A consortium study of Antarctic micrometeorites recovered from the Dome Fuji Station

Deposits in the water tank at the Dome Fuji Station were collected by the 37th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition team in 1996. We recovered 233 micrometeorites from the deposits. A consortium study was started in late 1998 to investigate mineralogy, petrology, bulk chemistry, and isotopic compositions of the micrometeorites. This is the first case of an organized study of micrometeorites in Japan, in order to establish the methods to investigate micrometeorites routinely. Consortium results on mineralogy, petrology, minor and trace element compositions, isotopic compositions of noble gases of the micrometeorites are reported in this volume. We also found a sequence of mineralogical and compositional changes of micrometeorites experienced from frictional heating during atmospheric entry. INAA and ion probe studies are now in progress

Antarctic micrometeorites collected at the Dome Fuji Station

Antarctic micrometeorites (AMMs) were found among the precipitated fine particles recovered from a water tank in the Dome Fuji Station. These AMMs had been contained in the recent fallen snow around the station. Initial processing of the precipitated particles revealed that they were dominated by natural and artificial terrestrial materials, thus a series of processes were developed to separate AMMs from terrestrial particles. The recovery rate of AMMs by the processes was approximately 45% in weight, which was determined from a weight ratio of recovered/accreted AMMs. The micro-morphology and major-element concentration of the recovered AMMs were characterized. They appear to have been heated upon atmospheric entry to varying temperatures and can be classified into two major types based on the degree of heating : (1) fine-grained, irregular-shaped, partial-melted micrometeorites with chondritic composition, and (2) total-melted spherical micrometeorites with chondritic composition except for volatile elements. A digital catalog for the AMMs identified in this study was established on the web site [URL : http : //dust. cc. gakushuin. ac. jp/], in which optical characteristics, high-resolution images, and chemical compositions of individual AMMs are presented. The AMMs listed in the catalog are the first Japanese collection of extraterrestrial dust. The criterion and techniques developed for the selection and initial analysis of AMMs are applicable for the dust samples that are being collected by the 39th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition team

TREM2 Expression in Schizophrenia

TREM2 and TYROBP are causal genes for Nasu–Hakola disease (NHD), a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by bone lesions and early-onset progressive dementia. TREM2 forms a receptor signaling complex with TYROBP, which triggers the activation of immune responses in macrophages and dendritic cells, and the functional polymorphism of TREM2 is reported to be associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The objective of this study was to reveal the involvement of TYROBP and TREM2 in the pathophysiology of AD and schizophrenia. Methods: We investigated the mRNA expression level of the 2 genes in leukocytes of 26 patients with AD and 24 with schizophrenia in comparison with age-matched controls. Moreover, we performed gene association analysis between these 2 genes and schizophrenia. Results: No differences were found in TYROBP mRNA expression in patients with AD and schizophrenia; however, TREM2 mRNA expression was increased in patients with AD and schizophrenia compared with controls (P < 0.001). There were no genetic associations of either gene with schizophrenia in Japanese patients. Conclusion: TREM2 expression in leukocytes is elevated not only in AD but also in schizophrenia. Inflammatory processes involving TREM2 may occur in schizophrenia, as observed in neurocognitive disorders such as AD. TREM2 expression in leukocytes may be a novel biomarker for neurological and psychiatric disorders

General characterization of Antarctic micrometeorites collected by the 39th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition: Consortium studies of JARE AMMs (III)

From November 1998 to January 1999,the 39th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-39) undertook Japanese first large-scale collection of Antarctic micrometeorites (AMMs), with sizes larger than 10μm, at the Meteorite Ice Field around the Yamato Mountains in Antarctica (at three different locations, for a total of 24 collection sites). The number of collected AMMs larger than 40μm is estimated to be about 5000. Here we present the general characterization (i.e., micro-morphology and surface chemical composition using SEM/EDS) of &acd;810 AMMs chosen from 5 of the 24 sites. Additionally, the mineral composition of 61 out of 810 AMMs was determined by Synchrotron X-ray radiation. Preliminary results on mineralogical and chemical compositions show similarities with that of previous studies, even though a pronounced alteration of some AMMs is noticed. A correlation is found between the Mg/Si ratio at the sample\u27s surfaces of unmelted AMMs and the age of snow/ice in which the AMMs are embedded

Coral Ba/Ca Analysis Using ICP-OES With an Ultrasonic Nebulizer

The barium/calcium ratio (Ba/Ca) in coral skeletons has been used as a proxy to understand river floods and oceanic upwelling in the tropics and subtropics for the past centuries. Here, we establish a new method for Ba/Ca analysis using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), which has been widely used for coral proxy analyses and can save analysis time compared to other methods. We analyze Ba/Ca by combining an ultrasonic nebulizer with the intensity ratio calibration method to improve the signal intensity of Ba. Our method can determine Ba/Ca in samples with a Ca concentration of 9 mg/L with excellent analytical precision (<0.17 mu mol/mol) using ICP-OES

Warthin's tumor as a hamartomatous dysplastic lesion: a histochemical and immunohistochemical study

The etiology of Warthin's tumor was sought by histochemical and immunohistochemical methods using 7 surgically extirpated samples and normal salivary glands as a control for the epithelial component. All the samples exhibited a variety of amyloid deposition in the interfollicular area of the lymphoid component. The interfollicular lymphoid cells were both T-cells and cells of B-cell lineage with an almost l to 2 population ratio. Most antigen-positive B-cells were plasma cells that exhibited polyclonality of irnmunoglobulin. B-cells were also present in the lymphoid mantles and a few were found in the germinal centres. The epithelial component exhibited mucinous and proteinaceous fluid in the lumen and varied immunohistological reactions; being particularly positive to carcinoembryonic antigen, S-100 protein, and B-cell antigen; quite similar to that of normal salivary duct cells. The results suggest that Warthin's tumor may not be a hamartomatous neoplasm at all but a hamartomatous dysplastic lesion

Bcl-2 protein expression and gut neurohormonal polypeptidelamine production in colorectal carcinomas and tumor-neighboring mucosa, which closely correlate to the occurrence of tumor

To clarify whether advanced colorectal carcinomas and tumor-neighboring mucosa simultaneously produce both Bcl-2 protein and gut neurohormonal polypeptides andlor amines, and the interrelationship of these phenomenon, we studied retrospective analysis of Bcl-2 protein production and neuroendocrine characteristics in 52 cases of advanced colorectal carcinoma and surrounding mucosa. All of the tumor-neighboring mucosa presented hyperplasia. The rates of enhanced immunoreactivity of the tumor-neighboring mucosa and of positive immunoreactivity of the carcinomas against human Bcl-2 protein and against human vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, pancreatic polypeptide and somatostatin were 78.8% and 94.2%, 82.7% and 59.6%, 78.8% and 67.3%, and 88.5% and 84.6% respectively. Double immunostaining for Bcl-2 protein and each peptide hormone revealed simultaneous expression. In contrast, that of tumor-neighboring mucosa and carcinomas to serotonin and chromogranin-A and to argyrophilia were 11.5% and 1.9%, 32.7% and 17.3%, and 26.9% and 21.2%, respectively. We concluded that tumor-neighboring crypt cells displayed not only hyperplasia but also neuroendocrine characteristics and that enhanced Bcl-2 protein immunoreactivity correlated with tumor occurrence in the wall of the colorectum. The production of Bcl-2 protein by tumor cells and tumorneighboring crypt cells indicates that the bcl-2 protooncogene may act not only as an inhibitor of apoptosis but also as an inducer of neuroendocrine differentiation from the latent characteristics of the endodermal stem cell

Characteristics of MHC antigen expression and tumor-infiltrating mononuclear cells in renal cell adenomas and carcinomas

We compared the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC; HLA class 1 and 11) antigens and the presence of tumor-infiltrating mononuclear cells presenting S 100 protein (S 100), CD68 antigen, or CD45RO antigen in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 10 renal cell carcinomas and 9 renal cell adenomas using immunohistochemistry. The expression of B2-microglobulin (B2MG) as an HLA class 1 antigen in al1 10 cases (100%) and that of HLA-DR/a as an HLA class 11 antigen in 7 of 10 cases (70%) of carcinoma was stronger than that in the adjacent proximal convoluted tubule, but was respectively not different to weaker in 8 of 9 cases and not different to markedly weaker in al1 cases of adenoma. Furthermore, there was comparatively dense infiltration by S 100(+) antigen-presenting cells in the carcinomas, but almost none in the adenomas and generally dense infiltration by CD45RO(+) T cells and CD68(+) macrophages in the carcinomas, but little to none in the adenomas. We concluded that the generaily enhanced expression of MHC antigens in carcinomas must be an immunophenotypic deviation from not only the adjacent proximal convoluted tubule but also adenomas, and that the predominant infiltration of antigen-presenting cells, T cells and macrophages in the carcinomas, but not in the adenomas, reflects the anticancer immune reactio

Bcl-2 protein expression and gut neurohormonal polypeptidelamine production in colorectal carcinomas and tumor-neighboring mucosa, which closely correlate to the occurrence of tumor

To clarify whether advanced colorectal carcinomas and tumor-neighboring mucosa simultaneously produce both Bcl-2 protein and gut neurohormonal polypeptides andlor amines, and the interrelationship of these phenomenon, we studied retrospective analysis of Bcl-2 protein production and neuroendocrine characteristics in 52 cases of advanced colorectal carcinoma and surrounding mucosa. All of the tumor-neighboring mucosa presented hyperplasia. The rates of enhanced immunoreactivity of the tumor-neighboring mucosa and of positive immunoreactivity of the carcinomas against human Bcl-2 protein and against human vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, pancreatic polypeptide and somatostatin were 78.8% and 94.2%, 82.7% and 59.6%, 78.8% and 67.3%, and 88.5% and 84.6% respectively. Double immunostaining for Bcl-2 protein and each peptide hormone revealed simultaneous expression. In contrast, that of tumor-neighboring mucosa and carcinomas to serotonin and chromogranin-A and to argyrophilia were 11.5% and 1.9%, 32.7% and 17.3%, and 26.9% and 21.2%, respectively. We concluded that tumor-neighboring crypt cells displayed not only hyperplasia but also neuroendocrine characteristics and that enhanced Bcl-2 protein immunoreactivity correlated with tumor occurrence in the wall of the colorectum. The production of Bcl-2 protein by tumor cells and tumorneighboring crypt cells indicates that the bcl-2 protooncogene may act not only as an inhibitor of apoptosis but also as an inducer of neuroendocrine differentiation from the latent characteristics of the endodermal stem cell