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Volume 88, Issue 4
Displaying 1-3 of 3 articles from this issue
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Reviews
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Yoshio HIRABAYASHI2012 Volume 88 Issue 4 Pages 129-143
Published: April 11, 2012
Released on J-STAGE: April 11, 2012
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSGlycosphingolipids (GSLs) are present on cell surface membranes and are particularly abundant in the brain. Since over 300–400 GSLs are synthesized from glucosylceramide (GlcCer), GlcCer is believed to only serve as the source of most GSLs, including sialic acid-containing GSLs or gangliosides, in the brain. Recent studies, however, suggest that GlcCer itself plays a role in the heat stress response, as it functions as a glucose donor for the synthesis of cholesterylglucoside, a lipid mediator in heat stress responses in animals. GlcCer in adipose tissues is also thought to be involved in mechanisms that regulate energy (sugar and lipid) metabolism. Our extensive structural study revealed an additional novel glucosylated membrane lipid, called phosphatidylglucoside, in developing rodent brains and human neutrophils. These lipids, all modified with glucose, are enriched in lipid rafts and play important roles in basic cellular processes. Here, I summarize the recent progress regarding these glucosylated lipids and their biosynthesis and regulation in the central nervous system (CNS).
(Communicated by Kunihiko SUZUKI, M.J.A.)View full abstractDownload PDF (734K) -
Yasuhiko MORIOKA2012 Volume 88 Issue 4 Pages 144-151
Published: April 11, 2012
Released on J-STAGE: April 11, 2012
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSPhysicians have been required to possess high ethical standards, as medical practice is directly involved with patients' lives. Although ethics arise out of an individual's consciousness, ethical regulations imposed by the nation/government together with self-regulation by physician groups are important in the practice of ethics, for which reason countries around the world undertake various initiatives. This paper investigates physician licensure, organizations governing physician status, the role of physician groups, and the actual conditions of lifelong learning and ethics education in developed countries worldwide, in contrast with which it throws problems in the situation in Japan into relief. Organizations governing physician status, the form of medical associations, and the improvement of lifelong learning are pointed out as critical issues especially in Japan.
(Communicated by Takashi SUGIMURA, M.J.A.)View full abstractDownload PDF (72K) -
Yasuhiro YAMAGUCHI, Yasuyoshi OUCHI2012 Volume 88 Issue 4 Pages 152-166
Published: April 11, 2012
Released on J-STAGE: April 11, 2012
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSDefensins comprise a family of cationic antimicrobial peptides containing a specific six-cysteine motif. Their contribution to the host defense against microbial invasion and the control of normal flora have been previously described. Some of the β-defensin isoforms are predominantly expressed in the epididymis and showed a region-specific expression pattern in the epididymis, which thus suggested that these isoforms may possess epididymis-specific functions in addition to antimicrobial activities. A sequence variant of the β-defensin 126 gene has been shown to be associated with reductions in the human sperm function, thus supporting this hypothesis. Furthermore, defensins have the capacity to chemoattract immune cells and induce the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. Mice expressing human neutrophil α-defensin showed more severe lung injuries after the aspiration of acidic contents than did control mice. Recent investigations regarding copy number variations of human defensin genes also suggest the significance of defensin in the pathogenesis or the worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, sepsis and psoriasis.
(Communicated by Kumao TOYOSHIMA, M.J.A.)View full abstractDownload PDF (249K)
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