Promoted Aggregation of Aβ on Lipid Bilayers in an Open Flowing System.

Self-assembly of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides in nonequilibrium, flowing conditions is associated with pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. We examined the role of biologically relevant, nonequilibrium, flowing conditions in the desorption, diffusion, and integration of Aβ-lipid assemblies at the membrane surface using a microchannel connected with microsyringes. A 1,2-dimyristoyl--glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) bilayer was formed on a glass substrate and incubated in Aβ solution under either a quiescent condition (no flow) or flowing condition for 24 h.

Interplay between two radical species in the formation of periodic patterns during a polymerization reaction.

Periodic patterns are ubiquitous in nature and spontaneously form on molecular to cosmic scales by the interplay between reaction and diffusion. Understanding how these patterns form is important to understand the construction rules of nature and apply them in the synthesis of functional artificial materials. This work clarifies how radical (R˙) species affect pattern formation in periodic precipitated and depleted zones during a polymerization process in an agarose gel.

Programmable Design of Self-Organized Patterns through a Precipitation Reaction.

Nature uses self-organized spatiotemporal patterns to construct systems with robustness and flexibility. Furthermore, understanding the principles underlying self-organization in nature enables programmable design of artificial patterns driven by chemical energy. The related mechanisms are however not clearly understood because most of these patterns are formed in reaction-diffusion (RD) systems consisting of intricate interaction between diffusion and reaction.

Role of Oxidized Lipids in Permeation of HO Through a Lipid Membrane: Molecular Mechanism of an Inhibitor to Promoter Switch.

HO permeation through a cell membrane significantly affects living organisms, and permeation is controlled by the physico-chemical nature of lipids and other membrane components. We investigated the molecular relationship between HO permeation and lipid membrane structure using three oxidized lipids. POVPC and PazePC act as intra- and inter-molecular permeation promoters, respectively; however, their underlying mechanisms were different.

Role of Electrolyte in Liesegang Pattern Formation.

Pattern formation based on the Liesegang phenomenon is considered one of the useful models for gaining a mechanistic understanding of spontaneous spatiotemporal pattern formations in nature. However, for more than a century, the Liesegang phenomenon in chemical systems has been investigated by using electrolytes as both the reaction substrate and aggregation promoter, which has obfuscated the role of the electrolyte. Here, we distinguish the electrolyte (NaSO) from the reaction substrates (Ag ion and citrate), where NaSO does not participate in the reaction step and acts as an aggregation promoter.

[A CASE OF SUMMER-TYPE HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMONITIS ACCOMPANIED BY THE SYNDROME OF INAPPROPRIATE SECRETION OF ANTIDIURETIC HORMONE].

A 47-year old man presented to our hospital with a 6-month history of malaise, cough and dyspnea on exertion. Laboratory testing revealed the severe hyponatremia. A chest X-ray showed bilateral diffuse micronodules.

[FAMILIAL SUMMER-TYPE HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMONITIS INDUCED IN SUMMER AND WINTER AT THE WORK PLACE].

We report two family members, a 64-year-old woman (patient 1) and her 37-year-old son (patient 2) diagnosed with summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis (SHP). Both patients had high serum titers of anti-Trichosporon asahii antibody. The patients lived in the same house and worked in the same barbershop.

Liesegang Mechanism with a Gradual Phase Transition.

We report a novel and generalized chemical model for the Liesegang mechanism that involves gradual phase transitions of macromolecules, unlike previous models that involved definite and discontinuous phase transitions. As a model system, an agarose gel medium doped with an initiator was contacted with a solution containing monomer 2-methoxyethyl acrylate (MEA), in which monomers diffused into the gel medium and initiated a polymerization reaction. As there is a monomer concentration gradient along the diffusion direction, the degree of polymerization and the corresponding degree of insolubility showed a similar spatial gradient in the reaction medium because molecular solubility gradually changes from soluble to insoluble with an increase in the degree of polymerization.

One-Directional Fluidic Flow Induced by Chemical Wave Propagation in a Microchannel.

A one-directional flow induced by chemical wave propagation was investigated to understand the origin of its dynamic flow. A cylindrical injection port was connected with a straight propagation channel; the chemical wave was initiated at the injection port. Chemical waves propagated with a constant velocity irrespective of the channel width, indicating that the dynamics of the chemical waves were governed by a geometry-independent interplay between the chemical reaction and diffusion.

Propagation Behaviors of an Acid Wavefront Through a Microchannel Junction.

Waves in reaction-diffusion systems yield a wealth of dynamic self-assembling phenomena in nature. Recent studies have been devoted to utilizing these active waves in conjunction with microscale technology. To provide a compass for controlling reaction-diffusion waves in microspaces, we have investigated the propagation behavior of one specific variety of the reaction-diffusion wave: an acid wave that utilizes an autocatalytic proton-production reaction.

Liesegang patterns engineered by a chemical reaction assisted by complex formation.

Liesegang rings based on a chemical reaction, not a conventional precipitation reaction, have been developed by appropriate design of the nucleation dynamics in a system involving complex formation in a matrix. The periodic and concentric rings consisted of well-dispersed Ag nanoparticles with diameters of a few nanometers. The approach modeled here could be applied to form novel micropatterns out of inorganic salts, metal nanoparticles, organic nanocrystals, or polymeric fibers, and it could also offer a scaffold for novel models of a wide variety of reaction-diffusion phenomena in nature.

Erlotinib for elderly patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: Subset analysis from a population-based observational study by the Ibaraki Thoracic Integrative (POSITIVE) Research Group.

The incidence and mortality of lung cancer have increased worldwide over the last decades, with an observed increased incidence particularly among elderly populations. It has not yet been determined whether erlotinib therapy exhibits the same efficacy and safety in elderly and younger patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this retrospective subgroup analysis of data from a population-based observational study was to assess the efficacy and safety of erlotinib in an elderly (≥75 years, n=74) and a younger group of patients (<75 years, n=233) who received treatment for NSCLC.

Preferential behavior on donating atoms of an ambidentate ligand 2-methylisothiazol-3(2H)-one in its metal complexes.

Five metal complexes of 2-methylisothiazol-3(2H)-one (MIO), [Co(III)(NH3)5(MIO)](3+), [Ru(II)(NH3)5(MIO)](2+), [Ru(III)(NH3)5(MIO)](3+), [Pt(II)Cl3(MIO)](-), and trans-[U(VI)O2(NO3)2(MIO)2], were synthesized, and their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. MIO is an ambidentate ligand and coordinates to metal centers through its oxygen atom in the cobalt(III), ruthenium(III), and uranium(VI) complexes and through its sulfur atom in the ruthenium(II) and platinum(III) complexes. This result suggests that MIO shows preferential behavior on its donating atoms.

Higher serum CCL17 may be a promising predictor of acute exacerbations in chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Background: Recent research has suggested that the Th1 and Th2 chemokine/cytokine axis contributes to the development of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). Acute exacerbations (AE) are significant factors in the prognosis of chronic HP. Little is known, however, about these biomarkers in association with AE in chronic HP patients.

Microchannel-induced change of chemical wave propagation dynamics: importance of ratio between the inlet and the channel sizes.

The ability to control chemical wave propagation dynamics could stimulate the science and technology of artificial and biological spatiotemporal oscillating phenomena. In contrast to the conventional chemical approaches to control the wave front dynamics, here we report a physical approach to tune the propagation dynamics under the same chemical conditions. By using well-designed microchannels with different channel widths and depths, the propagation velocity was successfully controlled based on two independent effects: (i) a transition in the proton diffusion mode and (ii) the formation of a slanted wave front.

Bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer patients: a population-based observational study by the Ibaraki thoracic integrative (POSITIVE) research group.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we performed a population-based observational study. The efficacy and safety of bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy for NSCLC patients were evaluated at 14 sites (17 hospital departments) in a prefecture of Japan between December 2009 and August 2011. Complete data sets were obtained from 159 patients with NSCLC.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) causes progressive and irreversible pulmonary fibrosis, a disease also observed in conjunction with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Previous studies have demonstrated that the myofibroblast, a cell type whose origins involve the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), may play a role in the pathogenesis of IPF. The goal of this study was to determine whether EMT has a role in the pathogenesis of chronic HP.

[Measurement of bird specific antibody in bird-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis].

Since the avian antigen is one of the important causative antigens in hypersensitivity pneumonitis, measurement of bird-specific antibody should be readily available. We measured IgG and IgA antibodies against pigeons and budgerigars by the ImmunoCap system in bird-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis (BRHP) to evaluate their diagnostic utility. In acute BRHP, antibodies markedly increased and showed high sensitivity and specificity ranging from 75-100% based on the cut-off values determined by ROC analysis.

Identification of fungal DNA in BALF from patients with home-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Background: In Japan, a major type of home-related hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is summer-type HP, which is caused by Trichosporon asahii (T. asahii) or Trichosporon mucoides. Some patients with home-related HP test negative for antibodies against Trichosporon; yet, a causative mold antigen cannot be identified.

Synthesis and some properties of binuclear ruthenocenes bridged by oligoynes: formation of bis(cyclopentadienylidene)cumulene diruthenium complexes in the two-electron oxidation.

The monoynes [Rc*C[triple bond]CRc*] and [Rc'C[triple bond]CRc'] were obtained in improved yields using [Mo(CO)6]/2-FC6H5OH as a catalyst in the alkyne metathesis of [Rc*C[triple bond]CMe] and [Rc'C[triple bond]CMe], respectively (Rc = ruthenocenyl, Rc* = 1'',2'',3'',4'',5''-pentamethylruthenocenyl, and Rc' = 2',3',4',5'-tetramethylruthenocenyl groups). The diynes [Rc*(C[triple bond]C)2Rc*] and [Rc'(C[triple bond]C)2Rc'] were synthesized by the oxidative coupling of the corresponding terminal ethynes in good yields. The triyne [Rc*(C[triple bond]C)3Rc*] and the tetrayne [Rc*(C[triple bond]C)4Rc*] were prepared by the hetero- and homocoupling of [Rc*C[triple bond]CC[triple bond]CH], which was obtained from the reaction of [Rc*C[triple bond]CCHO] with Li[N2CSiMe3], respectively.

[Five cases of female pneumothorax with endometriosis on the blebs].

A part of catamenial pneumothorax is associated with endometriosis. Several cases were reported where CA125 levels were high in blood or pleural effusion. A case of female pneumothorax, the bleb and diaphragm showed positive for CA125, was reported.

A new redox-active coordination polymer with cobalticinium dicarboxylate.

A new two-dimensional coordination polymer with cobalticinium 1,1'-dicarboxylate (ccdc) incorporated in the framework has been prepared, the ccdc functioning as unique monoanionic dicarboxylate ligands. The compound shows a high redox activity based on the ccdc units.

Synthesis and redox behavior of ruthenocene-terminated oligoenes: characteristic and stable two-electron redox system and lower potential shift of the two-electron oxidation wave with elongating conjugation.

Ruthenocene-terminated butadienes and hexatrienes were prepared by the Wittig reaction of 3-ruthenocenyl-2-propenals with ruthenocenylmethylphosphonium salts and the Mukaiyama coupling of the propenals, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry of these complexes indicated that they were involved in a stable two-electron redox process. The oxidation potentials for ruthenocene-terminated oligoenes shifted progressively to lower potential with the increasing CH==CH units as follows: Rc--Rc (0.