DeLTa-Seq: High-Throughput Targeted RNA-Seq of Rice Leaves Without RNA Purification.

DeLTa-seq is a high-throughput RNA-seq library preparation method that enables quantification of the expression of hundreds of arbitrarily selected genes without RNA purification. This method involves direct reverse transcription using rice leaf lysate and targeted RNA-seq library preparation. DeLTa-seq enables the precise quantification of gene expression with a small number of sequencing reads.

Root anatomical plasticity contributes to the different adaptive responses of two species to water-deficit and low-oxygen conditions.

The runner reed (Phragmites japonica ) is the dominant species on riverbanks, whereas the common reed (Phragmites australis ) thrives in continuously flooded areas. Here, we aimed to identify the key root anatomical traits that determine the different adaptative responses of the two Phragmites species to water-deficit and low-oxygen conditions. Growth measurements revealed that P .

Alkannin Attenuates Amyloid Aggregation and Alzheimer's Disease Pathology.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that is accompanied by memory decline and cognitive dysfunction. Aggregated amyloid formation and accumulation may be one of the underlying mechanisms of the pathophysiology of AD. Therefore, compounds that can inhibit amyloid aggregation may be useful for treatment.

COOH-terminal fragment of APP interacts with p62, forms an aggregate, and induces autophagic degradation in Alzheimer's cell model.

Alzheimer's disease is an intractable disease, and the accumulation of amyloid β in the brain is thought to be involved in the onset of the disease. Additionally, abnormal protein accumulation due to autophagic deficiency may also be involved in disease progression. Autophagy involves a mechanism called selective autophagy.

DeLTa-Seq: direct-lysate targeted RNA-Seq from crude tissue lysate.

Background: Quantification of gene expression such as RNA-Seq is a popular approach to study various biological phenomena. Despite the development of RNA-Seq library preparation methods and sequencing platforms in the last decade, RNA extraction remains the most laborious and costly step in RNA-Seq of tissue samples of various organisms. Thus, it is still difficult to examine gene expression in thousands of samples.

Fillable and unfillable gaps in plant transcriptome under field and controlled environments.

The differences between plants grown in field and in controlled environments have long been recognized. However, few studies have addressed the underlying molecular mechanisms. To evaluate plant responses to fluctuating environments using laboratory equipment, we developed SmartGC, a high-performance growth chamber that reproduces the fluctuating irradiance, temperature and humidity of field environments.

Early introduction of very small amounts of multiple foods to infants: A randomized trial.

Background: We investigated whether multiple food allergies could be safely prevented by simultaneously administering very small amounts of multiple foods.

Methods: Infants 3-4 months old with atopic dermatitis from 14 primary care pediatric clinics in Japan were enrolled in this randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The infants were administered either mixed allergenic food powder (MP) containing egg, milk, wheat, soybean, buckwheat, and peanuts, or placebo powder (PP).

Post-earthquake dizziness syndrome following the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, Japan.

This study aimed to examine the types and causes of dizziness experienced by individuals after a major earthquake. This cross-sectional study enrolled healthy participants who experienced the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes and their aftershocks. Participants completed a questionnaire survey on their symptoms and experiences after the earthquakes.

H3K27me3 demethylases alter HSP22 and HSP17.6C expression in response to recurring heat in Arabidopsis.

Acclimation to high temperature increases plants' tolerance of subsequent lethal high temperatures. Although epigenetic regulation of plant gene expression is well studied, how plants maintain a memory of environmental changes over time remains unclear. Here, we show that JUMONJI (JMJ) proteins, demethylases involved in histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3), are necessary for Arabidopsis thaliana heat acclimation.

Comparison between MB11 BERAphone® and ALGO2e color for hearing screening in Japanese healthy newborns.

Background: Since 2001, newborn hearing screening has been performed in Japan.

Objective: This study compared newborn hearing screening results between the MAICO MB11 BERAphone (MB11) and the Natus ALGO2e color (ALGO) Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR) devices among healthy Japanese newborns.

Materials And Methods: From December 2014 to April 2018, 1477 healthy newborns were screened by MB11 and 267 by ALGO.

Polymorphic SERPINA3 prolongs oligomeric state of amyloid beta.

Molecular chaperon SERPINA3 colocalizes with accumulated amyloid peptide in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patient's brain. From the QTL analysis, we narrowed down Serpina3 with two SNPs in senescence-accelerated mouse prone (SAMP) 8 strain. Our study showed SAMP8 type Serpina3 prolonged retention of oligomeric Aβ 42 for longer duration (72 hr) while observing under transmission electron microscope (TEM).

Transitional nystagmus in a Bow Hunter's Syndrome case report.

Background: Bow Hunter's Syndrome (BHS) is known as one of cervical diseases which causes vertigo, but the details of its vertigo, especially nystagmus and eye movement, are still incompletely understood. This time, we reported the first case of BHS with a nystagmus chart with video record of transitional nystagmus.

Case Presentation: The patient, a 47-year-old female, complained of vertigo caused by head rotation.

Prognostic factors of recovery with medication in patients with taste disorders.

Objectives: We aimed to elucidate the prognostic factors of the patients with taste disorders who were treated with popular and common medication in Japan.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study on the medical charts of a total of 255 patients with taste disorders who were treated primarily with oral medication including a zinc agent.

Results: The factors below were significantly linked with poor prognosis: 1) male gender, 2) taste disorders that began 3 months before starting treatment and 3) a severe taste disorder grade at the initial visit.

Long-term treatment of Japanese cedar pollinosis with Japanese cedar pollen SLIT drops and persistence of treatment effect: A post-marketing clinical trial.

Background: There have been no reports of treatment effect persistence after long-term sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in patients with Japanese cedar (JC) pollinosis. Therefore, we conducted a post-marketing clinical trial to investigate the efficacy, safety, and effect persistence of JC pollen SLIT drops after approximately 3 years of treatment.

Methods: This was an open-label trial of 233 patients with JC pollinosis who were treated with JC pollen SLIT drops for approximately 3 years (2015-2017) and followed-up for an additional 2 years (2018-2019).

Uptake of further investigations following universal urinary screening among elementary and junior high school students in Shiga Prefecture, Japan: A retrospective cohort study.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the current progression status from screening phase to further investigation phase in the Japanese school urine mass screening (SUS) project.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study on the SUS project across the Shiga Prefecture during 2012 to 2017 analysed data from school life instruction sheets, which are principal documents in the SUS project, regarding urinalysis, attendance at follow-up and diagnoses.

Results: Between the years 2012 to 2017, a median of 107 out of 83 749 elementary school students (aged 6-11 years) and 215 out of 42 870 junior high students (aged 12-14 years) had urine abnormalities identified for the first time in the SUS project.

Caspase-8 Regulates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Necroptosis Independent of the Apoptosis Pathway in Auditory Cells.

The aim of this study is to elucidate the detailed mechanism of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced auditory cell death based on the function of the initiator caspases and molecular complex of necroptosis. Here, we demonstrated that ER stress initiates not only caspase-9-dependent intrinsic apoptosis along with caspase-3, but also receptor-interacting serine/threonine kinase (RIPK)1-dependent necroptosis in auditory cells. We observed the ultrastructural characteristics of both apoptosis and necroptosis in tunicamycin-treated cells under transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Repeated Attacks of Dizziness Caused by a Rare Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy.

Cases of dizziness caused by multiple sclerosis are commonly reported, but those caused by mitochondrial encephalomyopathy have been rarely reported. Particularly, the description of eye nystagmography (ENG) using caloric and optokinetic nystagmus tests has not been reported to date. We encountered the case of a 40-year-old woman with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy who visited us with the chief complaint of dizziness.

Otorhinolaryngology surgery analysis in Japan and Thailand: Comparing Nihon University School of Medicine with Thammasat University Faculty of Medicine.

Background/objective: We compared the surgery data of the department of otorhinolaryngology of the university hospitals in Japan and Thailand to make each feature and the differences of both otorhinolaryngology surgeries clear. There are some medical meetings and congresses between Japan and Thailand, but so far it has not reported about the comparison of surgery data.

Methods: Retrospectively, we analyzed the surgical statistics of department of otorhinolaryngology of Nihon University Itabashi Hospital (Japan) and Thammasat University Hospital (Thailand) between 2013 and 2014.

The Effect of Comorbidity between Tinnitus and Dizziness on Perceived Handicap, Psychological Distress, and Quality of Life.

Tinnitus and dizziness are common complaints encountered in the department of otolaryngology. We hypothesized that when patients complain of both tinnitus and dizziness, perceived handicap, impairment of quality of life, and emotional distress are more severe than the patient who complain of either tinnitus or dizziness. The subjects for this study were 736 patients who visited Hino Municipal Hospital between August 2010 and March 2012, complaining of tinnitus or dizziness.

Involvement of endoplasmic reticulum stress and neurite outgrowth in the model mice of autism spectrum disorder.

Neurodevelopmental disorders are congenital impairments, impeding the growth and development of the central nervous system. These disorders include autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5. ASD is caused by a gene defect and chromosomal duplication.

XBP1-FoxO1 interaction regulates ER stress-induced autophagy in auditory cells.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship among X-box-binding protein 1 unspliced, spliced (XBP1u, s), Forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) and autophagy in the auditory cells under endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In addition, the relationship between ER stress that causes unfolded protein response (UPR) and autophagy was also investigated. The present study reported ER stress induction by tunicamycin treatment that resulted in IRE1α-mediated XBP1 mRNA splicing and autophagy.