Deep X-ray lithography system with a uniform and high-accuracy fabrication area established in beamline BL11 at NewSUBARU.

A new lithography system to fabricate high-aspect-ratio 3D microstructures was developed at the NewSUBARU synchrotron radiation facility (University of Hyogo, Japan). The X-ray beam generated by this system has high parallelism (horizontal and vertical divergence angles of 278 µrad and 14 µrad, respectively) and high photon flux (31 mW mm-2 at a beam current of 300 mA). The high photon flux and exposure area of the system were validated and a beam-scan method for a large exposure area with a uniform dose distribution has been proposed. In addition, the deep X-ray lithography performance was characterized using a conventional photosensitive material and the synchrotron-radiation-induced direct etching of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was demonstrated. An enlargement of the microfabrication area up to 100 mm × 100 mm while contemporarily ensuring high uniformity was achieved.

Changes of Tight Junction Protein Claudins in Small Intestine and Kidney Tissues of Mice Fed a DDC Diet.

DDC (3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine)-fed mice are widely used as a model for cholestatic liver disease. We examined the expression of tight junction protein claudin subspecies by immunofluorescent histochemistry in small intestine and kidney tissues of mice fed a DDC diet for 12 weeks. In the small intestine, decreases in claudin-3, claudin-7 and claudin-15 were observed in villous epithelial cells corresponding to the severity of histological changes while leaving the abundance of these claudin subspecies unchanged in crypt cells. Nevertheless, the proliferative activity of intestinal crypt cells measured by immunohistochemistry for Ki-67 decreased in the mice fed the DDC diet compared with that of control mice. These results suggest the possibility that DDC feeding affects the barrier function of villous epithelial cells and thus inhibits the proliferative activity of crypt epithelial cells. On the other hand, in the kidney, remarkable changes were found in the subcellular localization of claudin subspecies in a segment-specific manner, although histological changes of renal epithelial cells were quite minimal. These results indicate that immunohistochemistry for claudin subspecies can serve as a useful tool for detecting minute functional alterations of intestinal and renal epithelial cells.

Glomerulation observed during transurethral resection of the prostate for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common finding but no predictor of clinical outcome.

OBJECTIVES: Although glomerulation in the bladder mucosa when the bladder is overdistended is a finding suggestive of interstitial cystitis (IC), it is sometimes observed at transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). We prospectively investigated the incidence and clinical implications of glomerulation found at TURP. METHODS: From December 2003 to October 2005, 197 patients aged 50 years or older who were considered to be appropriate candidates to undergo TURP for LUTS/BPH were investigated in this study. Just before beginning resection under spinal anesthesia, the bladder was filled to a water pressure of 80 cm and the capacity was measured. After evacuation of the fluid, careful inspection was conducted for glomerulation during refilling. Before TURP, and 3 and 12 months after TURP, the International Prostate Symptom Score and O'Leary-Sant IC Symptom and Problem Index were determined, and uroflowmetry and measurement of residual urine volume were performed. RESULTS: Glomerulation was observed in 40 of the 197 patients (20.3%). There was no difference in bladder capacity between the glomerulation and nonglomerulation groups, although the glomerulation group was younger with lighter resected weight and a higher baseline IC problem index than the nonglomerulation group. There were no differences in other parameters before, 3, and 12 months after TURP between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although glomerulation at TURP is a common finding, the clinical implications related to IC are unknown. Glomerulation itself may not be a predictor of the clinical outcome of TURP. Glomerulation observed during transurethral resection of the prostate for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common finding but no predictor of clinical outcome.