Cyclooxygenase Regulates Angiogenesis Induced by Colon Cancer Cells

AbstractTo explore the role of cyclooxygenase (COX) in endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis, we have used two in vitro model systems involving coculture of endothelial cells with colon carcinoma cells. COX-2-overexpressing cells produce prostaglandins, proangiogenic factors, and stimulate both endothelial migration and tube formation, while control cells have little activity. The effect is inhibited by antibodies to combinations of angiogenic factors, by NS-398 (a selective COX-2 inhibitor), and by aspirin. NS-398 does not inhibit production of angiogenic factors or angiogenesis induced by COX-2-negative cells. Treatment of endothelial cells with aspirin or a COX-1 antisense oligonucleotide inhibits COX-1 activity/expression and suppresses tube formation. Cyclooxygenase regulates colon carcinoma-induced angiogenesis by two mechanisms: COX-2 can modulate production of angiogenic factors by colon cancer cells, while COX-1 regulates angiogenesis in endothelial cells

Functional expression of thiocyanate hydrolase is promoted by its activator protein, P15K

AbstractThiocyanate hydrolase (SCNase) is a cobalt-containing enzyme with a post-translationally modified cysteine ligand, γCys131-SO2H. When the SCNase α, β and γ subunits were expressed in Escherichia coli, the subunits assembled to form a hetero-dodecamer, (αβγ)4, like native SCNase but exhibited no catalytic activity. Metal analysis indicated that SCNase was expressed as an apo-form irrespective of the presence of cobalt in the medium. On the contrary, SCNase co-expressed with P15K, encoded just downstream of SCNase genes, in cobalt-enriched medium under the optimized condition (SCNase(+P15K)) possessed 0.86 Co atom/αβγ trimer and exhibited 78% of the activity of native SCNase. SCNase(+P15K) showed a UV–Vis absorption peak characteristic of the SCNase cobalt center. About 70% of SCNase(+P15K) had the γCys131-SO2H modification. These results indicate that SCNase(+P15K) is the active holo-SCNase. P15K is likely to promote the functional expression of SCNase probably by assisting the incorporation of cobalt ion

Utilization of automated external defibrillators installed in commonly used areas of Japanese hospitals

Objective. Since July 2004, it has become legal in Japan for laypersons to use automated external defibrillators (AEDs). We investigated the effect of AED installation in commonly used areas of Japanese Association for Acute Medicine accredited training (JAAM) hospitals. Methods. In 2008, we sent questionnaires to 419 JAAM hospitals enquiring about the systems, operations, outcome and characteristics of AED usage. Results. Valid responses were received from 271 hospitals (64.7%). A total of 251 (92.8%) hospitals installed AEDs, mostly in the outpatient departments. These AEDs could also be used by laypersons. Operational responsibility was mostly assumed by the medical emergency center staff. The Engineering Department was in charge of AED maintenance. Of the surveyed hospitals, 65.5% reported having guidelines for usage. The percentages of hospitals which kept records of AED use and outcomes were low. A total of 66.2% reported having a rapid response team and 98.1% provided a non-standardized resuscitation education program. In 68.3% of hospitals, an AED had been used. AEDs were used not only by medical doctors but also by other health professionals. Among the patients who received AED defibrillation, 42.5% survived without neurological deficit. Conclusion. The utilization of AEDs, installed in commonly used areas of JAAM hospitals, has shown beneficial and effective outcomes for improving the resuscitation and survival of patients who experience in-hospital cardiac arrest. AEDs can be used not only by doctors but also by laypersons, making them more accessible and useful. The strategic installation of AEDs can make hospitals safer

The Practical Research of the Support for the Preschooler from Abroad: To Construct Early Childhood Education for Promote Communication

本研究では，近年増加傾向にある外国籍幼児の支援に関する実践的研究を行った。外国籍の幼児は，母語しか話せない場合がほとんどであり，制度としても就学児のような手厚いサポートが受けられない。そのため，保育における意思疎通の難しさが問題となるため，コミュニケーションの広がりを目指した保育の構築を検討した。エピソード収集及びカンファレンスを行うことで対象児の変容と支援の内容を把握することを通して，外国籍幼児のコミュニケーションを広げるためには，以下の四点が有効であることが示唆された。①遊びを通して幼児同士が通じ合える経験の重要性，②双方の言葉を用いたアプローチの有効性，③保育者の意識変容の重要性，④保護者と保育者の隙間を埋めることの必要性。This study aimed to support the preschoolers from abroad. Most of them speak an only mother tongue. There is no institutional support for them. Accordingly the communication between the children from abroad and the children who speak Japanese faces many difficulties. This study examined what is important to improve their communication. Two caregivers have made documents describing the characteristics of subject's communication for two years and some caregivers in the kindergarten have held conferences in which they revealed the relationship between the supports which caregivers have done and the changes of subject's communication. The result shows that it is important that (1) caregivers speak a word in Japanese with a corresponding word in subject's language, (2) caregivers attempt not to adapt subject's behavior to the classroom culture but to attract his/her interest in the classroom activities, and (3) caregivers and subject's parents get to know each other

Automatic characterization and segmentation of human skin using three-dimensional optical coherence tomography

A set of fully automated algorithms that is specialized for analyzing a three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (OCT) volume of human skin is reported. The algorithm set first determines the skin surface of the OCT volume, and a depth-oriented algorithm provides the mean epidermal thickness, distribution map of the epidermis, and a segmented volume of the epidermis. Subsequently, an en face shadowgram is produced by an algorithm to visualize the infundibula in the skin with high contrast. The population and occupation ratio of the infundibula are provided by a histogram-based thresholding algorithm and a distance mapping algorithm. En face OCT slices at constant depths from the sample surface are extracted, and the histogram-based thresholding algorithm is again applied to these slices, yielding a three-dimensional segmented volume of the infundibula. The dermal attenuation coefficient is also calculated from the OCT volume in order to evaluate the skin texture. The algorithm set examines swept-source OCT volumes of the skins of several volunteers, and the results show the high stability, portability and reproducibility of the algorithm.This paper was published in Optics Express and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of OSA. The paper can be found at the following URL on the OSA website: http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-14-5-1862. Systematic or multiple reproduction or distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law

COMT Val158Met, but not BDNF Val66Met, is associated with white matter abnormalities of the temporal lobe in patients with first-episode, treatment-naïve major depressive disorder: a diffusion tensor imaging study

We investigated the association between the Val158Met polymorphism of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene, the Val66Met polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene, and white matter changes in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy subjects using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We studied 30 patients with MDD (17 males and 13 females, with mean age ± standard deviation [SD] =44±12 years) and 30 sex- and age-matched healthy controls (17 males and 13 females, aged 44±13 years). Using DTI analysis with a tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) approach, we investigated the differences in fractional anisotropy, radial diffusivity, and axial diffusivity distribution among the three groups (patients with the COMT gene Val158Met, those with the BDNF gene Val66Met, and the healthy subjects). In a voxel-wise-based group comparison, we found significant decreases in fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity within the temporal lobe white matter in the Met-carriers with MDD compared with the controls (P<0.05). No correlations in fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity, or radial diffusivity were observed between the MDD patients and the controls, either among those with the BDNF Val/Val genotype or among the BDNF Met-carriers. These results suggest an association between the COMT gene Val158Met and the white matter abnormalities found in the temporal lobe of patients with MDD

Endogenous reference RNAs for microRNA quantitation in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lymph node tissue

Lymph node metastasis is one of the most important factors for tumor dissemination. Quantifying microRNA (miRNA) expression using real-time PCR in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) lymph node can provide valuable information regarding the biological research for cancer metastasis. However, a universal endogenous reference gene has not been identified in FFPE lymph node. This study aimed to identify suitable endogenous reference genes for miRNA expression analysis in FFPE lymph node. FFPE lymph nodes were obtained from 41 metastatic cancer and from 16 non-cancerous tissues. We selected 10 miRNAs as endogenous reference gene candidates using the global mean method. The stability of candidate genes was assessed by the following four statistical tools: BestKeeper, geNorm, NormFinder, and the comparative ΔCt method. miR-103a was the most stable gene among candidate genes. However, the use of a single miR-103a was not recommended because its stability value exceeded the reference value. Thus, we combined stable genes and investigated the stability and the effect of gene normalization. The combination of miR-24, miR-103a, and let-7a was identified as one of the most stable sets of endogenous reference genes for normalization in FFPE lymph node. This study may provide a basis for miRNA expression analysis in FFPE lymph node tissue