Expression of tumor suppressor and tumor-related proteins in differentiated carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma with tubular component and pure undifferentiated carcinoma of the stomach.

Background: The recent development of tissue microarray (TMA) technology allows high-throughput protein expression profiling of cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry. We attempted to clarify the derivation of undifferentiated-type gastric carcinoma with tubular component by using TMA.

Methods: We constructed a TMA system composed of six paraffin blocks in which 274 samples of formalin-fixed gastric carcinoma tissue from 274 patients were embedded.

Enhancement of electroluminescence through a two-dimensional corrugated metal film by grating-induced surface-plasmon cross coupling.

We report enhancement of electroluminescence through opaque-topped metal cathodes in organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs), which are periodically corrugated in two dimensions. The enhancement is caused by grating-induced cross coupling and outcoupling of surface plasmons. The emission intensity observed at normal direction is enhanced by a factor of 4 compared with that of OLEDs with one-dimensionally corrugated metal cathodes and is higher than that observed from the transparent substrate side in uncorrugated OLEDs.

Real-time observation of birefringence by laser-scanning surface plasmon resonance microscope.

A laser-scanning surface plasmon resonance microscope was used to observe the birefringence of an anisotropic sample in real-time. Since this system utilizes the resonance of the surface plasmon with incident light, it can measure the absolute value of the sample's refractive index with high sensitivity. In addition, this system can simultaneously measure the orientation of the birefringence.

Triple hydrogen bonds direct crystal engineering of metal-assembled complexes: the effect of a novel organic-inorganic module on supramolecular structure.

Novel triply hydrogen bonded suprastructures based on [M(tdpd)2(L)2]2- (H2tdpd=1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-5,6-dioxo-2,3-pyrazinedicarbonitrile, L=solvent) and melamine-analogous cations have been synthesized and characterized. The use of anions containing two AAA sets from [M(tdpd)2(L)2]2- together with cations containing one DDD set (A=hydrogen-bond acceptor, D=hydrogen-bond donor) leads to the formation of complementary triply hydrogen bonded modules in the solid state. In all cases, the building module is further extended via additional hydrogen-bonding interactions to produce a tape, and tapes are assembled into sheets.

Methods for the characterization of deformable membrane mirrors.

We demonstrate two methods for the characterization of deformable membrane mirrors and the training of adaptive optics systems that employ these mirrors. Neither method employs a wave-front sensor. In one case, aberrations produced by a wave-front generator are corrected by the deformable mirror by use of a rapidly converging iterative algorithm based on orthogonal deformation modes of the mirror.

Reduction of serum ghrelin concentration during interferon-alpha therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

The efficacy of interferon (IFN) therapy for chronic hepatitis C is dependent on compliance. Anorexia is an important adverse effect in determining compliance. To clarify the mechanisms underlying anorexia, the level of ghrelin was determined during therapy.

High-energy proton generation and suppression of transverse proton divergence by localized electrons in a laser-foil interaction.

A suppression of a transverse divergence of high-energy protons generated by an interaction of a laser with a thin slab foil is investigated in this paper by 2.5-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. When an intense (approximately 10(24) W/m(2)) short-pulse (a few ten femtoseconds) laser illuminates a thin foil target of a hydrogen, foil electrons are accelerated and compressed longitudinally by a laser light pressure and fast electron bunches are produced in the thin foil target.

Frequency-multiplexed logic circuit based on a coherent optical neural network.

We propose an adaptive logic circuit whose function can be controlled by optical carrier frequency modulation. The circuit learns the desired functions by adjusting the delay time at a spatial light modulator with a complex-valued Hebbian learning rule. After the learning, the circuit can switch its function all at once.

A case of primary biliary cirrhosis accompanied with fibrinogen storage disease.

We report the first case of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) accompanied by fibrinogen storage disease (FSD). A 50-year-old Japanese woman had been treated for numbness of her right-side extremities for 5 years. Mildly elevated serum levels of alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase were detected.

NAD(P)H oxidase plays a crucial role in PDGF-induced proliferation of hepatic stellate cells.

The proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a critical step in hepatic fibrogenesis. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is the most potent mitogen for HSCs. We investigated the role of nonphagocytic NAD(P)H oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) in PDGF-induced HSC proliferation.

Association of visceral fat accumulation and plasma adiponectin with colorectal adenoma: evidence for participation of insulin resistance.

Purpose: Colorectal carcinogenesis is thought to be related to abdominal obesity and insulin resistance. To investigate whether visceral fat accumulation contributes to colorectal carcinogenesis, we examined its accumulation and the levels of the adipose tissue-derived hormone adiponectin in Japanese patients with colorectal adenoma.

Experimental Design: Fifty-one consecutive Japanese patients ages >/=40 years and with colorectal adenoma were subjected to measurement of visceral fat area by computed tomography scanning and plasma adiponectin concentration.

Differentiation of rat bone marrow cells cultured on artificial basement membrane containing extracellular matrix into a liver cell lineage.

Background/aims: Bone marrow (BM) cells have been shown to be capable of differentiating into a liver cell lineage in vitro. However, their differentiation and proliferation is poor, and the cell characteristics are poorly understood.

Methods: We cultured rat BM cells on an artificial basement membrane containing extracellular matrix (ECM) with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF).

Identification of B cell adaptor for PI3-kinase (BCAP) as an Abl interactor 1-regulated substrate of Abl kinases.

In previous work we showed that Abl interactor 1 (Abi-1), by linking enzyme and substrate, promotes the phosphorylation of Mammalian Enabled (Mena) by c-Abl. To determine whether this mechanism extends to other c-Abl substrates, we used the yeast two-hybrid system to search for proteins that interact with Abi-1. By screening a human leukocyte cDNA library, we identified BCAP (B-cell adaptor for phosphoinositide 3-kinase) as another Abi-1-interacting protein.

Direct laser writing defects in holographic lithography-created photonic lattices.

As a well-established laser fabrication approach, holographic lithography, or multibeam interference patterning, is known for its capability to create long-range ordered large-volume photonic crystals (PhCs) rapidly. Its broad use is, however, hampered by difficulty in inducing artificially designed defects for device functions. We use pinpoint femtosecond laser ablation to remove and two-photon photopolymerization to add desired defective features to obtain photonic acceptors and photonic donors, respectively, in an otherwise complete PhC matrix produced by holographic lithography.

Hypermethylation of Chfr and hMLH1 in gastric noninvasive and early invasive neoplasias.

Human tumors are genetically unstable, and the instability exists at two distinct levels-the chromosomal level and the nucleotide level. Chfr and hMLH1 hypermethylation, which may lead to chromosomal instability (CIN) and microsatellite instability (MSI), respectively, was analyzed in gastric noninvasive neoplasias (NIN, Padova international classification) and submucosal invasive adenocarcinomas and in their corresponding non-neoplastic gastric epithelia. Results were compared with microsatellite status, p53 immunoreactivity, and cellular phenotype.

Enhanced expression of suppressor of cytokine signalling-1 in the liver of chronic hepatitis C: possible involvement in resistance to interferon therapy.

Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) is widely used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) family has been implicated in the regulation of JAK-STAT signalling, including IFN signalling. The negative effect of SOCS expression on the response of CHC to IFN-alpha is demonstrated here.

Substituent effect of the coordinated pyridine in a series of pyrazolato bridged dinuclear diiron(II) complexes on the spin-crossover behavior.

Two series of pyrazolato bridged dinuclear NCS and NCBH3 diiron(II) complexes with various types of 3- or 4-substituted pyridines, [{Fe(NCS or NCBH3)(X-py)}2(mu-bpypz)2], were prepared and their variable-temperature magnetic susceptibilities were measured. There were found linear correlations of the spin-crossover temperatures Tc not only between the NCS and NCBH3 complexes with the corresponding substituted pyridines, but also between the Tc and the Hammett constants, supporting the electronic substituent effect of the coordinated pyridine rather than a steric effect. The ligand field and the interelectronic repulsion parameters together with the thermodynamic data and/or cooperativity factor were discussed in relation with their spin-crossover behavior.

p21WAF1 modulates NF-kappaB signaling and induces anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in Tax-expressing rat fibroblast.

Of the cell cycle-associated genes regulated by human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1) Tax, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p21WAF1 is upregulated in HTLV-1-infected cells. Previously, we reported that p21WAF1 stimulated Tax-dependent NF-kappaB activation which influences a variety of cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In HTLV-1-infected cells, Tax is primarily involved in the constitutive activation of NF-kappaB signaling.

Expression of Notch signalling markers in bone marrow cells that differentiate into a liver cell lineage in a rat transplant model.

Notch signalling pathway plays an important role in cell differentiation. To investigate the implications of Notch signalling in the differentiation of rat bone marrow (BM) cells into a liver cell lineage, we used cultured BM cells to examine the mRNA expression of Musashi-1, which positively regulates Notch signalling, and made a transplant model to examine the protein expression of Notch signalling markers. For the in vivo experiment, BM cells were collected from transgenic rats expressing green fluorescence protein (GFP) and transplanted into the spleens of recipient rats, in which liver damage had been induced with carbon tetrachloride.

Near-field optics and spectroscopy for molecular nano-imaging.

Application of near-field optical microscopy with a sharp metallic probe to Raman spectroscopy brings microanalysis of materials to their nano-identification and imaging. The local plasmon polariton excitation on the probe tip results in the localization and amplification of the optical field at the vicinity of the tip. The tip-enhanced near-field Raman spectroscopy has analyzed DNA base molecules and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with the nanometric spatial resolution and sufficient sensitivity.

Direct two-step spin-crossover through [HS-HS]...[LS-LS] at the plateau in dinuclear diiron(II) complex [{Fe(NCBH3)(4phpy)}2(mu-bpypz)2].

The variable temperature magnetic susceptibility, X-ray crystallography, and IR and Raman spectra of a new dinuclear complex [{Fe(II)(NCBH(3))(4-phpy)}(2) mu-bpypz)(2)] demonstrated the first two-step spin-crossover associated with a 1 : 1 mixture of high-spin pair [HS-HS] and low-spin pair [LS-LS] at the plateau.

Hepatitis B virus genotype G is an extremely rare genotype in Japan.

BACKGROUND:: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been classified into seven genotypes (A-G). HBV genotypes have a geographically characteristic distribution. Since HBV genotype G (HBV/G) was identified recently, little is known about the distribution of HBV/G in Japan.

Interferon therapy for aged patients with chronic hepatitis C: improved survival in patients exhibiting a biochemical response.

Background: In Japan, generally, patients with chronic hepatitis C are aged. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of interferon (IFN) therapy on the mortality of chronic hepatitis C patients over age 60.

Methods: Seven-hundred and seven patients with histologically proven chronic hepatitis C were enrolled in this study; 649 received IFN therapy (IFN group) and 58 did not (control group).