Nondestructive characterization of Antarctic micrometeorites collected at the Dome Fuji Station by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence analysis

The bulk trace element composition (Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Ni Cu, Zn, Ge, Se, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo) of eighty-three Antarctic micrometeorites was nondestructively analyzed using synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence analysis (SR-XRF), and these elements were characterized in terms of their abundance ratio relative to Murchison matrix composition. The relationship between heating history and chemical composition is also examined. We found a complementary relationship among I-type, S-type and unmelted AMMs in the micrometeorites\u27 elemental abundance, which is consistent with the hypothesis that I-type and S-type spherules were separated from chondritic meteoroids

Cleavage of host cytokeratin-6 by lysine-specific gingipain induces gingival inflammation in periodontitis patients

Background/Purpose. Lysine-specific gingipain (Kgp) is a virulence factor secreted from Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a major etiological bacterium of periodontal disease. Keratin intermediate filaments maintain the structural integrity of gingival epithelial cells, but are targeted by Kgp to produce a novel cytokeratin 6 fragment (K6F). We investigated the release of K6F and its induction of cytokine secretion. Methods. K6F present in the gingival crevicular fluid of periodontal disease patients and in gingipain-treated rat gingival epithelial cell culture supernatants was measured by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer-based rapid quantitative peptide analysis using BLOTCHIP. K6F in gingival tissues was immunostained, and cytokeratin 6 protein was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry. Activation of MAPK in gingival epithelial cells was evaluated by immunoblotting. ELISA was used to measure K6F and the cytokines release induced by K6F. Human gingival fibroblast migration was assessed using a Matrigel invasion chamber assay. Results. We identified K6F, corresponding to the C-terminus region of human cytokeratin 6 (amino acids 359–378), in the gingival crevicular fluid of periodontal disease patients and in the supernatant from gingival epithelial cells cultured with Kgp. K6F antigen was distributed from the basal to the spinous epithelial layers in gingivae from periodontal disease patients. Cytokeratin 6 on gingival epithelial cells was degraded by Kgp, but not by Arg-gingipain, P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide or Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans lipopolysaccharide. K6F, but not a scrambled K6F peptide, induced human gingival fibroblast migration and secretion of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. These effects of K6F were mediated by activation of p38 MAPK and Jun N-terminal kinase, but not p42/44 MAPK or p-Akt. Conclusion. Kgp degrades gingival epithelial cell cytokeratin 6 to K6F that, on release, induces invasion and cytokine secretion by human gingival fibroblasts. Thus, Kgp may contribute to the development of periodontal disease

A consortium study of Antarctic micrometeorites recovered from the Dome Fuji Station

Deposits in the water tank at the Dome Fuji Station were collected by the 37th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition team in 1996. We recovered 233 micrometeorites from the deposits. A consortium study was started in late 1998 to investigate mineralogy, petrology, bulk chemistry, and isotopic compositions of the micrometeorites. This is the first case of an organized study of micrometeorites in Japan, in order to establish the methods to investigate micrometeorites routinely. Consortium results on mineralogy, petrology, minor and trace element compositions, isotopic compositions of noble gases of the micrometeorites are reported in this volume. We also found a sequence of mineralogical and compositional changes of micrometeorites experienced from frictional heating during atmospheric entry. INAA and ion probe studies are now in progress

Chemical Compositions of Kinematically Selected Outer Halo Stars

Chemical abundances of 26 metal-poor dwarfs and giants are determined from high-resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio spectra obtained with Subaru/HDS. The sample is selected so that most of the objects have outer-halo kinematics. Self-consistent atmospheric parameters were determined by an iterative procedure based on spectroscopic analysis. Abundances of 13 elements, including $\alpha$-elements (Mg, Si, Ca, Ti), odd-Z light elements (Na, Sc), iron-peak elements (Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn) and neutron-capture elements (Y, Ba), are determined by two independent data reduction and LTE analysis procedures, confirming the consistency of the stellar parameters and abundances results. We find a decreasing trend of [$\alpha$/Fe] with increasing [Fe/H] for the range of $-3.5 <$ [Fe/H]$< -1$, as found by Stephens and Boesgaard (2002). [Zn/Fe] values of most objects in our sample are slightly lower than the bulk of halo stars previously studied. These results are discussed as possible chemical properties of the outer halo in the Galaxy.Comment: 50 pages, 15 figures, Accepted for publication by Ap

Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma to the Left Sphenoid Sinus: A Case Report in Light of the Literature

A 79-year-old Japanese woman presented with a rare case of metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the left sphenoid sinus with left nasal bleeding. She had previously had right radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma at the age of 64 years and brain and spinal cord infarction at 74 years. Endoscopic examination revealed no mass in the nasal cavity. CT and MRI revealed a tumor in the left sphenoid sinus. The size of the tumor increased gradually from 12 to 15 years after the radical nephrectomy. Complete resection with endoscopic surgery was performed without preoperative embolization. The tumor cells had clear cytoplasm and were arranged in a trabecular pattern lined by a layer of endothelial cells. These findings were identical to the pathological findings of the surgical specimen of the renal cell carcinoma from 15 years previous. A pathological diagnosis of metastatic renal cell carcinoma of clear cell type (grade 1) was made. PET-CT demonstrated no metastasis. The patient’s condition was successfully managed with excision of the tumor, and she remains well with no evidence of recurrence and metastasis 36 months after treatment. Metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the sphenoid sinus is rare, but it might be considered in the differential diagnosis of masses in the paranasal sinus even long after initial treatment of renal cancer

General characterization of Antarctic micrometeorites collected by the 39th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition: Consortium studies of JARE AMMs (III)

From November 1998 to January 1999,the 39th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-39) undertook Japanese first large-scale collection of Antarctic micrometeorites (AMMs), with sizes larger than 10μm, at the Meteorite Ice Field around the Yamato Mountains in Antarctica (at three different locations, for a total of 24 collection sites). The number of collected AMMs larger than 40μm is estimated to be about 5000. Here we present the general characterization (i.e., micro-morphology and surface chemical composition using SEM/EDS) of &acd;810 AMMs chosen from 5 of the 24 sites. Additionally, the mineral composition of 61 out of 810 AMMs was determined by Synchrotron X-ray radiation. Preliminary results on mineralogical and chemical compositions show similarities with that of previous studies, even though a pronounced alteration of some AMMs is noticed. A correlation is found between the Mg/Si ratio at the sample\u27s surfaces of unmelted AMMs and the age of snow/ice in which the AMMs are embedded

Larval pufferfish protected by maternal tetrodotoxin

Marine pufferfish contain tetrodotoxin (TTX), an extremely potent neurotoxin. All species of the genus Takifugu accumulate TTX in the liver and ovaries, although the tissue(s) in which it is localized can differ among species. TTX is the major defense strategy the pufferfish appears to use against predators. TTX is also used as a male-attracting pheromone during spawning. Here we demonstrate an additional (and unexpected) use of maternal TTX in the early larval stages of the Takifugu pufferfish. Predation experiments demonstrated that juveniles of all the species of fish used as predators ingested pufferfish larvae, but spat them out promptly. Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MSMS) analysis revealed that the pufferfish larvae contain a small quantity of TTX, which is not enough to be lethal to the predators. Immunohistochemical analysis with anti-TTX monoclonal antibody revealed that the TTX is primarily localized in the body surface of the larvae as a layer of protection. Our study showed the female parent of the Takifugu pufferfish vertically transfers TTX to the larvae through its accumulation in the ovaries, and subsequent localization on the body surface of the larvae

トクシマシ イシカイ ガ ウンエイ スル トクシマシ チイキ ホウカツ シエン センター ノ トリクミ

The Tokushima City Integrated Community Care Support Center, a public institution responsible for the Long-Term Care Insurance and welfare administration of Tokushima City, has high business operations fair and neutrality. The only support center in Tokushima City has been entrusted to the Tokushima City Medical Association and is a large center unusual in Japan. We are working to cooperation with relevant organizations to support the medical and health, welfare and care of the community. We try to establish an Integrated Community Care system, as elderly can continue to live so long and dignified. We divided a daily living area of Tokushima City into four, and have placed the staff for each area. The current number of staff is ５４ people in total, including public health nurses, social workers, chief care managers, and so on. Number of consultations reaches ３６，０００ per year. Occasionally, we received over １６０ consultations a day. There are a wide variety of consultation contents such as Dementia and long-term care services, elder abuse and consumer damage. Because of Medical Association’s operation, we are able to easily construct cooperation with the healthcare and the long-time care system. Therefore, the all citizens of Tokushima City can receive standard services equally, fair, and neutrally. There is no regional disparity, there is no user of the enclosure. Because we have１４branches of the support center in the city, they can bring a high level convenience to the citizens. It seems necessary to focus on the development of four promotions for the future citizens, ① Enhancement of the center output ② Cooperation of the healthcare and the long-term care ③ Improvement of the area community care conference ④ Increase of measures against Dementia