Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play an important role in various kinds of pattern formation and organogenesis during vertebrate development. In the skeleton, BMPs induce the differentiation of ...cells of chondrocytic and osteoblastic cell lineage and enhance their function. However, the action of BMPs on osteoclastic bone resorption, a process essential for pathophysiological bone development and regeneration, is still controversial. In this study, we examine the direct effect of BMPs on osteoclastic bone-resorbing activity in a culture of highly purified rabbit mature osteoclasts. BMP-2 caused a dose- and time-dependent increase in bone resorption pits excavated by the isolated osteoclasts. BMP-4 also stimulated osteoclastic bone resorption. The increase in osteoclastic bone resorption induced by BMP-2 was abolished by the simultaneous addition of follistatin, a BMP/activin binding protein that negates their biological activity. Just as it increased bone resorption, BMP-2 also elevated the messenger RNA expressions of cathepsin K and carbonic anhydrase II, which are key enzymes for the degradation of organic and inorganic bone matrices, respectively. Type IA and II BMP receptors (BMPRs), and their downstream signal transduction molecules, Smad1 and Smad5, were expressed in isolated osteoclasts as well as in osteoblastic cells, whereas type IB BMPR was undetectable. BMPs directly stimulate mature osteoclast function probably mediated by BMPR-IA and BMPR-II and their downstream molecules expressed in osteoclasts. The results presented here expand our understanding of the multifunctional roles of BMPs in bone development.
A novel interferometric method is presented for the measurement of the absolute energy of electron beams. In the year 2016, a pioneering experiment was performed using a 195 MeV beam of the Mainz ...Microtron (MAMI). The experimental setup consisted of two collinear magnetic undulators as sources of coherent optical synchrotron light and a high-resolving grating monochromator. Beam energy measurements required the variation of the relative undulator distance in the decimeter range and the analysis of the intensity oscillation length in the interference spectrum. A statistical precision of 1 keV was achieved in 1 h of data taking, while systematic uncertainties of 700 keV were present in the experiment. These developments aim for a relative precision of 10−5 in the absolute momentum calibrations of spectrometers and high-precision hypernuclear experiments. Other electron accelerators with beam energies in this regime such as the Mainz Energy Recovering Superconducting Accelerator (MESA) might benefit from this new method.
Objective. Polymorphisms and haplotypes of the peptidylarginine deiminase type 4 gene (PADI4) have been reported to be associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a Japanese population. However, ...subsequent replication studies showed conflicting results. The aim of this study was to determine whether meta-analysis would prove the existence of the association. Methods. PubMed was searched using the term ‘PADI4’ for articles from the publication of the first study to December 2005. Replication studies that tested the association between PADI4 and RA were reviewed for meta-analysis. The Breslow–Day test for homogeneity across the studies was calculated. The Mantel–Haenszel procedure was used to pool odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) to evaluate the association. Results. Six replication studies, one from Japan and five from Europe and North America, fulfilled the selection criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Homogeneity was confirmed across the replication studies. The common OR was 1.14 (95% CI = 1.07–1.21) for allelic distribution. The association was confirmed when only five replication studies in the European descent populations were combined (P = 0.0096, common OR = 1.10). Conclusions. Our meta-analysis showed a positive association between PADI4 and RA not only in the Japanese population but also in populations of European descent.
Fe/N doped porous carbons are promising non-precious electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, it is still hard to synthesize Fe/N doped porous carbons for ORR. Herein, we ...present a facile solvent-free method to synthesize Fe/N doped porous carbon as an ideal catalyst for ORR using resorcinol resin, Triblock copolymer Pluronic F127 and iron (II) phthalocyanine (FePc). The Fe/N doped porous carbon has uniform mesopores (ca. 7 nm), highly-dispersed FeNx species and FeCx nanoparticles. The Fe/N doped porous carbon showed much high onset potential (0.99 V vs. RHE) on ORR owing to the combination of mesoporosity, highly-dispersed FeNx species and nanoparticles of Fe and FeCx (Fe/FeCx NPs). In addition, the limiting current density improved after CO2 activation. The improvement of the limiting current density was caused by 3-D interconnected hierarchal pore structure. Furthermore, the activated Fe/N doped porous carbon showed high durability and methanol tolerance on ORR. This work revealed the roles of porosity, highly-dispersed FeNx species and Fe/FeCx NPs on ORR, which provides a clear guideline for the design of Fe/N doped carbon catalysts for ORR. In addition, this facile solvent-free method opens up a new synthesis strategy of transition metal/N doped porous carbons for applications in energy and sustainability.
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•Fe/N doped mesoporous carbon (Fe/N meso C) was synthesized by solvent-free method.•Fe/N meso C showed high onset potential on Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR).•3-D inter-connected hierarchal pore structure was developed by CO2 activation.•The 3-D inter-connected hierarchal pore structure boosts the limiting current density on ORR.
Retrospective case series.
To evaluate our recent treatment strategy for intramedullary spinal cord tumors.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University, Japan.
We reviewed 68 cases of ...intramedullary tumors (ependymoma, 33; astrocytoma, 23; hemangioblastoma, 12), treated surgically between 1994 and 2003. There were 42 males and 26 females whose mean age at the time of surgery was 43 years. The mean follow-up period was 6.2 years. The tumor malignancy grade according to the WHO classification was astrocytoma grade I, 3; grade II, 8 (low-grade: 11 cases); grade III, 10; grade IV, 2 (high-grade: 12 cases). All ependymomas were grade II. Three of the 12 hemangioblastomas were associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease.
Total excision was achieved in 90% of the ependymomas and functional improvement was obtained when the preoperative neurological deficit was mild. Approximately 50% of low-grade astrocytomas could be totally excised with favorable survival outcomes, suggesting that total excision should be attempted for low-grade astrocytomas. However, total excision of high-grade tumors was difficult and the functional outcomes were poor. Cordotomy should be considered in patients with a thoracic high-grade astrocytoma. Total resection was possible in 92% of hemangioblastoma, and the functional outcomes were good, however, more attention should be paid for tumors with feeding arteries on the ventral side and for those associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease.
Predictors of good surgical outcome for intramedullary spinal cord tumors were histological grades of the tumors, surgical margins, and neurological status of the patient before surgery.
Abstract
A high-precision hypernuclear experiment has been performed at the Mainz Microtron (MAMI) to determine the hypertriton Λ binding energy via decay-pion spectroscopy. A key element of this ...measurement is an accurate calibration of the magnetic spectrometers with the MAMI beam. For such an absolute calibration with small statistical and systematic uncertainties the undulator light interference method will be applied. In this contribution the basic principle of this method is discussed and the analysis status of the measured synchrotron radiation spectra is presented.
Rapid heating of a compressed fusion fuel by a short-duration laser pulse is a promising route to generating energy by nuclear fusion, and has been demonstrated on an experimental scale using a novel ...fast-ignitor geometry. Here we describe a refinement of this system in which a much more powerful, pulsed petawatt (10(15) watts) laser creates a fast-heated core plasma that is scalable to full-scale ignition, significantly increasing the number of fusion events while still maintaining high heating efficiency at these substantially higher laser energies. Our findings bring us a step closer to realizing the production of relatively inexpensive, full-scale fast-ignition laser facilities.
In situ detection of neural progenitor cells including stem-like cells is essential for studying the basic mechanisms of the generation of cellular diversity in the CNS, upon which therapeutic ...treatments for CNS injuries, degenerative diseases, and brain tumors may be based. We have generated rat monoclonal antibodies (Mab 14H1 and 14B8) that recognize an RNA-binding protein Musashi1, but not a Musashi1-related protein, Musashi2. The amino acid sequences at the epitope sites of these anti-Musashi1 Mabs are remarkably conserved among the human, mouse, and Xenopus proteins. Spatiotemporal patterns of Musashi1 immunoreactivity in the developing and/or adult CNS tissues of frogs, birds, rodents, and humans indicated that our anti-Musashi1 Mabs reacted with undifferentiated, proliferative cells in the CNS of all the vertebrates tested. Double or triple immunostaining of embryonic mouse brain cells in monolayer cultures demonstrated strong Musashi1 expression in Nestin(+)/RC2(+) cells. The relative number of Musashi1(+)/Nestin(+)/RC2(+) cells increased fivefold when embryonic forebrain cells were cultured to form 'neurospheres' in which stem-like cells are known to be enriched through their self-renewing mode of growth. Nestin(+)/RC2(-) cells, which included Talpha1-GFP(+) neuronal progenitor cells and GLAST(+) astroglial precursor cells, were also Musashi1(+), as were GFAP(+) astrocytes. Young neurons showed a trace of Musashi1 expression. Cells committed to the oligodendroglial lineage were Musashi(-). Musashi1 was localized to the perikarya of CNS stem-like cells and non-oligodendroglial progenitor cells without shifting to cell processes or endfeet, and is therefore advantageous for identifying each cell and counting cells in situ.
Arthroscopy of the distal radioulnar joint Nakamura, T; Matsumura, N; Iwamoto, T ...
Handchirurgie, Mikrochirurgie, plastische Chirurgie,
10/2014, Letnik:
46, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Wrist arthroscopy is now widely indicated for diagnosis and treatment of acute or chronic wrist pain, especially for triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) lesions, as a gold standard. In most ...cases radiocarpal and midcarpal arthroscopy was performed, while DRUJ arthroscopy has been rarely performed because of its difficulties. Recent anatomic and biomechanical studies demonstrated that the radioulnar ligament (RUL), which is the proximal component of the TFCC facing to the DRUJ, is the primary stabilizer of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ). Rupture of the radioulnar ligament (RUL) at the fovea area, where it is the main attaching portion to the ulna and is the isometric point during forearm rotation as the rotation axis passes, is responsible for DRUJ instability. Although physical examination and imaging diagnosis may indicate a foveal detachment of the TFCC, DRUJ arthroscopy is potential for visualizing the RUL at the fovea. Role of DRUJ arthroscopy should be more important not only for diagnosis of rupture of the RUL but also for decision making of treatment option for RUL tear. DRUJ arthroscopy also demonstrates the joint surface of both the sigmoid notch and ulnar head, and the proximal surface of the TFCC.
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