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Investigates on the influence of adenine-induced chronic renal failure on the male reproductive function. Study made on 22 rats with an adenine-excessive diet; Characteristics of patients with elevated level of plasma gonadotropins and reduced plasma testosterone.

Whether malnutrition during the early phase of recovery from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) could be a predictor of mortality or morbidity has not been ascertained. We examined 289 AMI patients. All-cause mortality and composite endpoints (all-cause mortality, nonfatal stroke, nonfatal acute coronary syndrome, and hospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure) during the follow-up duration (median 39 months) were evaluated. There were 108 (37.8%) malnourished patients with GNRIs of less than 98 on arrival; however, malnourished patients significantly decreased to 91 (31.4%) during the convalescence period ( p < 0.01). The incidence rates of mortality and primary composite endpoints were significantly higher in the malnourished group than in the well-nourished group both on arrival and during the convalescence period (All p < 0.05). Nutrition guidance significantly improved GNRI in a group of patients who were undernourished (94.7 vs. 91.0, p < 0.01). Malnourished patients on admission who received nutritional guidance showed similar all-cause mortality with well-nourished patients, whereas malnourished patients without receiving nutritional guidance demonstrated significantly worse compared to the others ( p = 0.03). The assessment of GNRI during the convalescence period is a useful risk predictor for patients with AMI. Nutritional guidance may improve the prognoses of patients with poor nutritional status.

Flower breeding, tropical and subtropical Drosophila elegans is distributed in the Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan (black morph) and in southern China, Philippines, Indonesia, and New Guinea (brown morph). Although reproductive and behavioral manipulations by Wolbachia are reported in many insect taxa, Wolbachia infection in D. elegans is unclear. There is only a report of no Wolbachia detected in a laboratory strain of brown morph. This PCR diagnosis study revealed no Wolbachia infection in D. elegans males collected from the wild in the Ryukyu Islands. We concluded that D. elegans black morph in the Ryukyu Islands is not infected with Wolbachia ., (Copyright: © 2022 by the authors.)

Sperm are modified substantially in passing through both the male and the female reproductive tracts, only thereafter becoming functionally competent to fertilize eggs. Drosophila sperm become motile in the seminal vesicle; after ejaculation, they interact with seminal fluid proteins and undergo biochemical changes on their surface while they are stored in the female sperm storage organs. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these maturation processes remain largely unknown. Here, we focused on Drosophila Neprilysin genes, which are the fly orthologs of the mouse Membrane metallo-endopeptidase-like 1 (Mmel1) gene. While Mmel1 knockout male mice have reduced fertility without abnormality in either testis morphology or sperm motility, there are inconsistent results regarding the association of any Neprilysin gene with male fertility in Drosophila. We examined the association of the Nep1-5 genes with male fertility by RNAi and found that Nep4 gene function is specifically required in germline cells. To investigate this in more detail, we induced mutations in the Nep4 gene by the CRISPR/Cas9 system and isolated two mutants, both of which were viable and female fertile, but male sterile. The mutant males had normal-looking testes and sperm; during copulation, sperm were transferred to females and stored in the seminal receptacle and paired spermathecae. However, following sperm transfer and storage, three defects were observed for Nep4 mutant sperm. First, sperm were quickly discarded by the females; second, the proportion of eggs fertilized was significantly lower for mutant sperm than for control sperm; and third, most eggs laid did not initiate development after sperm entry. Taking these observations together, we conclude that the Nep4 gene is essential for sperm function following sperm transfer to females.

There is an urgent need to cryopreserve Drosophila stocks that have been maintained as living cultures for a long time. Long-term culture increases the risk of accidental loss and of unwanted genetic alteration. Here, we report that cryopreserved primordial germ cells (PGCs) can produce F1 progeny when transplanted into hosts. The cryopreserved donor PGCs could form germline stem cells in host gonads and contributed to continuous offspring production. Furthermore, the ability to produce offspring did not appear to vary with either differences between donor strains or cryopreservation duration. Therefore, we propose that our cryopreservation method is feasible for long-term storage of various Drosophila strains. These results underscore the potential usefulness of our cryopreservation method for backing up living stocks to avoid either accidental loss or genetic alteration., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Male reproduction encompasses many essential cellular processes and interactions. As a focal point for these events, sperm offer opportunities for advancing our understanding of sexual reproduction at multiple levels during development. Using male sterility genes identified in human, mouse, and fruit fly databases as a starting point, 103 Drosophila melanogaster genes were screened for their association with male sterility by tissue-specific RNAi knockdown and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis. This list included 56 genes associated with male infertility in the human databases, but not found in the Drosophila database, resulting in the discovery of 63 new genes associated with male fertility in Drosophila. The phenotypes identified were categorized into six distinct classes affecting sperm development. Interestingly, the second largest class (Class VI) caused sterility despite apparently normal testis and sperm morphology suggesting that these proteins may have functions in the mature sperm following spermatogenesis. We focused on one such gene, Rack 1, and found that it plays an important role in two developmental periods, in early germline cells or germline stem cells and in spermatogenic cells or sperm. Taken together, many genes are yet to be identified and their role in male reproduction, especially after ejaculation, remains to be elucidated in Drosophila, where a wealth of data from human and other model organisms would be useful., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Genetics Society of America.)

The physiological and behavioral influences of 2.45 GHz microwaves on Drosophila melanogaster were examined. Standing waves transitioned into heat energy effectively when passing through the insect body. On the contrary, travelling waves did not transit into heat energy in the insect body. This indicated that there was no concern regarding the thermal effects of microwave irradiation for levels of daily usage. However, we detected genotoxicity and behavioral alterations associated with travelling wave irradiation, which can be attributed to the non-thermal effects of the waves. Electron spin resonance (ESR) revealed that fruit flies possessed paramagnetic substances in the body such as Fe 3+ , Cu 2+ , Mn 2+ , and organic radicals. The temperature dependent intensities of these paramagnetic substances indicated that females possessed more of the components susceptible to electromagnetic waves than males, and the behavioral tests supported the differences between the sexes.

The molecular and cellular mechanism for clearance of dead neurons was explored in the developing Drosophila optic lobe. During development of the optic lobe, many neural cells die through apoptosis, and corpses are immediately removed in the early pupal stage. Most of the cells that die in the optic lobe are young neurons that have not extended neurites. In this study, we showed that clearance was carried out by cortex glia via a phagocytosis receptor, Draper (Drpr). drpr expression in cortex glia from the second instar larval to early pupal stages was required and sufficient for clearance. Drpr that was expressed in other subtypes of glia did not mediate clearance. Shark and Ced-6 mediated clearance of Drpr. The Crk/Mbc/dCed-12 pathway was partially involved in clearance, but the role was minor. Suppression of the function of Pretaporter, CaBP1 and phosphatidylserine delayed clearance, suggesting a possibility for these molecules to function as Drpr ligands in the developing optic lobe., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Coronal shear fractures of the nonossified humeral trochlea are extremely rare in skeletally immature children. This fracture is difficult to diagnose accurately on routine radiographs. In addition, the mechanism of injury and appropriate treatment methods are unknown. We present the case of a 7-year-old boy who sustained an isolated coronal shear fracture of the nonossified humeral trochlea. Internal fixation of the fracture was performed with 2 K-wires. Two and a half years after surgery, the patient had pain-free active range of motion of the elbow from 0° to 130° with full forearm rotation and magnetic resonance imaging showed healing of the chondral fragment of the trochlea. Hand surgeons should be aware of the possibility of this rare fracture in skeletally immature children. Magnetic resonance imaging and arthrography are helpful in establishing the correct diagnosis., (Copyright © 2018 American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In Drosophila , mature sperm are transferred from males to females during copulation, stored in the sperm storage organs of females, and then utilized for fertilization. Here, we report a gene named sheepish ( shps ) of Drosophila melanogaster that is essential for sperm storage in females. shps mutant males, although producing morphologically normal and motile sperm that are effectively transferred to females, produce very few offspring. Direct counts of sperm indicated that the primary defect was correlated to failure of shps sperm to migrate into the female sperm storage organs. Increased sperm motion parameters were seen in the control after transfer to females, whereas sperm from shps males have characteristics of the motion parameters different from the control. The few sperm that occasionally entered the female sperm storage organs showed no obvious defects in fertilization and early embryo development. The female postmating responses after copulation with shps males appeared normal, at least with respect to conformational changes of uterus, mating plug formation, and female remating rates. The shps gene encodes a protein with homology to amine oxidases, including as observed in mammals, with a transmembrane region at the C-terminal end. The shps mutation was characterized by a nonsense replacement in the third exon of CG13611 , and shps was rescued by transformants of the wild-type copy of CG13611 Thus, shps may define a new class of gene responsible for sperm storage., (Copyright © 2018 Tomaru et al.)

Two delayed unions and one nonunion of hook of the hamate fractures in adults aged 31-, 40-, and 41-years-old were treated with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS). Ultrasound treatment was started at three, four, and six months after injury and ultrasound exposure at the hook of the hamate in the hypothenar eminence was carried out for four to five months. During the management period, there was no immobilisation with a cast or brace and limited strain with only routine daily activities allowed. In all cases, bony union was confirmed on carpal tunnel radiographs or computed tomography at the final follow-up time of eight and 36 months after injuries.

Static electric field therapy by high voltage alternating current (EF-HVAC) is a traditional complementary Japanese medicine used for headache, shoulder stiffness, chronic constipation and insomnia. Open-label studies and clinical experience in Japan have suggested that this electric field therapy is safe and effective in treating chronic arthritis. We evaluated the efficacy of EF-HVAC therapy in a randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in community-based general physician centers. Thirty patients fulfilling American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for RA were treated with EF-HVAC therapy with the LEGACIS PLUS System (COCOROCA Corp., Tokyo, Japan) or sham therapy for 12 weeks and followed for 4 weeks without treatment. The disease activity score 28 (DAS28-CRP), visual analogue scale for pain (VAS), modified health assessment questionnaire (MHAQ), and inflammatory parameters were used as the outcome variable. Twenty four patients (n = 12 in each group) were analyzed by a per protocol analysis. Although a significant reduction in DAS28-CRP was observed in EF-HVAC group at 8 and 12 weeks compared to before treatment, there were no significant differences in DAS28-CRP scores during treatment between two groups. The scale of VAS was also significantly decreased by the treatment with EF-HVAC compared to before treatment, in addition, the scale of VAS in EF-HVAC group was significantly lower than sham group at 8 and 12 weeks. Changes in another parameters including MHAQ were not significant between before and after treatment, or by all comparative study between two groups. There were no adverse events related the treatment. In conclusion, the EF-HVAC therapy has a beneficial effect on the improvement to subjective pain of RA.

Housing mice in the presence of small particles of titanium has been shown to reduce stress-responsive behavior via the autonomic nervous system. Here, we examined the effects of nighttime titanium exposure on stress parameters and autonomic nerve activity in office workers with emotional stress. A randomized double-blind, placebo controlled trial was performed in 24 male subjects with desk jobs, who were randomly allocated to spend 5 nights in rooms with or without titanium. The serum concentrations of stress-responsive hormones (cortisol, adrenocorticotropin, and catecholamine) were measured, and profiles of emotional stress were collected to subjectively assess relaxation. Autonomic nerve activity was examined by power spectra analysis of heart rate variability. In psychological tests, factors related to tension (-14.5%, 95% CI=-15.7--2.1), anger (-11.3%, 95% CI=-13.9--0.7), and emotional stress (-28.5%, 95% CI=-30.0--5.3) were significantly decreased by exposure to titanium. The serum level of adrenocorticotropin was gradually elevated throughout the experimental period in the placebo group (day 4, 80.5%, 95% CI=7.1-37.5 vs. before trial) but not the titanium group. Power spectral analysis of R-R interval data showed a significant elevation in the high-frequency power spectral ratio in subjects housed in titanium rooms (days 1-2, 14.3%, 95% CI=4.7-21.9; days 3-4, 26.8%, 95% CI=4.9-38.7; and days 5-6, 24.1%, 95% CI=5.8-34.0 vs. before trial). These results suggest that sleeping in a room containing titanium lowers physiological and psychological stress., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We examined the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways in crystalline silica-induced expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, an important mediator of airway inflammation, in A549 human lung epithelial cells. The levels of COX-2 mRNA increased after a 30-min exposure, and COX-2 protein increased after a 2-h exposure to crystalline silica. Both remained elevated at 8 h; however, no change was observed in the expression of the constitutive COX-1 isoform. The level of prostaglandin E(2), a major product of COX enzymes, increased in response to crystalline silica exposure. Phosphorylated forms of MAPKs including extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase, and p38 were also increased after crystalline silica exposure. COX-2 expression was markedly suppressed by treatment with the p38 inhibitor, SB203580, and mildly suppressed by the MAPK/ERK kinase inhibitor, U0126. Treatment with the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) inhibitor, BAY11-7082, markedly suppressed silica-induced COX-2 expression. These results show that crystalline silica exposure induces COX-2 expression in A549 cells in a manner that is dependent on the MAPK and NF-κB pathways. Although a marked induction of MAPK phosphatase (MKP)-1 expression was observed in A549 cells exposed to crystalline silica, the silencing of MKP-1 expression using short interference RNA did not affect silica-induced COX-2 expression, suggesting that the down-regulation of COX-2 expression by MKP-1 is unlikely.

Rice dwarf virus (RDV), with 12 double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) genome segments (S1 to S12), replicates in and is transmitted by vector insects. The RDV-plant host-vector insect system allows us to examine the evolution, adaptation, and population genetics of a plant virus. We compared the effects of long-term maintenance of RDV on population structures in its two hosts. The maintenance of RDV in rice plants for several years resulted in gradual accumulation of nonsense mutations in S2 and S10, absence of expression of the encoded proteins, and complete loss of transmissibility. RDV maintained in cultured insect cells for 6 years retained an intact protein-encoding genome. Thus, the structural P2 protein encoded by S2 and the nonstructural Pns10 protein encoded by S10 of RDV are subject to different selective pressures in the two hosts, and mutations accumulating in the host plant are detrimental in vector insects. However, one round of propagation in insect cells or individuals purged the populations of RDV that had accumulated deleterious mutations in host plants, with exclusive survival of fully competent RDV. Our results suggest that during the course of evolution, an ancestral form of RDV, of insect virus origin, might have acquired the ability to replicate in a host plant, given its reproducible mutations in the host plant that abolish vector transmissibility and viability in nature.

Objective: To develop a program that promotes network building between disciplinary agencies and informal community organizations (RIO) comprising community residents., Methods: Questionnaire and interview surveys were conducted for the staff of a community comprehensive support center in order to assess the needs regarding network building with ICOs. Then, a program was developed based on the social cognitive theory. The aim of the program was to raise awareness about network building and to develop necessary skills., Results: The program induded ten sessions, with themes encompassing "reviewing the past activities", "understanding the significance of network building with IGOs", "integrating the aims and visions of staff", and "learning ways to build networks with IGOs". Objectives of each session were set on the basis of the particular theme covered. Participants performed group work during the sessions., Conclusion: Establishment and actual implementation of programs in clinical practice could be expected to strengthen networking between disciplinary agencies and ICOs. It is necessary to implement programs and evaluate their effectiveness in the future.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of a program promoting network building between disciplinary agencies and informal community organizations (IGOs) comprising community residents, by implemention with staff of a community comprehensive support center (CJCSG)., Methods: The program was implemented for nine staff of a GGSG in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo for a year. For process evaluation, items were assessed concerning the contents of the program such as satisfaction and understandability, participants' goal attainment level at each period of the program, and program satisfaction as a whole. Outcome evaluation included measurement of participants' self-efficacy regarding network building with ICOs before and after the program, using interviews of the members who completed the program., Result: Eight out of the nine participants completed the program. All positively evaluated the contents of the program and their own goal attainment at each period of the program. After its completion, they felt highly satisfied. Moreover, there was an improvement in the cognition of the participants, including self-efficacy on network building with IGOs and the atmosphere in the GGSG with regard to network building., Conclusion: The efficacy of this program could be confirmed as demonstrated by the staff of the CCSC, although a more detailed assessment of validity and effectiveness will be necessary in the future.

Objective: Effective approaches should be established to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus, which has been increasing in developed countries. The present study examined whether dietary supplementation with cacao liquor proanthocyanidins (CLPr) could prevent elevation of blood glucose levels in mice with diabetes mellitus and obesity., Methods: C57BL/KsJ-db/db (db/db) diabetic obese mice and C57BL/KsJ-db/+m (db/+m) control mice were fed a diet containing 0% w/w CLPr (0% CLPr), 0.5% w/w CLPr (0.5% CLPr), or 1.0% w/w CLPr (1.0% CLPr) from age 3 wk to age 6 wk. Levels of blood glucose were measured at 4 and 5 wk of age. The animals were sacrificed and the levels of blood glucose and fructosamine were measured at 6 wk of age., Results: The levels of blood glucose and fructosamine were higher in the db/db mice than in the db/+m mice fed a diet containing 0%, 0.5%, or 1.0% CLPr. In the db/+m mice, the levels of blood glucose or fructosamine were not significantly different across animals fed 0% CLPr, 0.5% CLPr, and 1.0% CLPr. In the db/db mice, however, a diet containing 0.5% or 1.0% CLPr decreased the levels of blood glucose and fructosamine compared with that containing 0% CLPr without significant effects on body weights or food consumption., Conclusion: Dietary supplementation with CLPr can dose-dependently prevent the development of hyperglycemia in diabetic obese mice. The dietary intake of food or drinks produced from cacao beans might be beneficial in preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

In epidemiological studies, exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) has been reported to be positively associated with mortality in subjects with diabetes mellitus. Diesel exhaust particles (DEP) are major constituents of atmospheric PM. However, there is no experimental evidence for the relation of DEP to diabetes mellitus and its complications. We investigated the effects of DEP inoculated intratracheally on diabetic changes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in diabetic obese and control mice. db/db mice and the corresponding nondiabetic db/+m mice received exposure to vehicle or DEP every two weeks. Animals were examined with biochemistry, histology, and immunohistochemistry for hexanoyl-lysine (HEL) in the liver. In the db/+m mice, pulmonary exposure to DEP did not increase levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) compared to that to vehicle. In the db/db mice, however, the exposure to DEP increased the levels of AST and ALT compared to that to vehicle. Only in the db/db mice, DEP enhanced the magnitude of steatosis and formation of HEL, a marker of oxidative stress, in the liver compared to vehicle. These results suggest that pulmonary exposure to DEP, PM, enhances steatosis in the liver of obese diabetic subjects possibly via enhanced oxidative stress.

In Drosophila sechellia, females accept males that sing heterospecific songs less than those that do not sing, whereas in D. melanogaster and D. simulans, females accept males that sing heterospecific song more than those that do not sing. Here we studied the sexual isolation of D. sechellia and its siblings using interspecific hybrids to reveal the mechanisms underlying female mate recognition. The females of hybrids mated more with winged males of the parent species than with wingless ones, suggesting that the discrimination against heterospecific songs by D. sechellia females is recessive. Female preference for courtship songs seems to be inherited additively or semidominantly. In addition, we examined female receptivity without the stimuli of courtship songs by comparing the mating frequencies between the crosses using wingless males and found that it is also inherited additively or semidominantly.