The potential role of Arhgef33 RhoGEF in foveal development in the zebra finch retina.

The fovea is a pit formed in the center of the retina that enables high-acuity vision in certain vertebrate species. While formation of the fovea fascinates many researchers, the molecular mechanisms underlying foveal development are poorly understood. In the current study, we histologically investigated foveal development in zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) and found that foveal pit formation begins just before post-hatch day 14 (P14). We next performed RNA-seq analysis to compare gene expression profiles between the central (foveal and parafoveal) and peripheral retina in zebra finch at P14. We found that the Arhgef33 expression is enriched in the middle layer of the inner nuclear layer at the parafovea, suggesting that Arhgef33 is dominantly expressed in Müller glial cells in the developing parafovea. We then performed a pull-down assay using Rhotekin-RBD and observed GEF activity of Arhgef33 against RhoA. We found that overexpression of Arhgef33 in HEK293 cells induces cell contraction and that Arhgef33 expression inhibits neurite extension in Neuro 2A cells, which is partially recovered by a Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibitor. Taken together, we used zebra finch as a model animal to investigate foveal development and identified Arhgef33 as a candidate protein possibly involved in foveal development through modulating RhoA activity.

Use of Multiple Tobacco and Tobacco-Like Products Including Heated Tobacco and E-Cigarettes in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Assessment of the 2017 JASTIS Study.

Information on the use of multiple tobacco and tobacco-like products (hereafter multiple tobacco products use, i.e., use of more than one product) is important for tobacco control. Use of heated tobacco products (HTPs), which first became popular in Japan, has been spreading over the world, while information about use of multiple tobacco products, including HTPs, is insufficient. We analyzed data of 10,114 responders from the 2017 Japan "Society and New Tobacco" Internet Survey (JASTIS) study. The prevalence and adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of multiple tobacco products use were estimated with inverse probability weighting using multivariable logistic regression models to approximate the results to whole Japanese estimates. Tobacco and tobacco-like products included cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, HTPs, pipes/water pipes, and smokeless tobacco products. Among Japanese adults, 18.4% were single tobacco product users and 3.2% were multiple tobacco product users in 2017. Among current product users (100%), cigarettes were the most popular product in single (78.8%) and multiple (14.2%) tobacco products use, while HTPs were the second most popular product in single (5.2%) and multiple (10.6%) tobacco products use. People with no perception of risk regarding e-cigarettes/HTPs were more likely to use multiple tobacco products (aOR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.12-1.92) than those who perceived a risk. Prevalence rates and predictors of multiple tobacco products use, including HTPs, were studied first. In multiple tobacco products use, high popularity of HTPs among current product users was revealed. Risk perception of e-cigarettes/HTPs was associated with multiple tobacco products use. This study provides baseline information on multiple tobacco products use in Japan, which will enable the examination of trends in the future.

Accessory left gastric artery aneurysms in granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a case report and literature review.

Aneurysm formation is a potential complication of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), previously known as Wegener's granulomatosis. It is a very rare complication, but immediate diagnosis and therapy should be performed because an aneurysm can be life-threatening if it ruptures. An accessory left gastric artery (ALGA) is also a rare variant gastric artery that may obtain its blood supply from the left hepatic artery and left gastric artery. We herein describe a 57-year-old Japanese man who was diagnosed with GPA complicated by aneurysm rupture in an ALGA. Emergency surgery was performed after failure of arterial coil embolization to interrupt blood flow in the ALGA. The patient underwent partial resection of the lesser omentum, which contained all aneurysms. During partial resection of the lesser omentum, both the left gastric artery and ALGA were ligated because they were thought to be feeders of the aneurysms. Postoperative recovery was uneventful; no bleeding or recurrence of the aneurysms occurred. Immediate diagnosis and therapy should be performed for patients with GPA with symptoms of vascular ischemia or aortitis. Endovascular intervention is the first-choice therapy especially for hemodynamically stable patients with ruptured aneurysms or aneurysms located on variant arteries, which may have multiple blood supplies. In the present case, although endovascular treatment failed, the approach described herein was helpful during open surgery.