Expression of glutathione S-transferase P-form in primary cultured rat liver parenchymal cells by coplanar polychlorinated biphenyl congeners is suppressed by protein kinase inhibitors and dexamethasone

AbstractGlutathione S-transferase P-form (GST-P, EC 2.5.1.18) mRNA was expressed by epidermal growth factor as well as by 3,4,5,3',4'-penta-chlorinated biphenyl (PenCB) in primary cultured rat liver parenchymal cells. The expression of GST-P was suppressed by inhibitors of protein kinase C and dexamethasone, an antagonist of AP-1 transcription factor activity, whereas expression of cytochrome P4501A2 by PenCB was not affected by these reagents. The AP-1 related transcription factor may be essential for the expression of GST-P by PenCB as also may be a protein kinase C type enzyme

Development of a new mAb specific to mouse Vγ6 chain

There are seven Vγ gene segments in the TCR γ chain loci of mice. We developed monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to the Vγ6 chain (Heilig & Tonegawa nomenclature). By immunizing Vγ4/6 KO mice with complementarity-determining region peptides in Vγ6 chains, we generated three hybridomas. These hybridomas produced mAbs capable of cell surface staining of Vγ6/Vδ1 gene–transfected T-cell line lacking TCR as well as of Vγ1− Vγ4− Vγ5− Vγ7− γδ T cells and the CD3high TCRδint γδ T cells in various organs. The location of Vγ6+ γδ T cells, which peaked in the newborn thymus, was associated with mTEC. In vivo administration of clone 1C10-1F7 mAb impaired protection against Klebsiella pneumoniae infection but ameliorated psoriasis-like dermatitis induced by imiquimod treatment. These new mAbs are useful to elucidate the development, location, and functions of Vγ6 γδ T cells in mice

Longistatin, a Plasminogen Activator, Is Key to the Availability of Blood-Meals for Ixodid Ticks

Ixodid ticks are notorious blood-sucking ectoparasites and are completely dependent on blood-meals from hosts. In addition to the direct severe effects on health and productivity, ixodid ticks transmit various deadly diseases to humans and animals. Unlike rapidly feeding vessel-feeder hematophagous insects, the hard ticks feed on hosts for a long time (5−10 days or more), making a large blood pool beneath the skin. Tick's salivary glands produce a vast array of bio-molecules that modulate their complex and persistent feeding processes. However, the specific molecule that functions in the development and maintenance of a blood pool is yet to be identified. Recently, we have reported on longistatin, a 17.8-kDa protein with two functional EF-hand Ca++-binding domains, from the salivary glands of the disease vector, Haemaphysalis longicornis, that has been shown to be linked to blood-feeding processes. Here, we show that longistatin plays vital roles in the formation of a blood pool and in the acquisition of blood-meals. Data clearly revealed that post-transcriptional silencing of the longistatin-specific gene disrupted ticks' unique ability to create a blood pool, and they consequently failed to feed and replete on blood-meals from hosts. Longistatin completely hydrolyzed α, β and γ chains of fibrinogen and delayed fibrin clot formation. Longistatin was able to bind with fibrin meshwork, and activated fibrin clot-bound plasminogen into its active form plasmin, as comparable to that of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), and induced lysis of fibrin clot and platelet-rich thrombi. Plasminogen activation potentiality of longistatin was increased up to 4 times by soluble fibrin. Taken together, our results suggest that longistatin may exert potent functions both as a plasminogen activator and as an anticoagulant in the complex scenario of blood pool formation; the latter is critical to the feeding success and survival of ixodid ticks

Clinical effects of serial artificial CO(2) baths on degenerative disorders in consideration of the improved tissue perfusion.

組織循環の良不良は，結合織の退行性病変の予後に大いに影響をおよぼすものである。人工炭酸泉を用いた実験的検討で，すでに組織循環の30　％　増加を認めており，臨床的治験により好傾向を示す結果を得つつある。結合織病変を主とする慢性疾患4症例の治験前後に局所組織流量を測定して評価することができた。局所組織流量は医用質量分析装置を介したオンラインシステムで測定計算した。人工炭酸浴は，炭酸ガスキャビン，および人工炭酸浴剤浴を用いた。人工炭酸泉浴は，1カ月より1年におよび，それぞれ自覚症状の著名な改善と，組織流量の増加を定量しえた。人工炭酸泉の連浴による組織流量の改善は、結合織の退行性病変に有効に作用するものである。Tissue perfusion plays an important role in prognosis of the deteriorating connective tissue disorders. Tissue perfusion was evaluated before and after CO(2) treatment on the patients with connective tissue disorders by means of medical mass spectrometer. CO(2) treatment was performed in 2 ways ; one was with CO(2)-cabine, 20 litres per minute at 40℃ for 20 minutes, and the other was with an artificial CO(2) bathing prepared with 2 tablets of BUB-KAO, a 50 g sodium hydrogencarbonate and succinic acid tablet, in 280-litre-tub at 40℃ for 20 minutes. Case 1, 33-year-old female, suffering from chronic rheumatic arthritis with rheumatic thromboangiitis obliterans in the left 5th toe. Main arterial trees were found intact arteriographically. Her joint pain and muscle stiffness have been improved markedly after CO(2) treatment with cabin every day for one month though every medicine for rheumatism made little effect. Case 2, 46-year-old female, suffered from progressive systemic scleroderma. Major blood supply was found not blocked in upper extremities arteriographically. Tissue perfusion was found poor in muscle tissue of each forearm before CO(2) treatment with cabin, whereas an improved tissue perfusion was confirmed after one month of serial CO(2) treatment, leading to ameliorate persistent muscle stiffness, though every medicine for her made slow effect. Case 3, 48-year-old female, suffering from the weakness in strength with no positive laboratory findings of connective tissue disorders. Tissue perfusion has been found quite improved following serial artificial CO(2) bathings for 12 months, being able to work hard every day as a nurse. Serial CO(2) bathing is thought to be very useful in ameliorating the symptoms of deteriorating connective disorders by virtue of an improved tissue perfusion

Visualizing bovine leukemia virus (BLV)-infected cells and measuring BLV proviral loads in the milk of BLV seropositive dams

International audienceAbstractBovine leukemia virus (BLV) infects cattle and causes serious problems for the cattle industry, worldwide. Vertical transmission of BLV occurs via in utero infection and ingestion of infected milk and colostrum. The aim of this study was to clarify whether milk is a risk factor in BLV transmission by quantifying proviral loads in milk and visualizing the infectivity of milk. We collected blood and milk from 48 dams (46 BLV seropositive dams and 2 seronegative dams) from seven farms in Japan and detected the BLV provirus in 43 blood samples (89.6%) but only 22 milk samples (45.8%) using BLV-CoCoMo-qPCR-2. Although the proviral loads in the milk tended to be lower, a positive correlation was firstly found between the proviral loads with blood and milk. Furthermore, the infectivity of milk cells with BLV was visualized ex vivo using a luminescence syncytium induction assay (LuSIA) based on CC81-GREMG cells, which form syncytia expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) in response to BLV Tax and Env expressions when co-cultured with BLV-infected cells. Interestingly, in addition to one BLV-infected dam with lymphoma, syncytia with EGFP fluorescence were observed in milk cells from six BLV-infected, but healthy, dams by an improved LuSIA, which was optimized for milk cells. This is the first report demonstrating the infectious capacity of cells in milk from BLV-infected dams by visualization of BLV infection ex vivo. Thus, our results suggest that milk is a potential risk factor for BLV vertical spread through cell to cell transmission

Discovery of Extended X-Ray emission from the unidentified TeV source HESS J1614-518 using the Suzaku Satellite

We report the Suzaku results of HESS J1614-518, which is the brightest extended TeV gamma-ray source discovered in the Galactic plane survey conducted using the H.E.S.S. telescope. We discovered three X-ray objects in the field of view of the X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (XIS), which were designated as Suzaku J1614-5141 (src A), Suzaku J1614-5152 (src B), and Suzaku J1614-5148 (src C). Src A is an extended source located at the peak position of HESS J1614-518, and therefore it is a plausible counterpart to HESS J1614-518. The X-ray flux in the 2-10 keV band is 5e-13 erg/s/cm^2, which is an order of magnitude smaller than the TeV flux. The photon index is 1.7, which is smaller than the canonical value of synchrotron emissions from high-energy electrons found in some supernova remnants. These findings present a challenge to models in which the origin of the TeV emission is the inverse Compton scattering of the cosmic microwave background by accelerated electrons that emit X-rays via synchrotron emission. Src B is located at a relatively dim region in the TeV band image; however, its hydrogen column density is the same as that of src A. Therefore, src B may also be physically related to HESS J1614-518. Src C is a foreground late-type B star. We also discovered a soft extended X-ray emission near HESS J1614-518.Comment: Accepted for publication in PASJ vol. 60 Suzaku Special Issue

Impact of a learning health system on acute care and medical complications after intracerebral hemorrhage

Introduction: Patients with stroke often experience pneumonia during the acute stage after stroke onset. Oral care may be effective in reducing the risk of stroke‐associated pneumonia (SAP). We aimed to determine the changes in oral care, as well as the incidence of SAP, in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, following implementation of a learning health system in our hospital. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 1716 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage who were hospitalized at a single stroke center in Japan between January 2012 and December 2018. Data were stratified on the basis of three periods of evolving oral care: period A, during which conventional, empirically driven oral care was provided (n = 725); period B, during which standardized oral care was introduced, with SAP prophylaxis based on known risk factors (n = 469); and period C, during which oral care was risk‐appropriate based on learning health system data (n = 522). Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate associations between each of the three treatment approaches and the risk of SAP. Results: Among the included patients, the mean age was 71.3 ± 13.6 years; 52.6% of patients were men. During the course of each period, the frequency of oral care within 24 hours of admission increased (P < .001), as did the adherence rate to oral care ≥3 times per day (P < .001). After adjustment for confounding factors, a change in the risk of SAP was not observed in period B; however, the risk significantly decreased in period C (odds ratio 0.61; 95% confidence interval 0.43‐0.87) compared with period A. These associations were maintained for SAP diagnosed using strict clinical criteria or after exclusion of 174 patients who underwent neurosurgical treatment. Conclusions: Risk‐appropriate care informed by the use of learning health system data could improve care and potentially reduce the risk of SAP in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage in the acute stage

ショウワキチ ト ドームフジキチ ニ オケル エアロゾル リュウケイ ブンプ ノ ツウネン カンソク

1997年2月～1998年1月に,昭和基地(69゜00′S,39゜35′E,15 m a.s.l.)及びドームふじ観測拠点(77゜19′S,39゜42′E,3810 m a.s.l.)において,直径0.003-5 μmのエアロゾル粒径分布の変動の観測を行った.両基地において小エイトケンモード(直径0.05 μm以下),大エイトケンモード(直径0.05-0.3 μm),大粒子・粗大粒子モード(直径0.3 μm以上)の3つのモードが認められた.小エイトケンモードおよび大エイトケンモードは,夏に高濃度,冬に低濃度となり,一方,大粒子・巨大粒子モードは夏に低濃度,冬に高濃度となった.1～数日の時間スケールの全粒径にわたる急増,急減現象が両基地で冬季に見られた.ドームふじ観測拠点では春季に小エイトケン粒子のみの急増も見られた.ドームふじ観測拠点においてこれらの現象が起こる気象条件は,昭和基地における類似の現象が起こる時の気象条件とは異なっていた.Simultaneous observations of the aerosol size distribution for diameters of 0.003-5.0 μm were performed at Syowa Station (69゜00′S, 39゜35′E, 15 m a.s.l.) and Dome Fuji Station (77゜19′S, 39゜42′E, 3810 m a.s.l.) in Antarctica from February 1997 to January 1998. Size distributions show composites of a small-Aitken mode (less than 0.05 μm in diameter), a large-Aitken mode (0.05-0.3 μm in diameter), and a large giant particle mode (larger than 0.3 μm in diameter). Concentrations of small and large Aitken modes were high in summer and low in winter. On the other hand, concentrations of large giant particle mode were low in summer and high in winter. The high and or low concentration events for one or a few days in whole size range were observed especially in winter. High concentration events in small Aitken mode with the low concentrations in diameter of 0.07-5.0 μm were also observed at Dome Fuji Station in spring. Meteorological conditions during the events at Dome Fuji Station were different from those at at Syowa station

The ASTRO-H X-ray Observatory

The joint JAXA/NASA ASTRO-H mission is the sixth in a series of highly successful X-ray missions initiated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS). ASTRO-H will investigate the physics of the high-energy universe via a suite of four instruments, covering a very wide energy range, from 0.3 keV to 600 keV. These instruments include a high-resolution, high-throughput spectrometer sensitive over 0.3-2 keV with high spectral resolution of Delta E < 7 eV, enabled by a micro-calorimeter array located in the focal plane of thin-foil X-ray optics; hard X-ray imaging spectrometers covering 5-80 keV, located in the focal plane of multilayer-coated, focusing hard X-ray mirrors; a wide-field imaging spectrometer sensitive over 0.4-12 keV, with an X-ray CCD camera in the focal plane of a soft X-ray telescope; and a non-focusing Compton-camera type soft gamma-ray detector, sensitive in the 40-600 keV band. The simultaneous broad bandpass, coupled with high spectral resolution, will enable the pursuit of a wide variety of important science themes.Comment: 22 pages, 17 figures, Proceedings of the SPIE Astronomical Instrumentation "Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray