High sensitivity search for nu;e's from the sun and other sources at KamLAND.

Data corresponding to a KamLAND detector exposure of 0.28 kton yr has been used to search for nu;(e)'s in the energy range 8.3 View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Expression of thymidine phosphorylase by macrophages in colorectal cancer tissues.

Aim: To detect the thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) expression in human colorectal cancer tissues and cells.

Methods: Forty specimens resected from patients with colorectal cancer were immunohistochemically stained by 654-1, anti-dThdPase monoclonal antibody, PG-M1, anti-macrophage marker CD68 monoclonal antibody. Morphometrical analysis and positive cell counting were performed.

Effect of intra-arterial cisplatin on multiple liver metastases from rectal cancer associated with ulcerative colitis.

We report a patient with synchronous multiple liver metastases from rectal cancer associated with ulcerative colitis. Because the liver tumors were unresectable, we performed total proctocolectomy and hepatic intra-arterial cisplatin infusion with systemic oral administration of fluorouracil. A complete response was obtained.

Adenovirus expressing p27KIP1 induces apoptosis against cholangiocarcinoma cells by triggering Fas ligand on the cell surface.

Background/aims: The prognosis of patients with cholangiocarcinoma is poor because of the difficulty of surgical curative resection. Therefore, other effective treatments must be developed especially those involving gene therapy. p27kip1, one of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, is known to limit proliferation of the cells.

Characterisation of hexon and fibre genes of a novel strain of adenovirus involved in epidemic keratoconjunctivitis.

Aims: To characterise a novel strain (M86) of adenovirus (Ad) involved in epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC).

Methods/results: The virus strain was neutralised by antisera to both Ad35 and Ad11. Restriction endonuclease analysis of genomic DNA showed 98% and 88% homology with Ad11 and Ad35, respectively.

[Chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer].

Pancreatic cancer has one of the worst prognosis of any malignant disease. The National Registry of Japan Pancreas Society has reported that only 13% of patients achieve 5 years survival after surgical resection. The vast majority of patients present with metastatic or unresectable disease.

A highly effective and stable bispecific diabody for cancer immunotherapy: cure of xenografted tumors by bispecific diabody and T-LAK cells.

Purpose: In the field of cancer immunotherapy research, the targeting of effector cells with specific antibodies is a very promising approach. Recent advances in genetic engineering have made it possible to prepare immunoglobulin fragments consisting of variable domains using bacterial expression systems.

Methods: We have produced an anti-epidermal growth-factor receptor (EGFR) x anti-CD3 bispecific diabody (Ex3 diabody) in an Escherichia coli (E.

Molecular characterization of human and rat organic anion transporter OATP-D.

We have isolated and characterized a novel human and rat organic anion transporter subtype, OATP-D. The isolated cDNA from human brain encodes a polypeptide of 710 amino acids (Mr 76,534) with 12 predicted transmembrane domains. The rat clone encodes 710 amino acids (Mr 76,821) with 97.

Inserting chromosome 18 into pancreatic cancer cells switches them to a dormant metastatic phenotype.

We demonstrated previously that restoration of chromosome 18 suppressed growth of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro, as well as that of tumors inoculated into nude mice. We also demonstrated that loss of 18q was associated with poor prognosis. Hence there is the possibility that the 18q arm harbors a gene(s) implicated in tumor progression and/or metastasis.

Octreotide in control of multiple liver metastases from gastrinoma.

The somatostatin analogue octreotide was effective in controlling systemic effects related to multiple liver metastases from a gastrinoma. A 61-year-old man underwent distal gastrectomy for gastrinoma in the duodenum, because a curative resection was not feasible due to metastases found in paraaortic lymph nodes during operation. Multiple liver metastases, associated with an increase in serum gastrin concentration, were found by magnetic resonance imaging 16 months after the operation.

Restoration of SMAD4 by gene therapy reverses the invasive phenotype in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells.

SMAD4 is a critical cofactor in signal transduction pathways activated in response to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)-related ligands, regulating cell growth and differentiation. The roles played by SMAD4 inactivation in tumours highlighted it as a tumour-suppressor gene. However, restoration of the TGF-beta antiproliferative pathway following SMAD4 gene transfer in null-tumour cell lines is controversial.

Heme oxygenase-1 accelerates tumor angiogenesis of human pancreatic cancer.

Angiogenesis is necessary for the continued growth of solid tumors, invasion and metastasis. Several studies clearly showed that heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) plays an important role in angiogenesis. In this study, we used the vital microscope system, transparent skinfold model, lung colonization model and transduced pancreatic cancer cell line (Panc-1)/human heme oxygenase-1 (hHO-1) cells, to precisely analyze, for the first time, the effect of hHO-1 gene on tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis.

Do peritoneal macrophages play an essential role in the progression of acute pancreatitis in rats?

Introduction: Macrophages are considered to play an essential role in the events leading to systemic inflammatory response. Some are known to reside in the peritoneal cavity but there are no reports defining the participation of peritoneal macrophages (PMs) in the progression of acute pancreatitis.

Aim: To clarify the role of PMs in the progression of acute pancreatitis.

Increased expression of HIP/PAP and regenerating gene III in human inflammatory bowel disease and a murine bacterial reconstitution model.

Although microorganisms play a role in gut inflammation, it remains uncertain which epithelial genes are expressed in response to luminal flora and whether these molecules are also involved in pathologic mucosal inflammation. Germ-free mice were orally challenged with a bacterial suspension prepared from conventionally housed mice (bacterial reconstitution). Thereafter, the differential gene expression in gut epithelial cells was identified by differential display.

Search for nu(e) from the sun at Super-Kamiokande-I.

We present the results of a search for low energy nu(e) from the Sun using 1496 days of data from Super-Kamiokande-I. We observe no significant excess of events and set an upper limit for the conversion probability to nu(e) of the 8B solar neutrino. This conversion limit is 0.

Potential tumor suppressive pathway involving DUSP6/MKP-3 in pancreatic cancer.

We previously found frequent loss of heterozygosity at 12q21 and 12q22-q23.1 in primary pancreatic cancers, and the DUSP6/MKP-3 gene residing in this region at 12q22 lost its expression in the great majority of pancreatic cancer cell lines. The DUSP6/MKP-3 protein is a dual-specificity phosphatase that dephosphorylates the active form of ERK, making a feedback loop to control ERK activity.

Gene therapy for pancreatic cancer targeting the genomic alterations of tumor suppressor genes using replication-selective oncolytic adenovirus.

In order to develop an effective therapeutic intervention for patients with pancreatic cancer, we examined the genetic alternations of pancreatic cancer. Based on these results, we are developing a new gene therapy targeting the genetic character of pancreatic cancer using mutant adenoviruses selectively replication-competent in tumor cells. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of 30% or more were observed on chromosome arms 17p (47%), 9p (45%), 18q (43%), 12q (34%), and 6q (30%).

Thymidine phosphorylase expressed in macrophages enhances antitumor effect of 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine on human colorectal carcinoma cells.

Background: Thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) is a key enzyme in the activation of the pro-drugs of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 5-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) and capecitabine. In colorectal carcinoma (CRC), the major cells expressing dThdPase have been shown to be stromal cells, particularly macrophages.

Materials And Methods: The present study was designed to clarify whether dThdPase expressed in macrophage-like cell lines, THP-1 and U937, and monocyte-rich mono-nuclear cells (MoMNCs) from human peripheral blood can modulate the antitumor effect of 5'-DFUR on CRC cells.

Identification and characterization of novel rat and human gonad-specific organic anion transporters.

We have isolated three novel organic anion transporter cDNAs designated rat GST-1 (gonad-specific transporter), rat GST-2, and human GST, expressed at high levels in the testis. Rat GST-1, GST-2, and human GST consist of 748, 702, and 719 amino acids, respectively, and all molecules possess the 12 predicted transmembrane domains, which is a common structure of organic anion transporters. Northern blot analyses and in situ hybridization revealed that both of the rat molecules are highly expressed in the testis, especially in Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, and Leydig cells.

Search for supernova relic neutrinos at Super-Kamiokande.

A search for the relic neutrinos from all past core-collapse supernovae was conducted using 1496 days of data from the Super-Kamiokande detector. This analysis looked for electron-type antineutrinos that had produced a positron with an energy greater than 18 MeV. In the absence of a signal, 90% C.

Measurement of phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide in mild ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat intestine.

In the pathogenesis of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury, the measurement of lipid peroxides needs to be established. Sprague-Dawley rat intestines were assessed after 30 minutes of occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery followed by reperfusion at 30, 60, 120, 180, 360 minutes. Grade of the mucosal injury, accumulation of the activated neutrophils and ICAM-1 expression were transiently increased after reperfusion.

A novel adenovirus expressing human 4-1BB ligand enhances antitumor immunity.

4-1BB ligand (4-1BBL), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily, interacts with 4-1BB (CDw137) expressed on activated T cells and delivers a costimulatory signal for T cell activation and growth. Various studies have demonstrated a role for murine 4-1BB in immune function, but relatively few investigations of human 4-1BB have been conducted. Here we report on the construction of a recombinant E1/E3-deleted adenovirus encoding human 4-1BBL (Ad4-1BBL) and its stimulation of antitumor immunity.