No abstract

To elucidate the factors that influence the interannual variation in the density of cultured Japanese scallop ( Mizuhopecten yessoensis ) spat, we analyzed the relationship between spat density (Ds), monthly chlorophyll a (chl a) concentration, water temperature, and adductor muscle weight of spawners over 15 years (1992–2006) in Funka Bay (Japan) on the western North Pacific Ocean. The interannual variation of spat density was best explained by a campaniform model that used chl a concentration in February ([chl]Feb) and a categorical variable that indicates whether growth of spawners in a year is low or not as independent variables (R2 = 0.91). The gonadosomatic index increased fastest in February. Low growth years were detected as outliers in the Ds – [chl]Feb relationship and were characterized by an average weight of adductor muscles in February of <12 g. Therefore, food availability during gonadal development and growth conditions of spawners were the main factors determining spat density. The proportion of ovary necrosis was high in the years of low [chl]Feb and low growth. Those years corresponded with El Niño and La Niña years, respectively. Thus, global climatic anomalies apparently affect reproduction of the scallop in Funka Bay.

Elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) exhibit unique reproductive characteristics and, in contrast to the situation in teleosts, very little is known about the identity, structure and physical characteristics of their egg yolk proteins. The aims of this study were to (1) detect and purify the vitellogenin (Vtg; egg yolk precursor) and yolk proteins (YPs) of the cloudy catshark (Scyliorhinus torazame), (2) examine the relationships between Vtg and YPs and (3) characterize and classify the deduced primary structure of the Vtg transcript (vtg). The apparent molecular weights of purified Vtg and putative Vtg-related YPs (lipovitellin: Lv, phosvitin: Pv) were determined by gel filtration and were ~560, >669 and ~58 kDa, respectively. Following SDS-PAGE, these purified products (i.e., Vtg, Lv and Pv) appeared as bands of ~210, ~110 and ~22 kDa, respectively. On Western blots, antisera against purified Vtg, Lv and Pv recognized the ~210 kDa Vtg band. Catshark Pv, in contrast to teleost Pvs, had a very low serine content. The catshark Vtg cDNA sequence (vtg) appeared to contain an open-reading frame consisting of domains encoding Lv, Pv and β'-component (β'-c). A phylogenetic analysis, with a consideration of genome duplication events, placed catshark vtg into the 'vtgAB type.' It is concluded that at least a single major type of Vtg protein, which is transcribed and translated from catshark vtgAB gene, is the precursor of three egg yolk proteins (Lv, Pv and β'-c) in catshark.

Introduction: In patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), intravenous (i.v.) Nicardipine is often used to lower the blood pressure. However, reflex tachycardia is a well-known side effect. Bisoprolol transdermal patch, a beta-blocker to be percutaneously absorbed, recently became commercially available in Japan. It can be used for patients with acute ICH with vomiting or dysphagia. The aim of this study is to evaluate suppressing effect of tachycardia and cost effectiveness of adding Bisoprolol transdermal patch to i.v. Nicardipine in patients with hypertensive ICH. Methods: We randomly assigned patients who were admitted to our department from January 2015 through April 2017 because of acute ICH to single antihypertensive treatment group (i.v. Nicardipine only) or combination treatment group (Bisoprolol transdermal patch and i.v. Nicardipine). The primary outcome was heart rate during 24 hours after admission. Key secondary outcomes were dose of Nicardipine (drug costs), neurological prognosis as defined by modified Rankin scale 0 to 2, and adverse drug reactions. Results: A total of 59 patients were randomized into two groups; 35 patients were assigned to single antihypertensive treatment group and 24 patients were assigned to combination treatment group. There were no significant differences between two groups in baseline characteristics on admission (age, body weight, hematoma volume, NIHSS, systolic blood pressure, heart rate). Mean heart rate during 24 hours after admission were significantly lower in combination treatment group (78.10±11.43 vs. 86.13±12.46, P=0.021). Hourly heart rate of combination treatment group was significantly lower in 5 to 24 hours later from start of treatment. Dose of Nicardipine was tended to be lower in combination treatment group (80.54±65.93 vs. 119.7±96.80mg, P=0.10), and costs of antihypertensive drug was tended to be lower in combination treatment group (5708±4569 vs. 8292±6708 yen, P=0.13). Neurological prognosis showed no difference (P=0.72), and bradycardia occurred in three patients of combination treatment group. Conclusions: Adding Bisoprolol transdermal patch to Nicardipine can decrease heart rate and may reduce drug costs in antihypertensive treatment for acute ICH.