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Adult caddisflies were collected weekly from a spring-fed brook of Shimauchi-yusui from 11 April 2013 to 5 June 2014. A total of 11867 specimens belonging to 39 species, 18 genera and 14 families were identified. The most abundant species collected in 1 year (the first 52 weeks) were Agapetus sibiricus Martynov 1918 (60%), Apatania aberrans (Martynov 1933) (12%) and Micrasema spinosum Nozaki and Tanida 2007 (5.4%). The Trichoptera fauna mainly reflected the major larval habitats of this brook, but other factors such as water temperature also probably affect species composition. The most common species (wherein more than 50 individuals were collected) had discrete seasonal flight periods.

Three specimens of the rare scyphozoan Stellamedusa ventana Raskoff & Matsumoto, 2004 were collected during a vertical plankton tow on April 2013 in a shallow bay on the Eastern Tropical Pacific that was sampled eight times from 2011 to 2013. Previously observed only in Monterey Bay, California and the Sea of Cortéz; this new record for Bahía Salinas, Costa Rica represents a range extension of ~ 2900 km. This and other shallow water sightings in Monterey Bay suggest that this species is not restricted to mesopelagic environments, although shallow observations might be a consequence of local upwelling events. Universidad de Costa Rica/[808-B1-194]UCR/Costa Rica UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de Biología UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR)

Summary The Matsumoto Eosinophilic Shinshu (MES) rat is an inbred mutant strain that spontaneously develops systemic hypereosinophilia with eosinophilic inflammatory lesions similar to those associated with hypereosinophilic syndrome in humans and other mammals. To elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms that underlie these features of MES rats, we examined the pattern of cytokine gene expression in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), the thymus, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells as well as the blood clinicopathology and MLN lymphocytic subsets of these animals. MES rats exhibited both leucocytosis, attributable in large part to hypereosinophilia and neutrophilia, and immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgA gammaglobulinaemia, with increased titres of IgM autoantibodies to nuclear antigens. Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the amounts of interleukin (IL)-5, IL-4, eotaxin, and interferon-γ mRNAs were increased in the MLN lymphocytes of MES rats compared with the corresponding values for Sprague-Dawley rats. Intraperitoneal administration of a monoclonal antibody specific for IL-5 resulted in an immediate suppression of hypereosinophilia and a delayed suppression of neutrophilia in MES rats. Flow cytometry revealed an increased percentage of CD3+ CD4– CD8– T lymphocytes in MLNs of MES rats. Our results suggest that the hypereosinophilia of MES rats results from an increased production of IL-5, and that the eosinophilic inflammatory lesions of these animals, which are largely restricted to the gut, may be related both to cytokine overexpression in MLNs and to T helper 1 and 2 immunological responses.

The Matsumoto Eosinophilic Shinshu (MES) rat originated from an inbred mutant colony of rats with spontaneous eosinophilia. As part of an investigation of the pathogenesis of the MES rat, we examined the haematology data for 106 males and 88 females and age-associated changes using an automated haematology analyser, flow cytometric analysis and morphological examination. The data at 10 weeks of age showed the MES rats had higher counts for eosinophils and neutrophils, slightly higher counts for lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, and large unstained cells (LUCs), and slightly lower values for the erythrocytic parameters when compared with Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. In data for MES rats aged 8 to 20 weeks, eosinophil counts increased with age up to 20 weeks together with some increased neutrophil counts. After 11 weeks of age, counts for lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, and LUCs in the MES rats were also slightly increased. In female MES rats, flow cytometric analysis showed increased counts for pan-T+ cells, but blasts, abnormal granulocytes and lymphocytes were not detected morphologically. The MES rat characterized by the haematological findings could be a useful animal model for studies of hypereosinophilia.

Volume 52, no. 5, p. [1727–1729][1], 2014. Page 1727: Figure 1 contains gel images that were included in a previous publication from our group (S. C. Leao et al., PLoS One 8 (4):e60746, 2013, ). They were adapted and reproduced in the figure for

WOS: 000401429400033, DEKOSIM; Turkish Ministry of Development

A new genus of trypanorhynch cestode is described from the tubemouth whipray Himantura lobistoma Manjaji-Matsumoto & Last, 2006 in the South China Sea off Malaysian Borneo. Cavearhynchus foveatus n. g., n. sp. possesses four pedicellate bothria in a cruciform arrangement, a heteroacanthous, heteromorphous metabasal tentacular armature with five hooks per principle row and an alternating longitudinal file of intercalary hooks on the bothrial surface of each tentacle, but lacks prebulbar organs and gland-cells within the bulbs. It, thus, closely resembles taxa belonging to the lacistorhynchoid family Pterobothriidae Pintner, 1931. However, the new genus differs from other genera within this family in the possession of bothrial pits. Although a distinguishing characteristic of the superfamily Otobothrioidea Dollfus, 1942, representatives of this group exhibit two bothria and the bothrial pits are lined with spiniform microtriches, whereas the pit-like structures.of C. foveatus n. g., n. sp. entirely lack microtriches. Redescriptions of two species of Pterobothrium, namely P. lesteri Campbell & Beveridge, 1996 and P. platycephalum (Shipley & Hornell, 1906) Dollfus, 1930 are provided from material collected off Borneo and several localities off Australia. Moreover, new host and locality records are added for P. australiense Campbell & Beveridge, 1996 and P. pearsoni (Southwell, 1929) Beveridge & Campbell, 1989.

SummaryWe found a novel hypofibrinogenemia designated as Matsumoto VII (M-VII), which is caused by a heterozygous nucleotide deletion at position g.7651 in FGG and a subsequent frameshift mutation in codon 387 of the γ-chain. This frameshift results in 25 amino acid substitutions, late termination of translation with elongation by 15 amino acids, and the introduction of a canonical glycosylation site. Western blot analysis of the patient’s plasma fibrinogen visualised with anti-γ-chain antibody revealed the presence of two extra bands. To identify the extra bands and determine which of the above-mentioned alterations caused the assembly and/or secretion defects in the patient, 11 variant vectors that introduced mutations into the cDNA of the γ-chain or γ′-chain were transfected into Chinese hamster ovary cells. In vitro expression of transfectants containing γΔ7651A and γΔ7651A/399T (γΔ7651A with an amino acid substitution of 399Asn by Thr and a variant lacking the canonical glycosylation site) demonstrated a reduction in secretion to approximately 20% of the level seen in the transfectants carrying the normal γ-chain. Furthermore, results from other transfectants demonstrated that eight aberrant residues between 391 and 398 of the M-VII variant, rather than the 15 amino acid extension or the additional glycosylation, are responsible for the reduced levels of assembly and secretion of M-VII variant fibrinogen. Finally, the results of this study and our previous reports demonstrate that the fibrinogen γ-chain C-terminal tail (388–411) is not necessary for protein assembly or secretion, but the aberrant amino acid sequence observed in the M-VII variant (especially 391–398) disturbs these functions.

SummaryFibrinogen Matsumoto III (M-III) is a dysfibrinogen identified in a 66-year-old woman with rectal cancer. The fibrinogen level determined by the thrombin-time method was markedly decreased in preoperative coagulation tests of her plasma. Three fibrinogen polypeptide-chain gene fragments from the proposita were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction method, then sequenced. The triplet CGC encoding the amino acid residue γ275 was replaced by TGC, resulting in the substitution of Arg→Cys. There have been previous reports of nine families with the same alteration, nine families with an Arg→His variant and one family with an Arg→Ser variant in this residue, which has been shown to be one of the most important amino acids in the ’D:D’ interaction site. In addition, there are three silent mutations in the Aα-chain gene and two mutations in the intron of the Bβ-chain and the γ-chain gene. However, none of these mutations is thought to be the cause of the dysfunctional fibrinogen. The thrombin-catalyzed fibrin polymerization in the presence of 1 mM Ca ions was markedly delayed in purified M-III. Its lag period was longer than those of Matsumoto II (M-II; γ308Asn→Lys) and Matsumoto I (M-I; γ364Asp→His). γ364Asp is one of the most important residues in the polymerization pocket of the ’D:E’ interaction site and γ308Asn is located in the vicinity of a high affinity Ca2+ binding site in the D-domain, γ311-336. The maximum slope of the polymerization curve for M-III was about 4-fold steeper than that for M-I but less steep than that for M-II. These results may suggest that the tertiary structure of the polymerization pocket plays a more important role in the lateral aggregation of protofibrils than that of the ’D:D’ interaction site.

The original description of the genus Tetragonocephalum was published more than one hundred years ago but its taxonomic status was clarified only recently. To date, approximately 30 nominal species of this genus have been described, mostly from the northern Indian Ocean, but nearly half of them are invalid and only 14 species are recognized as valid. In the present study two new species of Tetragonocephalum are described from the spiral intestine of Himantura randalli from off Jod, on the northern coast of the Gulf of Oman. Tetragonocephalum sabae sp. n. is distinguishable from the valid species of Tetragonocephalum based on number of proglottids (43−53), number of testes (42−50), and size of scolex (401−453×328−455), acetabula (87−109×72−116), mature proglottids (802−1,333×226−336), cirrus sac (92−160×103−154), and eggs (16−19×11−13). Tetragonocephalum salarii sp. n. can be distinguished from Tetragonocephalum sabae sp. n. and all other valid species of Tetragonocephalum based on number of proglottids (77−86). Furthermore, it differs from its congeners based on a combination of some characteristics, including the number of mature (3−7) and gravid (18−20) proglottids, the number of testes (30−38), and the size of acetabula (84−111×80−96), mature proglottids (497−833×334−403), gravid proglottids (1,036−1,482×440−575), testes (20−34×31−50), ovary (123−215×210−278), and eggs (24−45×13−21).

We propose Takahashiceras as a replacement name for the pre-occupied Upper Cretaceous ammonite genus Takahashia Matsumoto 1984.

A study was conducted at Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB), University of thePhilippines at Los Ba~nos (UPLB) from February to July 1997 to determine any relationship among various phonological traits with purple seed stain on soybean caused by C. kikuchii. Thirty genotypes that showed different levels of resistance and susceptibility under the 1996 natural field experiment were used in the study. Results suggest that phonological traits in R7-1-R7-2, R7-1-R7-3, R7-1-R8, R7-2-R8 and R7-3-R8 can serve as selection criteria for developing resistance to C. kikuchii.

We introduce a new biometric method to reconstruct ontogenetic shell development of Baculites species. In order to estimate original total shaft length from fragmentary specimens and to clarify their shell growth patterns, a large number of samples of Baculites tanakae Matsumoto and Obata, collected from the Upper Cretaceous deposits in Hokkaido, Japan, were examined. Biometric analysis revealed a characteristic allometric shell growth pattern of B. tanakae expressed by the formula L = 3.03H1.50, where L and H are original total shaft length and whorl height, respectively. The analysis gives a quantitative diagnosis of the morphology of this species and enables us to estimate L including the missing apical part. Reconstruction of the total shaft length reveals that the shell ornament of B. tanakae shifts ontogenetically from a smooth phase to a tuberculate phase via a ribbed phase. It also demonstrates wide intraspecific variation on switching timing of the shell ornament phases. The ontogenetic ...

The ages of the holotype and a referred molar of Elephas maximus buski described by Matsumoto in 1927, and a molar supposedly of the same subspecies described by Makiyama in 1938 from Higashi Betsuin temple in Nagoya, were investigated by AMS (Accelerator Mass Spectrometry) dating. The holotype (IGPS 7266) may date from any of four periods between 1676 and 1941 cal AD, with 1732–1777 cal AD being the most probable (40.7% likelihood). The referred specimen (IGPS 5845) most likely dates from 1784–1796 cal AD (39.4% probability), and the specimen from Higashi Betsuin from 1454–1494 cal AD (52.9% probability). The present specimens, including the holotype are, therefore, not fossils. Historical records show that Asian elephants did not inhabit Japan at these times. These molars must have been imported into Japan in some fashion during historical times and do not represent a subspecies distinct from extant Asian elephants, E. maximus. Although the nominal subspecies E. maximus buski is clearly invali...

SummaryFibrinogen Matsumoto V (M-V) is a dysfibrinogen identified in a 52-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematous. The triplet AGG encoding the amino acid residue Aα19 was replaced by GGG, resulting in the substitution of Arg→Gly. Residue Aα19 has been shown to be one of the most important amino acids in the so-called ‘A’ site or α-chain knob. The thrombin-catalyzed release of fibrinopeptide A from M-V fibrinogen was only slightly delayed yet release of fibrinopeptide B was significantly delayed. Both thrombin-catalyzed fibrin polymerization and fibrin monomer polymerization were markedly impaired compared to normal fibrinogen. In addition, reptilase-catalyzed fibrin polymerization of M-V was much more impaired than thrombin-catalyzed fibrin polymerization. These results indicate ‘B’ and/or ‘b’ site of M-V fibrinogen play a more important role in thrombin- catalyzed fibrin polymerization than that of normal control fibrinogen.

SummaryBecause it contains three pairs of polypeptides, fibrinogen isolated from heterozygous individuals is expected to be a mixture of homodimers and heterodimers. Nevertheless, heterozygous individuals with only homodimers have been identified. We synthesized two recombinant fibrinogens with the mutations from fibrinogen Vlissingen/ Frankfurt IV (γΔ319, 320) and Matsumoto I (γD364H), both identified in heterozygous individuals. We found that polymerization of these fibrinogens was undetectable in 30 min; polymerization of a 1:1 mixture of variant and normal fibrinogen was the same as polymerization of a 1:1 mixture of buffer and normal fibrinogen; polymerization of either plasma fibrinogen was markedly impaired when compared to the 1:1 mixture of the respective variant and normal fibrinogens. We conclude that each plasma fibrinogen is a mix of homodimers and heterodimers, such that the incorporation of heterodimers into the fibrin clot impairs polymerization. We suggest that incorporation of heterodimers can induce clinical symptoms.

About 600 residents and rescue staff were exposed to what was found to be sarin vapor in the city of Matsumoto on June 27, 1994. Fifty-six patients were admitted to hospitals for symptoms of some kind of gas poisoning. We examined the clinical and laboratory findings of 264 patients who were treated at six hospitals. The presence of extremely low cholinesterase values in blood plasma suggested at first that the toxication was caused by an organic phosphorus chemical. But there were many aspects that could not be explained by hitherto-known organic phosphorus toxication. We exchanged information to establish the nature of the substance responsible and to facilitate treatment. The Nagano Prefecture Public Health and Pollution Research Institute reported on July 3 that they found “sarin” and its degraded substances from the air and water at the presumed site of emission of the toxic substance. This paper is based on the report which we submitted to the “Hospital Liaison and Review Committee on the Matsumoto Toxic Gas Poisoning”.Almost all patients admitted to hospitals had severe miosis and tachycardia followed by bradycardia. Recovery to normal red blood cell cholinesterase activity was gradual reaching normal levels during the 3 month period after exposure to the toxic substance. Visual acuity and visual area improved after several weeks. The relationship between subjective symptoms and blood plasma cholinesterase values was examined. Those with such subjective symptoms as headache, fatigue, feverish feeling, visual field abnormalities, poor vision and abnormal subjective sensations had significantly low blood plasma cholinesterase values in the acute phase. Pseudocholinesterase values (ChE%), expressed as a percentage taking the normal minimum value to be 100%, were decreased in 53 of 222 patients (23.9%) examined within 5 days of exposure. A correlation was found between the degree of decline of ChE% and pupil diameter (P

We genetically analyzed a case of hypofibrinogenemia that showed no bleeding or thrombotic tendency. Direct sequencing of a polymerase chain reaction-amplified gamma-chain gene segment showed a novel nucleotide substitution. This heterozygous mutation encodes both Cys (TGT) and Arg (CGT) at residue 153. To examine the basis for the fibrinogen deficiency, we prepared expression vectors containing mutant gamma-chain DNAs encoding gamma153R and gamma153A for in vitro expression in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblot analysis of the culture media and cell lysates showed that CHO cells transfected with gamma153R or gamma153A synthesized the variant gamma-chain, but did not secrete variant fibrinogen into the culture medium. Metabolic pulse-chase experiments showed that fibrinogen assembly was impaired when either variant gamma-chain was expressed. In cells expressing normal fibrinogen, assem- bly intermediates and intact fibrinogen were seen in cell lysates prepared after short (3 minutes) or long (1 hour) incubation with (35)S-methionine. Neither intermediates nor intact fibrinogen was seen with the variant gamma-chains. These data suggest that gamma-chains have an important early role in fibrinogen assembly. Thus, our results support the model for fibrinogen assembly proposed by Huang et al (J Biol Chem 268:8919, 1993), in which the first step in assembly is the formation of alphagamma or betagamma dimers, or both. This model implies that gammaCys153 has a critical role in the formation of these early assembly intermediates. We concluded that the gamma153Cys-->Arg substitution does not allow fibrinogen assembly and secretion, and this is manifest in vivo as a fibrinogen deficiency. We designated this variant as fibrinogen Matsumoto IV.

SummaryFibrinogen Matsumoto I is a novel hereditary dysfibrinogen identified in a 1-year-old boy with Down’s syndrome. Though he showed no apparent bleeding or thrombotic tendency, he had a congenital heart disease. Preoperative coagulation tests of his plasma revealed a prolonged thrombin time and the fibrinogen level determined by the thrombin time method was markedly decreased. Molecular weight of fibrinogen chains showed apparently normal Aα, Bβ-, and γ-chains. The rate of fibrinopeptide release was normal, whereas fibrin polymerization was delayed. Fibrinogen γ-chain gene fragments from the propositus were amplified by polymerase chain reaction then sequenced. The triplet GAT, coding for the amino acid residue γ364, was replaced by CAT, resulting in the substitution of Asp→His. This residue is adjacent to the Tyr-363 that is demonstrated to be the primary site for fibrin polymerization. Our results indicate that the residue γ364 Asp is essential for normal polymerization of fibrin monomer.

Mawsonascaris parva sp. nov. collected from the Arabian whipray Himantura randalli Last, Manjaji-Matsumoto et Moore (Rajiformes: Dasyatidae) off the coast of Iraq is described and illustrated using light and scanning electron microscopy. The new species differs from its congeners by its small body size (8.11–18.2 mm long), the absence of an intestinal caecum, the slightly unequal spicules (left and right spicule 1.08–2.50 mm and 0.98–2.01 mm long, respectively, representing 12.1–13.7% and 10.1–12.1% of body length), the number and arrangement of male caudal papillae (13–14 pairs in total, arranged as: 7–8 pairs of precloacal, 1 pair of double paracloacal and 5 pairs of postcloacal) and the presence of a single, median precloacal papilla. Thus, a total of six species of Mawsonascaris are now known and this is the first species of this genus recorded from species of Himantura.

A new analysis of the morphology of the cranium of the early Miocene species Gomphotherium anneclens (Matsumoto, 1925) alters significantly previous hypotheses on the differentiation of Miocene Elephantoidea. The gomphothercs, excluding shovel-tusked mastodonts and choerolophodonts, are known to be a paraphyletic grouping: a stem group for elephantids+stegodontids. From parsimony analyses it seems very, likely that early Miocene Old World so-called gomphotheres ( Gomphotherium 'annectens group') are not closely related to other gomphotheres.

The present review describes the structure of anticholinesterase organophosphates (OPs), which are worldwidely and predominantly used as insecticides, in relation to the poisonous gas (possibly sarin-poisoned) disaster happened recently in Matsumoto-city, Nagano. As evident from the disaster, many OP compounds have caused the severe toxicity and even death in humans and domestic animals. The toxicity, chemical structures, mechanism of action (cholinesterase inhibition), clinical signs and syndromes, antidotes and treatment, and prophylactics of nerve gases and OPs are described and discussed. The general metabolic fates of OP insecticides are also dealt with in this review. Some OPs including insecticides have been known to cause chronic toxicity, particularly delayed-type neuropathy (organophosphorus ester-induced delayed neuropathy, OPIDN), which is currently understood to be due to the inhibition of nerve toxic esterase or neuropathy target esterase. OPIDN still has the merit of further study and thus I describe here in detail, because it contributes to the long-term morbidity in cases of severe acute, or chronic, exposure to OPs.

Background We reported a case of hypofibrinogenemia Matsumoto IX (M IX) caused by a novel compound heterozygous mutation involving an FGB IVS6 deletion of 4 nucleotides (Δ4b) (three T, one G; between FGB IVS6-10 and -16) and FGG IVS3-2A/G, which are both identified for the first time. To examine the transcription of mRNA from the M IX gene, we cloned the wild-type and mutant genes into expression vectors. Methods The vectors were transfected into CHO cells and transiently produced wild-type, Bβ- or γ-mRNA in the cells. The mRNAs amplified with RT-PCR were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and nucleotide sequencing. Results The RT-PCR product from FGB IVS6Δ4b showed aberrant mRNA that included both introns 6 and 7, and that from FGG IVS3-2G showed two aberrant mRNAs, a major one including intron 3 and a minor in which intron 3 was spliced by a cryptic splice site in exon 4. We speculated that the aberrant mRNAs are degraded before translation into proteins, and/or translated variant chains are subjected to quality control and degraded in the cytoplasm. Conclusion The reduced plasma fibrinogen level of the M IX patient was caused by abnormal RNA splicing of one or both of the FGB and FGG genes.

Fibrinogen Matsumoto II is a hereditary dysfibrinogenaemia identified in a woman with Basedow's disease and a bleeding tendency. Coagulation tests of the patient's plasma revealed a prolonged thrombin time and a decreased fibrinogen level determined by functional method. Release of fibrinopeptide A and B was normal, whereas fibrin monomer polymerization was delayed. Fibrinogen gamma-chain gene of the propositus was heterozygous for a missense mutation that resulted in Asn-->Lys substitution at codon 308. Though the same amino acid substitution was also attributed to fibrinogen Kyoto I and Bicetre II, fibrinogen Matsumoto II showed different clinical manifestations from them.

In this report, we established the gamma308K/N fibrinogen-secreting Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line, which is an artificially heterozygous, Matsumoto II (M-II; gamma308K--N) type of dysfibrinogen, to indirectly demonstrate the existence of heterodimeric molecules in propositus plasma and the participation of these molecules in fibrin fiber formation.We co-transfected the gamma-chain of gamma308K- and gamma308N-coding vectors into CHO cells expressing Aalpha- and Bbeta-chains and selected the clones by utilizing the unique electrophoretic mobility of the variant gamma-chain of gamma308K. Although sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis under reducing conditions showed that the amount of the variant gamma-chain was slightly less than the amount of normal gamma-chain in recombinant gamma308K/N fibrinogen, we judged that our selected clone was still a useful model of the M-II individual.Functional analyses demonstrated that thrombin-catalyzed fibrin polymerization decreased in the following order: gamma308N, gamma308K/N, an equimolar mixture of gamma308K with gamma308N. The difference in the polymerization curves between gamma308N and gamma308K/N is highly similar to the difference between plasma fibrinogen from a normal control and the M-II proband. In addition, experimental results using the equimolar mixture indicated that gamma308K is able to polymerize into fibrin fibers and does not inhibit the gamma308N polymerization. In conclusion, our results indirectly demonstrated that gamma308K/N fibrinogen is the mixture of normal homodimers, heterodimers, and variant homodimers, and all of these can participate in the fibrin fiber formation.

Sarin gas attack caused by AUM SHINRIKYO, Japanese cult, gave us great shock toward illegal usage of chemical warfare agent. Eighteen people died and more than fifty hundreds had received medical treatment, in Matsumoto Incident (June 27, 1994) and in Tokyo Subway Incident (March 20, 1995). We have performed toxicological tests for the blood samples drawn from 7 (Matsumoto) and 11 (Tokyo) dead and 38 (Matsumoto) injured people. Both red blood cell (RBC) acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activities of victim’s blood samples have been measured by modified Ellman’s method using specific substrates acetylthiocholine and butyrylthiocholine, respectively. Compared to the control values of healthy donors, both RBC AChE and plasma BuChE activities were significantly (p

A phylogenetic analysis using morphological characters was done on the Antarctic ophiuroid genus Ophiurolepis Matsumoto, 1915. This genus is one of the more abundant and ecologically dominant ophiuroid genera in the Antarctic and surrounding Southern Ocean. Maximum parsimony was used to infer phylogenetic relationships. Although strongly supported nodes were not recovered for most groupings within Ophiurolepis, this first attempt at a phylogeny revealed the presence of three tentative clades. Two of the three Ophiurolepis clades included species currently assigned to other genera, but closely allied with Ophiurolepis in the taxonomic literature. This indicates that Ophiurolepis as currently defined is not a monophyletic group. Additional forms of data, namely molecular, are needed to more definitively resolve relationships within this group.

Ontogenetic shell development of the Turonian desmoceratine ammonoid Tragodesmoceroides subcostatus is examined based on more than 200 specimens collected by detailed biostratigraphic survey in the Tappu and Saku areas, Hokkaido, Japan. After the ammonitella stage, the mode of ribbing on the shell surface becomes coarser with growth. The shell surface ornament changes from stage 1 (almost smooth) to stage 3 (coarse ribbing) via stage 2 (weak ribbing). Stage 1 is subdivided into an earlier substage 1a with desmoceratid-type constrictions and a subsequent substage 1b without constrictions. Appearance order of these four ornament stages and substages seems to be ontogenetically fixed in the present species. Other characters, such as ammonitella and early shell shape and whorl geometry are also stable. On the other hand, the shifting-timing from stages 1 to 2 and from stages 2 to 3 changes chronologically, i.e., it becomes ontogenetically earlier in upward sequence. In the Lower and Middle Turonian, the adult or subadult shells still remain stage 1 or 2. In contrast the strongly ribbed holotype and paratypes showing stage 3 are regarded as the Upper Turonian peramorphic endmembers of the single biospecies T. subcos- tatus. Taking these features into consideration, T. subcostatus should be taxonomically revised.

CRC Press, 2000. £60.50 (323 pages)ISBN 0 8493 1165 9Male and female brains go separate ways even before birth. Steroid hormones have been recognized as the key regulators piloting the sexual differentiation of the CNS. Their differential production by the fetus starts shortly after sex determination, which, as has been learned in the 1990s, is carried out in mammals by the sexual master switch SRY. This remarkable DNA-binding protein has been found, in addition to its decisive role in sex determination, to be expressed specifically in the adult male brain1xThe Y-chromosomal genes SRY and ZFY are transcribed in adult human brain. Mayer, A. et al. Neurogenetics. 1998; 1: 281–288CrossRef | PubMedSee all References, 2xTranscription of the Y-chromosomal gene, Sry, in adult mouse brain. Lahr, G. et al. Mol. Brain Res. 1995; 33: 179–182CrossRef | PubMed | Scopus (79)See all References. Its role there is still a mystery but it will be highly exciting to learn what this protein, that makes a man a man, is doing in the CNS.The priming influence of hormones on vertebrate brains during fetal development is now a well-established fact. In addition to their lasting action on the embryo’s developing brain by inducing cell-differentiation via transcriptional activation through the classical steroid receptors, various steroidal compounds have in recent years been found to bind to and trigger non-classical cell-surface borne receptor proteins. Short-term effects of steroid hormones on the brain are thought to be facilitated by this route. But the brain would not be such a remarkable thing if it limited itself to being a slave of hormones produced elsewhere in the body. The CNS contains a set of steroid-converting enzymes that give it the capacity to fine-tune its steroidal needs. Therefore, sex-specific endocrinogical set-ups have the potential to modulate the brain’s physiological state in subtle ways throughout life. As experiments in laboratory animals have unequivocally shown, the self-differentiation of a growing brain with the help of the fetus’s endogenous hormones can be overrun by an excess of real or pseudohormones. These findings raise concerns about the influence that anthropogenic xenobiotics with pseudo-steroidal effects and hormones used in animal farming might have on our brains if they enter the body.The end result of the precisely orchestrated action of a multitude of hormonal influences is sexually differentiated male and female brains. These differences reveal themselves on a cellular level as differential gene expression patterns, sex-specific neuronal connectivity patterns and differing sizes of certain brain substructures and macroscopically as gender-specific behavioural patterns.But, as research on fishes has taught us, not all vertebrate brains become irreversibly ‘sexed’ by the organizational effects of hormones early in life. At least some species of fish can change their sex at will and more than once during their lifetime. I am undecided whether this means that being a fish is great fun or pure insanity.A human reviewer might be forgiven for being slanted by his vain ego-centred penchant for the human brain. Fortunately, the editor of Sexual Differentiation of the Brain has invited a number of authors who provide the known details on the sex-specific brain mechanisms in reptiles and birds as well to remind us that there is more to nature than just the laboratory rat and, of course, us.In many species anatomical differences between the sexes are obvious at first sight. This is not matched by our understanding of the underlying physiological and genetical differences, which are scarce in comparison. However, the situation is beginning to change, and sex-specific differentiations are increasingly getting the attention they deserve. Various new books on the subject are testimony to the fact that a critical mass of information has been gathered. The time seems to be ripe to address this fascinating issue. In the March issue of TINS another book on sex differences in brains was reviewed3xSex and Cognition (by Doreen Kimura). Cherrier, M.M. Trends Neurosci. 2000; 23: 138Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDFSee all References3. This asked for a comparison of D. Kimura’s Sex and Cognition4xSex and Cognition. Kimura, D. See all References4 with Sexual Differentiation of the Brain. Whereas, the former concentrates on higher-brain functions in humans and is aimed at a wider audience, Sexual Differentiation of the Brain is clearly aimed at a specialist readership.With 320 pages of highly condensed information (double the size of Sex and Cognition), the book reviewed here gives an in-depth account of the biological foundations of sex-specific brain structure and function. Its scope is broader than that in Sex and Cognition and its emphasis is on the cellular and molecular structures and mechanisms that reveal themselves at the organismic level as gender-specific physiological responses and behaviors.Roughly speaking, Sexual Differentiation of the Brain takes off where Sex and Cognition stops. Comparing them against each other, I think the two volumes make a nice couple, and for all those who have been drawn into the clutches of this most exciting area of neurobiological research by reading Sex and Cognition, the expert treatise discussed here would be a good continuation for their immersion into the topic.Sexual Differentiation of the Brain is demanding and requires readers to have prior knowledge at the graduate student’s level. Readers of TINS will profit greatly from the wealth of intriguing information that the 40 plus contributing authors have assembled.This is a male brain’s opinion!

Background In current intensive care treatment, there are patients with severe burns who cannot be saved due to progressive organ failure. Further investigation of the pathogenesis of severe burns is needed to improve the mortality rate. In burns, inflammatory cytokines form a network that leads to an inflammatory response. Adipocytes secrete physiologically active substances (adipokines). The roles of adipokines have not been completely clarified in burn patients. This study aimed to determine the relation between serial changes of adipokines and clinical course in severely burned patients. Methods This was a single-center, retrospective, observational study. Patients’ blood samples were collected on the day of injury and around 1 week later. Adipokines (adiponectin, angiotensinogen, chemerin, CXCL-12/SDF-1, leptin, resistin, vaspin, visfatin), various inflammatory cytokines, syndecan-1 and C1 esterase inhibitor were measured. Results Thirty-eight patients were included. Resistin levels were significantly higher in the non-survivors versus survivors on Day 1 after burn injury. Hierarchical clustering analysis showed common clusters on Day 1 and at 1 Week after burn injury (resistin, IL-6, IL-8, IL10 and MCP-1). The correlation coefficient of resistin to SOFA score at 1 Week was significant. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant relation of resistin levels on Day 1 with prognosis; the area under the ROC curve for resistin was 0.801. Conclusions In the acute phase of burns, resistin was associated with other pro-inflammatory cytokines and was related to the severity and prognosis of major burns.

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is caused by allergic reaction to allergens such as pollen. Galanin (GAL), a neuropeptide that regulates inflammatory processes, is widely expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Although neuropeptides are implicated in arthritis and chemically induced ileitis, their roles in AR remain unclear. Methods: We developed a murine model of AR and generated control, systemic sensitization, mild AR, and severe AR groups. We examined GAL and GAL receptor (GALR) mRNA and protein levels and localization patterns in each group using reverse transcription PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemical analyses. Additionally, we evaluated the effects of M871, a GALR2 antagonist, on mice with severe AR. Results: Gal and Galr2 are expressed in nasal mucosa and brain (control) samples from control and AR mice. GAL and GALR2 were expressed at similar levels and localized to ciliated epithelial and submucosal gland cells of the nasal mucosa in all four groups. Intranasal M871 administration significantly reduced the incidence of nose rubbing behaviors and sneezing (p

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a powerful tool to probe in vivo brain circuits, as it allows to assess several cortical properties such as excitability, plasticity and connectivity in humans. In the last 20 years, TMS has been applied to patients with dementia, enabling the identification of potential markers of the pathophysiology and predictors of cognitive decline; moreover, applied repetitively, TMS holds promise as a potential therapeutic intervention. The objective of this paper is to present a comprehensive review of studies that have employed TMS in dementia and to discuss potential clinical applications, from the diagnosis to the treatment. To provide a technical and theoretical framework, we first present an overview of the basic physiological mechanisms of the application of TMS to assess cortical excitability, excitation and inhibition balance, mechanisms of plasticity and cortico-cortical connectivity in the human brain. We then review the insights gained by TMS techniques into the pathophysiology and predictors of progression and response to treatment in dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related dementias and secondary dementias. We show that while a single TMS measure offers low specificity, the use of a panel of measures and/or neurophysiological index can support the clinical diagnosis and predict progression. In the last part of the article, we discuss the therapeutic uses of TMS. So far, only repetitive TMS (rTMS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and multisite rTMS associated with cognitive training have been shown to be, respectively, possibly (Level C of evidence) and probably (Level B of evidence) effective to improve cognition, apathy, memory, and language in AD patients, especially at a mild/early stage of the disease. The clinical use of this type of treatment warrants the combination of brain imaging techniques and/or electrophysiological tools to elucidate neurobiological effects of neurostimulation and to optimally tailor rTMS treatment protocols in individual patients or specific patient subgroups with dementia or mild cognitive impairment.

Campylobacter rectus is a campylobacterium considered to be a primary periodontal pathogen. Thus, C. rectus has rarely been isolated from extraoral specimens, especially in the thoracic region. We herein report a case of thoracic empyema in which Campylobacter infection was suspected after Gram staining of the pleural effusion, and C. rectus was isolated using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Fusobacterium nucleatum was also detected. Molecular identification was performed using polymerase chain reaction amplification and a sequencing analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. Estimation of the causative bacteria using Gram staining led to the proper culture and identification of the causative bacteria.

Dickkopf1 (DKK1) was originally identified as a secreted protein that antagonizes Wnt signaling. Although DKK1 is essential for the developmental process, its functions in postnatal and adult life are unclear. However, evidence is accumulating that DKK1 is involved in tumorigenesis in a manner unrelated to Wnt signaling. In addition, recent studies have revealed that DKK1 may control immune reactions, although the relationship of this to Wnt signaling is unknown. Other DKK family members, DKK2-4, are likely to have their own functions. Here, we review the possible novel functions of DKKs. We summarize the characteristics of receptors of DKKs and the signaling mechanisms through DKKs and their receptors, provide evidence showing that DKKs are involved in tumor aggressiveness independently of Wnt signaling, and emphasize promising cancer therapies targeting DKKs and receptors. Lastly, we discuss various physiological and pathological processes controlled by DKKs.

In rare cases, giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) can undergo primary or secondary malignant transformation to malignant giant cell tumor of bone (MGCTB), but the details of the molecular alterations are still unclear. The present study aimed to elucidate the clinicopathologic and molecular features of MGCTBs based on immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and next generation sequencing (NGS) of nine MGCTBs (five primary and four secondary). Seven (78%) of 9 MGCTBs were immunohistochemically positive for H3.3 G34W. In two (22%) patients, although GCTB components were focally or diffusely positive for H3.3 G34W, their malignant components were entirely negative for H3.3 G34W, which was associated with heterozygous loss of H3F3A by FISH. NGS on four MGCTBs revealed pathogenic mutations in TP53 (n = 3), EZH2 (n = 1) and several other genes. Immunohistochemical analysis of the nine MGCTBs confirmed the p53 nuclear accumulation (n = 5) and loss of H3K27me3 expression (n = 3) and showed that they were mutually exclusive. In addition, four (80%) of five cases of pleomorphic or epithelioid cell-predominant MGCTBs were positive for p53, while three (75%) of four cases of spindle cell-predominant MGCTBs were negative for trimethylation at lysine 27 of histone 3 (H3K27me3). The results suggested that p53 alteration and dysfunction of histone methylation as evidenced by H3K27me3 loss may play an important role in the malignant progression of GCTB, and might contribute to the phenotype-genotype correlation in MGCTB. The combined histologic, immunohistochemical and molecular information may be helpful in part for the diagnosis of challenging cases.

BACKGROUND Although some studies have described the association between serum ferritin levels and specific disorders in child and adolescent psychiatry, few have focused on mental health with low serum ferritin levels in children and adolescents. This study examined the effects of iron administration on psychological state of children and adolescents with reduced serum ferritin concentration. METHODS This prospective study evaluated 19 participants aged 6-15 years with serum ferritin levels