Towada Volcano is an active volcano located in the northern part of the Northeast Japan Arc. This study describes the stratigraphy, field characteristics and eruptive sequence of Eruptive Episode M, ...which occurred at 21 cal kyr BP during the caldera-forming stage. The proximal eruptive products consists of the Kumoi Pyroclastic Flow Deposits and Karatamazawa Pumice; the distal facies consists of the Maita Tephra (subdivided into the Maita 1 Pumice and Maita 2 Ash). The Karatamazawa Pumice and Maita Tephra are pyroclastic fall deposits probably derived from Plinian and phreatoplinian eruptions. All these deposits are composed of phenocryst-poor vesiculated rhyolite pumice. Their stratigraphic relationship remains unknown because they have not been observed in the same outcrop. The Kumoi Pyroclastic Flow Deposits and the Karatamazawa Pumice are estimated to be contemporaneous with the Maita 2 Ash based on the similarity of petrological features. During Eruptive Episode M, a Plinian eruption first formed the Maita 1 Pumice; shortly thereafter, intermittent phreatoplinian eruptions under the influence of lake water formed the Maita 2 Ash and Karatamazawa Pumice. During these eruptions, the eruption column partially collapsed and the resulting pyroclastic flows emplaced the Kumoi Pyroclastic Flow Deposits. The apparent and dense rock equivalent eruptive volumes of Eruptive Episode M are estimated to be 9.0 km3 and 2.8 km3, respectively.
RATIONALE:Stem cell therapy faces a number of challenges. It is difficult to grow, preserve, and transport stem cells before they are administered to the patient. Synthetic analogs for stem cells ...represent a new approach to overcome these hurdles and hold the potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine.
OBJECTIVE:We aim to fabricate synthetic analogs of stem cells and test their therapeutic potential for treatment of acute myocardial infarction in mice.
METHODS AND RESULTS:We packaged secreted factors from human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) into Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) PLGA microparticles and then coated them with MSC membranes. We named these therapeutic particles “synthetic MSC” (or synMSC). synMSC exhibited a factor release profile and surface antigens similar to those of genuine MSC. synMSC promoted cardiomyocyte functions and displayed cryopreservation and lyophilization stability in vitro and in vivo. In a mouse model of acute myocardial infarction, direct injection of synMSC promoted angiogenesis and mitigated left ventricle remodeling.
CONCLUSIONS:We successfully fabricated a synMSC therapeutic particle and demonstrated its regenerative potential in mice with acute myocardial infarction. The synMSC strategy may provide novel insight into tissue engineering for treating multiple diseases.
Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a novel biomarker of neurodegenerative diseases. It is detectable in the peripheral blood, allowing low-invasive assessment of early signs of neurodegeneration. The ...level of NfL gradually increases with age; however, what other factors affect it remains unclear. The present study examined the association between blood NfL level and renal function among healthy participants undergoing a health check (n = 43, serum NfL) and patients with diabetes mellitus (n = 188, plasma NfL). All participants were 60 years of age or older; none were diagnosed with dementia. In each group, levels of blood NfL and serum creatinine significantly correlated (coefficient r = 0.50, 0.56). These associations remained statistically significant even after adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index. These findings indicate that blood NfL level might be partially affected by renal function. We recommend measuring renal function for a more precise evaluation of neuroaxonal damage, in particular, among older adults.
Abstract
The prognosis and treatment of thyroid cancer depends on the type and stage of the disease. Radiosensitivity differs among cancer cells owing to their varying capacity for repair after ...irradiation. Radioactive iodine can be used to destroy thyroid cancer cells. However, patient prognosis and improvement after irradiation varies. Therefore, predictive measures are important for avoiding unnecessary exposure to radiation. We describe a new method for predicting the effects of radiation in individual cases of thyroid cancer based on the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) activity level in cancer cells. The radiation sensitivity, DNA-PK activity, and cellular levels of DNA-PK complex subunits in five human thyroid cancer cell lines were analyzed in vitro. A positive correlation was observed between the D10 value (radiation dose that led to 10% survival) of cells and DNA-PK activity. This correlation was not observed after treatment with NU7441, a DNA-PK–specific inhibitor. A significant correlation was also observed between DNA-PK activity and expression levels of the DNA-PK catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs). Cells expressing low DNA-PKcs levels were radiation-sensitive, and cells expressing high DNA-PKcs levels were radiation-resistant. Our results indicate that radiosensitivity depends on the expression level of DNA-PKcs in thyroid cancer cell lines. Thus, the DNA-PKcs expression level is a potential predictive marker of the success of radiation therapy for thyroid tumors.
Relationships between the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and/or the platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neuroinflammatory diseases have been reported. Depression is also associated with ...neuroinflammation. Here, we determined the association between the NLR, PLR, and depressive symptoms. This cross-sectional study is a secondary analysis of the data of the Iwaki Health Promotion Project 2017. We analyzed the characteristics and laboratory data of 1,015 Japanese subjects (597 females, 408 males) including their NLR and PLR values. We assigned the subjects with a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score ≥ 16 to the depressive symptoms group. We performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine whether the NLR and/or PLR were associated with depressive symptoms (CES-D ≥ 16). Two hundred subjects (19.7%; 122 20.4% females, 78 19.1% males) were assigned to the depressive symptoms group. There were significant differences between the non-depressive symptoms and depressive symptoms groups in the NLR median (25th to 75th percentile): 1.54 (1.24, 1.97) vs. 1.76 (1.32, 2.37), P = 0.005 and the PLR median (25th to 75th percentile): 123.7 (102.0, 153.9) vs. 136.8 (107.0, 166.5), P = 0.047 in males, but not in females. The multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the NLR was significantly associated with depressive symptoms in males (adjusted odds ratio: per 1 increase, 1.570; 95% confidence interval: 1.120-2.220; P = 0.009). In conclusion, our findings indicate that higher NLR may be associated with depressive symptoms in males.
Alpha-cyclodextrin, a six D-glucose cyclic oligosaccharide, has several applications in food and pharmaceuticals, but has also been reported to retain iodine in a stable manner for 16 months. ...Radioactive iodine, which may cause thyroid cancer and hypofunction, must be properly managed. If the absorption of radioactive iodine is suppressed, it can be expected to lead to a reduction in thyroid exposure. This study clarified the inhibition of radioactive iodine absorption by the oral administration of α-cyclodextrin in a murine model using direct measurement of single photon emission computed tomography. The uptake of radioactive iodine into the thyroid gland in mice administered with radioactive iodine and an α-cyclodextrin solution was approximately 40% lower after 24 h. The finding that oral uptake of α-cyclodextrin has an inhibitory effect on the transfer of radioactive iodine to the thyroid gland has potential for application in many fields such as food, pharmaceuticals, nuclear emergency preparedness, and medicine.
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