Search

A novel polymeric gel is designed and synthesized, based on rotatable 1,1,3,3-tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)ferrocene cross-linking units capable of hinge-like motion. This hinge-linked gel results from an end-to-end reaction between the ferrocene-based cross-linker and a bifunctional poly(amide acid) oligomer. The cross-linking reaction efficiency is estimated by sol fraction analysis based on the Miller-Macosko model. Mechanical properties and rheological measurements show that the hinge-linked gel exhibits good mechanical stability and perfect elastic properties, although the gel cross-linking depends solely on metal-organic coordination at the ferrocenyl center. The hinge-linked network concept presented herein offers a novel design concept, which may be applicable to a variety of polymeric materials such as resins, metal-organic frameworks, and gels.

Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) is known to have prominent anticancer activity against several cancers, and is also known to be an inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO). In this study, we investigated the regulatory function of NDGA on inflammatory bone destruction mediated by osteoclasts. NDGA markedly inhibited receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL)-induced formation of osteoclasts in cultures of murine osteoclast precursor cell line RAW-D cells and primary bone marrow-derived macrophages culture systems. The inhibitory effect of NDGA on osteoclastogenesis did not arise from the inhibition of 5-LO activity. NDGA did not affect MAPKs, such as p38, JNK, and NF-κB, but significantly inhibited the induction of NFATc1, a key transcription factor for osteoclastogenesis. NDGA also suppressed activation of ERK in osteoclast precursors. RANKL-induced calcium oscillation observed in osteoclast precursors was completely diminished by the addition of NDGA. In mature osteoclasts, RANKL-induced nuclear translocation of NFATc1 was clearly inhibited by NDGA treatment. Finally, in vivo studies demonstrated that administration of NDGA significantly reduced severe bone destruction and osteoclast recruitment in the ankle joint of rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis. These results indicate the potential utility of NDGA as a therapeutic agent for ameliorating inflammatory bone destruction in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background It has been suggested that the phenotypes of Behçet’s disease (BD) in Japan are changing. To ask whether the evolution of BD holds true in recent-onset cases in Japan, we performed a retrospective study. Methods We reviewed the records of 578 patients with BD who met the 1987 revised diagnostic criteria of the Behçet’s disease research committee of Japan. The patients were divided into three groups based on the date of disease onset. We compared the demography, clinical features, and treatments among them with or without adjustment for the observation period. Patients having oral ulcers, genital ulcers, regional skin involvement, and uveitis are categorized as having complete-type BD, and the associated factors were determined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results Male patients had a higher propensity for uveitis and central nervous system (CNS) involvement, whereas female patients had higher rates of genital ulcers and arthritis. We found a significant trend in reduction of complete-type, genital ulcer, HLA-B51 carriers, and increment of gastrointestinal BD over time. Multiple regression analysis identified HLA-B51 positivity, earlier date of disease onset, and younger age of onset as independently associated with complete-type BD. Although treatments had been also chronologically changed, the causative relationship between therapeutic agents and phenotypical changes was not determined from the study. Conclusion The present study revealed that phenotypical evolution was characterized by decreased incidence of the complete type and increment of gastrointestinal involvement in Japanese patients with BD during the last 30 years. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13075-016-1115-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Lactobacillus paracasei K71 was shown to be effective in alleviating the severity of atopic dermatitis in a randomized controlled trial, and a preliminary open-label trial suggested that strain K71 intake enhanced secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) release in the saliva. This study investigated the effect of K71 on sIgA release in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. The trial included 62 Japanese subjects aged 20–64 years with relatively low rates of salivary sIgA release. Subjects (n=31 in each group) were randomly given a tablet containing 100 mg (approximately 2 × 1011 bacteria) of K71 or a placebo tablet daily for 12 weeks. After eliminating data for eight subjects (four in each group) who met the exclusion criteria for efficacy analysis, data for 54 subjects were analyzed. The change in the rate of salivary sIgA release 8 weeks after initiation of the study compared with baseline was significantly higher in the K71 tablet group (105.5 ± 119.0 µg/min) than in the placebo group (52.7 ± 62.6 µg/min; p=0.047). There were no adverse events associated with intake of tablets containing K71. The safety of intake of L. paracasei K71 was also confirmed in an independent open-label trial with 20 healthy subjects who consumed excessive amounts of K71-containing food. L. paracasei K71 intake may therefore have some benefits in promoting mucosal immune function.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of underweight status on the survival of elderly patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC). A total of 113 patients aged ≥75 years who underwent curative surgery for CRC were included. In addition to standard perioperative variables, body mass index (BMI) was assessed. The patients were categorized as underweight (BMI

Here, we introduce our method of combined use of magnetic resonance angiography/multidetector-row computed tomography (MRA/MDCTA), Doppler sonography, and indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography to identify the locations of the perforator vessels of the flaps. This method can be used to accurately confirm perforator vessel location on pre- or intraoperative images. If a detectable perforator is obtained using preoperative MRA/MDCTA and Doppler sonography, we use the term “freestyle perforator-based flap” for propeller or V-Y advancement flaps. In some cases, aggressive perforator dissection is necessary to free these flaps from adhesions and evenly distribute the torsion, and the intraoperative identification of perforator vessels detected by Doppler sonography and ICG fluorescence angiography makes it possible to select perforators of larger caliber and stronger pulsatility without fear of anatomic inconsistencies; furthermore, such identification facilitates the surgical mechanics and shortens the operation time.

For the purpose of obtaining orally potent VLA-4 inhibitors, we have carried out structural modification of the (N'-phenylureido)phenyl group in compound 1, where the group was found to be attributed to poor pharmacokinetic profile in our previous research. Through modification, we have identified several compounds with both potent in vitro activity and improved oral exposure. In particular, compound 7e with 7-fluoro-2-(1-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-1,3-benzoxazolyl group as a novel replacement of the (N'-phenylureido)phenyl group significantly inhibited eosinophil infiltration into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid at 15mg/kg in an Ascaris-antigen-induced murine bronchial inflammatory model, and its efficacy was comparable to that of the anti-mouse α(4) antibody (R1-2).

We report a case of adenomyoma in the small intestine, which is an extremely rare entity. An 81-year-old woman presented to our hospital with a history of three episodes of vomiting accompanied by abdominal pain. Upper gastrointestinal examination via a long tube found intestinal obstruction caused by a tumor of the small intestine. Laparotomy revealed a hard mass, 160 cm distal to the Treitz ligament. Pathological examinations of the resected tumor confi rmed a diagnosis of adenomyoma originating in the small intestine. To our knowledge, this is only the second report of an adenomyoma of small intestine causing intestinal obstruction in an adult.

Methotrexate (MTX) is widely utilized for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, recent observation of the MTX-resistant patients proposed some difficulty in MTX-dependent therapeutic approach for RA. To access cellular events related to MTX resistance in RA in respect to inflammatory bone destruction, we investigated on an involvement of the potent inflammatory mediator adenosine in the regulation of osteoclastogenesis and inflammatory bone destruction. In rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA rats), MTX efficiently suppressed bone destruction when it was administrated within 3 days after adjuvant injection, while it could not suppress inflammatory bone destruction if MTX was injected at the time of onset of inflammation (at day 10 after adjuvant injection). Time-course change in the level of plasma adenosine of AA rats was estimated by use of high-performance liquid chromatography and elucidated that adenosine level was markedly elevated till 10 days after adjuvant injection. In vitro bone marrow culture system for evaluating osteoclastogenesis, MTX markedly suppressed osteoclastogenesis in a stromal cell-dependent manner. This MTX-induced suppression of osteoclastogenesis was abrogated by the addition of adenosine. MTX suppressed the expression of mRNA for the receptor activator NF-κB ligand (RANKL), but it did not suppress the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG). The addition of MTX and adenosine together markedly suppressed the level of OPG expression. Abolishment of MTX action by adenosine was significantly blocked by MRS1754, a highly selective antagonist for the A(2b) adenosine receptor (A(2b)AR), but not by caffeine, an antagonist for A₁, A(2a), A₃ AR (A₁AR, A(2a)AR, and A₃AR), which suggests that adenosine acts through A(2b)AR. Immunohistochemical studies showed abundant expression of A(2b)AR in cells localized in the bone-bone marrow boundary of the distal tibia in AA rats but not in control rats. When adenosine was injected in the ankle joints of MTX-treated AA rats, the suppressive effects of MTX on bone destruction was abolished. The current data therefore suggest that upregulation of adenosine production abolished the suppressive effect of MTX on osteoclastic bone destruction. Involvement of the adenosine-A(2b)AR system may explain MTX resistance in RA.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effect of a supplementary diet containing heat-killed lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus paracasei K71 (LAB diet) on adult patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 34 adult type AD subjects who were treated with conventional topical corticosteroid and tacrolimus. LAB diet or placebo was added over 12 weeks. The primary end-point was the clinical severity of AD which was evaluated by a severity scoring system proposed by the guideline of the Japanese Dermatological Association. The effect was also secondarily evaluated by itch scores of visual analog scales (VAS), quality-of-life (QOL) impairment scores of Skindex 16 and consumption amounts of topical therapeutics. Data on these four assessment variables were collected at baseline and at week 4, 8 and 12. Within the study population, the skin severity scores were significantly decreased from baseline at week 8 (P

The development of intelligent materials which can produce spontaneously different deformation under some external stimuli (such as temperature, electricity, light, magnetic field and so on) provides promising substances for materials chemistry and biomimetic engineering. Among them, azobenzene is attractive molecular transducer for light driven devices and optical switches due to the large reversible changes in molecular shape that occur upon isomerization. Light-driven applications are facilitated by the distinct absorption bands of the cis and trans isomers that allow for selective conversion and are robust even after multiple photocycles. Photoresponsive gels having azobenzene units in a rigid aromatic backbone are expected as a next generation actuator that offers direct energy conversion from light to macroscopic work. Since it is not necessary electric wiring, possible to be operated remotely with light. And its operation principle is based on the movement of molecular scale, so it could be miniaturized. In this study, we synthesized photoresponsive polyimide (PI) gels which are hardly hydrolyzed and decomposed as compared with precursor photoresponsive poly (amide acid) (PAA) gels. Conventional polyimide gels obtained by crosslinking bifunctional oligomers having azobenzene moiety with tetrafunctional amine showed no reversible photoresponsiveness. However, by using N,N’-bis(3,5-diaminobenzoyl)-4,4’-diaminoazobenzene (BDA-Azo) as a tetrafunctional crosslinking agent which azobenzene is introduced, a centimeter-long cantilever made up of the photoresponsive PI gel exhibited reversible bending motions which were faster than the precursor PAA gel upon blue (402 nm) and visible light (532 nm) irradiation. Therefore, in order to elucidate the influence of chemical structure on bending behavior, we investigated various physical properties of the novel PI gel composed of BDA-Azo, conventional PI gel and their precursor by using UV-vis spectrum measurement, Raman scattering measurement, etc. and discussed relationships between photoisomerization and bending behavior.

Photoisomerization reactions of azobenzene derivatives have become the most common power source for molecular machines and photoresponsive polymers. Among photomechanical polymeric materials, a large response has been achieved exclusively using azobenzene-containing liquidcrystalline elastomers (azo-LCEs) and networks (azo-LCNs). Thus, although a number of efforts have been done to develop polymeric materials capable of transducing light to mechanical work, successful examples of bottom-up direct photomechanical transduction are still limited. Here we demonstrate that azobenzene containing rigid polymer networks, which consist of aromatic poly(amide acid) or polyimide backbones, show remarkable macroscopic deformation in response to blue (405 nm) and visible light (>532 nm) irradiation. The bending motion of the cantilever was recorded by a video camera and analyzed on a computer. Although, the centimeter-long cantilever of PAA gel rapidly bends and forms a 90° angle within 4 s upon 405nm laser irradiation at one point, that of PI gels deflect 90 degree within 1.5 s. The bent cantilever cannot smoothly return to a straight shape upon visible light (> 532 nm) irradiation at one point. Surprisingly, in order to return the polymer rod of PI gels to the upright state, it is necessary to irradiate the entire rod with visible light. We believe that this is because trans-cis isomerization of azobenzene at the light irradiation site induces domino killing isomerization of the polymer gel at the non-irradiated site. In this research, we discuss the possibility that domino killing isomerization of azobenzene is induced by laser irradiation from various evidence.

Adherens junctions (AJs), which are organized by adhesion proteins and the underlying actin cytoskeleton, probably sense pulling forces from adjacent cells and modulate opposing forces to maintain tissue integrity, but the regulatory mechanism remains unknown at the molecular level. Although the possibility that alpha-catenin acts as a direct linker between the membrane and the actin cytoskeleton for AJ formation and function has been minimized, here we show that alpha-catenin recruits vinculin, another main actin-binding protein of AJs, through force-dependent changes in alpha-catenin conformation. We identified regions in the alpha-catenin molecule that are required for its force-dependent binding of vinculin by introducing mutant alpha-catenin into cells and using in vitro binding assays. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching analysis for alpha-catenin mobility and the existence of an antibody recognizing alpha-catenin in a force-dependent manner further supported the notion that alpha-catenin is a tension transducer that translates mechanical stimuli into a chemical response, resulting in AJ development.

A simple method for constructing gold nanoparticle-modified electrodes with three-dimensional nanostructures is demonstrated. The electrodes were prepared by casting citrate-reduced AuNPs onto polycrystalline gold electrodes. The resultant electrodes had a large surface area-to-volume ratio, adequate for high protein loading and conferring high stability. The gold nanoparticle electrodes were covered with a self-assembled monolayer of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid for electrostatic immobilization of cytochrome c (cyt c). At the electrode, direct, reversible electron transfer from cyt c was observed with remarkable stability. Moreover, an extremely high surface coverage of electrochemically active cyt c, 167 fully packed monolayers, was obtained through use of the electrode.

This paper presents effects of housing electricity and heat source equipments. We studied about energy saving effects of 4 equipments, CO2 Heat Pump water heater (CO2-HP), Micro Gas Engine Co-Generation System (GE-μCGS), Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Co-Generation System (PEFC-CGS), and Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Co-Generation System (SOFC-CGS). As the result, we have found that energy consumption and CO2 emission reduction rate is the highest in case of SOFC-CGS. Energy consumption is reduced by 17-20% using SOFC-CGS on Electric Power Load Tracking Operation, and 44-47% on Rated Operation. And CO2 emission is reduced by 5-20% on Electric Power Load Tracking Operation and 22-46% on Rated Operation.

Distributed energy resources (DER) is taking an increasingly important role in today's open energy market. A DER system is a complex system utilizing a wide range of energy suppliers including combined heat and power (CHP) systems and renewable, such as photovoltaic and wind turbine. It has been expected to spread to increase the efficiency of energy consumption and to address global environmental problems. However, it will also result in more complex systems to design, operate and maintain. In order to realize high economical and energy-saving potentials of the DER system, it is necessary to determine its structure rationally by selecting some kinds of equipment from many alternative ones so that they match energy demand requirements for an objective user. It is also important to determine rationally the number and capacities of each kind of equipment selected, and the system's annual operating strategies corresponding to hourly variations in energy demands. In this paper, a model for structural and operational optimization of DER system is presented. The problem is formulated as a mixed integer linear programming where the objective is to minimize the overall cost of DER system. A simplex algorithm is employed to solve the problem because it can save a lot of computation time by eliminating unnecessary cases among every possible combination. In addition, an illustrative example is presented. The solution gives the DER structure, i.e., which and how many production units should be built as well as their capacity, together with cost performance.

The first operative procedure in sex reassignment surgery (SRS) for female-to-male transsexuals (FTMTS) is mastectomy. This procedure includes the removal of mammary tissue, removal of excess skin, and reduction and proper repositioning of the nipple and areola complex. We have performed mastectomies in over 120 patients since January 2001 and want to describe the operative procedures we have developed. We classified our patients into 3 groups according to the patient's breast volume and the degree of ptosis, and we selected the operative procedure that was suitable for each group. At present all costs for SRS are assumed by the patient in Japan. If the FTMTS patient undergoes the entire series of SRS operations, he has to pay more than 3,000,000 yen. Thus the surgeon should select the proper operative procedure so that the patient can avoid unnecessary additional operations. We describe herein the techniques and the strategy for performing mastectomy in FTMTS.

With the start up of West–East Natural Gas Transmission Project, the construction of natural gas-pipeline will enter on a new era in China. The development tendency will be towards large-diameter, high-pressure and long-distance for natural gas-pipelines. Correspondingly, the life cycle cost of natural gas-pipeline networks is increasing gradually. The mainline system is a vital part of natural gas network systems. The investment required for the mainline system is enormous, usually accounting for 80% of the total investment for this system. In general, the investment required for a gas-pipeline depends on its operating parameters. Therefore, based on the characteristics of gas networks, optimization for investment becomes indispensable to gas networks design. A comprehensive and optimal mathematic model of a gas networks system is established in this paper which considers all the factors influencing the total investment of a gas networks system (e.g. pipe diameter, thickness, pressure, length, compression ratio, etc). From the standpoint of the characteristics of a model comprising both continuous and discrete variables, a new methodology, rank-optimization, is presented. On the basis of this model, a simple and visual high-pressure networks optimization program has been compiled. Furthermore, the developed optimization program has been applied to a practical project and the effects of operating parameters on the total investment have been analyzed. The simulation model in this paper is shown to be an effective method to solve optimization on mainline system in high-pressure gas networks.

La1−xSrxFeO3 (x = 0–1) perovskite, Sr-substituted LaFeO3, was prepared by Self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) and its catalytic activity for soot combustion was experimentally examined in comparison with that of a conventional Pt/Al2O3 catalyst. The products were also characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, and BET specific surface area. The XRD analysis revealed that all the products had a perovskite phase as the major compound, together with intermediate phases with higher x values (x = 0.7–1). The BET specific surface area of the products increased with x. Moreover, the catalytic activity for soot combustion also increased with x, wherein the BET specific surface area appeared an appropriate index for explaining the observed activity. The sample with x = 0.8 exhibited the highest activity for soot combustion among all the SHS products. The soot combustion temperature of this product was as much as 100 °C lower than that of non-catalytic soot combustion. In other words, it had the same activity as that at only 20 °C higher, in comparison to conventional Pt/Al2O3 catalyst. More significantly, average apparent activation energy of sample with x = 0.8 calculated by Friedman method using TG/DTA was approximately 15 kJ/mol lower than that of Pt/Al2O3 catalyst. This result suggested that La1−xSrxFeO3 has the possibility to be an alternative catalyst to Pt/Al2O3 catalyst.

Residential co-generation systems have been introduced around Japan recently, and expected to diffuse more and more. During the process of boosting the adoption of residential co-generation systems, both manufacturers and customers are interested to know the optimal capacity of power generator for the unit, and once the unit has been installed, what dispatch strategy to use in order to minimize a customer.s cost of meeting its electricity and heat requirements. In this paper, a mixed integer nonlinear programming model has been developed. The objective is to minimize annual cost of the energy system for a given residential customer equipped with the co-generation plant, combining with a storage tank and a back-up boiler. The model reports the optimal co-generation systems capacities that customers could employ given their electricity and thermal requirements. Using this model, an investigation was conducted of economically optimal co-generation investment for a prototypical residential building. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was elaborated in order to show how the optimal solutions would vary due to changes of some key parameters. In addition, as a main component of residential co-generation systems, the optimal size of the storage tank was analyzed.

In the current air-conditioning load calculation, the relation between air-conditioning load and thermal sensation of the resident is uncertain in design stage, because the air-conditioning load is calculated regardless the thermal sensation of resident. This paper showed a new air-conditioning load calculation method that considered the thermal sensation of the resident. The results of case study are the following. 1) The new load calculation method can calculate air-conditioning load for a function of the resident thermal sensation. The results of case study showed the new load calculation method has high load more than 20% in comparison with the current load calculation method. 2) In this new load calculation method, the heat extraction rate from indoor air or walls is calculated as air-conditioning load to maintain thermal sensation of the resident. 3) In this new load calculation method, air-conditioning load changes by the position of the resident. The results of case study showed the difference became about 6%.

One productive technique for ultrahigh resolution readout of tiny regions is the measurement of the fluorescence signal of materials. A transparent polymeric materials whose fluorescence quantum yield is changed and recorded by thermally controlling the aggregation of fluoran dyes and developers with long alkyl chains has been developed. The recording medium can be fabricated easily by casting or coating recording materials. Fluorescence is observed after annealing at 363 K for about twelve seconds and then cooling to room temperature (RT), and quenched by annealing at 423 K for a few seconds and then quenching to RT. Nondestructive readout by excitation light with a fluorescent contrast of above 10 is achieved using red, green, and blue fluorescent dyes. Fluorescence on–off switching is induced by fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) from a fluorescent dye to a colored fluoran dye in the recording material. Fluorescence was uniformly quenched in the visible region after erasing. Since the recording materials allow the penetration of laser light due to the presence of crystals smaller than the wavelength range of visible light in both the emission and quenching states, nondestructive readout of the fluorescent signal by two-photon absorption is accomplished. This work provides an important stepping-stone for achieving rewritable-type near-field optical storage or multilayer recording.

Although the population of Japan is going to decrease, the energy consumption of the residential sector is assumed to increase. On the other hand, new construction will decrease gradually, and the ratio of the existing houses in housing market will grow up. This research shows the prediction of CO2 emission between 2005 and 2050 from housing sector of Fukuoka Prefecture by construction, operation, demolition and area based on the present situation of the housing stock.Fukuoka Prefecture is divided into “Fukuoka City”, “Kitakyushu City” and “The other area”. The trend CO2 emission and the main factor are different by areas, directly because the decrease of population and the change of household composition. Accordingly the effect of the measures would change. In Fukuoka City CO2 emission has a high percentage of the construction and operation factor on apartment house, therefore it is said that the measures for the apartment house are comparatively important. Meanwhile in Kitakyushu City and The other area, new construction of detached house has a large percentage in new construction, but taken altogether, it is a small amount. The measures for the housing stock are important.

Control of light diffusion or direction of transmitted light were generated from polymer composites, consisting of single fiber and surrounded polymer matrix, using a fiber whose cross-section is triangle shape. Light diffusion property was drastically changed by following two ways, slight rotation of samples with respect to the direction of incident light, or little adjustment of refractive index of polymer matrix. If triangle fiber was used, spatial pattern of light diffusion was strongly dependent on incident light direction or refractive index ratio between fiber and polymer matrix, whereas, if circular fiber was used, they were relatively insensitive to incident light direction or refractive index ratio. In this research we also succeeded in polarization separation, by use of a monofilament birefringent fiber. The fabrication procedure was same except that fiber was birefringent. Since the light diffusion property was drastically influenced by the shift of refractive index, spatial patterns of light diffusion were quite different between two polarized light (axis of electric field are vertical each other) in birefringent fiber, thus polarized light was separated to different directions. In our samples, we could separate more than 95% of polarized light into two different directions.

Asymmetric Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reactions of selected meso -α-dicarbonyl compounds with chiral phosphonate reagents, which possessed axially dissymmetric 1,1′-bi-2- or 8-naphthol at the carboxylate moiety as a chiral auxiliary, were examined. The reactions proceeded smoothly with good chemical yields as well as with high diastereoselectivities. Z -olefins were preferentially formed, and it was found that the free hydroxy group at the 2′- or 8′-position on the naphthalene ring plays a crucial role in the high diastereoselectivity, probably due to a complex-induced proximity effect. Mechanistic considerations are also described.

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) theta 1 (GSTT1) has been regarded as one of the key enzymes involved in phase II reactions because of its unique substrate specificity. In this study, we generated mice with the disrupted Gstt1 gene (Gstt1-null mice) by gene targeting and analyzed the metabolic properties in cytosolic and in vivo studies. The resulting Gstt1-null mice failed to express the Gstt1 mRNA and GSTT1 protein by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis and two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis/mass spectrometry analysis, respectively. However, the Gstt1-null mice appeared to be normal and were fertile. In an enzymatic study using cytosolic samples from the liver and kidney, GST activity toward 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)propane (EPNP), dichloromethane (DCM), and 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) was markedly lower in Gstt1-null mice than in the wild-type controls, despite there being no difference in GST activity toward 1-choloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene between Gstt1-null mice and the wild-type controls. Gstt1-null mice had GST activity of only 8.7 to 42.1% of the wild-type controls to EPNP, less than 2.2% of the wild-type controls to DCM, and 13.2 to 23.9% of the wild-type controls to BCNU. Plasma BCNU concentrations after a single i.p. administration of BCNU to Gstt1-null mice were significantly higher, and there was a larger area under the curve(5-60) min (male, 2.30 times; female, 2.28 times, versus the wild-type controls) based on the results. In conclusion, Gstt1-null mice would be useful as an animal model of humans with the GSTT1-null genotype.

We report a novel rubber film made by a simple mixing method, which realizes a steep temperature dependence of the contact angle of water at a critical temperature of 41°C. We mixed a common SBR with a known temperature-responsive PNIPA to make a thermo-responsive rubber. This rubber film distinctly showed a switch of surface wettability between hydrophilic below 41°C and hydrophobic above 41°C. The switching property is possibly controlled by the mixing ratio of PNIPA to SBR, preparation method, added chemicals, and so on. This mixing technique will be applied for the control of surface wetting properties by temperature on various SBR-like rubber materials, such as wet-brake performance of automobile tires on a rainy day.

The continuity of ferroelectric domain structures across grain boundaries in lead zirconate titanate was observed and discussed in connection with grain-boundary character based on the coincidence site lattice and plane-matching models. The domain continuity was found to depend on the twist deviation angle from the exact {1 1 0} plane matching relation.

Nonmuscle myosin II, an actin-based motor protein, plays an essential role in actin cytoskeleton organization and cellular motility. Although phosphorylation of its regulatory light chain (MRLC) is known to be involved in myosin II filament assembly and motor activity in vitro, it remains unclear exactly how MRLC phosphorylation regulates myosin II dynamics in vivo. We established clones of Madin Darby canine kidney II epithelial cells expressing MRLC-enhanced green fluorescent protein or its mutants. Time-lapse imaging revealed that both phosphorylation and dephosphorylation are required for proper dynamics of myosin II. Inhibitors affecting myosin phosphorylation and MRLC mutants indicated that monophosphorylation of MRLC is required and sufficient for maintenance of stress fibers. Diphosphorylated MRLC stabilized myosin II filaments and was distributed locally in regions of stress fibers where contraction occurs, suggesting that diphosphorylation is involved in the spatial regulation of myosin II assembly and contraction. We further found that myosin phosphatase or Zipper-interacting protein kinase localizes to stress fibers depending on the activity of myosin II ATPase.

A series of benzoic acid derivatives was synthesized as VLA-4 antagonists. Introduction of chlorine or bromine into the 3-position on the central benzene of the diphenylurea portion as in lead compound 2 led to improvement in the pharmacokinetic properties. In particular, 12l demonstrated an acceptable plasma clearance and bioavailability in mice and rats as well as dogs (mice, CL = 18.5 ml/min/kg, F = 28 % ; rats, CL = 5.2 ml/min/kg, F = 36 % ; dogs, CL = 3.6 ml/min/kg, F = 55 % ). Additionally, 12l exhibited potent activity with an IC50 value of 0.51 nM and efficacy by oral administration at a dosage of 10 mg/kg in a rat pleurisy model.

Influence of photosensitizer on two-photon initiated polymerization (TPIP) of epoxide resin have been investigated. The three-dimensional (3D) micro-structures were fabricated to estimate rate of cationic polymerization by using TPIP. The line width and thickness of 3D micro-structures were measured as a function of laser-pulse energy, irradiation wavelength, and scanning speed to elucidate the rate of polymerization (Rp). It was demonstrated that volume of 3D micro-structures depends on the square of input intensity and proportional to two-photon absorption cross section and irradiation time of laser. Rp strongly depends on the quantum yield of H+ rather than efficiency of electron transfer from photosensitizer to initiator. Experimental results were compared with an original mathematical model.

Loss or down-regulation of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I expression has been demonstrated in a variety of solid tumors. To date, such altered HLA expression has not been studied extensively in freshly isolated leukemic blasts. If it occurs, leukemic cells could escape T-cell surveillance as a consequence. Genotypes of nine leukemic cell lines were determined using a polymerase chain reaction for HLA classes I and II. Cells were also examined for HLA beta2-microglobulin, and allele-specific HLA protein expression using flow cytometry. Next, 44 samples of freshly isolated leukemic blasts from 43 patients with malignant hematological diseases were examined for allele-specific HLA expression using flow cytometry. Microsatellite analysis was performed to determine heterozygosity in the HLA region on chromosome 6. Genotype analysis for HLA class I together with microsatellite analysis demonstrated loss of HLA haplotype in HL-60 cells. No loss of HLA haplotype was observed in 44 samples of freshly isolated leukemic blasts. As reported previously, flow cytometric analysis rarely demonstrated loss or down-regulation of HLA expression at initial diagnosis (3/39; 7.7%); however, this was evident in two of five cases in relapse (40.0%), which contrasts with previous reports. In one patient with acute leukemia, HLA-A2 cell surface expression was present at initial diagnosis, lost at relapse, and completely restored after 48 h of culture in the presence of interferon-gamma. These results suggest loss of allele-specific HLA expression may be involved in the pathogenesis of relapse in patients with leukemia. The findings should be valuable in designing new strategies for clinical immunotherapy.

It has been contended that any observed difference of the corpus callosum (CC) size between men and women is not sex-related but brain-size-related. A recent report, however, showed that the midsagittal CC area was significantly larger in women in 37 brain-size-matched pairs of normal young adults. Since this constituted strong evidence of sexual dimorphism and was obtained from publicly available data in OASIS, we examined volume differences within the CC and in other white matter using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). We created a three-dimensional region of interest of the CC and measured its volume. The VBM statistics were analyzed by permutation test and threshold-free cluster enhancement (TFCE) with the significance levels at FWER

This paper presents a comparison of dissipation between LLC and phase shift converters under the same size condition using a manufactured power supply. Moreover, it is clarified that the ratio of the transformer dissipation for the overall dissipation of LLC is much higher than that of the phase shift converter. In addition, we show that the winding resistance decreases by improving the coupling between the primary winding and the secondary winding is effective for improvement of the transformer dissipation.

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) has been considered to be a transitional state between healthy aging and very mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). Most patients with aMCI convert to AD over time, but some of them remain stable as aMCI. In this study, 22 patients with aMCI underwent proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) of hippocampus and posterior cingulate cortex. Ten patients converted to AD had significantly lower N-acetylaspartate (NAA) concentrations in both hippocampi when compared to 12 patients remained stable to be aMCI. The mean NAA concentration of both hippocampi equal to or lower than 7.6 mmol/l predicted conversion to AD at 1.0 sensitivity and 1.0 specificity and the area under receiver operating curve (ROC) was 1.0. Absolute quantification of 1H-MRS of hippocampus seems to be a useful marker for predicting conversion to AD from patients with aMCI .

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) are a group of heterogenous antibodies with immunological and functional variations that are detected in the sera of patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Detection of these antibodies in an efficient and accurate manner remains a significant issue. It requires numerous immunological and functional tests, burdening the laboratory departments, and as a consequence, not sufficiently performed in many cases. We retrospectively studied a total of 212 subjects with or without collagen diseases including APS that visited the outpatients of multiple institutions (department of internal medicine at Health Science University of Hokkaido, department of medicine II and department of gastroenterology at Hokkaido University Hospital). All the subjects were measured aPL (anticardio anticardiolipin antibody IgG/IgM, anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibody IgG/IgM) using a fully automated chemiluminescence analyzer and compared measurement results with those obtained using the conventional ELISA method. These methods were found to have similar diagnostic accuracy, with κ values exceeding 0.6. Of 61 APS patients 41 (67%) were positive for two or more tests: significantly higher than other disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus (3/37, 9%) or non-SLE collagen disease (1/53, 2%). The fully automated chemiluminescence analyzer, which can simultaneously measure multiple aPLs, was thus determined to be useful for diagnosing APS.

Objective. To compare the findings in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-affected joints between 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and 18F-fluoride (NaF) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT). Methods. We enrolled twelve RA patients who started a new biologic agent (naïve 9 and switch 3). At entry, both hands were examined by 18F-FDG PET/CT, 18F-NaF PET/CT, and X-ray. Intensity of PET signals was determined by standardized uptake value max (SUVmax) in metacarpophalangeal (MCP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP), and ulnar, medial, and radial regions of the wrists. Hand X-rays were evaluated according to the Genant-modified Sharp score at baseline and 6 months. Results. Both 18F-FDG and 18F-NaF accumulated in RA-affected joints. The SUVmax of 18F-FDG correlated with that of 18F-NaF in individual joints (r = 0.65), though detail distribution was different between two tracers. 18F-NaF and 18F-FDG signals were mainly located in the bone and the surrounding soft tissues, respectively. The sum of SUVmax of 18F-NaF correlated with disease activity score in 28 joint (DAS28), modified health assessment questionnaire (MHAQ), and radiographic progression. 18F-FDG and 18F-NaF signals were associated with the presence of erosions, particularly progressive ones. Conclusion. Our data show that both 18F-FDG and 18F-NaF PET signals were associated with RA-affected joints, especially those with ongoing erosive changes.

The relationship between perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) and survival following curative surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC) in elderly patients has not been elucidated to date.The cases of 108 patients aged 75 years or more who underwent curative surgery for CRC between 2004 and 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. The association between perioperative ABT requirements and other clinicopathological variables was examined. Subsequently, perioperative ABT was compared with other variables concerning overall survival (OS) by univariate and multivariate analyses.Tumor depth, lymph node metastasis and hemoglobin levels were significantly associated with perioperative ABT. Transfused patients had significantly worse OS compared to non-transfused patients. In the multivariate analysis, perioperative ABT (hazard ratio=3.16, 95% confidence interval=1.11-8.98, p=0.031) was the only independent indicator of OS.Perioperative ABT was significantly associated with increased mortality in elderly patients with CRC.

International audience; We study theoretically and experimentally the plasmonic THz detection by the asymmetric dual-grating-gate HEMT at room temperature without source-to-drain bias. We derive the analytical expressions of photocurrents due to the plasmonic drag and ratchet effects, and we discuss about their frequency dependences. We also compare the theory to the experimentally obtained frequency dependence. It is demonstrated that they agree qualitatively well.

To clarify the involvement of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) in Alzheimer's disease (AD), we analyzed brain volume loss by voxel-based morphometry. Forty patients with non-familial AD and 20 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were recruited and compared to 88 elderly volunteers and 40 young volunteers. Local atrophy with aging was observed bilaterally in the perisylvian opercula, anterior cingulate cortex, caudate head, dorsomedial thalamus and parahippocampal cortex. In addition to those, atrophy in AD patients was observed in the amygdala, hippocampus, subcallosal region, posterior-associated cortices and PCC. We classified AD into four subgroups according to the atrophy pattern; atrophy in the amygdala/hippocampal formations (Hipp), in the Hipp and posterior cortices, in the Hipp and PCC and in the PCC and posterior cortices (PCC/-TOPa). As a result, the probability of PCC/-TOPa was 90% for ages65 years, whereas that of the Hipp was 100% for disease duration36 months. PCC atrophy was found in 16 of 40 AD patients and eight of 20 MCI patients. There seemed to be two subgroups with atrophy of the PCC, the one with disease progression and the other without. The latter had characteristic features of early onset and no significant atrophy in the amygdala/anterior hippocampus. There are at least four atrophy patterns that raise doubts about a single disease entity or progression in AD. This may reflect a different hierarchical pattern of progression in patients who have atrophy in PCC and posterior cortices when compared to the Braak staging scheme.

We have found that the discotic nematic liquid crystal, hexakis(4‐nonylphenylethynyl)benzene (HNEB), doped with the racemic chromium complex Cr(Ocacac)3, shows a novel straight‐needle texture with hexagonal columnar alignments, changing to a curved‐needle texture under irradiation of circularly polarized light (CPL). This novel phenomenon is specific to the mixture of HNEB and Cr(Ocacac)3. The formation of curved needles means that chiroselective photoinversion of racemic Cr(Ocacac)3 by CPL irradiation induces a needle direction change in a discotic liquid crystal. The change in chirality of Cr(Ocacac)3 in HNEB induced by CPL irradiation, and the resulting nano‐segregation of its enantiomers during cooling from the isotropic to mesophase of HNEB, are considered to influence changes in the alignment of columns and/or small domains of column aggregates in the discotic liquid crystal.

Thick YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) films with high critical current density (Jc) values were deposited by pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) on Hastelloy with a textured CeO2/Gd2Zr2O7 buffer layer. Both cross-sectional and plan-view TEM specimens of the YBCO films were prepared, and then the nanostructural characterization of the films was performed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The YBCO films less than 1 μm thick were predominantly composed of c-axis-oriented grains, however, many a-axis-oriented grains, which grew larger with the increase of the thickness of the YBCO film, were formed beyond about 1 μm from the CeO2 interface. We found Y2O3 and copper oxides between a- and c-axes-oriented grains. In particular, Y2O3 grains were formed between the {001} plane of an a-axis-oriented grain and the {100} or {010} plane of a c-axis-oriented grain. The orientation relationships between Y2O3 and YBCO are found to be; (001)YBCO//(001)Y2O3 and (100)YBCO//(110)Y2O3. In addition, we also found gaps between YBCO grains. Since a-axis-oriented grain growth and the formation of Y2O3, copper oxides and the gaps are considered to reduce the J c values of the YBCO film, it is important to determine the optimum process conditions to suppress the nucleation of a-axis-oriented grains, impurity oxides and gaps.

Langmuir-Blodgett films of four polymers containing benzoate and cinnamate main chains and Disperse Red 19 in the side chains were prepared and characterized by means of BAM and AFM. The poly(para-benzoate) and poly(para-cinnamate) gave LB films with much higher ordered textures than the respective meta-polymers. The para-polymers apparently possess self-assembly capacity, and this is thought to be the cause of their high second order nonlinear optical susceptibility. The X-type films of the para-polymers showed second order nonlinear optical responses, suggesting that the para-polymers form self organized membranes with the chromophores orientated to the direction perpendicular to the substrate.

We previously developed linear polymers bearing clustered trisaccharides of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) as orally applicable Shiga toxin (Stx) neutralizers. Here, using a Gb3 polymer with a short spacer tethering the trisaccharide to the core, we found that shortening the spacer length markedly reduced the binding affinity for Stx2 but not Stx1. Moreover, mutational analysis revealed that the essential binding sites of the terminal trisaccharides were completely different between Stx1 and Stx2. These results provide the molecular basis for the interaction between Stx B subunits and Gb3 polymers.