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Mechanical rigidity of the liposome membrane is often defined by the membrane bending modulus and is one of the determinants of liposome stability, but the quantitative experimental data are still limited to a few kinds of liposomes. Here, we used atomic force microscopy to investigate the membrane bending moduli of liposomes by immobilizing them on bovine serum albumin-coated glass in aqueous medium. The following lipids were used for liposome preparation: egg yolk phosphatidylcholine, dioleoylphosphatidylcholine, hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane, cholesterol, and N-(carbonylmethoxypoly(ethylene glycol) 2000)-1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine. By using liposomes of various compositions, we showed that the thermodynamic phase state of the membrane rather than the electric potential or liposome surface modification with poly(ethylene glycol) is the predominant determinant of the bending modulus, which decreased in the following order: solid orderedliquid orderedliquid disordered. By using the generalized polarization value of the Laurdan fluorescent probe, we investigated membrane rigidity in terms of membrane fluidity. Atomic force microscopic analysis was superior to the Laurdan method, especially in evaluating the membrane rigidity of liposomes containing hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol. Positively charged liposomes with a large bending modulus were taken up by cells more efficiently than those with a small bending modulus. These findings offer a quantitative method of analyzing the membrane rigidity of nanosized liposomes with different lipid compositions and will contribute to the control of liposome stability and cellular uptake efficiency of liposomal formulations intended for clinical use.

Some aspects of Aomoto's generalized hypergeometric functions on Grassmannian spaces $Gr(k+1,n+1)$ are reviewed. Particularly, their integral representations in terms of twisted homology and cohomology are clarified with an example of the $Gr(2,4)$ case which corresponds to Gauss' hypergeometric functions. The cases of $Gr(2, n+1)$ in general lead to $(n+1)$-point solutions of the Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov (KZ) equation. We further analyze the Schechtman-Varchenko integral representations of the KZ solutions in relation to the $Gr(k+1, n+1)$ cases. We show that holonomy operators of the so-called KZ connections can be interpreted as hypergeometric-type integrals. This result leads to an improved description of a recently proposed holonomy formalism for gluon amplitudes. We also present a (co)homology interpretation of Grassmannian formulations for scattering amplitudes in ${\cal N} = 4$ super Yang-Mills theory., Comment: 51 pages; v2. reference added; v3. minor corrections, published version

Liposomes present a challenge for atomic force microscopy (AFM) observation in aqueous medium because they easily collapse. Here, we demonstrate that bovine serum albumin coating of a glass substrate enables AFM observation of various liposomes in aqueous medium. With this AFM system, liposomes can be systematically observed and morphologically analyzed regardless of their surface charge, phase state, degree of lipid acyl chain unsaturation or PEG modification. This system thus has the potential to reveal the mechanical properties of liposomes of various lipid types and contents.

We conducted fast heating of a core plasma produced by counter-illumination of two beam bundles of implosion lasers for two incident directions of the heating laser. For the axial heating configuration, wherein the heating laser was incident along the coaxial direction of the implosion lasers, the size and density of the counter-imploded core plasma were estimated. The incident timing of the heating laser was determined. Although the heating laser was incident during the stagnation of the core plasma, there were no considerable increases in the intensity of X-rays with energies beyond 1 keV and the yield of the thermonuclear fusion neutrons. Effective core heating did not occur due to the interaction of the heating laser with the low-density ablated plasma far from the core. On the other hand, for the transverse heating configuration, wherein the heating laser was incident from the transverse direction of the implosion laser axis, optimization of the incident timing of the heating laser was not achieved. However, two-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic simulation revealed that a heating laser can directly interact with a core plasma and effective heating is expected. In our scheme, transverse heating configuration appears to be significant.

A Monte Carlo (MC) code simulating the kinetics of two-particle collisions has shown to have certain advantages in the spectral analysis of neutrons from fast-ignition inertial confinement fusion (ICF). The MC code quickly displays neutron spectra produced in the expected fusion plasma kinetics (incl. ion energy spectrum, anisotropy, and collision geometry). This allows to explore various potential mechanisms of neutron production without using time-consuming hydrodynamic or particle simulations and makes it possible to give a feedback to ongoing experiments. The validity of this model was demonstrated in the ”cone-free-shell” fast ignition experiment at the GEKKO-XII - LFEX laser facility, where the model provided a clear explanation for the significant spectral modulation of D(d, n)3He neutrons generated through the interaction between a high-power laser and a long-scale plasma.

Laser-driven neutrons have been expected as an optimum source for neutron radiography applications. Since the neutron fluence is lower than that of accelerator-based neutron source a new device for amplifying scintillation light has been required. The avalanche image intensifier panel discussed here has a large aperture and fast response which has been developed specifically for laser-driven neutron radiography applications. The gain uniformity for pulsed light sources was improved by optimizing electrical circuit. The performances of the improved image intensifier panel were experimentally evaluated. With the improved circuit, the gain non-uniformity was σ = 5 % and impulse response was 50 ns in full width half maximum (FWHM), and dynamic range was 100 which is invariable for a light pulse duration from 15 ns to 500 ns. Laser-driven neutron radiography has been successfully demonstrated in spite of the low neutron flux.

The continuous supply of pharmaceutical formulations therapeutically equivalent to the clinical batches used during development is important to ensure their safety and efficacy. The development of new generic drugs and the postapproval changes of the formulations (e.g., dosage form, dose strength, and composition) and manufacturing (e.g., facility and ingredient) require bioequivalence tests following the appropriate guidelines. Maintaining the formulation performance in the commercial production phase is often more challenging due to multiple manufacturing and stability factors affecting dissolution. A case of a product out of the bioequivalence range between batches in a post-marketed human study emphasized the risk. This minireview introduces multiple approaches to prevent significant bioinequivalence between batches and products through their lifecycles, focusing on a periodical dissolution-monitoring program using four media (acidic, intermediate, neutral, and water) in Japan. Setting the same procedure to monitor one of the complex critical quality attributes should efficiently reduce patient risk complementarily with appropriate specifications and GMP manufacturing.

This case describes a 68-year-old woman exhibiting initial proteinuria at age 55. Subsequently, at age 57, a mixed-type of amyloidosis consisting of amyloid amyloidosis (A A) and immunoglobulin (Ig) light chain amyloidosis (AL) was diagnosed by a renal biopsy examination. Monoclonal paraproteinemia was concurrently identified and diagnosed as monoclonal gammopathy of undeterminate significance (MGUS). Combined melphalan and prednisolone (MP) therapy was initiated. At age 65, anti-hypertensive drugs were administered upon finding an increased urine protein concentration and elevated blood pressure. Because there was no change in the state of MGUS detected by a bone marrow biopsy examination, MP therapy was discontinued. However, the urinary protein concentration increased, and a renal biopsy was performed again at age 66. This revealed a mixed-type amyloidosis of AA and AL, as diagnosed earlier, but AL amyloid deposition in the glomeruli had increased during the intervening period. Life-preserving treatment was continued thereafter, but nephrotic syndrome and renal dysfunction progressed rapidly. End-stage renal failure deposition is rarely seen in the same individual. Although amyloidosis is generally thought to cause a rapid decline in renal function, the patient's renal function was maintained for 13 years. This could be attributed to the following factors : l)the underlying etiology of the AA amyloidosis, which was not clear, 2)a lack of any current evidence of chronic inflammation, and 3) MGUS as the cause of AL amyloidosis. This, together with MP therapy, may have slowed down the pathological decline normally associated with AL amyloidosis.

Although a potassium-competitive acid blocker (PCAB)-based regimen improves the rate of successful Helicobacter pylori first-line eradication, the efficacy of a PCAB-based regimen as second-line therapy is unclear. The aim of this study is to compare the success of second-line eradication of H. pylori using PCAB and proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based regimens.From 2014 to 2017, 624 patients who underwent second-line H. pylori eradication were enrolled. A standard triple regimen for second-line H. pylori eradication includes metronidazole 250 mg, amoxicillin 750 mg, and PPI or PCAB twice daily for 7 days. The success of eradication was compared using intention-to-treat, per-protocol, and propensity-score matching analysis.All patients completed the 7-day course of therapy. Patients using a PCAB-based regimen had a higher rate of eradication than those using a PPI-based regimen in both intention-to-treat (90% [298/330] vs. 85% [250/294], p = 0.045) and per-protocol analyses (96% [298/309] vs. 91% [250/274], p = 0.008). Adverse events occurred in 4 patients. Propensity score matching analysis acquired 274 matched pairs. Patients using a PCAB-based regimen had a higher rate of eradication than those using a PPI-based regimen (96% [264/274] vs. 91% [250/274], p = 0.013).PCAB-based second-line H. pylori eradication is significantly better than PPI-based therapy.

Metastasis is an important prognosis factor in lung cancer, therefore, it is imperative to identify target molecules and elucidate molecular mechanism of metastasis for developing new therapeutics and diagnosis methods. We searched for metastasis-related proteins by utilizing a novel antibody proteome technology developed in our laboratory that facilitated efficient screening of useful target proteins. Two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) analysis identified sixteen proteins, which were highly expressed in metastatic lung cancer cells, as protein candidates. Monoclonal single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) binding to candidates were isolated from a scFv-displaying phage library by affinity selection. Tissue microarray analysis of scFvs binding to candidates revealed that oxysterol binding protein-like 5 (OSBPL5) and calumenin (CALU) were expressed at a significantly higher levels in the lung tissues of metastasis-positive cases than that in the metastasis-negative cases (OSBPL5; p=0.0156, CALU; p=0.0055). Furthermore, 80% of OSBPL5 and CALU double-positive cases were positive for lymph node metastasis. Consistent with these observations, overexpression of OSBPL5 and CALU promoted invasiveness of lung cancer cells. Conversely, knockdown of these proteins using respective siRNAs reversed the invasiveness of the lung cancer cells. Moreover, these proteins were expressed in lung tumor tissues, but not in normal lung tissues. In conclusion, OSBPL5 and CALU are related to metastatic potential of lung cancer cells, and they could be useful targets for cancer diagnosis and also for development of drugs against metastasis.

Objective: Sinonasal inverted papilloma has been traditionally managed with external surgical approaches. Advances in imaging guidance systems, surgical instrumentation, and intraoperative multi-visualization have led to a gradual shift from external approaches to endoscopic surgery. However, for anatomical and technical reasons, endoscopic surgery of sinonasal inverted papilloma extending to the frontal sinuses is still challenging. Here, we present our experience in endoscopic surgical management of sinonasal inverted papilloma extending to one or both frontal sinuses. Methods: We present 10 cases of sinonasal inverted papilloma extending to the frontal sinuses and successfully removed by endoscopic median drainage (Draf III procedure) under endoscopic guidance without any additional external approach. Results: The whole cavity of the frontal sinuses was easily inspected at the end of the surgical procedure. No early or late complications were observed. No recurrence was identified after an average follow-up period of 39.5 months. Conclusion: Use of an endoscopic median drainage approach to manage sinonasal inverted papilloma extending to one or both frontal sinuses is feasible and seems effective.

Fast neutrons, which are neutrons with energies greater than 1 MeV, are expected to be a source of nondestructive inspection for a large-size infrastructure such as a bridge girder because of their mean free path exceeding the meter. A neutron-imaging device with 10-ns time resolution can discriminate pulsed neutrons from X-rays via time of flight. For this purpose, we require a fast-response neutron imager with large aperture and high image resolution. A neutron-imaging device with time resolution of 10 ns and aperture size of 40 cm × 60 cm was developed. It was filled with fast response liquid scintillator [1] in an aluminum honeycomb plate, which converts neutrons to optical light images. The scintillation light images were relayed using an optical lens and detected using a fast response image intensified CCD. The detector was tested at an electron linear accelerator (LINAC) facility in Osaka University. A short X-ray pulse (30 ps pulse duration) was generated using LINAC, and X-ray radiograph images were obtained with a 10- ns exposure time duration. The radiograph images were well attenuated within 10-ns from the X-ray injection. A high energy X-ray image and a neutron radiograph image of a 30-cm thick concrete block with iron blocks located behind it were successfully observed. This promising technique could facilitate nondestructive inspection of large concrete constructions.

Objective Large-scale investigations have not been recently conducted on the efficacy of high-dose steroid administration of prednisolone (PSL) for Bell's palsy. We compared treatment results between normal-dose steroid (PSL 60 mg/d) and high-dose steroid (PSL 200 mg/d) + Hespander + Mannitol administration. We also investigated the recovery rate for antiviral agents. Study design Retrospective case review. Setting Tertiary referral center. Patients A total of 675 patients with Bell's palsy who had grade V and grade VI on the House-Brackmann (HB) scale were treated in our department between 1995 and 2014. These patients could be divided into a normal-dose group and high-dose group. Methods We separately assessed treatment outcomes for HB grade V patients and HB grade VI patients. Logistic regression analysis was also performed to investigate factors that can impact treatment outcomes, i.e., sex, age, days to start of treatment, PSL dosage, and antiviral drug administration. Results Recovery rates were significantly better in the high-dose steroid + Hespander + Mannitol group in comparison with the normal-dose steroid group for HB grade V (100% versus 77.7%) and HB grade VI (92.5% versus 68.2%). Additional effects of antiviral agents were only shown in the normal-dose group. Significant factors for treatment outcomes were PSL 200 mg/d administration and early initiation of treatment. Insignificant factors were sex, age, and the antiviral agent. Conclusion We showed the high-dose steroid + Hespander + Mannitol administration produced significantly better outcomes than normal-dose steroid administration in the treatment of patients with Bell's palsy.

Ephrin receptor A10 (EphA10) is a relatively uncharacterized protein which is expressed in many breast cancers but not expressed in normal breast tissues. Here, we examined the potential of EphA10 as a drug target in breast cancer. Immunohistochemical staining of clinical tissue sections revealed that EphA10 was expressed in various breast cancer subtypes, including triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs), with no expression observed in normal tissues apart from testis. Ligand-dependent proliferation was observed in EphA10-transfected MDA-MB-435 cells (MDA-MB-435(EphA10)) and native TNBC cells (MDA-MB-436). However, this phenomenon was not observed in parental MDA-MB-435 cells which express a low level of EphA10. Finally, tumor growth was significantly suppressed by administration of an anti-EphA10 monoclonal antibody in a xenograft mouse model. These results suggest that inhibition of EphA10 signaling may be a novel therapeutic option for management of breast cancer, including TNBCs which are currently not treated with molecularly targeted agents.

Following the previous paper arXiv:1205.4827, we formulate an S-matrix functional for massive fermion ultra-helicity-violating (UHV) amplitudes, i.e., scattering amplitudes of positive-helicity gluons and a pair of massive fermions. The S-matrix functional realizes a massive extension of the Cachazo-Svrcek-Witten (CSW) rules in a functional language. Mass-dimension analysis implies that interactions among gluons and massive fermions should be decomposed into three-point massive fermion subamplitudes. Namely, such interactions are represented by combinations of three-point UHV and next-to-UHV (NUHV) vertices. This feature is qualitatively different from the massive scalar amplitudes where the number of involving gluons can be arbitrary., Comment: 24 pages; v2. references added; v3. supplemental paragraph inserted below (3.42), typos corrected, published version

Background Management of anticoagulants for patients undergoing polypectomy is still controversial. Cold snare polypectomy (CSP) is reported to cause less bleeding than hot snare polypectomy (HSP). Objective To compare outcomes between continuous administration of anticoagulants (CA) with CSP (CA+CSP) and periprocedural heparin bridging (HB) with HSP (HB+HSP) for subcentimeter colorectal polyps. Design Multicenter, parallel, noninferiority randomized controlled trial. (University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry: UMIN000019355). Setting 30 Japanese institutions. Patients Patients receiving anticoagulant therapy (warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants) who had at least 1 nonpedunculated subcentimeter colorectal polyp. Intervention Patients were randomly assigned to undergo HB+HSP or CA+CSP and followed up 28 days after polypectomy. Measurements The primary end point was incidence of polypectomy-related major bleeding (based on the incidence of poorly controlled intraprocedural bleeding or postpolypectomy bleeding requiring endoscopic hemostasis). The prespecified inferiority margin was -5% (CA+CSP vs. HB+HSP). Results A total of 184 patients were enrolled: 90 in the HB+HSP group, 92 in the CA+CSP group, and 2 who declined to participate after enrollment. The incidence of polypectomy-related major bleeding in the HB+HSP and CA+CSP groups was 12.0% (95% CI, 5.0% to 19.1%) and 4.7% (CI, 0.2% to 9.2%), respectively. The intergroup difference for the primary end point was +7.3% (CI, -1.0% to 15.7%), with a 0.4% lower limit of 2-sided 90% CI, demonstrating the noninferiority of CA+CSP. The mean procedure time for each polyp and the hospitalization period were longer in the HB+HSP than in the CA+CSP group. Limitation An open-label trial assessing 2 factors (anticoagulation approach and polypectomy procedure type) simultaneously. Conclusion Patients having CA+CSP for subcentimeter colorectal polyps who were receiving oral anticoagulants did not have an increased incidence of polypectomy-related major bleeding, and procedure time and hospitalization were shorter than in those having HB+HSP. Primary funding source Japanese Gastroenterological Association.

Transmittance of a front glass is one of the important factors in the development of high efficiency superstrate-type Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells. In this study, we investigated the impact of optical properties of the front glass on the solar cell performance of the CIGS solar cells fabricated using the lift-off process. First, optical properties of quartz substrates and soda-lime glass (SLG) substrates with various thicknesses were investigated. Although optical properties of the SLG substrates depend on the thickness, those of the quartz substrates hardly depend on the thickness. Secondly, the superstrate-type CIGS solar cells were fabricated using 1-mm-thick SLG or 1-mm-thick quartz substrates. As a result, the short-circuit current density of the superstrate-type CIGS solar cell with 1-mm-thick quartz substrate was approximately 7% higher than that with 1-mm-thick SLG substrate, and its conversion efficiency was 7.1%. The external quantum efficiency of the solar cells was also improved using the quartz substrate as a front glass because transmittance and absorptance of the quartz substrate were superior to those of the SLG substrate. We therefore conclude that optical properties of the front glasses play an important role in the improvement of the superstrate-type solar cells.

Background: Kidney disease is characterized by injurious immune responses to self or foreign antigens. The development and maintenance of immune responses generally involves activation of T lymphocytes. We evaluated mRNA expression patterns of T-cell cytokines to identify the principal Th-cell subset involved in the development of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antigen-associated pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis (ANCAGN), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), and membranous nephropathy (MN). Methods: Kidney biopsy specimens from ANCAGN (17), MPGN (11), and MN (14) patients were evaluated for mRNA expression of various T-cell cytokines. Results: Interferon-γ mRNA expression was detected in both ANCAGN and MPGN, but not in MN patients. Furthermore, mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-12, a Th1-associated cytokine, was lower in MN patients than in ANCAGN and MPGN patients. In contrast, a significantly higher expression of IL-4 and IL-5 was observed in MN than in ANCAGN and MPGN patients. In the analyses of Th17-associated cytokine expression, a significantly higher expression of IL-6 and IL-17 was observed in ANCAGN than in MPGN and MN patients. No significant differences were observed in the expression of these cytokines between MPGN and MN patients. With regard to Treg-associated cytokines, a significantly higher IL-10 expression was observed in MN than in ANCAGN patients, and a significantly higher transforming growth factor-β expression was observed in MN than in ANCAGN and MPGN patients. Similarly, Foxp3 expression was significantly higher in MN. Conclusion: Th1 and Th17 immune responses in ANCAGN, the Th1 response in MPGN, and Th2 and Treg responses in MN patients may be integral for the distinct histological features of these diseases.

Scattering amplitudes of gluons coupled with a pair of massive scalars, so-called massive scalar amplitudes, provide the simplest yet physically useful examples of massive amplitudes. In this paper we construct an S-matrix functional for the massive scalar amplitudes in a recently developed holonomy formalism in supertwistor space. From the S-matrix functional we derive ultra helicity violating (UHV), as well as next-to-UHV (NUHV), massive scalar amplitudes at tree level in a form that agrees with previously known results. We also obtain recursive expressions for non-UHV tree amplitudes in general. These results will open up a new avenue to the study of phenomenology in the spinor-helicity formalism., Comment: 32 pages; v2. minor revisions, published version

RNA interference via small interfering RNA (siRNA) has many potential therapeutic applications, and liposomal-based systems are useful for improving the pharmacokinetics of siRNAs, including their intracellular release and distribution. However, for the successful translation of this technology into clinical applications, it is important to understand how liposomal encapsulation changes the cellular uptake and immunostimulatory adverse effects of siRNAs. Here we evaluated the cellular uptake and innate immune activation by an immunostimulatory siRNA encapsulated within a liposome carrier in commercially available human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We found considerable lot-to-lot variation in cytokine production by the PBMCs. Flow cytometric analysis in conjunction with intracellular staining of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) revealed that after treating PBMCs with the liposomal siRNA, approximately 5% of the cells produced TNF-α and more than 90% of the TNF-α-producing cells were positive for CD14 expression. We also showed that peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes in the cytokine release assay had low inter-lot variabilities in TNF-α production, suggesting that the peripheral blood CD14+ monocyte-based cytokine release assay is a specific means of alleviating the lot-to-lot variability in the cytokine release profiles of commercially available PBMCs. Our results also show that the peripheral blood CD14+ monocyte-based cytokine release assay can be used to identify the siRNA recognition receptors that mediate individual cytokine production.

A twenty-year-old man complaining of chest pain was diagnosed as nephrotic syndrome complicated with pleural effusion and ascites. Despite treatment with antibiotics, his fever and high inflammatory reaction persisted. After hospitalization, his urine volume decreased and renal function had deteriorated. As he was suffering from dyspnea, hemodialysis was performed together with chest drainage. His pleural effusion was exudative, and IVIG treatment was added to the antibiotic treatment. He was diagnosed as suspected developed minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) and administered prednisolone intravenously. His renal function ameliorated as a result of this treatment, enabling him to withdraw from hemodialysis. Inflammatory reaction gradually decreased and his general condition improved. The result of a renal biopsy examination carried out after the hemodialysis treatment confirmed MCNS, which suggested that MCNS had induced acute kidney injury (AKI) atypically in this case. Generally AKI is not induced by MCNS in youth, but it may occur under severe inflammatory conditions. Physicians should be aware that MCNS in young patients may lead to the development of AKI requiring hemodialysis treatment.

Clopidogrel was administered to a 67-year-old Japanese man to prevent the recurrence of cerebral infarction. Twelve weeks later, he was admitted to our hospital with acute renal failure, hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, and was diagnosed with clopidogrel-induced thrombotic microangiopathy. Clopidogrel was immediately discontinued and corticosteroid and plasma exchange therapy were administered simultaneously. Thereafter, the patient's condition gradually improved. The patient had a decreased serum complement C3 level. This suggests that the activated alternative pathway is related to thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). TMA is a critical drug-associated adverse reaction that clinicians should always be vigilant about, because clopidogrel is widely prescribed.

BACKGROUND To obtain a clear understanding of the pathogenesis of lipoprotein glomerulopathy (LPG), we studied the role of the deficiency of Fc receptor gamma chain (FcRγ) for the development of LPG in concert with apolipoprotein E (apoE) abnormalities. METHODS We generated apoE and FcRγ double-knockout (FcRγ/apoE-KO) mice, and subsequently introduced several kinds of human recombinant apoE genes. At 21 days after infection, the mice were sacrificed and histologically examined. Peritoneal macrophages were evaluated for their response to modified lipids. RESULTS In the FcRγ/apoE-KO mice, the human apoE3-injected mice showed the most drastic LPG-like changes, as well as prominent hypertriglyceridemia. Meanwhile, relative to the human apoE3-injected mice, the FcRγ/apoE-KO mice showed greater lipoprotein deposition and less macrophage infiltration into the mesangial area. Moreover, the peritoneal macrophages in the apoE/FcRγ-KO mice were impaired in lipid uptake and secretion of the cytokines monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted, after the uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the impairment of macrophage function resulting from FcRγ deficiency plays a principal role in the development of LPG in the presence of apoE abnormalities.

We investigated the chemical bonding states at the ZnO/CdS interface by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements. We found that the octahedral ZnO 6 species formed in the initial stage of the ZnO deposition from the Zn L 3 -edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectra. On the other hand, it is difficult to discuss the change of the chemical bonding states of the Zn atoms through the Zn 2p 3/2 and the S 2p photoelectron spectra. In addition, we suggested that CdSO 4 formed at the ZnO/CdS interface from the analysis of the O 1s photoelectron spectra. We enabled the significant investigation of the chemical bonding states at the ZnO/CdS interface by using a combination of XPS and XAFS measurements.

We focused on the reduction of the crack formation in the transfer of the Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) thin film solar cell structure. We found that the crack formation was reduced by increasing the In2O3:Sn thickness. We concluded that the whole thickness of the transferred layers is an important roll in the reduction of the crack formation. Moreover, we proposed the crack occupancy as a quantitative evaluation method of the crack inside the CIGS layer.

Transfer of a CuInS2 thin film grown on a Mo/soda-lime glass substrate was investigated using a lift-off process. The CuInS2 thin film was flatly exfoliated, with preferential peeling occurring in the CuInS2/MoS2 interface vicinity. This suggests that the interfacial MoS2 layer behaves as a sacrificial layer. The lift-off process was also applied to solar cell fabrication. A superstrate-type CuInS2 thin-film solar cell was fabricated and exhibited no significant degradation of conversion efficiency compared with a substrate-type CuInS2 thin-film solar cell. The lift-off process could therefore also be applied to fabricate the upper part of a tandem solar cell structure.

Amorphous nanosilica particles (nSP) are being utilized in an increasing number of applications such as medicine, cosmetics, and foods. The reduction of the particle size to the nanoscale not only provides benefits to diverse scientific fields but also poses potential risks. Several reports have described the in vivo and in vitro toxicity of nSP, but few studies have examined their effects on the male reproductive system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the testicular distribution and histologic effects of systemically administered nSP. Mice were injected intravenously with nSP with diameters of 70 nm (nSP70) or conventional microsilica particles with diameters of 300 nm (nSP300) on two consecutive days. The intratesticular distribution of these particles 24h after the second injection was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. nSP70 were detected within sertoli cells and spermatocytes, including in the nuclei of spermatocytes. No nSP300 were observed in the testis. Next, mice were injected intravenously with 0.4 or 0.8 mg nSP70 every other day for a total of four administrations. Testes were harvested 48 h and 1 week after the last injection and stained with hematoxylin-eosin for histologic analysis. Histologic findings in the testes of nSP70-treated mice did not differ from those of control mice. Taken together, our results suggest that nSP70 can penetrate the blood-testis barrier and the nuclear membranes of spermatocytes without producing apparent testicular injury.

Lymphatic endothelial cells in tumors (T-LECs) are considered to have different characteristics from LECs in non-tumor tissues (N-LECs). However, differences between the two types have not been well analyzed at molecular level. In this report, we performed differential proteome analysis of T-LEC and N-LEC models prepared by cultivation of LECs in tumor conditioned medium. By expression profiling of identified proteins using tissue microarrays, reticulocalbin-1 was found to be expressed in clinical specimen-derived T-LECs and lung cancer cells but not N-LECs. It is suggested that reticulocalbin-1 may be an important molecule in understanding T-LEC function and control of lymphatic metastasis.

Recently, nanomaterials (NMs) showing useful properties such as controlled release and tissue permeability have been developed for practical use as medicine and cosmetics. On the other hand, because NMs possess innovative properties, kinetics, and biological effects distinct from those of micro size bulk materials, the potential harmful effects of NMs on humans are raising concerns about their safety. Therefore, there is an urgent need for risk assessment of NMs. To achieve this, it is most important to analyze the relationship between physicochemical properties such as particle size and surface characteristics, cellular distribution and biological effects, allowing prediction and avoidance of risk in using NMs. However there is little information about association of nanomaterial properties with kinetics (exposure, absorption, distribution, and excretion). In this respect, we have not only collected hazard information on NMs but have also analyzed the linkage between silica particle size and their hazards. We have demonstrated that NM with a diameter of under 100 nm can penetrate the stratum corneum of mouse skin and are taken up by living cells such as keratinocytes and Langerhans cells. Additionally, NM taken up by cells entered the nucleus, indicating the risk of genotoxicity. In this review, we would like to discuss the relationship between particle size, intracellular distribution, and hazard effect.

Of studied 2,360 subjects with facial nerve disease between 1995 and 2009, 64% were diagnosed with Bell's palsy (BP), Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) and Zoster sine herpete (ZSH). RSH and ZSH were less cumulatively curable than BP. Nerve palsy treatment results did not differ among the therapies. Among the 137 with bilateral and recurrent facial palsy, the age at first episode of those with bilateral recurrent palsy was younger than those with the bilateral alternative, ipsilateral recurrent, or bilateral simultaneous palsy. Women outnumbered men by three times among those with hemi facial spasm.

A 64-year-old man seen elsewhere for recurrent bloody sputum was found in computed tomography (CT) to have a 2 cm thyroid tumor invading the trachea but no recurrent nerve palsy. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy showed papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland. He was scheduled for total thyroidectomy and tracheal reconstruction. On admission, he reported dyspnea on exercise. The tumor grew rapidly invading the cricoid cartilage. Suspected anaplastic carcinoma was not seen. Total thyroidectomy and laryngectomy yielded a pathological diagnosis of poorly differentiated carcinoma as defined in General Rules for the Designation of Thyroid Cancer by the Japanese Society of Thyroid Surgery. Poorly differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid is a new pathological concept that we report with a review of the literature.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) features headache, seizures, abnormal mental state, altered visual perception, and hypertension. While rare, it has become increasingly identifiable with clinicoradiological processes in cancer associated with cytotoxic and immunosuppressive agents. Such processes include vasogenic edema mainly involving the white matter of the parietooccipital lobes. PRES is reversible when adequately managed. Failure to quickly recognize it may, however, result in profound, permanent central nervous system dysfunction or death. We reported a 48-year-old woman with advanced hypopharyngeal cancer who developed PRES after total pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy. Her condition gradually improved and she recovered completely without neurological deficit 46 days after PRES onset.

Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells with a superstrate structure were fabricated using a lift-off process. To widen the variety of substrate choices for CIGS solar cells, a lift-off process was developed without an intentional sacrificial layer between the CIGS and Mo back-contact layers. The CIGS solar cells fabricated on Mo/soda-lime glass (SLG) were transferred to an alternative SLG substrate. The conversion efficiency of the CIGS solar cells with the superstrate structure was 5.1%, which was almost half that of the CIGS solar cells with a substrate structure prior to the lift-off process. The low conversion efficiency was caused by the high series resistance and low shunt resistance, which would be due to the junction resistance between the CIGS/back contact and cracks introduced during the lift-off process, respectively.

Recently, nanomaterials have become an integral part of our daily lives. However, there is increasing concern about the potential risk to human health. Here, we attempted to identify biomarkers for predicting the exposure and toxicity of nanomaterials by using a proteomics based approach. We evaluated the changes of protein expression in plasma after treatment with silica nanoparticles. Our analyses identified haptoglobin, one of the acute phase proteins, as a candidate biomarker. The results of ELISA showed that the level of haptoglobin was significantly elevated in plasma of mice exposed to silica nanoparticles with a diameter of 70 nm (nSP70) compared to normal mice and those exposed to silica particles with a diameter of 1000 nm. Furthermore, the other acute phase proteins, C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) were also elevated in plasma of nSP70 treated mice. In addition, the level of these acute phase proteins was elevated in the plasma of mice after intranasal treatment with nSP30. Our results suggest that haptoglobin, CRP and SAA are highly sensitive biomarkers for assessing the risk of exposure to silica nanoparticles. We believe this study will contribute to the development of global risk assessment techniques for nanomaterials.

Proteomics-based analysis is currently the most promising approach for identifying biomarker proteins for use in drug development. However, many candidate biomarker proteins that are over- or under-expressed in diseased tissues are found by such a procedure. Thus, establishment of an efficient method for screening and validating the more valuable targets is urgently required. Here, we describe the development of an "antibody proteomics system" that facilitates the screening of biomarker proteins from many candidates by rapid preparation of cross-reacting antibodies using phage antibody library technology. Using two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis analysis, 16 over-expressed proteins from breast cancer cells were identified. Specifically, proteins were recovered from the gel pieces and a portion of each sample was used for mass spectrometry analysis. The remainder was immobilized onto a nitrocellulose membrane for antibody-expressing phage enrichment and selection. Using this procedure, antibody-expressing phages against each protein were successfully isolated within two weeks. The expression profiles of the identified proteins were then acquired by immunostaining of breast tumor tissue microarrays with the antibody-expressing phages. Using this approach, expression of Eph receptor A10, TRAIL-R2 and Cytokeratin 8 in breast tumor tissues were successfully validated. These results demonstrate the antibody proteomics system is an efficient method for screening tumor-related biomarker proteins.

To clarify the skull content contribution to vibratory bone stimuli transmission and to determine stimuli features, we compared auditory threshold and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) using a bone vibrator placed at different head sites, including the eye. The best audiometric threshold and the highest DPOAE were with the vibrator either on the mastoid of the measured side or on the temple’s “ultrasound window”. Auditory threshold with the bone vibrator on the eye resembled those of the forehead and were about 10 dB higher than at the best sites. DPOAEs were clearly present when air-conducted stimuli were presented through an inserted earphone and with the bone vibrator on the eye, indicating that vibratory sound is transmitted through skull content to the inner ear. The intracranial vibratory stimuli transmission pathway thus plays a significant role, particularly at low frequencies, and possibly also when vibratory stimuli are applied to the skull bone.

We report 2 cases of relatively rare hematocele of the maxillary sinus in 14-year-old and 38-year-old men reporting nasal obstruction and epistaxis. Computed tomography (CT) showed isodensity maxillary sinus masses mimicking malignant tumors by destroying the bony wall. Masses were removed transmaxillarily and endonasally. Both were diagnosed histopathologically as hematocele.

The relatively common thyroglossal duct cyst, or median cervical cyst, develops from residual thyroglossal duct tissue, generally comprise normal thyroid tissue1), so carcinoma development is rare at 1.9% (Livolsi, et al.)1), 1.7% (Keelig, et al.)2), or 1.6% (Nagamine, et al.)3). Since the Nonaka report4), only 66 cases of carcinoma development from thyroglossal duct remnant, including ours, have been reported.

In a recent paper, we show that an S-matrix functional for graviton amplitudes can be described by an N = 8 supersymmetric gravitational holonomy operator in twistor space. In this paper, we obtain an alternative expression for the gravitational holonomy operator such that it can be interpreted as a square of an N = 4 holonomy operator for frame fields, by taking a sum of certain shuffles over ordered indices. The new expression leads to amplitudes of not only spin-2 gravitons but also spin-0 massless particles. We discuss that the squared model is favored as a theory of quantum gravity.

補充現象は, 補聴器フィッティングを行なううえで, 重要な指標の一つである。しかし, 小児難聴において周波数毎に補充現象を評価できる他覚的検査法は存在しない。この問題を解決するために, 周波数特異性の高い聴性定常反応 (ASSR) を用いた補充現象の評価について検討した。補充現象を認める感音難聴者12名12耳と聴力正常者14名14耳を検討の対象とし, 40-Hz ASSRと80-Hz ASSRにおいて, 刺激音圧 (dB SL) の変化に対するASSR反応成分のpowerを比較検討した。40-Hz ASSR, 80-Hz ASSR共に, 刺激音圧が15～35 dB SLにて難聴群のpowerが聴力正常群と比較して有意に大きく, 刺激音圧の増大に伴うpowerの増加の割合も, 聴力正常群と比較し難聴群で有意に大きかった。40-Hz ASSR, 80-Hz ASSR共に, 刺激音圧の増大に伴うpowerの増加の割合が大きいことは, 補充現象によるものであると考えられた。