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AbstractSeveral key components, such as superconducting coils, remote handling equipment, heating systems, have been designed and manufactured by JADA (Japan Domestic Agency). These activities have been carried out in accordance with the agreed schedule; in collaboration with the ITER organization and other domestic agencies. As a significant technical program using ITER, to design and to manufacture the TBS (Test blanket system), some R&D and design activities have also been conducted in Japan. Under the IFERC (the International Fusion Energy Research Center) projects of BA (Broader Approach) activities, design and R&D activities on fusion DEMO reactor have been carried out. For the DEMO R&D activity, five basic R&D subjects for a DEMO blanket system have been selected, and been studies under close collaborations between EU and JA: structure materials (RAFM steels and SiC/SiC composites), functional materials (tritium breeders and neutron multipliers), and tritium technology. From 2007, the above projects produced a set of fruitful results. A series of advanced technologies for the DEMO blanket system has also been carried out by Universities in Japan. Some significant basic R&D studies have also been carried out under US-JA collaborative program.

Objective: The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent proteases that degrade all the components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Several studies have demonstrated association between MMP gene polymorphisms and various cancers. The object of this study was to investigate whether the MMP-1 and MMP-9 gene promoter polymorphisms are associated with endometrial carcinomas in a Japanese population. Methods: We compared the allele frequencies and genotype distributions of each single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter regions of MMP-1 (- 1607 1G/2G) and MMP-9 (- 1562 C/T) in 107 endometrial carcinoma cases and 213 controls using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Results: The allele frequencies of MMP-1 - 1607 2G and MMP-9 - 1562T were 64.0% and 10.7% in the cases and 70.0% and 16.7% in the controls, respectively. No significant differences in the allele frequencies or genotype distributions were found between cases and controls for the MMP-1 -1607 1G/2G polymorphism. However, a small but significant difference in the allele frequency of the MMP-9 - 1562T allele was noted between cases and controls (P=.046; odds ratio [OR] = 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 2.73). Stratification by histology revealed a significant difference in the frequency of the MMP-9 - 1562T allele between endometrioid carcinoma cases (10.2%) and controls (P=.043; OR = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.02 to 3.03); we did not find a significant difference in the frequency of the MMP-9 - 1562T allele between non-endometrioid carcinoma cases (13.2%) and controls. Conclusion: These results suggest that the MMP-9 -1562 C/T polymorphism may be associated with susceptibility to endometrioid carcinoma in the Japanese population.

Objective:The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent proteases that degrade all the components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Several studies have demonstrated association between MMP gene polymorphisms and various cancers. The object of this study was to investigate whether the MMP-1 and MMP-9 gene promoter polymorphisms are associated with endometrial carcinomas in a Japanese population.Methods:We compared the allele frequencies and genotype distributions of each single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter regions of MMP-1 (- 1607 1G/2G) and MMP-9 (- 1562 C/T) in 107 endometrial carcinoma cases and 213 controls using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis.Results:The allele frequencies of MMP-1 - 1607 2G and MMP-9 - 1562T were 64.0% and 10.7% in the cases and 70.0% and 16.7% in the controls, respectively. NO significant differences in the allele frequencies or genotype distributions were found between cases and controls for the MMP-1 - 1607 1G/2G polymorphism. However, a small but significant difference in the allele frequency of the MMP-9 - 1562T allele was noted between cases and controls (P = .046; odds ratio [OR] = 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 2.73). Stratification by histology revealed a significant difference in the frequency of the MMP-9 - 1562T allele between endometrioid carcinoma cases (10.2%) and controls (P = .043; OR = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.02 to 3.03); we did not fihd a significant difference in the frequency of the MMP-9 - 1562T allele between non-endometrioid carcinoma cases (13.2%) and controls.Conclusion:These results suggest that the MMP-9 - 1562 C/T polymorphism may be associated with susceptibility to endometrioid carcinoma in the Japanese population.

Synthesis of (+)-muconin isolated from Rollinia mucosa(Annonaceae) was achieved. Stereoselective construction of a tetrahydrofuran-terahydropyran (THF-THP) ring moiety was performed using diastereoselective oxypalladation in the presence of CuCl2. The cross-coupling reaction of the THF-THP moiety with the γ-lactone portion followed by reduction of the enyne and removal of the protecting groups afforded (+)-muconin.

Although there are several reports of Brenner tumor showing estrogen activities, it is an extremely rare cause of androgen excess leading to virilism, and the source or mechanism of its androgen production is also unknown at present. A 74-year-old woman presented with lower abdominal pain and increased facial hair growth of 6-month duration. Bilateral ovarian tumors were detected, and her serum testosterone (1.7 ng/mL) and estradiol (75 pg/mL) levels were elevated. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. The ovarian tumors were diagnosed as benign Brenner tumor associated with fibrothecoma-like and luteinized stromal cells. Postoperatively, the serum testosterone and estradiol levels decreased. Immunohistochemically, fibrothecoma-like stromal cells were positive for cytochrome P-450 aromatase, which catalyzes the conversion from androgen to estrogen, and negative for c-Jun protein, which has recently reported to attenuate estrogen biosynthesis by directly down-regulating transcription of the aromatase gene. On the other hand, luteinized stromal cells were negative for cytochrome P-450 aromatase and positive for c-Jun protein. It is suggested that androgen is produced mainly in the luteinized stromal cells, because androgen is not converted to estrogen caused by suppression of aromatase biosynthesis by c-Jun.