Population Genomics of Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata): Insights Into Deep Population Divergence and Multiple Merging Histories.

The influence of long-term climatic changes such as glacial cycles on the history of living organisms has been a subject of research for decades, but the detailed population dynamics during the environmental fluctuations and their effects on genetic diversity and genetic load are not well understood on a genome-wide scale. The Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) is a unique primate adapted to the cold environments of the Japanese archipelago. Despite the past intensive research for the Japanese macaque population genetics, the genetic background of Japanese macaques at the whole-genome level has been limited to a few individuals, and the comprehensive demographic history and genetic differentiation of Japanese macaques have been underexplored.

Self-regulation of MGAT4A and MGAT4B activity toward glycoproteins through interaction of lectin domain with their own -glycans.

-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases-IVa (GnT-IVa or MGAT4A) and -IVb (MGAT4B) are glycosyltransferase isozymes synthesizing the β1,4-GlcNAc branch in -glycans, a glycan structure involved in diabetes. These enzymes uniquely have a non-catalytic lectin domain, which selectively recognizes the GnT-IV product -glycan branch, but the role of this lectin domain has remained unclear. Here, using UDP-Glo enzyme assays, we discovered that this domain is required for activity toward glycoprotein substrates but not toward free glycans.

Insulin Resistance as a Risk Factor for Flavum Hypertrophy in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

Introduction: Ligamentum flavum (LF) hypertrophy is the main etiological factor in the development of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS); however, its molecular pathology remains unclear. Histologically, LF hypertrophy is characterized by a reduction in elastic fibers and an increase in collagen fibers. We previously performed miRNA transcriptomic analysis on excised LF from elderly patients with LSS and identified the insulin receptor signaling along with TGFβ-mediated signaling as pathways involved in ligament hypertrophy.

Walking Bike as an Effective Tool to Reduce Plantar Peak Pressure in Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: Foot ulcers and infections are a major and costly problem in patients with diabetes and a major cause of amputations. Plantar peak pressure plays an essential role in plantar ulceration. Off-loading is a common tool to reduce plantar peak pressure and risk of ulceration.

Genomic Evidence for the Complex Evolutionary History of Macaques (Genus Macaca).

The genus Macaca is widely distributed, occupies a variety of habitats, shows diverse phenotypic characteristics, and is one of the best-studied genera of nonhuman primates. Here, we reported five re-sequencing Macaca genomes, including one M. cyclopis, one M.

Phylogenetics and Population Genetics of the Asian House Shrew, Species Complex, Inferred From Whole-Genome and Mitochondrial DNA Sequences, with Special Reference to the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan.

The house shrew (. species complex) colonized regions across southern Asia and the Indian Ocean following human activity. The house shrew is distributed on islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago, the southernmost part of Japan, but the evolutionary history of the shrew on those islands and possible associations between these populations and humans remain unknown.

Inference of selective forces on house mouse genomes during secondary contact in East Asia.

The house mouse (), which is commensal to humans, has spread globally via human activities, leading to secondary contact between genetically divergent subspecies. This pattern of genetic admixture can provide insights into the selective forces at play in this well-studied model organism. Our analysis of 163 house mouse genomes, with a particular focus on East Asia, revealed substantial admixture between the subspecies and , particularly in Japan and southern China.

Association of Genetic Polymorphisms with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in the Processes of Apoptosis, Inflammation, and Cholesterol Metabolism.

: This study aims to identify the minor allele of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs7025486, rs2228145, rs10757278, rs3798220, rs1466535, and rs599839 in order to assess the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation and define the linkage among these SNPs. : A case-control study with AAA patients (AAA group) and non-AAA controls (control group) was carried out in a study population. DNA was isolated from whole blood samples; the SNPs were amplified using PCR and sequenced.

c-FOS is an integral component of the IKZF1 transactivator complex and mediates lenalidomide resistance in multiple myeloma.

Background: The immunomodulatory drug lenalidomide, which is now widely used for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), exerts pharmacological action through the ubiquitin-dependent degradation of IKZF1 and subsequent down-regulation of interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4), a critical factor for the survival of MM cells. IKZF1 acts principally as a tumour suppressor via transcriptional repression of oncogenes in normal lymphoid lineages. In contrast, IKZF1 activates IRF4 and other oncogenes in MM cells, suggesting the involvement of unknown co-factors in switching the IKZF1 complex from a transcriptional repressor to an activator.

Skeletal Muscle and Fat Mass Reflect Chronic Pain in Older Adult.

The prevalence of chronic pain increases with age. It has been reported that chronic pain is associated with sarcopenia and obesity. Age-related skeletal muscle loss and fat gain are known to occur due to chronic inflammation.

Thienylene combined with pyridylene through planar triazine networks for applications as organic oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysts.

Covalent triazine networks are interesting candidates for organic electrocatalytic materials due to their tunable, durable and sustainable nature. However, the limited availability of molecular designs that ensure both two-dimensionality and functional groups in the π-conjugated plane has hindered their development. In this work, a layered triazine network composed of thiophene and pyridine ring was synthesized by the novel mild liquid phase condition.

Analysis of Dynamic Factors and Spinal Sagittal Alignment in Patients with Thoracic Spondylotic Myelopathy.

Introduction: Although thoracic spondylotic myelopathy (TSM) without ossification or disc disorder has been associated with some dynamic factors in the thoracolumbar area, a detailed investigation is yet to be published. Thus, in this study, we investigated the segmental motion and sagittal alignment of the thoracolumbar area in patients with and without TSM.

Methods: Patients with TSM who were treated from 2013 to 2020 were enrolled in this study.

Spinal pseudoarthrosis following osteoporotic vertebral fracture: prevalence, risk factors, and influence on patients' activities of daily living 1 year after injury.

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors and influence of pseudoarthrosis on activities of daily living (ADL) of patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF).

Methods: Spinal pseudoarthrosis is defined as the presence of a cleft in the vertebral body on a lateral X-ray image in the sitting position at 1 year after admission. Of the total 684 patients treated for OVF between January 2012 and February 2019 at our institution, 551 patients (mean age, 81.

Whole-genome sequencing analysis of wild house mice (Mus musculus) captured in Madagascar.

In Madagascar, the house mouse (Mus musculus) is widely believed to have colonized with human activities and is now one of the most abundant rodents on the island. However, its genetic background at the genomic level remains unclear, and clarifying this would help us to infer the timing of introduction and route of migration. In this study, we determined the whole-genome sequences of five Madagascar house mice captured from an inland location in Madagascar.

Proprioception and Geriatric Low Back Pain.

Proprioception is a deep sensation that perceives the position of each part of the body, state of movement and muscle contraction, and resistance and mass applied to the body. Proprioceptive feedback influences movement and positional accuracy, resulting in key somatosensory functions for human postural control. Proprioception encompasses signals received from proprioceptors located in the skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscles, tendons, and joint capsules, commonly known as mechanoreceptors.