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Vascular calcification is major source of cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease. Hyperphosphatemia leads to increased intracellular phosphorus influx, which leads to an increase in osteoblast-like cells in vascular smooth muscle cell. PiT-1 transports phosphate in vascular smooth muscle cell. However, the mechanism of vascular calcification is not completely understood. This study investigated candidate phosphorus-related molecules other than PiT-1. We hypothesized that phosphorus-related molecules belonging to the solute-carrier (SLC) superfamily would be involved in vascular calcification. As a result of DNA microarray analysis, we focused on SLC37A2 and showed that mRNA expression of these cells increased on calcified aotic smooth muscle cells (AoSMC). SLC37A2 has been reported to transport both glucose-6-phosphate/phosphate and phosphate/phosphate exchanges. In vitro analysis showed that SLC37A2 expression was not affected by inflammation on AoSMC. The expression of SLC37A2 mRNA and protein increased in calcified AoSMC. In vivo analysis showed that SLC37A2 mRNA expression in the aorta of chronic kidney disease rats was correlated with osteogenic marker genes. Furthermore, SLC37A2 was expressed at the vascular calcification area in chronic kidney disease rats. As a result, we showed that SLC37A2 is one of the molecules that increase with vascular calcification in vitro and in vivo.

Refeeding syndrome (RFS) is characterized by the metabolic and clinical changes that occur following aggressive nutritional supplementation in malnourished patients. Hypophosphatemia is the hallmark of RFS and is key to its prevention and treatment in clinical practice. However, the mechanism of hypophosphatemia during RFS is unclear because of the lack of an animal model. In this study, we developed a rat RFS model as a first step to clarifying the molecular mechanism. After establishing the parenteral route, rats were fasted for 5 days and refeeding was started using total parenteral nutrition. The animals were infused with a high calorie solution with or without insulin administration. Results showed that plasma phosphate levels did not decrease in rats infused with the high calorie solution alone;in contrast, a 20% reduction compared to baseline was observed in rats administered insulin. In addition, rats infused with the high calorie solution containing added phosphate did not present with hypophosphatemia. Thus, we developed a rat RFS model with hypophosphatemia by tube feeding and insulin administration, and demonstrated the importance of phosphate in preventing refeeding hypophosphatemia. J. Med. Invest. 65:50-55, February, 2018.

Phosphorus management through dietetic therapy is vital for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease patients. There are two main sources of phosphorus in the diet, organic phosphorus from protein and inorganic phosphorus from food additives. The adverse effects of high phosphorus intake on vascular-endothelium function have been reported; however, the differences in the effects of organic phosphorus versus inorganic phosphorus are not clear. In this study, we examined an acute effect of these high phosphorus meals intake on vascular-endothelium function. This was a randomized, double-blind, cross-over test study design targeting healthy young men. We conducted a food intake test using two test meals, one high in organic phosphorus from organic food sources, and one high in inorganic phosphorus from food additives. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation, phosphorus and calcium in the urine and blood, and phosphorus-related hormones were measured preprandial to 120 min postprandial. The results showed higher serum and urine phosphorus values after the high inorganic phosphorus meal, and a significant reduction in endothelium-dependent vasodilation at 30 min postprandial. These findings are evidence that inorganic phosphorus has a stronger influence on vascular-endothelium function than organic phosphorus.

Crystal structures of nickel(II) complexes coordinated with cyclam-type macrocyclic tetraamine, meso-1,5,8,12-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (L) in two complex salts 1 and 2 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis. Complexes in both salts adopted trans-III structure, but the C-methyl groups of L adopted equatorial configuration in 1, while axial in 2. Complex 2 is the first example of complex of cyclam-type tetraamine with only axially oriented C-methyl groups. Complex in 1 adopted six-coordinated octahedral geometry with two water molecules occupying two apical sites, while in 2, apical sites were vacant resulting in four-coordinated square-planar geometry. UV–Vis spectra in various solutions also revealed the formation of octahedral six-coordinated complex for 1 but not for 2. Network of hydrogen bonds involving chloride ion, water, and N–H of L was present in crystals of both 1 and 2. Convenient synthetic paths for 1 and 2 are also presented.

Genetic relationships among 50 Gentiana accessions, comprising 36 wild species and 14 cultivars, were determined based on analysis of sequence data for the chloroplast trnL(UAA) intron, the rpl16 coding region and the rpl16-rpl14 intergenic spacer (IGS), together with nuclear DNA content as determined by flow cytometric analysis. The combined chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) data set was analyzed using both neighbor-joining (NJ) and maximum parsimony (MP) methods. The NJ and the strict consensus trees were generally congruent with previous phylogenetic and taxonomic studies, whereas G. cachemirica and G. yakushimensis were classified in different sectional affinities from their prevailing classifications. Three major cpDNA haplotypes (designated A, B and C), comprising 30 accessions in the sections Pneumonanthe, Cruciata, and Kudoa (ser. Monanthae), were each distinguished by two single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the rpl16-rpl14 IGS and the rpl16 coding region. Nuclear DNA content varied from 6.47 to 11.75 pg among the taxa possessing cpDNA haplotype A. These results provide genetic information that will assist in the development of future Gentiana breeding strategies.

We successfully produced dwarf potted gentian using wild-type Agrobacterium rhizogenes A4 strain (ATCC43057) harboring an agropine type plasmid (pRiA4). A number of hairy roots were induced by direct inoculation with A. rhizogenes to the stem and leaf tissues in vitro. Adventitious shoots were regenerated from the hairy roots on Murashige and Skoog medium containing 10 mg l � 1 N-phenyl-N� -(1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl) urea, 0.1 or 1.0 mg l � 1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid, and 3 g l � 1 gellan gum. Regenerated plants were then cultured in vitro for at least six months and tested for the absence of viable A. rhizogenes within their tissues. After receiving authorization from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan, the plants were acclimated and grown in a greenhouse and/or field. Opine synthesis and rolC gene expression were analyzed to demonstrate successful introduction and expression of the transferred DNA. In total, 122 lines of variant types of dwarf plants with blue, white, and pink flowers were obtained, which might be useful for molecular breeding of a series of dwarf potted gentian cultivars.

UnlabelledNarcolepsy is a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep abnormalities. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified a novel narcolepsy-related single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), which is located adjacent to the carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B (CPT1B) gene encoding an enzyme involved in β-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids. The mRNA expression levels of CPT1B were associated with this SNP. In addition, we recently reported that acylcarnitine levels were abnormally low in narcolepsy patients. To assess the efficacy of oral L-carnitine for the treatment of narcolepsy, we performed a clinical trial administering L-carnitine (510 mg/day) to patients with the disease. The study design was a randomized, double-blind, cross-over and placebo-controlled trial. Thirty narcolepsy patients were enrolled in our study. Two patients were withdrawn and 28 patients were included in the statistical analysis (15 males and 13 females, all with HLA-DQB1*06:02). L-carnitine treatment significantly improved the total time for dozing off during the daytime, calculated from the sleep logs, compared with that of placebo-treated periods. L-carnitine efficiently increased serum acylcarnitine levels, and reduced serum triglycerides concentration. Differences in the Japanese version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) vitality and mental health subscales did not reach statistical significance between L-carnitine and placebo. This study suggests that oral L-carnitine can be effective in reducing excessive daytime sleepiness in narcolepsy patients.Trial registrationUniversity hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) UMIN000003760.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES The authors compare the toxic effects of iobitridol and iohexol, which are nonionic contrast media with equivalent osmolalities and viscosities on the kidney. METHODS In a rat acute renal failure (ARF) model, iobitridol or iohexol (both at the dose of 2.87 g I/kg) were injected to rats after pretreatment with indomethacin and N omega-nitro-L-arginin methyl ester. The effects on histopathology, creatinine clearance, and urinary N-acethyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity were assessed. In a rat renal slice system, the slices were exposed to iobitridol or iohexol (both at the concentration range of 17.5-70 mg iodine/mL) for 60 min. The accumulation of para-aminohippuric acid (PAH), an organic anion, and the intracellular potassium content as the indicators of renal tubular injury were measured to assess the direct effects of iobitridol and iohexol on renal tubules. RESULTS In the ARF model, no significant difference was detected between the effects of iobitridol and those of iohexol on the creatinine clearance and urinary NAG activity 24 hours after the injection. However, iobitridol produced a lower degree and incidence of renal tubular injury of renal proximal tubules (P < 0.001) and distal tubules (P < 0.05) compared with iohexol. In the rat renal slice system, the iobitridol treatment had significantly less effect on the PAH accumulation compared with iohexol (P < 0.001). There were no changes in the intracellular potassium content. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that iobitridol has significantly less toxic effects on the kidney compared with iohexol under the condition of our experiment.

A portable, high resolution X-ray CT (computed tomography) scanner has been developed for nondestructive measurement of the cross-section of live trees, wooden utility poles, building columns, statues, etc., in the field environment. The spatial resolution of CT reconstruction is good enough for observing the details of annual rings of trees. The scanner should be useful in plant physiology, environment assessment, safety assurance of poles, lumber milling, archaeology and dendrochronology.

1. 電燈照明の効果内訳を検討する目的で,その一つと考えられる複眼明適応化による活動性の低下をとりあげ,アケビコノハ,オオエグリバについて研究した。明適応個体は暗黒下にあっても吸害作用が低調で,暗適応個体にくらべて活動性の低下が著しかった。2. 明適応個体を照明すると,上記活動性の低下は一そう強調される。果樹園を照明することは,吸蛾類をこうした状態に追いこむことになり,加害軽減化に相当効果があると期待される。3. 応用面からいえば,暗適応複眼をなるべく速かに明適応化することが望ましいが,この明適応化所要時間と各種光条件(特に波長)との関係をフィルター法など4方法によりアケビコノハ,オオエグリバなどについて実験的に検討した。その結果,波長は重要要因と認められたが,蛾の種類によって有効光色域には多少の相違が見られた。しかし総括的にみると,青色または黄色域が効率が高く,これに他の要因も考慮して実用上では黄色域の採用を提唱する。また照度も影響性が大きい(照度大なるほど効果的)。4. 各種波長の実際的効果を比較するため,主波長の相違する5種類の蛍光燈を使用してモモ園で実験を行なった。これらの中では,黄色カラードランプ(主波長約580mμ)を使用した区が飛来数少なく,また実際の被害も軽微で最も効果が高かった。これに反しブラックライト蛍光燈は,かなり効果が劣った。このような効果差は,主として飛来・吸害蛾数の多少に起因するが,さらに果面照度(照度分布)なども関連するようで,各光源についてこれらの問題も検討した。5. 適性光源として具備すべき条件はいろいろあるが,上述の効果のみならず二次加害種の飛来の少ないことも考慮して検討すると,蛍光燈の中では上記黄色カラードランプが最も有望視される。一方,実際面では白熱電球が多く使用されるが,これは波長とは別に光の到達性のよいことその他の理由によるもので,その実用性は決して否定されるものではない。状況によっては,白熱電球(回転燈も含めて)と黄色カラードランプとの併用も考えられよう。