inhibition of the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and triglyceride accumulation in maturing adipocytes, and nitric oxide production in RAW 264.

Excessively high systemic blood pressure in the early phase of reperfusion exacerbates early-onset paraplegia in rabbit aortic surgery.

Objective: We have demonstrated that therapeutic augmentation of systemic blood pressure during spinal cord ischemia plays an important role in minimizing spinal cord injury in both experimental and clinical aortic surgery. However, there remain concerns that excessively high blood pressure during spinal cord reperfusion may aggravate the reperfusion injury. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of high blood pressure during spinal cord reperfusion on postoperative neurologic outcomes after aortic surgery in rabbits.

Beta-carboline alkaloids from the stems of Picrasma quassioides.

Five new beta-carboline alkaloids, 6,12-dimethoxy-3-(2-hydroxylethyl)-beta-carboline (1), 3,10-dihydroxy-beta-carboline (2), 6,12-dimethoxy-3-(1-hydroxylethyl)-beta-carboline (3), 6,12-dimethoxy-3-(1,2-dihydroxylethyl)-beta-carboline (4), and 6-methoxy-3-(2-hydroxyl-1-ethoxylethyl)-beta-carboline (5), and two new natural products, 6-methoxy-12-hydroxy-3-methoxycarbonyl-beta-carboline (6) and 3-hydroxy-beta-carboline (7) were isolated from the stems of Picrasma quassioides along with 16 known beta-carboline alkaloids (8-23). The structures of new compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses, and the 1D and 2D NMR data of compounds 6, 7 and 10 were reported for the first time. The bioassays showed that only compounds 14 and 16 could enhance the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadiocytes accompanied by secretion of adiponectin proteins among these 23 compounds.

Inadequate gas supply to patients with an adjustable pressure-limiting valve in the fully opened position.

With spontaneous ventilation, sufficient exhaust resistance at the adjustable pressure-limiting (APL) valve when fully opened ensures that the reservoir bag fills and adequately supplies gas to patients. A lack of exhaust resistance with the APL valve fully open caused inadequate gas supply to patients with four types of anesthesia machines: SA2 (Dräger), Excel-210 SE (GE), Fabius (Dräger), and Cato (Dräger). Mechanically, the SA2 and Excel-210 SE APL valve systems, which are of the spring-loaded disc type positioned horizontally, cannot maintain sufficient exhaust resistance with the APL valve fully open.

[Effectiveness of oral tramadol hydrochloride for chronic non-malignant pain].

Background: Tramadol hydrochloride is a centrally acting analgesic agent with two distinct mechanisms of action, a weak opioid agonist and an inhibitor of monoamine neurotransmitter reuptake, which produces significant analgesic effect synergistically. Though tramadol was approved in 1978 in Japan, it has rarely been used in clinical settings compared to foreign countries, e.g.

Highly sensitive reporter gene assay for dioxins in human plasma by using cycloheximide as an enhancer substance.

A reporter gene assay (RGA) that uses a mouse liver recombinant Hepa1c1c7 containing the firefly luciferase gene was developed to screen for dioxins in human plasma. For a high-sensitivity method, the addition of cycloheximide to the culture medium brought about a fivefold increase in the sensitivity. The detection limit was 0.

Heat-treatment method for producing fatty acid-bound alpha-lactalbumin that induces tumor cell death.

HAMLET (Human Alpha-lactalbumin Made LEthal to Tumor cells), which was identified in human breast milk as an alpha-lactalbumin (LA)-oleic acid complex, kills tumor cells, selectively. Although it may have potential as a therapeutic agent against various tumor cells, only low-volume methods for its production exist. In this study, heat treatment was used to produce complexes from LAs and oleic acid using a simple method.

Ascorbic acid protects the newborn rat brain from hypoxic-ischemia.

Ascorbic acid (AA) is a potent antioxidant, and its neuroprotective effect has not been established yet. Using the Rice-Vannucci model, we examined the effect of AA on hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury in the immature rat brain. Under isoflurane anesthesia, 7-day-old rat pups received 750 mg/kg of AA by intraperitoneal injection just before hypoxic exposure; 8% oxygen for 90 min.

Assessment of dioxin intake from commercial baby food in infant.

Commercial baby food was roughly classified into six food groups, including vegetable, fruit, fish, meat, dairy product, and cookie. Dioxin levels in commercial baby food were determined, and dioxin intake in infants was assessed on the basis of the proposed original model food groups. The total daily dioxin intake was 0.

Application of a novel large-volume injection method using a stomach-shaped inlet liner in capillary gas chromatographic trace analysis of dioxins in human milk and plasma.

A newly developed large-volume injection (LVI) technique that employs a unique stomach-shaped inlet liner (SSIL) inside of a programmable temperature vaporizer was used for the determination of trace amounts of dioxins in human milk and plasma. The initial temperature and the initial dwelling time of the inlet and the kind of solvent used were found to be critical in determining the analytical sensitivity of dioxins due to the loss of these relatively volatile compounds during solvent vaporization. Human milk and plasma were purified and fractionated by pre-packed multi-layered silica-gel chromatography and activated carbon silica-gel column chromatography.

Efficacy of interdisciplinary treatment for chronic nonmalignant pain patients in Japan.

Objectives: The implementation of interdisciplinary pain management is a relatively new concept in Japan. Although there are more than 4200 pain specialists in Japan at present, no multidisciplinary pain center has yet to be established. This prospective study is, to our knowledge, the first published evaluation of the effectiveness of multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary pain treatment in Japanese patients with chronic noncancer pain.

Intraventricular ascorbic acid administration decreases hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in newborn rats.

Neuronal cell damage following hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury is partly caused by production of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Ascorbic acid (AA) is a potent antioxidant, which scavenges various types of ROS. Some studies have shown that it is neuroprotective, however, the issue is still controversial.