Range-wide genetic variation of the widespread cold-temperate spruce Picea jezoensis was studied throughout northeast Asia using maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA and paternally inherited chloroplast DNA markers. This study assessed 33 natural populations including three varieties of the species in Japan, Russia, China, and South Korea. We depicted sharp suture zones in straits around Japan in the geographical distribution pattern of mitochondrial haplotypes (GST=0.901; NST=0.934). In contrast, we detected possible extensive pollen flow without seed flow across the straits around Japan during the past population history in the distribution pattern of chloroplast haplotypes (GST=0.233; NST=0.333). The analysis of isolation by distance of the species implied that by acting as a barrier for the movement of seeds and pollen, the sharp suture zones contributed considerably to the level of genetic differentiation between populations. Constructed networks of mitochondrial haplotypes allowed inference of the phylogeographical history of the species. We deduced that the disjunction with Kamchatka populations reflects range expansion and contraction to the north of the current distribution. Within Japan, we detected phylogeographically different types of P. jezoensis between Hokkaido and Honshu islands; P. jezoensis in Honshu Island may have colonized this region from the Asian continent via the Korean peninsula and the species in Hokkaido Island is likely to have spread from the Asian continent via Sakhalin through land bridges. Japanese endemism of mitochondrial haplotypes in Hokkaido and Honshu islands might have been promoted by separation of these islands from each other and from the Asian continent by the straits during the late Quaternary.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of genetic polymorphisms in the metabolic and cellular transport pathway of methotrexate (MTX) on the clinical outcome of MTX monotherapy in Japanese rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Fifty-five patients were treated with MTX monotherapy at a dose of 4-10 mg/week. The total concentration of MTX-polyglutamates (MTX-PGs) was measured at steady-state in red blood cells (RBCs) by high performance liquid chromatography. The genotype at 16 polymorphic sites in 11 genes (ABCB1, ABCG2, ABCC2, RFC1, PCFT, SLCO1B1, MTHFR, GGH, ATIC, MTR, and MTRR) was analyzed. No significant association between the total concentration of MTX-PGs in RBCs and clinical outcome was found. However, patients with the ABCB1 3435TT genotype had a significantly lower mean disease activity score (DAS) 28 than did patients with the ABCB1 3435CC genotype (p = 0.02). Similarly, patients with the ABCB1 2677AA/AT/TT genotypes had a significantly lower mean DAS28 than did patients with the ABCB1 2677GG/GA/GT genotypes (p = 0.04). The patients with the MTHFR 1298AA genotype had a significantly lower mean DAS28 than those with the MTHFR 1298AC/CC genotypes (p = 0.04). In conclusion, the ABCB1 3435C>T, ABCB1 2677G>A/T, and MTHFR 1298A>C polymorphisms influenced the efficacy of MTX monotherapy.

A. Vasopressin regulates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system via V1a receptors in macula densa cells.

Abstract.[Purpose] This review aimed: (1) to obtain all the facts regarding existing goal-setting methods in physical therapy; (2) to clarify the application status of the methods for stroke patients; and (3) to put forth a suggestion for the development of a format prepared by collaboration between stroke patients and physical therapists.[Methods] A systematic search was performed to identify the existing goal-setting methods and to obtain the relevant literature. We reviewed a total of 165 reports. [Results] We identified 8 types of goal-setting methods: Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS), the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), goal forum intervention, and others. GAS was evaluated for its validity, reliability, and sensitivity for physically disabled children and the elderly, but there were no reports on the applicability of GAS to stroke patients. The COPM, which is a subjective measurement method using self-reporting, was evaluated for validity, reliability, and sensitivity for occupational therapy patients and physically disabled children. The goal forum intervention is a goal-setting method involving the collaboration of patients and physical therapists with the use of a check-list, but this method was developed for rheumatoid arthritis patients. [Conclusion] We recommend further studies on the development of a goal-setting method using a checklist for stroke patients and the evaluation of the validity and reliability of GAS for stroke patients.

. Daily expression of clock genes in whole blood cells in healthy subjects and a patient with circadian rhythm sleep disorder.