Chemically modified poly-L-lysine (PL) derivatives with two essential features, which we have recently reported on, have been used to study key factors affecting transgene expression efficiency. PL ...derivatives having both of N epsilon-trimethyl lysine residue and 25 mole % serine residue showed enhanced transfection efficiency. When PL was modified in either way, no marked enhancement in gene expression was observed. These PL derivatives were found to be able to deliver plasmid DNA into nucleus of the transfected cells with a similar amount. Judging from the loss of EtBr fluorescence intercalating to DNA, the condensing tendency of the DNA were greatly affected by the sequence of the polypeptides used. This loose compaction seems to enhance the transgene expression because of an easy disassembly of the formed complexes or recognition of the DNA molecules in the complexes.
We present a rare case of an ossifying adenocarcinoma originating in the parotid gland. Of a 52-year-old female with complaints of preauricular swelling, jaw trismus and mental nerve paralysis. ...Panoramic radiography and computed tomography revealed a tumor in the right preauricular region extending to the mandibular head and radiopaque miliary shadows in the lungs. Histopathologically, the tumor revealed characteristics of adenocarcinoma with prominent ossification. The immunostaining for bone morphogenetic protein-2 and osteopontin suggested that the ossification was induced by the tumor cells. Despite chemoimmunotherapy with TS-1
® and OK-432
® and later with an epidermal growth factor-receptor antagonist, gefitinib, the original tumor and metastatic pulmonary foci continued to growth and the patient eventually died about 15 months after the start of therapy.
J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 72, 618 (2003) Charge and orbital ordering behaviors in the half doped bi-layered compound
LaSr2Mn2O7 have been studied by resonant and non-resonant X-ray scattering.
Three ...different order parameters, which correspond to the A-type
antiferromagnetic, a charge and an orbital ordered states, were observed by
measuring the magnetostriction and the superlattice peaks characterized by
wavevectors (1/2 1/2 0) and (1/4 1/4 0), respectively. The superlattice
reflections indicating the charge and orbital ordered states were observed
below 210 K. Both the intensities reach a maximum at 160 K on cooling and
become very weak below 100 K. The peak width of the charge ordered state agrees
with that of the orbital ordered state at all temperatures studied. These
results indicate that both the states originate from a single phase and that
the charge/orbital ordered islands with definite interfaces disperse in the
A-type antiferromagnetic phase. The dimensionality of the charge/orbital
ordered phase is discussed using this model.
We constructed the CG agent design tool and evaluated the agent made by it, in order to examine the method for designing the agent with the natural appearance, while features of the person are ...reflected.
A murine monoclonal antibody (MAb), VTm1.1, specifically recognizing and neutralizing Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2), was obtained. To prevent a humoral response against murine antibody when used clinically, a ...humanized antibody was constructed by combining the complementarity-determining regions of VTm1.1 with human framework and constant regions. In addition, several amino acids in the framework were changed to improve the binding affinity of the antibody and further reduce its potential immunogenicity. The humanized antibody, TMA-15, recognized the B-subunit of Stx2 and had affinity for Stx2 of 3.3 x 10(-9) M, within two-fold of that of the original murine antibody. TMA-15 neutralized the cytotoxicity of Stx2 and several different Stx2 variants in vitro, and it completely protected mice from death in a Stx2-challenged mice model. These results suggest that TMA-15 will have clinical potency in Stx-producing Escherichia coli infections, including E. coli O157 infections.
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