Influence of Ectomycorrhizal Colonization on Cesium Uptake by Pinus densiflora Seedlings

Radionuclides were deposited at forest areas in eastern parts of Japan following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant incident in March 2011. Ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi have important effects on radiocaesium dynamics in forest ecosystems. We examined the effect of colonization by the EM fungus Astraeus hygrometricus on the uptake of cesium (Cs) and potassium (K) by Pinus densiflora seedlings. Pine seedlings exhibited enhanced growth after the EM formation due to the colonization by A. hygrometricus. Additionally, the shoot Cs concentration increased after the EM formation when Cs was not added to the medium. This suggests that A. hygrometricus might be able to solubilize Cs fixed to soil particles. Moreover, the shoot K concentration increased significantly after the EM formation when Cs was added. However, there were no significant differences in the root K concentration between EM and non-EM seedlings. These results suggest that different mechanisms control the transfer of Cs and K from the root to the shoot of pine seedlings.

A Rare Case of Annular Pustular Psoriasis Associated with Pemphigus Foliaceus

No abstract available.

Paraneoplastic Syndrome with Sensory Polyneuropathy : A Report on Rehabilitation in Two Cases / The Japanese Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine

We report two cases of paraneoplastic syndrome with sensory polyneuropathy. Case one showed numbness of the upper and lower extremities before a diagnosis of small cell carcinoma was made. Case two showed the same symptoms coincidentally with a recurrence of ovarian cancer. In both cases, Romberg's sign was positive, ataxic gait was noted, and the patient's skill movement was disturbed. Sensory nerve action potentials were not evoked in any of the nerves. Compound muscle action potential and motor conduction velocity were at the lower limits of normal. The neurological abnormalities did not resolve in spite of medical treatments. In these two cases, the loss of sensory neurons due to a lesion of the dorsal root ganglia was suggested. The loss of sensory feedback might lead to muscle weakness and fatigue, so they tend to be disused. For long-term rehabilitation management in these two cases, we suggested a regular exercise program to prevent muscle weakness.