I guess that the discovery of iPS cell will be nominated a Nobel Prize in the near future.
Recently, Dr. Yamanaka and colleagues succeeded in generating mouse iPS cells without viral vectors and reported the results in the Science.
(http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/1164270v1)
Usually iPS cells are produced by induction of four genes, namely, Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc, using retroviral vectors. However, the integration of viral sequences into the host genome increases the risk of tumorigenicity. The researchers showed that repeated transfection of a plasmid containing three genes (i.e. Oct3/4, Sox2, and Klf4) and a c-Myc expression plasmid into embryonic fibroblasts resulted in iPS cells without plasmid integration into genome.
On the other hand, Dr. Melton and colleagues reported in the Nature Biotechnology that valproic acid, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, enables reprogramming of primary human fibroblasts with only two factors, Oct4 and Sox2.
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18849973)
Maybe these remainder genes can be substituted by chemical compound(s) too.
In another report, Belmonte et al. succeeded in generating iPS cells from single adult human hairs.
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18931654)
Research on iPS cell is getting more and more competitive. For the discovery of HIV, Dr. Montagnier but not Dr. Gallo won the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine. I believe that Dr. Yamanaka will win the Prize for the discovery of iPS cell.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
An Indonesian friend of Mari
Ms. A, an Indonesian friend of Mari, will return her country in November with her family. She invited Mari to her farewell party at her home in Sendai. So, Mari, Ken and I went there on Oct 11.
We arrived at Sendai at lunchtime. She and her family greeted us with home-cooked Indonesian dishes. We had a chat with her friends over a good meal.
Ms. A and her husband Dr. P have two sons and a daughter. Ken became a good friend of their second child and played with him all day. They took a bath together and played in the water for a long time.
At the night, I wend drinking with a professor at my graduating University. I returned their home at midnight. They left the front door unlock for me.
The next day, Dr. P and I went to an osteopathic clinic and received acupuncture. I have pains in my neck and my lower back, but the acupuncture did not work well for me. We came back their home around noon. Ken and their sons were playing with a lot of acorns.
We left their home at 3 p.m. and dropped in the laboratory that I was in. I saw the same mess as when I was in the lab. We had a small talk with the professor and head back to our home.
On the way, I found a vending machine selling puddings. I had never seen such a strange machine so I bought a pudding immediately. That was a little expensive but was good.
We really had a good time in Sendai. We thank the family so much for their hospitality. We wish their successes in their new jobs in Indonesia. I had no time to see my brother, who is living in Sendai.
We arrived at Sendai at lunchtime. She and her family greeted us with home-cooked Indonesian dishes. We had a chat with her friends over a good meal.
Ms. A and her husband Dr. P have two sons and a daughter. Ken became a good friend of their second child and played with him all day. They took a bath together and played in the water for a long time.At the night, I wend drinking with a professor at my graduating University. I returned their home at midnight. They left the front door unlock for me.
The next day, Dr. P and I went to an osteopathic clinic and received acupuncture. I have pains in my neck and my lower back, but the acupuncture did not work well for me. We came back their home around noon. Ken and their sons were playing with a lot of acorns.
We left their home at 3 p.m. and dropped in the laboratory that I was in. I saw the same mess as when I was in the lab. We had a small talk with the professor and head back to our home.
On the way, I found a vending machine selling puddings. I had never seen such a strange machine so I bought a pudding immediately. That was a little expensive but was good.
We really had a good time in Sendai. We thank the family so much for their hospitality. We wish their successes in their new jobs in Indonesia. I had no time to see my brother, who is living in Sendai.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Nobel Prize in Chemistry
A Japanese and two American scientists shared the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein (GFP).
Dr. Osamu Shimomura, a Japanese citizen who works in the USA, isolated GFP from more than 10,000 jellyfishes. He discovered that the protein glowed bright green under irradiation of blue light. Dr. Martin Chalfie showed that the GFP can use as a bioluminescent tag in living cell. Dr. Roger Tsien created enhanced GFP and engineered a variety of GFP derivatives in different colors by single point mutations in the gene.
I saw a photo of agar plate that was drawn by a scene of San Diego beach with living bacteria expressing 8 different colors of fluorescent proteins. The image is very attractive.
(http://www.tsienlab.ucsd.edu/HTML/Images/IMAGE - PLATE - Beach.jpg)
At first, GFP appeared to be a useless protein discovered in a jellyfish. But it has greatly contributed to biology by utilizing as a marker for cells and cellular proteins. For instance, the expression of a unique combination of GFP variants, namely Brainbow, allows individual neuron tracking in brain tissue in the transgenic mice.
http://www.neuroscience-gateway.org/2007/071108/full/aba1794.shtml
By contrast, Dr. Douglas Prasher, the scientist who reported the cloning and the nucleotide sequence of GFP first, seems to have tough luck. According to a webnews, he no longer works in science. Sadly he lost his funding and failed to find a job in science. He is now driving a courtesy shuttle for a car dealership.
(http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95545761)
He is left in the shadows of the luminescent light.
GFP needed about 30 years until the utility is widely recognized. Researchers in basic science are often decried for their spending of tax. Should I try to find another GFP ?
Dr. Osamu Shimomura, a Japanese citizen who works in the USA, isolated GFP from more than 10,000 jellyfishes. He discovered that the protein glowed bright green under irradiation of blue light. Dr. Martin Chalfie showed that the GFP can use as a bioluminescent tag in living cell. Dr. Roger Tsien created enhanced GFP and engineered a variety of GFP derivatives in different colors by single point mutations in the gene.
I saw a photo of agar plate that was drawn by a scene of San Diego beach with living bacteria expressing 8 different colors of fluorescent proteins. The image is very attractive.
(http://www.tsienlab.ucsd.edu/HTML/Images/IMAGE - PLATE - Beach.jpg)
At first, GFP appeared to be a useless protein discovered in a jellyfish. But it has greatly contributed to biology by utilizing as a marker for cells and cellular proteins. For instance, the expression of a unique combination of GFP variants, namely Brainbow, allows individual neuron tracking in brain tissue in the transgenic mice.
http://www.neuroscience-gateway.org/2007/071108/full/aba1794.shtml
By contrast, Dr. Douglas Prasher, the scientist who reported the cloning and the nucleotide sequence of GFP first, seems to have tough luck. According to a webnews, he no longer works in science. Sadly he lost his funding and failed to find a job in science. He is now driving a courtesy shuttle for a car dealership.
(http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95545761)
He is left in the shadows of the luminescent light.
GFP needed about 30 years until the utility is widely recognized. Researchers in basic science are often decried for their spending of tax. Should I try to find another GFP ?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Nobel Prize in Physics
Two Japanese and an American were awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physics for their work in particle physics.
Dr. Yoichiro Nambu, a US citizen born in Japan, is a professor in the University of Chicago. He won the prize for discovery of the mechanism of spontaneous broken symmetry in subatomic physics. Japanese physicists Dr. Makoto Kobayashi and Dr. Toshihide Maskawa shared the other half of the prize for discovering the origin of the violation of CP symmetry, which predicted the existence of three another members of quarks in nature.
Twenty-years ago, I read a book by Dr. Nambu about quarks. That greatly enlightened me, although I had little knowledge in quantum physics. I am glad for hearing the news of his winning the award.
Dr. Maskawa commented about his award that he was rather happier when their theory was experimentally demonstrated. For outstanding theoretical physicists, the prize seems to be only a incidental consequence.
Dr. Yoichiro Nambu, a US citizen born in Japan, is a professor in the University of Chicago. He won the prize for discovery of the mechanism of spontaneous broken symmetry in subatomic physics. Japanese physicists Dr. Makoto Kobayashi and Dr. Toshihide Maskawa shared the other half of the prize for discovering the origin of the violation of CP symmetry, which predicted the existence of three another members of quarks in nature.
Twenty-years ago, I read a book by Dr. Nambu about quarks. That greatly enlightened me, although I had little knowledge in quantum physics. I am glad for hearing the news of his winning the award.
Dr. Maskawa commented about his award that he was rather happier when their theory was experimentally demonstrated. For outstanding theoretical physicists, the prize seems to be only a incidental consequence.
Sento-kun
Heijo-kyo (Heizei-kyo) is an ancient Capital of Japan. The Heijo-kyo was founded in Nara in 710 and it will mark the 1300th anniversary in 2010.
Nara city is planning to celebrate the anniversary now. Sento-kun is the official mascot character for the commemorative events. The character designed by Satoshi Yabuuchi, a sculptor and professor at the University of Tokyo, looks like an image of Buddha with antlers. Many people in Japan expressed negative opinions about the design of the mascot as "ugly" or "sacrilegious against Buddha". Most people had more favorable impression on Hiko-nyan, which is designed for 400th anniversary of Hikone City, rather than Sento-kun.
(Hiko-nyan: http://hikonyan.hikone-150th.jp)
Sento-kun has his family member, roku-bo (his brother) and roku-ji (his grandfather). They are adorable to me, but look somewhat like monsters.
Sento-kun (left), Roku-bo (middle) and Roku-ji (right)
http://www.uwamuki.com/j/newsJ.html.data/1.1jan/CIMG2623-3.jpg
Roku-bo
http://www.uwamuki.com/j/newsJ.html.data/1.1jan/rokubo/rokubo.html
Nara city is planning to celebrate the anniversary now. Sento-kun is the official mascot character for the commemorative events. The character designed by Satoshi Yabuuchi, a sculptor and professor at the University of Tokyo, looks like an image of Buddha with antlers. Many people in Japan expressed negative opinions about the design of the mascot as "ugly" or "sacrilegious against Buddha". Most people had more favorable impression on Hiko-nyan, which is designed for 400th anniversary of Hikone City, rather than Sento-kun.
(Hiko-nyan: http://hikonyan.hikone-150th.jp)
Sento-kun has his family member, roku-bo (his brother) and roku-ji (his grandfather). They are adorable to me, but look somewhat like monsters.
Sento-kun (left), Roku-bo (middle) and Roku-ji (right)
http://www.uwamuki.com/j/newsJ.html.data/1.1jan/CIMG2623-3.jpg
Roku-bo
http://www.uwamuki.com/j/newsJ.html.data/1.1jan/rokubo/rokubo.html
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Choro-chan
My name is Choro-chan. I'm not Kyoro-chan, a famous mascot for Morinaga Choco-Ball.(kyoro-chan: http://www.morinaga.co.jp/member_kyoro/download/kabegami/images/3_832.jpg)
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Melamine
Melamine, a nitrogen-rich organic compound, is commonly used to produce melamine resin and other industrial products. On September, milk and infant formula adulterated with melamine was discovered in China. Several companies in China illegally added the compound into milk to increase the apparent protein content. Melamine is thought to be non toxic, but it can cause fatal kidney failure when combined with cyanuric acid. More than 54,000 infants and children got sick after they had these tainted milk products.
The tainted milk powder has been used in the manufacture of numerous other products. In Japan, some food companies were forced to recall their products that contain milk imported from China. A number of countries imposed bans on Chinese milk products.
In 2007, melamine tainted pet foods caused death of a number of dogs and cats in the USA. Vegetable proteins contaminated with melamine were imported from China and used as ingredients in these pet foods. A portion of the tainted proteins was also used to produce farm animal feed and fish feed. These tainted products were recalled in North America, Europe and South Africa; however, animals fed the tainted feed had been processed into human food.
In Japan, melamine contamination was found not only in the milk products but also in egg powder and fried chicken imported from China. The melamine contamination may be widespread in Chinese food products.
The tainted milk powder has been used in the manufacture of numerous other products. In Japan, some food companies were forced to recall their products that contain milk imported from China. A number of countries imposed bans on Chinese milk products.
In 2007, melamine tainted pet foods caused death of a number of dogs and cats in the USA. Vegetable proteins contaminated with melamine were imported from China and used as ingredients in these pet foods. A portion of the tainted proteins was also used to produce farm animal feed and fish feed. These tainted products were recalled in North America, Europe and South Africa; however, animals fed the tainted feed had been processed into human food.
In Japan, melamine contamination was found not only in the milk products but also in egg powder and fried chicken imported from China. The melamine contamination may be widespread in Chinese food products.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Tainted rice
A rice distributor in Japan obtained government surplus of tainted rice from Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and sold it to food companies as edible rice. The tainted rice (jiko-mai) contains poisonous fungi or pesticide residue and is not allowed in food products. Many food companies bought it from the distributor without knowing and had to recall their products.
Thus the tainted rice scandal has developed into a huge social problem. Ota, the minister of MAFF, explained that the tainted rice has no influence on human health. He also insisted that the ministry has no responsibility for the issue, but finally he was forced to resign to take the responsibility.
The poisonous fungi produce highly toxic mycotoxins. In Japan, the mycotoxin research has a history of over 100 years.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16025655
In 1891, Dr. Sakaki demonstrated that an ethanol extract from moldy yellow rice was fatal to experimental animals as a probable cause of acute cardiac beriberi. This led to a ban on the sale of yellow rice in Japan. Later studies demonstrated that the acute cardiac beriberi was due to the growth in rice of Penicillium citreoviride, which produced a highly toxic mycotoxin, citreoviridin.
In 1951, "yellow rice problem" occurred in Japan. The rice stocks imported from Thailand and Burma (Myanmar) contained yellow rice.
Dr. Tsunoda and his coworkers isolated two species of Penicillium associated with high toxicity, namely P. islandicum and P. citrinum, from the yellow rice grains. Dr. Uraguchi and other scientists revealed properties of the mycotoxins in detail including the induction of cancers.
Nevertheless, Japan Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (the predecessor of MAFF) intended to mix the yellow rice into edible rice to reduce the stocks. The ministry explained that the yellow rice has no influence on human health. However it caused a national public backlash and consequently the government gave up the plan.
In the early 1960s, aflatoxins, the most carcinogenic mycotoxins, were discovered in England after an outbreak of "turkey X disease". The toxin-producing fungus, Aspergillus flavus, was identified from moldy peanuts in the meal. Aflatoxins are also detectable in the yellow rice.
The MAFF repeated similar mistakes and made a serious problem for moldy rice again. Does the Ministry consist of turkeys? If so, why are they not afraid of aflatoxins?
Thus the tainted rice scandal has developed into a huge social problem. Ota, the minister of MAFF, explained that the tainted rice has no influence on human health. He also insisted that the ministry has no responsibility for the issue, but finally he was forced to resign to take the responsibility.
The poisonous fungi produce highly toxic mycotoxins. In Japan, the mycotoxin research has a history of over 100 years.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16025655
In 1891, Dr. Sakaki demonstrated that an ethanol extract from moldy yellow rice was fatal to experimental animals as a probable cause of acute cardiac beriberi. This led to a ban on the sale of yellow rice in Japan. Later studies demonstrated that the acute cardiac beriberi was due to the growth in rice of Penicillium citreoviride, which produced a highly toxic mycotoxin, citreoviridin.
In 1951, "yellow rice problem" occurred in Japan. The rice stocks imported from Thailand and Burma (Myanmar) contained yellow rice.
Dr. Tsunoda and his coworkers isolated two species of Penicillium associated with high toxicity, namely P. islandicum and P. citrinum, from the yellow rice grains. Dr. Uraguchi and other scientists revealed properties of the mycotoxins in detail including the induction of cancers.
Nevertheless, Japan Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (the predecessor of MAFF) intended to mix the yellow rice into edible rice to reduce the stocks. The ministry explained that the yellow rice has no influence on human health. However it caused a national public backlash and consequently the government gave up the plan.
In the early 1960s, aflatoxins, the most carcinogenic mycotoxins, were discovered in England after an outbreak of "turkey X disease". The toxin-producing fungus, Aspergillus flavus, was identified from moldy peanuts in the meal. Aflatoxins are also detectable in the yellow rice.
The MAFF repeated similar mistakes and made a serious problem for moldy rice again. Does the Ministry consist of turkeys? If so, why are they not afraid of aflatoxins?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers, a Japanese professional baseball team, lost the Central League pennant in 2008. At the point of August, Hanshin was more than 10 games ahead of the others; however, Yomiuri Giants came from behind and finally won the pennant.
Media praise it as a "legend", but it is ridiculous. The Yomiuri team collected many powerful players from other teams regardless of expense, like NY Yankees. Simply a cruiser failed to beat a battleship. I would cheer for the Hanshin during playoff (climax series).
Media praise it as a "legend", but it is ridiculous. The Yomiuri team collected many powerful players from other teams regardless of expense, like NY Yankees. Simply a cruiser failed to beat a battleship. I would cheer for the Hanshin during playoff (climax series).
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Fan and SIDS
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is a syndrome characterized by the symptoms of sudden and unexplained death of an infant. Although studies have identified risk factors for SIDS, such as putting infants to bed on their stomachs, very little is known about the biological causes.
A study says that putting a fan in the room with sleeping babies may help reduce the risk of SIDS. The study showed that infants who slept in a bedroom with a fan had a 72% lower risk of SIDS compared to infants who slept in a bedroom without a fan. The study also found that opening a window in infant's room reduced the risk of SIDS by 36% compared to babies who slept in a room with closed windows.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-10/kp-uaf100108.php
The authors suppose that it decreases the chance of “rebreathing” exhaled air, but it seems that to help baby manage body temperature is more important to prevent SIDS.
A study says that putting a fan in the room with sleeping babies may help reduce the risk of SIDS. The study showed that infants who slept in a bedroom with a fan had a 72% lower risk of SIDS compared to infants who slept in a bedroom without a fan. The study also found that opening a window in infant's room reduced the risk of SIDS by 36% compared to babies who slept in a room with closed windows.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-10/kp-uaf100108.php
The authors suppose that it decreases the chance of “rebreathing” exhaled air, but it seems that to help baby manage body temperature is more important to prevent SIDS.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Ponyo on the cliff
I know what is Ponyo now. I and Ken watched it last Sunday.
The story resembles to that of the Disney's film "Little Mermaid", but that has more nostalgic air, at least to me.
I asked Ken about the film. He told me that it scared him. Perhaps the scene of running Ponyo on the typhoon wave impacted him.
He asked me to let him watch it again. I will buy the DVD, because it amused me too.
The story resembles to that of the Disney's film "Little Mermaid", but that has more nostalgic air, at least to me.
I asked Ken about the film. He told me that it scared him. Perhaps the scene of running Ponyo on the typhoon wave impacted him.
He asked me to let him watch it again. I will buy the DVD, because it amused me too.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Icewine
A friend in Canada sent me a bottle of icewine. He told me that icewine is a sort of dessert wine made from frozen grape. The grape left on the grapevine is harvested in winter and is pressed while it is frozen. The repeated freeze-thaw cycles on the vine allow removing water and concentrating sugar and other constituents. The icewine originally derived from German, but now Canada, particularly the Niagara, has become the largest icewine producer in the world.Mari and I tasted the icewine right away. It is sweet and very delicious like honey. We are very grateful for his kindness.
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