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Two-dimensional cesium bimetal cyano-bridgedassemblies CsI4CoII[MoV(CN)8]Cl3(CsCoMo) and CsI4CoII[WV(CN)8]Cl3(CsCoW) were synthesized. The negatively chargedand solvent-free{CoII[MV(CN)8]Cl3}4-(M = Mo, W) coordination layers are separated byCs+ions. Themogravimetric measurements show that thesecompounds reveal high thermal durability up to 523 K (250 °C),which is due to the absence of solvent molecules in their crystalstructures. The magnetic measurements show that CsCoMoand CsCoWare metamagnets showing the field-inducedtransition from an antiferromagnetic phase with Néel temperatureof 25 K to a ferromagnetic phase, which is observed at high criticalmagnetic field of 24 kOe at 1.8 K. These originate from antiferromagneticinteractions between ferromagnetically coupled cyano-bridged CoII-MVlayers, and the contribution from single-ionanisotropy of CoII. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Purpose] To clarify the effect on muscles activities during knee extension of selective vibration stimulus of the vastus lateralis. [Subjects] The subjects were 10 healthy males (average age, 26.8 ± 9.2) who had no history of orthopedic or neurological disorders of the lower limbs. [Method] A continuous vibration stimulus was applied to the vastus lateralis, and we measured and compared the relative integrated electromyograms (%iEMG) of the activities of the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris, as well as the knee extension strength before and after the stimulus. [Results] The %iEMG value of the vastus lateralis during knee extension was low after the stimulus, and the ratio of the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis %iEMG values was high. [Conclusion] Selective stimulus of the vastus lateralis during knee extension suppressed the activity of the vastus lateralis, relatively promoting the activity of the vastus medialis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of highly concentrated pyrrole solution enabled simultaneous effective monomer transport into the porous electrode and uniform polarization inside the porous electrode even at an ambient temperature. As a result, the uniform polymer deposition could be successfully carried out on the porous electrode entirely even its inside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) takes a role in the regulation of the onset of parturition. Stresscopin (SCP) is a high affinity ligand for CRH receptor (CRHR)-2. CRHR-2 inhibits VEGF-induced neovascularization. In the present study, we investigated the effects of CRH and SCP on VEGF expression in early placental extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs). Isolation and culture of trophoblasts differentiating into EVTs were performed by the enzymatic digestion of anchoring early placental villi. The presence of CRH, SCP, CRHR-1, and CRHR-2 in cultured EVTs was examined by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. The effects of CRH and SCP on VEGF mRNA levels in cultured EVTs were assessed by real-time RT-PCR. CRH, SCP, CRHR-1, and CRHR-2 were expressed in cultured EVTs at mRNA and protein levels. Treatment with either 100 nM CRH or 100 nM SCP for 24 h decreased VEGF mRNA levels in cultured EVTs. The CRH- and SCP-induced decrease in VEGF mRNA levels was counteracted by the concomitant treatment with CRHR-2 antagonist antisauvagine-30, but not with CRHR-1 antagonist antalarmin. We demonstrated that CRH and SCP inhibited VEGF mRNA expression in cultured EVTs through the interaction with CRHR-2, suggesting that CRH and SCP may inhibit angiogenesis during early placentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Relaxin promotes softening of the uterine cervix and inhibits uterine contractility in rats, mice and pigs. Little information, however, is available about the role of relaxin in humans. In 2002, LGR7 and LGR8 were discovered to be receptors for relaxin and those receptors were identified in the human placenta. Thus, in this study, effects of recombinant H2 (rH2) relaxin on human early placental extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) were examined. Isolation of EVTs from early placental trophoblasts was performed using the procedures established in our laboratory. After 48-h subculture, the presence of relaxin receptors in cultured EVTs was characterized by RT-PCR and immunoblotting. The cultured EVTs were treated with different doses (0.3–3 ng/ml) of rH2 relaxin for 24 h. The effects of rH2 relaxin on MMP-2, -3, -9 and TIMP-1 mRNAs levels were examined by real-time RT-PCR. RT-PCR and immunoblotting revealed that relaxin receptors are present in early placental EVTs. Treatment with rH2 relaxin increased MMP-2 and -9 mRNAs levels and decreased TIMP-1 mRNA levels in cultured EVTs, whereas rH2 relaxin did not affect MMP-3 mRNA levels. These results suggest that relaxin may promote the invasive potential of early placental EVTs through up-regulating MMP-2, -9 mRNAs and down-regulating TIMP-1 mRNA in EVTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new technique for the preparation of a highly clear and transparent emulsified aqueous solution containing immiscible monomer droplets with diameters of a few tens of nanometres under surfactant-free conditions using tandem acoustic emulsification is described. Highly conductive transparent polymer films were successfully prepared from such an emulsified solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and its receptors have been identified in female reproductive tissues. CRH regulates follicular maturation, ovulation, luteolysis and steroidgenesis. A CRH-related peptide stresscopin (SCP), or urocortin III (Ucn3), has recently been identified, but its functions in the ovary remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the effects of SCP/Ucn3 on progesterone production in cultured human granulosa-lutein cells. METHODS The presence of SCP/Ucn3 and CRH type-2 receptor (CRHR2) in cultured granulosa-lutein cells from 21 infertile women (aged 22–36 years) was examined by RT–PCR and immunocytochemistry. The concentration of SCP/Ucn3 in follicular fluid, human serum and culture medium was examined by radioimmunoassay. Progesterone production by cultured granulosa-lutein cells treated with SCP/Ucn3 was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS SCP/Ucn3 and CRHR2 mRNAs and proteins were expressed in granulosa-lutein cells. SCP/Ucn3 was detected in culture media of granulosa-lutein cells and follicular fluid. Treatment of cultured granulosa-lutein cells with 0.1, 1.0 or 10 nM SCP/Ucn3 decreased progesterone secretion when compared with untreated control (all P CONCLUSIONS The present results suggest that the SCP/CRHR2 system is present in human ovaries and treatment with SCP/Ucn3 inhibits progesterone production by cultured granulosa-lutein cells through interaction with CRHR2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND A recent clinical trial demonstrated that selective progesterone receptor modulator asoprisnil is effective in reducing uterine leiomyoma volume. We investigated the effects of asoprisnil in vitro on the expression of the extracellular matrix (ECM)-remodeling enzymes and collagens in cultured leiomyoma and matching normal myometrial cells. METHODS The expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), tissue inhibitors of MMP (TIMPs) and collagens were assessed by western blot analysis. RESULTS Untreated cultured leiomyoma cells had significantly lower EMMPRIN (P P P P P P P P P P P P P CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that asoprisnil may reduce collagen deposit in the ECM of cultured leiomyoma cells through decreasing collagen synthesis and enhancing the expression of EMMPRIN, MMPs and TIMPs without comparable effects on cultured myometrial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]