Activity concentrations of environmental samples collected in Fukushima Prefecture immediately after the Fukushima nuclear accident.

Radionuclide concentrations in environmental samples such as surface soils, plants and water were evaluated by high purity germanium detector measurements. The contribution rate of short half-life radionuclides such as (132)I to the exposure dose to residents was discussed from the measured values. The highest values of the (131)I/(137)Cs activity ratio ranged from 49 to 70 in the environmental samples collected at Iwaki City which is located to the south of the F1-NPS.

Differential diagnosis of reactive mesothelial cells and malignant mesothelioma cells using the cell proliferation markers minichromosome maintenance protein 7, geminin, topoisomerase II alpha and Ki-67.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the immunocytochemical expression of cell proliferation markers, such as minichromosome maintenance protein 7 (MCM 7), geminin, topoisomerase II alpha (topo IIα) and Ki-67, which are different types of cell proliferation markers, could be useful for their differential diagnosis in reactive mesothelial cells and malignant mesothelioma cells obtained from body cavity fluids.

Study Design: Samples diagnosed and later histologically confirmed as reactive mesothelial cells (39 cases) or malignant mesothelioma (32 cases) in body cavity fluids were examined. Immunocytochemical staining of MCM 7, geminin, topo IIα and Ki-67 was performed with the immunoperoxidase polymer method.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia mutated to radioresistance suppressed monocyte lineage differentiation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate.

Induction of myeloid differentiation in radioresistant HL60 cells (Res-HL60) was examined to clarify the developmental mechanism of radioresistant leukemia. Compared to wild-type HL60 cells (Wt-HL60), Res-HL60 were smaller and strongly expressed CD38. Under all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) stimulation, Res-HL60 continued to proliferate slowly and with similar level of CD11b expression to Wt-HL60.

Relationship between obesity and serum reactive oxygen metabolites in adolescents.

Objectives: Various cross-sectional studies have revealed a significant positive relationship between systemic oxidative stress and obesity-related indices such as body mass index (BMI, kg/m²). However, little is known of the role of oxidative stress during adolescence. The aim of this study was to determine the association between obesity and serum reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) in adolescents.

4-Methylumbelliferone inhibits the phosphorylation of hyaluronan synthase 2 induced by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate.

The effect of 4-methylumbelliferone (MU), a hyaluronan synthase-suppressor, on O-linked β-Nacetylglucosaminylation (O-GlcNAcylation) was investigated in cultured human skin fibroblasts, and we found that MU stimulated O-GlcNAcylation of the cellular proteins. Since O-GlcNAcylation affects protein phosphorylation via Ser/Thr kinases, we examined the effect of MU on both the phosphorylation of hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) and hyaluronan production. The cells were cultured in the presence or absence of 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and MU independently or in combination.

Characteristics of myeloid differentiation and maturation pathway derived from human hematopoietic stem cells exposed to different linear energy transfer radiation types.

Exposure of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) to ionizing radiation causes a marked suppression of mature functional blood cell production in a linear energy transfer (LET)- and/or dose-dependent manner. However, little information about LET effects on the proliferation and differentiation of HSPCs has been reported. With the aim of characterizing the effects of different types of LET radiations on human myeloid hematopoiesis, in vitro hematopoiesis in Human CD34(+) cells exposed to carbon-ion beams or X-rays was compared.

Quality of life in patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome.

Aim: The goal of the study was to investigate quality of life (QOL) in adult patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) and to test the relationship of QOL with the level of self-care.

Materials And Methods: We distributed two questionnaires to 30 outpatients with MCNS. The MOS 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36v2) was used to examine health-related QOL in comparison with normative data from the general Japanese population and a population with two chronic diseases.

A liquid crystal-related compound induces cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and apoptosis in the A549 human non-small cell lung cancer cell line.

Liquid crystals are the state of matter existing between liquid and crystalline phases, and recently there has been increasing interest in their biological effects. Following our recently reported work, we investigated the cell suppressive effects of liquid crystal-related compounds (LCRCs), which are precursors of liquid crystals, in the human non-small lung cancer cell line A549. We found that 2-(4-butoxyphenyl)-5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)pyrimidine (LCRC-1) dramatically suppressed cell growth.

[A continuous 4-year evaluation of medical informatics education in a graduate school of health sciences using a questionnaire survey].

The purpose of this study was to identify the level of awareness among undergraduate students regarding medical informatics and to ascertain whether educational training has progressed with time in the Department of Health Sciences at Hirosaki University, Japan, which is a co-medical staff training institution that conducts a 4-year university course in medical informatics. The university accepts students who have completed the 3rd grade of medical licensing tests and who have attended the medical informatics lectures for 4 years (2007-2010). The ratio of first sight terminology percentage in any given fiscal year in all the 30 terminology categories varied widely from 0% to 80%, but the trend in various categories did not vary between fiscal years.

Radiosensitivity of human haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells.

The haematopoietic system is regenerative tissue with a high proliferative potential; therefore, haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are sensitive to extracellular oxidative stress caused by radiation and chemotherapeutic agents. An understanding of this issue can help predict haematopoietic recovery from radiation exposure as well as the extent of radiation damage to the haematopoietic system. In the present study, the radiosensitivity of human lineage-committed myeloid haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), including colony-forming unit-granulocyte macrophage, burst-forming unit-erythroid and colony-forming unit-granulocyte-erythroid-macrophage-megakaryocyte cells, which are contained in adult individual peripheral blood (PB) and fetus/neonate placental/umbilical cord blood (CB), were studied.

An efficient method for high-fidelity messenger RNA amplification from a small amount of total RNA.

Comprehensive analyses of gene expression have been carried out by the development of microarrays and deep sequencers. However, it is difficult to obtain comprehensive information on gene expression from a small amount of ribonucleic acid (RNA). Therefore, we investigated the reproducibility and application of T7 RNA polymerase-mediated transcription, adaptor ligation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, followed by T7 transcription (TALPAT), an efficient method for amplifying poly (A)-positive RNA, such as messenger RNA (mRNA).

Involvement of placental/umbilical cord blood acid-base status and gas values on the radiosensitivity of human fetal/neonatal hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells.

Arterial cord blood (CB) acid-base status and gas values, such as pH, PCO2, PO2, HCO3(-)and base excess, provide useful information on the fetal and neonatal condition. However, it remains unknown whether these values affect the radiosensitivity of fetal/neonatal hematopoiesis. The present study evaluated the relationship between arterial CB acid-base status, gas values, and the radiosensitivity of CB hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs).

Topographical anatomy of superficial veins, cutaneous nerves, and arteries at venipuncture sites in the cubital fossa.

We investigated correlations among the superficial veins, cutaneous nerves, arteries, and venous valves in 128 cadaveric arms in order to choose safe venipuncture sites in the cubital fossa. The running patterns of the superficial veins were classified into four types (I-IV) and two subtypes (a and b). In types I and II, the median cubital vein (MCV) was connected obliquely between the cephalic and basilic veins in an N-shape, while the median antebrachial vein (MAV) opened into the MCV in type I and into the basilic vein in type II.

Nrf2 in bone marrow-derived cells positively contributes to the advanced stage of atherosclerotic plaque formation.

Atherosclerosis is the major etiology underlying myocardial infarction and stroke, and strategies for preventing atherosclerosis are urgently needed. In the context of atherosclerosis, the deletion of the Nrf2 gene, which encodes a master regulator of the oxidative stress response in mammals, reportedly attenuates atherosclerosis formation. However, the precise mechanisms of protection against atherosclerosis are largely unknown.

Response of the Nrf2 protection system in human monocytic cells after ionising irradiation.

In response to reactive oxygen species (ROS) or electrophiles, the transcription factor nuclear factor-erythroid 2 (NF-E2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2) rapidly translocates into the nucleus and induces the expression of various antioxidant genes, such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Low linear energy transfer (LET) ionising radiations such as X-rays generate ROS, which cause biological damage. However, little is known about whether the Nrf2 system in human monocytic cells is activated by low LET ionising irradiation.

Radioprotective effects of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate on human erythrocyte/granulocyte lineages.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCg) is widely recognised as a powerful antioxidant and free radical scavenger. This study examined the radioprotective effects of EGCg on human granulopoiesis and erythropoiesis. Highly purified human CD34(+) haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells were prepared from human placental/umbilical cord blood.

Radiation-responsive transcriptome analysis in human lymphoid cells.

Ionising radiation (IR) causes DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) injury and activates intracellular signal pathways including the regulation of DNA repair and cell cycle. However, the further knowledge of molecular events involved in radiation exposure is essential to more comprehensively understand the effects of irradiation. Therefore, the gene expressions of mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) by X-ray irradiation in human B lymphoblast cell line (IM-9) using a microarray were investigated.

Impairment of mature dendritic cells derived from X-irradiated human monocytes depends on the type of maturation stimulus used.

Dendritic cells play an essential role in the immune system. We have previously reported that X-irradiated monocytes, precursors of dendritic cells, can differentiate into dendritic cells and then mature in terms of surface antigen expression after tumor necrosis factor-α stimulation, but show reduced functionality. Dendritic cells can mature in response to various types of maturation stimuli.

Influence of breastfeeding on maternal blood pressure at one month postpartum.

Background: The benefits of breastfeeding for improved health and developmental outcomes in mothers and their infants have been widely recognized. The purpose of the present study was to assess whether feeding modes influence maternal blood pressure at one month postpartum.

Methods: The pregnancy charts of 407 women who delivered at a birthing center in rural Japan between August 1998 and September 2007 were analyzed.

Damage of hair follicle stem cells and alteration of keratin expression in external radiation-induced acute alopecia.

Alopecia is known as a symptom of acute radiation, yet little is known concerning the mechanism of this phenomenon and the alteration of hair protein profiles. To examine this, 6-week-old male C57/BL6 mice were exposed to 6 Gy of X-ray irradiation, which caused acute alopecia. Their hair and skin were collected, and hair proteins were analyzed with liquid chromatography/electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry and immunohistochemistry.

Effect of the umbilical cord blood acid-base status and gas values on the yield of mononuclear cells and CD34⁺ cells.

Aim: To investigate the influence of umbilical cord blood (CB) acid-base status and gas values on the yield of mononuclear cells and CD34⁺ cells, pH, pCO₂, pO₂, HCO₃⁻ and base excess were measured in arterial CB samples obtained from normal full-term deliveries. The relationship of these values with the yield of mononuclear cells and CD34⁺ cells detected in venous CB was analyzed.

Material And Methods: A total of 145 CB units were collected from full-term vaginal deliveries at a single hospital.

Usefulness of discriminant analysis using nuclear three-dimensional analysis in atypical cells prepared from bronchial brushing cytology cases that are cytologically challenging.

Objective: Since well-differentiated adenocarcinoma cells of the lung (G1 cancer cells) show mild atypia, their differentiation from benign columnar epithelial cells (benign cells) is often difficult based on morphology. We performed discriminant analysis to distinguish benign from malignant cells by measuring 3-dimensional (3D) changes in nuclear luminance.

Study Design: Discriminant analysis of 231 atypical cells prepared by bronchial brushing cytology, which were difficult to morphologically classify as benign or malignant, was performed using 100 G1 cancer cells.

Effects of ionizing radiation on proliferation and differentiation of mouse induced pluripotent stem cells.

The present study aimed to estimate the clonogenic and differentiation potential of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells exposed to ionizing radiation. Compared with mouse hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, iPS cells were less sensitive to radiation. To examine the effect of ionizing radiation on the early differentiation pathway of iPS cells, we assessed embryoid body (EB) formation.

Neutrophil phagocytosis is down-regulated by nucleotides until encounter with pathogens.

Extracellular nucleotides such as ATP, ADP, UTP, UDP and UDPG can trigger intracellular signal transduction via purinergic (P2Y) receptors, and their interaction induces a wide range of biological effects in various cells. In this study, we investigated P2Y expression and the effects of nucleotides on chemotaxis and phagocytosis in human neutrophils. RT-PCR detected broad expression of P2Y subfamilies in neutrophils, as well as monocytes.