Estimating transboundary transported anthropogenic sulfate deposition in Japan using the sulfur isotopic ratio

High emissions of air pollutants from Northeast Asia are strongly influenced by air quality as well as by ecosystems. This study investigated the spatiotemporal variations in the sulfur isotopic ratio (δ³⁴S) in atmospheric deposition at eleven monitoring stations in Japan from 2011 to 2016 and estimated the amount of transboundary transported anthropogenic sulfate (TRB) deposition using mass balance calculations. The δ³⁴S of sulfate in precipitation ranged from -0.42 to +22.7‰. Sea salt (SS), TRB, and domestic anthropogenic sources (DOM) were the dominant sources of sulfate deposition in Japan. TRB sulfate deposition was largest on the Sea of Japan side, with an annual average value of 1.5 ± 0.3-6.9 ± 0.5 mg m^-2 d^-1 (36-44%), followed by Mt. Happo (4.5 ± 0.1 mg m^-2 d^-1; 88%), the Pacific Ocean side (1.5 ± 0.8, 4.3 ± 0.9 mg m^-2 d^-1; 24-50%), and the remote islands in the North Pacific Ocean (1.1 ± 0.2, 2.0 ± 0.8 mg m^-2 d^-1; 19-32%). TRB sulfate deposition on the Sea of Japan side was 2-12 times higher in winter and 1-2 times higher in summer than that of DOM. In contrast, TRB sulfate deposition on the Pacific Ocean side was 1.5-3 times higher in summer than in winter due to high precipitation levels. In Tokyo, the annual contribution from DOM sulfate deposition is approximately three times higher than that from TRB. Annual TRB sulfate deposition is lowest at Ogasawara at 1.1 ± 0.2 mg m^-2 d^-1, and the annual oceanic DMS contribution to sulfate deposition is high, accounting for 1.3 mg m^-2 d^-1 (20 ± 6%). The contribution of Asian dust was estimated to be 1-5.2 mg m^-2 d^-1(3-6%), which occurred in a single Asian dust event on the Sea of Japan side.

Search for active endogenous retroviruses: identification and characterization of a HERV-E gene that is expressed in the pancreas and thyroid

To elucidate possible physiological functions of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) and their role in the pathogenesis of human diseases, we have developed a strategy to identify transcriptionally active HERV genes. By this approach, we have identified and isolated an active HERV-E gene that was mapped to 17q11. Although the gene was predicted to produce no intact viral particles due to the presence of stop codons, long open reading frames were retained in each gag and pol region. Northern blot analyses revealed in the pancreas (and thyroid) two major transcripts, 3.3 and 4.1 kb in size, associated with 500- to 600-nucleotide-longer minor bands. Preferential expression in pancreas and thyroid gland tissues may suggest a role for this gene in physiological functions common to these tissues.

[Production and metabolism of prostaglandin D2 by cultured chick retinal pigment epithelial cells]

The production and metabolism of prostaglandin (PG) D2 in cultured chick retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells were studied. The production of PGD2 was evaluated using thin layer chromatography (TLC) after labeling the RPE cells with 1-14Carachidonic acid (AA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA). The metabolism was evaluated by measuring the activity of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase. The conversion of AA to PGD2 was detected by TLC, and this conversion was inhibited with indomethacin (10(-5)M). In a steady state, 198 +/- 50 pg/6 x 10(5) cells/2 hours of PGD2 was detected by RIA. The amount of PGD2 was greater than that of both PGE2 and PGF2 alpha. The nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP)-linked 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase activity was detected in the 10,000 g supernatant of the RPE cells. These results demonstrated that cultured chick RPE cells produce and metabolize PGD2.

Report of colon cancer detection in mass surveys using immunological occult blood test (Latex method)

Occult blood test for the screening of colon cancer has been made by immunological method using latex agglutination for 4 years since 1988. A total of 35,139 persons have received the screening test and out of 1886 persons, that is, 5.4% showed positive. Five hundred seventy of the positive result subjects (30.2%) underwent barium enema examination. Three hundred fifty nine subjects (62.8%) showed some abnormal findings. They underwent colonoscopic examination and 45 of them (7.9%) had colon cancer. Twenty six of these were of early stage type and 19 persons were of advanced stage.

[A case of Morgagni's hernia complicated with esophageal hiatus hernia]

A rare case of Morgagni's hernia complicated with esophageal hiatus hernia is reported. A 85-year-old female suffered from swallowing disturbance admitted for evaluation of abnormal finding on chest X-ray film. The diagnosis was confirmed by chest roentgenogram, gastro-intestinal series and CT scan. Satisfactory repair was performed by the transabdominal approach and the postoperative course was excellent without any complication.