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In the seed production of commercially valuable blackthroat seaperch Doederleinia berycoides , the sex ratio is often skewed toward males. To address this imbalance, several environmental and dietary approaches have been examined; however, the issue remains unresolved. Assessing the effectiveness of such treatments requires reliable methods for early sex identification before stocking hatchery-reared juveniles into the wild. However, the processes of sex differentiation and the potential for protandry remain unexamined in this species. In this study, observations of wild populations showed no significant sex-ratio bias, and no histological evidence of gonads indicated protandrous sex change. This suggests that the male-biased sex ratio observed in hatchery populations is unlikely to result from protandry but is instead more likely driven by environmental factors associated with artificial rearing conditions. Histological analysis of early developmental stages of hatchery-reared juveniles (80–125 days post hatching, dph) and 1-year-old fish revealed that the presence of ovarian cavities in both undifferentiated gonads, testes, and ovaries, indicating that ovarian cavity formation is not a reliable marker for sex identification. Moreover, because oocytes were still not observed even at 120 dph, histological sex identification prior to stocking hatchery-reared juveniles was considered impossible. Consequently, RNA-seq and differentially expressed gene analyses were employed for the first time in this species to identify genetic markers of sex differentiation. qPCR analysis showed predominant expression of cyp11b1 , dmrt1 , and amh in the testis of the 2-year-old male, and foxl2a and wnt-4a in the ovary of the 2-year-old female, respectively. Notably, foxl2a expression was also detected in female fin tissue, suggesting the potential for non-lethal female sex identification. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of sex differentiation, support discrimination between the sexes, and clarify the occurrence of phenotypically normal females in hatchery-reared blackthroat seaperch.

This study compared cardio-metabolic disease risk factors and their associations with serum vitamin D and omega-3 status in South Asian (SAC) and White Canadians (WC) living in Canada's capital region. Fasting blood samples were taken from 235 SAC and 279 WC aged 20 to 79 years in Ottawa, and 22 risk factors were measured. SAC men and women had significantly higher fasting glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), ratios of total (TC) to HDL cholesterol (HDLC) and ApoB to ApoA1, leptin, E-selectin, P-selectin, ICAM-1 and omega-3 (p < 0.05), but lower HDLC, ApoA1, vitamin D levels than WC (p < 0.05). SAC women had higher CRP and VEGF than WC women. Adequate (50-74.9 nmol/L) or optimal (≥ 75 nmol/L) levels of 25(OH)D were associated with lower BMI, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, TG, TC, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), ApoB/ApoA1 ratio, CRP, leptin, and higher HDLC, ApoA1, omega-3 index, L-selectin levels in WC, but not in SAC. Intermediate (>4%-<8%) or high (≥ 8%) levels of omega-3 indices were related to lower E-selectin, P-selectin, ICAM-1 and higher HDLC, 25(OH)D levels in WC, but not in SAC. The BMIs of ≤ 25 kg/m2 were related to lower LDLC, ApoB, VEGF, creatinine and higher 25(OH)D in WC, but not in SAC. The associations of vitamin D, omega-3 status, BMI and risk factors were more profound in the WC than SAC. Compared to WC, vitamin D status and omega-3 index may not be good predictive risk factors for the prevalence of CVD and diabetes in SAC.

To minimize the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), most dietary guidelines have recommended consuming 500 mg/day of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or two servings of oily fish/week. The sum of percent EPA and DHA in red blood cell (RBC) total fatty acids-termed the omega-3 index-has been proposed as a biomarker for assessing the risk of death from CVD. The omega-3 indices of ≤4, >4 to <8 and ≥8 % have been proposed to be associated with high, intermediate and low CVD risks, respectively. In this study, we determined the EPA + DHA intake level and the omega-3 index of South Asian Canadians (SAC; n  = 308) and white Canadians (WC; n  = 341) age 20–79 years living in the National Capital Region of Canada. The mean EPA + DHA intake levels were 569 ± 571 mg/day for SAC and 684 ± 865 mg/day for WC and 46 % of SAC and 43 % of WC met the recommended EPA + DHA intake level of 500 mg/day. The mean omega-3 indices were 6.6 and 5.9 % for SAC and WC respectively. The suggested cardio-protective target level for the omega-3 index of ≥8 % was observed only in 19.8 % of SAC and in 9.4 % of WC subjects. The majority of the participants (74.4 % of SAC and 82.7 % of WC) were in the >4 to <8 % range. These results suggest that although study participants’ dietary intake of EPA + DHA is adequate, this intake was not sufficient to provide an omega-3 index that is considered cardio-protective.

The US Institute of Medicine defined serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) cut point values of 30 nmol/L and 40 nmol/L were used to assess the vitamin D status of South Asian and European Canadians of self-identified ancestry living in the National Capital Region of Canada. Serum 25OHD values were measured in the spring and fall of 2012 to represent status during the winter and summer months, respectively. A total of 1238 measurements were obtained from 669 participants (49% South Asian ancestry): some participants were measured only once (spring or fall). Median 25OHD values were significantly higher in participants of European ancestry: 70.8 nmol/L (68.1, 73.5; 95% CI) versus South Asian ancestry: 42.7 nmol/L (40.5, 45.0; P<0.001). Spring vs. fall differences were small for each ethnic group and significant only for those of European ancestry (2.9, CI: 1.0-4.9 nmol/L; P = 0.01). Among participants of South Asian ancestry, 27.3% (fall) and 29.1% (spring) of females had values <40 nmol/L while the percentages for males were considerably higher (36.5% and 44.2%, respectively). The corresponding values for participants of European ancestry were ≤10%, showing that the South Asian participants were less likely to achieve the 25OHD concentrations established by the IOM for optimum bone health. Investigation of the factors related to serum 25OHD levels showed that supplement intake and ethnic background were associated with the biggest differences. Skin color was not a major factor, suggesting that genetic factors are responsible for the observed differences between participants of different ethnic backgrounds.

Gene expression in the muscle of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss fed either ad libitum once a week (RF, restricted feed group) or ad libitum twice per day (control) was compared to identify those genes differently regulated during restricted feeding. After 1 month, the increase in the size of the RF fish was significantly less than that of the control fish. A microarray analysis of 37,394 unique sequences revealed that 2,701 transcripts differed by more than twofold between the control and RF groups. In the RF group, one and three genes involved in fatty acid β-oxidation were down- and up-regulated, respectively, and five glycolysis-related genes were down-regulated. The genes for growth hormone receptors-1 and -2 were up-regulated in the RF group. A number of adipocyte-related and adiponectin genes were down-regulated in the RF group, suggesting that lipid accumulation might be suppressed in this group. These results suggest that adiponectin and growth hormone signaling plays an active role in the control of energy metabolism during restricted food intake.

Japanese people consume crop bran, which contains relatively high amounts of gamma-oryzanol (ORZ), as foodstuffs and food materials. We have recently confirmed that ORZ inhibits NF-κB activation, activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), and increases plasma adiponectin levels. ORZ is therefore expected to improve lipid and carbohydrate metabolisms and various inflammatory diseases, i.e., metabolic syndrome including type 2 diabetes. ORZ administration also allowed fish, such as rainbow trout, yellowtail, and red sea bream, to accumulate protein through enhancement of lipid and carbohydrate metabolisms. In the present study, we have investigated ORZ accumulation levels in mouse and rainbow trout administered ORZ-containing feed. Although mouse muscle and liver hardly contained ORZ, muscle tissues of every fish species accumulated higher amounts of ORZ. These findings suggest that rainbow trout, red sea bream, and yellowtail accumulate ORZ in muscle.

Adiponectin is one of the adipokines secreted mainly from adipocytes in mammals. In rainbow trout, however, adiponectin is highly expressed in skeletal muscle. Although it has been suggested that fish skeletal muscle contains adipocytes, their endocrine function and distribution are poorly understood. Recently, an EST analysis of rainbow trout found that heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), a member of the intracellular fatty acid binding protein family, encodes an adipose-specific gene. In this study, we produced anti-adiponectin and H-FABP antibodies and investigated the distribution of adipocytes and related cells in skeletal muscle of rainbow trout. The adiponectin signal was detected at around 75 kDa in muscle in Western blotting. Since the molecular mass of rainbow trout adiponectin is around 25 kDa, this 75 kDa band would be a trimer. For H-FABP, the signal band was detected at around 15 kDa. Immunohistochemistry of skeletal muscle sections indicated that adiponectin and H-FABP signals were present outside of muscle cells and throughout the muscle tissues, suggesting the existence of adipocyte-related cells in these regions. These results will contribute to our understanding of energy metabolism in fish skeletal muscle.

Iron is essential for most living organisms. Plants transcriptionally induce genes involved in iron acquisition under conditions of low iron availability, but the nature of the deficiency signal and its sensors are unknown. Here we report the identification of new iron regulators in rice, designated O ryza s ativa H aemerythrin motif-containing R eally Interesting New Gene (RING)- and Z inc-finger protein 1 (OsHRZ1) and OsHRZ2. OsHRZ1, OsHRZ2 and their Arabidopsis homologue BRUTUS bind iron and zinc, and possess ubiquitination activity. OsHRZ1 and OsHRZ2 are susceptible to degradation in roots irrespective of iron conditions. OsHRZ -knockdown plants exhibit substantial tolerance to iron deficiency, and accumulate more iron in their shoots and grains irrespective of soil iron conditions. The expression of iron deficiency-inducible genes involved in iron utilization is enhanced in OsHRZ -knockdown plants, mostly under iron-sufficient conditions. These results suggest that OsHRZ1 and OsHRZ2 are iron-binding sensors that negatively regulate iron acquisition under conditions of iron sufficiency. Plants activate a gene transcription response under low iron conditions but how they sense insufficient iron levels is unclear. In this study, Kobayashi et al. identify two iron-binding proteins that possess ubiquitin ligase activity and are negative regulators of the iron deficiency response.

Runs of homozygosity (ROHs) are widely observed across the genomes of various species and have been reported to be associated with many traits and common diseases, as well as rare recessive diseases, in human populations. Although single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array data have been used in previous studies on ROHs, recent advances in whole-genome sequencing (WGS) technologies and the development of nationwide cohorts/biobanks are making high-density genomic data increasingly available, and it is consequently becoming more feasible to detect ROHs at higher resolution. In the study, we searched for ROHs in two high-coverage WGS datasets from 3552 Japanese individuals and 192 three-generation families (consisting of 1120 family members) in prospective genomic cohorts. The results showed that a considerable number of ROHs, especially short ones that may have remained undetected in conventionally used SNP-array data, can be detected in the WGS data. By filtering out sequencing errors and leveraging pedigree information, longer ROHs are more likely to be detected in WGS data than in SNP-array data. Additionally, we identified gene families within ROH islands that are associated with enriched pathways related to sensory perception of taste and odors, suggesting potential signatures of selection in these key genomic regions.

Few studies have evaluated the association between the duration of mothers’ digital media use (including mobile phones, tablets, and PCs) while with their children and children’s development. Using data from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, we explored this relationship through multiple regression analysis. Self-administered questionnaires measured the duration of mothers’ digital media use. Developmental outcomes were assessed using the Kyoto Scale of Psychological Development 2001 (KSPD), administered to two-year-olds by trained examiners. The KSPD assessed three domains: postural-motor (fine and gross motor abilities), cognitive-adaptive (non-verbal cognitive capacity and visual-spatial comprehension), and language-social (interpersonal relationships, socialization, and verbal abilities). The analysis included 3,786 mother–child pairs with complete exposure data, outcomes, and covariates. The children of mothers who used digital media for one hour or more exhibited lower language-social development quotients compared with those whose mothers did not use digital media while with them. Furthermore, the children of mothers who used digital media for two hours or more showed a lower total developmental quotient compared with those whose mothers did not use digital media. The use of digital media by mothers for more than one hour per day while with their children is thus negatively associated with language development in two-year-olds, while use for more than two hours is negatively associated with children’s development.