A feasibility study of a molecular-based patient setup verification method using a parallel-plane PET system.

A feasibility study of a novel PET-based molecular image guided radiation therapy (m-IGRT) system was conducted by comparing PET-based digitally reconstructed planar image (PDRI) registration with radiographic registration. We selected a pair of opposing parallel-plane PET systems for the practical implementation of this system. Planar images along the in-plane and cross-plane directions were reconstructed from the parallel-plane PET data.

Demonstration of the hepatocyte growth factor signaling pathway in the in vitro neuritogenic activity of chondroitin sulfate from ray fish cartilage.

Background: Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a ubiquitous component of the cell surface and extracellular matrix and its sugar backbone consists of repeating disaccharide units: D-glucuronic acid (GlcUA)β1-3N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc). Although CS participates in diverse biological processes such as growth factor signaling and the nervous system's development, the mechanism underlying the functions is not well understood.

Methods: CS was isolated from ray fish cartilage, an industrial waste, and its structure and neurite outgrowth-promoting (NOP) activity were analyzed to investigate a potential application to nerve regeneration.

Detection of fecal interferon-induced transmembrane protein messenger RNA for colorectal cancer screening.

Interferon-induced transmembrane protein (IFITM) is reported to be frequently overexpressed in colorectal tumors. This study aimed to determine the usefulness of detecting fecal IFITM messenger RNA (mRNA) by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. This pilot study included 21 patients with CRC and 23 healthy controls.

Regional cerebral blood flow in healthy volunteers measured by the graph plot method with iodoamphetamine SPECT.

Purpose: The graph plot method, a technique that uses N-isopropyl-(123)I-p-iodoamphetamine (IMP) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for non-invasive measurement of regional cerebral blood flow (CBF), has been developed and applied in the clinical setting, although it has been performed without obtaining normal CBF values in normal, healthy subjects. The aim of this study was to measure normal regional CBF in older healthy subjects with IMP SPECT and the graph plot method.

Subjects And Methods: Eleven healthy volunteers (mean age: 63.

Benefits of prestroke use of angiotensin type 1 receptor blockers on ischemic stroke severity.

Background: There is a general agreement that the stroke prevention benefit of antihypertensive agents is mainly based on their blood pressure lowering properties. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the benefits of angiotensin type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) used before the onset of ischemic stroke.

Methods: Data were obtained between April 2007 and March 2009 using the discharge statistics of the neurologic service at Juntendo hospital.

Transcriptional regulation of activating transcription factor 4 under oxidative stress in retinal pigment epithelial ARPE-19/HPV-16 cells.

Purpose: Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of various ocular diseases such as retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) is induced by various stressors, including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and oxidative stress, and ATF4 expression is regulated translationally through the PERK pathway of eIF2α phosphorylation. Transcriptional regulation of the ATF4 gene under oxidative stress was investigated in human papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16)-transformed retinal pigment epithelial ARPE-19/HPV-16 cells.

Intraocular gas dynamics after 20-gauge and 23-gauge vitrectomy with sulfur hexafluoride gas tamponade.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intraocular gas dynamics after 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV) as compared with 20-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV).

Methods: A consecutive series of 290 eyes that experienced 20-gauge or 23-gauge vitrectomy with 25% sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas tamponade were retrospectively reviewed. Intraocular gas bubble size on postoperative Day 1 and Gas50, the interval to dissipate to a 50% gas fill, were evaluated.

Quercetin induces the expression of peroxiredoxins 3 and 5 via the Nrf2/NRF1 transcription pathway.

Purpose: The flavonoids have potent antioxidant and free-radical scavenging properties and are beneficial in the prevention and treatment of ocular diseases including glaucoma. The authors have previously reported that antiglaucoma agents could transcriptionally activate the antioxidant protein peroxiredoxin (PRDX)2. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether quercetin can activate transcription factors and induce the expression of the PRDX family.

Effect of countermovement on elbow joint extension power-load characteristics.

The aim of the present study was to examine elbow joint extension power-load characteristics with and without a countermovement. Eight male participants performed maximal elbow extensions with and without a countermovement against different loads (0, 2.5, 5.

Morphological characterization of the asexual reproduction in the acorn worm Balanoglossus simodensis.

The acorn worm Balanoglossus simodensis reproduces asexually by fragmentation and subsequent regeneration from the body fragments. We examined the morphogenesis of its asexual reproduction. At first, we collected asexually reproducing specimens and observed their morphogenesis.

Effect of pressure intensity of graduated elastic compression stocking on muscle fatigue following calf-raise exercise.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of wearing a graduated elastic compression (EC) stocking, with different pressure profiles during a fatiguing calf-raise exercise session, on the torque generating capacity after exercise. Fourteen subjects performed 15 sets of 10 repetitions of calf-raise exercise, wearing one of three stockings of different compression pressure profiles: two kinds of EC stockings (one (EC30) with 30mmHg at the ankle, 21-25mmHg at the calf, and 10mmHg below the knee, and the other (EC18) with 18, 12-14, and 7mmHg at the same regions, respectively) and a non-EC sport stocking as a control (CON). Before and after the exercise, torque and electromyographic (EMG) signals of medial gastrocnemius and soleus muscles were recorded during an evoked triplet contraction and the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC).

N-phenyl-N'-[4-(5H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-yloxy)phenyl]ureas as novel inhibitors of VEGFR and FGFR kinases.

We have recently reported the discovery of pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives 1a and 1b as potent triple inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), and Tie-2 kinases. To identify compounds having strong inhibitory activity against fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) kinase, further modification was conducted using the co-crystal structure analysis of VEGFR2 and 1b. Among the compounds synthesized, urea derivative 11l having a piperazine moiety on the terminal benzene ring showed strong inhibitory activity against FGFR1 kinase as well as VEGFR2 kinase.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of 5-methyl-4-phenoxy-5H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives: novel VEGFR2 kinase inhibitors binding to inactive kinase conformation.

We synthesized a series of pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives and evaluated their application as type-II inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) kinase. Incorporation of a diphenylurea moiety at the C4-position of the pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine core via an oxygen linker resulted in compounds that were potent inhibitors of VEGFR2 kinase. Of these derivatives, compound 20d showed the strongest inhibition of VEGF-stimulated proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).

Phase unwrapping for noisy phase maps using rotational compensator with virtual singular points.

In the process of phase unwrapping for an image obtained by an interferometer or in-line holography, noisy image data may pose difficulties. Traditional phase unwrapping algorithms used to estimate a two-dimensional phase distribution include much estimation error, due to the effect of singular points. This paper introduces an accurate phase-unwrapping algorithm based on three techniques: a rotational compensator, unconstrained singular point positioning, and virtual singular points.

N-type calcium channel in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

One of the family of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC), the N-type Ca(2+) channel, is located predominantly in neurons and is associated with a variety of neuronal responses, including neurodegeneration. A precise mechanism for how the N-type Ca(2+) channel plays a role in neurodegenerative disease, however, is unknown. In this study, we immunized N-type Ca(2+) channel α(1B)-deficient (α(1B)(-/-)) mice and their wild type (WT) littermates with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55 and analyzed the progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

Functional evolution of Ets in echinoderms with focus on the evolution of echinoderm larval skeletons.

Convergent evolution of echinoderm pluteus larva was examined from the standpoint of functional evolution of a transcription factor Ets1/2. In sea urchins, Ets1/2 plays a central role in the differentiation of larval skeletogenic mesenchyme cells. In addition, Ets1/2 is suggested to be involved in adult skeletogenesis.

Economy class stroke syndrome after a long drive.

Economy class stroke syndrome is a cardiovascular complication associated with long periods of travel, only a few cases have been reported after long drives, however. The patient, a 62-year-old professional driver, had driven a truck for 2 days with minimal rest. While driving, he noted left foot paresis and numbness, along with geographical disorientation.

Influence of muscle anatomical cross-sectional area on the moment arm length of the triceps brachii muscle at the elbow joint.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the musculotendon moment arm length is affected by the muscle anatomical cross-sectional area. The moment arm length of the triceps brachii (TB) muscle at 30°, 50°, 70°, 90°, 110° elbow flexion positions was measured in sagittal magnetic resonance images (MRI) of 18 subjects as the perpendicular distance between the center of the pulley of the humerus to the line through the center of the TB tendon. The moment arm increased as the elbow flexion angle decreased, from 1.

Measurement of gray and white matter atrophy in dementia with Lewy bodies using diffeomorphic anatomic registration through exponentiated lie algebra: A comparison with conventional voxel-based morphometry.

Background And Purpose: DLB is recognized as the second major form of dementia in the elderly. The regional pattern of GM atrophy in DLB highly overlaps that in AD. The aim of this study was to identify the critical pattern of atrophy in DLB by using DARTEL, which provides improved registration accuracy compared with that of conventional VBM.

Development of the nervous system in the acorn worm Balanoglossus simodensis: insights into nervous system evolution.

To examine the evolutionary origin of the chordate nervous system, an outgroup comparison with hemichordates is needed. When the nervous systems of chordates and hemichordates are compared, two possibilities have been proposed, one of which is that the chordate nervous system has evolved from the nervous system of hemichordate-like larva and the other that it is comparable to the adult nervous system of hemichordates. To address this issue, we investigated the entire developmental process of the nervous system in the acorn worm Balanoglossus simodensis.

Contrast-enhanced sonography-guided radiofrequency ablation for the local recurrence of previously treated hepatocellular carcinoma undetected by B-mode sonography.

BACKGROUND.: The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of contrast-enhanced sonography (CEUS) with Sonazoid to demonstrate local recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma previously treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and not seen on conventional sonography, prior to repeat RFA. METHODS.

Comparison of clinical backgrounds with anterior versus posterior circulation infarcts.

Background: The aim of this study was to identify the relevant clinical backgrounds for anterior circulation territory infarctions (ACTI) and posterior circulation territory infarctions (PCTI).

Methods: Data were obtained from April 1995 to May 2005 discharge statistics of the neurologic service in our hospital. The infarctions were divided into anterior circulation territory and posterior circulation territory by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and we examined clinical backgrounds for small vessel disease, large artery disease, and cardioembolism (CE).

Liquid crystal phases in the aqueous colloids of size-controlled fluorinated layered clay mineral nanosheets.

Size-controlled nanosheet colloids of fluorohectorite and fluortetrasilicic mica were prepared in high yield and their transitions to fluid liquid crystal (LC) phases with highly ordered lamellar structures were identified over a wide concentration range, which is a rare case for clay mineral systems.