Discovery of a Strongly Lensed Galaxy at z=3.9 behind a z=0.83 Galaxy Cluster

We report the discovery and spectroscopic confirmation of three gravitationally-lensed images of a galaxy at z=3.9 in the background of a distant, rich cluster of galaxies at z=0.83, on the basis of observations with Faint Object Camera And Spectrograph (FOCAS) on the Subaru telescope. We construct a simple lens model of the cluster mass distribution based on Jee et al.'s weak lensing mass estimates from deep, high-resolution images by Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) on the Hubble Space Telescope. The lens model can account simultaneously for the observed image configuration and the flux ratio of the closer pair located close to the critical curve. The parities of the three images are also consistent with the lensing hypothesis. Since this galaxy is apparently bright (i'_{AB} \sim 23.7) for its redshift due to the magnification, it serves as a good high redshift target on which we can make extensive and detailed studies based on multi-wavelength imaging and spectroscopy.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in PAS

Protective effect of Sanguisorbae Radix against apoptosis and function of renal tissues subjected to ischemia-reperfusion

DNA ladders were detected by gel electrophoresis of DNA obtained from rat kidney subjected to 60 min of ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion, indicating the involvement of apoptosis in ischemia-reperfusion injury. This ladder formation was significantly inhibited by oral administration of Sanguisorbae Radix extract to rats for 30 days prior to ischemia-reperfusion. In addition, blood levels of urea nitrogen and creatinine, two parameters of renal function, were markedly lower in the Sanguisorbae Radix-treated animals than in the untreated controls. These results suggest that Sanguisorbae Radix has potential for attenuating renal injury and accelerating the recovery of renal function after ischemia-reperfusion injury, which might involve inhibition of apoptosis. 60分間虚血後,24時間再灌流したラット腎のDNAにラダーが出現し,腎虚血一再灌流障害にアポトーシスが関与していることが示唆された。このようなDNAの断片化は,地楡エキスを前もって30日間経口投与した場合,有意に抑制され,腎機能の指標の血中尿素窒素とクレアチニンレベルも地楡エキス処理群で著しく低下していた。このことから,地楡はアポトーシスが関与した腎虚血一再灌流障害を軽滅して,腎機能の回復をはかっているものと推測された

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw in a Patient Taking Once-Yearly Infusion of Zoledronic Acid for Osteopenia

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is an adverse effect of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates. Advancing age, intravenous administration of zoledronic acid (ZOL), history of dento-alveolar surgery, and concomitant systemic diseases such as diabetes are known as risk factors for developing ONJ. However, despite numerous studies, the exact pathophysiology remains unclear and management strategies are largely anecdotal. Once-yearly intravenously administered 5 mg ZOL was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2007 for the treatment of osteoporosis and its efficacy with 3 year-regimen had been recently been proven in preventing new clinical fracture. Although occurrences of ONJ have been reported to be rare with this drug administration, available data is very limited and long-term outcomes are lacking. We present a case of ONJ identified in an osteopenic patient with an intermittent but long standing sore mouth related to exposed mandibular bone. Once-yearly infusion of zoledronic acid used in the treatment of osteopenia may contribute to the spontaneous development of ONJ, especially in those presenting with multiple comorbidity factors. This report suggests the importance of health care professionals keeping abreast of new developments in this area and providing appropriate information to their patients

Protective effect of Sanguisorbae Radix against peroxynitrite-mediated renal injury

3-Nitrotyrosine, an oxidative product of protein that is produced via peroxynitrite (ONOO^-) nitration, was detected by HPLC analysis in plasma obtained from rats injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and subjected to renal ischemia followed by reperfusion (LPS+ischemia-reperfusion), but not in rats subjected to sham-treatment. Rats pretreated with Sanguisorbae Radix extract orally for 30 days before LPS+ischemia-reperfusion, had lower 3-nitrotyrosine levels than rats without the pretreatment. Plasma levels of urea nitrogen and creatinine, indicators of renal dysfunction, were markedly lower in the animals pretreated with Sanguisorbae Radix extract than in those without the pretreatment. In addition, DNA fragmentation in renal tissues was significantly inhibited by administration of Sanguisorbae Radix prior to LPS+ischemia-reperfusion. These results suggest that Sanguisorbae Radix extract ameliorates oxidative damage caused by ONOO^-. パーオキシナイトライトは蛋白中のチロシンをニトロ化して3-ニトロチロシンを生成するが,この3-ニトロチロシンをHPLCで測定した結果,リポポリサッカライドと虚血-再灌流を施したラット血漿で検出され,偽処理した場合には検出されなかった。一方,リポポリサッカライドと虚血-再灌流を施す前に30日間地楡エキスを経口投与したラットでは,非投与群より低い3-ニトロチロシン値を示し,腎機能の指標の血漿尿素窒素,クレアチニンレベルも著しく低下していた。また腎組織中のDNA断片化も抑制され,地楡エキスがパーオキシナイトライトによる酸化的損傷を軽減することが推測された

Signaling by EphrinB1 and Eph Kinases in Platelets Promotes Rap1 Activation, Platelet Adhesion, and Aggregation via Effector Pathways that Do Not Require Phosphorylation of EphrinB1

We have previously shown that platelets express 2 receptor tyrosine kinases, EphA4 and EphB1, and the Eph kinase ligand, ephrinB1m and proposed that transcellular Eph/ephrin interactions made possible by the onset of platelet aggregation promote the further growth and stability of the hemostatic plug. The present study examines how this might occur. The results show that clustering of either ephrinB1 or EphA4 causes platelets to adhere to immobilized firinogen via αIIbβ3. Adhesion occurs more slowly than with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) abd requires phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3)—kinase and protein kinase C activity but not ephrinB1 phosphorylation. By itself, Eph and ephrin signaling is insufficient to cause aggregation or the binding of soluble fibrinogen, but it can potentiate aggregation initiated by a Ca++ ionophore or by agonists for thrombin and thromboxane receptors. It also enhances Rap1 activation without requiring ADP secretion, ephrinB1 phosphorylation, or the activation of PI3-kinase and Src. From this we conclude that (1) Eph/ephrin signaling enhances the ability of platelet agonists to cause aggregation provided that those agonists can increase cytosolic Ca++; (2) this is accomplished in part by activating Rap1; and (3) these effects require not phosphotyrosine-based interactions with the ephrinB1 cytoplasmic domain

Hepatitis B core-related antigen: A novel and promising surrogate biomarker to guide anti-hepatitis B virus therapy

The current requirement for biomarkers to detect hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is polarized. One is a fully-automated and highly sensitive measurement system; the other is a simple system for point-of-care testing (POCT) in resource-limited areas. Hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) reflects intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA and serum HBV DNA. Even in patients with undetectable serum HBV DNA or HBsAg loss, HBcrAg may remain detectable. Decreased HBcrAg levels are associated with reduction of the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B. Recently, a fully-automated, novel high-sensitivity HBcrAg assay (iTACT-HBcrAg, cut-off value: 2.1 logIU/mL) has been developed. This attractive assay has been released in Japan very recently. iTACT-HBcrAg can be useful for monitoring HBV reactivation and prediction of HCC occurrence, as an alternative to HBV DNA. Moreover, monitoring HBcrAg may be suitable for determining the therapeutic effectiveness of approved drugs and novel drugs under development. Presently, international guidelines recommend anti-HBV prophylaxis for pregnant women with high viral loads to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HBV. However, >95% of HBV-infected individuals live in countries where HBV DNA quantification is not available. Worldwide elimination of HBV needs the scaling-up of examination and medication services in resource-limited areas. Based on this situation, a rapid and easy HBcrAg assay as a POCT is valuable. This review provides the latest information regarding the clinical use of a new surrogate marker, HBcrAg, in HBV management, based on iTACT-HBcrAg or POCT, and introduces novel agents targeting HBV RNA/protein