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Human Aichivirus A (AiV-A) is classified as a Kobuvirus, group IV positive sense single strand RNA viruses. The first outbreak of AiV-A was reported from Aichi Prefecture, Japan in 1989. AiV-A exists not only among clinical patients, such as diarrhea, but also in a variety of water environments, as its occurrence is reported across a wide geographical range, from developing to advanced countries. For diagnose of AiV-A from water samples, mostly polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system have been developed. However, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay has not been applied. In this study, developed a LAMP method to achieve a rapid, specific and highly sensitive detection of AiV-A. The method developed in this study is aimed specifically at AiV-A. Through a specific and non-specific selection and sensitivity test process for the five prepared LAMP primer sets, one primer set and optimum reaction temperature were selected. A newly developed method was more rapid (approximately 2–8 h), specific and equivalent detection of AiV-A than with the conventional PCRs. In addition, confirm system of positive LAMP reaction was developed by using the restriction enzyme Aci I and Hae III. For evaluation and verification of developing LAMP assay, a was applied to twenty cDNA from groundwater samples. This study proved rapid and specific diagnosis of AiV-A from water samples, and it is also demanded to be applicable to other environmental, clinical and food samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of drilling expeditions focused on characterizing natural gas hydrate as a potential energy resource has spawned widespread interest in gas hydrate reservoir properties and associated porous media phenomena. Between 2017 and 2019, a Special Section of this journal compiled contributed papers elucidating interactions between gas hydrate and sediment based on laboratory, numerical modeling, and field studies. Motivated mostly by field observations in the northern Gulf of Mexico and offshore Japan, several papers focus on the mechanisms for gas hydrate formation and accumulation, particularly with vapor phase gas, not dissolved gas, as the precursor to hydrate. These studies rely on numerical modeling or laboratory experiments using sediment packs or benchtop micromodels. A second focus of the Special Section is the role of fines in inhibiting production of gas from methane hydrate, controlling the distribution of hydrate at a pore scale, and influencing the bulk behavior of seafloor sediments. Other papers fill knowledge gaps related to the physical properties of hydrate‐bearing sediments and advance new approaches in coupled thermal‐mechanical modeling of these sediments during hydrate dissociation. Finally, one study addresses the long‐standing question about the fate of methane hydrate at the molecular level when CO2 is injected into natural reservoirs under hydrate‐forming conditions. Key Points: The arc of laboratory and modeling research focused on hydrate‐bearing sediments has been based on the findings of major field programsThe Special Section highlights hydrate formation from vapor phase methane in porous media and the role of fines in hydrate reservoirsThe Special Section underscores the importance of coupled mechanical and thermodynamic models for tracking gas hydrate reservoir evolution [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: Most genetic variants identified for type 2 diabetes have been discovered in European populations. We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in a Chinese population with the aim of identifying novel variants for type 2 diabetes in Asians., Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of three GWAS comprising 684 patients with type 2 diabetes and 955 controls of Southern Han Chinese descent. We followed up the top signals in two independent Southern Han Chinese cohorts (totalling 10,383 cases and 6,974 controls), and performed in silico replication in multiple populations., Results: We identified CDKN2A/B and four novel type 2 diabetes association signals with p < 1 × 10(-5) from the meta-analysis. Thirteen variants within these four loci were followed up in two independent Chinese cohorts, and rs10229583 at 7q32 was found to be associated with type 2 diabetes in a combined analysis of 11,067 cases and 7,929 controls (p meta = 2.6 × 10(-8); OR [95% CI] 1.18 [1.11, 1.25]). In silico replication revealed consistent associations across multiethnic groups, including five East Asian populations (p meta = 2.3 × 10(-10)) and a population of European descent (p = 8.6 × 10(-3)). The rs10229583 risk variant was associated with elevated fasting plasma glucose, impaired beta cell function in controls, and an earlier age at diagnosis for the cases. The novel variant lies within an islet-selective cluster of open regulatory elements. There was significant heterogeneity of effect between Han Chinese and individuals of European descent, Malaysians and Indians., Conclusions/interpretation: Our study identifies rs10229583 near PAX4 as a novel locus for type 2 diabetes in Chinese and other populations and provides new insights into the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.

Thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TgAA) were detected in sera of hypothyroid (n=19), obese (n=28) and clinically healthy dogs (n=52) using a commercially available immunoassay kit. TgAA-positive results occurred in 10 of 19 hypothyroid, 1 of 28 obese and 1 of 52 clinically healthy dogs. The clinically healthy TgAA-positive dog had additional evidence of hypothyroidism supported by low total T(4), low free T(4) and high canine TSH. Among the breeds, Golden Retriever had the highest frequency of hypothyroid (9/19) and TgAA-positive hypothyroid dogs (6/10). This study was the first survey about the prevalence of canine TgAA in Japan and could be a useful reference for clinicians.

The seventh largest chromosome in Japanese populations of the frog Rana rugosa morphologically evolved as a sex chromosome. The sex chromosome is XX/XY type in one geographic form and ZZ/ZW type in another. In contrast, the seventh chromosomes are still homomorphic between the sexes in the other two geographic forms: they are more subtelocentric in the Kanto form and subtelocentric in the western Japanese form. To identify a prototype of the sex chromosomes, we extended our investigation in this study to the Korean form, which is supposed to be close to the phylogenetic origin of this species. The karyotype, a sex-linked gene sequence, and mechanisms of sex determination and gonadal differentiation were all examined. In addition, phylogenetic analyses were performed based on mitochondrial gene sequences and the results of crossings between the Korean and Japanese forms. As a consequence, the more subtelocentric seventh chromosome, shared by the Korean and Japanese Kanto forms, was concluded to be the prototype of the sex chromosomes. Starting at the prototype, a whole process of morphological sex chromosome evolution was reconstructed., (Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel)

A review of the autopsy records of the Department of Pathology of Nagasaki University and the Department of Geneticopathology of Hiroshima University from 1944 through 1982 revealed that during this period there were 11,050 cases of fetuses and newborns, including 432 cases with craniofacial and oral malformations and 22 cases with amniogenous malformations. Among the cranial malformations, there were 202 (46.8%) anencephaly cases, 38 (8.8%) holoprosencephaly, 28 (6.48%) hydrocephaly, 27 (6.25%) meningoencephalocele, and 13 other cranial malformations (seven microcephaly and two each of macrocephaly, dolichocephaly, and iniencephaly). Among the oral malformations, there were 25 (5.78%) cleft lip cases, 23 (5.32%) cleft palate, and 76 (17.6%) cleft lip and palate. Among the facial malformations, there were 12 (2.78%) anomicrophthalmia cases, 37 (8.56%) ear malformations, 15 (3.47%) micrognathia, and 8 (1.85%) nose malformations. One cranial malformation was found that was complicated with anencephaly and holoprosencephaly. Of 307 cranial malformations, 38 (12.4%) were complicated with oral malformations and 4 (4.6%) with facial malformations. Among the 124 cases of oral malformations, 38 (30.6%) were complicated with cranial malformations. The complicating cranial malformations were anencephaly in 16 cases, holoprosencephaly in seven, hydrocephaly in six, meningoencephalocele in seven, other cranial malformations in two, and with facial malformations in 19 cases. Among the 72 cases of facial malformations, 14 were complicated with cranial malformations and 19 with oral malformations. Four cases showed three or more cranial, facial, and/or oral malformations at the same time. Recently, experimental embryological studies have shown that the neural crest cell-derived mesectoderm participates largely in the morphogenesis of the face and the cardiovascular system. It may be said that neural crest cells are deeply involved in the teratogenesis.