The economic roles of the Sino-Thai community in the northern region of Thailand from 1900 to 1960 : a case study of Lampang province

制度:新 ; 報告番号:甲3675号 ; 学位の種類:博士(学術) ; 授与年月日:2012/6/11 ; 早大学位記番号:新6043Waseda Universit

NanoJanus and Nanosatellite Assembly for Biomolecular Delivery and Cancer Therapeutics

Nanotechnology has been utilized widely in medical fields to improve the treatment and diagnosis of several diseases. One of the key players to drive medical nanotechnology forward is nanoparticles, which have been intensively studied and used as a tool for imaging, drug delivery, and disease treatments. Gold and iron oxide, undoubtedly, are on the short list of the nanoparticles used in medical nanotechnology due to their biocompatibility, tunable surface, and unique physico-chemical properties. In this dissertation, we developed novel nanostructures using gold, iron oxide nanoparticles and polymers for various applications including Janus motors, vaccine delivery, and controlled drug release. We generated an asymmetrical Janus nanostructure using thermo-cleavable polymer, gold, and iron oxide nanoparticles for photothermal enhancement and nano motors through an active rotational motion. Gold/iron oxide Janus nanoparticles (JNS) are developed by a seed-mediated self-assembly using a thermo-cleavable polymer facilitating the process. The formed JNS strongly displays an asymmetrical photothermal effect to activate a rotational motion and enhances photothermia resulting in significant cell killing effects under weak near-infrared (NIR) light exposure. In addition, the JNS displays distinct active rotational motion under NIR laser light due to the temperature gradient at its surface, which can be used potentially as Janus motors for drug delivery in the future. We next harnessed the same thermo-cleavable polymer used in JNS formation for controlled drug release under NIR laser light irradiation. The iron oxide nanoparticles (IONP) were first encapsulated in the thermo-cleavable polymeric micelles with doxorubicin (Dox), a chemotherapeutic drug. After NIR trigger, the polymer is cleaved due to heat transfer from the IONP resulting in the release of doxorubicin from the micelles. This study demonstrated that the thermo-cleavable polymer could be used as a smart material for controlled drug release. We also generated another type of secondary structure, a “gold/iron oxide nanosatellite”, using poly (- methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane) -b- poly (ethylene oxide) polymer (MPS-b-PEO). This nanosatellite structure, in which IONP is a central core and surrounded by multiple gold nanoparticles as satellites, is used for delivering antigens and an adjuvant for HPV+ head and neck cancer treatment. These nanosatellites deliver high surface density of E7/E6 oncogenic peptides and cyclic- guanosine-adenosine monophosphate (cGAMP) adjuvant to antigen presenting cells (APC) and further activate type I interferon (IFN-I) response. The nanosatellite vaccine also promotes antigen specific CD8+ T cells to infiltrate the tumors and inhibits tumor growth in an HPV+ head and neck tumor model when used as a single therapy or in combination therapy with an anti PD-L1 antibody. Nanosatellites offer many advantages for antigenic peptide and adjuvant delivery such as having a larger surface area, higher antigenic peptide density, higher cell uptake, and lower systemic elimination. This thesis presents the versatile developments and applications of gold/iron oxide nanostructures (Janus and Nanosatellite) which have advantages for drug and vaccine delivery in the future.PHDPharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140893/1/kanokwas_1.pd

An unusually large and persistent male swarm of the stingless bee Tetragonula laeviceps in Thailand (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini)

At an entrance of a nest of Tetragonula laeviceps (Smith) located in Chiang Mai University campus we observed a male swarm that lasted for at least 40 consecutive days and contained more than 7000 males each time on several days. Surprisingly, harvesting the day’s totality of males did not reduce the swarm size on the following day, thus indicating that most males swarmed only one day, at the end of which they presumably perished from exhaustion away from the nest. Males of other species were also found in the swarm, a behavior corroborated by previous observations with other species elsewhere in Thailand

Association and expression study of CD9, PLCz and COX-2 as candidate genes to improve boar sperm quality and fertility traits

The transcription factors tetraspanin CD9 (CD9), phospholipase C zeta (PLCz) and cyclooxygenase isoenzyme type 2 (COX-2) are believed to play a key role in spermatogenesis in rat, mouse and human. However, no study was devoted to associate the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and expression pattern of three genes with sperm quality and fertility traits in boars. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the polymorphism and expressional pattern of these genes with boar sperm quality and fertility. The association of SNP with sperm quality traits (sperm concentration [SCON], semen volume per ejaculate [VOL], sperm motility [MOT], plasma droplets rate [PDR] and abnormal spermatozoa rate [ASR]) and the fertility traits (non return rate [NRR] and number of piglet born alive [NBA]) were analyzed using 231 of purebred Pietrain (PI) boars, 109 of Pietrain × Hampshire crossbred (PIHA) boars and 340 of the combined analysis from PI and PIHA boars (COMBINED). In addition, to study the mRNA and protein expression pattern of those genes in boar reproductive and non reproductive tissue, three boars having higher sperm concentration, sperm motility and lower sperm volume (G-I groups) and three boars having lower sperm concentration, sperm motility, and higher sperm volume (G-II groups) were selected. The result showed that the SNP in intron 6 (A>T) of CD9 was significantly associated with MOT (p C) of PLCz was associated with SCON (p A) of COX-2 showed no association with sperm quality and fertility traits. In addition, the mRNA and protein expression of the CD9, PLCz and COX-2 were found to be different between reproductive tissues and non reproductive tissues of boars. Elevated CD9, PLCz and COX-2 proteins expression were found in Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, epithelial cells, germ cells and the acrosome and acrosomal membrane of mature spermatozoa. Importantly, higher CD9 and PLCz mRNA (p Assosiations- und Expressionsstudie der Kandidatengene CD9, PLCz und COX-2 zur Untersuchung ihres Effektes auf die Spermaqualität von Ebern und Fruchtbarkeitsmerkmake In Studien über Ratten, Mäuse und Menschen spielen die Transkriptionsfaktoren Tetraspanin CD9 (CD9), Phospholipase C zeta (PLCz) und Cyclooxygenase-Isoenzym Typ 2 (COX-2) eine wichtige Rolle in der Spermatogenese. Daher war das Ziel dieser Studie die Identifizierung von Polymorphismen und die Erstellung von Expressionsmuster dieser Gene für die Spermaqualität und Fruchtbarkeit, zu untersuchen. Die Assoziationanalysen der SNP mit Spermienqualitätsmerkmalen (Spermienkonzentration [SCON], Spermavolumen pro Ejakulat [VOL], Spermienmotilität [MOT], Plasmatröpfchenrate [PDR] sowie abnormale Spermienrate [ASR]) und den Fruchtbarkeitsmerkmalen (Non Return Rate [NRR] und Anzahl der Ferkel lebend geboren [NBA]) wurde mit 231 Tieren reinrassiger Pietrain (PI) Eber, 109 Tieren einer Pietrain × Hampshire Kreuzung (PIHA) und 340 Eber, die für die Analyse aus PI und PIHA (COMBINED) Ebern kombiniert wurden, durchgeführt. Darüber hinaus wurden die mRNA und Proteinexpressionsmuster. Dafür wurden Eber mit einer höheren Spermienkonzentration, Spermienmotilität und einem niedrigerem Spermienvolumen (G-I Gruppen) und Ebern mit einer geringeren Spermienkonzentration, Spermienmotilität und einem höheren Spermienvolumen (G-II Gruppen) ausgewählt. Das Ergebnis zeigte, dass der SNP im Intron 6 (A>T) von CD9 mit MOT (p C) von PLCz mit SCON (p A) von COX-2 zeigte keine Assoziation mit der Spermaqualität und den Fruchtbarkeitsmerkmalen. Eine erhöhte CD9, PLCz und COX-2 Proteineexpression konnte in Leydig-Zellen, Sertoli-Zellen, Epithelzellen, Keimzellen und im Akrosom und in der akrosomalen Membran reifer Spermien gefunden werden. Eine höhere CD9 und PLCz mRNA Expression (p < 0,05) wurden in Nebenhoden und Hoden in G-I im Vergleich zu G-II Ebern gefunden. Jedoch war die Expression von COX-2 im Hoden, Kopf und Nebenhodens in G-II (p < 0,05) höher als in G-I Ebern. Daher kann die vorliegende Studie zeigen, dass die Gene CD9, PLCz und COX-2 an der Spermatogenese von Ebern beteiligt sind

Factors Influencing Regulation of CYP2B Expression

ABSTRACTCytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes participate in a wide array of metabolic reactions. Of these P450s, CYP2B subfamily plays animportant role in the metabolism of endogenous compounds and xenobiotics. CYP2B1 and CYP2B2 in rats and CYP2B9 and CYP2B10in mice are major CYP2B isoenzymes constitutively and inducible expressed. Their constitutive expression is sexually dimorphic,specifically more expression in male than female rats, and more in female than male mice. Recent studies have shown that regulation ofCYP2B expression is markedly influenced by not only various endogenous and exogenous compounds, but also age, sex, strain, andnutritional status. Regarding regulation of P450 expression in mouse liver, a C57BL/6 strain is one of the most suitable mouse modelsbecause of its marked response to CYP2B induction. The regulation of sexual dimorphism of CYP2B highly depends on numerousendogenous hormones including glucocorticoids, sex hormones and growth hormones. Adrenalectomy suggested that glucocorticoidsinduced CYP2B10 but simultaneously suppressed CYP2B9 expression in both sexes. β-estradiol (ES) up-regulated the expression ofCYP2B9, while testosterone showed reverse activity of ES. Hypophysectomy and the age-expression profile revealed that growthhormone (GH) exerts suppressive effect on regulation of CYP2B9 and CYP2B10 expression in the males, but only on CYP2B10 in thefemales. Xenobiotics, i.e., phenobarbital, dexamethasone, DDT (1, 1, 1-trichloro-2, 2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethane), are exogenous factorsinfluencing the CYP2B expression. For example, phenobarbital and DDT induce both CYP2B9 and CYP2B10 while dexamethasonepredominantly induces CYP2B10, but simultaneously suppresses CYP2B9. Therefore, the factors that affect regulation of CYP2Bexpression should be thoroughly considered to eliminate their confounding effects, leading to accurate and precise outcome measures.Keywords: CYP2B, C57BL/6, sexual dimorphism, endogenous hormones, xenobioticsThai Pharm Health Sci J 2009;4(4):524-531

Investigation of the Reporting System of Schedule-4 Psychotropic Substances in Thailand: A Case Study of Pinazepam

Objectives: The leakage of schedule-4 psychotropic substances from the formal distribution channel is a crucial problem but still unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the reporting system of the substances using pinazepam as a study drug. Method: In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the reports both in paper-based and online formats submitted to the FDA during 2014 – 2015. These reports were obtained from manufacturers, importers, distributors, healthcare facilities and drugstores. Data of purchase and sale volume at each step of distribution were compared and reported as descriptive statistics, i.e. frequencies and percentages. Results: In 2014, 40 kg of pinazepam was imported to Thailand, i.e. 15 kg being permitted to manufacture finished product for domestic use and 25 kg for exportation. Seven batches of the finished products for domestic use were produced with a capacity of 2,639,500 capsules (or 94.27% actual yield). After the sale of 1,990,000 capsules to 168 healthcare facilities and drugstores combined, 649,500 capsules were left in the inventory of the manufacturers and distributors (as of July 31, 2015). As only 64 healthcare facilities and drugstores (38.10%) submitted the reports to the FDA, the distribution to the consumers could not be examined. Conclusion: There was no leakage of pinazepam in the distribution from the manufacturers to the healthcare facilities and drugstores. However, the distribution to the consumers could not be verified. It is recommended that more officers should be allocated to the data verification task and a more comprehensive online reporting system should be in place. Keywords: reporting system, schedule-4 psychotropic substances, pinazepa

COVID-19 Pandemic in ASEAN Region and Implication in Dentistry

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread globally and has influenced every aspect of life worldwide. In the ASEAN region, at present, many nations are still locked the academic organizations, shopping malls, events, and activities, and banks and airports are shut down to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 infection. COVID-19 has affected dental practice, and, in many countries, dentists are affected by COVID-19, leading to deaths. The dental treatments should be done with high standards of care and infection control by following proper recommendations. Personal protective equipment, patient screening, hand hygiene practices, mouth rinsing, disposable instruments, and use of rubber dam, reducing ultrasonic instruments use, treating suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients in separate rooms, and disinfection of the inanimate surfaces helps in protecting clinicians and patients

Design Elements and Users’ Perceptual Response: A Case of Window Display Design for Adolescent Merchandising

AbstractWindow displays, as a part of selling strategies, not only convey the type and positioning of mechanize, but also the promotional strategies and corporate images. The study uses window displays for clothing to examine patterns, selling strategies, merchandize types, and target groups. It investigates the effects of design elements on the customers perceptual responding to configurations. The theoretical framework bases on marketing concepts, visual perception principles, Gestalt psychology, and design's principle and elements. Research found that 14 factors in the design affected to perception. The study perception indicates that purchasing desire and attraction had more relation

Optimized models of xenobiotic-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells

Purpose: To evaluate the molecular impact of ethanol, sodium selenite, and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) on oxidant-antioxidant balance in HepG2 cells to establish an optimized oxidative stress model of HepG2 cells. Methods: HepG2 cells were treated with ethanol (10 - 500 mM) and sodium selenite (1 - 10 µM) for 24 and 48 h and with TBHP (50 - 200 µM) for 3 and 24 h, respectively. Biomarkers for cellular injury, ie, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and malondialdehyde (MDA), and for antioxidant system, i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and total glutathione content, were determined. Results: All treatments increased the levels of LDH, AST, ALT, and MDA but decreased SOD and CAT activities and the total glutathione content in HepG2 cells. Oxidative stress was induced by these oxidative stressors in HepG2 cells via oxidant-antioxidant imbalance, with TBHP (100 µM, 3 h) acting as a powerful oxidant based on the minimal time to induce oxidative stress. The antioxidants, ascorbic acid and gallic acid, improved oxidant-antioxidant imbalance against xenobiotic-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. Conclusion: These oxidative stress models are suitable for investigating the antioxidant and/or hepatoprotective potential of chemicals, including natural compounds