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In this study, we clarified the effects of NaCl application on the growth and Cs absorption in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.). Pot experiments using Wagner pots (1/5000a) were conducted in an experimental field at Nihon University during 2014, 2015, and 2016, using quinoa variety CICA-127. Growth of quinoa and Cs absorption by quinoa were promoted by the application of NaCl. The Cs content of aboveground parts of plants was also increased by the application of NaCl; however, the differences in Cs content among plots were not significant. Thus, the reason for the increase in Cs absorption was the promotion of biomass by the application of NaCl. The exchangeable K content in the soil and the growth of quinoa were increased by the application of KCl. Therefore, increasing the exchangeable K content in soil by the application of KCl has contributed to the increased accumulation of K and the decreased accumulation of Cs in the aboveground parts of plants. Thus, the lower exchangeable K content in soil led to a lower plant K content and a greater absorption of Cs by quinoa.

BackgroundA new device with metallic wires for scrape cytology was developed.AimsTo compare the diagnostic performance of scrape cytology and conventional cytology during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for biliary strictures.MethodsA total of 420 cases with biliary stricture underwent transpapillary bile cytology. Among them, there are 79 cases with scrape cytology using the new device (scrape group) and 341 cases with conventional cytology (control group). Seventy-two and 174 cases underwent biliary biopsy at the same time as bile cytology in the scrape and control group, respectively.ResultsThe sensitivity for malignancy of bile cytology in the scrape and control group was 41.2% [pancreatic cancer (PC): 23.1%, biliary cancer (BC): 52.5%] and 27.1% (PC: 16.3%, BC: 38.0%), respectively (P = 0.023). When analyzed PC and BC, respectively, there was no significant difference between the two groups. In the both groups, the sensitivity was significantly higher for BC than PC. In the scrape group, there was no difference in the sensitivity between cytology and biopsy [39.7% (PC: 17.4%, BC: 55.3%)], but in the control group, a significantly lower sensitivity was observed with cytology than biopsy (36.4% (PC: 19.7%, BC: 50.0%)) (P = 0.046). When analyzed PC and BC, respectively, there was no significant difference between cytology and biopsy. The sensitivity of combined cytology and biopsy was 55.6% (PC: 30.4%, BC: 71.1%) in the scrape group and 47.0% (PC: 24.6%, BC: 64.3%) in the control group.ConclusionScrape bile cytology for biliary strictures may be superior to conventional cytology.

Background/Aims. In early endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for acute cholangitis due to choledocholithiasis, it is unclear that single-session stone removal can be safely performed. We examined the efficacy and safety of early single-session stone removal for mild-to-moderate acute cholangitis associated with choledocholithiasis. Methods. Among patients with mild-to-moderate acute cholangitis associated with choledocholithiasis who underwent early ERCP (n = 167), we retrospectively compared the removal group (patients who underwent single-session stone removal; n = 78) with the drainage group (patients who underwent biliary drainage alone; n = 89) and examined the effectiveness and safety of single-session stone removal by early ERCP. Results. The patients in the removal group had significantly fewer and smaller stones compared with those in the drainage group. The single-session complete stone removal rate was 85.9% in the removal group. The complication rate in early ERCP was 11.5% in the removal group and 10.1% in the drainage group, with no significant difference (P = 0.963). On comparing patients who underwent early endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) with those who underwent elective EST after cholangitis had improved, the post-EST bleeding rates were 6.8% and 2.7%, respectively, with no significant difference (P = 0.600). The mean duration of hospitalization was 11.9 days for the removal group and 19.9 days for the drainage group, indicating a shorter stay for the removal group (P < 0.001). In multiple linear regression analysis, stone removal in early ERCP, number of stones, and C-reactive protein level were significant predictors of hospitalization period. Conclusions. Single-session stone removal for mild-to-moderate acute cholangitis can be safely performed. It is useful from the perspective of shorter hospital stay.

Background Epstein–Barr virus-positive mucocutaneous ulcer (EBV-MCU) is a new category of mature B-cell neoplasms. Ulcers occur in the oropharyngeal mucosa, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. The onset of EBV-MCU is suggested to be related to the decreased immunity of the patient, the causes of which include the use of immunosuppressive agents and aging. EBV-MCU may regress spontaneously and it often has a benign course after the dose reduction or discontinuation of immunosuppressive agents or during follow-up. Here, we report the case of a patient who required surgical resection for the intestinal obstruction arising from EBV-MCU. Case presentation A Japanese elderly male visited our hospital with chief complaints of a palpable mass and dull pain in the left upper quadrant, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Although abdominal computed tomography and total colonoscopy (TCS) revealed a tumor with circumferential ulcer in the transverse colon, histopathological analysis of a biopsy specimen of this lesion showed only nonspecific inflammation. Because the tumor spontaneously regressed during the time he underwent tests to obtain a second opinion from another hospital, TCS was reperformed on the patient. TCS revealed that the tumor decreased in size and the inflammatory changes in the surrounding mucosa tended to improve; however, tightening of the surrounding mucosa due to scarring was observed. Another histopathological analysis of a biopsy specimen showed widespread erosion of the mucosa and the formation of granulation tissue with marked infiltration of various inflammatory cells into the mucosal tissue of the large intestine. Moreover, some of the B-lymphocyte antigen CD20-positive B cells were also positive for EBV-encoded small RNA-1, suggesting the possibility of EBV-MCU. Later, the tumor developed into an intestinal obstruction; thus, the transverse colon was resected. Histopathological analysis of the resected specimen demonstrated scattered Hodgkin and Reed–Sternberg-like multinucleated large B cells in addition to EBER-1-positive cells. The patient was finally diagnosed as having EBV-MCU. Conclusions This is the first report of a case of EBV-MCU that developed into an intestinal obstruction requiring surgical resection. It is necessary to consider the possibility of EBV-MCU when examining an ulcerative or tumorous lesion in the gastrointestinal tract.

Background/Aims. Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is often performed before fully covered self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS) placement in order to prevent pancreatitis. However, it is not clear whether EST prevents pancreatitis or affects other adverse events (AEs). This study is conducted to evaluate the necessity of EST before FCSEMS placement for distal malignant biliary strictures due to a pancreatic head tumor. Methods. This study included 68 patients who underwent FCSEMS placement for distal malignant biliary stricture due to a pancreatic head tumor. Treatment outcomes and AEs were retrospectively compared between 32 patients with EST before FCSEMS placement (EST group) and 36 patients without EST (non-EST group). Results. The success rates of drainage for the EST and non-EST groups were 100% and 97.2%, respectively (P=0.95). The incidence of pancreatitis in the EST and non-EST groups was 3.1% and 0%, respectively (P=0.95). The incidence of hyperamylasemia in the EST and non-EST groups was 12.5% and 13.9%, respectively (P=0.85). The incidence of all AEs in the EST and non-EST groups was 15.6% (pancreatitis: 1, cholecystitis: 2, and stent migration: 2) and 13.9% (cholecystitis: 3, stent migration: 2), respectively (P=0.89). Conclusions. EST before FCSEMS placement for distal malignant biliary stricture due to a pancreatic head tumor does not affect the successful drainage and incidence of adverse events. The necessity of EST to prevent pancreatitis before FCSEMS placement was deemed low.

Background Rising seawater temperatures increasingly threaten coral reefs. The ability of coral larvae to withstand heat is crucial for maintaining reef ecosystems. Although several studies have investigated coral larvae’s genetic responses to thermal stress, most relied on pooled sample sequencing, which provides population-level insights but may mask individual genotype variability. This study uses individual larval sequencing to investigate genotype-specific responses to heat stress and the selective pressures shaping their genomes, offering finer resolution and deeper insights. Results This study investigates the larval response to heat stress before acquiring symbiotic algae, aiming to elucidate the relationship between coral genetic diversity and heat stress. Larvae sourced from eight Acropora digitifera colonies were subjected to ambient temperature (28 °C) and heat conditions (31 °C). The impact of heat stress on larval genetic diversity was assessed through sequencing. While overall genetic diversity, represented by π, did not significantly differ between the control and heat-exposed groups, Tajima’s D differed, indicating different selective pressures in each group. The genomic regions under higher and lower Tajima’s D were not broadly shared among control and head conditions, implying that selective pressures operated in distinctive manners. Many larval protein-coding sequences were identified in this genomic region, and the codon evolution of many of these genes showed signs of positive selection. These results highlight the complex selective pressures on coral larvae under different temperatures. The genes showing signs of positive selection in response to heat stress may have also been influenced by historical temperature fluctuations, as suggested by their association with loci identified during Acroporid speciation. These loci under codon-level positive selection during speciation highlight the potential role of genetic diversity in shaping adaptation to environmental changes over evolutionary timescales. Conclusion These findings underscore the significance of genetic diversity in coral reproduction for maintaining reef ecosystems. They also indicate that even minor heat stress can exert significant selective pressure, potentially leading to profound implications for coral reef ecosystems. This research is crucial for understanding the impact of rising seawater temperatures on coral reefs.

Recently, we reported PPARα-dependent DNA demethylation of the Fgf21 promoter in the postnatal mouse liver, where reduced DNA methylation is associated with enhanced gene expression after PPARα activation. However, there is no direct evidence for the effect of site-specific DNA methylation on gene expression. We employed the dCas9-SunTag and single-chain variable fragment (scFv)-TET1 catalytic domain (TET1CD) system to induce targeted DNA methylation of the Fgf21 promoter both in vitro and in vivo . We succeeded in targeted DNA demethylation of the Fgf 21 promoter both in Hepa1-6 cells and PPARα-deficient mice, with increased gene expression response to PPARα synthetic ligand administration and fasting, respectively. This study provides direct evidence that the DNA methylation status of a particular gene may determine the magnitude of the gene expression response to activation cues.

Deamination of DNA bases can create missense mutations predisposing humans to cancer and also interfere with other basic molecular genetic processes; this deamination generates deoxyinosine from deoxyadenosine. In Escherichia coli , the highly conserved endonuclease V is involved in alternative excision repair that removes deoxyinosine from DNA. However, its exact activities and roles in humans are unknown. Here we characterize the FLJ35220 protein, the human homologue of E. coli endonuclease V, hEndoV as a ribonuclease specific for inosine-containing RNA. hEndoV preferentially binds to RNA and efficiently hydrolyses the second phosphodiester bond located 3′ to the inosine in unpaired inosine-containing ssRNA regions in dsRNA. It localizes to the cytoplasm in cells. The ribonuclease activity is promoted by Tudor staphylococcal nuclease and detected on inosine-containing dsRNA created by the action of adenosine deaminases acting on RNA. These results demonstrate that hEndoV controls the fate of inosine-containing RNA in humans. In Escherichia coli , the highly conserved enzyme endonuclease V has a role in DNA repair. Here the authors show that human endonuclease V is an inosine 3' endoribonuclease and that Tudor Staphylococcal nuclease enhances this activity, suggesting a role for human endonuclease V in RNA metabolism.