Dystrophin in rod spherules; submembranous dense regions facing bipolar cell processes

 It is known that the retina contains the protein dystrophin in the ribbon synapse, but the ultrastructural analysis is not yet fully elucidated. Our previous study reported that dystrophin is localized under the rod cell membranes in rat retinas. In the present study, we have investigated the relationship between dystrophin-rich regions of rod cell membranes and other neuronal processes in mouse retinas with a monoclonal antibody raised against the human dystrophin C-terminus. Immunoblotting, immunofluorescence stainings, and immunoelectron microscopy were employed. Immunoblotting analysis indicated that mouse retinas possessed some of the dystrophin isoforms of approximately 260 kDa, 140 kDa, and 70 kDa molecular weight. Confocal images showed a punctate appearance in the outer plexiform layer, as previously described. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that dystrophin immunoreactive products were always observed at submembranous dense regions of the rod spherule abutting bipolar processes. These results suggest that retinal dystrophin may be closely involved in signal transmission from rods to bipolar cells. Accepted: 7 May 1997     

Effects of providing pollen to Euseius sojaensis or Amblyseius eharai (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on populations of the pink citrus rust mite,Aculops pelekassi (Acari: Eriophyidae)

Applied Entomology and Zoology - The pink citrus rust mite, Aculops pelekassi (Keifer) (Acari: Eriophyidae), is a serious pest and is widely distributed in most citrus-growing areas of the world....     

Field trials of synthetic sex pheromone lures for the large cabbage-heart caterpillar moth, Crocidolomia pavonana (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Indonesia

The efficacy of synthetic female sex pheromone lures for Crocidolomia pavonana (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in the cabbage fields of Java and Bali, Indonesia, was investigated by varying the composition and dosage of the components. The lure containing a synthetic pheromone blend of (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11–16: Ac) and (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9–14: Ac) at a 10:1 ratio acquired significantly more male catches than single component lures and the control lure. Meanwhile, no attraction was observed when lures with 1:1 and 1:10 blends were tested. The composition of Z11–16: Ac and Z9–14: Ac at a ratio of 5, 10 and 20:1 attracted more males than the control lures. Dosage studies showed that 0.055 and 0.55 mg of a mixture of Z11–16: Ac and Z9–14: Ac (10:1 ratio) attracted more males than the control. These results are the first demonstration of the efficacy of synthetic pheromone for C. pavonana in field conditions. The present study suggests the feasibility of pheromone-based monitoring as a simple and low-cost technique for integrated pest management of this pest.     

Impact of Robotic Assistance on Precision of Vitreoretinal Surgical Procedures

Purpose

To elucidate the merits of robotic application for vitreoretinal maneuver in comparison to conventional manual performance using an in-vitro eye model constructed for the present study.

Methods

Capability to accurately approach the target on the fundus, to stabilize the manipulator tip just above the fundus, and to perceive the contact of the manipulator tip with the fundus were tested. The accuracies were compared between the robotic and manual control, as well as between ophthalmologists and engineering students.

Results

In case of manual control, ophthalmologists were superior to engineering students in all the 3 test procedures. Robotic assistance significantly improved accuracy of all the test procedures performed by engineering students. For the ophthalmologists including a specialist of vitreoretinal surgery, robotic assistance enhanced the accuracy in the stabilization of manipulator tip (from 90.9 µm to 14.9 µm, P = 0.0006) and the perception of contact with the fundus (from 20.0 mN to 7.84 mN, P = 0.046), while robotic assistance did not improve pointing accuracy.

Conclusions

It was confirmed that telerobotic assistance has a potential to significantly improve precision in vitreoretinal procedures in both experienced and inexperienced hands.     

Tet-on inducible system combined with in ovo electroporation dissects multiple roles of genes in somitogenesis of chicken embryos

The in ovo electroporation technique in chicken embryos has enabled investigators to uncover the functions of numerous developmental genes. In this technique, the ubiquitous promoter, CAGGS (CMV base), has often been used for overexpression experiments. However, if a given gene plays a role in multiple steps of development and if overexpression of this gene causes fatal consequences at the time of electroporation, its roles in later steps of development would be overlooked. Thus, a technique with which expression of an electroporated DNA can be controlled in a stage-specific manner needs to be formulated. Here we show for the first time that the tetracycline-controlled expression method, "tet-on" and "tet-off", works efficiently to regulate gene expression in electroporated chicken embryos. We demonstrate that the onset or termination of expression of an electroporated DNA can be precisely controlled by timing the administration of tetracycline into an egg. Furthermore, with this technique we have revealed previously unknown roles of RhoA, cMeso-1 and Pax2 in early somitogenesis. In particular, cMeso-1 appears to be involved in cell condensation of a newly forming somite by regulating Pax2 and NCAM expression. Thus, the novel molecular technique in chickens proposed in this study provides a useful tool to investigate stage-specific roles of developmental genes.     

Effective tempo of the step test for dynamic balance ability in the elderly

This study aimed to examine the reliability and sex- and age-related differences of step tests with stipulated tempos as well as to clarify useful test parameters and tempos. One hundred forty elderly people and fifty young adults conducted tapping and stepping tests, matching the tempo provided by a metronome. Both tests involve movements where the subject touches a sheet with both the right and left hands or right and left legs at a designated spot. Evaluation parameters were the time difference between the beep sound and the time at which the sheet was touched in both tests as well as two-leg support and one-leg support times in the step test. The trial-to-trial reliability of the parameters in both tests was high. The time differences of both 40 bpm tests in the elderly were larger in males than in females. In the step test, the time difference and two-leg support times of the elderly were larger, in the order of 40, 60, and 120 bpm, and the one-leg support time was less in 40 bpm than 60 bpm or 120 bpm. The one-leg support time of the young subjects was larger, in the order of 40, 60, and 120 bpm. A significant age-related difference was found in the 40 bpm and 60 bpm test, and the time difference and two-leg support time were larger in the elderly while the one-leg support time was larger in the young subjects. The time difference at 40 bpm in the elderly was larger in the step test than in the tap test. There was no significant difference between both tests in the young subjects. In conclusion, the step test with the slow tempo, because it requires a long one-leg support phase, is effective for evaluating dynamic balance in the elderly. The time difference and two-leg and one-leg support times are effective evaluation parameters of the step test.     

Diversity of Ca2+-induced morphology revealed by morphological phenotyping of Ca2+-sensitive mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Yeast cell morphology can be treated as a quantitative trait using the image processing software CalMorph. In the present study, we investigated Ca(2+)-induced morphological changes in Ca(2+)-sensitive (cls) mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, based on the discovery that the characteristic Ca(2+)-induced morphological changes in the Ca(2+)-sensitive mutant zds1 reflect changes in the Ca(2+) signaling-mediated cell cycle control pathway. By applying hierarchical cluster analysis to the quantitative morphological data of 58 cls mutants, 31 of these mutants were classified into seven classes based on morphological similarities. The patterns of morphological change induced by Ca(2+) in one class differed from those of another class. Based on the results obtained using versatile methods for phenotypic analysis, we conclude that a high concentration of Ca(2+) exerts a wide variety of effects on yeast and that there are multiple Ca(2+)-regulatory pathways that are distinct from the Zds1p-related pathway.     

Common and Distinct Clinical Features in Adult Patients with Anti-Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase Antibodies: Heterogeneity within the Syndrome

Objective

To identify similarities and differences in the clinical features of adult Japanese patients with individual anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase antibodies (anti-ARS Abs).

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of 166 adult Japanese patients with anti-ARS Abs detected by immunoprecipitation assays. These patients had visited Kanazawa University Hospital or collaborating medical centers from 2003 to 2009.

Results

Anti-ARS Ab specificity included anti-Jo-1 (36%), anti-EJ (23%), anti-PL-7 (18%), anti-PL-12 (11%), anti-KS (8%), and anti-OJ (5%). These anti-ARS Abs were mutually exclusive, except for one serum Ab that had both anti-PL-7 and PL-12 reactivity. Myositis was closely associated with anti-Jo-1, anti-EJ, and anti-PL-7, while interstitial lung disease (ILD) was correlated with all 6 anti-ARS Abs. Dermatomyositis (DM)-specific skin manifestations (heliotrope rash and Gottron’s sign) were frequently observed in patients with anti-Jo-1, anti-EJ, anti-PL-7, and anti-PL-12. Therefore, most clinical diagnoses were polymyositis or DM for anti-Jo-1, anti-EJ, and anti-PL-7; clinically amyopathic DM or ILD for anti-PL-12; and ILD for anti-KS and anti-OJ. Patients with anti-Jo-1, anti-EJ, and anti-PL-7 developed myositis later if they had ILD alone at the time of disease onset, and most patients with anti-ARS Abs eventually developed ILD if they did not have ILD at disease onset.

Conclusion

Patients with anti-ARS Abs are relatively homogeneous. However, the distribution and timing of myositis, ILD, and rashes differ among patients with individual anti-ARS Abs. Thus, identification of individual anti-ARS Abs is beneficial to define this rather homogeneous subset and to predict clinical outcomes within the “anti-synthetase syndrome.”