Mechanical strain attenuates cytokine-induced ADAMTS9 expression via transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1

The synovial fluids of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) contain elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, which induce the expression of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) and of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) in chondrocytes. Mechanical strain has varying effects on organisms depending on the strength, cycle, and duration of the stressor; however, it is unclear under inflammatory stimulation how mechanical strain act on. Here, we show that mechanical strain attenuates inflammatory cytokine-induced expression of matrix-degrading enzymes. Cyclic tensile strain (CTS), as a mechanical stressor, attenuated interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced mRNA expression of ADAMTS4, ADAMTS9, and MMP-13 in normal chondrocytes (NHAC-kn) and in a chondrocytic cell line (OUMS-27). This effect was abolished by treating cells with mechano-gated channel inhibitors, such as gadolinium, transient receptor potential (TRP) family inhibitor, ruthenium red, and with pharmacological and small interfering RNA-mediated TRPV1 inhibition. Furthermore, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus resulting from cytokine stimulation was also abolished by CTS. These findings suggest that mechanosensors such as the TRPV protein are potential therapeutic targets in treating OA

The Effectiveness of Combined Medical Therapy and Hemodialysis for Hypercalcemia in Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase-negative Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

A 71-year-old man with a right lower abdominal quadrant epithelial tumor developed gradually worsening lumbago and dysbasia. He became comatose and was admitted to our hospital. He had swelling of the left axillary lymph nodes and necrosis of the 4.0-cm diameter abdominal tumor, which infiltrated the subcutaneous tissues. He was hypercalcemic (16.7mg/dl), and had elevated levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (24,090U/ml) and parathyroid hormone-related protein (5.4pmol/l). Computerized tomography (CT) showed left axillary lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and a right abdominal-wall mass that was described as anaplastic large cell lymphoma upon pathology. Brain radiography and CT revealed multiple lesions infiltrating the cranium. Magnetic resonance imaging showed diffuse low signal intensity throughout the vertebral spine. The patient was diagnosed with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) -negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma with hypercalcemia. Fluid replacement and drug therapies including calcitonin had no effect on the hypercalcemia or the coma. The patient\u27s serum calcium concentration decreased after hemodialysis (calcium dialysate concentration, 5mg/dl) and subsequent zoledronic acid hydrate therapy. His consciousness improved by the fifth day of treatment. This rare case of hypercalcemia in ALK-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma improved with combined medical and hemodialysis therapy

Mineral oil certified reference materials for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls from the National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ)

Four mineral oil certified reference materials (CRMs), NMIJ CRM 7902-a, CRM 7903-a, CRM 7904-a, and CRM 7905-a, have been issued by the National Metrology Institute of Japan, which is part of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (NMIJ/AIST), for the determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The raw materials for the CRMs were an insulation oil (CRM 7902-a and CRM 7903-a) and a fuel oil (CRM7904-a and CRM 7905-a). A solution of PCB3, PCB8, and technical PCB products, comprising four types of Kaneclor, was added to the oil matrices. The total PCB concentrations in the PCB-fortified oils (CRM 7902-a and CRM 7904-a) are approximately 6 mg kg−1. In addition, the mineral oils which were not fortified with PCBs were also distributed as CRMs (CRM 7903-a and CRM 7905-a). Characterization of these CRMs was conducted by the NMIJ/AIST, where the mineral oils and the PCB solution were analyzed using multiple analytical methods such as dimethylsulfoxide extraction, normal-phase liquid chromatography, gel permeation chromatography, reversed-phase liquid chromatography, and chromatography using sulfoxide-bonded silica; and/or various capillary columns for gas chromatography, and two ionization modes for mass spectrometry. The target compounds in the mineral oils and those in the PCB solution were determined by one of the primary methods of measurement, isotope dilution–mass spectrometry (ID-MS). Certified values have been provided for 11 PCB congeners (PCB3, 8, 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180, 194, and 206) in the CRMs. These CRMs have information values for PCB homologue concentrations determined by using a Japanese official method for determination of PCBs in wastes and densities determined with an oscillational density meter. Because oil samples having arbitrary PCB concentrations between respective property values of the PCB-fortified and nonfortified CRMs can be prepared by gravimetric mixing of the CRM pairs, these CRMs can be used for validation of PCB analyses using various instruments which have different sensitivities

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Time course of changes in information rat

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<b>The photoreceptor response for the external stationary image during 4 seconds fixation.</b

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<b>Difference of the information rate of the photoreceptor layer responses with/without fixational eye movements</b