46 research outputs found
Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with acute myocardial infarction
AbstractOBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We also examined the involvement of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), which are a possible source of VEGF in AMI.BACKGROUNDVEGF is a potent endothelial cell–specific mitogen and could affect the outcome of AMI.METHODSThirty patients with AMI were used for this study. Serum and PBMCs were isolated from peripheral blood on days 1, 7, 14 and 21 after the onset of AMI. PBMCs were cultured at a density of 5 × 106cells/ml for 24 h. VEGF levels in serum and the culture media were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a specific anti-human VEGF antibody.RESULTSSerum VEGF levels elevated gradually after the onset of AMI and reached a peak on day 14. VEGF levels in the culture medium of PBMCs after incubation for 24 h (PBMC-VEGF) were maximally elevated 7 days after the onset. Maximum serum VEGF levels showed significant positive correlations with maximum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels (r = +0.70, p < 0.001), but maximum PBMC-VEGF levels did not correlate with maximum CPK levels. Patients showing improvement in left ventricular systolic function during the course of AMI showed significantly higher PBMC-VEGF levels than patients without improvement.CONCLUSIONSThe extent of myocardial damage contributes to the elevation of serum VEGF levels in AMI. VEGF produced by PBMCs may play an important role in the improvement of left ventricular function by promoting angiogenesis and reendothelialization after AMI
Measurement of low-energy antiproton detection efficiency in BESS below 1 GeV
An accelerator experiment was performed using a low-energy antiproton beam to
measure antiproton detection efficiency of BESS, a balloon-borne spectrometer
with a superconducting solenoid. Measured efficiencies showed good agreement
with calculated ones derived from the BESS Monte Carlo simulation based on
GEANT/GHEISHA. With detailed verification of the BESS simulation, the relative
systematic error of detection efficiency derived from the BESS simulation has
been determined to be 5%, compared with the previous estimation of
15% which was the dominant uncertainty for measurements of cosmic-ray
antiproton flux.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figure
Measurements of atmospheric muon spectra at mountain altitude
We report new measurements of the atmospheric muons at mountain altitude. The
measurement was carried out with the BESS detector at the top of Mt. Norikura,
Japan. The altitude is 2,770 m above sea level. Comparing our results and
predictions given by some interaction models, a further appropriate model has
been investigated. These studies would improve accuracy of atmospheric neutrino
calculations.Comment: Mean momentum in Table 1 was correcte
Measurements of Cosmic-ray Low-energy Antiproton and Proton Spectra in a Transient Period of the Solar Field Reversal
The energy spectra of cosmic-ray low-energy antiprotons and protons have been
measured by BESS in 1999 and 2000, during a period covering the solar magnetic
field reversal. Based on these measurements, a sudden increase of the
antiproton to proton flux ratio following the solar magnetic field reversal was
observed, and it generally agrees with a drift model of the solar modulation.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, revised version accepted for publication in Phys.
Rev. Let
Systematization and Teaching of the Contents Related with Processes of Strata Formation in Elementary and Junior High Schools.
Macroalgae and seagrass contribution to gastropods in sub-tropical and temperate tidal flats
Latent TGF-β binding protein 2 and 4 have essential overlapping functions in microfibril development
Microfibrils are exracellular matrix components necessary for elastic fiber assembly and for suspending lenses. We previously reported that latent TGF-β binding protein 2 (LTBP-2), a microfibril-associated protein, is required for forming stable microfibril bundles in ciliary zonules. However, it was not understood why Ltbp2 null mice only showed an eye-specific phenotype, whereas LTBP-2 is abundantly expressed in other tissues containing microfibrils in wild type mice. Here, we show that LTBP-4, another microfibril-associated protein, compensates for the loss of LTBP-2 in microfibril formation. Ltbp2/4S double knockout (DKO) mice showed increased lethality due to emphysema, which was much more severe than that found in Ltbp4S null mice. Elastic fibers in the lungs of Ltbp2/4S DKO mice were severely disorganized and fragmented. Cultured mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from Ltbp2/4S DKO embryos developed reduced microfibril meshwork in serum-free conditions, whereas the microfibril formation was restored by the addition of either recombinant LTBP-2 or -4. Finally, ectopic expression of LTBP-4 in the whole body restored ciliary zonule microfibril bundles in the eyes of Ltbp2 null mice. These data suggest that LTBP-2 and -4 have critical overlapping functions in forming the robust structure of microfibrils in vitro and in vivo
Latent TGF-β binding protein 2 and 4 have essential overlapping functions in microfibril development
Microfibrils are exracellular matrix components necessary for elastic fiber assembly and for suspending lenses. We previously reported that latent TGF-β binding protein 2 (LTBP-2), a microfibril-associated protein, is required for forming stable microfibril bundles in ciliary zonules. However, it was not understood why Ltbp2 null mice only showed an eye-specific phenotype, whereas LTBP-2 is abundantly expressed in other tissues containing microfibrils in wild type mice. Here, we show that LTBP-4, another microfibril-associated protein, compensates for the loss of LTBP-2 in microfibril formation. Ltbp2/4S double knockout (DKO) mice showed increased lethality due to emphysema, which was much more severe than that found in Ltbp4S null mice. Elastic fibers in the lungs of Ltbp2/4S DKO mice were severely disorganized and fragmented. Cultured mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from Ltbp2/4S DKO embryos developed reduced microfibril meshwork in serum-free conditions, whereas the microfibril formation was restored by the addition of either recombinant LTBP-2 or -4. Finally, ectopic expression of LTBP-4 in the whole body restored ciliary zonule microfibril bundles in the eyes of Ltbp2 null mice. These data suggest that LTBP-2 and -4 have critical overlapping functions in forming the robust structure of microfibrils in vitro and in vivo