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Objective Apolipoprotein A-II (apo A-II) is the second major apolipoprotein of HDLs, yet its pathophysiological roles in the development of atherosclerosis remain unknown. We aimed to examine whether apo A-II plays any role in atherogenesis and if so, to elucidate the mechanism involved. Methods and Results We compared the susceptibility of human apo A-II transgenic (Tg) rabbits to cholesterol diet-induced atherosclerosis with non-Tg littermate rabbits. Tg rabbits developed significantly less aortic and coronary atherosclerosis than their non-Tg littermates while total plasma cholesterol levels were similar. Atherosclerotic lesions of Tg rabbits were characterized by reduced macrophages and smooth muscle cells and apo A-II immunoreactive proteins were frequently detected in the lesions. Tg rabbits exhibited low levels of plasma CRP and blood leukocytes compared to non-Tg rabbits and HDLs of Tg rabbit plasma exerted stronger cholesterol efflux activity and inhibitory effects on the inflammatory cytokine expression by macrophages in vitro than HDLs isolated from non-Tg rabbits. In addition, β-VLDLs of Tg rabbits were less sensitive to copper-induced oxidation than β-VLDLs of non-Tg rabbits. Conclusions These results suggest that enrichment of apo A-II in HDL particles has atheroprotective effects and apo A-II may become a target for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Pediatric papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has unique features but requires further genetic investigation. Moreover, there has been increasing concern about the risk for pediatric PTC in Japan after the Fukushima accident. This study aims to evaluate the frequencies of BRAF and TERT promoter mutations and to examine their significance in non-radiation-associated pediatric PTCs in Japan. We enrolled 81 pediatric PTC patients aged ≤20 years. The control group included 91 adult PTCs from patients >20 years old. BRAF and TERT mutations were analyzed by allele-specific-PCR and/or Sanger sequencing. Compared with adult PTCs, pediatric PTCs exhibited larger tumor size, more frequent lymph node metastasis, and less classical histology. The prevalence of BRAF in pediatric PTCs was 54% and significantly lower than that in adults of 85%. In the pediatric PTCs, BRAF was positively associated with older age, classical histology, and the lymph node metastasis but independent from other clinicopathological factors. TERT mutations were identified in 13% of adults and in none of the pediatric PTCs. In conclusion, pediatric PTCs are characterized by more advanced clinicopathological features, lower BRAF frequency, and absence of TERT mutation. The BRAF frequency in this study is similar to the reported BRAF frequency in the ultrasonographically screened pediatric PTCs in Fukushima.

Background and Purpose-The frequency and pattern of symptomatic recurrence of spontaneous intracranial arterial dissection (IAD) are unknown. Methods-A follow-up study of 143 patients (85 men, 58 women; mean age, 50.7 [7-83]

We examined the cross‐lagged relations between the home literacy environment and literacy skills in Japanese, and whether child's gender, parents' education and child's level of literacy performance moderate the relations. One hundred forty‐two Japanese children were followed from Grades 1 to 2 and assessed on character knowledge, reading fluency and spelling. Their parents responded to a questionnaire assessing the frequency of their teaching and shared reading. Results showed that parent teaching increased and shared reading decreased from Grades 1 to 2. Cross‐lagged path analysis indicated that the literacy skills in Grade 1 were negatively associated with parent teaching in Grade 2. The results further suggested that more educated parents of higher performing children, particularly boys, adjusted their involvement to their children's literacy skills, while less educated parents of lower performing children did not. These findings indicate the importance of parents' sensitivity to their child's performance. What is already known about this topic Home literacy environment (HLE) plays an important role in children's literacy acquisition in Western and some East Asian contexts. Children's early reading skills can have an impact on later HLE. The direction of the relationship between HLE and children's reading skills may change from positive in Kindergarten to negative in Grade 1. What this paper adds In line with the findings of previous studies in other languages, Japanese parents adaptively adjust their home literacy activities to their child's literacy skills. The effect of children's literacy skills on later shared reading is stronger among boys than among girls. More educated parents of higher performing children adjust their involvement to their child's literacy skills, while less educated parents with lower performing children do not. Implications for theory, policy or practice We should encourage parents to be sensitive to their child's literacy skills to help them build a foundation that will boost future literacy development. This can be particularly true of less educated parents with poorly performing children. We should encourage educators to communicate the children's literacy achievement to their parents and also suggest the means by which HLE could be beneficial for their children's literacy development.

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