Mineralogical Study of "Masa" with Special Reference to the Effect of Compaction

Weathered granitic rocks called "Masa" are commonly developed in the Chugoku district, southwest Japan, and for the construction of a dam, Masa has been used as the core materials of rock fill type dams. This paper deals with quantitative examination of the degree of weathering, compaction and pre-crushing effects and permeability of natural state of Masa at five locations in the district. Special attentions were paid on mineralogical studies to elucidate the effects of pre-crushing and pre-compaction as well as on the interrelations of soil constants. Among the engineering soil constants of Masa, natural moisture content and content percentage of fine grains less than 74 µm (P-74) have been confirmed as effective barometers for the degree of weathering, i.e., at each investigated area, the value of P-74 varies characteristicaly according to the weathering degree of Masa. The compaction properties of natural state of Masa depend also on weathering degree and are proved to have intimate relation with maximum dry density (ρdmax) and optimum moisture content (Wopt), i.e., the former becomes smaller and the latter greater as weathering proceed. On the other hand, fine grained Masa subjected pre-crushing have higher ρdmax and lower Wopt compared with those of natural state. This means that physical and/or mineralogical properties of soil grains of Masa have changed to those with resistant against high compaction energy. Existence of maximum value of dry density (ρdmax) was confirmed with increasing pre-crushing times. That is, the compaction density conversely lowers when the pre-crushing energy are excessive. This is probably caused by the fact that the specific surface of fractured quartz and K-feldspar increase due to crushing resulting relative decrease of matrix with which the interstices of soil grains are usually filled. Furthermore, arrangement of voids in the compacted Masa exhibits no particular orientations. This property surely increases the safety of dam concerming permeability, since the compacted Masa shows no weak direction. Finally, practical usefulness of Masa as core materials were discussed based on the results obtained

Induction of cyclooxygenase-2 in human synovial cells by β2-microglobulin

Induction of cyclooxygenase-2 in human synovial cells by β2-microglobulin.BackgroundProstaglandins (PGs) are important mediators of inflammation in arthritis. We evaluated the role of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme, which regulates PG biosynthesis, in osteoarthropathy associated with hemodialysis-associated amyloidosis (HAA) by characterizing COX-2 expression in β2-microglobulin–treated human synovial cells.MethodsWe examined the effects of β2-microglobulin (β2m), a major constituent protein of amyloid fibrils in HAA, on the COX-2 protein and mRNA expression in human synovial cells using Western blot and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.Resultsβ2m selectively increased the biosynthesis of COX-2 protein and induction of COX-2 mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. Immunoabsorption of β2m–containing media by anti-β2m–specific antibody abrogated β2m–mediated COX-2 expression on synovial cells. On the other hand, dexamethasone markedly suppressed the induction of COX-2 protein and mRNA in β2m–stimulated synovial cells.ConclusionsOur results suggest that induction of COX-2 expression by β2m may be an important component of the inflammatory process in hemodialysis-associated osteoarthropathy

The influence of aging on the effectiveness of heat stress in preventing disuse muscle atrophy

This study examined the aging effect on disuse muscle atrophy prevention using heat stress. Wistar rats aged 7 and 60 weeks were divided into three groups as follows: control, immobilized (Im), and immobilized and heat stressed (ImH). Heat stress was given by immersing the hindlimbs in hot water (42 °C) for 60 min, once in every 3 days and the gastrocnemius (GAS) and soleus (SOL) muscles were extracted after 14 days. Muscle-fiber types were classified using ATPase staining. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) was assessed through Western blotting. In GAS muscle of both groups and SOL muscle of 7-week-old rats, the fiber diameter of each muscle type in the ImH group significantly increased compared with that in the Im group. However, this could not be observed in the SOL muscle of the 60-week-old rats. The increased percentage of type-I fibers and variability of types I and II muscle-fiber diameter were evident in the SOL muscle of the 60-week rats. HSP70 was significantly elevated in the ImH group compared with in the Im group in both muscle types of both age groups. Thus, effectiveness of heat stress in the prevention of disuse muscle atrophy appears unsatisfactory in aging muscle fibers

Immobilization-induced hypersensitivity associated with spinal cord sensitization during cast immobilization and after cast removal in rats

This study examined mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity in the rat hind paw during cast immobilization of the hind limbs for 4 or 8 weeks and following cast removal. Blood flow, skin temperature, and volume of the rat hind paw were assessed in order to determine peripheral circulation of the hind limbs. Sensitization was analyzed by measuring the expression of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the spinal dorsal horn following cast immobilization. Two weeks post immobilization, mechanical and thermal sensitivities increased significantly in all rats; however, peripheral circulation was not affected by immobilization. Cast immobilization for 8 weeks induced more serious hypersensitivity compared to cast immobilization for 4 weeks. Moreover, CGRP expression in the deeper lamina layer of the spinal dorsal horn increased in the rats immobilized for 8 weeks but not in those immobilized for 4 weeks. These findings suggest that immobilization-induced hypersensitivity develops during the immobilization period without affecting peripheral circulation. Our results also highlight the possibility that prolonged immobilization induces central sensitization in the spinal cord.The final publication is available at link.springer.co

Effects of continuous passive motion on the expression of membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase in rat immobilized muscles

We examined the effects of continuous passive motion（ CPM） on membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase（ MT1-MMP） expression in rat immobilized muscles. Eight-week-old male Wister rats were used for each of two trials, one with 2 weeks, and another one with 4 weeks of immobilization with/without CPM. In each trial, rats were immobilized（ immobilization group）, and immobilized and simultaneously given CPM （CPM group）. The soleus muscle of each rat was evaluated by gelatin zymography, western blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction（ RT-PCR）. Gelatin zymography revealed a greater level of gelatinase activity in the extract of the muscles of the immobilization group than in those of the control and CPM group. The expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 2 （MMP-2） and MT1-MMP mRNA in the muscle extract of the immobilization group were also greater than those in the control and CPM group. Our results suggested that joint immobilization induces expression of MT1-MMP, a cleavage enzyme of MMP-2 in muscles, resulting in muscular degeneration, and that CPM can prevent these changes

A case of compressive optic neuropathy putatively caused by IgG4-related idiopathic orbital inflammation.

We report the case of a 58-year-old male presenting with an impairment of the left-sided visual acuity caused by compressiveoptic neuropathy, and marked bilateral proptosis. Blood test showed markedly elevated IgG4 (1830 mg/dl) and positiveTSH receptor-stimulating antibodies (200%), but the thyroid function test were normal. Orbital MRI revealed abnormal soft tissueproliferation around the optic nerve and fusiform enlargement of the extraocular muscles. Systemic CT analysis detectedmultiple lymph node swelling, pseudotumor in the lung, retroperitoneal fibrosis, and kidney lesions. We considered that the eyemanifestation was most likely caused by IgG4-related idiopathic orbital inflammation. Systemic administration of a moderatedose of prednisolone dramatically improved the compression of the optic nerve, as shown by the improvement of the visualacuity and the MRI findings. The clinical course made thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy unlikely. In conclusion, an overallconsideration of the clinical picture and extensive work-up of any possible differential diagnosis including measurement of theserum levels of IgG4 was highly useful in making the diagnosis of the patient

CD4+CD25(high)CD127(low/-) Treg cell frequency from peripheral blood correlates with disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

To investigate whether the frequency of peripheral blood (PB) regulatory T cells (Treg) correlates with the clinical disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Heat Treatment Inhibits Skeletal Muscle Atrophy of Glucocorticoid- Induced Myopathy in Rats

Summary The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of heat treatment on glucocorticoid (GC)-induced myopathy. Eight-weekold Wistar rats were randomly assigned to the control, Dex, and Dex + Heat groups. Dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously 6 days per week for 2 weeks in the Dex and Dex + Heat group. In the Dex + Heat group, heat treatment was performed by immersing hindlimbs in water at 42 °C for 60 min, once every 3 days for 2 weeks. The extensor digitorum longus muscle was extracted following 2 weeks of experimentation. In the Dex + Heat group, muscle fiber diameter, capillary/muscle fiber ratio, and level of heat shock protein 72 were significantly higher and atrogene expression levels were significantly lower than in the Dex group. Our results suggest that heat treatment inhibits the development of GC-induced myopathy by decreasing atrogene expression and increasing angiogenesis

Reexamination of the self-positivity scale (2) : Focusing on the relation between generic skills and level of self-positivity

departmental bulletin pape

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