Home-field advantage in decomposition of leaf litter and insect frass

Home-field advantage (HFA) hypothesis regarding litter decomposition states that litter is decomposed more rapidly in the habitat from which it is derived (i.e., home) than in other habitat (i.e., away) due to local adaptation of soil decomposers. We tested the HFA hypothesis regarding decomposition of leaf litter, insect frass, and their mixtures, using laboratory incubation of leaf litter from an evergreen (Pinus densiflora) and a deciduous (Quercus acutissima) tree species, frass excreted by two insect herbivores (Dendrolimus spectabilis and Lymantria dispar) fed on one of the two trees, and soil collected underneath the two trees. We found evidence that decomposers in each soil were specialized to decompose the litter derived from the tree species above them, indicating that the HFA occurred in litter decomposition. In contrast, the HFA was not detected in the decomposition of insect frass or litter-frass mixtures. Mixing with D. spectabilis frass non-additively decelerated, while mixing with L. dispar frass non-additively accelerated, decomposition of the mixtures, independent of soil and litter types. These indicate that the presence of insect herbivores may make it difficult to form and maintain a decomposer community specialized to a certain leaf litter, and that it may consequently cancel or weaken HFA in litter decomposition.     

An Enzyme-Catalyzed Multistep DNA Refolding Mechanism in Hairpin Telomere Formation

Hairpin telomeres of bacterial linear chromosomes are generated by a DNA cutting–rejoining enzyme protelomerase. Protelomerase resolves a concatenated dimer of chromosomes as the last step of chromosome replication, converting a palindromic DNA sequence at the junctions between chromosomes into covalently closed hairpins. The mechanism by which protelomerase transforms a duplex DNA substrate into the hairpin telomeres remains largely unknown. We report here a series of crystal structures of the protelomerase TelA bound to DNA that represent distinct stages along the reaction pathway. The structures suggest that TelA converts a linear duplex substrate into hairpin turns via a transient strand-refolding intermediate that involves DNA-base flipping and wobble base-pairs. The extremely compact di-nucleotide hairpin structure of the product is fully stabilized by TelA prior to strand ligation, which drives the reaction to completion. The enzyme-catalyzed, multistep strand refolding is a novel mechanism in DNA rearrangement reactions.     

Identification and Characterization of a Novel aac(6′)-Iag Associated with the bla IMP-1–Integron in a Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In a continuing study from Dec 2006 to Apr 2008, we characterized nine multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from four patients in a ward at the Hiroshima University Hospital, Japan. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of SpeI-digested genomic DNAs from the isolates suggested the clonal expansion of a single strain; however, only one strain, NK0009, was found to produce metallo-β-lactamase. PCR and subsequent sequencing analysis indicated NK0009 possessed a novel class 1 integron, designated as In124, that carries an array of four gene cassettes: a novel aminoglycoside (AG) resistance gene, aac(6′)-Iag, bla _IMP-1, a truncated form of bla _IMP-1, and a truncated form of aac(6′)-Iag. The aac(6′)-Iag encoded a 167-amino-acid protein that shows 40% identity with AAC(6′)-Iz. Recombinant AAC(6′)-Iag protein showed aminoglycoside 6′-N-acetyltransferase activity using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and MS spectrometric analysis. Escherichia coli carrying aac(6′)-Iag showed resistance to amikacin, arbekacin, dibekacin, isepamicin, kanamycin, sisomicin, and tobramycin; but not to gentamicin. A conjugation experiment and subsequent Southern hybridization with the gene probes for bla _IMP-1 and aac(6′)-Ig strongly suggested In124 is on a conjugal plasmid. Transconjugants acquired resistance to gentamicin and were resistant to virtually all AGs, suggesting that the In124 conjugal plasmid also possesses a gene conferring resistance to gentamicin.     

Noisy Interlimb Coordination Can Be a Main Cause of Freezing of Gait in Patients with Little to No Parkinsonism

Freezing of gait in patients with Parkinson’s disease is associated with several factors, including interlimb incoordination and impaired gait cycle regulation. Gait analysis in patients with Parkinson’s disease is confounded by parkinsonian symptoms such as rigidity. To understand the mechanisms underlying freezing of gait, we compared gait patterns during straight walking between 9 patients with freezing of gait but little to no parkinsonism (freezing patients) and 11 patients with Parkinson’s disease (non-freezing patients). Wireless sensors were used to detect foot contact and toe-off events, and the step phase of each foot contact was calculated by defining one stride cycle of the other leg as 360°. Phase-resetting analysis was performed, whereby the relation between the step phase of one leg and the subsequent phase change in the following step of the other leg was quantified using regression analysis. A small slope of the regression line indicates a forceful correction (phase reset) at every step of the deviation of step phase from the equilibrium phase, usually at around 180°. The slope of this relation was smaller in freezing patients than in non-freezing patients, but the slope exhibited larger step-to-step variability. This indicates that freezing patients executed a forceful but noisy correction of the deviation of step phase, whereas non-freezing patients made a gradual correction of the deviation. Moreover, freezing patients tended to show more variable step phase and stride time than non-freezing patients. Dynamics of a model of two coupled oscillators interacting through a phase resetting mechanism were examined, and indicated that the deterioration of phase reset by noise provoked variability in step phase and stride time. That is, interlimb coordination can affect regulation of the gait cycle. These results suggest that noisy interlimb coordination, which probably caused forceful corrections of step phase deviation, can be a cause of freezing of gait.     

Effect of Caffeine-Containing Beverage Consumption on Serum Alanine Aminotransferase Levels in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Hospital-Based Cohort Study

Introduction

To date, there have been no prospective studies examining the effect of coffee consumption on serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level among individuals infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). We conducted a hospital-based cohort study among patients with chronic HCV infection to assess an association between baseline coffee consumption and subsequent ALT levels for 12 months.

Materials and Methods

From 1 August 2005 to 31 July 2006, total 376 HCV-RNA positive patients were recruited. A baseline questionnaire elicited information on the frequency of coffee consumption and other caffeine-containing beverages. ALT level as a study outcome was followed through the patients’ medical records during 12 months. The association between baseline beverage consumption and subsequent ALT levels was evaluated separately among patients with baseline ALT levels within normal range (≤45 IU/L) and among those with higher ALT levels (>45 IU/L).

Results

Among 229 patients with baseline ALT levels within normal range, 186 (81%) retained normal ALT levels at 12 months after recruitment. Daily drinkers of filtered coffee were three times more likely to preserve a normal ALT level than non-drinkers (OR=2.74; P=0.037). However, decaffeinated coffee drinkers had a somewhat inverse effect for sustained normal ALT levels, with marginal significance (OR=0.26; P=0.076). In addition, among 147 patients with higher baseline ALT levels, 39 patients (27%) had ALT reductions of ≥20 IU/L at 12 months after recruitment. Daily drinkers of filtered coffee had a significantly increased OR for ALT reduction (OR=3.79; P=0.034). However, in decaffeinated coffee drinkers, OR could not be calculated because no patients had ALT reduction.

Conclusion

Among patients with chronic HCV infection, daily consumption of filtered coffee may have a beneficial effect on the stabilization of ALT levels.     

Distribution and development of P2Y1-purinoceptors in the mouse retina

There is increasing evidence that ATP acts on purinergic receptors and mediates synaptic transmission in the retina. In a previous study, we raised the possibility that P2X-purinoceptors, presumably P2X₂-purinoceptors in OFF-cholinergic amacrine cells, play a key role in the formation of OFF pathway-specific modulation. In this study, we examined whether the P2Y₁-purinoceptors can function in cholinergic amacrine cells in the mouse retina since cholinergic amacrine cells in the rat retina express P2Y₁-purinoceptors. P2Y₁-purinoceptors were shown to be expressed in dendrites of both ON- and OFF-cholinergic amacrine cells in adults. At postnatal day 7, there was immunoreactivity for P2Y₁-purinoceptors in the soma of cholinergic amacrine cells. At postnatal day 14, weak immunoreactivity for P2Y₁-purinoceptors was detected in the dendrites but not in the soma of cholinergic amacrine cells. At postnatal day 21, strong immunoreactivity for P2Y₁-purinoceptors was detected in dendrites of cholinergic amacrine cells. The expression pattern of P2Y₁-purinoceptors was not affected by visual experience. We concluded that P2Y₁-purinoceptors are not involved in the OFF-pathway-specific signal transmission in cholinergic amacrine cells of the mouse retina.     

Oral Factors Affecting Titanium Elution and Corrosion: An In Vitro Study Using Simulated Body Fluid

Objectives

Ti, which is biocompatible and resistant to corrosion, is widely used for dental implants, particularly in patients allergic to other materials. However, numerous studies have reported on Ti allergy and the in vitro corrosion of Ti. This study investigated the conditions that promote the elution of Ti ions from Ti implants.

Methods

Specimens of commercially pure Ti, pure nickel, a magnetic alloy, and a gold alloy were tested. Each specimen was immersed in a simulated body fluid (SBF) whose pH value was controlled (2.0, 3.0, 5.0, 7.4, and 9.0) using either hydrochloric or lactic acid. The parameters investigated were the following: duration of immersion, pH of the SBF, contact with a dissimilar metal, and mechanical stimulus. The amounts of Ti ions eluted were measured using a polarized Zeeman atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Results

Eluted Ti ions were detected after 24 h (pH of 2.0 and 3.0) and after 48 h (pH of 9.0). However, even after 4 weeks, eluted Ti ions were not detected in SBF solutions with pH values of 5.0 and 7.4. Ti elution was affected by immersion time, pH, acid type, mechanical stimulus, and contact with a dissimilar metal. Elution of Ti ions in a Candida albicans culture medium was observed after 72 h.

Significance

Elution of Ti ions in the SBF was influenced by its pH and by crevice corrosion. The results of this study elucidate the conditions that lead to the elution of Ti ions in humans, which results in implant corrosion and Ti allergy.     

Direct Induction of Chondrogenic Cells from Human Dermal Fibroblast Culture by Defined Factors

The repair of large cartilage defects with hyaline cartilage continues to be a challenging clinical issue. We recently reported that the forced expression of two reprogramming factors (c-Myc and Klf4) and one chondrogenic factor (SOX9) can induce chondrogenic cells from mouse dermal fibroblast culture without going through a pluripotent state. We here generated induced chondrogenic (iChon) cells from human dermal fibroblast (HDF) culture with the same factors. We developed a chondrocyte-specific COL11A2 promoter/enhancer lentiviral reporter vector to select iChon cells. The human iChon cells expressed marker genes for chondrocytes but not fibroblasts, and were derived from non-chondrogenic COL11A2-negative cells. The human iChon cells formed cartilage but not tumors in nude mice. This approach could lead to the preparation of cartilage directly from skin in human, without going through pluripotent stem cells.     

Functions of beta2-adrenergic receptor in human periodontal ligament cells

Adrenergic receptors (ARs) are receptors of noradrenalin and adrenalin, of which there are nine different subtypes. In particular, β2 adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) is known to be related to the restoration and maintenance of homeostasis in bone and cardiac tissues; however, the functional role of signaling through β2-AR in periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue has not been fully examined. In this report, we investigated that β2-AR expression in PDL tissues and their features in PDL cells. β2-AR expressed in rat PDL tissues and human PDL cells (HPDLCs) derived from two different patients (HPDLCs-2G and -3S). Rat PDL tissue with occlusal loading showed high β2-AR expression, while its expression was downregulated in that without loading. In HPDLCs, β2-AR expression was increased exposed to stretch loading. The gene expression of PDL-related molecules was investigated in PDL clone cells (2-23 cells) overexpressing β2-AR. Their gene expression and intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels were also investigated in HPDLCs treated with a specific β2-AR agonist, fenoterol (FEN). Overexpression of β2-AR significantly promoted the gene expression of PDL-related molecules in 2 to 23 cells. FEN led to an upregulation in the expression of PDL-related molecules and increased intracellular cAMP levels in HPDLCs. In both HPDLCs, inhibition of cAMP signaling by using protein kinase A inhibitor suppressed the FEN-induced gene expression of α-smooth muscle actin. Our findings suggest that the occlusal force is important for β2-AR expression in PDL tissue and β2-AR is involved in fibroblastic differentiation and collagen synthesis of PDL cells. The signaling through β2-AR might be important for restoration and homeostasis of PDL tissue.