Distinct microbiome dysbiosis and epigenetic anomaly in esophageal adenocarcinoma and its underlying Barrett's esophagus.

Interaction between host genotoxic changes and mucosa-associated microbiome (MAM) dysbiosis may have a role in various digestive cancers. We investigated MAM in Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) progression sequence and its association with host genotoxic changes. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed in three different groups of biopsies from nonneoplastic BE from patients without cancer (N, normal group; n = 47) and with EAC (ADJ, adjacent group; n = 27).

Unraveling the DNA methylation landscape in dog blood across breeds.

Background: DNA methylation is a covalent bond modification that is observed mainly at cytosine bases in the context of CG pairs. DNA methylation patterns reflect the status of individual tissues, such as cell composition, age, and the local environment, in mammals. Genetic factors also impact DNA methylation, and the genetic diversity among various dog breeds provides a valuable platform for exploring this topic.

Nodal T-cell lymphoma with eosinophilic infiltration and sclerosing fibroplasia in a cat with eosinophilia.

An 8-year-old castrated male mixed-breed cat presented with an abdominal mass of unknown origin, accompanied by eosinophilia. Autopsy revealed mild-to-severe enlargement of lymph nodes throughout the body and multiple nodules in the lungs. Histopathologically, the lymph nodes showed severe fibroplasia and infiltration by a large number of eosinophils and fewer tumor cells, exhibiting large-sized lymphoid cell morphology.

Microbiome of esophageal endoscopic wash samples is associated with resident flora in the esophagus and incidence of cancer.

Change in mucosal microbiome is associated with various types of cancer in digestive tract. We hypothesized that microbial communities in the esophageal endoscopic wash fluids reflects resident flora in esophageal mucosa that is associated with esophageal carcinoma (EC) risk and/or directly correlates microbiome derived from EC tumor tissue. Studying microbial communities in esophageal endoscopic wash samples would be therefore useful to predict the incidence or risk of EC.

A de novo nonsense variant in the DMD gene associated with X-linked dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy in a cat.

Background: X-linked dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy (MD) is a form of MD caused by variants in the DMD gene. It is a fatal disease characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of skeletal muscles.

Hypothesis/objectives: Identify deleterious genetic variants in DMD by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) using a next-generation sequencer.

Use of genome-wide DNA methylation analysis to identify prognostic CpG site markers associated with longer survival time in dogs with multicentric high-grade B-cell lymphoma.

Background: DNA methylation analysis might identify prognostic CpG sites in CHOP-treated dogs with multicentric high-grade B-cell lymphoma (MHGL) with heterogenous prognosis.

Objective: To identify prognostic CpG sites of MHGL through genome-wide DNA methylation analysis with pyrosequencing validation.

Animals: Test group: 24 dogs.

Moving From Transactional to Relational: How Funders Can Work in Partnership With Black, Indigenous and People of Color Communities.

Background: The Racial Equity Coalition (REC) formed to address persistent educational disparities. The coalition was composed of 14 Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) organizations that provide culturally integrative youth services.

Objectives: REC, with support from United Way of King County, engaged in participatory research to identify commonalities and shared struggles to inform collective action.

Helicobacter pylori infection associated DNA methylation in primary gastric cancer significantly correlates with specific molecular and clinicopathological features.

Helicobacter pylori induces DNA methylation in gastric mucosa, which links to gastric cancer (GC) risk. In contrast, CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) is defined as high levels of cancer-specific methylation and provides distinct molecular and clinicopathological features of GC. The association between those two types of methylation in GC remains unclear.

Canine, mouse, and human transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channels show different sensitivity to menthol or cold stimulation.

Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is a nonselective cation channel that is activated by a variety of stimuli and acts as a nociceptor. Mouse and human TRPA1 exhibit different reactivity to some stimuli, including chemicals such as menthol as well as cold stimuli. The cold sensitivity of TRPA1 in mammalian species is controversial.

Microarchitectures of Barrett's esophagus associated with DNA methylation status.

DNA methylation is involved in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and Barrett's esophagus (BE). Microarchitectures of on-neoplastic BE associated with DNA methylation status were examined using magnifying narrow-band imaging (NBI) endoscopy. Using biopsies from non-neoplastic BE without cancer (n = 66; N group), with EAC (n = 27; ADJ group) and EAC tissue (n = 22; T group), methylation of and  genes were quantified.

Telomere Shortening of Barrett's Esophagus and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma in Japanese Patients.

Telomere shortening is deeply involved in many types of cancer. Telomere length of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and Barrett's esophagus (BE) was examined in Japanese patients. Among BE from cancer free patients (Cancer free), BE from patients with EAC (Adjacent) and EAC tissue (Cancer), Cancer free group presented the longest telomeres, while Cancer group presented the shortest telomeres and Adjacent group presented intermediate telomeres.

The effect of breathing relaxation to improve poor sleep quality in adults using a huggable human-shaped device: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To examine whether or not breathing relaxation, using a huggable human-shaped device, improves poor sleep quality in adults.

Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial using outpatients with sleep problems from two clinics in Japan. The intervention group conducted three minutes of breathing relaxation using a huggable human-shaped device before going to bed every night for four weeks.

Investigation of the therapeutic effects, predictors, and complications of long-term immunosuppressive therapy in dogs with precursor-targeted immune-mediated anemia.

Dogs with precursor-targeted immune-mediated anemia (PIMA) are commonly treated with immunosuppressive therapy, but information on predictors of treatment response and response time is limited. Therefore, we retrospectively investigated predictive factors that influenced the treatment response and duration required to observe a response in dogs with PIMA receiving continuous immunosuppressive therapies for more than 105 days. Of 50 client-owned dogs that developed PIMA, 27 were included in this study, of which 18 were responders and 9 were non-responders to immunosuppressive therapies.

Comprehensive DNA methylation profiling of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma in Japanese patients.

Molecular mechanisms of Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) remain unclear in Japanese patients. Japanese EACs frequently have underlying short length BE: short-segment BE (SSBE), for which, neoplastic potential remains unclear. We performed comprehensive methylation profiling of EAC and BE in Japanese patients, mostly comprised with SSBE.

Transcriptome and proteome analysis of dogs with precursor targeted immune-mediated anemia treated with splenectomy.

Precursor-targeted immune-mediated anemia (PIMA) in dogs is characterized by persistent non-regenerative anemia and ineffective erythropoiesis, and it is suspected to be an immune-mediated disease. Most affected dogs respond to immunosuppressive therapies; however, some are resistant. In this study, we carried out splenectomy as an alternative therapy for refractory PIMA in dogs, and analyzed gene expression levels in the spleen of dogs with or without PIMA and in serum before and after splenectomy.

Evaluation of responses to immunosuppressive therapy in dogs with suspected non-regenerative immune-mediated anaemia: 11 cases (2012-2018).

Objectives: We aimed to determine the response time to immunosuppressive therapy and time required to achieve a 5% increase in haematocrit among dogs with non-regenerative immune-mediated anaemia.

Materials And Methods: Client-owned dogs diagnosed with non-regenerative immune-mediated anaemia in Hokkaido University Veterinary Teaching Hospital between December 2012 and May 2018 were enrolled. The first treatment regimen included prednisolone (2 mg/kg/day) and ciclosporin (up to 10 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks.

Age estimation based on blood DNA methylation levels in brown bears.

Age is an essential trait for understanding the ecology and management of wildlife. A conventional method of estimating age in wild animals is counting annuli formed in the cementum of teeth. This method has been used in bears despite some disadvantages, such as high invasiveness and the requirement for experienced observers.

How do introductory field biology students feel? Journal reflections provide insight into student affect.

An understanding of both cognitive and affective domains of learning is critical to promoting undergraduate student success in biology. Field courses-which support student learning, observation, and experimentation in the outdoors-have been shown to be effective in supporting cognitive student outcomes. However, less is known about students' affective responses during field instruction.

Simultaneous quantification of oligo-nucleic acids and a ferritin nanocage by size-exclusion chromatography hyphenated to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for developing drug delivery systems.

An analytical methodology, which can quantify nucleic acids, ferritin nanocages, and their complexes in a single injection, was established by means of size-exclusion chromatography hyphenated with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SEC-ICP-MS). In this study, several oligo-nucleic acids and ferritin (a human-derived cage-shaped protein) were used as model compounds of nucleic acid drugs (NAD) and drug delivery system (DDS) carriers, respectively. A fraction based on the nucleic acid-ferritin complex was completely distinguished from one based on free nucleic acids by SEC separation.

Manipulating histone acetylation leads to antitumor effects in hemangiosarcoma cells.

Canine hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a malignant tumour derived from endothelial cells. No effective treatment has yet been developed because of the lack of understanding of its pathogenesis. Histone acetylation, an epigenetic modification, is highly associated with cancer pathogenesis.