Distributions of beta+ decayed nuclei generated in the CH2 and H2O targets by the target nuclear fragment reaction using therapeutic MONO and SOBP proton beam.

In proton radiotherapy, the irradiation dose can be concentrated on a tumor. To use this radiotherapy efficiently in the clinical field, it is necessary to evaluate the proton-irradiated area and condition. The proton-irradiated area can be confirmed by coincidence detection of pair annihilation gamma rays from beta+ decayed nuclei generated by target nuclear fragment reaction of irradiated proton nuclei and nuclei in the irradiation target.

Nuclear factor {kappa}B inactivation in the rat liver ameliorates short term total warm ischaemia/reperfusion injury.

Background: In hepatic ischaemia/reperfusion injury, activated liver macrophages (Kupffer cells) are dominantly regulated by a transcription factor, nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB), with respect to expression of inflammatory cytokines, acute phase response proteins, and cell adhesion molecules.

Aims: We assessed whether inactivation of NFkappaB in the liver could attenuate total hepatic warm ischaemia/reperfusion injury.

Methods: We studied rats with hepatic overexpression of inhibitor kappaBalpha super-repressor (IkappaBalpha SR) caused by a transgene introduced using an adenoviral vector.

Chromosome 7 abnormalities in acute megakaryoblastic leukemia associated with Down syndrome.

A 2-year-old girl with Down syndrome (DS) developed acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL) following a transient myeloproliferative disorder (TMD). The blast cells showed an altered karyotype of 47,XX,r(7),+21c. Serial cytogenetic studies during the course of the illness showed rapid stepwise clonal chromosome changes, including a ring chromosome 7, associated with treatment refractoriness.

Tenascin-C regulates proliferation and migration of cultured astrocytes in a scratch wound assay.

Tenascin-C (TNC), an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, is involved in tissue morphogenesis like embryogenesis, wound healing or tumorigenesis. Astrocytes are known to play major roles in wound healing in the CNS. To elucidate the roles of TNC in wound closure by astrocytes, we have examined the morphological changes of cultured astrocytes in a scratch wound assay and measured the content of soluble TNC released into the medium.

Phase II study of radiotherapy employing proton beam for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of proton beam radiotherapy (PRT) for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: Eligibility criteria for this study were: solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); no indication for surgery or local ablation therapy; no ascites; age >/= 20 years; Zubrod performance status of 0 to 2; no serious comorbidities other than liver cirrhosis; written informed consent. PRT was administered in doses of 76 cobalt gray equivalent in 20 fractions for 5 weeks.

Aglycon specificity profiling of alpha-glucosidases using synthetic probes.

We designed and synthesized hydrogen bond based probes 1-8 with the exception of known glycosidase inhibition mechanisms, and aglycon specificity of 11 different sources of alpha-glucosidases were investigated using their probes. Probe 4 (2,6-anhydro-1-deoxy-1-[(1-oxopentyl-5-hydroxy)amino]-D-glycero-D-ido-heptitol) showed a potent inhibition of S. cerevisiae alpha-glucosidase among all alpha-glucosidases.

Diversification and alteration of recognition specificity of the pollen ligand SP11/SCR in self-incompatibility of Brassica and Raphanus.

The recognition specificity of the pollen ligand of self-incompatibility (SP11/SCR) was investigated using Brassica rapa transgenic plants expressing SP11 transgenes, and SP11 of Raphanus sativus S-21 was found to have the same recognition specificity as that of B. rapa S-9. In a set of three S haplotypes, whose sequence identities of SP11 and SRK are fairly high, R.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in randomly selected genes among japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties identified by PCR-RF-SSCP.

DNA polymorphism of randomly selected genes in rice cultivars was analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-RF-SSCP) technique. Single DNA fragments were amplified from genomic DNA of the Nipponbare cultivar by 671 primer pairs among the 1000 primer pairs tested. PCR-RF-SSCP analysis using the 671 primer pairs detected polymorphism in 108 DNA fragments between 17 japonica paddy-rice cultivars.

Secretion mode and subcellular localization of human interferon-beta exogenously expressed in porcine renal epithelial LLC-PK1 cells.

We have investigated the secretion polarity of human interferon-beta (HuIFN-beta) exogenously expressed in the porcine renal proximal tubule cell line, LLC-PK1. In these cells, stably expressed HuIFN-beta was secreted to the apical and basolateral sides. However, when transiently expressed by apical lipofection, HuIFN-beta was secreted to both cell sides, while basolateral-preferential secretion was seen for basal transfection.

Genes outside the S supergene suppress S functions in buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum).

Background And Aims: Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is a dimorphic self-incompatible plant with either pin or thrum flowers. The S supergene is thought to govern self-incompatibility, flower morphology and pollen size in buckwheat. Two major types of self-fertile lines have been reported.

Simultaneous detection of DsRed2-tagged and EGFP-tagged human beta-interferons in the same single cells.

The red fluorescent protein DsRed2 is a useful fusion tag for various proteins, together with the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). These chromoproteins have spectral properties that allow simultaneous distinctive detection of tagged proteins in the same single cells by dual color imaging. We used them for tagging a secretory protein, human interferon-beta (IFN-beta).

Subcellular trafficking of exogenously expressed interferon-beta in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells.

We have recently demonstrated that when IFN-beta was exogenously expressed in epithelial cells, transiently expressed IFN-beta was predominantly secreted from the cell side to which the transfection was performed, while stably expressed one was almost equally secreted to the apical and basolateral sides. In the present study, we analyzed the subcellular transport of IFN-beta using confocal imaging with green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged IFN-beta in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Stably expressed and transiently expressed human IFN-beta (HuIFN-beta)-GFPs were seen in upper regions of the nucleus.

Spontaneous regeneration of the corticospinal tract after transection in young rats: a key role of reactive astrocytes in making favorable and unfavorable conditions for regeneration.

We demonstrated the occurrence of marked regeneration of the corticospinal tract (CST) after a single transection and failure of regeneration after a repeated transection in young rats. To provide convincing evidence for the complete transection and regeneration we used retrograde neuronal double labeling. Double-labeled neurons that took up the first tracer from the transection site and the second tracer from the injection site caudal to the transection site were observed in the sensorimotor cortex.

Acute renal failure due to leukemic cell infiltration followed by relapse at multiple extramedullary sites in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Acute renal failure due to leukemic infiltration into the kidney is rare in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We report here a five year-old boy with ALL who presented acute renal failure caused by leukemic infiltration at onset. Treatment with predonisolone and hemodialysis was effective.

alpha-Mannosidase-catalyzed synthesis of a (1-->2)-alpha-D-rhamnodisaccharide derivative.

Enzymatic transglycosylation using p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-rhamnopyranoside as the glycosyl donor and 6equiv of ethyl 1-thio-alpha-D-rhamnopyranoside as the glycosyl acceptor yielded a D-rhamnooligosaccharide derivative. The reaction was catalyzed by jack bean alpha-mannosidase in a 1:1 (v/v) mixture of 0.1 M sodium citrate buffer (pH4.

Optical analysis of the cirrhotic liver by near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy.

Purpose: To assess the histological severity of liver cirrhosis in relation to the optical properties of liver tissue.

Methods: Various grades of liver cirrhosis were induced in rats by giving intraperitoneal injections of thioacetamide (TAA) over periods ranging from 4 to 16 weeks. The optical properties of the liver, absorption coefficient (mu(a)) and scattering coefficient (mu(s)'), were measured by near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy.

Detoxification of hexachlorobenzene by dechlorination with potassium-sodium alloy.

Dechlorination of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) was achieved by a liquid potassium-sodium (K-Na)-alloy. HCB in a cyclohexane/benzene solution (22 mmol/l, 4.67 g/l as chlorine) was dechlorinated by almost 100% after a 30-min reaction, indicating high reactivity of K-Na alloy and high proton donating power of cyclohexane.

Survival of fetal rat otocyst cells grafted into the damaged inner ear.

Hair cell loss induced by aging, ototoxic drugs and noise leads to irreversible hearing loss and balance disorders in mammals due to the failure of hair cells to regenerate. To investigate the possibility of transplantation therapy to repair damaged inner ear, we have examined whether grafted fetal otocyst cells could survive and migrate into injured sensory organs. We obtained otocyst cells from green fluorescein protein (GFP)-transgenic rats on embryonic day 12.

Cross-calibration of ionization chambers in proton and carbon beams.

The calibration coefficients of a parallel plate ionization chamber are examined by comparing the coefficients obtained through three methods: a calculation from a 60Co calibration coefficient, N(D, omega, 60Co), a cross-calibration of a parallel plate ionization chamber using a cylindrical ionization chamber at the plateau region of a mono-energetic beam and a cross-calibration of the chamber using a cylindrical chamber at the middle of the SOBP of the therapeutic beams. This paper also examines reference conditions for determining absorbed dose to water in the cases of therapeutic carbon and proton beams. In the dose calibration procedure recommended by IAEA, irradiation fields should be larger than 10 cm in diameter and the water phantom should extend by at least 5 cm beyond each side of the field.

Composite lymphoma arising in the parotid gland: a case report.

A case of composite lymphoma (CL) arisen in the parotid gland in a 58-year-old male is reported. Histologically, most of the tumor region was follicular lymphoma (FL), grade 2. However complicating classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) was noted inside the lesion.

Reconstruction of tubular structures in three-dimensional collagen gel culture using proximal tubular epithelial cells voided in human urine.

Human proximal tubular (PT) epithelial cells were isolated from urine and monoclonally cultured as monolayers for 1 wk, after which they were subcultured between two layers of collagen gel, designated a "collagen gel sandwich." Under these culture conditions, PT cells formed three-dimensional tubular structures exhibiting distinct polarized cell morphology. Scanning and transmission electron microscopic studies showed that they bore numerous microvilli at the apical surface and that they closely contacted the collagen gel at the basal surface.

Evaluation of MPN method combined with PCR procedure for detection and enumeration of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in seafood.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus densities in spiked and naturally contaminated seafood samples were enumerated by the MPN method combined with a PCR procedure (MPN-PCR method) targeting the species-specific thermolabile hemolysin gene (tlh), and by the MPN method using subcultivation of alkaline-peptone-water (APW) enrichment culture on thiosulfate-citrate-bile-sucrose (TCBS) agar (MPN-TCBS method). In the samples spiked with both V. parahaemolyticus and V.

Development of a genetic system in chitinase-producing streptomyces and the application of an allosamidin-insensitive chitinase gene to homologous overexpression.

A transformation system for Streptomyces sp. AJ9463 strain (allosamidin producer) was successfully developed using protoplasts and a PEG-mediated method. To prepare protoplasts, the concentration of glycine and sucrose in YEME medium were optimized to 0.

A novel microperoxidase activity: methyl viologen-linked nitrite reducing activity of microperoxidase.

To investigate the nitrite reducing activity of microperoxidases (mps) in the presence of methyl viologen and dithionite, the fragments C14-K22 (mp9), V11-L32 (mp22), and G1-M65 (mp65) containing heme were prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis of commercially equine heart cytochrome c (Cyt c), in which His is axially coordinated to heme iron, and acts as its fifth ligand. The nitrite reducing activity of mps was measured under anaerobic condition, and the nitrite reducing activity of mps increased with the cutting of the peptide chain. The activity of the shortest nonapeptide mp9 was approximately 120-fold that of Cyt c (104 amino acid residues) and 3.

Effects of an embryonic repair graft on recovery from spinal cord injury.

It is widely believed that mammalian CNS axons have little regenerative capacity because their environment is non-permissive to regrowth. This viewpoint is based, in large part, on the fact that in virtually all previous studies on regeneration following spinal cord injury, regenerated axonal projections have been few in number, quite short, and considered to be mostly aberrant. As a result, motor recovery has been very limited in both experimental preparations and the human.