Peripheral Blood-Derived Microglia-Like Cells Decrease Amyloid-β Burden and Ameliorate Cognitive Impairment in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation in the brain triggers the onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and its prevention and elimination are high priorities for anti-AD therapeutic strategies. Microglia, the resident immune cells in the brain, promote Aβ clearance by phagocytosis. Previously, we demonstrated that injection of primary cultured rat microglia and mouse bone marrow-derived microglia-like cells into the brain decreases the level of Aβ and that intrahippocampal injection of these cells ameliorates cognitive impairment in a mouse model of AD.

Mechanistic study on substitution reaction of a citrato(-cymene)Ru(ii) complex with sulfur-containing amino acids.

The reactions of a dichloro(-cymene)ruthenium(ii) dimer, [RuCl(-cymene)], with citric acid and sulfur-containing amino acids gave only [Ru(L)(-cymene)]-type complexes (L = citrate (Cit), l-penicillaminate (l-Pen), -methyl-l-cysteinate (-Me-l-Cys) and l-methioninate (l-Met)) in aqueous solutions at various pHs and molar ratios of the reactants, where Cit and the amino acids act as a tridentate ligand. These sulfur-containing amino acid complexes with bound nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur atoms and η--cymene take absolute configuration around Ru(ii) selectively, having the α-proton oriented in the opposite direction from the Ru(ii) center. The concentration dependences of the observed pseudo-first-order rate constants were provided for the substitution reactions of the citrato complex, [Ru(Cit)(-cymene)], with a large excess of the sulfur-containing amino acids at various temperatures at pH 7.

In situ magnetotransport measurements in ultrathin Bi films: evidence for surface-bulk coherent transport.

We performed in situ magnetotransport measurements on ultrathin Bi(111) films [4-30 bilayers (BLs), 16-120 Å thick] to elucidate the role of bulk or surface states in the transport phenomena. We found that the temperature dependence of the film conductivity shows no thickness dependence for the 6-16 BL films and is affected by the electron-electron scattering, suggesting surface-state dominant contribution. In contrast, the weak antilocalization effect observed by applying a magnetic field shows clear thickness dependence, indicating bulk transport.

Atomic and electronic structure of ultrathin Bi(111) films grown on Bi2Te3(111) substrates: evidence for a strain-induced topological phase transition.

We studied the atomic and electronic structures of ultrathin Bi(111) films grown on Bi(2)Te(3) by means of angle-resolved photoemission, first-principles calculations, and low-energy electron diffraction. These Bi films were found to be strained due to the influence of the substrate. Accordingly, the band structure is affected and Bi undergoes a topological phase transition; it is shown that the Z(2) topological invariant in three dimensions switches from +1 (trivial) to -1 (nontrivial or topological).

[A case of interstitial pneumonia complicating RS3PE syndrome in which soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) proved useful for assessing symptoms].

The patient was a 70-year-old man who had been given a diagnosis of remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) syndrome and had been placed on low-dose steroid therapy in the Department of Orthopedics. During treatment, sudden fever, hypoxemia and chest radiography-confirmed interstitial shadows throughout the lung fields were noted, and the patient was referred to the Department of Internal Medicine. RS3PE complicated by interstitial pneumonia was diagnosed, and steroid pulse therapy and immunosuppressant therapy were initiated.

[A case of a pure ground glass opacity changing into advanced lung cancer confirmed by computed tomography].

We report a case of a ground glass opacity (GGO) transforming into advanced lung cancer, which we followed chronologically by CT. On November 2001, a chest CT was performed due to chest pain. Due to incidental discovery of a GGO of 11mm in the left S6, we decided to monitor its course with CT.

Inhibitory effect of green coffee bean extract on fat accumulation and body weight gain in mice.

Background: An epidemiological study conducted in Italy indicated that coffee has the greatest antioxidant capacity among the commonly consumed beverages. Green coffee bean is rich in chlorogenic acid and its related compounds. The effect of green coffee bean extract (GCBE) on fat accumulation and body weight in mice was assessed with the objective of investigating the effect of GCBE on mild obesity.

[NSIP group III treated with the first cadaveric single lung transplantation in Japan].

A 43-year-old woman developed dyspnea on effort in January 1996. She was treated with various antibiotics but developed dyspnea and pretibial edema. She was referred to our hospital and admitted on February 20, 1996.

[A case of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension based on essential thrombocythemia].

We report a case of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension based on essential thrombocythemia. A 72-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea. The hematologic workup revealed a platelet count of 99.

[Severe pneumococcal pneumonia with acute respiratory failure and neutropenia].

Severe pneumococcal pneumonia may precipitate both respiratory failure and neutropenia. The prognoses are considered to be very poor in such cases. We encountered three patients with pneumococcal pneumonia presenting respiratory failure and neutropenia, and successfully treated two.

[Polymyositis-induced respiratory failure in the presence of antecedent pleural effusion].

Pulmonary involvement is generally recognized to be an important determinant of the clinical course in cases of polymyositis. A patient with bilateral pleural effusion as an initial symptom developed respiratory failure due to muscle weakness. Polymyositis was diagnosed on the basis of a muscle biopsy.

Effects of Bay m 1099, an α-Glucosidase Inhibitor, on Starch Degradation in Germinating Mung Beans.

To examine the mechanism of starch degradation in legume cotyledons and the physiological role of α-glucosidase, mung bean seeds were germinated in the presence of Bay m 1099, an α-glucosidase inhibitor. Bay m 1099 (10 μg/ml medium), which minimized the growth deterioration of the mung bean seedlings, caused no changes in the overall rate of starch degradation and of soluble carbohydrate production in the cotyledons, although α-glucosidase activity had been completely suppressed. Total amylase and phosphorylase activities were not influenced by Bay m 1099.

Peripheral blood T lymphocytes and basophils, freshly isolated from house-dust-mite-sensitive patients, produce interleukin-4 in response to allergen-specific stimulation.

We examined the capacity of interleukin-4 (IL) production from lymphocytes and basophils, isolated from the peripheral blood of allergic patients sensitive to house dust mite, after stimulation with mite extract. IL-4 production was measured by a sensitive bioassay based on coculture with CT.h4S (a human IL-4-responsive cell line).

Functional disturbance of naive T lymphocytes in very high IgE producers: depletion of interleukin-4-induced interleukin-4-producing cells.

We examined the capacity of T cells from normal individuals and allergic patients with very high IgE to differentiate into interleukin-4(IL-4)-producing cells in vitro. T cells incubated with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody plus IL-4 or plus anti-IL-4 antibody in the presence of antigen-presenting cells for 7 days were restimulated and their capacity to express IL-4 mRNA was examined by RT-PCR. In T cells from normal individuals, there was a marked increase in the expression of IL-4 mRNA following the addition of IL-4.

B cell-B cell interaction through intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and lymphocyte functional antigen-1 regulates immunoglobulin E synthesis by B cells stimulated with interleukin-4 and anti-CD40 antibody.

IgE synthesis by purified human B cells is induced by two signals: a class switching factor, most commonly interleukin (IL)-4, and the engagement of CD40, which is activated through its interaction with CD40 ligand (CD40L) expressed on activated T cells. Thus, the combination of IL-4 and anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody (mAb) has been shown to stimulate IgE production in vitro by highly purified B cells. In this T cell-independent system, strong homotypic aggregation of B cells is observed prior to the production of IgE.

Effects of Bay m 1099, an α-Glucosidase Inhibitor, on Starch Metabolism in Germinating Wheat Seeds.

To examine the significance of α-glucosidase in starch metabolism in vivo, wheat seedlings and seeds were treated with Bay m 1099 (Miglitol, N-hydroxyethyl-1-deoxynojirimycin), an α-glucosidase inhibitor. Bay m 1099 did not affect germination, but it inhibited growth of seedlings at the high dosage (100 μg/ml medium). Treatment of normally grown seedlings with Bay m 1099 (10 and 100 μg/ml) decreased α-glucosidase activity with a dose response and caused accumulation of maltose in tissues with decreases in glucose.

Significance of soluble Fc epsilon receptor II (sFc epsilon RII/CD23) in serum and possible application of sFc epsilon RII for the prevention of allergic reactions.

The significance of sFc epsilon RII in IgE-mediated allergic disease was examined. sFc epsilon RII in serum was found to decrease following clinical improvement, suggesting sFc epsilon RII in serum may be an indicator of allergic diseases. Significant proportions of sFc epsilon RII in serum were present as complexes with IgE in normals as well as in atopic patients, and these complexes were more prominent in the former than in the latter group.

[Soluble interleukin-2 receptor levels in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis].

Utilizing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we detected markedly elevated serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptors in patients with untreated pulmonary tuberculosis. In these patients, we also found that serum levels of soluble IL-2 receptors were closely correlated with serum adenosine deaminase levels (r = 0.869, p less than 0.