Administration of PDE4 Inhibitors Suppressed the Pannus-Like Inflammation by Inhibition of Cytokine Production by Macrophages and Synovial Fibroblast Proliferation

A marked proliferation of synovial fibroblasts in joints leads to pannus formation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Various kinds of cytokines are produced in the pannus. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the effects of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors in a new animal model for the evaluation of pannus formation and cytokine production in the pannus. Mice sensitized with methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA) were challenged by subcutaneous implantation of a membrane filter soaked in mBSA solution in the back of the mice. Drugs were orally administered for 10 days. The granuloma formed around the filter was collected on day 11. It was chopped into pieces and cultured in vitro for 24 hr. The cytokines were measured in the supernatants. The type of cytokines produced in the granuloma was quite similar to those produced in pannus in RA. Both PDE4 inhibitors, KF66490 and SB207499, suppressed the production of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-12, and the increase in myeloperoxidase activity, a marker enzyme for neutrophils and hydroxyproline content. Compared to leflunomide, PDE4 inhibitors more strongly suppressed IL-12 production and the increase in myeloperoxidase activity. PDE4 inhibitors also inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-α and IL-12 production from thioglycolate-induced murine peritoneal macrophages and the proliferation of rat synovial fibroblasts. These results indicate this model makes it easy to evaluate the effect of drugs on various cytokine productions in a granuloma without any purification step and may be a relevant model for evaluating novel antirheumatic drugs on pannus formation in RA. PDE4 inhibitors could have therapeutic effects on pannus formation in RA by inhibition of cytokine production by macrophages and synovial fibroblast proliferation

High Speed Turn-on Gate Driving for 4.5kV IEGT without Increase in PiN Diode Recovery Current

4.5 kV IEGT turn-on loss reduction is experimentally and numerically achieved by employing the proposed simple two step gate drive method without affecting PiN diode reverse recovery performance. It was found that 14% of turn-on loss is reduced only by the simple method. This study determines, for the first time, the optimum gate driving in the two step gate drive which can reduce IEGT turn-on loss maximally without affecting PiN diode reverse recovery performance by TCAD simulation. The method is simple yet effective for reducing switching loss of high voltage IEGT.2013 25th International Symposium on Power Semiconductor Devices & IC\u27s (ISPSD), May 26-30, 2013, Ishikawa Ongakudo, Kanazawa. Japan

High Speed Turn-on Gate Driving for 4.5kV IEGT without Increase in PiN Diode Recovery Current

2013 25th International Symposium on Power Semiconductor Devices & IC's (ISPSD), May 26-30, 2013, Ishikawa Ongakudo, Kanazawa. Japan.4.5 kV IEGT turn-on loss reduction is experimentally and numerically achieved by employing the proposed simple two step gate drive method without affecting PiN diode reverse recovery performance. It was found that 14% of turn-on loss is reduced only by the simple method. This study determines, for the first time, the optimum gate driving in the two step gate drive which can reduce IEGT turn-on loss maximally without affecting PiN diode reverse recovery performance by TCAD simulation. The method is simple yet effective for reducing switching loss of high voltage IEGT

Role of fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) in animal models of osteoarthritis

10.1186/ar2474Arthritis Research and Therapy104R9

Multipurpose Strategy for Energy Storage System Based on Capital Asset Pricing Model With Ensemble Approach

In this paper, we present a multipurpose operation strategy for the efficient distribution of power to multiple power services from a single battery energy storage system (BESS). The proposed operation strategy uses a modern portfolio theory of financial engineering known as the capital asset pricing model to determine the allocation of BESS discharge power. Using this strategy, it is possible to quantitatively evaluate the expected return and risk in BESS operation and achieve the maximum expected return for the selected acceptable risk. Further, the predictability of the expected return is improved by applying the ensemble approach to the estimation model of the expected return. A one-year long performance test was conducted at the Japan Electric Power Exchange using the proposed operation strategy. A mean absolute error of approximately 2.0% between the expected return of the proposed strategy and the actual return was obtained, confirming the accuracy of the proposed strategy

血中ヘモグロビン濃度及び血中乳酸濃度に対する鉄摂取の影響

ヘモグロビン（Hb）の構成要素である鉄は、ヒトにとって不可欠な栄養素である。Hb は全身に酸素を供給する役割を担っており、鉄の摂取不足は、結果として筋肉への酸素供給の不足を引き起こす。一方、長距離走者のトレーニング効果を評価する生理的指標として血中乳酸濃度が主に用いられているが、鉄の摂取状況と安静時血中乳酸濃度の関係はほとんど明らかとなってない。そこで本研究では鉄欠乏、あるいは鉄過剰食を２週間与えた発育期ラットを用いて、Hb 濃度及び血中乳酸濃度に対する鉄摂取の影響を検討した。鉄欠乏群の体重変化は対照群と比し、小さくなる傾向がみられた。実験最終日の肝臓重量は有意（p＜０.０５）に低下し、腎臓、精巣も低下傾向を示した。一方、心臓重量は有意（p＜０.０１）に増加し、心肥大が認められた。欠乏群の Hb 濃度は経日的に減少し、実験最終日には貧血状態を示した。また、血中乳酸濃度は対照群に比較して約２.５倍の上昇が認められた。逆に、過剰群では Hb 濃度は６日目より著しく上昇し、血中乳酸濃度は低下傾向を示した。以上より、長距離走者における鉄の摂取不足は血中乳酸濃度の上昇をきたすため、身体持久力の低下を引き起こす可能性が大きく、身体能力を維持する上で日常の食生活における十分な鉄の摂取が不可欠であることが示唆された

Bipolar localization of putative photoreceptor protein for phototaxis in thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus

Funding Information: This work was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for scientific research from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture, Japan (no. 11640653 to K.M.).We identified an open reading frame from a database of the entire genome of Synechococcus elongatus, the product of which was very similar to pixJ1, which was proposed as photoreceptor gene for phototaxis in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 [Yoshihara et al. (2000) Plant Cell Physiol. 41: 1299]. The mRNA of S. elongatus pixJ (SepixJ) was expressed in vivo as a part of the product of an operon. SePixJ was detected exclusively in the membrane fraction after cell fractionation. Immunogold labeling of SePixJ in ultra-thin sections indicated that it existed only in both ends of the rod-shaped cell; probably bound with the cytoplasmic membrane.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Surface Active Buffered Hydrogen Fluoride Having Excellent Wettability for ULSI Processing

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