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An allometric model that explains the mechanism of the difference in the slope of the Reineke equation (A) among species was proposed based on the allometric relationships of mean tree height (H) to quadratic mean diameter D (H ∝ Dθ) and stand density N (H ∝ Dδ), i.e., A = θ/δ. The proposed model was fitted to Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.) and red pine (Pintis densiflora) stands. The allometric exponents θ and δ were, respectively, 0.8995 and -0.5000 for cypress and 0.8612 and -0.6619 for pine. The difference between cypress and pine was significant for δ but not for θ. Inserting the exponents into the model resulted in predicted slopes of -1.7991 for cypress and -1.3011 for pine. The difference in the slope of the Reineke equation between the two species was produced by characteristics related to the tree crown, rather than characteristics related to stem slenderness. The proposed model enables us to estimate the slope of the Reineke equation from commonly measured stand at tributes, such as mean tree height and quadratic mean diameter. Therefore, the proposed model is expected to he practical and convenient for estimating the slope of the Reineke equation and for explaining the mechanism of its variation among species. The model should he also accepted as a generalized model of the stand density versus quadratic mean diameter relationship, whereas the original Reineke equation should he seen as a specific case of this model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: To date, studies on terrestrial plant ecology and evolution have focused primarily on the trade-off patterns in the allocation of metabolic production to roots and shoots in individual plants and the scaling of whole-plant respiration. However, few empirical studies have investigated the root : shoot ratio by considering scaling whole-plant respiration at various sizes throughout ontogeny., Methods: Here, using a whole-plant chamber system, we measured the respiration rates, fresh mass and surface area of entire roots and shoots from 377 Fagus crenata individuals, from germinating seeds to mature trees, collected from five different Japanese provenances. Non-linear regression analysis was performed for scaling of root and shoot respiration, fresh mass and surface area with body size., Key Results: Whole-plant respiration increased rapidly in germinating seeds. In the seedling to mature tree size range, the scaling of whole-plant respiration to whole-plant fresh mass was expressed as a linear trend on the log-log coordinates (exponent slightly greater than 0.75). In the same body size range, root and shoot respiration vs. whole-plant fresh mass were modelled by upward-convex (exponent decreased from 2.35 to 0.638) and downward-convex trends (exponent increased from -0.918 to 0.864), respectively. The root fraction in whole-plant respiration, fresh mass and surface area shifted continuously throughout ontogeny, increasing in smaller seedlings during early growth stages and decreasing in larger trees., Conclusions: Our results suggest a gradual shift in allocation priorities of metabolic energy from roots in seedlings to shoots in mature trees, providing insights into how roots contribute to shoot and whole-plant growth during ontogeny. The models of root : shoot ratio in relation to whole-plant physiology could be applied in tree growth modelling, and in linking the different levels of ecological phenomena, from individuals to ecosystems., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company.)

Tricellular tight junctions (tTJs) are specialized structural variants of tight junctions within tricellular contacts of an epithelial sheet and comprise several transmembrane proteins including lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptor (angulin-1/LSR) and tricellulin. To elucidate the mechanism of its formation, we carried out stepwise screening of kinase inhibitors followed by RNAi screening to identify kinases that regulate intracellular localization of angulin-1/LSR to the tTJs using a fluorescence image-based screen. We found that the activity of JNK1 and JNK2, but not JNK3, was required for the exclusive localization of angulin-1/LSR at the tTJs. Based on a bioinformatics approach, we estimated the potential phosphorylation site of angulin-1/LSR by JNK1 to be serine 288 and experimentally confirmed that JNK1 directly phosphorylates angulin-1/LSR at this site. We found that JNK2 was also involved in the phosphorylation of angulin-1/LSR. Furthermore, GFP-tagged angulin-1/LSR(S288A), in which serine 288 was substituted by alanine, was observed to be dispersed to bicellular junctions, indicating that phosphorylation of Ser288 is crucial for the exclusive localization of angulin-1/LSR and tricellulin at tTJs. Our fluorescence image-based screening for kinases inhibitor or siRNAs combined with the phosphorylation site prediction could become a versatile and useful tool to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of tTJs regulated by kinase networks., (© 2014 The Authors Genes to Cells © 2014 by the Molecular Biology Society of Japan and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.)

Aim: This research aimed to investigate the actual daily lifestyle leading to continuous self-management after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT), by interviewing more than 5 year survivors of transplantation on their lifestyles from various angles, such as meals, rests, and human relationships., Method: In this research, survivors of more than 5 years were interviewed about their daily lifestyle, and a qualitative inductive approach to the analysis of continuous self-management was taken., Results: Interviews were conducted with 26 patients: 11 men and 15 women with an average age of 49 years (range, 22-76). Through analysis, 205 labels were extracted, which were aggregated into one core category, 13 categories and 68 subcategories. Differences in the three patterns of lifestyle--"the reflected lifestyle after operation", "unchanged daily lifestyle", and "self-management eases along with recovery"--occurred owing to differences in changes in values through the transplantation experience. The changes in values were affected by realization of the experience and the action, which come from various internal and external influences during the process of recovery. All of the recipients used consulting behavior to complement self-management after leaving hospital., Conclusion: The daily lifestyle of transplant recipients was clarified by the patterns of lifestyle. Differences in the three lifestyle types occurred owing to differences in changes in values though the transplantation experience., (© 2012 The Authors. Japan Journal of Nursing Science © 2012 Japan Academy of Nursing Science.)

The scaling of respiratory metabolism with body mass is one of the most pervasive phenomena in biology. Using a single allometric equation to characterize empirical scaling relationships and to evaluate alternative hypotheses about mechanisms has been controversial. We developed a method to directly measure respiration of 271 whole plants, spanning nine orders of magnitude in body mass, from small seedlings to large trees, and from tropical to boreal ecosystems. Our measurements include the roots, which have often been ignored. Rather than a single power-law relationship, our data are fit by a biphasic, mixed-power function. The allometric exponent varies continuously from 1 in the smallest plants to 3/4 in larger saplings and trees. Therefore, our findings support the recent findings of Reich et al. [Reich PB, Tjoelker MG, Machado JL, Oleksyn J (2006) Universal scaling of respiratory metabolism, size, and nitrogen in plants. Nature 439:457-461] and West, Brown, and Enquist [West GB, Brown JH, Enquist BJ (1997) A general model for the origin of allometric scaling laws in biology. Science 276:122 -126.]. The transition from linear to 3/4-power scaling may indicate fundamental physical and physiological constraints on the allocation of plant biomass between photosynthetic and nonphotosynthetic organs over the course of ontogenetic plant growth.

We report on a rare case of urinary silica calculi in a 10-month-old boy. The boy showed acute pyelonephritis with left hydronephrosis. Ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed a calculus at the left ureteropelvic junction and three additional calculi in the left renal pelvis. Because his acute pyelonephritis was refractory to conventional chemotherapy, the patient underwent successful left percutaneous nephrostomy followed by percutaneous nephrolithotripsy for the renal calculi. All stones disappeared and his postoperative course was uneventful. On infrared spectrophotometry, the wavelength pattern of the stones exhibited two peaks at 1100 and 1650 cm(-1), consistent with the determination that the calculi consisted of a mixture of silicate (78%) and calcium oxalate (22%). We consider that the etiology of the calculi in this child can be ascribed to the silicate-rich water used to dilute milk. In Japan, 46 adult patients with urinary silicate calculi have been reported in the literature; however, there is no report of the disease in an infant in Japan.

Background: We sought to determine the utility of intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) in detecting residual bile duct stones during endoscopic balloon sphincteroplasty., Methods: Eighty-one consecutive patients with bile duct stones who underwent IDUS during endoscopic balloon sphincteroplasty were studied. IDUS was performed with a thin-caliber ultrasonic probe (diameter 2.0 mm, frequency 20 MHz) by a transpapillary route after stone extraction. When IDUS or balloon-retrograde cholangiography suggested residual stones, the bile duct was cleared again with a Dormia basket. Extraction of the stones was confirmed by direct duodenoscopic visualization. Videotapes of IDUS and cholangiograms were reviewed retrospectively without knowledge of the results of other diagnostic modalities., Results: In 27 of 81 patients (33%), IDUS detected small residual stones not seen on cholangiography. When stones were fragmented with mechanical lithotripsy, the accuracy of IDUS in detecting small residual stones was significantly greater than that of balloon-endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (95% vs 50%, p < 0. 001). When the bile duct was greater than 10 mm in diameter, the accuracy of IDUS in detecting small residual stones was significantly greater than that of cholangiography (92% vs. 56%, p < 0.001)., Conclusions: IDUS is useful for detecting small residual bile duct stones during endoscopic balloon sphincteroplasty when stones are fragmented by mechanical lithotripsy or when there is evidence of a dilated bile duct (>10 mm).

Background: We determined the accuracy of intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) in distinguishing between bile duct cancer and benign bile duct disease., Methods: Patients (n=42) who required bile duct biopsy using percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS) to evaluate bile duct strictures or filling defects were studied. A thin-caliber ultrasonic probe (2.0 mm diameter and 20 MHz frequency) was inserted into the bile duct, and its images were prospectively reviewed before PTCS., Results: Disruption of the bile duct wall structure, seen on IDUS, was associated with malignancy in 25 of 26 patients. When IDUS demonstrated a lesion with normal bile duct structure, six of nine patients were found to have no malignancy. IDUS demonstrated no intraductal lesion in seven patients, and bile duct biopsy also did not indicate cancer in any of these patients. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of IDUS for diagnosing bile duct cancer were 76%, 89%, and 50%, respectively. When used in tandem with IDUS, the sensitivity of bile cytology (64%) and PTCS (93%) improved to 96% and 100%, respectively., Conclusions: The accuracy of IDUS for diagnosing bile duct cancer was less than that of PTCS (95%). However, the sensitivity for bile cytology, or bile duct biopsy improved when performed in combination with IDUS.

Polymorphism of Inter-alpha-Trypsin Inhibitor (ITI) was investigated in 685 unrelated Japanese individuals by isoelectric focusing followed by electroblotting and immunogold silver staining. The allele frequency estimates were ITI*1 = 0.455 +/- 0.013, ITI*2 = 0.516 +/- 0.013, ITI*3 = 0.028 +/- 0.0045 and ITI*4 = 0.001 +/- 0.001 and the phenotype frequencies fitted the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The ITI system could be regarded as a potential genetic marker in paternity testing and anthropological studies.

We experienced a rare case of pseudomyxoma that progressed into the retroperitoneum. This patient presented with complaints of polyuria and back pain. CT and MRI showed a retroperitoneal cystic tumor. Surgical and pathological findings confirmed mucinous cystadenoma of the appendix that reached the posterior space behind the right kidney through the retroperitoneum.

Polymorphism of factor H (HF) was investigated in 1060 unrelated Japanese individuals using isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting. Besides 6 different HF types a null type and an unusual type were observed. The family analysis suggested the hereditary occurrence of a new variant allele HF*C. The population data fitted the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, assuming that the null allele HF*QO occurs commonly. The allele frequencies were HF*A = 0.407 +/- 0.011, HF*B = 0.491 +/- 0.011, HF*A1 = 0.011 +/- 0.002 and HF*QO = 0.091 +/- 0.006. The HF polymorphism in Japanese was shown to be controlled by the above 4 common alleles.

We report a case of chronic pancreatitis with pseudocysts complicated by infection and obstructive jaundice. A 49-yr-old male was admitted with the complaints of fever and jaundice. Laboratory findings included high biliary tract enzyme values and normal serum amylase value. Ultrasonography and computed tomographic scan demonstrated a cyst, 4 cm in diameter, in the pancreas head. Cholangiography revealed a long, tapered obstruction of the common bile duct which was apparently compressed by the cyst. Although the jaundice improved after percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, fever continued, and the cyst was aspirated. Bacteriological examination of the contents revealed infection. The symptoms disappeared rapidly and the cyst decreased in size soon after aspiration. The stenosis of the common bile duct showed improvement for several weeks but then regressed. In a patient with secondary pancreatic infection or obstructive jaundice following pancreatic disease, distinguishing the condition is an important aspect of accurate diagnosis and therapy.

A 55-yr-old female was hospitalized with epigastric pain. Conventional ultrasonography revealed marked dilation of the common bile duct (CBD). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed fusiform dilation of the CBD. The common channel of the pancreatic duct and choledochus was 20 mm long. A diagnosis of congenital choledochal dilation accompanied by anomalous arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system (AAPBDS) was made. Intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) was performed. IDUS demonstrated the union of the pancreatic duct and choledochus within the pancreatic parenchyma. This meant that the union existed outside the duodenal wall, confirming the diagnosis of AAPBDS. Although endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography alone could show the maljunction in this case, simultaneous IDUS will be useful in making an accurate diagnosis of AAPBDS.

By means of non-immobilized isoelectric focusing followed by immunoblotting, group-specific component (GC) subtypes were detected in dental pulp tissues. The amount of GC in dental pulp was quantitated using rocket immunoelectrophoresis and the minimum amount of the protein necessary for the typing of GC was estimated to be about 0.02 microgram in 10 microliters of the sample. The results of GC typing in dental pulp tissues were in agreement with the phenotypes obtained from serum samples of the same individuals. Subtyping by the present method was also possible in dental pulp tissues obtained from the teeth stored for 4 weeks at room temperature. The GC subtyping by non-immobilized isoelectric focusing is of practical use for medicolegal investigation of teeth.

Intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) were performed in patients with extrahepatic bile duct cancer and compared to other diagnostic modalities and to resected specimens. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is a non-invasive diagnostic method useful for screening patients with bile duct cancers and determining whether they are resectable or not. While, EUS was not useful for the differential diagnosis of advanced and early tumors, and less useful in case of bile duct tumors located at the hilus hepatitis. IDUS proved useful without blind spot even in case of bile duct cancers at the hilus hepatis. IDUS was especially useful for the differential diagnosis of advanced and early tumors. IDUS is the very accurate diagnostic modality which make up for EUS and essential to determine the appropriate operation plan.