Poly-γ-glutamic acid nanoparticles and aluminum adjuvant used as an adjuvant with a single dose of Japanese encephalitis virus-like particles provide effective protection from Japanese encephalitis virus.

To maintain immunity against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a formalin-inactivated Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine should be administered several times. The repeated vaccination is not helpful in the case of a sudden outbreak of JEV or when urgent travel to a high-JEV-risk region is required; however, there are few single-injection JE vaccine options. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of a single dose of a new effective JE virus-like particle preparation containing the JE envelope protein (JE-VLP).

Improvement of low bioavailability of a novel factor Xa inhibitor through formulation of cationic additives in its oral dosage form.

A clinical trial of (2S)-2-[4-[[(3S)-1-acetimidoyl-3-pyrrolidinyl]oxy]phenyl]-3-(7-amidino-2-naphtyl) propanoic acid (DX-9065) revealed that its oral bioavailability was only 3% when it was administered as a conventional capsule formulation. The low bioavailability of DX-9065 was likely caused by both its poor membrane permeability and its electrostatic interaction with anionic bile acids. We hypothesized that DX-9065 absorption would be enhanced when the cationic drug was free from the complex through its replacement with other cationic substances.

Minimally invasive esophagogastrectomy for esophagogastric junctional cancer.

Background: Because surgery for esophagogastric junctional cancer (EGJC) occasionally requires a thoracotomy in addition to a laparotomy, surgery is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. Therefore, minimally invasive surgery should be developed as an alternative to conventional open surgery.

Methods: We herein describe our first series of seven patients with EGJC who were treated by minimally-invasive surgery using thoracoscopy in addition to the laparoscopic procedure.

A coronary artery disease-associated gene product, JCAD/KIAA1462, is a novel component of endothelial cell-cell junctions.

Cell-cell junctions play crucial roles in the organization and function of epithelial and endothelial cellular sheets. Here, we have identified the protein product for KIAA1462 gene, whose single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have recently reported to be associated with coronary artery disease, as a novel component of cell-cell junctions. We propose the name of KIAA1462 protein junctional protein associated with coronary artery disease (JCAD).

An additional suture secures against pitfalls in delta-shaped gastroduodenostomy after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy.

Laparoscopic gastrectomy is widely used as a minimally invasive surgery for gastric cancer. Laparoscopic distal gastrectomy must be followed by either a gastroduodenostomy or gastrojejunostomy to restore continuity of the alimentary tract. The intraabdominal delta-shaped gastroduodenostomy using endoscopic linear staplers, which was developed by Kanaya et al.

Strong guest binding by cyclodextrin hosts in competing nonpolar solvents and the unique crystalline structure.

6-O-Modified β-cyclodextrins, such as heptakis(6-O-triisopropylsilyl)-β-cyclodextrin (TIPS-β-CD) and heptakis(6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-β-cyclodextrin (TBDMS-β-CD), formed 2:1 inclusion complexes with pyrene in benzene and cyclohexane with high association constants. The X-ray crystalline structure of the TIPS-β-CD-pyrene complex obtained from the benzene solution showed that one pyrene molecule was incorporated in the form of a sandwich-type complex with two benzene molecules within the cavity of the dimer formed by two TIPS-β-CD molecules.

Age-related prevalence of allergic diseases in Tokyo schoolchildren.

Background: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) has reported the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases in many countries.

Methods: We used the ISAAC core written questionnaire to examine the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases in 6- to 14-year old schoolchildren in Tokyo. In 2005, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of all schoolchildren in all public schools located in the Setagaya area of Tokyo.

Comparative activity of biodegradable nanoparticles with aluminum adjuvants: antigen uptake by dendritic cells and induction of immune response in mice.

Biodegradable poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) nanoparticles (NPs) are considered to be an excellent antigen carrier. Antigen-carrying γ-PGA NPs were examined for their uptake by murine dendritic cells (DCs) and subsequent induction of antigen-specific immune responses in mice and compared with aluminum (AL) adjuvants. Ovalbumin (OVA)-carrying NPs (FITC-OVA-NPs) were taken up much more efficiently by DCs than OVA alone or its AL-associated form.

Successful twin pregnancy in a patient with parkin-associated autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism.

Background: Pregnancy in patients with Parkinson disease is a rare occurrence. To the best of our knowledge, the effect of pregnancy as well as treatment in genetically confirmed autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism (ARJP) has never been reported. Here, we report the first case of pregnancy in a patient with ARJP associated with a parkin gene mutation, ARJP/PARK2.

[Factors influencing parental medication adherence in pediatric asthma].

Purpose: To identify the factors influencing parental medication control behaviors (inhaling corticosteroids and medication-taking) in pediatric asthma management.

Methods: A specially-designed questionnaire survey was conducted on 942 parents with asthmatic children in hospitals and elementary schools.

Results: Factor analysis on inhalation behaviors resulted in five factors: understanding of benefit, mastering on inhalation skills and medication management, family support, anxiety of side effects, and explanation from a doctor (cumulative contribution ratio=51.

Nano Grape Formation by isotactic-Poly(methacrylic acid)-block-Poly(butyl acrylate).

A novel approach is employed to produce core-corona nanospheres, which introduces a stereoregular hydrophilic part to an amphiphilic block copolymer. The resultant morphology is reported using isotactic-poly(methacrylic acid)-block-poly(butyl acrylate). Infrared spectroscopy revealed a supramolecular interaction, and X ray diffraction revealed the crystallization of the outer isotactic-poly(methacrylic acid) part.

Fibroblast growth factor-12 (FGF12) translocation into intestinal epithelial cells is dependent on a novel cell-penetrating peptide domain: involvement of internalization in the in vivo role of exogenous FGF12.

The extracellular effect of fibroblast growth factor-12 (FGF12) remains unknown because FGF12 cannot activate any fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs), and FGF12 is not currently thought to be released from cells. We reported previously that FGF12 plays an intracellular role in the inhibition of radiation-induced apoptosis. In this study, we demonstrated that recombinant FGF12 was able to be internalized into the cytoplasm of a rat intestinal epithelial cell line, IEC6, and this process was dependent on two novel cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) domains (CPP-M and CPP-C).

High frequency of simple and complex chromosome aberrations detected in the Tokai-mura survivor four and five years after the 1999 criticality accident.

In September 1999 a criticality accident occurred in a uranium processing plant in Tokai-mura, Japan. During the accident, three workers (A, B and C) were exposed to high acute doses of neutrons and γ-rays: workers A and B fatally and worker C to an estimated whole body absorbed dose of 0.81 Gy neutrons and 1.

Contamination control by a greenhouse for emergency medical treatment of the contaminated patient.

In emergency medical treatment of patients contaminated with radioactivity, air contamination control is very important to prevent the secondary contamination of medical staff. In order to optimize design of a greenhouse, a numerical analysis was made by using the Flow Designer software. As a scenario of air contamination, the breathing air of the patient was assumed to be highly contaminated with radioactive gaseous or particulate matter.

The induction of innate and adaptive immunity by biodegradable poly(γ-glutamic acid) nanoparticles via a TLR4 and MyD88 signaling pathway.

The induction of adaptive immunity through the activation of innate immunity is indispensable for vaccine development. Although strategies for particulate antigen delivery are widely investigated, their immunological mechanisms are unclear. We describe in this study that biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) elaborated with poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) are able to induce potent innate and adaptive immune responses through Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and MyD88 signaling pathways.

Intracellular degradation and distribution of protein-encapsulated amphiphilic poly(amino acid) nanoparticles.

Physicochemical properties, such as particle size, shape, molecular weight, surface charge and composition, play a key role in the cellular uptake of polymeric nanoparticles. Antigen-encapsulated biodegradable nanoparticles have considerable potential for use in vaccine delivery systems. Although it is accepted that particle size is important for the induction of antigen-specific immune responses in vivo, little is known about how their size affects their intracellular fate.

Effects of carbon ion beam on putative colon cancer stem cells and its comparison with X-rays.

Although carbon ion therapy facilities are expensive, the biological effects of carbon ion beam treatment may be better against cancer (and cancer stem cells) than the effects of a photon beam. To investigate whether a carbon ion beam may have a biological advantage over X-rays by targeting cancer stem-like cells, human colon cancer cells were used in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro relative biological effectiveness (RBE) values of a carbon ion beam relative to X-rays at the D10 values were from 1.

Fusion of porous isotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) thin films fabricated on silica nanoparticles with stepwise stereocomplex assembly.

Structures of silica nanoparticles coated with stereocomplex thin films composed of isotactic (it) poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and syndiotactic (st) poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) and with porous it-PMMA thin films under gentle stirring or static conditions were analyzed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The porous it-PMMA films were fabricated by stepwise stereocomplex assembling of it-PMMA and st-PMAA, and subsequent extraction of the st-PMAA from the films. From DLS results, an evident difference was not observed between the it-PMMA films and the stereocomplex films, whereas the it-PMMA films after 10 h of stirring in acetonitrile/water (4/6, v/v) and drying on a SEM stage fused to form nanostructured networks.

Intranasal immunization with poly(γ-glutamic acid) nanoparticles entrapping antigenic proteins can induce potent tumor immunity.

We previously reported strong induction of ovalbumin (OVA)-specific tumor immunity in mice injected subcutaneously with OVA-entrapping nanoparticles comprising amphiphilic poly(γ-glutamic acid) (OVA/γ-PGA NPs). In the present study we investigated antitumor efficacy and associated immune responses in mice vaccinated with OVA/γ-PGA NPs via the nasal cavity. Mice vaccinated intranasally with OVA/γ-PGA NPs resisted challenge by E.

Acceleration of regeneration of mucosa in small intestine damaged by ionizing radiation using anabolic steroids.

Damage to intestine is a serious problem after accidental radiation exposure. To examine substances to ameliorate damage by postirradiation administration, we focused on the regeneration process after irradiation of the intestine. Using experimental systems, the effects of clinically used sex hormones on regeneration were compared.

Improvement of blood compatibility on polysulfone-polyvinylpyrrolidone blend films as a model membrane of dialyzer by physical adsorption of recombinant soluble human thrombomodulin (ART-123).

ART-123 is a recombinant soluble human thrombomodulin (hTM) with potent anticoagulant activity, and is available for developing antithrombogenic surfaces by immobilization. We focused on improving blood compatibility on the dialyzer surface by the physical adsorption of ART-123 as a safe yet simple method without using chemical reagents. The physical adsorption mechanism and anticoagulant activities of adsorbed hTM on the surface of a polysulfone (PSF) membrane containing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a model dialyzer were investigated in detail.

LSR defines cell corners for tricellular tight junction formation in epithelial cells.

Epithelial cell contacts consist of not only bicellular contacts but also tricellular contacts, where the corners of three cells meet. At tricellular contacts, tight junctions (TJs) generate specialized structures termed tricellular TJs (tTJs) to seal the intercellular space. Tricellulin is the only known molecular component of tTJs and is involved in the formation of tTJs, as well as in the normal epithelial barrier function.