Magnetite nanoparticles coated with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane, NH
2(CH
2)
3Si(OC
2H
5)
3, were prepared by silanization reaction and characterized by X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron ...microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and magnetization measurements. Both uncoated and organosilane-coated magnetite exhibited superparamagnetic behavior and strong magnetization at room temperature. Basic groups anchored on the external surface of the coated magnetite were observed. The superparamagnetic particles of coated magnetite are able to bind to biological molecules, drugs and metals and in this way remove them from medium by magnetic separation procedures.
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is an aggressive human malignancy and is characterized by resistance to apoptosis. Recently, NADPH oxidase (Nox) 4-mediated generation of intracellular reactive oxygen ...species (ROS) was proposed to confer antiapoptotic activity and thus a growth advantage to pancreatic cancer cells. The signaling mechanism by which Nox4 transmits cell survival signals remains unclear. Here, we show that both a flavoprotein inhibitor, diphenylene iodonium (DPI), and small interfering RNAs designed to target Nox4 mRNA (siNox4RNAs) inhibited superoxide production in PANC-1 pancreatic cancer cells, and depletion of ROS by DPI or siNox4RNAs induced apoptosis. Parallely, DPI treatment and siNox4RNA transfection blocked activation of the cell survival kinase AKT by attenuating phosphorylation of AKT. Furthermore, AKT phosphorylation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) on Ser-83 was reduced by DPI and siNox4RNAs. When ASK1Ser83Ala (an AKT phosphorylation-defective ASK1 mutant) was introduced into PANC-1 cells, this mutant alone induced apoptosis. But, addition of DPI or co-transfection of siNox4RNA had no additive effect, indicating that the mutant can substitute for these reagents in apoptosis induction. Taken together, these findings suggest that ROS generated by Nox4, at least in part, transmit cell survival signals through the AKT-ASK1 pathway in pancreatic cancer cells and their depletion leads to apoptosis.
To determine the acute effects of paroxetine on genioglossus activity during NREM sleep.
A single dose of Paroxetine (40 mg) or placebo was administered four hours before bedtime on nights separated ...by one week in a double blind randomized crossover manner. The moving time average of genioglossus muscle activity (EMGgg) expressed as a percentage of maximum was measured using a mouthpiece electrode customized for each subject. The peak inspiratory and tonic values of EMGgg and the corresponding esophageal pressure deflections (DP) during the last three occluded breaths of obstructive apneas during NREM sleep were analyzed.
NA.
8 adult men with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
NA.
Paroxetine increased the peak inspiratory EMGgg (29.8+/-2.4 (SE) versus 24.4+/-2.7 % max, p<0.05) and peak EMGgg/DP ratio (0.78+/-0.12 versus 0.65+/-0.11 % max/cm H2O, p<0.01) but not the tonic EMGgg (11.6+/-0.9 versus 9.8+/-0.7 % max) nor the DP (39.4+/-2.2 versus 38.2+/-2.8 cm H2O). Linear regression analysis of the peak inspiratory EMGgg versus DP relationship showed that paroxetine increased the slope (0.62+/-0.11 versus 0.49+/-0.09 % max/cm H2O, p<0.01). However, the apnea + hypopnea index (paroxetine: 75.2+/-5.5 versus placebo: 73.7+/-6.9 events/hour) did not differ.
Paroxetine augmented peak inspiratory genioglossus activity during NREM sleep but this effect was not sufficient to decrease the frequency of obstructive apnea in this group with severe OSA.
Polymeric-coated magnetite particles with an adsorbed layer of extractant have been synthesized and are being evaluated for application in the separation and recovery of low concentrations of ...europium from water solutions. Physical characterizations of the extractant adsorbed particles were performed by X-ray diffractometry, Scanning Electron Microscopy and FT-IR spectrometry. Metal separations have been performed at various HNO
3 concentrations. Separation efficiency of the polymeric magnetic particles and the equilibrium adsorption isotherm of europium were investigated. Moreover, the magnetic field effect in the separation using a magnet was also verified.
Our study was designed to assess the contributions of the physical and constitutional factors to osteophyte formation, disc degeneration, and bone mineral density (BMD) in lumbar vertebrae of elderly ...postmenopausal women. A total of 126 Japanese women with back pain, aged over 60 years, were invited to participate in the study. Then 80 subjects with a full set of data for physical examinations, radiographs, MRI, and DXA were examined.
TaqI polymorphism of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene was examined in 60 subjects. Prevalence rates of osteophytes (on radiographs) and disc degeneration (on MRI) were 61 and 68%, respectively. Body weight and BMI correlated significantly with anteroposterior (AP) and lateral (LAT) BMD (
r = 0.354 for weight,
r = 0.347 for BMI) and mean osteophyte area (
r = 0.557 for weight,
r = 0.486 for BMI), and body weight also correlated with number of discs with osteophytes. However, these did not correlate with the disc area or the number of degenerated discs. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that body weight and LAT-BMD values independently related to the osteophyte area. Disc area (
r = 0.386 for AP view) and osteophyte area (
r = 0.384 for AP view) significantly correlated with BMD. However, disc area and osteophyte area did not correlate with each other (
r = 0.056). The proportion of degenerated discs was higher in the lower lumbar discs, but not the proportion of discs with osteophytes. Frequencies of T and t alleles of VDR did not correlate with disc degeneration, osteophyte formation, or osteoporosis. Our data showed that increases in osteophyte formation and BMD in the lumbar vertebrae are influenced by body weight and BMI, but did not correlate with disc area, which correlated inversely with BMD. Disc degeneration and osteophyte formation seem to represent two different factors that affect lumbar spine in elderly women.
The actinobacteria Frankia spp. are able to induce the formation of nodules on the roots of a large spectrum of actinorhizal plants, where they convert dinitrogen to ammonia in exchange for plant ...photosynthates. In the present study, transcriptional analyses were performed on nitrogen-replete free-living Frankia alni cells and on Alnus glutinosa nodule bacteria, using whole-genome microarrays. Distribution of nodule-induced genes on the genome was found to be mostly over regions with high synteny between three Frankia spp. genomes, while nodule-repressed genes, which were mostly hypothetical and not conserved, were spread around the genome. Genes known to be related to nitrogen fixation were highly induced, nif (nitrogenase), hup2 (hydrogenase uptake), suf (sulfur-iron cluster), and shc (hopanoids synthesis). The expression of genes involved in ammonium assimilation and transport was strongly modified, suggesting that bacteria ammonium assimilation was limited. Genes involved in particular in transcriptional regulation, signaling processes, protein drug export, protein secretion, lipopolysaccharide, and peptidoglycan biosynthesis that may play a role in symbiosis were also identified. We also showed that this Frankia symbiotic transcriptome was highly similar among phylogenetically distant plant families Betulaceae and Myricaceae. Finally, comparison with rhizobia transcriptome suggested that F. alni is metabolically more active in symbiosis than rhizobia.
A plasma column radiates a microwave to surroundings when generated with laser irradiation. Using such a microwave, we are able to survey underground objects and architectures from a remote place. In ...this paper, the microwave radiated from a plasma column induced by an intense laser (∼ 109 W/cm2) were measured. Additionally, a proof test of this method was performed by searching an underground aluminum disk (26 cm in diameter, 1 cm in depth, and 1 m apart from a receiving antenna). As the result, the characteristics of the radiated microwave were clarified, and strong echoes corresponding to the edges of an aluminum disk were found. Based on these results, the feasibility of a ground penetrating radar was verified.
Opacity effects on extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emission from laser-produced tin (Sn) plasma have been experimentally investigated. An absorption spectrum of a uniform Sn plasma generated by thermal x ...rays has been measured in the EUV range (9-19 nm wavelength) for the first time. Experimental results indicate that control of the optical depth of the laser-produced Sn plasma is essential for obtaining high conversion to 13.5 nm-wavelength EUV radiation; 1.8% of the conversion efficiency was attained with the use of 2.2 ns laser pulses.
Aims: Mutans streptococci such as Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus have been implicated in human dental caries. In an attempt to develop a rapid and sensitive method for detecting ...Strep. mutans and Strep. sobrinus in dental plaque, a nested PCR amplification based on the 16S rRNA gene was employed.
Methods and Results: A universal set of PCR primers for bacterial 16S rRNA gene was introduced for the first PCR, and then two sets of primers specific for the 16S rRNA gene sequences of either Strep. mutans or Strep. sobrinus were used for the second PCR. Eighteen plaque samples were analyzed, and a nested PCR was shown to be more sensitive for detecting Strep. mutans and Strep. sobrinus than direct PCR.
Conclusions, Significance and Impact of the Study: The 16S rRNA gene‐based nested PCR method is a rapid and sensitive method for the detection of mutans streptococci, and may also be suitable for carrying out large‐scale studies on the cariogenicity of mutans streptococci.
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