Heat coma and its relationship to ocean dynamics in the oceanic sea skaters of Halobates (Heteroptera: Gerridae) inhabiting Indian and Pacific Oceans

This study was performed to clarify how weather and current dynamics affect the resistance to temperature change in the oceanic sea skaters, Halobates. Heat coma temperature (HCT) was measured for the adults and 5th instar larvae of four Halobates species collected from a fixed sampling location (12°00′N, 135°00′E ) in western tropical Pacific Ocean and from 13 locations in the eastern area of the India Ocean ranging from 08°00′N-06°00′S and 86°00-76°00′E. Both the gap temperature for heat coma (GTHC, mean±SD: 7.83±1.86 °C, n=32) and the heat coma temperature (HCP, 35.03±1.80 °C, n=32) of individuals collected from the Pacific Ocean, during the first half (10 days) of the sampling period at the fixed sampling point, were significantly higher than those during the second half (GTHC: 5.10±2.05 °C, n=63; HCP: 34.03±2.02 °C, n=63). The reduction in heat tolerance shown in the second half of the 20 day period may have been caused by a decrease in air temperature due to rainfall that occurred around the sampling point accompanied with the arrival of Typhoon No. 6.In the study of individuals collected from the Indian Ocean, significantly higher average GTHCs of >8 °C were recorded for the adult H. micans collected at 02°00′S and 06°00′S (89°00′E) than those at 0°00-8°00′N in the eastern Indian Ocean. Dynamic mixture of water from northern and southern currents occurs at 02°00-6°00′S of the Indian Ocean and might relate to such high heat tolerance.Temperature dynamics in the ocean habitat might directly affect the temperature resistance of the oceanic sea skaters.     

Distribution and Numbers of Pygmies in Central African Forests

Pygmy populations occupy a vast territory extending west-to-east along the central African belt from the Congo Basin to Lake Victoria. However, their numbers and actual distribution is not known precisely. Here, we undertake this task by using locational data and population sizes for an unprecedented number of known Pygmy camps and settlements (n = 654) in five of the nine countries where currently distributed. With these data we develop spatial distribution models based on the favourability function, which distinguish areas with favourable environmental conditions from those less suitable for Pygmy presence. Highly favourable areas were significantly explained by presence of tropical forests, and by lower human pressure variables. For documented Pygmy settlements, we use the relationship between observed population sizes and predicted favourability values to estimate the total Pygmy population throughout Central Africa. We estimate that around 920,000 Pygmies (over 60% in DRC) is possible within favourable forest areas in Central Africa. We argue that fragmentation of the existing Pygmy populations, alongside pressure from extractive industries and sometimes conflict with conservation areas, endanger their future. There is an urgent need to inform policies that can mitigate against future external threats to these indigenous peoples’ culture and lifestyles.     

Effects of LPA1 and LPA6 on the regulation of colony formation activity in colon cancer cells treated with anticancer drugs

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a simple physiological lipid and exhibits a variety of cellular responses via the activation of G protein-coupled transmembrane LPA receptors (LPA receptor-1 (LPA₁) to LPA₆). The aim of our study was to investigate effects of LPA receptors on soft agar colony formation in colon cancer cells treated with anticancer drugs. DLD1 cells were treated with fluorouracil (5-FU) or cisplatin (CDDP) for at least six months (DLD-5FU and DLD-CDDP cells, respectively). LPAR1 gene expression was markedly elevated in DLD-5FU cells. In contrast, DLD-CDDP cells showed the high expression of LPAR6 gene. In colony formation assay, DLD-5FU cells formed markedly large-sized colonies, while no colony formation was observed in DLD1 and DLD-CDDP cells. The large-sized colonies formed in DLD-5FU cells were suppressed by LPA₁ knockdown. In contrast, LPA₆ knockdown increased the size of colonies. In addition, DLD-5FU cells were further treated with CDDP for three months (DLD-C-F cells). DLD-CDDP cells were also treated with 5-FU (DLD-F-C cells). DLD-C-F cells formed large-sized colonies, but not DLD-F-C cells, correlating with LPAR1 and LPAR6 gene expression levels. These results suggest that LPA₁ and LPA₆ may regulate the colony formation activity in DLD1 cells treated with anticancer drugs.     

Pulmonary carcinosarcoma showing an obvious response to pazopanib: a case report

Background

Pulmonary carcinosarcoma (PCS) is a rare primary lung malignancy and has a poor prognosis among lung tumor histological subtypes. However, an appropriate treatment strategy has not been developed for unresectable PCS.

Case presentation

A 65-year-old man who was diagnosed with PCS was treated by surgical removal of the primary lung lesion, followed by six cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin plus irinotecan. Following the chemotherapy, he experienced a relapse with brain metastasis, which induced the rapid onset of left leg paralysis. Radical surgical resection and stereotactic radiosurgery to the resection cavity were performed. However, meningeal dissemination and new lung metastases occurred after a year and half. To control these multiple metastatic lesions, the patient was treated with the multiple kinase inhibitor pazopanib. No change was observed in the meningeal dissemination, while the metastatic lung lesions were prominently reduced in size following treatment with pazopanib. Consequently, the patient showed a partial response to pazopanib treatment, although the dose of pazopanib was reduced by half as a result of thrombocytopenia.

Conclusion

This is the first report of metastatic PCS showing an evident therapeutic response to tumor-targeted therapy. We suggest that pazopanib may be a therapeutic option for patients with metastatic PCS.

     

Live cell imaging of X chromosome reactivation during somatic cell reprogramming

Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with naive pluripotency is important for their applications in regenerative medicine. In female iPSCs, acquisition of naive pluripotency is coupled to X chromosome reactivation (XCR) during somatic cell reprogramming, and live cell monitoring of XCR is potentially useful for analyzing how iPSCs acquire naive pluripotency. Here we generated female mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) that carry the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and humanized Kusabira-Orange (hKO) genes inserted into an intergenic site near either the Syap1 or Taf1 gene on both X chromosomes. The ESC clones, which initially expressed both EGFP and hKO, inactivated one of the fluorescent protein genes upon differentiation, indicating that the EGFP and hKO genes are subject to X chromosome inactivation (XCI). When the derived somatic cells carrying the EGFP gene on the inactive X chromosome (Xi) were reprogrammed into iPSCs, the EGFP gene on the Xi was reactivated when pluripotency marker genes were induced. Thus, the fluorescent protein genes inserted into an intergenic locus on both X chromosomes enable live cell monitoring of XCI during ESC differentiation and XCR during reprogramming. This is the first study that succeeded live cell imaging of XCR during reprogramming.     

Effect of GA3 on the Molecular Mass of Polyuronides in the Cell Walls of Alaska Pea Roots

The role of cell wall matrix polysaccharides in gibberellin-regulatedroot growth is unknown. We examined pectic polysaccharides frompea roots treated with or without gibberellin A₃ (GA₃) in thepresence of ancymidol, an inhibitor of gibberellin biosynthesis.Pectic polymers solubilized by CDTA (trans-l,2-cyclohexanediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraaceticacid) at 23°C and subjected to gel permeation analysis exhibitedhigh polydispersity with a molecular mass in excess of 500 kDa.Subsequent extraction of cell walls with CDTA at 100°C solubilizedpolymers with an average mol mass of 10 to 40 kDa. Subjectingthe high molecular mass pectic polymers extracted at 23°Cto 70–100°C for 2h generated 10 to 40 kDa fragments,similar in size distribution to those solubilized directly fromcell walls by CDTA solutions at 100°C. Pectic polymers from(GA₃+Anc)-treated roots were of higher average mol mass thanthose from Anc-treated roots in both the elongation zone andin the basal maturation zone. Since (GA₃+Anc)-treated rootselongate more quickly than Anc-treated roots [Tanimoto (1994)Plant Cell Physiol. 35:1019], the slender, GA₃-treated rootsmay produce and deposit highly integrated pectins more rapidlythan the thicker, Anc-treated roots in the elongating or elongatedcell walls. ²Present address: Horticultural Sciences Department, POB 110690IFAS, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0690 U.S.A.     

Characterization of Fusarium oxysporum β-1,6-Galactanase, an Enzyme That Hydrolyzes Larch Wood Arabinogalactan

A type II arabinogalactan-degrading enzyme (FoGal1) was purified from Fusarium oxysporum 12S, and the corresponding cDNA was isolated. FoGal1 had high similarity to enzymes of glycoside hydrolase family 5. Treatment of larch wood arabinogalactan with the recombinant enzyme indicated that FoGal1 is a β-1,6-galactanase that preferentially debranches β-1,6-galactobiose from the substrate.