Successive phase transitions to antiferromagnetic and weak-ferromagnetic long-range orders in quasi-one-dimensional antiferromagnet Cu3_3Mo2_2O9_9

Investigation of the magnetism of Cu$_3$Mo$_2$O$_9$ single crystal, which has antiferromagnetic (AF) linear chains interacting with AF dimers, reveals an AF second-order phase transition at $T_{\rm N} = 7.9$ K. Although weak ferromagnetic-like behavior appears at lower temperatures in low magnetic fields, complete remanent magnetization cannot be detected down to 0.5 K. However, a jump is observed in the magnetization below weak ferromagnetic (WF) phase transition at $T_{\rm c} \simeq 2.5$ K when a tiny magnetic field along the a axis is reversed, suggesting that the coercive force is very weak. A component of magnetic moment parallel to the chain forms AF long-range order (LRO) below $T_{\rm N}$, while a perpendicular component is disordered above $T_{\rm c}$ at zero magnetic field and forms WF-LRO below $T_{\rm c}$. Moreover, the WF-LRO is also realized with applying magnetic fields even between $T_{\rm c}$ and $T_{\rm N}$. These results are explainable by both magnetic frustration among symmetric exchange interactions and competition between symmetric and asymmetric Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya exchange interactions.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Expression of Superoxide Dismutase in Basal Cell Carcinoma

There have been no studies of the expression of superoxide dismutase(SOD) at the mRNA and protein level in skin cancers. Northern blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were performed in order to analyze the expression of Cu, Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD in basal cell carcinomas (BCC) and normal skin (NS). The expression of Mn-SOD mRNA and protein was significantly higher in BCC than in NS. The expression of Cu,Zn-SOD, however, was high in BCC at the mRNA level, but not at the protein level. These results suggest that an increase in the expression of Mn-SOD relates to the development of BCCs

Analysis of the Antioxidative Function of the Radioprotective Japanese Traditional (Kampo) Medicine, Hangeshashinto, in an Aqueous Phase

Oral mucositis (OM) is a common and painful complication of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Hangeshashinto (HST), a Japanese traditional medicine, is known to alleviate radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy-induced OM; however, the detailed mechanism has not yet been clarified. The aim of the present study is to clarify the details of the antioxidative functions of HST against reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by radiation. The hydroxyl radical (•OH) scavenging ability and reduction ability was simultaneously measured using a modified electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping method. The superoxide (O2•−) scavenging ability was estimated by an EPR redox probing method. Water suspension of powdered HST and its seven constitutive crude drugs were tested. In addition, some of the main water soluble ingredients of the crude drugs were also tested. HST was found to scavenge both •OH and O2•−. Furthermore, HST was observed to reduce relatively stable nitroxyl radicals. Glycyrrhizae Radix (kanzo), Ginseng Radix (ninjin), Zizyphi Fructus (taiso), and glycyrrhizin (an ingredient of kanzo) were all found to be relatively good •OH scavengers. Scutellariae Radix (ogon) and Coptidis Rhizoma (oren) demonstrated reducing ability. In addition, acteoside and berberine chloride, which are water soluble ingredients of ogon and oren, respectively, also demonstrated reducing ability. Oren exhibited oxidative ability at higher concentrations, which may have a function to maintain catalytic redox action. The antioxidative function of HST probably worked in a balance of scavenging ROS, reducing stable free radicals and some minor oxidative effects

EPR based Estimation of Radiation-Induced Reactive Oxygen Species

Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is considered as essential trigger of biological effects of ionizing radiations, and may be deeply linked with the radiation quality.Amounts of total oxidation reactions (i.e. oxidative free radical species, •OH and HO2•), H2O2 generations, Oxygen consumptions, and •OH generations induced by X-ray, 20 keV/μm carbon beam, and 80 keV/μm carbon beam were estimated using EPR based techniques.Total oxidation reactions were estimated as 3, 1.3, and 0.66 μmol/L/Gy, amount of H2O2 generations were 0.2, 0.57, and 0.35 μmol/L/Gy, oxygen consumptions were 0.4, 0.39, and 0.15 μmol/L/Gy for X-ray, 20 keV/μm carbon beam, and 80 keV/μm carbon beam, respectively. The ratio of H2O2 generation per oxygen consumption were increased with LET, and were 0.5, 1.46, 2.33 for X-ray, 20 keV/μm carbon beam, and 80 keV/μm carbon beam, respectively. The •OH generations expected to be localized on the track/range of the radiation beam/ray, and both sparse (≈ 3.3 mM) and very dense (> 1.7 M) •OH generations were suggested. Percentage of sparse •OH generation decreased with LET becoming higher.The SFRBM\u27s 23rd Annual Meeting, a joint meeting with the Society for Free Radical Research International (SFRBM/SFRRI 2016

Ileocecal actinomycosis : A case report and review of the literature

A case of actinomycosis in the ileocecal area of a 44-years-old man which manifested as a painful lump in the right iliac fossa is reported. Clinical and laboratory findings suggested the diagnosis of perityphlitic abscess due to acute appendicitis. Upon a laparotomy, a malignant tumor was suspected and so a right hemicolectomy was performed. Gram staining of cecum tissues demonstrated gram positive pleomorphic filaments. Postoperative penicillin therapy was successful. Despite the fact that infection accompanying an actinomycotic organism is relatively rare, the possibility of such an infection should be kept in mind because the organism is known to be commensal in the oral cavity, lungs and intestinal tract

Detection of Senile Plaque and Neurofibrillary Tangle using Bielschowsky-Hirano\u27s Silver Method

Conventional light microscopic morphometrical investigations were performed on senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in eighteen senile brains. Specimens from the hippocampal region were investigated statistically whether or not there is any difference in detection of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles among the conventional staining methods, that is, Hematoxylin-Eosin stain, Congo red stain, Periodic acid Schiff reaction, Bodian stain and Bielschowsky- Hirano\u27s silver stain. It was clarified that, even in the laboratory without specific antibody to senile plaque and neurofibrillary tangle, Bielschowsky-Hirano\u27s stain is the most useful and convenient staining method for detection of these ageing-related changes

KLHDC10 Activates ASK1 by Suppressing PP5

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced activation of Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) plays crucial roles in oxidative stress-mediated cell death through the activation of the JNK and p38 MAPK pathways. However, the regulatory mechanism of ASK1 in the oxidative stress response remains to be elucidated. Here, we identified the kelch repeat protein, Slim, as an activator of ASK1 through a Drosophila misexpression screen. We also performed a proteomics screen and revealed that Kelch domain containing 10 (KLHDC10), a mammalian ortholog of Slim, interacted with Protein phosphatase 5 (PP5), which has been shown to inactivate ASK1 in response to ROS. KLHDC10 bound to the phosphatase domain of PP5 and suppressed its phosphatase activity. Moreover, KLHDC10 was required for H2O2-induced sustained activation of ASK1 and cell death in Neuro2A cells. These findings suggest that Slim/KLHDC10 is an activator of ASK1, contributing to oxidative stress-induced cell death through the suppression of PP5

Signet-Ring Cell-Like Amphicrine Cell Carcinoma of the Stomach

A poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma containing diverse components, tubular, signet-ring cell and neuroendocrine elements, in a 79-year-old man is described. Endoscopy examination revealed a Borrmann type IV tumor in the antrum. Histologically, scattered foci of tubular and signet-ring cells and a greater number of neuroendocrine elements were observed. The tumor cells were positive for chromogranin A, neuron specific enolase (NSE) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Furthermore, about one third of the tumor cells were demonstrated as amphicrine differentiation by double staining with chromogranin A and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS). Amphicrine cell carcinomas with exocrine and endocrine differentiation in the stomach is rare and poor prognosis. The present case suggests that amphicrine cell carcinomas can occur in signet-ring cell morphogenesis, and that a multipotential stem cell is an origin of this unusual variant of neuroendocrine carcinoma

The adenosine A2A receptor is associated with methamphetamine dependence/psychosis in the Japanese population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several lines of evidence suggest that the dopaminergic nervous system contributes to methamphetamine (METH) dependence, and there is increasing evidence of antagonistic interactions between dopamine and adenosine receptors. We therefore hypothesized that variations in the A2A adenosine receptor (<it>ADORA2A</it>) gene modify genetic susceptibility to METH dependence/psychosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We first analyzed variations in the exons and exon-intron boundaries of the <it>ADORA2A </it>gene in METH dependent/psychotic patients. Then an association analysis between these single nucleotide polymorphisms and METH dependence/psychosis was performed using a total of 171 METH dependent/psychotic patients and 229 controls.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found 6 variations, of which one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was novel. Significant associations were observed between the allelic and genotypic frequencies of the Exon2+751 (rs5751876) SNP and METH dependence/psychosis. These associations were observed especially in females. In the clinical feature analyses, significant associations were observed between the SNP and the patient subgroup using METH alone (i.e., without concomitant use of other substances of abuse).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results suggest that the <it>ADORA2A </it>gene could be a vulnerability factor for METH dependence/psychosis, especially in females and/or in patients using only METH.</p