Clonal variation of sexual morph production in response to temperature and photoperiod in soybean aphid, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphis glycines</Emphasis> (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The life cycle of Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae) has been recognized as holocyclic. This study examined photoperiod and temperature effects on fecundity and sexual morph production using six A. glycines clones collected in northern, eastern, western, and southern Japan. Results showed that the six clones included anholocyclic and intermediate ones. Low temperature and short photoperiod negatively affected fecundity, except for one clone with anholocyclic life cycle. Possible mechanisms for the year-round parthenogenetic production of the anholocyclic clone are discussed.     

Delphinidin-3-glucoside suppresses lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells

Delphinidin is an anthocyanidin commonly found in various fruits and vegetables. Delphinidin has been known to possess many functions, such as an antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-muscular atrophy agent. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the effects of delphinidin on lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. The results showed that palmitic acid (PA)-induced cellular senescence in HepG2 cells and reduced the expression of SMARCD1, which is known to regulate senescence-associated lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. However, delphinidin-3-glucoside (D3 g) suppressed PA-induced senescence and reversed the expression of SMARCD1 to the level of untreated HepG2 cells. Consequently, D3 g inhibited PA-induced lipid accumulation through the restoration of the expression of SMARCD1 and fatty acid oxidation genes. Taken together, our results suggest that D3 g suppresses the lipid accumulation induced by hepatocyte senescence.     

Phenotypic and genetic divergence among island populations of sika deer (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cervus nippon</Emphasis>) in southern Japan: a test of the local adaptation hypothesis

Transplant and common garden experiments have been used in studies on local adaptation, but are difficult to be conducted for large animals with long life span. A previous study on the southern Japanese islands demonstrated that relative limb lengths of sika deer (Cervus nippon) were short on islands with steep slopes. We hypothesized that this morphological variation was evidence for local adaptation, and tested this hypothesis by comparing phenotypic divergence with neutral genetic divergence among eight populations of the sika deer in the southern Japanese islands. Divergence patterns differed between the phenotypic and neutral genetic features. Genetic similarity was high among individuals on Kyushu (OI, KGS, and KGK). Individuals on Tanegashima (TN) and Yakushima (YK) also constituted a group, whereas individuals on Tsushima (TS), Wakamatsujima (WM), and Kuchinoerabujima (KE) formed a genetically distinct group. Phenotypic data indicated that individuals from TS, OI, KGS, and KGK exhibited similarity, whereas individuals on YK formed an isolated group that was separated from the other populations. The degree of phenotypic divergence was larger than that of neutral genetic divergence between TN and YK. These results suggest that divergent selection worked between two of the eight island populations (TN and YK). The morphological trait of captive-bred individuals from TN and YK, which had never experienced their original environments, retained their original morphological features. By combining the results of multiple analyses, we found that the difference in relative limb length between the two populations was consistent with local adaptation hypothesis, although conclusive results were not obtained for the other populations.     

BCL2 inhibitor ABT-199 and JNK inhibitor SP600125 exhibit synergistic cytotoxicity against imatinib-resistant Ph+ ALL cells

Imatinib (IMT), a specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), has drastically changed the treatment strategy for Ph+ ALL (Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia). However, TKI resistance remains a serious problem for patient prognosis. Here, a Ph+ ALL cell line NphA2 and the IMT-resistant subline NphA2/STIR were analyzed to identify a potential novel treatment strategy. We also examined other Ph+ ALL cells, MR87 and its IMT-resistant subline, MR87/STIR. IMT induced apoptosis of NphA2 and MR87 but had no effect on resistant sublines. Increased phosphorylated ERK and BCL2, but not BCL-XL, were observed in NphA2/STIR compared with NphA2. NphA2/STIR but not NphA2 was moderately sensitive to U0126, an ERK inhibitor. Interestingly, SP600125, a JNK inhibitor, was potent in cell growth inhibition and apoptosis induction of both parental and IMT-resistant NphA2 and MR87 cells. Moreover, NphA2 and MR87 and their IMT-resistant sublines were sensitive to ABT-199, a specific BCL2 inhibitor. The combination of SP600125 and ABT-199 synergistically suppressed both parental and IMT-resistant cells, including one with T315I mutation, suggesting that Ph+ ALL exhibits high sensitivity to ABT-199 and SP600125 regardless of TKI resistance. This combination might be a possible therapeutic strategy for Ph+ ALL in the future.     

Do consumer‐mediated negative effects on plant establishment outweigh the positive effects of a nurse plant?

Many studies demonstrated the importance of facilitative effect by nurse plant on seedling establishment. Few studies evaluated the negative effects of consumers on plant establishment under nurse plants by dealing with them during multiple demographic processes. We investigated the balance between the facilitative effect and negative effects of consumers during multiple demographic processes in Malawi in southeastern Africa. We chose Ficus natalensis as a nurse plant and compared it with three other microsites in tropical woodlands: Brachystegia floribunda (a dominant woodland species), Uapaca kirkiana (a woodland species), and a treeless site. We quantified the seed rain, postdispersal seed predation, germination, and seedling survival of Syzygium guineense ssp. afromontanum (a common forest species). Within each microsite, we quantified the overall probability of recruitment. We also measured seedling abundance of S. guineense ssp. afromontanum. We found that Ficus natalensis exerted both positive and negative impacts on the establishment of S. guineense ssp. afromontanum. Ficus natalensis facilitated seed deposition, seed germination, and seedling survival. On the other hand, seed removal at postdispersal stage was highest under F. natalensis. Interestingly, B. floribunda also had positive effects on germination and seedling survival, but not on seed deposition. When we excluded the seed arrival stage from our estimation of the recruitment probability, the highest value was found under B. floribunda, not under F. natalensis. When we included the seed arrival stage, however, the order of recruitment probability between F. natalensis and B. floribunda was reversed. The probability was one order of magnitude higher under F. natalensis than under B. floribunda. Our estimation of the probability which included the seed arrival stage was consistent with natural patterns of S. guineense ssp. afromontanum establishment. Despite the presence of opposite effects, the net effects of F. natalensis on S. guineense ssp. afromontanum recruitment in tropical woodlands can be positive.     

Duplication of the MHC-linked Xenopus complement factor B gene

We have previously reported the molecular cloning of the mammalian major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class III gene, complement factor B (Bf) from Xenopus laevis, and linkage of the gene to the frog MHC. Here, we estimated the copy number of the Xenopus Bf gene by genomic Southern blotting analysis and demonstrated that Xenopus laevis has two copies of the Bf gene. Both genes co-segregated with the MHC-linked HSP70 genes among 19 offspring of an f/r × f/r cross, indicating a close linkage of the two Bf genes to the frog MHC. Both genes are transcribed and contain open reading frames. When compared with the previously determined cDNA sequence (Xenopus Bf A), the predicted amino acid sequence of the second cDNA species (Xenopus Bf B) shows 82% overall identity. Polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that all of the partially inbred frogs with the f, r, g, and j MHC haplotypes, as well as 12 outbred frogs tested have both Bf genes, suggesting that the duplicated Bf genes are stable genetic traits in Xenopus laevis.     

Factors associated with caregiving burden and mental health conditions in caregivers of patients with anorexia nervosa in Japan

Background

There are no studies about the caregiving burdens in families of patients with eating disorders in Japan, and only limited studies on the role of caregivers’ stress coping, social support, and mental health. This study examines caregiving burdens, mental health conditions, and associated factors in caregivers of anorexia nervosa (AN) patients in Japan.

Methods

Seventy-nine principal caregivers (70 mothers, 5 fathers, 3 spouses and 1 grandmother; mean age 56.0?±?8.0 years) for outpatients with AN (all female; mean age 26.6?±?7.9 years; BMI 14.6?±?3.2 kg/m²) were evaluated using self-report questionnaires in a cross-sectional study. The questionnaires included caregiving burden (J-ZBI_8), mental health conditions (GHQ28), stress coping styles (CISS), social support (SNQ), severity of the patient’s symptoms from the family’s perspective (ABOS), and family functioning (GF-FAD). Clinical information about the patients was also obtained.

Results

Mean caregiving burden assessed by J-ZBI_8 score was 12.4?±?7.0 (SD). The total GHQ score was 31.6?±?13.7 (Likert scoring) and 9.2?±?7.0 (GHQ scoring). Of the respondents, 48 (60.7 %) indicated a high risk for mental health problems that exceeded the cutoff point of the GHQ. Significantly higher caregiving burden and poor mental health conditions were shown in the group who had contact with patients?>?6 h a day compared to the group with daily patient contact?<?3 h (F (2, 76)?=?3.19, p?=?0.047 and F (2, 76)?=?9.39, p?<?0.001, respectively). Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that the factors that significantly predicted the caregiving burden were severity of the patient’s symptoms from the family’s perspective (β?=?0.47, p?<?0.001) and Emotion-Oriented Coping (β?=?0.38, p?=?0.002) (R²?=?0.401), while predictors of mental health conditions were Emotion-Oriented Coping (β?=?0.522, p?<?0.001), Affective Support (β?=??0.419, p?<?0.001), and contact time with patient (β?=?0.201, p?=?0.042) (R²?=?0.602).

Conclusion

Caregivers of AN patients experienced heavy burdens and manifested poor mental health conditions. The severity of the patient’s symptoms from the family’s perspective and the greater use of emotion-oriented coping were associated with higher burdens. Greater use of emotion-oriented coping, less affective support and longer contact with patients were related to worse mental health conditions. Interventions to promote caregivers’ adaptive coping styles may help reduce their caregiving burden and improve their mental health.

     

Studies on the relationship of hepatic anion-binding proteins and sulfobromophthalein-glutathione conjugation in normal and phenobarbital-treated rats

The enzyme activity which conjugates sulfobromophthalein with glutathione was separated from rat liver supernate by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration, and assayed by two different methods; paper electrophoresis and spectrophotometry. The enzyme activity was found mainly in the second protein fraction, and less than 5% of the activity in the first or third protein fractions. In vitro mixtures of sulfobromophthalein, [³H]glutathione and rat liver supernate showed that the major part of [³H]glutathione was detected in the first and second protein fractions, and the remainder in the third protein fraction. Phenobarbital treatment caused an increase of the enzyme activity, sulfobromophthalein and [³H]glutathione, in the second protein fraction.