Publications by authors named "Makiko Aoki"

Background: Many adult females experience periodic mental and physical symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Diagnosis of PMS is generally based on self-reported symptoms over several menstrual cycles, but there are concerns about its accuracy and duration. It is well known that decreased cognitive function is one of the symptoms of PMS.

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The adhesion and deformation behavior of proteins at the inner surface of fully covered, self-expandable metallic stents coated with biocompatible polymers, poly(2-methoxyethyl acrylate) (PMEA) and poly(3-methoxypropyl acrylate) (PMC3A), were analyzed. Model bile solution, proteins, and bacteria were used to unravel the inhibitory ability of the polymer coatings. Adsorbance of proteins and adherence of bacteria were both strongly inhibited by the polymer coatings.

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Thrombus formation presents a serious hindrance in the development of functional artificial blood vessels, especially those with a small diameter. Endothelialization can prevent thrombus formation; however, the adhesion of endothelial cells to existing polymer materials is generally weak. Therefore, polymers that have both anti-thrombotic and endothelialization properties do not currently exist.

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Human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells obtained from extracted teeth are a potential cell source for tissue engineering. We previously reported that poly(2-methoxyethyl acrylate) (PMEA) is highly biocompatible with human blood cells. In this study, we investigated the adhesion, morphology, and proliferation of PDL cells on PMEA and other types of polymers to design an appropriate scaffold for tissue engineering.

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