Diffuse Neutron Scattering of KBr at Room Temperature and Its Application as Background Function in Rietveld Analysis

Diffuse neutron scattering from powder KBr was measured at room temperature. The oscillatory diffuse scattering is clearly observed. The diffuse scattering theory including correlation effects among thermal displacements of atoms is applied to background function in the Rietveld analysis. The observed scattering data are analyzed by including the correlation effects among thermal displacements of first, second and third nearest neighboring atoms. The inter-atomic distance and temperature dependence of the values of correlation effects is discussed

Differentiation of Smooth Muscle Cells from Human Amniotic Mesenchymal Cells Implanted in the Freeze-Injured Mouse Urinary Bladder

Background: The multipotency of human amniotic mesenchymal cells (HAMCs) has been reported, but the role of HAMCs in urinary tract regeneration is unknown. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine if cells derived from HAMCs support the structural and functional reconstruction of freeze-injured mouse bladders. Design, setting, and participants: HAMCs were harvested from an amnion membrane, and cells were cultured for 7 d prior to injection into the freeze-injured bladder walls of nude mice. Intervention: Three days prior to implantation, the posterior bladder walls were freeze injured for 30 s. The cultured HAMC-derived cells (0.5 x 10(5) cells per 50 mu l) were implanted into the injured regions. Control bladders received a cell-free injection. At 1, 2, 4, and 6 wk after the cell implantation, the experimental bladders were extirpated. Measurements: The bladder tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry for alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA). The HAMC-derived cells were detected by antihuman nuclei antibody (HuNu). Separately, bladder muscle strips were examined for contractile responses to potassium. Results and limitations: At 1 wk after implantation, the HAMC-derived cells, which were detected by HuNu, differentiated into muscular layers composed of SMA-positive cells. From 2 to 6 wk after implantation, abundant layers of SMA-positive and HuNu-positive cells developed. In control bladders, few SMA-positive cells remained at the injured regions at 1 wk, but by 6 wk, more were present. At 1 wk, the contractile responses to potassium of the cell-implanted bladders were significantly higher than those of the control-injected ones. Control-injected bladders also recovered by 6 wk, but the rate of recovery was slower. Conclusions: Freeze-injured mouse bladders implanted with HAMC-derived cells recovered morphology and function faster than control-injected bladders.ArticleEUROPEAN UROLOGY. 58(2):299-306 (2010)journal articl

Beta3-Adrenoceptor Agonists: Possible Role in the Treatment of Overactive Bladder

In the present review article, we present an overview of beta-adrenoceptor (β-AR) subtype expression at the mRNA and receptor protein levels in the human detrusor, the in vitro and in vivo bladder function of the β3-AR, the in vivo effect of β3-AR agonists on detrusor overactivity in animal models, and the available results of clinical trials of β3-AR agonists for treating overactive bladder (OAB). There is a predominant expression of β3-AR mRNA in human bladder, constituting 97% of total β-AR mRNA. Also, functionally, the relaxant response of human detrusor to catecholamines is mainly mediated through the β3-ARs. Moreover, the presence of β1-, β2-, and β3-AR mRNAs in the urothelium and suburothelial layer of human bladder has been identified. Stimulation of urothelial β-ARs results in the release of nitric oxide and an unknown substance inhibiting detrusor contractions from the urothelium. Intravenous application of CL316,243, a selective β3-AR agonist, in rats selectively inhibits mechano-sensitive Aδ-fiber activity of the primary bladder afferents. A number of selective β3-AR agonists are currently being evaluated in clinical trials for OAB with promising preliminary results. In conclusion, the β3-AR agonists are the most notable alternative class of agents to antimuscarinics in the pharmacological treatment of OAB. The β3-AR agonists act to facilitate bladder storage function probably through at least two mechanisms: first, direct inhibition of the detrusor, and second, inhibition of bladder afferent neurotransduction

Mechanism of the declining process of forest caused by the deposition of acid fog on forest canopies and the regeneration of the forest.

私達は、丹沢大山においてガス、エアロゾル、雨、霧、林内雨、樹幹流等の採取・分析を行った。関東平野に面するモミの樹冠には多量の汚染物質が沈着しているが、これはエーロゾルやガスの乾性沈着と霧の沈着の影響による。それぞれの寄与を見積もると、大山中腹ではガスの乾性沈着の影響が最も大きく、次いで霧水、粗大粒子、降雨の順であった。霧の発生頻度は標高の上昇と共に高くなるが、大気汚染物質の沈着量も同様であり、標高が高い地域の樹冠ほど霧を介した大気汚染物質の影響が大きい。丹沢山塊における微量ガス成分の濃度分布調査を行った結果、硝酸ガス等の濃度は大山より低いが大差無く、斜面方角依存性は小さいことが分かった。丹沢山塊では大気汚染物質の影響が大山とおよそ同レベルであり、その影響は標高の高い南東斜面の樹冠で顕著であり、ブナ衰退の斜面方角依存性には霧の影響が示唆された。大気汚染物質の植物影響を調べるため、ブナ苗木へのpH3の酸性霧曝露実験を行ったところ、葉の成長が悪くなり、落葉時期が早まった。酸性霧による同様な影響はモミについても見られるが、モミについての衰退メカニズムとしてまずワックス層が破壊され、続いて細胞壁を構成する糖鎖の架橋の機能を持つ2価のカルシウムイオンが水素イオンとイオン交換してはずれ、架橋が解けてカルシウムイオン、ホウ酸イオン、糖鎖が溶脱する。ブナについては蛍光顕微鏡を使って膜に結合したカルシウム濃度を調べたところ、酸の曝露により明らかに濃度減少することが示され、これによる耐性の減少が示唆された。以上のことから、大気汚染物質によりブナやモミの成長は抑制され、さらには枯れる可能性が高いこと、大気汚染物質の影響は大気汚染物質濃度だけでなく、霧の発生頻度、風向等に左右されるので植生の地形的環境に大きく依存することが明らかになった。In the mountain slope of Mt.Oyama, fog is frequently formed and pH of fogwater is low for nitric acid formed from NOx. The concentration of fog components becomes high when LWC is low, and acid fog events with fog water pH lower than 3.5 occurs for about 20% of fog duration there every year. It has been observed that the throughfall amount increased with the altitude for the contribution of fog, and the fog deposition may be dominated by the fog formation frequency and the deposition rate of fog droplets depending on the wind velocity. Deposited hydrogen ion via fog droplets is exchanged with metal ions in the cells in the leaves, and the concentrations of metal ions, calcium, magnesium, and potassium ions, in the throughfall is large for the leaching. In order to clarify the influence of acid fog on fir and beech, their seedlings were treated with simulated acid fog (SAF) at pH 3 and pH 5 prepared with a mixed solution of nitric acid, ammonium sulfate, sodium chloride with a molar ratio of 2:1:1 in a mobile fog chamber. The growth of the seedlings treated with the SAF at pH 3 had been reduced in plant height, stem diameter, the number of leaves, and dry matter production. Furthermore, the exposure to the SAF at pH 3 during growth phase induced early falling of leaves, and the falling rate were nearly 2 times greater than that at control. The laboratory experiment of the application of the simulated acid fog on their leaves also showed a large leaching of metal ions, and the leaching amount increased with the decreasing pH of the simulated fog solution. Not only the field observation but also laboratory experiments show the large effect of acid depositions on the trees.平成15年度～平成18年度科学研究費補助金（基盤研究（A））（課題番号：15201008

Androgen-independent proliferation of LNCaP prostate cancer cells infected by xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus

Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) is a novel gammaretrovirus that was originally isolated from human prostate cancer. It is now believed that XMRV is not the etiologic agent of prostate cancer. An analysis of murine leukemia virus (MLV) infection in various human cell lines revealed that prostate cancer cell lines are preferentially infected by XMRV, and this suggested that XMRV infection may confer some sort of growth advantage to prostate cancer cell lines. To examine this hypothesis, androgen-dependent LNCaP cells were infected with XMRV and tested for changes in certain cell growth properties. We found that XMRV-infected LNCaP cells can proliferate in the absence of the androgen dihydrotestosterone. Moreover, androgen receptor expression is significantly reduced in XMRV-infected LNCaP cells. Such alterations were not observed in uninfected and amphotropic MLV-infected LNCaP cells. This finding explains why prostate cancer cell lines are preferentially infected with XMRV

Methotrexate Alters the Expression of microRNA in Fibroblast-like Synovial Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis

We aimed to investigate the effect of methotrexate (MTX) on microRNA modulation in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synovial cells (RA-FLS). RA-FLS were treated with MTX for 48 h. We then performed miRNA array analysis to investigate differentially expressed miRNAs. Transfection with miR-877-3p precursor and inhibitor were used to investigate the functional role of miR-877-3p in RA-FLS. Gene ontology analysis was used to investigate the cellular processes involving miR-877-3p. The production of cytokines/chemokines was screened by multiplex cytokine/chemokine bead assay and confirmed by ELISA and quantitative real-time PCR. The migratory and proliferative activities of RA-FLS were analyzed by wound healing assay and MKI-67 expression. MTX treatment altered the expression of 13 miRNAs (seven were upregulated and six were downregulated). Among them, quantitative real-time PCR confirmed that miR-877-3p was upregulated in response to MTX (1.79 ± 0.46-fold, p < 0.05). The possible target genes of miR-877-3p in RA-FLS revealed by the microarray analysis were correlated with biological processes. The overexpression of miR-877-3p decreased the production of GM-CSF and CCL3, and the overexpression of miR-877-3p inhibited migratory and proliferative activity. MTX altered the miR-877-3p expression on RA-FLS, and this alteration of miR-877-3p attenuated the abundant production of cytokines/chemokines and proliferative property of RA-FLS

Artificial Production and Natural Breeding of the Endangered Frog Species Odorrana ishikawae, with Special Reference to Fauna Conservation in the Laboratory

Odorrana ishikawae is listed as a class IB endangered species in the IUCN Red List and is protected by law in both Okinawa and Kagoshima Prefectures, Japan. Here, in an effort to help effectively preserve the genetic diversity of this endangered species in the laboratory, we tested a farming technique involving the artificial breeding of frogs, and also promoted natural breeding in the laboratory. Field-caught male/female pairs of the Amami and Okinawa Island populations were artificially bred using an artificial insemination method in the 2004, 2006, and 2008 breeding seasons (March to April). Although fewer than 50% of the inseminated eggs achieved metamorphosis, approximately 500, 300, and 250 offspring from the three respective trials are currently being raised in the laboratory. During the 2009 and 2010 breeding seasons, second-generation offspring were produced by the natural mating activities of the first offspring derived from the two artificial matings in 2004. The findings and the methods presented here appear to be applicable to the temporary protection of genetic diversity of local populations in which the number of individuals has decreased or the environmental conditions have worsened to levels that frogs are unable to survive by themselves