Alkenylation and Allylation of Aldehydes by Using an Ni/Cr/TDAE Redox System

In 360 females, Bone mineral density (BMD) in lumbar vertebrae (L2-L4) was assessed by quantitative computed tomography (QCT), and the values obtained were compared with the frequency of vertebral transformation or fracture as assessed by lateral scan image (scanogram) by X-ray CT. A correlation was observed between the frequency of vertebral transformation (or fracture) and lumbar BMD values : BMD under 125 mg/cm(3) was observed over 90% of women with vertebral transformation, and BMD under 70mg/cm(3) was found about 50% of them. These results suggest that decrease in BMD in lumbar vertebrae leads to vertebral transformation or fracture. Thus, measurement of BMD by QCT would be very useful in predicting vertebral transformation or fractures

マツノザイセンチュウ分散型誘導メカニズムの生理学的・分子生物学的解析

学位の種別: 課程博士審査委員会委員 : （主査）東京大学教授 福田 健二, 東京大学教授 富樫 一巳, 東京大学准教授 松下 範久, 東京大学准教授 練 春蘭, 国立研究開発法人森林研究・整備機構森林総合研究所研究員 神崎 菜摘University of Tokyo(東京大学

Potentiation of 17 beta-estradiol synthesis in the brain and elongation of seizure latency through dietary supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid

Several studies have shown that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) attenuates epileptic seizures; however, the molecular mechanism by which it achieves this effect is still largely unknown. DHA stimulates the retinoid X receptor, which reportedly regulates the expression of cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom). This study aimed to clarify how DHA suppresses seizures, focusing on the regulation of 17β-estradiol synthesis in the brain. Dietary supplementation with DHA increased not only the expression of P450arom, but also 17β-estradiol in the cerebral cortex. While DHA did not affect the duration or scores of the seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole, DHA significantly prolonged the seizure latency. A P450arom inhibitor, letrozole, reduced 17β-estradiol levels and completely suppressed the elongation of seizure latency elicited by DHA. These results suggest that DHA delays the onset of seizures by promoting the synthesis of 17β-estradiol in the brain. DHA upregulated the expression of anti-oxidative enzymes in the cerebral cortex. The oxidation in the cerebral cortex induced by pentylenetetrazole was significantly attenuated by DHA, and letrozole completely inhibited this suppressive action. Thus, the anti-oxidative effects of 17β-estradiol may be involved in the prevention of seizures mediated by DHA. This study revealed that 17β-estradiol in the brain mediated the physiological actions of DHA.This work was partially supported by grants from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan, KAKENHI for Y.I., K.I. and T.Y. (Nos. 26740024, 26460139 and 25340047), a grant from the Mishima Kaiun Memorial Foundation for Y.I. and a grant from the SKYLARK Food Science Institute for Y.I. This work was also financially supported in part by Tokushima Bunri University. We thank Y. Kamihashi, Y. Utagawa, and K. Kojima for their technical assistance. We also acknowledge S. Smiley-Jewell and M. Paz Prada for editing the manuscript. This manuscript has been checked by a professional language editing service, American Journal Experts

Serum interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-12 levels and IL28B gene polymorphisms: pretreatment prediction of treatment failure in chronic hepatitis C

Background: Both IL28B gene polymorphisms and serum levels of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12p40 and IL-18 have been reported to affect the outcome of natural and pegylated interferon and ribavirin-treated HCV infection. Methods: To clarify their association and predictive value in treatment outcome of genotype 1 HCV-infected patients, we measured pretreatment serum IL-10, IL-12p40 and IL-18 levels using multiplex assays and determined IL28B gene polymorphisms (rs 8099917) in 52 cases with chronic hepatitis C. Results: High baseline levels of IL-10 (P<0.001) and low levels of IL-12p40 (P<0.001) were significantly associated with a non-virological response (NVR) in our cohort. The IL28B polymorphism was tested and TT, TG or GG genotypes were found in 60%, 38% and 2% of patients, respectively, with corresponding NVR rates of 10%, 60% and 100% (P<0.001). Serum cytokine levels were significantly correlated with IL28B gene polymorphisms. When serum IL-10 levels were stratified at 5.0 pg/ml, NVR rates were 50% versus 0% (P=0.004) for the IT genotype and 87% versus 0% (P=0.001) for the TG or GG genotypes. Similarly, low IL-12p40 levels were associated with an NVR in patients with TG or GG genotypes (P=0.006). In multivariate analysis, high IL-10, low IL-12p40 and IL28B TG or GG genotypes were independently associated with an NVR. Conclusions: Serum IL-10 and IL-12p40 levels in combination with IL28B genotype, especially G-allele carriage, are strong predictive markers of an NVR to HCV treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin.ArticleANTIVIRAL THERAPY. 16(7):1073-1080 (2011)journal articl

Study of carbon dust formation and their structure using inductively coupled plasmas under high atomic hydrogen irradiation

金沢大学理工研究域電子情報学系Experiments on erosion and dust formation on graphite materials have been performed using high power induction plasmas containing high atomic hydrogen flux (∼1024 m-2 s-1). Chemical sputtering by atomic hydrogen irradiation with incident energy below 1 eV eroded the graphite targets significantly, and the sputtering yield was roughly estimated to be 0.002-0.005, which is as high as that obtained by ion beam and fusion plasma experiments. The transport of the released hydrocarbon along the gas flow, interacting with low temperature plasmas, results in carbon dust formation on the eroded graphite target and also on the silicon and graphite samples located at the remote position. The dust size and density observed on the samples decreases with distance from the graphite target. The dust shape strongly depends on the target surface temperature, and the graphite dust turns into polyhedral particle like diamond when the surface temperature rises to 1100 K. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Serum chemokine levels are associated with the outcome of pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Aim: Serum chemokine levels and amino acid substitutions in the interferon-sensitivity determining region (ISDR) and core region have been associated with treatment outcome of pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy in genotype 1 hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients. The present study was conducted to clarify the association between serum chemokines and treatment outcome in patients with chronic HCV-1 infection in a Japanese cohort. Methods: A total of six serum chemokines were quantified before, during and after pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment in 79 genotype 1 chronic HCV patients using a multiple bead array system. Viral ISDR and core region variants were determined by direct sequencing. Results: The baseline serum levels of eotaxin, IP-10 and RANTES were significantly higher in chronic HCV patients than in controls. High levels of eotaxin and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1 beta before therapy and more than two mutations in the ISDR were associated with a sustained virological response, and patients with more than two mutations in the ISDR also had significantly higher MIP-1 beta levels. Receiver-operator curve analysis showed a 77% sensitivity and 73% specificity for predicting an SVR using MIP-1 beta values. Conclusion: Serum MIP-1 beta levels may predict the response to HCV treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin and are associated with amino acid substitutions in the ISDR.ArticleHEPATOLOGY RESEARCH. 41(6):587-593 (2011)journal articl

Blob/Hole Generation in the Divertor Leg of the Large Helical Device

We have analyzed ion saturation current fluctuation measured by a fast scanning Langmuir probe (FSP) in edge region of the Large Helical Device (LHD). Positive and negative spikes of the ion saturation current were observed in the private region and on the divertor leg, respectively. It was found that the boundary position between these regions corresponds to the low-field side (LFS) edge of the divertor leg where the gradient of the ion saturation current profile was the maximum. Such a positional relationship resembles that near the separatrix in the LFS in tokamaks, where blobs and holes are generated. Statistical analysis indicates similar fluctuation characteristics among different magnetic devices

Association of Serum Cytokine Levels With Treatment Response to Pegylated Interferon and Ribavirin Therapy in Genotype 1 Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Methods. We quantified a total of 8 serum cytokines before, during, and after treatment in 79 genotype 1 chronic HCV patients. Viral ISDR and core region variants were determined by direct sequencing. Results. High levels of interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-18 and more than 2 mutations in the ISDR were associated with a sustained virological response (SVR). Conversely, high baseline IL-10 levels and glutamine at amino acid 70 of the HCV core protein (Gln70) were significantly associated with a nonresponse to treatment, and patients with Gln70 had significantly higher IL-10 levels. In multivariate analysis, low IL-10, high IL-12, and high IL-18 levels were independently associated with an SVR. These 3 cytokine levels were decreased from baseline levels 4 weeks into treatment and remained low in patients with an SVR. Conclusion. Serum IL-10, IL-12, and IL-18 levels are predictive of the response to HCV treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin and are associated with amino acid substitutions in the ISDR and core region.ArticleJOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 203(8):1087-1095 (2011)journal articl

Removal of carbon deposited film and hydrogen retention control by low temperature H-C-N reactive plasmas

Control of tritium retention and its removal from the first wall of future fusion devices are the most crucial issues for safety and effective use of the fuel. Nitrogen injection into edge plasmas has been considered and tested as an effective method for suppression of carbon dust growth and reduction of hydrogen isotope inventory. In this paper we have investigated scavenger effects of nitrogen injected into H2/CH4 plasmas using a small helical device where low density (ne ∼ 1016 m-3) and low temperature (Te = 5-10 eV) hydrogen plasmas are generated in steady state condition like remote plasmas in fusion devices. It is shown from the comparison of the carbon film deposition and particle growth between those with and without N2 injection that the chemical erosion effects of nitrogen gas on the carbon film and particle growth strongly depends on the surface temperature. With increasing the surface temperature higher than ∼400 K, the nitrogen chemical erosion significantly works to reduce the hydrocarbon deposition. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved