Development of the hand and wrist bones in chimpanzees

Skeletal developmental of chimpanzees was studied cross-sectionally. By application of the TW2 method, we described the skeletal development of chimpanzees and compared their skeletal development with humans'. A development pattern of chimpanzees repeated accelerations and decelerations displaying “early-juvenile trough,” “pre-adolescent peak,” “mid-adolescent trough,” and “post-adolescent peak” in incremental curves. Sex differences in skeletal development are slower development in males during infant and early juvenile phases, and greater increment around the adolescent phase in males. Females are fully mature at younger ages than males, e.g. about one and a half years. In comparison with chimpanzees, humans have such characteristics as a longer slower period of juvenile development and a shorter spurt-like adolescent fast period which ends with full maturity.     

Calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P in the pharynx and lung of the bullfrog,Rana catesbeiana

Indirect double immunofluorescence labelling in the pharynx and lung of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, demonstrated the occurrence, distribution, and coexistence of two neuropeptides. In the pharynx, immunoreactive calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) were localized in nerve fibers distributed within and just beneath the ciliated epithelium. In the lung, CGRP and SP were localized in nerve fibers in five principal locations: 1) within the smooth muscle layer in the interfaveolar septa; 2) in the luminal thickened edges of the septa; 3) around the pulmonary vasculature; 4) within, and 5) under the ciliated epithelium. Within the smooth muscle layer in the septa, luminal thickened septa, and around blood vessels, almost all fibers showed coexistence of CGRP and SP. Within and just beneath the ciliated epithelium in the thickened septa, all fibers showed coexistence of CGRP and SP. No immunoreactivity for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, neuropeptide Y, galanin, somatostatin, FMRFamide, and leucine-and methionine-enkephalins was detected in the nerve fibers within the larynx and the lung. Together with our previous data, the present findings suggest that peptidergic mechanisms are involved in the regulation of amphibian respiratory systems throughout their life.     

Phylogenetic analysis of a novel sulfate-reducing magnetic bacterium, RS-1, demonstrates its membership of the δ-Proteobacteria

Abstract Most of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene of a sulfate-reducing magnetic bacterium, RS-1, was sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis was carried out. The results suggest that RS-1 is a member of the δ-Proteobacteria, and it appears to represent a new genus. RS-1 is the first bacterium reported outside the α-Proteobacteria that contains magnetite inclusions. RS-1 therefore disrupts the correlation between the α-Proteobacteria and possession of magnetite inclusions, and that between the δ-Proteobacteria and possession of greigite inclusions. The existence of RS-1 also suggests that intracellular magnetite biomineralization is of multiple evolutionary origins.     

IL-22-Producing RORγt-Dependent Innate Lymphoid Cells Play a Novel Protective Role in Murine Acute Hepatitis

Retinoid-related orphan receptor (ROR) γt is known to be related to the development and function of various immunological compartments in the liver, such as Th17 cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells, and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). We evaluated the roles of RORγt-expressing cells in mouse acute hepatitis model using RORγt deficient (RORγt^−/−) mice and RAG-2 and RORγt double deficient (RAG-2^−/− × RORγt^−/−) mice. Acute hepatitis was induced in mice by injection with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄), to investigate the regulation of liver inflammation by RORγt-expressing cells. We detected RORC expression in three compartments, CD4⁺ T cells, NKT cells, and lineage marker-negative SCA-1⁺Thy1^high ILCs, of the liver of wild type (WT) mice. CCl₄-treated RORγt^−/− mice developed liver damage in spite of lack of RORγt-dependent cells, but with reduced infiltration of macrophages compared with WT mice. In this regard, ILCs were significantly decreased in RAG-2^−/− × RORγt^−/− mice that lacked T and NKT cells. Surprisingly, RAG-2^−/− × RORγt^−/− mice developed significantly severer CCl₄-induced hepatitis compared with RAG-2^−/− mice, in accordance with the fact that hepatic ILCs failed to produce IL-22. Lastly, anti-Thy1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), but not anti-NK1.1 mAb or anti-asialo GM1 Ab administration exacerbated liver damage in RAG-2^−/− mice with the depletion of liver ILCs. Collectively, hepatic RORγt-dependent ILCs play a part of protective roles in hepatic immune response in mice.     

Movement Patterns and Residency of the Critically Endangered Horseshoe Crab Tachypleus tridentatus in a Semi-Enclosed Bay Determined Using Acoustic Telemetry

The horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus is critically endangered in Japan due to rapidly decreasing numbers resulting from the loss of tidal flats and sandy beaches, and the deterioration of coastal environments. We monitored the year-round migratory patterns and residency of this species in a coastal embayment at Tsuyazaki, Japan, using acoustic telemetry. Total 20 adult crabs (15 males and 5 females) were tagged with ultrasonic transmitters and tracked during two periods (2006–2008; n = 10 and 2007–2009; n = 10). Adult crabs were more active during periods of higher water temperatures and their activity peaked in July, during the spawning period. Water temperature appeared to be one of the key factors influencing the movement patterns for the species. Moreover, the crabs tended to be more active at night than in the day. The nocturnal activity pattern was clearly evident before and during the reproductive period (May–August). Tracking data also showed that one pair-bond was maintained for a maximum of 17 days after the pair-bonded female had spawned. Overall, 11 males (73% of 15 individuals) remained in the bay area over winter, whereas three females (60% of 5 individuals) overwintered outside of the bay. Telemetry data showed that over 60% (13 of 20) of tagged crabs overwintered within the bay where there are sandy beaches, mudflats, and scattered seagrass beds. This year-round residence by adult T. tridentatus in the bay area identifies it as a critical habitat for the management of this species, regardless of life-stage. Not only is it a comprehensive management strategy that effectively reflects this species’ habitat use patterns but also its implementation, such as the establishment of a protected area, would contribute to its conservation.     

Sequential Ubiquitination of Ribosomal Protein uS3 Triggers the Degradation of Non-functional 18S rRNA

1. Download high-res image (163KB)
2. Download full-size image

     

Wider Retinal Artery Trajectories in Eyes with Macular Hole Than in Fellow Eyes of Patients with Unilateral Idiopathic Macular Hole

Purpose

To determine whether the width of the retinal artery (RA) trajectory was associated with the presence of a macular hole (MH).

Methods

A retrospective cross sectional case-control study was performed. The fundus photographs were rotated 90 degrees, and the coordinates of the best fit curve of the RA trajectory were determined automatically based on these plots using the ImageJ program. The converted coordinates were fit to a second degree polynomial (ax²/100 + bx + c) equation. The width and steepness of the RA trajectory, “a”, of the eyes with a MH eye were compared to that of the fellow eyes.

Results

One hundred and ten eyes of 55 consecutive patients (30 women) with a unilateral MH and healthy fellow eyes were analyzed. The mean age was 64.9 years (range 47-81 years). The constant ‘a’ was significantly smaller in eyes with a MH than that of the fellow eyes (0.379 ± 0.094 vs 0.416 ± 0.121, P = 0.001, paired t test), indicating that the RA trajectory was wider in the MH eyes than in the fellow eyes. There was a significant correlation between the axial length and ‘a’ of the RA trajectory in the MH eyes (R = 0.273, P = 0.044) and in the fellow eyes (R = 0.356, P = 0.008; Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient).

Conclusions

Because eyes with a MH have a significantly wider and flatter RA trajectory, there may be greater traction on the fovea which is located between the RA arches. The causative role of this finding is still unclear.     

Genotype-Associated Differential NKG2D Expression on CD56+CD3+ Lymphocytes Predicts Response to Pegylated-Interferon/ Ribavirin Therapy in Chronic Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infections are significantly more difficult to eradicate with PEG-IFN/ribavirin therapy, compared to HCV genotype 2. The aim of this work is to investigate the difference of immunological impairments underlying this phenomenon. Pre-treatment NKG2D expression on peripheral CD56+CD3+ lymphocytes and CD56+CD3− NK cells from cases of chronic hepatitis C were analyzed and assessed by treatment effect. Two strains of HCV were used to co-incubate with immune cells in vitro. NKG2D expression on peripheral CD56+CD3+ lymphocytes, but not NK cells, was significantly impaired in genotype 1 infection, compared to genotype 2. When peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors were co-incubated with TNS2J1, a genotype 1b/2a chimera strain, or with JFH1, a genotype 2a strain, genotype-specific decrease of NKG2D on CD56+CD3+ lymphocytes, but not NK cells, was observed.　Pre-treatment NKG2D expression on peripheral CD56+CD3+ lymphocytes significantly correlated with reduction in serum HCV RNA levels from week 0 to week 4, and predicted treatment response. Ex vivo stimulation of peripheral CD56+CD3+ lymphocytes showed NKG2D expression-correlated IFN-γ production. In conclusion, Decreased NKG2D expression on CD56+CD3+ lymphocytes in chronic HCV genotype 1 infection predicts inferior treatment response to PEG-IFN/ribavirin therapy compared to genotype 2.     

Hepatitis C Related Chronic Liver Cirrhosis: Feasibility of Texture Analysis of MR Images for Classification of Fibrosis Stage and Necroinflammatory Activity Grade

Purpose

To assess the feasibility of texture analysis for classifying fibrosis stage and necroinflammatory activity grade in patients with chronic hepatitis C on T2-weighted (T2W), T1-weighted (T1W) and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced hepatocyte-phase (EOB-HP) imaging.

Materials and methods

From April 2008 to June 2012, MR images from 123 patients with pathologically proven chronic hepatitis C were retrospectively analyzed. Texture parameters derived from histogram, gradient, run-length matrix, co-occurrence matrix, autoregressive model and wavelet transform methods were estimated with imaging software. Fisher, probability of classification error and average correlation, and mutual information coefficients were used to extract subsets of optimized texture features. Linear discriminant analysis in combination with 1-nearest neighbor classifier (LDA/1-NN) was used for lesion classification. In compliance with the software requirement, classification was performed based on datasets from all patients, the patient group with necroinflammatory activity grade 1, and that with fibrosis stage 4, respectively.

Results

Based on all patient dataset, LDA/1-NN produced misclassification rates of 28.46%, 35.77% and 20.33% for fibrosis staging and 34.15%, 25.20% and 28.46% for necroinflammatory activity grading in T2W, T1W and EOB-HP images. In the patient group with necroinflammatory activity grade 1, LDA/1-NN yielded misclassification rates of 5.00%, 0% and 12.50% for fibrosis staging in T2W, T1W and EOB-HP images respectively. In the patient group with fibrosis stage 4, LDA/1-NN yielded misclassification rates of 5.88%, 12.94% and 11.76% for necroinflammatory activity grading in T2W, T1W and EOB-HP images respectively.

Conclusion

Texture quantitative parameters of MR images facilitate classification of the fibrosis stage as well as necroinflammatory activity grade in chronic hepatitis C, especially after categorizing the input dataset according to the activity or fibrosis degree in order to remove the interference between the fibrosis stage and necroinflammatory activity grade on texture features.