Different Crystal Chemistries of the 117Cd→117In and 111mCd→111Cd Probes in LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 Studied by Time-Differential Perturbed-Angular-Correlation Technique

金沢大学理学部The temperature dependences of the nuclear-electric-quadrupole frequency vQ of 117In doped in LiTaO3 (TC5938 K) and Li12xInx/3TaO3 with x50.2 (TC5818 K) show that the order-disorder of the Li ions is not the driving mechanism for the ferroelectric instability in LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 systems, and imply that the oxygen order-disorder is the driving mechanism. The significantly different temperature dependences of vQ of 111Cd in these materials compared, to those of 117In, demonstrate that this order-disorder is of dynamic character

IL-10 Inhibits Transforming Growth Factor-ß-Induction of Type I Collagen mRNA Expression via Both JNK and p38 Pathways in Human Lung Fibroblasts

Transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) is a key factor for understanding the pathogenesis of fibrotic disorders such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We have demonstrated that interleukin-10 (IL-10) suppresses TGF-ß-induced expression of type I collagen (COL1) mRNA in a human lung fibroblast cell line (WI-38). However, the inhibitory mechanism has not yet been clearly elucidated. Thus, in the current study, we investigate the effects of IL-10 blockade of TGF-ß signaling which regulates COL1 mRNA expression. In WI-38 cells, IL-10 inhibits TGF-ß-mediated phosphorylation of both, c-Jun HN2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38, but does not suppress TGF-ß- mediated phosphorylation of Smad2 or affect TGF-ß-upregulation of Smad7 mRNA expression. In addition, SP600125 and SB203580, specific inhibitors of JNK and p38, respectively, attenuate TGF-ß-induced COL1 mRNA expression in WI-38 cells. These results suggest that IL-10 inhibits TGF-ß-induced COL1 mRNA expression via both JNK and p38 pathways but not Smad pathways in WI-38 cells. This inhibitory mechanism may provide a novel insight into therapeutic strategies for fibrotic disorders such as IPF

Hyperfine Interaction of 140 Ce(← 140 La) in CaB 6

A 140 La(I π = 3 − , T 1/2 = 40.3 h)-doped layer has been produced in CaB 6 by means of radioactive isotope (RI) beam technique: 140 Cs(I π = 1 − , T 1/2 = 63.7 s) was implanted into CaB 6 and the radioactive equilibrium of 140 Ba-140 La was achieved. The concentration of La in CaB 6 was La/Ca ∼ 0.001 and ∼0.005. Obtained TDPAC spectra of the 2083 keV level of 140 Ce (I π = 4 + , T 1/2 = 3.4 ns, µ = +4.35±0.10µ N ) followed by the β decay of 140 La showed the existence of hyperfine magnetic fields: B hyp = −15.0±0.5 T and −1.00±0.15 T for La/Ca ∼ 0.001 and B hyp = −1.51 ± 0.12 T for La/Ca ∼ 0.005

Anchor-wire technique for multiple plastic biliary stents to prevent stent dislocation

In endoscopic placement of multiple plastic biliary stents (PBSs), we sometimes experience proximal dislocation of the first PBS at the time of subsequent PBS insertion. We describe the case of a 79-year-old male with obstructive jaundice caused by cholangiocarcinoma who needed to receive multiple PBS placements for management of cholangitis. Although proximal dislocation of the first PBS was observed, we prevented the dislocation via our technique of using guidewire inserted from the distal end of the first PBS to the side hole as the anchor-wire. We could complete this technique only by inserting guidewire through the side hole of the first PBS during the process of releasing the first PBS and pulling out the guidewire and the inner sheath. It did not matter whether the anchor-wire went towards the third portion of the duodenum or the duodenal bulb. Here we introduce this “anchor-wire technique”, which is useful for the prevention of PBS proximal dislocation in placing multiple PBSs