Local bandgap control of germanium by silicon nitride stressor

We have proposed a new approach to tune the operation wavelength of Franz-Keldysh Ge electro-absorption modulation in Si photonics by controlling the local strain environment to cover the whole range of C + L bands (1.53 - 1.62 μm). The present paper shows a proof of strain-tuning modulator concept by the shift of the Ge absorption edge using SiN(x) stressor films and Franz-Keldysh effect in strain-controlled Ge.

Flow cytometry as a diagnostic method for colorectal cancer

Intraoperative histopathological investigation plays an important role during surgery. Since the pathologist performs a diagnosis with a limited level of specimen, it may sometimes be difficult to reach a correct diagnosis. To improve the accuracy of the diagnosis, quantitative data from the whole specimen are helpful. It said that the detection capability for DNA aneuploidy (aneuploidy) is low for solid cancer compared with hematopoietic organ cancer. A new method that includes fresh tissue is introduced, the histogram from cancer tissue (cancer) and normal tissue (normal) is compared, new classification criteria are introduced, the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) pattern (FFT pattern) obtained from FFT on the histogram is analyzed, and the area under the FFT pattern of the histogram (AUC) is compared. This method, named the "FFT-AUC method", which includes comparisons of AUC and the FFT pattern, shows good results.

New automatic cell isolation system for flow cytometry: cell isolation unit and staining reagent kit

Flow cytometry is well-known cell analysis method and useful to gain quantitative information from cells in blood, however, it is not widely used for solid tissues in clinical settings. This is partly because it takes a long time to prepare samples and the operation can be complicated. To resolve these problems, we developed a new automatic cell isolation system which consists of cell isolation unit and staining reagent kit specialized for flow cytometry. With this new system, cell isolation can be done more rapidly and easily. By using this method, we could determine optimum condition to disintegrate porcine colon tissue and stain cells stably in 6 minutes. This result indicates that our method can provide analysis data within 10 minutes. We also evaluated our method in colorectal cancer patients, and the result was promising. All the data suggests that this method can support and facilitate rapid diagnosis.

Werner syndrome: a changing pattern of clinical manifestations in Japan (1917~2008)

As ~75% of the Werner syndrome (WS) patients recognized between 1904 and 2008 all over the world are of Japanese origin, the most case reports and clinical studies on WS has been published in Japanese journals. Thus, the detailed English-written clinical review on the recent WS case reports has been warranted. Although WS has been characterized by a variety of clinical manifestations mimicking premature aging, the recent longevity and delayed age-associated manifestations observed both from Japanese WS and general population may suggest a common environmental effect on some gene(s) other than WRN and may give us a newer pathophysiological look at WS and also natural aging through the molecular dysfunction of WRN.

An in vitro demonstration of CMOS-based optoelectronic neural interface device for optogenetics

A CMOS-based neural interface device equipped with an integrated micro light source array for optogenetics was fabricated and demonstrated. A GaInN LED array formed on sapphire substrate was successfully assembled with a multifunctional CMOS image sensor that is capable of on-chip current injection. We demonstrated a functionality of light stimulation onto ChR2-expressed cells in an in vitro experiment. A ChR2-expressed cell were successfully stimulated with the light emitted from the fabricated device.

High-dose zoledronic acid narrows the periodontal space in rats

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the histological effects of zoledronic acid on the periodontal space in rats. 40 male Wistar rats were divided into three zoledronic acid groups and a control group. Zoledronic acid was injected subcutaneously at doses of 10, 50, or 500 μg/kg once a week for 3 weeks. The rats were killed 1 or 9 weeks after the last injection. Histological examination of the periodontal space around the incisor tooth revealed that zoledronic acid did not inhibit tooth development. In the rats killed 1 week after treatment discontinuation, the periodontal space gradually narrowed in response to increasing zoledronic acid doses, and the changes were statistically significant according to ANOVA but not according to ANOVA with post hoc tests. The changes persisted in the high-dose zoledronic acid group despite zoledronic acid discontinuation, with significant differences identified by ANOVA and ANOVA with post hoc tests. Therefore, although zoledronic acid had an insignificant effect on tooth development, it had a significant effect on the periodontal space when high doses were administered. The results of this experiment may provide useful information for future investigations on the role of zoledronic acid in the osteonecrosis of the jaw.

The maturation of grafted bone after posterior lumbar interbody fusion with an interbody carbon cage: a prospective five-year study

We evaluated the maturation of grafted bone in cases of successful fusion after a one- or two-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) using interbody carbon cages. We carried out a five-year prospective longitudinal radiological evaluation of patients using plain radiographs and CT scans. One year after surgery, 117 patients with an early successful fusion were selected for inclusion in the study. Radiological evaluation of interbody bone fusion was graded on a 4-point scale. The mean grades of all radiological and CT assessments increased in the five years after surgery, and differences compared to the previous time interval were statistically significant for three or four years after surgery. Because the grafted bone continues to mature for three years after surgery, the success of a fusion should not be assessed until at least three years have elapsed. There were no significant differences in the longitudinal patterns of grafted bone maturity between iliac bone and local bone. However, iliac bone grafting may remodel faster than local bone.

Gastric ulcerogenic and healing impairment effects of risedronate, a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate in rats. Comparison with alendronate and minodronate

We examined the mucosal irritating and healing impairment effects of risedronate, a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate (BPP), on rat stomachs, in comparison with those of alendronate and minodronate. Male SD rats were used in the following two studies; 1) the ulcerogenic effects of risedronate, alendronate and minodronate in the antral mucosa, and 2) the healing impairment effect of these drugs on gastric ulcers induced by thermocauterization. A single administration of BPPs to fasted rats produced ulcers in the antrum with severe edema and inflammation 3 days after refeeding, although the doses required for this action differed among these BPPs: alendronate >100 mg/kg, risedronate >300 mg/kg, minodronate >10 mg/kg. The generation of antral ulcers induced by these BPPs was accompanied by an increase in myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and lipid peroxidation as well as a decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) content in the mucosa; the extent order of these changes was minodronate >alendronate >risedronate. On the other hand, the healing of gastric ulcers was significantly delayed by daily administration of alendronate (>30 mg/kg) and minodronate (>10 mg/kg), but not by risedronate, even at 60 mg/kg. Mucosal vascular endothelium-derived growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) protein expressions were up-regulated after ulceration, in parallel with angiogenesis. Alendronate and minodronate decreased these expressions and angiogenesis, while risedronate had no effect. In conclusion, the gastric adverse effect of risedronate is less potent than alendronate and minodronate. It is assumed that risedronate may be used more safely than other BPPs as an antiresorptive drug in patients.

Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 is involved in multiple steps of colon carcinogenesis

Accumulating evidence indicates that cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-derived prostaglandin (PG) E(2) is involved in the development of various tumors, including colorectal cancer. However, the precise contribution of microsomal PGE synthase (mPGES)-1, a terminal enzyme that acts downstream of COX-2 in the PGE(2)-biosynthetic pathway, to multiple processes of tumor development is not yet fully understood. Here, we show the pro-tumorigenic role of mPGES-1 in chemical carcinogen-induced colon carcinogenesis and intrasplenic tumor transplantation models. Genetic deletion of mPGES-1 significantly reduced both the total number and size of colorectal polyps at 18 weeks after azoxymethane administration with reduced nuclear translocation of β-catenin, altered expression profiles of chemokines/cytokines and increased production of antitumorigenic PGs, prostaglandin D(2) and prostacyclin in tumor tissues. At an early stage (6 weeks), mPGES-1 deficiency significantly reduced the number of aberrant crypt foci, while its transgenic overexpression increased the number. Furthermore, the growth of intrasplenically transplanted tumor cells was suppressed in mPGES-1 knockout (KO) mice. Co-culture of tumor cells with bone marrow-derived macrophages (BM-MΦs) isolated from wild-type (WT) mice resulted in the induction of mPGES-1 in BM-MΦs and increased the growth of tumor cells in vitro, whereas mPGES-1-null BM-MΦs failed to facilitate tumor growth. The adoptive transfer of WT BM-MΦs into mPGES-1 KO mice restored the growth of transplanted tumor cells, indicating that mPGES-1 in MΦs is important for the growth of adjacent tumor cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that the inhibition of mPGES-1 is an alternative therapeutic target for colorectal and possibly other cancers.