Expression of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Markers in Epidermal Layer of Atopic Dermatitis.

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a phenomenon, in which epithelial cells acquire a mesenchymal cell phenotype. It is important during wound healing; however, chronic inflammation leads to excessive EMT and causes tissue barrier dysfunction with hyperplasia. EMT is induced by several cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13.

DFT analysis of nitrogen isotopic reduction partition function ratios in proton exchange equilibria of glutamic acid species in water and its application to the estimation of nitrogen isotope fractionation.

L-Glutamic acid (Glu) plays a pivotal role in amino acid metabolism in living organisms. Theoretical knowledge of how metabolism propagates the nitrogen isotope composition (δN) is essential for elucidating the mechanism of amino acid metabolism . In this paper, to estimate the nitrogen isotope fractionation involving Glu and its protonated/deprotonated species, their nitrogen isotopic reduction partition function ratios (RPFRs) were calculated at the apfd/6-311+G(2d,p) level of theory by the SCRF method.

A Novel Function of Sphingosylphosphorylcholine on the Inhibitory Effects of Acetylcholinesterase Activity.

Acetylcholine (ACh), a quaternary ammonium cation, is known as one of the itch inducer in atopic dermatitis (AD), an inflammatory skin disease with intense itching. Previous research has reported accumulation of ACh in lesional site of AD patients. Generally, ACh is metabolized by cholinesterase (ChE).

Involvement of G-CSF, IL-6, and cortisol in transient neutrophilia after marathon races.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanisms of the transient increase in neutrophils after running standard marathon races by measurement of cytokines involved in the production and survival of neutrophils, and cortisol.

Methods: Fourteen male runners who participated in the Hokkaido Marathon, which is the sole marathon race held in summer in Japan, and finished the standard marathon were analyzed sequentially from the start until a maximum of 8 days after the finish.

Results: Neutrophilia was observed in all runners just after they reached the goal (mean neutrophils: 13 226/μL).

Superconductivity in Uniquely Strained RuO_{2} Films.

We report on strain engineering of superconductivity in RuO_{2} single-crystal films, which are epitaxially grown on rutile TiO_{2} and MgF_{2} substrates with various crystal orientations. Systematic mappings between the superconducting transition temperature and the lattice parameters reveal that shortening of specific ruthenium-oxygen bonds is a common feature among the superconducting RuO_{2} films. Ab initio calculations of electronic and phononic structures for the strained RuO_{2} films suggest the importance of soft phonon modes for emergence of the superconductivity.