Improvement of blood compatibility on cellulose dialysis membrane. 2. Blood compatibility of phospholipid polymer grafted cellulose membrane

The blood compatibility of a cellulose haemodialysis membrane whose surface was grafted with a methacrylate having a phospholipid polar group, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, was evaluated with attention to platelet adhesion to the membrane surface and complement activation induced by the membrane. When the original cellulose membrane came in contact with platelet-rich plasma for 30 min, numerous platelets adhered to the surface and aggregated. On the other hand, the membrane grafted with 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine effectively suppressed platelet adhesion and activation. This effect became more pronounced with increasing surface distribution. Especially, the 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine grafted membranes, whose distribution exceeded 0.27, completely inhibited platelet adhesion, even when the contact time was 180 min. Moreover, the complement activation was also reduced with increased 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine distribution on the surface of the membrane.

Comparative study of IgA nephropathy with acute and insidious onset. Clinical, laboratory and pathological findings

In order to clarify the difference of clinical and pathological features between the IgA nephropathy patients with acute and insidious onset, 427 patients were examined in this study. Seventy-eight patients with acute onset (group 1) were often associated with mucosal system infections at the abrupt onset. This group revealed macroscopic hematuria, more severe microscopic hematuria (more than 20/hpf), higher glomerular filtration rate (p less than 0.01) and lower serum levels of C3 (p less than 0.01). It had also a significantly higher incidence of exudative lesions (p less than 0.001). On the other hand, the onset of 349 patients (group 2) was noticed to be insidious without preceding infections. This group showed a more severe increase in mesangial cells (p less than 0.01) and a significantly higher incidence of adhesion, arterial sclerosis and tubulointerstitial changes. Deposition of Clq, C4 and IgM and detachment of visceral epithelium from the basement membrane were more frequently seen in group 2. Twenty-seven of 345 patients followed for at least 1 year after the biopsy were on maintenance hemodialysis: 1 patient was in group 1 and 26 were in group 2. These results clarified that there was a difference in clinical, laboratory and histopathological findings between the patients with IgA nephropathy with acute and insidious onset.

Sputtering of Lead-Based Ferroelectrics

PbTiO3(PT), Pb1-xLaxTi1-x/4O3(PLT) and PbZrxTi1-xO3(PZT) thin films were prepared by rf magnetron sputtering. It was found that the thin films have remarkably large pyroelectric effect and high figures of merit for infrared sensors without poling treatment. High performance pyroelectric infrared sensors (single element and linear array) were fabricated by using the PLT(x=0.1) thin films with the new structures and the device process. This type of sensor is carried on the air conditioner to detect a thermal environment. The PZT thin films with x=0.9 showed a large remanent polarization of 46μC/cm2 and small coercive force of 28kV/cm. In addition, good endurance behavior (no degradation of Pr after 1011 cycles) was observed. Recent activities of ferroelectric thin film research in Japan is also reported.

Improved chromatographic purification of human and bovine type V collagen sub-molecular species and their subunit chains from conventional crude preparations. Application to cell-substratum adhesion assay for human umbilical vein endothelial cell

Two human type V collagen sub-molecular species, designated [alpha 1(V)]2 alpha 2(V) and alpha 1(V)alpha 2(V)alpha 3(V), were purified chromatographically from a commercially available preparation, in which cystine-rich collagenous contaminants were contained, with a column packed with Fractogel EMD SO3-. From bovine crude preparations, the [alpha 1(V)]2 alpha 2(V) form free from the collagenous contaminants was purified. Type V collagen subunit chains were isolated from each type V collagen molecule by anion-exchange HPLC with a Bakerbond PEI Scout column. The highly purified human type V collagen molecules and their subunit chains were used to examine the inhibitory effect on human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation. It was confirmed that the alpha 1(V) chain has inhibitory activity and it was found that the inhibitory effect of the [alpha 1(V)]2 alpha 2(V) form is stronger than that of the alpha 1(V)alpha 2(V)alpha 3(V) form and that the alpha 3(V) chain has no inhibitory activity.

Effective treatment by glycolic acid peeling for cutaneous manifestation of familial generalized acanthosis nigricans caused by FGFR3 mutation

BACKGROUND

Acanthosis nigricans (AN) can occur as a cutaneous manifestation of genetic diseases, one of which is associated with activating mutations of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 gene (FGFR3).

OBJECTIVE

We explored familial AN patients with FGFR3 mutations and examined the effectiveness of glycolic acid (GA) peeling in improving their skin manifestations.

METHODS

Sanger sequencing was performed for the genomic DNA extracted from leucocytes of the family members involving familial AN. GA peeling was carried out for the two patients of familial AN once every 2 weeks.

RESULTS

Heterozygous c.1949A>C (p.K650T) mutation in FGFR3 was identified for the affected family members examined, whereas the wild-type sequence was found for two unaffected individuals. Hyperpigmentation and coarseness of the skin were improved by GA peeling at regular intervals with few adverse effects.

CONCLUSION

We diagnosed our cases as familial generalized AN caused by heterozygous c.1949A>C (p.K650T) mutation of FGFR3. We propose that GA peeling is a useful and safe therapeutic option to treat familial AN.

Electromagnetically induced transparency in semiconductors via biexciton coherence

We report an experimental demonstration and theoretical analysis of electromagnetically induced transparency in a GaAs quantum well, in which the absorption of an exciton resonance is reduced by more than twentyfold. The destructive quantum interference in this scheme is set up by a control pulse that couples to a resonance of biexcitons. These studies illustrate that many-particle interactions, which are inherent in semiconductors and are often detrimental to quantum coherences, can also be harnessed to manipulate these coherences.

Activation of β2-adrenergic receptor signals suppresses mesenchymal phenotypes of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

Metastasis is a primary reason related to the mortality of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. A program called epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been shown to play a critical role in promoting metastasis in epithelium-derived carcinoma. During EMT, epithelial cancer cells acquire motile mesenchymal phenotypes and detach from primary tumors. Recent lines of evidence have suggested that EMT confers cancer cells with tumor-initiating ability. Therefore, selective targeting of EMT would lead to the development of effective therapeutic agents. In this study, using a chemical biology approach, we identified isoxsuprine, a β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) agonist as a low-molecular-weight compound that interferes with the acquisition of mesenchymal phenotypes of oral cancer cells. Treatment of multiple types of oral cancer cells with isoxsuprine led to the downregulation of mesenchymal cell markers that was accompanied by reduced cell motility. Similar inhibitory effects were also observed for isoprenaline, a non-selective β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) agonist. In addition, inhibition of cell migration upon treatment with isoxsuprine was reverted by a non-selective β-AR antagonist, propranolol, and the CRISPR/Cas9 system-mediated deletion of the β2-AR gene, suggesting that the effects exerted by isoxsuprine involved signals mediated by β2-AR. In addition, in a subcutaneous xenograft model of oral cancer cells, the administration of isoxsuprine effectively suppressed primary tumor growth, suggesting β2-AR signals to be a promising cancer therapeutic target for treatment of OSCC.

Break of unresponsiveness of delayed-type hypersensitivity to sheep red blood cells by pertussis toxin

Effects of pertussis toxin (PT) on the unresponsiveness of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were examined in mice. DTH cannot be detected in mice injected iv with 1 X 10(9) SRBC. This unresponsive state was broken by 1 microgram of PT given iv to mice 1 or more days, even 21 days, after SRBC-injection and replaced by the development of high and persistent DTH responses with several days' lag after PT treatment. The restored DTH response was accompanied by the appearance of circulating DTH-mediating cells. In the non-PT-treated mice, DTH-mediating cells, which conferred DTH in syngeneic naive recipient mice by systemic transfer, were found in the spleen but not in the blood, whereas in the PT-treated mice, they were found both in the spleen and in the blood. On the other hand, the induction or the function of splenic suppressor T cells (Ts) for DTH in mice injected iv with 10(9) SRBC was inhibited by PT treatment. DTH-Ts, which appeared in the spleen around 4 days after SRBC injection and inhibited the induction of DTH response to SRBC in the syngeneic cyclophosphamide-pretreated recipient mice, failed to be induced in mice given PT 1 day after SRBC injection, and their ability was reduced when they were treated in vitro with PT immediately before transfer. These results demonstrate the possibilities that the reinforced migration of DTH-mediating cells from spleen to blood by PT is involved in the mechanisms by which PT break the unresponsiveness of DTH and that the interference with the induction or the function of DTH-Ts by PT may also be partly involved in the mechanisms.

Solvent extraction of trivalent actinides with di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid

We carried out solvent extraction on the trivalent actinides of Am, Cm, Cf, and Fm and the lanthanides (except Pm) using di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (HDEHP) in benzene by a batch method. The extraction constants of the HDEHP complexes for these elements were determined systematically under identical conditions. The tetrad effect was clearly observed in the variation of the extraction constants of the lanthanide series. We found that the extraction constant for Fm(III) is much smaller than that for Dy(III), which have similar ionic radii. The extraction constants for Am(III), Cm(III), and Cf(III) are similar to those for corresponding Ln(III) having similar ionic radii. Two possibilities that account for the lower extraction constant of Fm(III) is suggested.

Evidence for intervalence band coherences in semiconductor quantum wells via coherently coupled optical Stark shifts

We report the experimental observation of coherently coupled heavy-hole-light-hole Stark shifts, i.e., light-hole exciton shifts under heavy-hole exciton pumping conditions, in InGaAs quantum wells. The theoretical analysis of the data is based on a full many-body approach (dynamics-controlled truncation formalism) in the third-order nonlinear optical regime. It is shown that the Stark shift data can be interpreted as strong evidence of suitably defined nonradiative intervalence band coherences in a semiconductor quantum well. Hence, the observations establish a semiconductor analog of Raman coherences in three-level atoms.

Chemopreventive effects of S-methylcysteine on rat hepatocarcinogenesis induced by concurrent administration of sodium nitrite and morpholine

The aim of the present study was to examine the chemopreventive efficacy of S-methylcysteine (SMC) on rat hepatocarcinogenesis induced by concurrent administration of sodium nitrite (NaNO(2)) and morpholine (Mor) using a medium-term rat liver carcinogenesis bioassay (Ito test). Administration of SMC caused significant reduction in the areas of glutathione S-transferase placental form positive foci along with a significant decrease of hepatocyte 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling indices. These results demonstrated potent chemopreventive effects of SMC against hepatocarcinogenesis due to concurrent administration of Mor and NaNO(2). SMC could thus be an effective chemopreventive agent for decreasing the risk of carcinogenicity from environmental precursors of N-nitroso compounds.

Polysynaptic neuronal pathways from group I and group II afferents innervating tail muscles to hindlimb motoneurons in the cat

Postsynaptic potentials evoked in motoneurons innervating m. posterior biceps and semitendinosus (PBSt) and m. triceps surae (GS) by low threshold afferents from various tail muscles located at the level of the second-third caudal vertebrae were investigated in the non-anesthetized and spinalized cat. Afferent inputs from tail muscles on both sides predominantly evoked depolarizing potential in PBSt motoneurons and hyperpolarizing potential in GS motoneurons. The findings suggest that in general, tail muscle afferents facilitate flexor and inhibit extensor hindlimb motoneurons through polysynaptic pathways, so that the pelvic girdle is kept in a low position to maintain the stability of the body irrespective of different movements or posture of the tail.

[Studies on the pressor mechanism of 19-hydroxyandrostenedione]

In the present study, the pressor activity of 19-hydroxyandrostenedione (19-OH-AD) (which is a kind of androgen) and the presence or absence of the possibility of its role as an amplifier of mineralocorticoid were investigated. 34 Wistar rats of 8 weeks of age were used as the experimental subjects. The rats were divided into 3 groups, the control group (n = 12), 19-OH-AD group (n = 12) and DOCA group (n = 10). The control group was given 0.2 ml of sesame oil, the 19-OH-AD group was given 10 mg of 19-OH-AD dissolved in 0.2 ml of sesame oil, and the DOCA group was given 10 mg of DOCA dissolved in 0.2 ml of sesame oil. This was subcutaneously administered three times a week for 4 weeks, and body weight and blood pressure were observed. At the termination of the experiment, blood was sampled by decapitation, and the serum sodium concentration, erythrocyte sodium content, plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma atrial natriuretic hormone (alpha-rANP), and contents of DOC, corticosterone and aldosterone in adrenal gland were determined. The following results were obtained. The blood pressure at the termination of the experiment was higher than that at the initiation of the experiment by 9.9 +/- 1.9 (S.E.), 31.3 +/- 1.7, and 46.2 +/- 2.0 mmHg in the control, 19-OH-AD and DOCA groups, respectively, where significant elevations were observed in both the 19-OH-AD and DOCA groups as compared with the control group. As to the serum sodium concentration, only the DOCA group showed a significant elevation (p less than 0.001) as compared with the other two groups. However, the erythrocyte sodium contents of both the 19-OH-AD and DOCA groups increased significantly as compared with the control group. Moreover, the increase of the DOCA group was significantly higher (p less than 0.001) than that of the 19-OH-AD, and a significant positive correlation between the elevation of blood pressure and the erythrocyte sodium content was observed (p less than 0.001). As to the PRA value, only the DOCA group showed a significant lowering as compared with the other two groups, whereas alpha-rANP value of the DOCA group showed a significant elevation as compared with the other two groups. As to the contents of steroid hormones in the adrenal gland, all of the steroid hormones were significantly lower in the DOCA group, while those of the 19-OH-AD group were unchanged as were those of the control group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[A case of reflux nephropathy associated with pheochromocytoma]

A 26-year-old female patient complicated with reflux nephropathy and pheochromocytoma is reported. We could not find either intrinsic or extrinsic factor of urinary tract obstruction. The open bilateral renal biopsy was performed at the time of resection of the tumor. The renal biopsy specimen demonstrated minor glomerular change, severe tubular "thyroid-like" appearance and cast formation in the obvious reflux side. Otherwise focal glomerular sclerosis (FGS) lesion was found in less reflux side. In reflux nephropathy, FGS lesion is reported as main cause of progression, but mechanism of FGS lesion is unknown. This case which has both vesicoureteral reflux the high plasma nor-epinephrine concentration was considered to be important to emphasize circulative factor in the pathogenesis of FGS like lesion.

Polysynaptic neuronal pathways from tail cutaneous afferents to hindlimb motoneurons in the spinalized cat

Postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) were recorded in motoneurons innervating the m. posterior biceps and semitendinosus (PBSt-MN) and m. triceps surae (GS-MN) in 19 spinalized adult cats, after electrical stimulation of the dorsal and ventral tail cutaneous nerves (TDC and TVC). With stimulation at 1,5-5 time threshold, inhibitory PSPs (IPSPs), excitatory PSPs (EPSPs), and mixed PSPs (IPSP/EPSPs, EPSP/IPSPs) were recorded in approximately 90% of PBSt-MN and 70% of GS-MN. IPSPs (IPSPs, IPSP/EPSPs) after stimulation of the contralateral TVC and TDC were observed in 54% and 52% of PBSt motoneurons, respectively. EPSPs (EPSP, EPSP/IPSPs) were recorded after stimulation of ipsilateral TVC in 56% of PBSt motoneurons. IPSPs produced after stimulation of ipsilateral TDC and TVC were observed in 65% and 63%, respectively, of GS-MN showing PSPs after stimulation of tail cutaneous nerves. Measurement of segmental latencies of the earliest PSPs (PBSt-MN, IPSPs: 2.1-7.4 ms, EPSPs: 3.1-18.9 ms, GS-MN, IPSPs: 2.5-17.1 ms, EPSPs: 4.2-19.4 ms) suggested that most of the neural pathways from tail cutaneous afferents to hindlimb motoneurons are at least trisynaptic in the L7 spinal segments. Hemisection of spinal cord at S1-S2 indicated that neural pathways from both the ipsilateral and contralateral low threshold cutaneous afferents pass through the ipsilateral spinal cord at S1-S2. The neural pathways from tail cutaneous afferents to hindlimb motoneurons to maintain the balance of the pelvic girdle were discussed.