Disruption of Metal Homeostasis and the Pathogenesis of Prion Diseases

Prion diseases are progressive neurodegenerative diseases that are associated with the conformational conversion of normal cellular prion protein (PrPC) into abnormal pathogenic prion protein (PrPSc). PrPC is a metal‐binding protein that is located in the synapse and possesses the ability to bind to various metals, including Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe. Moreover, increasing evidence suggests that PrPC plays essential roles in the maintenance of metal homeostasis in the synapse. Trace elements have a crucial influence on the conformational change of PrPC. Given that other disease‐related proteins such as β‐amyloid protein and its precursor protein (APP) in Alzheimer\u27s disease also exist in the synapse and possess a metal‐binding ability, an interaction between PrP and metals and between PrP and APP, may occur in the synapse; the resulting metal homeostasis may lead to the pathogenesis of prion diseases. Here, we review our studies and other new findings that inform the current understanding of the link between trace elements and physiological functions of PrPC and the neurotoxicity of PrPSc

MRI Response of Obturator Internus Muscle to Carbon-Ion Dose in Prostate Cancer Treatment

学位記番号：医博甲172

CHARACTERISTICS OF PULLING MOVEMENT FOR JAPANESE ELITE TUG OF WAR ATHLETES

The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of pulling movement for Japanese elite tug of war athletes in the world. In order to examine the pUlling movement, 6 joint angles (viz.: shoulder, trunk, knee, body, upper body, and lower body) of each sUbject were obtained by the DLT motion analysis system during 2004 All Japan Tug of War Championship tournament. It was found that the elite puller of world champion team inclined his upper body more heavily to backwards, and his lower body a little bit more slightly to forwards, extending both the hip and the knee, than that of average team. Therefore, it was concluded that the elite puller of world champion team could be able to push and pull his whole body power totally and quite efficiently