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Abstract: To understand the post-liquefaction behavior of liquefied ground, it is important to get a better understanding and a more suitable characterization of the variation of excess pore pressure after liquefaction. In this paper, the soil permeability is considered as one of the key soil parameters for clarifying the mechanism of post-liquefaction behavior of liquefied ground. For this reason, a series of shaking table tests were conducted for a Toyoura sand deposit with different soil permeability values. Polymer fluid was used in model tests to vary the permeability of sand deposits. Excess pore pressures and settlements were measured in each test. A basic mechanism in post-liquefaction behavior and the solidification phenomenon after liquefaction were discussed based on these test results. Also, a new method for predicting the dissipation of excess pore pressure was developed. This study provides evidence of the important effect of soil permeability on the velocity with which the solidification front moves upward in liquefied ground. It is suggested that the value of coefficient of permeability of liquefied sand can increase to about 4.0 times the initial value. This variation of permeability after liquefaction should be taken into account in post-liquefaction analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Focusing on the effect of excess pore pressure dissipation on liquefaction-induced ground deformation, a series of 1-g shaking table tests were, conducted in a rigid soil container by use of saturated Toyoura sand, the relative density of which was 20-60%. These tests were subjected to the sinusoidal base shaking with step increased accelerations: 100, 200, 300 and 400 Gals for 2-4 seconds. Shaking table tests were done using either water or polymer fluid with more viscous than water, thus varying the sand permeability of model tests. Excess pore pressures, accelerations, settlements and lateral deformations were measured in each test. Test results are presented in this paper and the effect of sand permeability on liquefaction and liquefaction-induced ground deformation was discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The partition-defective 3 (PAR-3) protein is implicated in the formation of tight junctions at epithelial cell–cell contacts. We investigated DNA copy number aberrations in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell lines using a high-density oligonucleotide microarray and found a homozygous deletion of PARD3 (the gene encoding PAR-3). Exogenous expression of PARD3 in ESCC cells lacking this gene enhanced the recruitment of zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1), a marker of tight junctions, to sites of cell–cell contact. Conversely, knockdown of PARD3 in ESCC cells expressing this gene caused a disruption of ZO-1 localization at cell–cell borders. A copy number loss of PARD3 was observed in 15% of primary ESCC cells. Expression of PARD3 was significantly reduced in primary ESCC tumors compared with their nontumorous counterparts, and this reduced expression was associated with positive lymph node metastasis and poor differentiation. Our results suggest that deletion and reduced expression of PARD3 may be a novel mechanism that drives the progression of ESCC.Oncogene (2009) 28, 2910–2918; doi:10.1038/onc.2009.148; published online 8 June 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addresses the question of the mechanisms involved in liposome uptake by type II cells maintained in culture for one day and the intracellular fate of the internalized lipid. Evidence gathered by the study being consistent with the existence of two separate endocytic pathways for lipids in type II cells: one clathrin dependent and the other actin dependent.

Presents a study which determined whether monoclonal antibodies against the limiting membrane of alveolar type II cell lamellar bodies were obtained after immunization of mice with a membrane fraction. Methodology; Results and discussion.

The article discusses a patient with atrial fibrillation and a history of amaurosis fugax. Through examination, the findings were suggestive of myxoma. During surgery, the left atrial myxoma was diagnosed. It was found out that the internal elastic lumina of the artery near the tumor stalk was partly damaged, and it was associated with fibrous thrombus, which showed artery rupture. Moroever, such findings must have been caused of the coronary artery-left atrial fistula through the myxoma.

BACKGROUND: The aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is associated with a variety of diseases including cancers. In the present study, the miRNA expression profile was examined in astrocytoma, a malignant and prevalent intracranial tumour in adults. METHODS: We screened the expression profile of 200 miRNAs in a training sample set consisting of 84 astrocytoma samples and 20 normal adjacent tissue (NAT) samples using the method of stem-loop quantitative RT-PCR. The significantly altered miRNAs were validated in another independent sample set consisting of 40 astrocytoma samples and 40 NAT samples. The correlation of the miRNA levels with survival in astrocytoma samples was estimated by performing Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and univariate/multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. RESULTS: After a two-phase selection and validation process, seven miRNAs were found to have a significantly different expression profile in astrocytoma samples upon comparison to the NAT samples. Unsupervised clustering analysis further revealed the great potential of the 7-miRNA profile to differentiate between tumours and normal brain tissues. The down-regulation of hsa-miR-137 in astrocytomas was shown to be associated with advanced clinical stages of this disease. Using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis we showed that low expression of hsa-miR-181b or hsa-miR-106a, or high expression of hsa-miR-21 was significantly associated with poor patient survival. Moreover, Cox proportional hazard regression analysis revealed that this prognostic impact was independent of other clinicopathological factors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a great potential for the use of miRNA profiling as a powerful diagnostic and prognostic marker in defining the signature of astrocytomas and in predicting the post-surgical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dysregulated expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is associated with a variety of diseases, including colorectal cancer. By comparing more than 200 miRNAs in 13 pairs of matched colorectal cancer and normal adjacent tissue samples through qRT-PCR and microarray analysis, we found a widespread disruption of miRNA expression during colorectal tumorigenesis. In particular, among a panel of presumed targets generated by in silico analysis that may interact with these aberrantly expressed miRNAs, KRAS oncogene has been further experimentally validated as the target of miR-143. First, an inverse correlation between KRAS protein and miR-143 in vivo was found. Second, KRAS expression in Lovo cells was significantly abolished by treatment with miR-143 mimic, whereas miR-143 inhibitor increased KRAS protein level. Third, luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-143 directly recognize the 3′-untranslated region of KRAS transcripts. Four, Lovo cells treated with miR-143 inhibitor showed a stimulated cell proliferation, whereas miR-143 overexpression had an opposite effect. Finally, inhibition of KRAS expression by miR-143 inhibits constitutive phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Taken together, the present study provides the first evidences that miR-143 is significant in suppressing colorectal cancer cell growth through inhibition of KRAS translation.Oncogene (2009) 28, 1385–1392; doi:10.1038/onc.2008.474; published online 12 January 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary:Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) occurs in approximately 60–80% of those who survive over 100 days after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). However, the pathophysiology of cGVHD is poorly understood. To gain more insight into the immunological mechanism of cGVHD, we examine cytokine production of peripheral blood T cells from 19 patients in the chronic phase of allo-HSCT. The percentage of IFN-γ-producing CD8+ T cells among CD8+ T cells was significantly higher in patients with or without cGVHD than in normal control subjects (P<0.001). On the other hand, the percentage of IL-4-producing CD8+ T cells among CD8+ T cells was significantly higher in patients with cGVHD (mean 3.3%; range 1.3–8.2%) than in patients without cGVHD (mean 1.2%; range 0.8–1.7%) and normal control subjects (mean 1.1%; range 0.1–1.6%) (both P<0.001). By contrast, the percentage of IL-4-producing CD4+ T cells was not different among patients with and without cGVHD and normal controls. These findings suggest that IL-4-producing CD8+ T cells may be an immunological marker of cGVHD.Bone Marrow Transplantation (2005) 36, 639–647. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1705107; published online 25 July 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) often develop acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), which is closely related to morbidity and mortality. However, the essential part of the immune responses elicited in aGVHD remains largely unknown. We attempt to determine if peripheral blood dendritic cells (PBDCs) are altered in aGVHD, and find that the number of PBDCs (both myeloid and lymphoid DCs) is significantly decreased. Immunohistochemical staining of the biopsied skin from patients with aGVHD demonstrates that a number of fascin + cells with dendritic projections infiltrate the dermis of the skin. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that the PBDCs are recruited to the affected tissues and may thus play important roles in immune responses elicited in aGVHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary:We treated three patients with steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) with intra-arterial steroid-injection therapy (IAST). Two patients with gut aGVHD received IAST into both superior and inferior mesenteric arteries, while one patient with liver aGVHD received IAST into the proper hepatic artery. The volume of stools and the bilirubin level improved soon after IAST. Angiography of the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries was performed in the two patients with steroid-refractory gut aGVHD, and identical abnormal findings were obtained. IAST might be an earlier option for steroid-refractory aGVHD.Bone Marrow Transplantation (2004) 33, 1231-1233. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1704523 Published online 19 April 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]