Redirecting barley breeding for grass production through genome editing of Photoperiod-H1

Genome editing enables precise modification to harness an elite grain-producing barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivar for grass production.

Diagnostic Role and Feasibility of 18F-FDG PET for Assessing Takayasu Arteritis: Diagnostic Efficacy of Quantifying 18F-FDG Uptake

Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is classified as large-vessel vasculitis caused by inflammation. It is often difficult to identify on clinical examination, and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET) plays an indispensable role in diagnosing TAK by detecting the location and grade of the inflammatory lesions. The clinical utility of ¹⁸F-FDG PET has been established by clinical evidence, and ¹⁸F-FDG PET was added to the Japanese national health insurance listing in April 2018. In TAK, ¹⁸F-FDG uptake shows typical findings and is easily distinguished, except from physiological uptake. Particularly, the clinical significance of ¹⁸F-FDG PET is that can present not only with stenosis but also without stenosis in the arteries, which means that therapeutic intervention is possible before irreversible stenosis develops in the arteries. Additionally, ¹⁸F-FDG PET has superior diagnostic accuracy because it allows quantitative analysis using the maximum standardized uptake value. The analysis is used for the assessment of disease activity of TAK and can be utilized for therapeutic intervention in case of repeating remission during the follow-up term.

Takayasu arteritis: clinical importance of extra-vessel uptake on FDG PET/CT

Background

[F-18]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography is routinely used for assessing Takayasu arteritis patients. However, extra-vessel [F^-18]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake has not been evaluated in detail in these patients. We aimed to describe the extent and distribution of extra-vascular [F-18]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake on positron emission tomography/computed tomography in Takayasu arteritis patients. Seventy-three [F-18]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans from 64 consecutive Takayasu arteritis patients (59 women, mean age, 35.4 years; range, 13 to 71 years) and 40 scans from age-matched controls (36 women, mean age, 37.8 years; range, 13 to 70 years) were examined. We graded [F-18]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in large vessels using a 4-point scale and evaluated extra-vessel findings. Factors correlated with disease activity were examined. We evaluated the relationship between disease activity according to the National Institutes of Health score with extra-vessel findings, as well as other inflammatory markers (e.g., white blood cell count and C-reactive protein level).

Results

Extra-vessel involvement was present in 50 of 73 (68.4%) scans, specifically at the following sites: lymph nodes, 1.4%; thyroid glands, 17.8%; thymus, 11.0%; spleen, 1.4%; vertebrae, 45.2%; and pelvic bones, 9.6%. Takayasu arteritis patients had higher [F-18]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the spine (P = 0.03) and thyroid glands (P = 0.003) than did controls; uptake in other regions was comparable between groups. Compared with inactive patients, those with active Takayasu arteritis had a higher number of [F-18]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake sites in the vasculature (P = 0.001). Finally, patients with a National Institutes of Health score of ≥ 1 had significantly higher extra-vascular involvement (P = 0.008).

Conclusions

Extra-vessel [F-18]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake may be present in the context of Takayasu arteritis-related inflammatory processes. Information on extra-vascular [F-18]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake may be useful for detecting and evaluating inflammatory processes when interpreting positron emission tomography/computed tomography scans obtained from Takayasu arteritis patients.

The rice ethylene response factor OsERF83 positively regulates disease resistance to Magnaporthe oryzae

Rice blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae is one of the most destructive diseases of rice (Oryza sativa) worldwide. Here, we report the identification and functional characterization of a novel ethylene response factor (ERF) gene, OsERF83, which was expressed in rice leaves in response to rice blast fungus infection. OsERF83 expression was also induced by treatments with methyl jasmonate, ethephon, and salicylic acid, indicating that multiple phytohormones could be involved in the regulation of OsERF83 expression under biotic stress. Subcellular localization and transactivation analyses demonstrated that OsERF83 is a nucleus-localized transcriptional activator. A gel-shift assay using recombinant OsERF83 protein indicated that, like other ERFs, it binds to the GCC box. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing OsERF83 exhibited significantly suppressed lesion formation after rice blast infection, indicating that OsERF83 positively regulates disease resistance in rice. Genes encoding several classes of pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, including PR1, PR2, PR3, PR5, and PR10, were upregulated in the OsERF83ox plants. Taken together, our findings show that OsERF83 is a novel ERF transcription factor that confers blast resistance by regulating the expression of defense-related genes in rice.

Early Detection and Intervention of Coronary Artery Involvement in Immunoglobulin G4-related Disease

A 59-year-old man with swollen submandibular glands developed an aortic aneurysm requiring aortic prosthesis implantation. Echocardiography performed to evaluate the cardiac function before the surgery incidentally revealed masses around the coronary arteries. The serum IgG4 levels were increased. A post-operational pathological examination of the abdominal aneurysms revealed infiltration of plasma cells, with the ratio of IgG4/IgG-positive cells being >80%. The patient was diagnosed with IgG4-related disease (RD) with coronary artery involvement. He was treated successfully with corticosteroid before any associated cardiovascular events occurred. Given the poor prognosis of IgG4-RD-associated coronary artery involvement, this case emphasizes the importance of the early assessment with echocardiography, even if patients have no cardiovascular symptoms.

Myocardial perfusion reserve quantified by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is associated with late gadolinium enhancement in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has demonstrated the capability of stratifying hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Stress perfusion test of CMR can quantify myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR), but its clinical role is not determined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between MPR and LGE in patients with HCM. A total of 61 consecutive cases underwent complete evaluation with electrocardiography and CMR [cine imaging, coronary MR angiography (MRA), and stress perfusion testing with LGE]. HCM cases were diagnosed by the Japanese conventional guideline prior to this CMR study. Mild LVH was defined as more than 13 mm in maximum LV wall thickness at end diastole on the cine imaging of the CMR. MPR was calculated as the ratio of stress/rest myocardial blood flow using an intensity curve on the stress perfusion test. Cases with ischemic heart disease were excluded from the study based on clinical history and coronary MRA. There were 37 HCM and 24 mild LVH cases (average age: 60.5 ± 10.9 vs. 64.8 ± 10.8; male: 62.2 vs. 75.0%, respectively, non-significant). MPR in HCM was lower than in LVH (1.5 ± 0.5 vs. 2.2 ± 0.9, p < 0.001) and normal subjects (2.4 ± 0.9, p < 0.001). MPR in HCM with LGE (N = 34) was lower than in HCM without LGE (N = 3) (1.4 ± 0.5 vs. 2.1 ± 0.2, p = 0.014). Multiple regression analysis verified that LGE was the strongest predictor of MPR among multiple clinical parameters, including LVH, LV dysfunction (ejection fraction < 50%), and the presence of negative T wave (p < 0.001). MPR was impaired in HCM with LGE compared with HCM without LGE. The clinical role of MPR on CMR needs to be clarified by further research.

Vessel Wall Inflammation of Takayasu Arteritis Detected by Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Association with Disease Distribution and Activity

AIMS

The assessment of the distribution and activity of vessel wall inflammation is clinically important in patients with Takayasu arteritis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a useful tool, but the clinical utility of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in Takayasu arteritis has yet to be determined. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the utility of LGE in assessing vessel wall inflammation and disease activity in Takayasu arteritis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We enrolled 49 patients with Takayasu arteritis who had undergone 1.5 T MRI. Patients were divided into Active (n = 19) and Inactive disease (n = 30) groups. The distribution of vessel wall inflammation using angiography and LGE was assessed by qualitative analysis. In 79% and 63% of patients in Active and Inactive groups, respectively, greater distribution of vessel wall inflammation was observed with LGE than with conventional angiography. MRI values of pre- and post-contrast signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), SNR increment (post-SNR minus pre-SNR), pre- and post-contrast contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR), and CNR increment (post-CNR minus pre-CNR) were evaluated at arterial wall sites with the highest signal intensity using quantitative analysis of post-contrast LGE images. No statistically significant differences in MRI parameters were observed between Active and Inactive groups. Contrast-enhanced MRI was unable to accurately detect active disease.

CONCLUSION

Contrast-enhanced MRI has utility in detecting the distribution of vessel wall inflammation but has less utility in assessing disease activity in Takayasu arteritis.

The rice ent-KAURENE SYNTHASE LIKE 2 encodes a functional ent-beyerene synthase

The rice genome contains a family of kaurene synthase-like (OsKSL) genes that are responsible for the biosynthesis of various diterpenoids, including gibberellins and phytoalexins. While many OsKSL genes have been functionally characterized, the functionality of OsKSL2 is still unclear and it has been proposed to be a pseudogene. Here, we found that OsKSL2 is drastically induced in roots by methyl jasmonate treatment and we successfully isolated a full-length cDNA for OsKSL2. Sequence analysis of the OsKSL2 cDNA revealed that the open reading frame of OsKSL2 is mispredicted in the two major rice genome databases, IRGSP-RAP and MSU-RGAP. In vitro conversion assay indicated that recombinant OsKSL2 catalyzes the cyclization of ent-CDP into ent-beyerene as a major and ent-kaurene as a minor product. ent-Beyerene is an antimicrobial compound and OsKSL2 is induced by methyl jasmonate; these data suggest that OsKSL2 is a functional ent-beyerene synthase that is involved in defense mechanisms in rice roots.

Isolated cardiac sarcoidosis: clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment

Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease characterized by the development of noncaseating epithelioid granulomas in multiple organs. Despite extensive investigations over a long period of time, the etiology of this disease remains unknown. Cardiac involvement of this disease is the most ominous complication leading to fatal outcome. Recently, attention has been focused on isolated cardiac sarcoidosis, which exists without clinically apparent sarcoidosis elsewhere. One of the critical issues of isolated cardiac sarcoidosis is difficulty in diagnosis, since existence of the cardiac lesion should be detected from cardiac manifestations alone. Because specificity of biomarkers or sensitivity of histological examination of biopsied sample is very low, diagnosis of isolated cardiac sarcoidosis mainly depends on imaging modalities. In this review article we summarized current knowledge on the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis, clinical features of cardiac sarcoidosis especially that isolated to the heart by showing some typical cases. Utilities and problems of diagnostic imaging tests for this condition including echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography are discussed. Advances in pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment for cardiac sarcoidosis have improved the prognosis of cardiac sarcoidosis to a great deal; however, there are many issues that remain to be solved in the management of isolated cardiac sarcoidosis.

An initial case of suppressed restenosis with nuclear factor-kappa B decoy transfection after percutaneous coronary intervention

BACKGROUND

Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) is well known for playing a pivotal role in restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS AND RESULTS

This is the first report to demonstrate an effect of NF-kappaB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) to prevent restenosis after PCI after a 4-year observation using a coronary computed tomography (CT) scan. We showed that the decoy treatment suppressed neointimal formation after stent implantation compared to that in the same artery.

CONCLUSION

Thus, for the first time, we demonstrate the clinical usefulness of the CT scan to reveal the effects of NF-kappaB decoy ODN transfer after PCI.