The Physiological Roles of Leptin in Skin Wound Healing

Leptin, a 16 kDa circulating anti-obesity hormone, has many physiological properties such as body weight homeostasis, lipid metabolism, hematopoiesis, thermogenesis, ovarian function, bone formation, and angiogenesis. Interestingly, a certain study showed that skin wound healing delayed in leptin deficient ob/ob mice. However, little has been known about the physiological role of leptin in skin wound healing. In this chapter, we introduce whether local and single-dose administration of leptin exerted a promotive influence on the skin wound healing. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that leptin receptor was expressed in mouse epidermal cells. In addition, topical administration of leptin promoted the healing of chemical burn wounds created on the back skin of mice without any side effects. Then, the mechanisms of the promotive effect of leptin on the wound healing of the skin were demonstrated immunohistochemical and biological analysis; namely, leptin stimulated angiogenesis in the connective tissue beneath the wounded area and the cell proliferation, differentiation/function, and migration of human epidermal keratinocytes. These findings revealed the possible and promising usefulness of leptin as a new wound-healing promoting agent

Biomass of fine roots and mycrorhizal fungi in forest ecosystems(Department of Sciences for Biospheric Coexistence)

博士学位論文要

Biomass of fine roots and mycorrhizal fungi in forest ecosystems(Department of Environmental Dynamics and Management)

博士学位論文要

Rapid preparation of mutated influenza hemagglutinins for influenza virus pandemic prevention

Influenza viruses have periodically caused pandemic due to frequent mutation of viral proteins. Influenza viruses have two major membrane glycoproteins: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Hemagglutinin plays a crucial role in viral entry, while NA is involved in the process of a viral escape. In terms of developing antiviral drugs, HA is a more important target than NA in the prevention of pandemic, since HA is likely to change the host specificity of a virus by acquiring mutations, thereby to increase the risk of pandemic. To characterize mutated HA functions, current approaches require immobilization of purified HA on plastic wells and carriers. These troublesome methods make it difficult to respond to emerging mutations. In order to address this problem, a yeast cell surface engineering approach was investigated. Using this technology, human HAs derived from various H1N1 subtypes were successfully and rapidly displayed on the yeast cell surface. The yeast-displayed HAs exhibited similar abilities to native influenza virus HAs. Using this system, human HAs with 190E and 225G mutations were shown to exhibit altered recognition specificities from human to avian erythrocytes. This system furthermore allowed direct measurement of HA binding abilities without protein purification and immobilization. Coupled with the ease of genetic manipulation, this system allows the simple and comprehensive construction of mutant protein libraries on yeast cell surface, thereby contributing to influenza virus pandemic prevention

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and Japanese anti-tobacco measures

Japanese anti-tobacco measures are reviewed and checked the relationship between the FCTC and its changes. Japan is making efforts to follow the FCTC, but it is insufficient and present anti-tobacco measures seem to have only a little impact on decreasing smoking rates. More effective measures should be developed for reducing smoking rates and for making smoke-free society

Usefulness of Highly Sensitive AFP-L3 and DCP in Surveillance for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with a Normal Alpha-Fetoprotein

Background and aims: Early detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is crucial for effective management. Incidence of HCC has increased in the United States largely attributed to hepatitis B and C virus. Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP-L3) and Des-Gamma-Carboxy Prothrombin (DCP) are being recognized specific biomarkers for HCC. Methods: We measured AFP-L3 and DCP in serial serum specimens of a cohort of chronic hepatitis patients on HCC surveillance and compared these markers to abdominal imaging. Among fifty patients who developed HCC during surveillance, 30 were included in the study with available sera 1-2 years before, at diagnosis and post ablation of HCC. For controls, three consecutive annual sera were examined from 106 chronic hepatitis patients without HCC during surveillance for 5-10 years. The μTASWako i30 auto analyzer was used for the assay that utilizes the microfluidics chip based assay platform. It can fractionate AFP-L3 glycoform and calculates AFP-L3% if AFP level is ≥ 0.6 ng/mL. Results: Combination of AFP, AFP-L3 and DCP showed high sensitivity of 83% in all patients and 75% in patients with AFP\u3c20 ng/mL. AFP-L3 and DCP assays were useful in patients with low levels of AFP (\u3c20 ng/mL) and could detect significant AFP-L3% elevation in some patients more than one year before the diagnosis of HCC. Furthermore, AFP-L3 predicted recurrence of HCC. Conclusions: This is the first study in the U.S. patients using the μTASWako i30 analyzer to test these HCC biomarkers. Our results suggest that combinations of these biomarkers are highly useful for early detection of HCC

近赤外線スペクトロスコピーを用いた大うつ病性障害の状態把握・予後予測に関する縦断的研究

学位の種別: 課程博士審査委員会委員 : (主査)東京大学教授 齊藤 延人, 東京大学教授 大友 邦, 東京大学教授 辻 省次, 東京大学講師 寺尾 安生, 東京大学教授 川上 憲人University of Tokyo(東京大学

膵癌における各種血液型関連シアル化糖鎖抗原の発現とその臨床病理学的意義に関する研究

取得学位 : 博士（医学）, 学位授与番号 : 医博甲第913号, 学位授与年月日：平成1年6月30日,学位授与年：198