Integration of satellite remote sensing and MaxEnt modeling for improved detection and management of forest pests.

Forest pests pose a major threat to ecosystem services worldwide, requiring effective monitoring and management strategies. Recently, satellite remote sensing has emerged as a valuable tool to detect defoliation caused by these pests. Lymantria dispar, a major forest pest native to Japan, Siberia, and Europe, as well as introduced regions in North America, is of particular concern. In this study, we used Sentinel-2 satellite imagery to estimate the defoliation area and predict the distribution of L. dispar in Toyama Prefecture, central Japan. The primary aim was to understand the spatial distribution of L. dispar. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) difference analysis estimated a defoliation area of 7.89 km2 in Toyama Prefecture for the year 2022. MaxEnt modeling, using defoliation map as occurrence data, identified the deciduous forests between approximately 35° and 50° at elevations of 400 m and 700 m as highly suitable for L. dispar. This predicted suitability was also high for larval locations but low for egg mass locations, likely due to differences in larval habitats and ovipositing sites. This study is the first attempt to utilize NDVI-based estimates as a proxy for MaxEnt. Our results showed higher prediction accuracy than a previous study based on the occurrence records including larvae, adults, and egg masses, indicating better discrimination of the distribution of L. dispar defoliation. Therefore, our approach to integrating satellite data and species distribution models can potentially enhance the assessment of areas affected by pests for effective forest management.

Significance of expression of CD109 in osteosarcoma and its involvement in tumor progression via BMP signaling.

Osteosarcoma, the most common primary malignant bone tumor, is defined by the formation of neoplastic osteoid and/or bone. This sarcoma is a highly heterogeneous disease with a wide range of patient outcomes. CD109 is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored glycoprotein that is highly expressed in various types of malignant tumors. We previously reported that CD109 is expressed in osteoblasts and osteoclasts in normal human tissues and plays a role in bone metabolism in vivo. While CD109 has been shown to promote various carcinomas through the downregulation of TGF-ß signaling, the role and mechanism of CD109 in sarcomas remain largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the molecular function of CD109 in sarcomas using osteosarcoma cell lines and tissue. Semi-quantitative immunohistochemical analysis using human osteosarcoma tissue revealed a significantly worse prognosis in the CD109-high group compared with the CD109-low group. We found no association between CD109 expression and TGF-ß signaling in osteosarcoma cells. However, enhancement of SMAD1/5/9 phosphorylation was observed in CD109 knockdown cells under bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) stimulation. We also performed immunohistochemical analysis for phospho-SMAD1/5/9 using human osteosarcoma tissue and found a negative correlation between CD109 expression and SMAD1/5/9 phosphorylation. In vitro wound healing assay showed that osteosarcoma cell migration was significantly attenuated in CD109-knockdown cells compared with control cells in the presence of BMP. These results suggest that CD109 is a poor prognostic factor in osteosarcoma and affects tumor cell migration via BMP signaling.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Coexistence of Malnutrition and Sarcopenia in Geriatric Rehabilitation.

Malnutrition and sarcopenia often coexist in rehabilitation patients, although they are often overlooked and undertreated in clinical practice. This cross-sectional study aimed to clarify the prevalence of the coexistence of malnutrition and sarcopenia (Co-MS) and its associated factors in convalescent rehabilitation wards in Japan. Consecutive patients aged ≥ 65 years in convalescent rehabilitation wards between November 2018 and October 2020 were included. Malnutrition and sarcopenia were determined by the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria and the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS 2019) criteria, respectively. Patients who presented both with malnutrition and sarcopenia were classified as Co-MS. Potentially associated factors included age, sex, days from onset to admission of rehabilitation wards, reason for admission, pre-morbid functional dependency, comorbidity, activities of daily living, swallowing ability, and oral function and hygiene. The prevalence of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and Co-MS was calculated. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to compute odds ratios (ORs) and the 95% confidence interval (CI) of possible associated factors for each condition. Overall, 601 patients were eligible for the analysis (median 80 years old, 355 female patients, 70% cerebrovascular disease). Co-MS, malnutrition, and sarcopenia were found in 23.5%, 29.0%, and 62.4% of the enrolled patients, respectively. After adjustment, onset-admission interval (OR = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.06), hospital-associated deconditioning (OR = 4.62; 95% CI = 1.13 to 18.8), and swallowing ability (Food Intake LEVEL Scale) (OR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.73 to 0.93) were identified as independent explanatory factors of Co-MS. In conclusion, Co-MS was prevalent in geriatric rehabilitation patients; thus, healthcare professionals should be aware of the associated factors to detect the geriatric rehabilitation patients who are at risk of both malnutrition and sarcopenia, and to provide appropriate treatments.

Validity of calf circumference for estimating skeletal muscle mass for Asian patients after stroke.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study was to determine the optimal cutoff values of non-paretic calf circumference (CC) that are indicative of low skeletal muscle mass and examine the association between a low CC and rehabilitation outcomes. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study that included 628 patients in convalescent rehabilitation wards in Japan. Patients in post-stroke rehabilitation who were ≥20 y of age were included. We examined the agreement between CC on the non-paretic side and a low skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. We also confirmed the correlation between sarcopenia defined by CC and handgrip strength, and sarcopenia according to Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 criteria. Functional Independent Measure (FIM) at discharge and discharge to home outcomes were compared between patients with a high CC and those with a low CC. RESULTS: Of the 628 patients included in the study, 408 (170 women; mean age, 72 y) were analyzed. The optimal cutoff values of CC were 33 cm for men (sensitivity and specificity, 0.798 and 0.840, respectively) and 32 cm for women (0.847 and 0.818, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity of CC-based sarcopenia against the AWGS criteria were 0.752 and 1.000 for men and 0.800 and 1.000 for women, respectively. Patients with a low CC had a significantly lower FIM and proportion of home discharge than those with a high CC. CONCLUSIONS: The optimal cutoff values of non-paretic CC for a low SMI were 33 cm for male and 32 cm for female Asian stroke rehabilitation patients. Sarcopenia can be defined using CC instead of SMI.

Uncommon properties of lipid biosynthesis of isolated plastids in the unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae.

Red algae are a large group of photosynthetic eukaryotes that diverged from green algae over one billion years ago, and have various traits distinct from those of both green algae and land plants. Although most red algae are marine species (both unicellular and macrophytic), the Cyanidiales class of red algae includes unicellular species which live in hot springs, such as Cyanidioschyzon merolae, which is a model species for biochemical and molecular biological studies. Lipid metabolism in red algae has previously been studied in intact cells. Here, we present the results of radiolabeling and stable isotope labeling experiments in intact plastids isolated from the unicellular red alga C. merolae. We focused on two uncommon features: First, the galactose moiety of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol was efficiently labeled with bicarbonate, indicating that an unknown pathway for providing UDP-galactose exists within the plastid. Second, saturated fatty acids, namely, palmitic and stearic acids, were the sole products of fatty acid synthesis in the plastid, and they were efficiently exported. This finding suggests that the endoplasmic reticulum is the sole site of desaturation. We present a general principle of red algal lipid biosynthesis, namely, 'indigenous C18 fatty acids are neither desaturated nor directly utilized within the plastid'. We believe that this is valid in both C. merolae lacking polyunsaturated fatty acids and marine red algae with a high content of arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids.

Selective loss of photosystem I and formation of tubular thylakoids in heterotrophically grown red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae.

We previously found that glycerol is required for heterotrophic growth in the unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae. Here, we analyzed heterotrophically grown cells in more detail. Sugars or other organic substances did not support the growth in the dark. The growth rate was 0.4 divisions day-1 in the presence of 400 mM glycerol, in contrast with 0.5 divisions day-1 in the phototrophic growth. The growth continued until the sixth division. Unlimited heterotrophic growth was possible in the medium containing DCMU and glycerol in the light. Light-activated heterotrophic culture in which cells were irradiated by intermittent light also continued without an apparent limit. In the heterotrophic culture in the dark, chlorophyll content drastically decreased, as a result of inability of dark chlorophyll synthesis. Photosynthetic activity gradually decreased over 10 days, and finally lost after 19 days. Low-temperature fluorescence measurement and immunoblot analysis showed that this decline in photosynthetic activity was mainly due to the loss of Photosystem I, while the levels of Photosystem II and phycobilisomes were maintained. Accumulated triacylglycerol was lost during the heterotrophic growth, while keeping the overall lipid composition. Observation by transmission electron microscopy revealed that a part of thylakoid membranes turned into pentagonal tubular structures, on which five rows of phycobilisomes were aligned. This might be a structure that compactly conserve phycobilisomes and Photosystem II in an inactive state, probably as a stock of carbon and nitrogen. These results suggest that C. merolae has a unique strategy of heterotrophic growth, distinct from those found in other red algae.

The utility of FDG-PET/CT imaging in the evaluation of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MRH) is a rare histiocytic disorder that involves the skin, joints, and visceral organs. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a 67-year-old woman with MRH who presented with a 2-years history of polyarthralgia and skin nodules. Her symptoms were an inflammatory polyarthropathy with punched-out lesions of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints of both hands. Doppler ultrasonography of the hands showed large bone erosions with power Doppler signals in the DIP joints. F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) demonstrated increased FDG uptake in cutaneous papules surrounding the affected joints, suggesting an inflammatory process. There was no evidence of malignancy. Biopsy samples of skin nodules exhibited dermal infiltration with CD68-positive histiocytes and multinucleated giant cells. The patient was diagnosed with MRH and treated with combination therapy comprising a steroid (prednisolone), tacrolimus, methotrexate, and infliximab, which resulted in clinical improvement. Following infliximab treatment, there was a significant decrease in a bone resorption marker (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b: TRACP-5b), suggesting that tumor necrosis factor-α targeting therapy may inhibit osteoclast formation and resorption activity in patients with MRH. CONCLUSION: MRH is a progressive destructive arthritic condition, and early diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are necessary to improve the outcome. FDG-PET/CT and joint ultrasonography might be noninvasive imaging modalities that could help diagnose MRH.

Theaflavin-3-gallate specifically interacts with phosphatidylcholine, forming a precipitate resistant against the detergent action of bile salt.

Black tea is a highly popular beverage, and its pigments, polymerized catechins such as theaflavins (TFs), are attracting attention due to their beneficial health effects. In this study, to test the inhibitory activities of TFs on the intestinal absorption of cholesterol, we investigated their effects on phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles in the absence or presence of a bile salt. (-)-Epicatechin gallate, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, and TFs formed insoluble complexes with PC vesicles. Galloylated TFs such as TF2A, TF2B, and TF3 precipitated far more than other polyphenols. The subsequent addition of taurocholate redispersed the polyphenol-PC complexes, except that a large amount of TF2A remained insoluble. After incubation with taurocholate-PC micelles, TF2A elevated the turbidity of the micelle solution, providing red sediments. The TF2A-specific effect was dependent on the PC concentration. These results suggest that TF2A interacts with PC and aggregates in a specific manner different from catechins and other TFs.

Successful perioperative management of living-donor liver transplantation for a patient with severe methylmalonic acidemia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Methylmalonic acidemia (MMAemia) is a rare hereditary disease affecting organic acid metabolism. It causes recurrent metabolic acidosis and secondary mitochondrial dysfunction, resulting in a poor prognosis. Liver transplantation (LT) has been performed to facilitate the metabolism of organic acids and improve the prognosis of MMAemia. However, there have been few reports on perioperative management of LT. CASE PRESENTATION: A 22-month-old female with severe MMAemia was scheduled to receive LT to relieve recurrent metabolic acidosis despite dietary and pharmacological treatment. General anesthesia was maintained without propofol or nitrous oxide, which can worsen MMAemia-induced metabolic acidosis during anesthesia for LT. Strict metabolic and respiratory management enabled the operation to be successfully performed without metabolic acidosis. CONCLUSION: Perioperative management of LT for MMAemia is challenging for anesthesiologists because of the possibility of serious metabolic acidosis. We succeeded in preventing metabolic decompensation by avoiding the use of propofol and nitrous oxide.

Lipid metabolism and potentials of biofuel and high added-value oil production in red algae.

Biomass production is currently explored in microalgae, macroalgae and land plants. Microalgal biofuel development has been performed mostly in green algae. In the Japanese tradition, macrophytic red algae such as Pyropia yezoensis and Gelidium crinale have been utilized as food and industrial materials. Researches on the utilization of unicellular red microalgae such as Cyanidioschyzon merolae and Porphyridium purpureum started only quite recently. Red algae have relatively large plastid genomes harboring more than 200 protein-coding genes that support the biosynthetic capacity of the plastid. Engineering the plastid genome is a unique potential of red microalgae. In addition, large-scale growth facilities of P. purpureum have been developed for industrial production of biofuels. C. merolae has been studied as a model alga for cell and molecular biological analyses with its completely determined genomes and transformation techniques. Its acidic and warm habitat makes it easy to grow this alga axenically in large scales. Its potential as a biofuel producer is recently documented under nitrogen-limited conditions. Metabolic pathways of the accumulation of starch and triacylglycerol and the enzymes involved therein are being elucidated. Engineering these regulatory mechanisms will open a possibility of exploiting the full capability of production of biofuel and high added-value oil. In the present review, we will describe the characteristics and potential of these algae as biotechnological seeds.

Shortening or Abolishing Shift Report as the Effect of ENR and EMR Implementation, and Its Side Effects.

We investigated the shortening or abolishing shift report as the effect of implementing electronic nursing and medical records and its side effects at 10 Japanese hospitals. The majority of staff nurses accepted this change, but both directors and staff nurses recognized the risk of insufficient collection and communication of patient information, difficulties of understanding the risks and matters of patients not under care and an increase in time to collect information from the computer before starting patient care. Directors should carefully evaluate and reduce the negative influences associated with changing or eliminating the traditional shift report.

Construction of Global Acyl Lipid Metabolic Map by Comparative Genomics and Subcellular Localization Analysis in the Red Alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae.

Pathways of lipid metabolism have been established in land plants, such as Arabidopsis thaliana, but the information on exact pathways is still under study in microalgae. In contrast with Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which is currently studied extensively, the pathway information in red algae is still in the state in which enzymes and pathways are estimated by analogy with the knowledge in plants. Here we attempt to construct the entire acyl lipid metabolic pathways in a model red alga, Cyanidioschyzon merolae, as an initial basis for future genetic and biochemical studies, by exploiting comparative genomics and localization analysis. First, the data of whole genome clustering by Gclust were used to identify 121 acyl lipid-related enzymes. Then, the localization of 113 of these enzymes was analyzed by GFP-based techniques. We found that most of the predictions on the subcellular localization by existing tools gave erroneous results, probably because these tools had been tuned for plants or green algae. The experimental data in the present study as well as the data reported before in our laboratory will constitute a good training set for tuning these tools. The lipid metabolic map thus constructed show that the lipid metabolic pathways in the red alga are essentially similar to those in A. thaliana, except that the number of enzymes catalyzing individual reactions is quite limited. The absence of fatty acid desaturation to produce oleic and linoleic acids within the plastid, however, highlights the central importance of desaturation and acyl editing in the endoplasmic reticulum, for the synthesis of plastid lipids as well as other cellular lipids. Additionally, some notable characteristics of lipid metabolism in C. merolae were found. For example, phosphatidylcholine is synthesized by the methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine as in yeasts. It is possible that a single 3-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase is involved in the condensation reactions of fatty acid synthesis in the plastid. We will also discuss on the redundant ß-oxidation enzymes, which are characteristic to red algae.

Diverse pathways of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in algae as estimated by labeling studies and genomic sequence analysis.

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is an almost ubiquitous phospholipid in eukaryotic algae and plants but is not found in a few species, for example Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. We recently found that some species of the genus Chlamydomonas possess PC. In the universal pathway, PC is synthesized de novo by methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) or transfer of phosphocholine from cytidine diphosphate (CDP)-choline to diacylglycerol. Phosphocholine, the direct precursor to CDP-choline, is synthesized either by methylation of phosphoethanolamine or phosphorylation of choline. Here we analyzed the mechanism of PC biosynthesis in two species of Chlamydomonas (asymmetrica and sphaeroides) as well as in a red alga, Cyanidioschyzon merolae. Comparative genomic analysis of enzymes involved in PC biosynthesis indicated that C. merolae possesses only the PE methylation pathway. Radioactive tracer experiments using [(32) P]phosphate showed delayed labeling of PC with respect to PE, which was consistent with the PE methylation pathway. In Chlamydomonas asymmetrica, labeling of PC was detected from the early time of incubation with [(32) P]phosphate, suggesting the operation of phosphoethanolamine methylation pathway. Genomic analysis indeed detected the genes for the phosphoethanolamine methylation pathway. In contrast, the labeling of PC in C. sphaeroides was slow, suggesting that the PE methylation pathway was at work. These results as well as biochemical and computational results uncover an unexpected diversity of the mechanisms for PC biosynthesis in algae. Based on these results, we will discuss plausible mechanisms for the scattered distribution of the ability to biosynthesize PC in the genus Chlamydomonas.

Nutritional Improvement Correlates with Recovery of Activities of Daily Living among Malnourished Elderly Stroke Patients in the Convalescent Stage: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Whether nutritional improvement correlates with functional recovery in convalescent stroke patients is unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between nutritional improvement and recovery of activities of daily living among malnourished elderly stroke patients in the convalescent stage. DESIGN: This study used a cross-sectional study design. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: One hundred seventy-eight malnourished stroke patients aged 65 years and older from convalescent rehabilitation wards in Japan between April 2012 and December 2014 were included in the analyses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The participants were classified into three groups according to the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF) score at discharge (0 to 7 as no improvement, 8 to 11 as lesser improvement, and 12 to 14 as greater improvement). The primary outcome was functional independence measure (FIM) efficiency (FIM gain/length of hospital stay). The secondary outcomes were FIM gain and discharge outcome. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: One-way analysis of variance, χ(2) test, and Kruskal-Wallis test were performed for univariate analysis. Linear regression analysis was used to adjust for covariates such as age, sex, length of hospital stay, FIM (motor and cognitive) on admission, and lower-order items of MNA-SF. Binomial logistic analysis for discharge outcome (home/others) was performed to adjust for covariates such as age, sex, and FIM. RESULTS: Study participants included 85 men and 93 women with a mean age of 77 years. Based on MNA-SF, 16 were classified as no improvement, 113 as lesser improvement, and 49 as greater improvement. The median FIM efficiency and length of hospital stay were 0.27 points/day and 151.5 days, respectively. The greater improvement group had significantly higher FIM efficiency than the other groups (P<0.001). Home discharge rate was also higher in the GI group (P=0.014). Linear regression analysis for FIM efficiency indicated that mobility, neuropsychological problems, and weight loss, which were lower-order items of MNA-SF at discharge, were independent explanatory variables (R(2)=0.373; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that nutritional improvement such as maintenance of body weight is associated with the efficient recovery of activities of daily living among malnourished elderly convalescent stroke patients.

Analysis of triacylglycerol accumulation under nitrogen deprivation in the red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae.

Triacylglycerol (TAG) produced by microalgae is a potential source of biofuel. Although various metabolic pathways in TAG synthesis have been identified in land plants, the pathway of TAG synthesis in microalgae remains to be clarified. The unicellular rhodophyte Cyanidioschyzon merolae has unique properties as a producer of biofuel because of easy culture and feasibility of genetic engineering. Additionally, it is useful in the investigation of the pathway of TAG synthesis, because all of the nuclear, mitochondrial and plastid genomes have been completely sequenced. We found that this alga accumulated TAG under nitrogen deprivation. Curiously, the amount and composition of plastid membrane lipids did not change significantly, whereas the amount of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lipids increased with considerable changes in fatty acid composition. The nitrogen deprivation did not decrease photosynthetic oxygen evolution per chlorophyll significantly, while phycobilisomes were degraded preferentially. These results suggest that the synthesis of fatty acids is maintained in the plastid, which is used for the synthesis of TAG in the ER. The accumulated TAG contained mainly 18 : 2(9,12) at the C-2 position, which could be derived from phosphatidylcholine, which also contains this acid at the C-2 position.

Obese Japanese Patients with Stroke Have Higher Functional Recovery in Convalescent Rehabilitation Wards: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: A protective effect of excessive body mass index (BMI) on mortality or functional outcome in patients with stroke is not well established in the Asian population. This study aimed to explore whether obese patients with stroke have advantages for functional improvement in Japanese rehabilitation wards. METHOD: This retrospective cohort study included consecutive patients with stroke admitted and discharged from convalescent rehabilitation wards between 2011 and 2015. Demographic data, BMI, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score, and nutritional status were analyzed. Participants were classified into 4 groups according to BMI (underweight <18.5 kg/m(2), standard 18.5-<23 kg/m(2), overweight 23-<27.5 kg/m(2), obese ≥27.5 kg/m(2)). The primary outcome was the FIM gain, and the secondary outcome was the FIM score at discharge. Multiple regression analysis was performed to analyze the relationship between BMI and functional recovery. RESULTS: In total, 897 participants (males 484, females 413; mean age 71.6 years) were analyzed and classified as underweight (134), standard (432), overweight (277), and obese (54). The median FIM gain and the FIM score at discharge were 30 and 114, respectively. The FIM gain in the obese group was significantly higher than those in the other groups. Multiple regression analysis revealed that obesity was independently correlated with the FIM gain, and those at discharge after adjusting for confounders such as age, gender, and FIM score on admission. CONCLUSIONS: Obese Japanese convalescent patients with stroke may have some advantages for functional recovery in rehabilitation wards.

Activation of oxidative carbon metabolism by nutritional enrichment by photosynthesis and exogenous organic compounds in the red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae: evidence for heterotrophic growth.

Respiration is an important process in photosynthetic organisms, as it is in other organisms, for the supply of ATP and metabolites required for biosynthesis. Furthermore, individual enzymatic activity is subject to regulation by metabolic intermediates in glycolysis and the citric acid cycle. However, little is known about how glycolysis or catabolism are related to photosynthetic activity or accumulation of photosynthetic products. We previously developed a flat-plate culture apparatus assembled from materials commonly used for gel electrophoresis, which enables high-density culture of the unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae. In this study, a stationary dense culture of C. merolae, when re-activated in this culture apparatus, exhibited an accumulation of photosynthetically produced starch. We demonstrated that respiratory activity increased during the culture period, while photosynthetic activity remained constant. Gene expression analysis revealed that the genes involved in cytosolic glycolysis and the citric acid cycle were selectively activated, compared to the genes for the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway and the Calvin-Benson cycle. Measurements of the respiratory rate after addition of various organic substances showed that C. merolae can utilize almost any exogenous organic compound as a respiratory substrate, although the effectiveness of each compound was dependent on the culture time in the flat-plate culture, suggesting that glycolysis was rate-limiting to respiration, and its activity depended on the level of photosynthetic products within the cells. We also demonstrated that organic substances increased the rate of cell growth under dim light and, interestingly, C. merolae could grow heterotrophically in the presence of glycerol. Obligate photoautotrophy should be considered an ecological, rather than physiological, characteristic of C. merolae.

Detection and characterization of phosphatidylcholine in various strains of the genus Chlamydomonas (Volvocales, Chlorophyceae).

The laboratory strains of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii have been reported to contain no phosphatidylcholine (PC), which is considered to be replaced by another zwitterionic lipid, diacylglyceryl-N,N,N-trimethylhomoserine (DGTS). According to the recently published classification, the strains belonged to the subgroup Reinhardtinia. Screening for PC in 13 selected strains of Chlamydomonas in the NIES Algal Collection, which are different in habitats and belong to different phylogenetic subgroups in the genus, revealed the presence of PC in four strains: a strain in the subgroup Polytominia, and three strains in Reinhardtinia. PC was not detected in three other strains of Reinhardtinia analyzed. The presence/absence of PC was not related to the phylogenetic relationship based on 18S rRNA. DGTS was detected in all the strains analyzed. The rare isomer of linolenic acid, 18:3(5,9,12), which has been found in the DGTS of C. reinhardtii, was found in the PC of the two strains and in the DGTS of the five strains. The occurrence of this fatty acid seems limited to a branch of Reinhardtinia. Acquisition and loss of PC in various strains of Chlamydomonas are discussed from the viewpoint of evolution of PC biosynthetic pathway.

Interferon production by cells infected with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) virus or measles virus.

BACKGROUND: Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare progressive neurodegenerative encephalitis caused by some variants of measles virus (MV). The structure of SSPE virus in the brains of SSPE patients is different from that of MV. The difference in interferon (IFN) production between cells infected with SSPE virus and those infected with MV remains unclear. METHODS: We measured the concentrations of IFN-α, ß, γ, and λ1 (interleukin (IL)-29) from MV- or SSPE virus-infected B95a cells (a marmoset B-lymphoblastoid cell line). RESULTS: SSPE virus-infected B95a cells produced significantly higher levels of IFN-α and λ1 than did MV-infected or mock-infected cells. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that SSPE virus and MV induce different IFN production profiles.

Reconstruction of emphysematous lung tissue using slowly released basic fibroblast growth factor from gelatin microspheres.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has a variety of activities including regeneration and neovascularization. This study was an attempt to reconstruct emphysematous lung tissue employing slow release of bFGF. Twenty beagle dogs were randomly split into four groups: a) control group (n = 5), b) porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE)-induced emphysema group (n = 5), c) FGF-MS group [n = 5, a suspension of bFGF-incorporated gelatin microspheres (MS) was injected via the pulmonary artery of emphysema model animals], and d) MS group (n = 5, MS without bFGF were injected). Four weeks after injection, the treated lungs were observed histologically, and the mean linear intercept (Lm) was calculated in each group. Lm in the FGF-MS and MS groups was significantly smaller than that in the emphysema group (p < 0.0001), and the size of the dilated alveoli was similar to that in the control group. These changes were more evident in the FGF-MS group, where almost normal alveoli and dense microvascularization were observed around the small pulmonary arteries. Reconstruction of emphysematous lungs was achieved by intrapulmonary arterial administration of MS with or without bFGF. This method may allow trans-pulmonary arterial therapy for pulmonary emphysema.