The chloroplastic 2-oxoglutarate/malate transporter has dual function as the malate valve and in carbon/nitrogen metabolism.

Transport of dicarboxylates across the chloroplast envelope plays an important role in transferring carbon skeletons to the nitrogen assimilation pathway and exporting reducing equivalent to the cytosol to prevent photo-inhibition (the malate valve). It was previously shown that the Arabidopsis plastidic 2-oxoglutarate/malate transporter (AtpOMT1) and the general dicarboxylate transporter (AtpDCT1) play crucial roles at the interface between carbon and nitrogen metabolism. However, based on the in vitro transport properties of the recombinant transporters, it was hypothesized that AtpOMT1 might play a dual role, also functioning as an oxaloacetate/malate transporter, which is a crucial but currently unidentified component of the chloroplast malate valve.

Promotion of flowering and reduction of a generation time in apple seedlings by ectopical expression of the Arabidopsis thaliana FT gene using the Apple latent spherical virus vector.

Tree crops have a long juvenile period which is a serious constraint for genetic improvement and experimental research. For example, apple remains in a juvenile phase for more than five years after seed germination. Here, we report about induction of rapid flowering in apple seedlings using the Apple latent spherical virus (ALSV) vector expressing a FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene from Arabidopsis thaliana.

Expression of FLOWERING LOCUS T from Arabidopsis thaliana induces precocious flowering in soybean irrespective of maturity group and stem growth habit.

The flowering integrator gene FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) in Arabidopsis thaliana is conserved between diverse plant species and is thought to be the flowering signal ''florigen'', a universal long-distance mobile signal. In soybean, two FT homologs having a function to induce flowering in Arabidopsis have been identified. In this study, we showed that the expression of FT from Arabidopsis by the Apple latent spherical virus (ALSV) vector promoted precocious flowering and terminated vegetative growth in a wide range of genotypes of soybean, without using a short-day treatment.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cyst lining epithelial cells in an orthologous PCK rat model of autosomal-recessive polycystic kidney disease.

In polycystic kidney disease (PKD), cyst lining cells show polarity abnormalities. Recent studies have demonstrated loss of cell contact in cyst cells, suggesting induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Recently, EMT has been implicated in the pathogenesis of PKD.

Asymmetric synthesis of telcagepant, a CGRP receptor antagonist for the treatment of migraine.

A highly efficient, asymmetric synthesis of telcagepant (1), a CGRP receptor antagonist for the treatment of migraine, is described. This synthesis features the first application of iminium organocatalysis on an industrial scale. The key to the success of this organocatalytic transformation was the identification of a dual acid cocatalyst system, which allowed striking a balance of the reaction efficiency and product stability effectively.

The relationship between arginine vasopressin levels and hyponatremia following a percutaneous renal biopsy in children receiving hypotonic or isotonic intravenous fluids.

Post-operative hyponatremia is a common complication in children which results from hypotonic fluid administration in the presence of arginine vasopressin (AVP) excess. We evaluated the relationship between the change in serum sodium and AVP levels following percutaneous renal biopsy in children receiving either hypotonic or isotonic fluids. This study was prompted after we encountered a patient who developed near-fatal hyponatremic encephalopathy following a renal biopsy while receiving hypotonic fluids.

Inhibitory effect of Cordyceps sinensis on experimental hepatic metastasis of melanoma by suppressing tumor cell invasion.

We investigated the anti-metastatic activity of a water extract of Cordyceps sinensis (WECS) using a model of mice injected with B16-F0 mouse melanoma cells into the spleen. WECS administered intraperitoneally reduced the number of metastatic surface nodules of B16-F0 cells in the liver of C57BL/6Cr mice in a dose-dependent manner, and significantly prolonged their survival. To identify the mechanism of the anti-metastatic effect of WECS, we examined its effects on hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-accelerated invasion of B16-F0 cells using a chemo-invasion assay in vitro.

Clinical characteristics of patients with kawasaki disease and levels of peripheral endothelial progenitor cells and blood monocyte subpopulations.

Background: Coronary sequelae that persist after Kawasaki disease (KD) have been associated with coronary vascular events in adolescents and young adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between coronary sequelae late after KD and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), as a marker of vascular repair, or monocyte subsets as a marker of inflammation.

Methods And Results: The 31 KD patients were divided into 3 groups according to the type of coronary artery lesion (CAL): group 1 consisted of 14 patients with persistent aneurysm; group 2 consisted of 9 patients with regressed aneurysms; group 3 included 8 KD patients with normal coronary arteries from disease onset.

The pharmacological characteristics of molecular-based inherited salt-losing tubulopathies.

Context: Our understanding of inherited salt-losing tubulopathies has improved with recent advances in molecular genetics. However, the terminology of Bartter syndrome and Gitelman syndrome does not always accurately reflect their pathophysiological basis or clinical presentation, and some patients are difficult to diagnose from their clinical presentations.

Objective: In the present study, we conducted molecular analysis and diuretic tests for patients with inherited salt-losing tubulopathies to clarify the pharmacological characteristics of these disorders.

Isoprenoid geranylgeranylacetone inhibits human colon cancer cells through induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.

Geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), an isoprenoid compound, is a widely used antiulcer drug developed in Japan. GGA is structurally similar to plaunotol and geranylgeraniol, another isoprenoid reported to exert strong anticancer effects. In an earlier study, GGA was shown to inhibit ovarian cancer invasion by attenuating not only Rho activation, but also Ras-MAPK activation.

A need for play specialists in Japanese children's wards.

The importance of distraction techniques and play therapy for sick children has long been recognised by nurses in the UK and other western countries. Although these techniques are not so well established in Japan there is growing interest in them. The authors conducted a survey and found that children's nurses in Japan appreciated the value of distraction techniques and play therapy.

Remifentanil increases the incidence of mesenteric traction syndrome: preliminary randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: The use of remifentanil is often associated with the observation of mesenteric traction syndrome (MTS) soon after manipulation of the intestine during abdominal surgery. MTS symptoms include facial flushing, hypotension, and tachycardia. In the study reported here, we prospectively investigated the effects of remifentanil on the incidence of MTS in abdominal surgery.

Disappearance of glomerular IgA deposits in childhood IgA nephropathy showing diffuse mesangial proliferation after 2 years of combination/prednisolone therapy.

Background: The prognosis of children with severe IgA nephropathy showing diffuse mesangial proliferation is poor. However, the prognosis can be improved by combination therapy (prednisolone + azathioprine or mizoribine + warfarin + dipyridamole) or prednisolone alone over a 2-year period, and disappearance of glomerular IgA deposits is often observed. Details of the incidence and clinicopathological significance of glomerular IgA disappearance remain unclear.

Treatment with microemulsified cyclosporine in children with frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome.

Background: We previously established a treatment protocol for conventional cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Novartis, Basel, Switzerland) in children with frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome; ∼50% of patients remained relapse free for 2 years, without serious adverse events. Recently, microemulsified cyclosporine (Neoral, Novartis), which has a more stable absorption profile than conventional cyclosporine, has been developed. We tested the hypothesis that microemulsified cyclosporine is at least as effective as conventional cyclosporine.

Marker of T-cell activation is elevated in refractory Kawasaki disease.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether T-cell activation is involved in the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD) resistant to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment.

Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 27 patients who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for KD. These 27 patients were divided into three groups according to their responses to IVIG: Group A, nine patients who showed no response to either initial IVIG or additional IVIG; Group B, six patients who did not respond to initial IVIG but did respond to additional IVIG; Group C, 12 patients who responded to initial IVIG.

Nav1.7-Ca2+ influx-induced increased phosphorylations of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 attenuate tau phosphorylation via glycogen synthase kinase-3beta: priming of Nav1.7 gating by ERK and p38.

In cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells expressing Nav1.7 sodium channel isoform, we previously showed that veratridine-induced Na+ influx via Nav1.7 and the subsequent Ca2+ influx via voltage-dependent calcium channels activated protein kinase C-alpha and Akt, which converged on increasing inhibitory Ser9-phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta, decreasing constitutive Ser396-phosphorylation of tau.

Association between iron status and neurodevelopmental outcomes among VLBW infants.

Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate iron status and neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with and without extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR).

Methods: This observational study evaluated 38 medically stable premature infants, with birth weights below 1500g. Iron status was determined by measuring venous levels of Hb, Fe, and serum ferritin.

Extra-nodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma, nasal-type, treated by concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

The present study reports on a case of extra-nodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma, nasal-type (ENKL), stage IIEA, in a 50-year-old woman who presented with a white tumor on a refractory ulcer on the gum. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy was administered, and effected a partial response. However, tumor recurrence was observed 5 months after the final diagnosis, and the patient succumbed 1 month after recurrence.

Cochlear implant fixation and dura exposure.

Objective: To determine the current common practices and techniques used to fixate and stabilize internal receivers.

Study Design: Retrospective, anonymized, cross-sectional survey.

Setting: William House Cochlear Implant Study Group Meeting in September 2008.

Allozymic variation and phylogeography of two genetic types of Onychodactylus japonicus (Amphibia: Caudata: Hynobiidae) sympatric in the Kinki District, Japan.

On the basis of allozyme and mtDNA sequence variation, we elucidated genetic relationships between two sympatric genetic types of Onychodactylus japonicus in Kinki and adjacent districts, and investigated their phylogeography. Allozymic analysis revealed the presence of two distinct genetic types (the SW-Honshu and Kinki groups) in this area, and their sympatric occurrence in three of 10 sampling sites. Fixed or nearly fixed allele differences in several loci strongly suggested reproductive isolation between the two types, although one hybrid specimen was found in a locality.

Have tumor suppressor PDCD4 and its counteragent oncogenic miR-21 gone rogue?

A recent article suggests that the well known tumor suppressor PDCD4 also functions as a pro-inflammatory agent. The PDCD4 counteragent miR-21, a pro-oncogenic micro-RNA, is described as an anti-inflammatory agent. The authors of this research article provide evidence that mice lacking PDCD4 are protected from the lethal effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 gene polymorphisms in Japanese children with infection-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Objective: This study examined whether genetic polymorphisms in cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), a negative regulator of T cells, are associated with infection-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (IHLH) in Japanese children.

Methods: We investigated the alleles of four polymorphisms in the CTLA-4 gene [-318CT, +49AG, CT60 and a dinucleotide repeat length polymorphism (AT)n] in 43 Japanese children with IHLH and 100 healthy Japanese controls. The hyper-polymorphic (AT)n alleles were divided into two types; the shortest allele (designated as AT(7)) and the longer alleles (designated as AT(>)(7)).

The Oxford IgA nephropathy clinicopathological classification is valid for children as well as adults.

To study the predictive value of biopsy lesions in IgA nephropathy in a range of patient ages we retrospectively analyzed the cohort that was used to derive a new classification system for IgA nephropathy. A total of 206 adults and 59 children with proteinuria over 0.5 g/24 h/1.

Homologous posttranscriptional regulation of insulin-like growth factor-I receptor level via glycogen synthase kinase-3beta and mammalian target of rapamycin in adrenal chromaffin cells: effect on tau phosphorylation.

In cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells, approximately 24 h-treatment with insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) decreased cell surface (125)I-IGF-I binding capacity and IGF-I receptor protein level by approximately 64% (EC(50) = 5.0 nM; t(1/2) = approximately 7 h). IGF-I-induced IGF-I receptor decrease was abolished by LY294002 (phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor) and partially attenuated by rapamycin (an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin [mTOR]).

Complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the endangered frog Odorrana ishikawae (family Ranidae) and unexpected diversity of mt gene arrangements in ranids.

We determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial (mt) genome of an endangered Japanese frog, Odorrana ishikawae (family Ranidae). We also sequenced partial mt genomes of three other Odorrana and six ranid species to survey the diversity of genomic organizations and elucidate the phylogenetic problems remaining in this frog family. The O.