95 research outputs found
Lack of Association Between Promoter Polymorphism of the Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Gene and Psoriatic Arthritis in Japanese Patients
A case of chronic actinic dermatitis that responded completely to treatment with oral colostrum‐macrophage‐activating factor (colostrum‐MAF)
Characterization of Tight Junctions and Their Disruption by UVB in Human Epidermis and Cultured Keratinocytes
It has not been confirmed whether tight junctions (TJs) function as a paracellular permeability barrier in adult human skin. To clarify this issue, we performed a TJ permeability assay using human skin obtained from abdominal plastic surgery. Occludin, a marker protein of TJs, was expressed in the granular layer, in which a subcutaneously injected paracellular tracer, Sulfo-NHS-LC-Biotin (556.59Da), was halted. Incubation with ochratoxin A decreased the expression of claudin-4, an integral membrane protein of TJs, and the diffusion of paracellular tracer was no longer prevented at the TJs. These results demonstrate that human epidermis possesses TJs that function as an intercellular permeability barrier at least against small molecules (∼550Da). UVB irradiation of human skin xenografts and human skin equivalents (HSEs) resulted in functional deterioration of TJs. Immunocytochemical staining of cultured keratinocytes showed that occludin was localized into dot-like shapes and formed a discontinuous network when exposed to UVB irradiation. Furthermore, UVB irradiation downregulated the active forms of Rac1 and atypical protein kinase C, suggesting that their inactivation caused functional deterioration of TJs. In conclusion, TJs function as a paracellular barrier against small molecules (∼550Da) in human epidermis and are functionally deteriorated by UVB irradiation
Impaired CD4⁺ T cell response in older adults is associated with reduced immunogenicity and reactogenicity of mRNA COVID-19 vaccination
高齢者のT細胞応答は立ち上がりが遅く収束は早い --新型コロナワクチン接種機会を活用した免疫応答の個人差・年齢差の解明--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-01-13.T-Cell Responses in the Elderly Rise Slowly and Contract Quickly --Learning About Individual and Age Differences in Immune Response From COVID-19 Vaccinations--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-01-13.Whether age-associated defects in T cells impact the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of mRNA vaccines remains unclear. Using a vaccinated cohort (n = 216), we demonstrated that older adults (aged ≥65 years) had fewer vaccine-induced spike-specific CD4⁺ T cells including CXCR3⁺ circulating follicular helper T cells and the TH1 subset of helper T cells after the first dose, which correlated with their lower peak IgG levels and fewer systemic adverse effects after the second dose, compared with younger adults. Moreover, spike-specific TH1 cells in older adults expressed higher levels of programmed cell death protein 1, a negative regulator of T cell activation, which was associated with low spike-specific CD8⁺ T cell responses. Thus, an inefficient CD4⁺ T cell response after the first dose may reduce the production of helper T cytokines, even after the second dose, thereby lowering humoral and cellular immunity and reducing systemic reactogenicity. Therefore, enhancing CD4⁺ T cell response following the first dose is key to improving vaccine efficacy in older adults
Subaru/HiCIAO imaging of LkH 330 - multi-band detection of the gap and spiral-like structures
We present - and -bands observations of the LkH 330
disk with a multi-band detection of the large gap and spiral-like structures.
The morphology of the outer disk (0\farcs3) at PA=0--45 and
PA=180--290 are likely density wave-induced spirals and comparison
between our observational results and simulations suggests a planet formation.
We have also investigated the azimuthal profiles at the ring and the outer-disk
regions as well as radial profiles in the directions of the spiral-like
structures and semi-major axis. Azimuthal analysis shows a large variety in
wavelength and implies that the disk has non-axisymmetric dust distributions.
The radial profiles in the major-axis direction (PA=) suggest that
the outer region (r\geq0\farcs25) may be influenced by shadows of the inner
region of the disk. The spiral-like directions (PA=10 and 230)
show different radial profiles, which suggests that the surfaces of the
spiral-like structures are highly flared and/or have different dust properties.
Finally, a color-map of the disk shows a lack of an outer eastern region in the
-band disk, which may hint the presence of an inner object that casts a
directional shadow onto the disk.Comment: 12pages, 16 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in A
Extreme Asymmetry in the Disk of V1247 Ori
We present the first near-infrared scattered-light detection of the
transitional disk around V1247 Ori, which was obtained using high-resolution
polarimetric differential imaging observations with Subaru/HiCIAO. Our imaging
in the H band reveals the disk morphology at separations of ~0.14"-0.86"
(54-330 au) from the central star. The polarized intensity (PI) image shows a
remarkable arc-like structure toward the southeast of the star, whereas the
fainter northwest region does not exhibit any notable features. The shape of
the arm is consistent with an arc of 0.28" 0.09" in radius (108 au from
the star), although the possibility of a spiral arm with a small pitch angle
cannot be excluded. V1247 Ori features an exceptionally large azimuthal
contrast in scattered, polarized light; the radial peak of the southeastern arc
is about three times brighter than the northwestern disk measured at the same
distance from the star. Combined with the previous indication of an
inhomogeneous density distribution in the gap at 46 au, the notable
asymmetry in the outer disk suggests the presence of unseen companions and/or
planet-forming processes ongoing in the arc.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in PAS
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