Proton Distribution Radii of

The root mean square radii of the proton density distribution in ^{16-24}O derived from measurements of charge changing cross sections with a carbon target at ∼900A MeV together with the matter radii portray thick neutron skin for ^{22-24}O despite ^{22,24}O being doubly magic. Imprints of the shell closures at N=14 and 16 are reflected in local minima of their proton radii that provide evidence for the tensor interaction causing them. The radii agree with ab initio calculations employing the chiral NNLO_{sat} interaction, though skin thickness predictions are challenged. Shell model predictions agree well with the data.

Evidence for prevalent Z = 6 magic number in neutron-rich carbon isotopes.

The nuclear shell structure, which originates in the nearly independent motion of nucleons in an average potential, provides an important guide for our understanding of nuclear structure and the underlying nuclear forces. Its most remarkable fingerprint is the existence of the so-called magic numbers of protons and neutrons associated with extra stability. Although the introduction of a phenomenological spin-orbit (SO) coupling force in 1949 helped in explaining the magic numbers, its origins are still open questions. Here, we present experimental evidence for the smallest SO-originated magic number (subshell closure) at the proton number six in 13-20C obtained from systematic analysis of point-proton distribution radii, electromagnetic transition rates and atomic masses of light nuclei. Performing ab initio calculations on 14,15C, we show that the observed proton distribution radii and subshell closure can be explained by the state-of-the-art nuclear theory with chiral nucleon-nucleon and three-nucleon forces, which are rooted in the quantum chromodynamics.

Dominance of Tensor Correlations in High-Momentum Nucleon Pairs Studied by (p,pd) Reaction.

The isospin character of p-n pairs at large relative momentum has been observed for the first time in the ^{16}O ground state. A strong population of the J,T=1,0 state and a very weak population of the J,T=0,1 state were observed in the neutron pickup domain of ^{16}O(p,pd) at 392 MeV. This strong isospin dependence at large momentum transfer is not reproduced by the distorted-wave impulse approximation calculations with known spectroscopic amplitudes. The results indicate the presence of high-momentum protons and neutrons induced by the tensor interactions in the ground state of ^{16}O.

Measurement of Excitation Spectra in the

Excitation spectra of ^{11}C are measured in the ^{12}C(p,d) reaction near the η^{'} emission threshold. A proton beam extracted from the synchrotron SIS-18 at GSI with an incident energy of 2.5 GeV impinges on a carbon target. The momenta of deuterons emitted at 0° are precisely measured with the fragment separator (FRS) operated as a spectrometer. In contrast to theoretical predictions on the possible existence of deeply bound η^{'}-mesic states in carbon nuclei, no distinct structures are observed associated with the formation of bound states. The spectra are analyzed to set stringent constraints on the formation cross section and on the hitherto barely known η^{'}-nucleus interaction.

Proton Distribution Radii of

Proton radii of ^{12-19}C densities derived from first accurate charge changing cross section measurements at 900A MeV with a carbon target are reported. A thick neutron surface evolves from ∼0.5 fm in ^{15}C to ∼1 fm in ^{19}C. The halo radius in ^{19}C is found to be 6.4±0.7 fm as large as ^{11}Li. Ab initio calculations based on chiral nucleon-nucleon and three-nucleon forces reproduce the radii well.

Proton radii of (12-17)B define a thick neutron surface in ¹7B.

The first determination of radii of point proton distribution (proton radii) of (12-17)B from charge-changing cross sections (σ(CC)) measurements at the FRS, GSI, Darmstadt is reported. The proton radii are deduced from a finite-range Glauber model analysis of the σ(CC). The radii show an increase from ¹³B to ¹7B and are consistent with predictions from the antisymmetrized molecular dynamics model for the neutron-rich nuclei. The measurements show the existence of a thick neutron surface with neutron-proton radius difference of 0.51(0.11) fm in ¹7B.

Radiation protective effect of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) on human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.

We examined the effects of 5-Gy radiation on the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and the radiosensitivity of five human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines (SAS, Ca9-22, TT, BSC-OF and IS-FOM). In all of the cell lines, HIF-1α was expressed in mRNA, and radiation had no influence on gene transcription. The number of apoptotic cells increased 72 h after irradiation in cell lines SAS, Ca9-22 and TT cells, indicating low transcriptional levels of HIF-1α, and the levels of non-cleaved caspase-3, an executioner of apoptosis, and non-cleaved poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP), a marker of DNA damage early in apoptosis, decreased simultaneously. Conversely, radiation failed to induce apoptosis or to decrease expression of non-cleaved caspase-3 and PARP in cell lines BSC-OF and IS-FOM cells that expressed high levels of HIF-1α. BSC-OF and IS-FOM cells exhibited high migratory capacity. When CoCl(2) was present in the medium, HIF-1α expression increased along with the survival of Ca9-22 cells after radiation exposure. These results suggest that OSCC cells expressing high levels of HIF-1α are resistant to radiation. HIF-1α can be used to control the short-term radiosensitivity of cells.

Roles of nitric oxide (NO) and NO synthases in healing of dextran sulfate sodium-induced rat colitis.

We examined the effects of various NO inhibitors on the healing of DSS-induced rat colitis. Experimental colitis was induced by feeding rats for 6 days with 2.5% DSS in drinking water. After DSS treatment, the animals were fed normally and killed various days up to 7 days later. L-NAME (a nonselective NOS inhibitor) or aminoguanidine (a selective iNOS inhibitor) was given p.o. twice daily for 6 days starting from the termination of DSS treatment. The area of lesions, colon length and MPO activity were measured on day 7 after DSS treatment. DSS treatment caused severe lesions in the colon, accompanied by an increase in MPO activity and a decrease in colon length. The lesions healed gradually after discontinuation of DSS treatment, with a histological restoration and subsidence of inflammation. The healing of DSS-induced colonic lesions was significantly impaired by daily administration of L-NAME or aminoguanidine, the effects being all but equivalent between these drugs, and the effect of L-NAME was significantly reverted by the co-administration of L-arginine. The expression of nNOS protein was observed in the colonic mucosa with or without DSS treatment, while those of iNOS and eNOS were markedly upregulated after DSS treatment. Likewise, the expression of VEGF was also up-regulated in the colon following DSS treatment, and this response was suppressed by both L-NAME and aminoguanidine. These results suggest that endogenous NO produced by mainly iNOS and partly eNOS contributes to the healing of DSS-induced colonic lesions, through the upregulation of VEGF expression and enhancement of angiogenesis.

Prognostic role of immunosuppressive acidic protein in patients with esophageal cancer.

Immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) suppresses several immune responses in vivo and in vitro , and high preoperative IAP levels could predict the impairment of the host's immunity. In this study prognostic significance of preoperative IAP levels was investigated in 68 esophageal cancer patients with curative resection and eight with non-curative resection. The curative group had significantly lower levels than the non-curative group (432 +/- 183 mg/mL vs. 739 +/- 235 mg/mL, P < 0.0001). The IAP levels were associated with T-status (P < 0.0001), lymphatic invasion (P < 0.05), and p-stages (P < 0.0001). When 5-year survival rate of patients with curative resection was compared by setting various cutoff values of IAP between high and low IAP groups, several cutoff points (400-580 mg/mL) were revealed to be significantly associated with survival. Setting cutoff value of IAP to 560 mg/mL resulted in a most significant difference of 5-year survival rate of patients between the high and low IAP groups (13.9% and 61.5%, P < 0.0001). These data indicate that pre-operative IAP level is a useful parameter to predict the prognosis of esophageal cancer patients after curative resection.

Isotopic dependence of the giant monopole resonance in the even-A 112-124Sn isotopes and the asymmetry term in nuclear incompressibility.

The strength distributions of the giant monopole resonance (GMR) have been measured in the even-A Sn isotopes (A=112-124) with inelastic scattering of 400-MeV alpha particles in the angular range 0 degrees -8.5 degrees . We find that the experimentally observed GMR energies of the Sn isotopes are lower than the values predicted by theoretical calculations that reproduce the GMR energies in 208Pb and 90Zr very well. From the GMR data, a value of Ktau = -550 +/- 100 MeV is obtained for the asymmetry term in the nuclear incompressibility.

Involvement of prostaglandin E receptor EP3 subtype and prostacyclin IP receptor in decreased acid response in damaged stomach.

We investigated the roles of cyclooxygenase (COX) isozymes and prostaglandin E (PGE) receptor EP1 and EP3 subtypes or prostacyclin IP receptors in the decrease in acid secretion in the damaged mouse stomach. Male C57/BL6 mice, both wild type and animals lacking EP1, EP3, or IP receptors, were used after 18 h of fasting. Under urethane anesthesia, the stomach was mounted on an ex-vivo chamber and perfused with saline, and acid secretion as well as transmucosal potential difference (PD) was measured before and after exposure to 20 mM taurocholate Na (TC) for 20 min. Indomethacin, SC-560 or rofecoxib was given i.d. 30 min before TC. Mucosal exposure to TC in wild-type mice caused a reduction in PD, followed by decrease in acid secretion. Indomethacin attenuated the decrease in acid secretion after exposure to TC in wild-type mice, an effect mimicked by SC-560 but not rofecoxib, yet none of these drugs affected the decrease in PD. An altered acid response after exposure to TC was similarly observed in EP1 (-/-) mice but mitigated in mice lacking either EP3 or IP receptors, although a decrease in PD was observed in all groups. Furthermore, the decreased acid response was also attenuated by prior administration of the EP3- but not EP1- antagonist. Mucosal levels of PGE(2) and 6-keto PGF(1a) increased after exposure to TC in all groups of mice. In conclusion, the decrease in acid secretion in the damaged stomach is mediated by endogenous PGs derived from COX-1, through PGE(2)/EP3 receptors and prostacyclin/IP receptors.

Protective effect of pranlukast, a cysteinyl-leukotriene receptor 1 antagonist, on indomethacin-induced small intestinal damage in rats.

We examined the effect of pranlukast, the receptor antagonist of the cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs; LTC(4), LTD4 and LTE4), on indomethacin-induced small intestinal lesions in rats. Animals non-fasted were given indomethacin (10 mg/kg) s.c., and killed 24 hr later. Pranlukast (1-10 mg/kg) was given p.o. twice, 30 min before and 6 hr after the administration of indomethacin. A single s.c. administration of indomethacin provoked multiple haemorrhagic lesions in the small intestine, mainly in the jejunum and ileum. This treatment also caused an increase in MPO activity, microvascular permeability, and enterobacterial counts in the mucosa. Pretreatment of the animals with pranlukast (1-10 mg/kg) dose-dependently reduced the severity of these lesions and improved the patho-physiological alterations occurred after indomethacin treatment. Although indomethacin increased intestinal motility and decreased mucus secretion, the events being responsible for bacterial invasion, these changes were not significantly affected by pranlukast. These results showed that pranlukast prevents indomethacin-induced small intestinal lesions, probably through its inhibitory action, primarily on bacterial invasion and secondly on neutrophil migration as well as vascular permeability, and suggest the importance of CysLTs in the pathogenic mechanism of this lesion model.

Studies toward the total synthesis of popolohuanone E: enantioselective synthesis of 8-O-methylpopolohuanone E.

[structure: see text]. 8-O-methylpopolohuanone E (2) was synthesized in a highly convergent manner starting from the cis-fused decalin derivative accessible from the (-)-Wieland-Miescher ketone analogue. The synthetic method features a biogenetic-type annulation of the phenolic and quinone segments to regioselectively construct the central tricyclic ring system as the key step.

Stem cell collection filter system for human placental/umbilical cord blood processing.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The hydroxyethyl starch method and the Top & Bottom method have been used worldwide for the volume reduction of human placental/umbilical cord blood (PCB) units. To simplify the preparation of nucleated cell (NC) concentrates, we developed a new filter device--the stem cell collection filter system (SCF SYSTEM)--which can collect mononuclear cells (MNC) at a high recovery rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The SCF SYSTEM consisted of a filter and two bags. Multilayered polyethylene terephthalate non-wovens, coated with a hydrophilic polymer, were used as filter media. PCB units were filtered by gravity (n = 12). Red blood cells, platelets and plasma were drained into the drain bag, and the NC trapped on the filter media was collected in the recovery bag by reverse washing. Recovered cell fractions were evaluated. RESULTS: The volume of cell concentrate recovered was 27.4 +/- 2.2 ml (mean +/- SD, n = 12). The whole time required for processing was less than 30 min, and handling was very simple. The viability of recovered NC was 97.8 +/- 3.2%. The recovery of lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes was 79.5 +/- 16.9%, 79.8 +/- 20.4% and 39.0 +/- 19.5%, respectively. The recovery rate of granulocytes was significantly lower than that of monocytes and lymphocytes (P < or = 0.0001). The recovery rates of CD3+ cells, CD19+ cells and CD56+ cells were almost the same as that of MNC. The recovery rates of CD34+ cells, total colony-forming cells and long-term culture-initiating cells were 81.7 +/- 27.0% (n = 11), 80.8 +/- 27.7% (n = 12) and 75.0 +/- 18.4% (n = 2), respectively. CONCLUSION: The new filter system was shown to be efficient for PCB processing, encompassing a very simple handling procedure with a good recovery of haematopoietic progenitor cells. Hence, the SCF SYSTEM is potentially useful for the volume reduction of PCB units for cord blood banking.

Novel seco cyclopropa[c]pyrrolo[3,2-e]indole bisalkylators bearing a 3,3'-arylenebisacryloyl group as a linker.

We synthesized the novel seco cyclopropa[c]pyrrolo[3,2-e]indole (CPI) bisalkylators and evaluated their antitumor activity. Among these derivatives, 11a (AT-760), in which the two seco 3-methoxycarbonyl-2-trifluoromethyl CPI (MCTFCPI) moieties are connected with a 3,3'-(1,4-phenylene)bisacryloyl group, was found to exhibit more potent cytotoxicity and antitumor activity against HeLaS3 human uterine cervix carcinoma cells and Colon 26 adenocarcinoma cells, respectively, than 8 (bizelesin, U-77,779). It also appeared that compound 11a exhibits improved in vivo efficacy in the human colon CX-1 model when compared to either compound 8 or mitomycin C (MMC). Efficacious doses for 11a were found to be 2-fold lower than those for 8.

Ulcerative duodenitis accompanying ulcerative colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon of unknown etiology. There are varied manifestations in the natural course of UC. However, duodenum is not generally considered a target organ of UC. Here, we report two patients with steroid-responsive ulcerative duodenitis with colitis that was consistent with UC, but not with Crohn's disease. We also reviewed six cases of ulcerative duodenitis with UC. Duodenal lesion with UC may be a more common phenomenon, although infrequently clinically manifested under steroid therapy. Upper gastrointestinal tract inflammation in UC warrants further studies to ascertain whether the duodenum is a target organ in UC, especially in steroid-free conditions.

[Comparative antibacterial activity of carbapenems against P. aeruginosa (1)].

Comparative antibacterial activity of imipenem (IPM), panipenem (PAPM), meropenem (MEPM) and biapenem (BIPM) was determined against 288 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa collected from various hospitals in 2000. The order of activity by comparison of MIC50/MIC80/MIC90 was: MEPM (1/4/8 micrograms/ml) > BIPM (1/4/16 micrograms/ml) > IPM (2/4/16 micrograms/ml) > PAPM (8/16/32 micrograms/ml). Moreover, the order of activity against 75 strains of P. aeruginosa (MIC of CAZ, AZT was > or = 16 micrograms/ml and MIC of IPM, MEPM was < or = 8 micrograms/ml) by comparison of MIC50/MIC80/MIC90 was: BIPM (1/2/8 micrograms/ml) > or = MEPM (1/4/8 micrograms/ml) > or = IPM (2/2/8 micrograms/ml) > PAPM (8/16/16 micrograms/ml). Judging from both correlation between the MICs of carbapenems and relationship between class C beta-lactamase activity and drug susceptibility of carbapenems, it becomes apparent that carbapenems, especially BIPM and MEPM will be useful for treatment of antipseudomonal cephem resistant pseudomonas infection.

Overexpression of fatty acid synthase in oesophageal squamous cell dysplasia and carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS), an enzyme necessary for de novo fatty acid synthesis, has been examined in several types of tumours so far, but not in oesophageal cancer and dysplasia. METHODS: We examined the immunohistochemical reactivity of FAS in 4 normal adult oesophagi, 14 dysplastic oesophageal lesions, and 80 squamous cell carcinomas and 6 cases with 4 special types of malignancies of the oesophagus. We also analysed the correlation between FAS expression and various clinicopathological features and long-term survival in patients with oesophageal cancer. RESULTS: In the normal oesophagus, only faint cytoplasmic FAS expression was observed in cells of the basal layer. In contrast, FAS-positive cells were found in 92.9% of cases of dysplasia and 96.5% of cases of carcinoma including 6 cases with a specific histological subtype. However, high expression of FAS did not correlate with either clinicopathological features or prognosis of patients with oesophageal cancer. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that FAS is expressed in almost all oesophageal carcinomas of both usual and special types and dysplastic lesions, suggesting that FAS may be upregulated continuously from the early stage of oesophageal squamous cell carcinogenesis to established carcinoma.

Psychosocial factors affecting psychosomatic symptoms in Japanese schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: In a previous study we reported the prevalence of psychosomatic symptoms in 1619 Osaka elementary schoolchildren using our original general health questionnaire assessed by their parents. We found that psychosomatic symptoms were increasing with age. This study was designed to investigate psychosocial factors responsible for increasing psychosomatic symptoms with age. METHODS: We calculated a correlation coefficient between the physical complaints score (PCS) and these psychosocial variables using quantitation I of multiple regression analysis separately in the older (10-12 years, n = 860) and the younger age group (7-9 years, n = 759). RESULTS: A stronger relationship between PCS and psychosocial problems was found in the older (r = 0.719, P < 0.0001) than in the younger age group (r = 0.570, P < 0.0001). Further analysis demonstrated that difficulties in school performance and increasing psychological conflicts with human relationships were major causes of somatic complaints in the older age group. In the younger age group, however, immaturity of social skills seems to be a primary problem. In addition, poor parental interaction and the playing of computer games were found to increase somatic complaints in children. CONCLUSION: Children in the older age reflect the closer bio-psycho-socio interaction compared with their younger counterparts. This may give rise to a high incidence of psychosomatic disorders and school refusal in Japanese children. We emphasize that psychological support by parents in daily life is necessary to reduce psychosomatic symptoms in children.

Enrichment of lineage-CD34- cells using a newly developed filter system.

Recent studies have demonstrated the presence of human lineage- (lin-)CD34- cells that are capable of differentiating into CD34+ cells in xenogeneic transplantation systems. We developed a new filter system that can enrich lin-CD34- cells, a precursor cell population of CD34+ cells. The filter consists of polyethylene terephthalate non-woven fabrics coated with hydrophilic polymer. The frequency of lin-CD34- cells in the cell population after filtration was 7.45 +/- 4.41%, a 16.8 +/- 8.81-fold enrichment compared with 0. 49 +/- 0.31% in the cell population before filtration. The mean recovery of lin-CD34- cells was 48.57 +/- 13.59% (n = 15). Purified lin-CD34- cells, obtained by sorting the filtrated cell population, acquired CD34 expression and colony-forming activity after 7 d of culture. Our results indicate that this filter system is useful for isolating lin-CD34- cells, including precursors of CD34+ cells, and will help further the study of lin-CD34- cells.