Feeding ecology of Swinhoe's tree lizard (Diploderma swinhonis (Günther, 1864)) in Hyuga City, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.

Swinhoe's tree lizard (Diploderma swinhonis: D. swinhonis) is an arboreal agamid that is native to Taiwan. In Taiwan, the lizard is considered to be a generalist that feeds primarily on ants and a diversity of small insect prey by employing an opportunistic sit-and-wait foraging strategy. In Japan, D. swinhonis is considered as an invasive alien species that was discovered in Hyuga city, Miyazaki Prefecture, in 2016. Despite concerns about the impact of D. swinhonis on native fauna, little information about the diet of this alien species has been published to date. This study, therefore, investigated the feeding ecology of D. swinhonis in Hyuga city to evaluate their potential impact on the ecosystem. Specifically, prey preference was investigated by examining the stomach contents of males, females, and juveniles captured from April to December 2020 and in March 2021. The results showed that the lizards in Hyuga preyed upon a wide variety of invertebrates as in Taiwan, while ants accounted for the largest proportion of the prey items consumed regardless of sex, age or changes in season. These findings indicated that D. swinhonis might cause a decrease in the abundance of the native insect fauna of Hyuga city or competition with native lizards for foods in Hyuga city. Since its impact is not currently apparent, it's necessary to monitor its effect in the future.

Infrared spectroscopic and computational studies of Co(ClO4)2 dissolved in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Vibrations of DMF influenced by Co2+ or ClO4- or both.

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy for N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) shows that the OCN bend (δOCN) and the CO stretch (νCO) vibrations undergo an upshift and a downshift, respectively, on the dissolution of Co(ClO4)2. Quantum chemical calculations are performed for optimizing the structures and predicting the IR spectra of model complexes for solute species. The calculations reveal that Co2+ exerts a much larger influence than ClO4- on the vibrations of DMF. For Co2+(DMF)6, in which each DMF molecule is coordinated to Co2+ via the O atom, the Co2+⋯DMF interaction upshifts the δOCN frequencies (+24 cm-1 on average) while the dipole coupling gives rise to splitting (12 cm-1) of the modes. On the other hand, the Co2+⋯DMF interaction downshifts the νCO frequencies (-15 cm-1 on average) while the splitting of the modes amounts to 37 cm-1. As a result, one of the νCO modes is located at an upshifted position (+13 cm-1) despite the O-atom coordination. For six-coordinated isomers of Co2+(DMF)7, the δOCN and νCO frequencies of the second-sphere DMF are close to those of bulk DMF in neat liquid. The calculations indicate that it is difficult to prove or exclude the formation of contact ion pairs [Co(DMF)5ClO4]+ and solvent-shared ion pairs [Co(DMF)6ClO4]+ by IR spectroscopy in the δOCN and νCO regions. However, asymmetric ClO stretches of the ClO4- moiety suggest that conceivable is the coexistence of solvent-shared ion pairs only.

Infrared spectroscopic and computational studies on formamide solutions of Ca2+. Vibrational frequencies of formamide and modes of coordination to Ca2.

Infrared spectroscopy for formamide (FA) solutions of Ca(ClO4)2 shows that both CN stretch (νCN) and CO stretch (νCO) bands of FA undergo upshifts in the presence of Ca2+. Modeling of Ca2+ in FA solutions is accomplished by quantum chemical calculations for Ca2+(FA)n (n = 1-8) complexes with Polarizable Continuum Model (PCM). The calculations indicate that bidentate Ca2+(FA)4 complexes are not consistent with the observed upshift of the νCN band, although a bidentate coordination of four FA molecules via both O and N atoms was assumed in a previous study of the same system. The experimental results are reasonably reproduced by adopting Ca2+(FA)7 and Ca2+(FA)8 complexes with a monodentate coordination of all FA molecules via the O atom. A strong coupling among the CO oscillators is shown to be responsible for the upshifts of the νCO modes despite the O atom coordination.

Multicentric Castleman disease mimicking IgG4-related disease: A case report.

A 50-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for shoulder joint stiffness. She had a history of polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia and an elevated C-reactive protein level. Her laboratory data revealed an elevated serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) level, hypergammaglobulinemia, and rheumatoid factor positivity in the absence of anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody. [18F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography showed significant [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in multiple lymph nodes (axillary, hilar, para-aortic, and inguinal). Biopsy of the inguinal lymph node showed expansion of the interfollicular areas by heavily infiltrating plasma cells, consistent with multicentric Castleman disease (MCD). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a 37.3% IgG4-positive:IgG-positive plasma cell ratio, indicating overlapping IgG4-related disease. However, serological cytokine analysis revealed elevated levels of interleukin-6 (9.3 pg/ml) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (1210 pg/ml), which are compatible with MCD. Corticosteroid treatment resolved the serological and imaging abnormalities. IgG4-related disease can mimic MCD, and it is crucial to distinguish between these two diseases. Serum interleukin-6 and VEGF levels may help to discriminate MCD from IgG4-related disease.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis presenting as a choroidal tumor.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) sometimes involves the eye orbit; however, choroidal involvements in GPA had been rarely reported. We report a rare case presenting with a choroidal mass in an 83-year-old Japanese woman who presented with left eye pain. Diagnostic biopsy revealed necrotizing vasculitis with infiltrates of inflammatory cells. Diagnosis was localized granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Combined treatments with corticosteroid plus azathioprine resolved the choroidal mass region. Although treatment with corticosteroid and immunosuppressive agents improves the prognosis of the disease, ocular morbidity is still well recognized. Clinicians should consider a differential diagnosis of GPA in patients with inflammatory choroidal tumors.