Surface Chemistry, Microstructure, and Tribological Properties of Cubic Boron Nitride Films

This report deals with the surface chemistry, microstructure, bonding state, morphology, and friction and wear properties of cubic boron nitride (c-BN) films that were synthesized by magnetically enhanced plasma ion plating. Several analytical techniques - x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and surface profilometry - were used to characterize the films. Sliding friction experiments using a ball-on-disk configuration were conducted for the c-BN films in sliding contact with 440C stainless-steel balls at room temperature in ultrahigh vacuum (pressure, 10(exp -6), in ambient air, and under water lubrication. Results indicate that the boron-to-nitrogen ratio on the surface of the as-deposited c-BN film is greater than 1 and that not all the boron is present as boron nitride but a small percentage is present as an oxide. Both in air and under water lubrication, the c-BN film in sliding contact with steel showed a low wear rate, whereas a high wear rate was observed in vacuum. In air and under water lubrication, c-BN exhibited wear resistance superior to that of amorphous boron nitride, titanium nitride, and titanium carbide

Isoform-specific potentiation of stem and progenitor cell engraftment by AML1/RUNX1

Background: AML1/RUNX1 is the most frequently mutated gene in leukaemia and is central to the normal biology of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. However, the role of different AML1 isoforms within these primitive compartments is unclear. Here we investigate whether altering relative expression of AML1 isoforms impacts the balance between cell self-renewal and differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Methods and Findings: The human AML1a isoform encodes a truncated molecule with DNA-binding but no transactivation capacity. We used a retrovirus-based approach to transduce AML1a into primitive haematopoietic cells isolated from the mouse. We observed that enforced AML1a expression increased the competitive engraftment potential of murine long-term reconstituting stem cells with the proportion of AML1a-expressing cells increasing over time in both primary and secondary recipients. Furthermore, AML1a expression dramatically increased primitive and committed progenitor activity in engrafted animals as assessed by long-term culture, cobblestone formation, and colony assays. In contrast, expression of the full-length isoform AML1b abrogated engraftment potential. In vitro, AML1b promoted differentiation while AML1a promoted proliferation of progenitors capable of short-term lymphomyeloid engraftment. Consistent with these findings, the relative abundance of AML1a was highest in the primitive stem/progenitor compartment of human cord blood, and forced expression of AML1a in these cells enhanced maintenance of primitive potential both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that the "a" isoform of AML1 has the capacity to potentiate stem and progenitor cell engraftment, both of which are required for successful clinical transplantation. This activity is consistent with its expression pattern in both normal and leukaemic cells. Manipulating the balance of AML1 isoform expression may offer novel therapeutic strategies, exploitable in the contexts of leukaemia and also in cord blood transplantation in adults, in whom stem and progenitor cell numbers are often limiting. © 2007 Tsuzuki et al

Technetium-99m Methoxyisobutyl Isonitrile Scintigraphy of Bone Metastasis in Three Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

We studied the usefulness of ^Tc-methoxyisobutyl isonitrile (MIBI) scintigraphy in the detection of bone metastases and in evaluation of therapeutical response to ^I-Na in three patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. On ^Tc-MIBI scintigraphy, increased accumulations were observed in all bone metastatic lesions (14 lesions), whereas on bone scintigraphy using ^Tc-hydroxymethylene diphosphonate (^Tc-HMDP) both increased (eight lesions, 57%) and decreased (six lesions, 43%) accumulations were observed. Within two months after ^I-Na treatment, all 14 lesions were unchanged on bone scintigraphy. However, on ^Tc-MIJBI scintigraphy, disappearance of uptake (six lesions, 43%) and decreased uptake (seven lesions, 50%) were observed in 13/14 lesions (93%). Therefore, ^Tc-MIBI scintigraphy was useful not only in the detection of bone metastatic lesions but also in evaluation of the therapeutical response to ^I-Na in differentiated thyroid cancer

ウシ κ-カゼイン ノ フキンイツセイ ニ カンスル ケンキュウ ノウゲイ カガク ブモン

牛κ-カゼインの不均一性を調べるため, Zittle-Custer法で調製したκ-カゼインを, β-メルカプトエタノールで還元した後, 0.02Mイミダゾール・塩酸緩衝液(pH 7.0), NaCl濃度勾配(0.02M∿0.2M)を用いて, DEAEセルロースクロマトグラフィーをおこない, 非吸着画分を含めて6画分を得た。(P-1∿P-6)澱粉ゲル電気泳動(pH 8.6)において, P-1は負極へ移動するが, 他の5画分は, 高い塩濃度で溶出する画分ほど, 正極へより多く移動する傾向が見られた。6画分の化学組成を調べた結果, シアル酸含有量に著しい差異が見られ, P-1とP-2には全くシアル酸が含まれず, P-3∿P-6では, 高い塩濃度で溶出する画分ほど, シアル酸を多く含んでいた。アミノ酸組成は, どの画分もほぼ同じであった。6画分のうち, P-1以外は, κ-カゼインの特徴であるα_S-カゼイン安定化能を有している。The heterogeneity of bovine κ-casein was studied. κ-Casein was prepared from fresh bovine milk by the method of Zittle and Custer. After the reduction of κ-casein with β-mercaptoethanol, it was fractionated by chromatography on a column of DEAE cellulose with linear gradient system of sodium chloride (0.02M to 0.2M) in imidazole-HCl buffer, pH 7.0. Six fractions (P-1 to P-6) were obtained including a non absorbed fraction to the column. In the starch gel electrophoresis, the fractions migrated to anode except the fraction P-1 which was mobile to the cathode. The sequence of mobilities in electrophoresis coincides exactly with the sequence of the elution on DEAE cellulose chromatography in the gradient system. The amino acid compositions of these fractions are almost the same except the fraction P-1 but the sialic acid contents are different greatly. All these fractions (P-2 to P-6) had the ability of stabilizing α_S-casein and the removement of sialic acid is of no effect on that stabilizing effect. It is concluded that the heterogeneity of κ-casein is attributed to the difference of the sialic acid contents

Thiobarbituric acid reacting material in Erigeron annuus pers (Agricultural Chemistry)

ヒメジオンの直接酸加水分解物を, イオン交換(アンバーライトIR-120とダウエックス1×2)クロマトグラフィーと, セファデックスG-15を用いるゲルロ過で分画した。得られたチオバルビツール酸反応陽性画分は, オボムチンのシアル酸と比較するため, 各種の分析に供された。その結果, ヒメジオンの酸加水分解物からは, シアル酸が検出されなかった。得られたチオバルビツール酸反応陽性物質の構造は, 分子量の測定, TBAテストによる発色団の同定, 赤外吸収, NMRスペクトル, 元素分析, 過ヨード酸酸化, 官能基の検索および各種の呈色反応などの結果から, HOCH_2 (CHOH)_5CH_2COCOOHと決定された。この化合物は, クロマトグラフ的にも呈色反応的にも, シアル酸に非常によく類似した性質を有していた。Erigeron was hydrolyzed in acid directly, and the acid hydrolysate was fractionated by ion-exchange chromatography (Amberlite IR-120 and Dowex 1×2) and by gel filtration using Sephadex G-15. The gel filtrated TBA positive fraction was submitted to analysis for comparison with sialic acid from ovomucin. Sialic acid was not detected in Erigeron. The structure of TBA positive fraction can be formulated as HOCH_2 (CHOH)_5CH_2COCOOH according to molecular weight determination, identification of chromogen in TBA test, IR absorption, NMR spectra, elementary analysis, periodate oxidation, analysis of functional groups, some coler reaction and so on. This compound showed rather similar properties to sialic acid in chromatographic and colorimetric method of analysis

Integrated genetic and clinical prognostic factors for aggressive adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma

成人T細胞白血病リンパ腫（ATL）におけるゲノム情報と臨床情報を統合したリスクモデルを確立 --ATLの個別化医療を推進--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-04-10.The prognosis of aggressive adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is poor, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a curative treatment. To identify favorable prognostic patients after intensive chemotherapy, and who therefore might not require upfront allo-HSCT, we aimed to improve risk stratification of aggressive ATL patients aged <70 years. The clinical risk factors and genetic mutations were incorporated into risk modeling for overall survival (OS). We generated the m7-ATLPI, a clinicogenetic risk model for OS, that included the ATL prognostic index (PI) (ATL-PI) risk category, and non-silent mutations in seven genes, namely TP53, IRF4, RHOA, PRKCB, CARD11, CCR7, and GATA3. In the training cohort of 99 patients, the m7-ATLPI identified a low-, intermediate-, and high-risk group with 2-year OS of 100%, 43%, and 19%, respectively (hazard ratio [HR] 5.46, p < 0.0001). The m7-ATLPI achieved superior risk stratification compared to the current ATL-PI (C-index 0.92 vs. 0.85, respectively). In the validation cohort of 84 patients, the m7-ATLPI defined low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups with a 2-year OS of 81%, 30%, and 0%, respectively (HR 2.33, p = 0.0094), and the model again outperformed the ATL-PI (C-index 0.72 vs. 0.70, respectively). The simplified m7-ATLPI, which is easier to use in clinical practice, achieved superior risk stratification compared to the ATL-PI, as did the original m7-ATLPI; the simplified version was calculated by summing the following: high-risk ATL-PI category (+10), low-risk ATL-PI category (−4), and non-silent mutations in TP53 (+4), IRF4 (+3), RHOA (+1), PRKCB (+1), CARD11 (+0.5), CCR7 (−2), and GATA3 (−3)

Studies on κ-Casein of Bovine Milk III : Some properties of κ-casein and its complex (Agricultural Chemistry)

κ-カゼインを三種の方法で調製し, 電気泳動, 超遠心分析, α_S-カゼイン安定化力等について調べた。尿素中における等電点はpH6.0であり, α_S-カゼインとは違うことが明確になった。S_は尿素中で2.6&acd;3.8であり尿素が存在しないとpH8.0で14.4を示した。ヘキソースは1.5%, シアル酸は0.8%, リンは0.2%, チッ素は14%程度であった。DEAEセルロースクロマトグラフィーによって分画される前後でアミノ酸組成には変化がなかったが, α_S-カゼイン安定化力は分画後増大する傾向にあった。κ-Caseins were prepared by the calcium ethanol method, the Sephadex method and the urea sulfuric acid method. Some important properties of κ-caseins were investigated using isoelectric focusing, starch gel electrophoresis, ultracentrifugation, chemical analysis, stabilizing test of α_S-casein, and rennin treatment. Isoelectric focusing established that κ-casein had its isoelectric point near pH6.0 in 6M urea, usually accompanied by a second peak around pH5.6. Ultracentrifugation, however, showed a single peak having a S_ value of 2.6-3.8 in the presence of 6M urea and of 14.4 in the absence of such dispersing reagents. Normal contents of hexose, sialic acid, phosphorus, and nitrogen were respectively about 1.5,0.8,0.2,and 14%. Relative patterns of amino acid composition were similar in all the κ-caseins. In addition, amino acid composition in intact κ-casein and in the further purified κ-casein which formed the second peak in DEAE cellulose chromatography were almost identical, indicating that the κ-casein of the first peak is not an impurity but is one of the components which formed the original κ-casein complexes. The ability of κ-caseins to stabilize α_S-casein in the presence of calcium increased when purified by DEAE cellulose chromatography

Studies on κ-Casein of Bovine Milk V : Chemical modification of κ-casein (Agricultural Chemistry)

κ-カゼインのアミノ基, カルボキシル基, SH基, チロシン, トリプトフアン, リジン, セリン, ヒスチジン, アルギニン, およびメチオニンを種々の方法で化学修飾し, それらがα_S-カゼイン安定化作用に及ぼす影響について調べた。今回の修飾反応条件であるpH7&acd;9においてはκ-カゼインはじゅうぶんに解離していないため, 反応基がκ-カゼイン複合体の表面に位置しているかどうかによって反応速度, ひいては修飾率が大きく左右された。アミノ基とカルボキシル基を修飾するとほぼ完全に安定化作用が消失し, ヒスチジンとチロシンの修飾も顕著な安定化力低下をもたらした。また, 還元してより低分子化すると未修飾κ-カゼインより安定化力が高まった。その他のアミノ酸残基の修飾はα_S-カゼインの安定化にほとんど無関係であった。焦点電気泳動による分析で, 6M尿素中においてκ-カゼインの等電点がpH5より酸性側へ移ると急にα_S-カゼインに対する安定化作用が失われることが判明した。デンプンゲル電気泳動によりκ-カゼインの化学修飾は分子電荷のみならず分子の大きさも変化させることが判明し, 特にセリン, ヒステジンそれにチロシンを修飾したものは会合が進み, 他方アミノ基とSH基を修飾したκ-カゼインはより小さい分子へ解離した。κ-Casein was chemically modified in various ways. Modified groups include; NH_2 group, COOH group, tyrosine, tryptophan, lysine, SH group, serine, histidine, arginine and methionine. These groups and residues were not completely modified, probably because κ-casein was not dissociated into single molecules under the conditions used. Normally κ-casein has an S_ of about 14,which decreases to about 3 when dispersed by alkali or urea. Modification of NH_2 and COOH groups resulted in almost complete loss of the stabilization ability. Modification of histidine and tyrosine fairly well promoted a decrease in this function. Reduced κ-casein stabilized interestingly more α_S-casein than native κ-casein did. Modification of other amino acids had little effect on the stabilization ability. Results of isoelectric focusing indicate that κ-casein was unable to maintain its stabilization function when its isoelectric point in 6M urea moved toward acidic side beyond pH5.0. Six components of reduced κ-casein were clearly separated by isoelectric focusing in 6M urea. We observed that components with isoelectric points at the neutral side were most susceptible to modification. These components seem to occupy the surface of the κ-casein complex. Chemical modification was shown to result not only in changes in molecular charge, but in changes in molecular size