Enhancing crop yield response to elevated CO2 concentrations (E-CO2) is an important adaptation measure to climate change. A high-yielding indica rice cultivar "Takanari" has recently been identified ...as a potential candidate for high productivity in E-CO2 resulting from its large sink and source capacities. To fully utilize these traits, nitrogen should play a major role, but it is unknown how N levels influence the yield response of Takanari to E-CO2. We therefore compared grain yield and quality of Takanari with those of Koshihikari, a standard japonica cultivar, in response to Free-Air CO2 enrichment (FACE, +200 μmol mol-1) under three N levels (0, 8, and 12 g m-2) over three seasons. The biomass of both cultivars increased under E-CO2 at all N levels; however, the harvest index decreased under E-CO2 in the N-limited treatment for Koshihikari but not for Takanari. The decreased harvest index of Koshihikari resulted from limited enhancement of spikelet number under N-limitation. In contrast, spikelet number increased in E-CO2 in Takanari even without N application, resulting in significant yield enhancement, averaging 18% over 3 years, whereas Koshihikari exhibited virtually no increase in yield in E-CO2 under the N-limited condition. Grain appearance quality of Koshihikari was severely reduced by E-CO2, most notably in N-limited and hot conditions, by a substantial increase in chalky grain, but chalky grain % did not increase in E-CO2 even without N fertilizer. These results indicated that Takanari could retain its high yield advantage over Koshihikari with limited increase in chalkiness even under limited N conditions and that it could be a useful genetic resource for improving N use efficiency under E-CO2.Enhancing crop yield response to elevated CO2 concentrations (E-CO2) is an important adaptation measure to climate change. A high-yielding indica rice cultivar "Takanari" has recently been identified as a potential candidate for high productivity in E-CO2 resulting from its large sink and source capacities. To fully utilize these traits, nitrogen should play a major role, but it is unknown how N levels influence the yield response of Takanari to E-CO2. We therefore compared grain yield and quality of Takanari with those of Koshihikari, a standard japonica cultivar, in response to Free-Air CO2 enrichment (FACE, +200 μmol mol-1) under three N levels (0, 8, and 12 g m-2) over three seasons. The biomass of both cultivars increased under E-CO2 at all N levels; however, the harvest index decreased under E-CO2 in the N-limited treatment for Koshihikari but not for Takanari. The decreased harvest index of Koshihikari resulted from limited enhancement of spikelet number under N-limitation. In contrast, spikelet number increased in E-CO2 in Takanari even without N application, resulting in significant yield enhancement, averaging 18% over 3 years, whereas Koshihikari exhibited virtually no increase in yield in E-CO2 under the N-limited condition. Grain appearance quality of Koshihikari was severely reduced by E-CO2, most notably in N-limited and hot conditions, by a substantial increase in chalky grain, but chalky grain % did not increase in E-CO2 even without N fertilizer. These results indicated that Takanari could retain its high yield advantage over Koshihikari with limited increase in chalkiness even under limited N conditions and that it could be a useful genetic resource for improving N use efficiency under E-CO2.
Desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF) is a rare, locally infiltrative, and fibroblastic proliferative disease. DF usually arises from abdominal fascial tissue, but in rare cases, it can occur in ...extra-abdominal areas. A 73-year-old Japanese male complained of a painless, left anterior neck mass of 3-month duration. Computed tomography revealed the mass measured 9 × 7 × 6 cm and extended to the anterior mediastinum, with invasion of the left clavicle. En bloc resection of the tumor with the left sternoclavicular joint and the medial portion of the left clavicle was performed by cervico-thoracic approach with L-shaped partial sternotomy. Histopathologic examination showed fascicular growth of spindle-shaped cells separated by abundant collagen. Immunohistologic examination revealed nuclear staining of β-catenin and cytoplasmic staining of vimentin. Genetic analysis of 160 cancer-related genes by next-generation sequencing (NGS) demonstrated only a missense mutation in the CTNNB1 gene (c.133T>C, p.S45P). DF extending from the neck to the anterior mediastinum is rare. We report the complete resection of a large-sized DF with the clavicular invasion. A low-frequency CTNNB1 mutation of DF was identified. Genetic analysis with NGS was beneficial for the diagnosis.
The pathological role of snoring independent of obstructive sleep apnea remains under debate. The authors hypothesized that snoring sound intensity, as assessed by mean tracheal sound energy (Leq) ...during sleep, is related to daytime blood pressure.
Retrospective analysis of clinical records and polysomnography data.
Sleep laboratory at a national hospital in Japan.
Consecutive patients who underwent diagnostic polysomnography with suspicion of sleep apnea between January 2005 and December 2009 (n = 1,118).
Not applicable.
Leq was calculated from tracheal sound spectra recorded every 0.2 sec during polysomnography. Daytime high blood pressure (HBP) was defined as taking antihypertensive drugs or having a systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg at the patient's first clinical visit. Patient age, sex, body mass index, apnea-hypopnea index, alcohol consumption, and smoking were considered as confounders. Leq during sleep was associated with HBP after adjusting for all confounding factors (n = 1,074, P = 0.00019). This association was demonstrated even in nonapneic nonobese patients (n = 232, P = 0.012).
The association between snoring intensity, as assessed by mean sound energy, and blood pressure suggests a pathological role for heavy snoring. Further study in a general population is warranted.
The mouse embryonic axis is initially formed with a proximal-distal orientation followed by subsequent conversion to a prospective anterior-posterior (A-P) polarity with directional migration of ...visceral endoderm cells. Importantly,
Otx2, a homeobox gene, is essential to this developmental process. However, the genetic regulatory mechanism governing axis conversion is poorly understood. Here, defective axis conversion due to
Otx2 deficiency can be rescued by expression of
Dkk1, a Wnt antagonist, or following removal of one copy of the
β-catenin gene. Misexpression of a canonical Wnt ligand can also inhibit correct A-P axis rotation. Moreover, asymmetrical distribution of β-catenin localization is impaired in the
Otx2-deficient and Wnt-misexpressing visceral endoderm. Concurrently, canonical Wnt and Dkk1 function as repulsive and attractive guidance cues, respectively, in the migration of visceral endoderm cells. We propose that Wnt/β-catenin signaling mediates A-P axis polarization by guiding cell migration toward the prospective anterior in the pregastrula mouse embryo.
Thyroid carcinoma (TC) has characteristic genetic alterations, including point mutations in proto-oncogenes and chromosomal rearrangements that vary by histologic subtype. Recent developments in ...next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology enable simultaneous analysis of cancer-associated genes of interest, thus improving diagnostic accuracy and allowing precise personalized treatment for human cancer. A total of 50 patients who underwent thyroidectomy between 2014 and 2016 at Hokuto Hospital were enrolled. Total DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections and quantified. Targeted regions of 24 cancer-associated genes were amplified by PCR, barcoded and sequenced using an Illumina MiSeq platform. Subjects included 30 patients with papillary carcinoma (PC), two with PC tall cell variant (TVPC), two with PC follicular variant (FVPC), eight with follicular carcinoma, seven with poorly differentiated carcinoma (PDC), and one with anaplastic carcinoma (AC). The
V600E mutation was present in 25 of 30 (83%) patients with PC, 2 of 2 (100%) patients with TVPC, 6 of 7 (86%) patients of PDC, and one patient with AC.
mutations were present in 3 of 30 (delPV104P, A1046T and C420R; 10%) patients with PC and 1 of 7 (H1047R; 14%) patients with PDC. The
mutation was present in 1 of 30 (R306*; 3.3%) patients with PC and 1 of 7 (Q152*; 14%) patients with PDC. The
mutation was present in 1 of 2 (Q61K, 50%) patients with FVPC. Statistical analysis showed that patients without the
V600E mutation had advanced pathologic T and N stages compared with those with the mutation (P=0.047 and P=0.019, respectively). The
V600E mutation was not correlated with overall and disease-free survival in patients with PC. A patient with PC with a mutation in
(K852Q) and the
mutation had an aggressive course with multiple bone and lung metastases. Detection of mutations in cancer-associated genes using NGS could enhance the understanding of the clinical behavior of TC.
Pot and field experiments were conducted to clarify the effect of soil exchangeable potassium (K) and cesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) on ¹³⁷Cs accumulation and to establish soil index in rice (Oryza sativa L.). ...Four paddy soils in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, showing different transfer factors for radioactive Cs derived from the accident of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in the field were compared in terms of ¹³⁷Cs accumulation in rice in a pot experiment. ¹³⁷Cs accumulation in shoots and brown rice widely varied among soils with the transfer factor ranging from 0.018 to 0.068 for shoots and 0.004 to 0.065 for brown rice. ¹³⁷Cs concentration in brown rice and shoots tended to decrease with higher levels of soil exchangeable K, and they were more closely related to the exchangeable Cs/K ratio. Similar relationships between the Cs/K ratio and Cs accumulation in plants were obtained for the stable isotope cesium-133 (¹³³Cs). The distributions of ¹³⁷Cs and ¹³³Cs in grains were also similar and variable among soils. The transfer factors obtained in pot experiments mostly agreed with field observations. The results imply that the exchangeable ¹³⁷Cs/K can be a potential soil index to estimate ¹³⁷Cs accumulation in rice.
Several studies have demonstrated the association between mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), a hematological index used for the assessment of anemia, and the prognosis of patients with ...heart disease. While the red cell distribution width (RDW) is known to be related to the prognosis of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), few studies have focused on the association between the MCHC and COPD. Therefore, we examined the association between the MCHC and prognosis in patients with exacerbation of COPD.
We examined the association between the 30-day mortality and clinical findings in patients with COPD exacerbation who were hospitalized between October 2008 and December 2018.
We enrolled 195 patients with COPD exacerbation (average age: 76.4 years; 181 men, 14 women). The MCHC was significantly lower, while the RDW was significantly higher in the 27 patients (13.8%) who died during the 30-day observation period compared to those in the patients who survived. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the MCHC was independently associated with 30-day mortality. The area under the curve calculated from the MCHC obtained from peripheral blood was 0.688 and the cutoff value was 31.6 g/dL, with a sensitivity of 0.593 and specificity of 0.810 (p = 0.0001).
The MCHC might be a valuable biomarker for evaluating the prognosis of patients with COPD exacerbation.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a known risk factor for cardiovascular death in Western countries. Because Japan has a low cardiovascular death rate, the association between a lower level of ...forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and mortality in Japan's general population is unknown. To clarify this, we conducted a community-based longitudinal study. This study included 3253 subjects, who received spirometry from 2004 to 2006 in Takahata, with a 7-year follow-up. The causes of death were assessed on the basis of the death certificate. In 338 subjects, airflow obstruction was observed by spirometry. A total of 127 subjects died. Cardiovascular death was the second highest cause of death in this population. The pulmonary functions of the deceased subjects were significantly lower than those of the subjects who were alive at the end of follow-up. The relative risk of death by all causes, respiratory failure, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease was significantly increased with airflow obstruction. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that all-cause and cardiovascular mortality significantly increased with a worsening severity of airflow obstruction. After adjusting for possible factors that could influence prognosis, a Cox proportional hazard model analysis revealed that a lower level of FEV1 was an independent risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality (per 10% increase; hazard ratio HR, 0.89; 95% confidence interval CI, 0.82-0.98; and HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.61-0.86, respectively). In conclusion, airflow obstruction is an independent risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular death in the Japanese general population. Spirometry might be a useful test to evaluate the risk of cardiovascular death and detect the risk of respiratory death by lung cancer or respiratory failure in healthy Japanese individuals.
AIM： To find occult metastases during hepatectomy in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases （CRCLM）, contrast-enhanced intraoperative ultrasonography （CE-IOUS） was performed using a new ...microbubble agent, sonazoid, which provides a parenchyma-specific contrast image based on its accumulation in the Kupffer cells. METHODS： Eight patients with CRCLM underwent CE- IOUS using sonazoid before hepatectomy. The liver was investigated during a late Kupffer-phase imaging, which is a valuable characteristic of sonazoid. RESULTS： CE-IOUS using sonazoid provided the early vascular- and sinusoidal-phase images for 10 min followed by the late Kupffer-phase image up to 30 min after the injection of sonazoid. IOUS did not provide new findings of metastatic lesion in the 8 patients. However, during the late Kupffer-phase image of sonazoid, a metastatic lesion was newly found in two of the 8 patients. These newly detected lesions were removed by an additional hepatectomy and histopathologically diagnosed as a metastasis. CONCLUSION： CE-IOUS using sonazoid can allow surgeons to investigate the whole liver with enough time and to find new metastases intraoperatively.
We examined the effects of time of first harvest, total amount of nitrogen, and nitrogen application method on the total dry matter yield of a twice-harvested rice (
Oryza sativa L.) cultivar ...Taporuri grown in southwestern Japan. The highest total dry matter yield was 27.1
t
ha
−1. We examined the effects of two times of first harvest (booting stage versus full heading stage). Plants harvested at the full heading stage produced 50% higher dry matter yield of first crop than those harvested at the booting stage, because the plants had greater weights per tiller than those harvested at the booting stage. Plants harvested at the booting stage produced 37% higher dry matter yield of second crop than those harvested at the full heading stage, because the plants had greater dry weights per tiller than those harvested at the full heading stage. Overall, plants harvested at the full heading stage produced 8% higher total dry matter yield than those harvested at the booting stage. We also examined the effects of two total amounts of nitrogen (300
kg
N
ha
−1 versus 150
kg
N
ha
−1) and three nitrogen application methods (method 1: 33.3% applied at transplanting, 66.7% at the maximum tiller number stage, 0.0% at 7 days after the first harvest, and 0.0% at 21 days after the first harvest; method 2: 33.3, 33.3, 16.7, and 16.7%, respectively; method 3: 33.3, 0.0, 33.3%, and 33.3%, respectively). For the first crop, plants that received 300
kg
N
ha
−1 produced 10% higher dry matter yield than those that received 150
kg
N
ha
−1 in 2004. Plants that underwent nitrogen application methods 1 and 2 produced 21% and 23% higher dry matter yield of first crop than plants that underwent method 3, respectively. The increase in number of tillers per meter in the 300
kg
N
ha
−1 treatment and in nitrogen application methods 1 and 2 resulted in the higher dry matter yields of first crop in these treatments. For the second crop, plants that received 300
kg
N
ha
−1 produced 10% higher dry matter yield of second crop than those that received 150
kg
N
ha
−1. Plants that underwent nitrogen application methods 2 and 3 produced 57% and 56% higher dry matter yield of second crop than method 1, respectively. The increase in number of tillers per meter in the 300
kg
N
ha
−1 treatment and in nitrogen application methods 2 and 3 resulted in the higher dry matter yields of second crop in these treatments. Overall, plants that received 300
kg
N
ha
−1 produced 7% higher dry matter yield than those that received 150
kg
N
ha
−1 and plants that underwent nitrogen application method 2 produced 21% and 11% higher dry matter yield than those that underwent methods 1 and 3, respectively. Therefore, our findings suggest that to produce the highest total dry matter yield the best time for first harvest is the full heading stage and the best nitrogen management is to provide 300
kg
N
ha
−1 in accordance with nitrogen application method 2.
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