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Although seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) deposits are crucially important metal resources that contain high‐grade metals such as copper, lead, and zinc, their internal structures and generation mechanisms remain unclear. This study obtained detailed near‐seafloor images of electrical resistivity in a hydrothermal field off Okinawa, southwestern Japan, using deep‐towed marine electrical resistivity tomography. The image clarified a semi‐layered resistivity structure, interpreted as SMS deposits exposed on the seafloor, and another deep‐seated SMS layer at about 40‐m depth below the seafloor. The images reinforce our inference of a new mechanism of SMS evolution: Upwelling hydrothermal fluid is trapped under less‐permeable cap rock. The deeper embedded SMS accumulates there. Then hydrothermal fluids expelled on the seafloor form exposed SMS deposits. Plain Language Summary: Hydrothermal circulation of seawater through the permeable ocean crust engenders formation of seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) deposits, which present high potential for metal mining. Geophysical surveys using modes such as electrical and electromagnetic methods have revealed that SMS deposits exhibit lower resistivity than the surrounding host rock. However, because detailed geophysical images of internal structures of SMS deposits are lacking, the spatial distribution of SMS deposits and the evolutionary processes of SMS deposits remain unclear. For this study, we applied a deep‐towed marine electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) system to capture detailed images of electrical resistivity structures of SMS deposits in the Iheya North hydrothermal field, Okinawa Trough, southwestern Japan. An optimal sub‐seafloor resistivity section reveals a semi‐layered structure consisting of double low‐resistivity SMS layers: exposed and deep‐seated ones. Between the SMS layers, a cap rock layer is recognized as a moderately resistive zone. This detailed structure offers an explanation of how the SMS deposits accumulate: Hydrothermal fluids upwelling from the deep crust are trapped by less‐permeable cap rock, which results in the precipitation and accumulation of SMS deposits below the cap rock. Then fluids passing through the cap rock to the seafloor produce SMS deposits on the seafloor. Key Points: Deep‐towed marine electrical resistivity tomography revealed massive sulfide deposits on the seafloor as low‐resistivity zonesLow‐resistivity zones are semi‐layered with deposits exposed on the seafloor and other deposits at 40‐m depth below the seafloorDetailed near‐seafloor images of electrical resistivity offer an explanation of how the SMS deposits accumulate [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 35-year-old Japanese female with presented with swelling in the right infra-auricular which was determined to be a tumour in the parotid gland through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It talks about the diagnosis of salivary gland neoplasms being difficult due to it's diverse histology and cytomorphology.

Abstract: The 2011 Tohoku‐oki earthquake occurred with a rupture length of 500 km along the Japan Trench, causing a large slip (>30 m) at the shallowest portion of the plate boundary fault south of 39°N off Miyagi and a smaller slip (~10 m) north of 39°N off Sanriku, the northern part of the source area. We estimated the P wave velocity (Vp) structure around the shallowest portion of the plate boundary along the trench to investigate the spatial correlation between the structural variation and coseismic shallow slip distribution of the 2011 earthquake. For this purpose, we analyzed data from an air gun‐ocean bottom seismometer survey on an along‐arc line on the lower part of the landward slope of the Japan Trench. We detected a high Vp zone in the hanging wall of the plate interface off Miyagi, which corresponds to the Cretaceous backstop. The Vp model also showed the absence of the high Vp zone off Sanriku. This suggests that the low‐Vp deformed prism is wider off Sanriku than off Miyagi. Therefore, the backstop is close to the trench particularly off Miyagi. We suggest a correlation between this along‐arc variation of the hanging wall side structure and the extent of the coseismic shallow slip in the trench axial region; the large slip reached the trench off Miyagi but not off Sanriku. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study examined whether feeding hydroalcoholic extract of Lepidium meyenii (maca) to 8‐week‐old (sexually maturing) or 18‐week‐old (mature) male rats for more than a half year affects serum testosterone concentration and testosterone production by Leydig cells cultured with hCG, 22R‐hydroxycholesterol or pregnenolone. Testosterone concentration was determined in the serum samples obtained before and 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks after the feeding, and it was significantly increased only at the 6 weeks in the group fed with the maca extract to maturing rats when it was compared with controls. Testosterone production by Leydig cells significantly increased when cultured with hCG by feeding the maca extract to maturing rats for 27 weeks (35 weeks of age) and when cultured with 22R‐hydroxycholesterol by feeding it to mature rats for 30 weeks (48 weeks of age). Overall testosterone production by cultured Leydig cells decreased to about a half from 35 to 48 weeks of age. These results suggest that feeding the maca extract for a long time to male rats may enhance the steroidogenic ability of Leydig cells to alleviate its decline with ageing, whereas it may cause only a transient increase in blood testosterone concentration in sexually maturing male rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents: This study examined the effects of treatment with U0126, which inhibits MAPK by inhibiting MAPK kinase, during the first 2 hr of in vitro maturation on bovine developmental competence and on gap junction (GAPJ) communication between the oocyte and cumulus cells. The percentage of oocytes developing to the blastocyst stage in the group treated with 5 μM U0126 (28%) was significantly higher than that in controls (15%, p < .05), while that in the group treated with 10 μM U0126 (18%) was not. Breakdown of the GAPJs was delayed in the group treated with 5 μM U0126 when compared to controls, as estimated by immunohistochemical examination of connexin 43, which is a primary constituent of the GAPJs. These results indicate that treatment with 5 μM U0126 during in vitro maturation delays GAPJ breakdown and improves bovine oocyte developmental competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose Few studies have examined why some patients with dementia stop attending medical consultations. We conducted a retrospective study to investigate factors associated with discontinuous clinic attendance. Methods Participants were 988 patients with dementia from university hospital (UH) clinics and affiliated local hospital (LH) clinics. We compared continuous and discontinuous attenders on cognitive and affective functions and activities of daily living (ADL), and also compared UH and LH patients (UH: continuous, n = 176; discontinuous, n = 207; LH: continuous, n = 418; discontinuous, n = 187). Results The total annual rate of discontinuation was 8.0%, and the mean period of attendance before discontinuation was 2.2 ± 2.4 years (UH, 2.8 ± 3.0; LH, 1.5 ± 1.3, P < 0.01). Scores for the Mini-Mental State Examination, Hasegawa Dementia Scale - Revised, Geriatric Depression Scale, apathy scale, Abe's behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) score, and ADL were significantly worse in the discontinuous group than the continuous group for both UH and LH patients ( P < 0.01). The best predictor of discontinuation was ADL decline (UH and LH) and Abe's BPSD score (UH). The most common reason for discontinuation was returning to the family doctor (39.1% for UH), and cessation of hospital attendance at their own discretion (35.3% for LH). Conclusions We identified the main reasons for discontinuation of attendance as returning to the family doctor and cessation of hospital attendance at their own discretion. The best predictors of discontinuation were ADL decline and worsening BPSD. There were significant differences in discontinuation between UH and LH patients with dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice false smut disease caused by the ascomycete fungus Villosiclava virens (Clavicipitaceae) reduces rice yield worldwide. It invades rice panicles and forms dark-green false smut balls composed of thick-walled conidia. Although the infection process during the booting stage is well studied, its infection route before this is unclear. It was hypothesized that the thick-walled conidia in soil penetrate rice roots, and the fungus latently colonizes roots and tiller buds at the vegetative stage. This hypothesis was tested using species-specific detection methods. First, real-time PCR with species-specific primers and probe was used to estimate thick-walled conidial number in the paddy field soil. Secondly, nested PCR with species-specific primers showed that fungal DNA was detected in roots and shoot apices of rice plants in the vegetative stage. Thirdly, colourimetric in situ hybridization with a species-specific oligonucleotide probe targeting 18S rRNA suggested that sparse mycelia or tightly condensed mycelia were present on the external surface of tiller buds enveloped by juvenile leaf sheaths at the vegetative stage. Thin hyphae were found around leaf axils at the surface of elongated stems at the heading stage, and the fungal hyphae grew in the rice root tissues. In addition, it was demonstrated that eGFP-tagged transformants of the fungus invaded rice roots and colonized the surface of roots and leaf sheaths under artificial conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We simulate the formation of a BN fullerene from an amorphous B cluster at 2000 K by quantum mechanical molecular dynamics based on the density-functional tight-binding method. We run 30 trajectories 200 ps in length, where N atoms are supplied around the target cluster, which is initially an amorphous B36 cluster. Most of the incident N atoms are promptly incorporated into the target cluster to form B-N-B bridges or NB3 pyramidal local substructures. BN fullerene formation is initiated by alternating BN ring condensation. Spontaneous atomic rearrangement and N2 dissociation lead to the construction of an sp² single-shelled structure, during which the BN cluster undergoes a transition from a liquid-like to a solid-like state. Continual atomic rearrangement and sporadic N2 dissociation decrease the number of defective rings in the BN cluster and increase the number of six-membered rings, forming a more regular shell structure. The number of fourmembered rings tends to remain constant, and contributes to more ordered isolated-tetragon-rule ring placement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Lepidium meyenii (maca), a plant growing in Peru's central Andes, has been traditionally used for enhancing fertility and reproductive performance in domestic animals and human beings, effects of maca on reproductive organs are still unclear. This study examined whether feeding the hydroalcoholic extract powder of maca for 6 weeks affects weight of the reproductive organs, serum concentrations of testosterone and luteinising hormone (LH), number and cytoplasmic area of immunohistochemically stained Leydig cells, and steroidogenesis of cultured Leydig cells in 8-week-old male rats. Feeding the extract powder increased weight of seminal vesicles, serum testosterone level and cytoplasmic area of Leydig cells when compared with controls. Weight of prostate gland, serum LH concentration and number of Leydig cells were not affected by the maca treatment. The testosterone production by Leydig cells significantly increased when cultured with 22 R-hydroxycholesterol or pregnenolone and tended to increase when cultured with hCG by feeding the extract powder. The results show that feeding the hydroalcoholic extract powder of maca for 6 weeks increases serum testosterone concentration associated with seminal vesicle stimulation in male rats, and this increase in testosterone level may be related to the enhanced ability of testosterone production by Leydig cells especially in the metabolic process following cholesterol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: The influence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on cognitive and affective functions in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) was examined. Methods: A total of 570 AD patients were divided into two subgroups depending on waist circumference (WC) (normal versus achieving Japanese diagnostic criteria of MetS). Afterwards, the AD control subgroup was defined as those normal WC patients with no vascular risk factors (VRFs). The AD with MetS (AD-MetS) subgroup was defined as the MetS WC group who had two or more VRFs to qualify as having MetS. Cognitive and affective functions, insulin resistance, vascular endothelial function and white matter changes between AD-MetS and AD controls were compared. Results: Scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination, Hasegawa Dementia Score -- Revised, Frontal Assessment Battery and Montreal Cognitive Assessment were worse in the AD-MetS group than in AD controls, but the difference was not significant. Some analyses were conducted twice, once including all patients and once including only late-elderly patients. Scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale were found to be significantly higher for AD-MetS than for AD controls (all ages, late-elderly), as were those for apathy (late-elderly). Furthermore, both the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and reactive hyperemia index scores were significantly worse in AD-MetS than in AD controls, whilst white matter changes showed a tendency to be worse. Conclusions: Greater cognitive and affective decline occurs in patients with AD-MetS than in those without. Further, insulin resistance and vascular endothelial dysfunction are strongly correlated with AD-MetS before pathological white matter changes can be observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: A novel TYPE of prion disease associated mainly with autonomic-sensory polyneuropathy was reported by us previously. Methods: Here the autopsy pathology for patient 1 (the sister) and the clinical characteristics of her younger brother (patient 2) are newly reported. Polymerase chain reaction based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the prion protein gene (PRNP) was performed on both patients and their father (normal control). Results: Polymerase chain reaction based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis revealed a 2-bp deletion (CT) in codon 178 that causes an additional variable 25 amino acids at the C terminal, from the mutation site to the premature stop codon at codon 203, in both patients 1 and 2 but not in their father. The autopsy of patient 1 showed remarkable prion protein (PrP) deposits in the sympathetic ganglion and peripheral nerves, correlated to her severe autonomic sensory failure. PrP deposits were also found in the central nervous system and peripheral organs such as the heart, lung, stomach, jejunum, ileum, colon, urinary bladder and adrenal gland. The symptoms and biopsy findings of patient 2 were nearly the same as those reported previously for patient 1. His cognitive function was well preserved, but autonomic functions were severely impaired. His biopsied samples showed PrP deposits in the sural nerve and nerve plexuses of the stomach and colon. Conclusion: The present unique 2-bp deletion (CT) in codon 178 induced a 'PrP systemic deposition disease' such as pan-autonomic failure, sensory neuropathy and mild cognitive impairment with a specific pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although feeding diets containing the extract powder of Lepidium meyenii (maca), a plant growing in Peru's Central Andes, increases serum testosterone concentration associated with enhanced ability of testosterone production by Leydig cells in male rats, changes in testicular steroidogenesis-related factors by the maca treatment are not known. This study examined the effects of maca on testicular gene expressions for luteinizing hormone receptor, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein and steroidogenic enzymes. Eight-week-old male rats were given the diets with or without (control) the maca extract powder (2%) for 6 weeks, and mRNA levels were determined by reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that the testicular mRNA level of HSD3B1 (3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; 3β-HSD) increased by the treatment, whereas the levels of the other factors examined did not change. These results suggest that increased expression of 3β-HSD gene may be involved in the enhanced steroidogenic ability by the maca treatment in rat testes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was applied to non-targeted metabolic analyses to discover new metabolic markers in animal plasma. Principle component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) were used to analyse LC-MS multivariate data. PCA clearly generated two separate clusters for artificially induced diabetic mice and healthy control mice. PLS-DA of time-course changes in plasma metabolites of chicks after feeding generated three clusters (pre- and immediately after feeding, 0.5-3 h after feeding and 4 h after feeding). Two separate clusters were also generated for plasma metabolites of pregnant Angus heifers with differing live-weight change profiles (gaining or losing). The accompanying PLS-DA loading plot detailed the metabolites that contribute the most to the cluster separation. In each case, the same highly hydrophilic metabolite was strongly correlated to the group separation. The metabolite was identified as betaine by LC-MS/MS. This result indicates that betaine and its metabolic precursor, choline, may be useful biomarkers to evaluate the nutritional and metabolic status of animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A variety of hereditary spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) develops a broad spectrum of both ataxia and non-ataxia symptoms. Cognitive and affective changes are one such non-ataxia symptoms, but have been described only in hereditary SCAs with exonic CAG gene expansion. Methods: We newly found intronic hexanucleotide GGCCTG gene expansion in NOP56 gene as the causative mutation (=SCA36) in nine unrelated Japanese familial SCA originating from Asida river area in the western part of Japan, thus nicknamed Asidan for this mutation. These patients show unique clinical balance of cerebellar ataxia and motor neuron disease (MND), locating on the crossroad of these two diseases. In the nine families, 14 patients were clinically examined and genetically confirmed to Asidan. In the present study, we examined cognitive and affective analyses on 12 patients (seven men and five women) who agreed to join the examination with average age at onset of 53.1 ± 3.2 years, average duration of 12.1 ± 5.2 years, and current average age at 65.1 ± 6.2 years. Results: The 12 Asidan patients demonstrated a significant decrease in their frontal executive functions measured by frontal assessment battery (FAB) and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) compared with age- and gender-matched controls, whilst mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Hasegawa dementia score-revised (HDS-R) were within normal range. The decline of frontal executive function was related to their disease duration and scale for the assessment and rating of ataxias (SARA). They also demonstrated mild depression and apathy. Single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) analysis showed that these Asidan patients showed decline of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in a particular areas of cerebral cortices such as Brodmann areas 24 and 44-46. Conclusion: These data suggest that the patients with Asidan mutation show unique cognitive and affective characteristics different from other hereditary SCAs with exonal CAG expansion or MND. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging paradigm, the foetal origin of adult disease, is a new framework for considering the effects of endocrine disrupters on human and animal health. Prenatal diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure resulted in various reproductive tract abnormalities in women, which is called as DES syndrome. Similar abnormalities have been demonstrated in experimental animals exposed perinatally to oestrogens. Developmental oestrogen exposure induces persistent proliferation of vaginal epithelial cells in mice. The persistent changes in the vagina of mice neonatally exposed to oestrogens results from persistent phosphorylation of erbB2 and oestrogen receptor α, sustained expression of EGF-like growth factors and phosphorylation of JNK1, IGF-I receptor and Akt. The ubiquitous environmental contaminant, tributyltin chloride (TBT) is well known to induce the development of male sex characteristics (imposex) in gastropods. We recently found that TBT and its congeners induce the differentiation of adipocytes in vitro and increase adipose mass in vivo in vertebrates. TBT is a nanomolar affinity ligand for retinoid X receptor (RXR) in the rock shell and for both the RXRα and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in the amphibian ( Xenopus laevis), mouse, and human. TBT promotes adipogenesis in the murine 3T3-L1 cell model and perturbs key regulators of adipogenesis and lipogenic pathways in vivo , primarily through activation of RXRα and PPARγ. Moreover, in utero exposure to TBT leads to strikingly elevated lipid accumulation in adipose depots, liver, and testis of neonate mice and results in increased adipose mass in adults. In X. laevis, ectopic adipocytes form in and around gonadal tissues following organotin, RXRα or PPARγ ligand exposure. TBT represents the first example of an environmental endocrine disrupter that promotes adverse effects from gastropods to mammals. Prenatal (TBT) and early postnatal exposures (oestrogens) stand as strong examples of endocrine disrupting compounds that permanently alter developmental programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quorum sensing is a cell-to-cell communication that occurs via autoinducers, regulating a number of bacterial virulence factors including the opportunistic wound pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which uses the N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-homoserine lactone as one of the two main autoinducers; however, little is known about its role in chronic wound infection. This study was designed to quantify this autoinducer from P. aeruginosa-infected wounds with the aim of examining the possible use of autoinducers as an indicator of chronic wound infection. Pressure-induced ischemic wounds were infected with P. aeruginosa ( N=12) or uninfected as a control ( N=12). The autoinducer was quantified by bioassay method employing Escherichia coli DH5[alpha] (pJN105L, pSC11) or Agrobacterium tumefaciens NTL4 (pZLR4) reporter, which expresses [beta]-galactosidase when exposed to P. aeruginosa quorum sensing signals. The average concentration of autoinducer was 0.33 pmol/g at day 3 and 0.49 pmol/g at day 7 in the infected wounds, as detected from tissue samples. A linear correlation between autoinducer concentration and bacterial counts was observed. No autoinducer was detected in tissue samples from the uninfected control group. Our findings indicate that the quantification of autoinducers is possible and quorum sensing system could play a role in in vivo wound infection models, and also suggest possible clinical implications of autoinducer signal quantification in diagnosis of chronic wound infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: To establish an in vivo experimental model for examining human periodontal tissue, the present study examined several transplant techniques that maintain the structure and characteristics of human gingival mucosa. Material and Methods: Human oral mucosal tissue samples were collected from the gingiva ( n = 11), palate ( n = 1), and tongue ( n = 3). These mucosal grafts were transplanted onto BALB/c nu/ scid mice with double-mutant immunodeficiency. Murine skin, twice the size of the graft, was cut open in an ‘⊐’-shape. Next, the connective tissue side of the graft was placed onto the murine connective tissue. Immunohistochemical analysis was also performed, using polyclonal rabbit antibody to involucrin, monoclonal antibody to vimentin, monoclonal antibody to CD34, and monoclonal antibody to Ki-67, to determine whether the characteristics of human oral mucosa were maintained. Results: When the connective tissue side of the graft was placed on the murine fascial membrane, the histological structure of the graft was maintained for 60 d. These grafts were examined for human characteristics using human-specific antibodies. Immunohistochemically, the expression patterns of involucrin, vimentin, and Ki-67 indicated that transplanted mucosa revealed normal human characteristics, including differentiation and proliferation up to 80 d. CD34 was not detected in the graft endothelial cells. Conclusion: The present study revealed that the novel technique of transplantation of human gingival mucosa in nu/ scid mice may serve as an in vivo experimental model of periodontal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose:Vascular endothelial cells play a role in the physiological response to mechanical stress. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) induces morphological changes in endothelial cells, and this may alter their mechanosensitive responses. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of TGFβ1 on hypotonic stress (HTS)-induced responses in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs).Experimental approach:Cultured BAECs were treated with 3 ng ml-1 TGFβ1 for 24 h (24h-TGFβ1) or 7 days (7d-TGFβ1). Cytosolic actin fibres were stained with rhodamine-phalloidin. Intracellular Ca2+ concentration was measured using fura2. Tyrosine phosphorylation and RhoA expression were assessed by Western blotting. Expression of RhoA mRNA was assessed by real-time PCR.Key results:BAECs developed pseudopod-like processes within 24 h and showed a fibroblast-like appearance after 7 days. HTS induced Ca2+ transients via endogenous ATP release in both control and 24h-TGFβ1 BAECs but not in 7d-TGFβ1 BAECs. We have previously shown that HTS-induced ATP release is mediated by sequential activation of RhoA and tyrosine kinases. The basal amount of membrane-bound RhoA was significantly lower in 7d-TGFβ1 than in 24h-TGFβ1 or control BAECs. HTS increased the membrane-bound RhoA to the same fractional level in 24h-TGFβ1 and control BAECs, but its net maximal amount was significantly lower in 7d-TGFβ1. HTS-induced downstream signals of RhoA activation, i.e. the tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK and paxillin, were markedly suppressed in 7d-TGFβ1 BAECs.Conclusions and Implications:These results indicate that long-term treatment with TGFβ1 does not impair mechanoreception in BAECs but impairs mechanotransduction by affecting RhoA membrane translocation.British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 150, 424–433. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707123; published online 15 January 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose:Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) is generated in atherosclerotic and injured vessel walls. We examined whether the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transdifferentiation induced by TGFβ1 affects endothelial functions.Experimental approach:Bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) were treated with 3 ng ml−1 TGFβ1 for 7 days. Contraction of TGFβ1-treated BAECs was assessed by collagen gel contraction assay. Protein expression and phosphorylation were assessed by Western blotting. Intracellular Ca2+ concentration and NO production were measured using fura2 and DAF-2, respectively.Key results:TGFβ1-treated BAECs showed dense actin fibers and expressed smooth muscle marker proteins; they also changed into smooth muscle-like, spindle-shaped cells in collagen gel cultures. ATP (10 μM) induced a gradual contraction of collagen gels containing TGFβ1-treated BAECs but not of gels containing control BAECs. ATP-induced contraction of TGFβ1-treated BAECs was not reversed by the removal of ATP but was partially suppressed by a high concentration of sodium nitroprusside (1 μM). TGFβ1-treated BAECs showed sustained phosphorylation of myosin light chain in response to ATP and low levels of basal MYPT1 expression. ATP-induced Ca2+ transients as well as eNOS protein expression were not affected by TGFβ1 in BAECs. However, ATP-induced NO production was significantly reduced in TGFβ1-treated BAECs. Anti-TGFβ1 antibody abolished all of these TGFβ1-induced changes in BAECs.Conclusions and Implications:Mesenchymal transdifferentiation induced by TGFβ1 leads to sustained contraction and reduced NO production in endothelial cells. Such effects, therefore, would not be beneficial for vascular integrity.British Journal of Pharmacology (2006) 149, 355–364. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706883; published online 11 September 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sequential stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP) approach is applied to the laser control of internal double proton transfer of a porphyrin derivative. The potential energy surfaces describing the motion of the two protons are evaluated from the density functional theory (DFT) calculation; the minimum‐energy conformers obtained are classified as the trans‐ and cis‐forms. It is shown that the STIRAP pulse sequence induces the transition from the most stable trans‐form to the other trans‐form via the cis‐intermediate state on the picosecond time scale. The influence of laser intensity on the STIRAP process of the double proton transfer is discussed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a nucleus–electron gas model to estimate the nucleus–electron correlation energy. The expression of the effective interaction between nucleus and electron in the framework of the random‐phase approximation is derived. We find that the attractive interaction between nucleus and electron can be shielded. The expression of the perturbation energy within the ladder approximation is also derived by some simplicities. We present a numerical procedure to calculate the correlation energy and the correlation potential between nucleus and electron and estimate the nucleus–electron correlation potential. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We sought to clarify the relationship between the outcome of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis with the characteristics of the thoracic aortic aneurysm and the surgical procedure used in each patient. Methods: Nine patients who developed recurrent nerve paralysis (nonsurgical paralysis) due to a thoracic aortic aneurysm alone and 14 patients who underwent artificial vessel replacement for thoracic aortic aneurysm and developed recurrent nerve paralysis postoperatively (surgical paralysis) were evaluated. Results: In the patients with nonsurgical paralysis, the aneurysms were similar in size to those of other patients who underwent surgery of the thoracic aorta and were invariably located near the aortic arch. Aneurysm shape was not associated with nerve paralysis. Surgical paralysis was alleviated in two patients. Surgical paralysis was observed in 9% of those who underwent surgery of the thoracic aorta. Vocal cord mobility recovered in 4 of the 11 patients with surgical paralysis who underwent follow-up. Symptoms were alleviated by rehabilitation in many patients who did not recover vocal cord mobility. The positions of the artificial vessel anastomoses are thought to be closely related to the outcome of paralysis. Conclusion: Recurrent nerve paralysis reduced not only the patient's quality of life but also survival by leading to disorders including aspiration pneumonia. Therefore, early rehabilitation should be performed, and surgical treatment should be considered, if necessary, for patients with recurrent nerve paralysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a dual transformation method that is applicable to multicomponent density functional theory. The model of a multicomponent system is chosen to be H+2. The energy and the geometry of the ground state are calculated by using the finite difference method based on multicomponent density functional theory. The results obtained were compared with those obtained from the Born–Oppenheimer approximation and those obtained by exact treatment. The real-time dynamics of H+2 are also demonstrated. The results obtained are discussed and compared with the exact solution. The importance of the dynamic correlation effect between nuclei and an electron is clearly shown. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2003 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In lung protective strategy, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) slightly higher than the Pflex (the airway pressure corresponding to the lower inflection point (LIP) on the inspiratory pressure-volume (P-V) curve measured with ZEEP) is generally recommended. However, this method to determine optimal PEEP lacks a theoretical background and there is no clinical report that investigated how the P-V relationship would be with such PEEP. Therefore, we measured inspiratory P-V curves at different PEEP levels to increase our knowledge about the inspiratory P-V curve with PEEP.Methods: In eight consecutive patients with ALI/ARDS, inspiratory P-V curves were repeatedly measured at different PEEP levels by low flow inflation technique and LIP was assessed in all inspiratory P-V curves. Afterwards, the minimum PEEP level at which LIP was not identifiable (PEEP(LIP)(-)) was determined and the relationship between Pflex and PEEP(LIP)(-) was investigated.Results: Pflex and PEEP(LIP)(-) could be determined in all patients. Pflex was 9.4+/-2.0 cmH2O (range: 7 to 12 cmH2O) and PEEP(LIP)(-) was 7.9+/-1.6 cmH2O (range: 5 to 10 cmH2O) (mean+/-SD, P=0.0877). PEEP(LIP)(-) was lower than the Pflex in five patients, and significantly lower than the Pflex + 2 cmH2O (P=0.0024).Conclusion: From the analysis of inspiratory P-V curves at different PEEP levels, PEEP 2 cmH2O higher than the Pflex may not be necessary to prevent cyclic collapse and reopening of alveoli, at least in some ALI/ARDS patients. Further studies are needed to confirm this preliminary result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A patient with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episode (MELAS) syndrome underwent serial measurement of cerebral blood flow with xenon computed tomography (Xe-CBF) while presenting with strokelike episodes accompanied by a cerebral lesion. He underwent positron emission tomography (PET) measurement of the regional cerebral blood flow (PET-CBF), metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2), and glucose (CMRGlu) after his symptoms and lesion disappeared. During the symptomatic period, Xe-CBF and the Xe-CBF response to acetazolamide loading were well preserved both in and outside the low-density lesion. In the PET study, decreased CMRO2 and increased PET-CBF and CMRGlu were noted in the entire brain. The strokelike episodes of patients with MELAS are more likely attributed to the failure of oxygen metabolism than to a vascular accident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The usefulness of 1% terbinafine HCl (Lamisil®) cream for hyperkeratotic-type tinea pedis and its transfer into the horny layer were evaluated. Of the 36 patients enrolled in the study, 35 were retained for analysis and one was excluded due to inappropriate drug application. Hyperkeratotic-type tinea pedis was classified into three types: true hyperkeratotic-type, partial hyperkeratotic-type, and quasi-hyperkeratotic type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An implantable glucose monitoring device based on a CMOS line sensor combined with a glucose‐responsive fluorescent hydrogel is developed. An implantable glucose monitoring device with sufficient sensitivity and response time is realised, which is an improvement over the authors' previous proof‐of‐concept device. A reduction of the sensor size made the device diameter injectable with a commercially available 16‐gauge syringe needle. The sensor's performance was confirmed through both in vitro and in vivo experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have shown that TAK-603, a new anti-rheumatic drug, is more effective in animal models in which cellular immunity plays a central role. Here, we studied the effect of the drug on Th1 cytokines, which are dominantly produced in this type of immune reaction, in an in vitro system and an in vivo model. We established Th1- and Th2-dominant T-cell lines, and studied the effect of TAK-603 on their cytokine production. Th1 cell lines were BALB/c mouse allo-reactive T cells and C57BL mouse mite antigen-reactive T cells, and the Th2 cell line was BALB/c mouse ovalbumin-reactive T cells. TAK-603 suppressed the production of Th1 cytokines [interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2)] and not that of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5) in these cell lines. Furthermore, selective suppression of Th1 cytokine production was also observed in the T-cell clones obtained from the ovalbumin-reactive T-cell line. To investigate the effect on cytokine production in animal models of arthritis, we analysed the expression of cytokine messenger RNA using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In adjuvant arthritis rats, Th1-dominant cytokine production was observed both in the arthritic joint and the spleen, and the time-course paralleled the progression of arthritis. On the other hand, in type-II collagen-induced arthritis, in which TAK-603 has little effect, Th1-dominant cytokine production was not observed and Th2 cytokines were shown to be more important. The adjuvant arthritis rats treated with TAK-603 (6.25 mg/kg/day, per os) showed significantly lower cytokine mRNA expression both locally and systemically. These data suggest that TAK-603 selectively suppresses Th1 cytokine production, which is consistent with its effect on cellular immunity in animal models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]