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The aggregated transfer factor (T ag ) is commonly used to represent the actual transfer of radiocesium from soil to wild edible plants, but the values have shown substantial variation since the Fukushima nuclear accident. To elucidate the factors causing this variation, we investigated the effects of spatial scale and vertical 137 Cs distribution in the soil on the variation of T ag - 137 Cs values for one of the most severely contaminated wild edible plants, Eleutherococcus sciadophylloides Franch. et Sav. (Koshiabura). The variation in T ag - 137 Cs values was not reduced by direct measurement of 137 Cs deposition in soil samples from the Koshiabura habitat, as a substitute for using spatially averaged airborne survey data at the administrative district scale. The 137 Cs activity concentration in Koshiabura buds showed a significant positive correlation with the 137 Cs inventories only in the organic horizon of soil from the Koshiabura habitat. The ratio of 137 Cs inventories in the organic horizon to the total 137 Cs deposition in soil exhibited substantial variation, especially in broad-leaved deciduous forests that Koshiabura primarily inhabits. This variation may be the cause of the wide range of T ag - 137 Cs values observed in Koshiabura buds when calculated from the total 137 Cs deposition in soil., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related neuropathic pain is a debilitating chronic condition that is severe and unrelenting. Despite the extensive research, the exact neuropathological mechanisms remain unknown, which hinders our ability to develop effective treatments. Loss of GABAergic tone may have an important role in the neuropathic pain state. Glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) is one of the isoforms that catalyze GABA synthesis. Here, we used recombinant herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) vectors that encode gad1 gene to evaluate the therapeutic potential of GAD67 in peripheral HIV gp120-induced neuropathic pain in rats. We found that (1) subcutaneous inoculation of the HSV vectors expressing GAD67 attenuated mechanical allodynia in the model of HIV gp120-induced neuropathic pain, (2) the anti-allodynic effect of GAD67 was reduced by GABA-A and-B receptors antagonists, (3) HSV vectors expressing GAD67 reversed the lowered GABA-IR expression and (4) the HSV vectors expressing GAD67 suppressed the upregulated mitochondrial superoxide and Wnt5a in the spinal dorsal horn. Taken together, our studies support the concept that recovering GABAergic tone by the HSV vectors may reverse HIV-associated neuropathic pain through suppressing mitochondrial superoxide and Wnt5a. Our studies provide validation of HSV-mediated GAD67 gene therapy in the treatment of HIV-related neuropathic pain.