Thickness dependence of electrical properties of PZT films deposited on metal substrates by laser-assisted aerosol deposition

Dependence of electrical properties-dielectric, ferroelectric, and piezoelectric properties-on film thickness was studied for lead-zirconate titanate (PZT) thick films directly deposited onto stainless-steel (SUS) substrates in actuator devices by using a carbon dioxide (CO(2) ), laser assisted aerosol deposition technique. Optical spectroscopic analysis data and laser irradiation experiments revealed that absorption at a given wavelength by the film increased with increasing film thickness. Dielectric constant epsilon, remanent polarization value P(r), and coercive field strength E(c) of PZT films directly deposited onto a SUS-based piezoelectric actuator substrate annealed by CO(2) laser irradiation at 850 degrees C improved with increasing film thickness, and for films thicker than 25 microm, epsilon 800, P(r) 40 microC/cm(2), and E(c) 45 kV/cm. In contrast, the displacement of the SUS-based actuator with the laser-annealed PZT thick film decreased with increasing film thickness.

Genetic polymorphisms in the surfactant proteins in systemic sclerosis in Japanese: T/T genotype at 1580 C/T (Thr131Ile) in the SP-B gene reduces the risk of interstitial lung disease

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the pulmonary surfactant protein (SP) genes and the presence or absence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in SSc patients.

METHODS

We studied 127 Japanese patients with SSc and 206 normal subjects. Investigated SNPs were C/T within amino acid (aa) 219, Arg219Trp in the SP-A1 gene (rs4253527), C/T within aa 131 (at nucleotide 1580) and Thr131Ile of the SP-B gene (rs1130866). Genotypes were determined by the TaqMan method.

RESULTS

Genotype frequencies were not different between the SSc patients and normal controls for both loci. The patients were subsequently divided into two groups based on presence or absence of ILD. In the SNP in the SP-B gene, the frequency of the T/T genotype was significantly lower in the patients with ILD than in those without ILD. Limited in the patients who were positive for anti-Scl-70 antibody, the difference in the frequency of the T/T genotype between the ILD-positive and ILD-negative groups became more apparent. On the other hand, in the SNP in the SP-A1 gene, there was no significant skewing for a certain genotype.

CONCLUSION

In SSc, where massive fibrosis occurs, possession of the T/T genotype in the SP-B gene would reduce the risk of ILD in Japanese.

Immunoreactivity to neurofilaments in the rodent anterior pituitary is associated with the expression of alpha 1A protein subunits of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels

We recently reported that rodent anterior pituitary (AP) cells (with the exception of corticotrophs and melanotrophs) express neuronal markers, including 68-kDa neurofilaments (NF68) in an oestrogen-dependent manner. The functional significance of neurofilament (NF) expression in the AP is unknown, but recent data in myelinated nerve fibres from NF-null mice suggest that NFs can regulate ion channel function. Because Ca(2+) influx through voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels is required for hormone secretion in AP cells, and oestrogen regulates the expression of Ca(2+) channels in AP cells, the present study examined the expression of alpha1 subunits of voltage gated Ca(2+) channels in relation to that of NF68. Using quantitative immunofluorescence, we demonstrate that alpha 1C and alpha 1D subunits are abundantly expressed in female AP cells, alpha 1A subunits are moderately expressed, and alpha 1G and alpha 1B subunits are expressed at the lowest levels. Double-immunostaining showed that NF68 expression is not correlated with that of alpha 1C, alpha 1D or alpha 1B. Expression of alpha 1G and NF68 appear to be mutually exclusive from each other. Moreover, alpha 1A subunit and NF68 expression are significantly correlated and alpha 1A immunoreactivity is sexually dimorphic (i.e. low in males and high in females) and its levels of expression vary during the oestrous cycle, similar to NF68. Finally, omega-agatoxin IVA, a specific blocker of P/Q type Ca(2+) currents that are a result of the activity of alpha 1A subunits, inhibited to a greater extent spontaneous [Ca(2+)](i) fluctuations in AP cells from females in oestrous and dioestrous, whereas cells from females in pro-oestrous and males were less affected by this toxin. These results suggest a preferential participation of P/Q-type Ca(2+) channels and hence alpha 1A subunits, in regulating spontaneous Ca(2+) transients in AP cells under conditions where the proportion of NF68-expressing cells is high. It remains to be determined whether the expression of NF68 affects that of alpha 1A Ca(2+) channel subunits or vice versa.

Efficacy of etanercept in patients with AA amyloidosis secondary to rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

The efficacy of biological therapies in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is well known, but their hypothetical benefit in amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis secondary to RA still remains to be considered. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of etanercept in serum amyloid A (SAA) 1.3 allele Japanese patients with AA amyloidosis secondary to RA.

METHODS

Seven RA patients with histologically confirmed AA amyloidosis and renal involvement who were treated with etanercept were enrolled. They all had the SAA1.3 allele, which has been shown to be a risk factor not only for the association of AA amyloidosis but also for a poor prognosis in Japanese RA patients. Efficacy was assessed as a sustained decrease in RA inflammation and an amelioration of renal function.

RESULTS

RA inflammation and AA amyloidosis were improved and stabilized after 43.4 +/- 16.5 weeks. At week 20 the number of tender (p = 0.017) and swollen (p = 0.017) joints, and levels of serum C-reactive protein (p = 0.018) and albumin (p = 0.045) had improved. The values for SAA, serum creatinine, calculated creatinine clearance, and proteinuria also ameliorated. No severe adverse events were observed. One patient eventually had to go on hemodialysis but her tolerance of etanercept remained stable.

CONCLUSION

Etanercept can be used safely and effectively in AA amyloidosis secondary to RA with renal involvement, and is of clinical benefit in the short-term, even in patients on hemodialysis. It appears that SAA1.3 allele may be used as a clinical parameter for the introduction of etanercept in Japanese RA with AA amyloidosis.

Targeted disruption of the genes, mlcR and ariB, which encode GAL4-type proteins in Penicillium citrinum

The role of two genes, mlcR and ariB, was investigated by gene disruption experiments. The mlcR gene in the ML-236B biosynthetic gene cluster of Penicillium citrinum encodes a putative 50.2-kDa protein with a Zn (II) 2Cys6 DNA-binding domain, and has similarity to most of the GAL4-type regulatory proteins. The mlcR disruptant did not produce ML-236B or its intermediates, suggesting that mlcR is involved in ML-236B biosynthesis. Transcriptional analysis of the mlcR disruptant by Northern hybridization and RT-PCR indicated that MlcR activates the transcription of mlcA, B, C,D, F, G and H in a pathway-specific manner. On the other hand, MlcR did not affect the transcription of mlcE and the genes outside the ML-236B cluster. The ariB gene, next to mlcR, encodes another GAL4-type protein. Transcriptional analysis of the ariB disruptant indicated that it is a transcriptional activator of the genes outside the ML-236B cluster, and is not related to ML-236B biosynthesis.

Prostate-specific antigen adjusted for total prostatic tumor volume as a predictor for outcome after radical prostatectomy

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential prognostic value of preoperative serum prostate-specific antigen levels adjusted for total tumor volume (PSA-TTV density) for outcome following radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer by retrospective review in 268 patients. Lower PSA-TTV density was not only associated with a significantly higher risk for biological failure (bF), systemic failure and cancer death but also an independent predictor for bF (hazard ratio, 6.3). Therefore, these data suggest that there are subsets of prostate cancer with lower PSA secretion levels, and this phenotype is associated with a higher risk of failure after surgery.