Asymmetry in the reproductive interference between two closely related species of spider mites, Panonychus citri and Panonychus osmanthi (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae).

An incomplete species recognition system may cause reproductive interference. Interspecific mating between Panonychus citri and Panonychus osmanthi produced apparently normal F hybrid females. However, the F females laid few eggs, and the produced eggs did not hatch (suggesting hybrid breakdown).

Hyperglycemia contributes to the development of Leydig cell hyperplasia in male Spontaneously Diabetic Torii rats.

Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) rats are a well-known animal model of non-obese type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although this animal model has been studied extensively over the last decade, the incidence rates of Leydig cell hyperplasia and tumors in this model have not been reported. In this study, pathophysiological analyses of the testes were performed on male SDT rats, to understand the effect of insulin treatment on the development of Leydig cell hyperplasia and tumors and the expression of integrins and extracellular matrix proteins.

Bypassing stroke-damaged neural pathways via a neural interface induces targeted cortical adaptation.

Regaining the function of an impaired limb is highly desirable in paralyzed individuals. One possible avenue to achieve this goal is to bridge the interrupted pathway between preserved neural structures and muscles using a brain-computer interface. Here, we demonstrate that monkeys with subcortical stroke were able to learn to use an artificial cortico-muscular connection (ACMC), which transforms cortical activity into electrical stimulation to the hand muscles, to regain volitional control of a paralysed hand.

Asian dust exposure triggers acute myocardial infarction.

Aims: To elucidate whether Asian dust is associated with the incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to clarify whether patients who are highly sensitive to Asian dust will develop AMI.

Methods And Results: Twenty-one participating institutions located throughout Kumamoto Prefecture and capable of performing coronary intervention were included in the study. Data for ground-level observations of Asian dust events were measured at the Kumamoto Local Meteorological Observatory.

Associations Between Fine Particulate Matter Components and Daily Mortality in Nagoya, Japan.

Background: Seasonal variation and regional heterogeneity have been observed in the estimated effect of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) mass on mortality. Differences in the chemical compositions of PM2.

Risk factors for invasive aspergillosis in living donor liver transplant recipients.

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a severe complication of liver transplantation. Risk factors for IA after deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) have been presented in several reports, but are not well established for living donor liver transplant recipients. Here, a retrospective case-control study was performed.

Winter photosynthesis by saplings of evergreen broad-leaved trees in a deciduous temperate forest.

* Here we investigated photosynthetic traits of evergreen species under a deciduous canopy in a temperate forest and revealed the importance of CO2 assimilation during winter for annual CO2 assimilation. * Saplings were shaded by the canopy trees from spring through to autumn, but were less shaded during the winter months. Photosynthetic rates at light saturation (Aarea) were lower during winter than during the growing season.

Phenology and photosynthetic traits of short shoots and long shoots in Betula grossa.

Leaf phenology, growth irradiance (i.e., photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) at the leaf surface) and photosynthetic capacity (A(area); measured at a PPF of 1000 micro mol m(-2) s(-1) and expressed on a leaf area basis) were investigated in early leaves (ELs) and late leaves (LLs) of Betula grossa Siebold & Zucc.

Biodegradable microspheres targeting mucosal immune-regulating cells: new approach for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Several studies have indicated that active monocytes, such as macrophages and T cells, play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), although the etiology remains unclear. Manipulation of these cells appears essential for the treatment of patients with IBD. Recently, considerable attention has been paid to the use of polymer microspheres for the sustained release of various drugs and the targeting of therapeutic agents to their site of action.

Intestinal drug delivery systems with biodegradable microspheres targeting mucosal immune-regulating cells for chronic inflammatory colitis.

We developed two kinds of delivery systems targeting mucosal immune regulating cells with poly (D,L-lactic acid) microspheres containing dexamethasone and dichloromethylene diphosphonate, and gelatine microspheres containing interleukin-10. To estimate the efficacy of these drug delivery systems, we studied the effects on experimental colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, and interleukin-10-deficient mice. Intestinal administration of these microspheres significantly improved colitis with decreased histological score, myeloperoxidase activity, and nitric oxide production compared with mice treated with free agents.

Therapeutic effects on intestinal Behçet's disease of an intravenous drug delivery system using dexamethasone incorporated in lipid emulsion.

Recurrent intestinal ulcer is a frequent problem in the management of Behçet's disease. However, no standard therapy for intestinal Beheçt's disease has been established. We report two patients with intestinal Behçet disease and recurrent ileal ulcers who were treated successfuly with a lipid emulsion of dexamethasone.

Rectal immunization with antigen-containing microspheres induces stronger Th2 responses than oral immunization: a new method for vaccination.

The rectum as an effective site for induction of systemic and local immunity has received little attention. Rectal immunization with microspheres-containing ovalbumin (MS-OVA) was tested for its ability to elicit systemic and mucosal immune responses. Rectal immunization with MS-OVA enhanced both Th2 dominant OVA-specific IgG levels in the serum and OVA-specific IgA levels in fecal extracts more prominently than did oral immunization.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of NAD kinase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv.

NAD kinase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv utilizes ATP or inorganic polyphosphate [poly(P)] as a phosphoryl donor for the phosphorylation of NAD. The enzyme overexpressed in Escherichia coli was purified and crystallized by means of the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method with polyethylene glycol 4000 as the precipitant. Preliminary X-ray analysis of the resultant crystals revealed they belonged to the monoclinic space group C2 and had unit-cell parameters a = 140.

Induction of N-hydroxycinnamoyltyramine synthesis and tyramine N-hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (THT) activity by wounding in maize leaves.

Both N-p-coumaroyl- and N-feruloyltyramine accumulated in response to wounding in leaf segments of maize. The amount of N-hydroxycinnamoyltyramines started to increase 3-6 h after wounding and peaked at 12 h. Thereafter, the amount of N-p-coumaroyltyramine decreased rapidly, while the N-feruloyltyramine content remained at a high level.