Molecular Therapeutic Targets for Glioma Angiogenesis

Due to the prominent angiogenesis that occurs in malignant glioma, antiangiogenic therapy has been attempted. There have been several molecular targets that are specific to malignant gliomas, as well as more broadly in systemic cancers. In this review, I will focus on some topics related to molecular therapeutic targets for glioma angiogenesis. First, important angiogenic factors that could be considered molecular targets are VEGF, VEGF-induced proteins on endothelial cells, tissue factor, osteopontin, αvβ3 integrin, and thymidine phosphorylase as well as endogenous inhibitors, soluble Flt1, and thrombospondin 1. Second, hypoxic areas are also decreased by metronomic CPT11 treatment as well as temozolomide. Third, glioma-derived endothelial cells that are genetically and functionally distinct from normal endothelial cells should be targeted, for example, with SDF-1 and CXCR7 chemokine. Fourth, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) likely contribute towards glioma angiogenesis in the brain and could be useful as a drug delivery tool. Finally, blockade of delta-like 4 (Dll4) results in a nonfunctioning vasculature and could be another important target distinct from VEGF

Measurements of CO2 in air and sea over the Western Pacific-MR98-04 Cruise-

It is well known that the ocean plays a very important role in the overall geochemical cycle of CO2. Over the ocean surface, CO2 is equilibrated between partial pressure of CO2 in the seawater (pCO2) and that in the atmosphere(PCO2). The objectives of the present observation are to evaluate the following : (1) Horizontal distribution of pCO2 and PCO2, (2) Sea surface CO2 flux and (3) Vertical distribution of pCO2

Coenzyme Models 27 Degradative Oxidation of Glyoxals to Carboxylic Acids Mediated by Flavin and Cyanide Ion

In an aerobic aqueous solution containing flavin and cyanide ion, phenylglyoxal and 4-chlorophenylglyoxal were easily oxidized to benzoic acid and 4-chlorobenzoic acid, respectively (49-61 % yield). The product analysis indicates that the initial step (ArCOCHO → ArCOCO2 H) is the "Flavin-trapping" mediated by flavin and cyanide ion and the second step (ArCOCO2 H → ArCO2H) is the oxidation by hydrogen peroxide which is yielded through the pingpong-type regeneration of flavin. Methylglyoxal was also oxidized degradatively to acetic acid. The oxidation of glyoxal was more complicated: oxalic acid was afforded in the nonmicellar system, while formic acid was the sole detectable product in the CTAB micellar system. The reactions reported here demonstrate a novel facet of flavin catalyses

Spectropolarimetric Study on Circumstellar Structure of Microquasar LS I +61deg 303

We present optical linear spectropolarimetry of the microquasar LS I +61$^{\circ}$ 303. The continuum emission is mildly polarized (up to 1.3 %) and shows almost no temporal change. We find a distinct change of polarization across the H$\alpha$ emission line, indicating the existence of polarization component intrinsic to the microquasar. We estimate the interstellar polarization (ISP) component from polarization of the H$\alpha$ line and derive the intrinsic polarization component. The wavelength dependence of the intrinsic component is well explained by Thomson scattering in equatorial disk of the Be-type mass donor. The position angle (PA) of the intrinsic polarization $\sim 25^{\circ}$ represents the rotational axis of the Be disk. This PA is nearly perpendicular to the PA of the radio jet found during quiescent phases. Assuming an orthogonal disk-jet geometry around the compact star, the rotational axis of the accretion disk is almost perpendicular to that of the Be disk. Moreover, according to the orbital parameters of the microquasar, the compact star is likely to get across the Be disk around their periastron passage. We discuss the peculiar circumstellar structure of this microquasar inferred from our observation and possible connection with its high-energy activities.Comment: 17pages, 7figures; accepted for Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japa

Composite Bonded Magnets With Self-Recoverability <newline/>for Miniaturized Anisotropic Magnet Rotor

In the preparation of a miniaturized rotor, a composite bonded magnet was fabricated by taking advantage of self-recoverability. A preformed magnet was synthesized by using incomplete three-dimensional network molecular structure which was formed under the optimum conditions at a temperature of 433 K, an alignment field of 1.4 MA/m, and a low compacting pressure of 50 MPa, respectively. The preformed ones were extruded and compressed into a ring-shaped magnet by using the self-recoverability at a pressure of 200 MPa and a temperature of 423 K under non-alignment-field. Through the process, a composite bonded magnet rotor in the shape of a ring could be prepared without a bonding layer. It was clarified that a 4 pole/6 slot DC brush less motor can be obtained by using the ring-shaped rotor comprising a parallel oriented anisotropic magnet with 7 mm in outer diameter, 158 kJ/m3 in (BH)max, and 6.2 Mg/m3 in density, respectively. Resultantly, the developed rotor enabled us to increase the S-T gradient by 1.75 times compared with that for a conventional isotropic Nd-Fe-B bonded magnet rotor with the same dimensions

Enhancement of Dormant Pathways in the Brain following Rat Contusive Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) induces distal effects on neural activity in the brain. To date, precise, high quality anatomical studies have not been performed. The goal of this study was to delineate neuroanatomical enhancement of dormant pathways in the brain following SCI using an appropriate serotype of an adeno-associated-virus (AAV) with a CAG promotor

Increased intrapharyngeal pressure with combined use of high-flow nasal cannula and a surgical face mask: a preliminary study

OBJECTIVES: Nasal high-flow (NHF) therapy provides continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), flushes the anatomical dead space, and improves mucociliary clearance. CPAP is usually applied at a flow rate at or above an established threshold value with the mouth closed because it is hard to maintain it with an open mouth. We conducted a prospective study to validate our hypothesis that CPAP can be applied with the mouth open through a surgical face mask. METHODS: We inserted 12-Fr nasogastric tubes through the noses of 18 healthy individuals and fixed each tube within the pharynx to monitor the intrapharyngeal pressure. We monitored the pressure during the following two conditions: NHF oxygen with the mouth open (condition O) and NHF oxygen with the mouth open and wearing a surgical face mask (condition OM). We set the NHF rate at 40 L/min and the oxygen concentration at 21%, under all conditions. We measured the intrapharyngeal pressure five times during each inspiration and expiration, and calculated mean values. RESULTS: The mean expiratory intrapharyngeal pressure (median [interquartile range]) increased significantly from the baseline during conditions O (2.08 [1.58–4.02] cm H(2)O) and OM (3.35 [2.72–3.79] cm H(2)O). In addition, there was a significant difference in pressure between conditions O and OM (p=0.0263, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). CONCLUSIONS: In our healthy volunteers, the intrapharyngeal pressures increased during expiration with an open mouth while wearing a surgical face mask