妊娠高血圧腎症では胎盤におけるソニックヘッジホッグ経路がインスリン様成長因子系を介して胎児発育を制御する

京都大学0048新制・課程博士博士(医学)甲第22640号医博第4623号新制||医||1044(附属図書館)京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻(主査)教授 近藤 玄, 教授 斎藤 通紀, 教授 篠原 隆司学位規則第4条第1項該当Doctor of Medical ScienceKyoto UniversityDFA

Nuclear Microprobe for Integrated Circuit Process Inspection

A nuclear microprobe with a minimum beam-spot diameter of less than 100 nm, intended for application to IC (integrated circuit) process inspection, has been designed and installed at Osaka University. An ultra high-vacuum sample-chamber with a three-axis goniometer stage and a toroidal electrostatic analyzer for medium energy ion scattering (MEIS) was combined with a short acceleration column for a focused ion beam. A liquid metal ion source (LMIS) for light metal ions such as Li+ or Be+ was mounted on the short column. A minimum beam spot-size of about 80 nm with a current of 30 pA was obtained for 400 keV Be++ LMIS. An energy resolution of 4 x 10-3 (ΔE/E) for the toroidal analyzer gives rise to atomic resolution in RBS spectra for Si and GaAs. This system seems feasible for atomic-level in-depth analysis of localized surfaces and crystalline/disorder structures. The design concept and simulated focusing characteristics using beryllium and lithium liquid metal ion sources were compared with those of conventional microprobes. The feasibility of this microprobe to localized analysis of future IC process steps with a minimum feature size of less than a quarter micrometer was discussed

Risk factors and diagnostic biomarkers for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-associated hepatocellular carcinoma: Current evidence and future perspectives

High rates of excessive calorie intake diets and sedentary lifestyles have led to a global increase in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). As a result, this condition has recently become one of the leading causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Furthermore, the incidence of NAFLD-associated HCC (NAFLD-HCC) is expected to increase in the near future. Advanced liver fibrosis is the most common risk factor for NAFLD-HCC. However, up to 50% of NAFLD-HCC cases develop without underlying liver cirrhosis. Epidemiological studies have revealed many other risk factors for this condition; including diabetes, other metabolic traits, obesity, old age, male sex, Hispanic ethnicity, mild alcohol intake, and elevated liver enzymes. Specific gene variants, such as single-nucleotide polymorphisms of patatin-like phospholipase domain 3, transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2, and membrane-bound O-acyl-transferase domain-containing 7, are also associated with an increased risk of HCC in patients with NAFLD. This clinical and genetic information should be interpreted together for accurate risk prediction. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is the only biomarker currently recommended for HCC screening. However, it is not sufficiently sensitive in addressing this diagnostic challenge. The GALAD score can be calculated based on sex, age, lectin-bound AFP, AFP, and des-carboxyprothrombin and is reported to show better diagnostic performance for HCC. In addition, emerging studies on genetic and epigenetic biomarkers have also yielded promising diagnostic potential. However, further research is needed to establish an effective surveillance program for the early diagnosis of NAFLD-HCC