A new method for multi-dimensional distribution analysis using a data compression technique applied to the knowledge-based mean-force potentials between residues for the analysis of protein ...sequence-structure compatibility performs much better than that of conventional 1D distance-based potentials derived from binned distributions.
Bronchial asthma is characterized by chronic eosinophilic inflammation of the bronchial mucosa in which Th2 cells play crucial roles. Ovalbumin‐reactive Th2 clones were labeled with a ...fluorescent‐probe then infused into unprimed mice to elucidate the dynamics of antigen‐specific T cells involved in allergic inflammation. Infiltration of not only labeled antigen‐specific T cells, but alsounlabeled nonspecific CD4+ T cells into the bronchial mucosa following inhaled antigen challenge was detectable under confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. Accordingly, labeled T cells in the spleen were decreased, whereas those in hilar lymph nodes were increased upon antigen challenge. Approximately 45% of antigen‐specific T cells that migrated into the lungs bore CD25, while another early activation marker, CD69, was expressed on 80% of the migrated T cells. Accordingly, antigen challenge to the mice induced in situ proliferation of antigen‐specific T cells as well as bronchial epithelial cells in the lungs. Expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)‐1, but not intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)‐1, on the vascular endothelium in the lungs was enhanced following antigen challenge. Nevertheless, treatment with anti‐VCAM‐1 antibody, and also anti‐ICAM‐1 antibody strongly suppressed the accumulation of T cells, suggesting that both VCAM‐1 and ICAM‐1 are essential for antigen‐stimulated T cell mobilization into peripheral tissues. Our current study visualized the kinetics and the mechanism of antigen‐specific T cell migration in response to local challenge with a protein antigen.
The influence of boron on the ferrite formation in pearlite matrix spheroidal graphite cast iron has been investigated using the advanced analytical equipments such as an SEM and a TEM. The surface ...of spheroidal graphite in the bull's eye structure, produced by the addition of quite small amount of boron, was analyzed for discussing the ferritizing mechanism. The microstructure in the spheroidal graphite was investigated using the SEM and TEM, and we found the triangular precipitates, consisted of Fe-Si-Cu-B size of 150nm, in the surface layer of the graphite. These precipitates are consisted of the nano-crystal and act as the nucleus sites of flake graphite size of 0.5μm. The formation of the flake graphite due to the ferritizing above their eutectoid temperature, is the key mechanism of the ferrite formation.
The purpose of this study was to clarify disease control and medication use among Japanese adult asthmatic patients.
We studied the reality of adult outpatients and inpatients with asthma at 26 ...national hospitals across Japan who visited the clinic between September and October 2006. Anti-asthma medication use and asthma control were assessed. Disease severity was determined according to the 2006 Japanese Guideline. The results of this study were compared with those obtained in 1995 after standardization by age and gender.
Of 2524 patients, the prevalence of inhaled corticosteroid use in 2006 was 89%, which was higher than that in 1995 (62%). Although the prevalence of patients who experienced asthma hospitalization once or more in their lifetime in 1995 was 73%, that in 2006 decreased to 49%. The prevalences of hospitalization and unscheduled doctor visit in the last 12 months in 2006 were 8% and 25% respectively. The percentage of patients in 2006 who did not reach an acceptable level of control despite treatment at step 4 of the 2006 Japanese guideline was 15%.
A favorable change in asthma medication use and asthma control was observed from 1995 to 2006; that is, increased prevalence of inhaled corticosteroid use and decreased prevalence of patients who experienced hospitalization for asthma once or more in their lifetime. However, some patients remained symptomatic despite high-dose inhaled corticosteroid treatment.
Midkine (MK) is a heparin-binding growth factor which is strongly expressed during the midgestation period of mouse embryogenesis. Wilms' tumor is an embryonal kidney malignancy in infants, and WT1 ...has been identified as its tumor suppressor gene. The high expression level of MK in all Wilms' tumor specimens so far examined and the presence of two WT1 elements (5'-GCGGGGGCG-3') in the human MK promoter region led us to examine the possible role of the WT1 gene product in the regulation of MK gene expression. A gel shift assay verified the complex formation between the WT1 gene product and WT1 consensus sequence of MK gene. DNase1 footprint analysis also demonstrated that the downstream WT1 element was protected from DNase1 cleavage by the addition of the WT1 protein. The human MK promoter fused with the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene (phMK2.3kCAT) was co-transfected with an effector plasmid containing the WT1 gene into several cell lines. Transient transfection assays showed suppression of the MK promoter by WT1 co-transfection in recipient cells; deletion of the WT1 binding site abolished the suppression. The evidence reported in this study indicates that MK gene is a newly identified WT1 target gene.
In cynomolgus monkeys, twice daily subcutaneous injections of recombinant human interleukin-6 (rhlL-6) at doses of 5 to 80 μg/kg/d for 14 consecutive days caused dose-dependent increases in platelet ...count, usually continuing for more than 1 week after cessation of the injections. The count reached a level apprxoimately twofold or more above the preinjection level even at 5 jug/kg/d, and at doses of more than 20 jug/kg/d, the increase became biphasic with a higher second peak 3 days after cessation of the injections. Morphologic analysis of the bone marrow after the 7 day-injections with 80 μg/kg/d revealed a marked increment in size of megakaryocytes compared with control, indicating the promotion of megakaryocyte maturation. Other changes attributable to the rhlL-6 treatment include dose-dependent loss of body weight, anemia, neutrophilia and monocytosis, elevation of serum C-reactive protein and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein levels, and decrease of serum albumin; all of which returned to normal within 1 week after cessation of the injections and were tolerable at doses of less than 10 jug/kg/d. These findings suggest that rhlL-6 may be an effective strategy for the treatment of thombocytopenia.
Rescue radar system with array antennas Takeuchi, T.; Saito, H.; Aoki, Y. ...
2008 34th Annual Conference of IEEE Industrial Electronics,
2008-Nov.
Conference Proceeding
The purpose of this study is to improve rescue radar system with array antennas so that it can quickly identify far-off survivors under rubble. Authors focused on time-variable elements from the ...respiration of a survivor awaiting rescue in order to remove clutter components, such as the rubble. Authors propose the method which identifies the location of the survivor in three dimension by using the two dimensional array antennas. The experimental results of measurement for subjects location by the proposed method agreed with the actual location of the subjects.
Here, we overlook the brief history of regenerative medicine, and summarize the expectation to breakthroughs achieved by robotics in the field. One expected application of robotics is an automatic ...cell culture system, which can dramatically reduce the cost for manufacturing bioengineered tissues conventionally requiring GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) facility for Cell Processing Center. The other is a robotic surgery system for less invasive transplantation of cells and fabricated tissues. To show the feasibility of robotic surgery-assisted transplantation, we have shown the success of cell sheet transplantation to luminal surface of living canine esophagus by endoscopy. Thus, the contribution of robotics to regenerative medicine has been wanted to realize the greatest success of tissue engineering and cell-based medicine.
The effect of oxygen diffusion from the atmosphere on tin depth profiles in the bottom face of float glass at temperatures above the glass transition temperature (
T
g) was investigated by secondary ...ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) with an oxygen tracer (
18O) gas and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The heat treatment was performed in
18O
2/N
2 and argon (Ar) atmospheres. A significant movement of tin to the surface was observed for the glass heat-treated in the
18O
2/N
2 atmosphere, resulting in the formation of a tin-enriched layer near the surface region. It was found that the tin was supplied from the region shallower than the `hump' which is commonly observed in tin profiles of float glass. No significant change in the tin depth profile was observed for the glass heat-treated in Ar atmosphere. These results indicate that
18O diffusion into the glass, which causes the change in chemical state of tin from Sn
2+ to Sn
4+, induces a significant diffusion of tin. Furthermore, the precipitation of crystalline SnO
2 particles with a diameter of ∼1 nm was clearly recognized in the tin-enriched layer. This fact indicates that a phase separation was induced by the oxygen diffusion into the glass. Consequently, Sn
2+ may be supplied to the surface in order to compensate for the marked decrease in Sn
2+ concentration in the glass system. It was considered that the oxidation of Sn
2+ ions into Sn
4+ in the tin-rich layers by O
2-diffusion from the atmosphere leads to the phase separation, and the resulting decrease in the Sn
2+ concentration in the top layers that induces the out-diffusion of Sn
2+ ions from the inside.
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