A CatSper-Uninvolved Mechanism to Induce Forward Sperm Motility in the Internal Fertilization.

Sperm-specific cation channel (CatSper), sperm-specific Na /H exchanger (sNHE), and soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) are necessary in the signaling pathways to control sperm motility in many animals, whereas some animals have lost some or all of them. In the present study, we examined CatSper-uninvolved signaling for vigorous undulation of the undulating membrane that is attached to the sperm tail and gives thrust for forward motility in the internally fertilizing newt . Reverse-transcription PCR failed to detect sNHE in the newt sperm.

Sperm storage influences the potential for spontaneous acrosome reaction of the sperm in the newt Cynops pyrrhogaster.

Sperm storage is supposed to influence sperm quality, although the details remain unclear. In the present study, we found that sperm stored in a sperm storage site, the vas deferens of Cynops pyrrhogaster, spontaneously undergo acrosome reaction following incubation in Steinberg's salt solution (ST). Percentages of acrosome-reacted sperm increased time-dependently to about 60% in 24 hr.

[Development and application of microbiology data monitoring system (Akita-ReNICS) for networking hospitals in Akita Prefecture].

Networking among regional hospitals recently became required for infection control activities in Japan. In Akita prefecture, we developed a microbiology data warehouse for networking hospital laboratories in 2010. Designated users can easily obtain microbiology data and compare it with other participating hospitals using this system.

Distinct Ca2+ channels maintain a high motility state of the sperm that may be needed for penetration of egg jelly of the newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster.

Activation state of sperm motility named "hyperactivation" enables mammalian sperm to progress through the oviductal matrix, although a similar state of sperm motility is unknown in non-mammalian vertebrates at fertilization. Here, we found a high motility state of the sperm in the newt Cynops pyrrhogaster. It was predominantly caused in egg jelly extract (JE) and characterized by a high wave velocity of the undulating membrane (UM) that was significantly higher at the posterior midpiece.

[Development of a microbiology data warehouse (Akita-ReNICS) for networking hospitals in a medical region].

The active involvement of hospital laboratory in surveillance is crucial to the success of nosocomial infection control. The recent dramatic increase of antimicrobial-resistant organisms and their spread into the community suggest that the infection control strategy of independent medical institutions is insufficient. To share the clinical data and surveillance in our local medical region, we developed a microbiology data warehouse for networking hospital laboratories in Akita prefecture.

EG2 expressed by eosinophils as a clinically useful indicator of asthma.

The monitoring of airway inflammation is mandatory for the improved control of bronchial asthma. We previously reported that intracellular EG2 levels of eosinophils, a marker of bronchial asthma increased in asthma patients. In this study, we hypothesized that eosinophil EG2(+) expression increases during airway inflammation in asthmatic individuals.

Co-existence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium intracellulare in one sputum sample.

An 81-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with a severe sore throat and a low grade fever. A chest radiograph showed bilateral diffuse reticulonodular shadows. By fluorescent stain for mycobacteria, his sputum smear showed acid-fast bacteria.

[Clinical evaluation after an introduction of our manual for antibiotic use during perioperative period and a notification policy of use of the antibiotics for MRSA].

Abuse of antibiotics results in unfavorable consequences in healthcare associated infection control, such as emergence of multiple-resistant bacteria, and increased medical cost and nosocomial infection. In 2003, we had an outbreak of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a surgical ward of Akita University Hospital. With the aim of preventing inappropriate use of antibiotics during perioperative period, a guideline for usage of antibiotics, which is made by surgeons themselves, was introduced, and a notification policy of the antibiotic use for MRSA was also applied in 2004.