Identification of novel yolk ferritins unique to planarians: planarians supply aluminum rather than iron to vitellaria in egg capsules.

All animals, other than Platyhelminthes, produce eggs containing yolk, referred to as "entolecithal" eggs. However, only Neoophora, in the phylum Platyhelminthes, produce "ectolecithal" eggs (egg capsules), in which yolk is stored in the vitelline cells surrounding oocytes. Vitelline cells are derived from vitellaria (yolk glands). Vitellaria are important reproductive organs that may be studied to elucidate unique mechanisms that have been evolutionarily conserved within Platyhelminthes. Currently, only limited molecular level information is available on vitellaria. The current study identified major vitellaria-specific proteins in a freshwater planarian, Dugesia ryukyuensis, using peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) and expression analyses. Amino acid sequence analysis and orthology analysis via OrthoFinder ver.2.3.8 indicated that the identified major vitellaria-specific novel yolk ferritins were conserved in planarians (Tricladida). Because ferritins play an important role in Fe (iron) storage, we examined the metal elements contained in vitellaria and ectolecithal eggs, using non-heme iron histochemistry, elemental analysis based on inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy- energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. Interestingly, vitellaria and egg capsules contained large amounts of aluminum (Al), but not Fe. The knockdown of the yolk ferritin genes caused a decrease in the volume of egg capsules, abnormality in juveniles, and increase in Al content in vitellaria. Yolk ferritins of D. ryukyuensis may regulate Al concentration in vitellaria via their pooling function of Al and protect the egg capsule production and normal embryogenesis from Al toxicity.

Rice fields along the East Asian-Australasian flyway are important habitats for an inland wader's migration.

To maintain and recover populations of migratory waders, we must identify the important stopover sites and habitat use along migration routes. However, we have little such information for waders that depend on inland freshwater areas compared with those that depend on coastal areas. Recent technological developments in tracking devices now allow us to define habitat use at a fine scale. In this study, we used GPS loggers to track both spring and autumn migration along the East Asian-Australasian flyway of the little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius) as birds moved to and from their breeding grounds, gravel riverbeds in Japan. The birds we tracked overwintered in the Philippines and made stopovers mainly in Taiwan and the Philippines. The most important habitat during the non-breeding season was rice paddy fields. Our findings imply that changes in agriculture management policy in the countries along the migration route could critically affect the migration of waders that depend on rice paddy fields. To maintain populations of migrant inland waders that move within the East Asian-Australasian flyway, it is necessary not only to sustain the breeding habitat but also wetlands including the rice paddy fields as foraging habitat for the non-breeding season.

Analysis of the toxicity-weighted release amount ranking of PRTR chemicals in Japan.

In this study, toxicity data were first collected for 184 chemicals from reliable information sources. After a validity check and analysis of these data, reference concentrations (RfC) were determined. The toxicity-weighted release amount (TWR) was then calculated for each chemical by dividing the release amounts by the RfC. Three types of TWR were derived, namely TWR(atm) for human health protection in the atmosphere, TWR(wat) for human health protection in water, and TWR(aq) for aquatic life protection. Thus, TWR could be proposed as a new index for environmental risk management considering both toxicity and release amount. Based on the TWR values, chemicals were ranked according to their potential risk upon release. The ranking results revealed that acrolein, formaldehyde, 1,3-butadiene, and arsenic are among the substances with the greatest risk to human health protection in the atmosphere; acrylonitrile, hydrazine, and pyridine are among those detrimental to human health protection in water; and polyoxyethylene alkyl ether (POAE), n-alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (LAS), and N,N-dimethyldodecylamine N-oxide are those identified as posing a risk to aquatic life protection. Moreover, for higher TWR chemicals, the contribution of each release source has been analyzed and discussed. For example, POAE and LAS are released mainly from households, and therefore efforts to reduce their concentration in the environment should focus on the sewage system. Formaldehyde and 1,3-butadiene are mainly emitted from mobile sources and, therefore, traffic should be evaluated as an important release source of toxic chemicals besides many stationary sources. Acrylonitrile and arsenic are released mainly by a few specific industries, placing the emphasis on the need for responsible care by the individual companies involved.

Primary hyperparathyroidism presumably caused by chronic parathyroiditis manifesting from hypocalcemia to severe hypercalcemia.

A 67-year-old woman who presented with hypocalcemia compatible with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism gradually changed into a state of primary hyperparathyroidism. The left upper parathyroid gland, which was larger and harder than other glands, was resected. Despite the operation, hypercalcemia and high levels of intact PTH persisted. Six weeks later total parathyroidectomy was done to induce remission. The resected gland in the first operation had clusters of lymphoid follicles with germinal centers indicating a chronic autoimmune inflammation. This case suggests a transition from hypoparathyroidim to hyperparathyroidism associated with chronic parathyroiditis, possibly by a mechanism analogous to that observed in chronic thyroiditis.

Gonadal state of wild amphioxus populations and spawning success in captive conditions during the breeding period in Japan.

Adult individuals of amphioxus (Branchiostoma belcheri) were collected by dredging from a research vessel at selected stations in two areas off the coast of Japan in July 2000: Deyama and Takamatsu so named by local fishermen in the Enshu Nada Sea. The number of males collected exceeded that of females at all the stations in Takamatsu and at four of five stations in Deyama. The over all sex ratio (males : females) of the collected animals was 1.2 : 1. The animals showed various maturational stages of the gonad, and approximately 70% had mature gonads. However, post-spawning animals were identified only at two stations in Takamatsu. Mature animals were placed in laboratory tanks. These animals remained in good conditions for about two months, and many animals spontaneously spawned in the tanks. This is the first report of spontaneous spawning of B. belcheri in Japan.

[Different effects of exercise training in patients with myocardial infarction with or without diabetes mellitus].

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated whether myocardial infarction patients with diabetes mellitus had lower heart rate reserve to exercise by measuring the increment in heart rate (HR) divided by the increment of norepinephrine (NE) concentration from rest to peak exercise (delta HR/log delta NE). The difference in exercise training effects was also investigated. METHODS: The 148 patients after myocardial infarction were divided into two groups, the DM group (n = 34) and the non-DM group (n = 114). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed in each subject at 1 and 3 months after the onset. Blood samples were taken at rest and immediately after peak exercise, rest brain natriuretic peptide, rest and peak norepinephrine were analyzed. Exercise training was performed from 1 to 3 months after the onset. RESULTS: Resting heart rates were significantly higher in the DM group than in the non-DM group both at 1 and 3 months although peak heart rates were not significantly different. Peak oxygen uptake were lower in the DM group both at 1 and 3 months after onset of myocardial infarction compared to the non-DM group. End-tidal carbon dioxide pressure was lower and the rate of increase of minute ventilation to carbon dioxide output was higher in the DM group. Plasma brain natriuretic peptide was higher in the DM group. delta HR/log delta NE was 19.4 +/- 4.0 in the DM group and 22.2 +/- 5.6 in the non-DM group (p < 0.01), and increased in only the non-DM group. delta HR/log delta NE was more closely correlated with peak oxygen uptake in the DM group than in the non-DM group. CONCLUSIONS: Impaired response to exercise training may be caused, in part, by impaired heart rate reserve to exercise in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Bright pituitary stalk on MR T1-weighted image: damming up phenomenon of the neurosecretory granules.

Characteristic findings of the pituitary stalk on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, which suggest a damming-up phenomenon of neurosecretory granules, were reported. Neurosecretory granules containing vasopressin influence the signal intensity on MR T1-weighted image (T1WI). The normal posterior lobe of the pituitary gland appears as a bright signal on T1WI. The bright signal of the posterior lobe represents the normal content of neurosecretory granules and disappears in patients with central diabetes insipidus. The normal pituitary stalk appears as a low-intermediate intensity signal on sagittal and coronal T1WIs with 3 mm-slice thickness. The pituitary stalk appeared as a bright signal in 20 patients; 13 with pituitary adenoma, 4 with an intrasellar cystic lesion, one with cavernous sinus mass, and 2 with no abnormal MR findings. The pituitary stalk was not severed in any of the cases. The normal bright signal of the posterior lobe disappeared in 17 patients. No patients suffered from symptoms of central diabetes insipidus when the bright pituitary stalk appeared. It is suggested that the origin of the bright signal in the pituitary stalk is the damming up and accumulation of neurosecretory granules in the nerve fibers of the hypothalamohypophyseal tract obstructed by adenoma, postoperative scarring, cystic mass and so on. Probably, the damming-up phenomenon on MR imaging represents the functional integrity of the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system, and should be distinguished from an ectopic posterior lobe formation which is caused by stalk transection.