Energy state of InGaAs quantum dots on SiO2-patterned vicinal substrate

The optical properties of In0.8Ga0.2As self-assembled quantum dots (SAQDs) grown on GaAs wire structures formed by utilizing SiO2-patterned exact and 5°-off (001) GaAs substrates have been studied with micro-photoluminescence (μ-PL). Single PL peak was occurred for In0.8Ga0.2As SAQDs grown on SiO2-patterned exact (001) GaAs, whereas double PL peaks were showed for SAQDs grown on 5°-off (001) GaAs substrates as the width of the opening windows increased. The power-dependent μ-PL spectra show that the first and second peaks of these double peaks were originated from the well-defined ground and excited state, respectively. These results demonstrated that In0.8Ga0.2As SAQDs selectively grown by utilizing SiO2-patterned 5°-off (001) GaAs substrates have well-defined zero-dimensional quantum states

Solution Structure of IseA, an Inhibitor Protein of DL-Endopeptidases from Bacillus subtilis, Reveals a Novel Fold with a Characteristic Inhibitory Loop

In Bacillus subtilis, LytE, LytF, CwlS, and CwlO are vegetative autolysins, DL-endopeptidases in the NlpC/P60 family, and play essential roles in cell growth and separation. IseA (YoeB) is a proteinaceous inhibitor against the DL-endopeptidases, peptidoglycan hydrolases. Overexpression of IseA caused significantly long chained cell morphology, because IseA inhibits the cell separation DL-endopeptidases post-translationally. Here, we report the first three-dimensional structure of IseA, determined by NMR spectroscopy. The structure includes a single domain consisting of three alpha-helices, one 3(10)-helix, and eight beta-strands, which is a novel fold like a "hacksaw." Noteworthy is a dynamic loop between beta 4 and the 3(10)-helix, which resembles a "blade." The electrostatic potential distribution shows that most of the surface is positively charged, but the region around the loop is negatively charged. In contrast, the LytF active-site cleft is expected to be positively charged. NMR chemical shift perturbation of IseA interacting with LytF indicated that potential interaction sites are located around the loop. Furthermore, the IseA mutants D100K/D102K and G99P/G101P at the loop showed dramatic loss of inhibition activity against LytF, compared with wild-type IseA, indicating that the beta 4-3(10) loop plays an important role in inhibition. Moreover, we built a complex structure model of IseA-LytF by docking simulation, suggesting that the beta 4-3(10) loop of IseA gets stuck deep in the cleft of LytF, and the active site is occluded. These results suggest a novel inhibition mechanism of the hacksaw-like structure, which is different from known inhibitor proteins, through interactions around the characteristic loop regions with the active-site cleft of enzymes.ArticleJOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY. 287(53):44736-44748 (2012)journal articl

関節リウマチ(RA)患者のNSAIDs長期投与における胃粘膜障害発生因子ならびにファモチジンの治療効果に関する検討

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of gastric mucosal injury induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed on 100 RA patients treated with NSAIDs. Patient factors potentially contributing to the development of NSAID-induced gastric mucosal injury were identified by logistic regression analysis; gastric mucosal injury and ulcers were used as objective variables. Gastric mucosal injury was detected in 62 of 100 patients, and eight of these patients had ulcers. Previous history of ulcers, lifestyle, NSAID dosage, and body mass index were associated with the development of gastric mucosal injury, and the use of diclofenac and steroid dose were associated with the development of ulcers. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) did not appear to influence the risk of NSAID-induced gastric mucosal injury. RA patients treated for long periods with NSAIDs for RA symptoms should be controlled with DMARDs, without consideration of increased doses of steroids, in terms of risk for NSAID-induced gastric mucosal injury. Simultaneously, concomitant use of histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RA) such as famotidine should be considered.博士（医学）・乙第1354号・平成27年3月16日© Japan College of Rheumatology 2009© Springer International Publishing AG, Part of Springer Science+Business Medi

Aharonov-Bohm Oscillations in Photoluminescence from Charged Exciton in Quantum Tubes

The oscillation of photoluminescence peak energies is observed in InAs quantum tubes depending on the magnetic flux through the tube. The oscillation is shown to be due to the Aharonov-Bohm effect of a charged exciton in a quantum tube. No quadratic shift in photoluminescence peak energies is observed, which is a characteristic feature of a thin quantum tube with a single channel surrounding the magnetic flux through the tube.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure

Flexural strength of the joint between glass-infiltrated alumina frames and the alumina-magnesia modifier.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the flexural strength of the joint between glass-infiltrated alumina frames and the experimental adjusting agent (MA modifier) that contains alumina and magnesia. METHODS: A commercially available adjusting agent (Optimizer), a slurry of alumina powder (Alumina modifier), and a bulk specimen (joint-free alumina) were used as controls. Beam-shaped alumina specimens were machined from an alumina block. The ends of two alumina beams were positioned at an interval of 1.0mm and joined with each adjusting agent. The joined specimens were subjected to sintering, glass infiltration firing, glass control firing, and then a three-point bending test was carried out to evaluate the flexural strength. RESULTS: The maximum flexural strength was observed in the joint-free alumina, followed by MA modifier, Optimizer and Alumina modifier. With the exception for joint-free alumina, the failure modes after three-point bending test tended to shift from adhesive failure at substrate material-adjusting agent interface to cohesive failure within adjusting agent as the flexural strength increased. CONCLUSIONS: The use of MA modifier significantly improved the flexural strength of joined glass-infiltrated alumina frame. The MA modifier could be applied for adjusting the margin as an alternative to Optimizer when fabricating crown and bridge substructures with In-Ceram Alumina system

EFFICACY OF INTERFERON THERAPY FOR CHRONIC HEPATITIS C ： A COOPERATIVE STUDY IN ELEVEN HOSPITALS

We investigated the influences of liver histology，serum levels of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HCV genotypes on responsiveness to interferon (IFN) therapy in 342 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Either 9 million units (MU) of lymphoblastoid alpha IFN or 3 MU of recombinant IFN-alpha was administered daily for 2 weeks and then three times a week for 22 weeks. IFN responses were divided into three groups on the basis of the results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay detecting HCV-RNA in serum. Complete response (CR) was defined as sustained elimination of HCV for at least 6 months after treatment，partial response (PR) as HCV elimination for a limited period，non-response (NR) as continuously positive for HCV-RNA in serum. Quantitation of pre-treament HCV-RNA amount in serum was determined by competitive PCR assay in 47 patients. HCV genotyping was performed in 114 patients by PCR with genotype-specific primers. CR was obtained in 97 patients (28.4%)，PR in 104 (30.4%) and NR in 141 (41.2%). IFN responses，represented by CR/PR/NR，were 15/18/11 in 44 patients with chronic persistent hepatitis (CPH)，72/65/73 in 210 patients with chronic aggressive hepatitis (CAH) 2a，and 10/21/57 in 88 patients with CAH2b. CR rate was lower in patients with CAH2b (11.4%) compared to those with CPH (34.1%) or CAH2a (34.3%). Averages of pre-treatment serum HCV-RNA amount (copies/50μl) were 10³·⁵⁵ in 13 CRs，10⁴·⁵⁶ in 17 PRs，and 10⁵·⁹⁵ in 17 NRs. There was a positive correlation between pre-treatment HCV-RNA levels and IFN unresponsiveness. HCV genotyping in 114 patients revealed that HCV type Ⅰ infection was observed in one，type Ⅱ in 94，type Ⅲ in 11，type Ⅳ in 6 and mixed (types Ⅱ and Ⅳ) in 2 patients，and their IFN responses (CR/PR/NR) were 0/0/1，28/26/40，3/5/3，1/3/2 and 0/1/1，respectively

Involvement of an alternatively spliced mitochondrial oxodicarboxylate carrier in adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adipogenesis is a complex process that involves many genes/proteins at different stages of differentiation. In order to identify genes critical for adipogeneis, we took a novel approach based on phenotype change of individual cell, to search for genes with regulatory roles in adipogenesis genome-wide in 3T3-L1 cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Lentivirus-based inducible random homologous knockdown was used for the screening of functional gene that altered lipid formation in the adipocyte during differentiation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the present study, we reported the identification of an alternatively spliced mitochondrial oxodicarboxylate carrier (ODC), so named ODC-AS. ODC-AS is different from ODC by replacing 22 amino acids with 29 amino acids at the N-terminal. ODC was widely expressed in most tissues in mouse as determined by multi-tissue cDNA panel polymerase chain reaction. However, ODC-AS was only detected in adipose tissue and in iris and sclera-choroid complex of the eye. The expression of ODC-AS in 3T3-L1 was detected after the induction of differentiation, and reached a peak at day 4 and then reduced thereafter, whereas no ODC transcript detected in the cells neither before nor after differentiation. Knocking down of ODC-AS expression by RNA interference led to significant reduction in lipid accumulation as determined by triglyceride measurement and Nile Red staining, as well as adipogenic marker CEBPα, PPARγ, aP2 and CD36. Although both ODC and ODC-AS are expressed in white and brown adipose tissues, only the expression of ODC-AS was down-regulated in brown adipose tissue by cold exposure.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results implicate that ODC-AS may promote lipid accumulation during adipocyte differentiation and play an important role in the regulation of lipid metabolism in adipose tissues.</p

Yoga-plus exercise mix promotes cognitive, affective, and physical functions in elderly people

Objectives: Increased attention is being paid to Asian medicine in balanced total health care. We investigated the effects of mixed exercise including yoga ('Yoga-plus') among elderly individuals. Methods: A total of 385 subjects (72 males and 313 females, 75.5 ± 8.7 years old) participated in a 12-month (M) exercise program at a health and welfare center, a day service center, and a nursing home. Cognitive, affective, and physical functions, and activities of daily living (ADL), were compared at baseline (0M), 6M and 12M of exercise intervention. Results: Mean scores on the frontal assessment battery, clock drawing test, cube copying test, letter fluency, and category fluency significantly improved after the Yoga-plus intervention, while mini-mental state examination, Hasegawa dementia score-revised, and trail-making test performance were relatively stable. Affective scores on the geriatric depression scale (GDS), apathy scale (AS) and Abe's behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia were not significantly affected by exercise therapy, but subgroups with higher baseline GDS (GDS ≥ 5) and AS (AS ≥ 16) scores showed a significant improvement after intervention. One-leg standing time and 3-m timed up and go test performance significantly improved after 12M intervention. Discussion: Yoga-plus improved cognitive, affective, ADL, and physical functions in a local elderly population, particularly among below-baseline individuals, indicating the benefits of dementia prevention among elderly individuals

Synergistic inhibitory effect of gemcitabine and angiotensin type-1 receptor blocker, losartan, on murine pancreatic tumor growth via anti-angiogenic activities.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death, and represents a challenging chemotherapeutic problem. The crucial role of angiogenesis in tumor growth has been widely recognized, and several reports have revealed that the combination treatment of the conventional chemotherapeutic drugs and anti-angiogenic agents exerted synergistic anti-cancerous effects. It has been reported that the clinically used angiotensin type-1 receptor blocker (ARB) exerted potent anti-angiogenic activity. The aim of our current study was to examine the combination effect of gemcitabine (GEM), a widely used conventional chemotherapeutic drug against pancreas cancer, and losartan (Lo), an ARB, on murine pancreatic tumor growth, especially in conjunction with angiogenesis. When used individually, GEM and Lo at clinically comparable low doses moderately suppressed pancreatic tumor development. The combination treatment with GEM and Lo exerted a marked inhibitory effect as compared with single agent treatments even after the tumor was fully established. Neovascularization and the expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a central angiogenic factor, in the tumor were both markedly suppressed in a magnitude similar to the inhibitory effects against the tumor growth. Since both agents are widely used in the clinical practice, the combination regimen of GEM and Lo may represent a potential new therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer in the future