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Aim: Recently, substantial studies have been accumulated to indicate the important role of gut microbiota in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). The abnormal change of bacterial‐derived products could imply specific injuries or play beneficial or harmful roles in DKD progression. In this study, we examined the presence and contribution of the Klebsiella oxytoca gene in the circulation of patients with DKD. Method: We enrolled a total of 16 healthy participants, 17 patients with DKD, 5 patients with DKD requiring haemodialysis (HD), and 7 patients with CKD without diabetes. Bacterial‐derived DNA (16S rDNA and a specific K. oxytoca gene) in the blood was detected using droplet digital PCR, then investigated the relationship with clinical characteristics. Results: We identified an increase in K. oxytoca genes in the blood of DKD patients. Interestingly, blood K. oxytoca copies and K. oxytoca/ 16S DNA ratio correlated with higher blood creatinine and BUN levels together with lower eGFR in DKD patients. K. oxytoca levels were also associated with higher neutrophil percentage, lower lymphocyte frequency, and increased neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio. Conclusion: Collectively, the presence of the K. oxytoca gene in the circulation could serve as a biomarker reflecting reduced renal function in DKD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Reportedly, patients with LN and low-level proteinuria have favourable short-term renal outcomes. We aimed to clarify the long-term renal outcomes and overall survival of these patients, and the significance of renal biopsy in the early phase with low-level proteinuria. Methods We included 144 Japanese patients with biopsy-proven LN from 10 hospitals. Low-level proteinuria was defined by a urine protein:creatinine ratio (UPCR) of ≤1 g/gCr based on previous reports. The outcomes were end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and death. Results Compared with patients with high-level proteinuria (UPCR >1 g/gCr), those with low-level proteinuria [ n  = 67 (46.5%)] had significantly improved renal function at the time of renal biopsy, and low activity index and chronicity index while the frequency of class III/IV was similar (79.1% vs 84.4%, P  = 0.409). In patients with low-level proteinuria, CYC usage was less, and the incidences of ESRD (3.0% vs 13.0%, P  = 0.036) and death (3.0% vs 16.9%, P  = 0.006) during the total observation period (median, 72 months) were low. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed significant differences in the incidence of ESRD and death between the groups. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the significant risk factors for ESRD were high chronicity index and hypertension, whereas those for death were increased age and high-level proteinuria. Conclusion Patients with LN and low-level proteinuria had favourable long-term renal and life outcomes. As these patients have substantial active pathological lesions, renal biopsy in the early phase with low-level proteinuria could enable early diagnosis and treatment and thus improve prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a multiple emission line study of ∼1300 H α emitters (HAEs) at z ∼ 2.3 in the ZFOURGE survey. In contrast to the traditional spectroscopic method, our sample is selected based on the flux excess in the ZFOURGE K s broadband data relative to the best-fit stellar continuum. Using the same method, we also extract the strong diagnostic emission lines for these individual HAEs: [O iii ] λ λ 4959, 5007 and [O ii ] λ λ 3726, 3729. Our measurements demonstrate good consistency with those obtained from spectroscopic surveys. We investigate the relationship between the equivalent widths (EWs) of these emission lines and various galaxy properties, including stellar mass, stellar age, star formation rate, specific star formation rate, and ionization state (O32). We have identified a discrepancy between HAEs at z ∼ 2.3 and typical local star-forming galaxies observed in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, suggesting the evolution of lower gas-phase metallicity (Z) and higher ionization parameters (U) with redshift. Notably, we have observed a significant number of low-mass HAEs exhibiting exceptionally high EW[O iii ]. Their galaxy properties are comparable to those of extreme objects, such as extreme O3 emitters and Ly α emitters at z ≃ 2–3. Considering that these characteristics may indicate potential strong Lyman continuum leakage, higher-redshift analogs of the low-mass HAEs could be significant contributors to the cosmic reionization. Further investigations of this particular population are required to gain a clearer understanding of galaxy evolution and cosmic reionization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complications of diabetes affect tissues throughout the body, including the central nervous system. Epidemiological studies show that diabetic patients have an increased risk of depression, anxiety, age-related cognitive decline, and Alzheimer's disease. Mice lacking insulin receptor (IR) in the brain or on hypothalamic neurons display an array of metabolic abnormalities; however, the role of insulin action on astrocytes and neurobehaviors remains less well studied. Here, we demonstrate that astrocytes are a direct insulin target in the brain and that knockout of IR on astrocytes causes increased anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors in mice. This can be reproduced in part by deletion of IR on astrocytes in the nucleus accumbens. At a molecular level, loss of insulin signaling in astrocytes impaired tyrosine phosphorylation of Munc18c. This led to decreased exocytosis of ATP from astrocytes, resulting in decreased purinergic signaling on dopaminergic neurons. These reductions contributed to decreased dopamine release from brain slices. Central administration of ATP analogs could reverse depressive-like behaviors in mice with astrocyte IR knockout. Thus, astrocytic insulin signaling plays an important role in dopaminergic signaling, providing a potential mechanism by which astrocytic insulin action may contribute to increased rates of depression in people with diabetes, obesity, and other insulin-resistant states., Introduction Over the past decade it has become clear that the brain is an insulin-sensitive organ. Insulin receptors (IRs) are widely distributed in the brain (1). Intracerebroventricular insulin infusion reduces [...]

Interactions of diet, gut microbiota, and host genetics play important roles in the development of obesity and insulin resistance. Here, we have investigated the molecular links between gut microbiota, insulin resistance, and glucose metabolism in 3 inbred mouse strains with differing susceptibilities to metabolic syndrome using diet and antibiotic treatment. Antibiotic treatment altered intestinal microbiota, decreased tissue inflammation, improved insulin signaling in basal and stimulated states, and improved glucose metabolism in obesity- and diabetes-prone C57BL/6J mice on a high-fat diet (HFD). Many of these changes were reproduced by the transfer of gut microbiota from antibiotic-treated donors to germ-free or germ-depleted mice. These physiological changes closely correlated with changes in serum bile acids and levels of the antiinflammatory bile acid receptor Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5) and were partially recapitulated by treatment with a TGR5 agonist. In contrast, antibiotic treatment of HFD-fed, obesity- resistant 129S1 and obesity-prone 129S6 mice did not improve metabolism, despite changes in microbiota and bile acids. These mice also failed to show a reduction in inflammatory gene expression in response to the TGR5 agonist. Thus, changes in bile acid and inflammatory signaling, insulin resistance, and glucose metabolism driven by an HFD can be modified by antibiotic- induced changes in gut microbiota; however, these effects depend on important interactions with the host's genetic background and inflammatory potential., Introduction Gut microbiota affect the host's energy balance, glucose and lipid metabolism, and the immune response (1). Obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome are all associated with changes in [...]

This article examines the folkloric protest and popular political culture during the anti‐Corn Law agitation. It offers a new analysis of the role of customary demonstration based on moral economy in supporting free importation of foreign corn. It examines previously unstudied bread processions during the 1841 general election and effigy burnings of Sir Robert Peel that occurred simultaneously against his minor revision of the Corn Laws in 1842. It argues that the practice of these traditional protests offered a basis on which plebeians understood the emerging idea of Free Trade. While the protesters and more moderate reformers represented by the Anti‐Corn Law League shared a common cause of Corn Law repeal, there was a potential conflict over respectability. Moreover, Chartists could appropriate this popular custom for promoting the People's Charter rather than Free Trade. This article contributes to understanding the relationship between popular custom and radical politics in the wider context of the emergence of Free Trade Britain in the early Victorian period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic salt loading has been reported to facilitate operant heat-escape/cold-seeking behavior. In the present study, we hypothesized that the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) would be involved in this mechanism. Rats were divided into two groups (n = 6 each): one group had the MnPO lesion with ibotenic acid (4.0 [micro]g) and the other was the vehicle control. After subcutaneous injection (10 ml/kg) of either isotonic- (154 mM) or hypertonic-saline (2,500 mM), each rat was placed in a behavior box, where the ambient temperature was changed to 26[degrees]C, 35[degrees]C, and 40[degrees]C every 1 h. The position of a rat in the box and the body core temperature ([T.sub.core]) were monitored. A rat could trigger 0[degrees]C air for 45 s in the 35[degrees]C and 40[degrees]C heat when moved in a specific area in the box (operant behavior). In the control group, counts of the operant behavior were greater (P < 0.05) in the hypertonic- than in the isotonic-saline injection (17 [+ or -] 2 and 10 [+ or -] 2 at 35[degrees]C, 24 [+ or -] 2 and 18 [+ or -] 1 at 40[degrees]C). [T.sub.core] remained unchanged throughout the exposure, although the level was lower (P < 0.05) in the hypertonic- than in the isotonic-saline trial (36.6 [+ or -] 0.2[degrees]C and 37.4 [+ or -] 0.1[degrees]C at 26[degrees]C and 36.9 [+ or -] 0.2[degrees]C and 37.4 [+ or -] 0.1[degrees]C at 40[degrees]C, respectively). However, in the MnPO-lesion group, counts of the behavior were similar between the hypertonic- and isotonic-saline injection trials (10 [+ or -] 2 and 8 [+ or -] 1 at 35[degrees]C, and 17 [+ or -] 1 and 16 [+ or -] 1 at 40[degrees]C, respectively). [T.sub.core] increased (P < 0.05) in the heat in both trials (36.8 [+ or -] 0.1[degrees]C and 37.4 [+ or -] 0.1[degrees]C at 26[degrees]C and 37.4 [+ or -] 0.2[degrees]C and 37.8 [+ or -] 0.2[degrees]C at 40[degrees]C in the hypertonicand isotonic-saline injection trials, respectively). These results may suggest that, at least in part, the MnPO is involved in the facilitation of heat-escape/cold-seeking behavior during osmotic stimulation. osmolality; body temperature; operant behavior; lesion

The criptochrome genes (Cry1 and Cry2) are involved in the molecular mechanism that controls the circadian clock, and mice lacking these genes ([Cry1.sup.-/-]/ [Cry2.sup.-/-]) are behaviorally arrhythmic. It has been speculated that the circadian clock modulates the characteristics of thermoregulation, resulting in body temperature ([T.sub.b]) rhythm. However, there is no direct evidence proving this speculation. We show here that Tb and heat production in [Cry1.sup.-/-]/[Cry2.sup.-/-] mice are arrhythmic under constant darkness. In contrast, both rhythms occur under a light-dark cycle and/or periodical food restriction linked with spontaneous activity and/or eating, although they are not robust as those in wild-type mice. The relationship between heat production and [T.sub.b] in [Cry1.sup.-/-]/[Cry2.sup.-/-] mice is linear and identical under any conditions, indicating that their [T.sub.b] rhythm is determined by heat production rhythm associated with activity and eating. However, [T.sub.b] in wild-type mice is maintained at a relatively higher level in the active phase than the inactive phase regardless of the heat production level. These results indicate that the thermoregulatory responses are modulated according to the circadian phase, and the Cry genes are involved in this mechanism. circadian clock; thermoregulation; metabolism

Maruyama, Megumi, Maiko Nishi, Masahiro Konishi, Yuko Takashige, Kei Nagashima, Toshikazu Kiyohara, and Kazuyuki Kanosue. Brain regions expressing Fos during thermoregulatory behavior in rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 285: R1116-R1123, 2003. First published July 31, 2003; 10.1152/ajpregu.00166.2002.--We surveyed the neural substrata for behavioral thermoregulation with immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of Fos protein in the rat brain. We used an operant system in which a rat exposed to heat (40[degrees]C) could get cold air (0[degrees]C) for 30 s when it moved into the reward area. Rats moved in and out of the reward area of the system periodically and thus maintained their body temperature at a normal level. In the rats performing heat escape behavior (active group), strong Fos immunoreactivity (Fos-IR) was found in the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO), parastrial nucleus (PS), and dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) compared with the controls. Another group of rats (passive group) were given the same temperature changes, regardless of the rat's movement, as those obtained by rats of the active group. Fos-IR in the MnPO was also seen in this group. The present results suggest that the PS and DMH play an important role in the genesis of thermoregulatory behavior, whereas the MnPO may be important for detecting changes in ambient and/or body temperatures. preoptic area; dorsomedial hypothalamus; operant behavior

To investigate the mechanism involved in the reduction of body core temperature ([T.sub.core]) during fasting in rats, which is selective in the light phase, we measured [T.sub.core], surface temperature, and oxygen consumption rate in fed control animals and in fasted animals on day 3 of fasting and day 4 of recovery at an ambient temperature ([T.sub.a]) of 23[degrees]C by biotelemetry, infrared thermography, and indirect calorimetry, respectively. On the fasting day, 1) [T.sub.core] in the light phase decreased (P < 0.05) from the control; however, [T.sub.core] in the dark phase was unchanged, 2) tail temperature fell from the control (P < 0.05, from 30.7 [+ or -] 0.1 to 23.9 [+ or -] 0.1[degrees]C in the dark phase and from 29.4 [+ or -] 0.1 to 25.2 [+ or -] 0.2[degrees]C in the light phase), 3) oxygen consumption rate decreased from the control (P < 0.05, from 24.37 [+ or -] 1.06 to 16.24 [+ or -] 0.69 ml*[min.sup.-1]* kg body [wt.sup.-0.75] in the dark phase and from 18.91 [+ or -] 0.64 to 14.00 [+ or -] 0.41 ml*[min.sup.-1]*kg body [wt.sup.-0.75] in the light phase). All these values returned to the control levels on the recovery day. The results suggest that, in the fasting condition, [T. sub.core] in the dark phase was maintained by suppression of the heat loss mechanism, despite the reduction of metabolic heat production. In contrast, the response was weakened in the light phase, decreasing [T.sub.core] greatly. Moreover, the change in the regulation of tail blood flow was a likely mechanism to suppress heat loss. core temperature; oxygen consumption; heat loss mechanism

The formation of massive stars in dense and cold molecular clouds is a fundamental problem in star formation. In this work, we studied three compact massive star-forming regions, M8E, RAFGL 6366S, and IRAS 18317−0513, to investigate the environment of massive star formation, specifically the possibility of a local feedback process. Our new mid-infrared observations using miniTAO/MAX38 at 31 and 37 μm resolved individual objects in each region and allowed us to obtain their individual luminosities and masses. Together with existence/absence of ultra-compact H  ii regions, it is suggested that less-massive objects are more evolved than the more-massive objects in two out of the three regions. Because the objects that are more massive evolve faster, those that are less massive form earlier. This formation trend of local mass-sequential star was first suggested in 0.1 pc-scale massive star-forming regions. Therefore, feedback, such as outflows, jets, or radiative heating, from previously formed lower-mass young stellar objects might affect the environment of parental clouds and lead to next-generation massive young stellar objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brain is now recognized as an insulin-sensitive tissue; however, the role of changing insulin concentrations in the peripheral circulation in gene expression in the brain is largely unknown. Here, we performed a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp on 3-month-old male C57BL/6 mice for 3 h. We show that, in comparison with results in saline-infused controls, increases in peripheral insulin within the physiological range regulate expression of a broad network of genes in the brain. Insulin regulates distinct pathways in the hypothalamus (HTM), hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens. Insulin shows its most robust effect in the HTM and regulates multiple genes involved in neurotransmission, including upregulating expression of multiple subunits of GABA-A receptors, Na+ and K+ channels, and SNARE proteins; differentially modulating glutamate receptors; and suppressing multiple neuropeptides. Insulin also strongly modulates metabolic genes in the HTM, suppressing genes in the glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathways, while increasing expression of genes regulating pyruvate dehydrogenase and long-chain fatty acyl-CoA and cholesterol biosynthesis, thereby rerouting of carbon substrates from glucose metabolism to lipid metabolism required for the biogenesis of membranes for neuronal and glial function and synaptic remodeling. Furthermore, based on the transcriptional signatures, these changes in gene expression involve neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, and endothelial cells. Thus, peripheral insulin acutely and potently regulates expression of a broad network of genes involved in neurotransmission and brain metabolism. Dysregulation of these pathways could have dramatic effects in normal physiology and diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galaxies change their properties as they assemble into clusters. In order to understand the physics behind that, we need to go back in time and observe directly what is occurring in galaxies as they fall into a cluster. We have conducted a narrowband and J-band imaging survey on a cluster CL1604-D at z = 0.923 using a new infrared instrument SWIMS installed at the Subaru Telescope. The narrowband filter, NB1261, matches to Hα emission from the cluster at z = 0.923. Combined with a wide range of existing data from various surveys, we have investigated galaxy properties in and around this cluster in great detail. We have identified 27 Hα emitters associated with the cluster. They have significant overlap with MIPS sources and are located exclusively in the star-forming regime on the rest-frame UVJ diagram. We have identified two groups of galaxies near the cluster in the 2D spatial distribution and the phase-space diagram, which are likely to be in-falling to the cluster main body. We have compared various physical properties of star-forming galaxies, such as specific star formation rates (burstiness) and morphologies (merger) as a function of environment, cluster center, older group, younger group, and the field. As a result, a global picture has emerged on how the galaxy properties are altered as they assemble into a denser region. This includes the occurrence of mergers, enhancement of star formation activity, excursion to the dusty starburst phase, and eventual quenching to a passive phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Author(s): Thomas Thomou; Marcelo A. Mori; Jonathan M. Dreyfuss; Masahiro Konishi; Masaji Sakaguchi; Christian Wolfrum; Tata Nageswara Rao; Jonathon N. Winnay; Ruben Garcia-Martin; Steven K. Grinspoon; Phillip Gorden; C. Ronald [...]

In order to investigate populations of massive stars in massive star clusters, we have constructed a near-infrared image set: narrow bands of 1.87 and 2.07 $$\mu$$ m and the K s standard band with miniTAO, a 1-m infrared telescope at Atacama. First, we observed the well-known three massive star clusters near the Galactic Centre. Colour–colour diagrams made from the set of images show clear excess in 1.87 μm for WN-type Wolf–Rayet stars, luminous blue variables and Ofpe stars, and also clear excess in 2.07 μm for WC-type Wolf–Rayet stars. Our detection in 1.87 μm agrees well with the 1.87-μm detection with the Hubble Space Telescope by Dong et al. The 1.87-μm excess of WN stars seems to have a clear correlation to the K s magnitude. The correlation suggests that the 1.87-μm excess originates in recombination line emission of H and He, and the K s magnitude includes free–free radiation. Moreover, the K s magnitude of WN-late stars, excluding the component of the free–free emission, seems to have nearly a common K s magnitude. However, the colour–colour diagrams also enable us to find the extinction for each star and thus to draw extinction maps. Furthermore, almost all Mira variables reported by Matsunaga et al. are detected in our images. By using the extinction maps, several tens of extremely red sources except for Mira variables are detected. These are considered to be possibly low-temperature (T < 1000 K) objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]