L-R (left and right) symmetry breaking during embryogenesis and the establishment of asymmetric body plan are key issues in developmental biology, but the onset including the handedness-determining gene locus still remains unknown. Using pure dextral (DD) and sinistral (dd) strains of the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis as well as its F2 through to F10 backcrossed lines, the single handedness-determining-gene locus was mapped by genetic linkage analysis, BAC cloning and chromosome walking. We have identified the actin-related diaphanous gene Lsdia1 as the strongest candidate. Although the cDNA and derived amino acid sequences of the tandemly duplicated Lsdia1 and Lsdia2 genes are very similar, we could discriminate the two genes/proteins in our molecular biology experiments. The Lsdia1 gene of the sinistral strain carries a frameshift mutation that abrogates full-length LsDia1 protein expression. In the dextral strain, it is already translated prior to oviposition. Expression of Lsdia1 (only in the dextral strain) and Lsdia2 (in both chirality) decreases after the 1-cell stage, with no asymmetric localization throughout. The evolutionary relationships among body handedness, SD/SI (spiral deformation/spindle inclination) at the third cleavage, and expression of diaphanous proteins are discussed in comparison with three other pond snails (L. peregra, Physa acuta and Indoplanorbis exustus).

Since CL4 exhibited similar or superior usefulness to Ber-EP4 and MOC-31, it could become the first choice for the above differential diagnosis in effusion cytology. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016;44:499-504. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The rat retina was studied by immunohistochemistry with antibody to S-100 protein during the first three postnatal weeks. Immunoreactive astrocytes are first detected subjacent to the inner limiting membrane close to the optic disc. They gradually increase in number and spread toward the ora serrata along the inner surface of the retina as the development proceeds. S-100-immunostained Müller cells are first identified on the 12th postnatal day although their immunoreactivity is much weaker than that of astrocytes at the same stage. This differential intensity of the immunoreactivity of the two cell types facilitates observation of the entire shape of the astrocyte. This characteristic reveals that cellular investments of blood vessels in the inner retina are formed by astrocytic processes whereas those in the outer plexiform layer are derived from processes of Müller cells. The cellular investment becomes complete by the 18th postnatal day.

MM contains larger MFG and higher IL-6 levels than milk from the healthy breast. This difference is larger if accompanied by systemic symptoms of mastitis (fever/malaise). These changes decreased over time with treatment. Therefore, early initiation of appropriate treatment may be useful in limiting the processes that contribute to alterations in MFG size and IL-6.

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The handedness of gastropods is genetically determined, but the molecular nature of the gene responsible and the associated mechanisms remain unknown. In order to characterize the chiromorphogenesis pathway starting from the gene to the left-right asymmetric body plan, we have closely analyzed the cytoskeletal dynamics of the Physa (P.) acuta embryo, a fresh water non-dimorphic sinistral snail, during the early developmental stage by mechanically altering the handedness of the embryos at the critical spiral third cleavage. A fertile situs inversus was created and the nodal-Pitx gene expression patterns were completely mirror imaged to the wild type at the trochophore stage. Together with our previous work on Lymnaea (L.) stagnalis, we could show that chirality is established at the third cleavage, as dictated by the single handedness-determining gene locus, and then chirality information is transferred via subsequent spiral fourth and fifth cleavages to the later developmental stage, dictating the nodal-Pitx expression pathway. The cytoskeletal dynamics of manipulated and non-manipulated embryos of sinistral P. acuta and dextral dominant L. stagnalis are compared.

The bioreactor system to interesterify edible oils and fats at an ultra-micro aqueous phase of 100 ppm and less was investigated. The adsorption of lecithin, together with lipase onto a carrier, was effective for conducting the interesterifying reaction efficiently for oils and fats in micro aqueous phase.To improve the handling properties of palm oil at rather low temperature, palm oil was blended with canola or soybean oil, and then these blended oils were modified by enzymatic selective interesterification in a solvent-free, ultra-micro aqueous bioreactor system with an immobilized lipase that had 1,3-positional specificity. The effects of enzymatic interesterification were confirmed by triglyceride determination, by solid fat content profiles and by cloud point profiles, which were also compared to products of chemical interesterification. The improvement in the fluidity of blended oils with canola oil by the enzymatic reaction was bigger than with soybean oil, and chemical interesterification had no effects on the fluidity of blended oils.

Measles and rubella skin lesions were immunocytochemically compared by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method for detecting viral antigens. Cryostat sections of biopsied specimens of the skin were stained with mouse monoclonal antibodies to P protein of measles virus and to E1 protein of rubella virus. The measles virus antigen was concentrated in the corneal layer and the keratinocytes of the epidermis and in the surface part of the dermis in the biopsy secimens taken within 6 days after the onset of rash. On the other hand, the rubella virus antigen was dispersed in all parts of the dermis and the subcutaneous layer but not in the epidermis in the biopsy specimens taken within 2 days after the onset of rash. The differences in the distribution and density of the viral antigen and in the times of its detection suggest distinct patterns of spread of infection with each virus in the skin.