Phospha-fluorescein: a red-emissive fluorescein analogue with high photobleaching resistance.

Phospha-fluorescein (POF), a phosphine oxide-containing analogue of fluorescein, was synthesized and its photophysical properties were examined. Compared with fluorescein and sila-fluorescein, POF displayed significantly red-shifted absorption and fluorescence as well as superior photobleaching resistance, while retaining the pH-responsive characteristics of fluorescein dyes.

Autologous Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells Exert Broad Effects on Short- and Long-Term Biological and Functional Outcomes in Rodents with Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (MNCs) are a potential therapy for ischemic stroke. However, the effect of MNCs in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has not been fully studied. In this study, we investigated the effects of autologous MNCs in experimental ICH.

REG4 is a transcriptional target of GATA6 and is essential for colorectal tumorigenesis.

The transcription factor GATA6 is a critical regulator of cell proliferation and development in the gastrointestinal tract. We have recently reported that GATA6 induces the expression of the intestinal stem cell marker LGR5 and enhances the clonogenicity and tumorigenicity of colon cancer cells, but not the growth of these cells cultured under adherent conditions. Here we show that REG4, a member of the regenerating islet-derived (REG) family, is also a target of GATA6.

Ultra-compact 32 × 32 strictly-non-blocking Si-wire optical switch with fan-out LGA interposer.

We demonstrate a 32 × 32 path-independent-insertion-loss optical path switch that integrates 1024 thermooptic Mach-Zehnder switches and 961 intersections on a small, 11 × 25 mm2 die. The switch is fabricated on a 300-mm-diameter silicon-on-insulator wafer by a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor-compatible process with advanced ArF immersion lithography. For reliable electrical packaging, the switch chip is flip-chip bonded to a ceramic interposer that arranges the electrodes in a 0.

Prion protein functions as a ferrireductase partner for ZIP14 and DMT1.

Excess circulating iron is stored in the liver, and requires reduction of non-Tf-bound iron (NTBI) and transferrin (Tf) iron at the plasma membrane and endosomes, respectively, by ferrireductase (FR) proteins for transport across biological membranes through divalent metal transporters. Here, we report that prion protein (PrP(C)), a ubiquitously expressed glycoprotein most abundant on neuronal cells, functions as a FR partner for divalent-metal transporter-1 (DMT1) and ZIP14. Thus, absence of PrP(C) in PrP-knock-out (PrP(-/-)) mice resulted in markedly reduced liver iron stores, a deficiency that was not corrected by chronic or acute administration of iron by the oral or intraperitoneal routes.

Long-term observation of lateral medullary infarction due to vertebral artery dissection assessed with multimodal neuroimaging.

A 33-year-old man presented with a lateral medullary infarction, vertigo, and nausea. At the time of hospital admission, he had Wallenberg syndrome. Although initial magnetic resonance imaging showed no abnormalities, subsequent diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed a high-intensity area in the right lateral medulla oblongata.

Valproic acid ameliorates ischemic brain injury in hyperglycemic rats with permanent middle cerebral occlusion.

Valproic acid (VPA) is widely used for the clinical treatment of epilepsy. Previous studies have demonstrated that VPA ameliorates brain injury following experimental stroke. However, the effect of VPA in stroke models featuring comorbid conditions has not been fully explored.

Differences in vulnerability to traumatic stress among patients with psychiatric disorders: One-year follow-up study after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in vulnerability to traumatic stress and the 1-year course of post-traumatic stress symptoms among patients with pre-existing psychiatric disorders after the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Methods: The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) was used to assess post-traumatic stress symptoms in 612 patients with schizophrenic (ICD-10 F2; n = 163), mood (F3; n = 299), or neurotic disorders (F4; n = 150) at 1-4 months and again at 13-16 months after the disaster (retention rate: 68%).

Results: The mean IES-R total score for all diagnostic groups was 18.

Prion protein promotes kidney iron uptake via its ferrireductase activity.

Brain iron-dyshomeostasis is an important cause of neurotoxicity in prion disorders, a group of neurodegenerative conditions associated with the conversion of prion protein (PrP(C)) from its normal conformation to an aggregated, PrP-scrapie (PrP(Sc)) isoform. Alteration of iron homeostasis is believed to result from impaired function of PrP(C) in neuronal iron uptake via its ferrireductase activity. However, unequivocal evidence supporting the ferrireductase activity of PrP(C) is lacking.

Positive airway pressure therapy for heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) is a life-threatening disease and is a growing public health concern. Despite recent advances in pharmacological management for HF, the morbidity and mortality from HF remain high. Therefore, non-pharmacological approaches for HF are being developed.

Efficacy of tracheostomy for central alveolar hypoventilation syndrome caused by lateral medullary infarction.

Central alveolar hypoventilation syndrome (CAHS) is a rare and potentially fatal condition. However, respiratory care for patients with CAHS caused by lateral medullary infarction (CAHS-LMI) remains an important unsolved problem. We describe 2 patients with CAHS-LMI and review the case reports for 17 previously described patients.

Identification of molecular target of diallyl trisulfide in leukemic cells.

To identify the molecular target of diallyl trisulfide (DATS) in human leukemic cell line U937, we examined modification of thiol group(s) of cellular proteins by the redox 2D PAGE. A unique protein spot appeared by DATS treatment was identified to be heat shock protein 27 (HSP27). Hsp27 is suggested to be one of the molecular target of DATS in U937.

Influence of functional groups on organic aerosol cloud condensation nucleus activity.

Organic aerosols in the atmosphere are composed of a wide variety of species, reflecting the multitude of sources and growth processes of these particles. Especially challenging is predicting how these particles act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Previous studies have characterized the CCN efficiency for organic compounds in terms of a hygroscopicity parameter, κ.

Aortic arch atherosclerosis in ischaemic stroke of unknown origin affects prognosis.

Background: Cerebral infarction of unknown origin at admission accounts for half of all cerebral infarction cases in some institutions. However, the factors associated with cerebral infarction prognosis have not been sufficiently examined. Here, we investigated whether aortic arch plaques (AAPs) on transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) were associated with the prognosis of cerebral infarction of unknown origin at admission.

Bradyarrhythmias may induce central sleep apnea in a patient with obstructive sleep apnea.

The relationship between central sleep apnea (CSA) and bradyarrhythmia remains unclear. We report the case of a 70-year-old man with severe obstructive sleep apnea and bradyarrhythmia due to sick sinus syndrome in whom concomitant CSA was alleviated after pacemaker implantation.

Valproic acid enhances the effect of bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells in a rat ischemic stroke model.

Bone marrow derived mononuclear cell (MNC) transplantation is a potential therapy for ischemic stroke. Here, we hypothesized that valproic acid (VPA) would modulate transplantation effects of MNCs in a rat ischemic stroke model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to transient 90min middle cerebral artery occlusion.

Influence of antiplatelet therapy on postoperative recurrence of chronic subdural hematoma: a multicenter retrospective study in 719 patients.

Objective: The present study tested the hypothesis of whether antiplatelet agents (APA) induce chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) recurrence via a platelet aggregation inhibitory effect.

Method: We examined risk factors for CSDH recurrence, focusing on APA, in 719 consecutive patients who admitted to three tertiary hospitals and underwent burr-hole craniostomy and irrigation for CSDH. This was a multicenter, retrospective, observational study.

Ultra-compact 8 × 8 strictly-non-blocking Si-wire PILOSS switch.

We report on a path-independent insertion-loss (PILOSS) 8 × 8 matrix switch based on Si-wire waveguides, which has a record-small footprint of 3.5 × 2.4 mm2.

System A amino acid transporter SNAT2 shows subtype-specific affinity for betaine and hyperosmotic inducibility in placental trophoblasts.

Betaine uptake is induced by hypertonic stress in a placental trophoblast cell line, and involvement of amino acid transport system A was proposed. Here, we aimed to identify the subtype(s) of system A that mediates hypertonicity-induced betaine uptake. Measurement of [(14)C]betaine uptake by HEK293 cells transiently transfected with human or rat sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporters (SNATs), SNAT1, SNAT2 and SNAT4 revealed that only human and rat SNAT2 have betaine uptake activity.

Usefulness of the endotoxin activity assay as a biomarker to assess the severity of endotoxemia in critically ill patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of endotoxemia in critically ill Japanese patients using the endotoxin activity assay, a newly developed rapid assay of endotoxin. The endotoxin levels (EA levels) in the blood of 314 patients admitted to our university hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) were measured within 24 h of admission, and its correlation with disease severity and outcome examined. In addition, the EA levels in 61 samples from healthy volunteers were measured.

Effect of repeated allogeneic bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation on brain injury following transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

Aims: Transplantation of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) exerts neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia. We examined the therapeutic timepoint of allogeneic BMMC transplantation in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia, and determined the effects of repeated transplantation outside the therapeutic window.

Main Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 90 minute focal cerebral ischemia, followed by intravenous administration of 1 × 10(7) allogeneic BMMCs or vehicle at 0, 3 or 6 h after reperfusion or 2 × 10(7) BMMCs 6 h after reperfusion.

Impact of predischarge nocturnal pulse oximetry (sleep-disordered breathing) on postdischarge clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction after acute decompensated heart failure.

Stratifying patients at a high risk for readmission and mortality before their discharge after acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is important. Although sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is prevalent in patients with chronic heart failure, only few studies have investigated the impact of SDB on hospitalized patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction after ADHF. Thus, we assessed the prevalence of SDB using nocturnal pulse oximetry and the relation between SDB and clinical events in this patient group.

Low serum n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid/n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio predicts neurological deterioration in Japanese patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Background: Epidemiological and clinical trials have shown that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease or stroke. However, the association between PUFAs and acute-phase stroke has not yet been thoroughly studied. We investigated the impact of serum PUFAs on early neurological deterioration (END) in patients with acute ischemic stroke.