A plateau in the sensitivity of a compact optically pumped atomic magnetometer

In a compact optically pumped atomic magnetometer (OPAM), there is a plateau in the sensitivity where the dependence of the sensitivity on pumping power is small compared with that predicted by the uniform polarization model. The mechanism that generates this plateau was explained by numerical analysis. The distribution of spin polarization in the alkali metal cell of an OPAM was modeled using the Bloch equation incorporating a diffusion term and an equation for the attenuation of the pump beam. The model was well-fitted to the experimental results for a module with a cubic cell with 20 mm sides and pump and probe beams with 8 mm diameter. On the plateau, strong magnetic response was generated at the regions that were not illuminated directly by the intense pump beam, while at the same time spin polarization as large as 0.5 was maintained due to diffusion of the spin-polarized atoms. Thus, the sensitivity of the magnetometer monitored with a probe beam decreases only slightly with increasing pump beam intensity because the spin polarization under an intense pump beam is saturated. This plateau, which is characteristic of this type of magnetometer using a narrow pump and probe beams, can be used in arrays of magnetometers because it enables stable operation with little sensitivity fluctuation from changes in pump beam power

Efficient derivation of multipotent neural stem/progenitor cells from non-human primate embryonic stem cells.

The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is a small New World primate that has been used as a non-human primate model for various biomedical studies. We previously demonstrated that transplantation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NS/PCs) derived from mouse and human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) promote functional locomotor recovery of mouse spinal cord injury models. However, for the clinical application of such a therapeutic approach, we need to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pluripotent stem cell-derived NS/PCs not only by xenotransplantation, but also allotransplantation using non-human primate models to assess immunological rejection and tumorigenicity. In the present study, we established a culture method to efficiently derive NS/PCs as neurospheres from common marmoset ESCs. Marmoset ESC-derived neurospheres could be passaged repeatedly and showed sequential generation of neurons and astrocytes, similar to that of mouse ESC-derived NS/PCs, and gave rise to functional neurons as indicated by calcium imaging. Although marmoset ESC-derived NS/PCs could not differentiate into oligodendrocytes under default culture conditions, these cells could abundantly generate oligodendrocytes by incorporating additional signals that recapitulate in vivo neural development. Moreover, principal component analysis of microarray data demonstrated that marmoset ESC-derived NS/PCs acquired similar gene expression profiles to those of fetal brain-derived NS/PCs by repeated passaging. Therefore, marmoset ESC-derived NS/PCs may be useful not only for accurate evaluation by allotransplantation of NS/PCs into non-human primate models, but are also applicable to analysis of iPSCs established from transgenic disease model marmosets

Identification of Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease in Asymptomatic Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are a high-risk group for coronary artery disease (CAD). In the present study, we investigated predictive factors to identify patients at high risk of CAD among asymptomatic patients with type 2 DM based on coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) findings. Methods: A single-center prospective study was performed on 452 consecutive patients with type 2 DM who were provided with a weekly hospital-based diabetes education program between 3 October 2015, and 31 March 2020. A total of 161 consecutive asymptomatic patients (male/female: 111/50, age: 57.3 ± 9.3 years) with type 2 DM without any known CAD underwent CCTA. Based on conventional coronary risk factors and non-invasive examination, i.e., measurement of intima-media thickness, subcutaneous and visceral fat area, a stress electrocardiogram test, and the Agatston score, patients with obstructive CAD, CT-verified high-risk plaques (CT-HRP), and optimal revascularization within 90 days were evaluated. Results: Current smoking (OR, 4.069; 95% C.I., 1.578–10.493, p = 0.0037) and the Agatston score ≥100 (OR, 18.034; 95% C.I., 6.337–51.324, p = 0.0001) were independent predictive factors for obstructive CAD, while current smoking (OR, 5.013; 95% C.I., 1.683–14.931, p = 0.0038) was an independent predictive factor for CT-HRP. Furthermore, insulin treatment (OR, 5.677; 95% C.I., 1.223–26.349, p = 0.0266) was the only predictive factor that correlated with optimal revascularization within 90 days. Conclusions: In asymptomatic patients with type 2 DM, current smoking, an Agatston score ≥100, and insulin treatment were independent predictive factors of patients being at high-risk for CAD. However, non-invasive examinations except for Agatston score were not independent predictors of patients being at high risk of CAD

Expression of cell type-specific markers at each differentiation step.

<p>qRT-PCR analysis of the expression of pluripotency markers (A: <i>Oct3/4</i> and <i>Nanog</i>), endodermal and mesodermal markers (B: <i>Afp</i> and <i>Gata4</i>, respectively), and neural markers (C: <i>Sox1</i> and <i>Pax6</i>) in ESCs, EBs and ESC-derived neurospheres. Fetal cell-derived (ganglionic eminence (GE), cortex and spinal cord) neurospheres and fetal tissues (heart and liver) were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Data are presented as the means ± SEM (<i>n</i> = 3).</p

Efficient derivation of oligodendrocytes from marmoset ESCs.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Protocol for derivation of NS/PCs from marmoset ESCs, which efficiently generate oligodendrocytes. EBs were cultured in the presence of 1×10⁻⁶ M RA and 2 µM purmorphamine for 2 weeks. RA and purmorphamine were added on day 5 and 7 of EB formation, respectively. EBs were then dissociated and cultured in suspension for 8–10 days to form neurospheres in MHM medium containing 2% B27, 20 ng/ml FGF-2, 20 ng/ml EGF, 1 µM purmorphamine and an oligodendrocyte cocktail. Primary neurospheres were dissociated and cultured under the same condition to form secondary neurospheres. (<b>B</b>) Differentiation of neurospheres derived from EBs treated with RA and purmorphamine. Primary and secondary neurospheres were dissociated and differentiated on poly-L-ornithine/laminin-coated coverslips at a density of 2×10⁴ cells/ml in MHM medium containing 2% B27 and an oligodendrocyte cocktail for 30–35 days, followed by immunocytochemical analysis of βIII-tubulin (neurons), GFAP (astrocytes) and O4 (oligodendrocytes). The obtained NS/PCs could efficiently give rise to oligodendrocytes. Scale bars, 100 µm. (<b>C</b>) The proportions of cells positive for each cell type-specific marker in differentiated secondary neurospheres, which could generate oligodendrocytes, are presented as the percentage of total cells counted by Hoechst 33258-stained nuclei. Data are presented as the means ± SEM (<i>n</i> = 3). (<b>D</b>) An enlarged image of βIII-tubulin-positive neurons, GFAP-positive astrocytes and O4-positive oligodendrocytes differentiated from secondary neurospheres. Scale bars, 100 µm. (<b>E</b>) Immunocytochemical analysis of secondary neurospheres for various markers of oligodendrocyte lineages, including PDGFR (OPCs), CNPase (oligodendrocytes) and MBP (mature oligodendrocytes). Scale bars, 50 µm.</p

Differentiation potentials of marmoset ESC-derived NS/PCs.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Marmoset ESC-derived primary and secondary neurospheres were dissociated and allowed to differentiate for 10 days, followed by immunocytochemical analysis of βIII-tubulin (neurons), GFAP (astrocytes), CNPase (oligodendrocytes) and Nestin (undifferentiated neural cells). Scale bars, 50 µm. (<b>B</b>) The proportions of cells positive for each cell type-specific marker are presented as the percentage of total cells counted by Hoechst 33258-stained nuclei. Data are presented as the means ± SEM (<i>n</i> = 3).</p