Anillin-related protein Mid1 regulates timely formation of the contractile ring in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces japonicus.

In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe (Sp), Mid1/Dmf1 plays an important role in positioning the division site by inducing formation of the contractile ring (CR). Mid1, emanating from the nucleus located in the cell center, forms a dozen of nodes in the middle cell cortex ahead of mitosis, and actin filaments and myosin II accumulated at each node interact and assemble the CR in metaphase. Curiously, in another fission yeast S. japonicus (Sj), CR formation begins after nuclear segregation in late anaphase. Here, we investigated the role of S. japonicus Mid1 during mitosis to compare the molecular mechanisms that determine the cell division site in Schizosaccharomyces. Similar to Sp Mid1, Sj Mid1 often accumulated in the nucleus of interphase cells. Moreover, Sj Mid1 localized to cortical dots with myosin II in the future division site and formed a medial ring in mitotic cells. However, S. japonicus cells without Mid1 function still carried out symmetrical binary division. Therefore, the Mid1 dependency for positional control of the cell division site is possibly different between the two species. Meanwhile, we found that Sj Mid1 enhanced CR formation, in a manner possibly similar to that by Sp Mid1.

Spinal imaging features in Japanese patients with Marfan syndrome: a case-control study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the morphology of the lumbosacral spine, i.e. the dura and vertebral body shape, of Japanese patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) by comparing it with sex- and age-matched controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Spinal MR or CT images of 32 MFS patients and 32 controls were retrospectively reviewed. The anteroposterior dural sac diameter (DSD), anteroposterior vertebral body diameter (VBD), and vertebral body height (VBH) were measured from L1 to S1 levels and the dural sac ratio [DSR = (DSD/VBD)] and vertebral body aspect ratio [VAR = (VBH/VBD)] were calculated. RESULTS: At each level, mean DSD and DSR were significantly higher in MFS patients; VBD was not. The cutoff values for DSR to differentiate between MFS patients and the controls were 0.59, 0.46, 0.42, 0.45, 0.47, and 0.47 from the level of L1 to S1. At a sensitivity of 93.8 % and a specificity of 84.4 % the cutoff value at S1 was most diagnostic. In MFS patients VAR was significantly higher at L3 and L4. CONCLUSION: Our cutoff value for DSR >0.47 at S1 may help to identify MFS in the Japanese population. A square-like appearance of the L3 and L4 vertebral bodies is a supplementary finding in MFS patients.

Transcatheter arterial embolization therapy for a hypoplastic pelvic kidney with a single vaginal ectopic ureter to control incontinence: the usefulness of three-dimensional CT angiography using multidetector-row helical CT.

A girl with continuous urinary incontinence was successfully treated by angiographic embolization of a hypoplastic pelvic kidney with a single unilateral vaginal ectopic opening of the ureter. For this intervention, CT angiography was useful for detecting the corresponding renal artery of the hypoplastic kidney.