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1.
Benef Microbes ; 14(2): 109-118, 2023 Apr 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37026368

ABSTRACT

We investigated the effects of heat-killed Lactobacillus helveticus MCC1848 on daily mood states in healthy young adults. Participants (n=58) were randomised to receive heat-killed L. helveticus MCC1848 powder or placebo powder for 4 weeks. During the study period, adverse events were recorded in the participant diary. Mood states were assessed before and 2 and 4 weeks after initiation of the intervention. The primary outcomes were the shortened version of the Profile of Mood States 2 (POMS 2) scores. Secondary outcomes included other mood state (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI); visual analogue scale (VAS)), quality of life (acute form of the SF-36v2), sleep (Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS)) and fatigue (Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS)) scores. Four weeks of heat-killed L. helveticus MCC1848 intake, compared to placebo, significantly improved the shortened version of the POMS 2 'friendliness' and the VAS 'relaxed' scores, which are two indicators of positive mood states. On the other hand, heat-killed L. helveticus MCC1848 intake had no significant effects on negative mood state items (e.g. anger, nervousness, confusion) assessed by the shortened version of the POMS 2, STAI and VAS. AIS and CFS scores also showed no significant differences. No adverse effects were observed with 4 weeks of heat-killed L. helveticus MCC1848 intake. These results suggest that daily consumption of heat-killed L. helveticus MCC1848 is safe and has the potential to improve positive mood states. UMIN Clinical Trial Registry: UMIN000043697.


Subject(s)
Lactobacillus helveticus , Probiotics , Young Adult , Humans , Hot Temperature , Quality of Life , Powders , Double-Blind Method , Fatigue
2.
Clin. transl. oncol. (Print) ; 23(8): 1620-1629, ago. 2021.
Article in English | IBECS | ID: ibc-222161

ABSTRACT

Background Although immunotherapy is thought to be a promising cancer treatment, most patients do not respond to immunotherapy. In this post hoc analysis of a phase 1/2 study, associations of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), PD-L2, and HLA class I expressions with responses to dendritic cells (DCs)-based immunotherapy were investigated in patients with advanced sarcoma. Methods This study enrolled 35 patients with metastatic and/or recurrent sarcomas who underwent DC-based immunotherapy. The associations of PD-L1, PD-L2, and HLA class I expressions in tumor specimens, which were resected before immunotherapy, with immune responses (increases of IFN-γ and IL-12) and oncological outcomes were evaluated. Results Patients who were PD-L2 (+) showed lower increases of IFN-γ and IL-12 after DC-based immunotherapy than patients who were PD-L2 (−). The disease control (partial response or stable disease) rates of patients who were PD-L1 (+) and PD-L1 (−) were 0% and 22%, respectively. Disease control rates of patients who were PD-L2 (+) and PD-L2 (−) were 13% and 22%, respectively. Patients who were PD-L1 (+) tumors had significantly poorer overall survival compared with patients who were PD-L1 (−). No associations of HLA class I expression with the immune response or oncological outcomes were observed. Conclusions This study suggests that PD-L1 and PD-L2 are promising biomarkers of DC-based immunotherapy, and that addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors to DC-based immunotherapy may improve the outcomes of DC-based immunotherapy (AU)


Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism , Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/metabolism , Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological , Sarcoma/therapy , Dendritic Cells , Biomarkers, Tumor , Sarcoma/immunology , Sarcoma/pathology , Treatment Outcome
3.
Br J Surg ; 108(2): 196-204, 2021 03 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33711132

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Child-Pugh A cirrhosis has been demonstrated as beneficial. However, the role of laparoscopy in Child-Pugh B cirrhosis is undetermined. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to compare open and laparoscopic resection for HCC with Child-Pugh B cirrhosis. METHODS: Data on liver resections were gathered from 17 centres. A 1 : 1 propensity score matching was performed according to 17 predefined variables. RESULTS: Of 382 available liver resections, 100 laparoscopic and 100 open resections were matched and analysed. The 90-day postoperative mortality rate was similar in open and laparoscopic groups (4.0 versus 2.0 per cent respectively; P = 0.687). Laparoscopy was associated with lower blood loss (median 110 ml versus 400 ml in the open group; P = 0.004), less morbidity (38.0 versus 51.0 per cent respectively; P = 0.041) and fewer major complications (7.0 versus 21.0 per cent; P = 0.010), and ascites was lower on postoperative days 1, 3 and 5. For laparoscopic resections, patients with portal hypertension developed more complications than those without (26 versus 12 per cent respectively; P = 0.002), and patients with a Child-Pugh B9 score had higher morbidity rates than those with B8 and B7 (7 of 8, 10 of 16 and 21 of 76 respectively; P < 0.001). Median hospital stay was 7.5 (range 2-243) days for laparoscopic liver resection and 18 (3-104) days for the open approach (P = 0.058). The 5-year overall survival rate was 47 per cent for open and 65 per cent for laparoscopic resection (P = 0.142). The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 32 and 37 per cent respectively (P = 0.742). CONCLUSION: Patients without preoperative portal hypertension and Child-Pugh B7 cirrhosis may benefit most from laparoscopic liver surgery.


Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/surgery , Hepatectomy , Laparoscopy , Liver Neoplasms/surgery , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Blood Loss, Surgical/statistics & numerical data , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnosis , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/mortality , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology , Disease-Free Survival , Female , Hepatectomy/adverse effects , Hepatectomy/methods , Hepatectomy/mortality , Humans , Hypertension, Portal/pathology , Laparoscopy/adverse effects , Laparoscopy/methods , Laparoscopy/mortality , Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data , Liver Cirrhosis/pathology , Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis , Liver Neoplasms/mortality , Liver Neoplasms/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Prognosis , Propensity Score , Retrospective Studies , Severity of Illness Index , Survival Analysis , Young Adult
4.
Clin Transl Oncol ; 23(8): 1620-1629, 2021 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33635466

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Although immunotherapy is thought to be a promising cancer treatment, most patients do not respond to immunotherapy. In this post hoc analysis of a phase 1/2 study, associations of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), PD-L2, and HLA class I expressions with responses to dendritic cells (DCs)-based immunotherapy were investigated in patients with advanced sarcoma. METHODS: This study enrolled 35 patients with metastatic and/or recurrent sarcomas who underwent DC-based immunotherapy. The associations of PD-L1, PD-L2, and HLA class I expressions in tumor specimens, which were resected before immunotherapy, with immune responses (increases of IFN-γ and IL-12) and oncological outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients who were PD-L2 (+) showed lower increases of IFN-γ and IL-12 after DC-based immunotherapy than patients who were PD-L2 (-). The disease control (partial response or stable disease) rates of patients who were PD-L1 (+) and PD-L1 (-) were 0% and 22%, respectively. Disease control rates of patients who were PD-L2 (+) and PD-L2 (-) were 13% and 22%, respectively. Patients who were PD-L1 (+) tumors had significantly poorer overall survival compared with patients who were PD-L1 (-). No associations of HLA class I expression with the immune response or oncological outcomes were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that PD-L1 and PD-L2 are promising biomarkers of DC-based immunotherapy, and that addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors to DC-based immunotherapy may improve the outcomes of DC-based immunotherapy.


Subject(s)
B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism , Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/metabolism , Immunotherapy , Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 2 Protein/metabolism , Sarcoma/therapy , Adult , Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Dendritic Cells , Female , Humans , Interferon-gamma/metabolism , Interleukin-12/metabolism , Male , Sarcoma/immunology , Sarcoma/mortality , Sarcoma/pathology , Treatment Outcome
5.
J Hum Hypertens ; 31(8): 525-529, 2017 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28252040

ABSTRACT

Augmented blood pressure (BP) variability over various time periods has been recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Both atrial and B-type natriuretic peptides (ANP and BNP) are secreted in response to volume or pressure overload to the heart, exerting natriuretic and vasodilator actions. In this study, we examined the relationships between year-by-year BP variability and plasma levels of ANP and BNP in the general population. Study subjects were local residents receiving an annual heath checkup, who had an estimated glomerular filtration rate of >30 ml min-1 per 1.73 m2 and no history of heart disease. Of those, we selected 314 subjects that received checkups at least five times over the past 6 years. BP variability year-by-year was retrospectively evaluated by s.d., coefficient of variation, average real variability and variation independent of the mean of BP values of 6 or 7 time points. The four parameters of BP variability were each found to significantly correlate with logarithmically transformed ANP and BNP levels by simple regression. When classified by quartiles of s.d. of systolic BP, the highest quartile group showed significantly higher levels of the natriuretic peptides compared with other groups. Multivariate analyses revealed that BP variability was an independent determinant for the ANP and BNP levels. In conclusion, augmented year-by-year BP variability over the past 6 years was associated with elevation of plasma levels of ANP and BNP, suggesting a possible relationship between the BP variability and cardiac load, in the general population.


Subject(s)
Atrial Natriuretic Factor/blood , Blood Pressure , Hypertension/blood , Hypertension/physiopathology , Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/blood , Aged , Biomarkers/blood , Female , Humans , Hypertension/diagnosis , Hypertension/epidemiology , Japan/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Time Factors , Up-Regulation
6.
Dis Esophagus ; 30(3): 1-9, 2017 03 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28184414

ABSTRACT

Methylation of cysteine dioxygenase type 1 (CDO1) gene, a tumor suppressor gene, has been studied in various cancers; however, there is no information regarding Barrett esophagus cancer. In this study, the clinical significance of CDO1 methylation in Barrett esophagus adenocarcinoma (BEA) was clarified. CDO1 gene promoter methylation was analyzed for DNA from the patient's specimens using quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Thirty-eight BEA patients who underwent resection were identified between 2000 and 2014. Hypermethylation of CDO1 gene was demonstrated to be frequently recognized even at early stage in BEA by quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. In BEA, there is a robust prognostic difference between stage I and stage II/III/IV with regard to 5-year relapse-free survival (P = 0.0016) and 5-year overall survival (P = 0.0024), and the tumor size separated by 7 cm was also a prognostic factor. There was significant difference in CDO1 gene methylation according to the tumor size (P = 0.036). BEA patients with CDO1 gene methylation were shown marginally significantly poorer prognosis (P = 0.054) than otherwise patients. In conclusion, higher CDO1 gene methylation was seen in BEA at earlier stage than in squamous cell carcinoma, and it may account for aggressive phenotype of BEA.


Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma/genetics , Barrett Esophagus/genetics , Cysteine Dioxygenase/genetics , DNA Methylation/genetics , Esophageal Neoplasms/genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease/epidemiology , Adenocarcinoma/mortality , Adenocarcinoma/pathology , Adenocarcinoma/surgery , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Barrett Esophagus/pathology , Barrett Esophagus/surgery , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics , Cohort Studies , Disease-Free Survival , Esophageal Neoplasms/mortality , Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology , Esophageal Neoplasms/surgery , Esophagectomy/methods , Esophagectomy/mortality , Esophagoscopy/methods , Female , Humans , Japan , Kaplan-Meier Estimate , Male , Middle Aged , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Prognosis , Proportional Hazards Models , Retrospective Studies , Risk Assessment , Statistics, Nonparametric , Survival Analysis
7.
Nat Commun ; 7: 10829, 2016 Feb 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26905818

ABSTRACT

Manipulating the spins of the topological surface states represents an essential step towards exploring the exotic quantum states emerging from the time reversal symmetry breaking via magnetic doping or external magnetic fields. The latter case relies on the Zeeman effect and thereby we need to estimate the g-factor of the topological surface state precisely. Here, we report the direct observations of the Zeeman effect at the surfaces of Bi2Se3 and Sb2Te2Se by spectroscopic-imaging scanning tunnelling microscopy. The Zeeman shift of the zero mode Landau level is identified unambiguously by appropriately excluding the extrinsic effects arising from the nonlinearity in the band dispersion of the topological surface state and the spatially varying potential. Surprisingly, the g-factors of the topological surface states in Bi2Se3 and Sb2Te2Se are very different (+18 and -6, respectively). Such remarkable material dependence opens up a new route to control the spins of the topological surface states.

8.
Radiat Prot Dosimetry ; 167(1-3): 353-7, 2015 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25953795

ABSTRACT

Radioactive nuclides with a short half-life, such as (131)I and (134)Cs, were detected in environmental samples collected in Aomori Prefecture after the Tokyo Electric Power Company Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011. In addition, the observed (137)Cs concentration was increased over the background level. The gaseous (131)I concentration in air observed in April was higher than that observed in March immediately after the accident. Using a backward trajectory analysis, the authors found that the air mass had passed the vicinity of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant when the gaseous (131)I concentration in air was increasing. Maximum (131)I and radioactive Cs concentrations in daily fallout samples collected in Aomori city were observed on 28 April, when (131)I was also detected in air. (134)Cs and (137)Cs concentration ratios in pine needles and pasture grass were nearly equal to 1, which indicates that the source of these radionuclides was the nuclear power plant accident.


Subject(s)
Air Pollutants, Radioactive/analysis , Cesium Radioisotopes/analysis , Fukushima Nuclear Accident , Iodine Radioisotopes/analysis , Radiation Monitoring/methods , Radioactive Fallout/analysis , Computer Simulation , Japan , Models, Statistical , Radiation Dosage , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and Specificity
9.
Bone Joint J ; 96-B(4): 555-61, 2014 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24692627

ABSTRACT

In 1999, we developed a technique for biological reconstruction after excision of a bone tumour, which involved using autografts of the bone containing the tumour treated with liquid nitrogen. We have previously reported the use of this technique in 28 patients at a mean follow up of 27 months (10 to 54). In this study, we included 72 patients who underwent reconstruction using this technique. A total of 33 patients died and three were lost to follow-up, at a mean of 23 months (2 to 56) post-operatively, leaving 36 patients available for a assessment at a mean of 101 months 16 to 163) post-operatively. The methods of reconstruction included an osteo-articular graft in 16, an intercalary in 13 and, a composite graft with prosthesis in seven. Post-operative function was excellent in 26 patients (72.2%), good in seven (19.4%), and fair in three (8.3%) according to the functional evaluation system of Enneking. No recurrent tumour occurred within the grafts. The autografts survived in 29 patients (80.6%), and the rates of survival at five and ten years were 86.1% and 80.6 %, respectively. Seven of 16 osteo-articular grafts (44%) failed because of fracture or infection, but all the composite and intercalary grafts survived. The long-term outcomes of frozen autografting, particularly using composite and intercalary grafts, are satisfactory and thus represent a good method of treatment for patients with a sarcoma of bone or soft tissue.


Subject(s)
Bone Neoplasms/surgery , Bone Transplantation/methods , Sarcoma/surgery , Soft Tissue Neoplasms/surgery , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Bone Transplantation/adverse effects , Child , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Freezing , Graft Survival , Humans , Kaplan-Meier Estimate , Limb Salvage/methods , Male , Middle Aged , Nitrogen , Osteosarcoma/surgery , Tissue and Organ Harvesting/methods , Transplantation, Autologous/methods , Treatment Outcome
10.
Cell Death Differ ; 21(8): 1240-9, 2014 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24722210

ABSTRACT

Enhanced resistance to chemotherapy has been correlated with high levels of Delta-Np73 (DNp73), an anti-apoptotic protein of the p53 tumor-suppressor family which inhibits the pro-apoptotic members such as p53 and TAp73. Although genotoxic drugs have been shown to induce DNp73 degradation, lack of mechanistic understanding of this process precludes strategies to enhance the targeting of DNp73 and improve treatment outcomes. Antizyme (Az) is a mediator of ubiquitin-independent protein degradation regulated by the polyamine biosynthesis pathway. We show here that acetylpolyamine oxidase (PAOX), a catabolic enzyme of this pathway, upregulates DNp73 levels by suppressing its degradation via the Az pathway. Conversely, downregulation of PAOX activity by siRNA-mediated knockdown or chemical inhibition leads to DNp73 degradation in an Az-dependent manner. PAOX expression is suppressed by several genotoxic drugs, via selected members of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factors, namely c-Jun, JunB and FosB, which are required for stress-mediated DNp73 degradation. Finally, chemical- and siRNA-mediated inhibition of PAOX significantly reversed the resistant phenotype of DNp73-overexpressing cancer cells to genotoxic drugs. Together, these data define a critical mechanism for the regulation of DNp73 abundance, and reveal that inhibition of PAOX could widen the therapeutic index of cytotoxic drugs and overcome DNp73-mediated chemoresistance in tumors.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Lung Neoplasms/metabolism , Nuclear Proteins/metabolism , Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors/metabolism , Tumor Suppressor Proteins/metabolism , Animals , Apoptosis , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm , HCT116 Cells , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/enzymology , Mice , Signal Transduction , Tumor Protein p73 , Up-Regulation , Polyamine Oxidase
11.
Opt Express ; 21(1): 789-95, 2013 Jan 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23388971

ABSTRACT

We demonstrate the first 7-core multicore erbium-doped fiber amplified (MC-EDFA) transmission of 40 x 128-Gbit/s PDM-QPSK signals over 6,160-km 7-core multicore fiber (MCF). The crosstalk (XT) from all of the other 6 cores of a MC-EDFA and a 55-km length MCF are about -46.5 dB and -45.6 dB at center core, respectively. The core-to-core rotation approach at every amplified span is used to average the XT of all cores. The averaged optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) after 6,160-km transmission is 15.6 dB with 0.1 nm resolution bandwidth. The Q-factor of all 40 channels surpasses the threshold of the forward-error-correction of 6.4 dB with 1 dB margin after 6,160 km. The total net capacity is 28.8 Tbit/s per fiber and achieved capacity-distance product is 177 Pbit/s.km per fiber. We confirmed the feasibility of MC-EDFA repeatered systems for trans-oceanic transmission.

12.
Leukemia ; 27(2): 409-15, 2013 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22858985

ABSTRACT

Bach2 is a lymphoid-specific transcription factor with a prominent role in B-cell development and apoptosis-induction in response to oxidative stress. We previously showed that Bach2 is downregulated in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), and here we demonstrate the mechanism by which Bcr-Abl mediates this phenomenon. We have cloned a 3.9 Kb genomic DNA fragment upstream of the transcription initiation site, and delineated the core and proximal BACH2 promoter regions. Transient BCR-ABL expression led to significant reduction in BACH2 promoter activity and this effect was dependent on the kinase function of the oncoprotein. Sequential deletions disclosed several regulatory elements within the promoter region, as well as within BACH2 exonic sequences. Analysis of these elements and transient transfection assays led to the identification of the Pax5 transcription factor as a potent trans-activator of BACH2, whose effect is predominantly mediated through occupation of a binding site on the BACH2 promoter, as demonstrated by both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Overall, our data show that Pax5 functions as an intermediate effector in the Bcr-Abl-mediated transcriptional repression of BACH2. The current results, combined with previous reports, establish Pax5 and Bach2 as transcriptional targets of Bcr-Abl, whose downregulation may contribute to lymphoid blast crisis of CML.


Subject(s)
Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors/genetics , Blast Crisis/genetics , Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/metabolism , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/genetics , PAX5 Transcription Factor/metabolism , Acetylation , Blast Crisis/metabolism , Chromatin Immunoprecipitation , DNA Methylation , Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay , Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/genetics , Histones/metabolism , Humans , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/metabolism , Luciferases/metabolism , PAX5 Transcription Factor/genetics , Tumor Cells, Cultured
13.
Oral Dis ; 19(2): 169-79, 2013 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22863294

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Amelogenins are the most abundant matrix proteins in enamel. Among the amelogenin isoforms, full-length amelogenin (M180) and leucine-rich amelogenin peptide (LRAP) are expressed in various tissues and are implicated as signalling molecules in mesenchymal cells. Here, we examined the effects of M180 and LRAP on a chondrogenic cell line, ATDC5, to investigate the role of amelogenins in chondrogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Recombinant mouse M180- or LRAP-protein-containing medium or control medium was mixed with a chondrogenesis-stimulating medium, and changes in the phenotype, gene expression levels and cell proliferation of cultured ATDC5 cells were analysed. RESULTS: The addition of amelogenins increased alkaline phosphatase activity and glycosaminoglycan secretion at 14 and 21 days of culture, respectively, as compared with the control. Quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) analysis revealed that LRAP increased the gene expression levels of Runx2, Col2a1 and Aggrecan at 7 days of differentiation. Moreover, both M180 and LRAP significantly increased the gene expression levels of ALP, Aggrecan, Col10a1 and osteopontin at 28 days of culture. Bromodeoxyuridine assay and Q-PCR analysis for Wnt signalling indicated that both M180 and LRAP reduced proliferation, but induced the cell differentiation possibly through altered non-canonical Wnt signalling. CONCLUSION: M180 and LRAP accelerate chondrogenic differentiation and maturation of ATDC5 cells.


Subject(s)
Amelogenin/physiology , Chondrogenesis/physiology , Dental Enamel Proteins/physiology , Animals , Cell Differentiation , Cell Line , Cells, Cultured , Mice , Protein Isoforms
14.
Oncogene ; 32(27): 3231-45, 2013 Jul 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22847612

ABSTRACT

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), by-products of aerobic respiration, promote genetic instability and contribute to the malignant transformation of cells. Among the genes related to ROS metabolism, Bach1 is a repressor of the oxidative stress response, and a negative regulator of ROS-induced cellular senescence directed by p53 in higher eukaryotes. While ROS are intimately involved in carcinogenesis, it is not clear whether Bach1 is involved in this process. We found that senescent Bach1-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) underwent spontaneous immortalization the same as did the wild-type cells. When transduced with constitutively active Ras (H-Ras(V12)), the proliferation and colony formation of these cells in vitro were markedly reduced. When transplanted into athymic nude mice, the growth and vascularization of tumors derived from Bach1-deficient cells were also decreased. Gene expression profiling of the MEFs revealed a new H-Ras(V12) signature, which was distinct from the previously reported signatures in epithelial tumors, and was partly dependent on Bach1. The Bach1-deficient cells showed diminished phosphorylation of MEK and ERK1/2 in response to H-Ras(V12), which was consistent with the alterations in the gene expression profile, including phosphatase genes. Finally, Bach1-deficient mice were less susceptible to 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxidide (4-NQO)-induced tongue carcinoma than wild-type mice. Our data provide evidence for a critical role of Bach1 in cell transformation and tumor growth induced by activated H-Ras(V12).


Subject(s)
Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors/metabolism , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/metabolism , Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/metabolism , Fibroblasts/metabolism , Signal Transduction/physiology , Animals , Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors/genetics , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/genetics , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Gene Expression Profiling , Genes, ras/genetics , Immunoblotting , Mice , Mice, Knockout , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Transcriptome , ras Proteins/genetics , ras Proteins/metabolism
15.
J Dent Res ; 90(12): 1446-50, 2011 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21933936

ABSTRACT

Physiochemical assessment of the parasite-biomaterial interface is essential in the development of new biomaterials. The purpose of this study was to develop a method to evaluate pH at the bacteria-dental cement interface and to demonstrate physiochemical interaction at the interface. The experimental apparatus with a well (4.0 mm in diameter and 2.0 mm deep) was made of polymethyl methacrylate with dental cement or polymethyl methacrylate (control) at the bottom. Three representative dental cements (glass-ionomer, zinc phosphate, and zinc oxide-eugenol cements) were used. Each specimen was immersed in 2 mM potassium phosphate buffer for 10 min, 24 hrs, 1 wk, or 4 wks. The well was packed with Streptococcus mutans NCTC 10449, and a miniature pH electrode was placed at the interface between bacterial cells and dental cement. The pH was monitored after the addition of 1% glucose, and the fluoride contained in the cells was quantified. Glass-ionomer cement inhibited the bacteria-induced pH fall significantly compared with polymethyl methacrylate (control) at the interface (10 min, 5.16 ± 0.19 vs. 4.50 ± 0.07; 24 hrs, 5.20 ± 0.07 vs. 4.59 ± 0.11; 1 wk, 5.34 ± 0.14 vs. 4.57 ± 0.11; and 4 wks, 4.95 ± 0.27 vs. 4.40 ± 0.14), probably due to the fluoride released from the cement. This method could be useful for the assessment of pH at the parasite-biomaterial interface.


Subject(s)
Dental Leakage/prevention & control , Dental Restoration, Permanent/methods , Streptococcus mutans/metabolism , Electrodes , Fluorides/analysis , Glass Ionomer Cements , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement , Zinc Phosphate Cement
17.
Science ; 329(5992): 659-62, 2010 Aug 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20689013

ABSTRACT

In addition to a bulk energy gap, topological insulators accommodate a conducting, linearly dispersed Dirac surface state. This state is predicted to become massive if time reversal symmetry is broken, and to become insulating if the Fermi energy is positioned inside both the surface and bulk gaps. We introduced magnetic dopants into the three-dimensional topological insulator dibismuth triselenide (Bi2Se3) to break the time reversal symmetry and further position the Fermi energy inside the gaps by simultaneous magnetic and charge doping. The resulting insulating massive Dirac fermion state, which we observed by angle-resolved photoemission, paves the way for studying a range of topological phenomena relevant to both condensed matter and particle physics.

18.
Curr Med Chem ; 17(20): 2196-202, 2010.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20423301

ABSTRACT

Trigonelline (TRG) and nicotinic acid (NA), in which the former but not the latter improved the blood glucose level in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats were tested for anti-diabetic effects in mellitus models of KK-A(y) obese mice that had type 2 diabetes. Blood glucose level in OGTT carried out on day 22-23 was lowered after feeding in mice fed TRG and NA than that of the control mice not fed these compounds, indicating that both TRG and NA have sufficient activity to improve glucose tolerance in diabetes with obesity. The serum insulin levels at fasting showed significantly lower levels in mice fed TRG, and a lower tendency in mice fed NA, compared with the control mice. The triglyceride (TG) levels in the liver and adipose tissue in mice fed TRG and NA showed lower values or a lower tendency than those of the control mice, indicating that TRG and NA were also effective to improve the changes in lipid levels accompanied with diabetes. Higher values or a higher tendency of the glucokinase (GLK)/glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) ratio in the liver and lower levels of the serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in the TRG- and NA-fed mice, compared to the control mice, suggested that the regulation of GLK and G6Pase, and TNF-alpha production by TRG and NA are closely related in suppressing the progression of diabetes in the KK-A(y) mice.


Subject(s)
Alkaloids/therapeutic use , Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use , Niacin/therapeutic use , Alkaloids/chemistry , Animals , Blood Glucose/analysis , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy , Fasting , Glucokinase/metabolism , Glucose-6-Phosphatase/metabolism , Hypoglycemic Agents/chemistry , Insulin/blood , Male , Mice , Mice, Obese , Niacin/chemistry , Rats , Triglycerides/metabolism , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism
19.
Int J Pharm ; 391(1-2): 274-83, 2010 May 31.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20211714

ABSTRACT

Although intravenous administration of high levels of cisplatin (CDDP) are limited due to its severe side effects, efficient delivery of CDDP directly to the tumor should improve the therapeutic response while potentially by-passing significant side effects. High loading of CDDP into liposomes is one technique that could be used as a potential drug delivery system. Since cis-diamminedinitratoplatinum (CDDP3) is highly soluble in water and converts to CDDP in the presence of chloride ions, we encapsulated CDDP3 into liposomes in the absence of chloride ions and supplemented chloride ions to prepare CDDP-encapsulated liposomes (CDDP-Lip) resulting in a significantly improved loading efficiency of CDDP. We further conjugated the CDDP-Lip with Sialyl Lewis(X) (CDDP-SLX-Lip) because we previously demonstrated Sialyl Lewis(X) enhanced efficient accumulation of liposomes into tumors in vivo. CDDP-SLX-Lip treated mice showed a survival rate of 75% at 14 days even if a lethal level of CDDP was injected into mice. Loss of body weight was negligible and no histological abnormality was found in a variety of normal tissues. Accumulation of CDDP-SLX-Lip was about 6 times more than that of CDDP-Lip or CDDP. As the result, there was better antitumor activity of CDDP-SLX-Lip than that of CDDP-Lip with significantly less toxic effects in normal tissues.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage , Cisplatin/administration & dosage , Drug Delivery Systems/methods , Liposomes , Oligosaccharides/administration & dosage , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacokinetics , Cell Line, Tumor , Cells, Cultured , Cisplatin/chemistry , Cisplatin/pharmacokinetics , Drug Delivery Systems/adverse effects , E-Selectin/metabolism , Female , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Oligosaccharides/chemistry , Sialyl Lewis X Antigen , Survival Rate , Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
20.
J Dent Res ; 88(8): 752-6, 2009 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19734464

ABSTRACT

During orthodontic tooth movement, the activation of the vascular system in the compressed periodontal ligament (PDL) is an indispensable process in tissue remodeling. We hypothesized that compressive force would induce angiogenesis of PDL through the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We examined the localization of VEGF in rat periodontal tissues during experimental tooth movement in vivo, and the effects of continuous compressive force on VEGF production and angiogenic activity in human PDL cells in vitro. PDL cells adjacent to hyalinized tissue and alveolar bone on the compressive side showed marked VEGF immunoreactivity. VEGF mRNA expression and production in PDL cells increased, and conditioned medium stimulated tube formation. These results indicate that continuous compressive force enhances VEGF production and angiogenic activity in PDL cells, which may contribute to periodontal remodeling, including angiogenesis, during orthodontic tooth movement.


Subject(s)
Periodontal Ligament/pathology , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/analysis , Adolescent , Alveolar Process/pathology , Alveolar Process/physiopathology , Animals , Biomechanical Phenomena , Capillaries/pathology , Cell Culture Techniques , Child , Culture Media, Conditioned , Endothelial Cells/pathology , Endothelium, Vascular/pathology , Female , Fibroblasts/pathology , Humans , Hyalin/physiology , Male , Neovascularization, Physiologic/physiology , Osteoblasts/pathology , Osteoclasts/pathology , Periodontal Ligament/blood supply , Periodontal Ligament/physiopathology , Pressure , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Stress, Mechanical , Time Factors , Tissue Culture Techniques , Tooth Movement Techniques/instrumentation , Young Adult
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