Kaempferol Has Potent Protective and Antifibrillogenic Effects for α-Synuclein Neurotoxicity In Vitro

Aggregation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) is implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Therefore, the removal of α-Syn aggregation could lead to the development of many new therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we succeeded in generating a new α-Syn stably expressing cell line using a piggyBac transposon system to investigate the neuroprotective effect of the flavonoid kaempferol on α-Syn toxicity. We found that kaempferol provided significant protection against α-Syn-related neurotoxicity. Furthermore, kaempferol induced autophagy through an increase in the biogenesis of lysosomes by inducing the expression of transcription factor EB and reducing the accumulation of α-Syn; thus, kaempferol prevented neuronal cell death. Moreover, kaempferol directly blocked the amyloid fibril formation of α-Syn. These results support the therapeutic potential of kaempferol in diseases such as synucleinopathies that are characterized by α-Syn aggregates

Experimental Tests of Broken Tetragonal Symmetry in Hidden Order of URu2Si2

We have performed synchrotron X-ray backscattering measurements on a high-quality single crystal of URu2Si2 with RRR > 350. The obtained experimental results show that the tetragonal crystalsymmetry of this system is preserved in Hidden Order within the highest-ever spatial resolution for the detection of orthorhombicity (b\u27 - a\u27)/(b\u27 - a\u27) of ~ 1.0 x 10-5. We also present the tests for the reproducibility of magnetic torque measurements using the same single-crystalline sample to discuss the possible broken symmetry of URu2Si2.The International Conference on Strongly Correlated Electron System

High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy with External Beam Radiotherapy for Localized or Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer

Purpose : To evaluate the therapeutic outcomes and late toxicities in patients treated by high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for localized or locally advanced prostate cancer. Materials and Methods : From May 2004 to September 2008, 86 men were treated by HDR-BT with EBRT for localized or locally advanced prostate cancer at the National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical center. The median EBRT and HDR-BT doses were 40Gy and 30Gy, respectively. Result : With a median follow-up of 24 months, the 3-year overall, disease specific, and biochemical relapse-free survival rates in all patients were 97.3%, 100%, and 83.6% respectively. The 3-year biochemical relapse-free survival rate of the patients categorized to low or intermediate risk group (91.8%) was significantly better than that of the patients categorized to the high risk group (74.3%) (p = 0.042). There was no significant difference of biochemical relapse-free survival regarding to the other clinical factors (age, T-stage, Gleason score, initial prostate-specific antigen level, neoadjuvant hormone therapy, and total dose of EBRT and HDR-BT). Late Grade2 and Grade3 gastrointestinal toxicities were observed in 8 patients (9.3%) and 2 patients (2.3%), respectively. Late Grade2 genitourinary toxicities were observed in 12 patients (13. 9%). There was no patient suffered from late Grade3 or greater genitourinary toxicities. Conclusion : HDR-BT with EBRT can be safe and effective for localized or locally advanced prostate cancer