Ahnak/Desmoyokin is dispensable for proliferation, differentiation, and maintenance of integrity in mouse epidermis.

Desmoyokin was first isolated from bovine muzzle epidermis and thought to be an epidermal desmosome-related protein. We previously demonstrated that the Desmoyokin gene is identical to the Ahnak gene, which is expressed ubiquitously and downregulated in neuroblastomas. It was assumed Ahnak/Desmoyokin was associated with epidermal cell adhesion, tumorigenesis, cell proliferation and differentiation, and embryonic development.

Sialyl Lewis X-carboxymethylpullulan conjugate: a novel homing device to spleen and lymph nodes.

We have previously found that carboxymethylpullulan (CMPul) conjugated with sialyl Lewis X (Neu5Acalpha2-3Galbeta1-4(Fucalpha1-3)GlcNAc-, 2-3SLex) preferentially accumulates in the lymph nodes and spleen. In the present study, we investigated the structural requirements of the 2-3SLex moiety for this accumulation using rats. Radiolabeled CMPul conjugates with various degrees of substitution (d.

Tumorigenesis facilitated by Pten deficiency in the skin: evidence of p53-Pten complex formation on the initiation phase.

Pten, a tumor suppressor gene, is mutated in various human cancers and in hereditary cancer syndromes, such as Cowden disease. We have previously developed a knockout mouse in which Pten is specifically disrupted in the skin, resulting in hyperproliferation and spontaneous tumorigenesis of the skin keratinocytes. In this study, we further clarified the effects of Pten deficiency in tumorigenesis, by using a two-step model in intact skin of Pten knockout mouse.

Legumes: the most important dietary predictor of survival in older people of different ethnicities.

To identify protective dietary predictors amongst long-lived elderly people (N= 785), the "Food Habits in Later Life "(FHILL) study was undertaken among five cohorts in Japan, Sweden, Greece and Australia. Between 1988 and 1991, baseline data on food intakes were collected. There were 785 participants aged 70 and over that were followed up to seven years.

Genome-wide phenotype analysis in ES cells by regulated disruption of Bloom's syndrome gene.

The chief limitation of phenotype-based genetic screening in mammalian systems is the diploid nature of the genome. Cells deficient in the Bloom's syndrome gene (Blm) show an increased rate of loss of heterozygosity. Here we have used a tetracycline-regulated Blm allele (Blm(tet)) to introduce bi-allelic mutations across the genome in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells.

Characterization of mutations affecting embryonic hematopoiesis in the medaka, Oryzias latipes.

In a genetic screen for mutations affecting organogenesis in the medaka, Oryzias latipes, we identified eight mutants with defects in embryonic hematopoiesis. These mutations were classified into seven complementation groups. In this paper, we characterize the five mutants that were confirmed in the next generation.

[A case of median nerve descended on the surface of the pronator teres muscle].

We report a case in which the left median nerve passed downwards on the surface of the pronator teres muscle in a 70-year-old male cadaver examined during student dissection practice in 2001 at Nihon University School of Medicine. In the present case, the lateral cord of the median nerve is formed of only the middle trunk, C7 and did not include upper trunk, C5, 6. The upper trunk continued the musculocutaneous nerve, but it did not participate in the median nerve.

Suppression of tumor growth and cell proliferation by p13II, a mitochondrial protein of human T cell leukemia virus type 1.

Human T cell leukemia virus type 1 encodes an "accessory" protein named p13(II) that is targeted to mitochondria and triggers a rapid flux of K(+) and Ca(2+) across the inner membrane. In this study, we investigated the effects of p13(II) on tumorigenicity in vivo and on cell growth in vitro. Results showed that p13(II) significantly reduced the incidence and growth rate of tumors arising from c-myc and Ha-ras-cotransfected rat embryo fibroblasts.

Enhancement of Sleeping Beauty transposition by CpG methylation: possible role of heterochromatin formation.

The Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposase is the most active transposase in vertebrate cells, and the SB transposon system has been used as a tool for insertional mutagenesis and gene delivery. Previous studies have indicated that the frequency of chromosomal transposition is considerably higher in mouse germ cells than in mouse embryonic stem cells, suggesting the existence of unknown mechanisms that regulate SB transposition. Here, we demonstrated that CpG methylation of the transposon region enhances SB transposition.

Video-assisted bullectomy using needlescopic instruments for spontaneous pneumothorax.

Patients with spontaneous pneumothorax require immediate insertion of a chest drain to evacuate the intrathoracic air. During video-assisted bullectomy, we made use of an existing chest drain hole to insert a thoracoscope or an endoscopic linear stapler. Video-assisted bullectomy was performed through three ports-two 2-mm ports and the existing chest drain hole.

Improvement of chromatic aberration of a plastic rod lens array. 1. Combination-color lens arrays consisting of several kinds of rod lenses with different gradient constants and different color filter functions.

We propose a new type of rod lens array with improved chromatic aberration. The new rod lens array consists of several kinds of rod lenses with different gradient constants and different color filter functions. The gradient constant of each lens was prepared such that the total conjugate length was identical to the specific wavelength of the lens with a constant lens length.

Increase in endogenous spleen colonies without recovery of blood cell counts in radioadaptive survival response in C57BL/6 mice.

The radioadaptive survival response induced by a conditioning exposure to 0.45 Gy and measured as an increase in 30-day survival after mid-lethal X irradiation was studied in C57BL/6N mice. The acquired radioresistance appeared on day 9 after the conditioning exposure, reached a maximum on days 12-14, and disappeared on day 21.

Mutual diffusion process for continuous fabrication of graded-index plastic rod lenses.

We propose a new process for fabrication of plastic rod lenses based on the traditional method of fiber extrusion. The process consists of the following steps: multilayer conjugate extrusion, monomer diffusion between adjacent layers, and photopolymerization of an uncured strand fiber. We call this process a mutual diffusion process for continuous plastic rod lens fabrication.

Characterization of Sleeping Beauty transposition and its application to genetic screening in mice.

The use of mutant mice plays a pivotal role in determining the function of genes, and the recently reported germ line transposition of the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon would provide a novel system to facilitate this approach. In this study, we characterized SB transposition in the mouse germ line and assessed its potential for generating mutant mice. Transposition sites not only were clustered within 3 Mb near the donor site but also were widely distributed outside this cluster, indicating that the SB transposon can be utilized for both region-specific and genome-wide mutagenesis.

Alteration of the 4-sphingenine scaffolds of ceramides in keratinocyte-specific Arnt-deficient mice affects skin barrier function.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT), a transcription factor of the Per/AHR/ARNT/Sim family, regulates gene expression in response to environmental stimuli including xenobiotics and hypoxia. To examine its role in the epidermis, the Cre-loxP system was used to disrupt the Arnt gene in a keratinocyte-specific manner. Gene-targeted, newborn mice with almost normal appearance died neonatally of severe dehydration caused by water loss.

Swelling-induced modulation of static and dynamic fluctuations in polyacrylamide gels observed by scanning microscopic light scattering.

The nature of inhomogeneities in vinylpolymer gels has hardly been clarified yet. Inhomogeneities on submicron and nanometer scales in polyacrylamide gels have been investigated by using a scanning microscopic light-scattering system and applying a general formula for an ensemble-averaged correlation function. The network structure of the gels is modified by varying the preparation conditions and can be roughly divided into two types.

Estrogen-responsive RING finger protein controls breast cancer growth.

Most of the breast cancers initially respond to endocrine therapy that reduces the levels of estrogens or competes with estrogen for binding to its receptor. Most of the patients, however, acquire resistance to endocrine therapy with tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors later. We assumed that identification of estrogen-responsive genes those regulate the growth of breast cancer is indispensable to develop new strategies targeting the genes and overcome the resistance to current endocrine therapy.

Protective effect of S-allyl-L-cysteine, a garlic compound, on amyloid beta-protein-induced cell death in nerve growth factor-differentiated PC12 cells.

Aged garlic extract (AGE) contains several neuroactive compounds, including S-allyl-L-cysteine (SAC) and allixin. We characterized cell death induced by amyloid beta-protein (Abeta), 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), tunicamycin, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stressor, or trophic factor deprivation, and investigated whether and how SAC could prevent this in nerve growth factor (NGF)-differentiated PC12 cells, a model of neuronal cells. Exposure of the cells to amyloid beta-protein(1-40) (Abeta(1-40)) decreased the extent of [3-(4,5)-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) reduction activity and loss of neuronal integrity, but these effects were not prevented by Ac-DEVD-CHO, a caspase-3 inhibitor.

p53 dependency of radio-adaptive responses in endogenous spleen colonies and peripheral blood-cell counts in C57BL mice.

Radio-adaptive responses at a conditioning X-ray dose of 0.45 Gy and a challenging dose of 5.0 Gy on hematopoietic indices were studied in C57BL mice with p53 (Trp53) wild, heterogenous and knockout allele.

Isolation and characterization of Caco-2 subclones expressing high levels of multidrug resistance protein efflux transporter.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to isolate Caco-2 subclones that express high levels of multidrug resistance protein (MDR1) and to characterize their kinetics and affinity parameters for MDR1 substrate/inhibitors.

Methods: The subclones were selected by a dilution cloning technique. The polarized efflux of [3H]-vinblastine across subclone cell monolayers was quantified by measuring the apparent permeability coefficients (Papp) of [3H]-vinblastine in the basolateral (BL)-to-apical (AP) direction and in the AP-to-BL direction (Papp BL-to-AP/Papp AP-to-BL) across the cell monolayers.

Fabrication of a protein film by electrospray deposition method and investigation of photochemical properties by persistent spectral hole burning.

Transparent protein film of iron-free cytochrome c (Cyt. c) was successfully manufactured by electrospray deposition (ES) method and the properties of the protein film were investigated. Excursion temperature dependence of spectral hole profiles in the photochemical hole burning for the iron-free Cyt.

Oral-antigen delivery via a water-in-oil emulsion system modulates the balance of the Th1/Th2 type response in oral tolerance.

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of a water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion containing ovalbumin (OVA), a model antigen, to induce oral tolerance and to elucidate the mechanism for the induction of oral tolerance by the emulsion system.

Methods: A W/O emulsion containing OVA was prepared and evaluated its ability to induce oral tolerance in mice. Also, the Th1/Th2 balance in the mice tolerized was investigated in terms of the ratios of anti-OVA IgG2a titer to anti-OVA IgG1 titer (IgG2a/IgG1 ratios) and cytokine profiles.