High-pressure delta-Al(OH)3 and delta-AlOOH phases and isostructural hydroxides/oxyhydroxides: new structural insights from high-resolution 1H and 27Al NMR.

In order to shed light on the proton distributions and order/disorder in high-pressure delta-Al(OH)3 and delta-AlOOH phases, two-dimensional, high-resolution 1H CRAMPS (FSLG)-MAS NMR and 27Al 3QMAS NMR spectra have been obtained. For delta-Al(OH)3, the 1H CRAMPS-MAS NMR revealed two peaks with an intensity ratio close to 2:1. The 27Al MAS and 3QMAS NMR suggest a single Al site with a well-defined local structure.

Size-related flowering and fecundity in the tropical canopy tree species, Shorea acuminata (Dipterocarpaceae) during two consecutive general flowerings.

We monitored the reproductive status of all trees with diameters at breast height (dbh) >30 cm in a 40-ha plot at Pasoh, west Malaysia, and investigated the individual fecundity of 15 Shorea acuminata Dyer (Dipterocarpaceae) trees using seed-trapping methods during two consecutive general flowering periods in 2001 (GF2001) and 2002 (GF2002). The proportion of flowering trees was higher, and not dependent on size, in GF2002 (84.2%), than in GF2001 (54.

[Two cases of idiopathic carotid-cavernous fistula with headache and ophthalmoplegia].

We report two cases of idiopathic carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) with primary symptoms of headache and diplopia. A 47-year-old woman presented with throbbing headache in her right frontal region followed by right trochlear nerve palsy. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was normal but magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and computed tomographic angiography (CTA) revealed abnormal signals around the right cavernous sinus.

[Esophago-bronchial fistula confirmed with bronchoscopy utilized an indocyanine green].

The patient was a 54-year-old female with both headache and vomit presented to the emergency room. Endoscopic examination revealed an advanced esophageal cancer located on the middle thoracic esophagus. Histological analysis revealed squamous cell carcinoma.

Reconstruction of functional tissues with cell sheet engineering.

The field of tissue engineering has yielded several successes in early clinical trials of regenerative medicine using living cells seeded into biodegradable scaffolds. In contrast to methods that combine biomaterials with living cells, we have developed an approach that uses culture surfaces grafted with the temperature-responsive polymer poly(N-isoproplyacrylamide) that allows for controlled attachment and detachment of living cells via simple temperature changes. Using cultured cell sheets harvested from temperature-responsive surfaces, we have established cell sheet engineering to create functional tissue sheets to treat a wide range of diseases from corneal dysfunction to esophageal cancer, tracheal resection, and cardiac failure.

Transforming growth factor-beta(2) polymorphisms are associated with childhood atopic asthma.

Background: Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta plays an important role in the regulation of airway inflammation and remodelling in asthma. Recent studies suggest that TGF-beta(2) is a predominant isoform expressed in severe asthma and it is also associated with airway remodelling.

Objective: To determine whether the polymorphisms in TGF-beta(2) are associated with childhood atopic bronchial asthma in a Japanese population.

Dynamic sealing of lung air leaks by the transplantation of tissue engineered cell sheets.

Current methods including the use of various biological and synthetic sealants are ineffective in the closure of intraoperative air leaks that often occur during cardiothoracic surgeries, resulting in a decreased quality of life for patients. We present the development of a novel lung air leak sealant using tissue engineered cell sheets. In contrast to previous materials such as fibrin glue, these bioengineered cell sheets immediately and permanently seal air leaks in a dynamic fashion that allows for the extensive tissue contraction and expansion involved in respiration, without any postoperative recurrences.

Which is the better pathological prognostic factor, the Nottingham histological grade or the Japanese nuclear grade? A large scale study with a long-term follow-up.

Background: We compared the Nottingham histological grade (H-grade) and the Japanese nuclear grade (N-grade) to select the better prognostic factor for breast cancers.

Methods: The series included 1786 patients with breast cancers with the exception of non-invasive and stage 4 cancers. They were classified according to the H- and N-grade.

[Case of opticospinal multiple sclerosis showing phenotype change to conventional type induced by interferon beta-1b].

A 57-year-old woman who had severe opticospinal multiple sclerosis (OSMS) was admitted to our hospital. She had presented with visual loss and gait disturbance at the age of 48, and had since experienced more than 10 relapses and been hospitalized 9 times. Interferon beta-lb treatment (8,000,000 units on alternate days) had been started at her last admission.

Accelerated de novo sarcomere assembly by electric pulse stimulation in C2C12 myotubes.

The assembly of sarcomeres, the smallest contractile units in striated muscle, is a complex and highly coordinated process that relies on spatio-temporal organization of sarcomeric proteins, a process requiring spontaneous Ca(2+) transients. To investigate the relationship between Ca(2+) transients and sarcomere assembly in C2C12 myotubes, we employed electric pulse stimulation (EPS), which allows the frequency of Ca(2+) transients to be manipulated. We monitored contractile activity as a means of evaluating functional sarcomere establishment using the differential image subtraction (DIS) method.

Low concentrations of the histone deacetylase inhibitor, depsipeptide, enhance the effects of gemcitabine and docetaxel in hormone refractory prostate cancer cells.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) have been developed as a new type of drug for cancer treatment. In this study, we examine the augmentation efficacy of depsipeptide (FK228) in combination with gemcitabine (GEM) or docetaxel (DOC) in vitro and in vivo against hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). The anti-proliferative effects, cell cycle distribution and apoptotic status were assessed in HRPC DU145 cells treated with these agents.

Al coordination and water speciation in hydrous aluminosilicate glasses: direct evidence from high-resolution heteronuclear 1H-27Al correlation NMR.

In order to shed light on the dissolution mechanisms of water in depolymerized aluminosilicate melts/glasses, a comprehensive one- (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR study has been carried out on hydrous Ca- and Mg-aluminosilicate glasses of a haplobasaltic composition. The applied techniques include 1D 1H MAS NMR and 27Al-->1H cross-polarization (CP) MAS NMR, and 2D 1H NOESY and double-quantum (DQ) MAS NMR, 27Al triple-quantum (3Q) MAS NMR and 27Al-->1H heteronuclear correlation (HETCOR) and 3QMAS/HETCOR NMR. Ab initio calculations were also performed to place additional constraints on the 1H NMR characteristics of AlOH and Si(OH)Al groups.

Involvement of apolipoprotein E in excess fat accumulation and insulin resistance.

Although apolipoprotein E (apoE) is well known to play a major role in lipid metabolism, its role in glucose and energy homeostasis remains unclear. Herein, we established apoE-deficient genetically obese Ay (apoE(-/-);Ay/+) mice. ApoE deficiency in Ay mice prevented the development of obesity, with decreased fat accumulation in the liver and adipose tissues.

Human eosinophils have an intact Smad signaling pathway leading to a major transforming growth factor-beta target gene expression.

Background: There is a paradoxical finding that eosinophils are frequently accumulated at the sites of allergic inflammation where transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, a negative regulator of eosinophil survival, is upregulated; however, eosinophil accumulation is persistent. We thus hypothesized that eosinophils might have aberrant TGF-beta signaling and be unresponsive to TGF-beta. To test the hypothesis, we examined the expression and function of Smad proteins, which are central mediators for TGF-beta signaling, in human eosinophils.

TGF-beta type I receptor kinase inhibitor down-regulates rheumatoid synoviocytes and prevents the arthritis induced by type II collagen antibody.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by hypertrophic synovial tissues comprising excessively proliferating synovial fibroblasts and infiltrating inflammatory cells. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates cell growth, inflammation and angiogenesis by acting on various cell types. In RA synovial tissues, TGF-beta is expressed at high levels.

Anti-ganglioside complex antibodies associated with severe disability in GBS.

Ganglioside complexes (GSCs) are known as target antigens in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). To elucidate the clinical importance of the anti-GSC antibodies in GBS, we investigated serum antibodies to GSCs containing two of the gangliosides, GM1, GD1a, GD1b and GT1b, and analyzed clinical features of anti-GSC-positive GBS patients. Thirty-nine (17%) of 234 GBS patients had IgG anti-GSC antibodies.

[New forceps for a sutureless patch technique using sheet materials].

Intraoperative air leaks are often treated by a sutureless patch technique using a fibrin tissue-adhesive collagen fleece or synthetic materials with fibrin sealant. Intraoperatively, the technique of using these materials has been troublesome, therefore air leaks fail to close. Akicette has been applied as an easy sutureless patch technique for air leaks.

Cell delivery in regenerative medicine: the cell sheet engineering approach.

Recently, cell-based therapies have developed as a foundation for regenerative medicine. General approaches for cell delivery have thus far involved the use of direct injection of single cell suspensions into the target tissues. Additionally, tissue engineering with the general paradigm of seeding cells into biodegradable scaffolds has also evolved as a method for the reconstruction of various tissues and organs.

[Objective evaluation of the visual field defects in a patient with cerebral infarction using multifocal VEPs].

Purpose: We investigated whether visual field defects can be objectively evaluated using multifocal visual evoked potentials (mVEP) in a patient with cerebral infarction in whom it is difficult to measure the visual field.

Methods: To determine normal waves in mVEP recording was performed using a VERIS Junior Science (Mayo, Aichi, Japan) in 20 healthy subjects (20 eyes), peak latency and amplitude were used for assessment. In a patient with cerebral infarction, mVEP were recorded, and compared with the lesion observed by computed tomography.

Tissue engineered epithelial cell sheets for the creation of a bioartificial trachea.

To successfully engineer a bioartificial tracheal replacement, it is believed that the regeneration of a functional epithelial lining is a key requirement. In the present study, rabbit tracheal epithelial cells were cultured on temperature-responsive culture dishes, under normal culture conditions at 37 degrees C. By simple temperature reduction to 20 degrees C, the cultured epithelial cells were noninvasively harvested as intact sheets, without the use of any proteolytic enzymes.

Regulation of glucose transporters by insulin and extracellular glucose in C2C12 myotubes.

It is well established that insulin stimulation of glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells is mediated through translocation of GLUT4 from intracellular storage sites to the cell surface. However, the established skeletal muscle cell lines, with the exception of L6 myocytes, reportedly show minimal insulin-dependent glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation. Using C(2)C(12) myocytes expressing exofacial-Myc-GLUT4-enhanced cyan fluorescent protein, we herein show that differentiated C(2)C(12) myotubes are equipped with basic GLUT4 translocation machinery that can be activated by insulin stimulation ( approximately 3-fold increase as assessed by anti-Myc antibody uptake and immunostaining assay).

Insulin receptor signals regulating GLUT4 translocation and actin dynamics.

In skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake is dependent upon translocation of the insulin-responsive glucose transporter GLUT4 from intracellular storage compartments to the plasma membrane. This insulin-induced redistribution of GLUT4 protein is achieved through a series of highly organized membrane trafficking events, orchestrated by insulin receptor signals. Recently, several key molecules linking insulin receptor signals and membrane trafficking have been identified, and emerging evidence supports the importance of subcellular compartmentalization of signaling components at the right time and in the right place.