Elevated brain derived neurotrophic factor levels in plasma reflect in vivo functional viability of infused mesenchymal stem cells for stroke in rats.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous infusion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from adult bone marrow elicits functional recovery in rat stroke models and clinical studies in patients are ongoing. Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophic factor produced by MSCs and may contribute to their therapeutic efficacy. The purpose of the current study was to determine if BDNF is elevated in infarcted brain and in which compartment of blood (plasma or serum) after intravenous MSC infusion in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in the rat. METHODS: In rats, a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was induced by intraluminal vascular occlusion with a microfilament and MSCs were intravenously administered 6 h after right MCAO induction. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis of brain, serum and plasma BDNF were performed after the MSC infusion following the MCAO induction. Lesion volume was assessed using magnetic resonance imaging. Functional outcome was assessed using the Limb Placement Test. RESULTS: Infused MSCs reduced lesion volume and elicited functional improvement compared to the vehicle infused group. ELISA analysis of the MSC treated group revealed an increase BDNF levels in the infarcted hemisphere of the brain and plasma, but not in serum. The MSC group showed a greater increase in BDNF levels than sham control. In the MSC group, the expression of increased plasma BDNF levels correlated with increased brain BDNF levels. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the hypothesis that BDNF levels in plasma, but not serum, may be more appropriate to detect circulating BDNF in vivo following MSC infusion in a cerebral infarction rat model of ischemic stroke. Further, plasma BDNF might reflect in vivo functional viability of infused MSCs after stroke.

Acoustic emission measurement using a strain-insensitive fiber Bragg grating sensor under varying load conditions.

Acoustic emission (AE) during a pressure test of a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic tank was measured using a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor and, for comparison, using a conventional piezoelectric sensor. The FBG-inscribed optical fiber was used not only as an optical transmission line but also as an ultrasonic transmission line. The FBG sensor showed resonant characteristics and could detect AE continuously during the test. AE detected with the FBG sensor exhibited a cumulative behavior similar to that detected with the piezoelectric sensor. The FBG sensor was demonstrated to have comparable AE detection capability to piezoelectric sensors.

Reaction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons adsorbed on silica in aqueous chlorine.

The reaction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) previously adsorbed on silica gel or diatomaceous earth with sodium hypochlorite was carried out to elucidate their reactivity to aqueous chlorine. It was demonstrated that the PAHs adsorbed on silica reacted more rapidly than the PAHs themselves in water, leading to the formation of many chlorinated and oxidized derivatives. A similar reaction in the presence of potassium bromide was found to preferentially produce corresponding brominated derivatives. These reactions seem to proceed through PAHs adsorbed on the silica surface and halogenating agents, the electrophilicity of which may be raised by the catalytic effect of the silanol group of the silica surface. These findings from the environmental viewpoint suggest that the reaction of hydrophobic compounds adsorbed on sediment cannot be neglected.

Formation of chlorinated estrones via hypochlorous disinfection of wastewater effluent containing estrone.

Chlorinated derivatives of estrone (E1) in the effluent of a municipal sewage treatment plant located in Shizuoka prefecture, Japan were detected by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry using electron impact in selected ion monitoring (GC/MS-EI-SIM) analysis. The concentrations of E1, 2-chloroestrone, 4-chloroestrone and 2,4-dichloroestrone in the effluent sample collected in December 2005 were 60.0 ng l(-1), 4.0 ng l(-1), 14.5 ng l(-1), and 9.8 ng l(-1), respectively. In the effluent sample taken in June 2005, 2,4-dichloroestrone was detected at 5.6 ng l(-1) along with 17.6 ng l(-1) of E1. However, only E1 was detected at 5.9 ng l(-1) in the sample in May 2005. To elucidate the behavior of E1 during the disinfection process with sodium hypochlorite in the sewage treatment plant, we carried out a reaction of E1 with sodium hypochlorite in buffer solutions at pH 7 and 9. As E1 was consumed rapidly, chlorinated estrones were produced and relatively fast formation of 2-chloroestrone, 4-chloroestrone, and 2,4-dichloroestrone was observed. Furthermore, 1,4-estradiene-3,17-dione derivatives were formed from the reaction between 2,4-dichloroestrone and sodium hypochlorite.

Estrogenic activity of the chlorinated derivatives of estrogens and flavonoids using a GFP expression system.

Estrogenic chemicals are widely reported to be present in the environment. Their chlorinated derivatives are considered to be produced through the chlorination process in water purification and sewage treatment plants. In this study, several chlorinated derivatives of estrogens and flavonoids, including phytoestrogens, were synthesized by the reaction with hypochlorous acid, and their estrogenic activities were investigated using a devised GFP expression system in human breast carcinoma MCF7 cells. The chlorinated derivatives were less estrogenic than the parent compounds. The EC(50) ranking of estrogen-related compounds was 17ß-estradiol (E2)>4-ClE2>estrone (E1)>4-ClE1>10-Cl-1,4-estradiene-3,17-dione (10-Cl-3,17-dione)>2-ClE2>2-ClE1. 2,4-diClE2, 2,4-diClE1, and 2,4,16,16-tetraClE1 showed lower or no estrogenic activity. Genistein and daidzein are well known as phytoestrogens. 6,8-diCl-genistein, 3',8-diCl-daidzein, (+)-6,8-diCl-naringenin, and 6,8-diCl-apigenin showed lower estrogenic activity than their parent compounds. 3',5',8-triCl-daidzein exhibited no estrogenic activity. No activity was detected in chrysin, (+)-catechin, and their chlorinated derivatives. Similar results were obtained in a cell proliferation assay using MCF7 cells.

Successful treatment of renal cell carcinoma with mediastinal lymph node metastasis by interleukin-2: a case report.

A 57-year-old woman presented to our hospital with macrohematuria. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) of the left kidney with bilateral pulmonary and mediastinal lymph node metastases was diagnosed. Radical nephrectomy was performed. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of RCC (pT2pN0M1), so immunotherapy was performed using interleukin-2 (IL-2). The mediastinal lymph node metastases disappeared completely after 5 months of immunotherapy. Investigation of immunological parameters showed an increase of CD8-positive T cells (CD8) and a decrease of CD14-positive cells (CD14), leading to a marked increase of the CD8/CD14 ratio. Although her pulmonary metastases are unchanged, the mediastinal metastases still show complete remission at 14 months postoperatively. The CD8/CD14 ratio may have potential as a new marker for monitoring the response of RCC to immunotherapy and selecting suitable patients for such therapy.