Biosynthesis of dillapiole/apiole in dill (Anethum graveolens): characterization of regioselective phenylpropene O-methyltransferase.

The phenylpropene volatiles dillapiole and apiole impart one of the characteristic aromas of dill (Anethum graveolens) weeds. However, very few studies have been conducted to investigate the chemical composition of volatile compounds from different developmental stages and plant parts of A. graveolens. In this study, we examined the distribution of volatile phenylpropenes, including dillapiole, in dill plants at various developmental stages. We observed that young dill seedlings accumulate high levels of dillapiole and apiole, whereas a negligible proportion was found in the flowering plants and dry seeds. Based on transcriptomics and co-expression approaches with phenylpropene biosynthesis genes, we identified dill cDNA encoding S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent O-methyltransferase 1 (AgOMT1), an enzyme that can convert 6- and 2-hydroxymyristicin to dillapiole and apiole, respectively, via the methylation of the ortho-hydroxy group. The AgOMT1 protein shows an apparent Km value of 3.5 µm for 6-hydroxymyristicin and is 75% identical to the anise (Pimpinella anisum) O-methyltransferase (PaAIMT1) that can convert isoeugenol to methylisoeugenol via methylation of the hydroxy group at the para-position of the benzene ring. AgOMT1 showed a preference for 6-hydroxymyristicin, whereas PaAIMT1 displayed a large preference for isoeugenol. In vitro mutagenesis experiments demonstrated that substituting only a few residues can substantially affect the substrate specificity of these enzymes. Other plants belonging to the Apiaceae family contained homologous O-methyltransferase (OMT) proteins highly similar to AgOMT1, converting 6-hydroxymyristicin to dillapiole. Our results indicate that apiaceous phenylpropene OMTs with ortho-methylating activity evolved independently of phenylpropene OMTs of other plants and the enzymatic function of AgOMT1 and PaAIMT1 diverged recently.

The powerful potential of amino acid menthyl esters for anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity therapies.

Our newly developed menthyl esters of valine and isoleucine exhibit anti-inflammatory properties beyond those of the well-known menthol in macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and in a mouse model of colitis induced by sodium dextran sulfate. Unlike menthol, which acts primarily through the cold-sensitive TRPM8 channel, these menthyl esters displayed unique mechanisms that operate independently of this receptor. They readily penetrated target cells and efficiently suppressed LPS-stimulated tumour necrosis factor-alpha (Tnf) expression mediated by liver X receptor (LXR), a key nuclear receptor that regulates intracellular cholesterol and lipid balance. The menthyl esters showed affinity for LXR and enhanced the transcriptional activity through their non-competitive and potentially synergistic agonistic effect. This effect can be attributed to the crucial involvement of SCD1, an enzyme regulated by LXR, which is central to lipid metabolism and plays a key role in the anti-inflammatory response. In addition, we discovered that the menthyl esters showed remarkable efficacy in suppressing adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes at the mitotic clonal expansion stage in an LXR-independent manner as well as in mice subjected to diet-induced obesity. These multiple capabilities of our compounds establish them as formidable allies in the fight against inflammation and obesity, paving the way for a range of potential therapeutic applications.

Fetal Kidney Grafts and Organoids from Microminiature Pigs: Establishing a Protocol for Production and Long-Term Cryopreservation.

Fetal organs and organoids are important tools for studying organ development. Recently, porcine organs have garnered attention as potential organs for xenotransplantation because of their high degree of similarity to human organs. However, to meet the prompt demand for porcine fetal organs by patients and researchers, effective methods for producing, retrieving, and cryopreserving pig fetuses are indispensable. Therefore, in this study, to collect fetuses for kidney extraction, we employed cesarean sections to preserve the survival and fertility of the mother pig and a method for storing fetal kidneys by long-term cryopreservation. Subsequently, we evaluated the utility of these two methods. We confirmed that the kidneys of pig fetuses retrieved by cesarean section that were cryopreserved for an extended period could resume renal growth when grafted into mice and were capable of forming renal organoids. These results demonstrate the usefulness of long-term cryopreserved fetal pig organs and strongly suggest the effectiveness of our comprehensive system of pig fetus retrieval and fetal organ preservation, thereby highlighting its potential as an accelerator of xenotransplantation research and clinical innovation.

Coprinopsis cinerea dioxygenase is an oxygenase forming 10(S)-hydroperoxide of linoleic acid, essential for mushroom alcohol, 1-octen-3-ol, synthesis.

1-Octen-3-ol is a volatile oxylipin found ubiquitously in Basidiomycota and Ascomycota. The biosynthetic pathway forming 1-octen-3-ol from linoleic acid via the linoleic acid 10(S)-hydroperoxide was characterized 40 years ago in mushrooms, yet the enzymes involved are not identified. The dioxygenase 1 and 2 genes (Ccdox1 and Ccdox2) in the mushroom Coprinopsis cinerea contain an N-terminal cyclooxygenase-like heme peroxidase domain and a C-terminal cytochrome P450-related domain. Herein, we show that recombinant CcDOX1 is responsible for dioxygenation of linoleic acid to form the 10(S)-hydroperoxide, the first step in 1-octen-3-ol synthesis, whereas CcDOX2 conceivably forms linoleic acid 8-hydroperoxide. We demonstrate that KO of the Ccdox1 gene suppressed 1-octen-3-ol synthesis, although added linoleic acid 10(S)-hydroperoxide was still efficiently converted. The P450-related domain of CcDOX1 lacks the characteristic Cys heme ligand and the evidence indicates that a second uncharacterized enzyme converts the 10(S)-hydroperoxide to 1-octen-3-ol. Additionally, we determined the gene KO strain (ΔCcdox1) was less attractive to fruit fly larvae, while the feeding behavior of fungus gnats on ΔCcdox1 mycelia showed little difference from that on the mycelia of the WT strain. The proliferation of fungivorous nematodes on ΔCcdox1 mycelia was similar to or slightly worse than that on WT mycelia. Thus, 1-octen-3-ol seems to be an attractive compound involved in emitter-receiver ecological communication in mushrooms.

Evaluation of the ability of human induced nephron progenitor cells to form chimeric renal organoids using mouse embryonic renal progenitor cells.

The number of patients with end-stage renal failure is increasing annually worldwide and the problem is compounded by a shortage of renal transplantation donors. In our previous research, we have shown that transplantation of renal progenitor cells into the nephrogenic region of heterologous fetuses can induce the development of nephrons. We have also developed transgenic mice in which specific renal progenitor cells can be removed by drugs. By combining these two technologies, we have succeeded in generating human-mouse chimeric kidneys in fetal mice. We hope to apply these technologies to regenerative medicine. The quality of nephron progenitor cells (NPCs) derived from human pluripotent stem cells is important for the generation of chimeric kidneys, but there is currently no simple evaluation system for the chimerogenic potential of human NPCs. In this study, we focused on the fact that the re-aggregation of mouse renal progenitor cells can be used for nephron formation, even when merged into single cells. First, we examined the conditions under which nephron formation is likely to occur in mice during re-aggregation. Next, to improve the differentiation potential of human NPCs derived from pluripotent stem cells, NPCs were sorted using Integrin subunit alpha 8 (ITGA8). Finally, we demonstrated chimera formation between different species by mixing mouse cells with purified, selectively-induced human NPCs under optimum conditions. We observed these chimeric organoids at different time points to learn about these human-mouse chimeric structures at various stages of renal development. We found that the rate of chimera formation was affected by the purity of the human NPCs and the cell ratios used. We demonstrated that chimeric nephrons can be generated using a simple model, even between distant species. We believe that this admixture of human and mouse renal progenitor cells is a promising technology with potential application for the evaluation of the chimera formation abilities of NPCs.

1-Octen-3-ol is formed from its primeveroside after mechanical wounding of soybean leaves.

KEY MESSAGE: Hydrolysis of 1-octen-3-yl ß-primeveroside implemented by a system with high structure-specificity is accountable for the rapid formation of 1-octen-3-ol from soybean leaves after mechanical wounding. 1-Octen-3-ol is a volatile compound ubiquitous in fungi; however, a subset of plant species also has the ability to form 1-octen-3-ol. Owing to its volatile nature, it has been anticipated that 1-octen-3-ol is associated with the effort of the emitter to control the behavior of the surrounding organisms; however, its ecological significance and the enzymes involved in its biosynthesis have not been fully elucidated, particularly in plants. We previously found that soybean (Glycine max) seeds contain 1-octen-3-yl ß-primeveroside (pri). To elucidate the physiological significance and the biosynthesis of 1-octen-3-ol in plants, changes in the amount of 1-octen-3-yl pri during development of soybean plants was examined. A high 1-octen-3-yl pri level was found in young developing green organs, such as young leaves and sepals. Treatment of soybean leaves with methyl jasmonates resulted in a significant increase in the amount of 1-octen-3-yl pri; suggesting its involvement in defense responses. Although 1-octen-3-ol was below the detection limit in intact soybean leaves, mechanical damage to the leaves caused rapid hydrolysis of almost all 1-octen-3-yl pri to liberate volatile 1-octen-3-ol. Under the same conditions, the other glycosides, including isoflavone glycoside and linalool diglycoside, were hardly hydrolyzed. Therefore, the enzyme system to liberate aglycone from glycosides in soybean leaves should have strict substrate specificity. 1-Octen-3-yl pri might function as a storage form of volatile 1-octen-3-ol for immediate response against stresses accompanying tissue wounding.

Green Leaf Volatiles-The Forefront of Plant Responses Against Biotic Attack.

Green leaf volatiles (GLVs) are six-carbon volatile oxylipins ubiquitous in vascular plants. GLVs are produced from acyl groups in the biological membranes via oxygenation by a pathway-specific lipoxygenase (LOX) and a subsequent cleavage reaction by hydroperoxide lyase. Because of the universal distribution and ability to form GLVs, they have been anticipated to play a common role in vascular plants. While resting levels in intact plant tissues are low, GLVs are immediately synthesized de novo in response to stresses, such as insect herbivory, that disrupt the cell structure. This rapid GLV burst is one of the fastest responses of plants to cell-damaging stresses; therefore, GLVs are the first plant-derived compounds encountered by organisms that interact with plants irrespective of whether the interaction is competitive or friendly. GLVs should therefore be considered important mediators between plants and organisms that interact with them. GLVs can have direct effects by deterring herbivores and pathogens as well as indirect effects by attracting predators of herbivores, while other plants can recruit them to prepare their defenses in a process called priming. While the beneficial effects provided to plants by GLVs are often less dramatic and even complementary, the buildup of these tiny effects due to the multiple functions of GLVs can amass to levels that become substantially beneficial to plants. This review summarizes the current understanding of the spatiotemporal resolution of GLV biosynthesis and GLV functions and outlines how GLVs support the basic health of plants.

Aerial (+)-borneol modulates root morphology, auxin signalling and meristematic activity in Arabidopsis roots.

One of the characteristic aspects of odour sensing in humans is the activation of olfactory receptors in a slightly different manner in response to different enantiomers. Here, we focused on whether plants showed enantiomer-specific response similar to that in humans. We exposed Arabidopsis seedlings to methanol (control) and (+)- or (-)-borneol, and found that only (+)-borneol reduced the root length. Furthermore, the root-tip width was more increased upon (+)-borneol exposure than upon (-)-borneol exposure. In addition, root-hair formation was observed near the root tip in response to (+)-borneol. Auxin signalling was strongly reduced in the root tip following exposure to (+)-borneol, but was detected following exposure to (-)-borneol and methanol. Similarly, in the root tip, the activity of cyclin B1:1 was detected on exposure to (-)-borneol and methanol, but not on exposure to (+)-borneol, indicating that (+)-borneol inhibits the meristematic activity in the root. These results partially explain the (+)-borneol-specific reduction in the root length of Arabidopsis. Our results indicate the presence of a sensing system specific for (+)-borneol in Arabidopsis.

Relationship of leisure-time and household physical activity level and type with cardiovascular disease: secondary analysis of the Takashima Study data.

BACKGROUND: High levels of participation in leisure-time and household physical activity lower the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), although it is unclear whether the number of activity types is related to new-onset CVD. We aimed to evaluate the effect of the amount of leisure-time physical activity and the number of types of leisure-time physical activities on the risk of CVD incidence. METHODS: From 2002 to 2003, 3,741 participants without any history of CVD participated in the Takashima Study. Data on the amount of leisure-time and household physical activity and the types of leisure-time and household physical activity were obtained from a self-administered questionnaire. Hazard ratios for CVD (acute myocardial infarction and stroke) incidence (follow-up data from 2002 to 2013), according to the participation level and number of activity types, were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 58.7 ± 13.1 years. During the mean follow-up period of 8.0 ± 1.1 years, 92 participants developed CVD. An inverse dose-response relationship was noted between the amount of leisure-time and household physical activity and CVD events. After adjusting for baseline characteristics, lifestyle-related diseases, and the amount of physical activity other than leisure-time and household, the risk of CVD onset was compared by dividing the participants into two groups by the level of participation; the highest activity group had an adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of 0.40 (0.20-0.82) compared to the lowest activity group. Compared to participants who engaged in 0-1 type of activity, participants who engaged in two or more types of activities had a multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of 0.31 (0.12-0.79). CONCLUSION: Increasing the amount of leisure-time and household physical activity and promoting engagement in two or more types of such activities may reduce the rate of CVD incidence in the Japanese general population.

Association between Stress-Coping Strategy and Functional Disability in the General Older Adult Population: The Takashima Study.

BACKGROUND: Both physical and psychological factors have been associated with functional disability. However, the associations between stress-coping strategies and future functional disability remain unclear. METHODS: We analyzed 2,924 participants who did not have incidence of functional disability or death within the first 3 years of the baseline survey and were aged 65 years or more at the end of follow-up. Stress-coping strategies were assessed via a self-administered questionnaire (emotional expression, emotional support seeking, positive thought, problem-solving, and disengagement) in a baseline survey from 2006 to 2014. Levels of coping strategies were classified as low, middle, and high based of frequency. Functional disability decline was followed up using the long-term-care insurance program until November 1, 2019. Functional disability decline was defined as a new long-term-care insurance program certification. Cox proportional hazards model with competing risk analysis for death was used to evaluate associations between coping strategy levels and functional disability. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, we observed 341 cases of functional disability and 73 deaths without previous incidence of functional disability. A significant inverse association between "positive thought" and "problem-solving" and future functional disability was observed. Multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for functional disability were 0.68 (0.51-0.92) for high levels of "positive thought" and 0.73 (0.55-0.95) for high levels of "problem-solving," compared with low levels of the coping strategies. The inverse association was stronger in men. CONCLUSIONS: Some subcomponents of stress-coping strategies might be associated with future incidence of functional disability among older adults.

Acquired aplastic anemia complicated with anti-glomerular basement membrane disease successfully treated with immunosuppressive therapy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Aplastic anemia (AA) is a rare but fatal disorder characterized by pancytopenia due to bone marrow hypoplasia. Anti-glomerular basement membrane disease (anti-GBM disease) is an immune complex small-vessel vasculitis that presents as rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and/or pulmonary hemorrhage. Although both involve autoreactive T cells that are partially triggered by human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR15, there have been no reports of their co-existence and the treatment strategy is not well understood. CASE PRESENTATION: A 67-year-old woman presented with fever, malaise, and acute kidney injury with proteinuria and hematuria requiring hemodialysis. She was diagnosed with anti-GBM antibody disease based on high serum anti-GBM antibody titer and crescentic glomerulonephritis on a renal biopsy. Pulse administration of methylprednisolone (MP), oral prednisolone (PSL), and plasmapheresis were performed. Only 2 weeks after the diagnosis of anti-GBM disease, the patient developed pancytopenia requiring frequent blood transfusions. The blood cell count did not recover even 1 month after discontinuing the drugs that could cause pancytopenia. Bone marrow examination showed hypocellularity without abnormal infiltrates or fibrosis, which led to the diagnosis of severe acquired AA. Further HLA phenotyping revealed that she had HLA-DR15. Increased dose of PSL with the secondary MP pulse and the addition of cyclosporine improved pancytopenia. Although she remained dialysis-dependent, anti-GBM disease and pancytopenia did not recur for more than 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: We report the first case of acquired AA complicated with anti-GBM disease in an elderly woman with HLA-DR15, which was successfully treated with immunosuppressive therapy (IST). This report is valuable not only because it shows they may co-occur, but also because it provides a therapeutic option for this complex condition. It was also suggested that pancytopenia in patients with anti-GBM disease recalls serious hematologic diseases including AA that require immediate treatment based on bone marrow examination.

Fungal-Type Terpene Synthases in Marchantia polymorpha Are Involved in Sesquiterpene Biosynthesis in Oil Body Cells.

The liverwort Marchantia polymorpha possesses oil bodies in idioblastic oil body cells scattered in its thallus. Oil bodies are subcellular organelles in which specific sesquiterpenes and bisbibenzyls are accumulated. Therefore, a specialized system for the biosynthesis and accumulation of these defense compounds specifically in oil bodies has been implied. A recent study on M. polymorpha genome sequencing revealed 10 genes that shared high similarities with fungal-type terpene synthases (TPSs). Eight of these fungal-type TPS-like genes in M. polymorpha (MpFTPSL1-6, -9 and -10) are located within a 376-kb stretch on chromosome 6 and share similarities of over 94% at the nucleotide level. Therefore, these genes have likely originated from recent gene duplication events. The expression of a subset of MpFTPSLs was induced under non-axenic growth on vermiculite, which increased the amounts of sesquiterpenes and number of oil bodies. The tdTomato fluorescent protein-based in-fusion reporter assay with MpFTPSL2 promoter revealed fluorescent signals specifically in oil body cells of the thallus, indicating that MpFTPSL2 functions in oil body cells. Recombinant MpFTPSL2 expression in Escherichia coli led to sesquiterpene synthesis from farnesyl pyrophosphate. Moreover, suppression of a subset of MpFTPSLs through RNA interference reduced sesquiterpene accumulation in thalli grown on vermiculite. Taken together, these results suggest that at least a subset of MpFTPSLs is involved in sesquiterpene synthesis in oil body cells.

Suppressed Methionine γ-Lyase Expression Causes Hyperaccumulation of S-Methylmethionine in Soybean Seeds.

Several soybean (Glycine max) germplasms, such as Nishiyamahitashi 98-5 (NH), have an intense seaweed-like flavor after cooking because of their high seed S-methylmethionine (SMM) content. In this study, we compared the amounts of amino acids in the phloem sap, leaves, pods, and seeds between NH and the common soybean cultivar Fukuyutaka. This revealed a comparably higher SMM content alongside a higher free Met content in NH seeds, suggesting that the SMM-hyperaccumulation phenotype of NH soybean was related to Met metabolism in seeds. To investigate the molecular mechanism behind SMM hyperaccumulation, we examined the phenotype-associated gene locus in NH plants. Analyses of the quantitative trait loci in segregated offspring of the cross between NH and the common soybean cultivar Williams 82 indicated that one locus on chromosome 10 explains 71.4% of SMM hyperaccumulation. Subsequent fine-mapping revealed that a transposon insertion into the intron of a gene, Glyma.10g172700, is associated with the SMM-hyperaccumulation phenotype. The Glyma.10g172700-encoded recombinant protein showed Met-γ-lyase (MGL) activity in vitro, and the transposon-insertion mutation in NH efficiently suppressed Glyma.10g172700 expression in developing seeds. Exogenous administration of Met to sections of developing soybean seeds resulted in transient increases in Met levels, followed by continuous increases in SMM concentrations, which was likely caused by Met methyltransferase activity in the seeds. Accordingly, we propose that the SMM-hyperaccumulation phenotype is caused by suppressed MGL expression in developing soybean seeds, resulting in transient accumulation of Met, which is converted into SMM to avoid the harmful effects caused by excess free Met.

A genome-wide association study on confection consumption in a Japanese population: the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study.

Differences in individual eating habits may be influenced by genetic factors, in addition to cultural, social or environmental factors. Previous studies suggested that genetic variants within sweet taste receptor genes family were associated with sweet taste perception and the intake of sweet foods. The aim of this study was to conduct a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to find genetic variations that affect confection consumption in a Japanese population. We analysed GWAS data on confection consumption using 14 073 participants from the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort study. We used a semi-quantitative FFQ to estimate food intake that was validated previously. Association of the imputed variants with confection consumption was performed by linear regression analysis with adjustments for age, sex, total energy intake and principal component analysis components 1-3. Furthermore, the analysis was repeated adjusting for alcohol intake (g/d) in addition to the above-described variables. We found 418 SNP located in 12q24 that were associated with confection consumption. SNP with the ten lowest P-values were located on nine genes including at the BRAP, ACAD10 and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 regions on 12q24.12-13. After adjustment for alcohol intake, no variant was associated with confections intake with genome-wide significance. In conclusion, we found a significant number of SNP located on 12q24 genes that were associated with confections intake before adjustment for alcohol intake. However, all of them lost statistical significance after adjustment for alcohol intake.

Study Profile of the Japan Multi-institutional Collaborative Cohort (J-MICC) Study.

BACKGROUND: The Japan Multi-institutional Collaborative Cohort (J-MICC) study was launched in 2005 to examine gene-environment interactions in lifestyle-related diseases, including cancers, among the Japanese. This report describes the study design and baseline profile of the study participants. METHODS: The participants of the J-MICC Study were individuals aged 35 to 69 years enrolled from respondents to study announcements in specified regions, inhabitants attending health checkup examinations provided by local governments, visitors at health checkup centers, and first-visit patients at a cancer hospital in Japan. At the time of the baseline survey, from 2005 to 2014, we obtained comprehensive information regarding demographics, education, alcohol consumption, smoking, sleeping, exercise, food intake frequency, medication and supplement use, personal and family disease history, psychological stress, and female reproductive history and collected peripheral blood samples. RESULTS: The baseline survey included 92,610 adults (mean age: 55.2 [standard deviation, 9.4] years, 44.1% men) from 14 study regions in 12 prefectures. The participation rate was 33.5%, with participation ranging from 19.7% to 69.8% in different study regions. The largest number of participants was in the age groups of 65-69 years for men and 60-64 years for women. There were differences in body mass index, educational attainment, alcohol consumption, smoking, and sleep duration between men and women. CONCLUSIONS: The J-MICC Study collected lifestyle and clinical data and biospecimens from over 90,000 participants. This cohort is expected to be a valuable resource for the national and international scientific community in providing evidence to support longer healthy lives.

Renal hemosiderosis presenting with acute kidney Injury and macroscopic hematuria in Immunoglobulin A nephropathy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Macroscopic hematuria-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) is a well-known complication of immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy. In such cases, intratubular obstruction by red blood cell (RBC) casts and acute tubular necrosis are mainly observed pathologically. Herein, we report the case of a patient with IgA nephropathy presenting with AKI following an episode of macrohematuria. The patient presented with severe renal tubular hemosiderosis and acute tubular necrosis and without any obvious obstructive RBC casts. CASE PRESENTATION: A 68-year-old woman, who was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy on renal biopsy 6 years ago, was admitted to our hospital after an episode of macroscopic glomerular hematuria and AKI following upper respiratory tract infection. Renal biopsy showed mesangial proliferation of the glomeruli, including crescent formation in 17 % of the glomeruli, and acute tubular necrosis without obvious hemorrhage or obstructive RBC casts. The application of Perls' Prussian blue stain showed hemosiderin deposition in the renal proximal tubular cells. Immunofluorescence showed granular mesangial deposits of IgA and C3. Based on these findings, she was diagnosed with acute tubular necrosis with a concurrent IgA nephropathy flare-up. Moreover, direct tubular injury by heme and iron was considered to be the cause of AKI. She was treated with intravenous pulse methylprednisolone followed by oral prednisolone. Thereafter, the gross hematuria gradually faded, and her serum creatinine levels decreased. CONCLUSIONS: IgA nephropathy presenting with acute kidney injury accompanied by macrohematuria may cause renal hemosiderosis and acute tubular necrosis without obstructive RBC casts. Hemosiderosis may be a useful indicator for determining the pathophysiology of macroscopic hematuria-associated AKI. However, renal hemosiderosis may remain undiagnosed. Thus, Perls' Prussian blue iron staining should be more widely used in patients presenting with hematuria.

Principles of ethical consideration required for clinical research involving children.

Ethical considerations are more stringent in pediatric clinical research than in research targeting adults. However, in Japan, clear guidelines have yet to be presented on the necessary ethical considerations for clinical research involving children. The "Principles of Ethical Consideration Required for Clinical Research Involving Children" provide guiding principles for ethical considerations and the essential ways of thinking that all involved in clinical research on children need to understand in advance.

A systematic approach to the disclosure of genomic findings in clinical practice and research: a proposed framework with colored matrix and decision-making pathways.

BACKGROUND: Whether and how to disclose genomic findings obtained in the course of genomic clinical practice and medical research has been a controversial global bioethical issue over the past two decades. Although several recommendations and judgment tools for the disclosure of genomic findings have been proposed, none are sufficiently systematic or inclusive or even consistent with each other. In order to approach the disclosure/non-disclosure practice in an ethical manner, optimal and easy-to-use tools for supporting the judgment of physicians/researchers in genomic medicine are necessary. METHODS: The bioethics literature on this topic was analyzed to parse and deconstruct the somewhat overlapping and therefore ill-defined key concepts of genomic findings, such as incidental, primary, secondary, and other findings. Based on the deconstruction and conceptual analyses of these findings, we then defined key parameters from which to identify the strength of duty to disclose (SDD) for a genomic finding. These analyses were then applied to develop a framework with the SDD matrix and systematic decision-making pathways for the disclosure of genomic findings. RESULTS: The following six major parameters (axes), along with sub-axes, were identified: Axis 1 (settings and institutions where findings emerge); Axis 2 (presence or absence of intention and anticipatability in discovery); Axis 3 (maximal actionability at the time of discovery); Axis 4 (net medical importance); Axis 5 (expertise of treating physician/researcher); and Axis 6 (preferences of individual patients/research subjects for disclosure). For Axes 1 to 4, a colored SDD matrix for genomic findings was developed in which levels of obligation for disclosing a finding can be categorized. For Axes 5 and 6, systematic decision-making pathways were developed via the SDD matrix. CONCLUSION: We analyzed the SDD of genomic findings and developed subsequent systematic decision-making pathways of whether and how to disclose genomic findings to patients/research subjects and their relatives in an ethical manner. Our comprehensive framework may help physicians and researchers in genomic medicine make consistent ethical judgments regarding the disclosure of genomic findings.

Transcriptional regulators involved in responses to volatile organic compounds in plants.

Field studies have shown that plants growing next to herbivore-infested plants acquire higher resistance to herbivore damage. This increased resistance is partly due to regulation of plant gene expression by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by plants that sense environmental challenges such as herbivores. The molecular basis for VOC sensing in plants, however, is poorly understood. Here, we report the identification of TOPLESS-like proteins (TPLs) that have VOC-binding activity and are involved in VOC sensing in tobacco. While screening for volatiles that induce stress-responsive gene expression in tobacco BY-2 cells and tobacco plants, we found that some sesquiterpenes induce the expression of stress-responsive genes. These results provided evidence that plants sense these VOCs and motivated us to analyze the mechanisms underlying volatile sensing using tobacco as a model system. Using a pulldown assay with caryophyllene derivative-linked beads, we identified TPLs as transcriptional co-repressors that bind volatile caryophyllene analogs. Overexpression of TPLs in cultured BY-2 cells or tobacco leaves reduced caryophyllene-induced gene expression, indicating that TPLs are involved in the responses to caryophyllene analogs in tobacco. We propose that unlike animals, which use membrane receptors for sensing odorants, a transcriptional co-repressor plays a role in sensing and mediating VOC signals in plant cells.

Identification of a Hexenal Reductase That Modulates the Composition of Green Leaf Volatiles.

Green leaf volatiles (GLVs), including six-carbon (C6) aldehydes, alcohols, and esters, are formed when plant tissues are damaged. GLVs play roles in direct plant defense at wound sites, indirect plant defense via the attraction of herbivore predators, and plant-plant communication. GLV components provoke distinctive responses in their target recipients; therefore, the control of GLV composition is important for plants to appropriately manage stress responses. The reduction of C6-aldehydes into C6-alcohols is a key step in the control of GLV composition and also is important to avoid a toxic buildup of C6-aldehydes. However, the molecular mechanisms behind C6-aldehyde reduction remain poorly understood. In this study, we purified an Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) NADPH-dependent cinnamaldehyde and hexenal reductase encoded by At4g37980, named here CINNAMALDEHYDE AND HEXENAL REDUCTASE (CHR). CHR T-DNA knockout mutant plants displayed a normal growth phenotype; however, we observed significant suppression of C6-alcohol production following partial mechanical wounding or herbivore infestation. Our data also showed that the parasitic wasp Cotesia vestalis was more attracted to GLVs emitted from herbivore-infested wild-type plants compared with GLVs emitted from chr plants, which corresponded with reduced C6-alcohol levels in the mutant. Moreover, chr plants were more susceptible to exogenous high-dose exposure to (Z)-3-hexenal, as indicated by their markedly lowered photosystem II activity. Our study shows that reductases play significant roles in changing GLV composition and, thus, are important in avoiding toxicity from volatile carbonyls and in the attraction of herbivore predators.