# プラスチックの粒と一緒に？生地が傷まないのかしら？
- FDA Warns Consumers Nationwide Not to Eat Certain Types of Raw Red Tomatoes
- FDA Warns Consumers in New Mexico and Texas Not to Eat Certain Types of Raw Red Tomatoes
# これからブラックホールやダークマターに関するニュースに期待です
Dan T.A. Eisenberg, Benjamin Campbell, Peter B. Gray, Michael D. Sorenson.
BMC Evolutionary Biology 8, 173 (2008) | doi:10.1186/1471-2148-8-173
Background# 進化と異常・疾患は紙一重？
Minor alleles of the human dopamine receptor polymorphisms, DRD2/TaqI A and DRD4/48bp, are related to decreased functioning and/or numbers of their respective receptors and have been shown to be correlated with body mass, height and food craving. In addition, the 7R minor allele of the DRD4 gene is at a higher frequency in nomadic compared to sedentary populations. Here we examine polymorphisms in the DRD2 and DRD4 genes with respect to body mass index (BMI) and height among men in two populations of Ariaal pastoralists, one recently settled (n = 87) and the other still nomadic (n = 65). The Ariaal live in northern Kenya, are chronically undernourished and are divided socially among age-sets.
Results
Frequencies of the DRD4/7R and DRD2/A1 alleles were 19.4% and 28.2%, respectively and did not differ between the nomadic and settled populations. BMI was higher in those with one or two DRD4/7R alleles in the nomadic population, but lower among the settled. Post-hoc analysis suggests that the DRD4 differences in BMI were due primarily to differences in fat free body mass. Height was unrelated to either DRD2/TaqI A or DRD4/48bp genotypes.
Conclusions
Our results indicate that the DRD4/7R allele may be more advantageous among nomadic than settled Ariaal men. This result suggests that a selective advantage mediated through behaviour may be responsible for the higher frequency of the 7R alleles in nomadic relative to sedentary populations around the world. In contrast to previous work, we did not find an association between DRD2 genotypes and height. Our results support the idea that human phenotypic expression of genotypes should be rigorously evaluated in diverse environments and genetic backgrounds.
# さて、この遺伝子診断ターゲットにどう優先順位をつけるか…
Vahe Poghosyan, Andreas A. Ioannides.
Neuron 58, 802-813 (2008) | DOI:10.1016/j.neuron.2008.04.013
A fundamental question about the neural correlates of attention concerns the earliest sensory processing stage that it can affect. We addressed this issue by recording magnetoencephalography (MEG) signals while subjects performed detection tasks, which required employment of spatial or nonspatial attention, in auditory or visual modality. Using distributed source analysis of MEG signals, we found that, contrary to previous studies that used equivalent current dipole (ECD) analysis, spatial attention enhanced the initial feedforward response in the primary visual cortex (V1) at 55–90 ms. We also found attentional modulation of the putative primary auditory cortex (A1) activity at 30–50 ms. Furthermore, we reproduced our findings using ECD modeling guided by the results of distributed source analysis and suggest a reason why earlier studies using ECD analysis failed to identify the modulation of earliest V1 activity.# 注意を向けることによって視覚、聴覚信号の増幅が起こるんだそうな…なるほどねぇ
Yoshimitsu Doi, Shinji Oki, Tomoko Ozawa, Hirohiko Hohjoh, Sachiko Miyake, Takashi Yamamura.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Early Edition | doi:10.1073/pnas.0803454105
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) mediated by Th17 and Th1 cells. DNA microarray analysis previously showed that NR4A2, an orphan nuclear receptor, is strongly up-regulated in the peripheral blood T cells of MS. Here, we report that NR4A2 plays a pivotal role for mediating cytokine production from pathogenic T cells. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS, NR4A2, was selectively up-regulated in the T cells isolated from the CNS. Strikingly, a forced expression of NR4A2 augmented promoter activities of IL-17 and IFN-γ genes, leading to an excessive production of these cytokines. Conversely, treatment with siRNA for NR4A2, resulted in a significant reduction in the production of IL-17 and IFN-γ. Furthermore, treatment with NR4A2 siRNA reduced the ability of encephalitogenic T cells to transfer EAE in recipient mice. Thus, NR4A2 is an essential transcription factor for triggering the inflammatory cascade of MS/EAE and may serve as a therapeutic target.# じゃぁ、NR4A2のアンタゴニストも効果があるのかしら？
> このサルモネラ菌って毒性が強いとか、特殊なんでしょうかねえ
なんだかSalmonella saintpaulなる珍しいspeciesがやたらと出てきているみたいですね。
> ケーキの種類によっては卵を使っていても完全に火を通さないらしい
レアチーズケーキとかでしょうか。確かにそうかも…。
> スーパーで売られている牛肉には真っ二つになって骨髄の見える骨がくっついている
……