Intracellular bacteria recognition contributes to maximal interleukin (IL)-12 production by IL-10-deficient macrophages

Interleukin (IL)-12 is a key factor that induces T helper cell type 1-mediated immunity and inflammatory diseases. In some colitis models, such as IL-10 knock-out (KO) mice, IL-12 triggers intestinal inflammation. An abundant amount of IL-12 is produced by intestinal macrophages in response to stimulation by commensal bacteria in IL-10 KO mice. Intact bacteria are more potent inducers of macrophage IL-12 production than cell surface components in this model. This suggested that cell surface receptor signalling and intracellular pathogen recognition mechanisms are important for the induction of IL-12. We addressed the importance of intracellular recognition mechanisms and demonstrated that signal transducers and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) signalling activated bacterial phagocytosis and was involved in the induction of abnormal IL-12 production. In IL-10 KO mouse bone marrow-derived (BM) macrophages, Escherichia coli stimulation induced increased IL-12p70 production compared to lipopolysaccharide combined with interferon (IFN)-γ treatment. Significant repression of IL-12 production was achieved by inhibition of phagocytosis with cytochalasin D, and inhibition of de novo protein synthesis with cycloheximide. Induction of IFN regulatory factors-1 and -8, downstream molecules of STAT1 and the key transcription factors for IK-12 transcription, following E. coli stimulation, were mediated by phagocytosis. Interestingly, STAT1 was activated after stimulation with E. coli in IL-10 KO BM macrophages, although IFN-γ could not be detected. These data suggest that molecules other than IFN-γ are involved in hyper-production mechanisms of IL-12 induced by E. coli stimulation. In conclusion, enteric bacteria stimulate excessive IL-12p70 production in IL-10 KO BM macrophages via phagocytosis-dependent signalling.

Characteristics of paediatric patients with 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) and severe, oxygen-requiring pneumonia in the Tokyo region, 1 September-31 October 2009

Few reports describe the features of 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) pneumonia in children. We retrospectively reviewed 21 consecutive children admitted to hospital from September to October 2009 in the Tokyo region. The diagnosis of 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) virus infection was based on positive results of real-time RT-PCR or rapid influenza antigen test. All patients were hospitalised for pneumonia with respiratory failure and severe hypoxia. The median interval from onset of influenza symptoms to admission was 14 hours (range: 5-72 hours) and the median interval from the onset of fever (≥38 degrees C) to hospitalisation was 8.5 hours (range: 0-36 hours). All patients required oxygen inhalation. Four patients required mechanical ventilation. Chest radiography revealed patchy infiltration or atelectasis in all patients. Antiviral agents and antibiotics were administrated to all patients. Antiviral agents were administered to 20 patients within 48 hours of influenza symptom onset. No deaths occurred during the study period. Paediatric patients with this pneumonia showed rapid aggravation of dyspnoea and hypoxia after the onset of influenza symptoms.

Characteristics of paediatric patients with 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) and severe, oxygen-requiring pneumonia in the Tokyo region, 1 September–31 October 2009

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1.2 mJ sub-4-fs source at 1 kHz from an ionizing gas

We demonstrate a 1.2 mJ, 3.8 fs, carrier-envelope phase-controlled laser source by novel energy-scalable spectral broadening in an ionizing gas medium, which is widely applicable to sub-10-fs multimillijoule laser systems to obtain sub-2-cycle (<4 fs) multi-millijoule pulses.

The compact electron cyclotron resonance ion source KeiGM for the carbon ion therapy facility at Gunma University

A high-energy carbon-ion radiotherapy facility is under construction at Gunma University Heavy Ion Medical Centre (GHMC). Its design was based on a study of the heavy ion radiotherapy at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) in order to reduce the size and construction cost of the facility. A compact electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS) for Gunma University, called KeiGM, was installed in 2008. It is almost a copy of the prototype ECRIS Kei2 which was developed by NIRS; meanwhile this prototype produced over 1 e mA of C(4+) using C(2)H(2) gas (660 W and 40 kV). The beam intensity of C(4+) was 600 e microA with CH(4) gas (250 W and 30 kV). The beam intensity satisfies the required value of 300 e microA.

Carbon-ion radiotherapy: clinical aspects and related dosimetry

The features of relativistic carbon-ion beams are attractive from the viewpoint of radiotherapy. They exhibit not only a superior physical dose distribution but also an increase in biological efficiency with depth, because energy loss of the beams increases as they penetrate the body. This paper reviews clinical aspects of carbon-beam radiotherapy using the experience at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences. The paper also outlines the dosimetry related to carbon-beam radiotherapy, including absolute dosimetry of the carbon beam, neutron measurements and radiation protection measurements.

Macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta and interleukin-8 associated with idiopathic steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome

BACKGROUND

The cytokines associated with idiopathic steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (ISSNS) have not been identified definitively, because previous studies had variable sampling and population heterogeneity. To clarify the cytokines involved, serum cytokine levels were measured using uniform sampling in a homogeneous population.

METHODS

Five children meeting the following criteria were included: (i) ISSNS; (ii) selectivity index <0.1; (iii) paired sera obtained in the nephrotic phase before steroid treatment (STx; group A) and in the remission phase under STx (group B); (iv) no infection; and (v) no immunosuppressant. Control groups were as follows: group C, four children with ISSNS in the remission phase without STx; group D, five with normal urinalysis; group E, five with symptomatic secondary nephrotic syndrome before STx. Cytokine levels were measured using bead-based assay.

RESULTS

Serum macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta (MIP-1beta) levels were higher in group B compared to group A, and group C was lower than groups A and B. Serum interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels were higher in group A than in groups B and C, and groups B and C did not differ. With regard to both cytokine levels, there were no differences between groups C and D, and groups A and E.

CONCLUSION

Serum MIP-1beta and IL-8 are associated with the clinical status of ISSNS in children. A relationship between MIP-1beta and ISSNS has not been previously reported. The mechanism by which MIP-1beta and IL-8 affect ISSNS is unclear. Nevertheless, the present findings are an interesting starting point for further investigations into the pathophysiology of ISSNS in children.

Field size effect of radiation quality in carbon therapy using passive method

The authors have investigated the dependency of radiation quality and absorbed dose on radiation field size in therapeutic carbon beams. The field size of the broad beam, formed using the passive technique, was controlled from 20 to 100 mm per side with a multileaf collimator. The absorbed dose and radiation quality on the beam center were evaluated at several depths in a water phantom using microdosimetric technique in experiments and Monte Carlo simulations. With an increase in the field size, the radiation quality was reduced, although the absorbed dose grew at the center of the field. This indicates that the dose and radiation quality at the center of the broad beam are influenced by particles from the off-center region via large-angle scattering and that such particles have relatively low radiation quality and mainly consist of fragment particles. Because such a tendency appeared to be more remarkable in the deeper region of the water phantom, it is likely that fragment particles that are born in a water phantom have a marked role in determining the field size effect.

Quantum path selection in high-harmonic generation by a phase-locked two-color field

We report the results of our studies on the selection of the quantum path in high-harmonic generation (HHG) with a relative-phase-locked two-color laser field. It is shown that by tuning the relative phase between fundamental and second-harmonic fields, The timing of tunnel ionization and subsequent electron trajectories on the sub-cycle time scale can be controlled. We have clearly observed a phase-dependent two-step feature in the harmonic spectra that can be attributed to the selection of two major trajectories in the two-color field HHG.

Single-operator method for double-balloon endoscopy: a pilot study

Double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) is a new technique that allows diagnosis and treatment throughout the entire small intestine. We have recently developed a method that allows a single operator to perform DBE, by employing "grip and pinch" and "hold (or 'keep') and slide" techniques. This one-person method obviates the need for two operators who must cooperate closely.

5-fs, Multi-mJ, CEP-locked parametric chirped-pulse amplifier pumped by a 450-nm source at 1 kHz

We report on the development of an optical parametric chirpedpulse amplifier at a 1-kHz repetition rate with a 5.5-fs pulse duration, a 2.7-mJ pulse energy and carrier-envelope phase-control. The amplifier is pumped by a 450-nm pulse from a frequency-doubled Ti:sapphire laser.

A versatile system for ultrahigh resolution, low temperature, and polarization dependent laser-angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

We have developed a low temperature ultrahigh resolution system for polarization dependent angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) using a vacuum ultraviolet (vuv) laser (hnu=6.994 eV) as a photon source. With the aim of addressing low energy physics, we show the system performance with angle-integrated PES at the highest energy resolution of 360 mueV and the lowest temperature of 2.9 K. We describe the importance of a multiple-thermal-shield design for achieving the low temperature, which allows a clear measurement of the superconducting gap of tantalum metal with a T(c)=4.5 K. The unique specifications and quality of the laser source (narrow linewidth of 260 mueV, high photon flux), combined with a half-wave plate, facilitates ultrahigh energy and momentum resolution polarization dependent ARPES. We demonstrate the use of s- and p-polarized laser-ARPESs in studying the superconducting gap on bilayer-split bands of a high T(c) cuprate. The unique features of the quasi-continuous-wave vuv laser and low temperature enables ultrahigh-energy and -momentum resolution studies of the spectral function of a solid with large escape depth. We hope the present work helps in defining polarization dependent laser excited angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy as a frontier tool for the study of electronic structure and properties of materials at the sub-meV energy scale.

High-average-power light source below 200 nm from a KBe(2)BO(3)F(2) prism-coupled device

Using a 2.3 mm thick KBe(2)BO(3)F(2) crystal optically contacted with CaF(2) in a prism-coupled device, we have obtained an average output power of as much as 360 mW at 200 nm. Long-term stability was verified above a 150 mW level at 200 nm. An output power of 50 mW was also obtained with a narrow spectral width of 0.007 pm at 193.5 nm.

Blockade of NKG2D signaling prevents the development of murine CD4+ T cell-mediated colitis

It has been recently demonstrated that NKG2D is an activating costimulatory receptor on natural killer (NK) cells, natural killer T (NKT) cells, activated CD8(+) T cells, and gammadelta T cells, which respond to cellular stress, such as inflammation, transformation, and infection. Here we show that intestinal inflammation in colitic SCID mice induced by adoptive transfer of CD4(+)CD45RB(high) T cells is characterized by significant increase of CD4(+)NKG2D(+) T cells and constitutive expression of NKG2D ligands, such as H60, Mult-1, and Rae-1, by lamina propria CD11c(+) dendritic cells. Furthermore, treatment with nondepleting and neutralizing anti-NKG2D MAb after transfer of CD4(+)CD45RB(high) T cells into SCID mice significantly suppressed wasting disease with colitis, abrogated leukocyte infiltration, and reduced production of IFN-gamma by lamina propria CD4(+) T cells. These findings demonstrate that NKG2D signaling pathway is critically involved in CD4(+) T cell-mediated disease progression and suggest a new therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel diseases.

1.5 mJ, 6.4 fs parametric chirped-pulse amplification system at 1 kHz

We demonstrate an optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) system with the pulse energy of 1.5 mJ at a 1 kHz repetition rate. The newly developed 100 ps Ti:sapphire pump laser system, which was optically synchronized with OPCPA seed pulses, delivered 10 mJ, 400 nm pump pulses. After three-stage parametric amplification, recompression of the amplifier output from 45 ps to 6.4 fs was performed. The pulse width of 6.4 fs is, to our knowledge, the shortest ever obtained by OPCPA, and the average power of 1.5 W (1.5 mJ, 1 kHz) is believed to be the highest among few-cycle OPCPA systems.

Distribution of a brain-specific extracellular matrix protein in developing and adult zebrafish

A monoclonal antibody (IgG) that recognizes a 53-kDa zebrafish brain protein was isolated and used to characterize the distribution of this protein in zebrafish. (1) The antigen was found only in the brain and not in any other tissues such as muscle, dermis and cartilage. Within the brain, the antibody recognized extracellular matrix (ECM) outside neuronal cells. (2) Digestion by hyaluronidase released the antigen from brain tissue, and the monoclonal antibody staining was also decreased by the digestion by hyaluronidase. (3) The pattern of antigen distribution is not perineuronal, as the density of the antigen at the periphery of the cells was practically identical to that of the empty intercellular spaces. Therefore, this monoclonal antibody does not recognize the perineuronal glycocortex. (4) The antigen is distributed only in limited areas of the brain, namely in the periphery of the forebrain, the hypothalamus, the optic tectum, the interpeduncular nucleus, the cerebellum and the ventricular rim of the medulla. In the optic tectum, the antibody strongly stained the most superficial layer, and in the cerebellum, it stained the molecular but not the granular layer. These patterns of distribution are very different from those of other typical brain ECM proteins and suggest that this protein may play quite distinct roles in brain development and maintenance.