High-power laser experiment forming a supercritical collisionless shock in a magnetized uniform plasma at rest

We present an experimental method to generate quasiperpendicular supercritical magnetized collisionless shocks. In our experiment, ambient nitrogen (N) plasma is at rest and well magnetized, and it has uniform mass density. The plasma is pushed by laser-driven ablation aluminum (Al) plasma. Streaked optical pyrometry and spatially resolved laser collective Thomson scattering clarify structures of plasma density and temperatures, which are compared with one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. It is indicated that just after the laser irradiation, the Al plasma is magnetized by a self-generated Biermann battery field, and the plasma slaps the incident N plasma. The compressed external field in the N plasma reflects N ions, leading to counterstreaming magnetized N flows. Namely, we identify the edge of the reflected N ions. Such interacting plasmas form a magnetized collisionless shock.

Factor Xa inhibitors for preventing recurrent thrombosis in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome: a longitudinal cohort study

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to clarify the efficacy and safety of factor Xa inhibitors for antiphospholipid syndrome patients in real world utilization.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study comprised of all consecutive patients with antiphospholipid syndrome in our department over a period of 28 years. Patients treated with factor Xa inhibitors were extracted from the cohort. As a control group, patients treated with warfarin were selected from the same cohort with matched age, gender, coexistence of systemic lupus erythematosus, and the presence of antiplatelet therapy, after which we used a propensity score for each of the risk factors as an additional covariate in multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression. The primary endpoint was set as thrombotic and hemorrhagic event-free survival for five years.

RESULTS

Among 206 patients with antiphospholipid syndrome, 18 had a history of anti-Xa therapy (five rivaroxaban, 12 edoxaban, one apixaban). Fourteen out of 18 patients on anti-Xa therapy had switched to factor Xa inhibitors from warfarin. Event-free survival was significantly shorter during anti-Xa therapy than that during warfarin therapy (hazard ratio: 12.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.73-248, p = 0.01) ( Figure 1(a) ). Similarly, event-free survival in patients treated with factor Xa inhibitors was significantly shorter compared with controls (hazard ratio: 4.62, 95% confidence interval: 1.54-13.6, p = 0.0075). In the multivariate Cox proportional hazard model, event-free survival in patients with anti-Xa therapy remained significantly shorter (hazard ratio: 11.9, 95% confidence interval: 2.93-56.0, p = 0.0005).

CONCLUSIONS

Factor Xa inhibitors may not be recommended for antiphospholipid syndrome.

A case of ectopic hamartomatous thymoma: controversy over the designation

BACKGROUND

Ectopic hamartomatous thymoma, which usually occurs in the lower neck, is a rare benign tumor containing spindle cells, epithelial nests, and adipose tissue. Although the origin of this tumor is still unknown, recent reports suggest that the designation of this tumor is inappropriate.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 38-year-old with an anterior cervical mass in the suprasternal region of her neck was referred to our hospital. An ultrasound examination showed that the well-defined oval mass was 31 × 23 × 17 mm in size. A non-enhanced computed tomography scan of the neck revealed that the distinct neck mass in the subcutaneous tissue had a mixture of soft tissue and fatty components. The cervical tumor was clinically diagnosed to be an unusual lipoma with degeneration. The patient underwent the neck mass extirpation. During the surgery, the cervical mass was well demarcated and did not adhere to the surrounding tissues. The postoperative course was uneventful. The gross pathology report showed that the neck mass measured 3.0 × 2.5 × 2.0 cm. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of spindle cells, epithelial nests, and mature adipose tissue. Immunohistochemical examination revealed that both spindle cells and epithelial nests were positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3. These histopathological findings were consistent with the features of ectopic hamartomatous thymoma. Over a follow-up period of 30 months, this patient exhibited no evidence of recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Ectopic hamartomatous thymoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of subcutaneous tumors in the lower neck, when the CT shows the tumor has the mixed components of fat and soft tissues.

Frequent downregulation of BTB and CNC homology 2 expression in Epstein-Barr virus-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common B‐cell lymphoma subtype, and the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐positive subtype of DLBCL is known to show a more aggressive clinical behavior than the EBV‐negative one. BTB and CNC homology 2 (BACH2) has been highlighted as a tumor suppressor in hematopoietic malignancies; however, the role of BACH2 in EBV‐positive DLBCL is unclear. In the present study, BACH2 expression and its significance were studied in 23 EBV‐positive and 43 EBV‐negative patient samples. Immunohistochemistry revealed BACH2 downregulation in EBV‐positive cases (P < 0.0001), although biallelic deletion of BACH2 was not detected by FISH. Next, we analyzed the contribution of BACH2 negativity to aggressiveness in EBV‐positive B‐cell lymphomas using FL‐18 (EBV‐negative) and FL‐18‐EB cells (FL‐18 sister cell line, EBV‐positive). In BACH2‐transfected FL‐18‐EB cells, downregulation of phosphorylated transforming growth factor‐β‐activated kinase 1 (pTAK1) and suppression in p65 nuclear fractions were observed by Western blot analysis contrary to non‐transfected FL‐18‐EB cells. In patient samples, pTAK1 expression and significant nuclear p65, p50, and p52 localization were detected immunohistochemically in BACH2‐negative DLBCL (P < 0.0001, P = 0.006, and P = 0.001, respectively), suggesting that BACH2 downregulation contributes to constitutive activation of the nuclear factor‐κB pathway through TAK1 phosphorylation in BACH2‐negative DLBCL (most EBV‐positive cases). Although further molecular and pathological studies are warranted to clarify the detailed mechanisms, downregulation of BACH2 may contribute to constitutive activation of the nuclear factor‐κB pathway through TAK1 activation.

CD10 down expression in follicular lymphoma correlates with gastrointestinal lesion involving the stomach and large intestine

Follicular lymphoma (FL) shows co-expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and CD10, whereas downexpression of CD10 is occasionally experienced in gastrointestinal (GI) FL with unknown significance. Gastrointestinal FL is a rare variant of FL, and its similarity with mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma was reported. We investigated the clinicopathological and genetic features of CD10 downexpressed (CD10^down ) GI-FL. The diagnosis of CD10^down FL was carried out with a combination of pathological and molecular analyses. The incidence of CD10^down GI-FL was shown in 35/172 (20.3%) cases, which was more frequent than nodal FL (3.5%, P < 0.001). The difference was additionally significant between GI-FL and nodal FL when the analysis was confined to primary GI-FL (55.2% vs 3.5%, P < 0.001). Compared to CD10⁺ GI-FL, CD10^down GI-FL significantly involved the stomach or large intestine (P = 0.015), and additionally showed the downexpression of BCL6 (P < 0.001). The follicular dendritic cell meshwork often showed a duodenal pattern in the CD10^down group (P = 0.12). Furthermore, a lymphoepithelial lesion was observed in 5/12 (40%) gastric FL cases, which indicated caution in the differentiation of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Molecular analyses were undertaken in seven cases of CD10^down GI-FL, and an identical clone was found between CD10^down follicles and CD10⁺ BCL2⁺ neoplastic follicles. In the diagnosis of cases with CD10^down BCL2⁺ follicles, careful examination with molecular studies should be carried out.

Clinicopathological features of 49 primary gastrointestinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cases; comparison with location, cell-of-origin, and frequency of MYD88 L265P

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the most common primary site of extranodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), with approximately one-third of extranodal DLBCL occurring in the GI tract. We investigated the clinicopathological features and immunohistochemically-assessed cell-of-origin of 49 GI DLBCL cases (stomach, 24; small intestine, 10; colon, 15) and also examined the presence of MYD88 L265P as recently this mutation has been frequently identified in ABC-like DLBCL, particularly in extranodal sites. Small intestinal DLBCL was characterized by the preponderance of women (P = 0.041) and elevated LDH (P = 0.002) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (P = 0.033). Small intestinal DLBCL more frequently showed anemia (P = 0.031) and elevated CRP (P = 0.029) than gastric DLBCL. ABC-like phenotype was seen in 71.4 % cases (stomach, 79 %; small intestine, 70 %; colon, 60 %). MYD88 L265P was detected in 6.1 % cases; all were primary gastric DLBCL with ABC-like phenotype but had no distinct clinicopathological features. In conclusion, GI DLBCL had different clinicopathological features according to the primary site especially in the small intestine. Also, MYD88 L265P had little involvement in GI DLBCL compared with other extranodal DLBCLs, suggesting that its pathogenesis might be different from that of organs with a high frequency of MYD88 L265P.

Does Regular Post-exercise Cold Application Attenuate Trained Muscle Adaptation?

This study examined the effects of regular post-exercise cold application on muscular and vascular adaptations induced by moderate-intensity resistance training. 14 male subjects participated in resistance training: 5 sets of 8 wrist-flexion exercises at workload of 70-80% of the single repetition maximum, 3 times a week for 6 weeks. 7 subjects immersed their experimental forearms in cold water (10±1°C) for 20 min after wrist-flexion exercises (cooled group), and the other 7 served as control subjects (noncooled group). Measurements were taken before and after the training period; wrist-flexor thickness, brachial-artery diameter, maximal muscle strength, and local muscle endurance were measured in upper extremities. Wrist-flexor thicknesses of the experimental arms increased after training in both groups, but the extent of each increase was significantly less in the cooled group compared with the noncooled group. Maximal muscle strength and brachial-artery diameter did not increase in the cooled group, while they increased in the noncooled group. Local muscle endurance increased in both groups, but the increase in the cooled group tended to be lower compared to the noncooled group. Regular post-exercise cold application to muscles might attenuate muscular and vascular adaptations to resistance training.

Ink4a/Arf(-/-) and HRAS(G12V) transform mouse mammary cells into triple-negative breast cancer containing tumorigenic CD49f(-) quiescent cells

Intratumoral heterogeneity within individual breast tumors is a well-known phenomenon that may contribute to drug resistance. This heterogeneity is dependent on several factors, such as types of oncogenic drivers and tumor precursor cells. The purpose of our study was to engineer a mouse mammary tumor model with intratumoral heterogeneity by using defined genetic perturbations. To achieve this, we used mice with knockout (−/−) of Ink4a/Arf, a tumor suppressor locus; these mice are known to be susceptible to non-mammary tumors such as fibrosarcoma. To induce mammary tumors, we retrovirally introduced an oncogene, HRAS(G12V), into Ink4a/Arf^−/− mammary cells in vitro, and those cells were inoculated into syngeneic mice mammary fat pads. We observed 100% tumorigenesis. The tumors formed were negative for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2. Further, they had pathological features similar to those of human triple-negative breast cancer (e.g. pushing borders, central necrosis). The tumors were found to be heterogeneous and included two subpopulations: CD49f⁻ quiescent cells and CD49f⁺ cells. Contrary to our expectation, CD49f⁻ quiescent cells had high tumor-initiating potential and CD49f⁺ cells had relatively low tumor-initiating potential. Gene expression analysis revealed that CD49f⁻ quiescent cells overexpressed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-driving genes, reminiscent of tumor-initiating cells and claudin-low breast cancer. Our animal model with intratumoral heterogeneity, derived from defined genetic perturbations, allows us to test novel molecular targeted drugs in a setting that mimics the intratumoral heterogeneity of human triple-negative breast cancer.

Kelvin-Helmholtz turbulence associated with collisionless shocks in laser produced plasmas

We report the experimental results of a turbulent electric field driven by Kelvin-Helmholtz instability associated with laser produced collisionless shock waves. By irradiating an aluminum double plane target with a high-power laser, counterstreaming plasma flows are generated. As the consequence of the two plasma interactions, two shock waves and the contact surface are excited. The shock electric field and transverse modulation of the contact surface are observed by proton radiography. Performing hydrodynamic simulations, we reproduce the time evolutions of the reverse shocks and the transverse modulation driven by Kelvin-Helmholtz instability.

Association of serum levels of arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid with prevalence of major adverse cardiac events after acute myocardial infarction

We studied the association of serum levels of arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) with the prevalence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We measured serum AA and EPA on admission in 146 consecutive AMI patients. The primary clinical endpoint was occurrence of MACE, defined as cardiac death, occurrence of heart failure, reinfarction, recurrent angina pectoris, and requirement of coronary intervention. Common logarithmic transformed serum levels of AA (logAA) and EPA (logEPA) were used in the analyses. The optimum cutoff point of each fatty acid used to distribute patients into two groups for Kaplan-Meier analysis was determined by receiver operating characteristic curves analysis. MACE occurred in 40 patients (27.4%). Kaplan-Meier analysis disclosed that the group with a logAA above the cutoff point [145.3 μg/mL (logAA 2.162)] showed a higher prevalence of MACE than those with a logAA below the cutoff point (P < 0.01). Conversely, the prevalence of MACE was significantly higher in the group with a logEPA below the cutoff point [52.3 μg/mL (logEPA 1.719)] compared to the group with a logEPA above it (P < 0.01). Similar to logAA, logAA/logEPA showed significant differences in the MACE-free curve between the two groups (cutoff 1.301, P < 0.001). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis suggested that logAA, logEPA, and logAA/logEPA were independently associated with the prevalence of MACE. Although the present study included a limited number of patients with single-time point measurement, the results suggested an association of logAA, logEPA, and logAA/logEPA with the prevalence of MACE after AMI. The present study warrants further studies involving a large number of patients to confirm that the serum levels of these fatty acids and their ratios are predictors of MACE after AMI.

Exploring duplicated regions in natural images

Duplication of image regions is a common method for manipulating original images, using typical software like Adobe Photoshop, 3DS MAX, etc. In this study, we propose a duplication detection approach that can adopt two robust features based on discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and kernel principal component analysis (KPCA). Both schemes provide excellent representations of the image data for robust block matching. Multiresolution wavelet coefficients and KPCA-based projected vectors corresponding to image-blocks are arranged into a matrix for lexicographic sorting. Sorted blocks are used for making a list of similar point-pairs and for computing their offset frequencies. Duplicated regions are then segmented by an automatic technique that refines the list of corresponding point-pairs and eliminates the minimum offset-frequency threshold parameter in the usual detection method. A new technique that extends the basic algorithm for detecting Flip and Rotation types of forgeries is also proposed. This method uses global geometric transformation and the labeling technique to indentify the mentioned forgeries. Experiments with a good number of natural images show very promising results, when compared with the conventional PCA-based approach. A quantitative analysis indicate that the wavelet-based feature outperforms PCA- or KPCA-based features in terms of average precision and recall in the noiseless, or uncompressed domain, while KPCA-based feature obtains excellent performance in the additive noise and lossy JPEG compression environments.

The influence of climatic oscillations during the Quaternary Era on the genetic structure of Asian black bears in Japan

The Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus) inhabits two of the main islands, Honshu and Shikoku, in Japan. To determine how climatic oscillations during the Quaternary Era affected the genetic structure of the black bear populations in Japan, we examined their phylogeographic relationships and compared their genetic structure. We analysed an approximately 700-bp sequence in the D-loop region of mitochondrial DNA collected from 589 bears in this study with 108 bears from a previous study. We observed a total of 57 haplotypes and categorized them into three clusters (Eastern, Western and Southern) based on the spatial distribution of the haplotypes. All but 2 of the 41 haplotypes in the Eastern cluster were distributed locally. Genetic diversity was generally low in northern Japan and high in central Japan. Demographic tests rejected the expansion model in northern populations. Haplotypes of the Western and Southern clusters were unique to local populations. We conclude that the extant genetic structure of the Asian black bear populations arose as follows: first, populations became small and genetic drift decreased genetic diversity in the northern area during the last glacial period, whereas large continuous populations existed in the southern part of central Japan. These patterns were essentially maintained until the present time. In western and southern Japan, the effects of climatic oscillations were smaller, and thus, local structure was maintained.

Acclimation to low [CO(2)] by an inorganic carbon-concentrating mechanism in Cyanophora paradoxa

The glaucocystophyte Cyanophora paradoxa contains cyanelles, plastids with prokaroytic features such as a peptidoglycan wall and a central proteinaceous inclusion body. While this central body includes the majority of the enzyme ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxgenase Rubisco), the presence of a carbon-concentrating mechanism (CCM) in C. paradoxa has only been hypothesized. Here, we present physiological data in support of a CCM: CO(2) exchange activity as well as apparent affinity against inorganic carbon were found to increase under CO(2)-limiting stress. Further, expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of C. paradoxa were obtained from two cDNA libraries, one from cells grown in high [CO(2)] conditions and one from cells grown under low [CO(2)] conditions. A cDNA microarray platform assembled from 2378 cDNA sequences revealed that 142 genes significantly responded to a shift from high to low [CO(2)]. Trends in gene expression were comparable to those reported for Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and the cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803, both possessing a CCM. Among genes regulated by [CO(2)], transcripts were identified encoding carbonic anhydrases (CAs), Rubisco activase and a putative bicarbonate transporter in C. paradoxa, likely functionally involved in the CCM. These results and the polyhedric appearance of the central body further support the hypothesis of a unique 'eukaryotic carboxysome' in Cyanophora.

In vitro release of Tacrolimus from Tacrolimus ointment and its speculated mechanism

The in vitro release profiles and the bleeding phenomenon of Tacrolimus and propylene carbonate (PC) as a dispersing solvent for Tacrolimus drug substance in Tacrolimus ointment were investigated when changing concentrations of Tacrolimus and PC in the ointment were used, respectively. The bleeding test result indicated that Tacrolimus was in equilibrium between inside and outside of PC droplets in intact ointment base. A cumulative release amount of Tacrolimus from ointment, plotted against the square root of time, showed a straight line initially with a slope of q1 followed to change a slope to be q2 at a certain time, where the relation of these slopes being q1<q2. The q1 values increased with the concentration of Tacrolimus but decreased with PC concentration in Tacrolimus ointment. And the q2 values increased with Tacrolimus concentration but were independent of PC concentration. These profiles indicated that there were two phases for Tacrolimus release from ointment, namely, first phase was related with the period during PC release and the second phase was related with the state of ointment after PC release. When the PC release was applied to the Higuchi's release equation, the above slope q1 was found to be correlated to the parameter of A/phi(0), where A was a parameter of release rate of PC and phi(0) was an initial volume fraction of PC droplets. It should be indicated that more rapid release rate of PC rather than that of Tacrolimus resulted in the generation of amorphous phase of Tacrolimus outside of remaining PC droplets. During PC release, the slope q1 could be influenced by the thermodynamic activity of Tacrolimus dissolved in PC droplets. After PC release, it would be reasonable to speculate that the amorphous cluster of Tacrolimus with a constant thermodynamic activity would give constant q2 values regardless of PC contents in Tacrolimus ointment.

Affinity selection of target cells from cell surface displayed libraries: a novel procedure using thermo-responsive magnetic nanoparticles

Biotinylated thermo-responsive magnetic nanoparticles for use in affinity selection from yeast cell surface display libraries were prepared by coating magnetite nanoparticles with a thermo-responsive polymer consisting of N-isopropyl acrylamide and a biotin derivative. These particles showed a reversible transition between flocculation and dispersion at around the lower critical solution temperature of 30 degrees C, above which the flocculated particles--which absorbed a large amount of avidin due to their large surface area--were quickly separable by magnet. The model library was constructed by mixing control yeast cells with target yeast cells co-displaying IgG binding protein (ZZ) and enhanced green fluorescence protein. Biotinylated IgG and avidin were subsequently added to the model library, and target cells were efficiently enriched with the biotinylated magnetic nanoparticles by avidin-biotin sandwich and ZZ-IgG interaction. The few target cells (0.001%) in the model library were enriched by up to 100% in only 5 days by an affinity selection procedure repeated four times. This novel method based on magnetic nanoparticles and a yeast cell surface display system could fulfill a wide range of applications in the analysis of protein-protein interactions and rapid isolation of novel biomolecules.

Activin A is an autocrine activator of rat pancreatic stellate cells: potential therapeutic role of follistatin for pancreatic fibrosis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The present study was conducted to examine the effect of activin A on activation of rat pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs).

METHODS

PSCs were prepared from rat pancreas using collagenase digestion and centrifugation with Nycodenz gradient. Activation of PSCs was examined by determining smooth muscle actin expression with western blotting. The presence of activin A receptors in PSCs was investigated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blotting, and immunocytochemistry. Expression of activin A and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) mRNA was examined by RT-PCR. Activin A and TGF-beta peptide concentrations were examined with ELISA. Existence of activin A peptide in PSCs was investigated by immunocytochemistry. Collagen secretion was determined by Sirius red dye binding.

RESULTS

Activin A receptors I and IIa were present in PSCs. PSCs expressed activin A mRNA and secreted activin A. Activin A enhanced PSC activation and collagen secretion in a dose dependent manner. TGF-beta and activin A increased each other's secretion and mRNA expression of PSCs. Follistatin decreased TGF-beta mRNA expression and TGF-beta secretion of PSCs, and inhibited both PSC activation and collagen secretion.

CONCLUSION

Activin A is an autocrine activator of PSCs. Follistatin can inhibit PSC activation and collagen secretion by blocking autocrined activin A and decreasing TGF-beta expression and secretion of PSCs.

High expression of transgenes mediated by hybrid retroviral vectors in hepatocytes: comparison of promoters from murine retroviruses in vitro and in vivo

To achieve high transgene expression in the liver, we have compared the reporter gene expression among various murine retroviral long terminal repeats (LTRs) or leader sequences in vitro. Transient reporter gene expression assays revealed the highest gene expression by the polycythemic strain of spleen focus-forming virus (SFFVp) LTR in differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, HuH-7 and PLC/PRF/5. However, remarkable difference was not observed among LTRs in other types of human liver tumor cell lines. Essentially the same results were obtained by infecting these cells with a series of retroviral vectors. Repression of transgene expression was observed by the leader sequences from Moloney murine leukemia virus (MoMLV), but not from mouse embryonic stem cell virus (MESV). Strengths of the promoters were further compared in murine hepatocytes in vivo. Although the proportions of genomic integration were almost the same, higher gene expression was observed by the FMEV-type vector, which contained the SFFVp LTR and the MESV leader, in comparison with that by the MoMLV-based vector. Thus, FMEV-type vectors may represent a novel type of vectors for human gene therapy with hepatocytes.

Factors predicting compensatory vascular remodelling of the carotid artery affected by atherosclerosis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate factors predicting the development of outward remodelling of the carotid artery in patients with atherosclerosis.

DESIGN

130 patients with carotid artery stenosis (15-85% of the vessel diameter) were divided into two groups, based on the presence or absence of outward remodelling of the sclerotic carotid segment on high resolution ultrasonography. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the contribution of haemodynamic, laboratory, and clinical measurements on the development of remodelling, including age, sex, type of stenosis, extent of plaque, per cent diameter stenosis, underlying disease, selected drug treatment, and plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, and uric acid.

RESULTS

64 patients (49%) had outward remodelling. Multivariate regression analysis showed that hypertension, the type of plaque, the thickness of the plaque, and the extent of stenosis were independent factors predicting remodelling. The odds ratios of hypertension, unstable shape of plaque, thickness of plaque, and the extent of the stenosis were 6.70, 3.02, 2.04, and 1.05, respectively. Other measurements did not contribute significantly to the estimation of remodelling.

CONCLUSIONS

Compensatory enlargement of the vessel occurs in about 50% of carotid artery segments with a diameter stenosis of 15-85%. Hypertension and the shape of the plaque are major determinants of the development of outward remodelling.

Contribution of specific transport systems to anthracycline transport in tumor and normal cells

Anthracycline antibiotics are very effective neoplastic agents widely used clinically. However, because of their many adverse effects (e.g. cardiotoxicity, leukopenia and alopecia), their clinical use has been limited. In order to minimize their adverse effects in clinical cancer chemotherapy, anthracyclines must be selectively transported into tumor cells. If there are differences in transport characteristics between tumor and normal cells, it should be possible to establish a strategy for selectively delivering anthracyclines to tumor cells on the basis of the differences. In human cultured leukemia HL60 cells, as tumor cells, and human fresh mononuclear cells, as normal cells, doxorubicin, pirarubicin, daunorubicin and idarubicin were incorporated via a common carrier-mediated system, but the carriers were different in the two cell types. In HL60 cells, it was indicated that a nucleoside transport system contributed, at least in part, to the transport of doxorubicin and pirarubicin, but not daunorubicin and idarubicin, and its contribution to pirarubicin transport was found in other tumor cells, i.e. mouse ovarian sarcoma M5076 and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells. On the other hand, in mononuclear cells, there was no involvement of a nucleoside transport system for the four anthracyclines examined. Therefore, we thought that with the modification of an anthracycline molecule as a substrate for the nucleoside transport system, the anthracycline could be delivered selectively to tumor cells.

PsbT polypeptide is required for efficient repair of photodamaged photosystem II reaction center

PsbT is a small chloroplast-encoded hydrophobic polypeptide associated with the photosystem II (PSII) core complex. A psbT-deficient mutant (Delta psbT) of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii grows photoautotrophically, whereas its growth is significantly impaired in strong light. To understand the photosensitivity of Delta psbT, we have studied the effect of strong illumination on PSII activity and proteins. It is shown that the level of PSII activity and proteins is reduced in the Delta psbT more significantly than in wild type under strong light. When recovery of the photodamaged PSII is inhibited by a chloroplast protein synthesis inhibitor, the light-induced inactivation and degradation of PSII occur similarly in wild-type and mutant cells. On the contrary, the recovery of PSII activity after partial photoinactivation is remarkably delayed in the Delta psbT cells, suggesting that PsbT is required for efficient recovery of the photodamaged PSII complex. These results therefore present the first evidence for involvement of this small PSII polypeptide in the recovery process. Partial disintegration of the purified PSII core complex and localization of PSII proteins in the resulting PSII subcore complexes have revealed that PsbT is associated with D1/D2 heterodimer. A possible role of PsbT in the recovery process is discussed.

Heart instantaneous frequency (HIF): an alternative approach to extract heart rate variability

Our study focuses on a new method of estimating the heart rate variability (HRV) which does not require the use of electrocardiogram (ECG) R-wave detection. Contrary to the R-wave detection method which requires a sampling frequency higher than 100 Hz, the one proposed here can be used to calculate the HRV from an ECG signal sampled at a frequency of approximately 5 Hz with a relative mean error of 0.03. This new method is based on extracting the instantaneous fundamental frequency from the ECG. The method could be efficiently used to extract the HRV from an ECG measured for healthy subjects performing an exercise in which the HRV increases linearly with time, and for subjects with respiratory and cardiac problems. The overall error decreased as we low-pass filtered the HRV with lower cut-off frequencies. Moreover, it was shown that the method could be efficiently used to calculate the HRV from blood pressure measurements and to be robust to noise.

Retreatment with interferon-alpha at dosages or period increased by 1.3 times is effective for treatment for transient responders and non-responders in chronic hepatitis C patients

The objectives of retreatment with interferon (IFN) in chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) patients are sustained response and a reduction in the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it is still unclear, as to which patients are candidates for retreatment with IFN. Eighteen transient responders (TRs) and 15 non-responders (NRs) to IFN therapy in CH-C received retreatment with IFNalpha. Of the 18 TRs, five showed sustained disappearance of hepatitis C virus, two showed sustained biochemical response, 10 continued as TR and one was a NR. Of the 15 NRs, six showed a TR while nine continued as NRs. Responsive cases, which included the virologically or biochemically sustained and transient responders, received either a dose of IFN 1.3 times greater or were treated for a period of 1.3 times longer in the retreatment than the original treatment. We submit that IFN treatment consisting of either a time period or a dosage 1.3 times those of the original IFN administration may be beneficial in the case of TR and NR in chronic hepatitis C patients.

Studies on interactions between traditional herbal and Western medicines. IV: lack of pharmacokinetic interactions between Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to and carbamazepine in rats

The possibility of pharmacokinetic interactions between Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to extract powder (TJ-12), a widely used traditional Chinese herbal (Kampo) medicine, and carbamazepine (CBZ), an important anti-epileptic drug, was examined in rats. There were no significant differences in the serum protein binding of CBZ and carbamazepine- 10,11-epoxide (CBZ-E), its active metabolite, at two concentrations (1 and 10 Bg/ml) between twogroups pretreated orally with the vehicle andTJ-12 suspension (1 g/kg/d, p.o.) for 1 week. One-week repeated pretreatment with TJ- 12 (1 g/kg/d) did not influence liver weight, contents of cytochromes P450 and b5 in hepatic microsomes or the formation rate of CBZ-E from CBZ by its microsomes, while pretreatment with phenobarbital (80 mg/kg/d, i.p.) significantly increased these parameters. Neither a single nor 1-week repeated oral pretreatment with TJ-12 (1 g/kg/d) affected the plasma concentration-time profile and any pharmacokinetic parameter of CBZ or CBZ-E after oral administration of CBZ (50 mg/kg). These results indicated that oral co-administration of TJ-12 with CBZ has no effect ofthe pharmacokinetics of CBZ or CBZ-E in rats. Concomitant treatment with TJ- 12 and CBZ appears to be pharmacokinetically safe in humans.

Pharmacokinetics of dicrofenac after its intrarectal and intracolostomal administration to rabbits with rectal resection or colostoma construction

We investigated the pharmacokinetics of diclofenac, one of the important analgesics in palliative care, after its intrarectal and intracolostomal administration to rabbits with rectal resection or colostoma construction. In rectal-resected rabbits, its bioavailability after rectal administration was significantly lower than that in normal rabbits, and furthermore that after intracolostomal administration was significantly lower than that in rectal-resected rabbits. This decreased bioavailability in rabbits with rectal resection and colostoma construction was thought to be due to the increased first-pass effect. With increase in the dose up to 1.5-fold, the plasma concentrations in both rectal-resected and colostoma-constructed rabbits increased to the normal rabbit level. These results indicate that the bioavailability of diclofenac sodium after its rectal and intracolostomal administration decreases, and that an increased dose can restore the decreased plasma concentration. There was no difference in the plasma concentration with diclofenac sodium suppositories between administration into the normal rectum and the remaining rectum following colostoma construction, and the remaining rectum was found to be a useful administration route for suppositories. Therefore, it was indicated that when administering diclofenac sodium suppositories to rectal-resected and colostoma-constructed patients, the dose should be increased, because the pharmacokinetics of diclofenac was similar in rabbits and human.

Inhibitory effect of statins on fetal bovine serum-induced proliferation of rat cultured mesangial cells and correlation between their inhibitory effect and transport characteristics

Mesangial cells play an important role in physiologic functions, including the regulation of glomerular filtration, and as a pathogenic factor for proliferative glomerulonephritis. We compared the potencies of the inhibitory effects of simvastatin acid, lovastatin acid, and pravastatin on fetal bovine serum (FBS)-induced proliferation of rat cultured mesangial cells, and examined the correlation between their inhibitory effects and intracellular concentrations. We also investigated the transport of the statins in the cells, and whether or not their intracellular concentrations were determined by their transport characteristics. It appeared that the growth inhibitory effects on FBS-induced proliferation of mesangial cells of simvastatin acid and lovastatin acid were approximately the same, but that of pravastatin was extremely weak compared with the others. The growth inhibitory effects of these agents were suggested to depend, at least in part, on the amount incorporated intracellularly. Simvastatin acid, lovastatin acid, and pravastatin appeared to be taken up by mesangial cells via a common carrier, the uptake capacity being determined by their lipophilicity. Therefore, it was thought that the growth inhibitory effects of the statins partially depended on their carrier-mediated uptake by mesangial cells.

Venous hemangioma of the scrotum: a case report

We report a case of intrascrotal hemangioma. A 68-year-old man who had noticed a swelling in his left scrotum over the past 1 year was seen at our hospital. Under a diagnosis of intrascrotal tumor, total excision of the mass was performed. Histopathological examination revealed venous hemangioma of the scrotum.

[A study of the clinical effect of estradiol transdermal therapeutic system alone on pollakisuria and urinary incontinence in postmenopausal woman]

PURPOSE

Our purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a transdermal estradiol delivery system in postmenopausal women with confirmed pollakisuria and urinary incontinence.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We investigated 10 postmenopausal women, age 54-83 years, with pollakisuria and urinary incontinence but did not show distinct urological and/or neurological abnormalities. In this study, estradiol transdermal therapeutic system (Estraderm TTS 2 mg) alone were administrated for total of 8-week and this is observational, not randomized, blinded or controlled. A clinical evaluation were performed two times at before and after administration.

RESULTS

In seven eligible cases, the severity of urinary incontinence was graded down in almost of them and the therapeutic effect on urinary incontinence was evaluated as "very effective" in 3 cases, "improved" in 2, "slightly improved" in 1 and "no change" in 1, respectively. In three eligible cases, the severity of pollakisuria was no change in all of them.

CONCLUSION

Thus, the estrogen supplement therapy was considered effective for postmenopausal urinary incontinence.

Extraction of event-related signals from multichannel bioelectrical measurements

Independent component analysis (ICA) is a powerful tool for separating signals from their mixtures. In this field, many algorithms were proposed, but they poorly use a priori information in order to find the desired signal. Here, we propose a fixed point algorithm which uses a priori information to find the signal of interest out of a number of sensors. We particularly applied the algorithm to cancel cardiac artifacts from a magnetoencephalogram.

Retroviral vector-mediated gene expression in human CD34+CD38- cells expanded in vitro: cis elements of FMEV are superior to those of Mo-MuLV

A novel murine stromal cell line, HESS-M28, was established, which supports the expansion of human CD34+CD38- cells more than 300-fold in vitro in the presence of human IL-3 and SCF. These cells were used in an attempt to evaluate cis-acting elements of retroviral vectors in human primitive hematopoietic cells. Cord blood cells were cultured on top of the mixed cell layers of the stromal cell line, HESS-M28, and retroviral vector-producing cells. The FMEV-type vector SF/Lyt contained the spleen focus-forming virus U3 and the MESV primer-binding site (PBS), while MO3/Lyt contained the U3 region and PBS from Mo-MuLV. After transduction by the FMEV-type and Mo-MuLV-based vectors, expression of the marker gene murine CD8 (mCD8) was examined in CD34-, CD34+, and CD34+CD38- cells. In CD34+ and CD34+CD38- cells, expression of mCD8 was higher with the FMEV-type vector, SF/Lyt, compared with the cells transduced by the Mo-MuLV-based vector MO3/Lyt, although the expression was comparable in CD34- cells. Expression of marker genes was also confirmed in long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-ICs) and SCID-repopulating cells (SRCs).

Development of a new type nozzle and spray-drier for industrial production of fine powders

Sophisticated nozzle and spray-drier were newly developed. The nozzle type was that of four-phase spraying, where two liquid streams and two air streams were blown off. The spray pattern from the nozzle was of a hollow-cone type. Mean diameter of droplets in the mist was 13.2 microm in weight average in the condition of blowing at 776 g/min in air flow and 500 ml/min in liquid flow. That is, the weight-based flow ratio of air to liquid was as small as 1. 55. The geometric standard deviation of the droplet size was less than 1.65. This nozzle was still available for a concentrated suspension up to 27% solid without formation of the sludge on the orifice. Thus, fine powder with 1.99 microm in mean diameter was obtained by means of the nozzle and the spray-drier newly developed by us. These are promising for industrial production of the fine powder with low energy and high recovery.

Effects of beta-adrenergic stimulation on the acutely obstructed ureter in dogs

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a selective beta(3)-adrenoceptor agonist, (R, R)-5-[2-[[2-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]-amino]propyl]-1, 3-benzodioxole-2,2-dicarboxylate (CL 316243), on the acutely obstructed ureter in anesthetized dogs. After a complete ureteral obstruction produced by the inflation of a balloon catheter placed within the left lower ureter, the intraluminal ureteral pressure gradually rose to reach a plateau of approximately 52.5 mm Hg. Intravenous administration of isoproterenol (a nonselective beta-adrenoceptor agonist; 10 microg/kg) and CL 316243 (1 microg/kg) significantly decreased this elevated ureteral pressure (by 74.1 and 77.2%, respectively), with the reduction more sustained with CL 316243 than with isoproterenol. In addition, under both isoproterenol and CL 316243, urine flow (which had been interrupted by the balloon) was resumed, resulting in further sustained decreases in ureteral pressure. The mean blood pressure decreased and heart rate increased after the administration of both drugs, but these changes were greater in the isoproterenol group than in the CL 316243 group. In contrast, i.v. administration of butylscopolamine (an anticholinergic agent; 1000 microg/kg) had no evident effects on ureteral pressure or on urine flow. The increase in left kidney weight seen after ureteral obstruction was suppressed by CL 316243. We conclude that the selective beta(3)-adrenoceptor agonist tested appears to be more useful than isoproterenol for reducing ureteral pressure above the obstructed site and for promoting ureteral relaxation and increasing urine flow around the point of obstruction in dogs.

Intermittent catheterization limits rabbit bladder dysfunction in response to partial outlet obstruction

INTRODUCTION

The initial response of the urinary bladder to outflow partial obstruction consists of distension, followed by a rapid increase in mass and concomitant functional adaptations. Subsequently, an indeterminate period of stabilized function and little increase in mass occurs (compensation). Finally, bladder mass again progressively increases, accompanied by deleterious changes in bladder morphology, biochemistry and pharmacology, and progressive loss of function (decompensation). The reported study was designed to determine whether limiting the level of bladder distension, using intermittent catheterization (IntCath), could protect the bladder from decompensation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixteen male New Zealand White rabbits were separated into 4 groups of 4 rabbits each: control, control with IntCath, obstructed, and obstructed with IntCath. IntCath was performed with the animals under inhalation anesthesia. An 8 Fr. catheter was inserted through the urethra into the bladder every 8 hours and the urine drained. After 14 days of obstruction, bladders were removed from all rabbits; longitudinal strips were cut from the bladder body and suspended in individual organ baths. Contractile responses to field stimulation (FS), KCl, ATP, and carbachol were measured.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between control rabbits and controls with IntCath in bladder weights, compliance, and contractile responses to all stimuli. Bladder weights of both obstructed groups increased significantly compared to those of both control groups. Bladder weights of obstructed rabbits increased to a significantly greater extent than did those of obstructed rabbits with IntCath. Bladder compliance in the obstructed group was significantly lower than compliance in both control groups and in obstructed rabbits with IntCath. Both obstructed groups exhibited significantly decreased contractile responses to FS, ATP and KCl, compared to control groups. The response of the obstructed group with IntCath to FS and carbachol was significantly greater than the responses of the obstructed group without IntCath.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings show that limiting distension with IntCath reduces the magnitudes of the increased bladder mass, the loss of bladder wall elasticity (compliance), and the impaired contractile responses which occur secondary to outflow obstruction.

[Clinical efficacy of cefpirome sulfate against Bacteroides species, Prevotella species and Porphyromonas species. Society of Anaerobic Bacterial Infections in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology in Gifu]

The injectable cephalosporin cefpirome (CPR) was launched in Japan in 1993. It has widely been used in the various infectious diseases. We therefore studied the clinical and bacteriological efficacy of CPR against infections caused by Bacteroides species, Prevotella species and Porphyromonas species frequently isolated from the obstetric and gynecologic infections. Thirteen institutions were involved in this study which ran from March 1994 to January 1999. The administration dosage of CPR was 2 to 4 gram per day administered by drip infusion or intravenous infusion. The duration of treatment was from 3 to 15 days. The evaluations were performed before and after the treatment. CPR was administered to 194 patients with obstetric and gynecologic infections, and 146 of 194 cases were acceptable for the evaluation of drug efficacy. Bacteroides species were identified in 102 patients. Clinical efficacy in 146 cases was excellent in 12 patients, good in 110, fair in 9 and poor in 15 patients. The eradication rate for Bacteroides species could be in 37 cases out of 54 evaluable cases; Prevotella species in 38 out of 49; and Porphyromonas species in 5 out of 5. The overall assessment of bacteriological efficacy was "eradicated" in 91 cases out of 133 (68.4%). Adverse reactions including abnormal findings in laboratory tests were seen in 8 patients (4.76%). Based on these results, CPR promises efficacy and safety in the treatment of obstetric and gynecologic infections due to Bacteroides species.

Decreased amplitude of left ventricular posterior wall motion with notch movement to determine the left posterior septal accessory pathway in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To determine preoperatively, by analysing asynchronous left ventricular wall motion, whether to approach through the right ventricle or the left ventricle when carrying out catheter ablation of the accessory pathway in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, especially in patients with the pathway located on the septum.

METHODS

73 patients with manifest Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome who underwent successful catheter ablation were studied. Location of accessory pathway was classified as right ventricular side: right anterior paraseptum, right anterior, right lateral, right posterior, anterior septum, midseptum, right posterior septum; left ventricular side: left posterior septum, left posterior, left lateral, left anterior. Asynchronous systolic wall motion was analysed by cross sectional echocardiography.

RESULTS

Echocardiography showed that the amplitude of left ventricular posterior systolic wall motion was reduced when the pathway was located on the left ventricular side as opposed to the right ventricular side (mean (SD), 11.1 (1.7) v 12.9 (1.1) mm, p < 0.001), especially in patients with left posterior septal accessory pathway (9.7 (0.8) mm). There were no overlapping values between the left posterior septal accessory pathway and the right ventricular side accessory pathway. Posterior wall notch motion was observed in all patients with a left posterior septal accessory pathway (9/9), but not at all in patients with pathways located on the right ventricular side of the septum. In patients with a septal accessory pathway, an ECG algorithm provided poor information (relatively low sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value) for determining whether the subsite faced either the left (left posterior septum) or the right ventricle (anterior septum, midseptum, right posterior septum).

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased amplitude of left ventricular posterior wall motion with notch movement is an important finding for accessory pathways located on the left posterior septum. These findings provided clinically useful information for determining whether to approach catheter ablation from the right or the left ventricle.