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The influence of SnO2 concentration in the target on the film characteristics was studied in order to make the useful database for the device design when low discharge voltage sputtering method and a high density In2O3–SnO2 ceramic targets were used. In the case of the films deposited on unheated substrate, X-ray diffraction profile showed amorphous structure. Minimum resistivity of 358 μΩ cm was obtained by In2O3 film with mobility of 40.1 cm2 (V s)−1 and carrier density of 4.35E+20 cm−3. With the increase of SnO2 contents, resistivity of the films increased because of the decrease in both carrier density and mobility. Whereas, the films deposited on heated substrates showed polycrystalline structure. Resistivity was reduced, ranging from 5 to 20 wt.% SnO2, and minimum resistivity of 136 μΩ cm was obtained at 15 wt.% with mobility of 40.5 cm2 (V s)−1 and carrier density of 1.13E+21 cm−3. Transmittance and reflectance of these films strongly depend on carrier density. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives – The GM2 gangliosidoses are a group of genetic disorders caused by the accumulation of ganglioside GM2 in neuronal cells. We examined the α - and β -subunits of β -hexosaminidases by a non-radioisotopes detecting system to evaluate whether it was a useful method for understanding of the pathophysiologies of GM2 gangliosidoses. Materials and methods – We investigated the α - and β -subunits of β -hexosaminidases in cultured fibroblasts from cases of various forms of GM2 gangliosidosis by means of Western blotting and a chemiluminescence detection system. Results – In a patient with infantile Tay-Sachs disease [HEXA genotype, Int5-SA(g-1 →t )/Int5-SA(g-1 →t )], the mature α -subunit was undetectable. In a patient with infantile Sandhoff disease (HEXB genotype, C534Y/C534Y), the mature β -subunit was deficient. However, a small amount of the mature β -subunit was detected in a patient with adult Sandhoff disease (HEXB genotype, R505Q(+I207V)/R505Q(+I207V)), which may have resulted in the residual enzyme activity and mild clinical course. Normal amounts of α - and β -subunits were detected in a patient with GM2 activator deficiency. Conclusion – This method is easy and sensitive for detecting target proteins, and is useful for clarification of the pathophysiologies of GM2 gangliosidoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Effect of Selective LDL-Apheresis in a Fabry Patient With Recurrent Strokes," that was published in the March 2005 issue.

Presents a letter to the editor describing recurrent strokes during a two-month period in a young man with Fabry's disease.

Electron emission properties of Spindt-type platinum field emission cathodes were investigated. The current–voltage characteristics together with the current fluctuation during long term operation were evaluated in ultrahigh vacuum. The changes of the emission properties in hydrogen, oxygen or carbon monoxide gas ambient were also investigated. Significant improvement of the emission properties was found when the cathode was operated in carbon monoxide ambient under a certain condition. It was found that the effect of the improvement lasted at least 200 h, and resistance against the oxygen exposure was also improved. The changes of the electron emission properties during long term operation in ultrahigh vacuum and in gas ambient were analyzed with the Seppen–Katamuki chart, of which ordinate and abscissa are slope and intercept of Fowler–Nordheim plot. The electron emission properties were distributed along a straight line in the Seppen–Katamuki chart, and those of the cathode improved by carbon monoxide exposure were distributed along another line. The deviation of the electron emission property in ultrahigh vacuum was considered to be due to change in the geometry of the emitting surface. The major reason for the modification of electron emission properties in carbon monoxide ambient was considered to be deposition of carbon onto the emitting surface, resulting in reduction of the work function. From the deviation of the Fowler–Nordheim characteristics in the Seppen–Katamuki chart, we presented an empirical equation for field emission. © 2004 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The induction of leukemic cell differentiation is a hopeful therapeutic modality. We studied the effects of monochloramine (NH2Cl) on erythroleukemic K562 cell differentiation, and compared the effects observed with those of U0126 and staurosporine, which are known inducers of erythroid and megakaryocytic differentiation, respectively. CD235 (glycophorin) expression, a marker of erythroid differentiation, was significantly increased by NH2Cl and U0126, along with an increase in cd235 mRNA levels. Other erythroid markers such as γ-globin and CD71 (transferrin receptor) were also increased by NH2Cl and U0126. In contrast, CD61 (integrin β3) and CD42b (GP1bα) expression, markers of megakaryocytic differentiation, was increased by staurosporine, but did not change significantly by NH2Cl and U0126. NH2Cl retarded cell proliferation without a marked loss of viability. When ERK phosphorylation (T202/Y204) and CD235 expression were compared using various chemicals, a strong negative correlation was observed ( r = −0.76). Paradoxically, NH2Cl and staurosporine, but not U0126, induced large cells with multiple or lobulated nuclei, which was characteristic to megakaryocytes. NH2Cl increased the mRNA levels of gata1 and scl, decreased that of gata2, and did not change those of pu.1 and klf1. The changes observed in mRNA expression were different from those of U0126 or staurosporine. These results suggest that NH2Cl induces the bidirectional differentiation of K562. Oxidative stress may be effective in inducing leukemic cell differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Several lines of epidemiological studies have indicated that caffeine consumption and plasma uric acid (UA) level were negatively correlated with the incidence of some neurodegenerative diseases. We report here a novel mechanism by which these purine derivatives increase neuronal glutathione (GSH) synthesis. Intraperitoneal injection of caffeine or UA into male C57BL/6 mice significantly increased total GSH levels in the hippocampus. Neither SCH58261, an adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, nor rolipram, a phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, increased GSH levels. Pretreatment with allopurinol, a drug to inhibit UA production, did not change the GSH level in the caffeine-treated mice. Hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons treated with caffeine or UA were resistant to oxidant exposure in the slice culture experiments. In experiments with the SH-SY5Y cell line, cysteine uptake was sodium-dependent and pretreatment with caffeine or UA increased cysteine uptake significantly as compared with the control conditions. Slice culture experiments using the hippocampus also showed increased cysteine and GSH contents after the treatment with caffeine or UA. Immunohistochemical analysis showed increased GSH levels in the hippocampal excitatory amino acid carrier-1 (EAAC1)-positive neurons of mice treated with caffeine or UA. These findings suggest that purine derivatives caffeine and UA induce neuronal GSH synthesis by promoting cysteine uptake, leading to neuroprotection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Compared to young patients with Takayasu’s arteritis (TA), little information about elderly patients with TA has been reported. Additionally, no reports were found regarding TA cases with complications of intestinal amyloidosis. This is a case report of an elderly female, who developed intestinal amyloidosis, during late-stage TA. After years of outpatient management, she developed sudden severe dyspnea with pulmonary effusion, requiring hospitalization. After this event, betamethasone was replaced by methotrexate (MTX) for the next 34 months, but it seemed ineffective. After 1.5 years, she developed intractable diarrhea, followed by increases in BUN and serum creatinine (Cr), requiring several courses of hemodialysis. Colonoscopy revealed the presence of amyloid in her intestine, although she died of complicated sepsis caused by MRSA infection. This may be the first paper describing intestinal amyloidosis in a TA patient. Additionally, her case is rare in that she lived more than 30 years after the onset and diagnosis of TA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical properties such as internal stress or adhesion of transparent conductive oxide (TCO) films are important in order to guarantee the patterning accuracy and durability for various types of commercial applications. Representative TCO films, such as tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) and indium-zinc oxide (IZO) films, were deposited on unheated glass substrate by r.f. magnetron sputtering using corresponding oxide targets under various total gas pressures (Ptot) ranging from 0.3 to 3.0 Pa. The internal stresses in these TCO films were measured by the cantilever method in relation to the total gas pressure during the deposition. The ITO films deposited at a Ptot lower than 0.7 Pa were polycrystalline and were found to have large compressive stress, whereas the amorphous ITO films deposited at 1.5–3.0 Pa were found to have a very low tensile stress. In contrast, all IZO films, of various thicknesses (50–750 nm), deposited at a Ptot of 0.3–3.0 Pa were found to have an entirely amorphous structure. The compressive stress in IZO films was lower than that in ITO films, especially for the low working pressure depositions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The roles of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in cancer metastasis have been studied. Macrophages are considered to release MMPs in the tissues of patients with lung cancer.Methods: Intracellular collagenase activity was measured in CD14+ CD45+ cells from bronchial lavage fluid to establish a new diagnostic tool for lung cancer. Between August 2000 and November 2001 bronchoscopy and bronchial lavage were performed in 45 patients with abnormal shadows on the chest radiograph; 21 had lung cancer and 24 had non-malignant disease.Results: Collagenase activity in patients with primary lung cancer (5.54 (0.65)) or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (5.62 (0.71)) was significantly higher than in those with non-malignant disease (3.63 (0.78), p=0.006 and p=0.008, respectively). Only three of 18 patients in the low activity group were diagnosed as having cancer compared with 18 of 27 in the high activity group (p=0.001). This significance was not seen in non-smokers but it was apparent in smokers/ex-smokers. Excluding non-smokers improved the specificity of collagenase activity in differentiating cancer and non-malignant disease from 62.5% to 80.0%. The sensitivity of the test was 85.7% in all patients and 88.2% in smokers/ex-smokers.Conclusions: Measurement of intracellular collagenase activity in macrophages in bronchial lavage fluid is a useful diagnostic tool for distinguishing between cancer and non-malignant diseases, especially in smokers and ex-smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Apoptosis (programmed cell death) occurs in various physiological and pathological conditions, exhibits a characteristic mechanism of intracellular sequential reaction and may be involved in determining clinical outcome. The antioxidant activity of propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) together with the stimulating effect of protein kinase C suggests that propofol might have the potential to modulate apoptosis. Thus, it is of both clinical interest and biomedical importance to investigate and clarify the effect and mechanism of propofol upon the intracellular reactions underlying apoptotic cell death.Methods: The effect of propofol on apoptosis was investigated using cultured human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. This well-characterized cell line is useful for the study of apoptosis because the various biochemical steps occurring during apoptosis have been well documented.Results: Treatment of HL-60 cells with propofol resulted in growth inhibition with the formation of apoptotic bodies in a concentration-dependent manner. DNA fragmentation and ladder formation was also observed in a concentration-dependent manner. Propofol treatment resulted in activation of caspase-3, -6, -8 and -9, thereby suggesting that cell surface death receptor activation of the caspase cascade mediates propofol-induced apoptosis with consequent formation of the cleaved product of Bid (a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member protein) and activation of the mitochondrial pathway with cytosolic release of cytochrome c.Conclusion: Propofol may induce apoptosis, which is dependent on the mechanism that activates both the cell surface death receptor pathway and the mitochondrial pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is a multifunctional molecule in a variety of physiologic and pathologic processes. Its precise effect on human T lymphocyte responses against alloantigens are not yet fully known, although it has been reported that NO is antiproliferative and can cause apoptosis in several cell types. To address these issues, we analyzed the effects of an NO donor on mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC) and on apoptosis induction in T lymphocytes activated with alloantigens. NOC 18 was used as an NO donor. The MLC was performed with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from healthy volunteers. Cell division and interleukin (IL)-2 production were measured with CFSE labeling and an EIA kit, respectively. After cells were incubated with NOC 18 for 24 hours, DNA fragmentation was assessed using the diphenylamine assay. Pre-culture of cells with NOC 18 for 24 hours resulted in significant inhibition of cell proliferation and IL-2 production in MLC. NOC 18 induced DNA fragmentation of cells harvested from an MLC following 7 days of the culture, in a dose-dependent manner, whereas it never exerted any influence on DNA fragmentation of freshly isolated cells. A chemical NO donor, NOC-18, may have immunosuppressive ability when treatment of responder cells occurs before the beginning of the MLC and may induce apoptosis of alloantigen-activated T lymphocytes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We examined the response of T lymphocytes activated with specific alloantigens following Fas-mediated apoptosis; using a mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) system. Cells obtained from an MLC after 6 or 7 days of culture were incubated for are additional 24 hours in the presence or absence of the agonistic monoclonal antibody (MoAb), 7C11, or the antagonistic MoAb, ZB4. We assessed DNA fragmentation/specific cytotoxiy of the MoAb-treated cells. Cells harvested after 4 days of culture were sensitive to apoptosis induced by 7C11 with maximum DNA fragmentation observed on day 6. ZB4 slightly inhibited apoptosis of the cells compared with controls. The simultaneous addition of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) with the MoAbs significantly inhibited DNA fragmentation in control and ZB4-treated cells, but had little effect on the 7C11-treated cells. Control and ZB4-treated MLC cells showed cytotoxic activities against specific target cells, namely >10%. In contrast, the 7C11-treated cells showed <5% cytotoxicity. Although the addition of rIL-2 increased specific percentage cytotoxicity of control and ZB4-treated cells, it had little effect on the specific cytotoxic activity of the 7C11-treated MLC cells. These results suggest that specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes may be eliminated via apoptosis mediated by the Fas/Fas ligand system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]