161 research outputs found
Protein Transduction Method for Cerebrovascular Disorders
Many studies have shown that a motif of 11 consecutive arginines (11R) is one of the most effective protein transduction domains (PTD) for introducing proteins into the cell membrane. By conjugating this "11R", all sorts of proteins can effectively and harmlessly be transferred into any kind of cell. We therefore examined the transduction efficiency of 11R in cerebral arteries and obtained results showing that 11R fused enhanced green fluorescent protein (11R-EGFP) immediately and effectively penetrated all layers of the rat basilar artery (BA), especially the tunica media. This method provides a revolutionary approach to cerebral arteries and ours is the first study to demonstrate the successful transductionof a PTD fused protein into the cerebral arteries. In this review, we present an outline of our studies and other key studies related to cerebral vasospasm and 11R, problems to be overcome, and predictions regarding future use of the 11R protein transduction method for cerebral vasospasm (CV).</p
Elimination of metal interference in the determination of fluoride ion by non-suppressor type ion chromatography
A simple method has been developed to eliminate metal interferences in the ion-chromatographic determination of fluoride ion in aqueous solutions. Negative interferences become appreciable on 0.2-mM F at 0.01 to 0.02 mM of Al(III), Ce(IV), La(III), Y(III), Ce(III) and Pb(II); and at 0.25 mM of Ca(II). The interference from Cd(II), Co(II), Fe(II) and Ni(II) is insignificant at ≤ 5.0-mM metal for 5.0-mM F-. By alkalifying F- solutions at pH 12.3, the metal interference can be eliminated up to the concentrations of 0.25-mM Al(III), La(III) and Y(III); 1.0-mM Ce(IV); 2.5-mM Ce(III); and 5.0-mM Pb(II), Cd(II), Co(II), Fe(II) and Ni(II). The Ca(II) interference cannot be eliminated. The pretreatment enables determination of 0.2- to 5.0-mM F- in presence of 0.25-mM Al(III) or La(III) with coefficient-of-variations of 1.99 to 6.20%
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor arising from the greater omentum: Case report
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are rare soft tissue tumors that arise from a peripheral nerve or exhibit nerve sheath differentiation. Most of these tumors arise on the trunk, extremities, or head and neck regions; they are very rarely located in the abdominal cavity. The patient was a 71-year-old man who was referred to our hospital for a mass and pain in the right lower abdomen. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a large (9 × 9 cm), well-circumscribed, lobulated, heterogeneously enhanced mass in the pelvis. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a large mass in the greater omentum, and the tumor was completely excised. Histopathological analysis revealed that the tumor was composed of spindle cells with high mitotic activity. On staining the tumor, positive results were obtained for S-100 but negative results were obtained for c-kit, cluster of differentiation (CD)34, α-smooth muscle actin, and desmin. These findings strongly supported a diagnosis of MPNST primarily arising from the greater omentum. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an MPNST arising from the greater omentum. In this report, we have described the case of a patient with an MPNST arising from the greater omentum and have discussed the clinical characteristics and management of MPNSTs
H Emission Nebulosity Associated with KH 15D
An H emission filament is found in close proximity to the unique object
KH 15D using the adaptive optics system of the Subaru Telescope. The morphology
of the filament, the presence of spectroscopic outflow signatures observed by
Hamilton et al., and the detection of extended H emission from KH 15D by
Deming, Charbonneau, & Harrington suggest that this filament arises from
shocked H in an outflow. The filament extends about 15" to the north of KH
15D.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, 1 table. Astrophysical Journal Letters, in pres
OTUD1 deubiquitinase regulates NF-κB- and KEAP1-mediated inflammatory responses and reactive oxygen species-associated cell death pathways
Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) regulate numerous cellular functions by removing ubiquitin modifications. We examined the effects of 88 human DUBs on linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC)-induced NF-κB activation, and identified OTUD1 as a potent suppressor. OTUD1 regulates the canonical NF-κB pathway by hydrolyzing K63-linked ubiquitin chains from NF-κB signaling factors, including LUBAC. OTUD1 negatively regulates the canonical NF-κB activation, apoptosis, and necroptosis, whereas OTUD1 upregulates the interferon (IFN) antiviral pathway. Mass spectrometric analysis showed that OTUD1 binds KEAP1, and the N-terminal intrinsically disordered region of OTUD1, which contains an ETGE motif, is indispensable for the KEAP1-binding. Indeed, OTUD1 is involved in the KEAP1-mediated antioxidant response and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced cell death, oxeiptosis. In Otud1−/−-mice, inflammation, oxidative damage, and cell death were enhanced in inflammatory bowel disease, acute hepatitis, and sepsis models. Thus, OTUD1 is a crucial regulator for the inflammatory, innate immune, and oxidative stress responses and ROS-associated cell death pathways
Near-Infrared Adaptive Optics Spectroscopy of Binary Brown Dwarf HD 130948B and C
We present near-infrared spectroscopy of low-mass companions in a nearby
triple system HD 130948 (Gliese 564, HR 5534). Adaptive optics on the Subaru
Telescope allowed spectroscopy of the individual components of the 0".13 binary
system. Based on a direct comparison with a series of template spectra, we
determined the spectral types of HD 130948B and C to be L4 +- 1. If we take the
young age of the primary star into account (0.3-0.8 Gyr), HD 130948B and C most
likely are a binary brown dwarf system.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter
A Subarcsecond Companion to the T Tauri Star AS 353B
Adaptive optics imaging of the bright visual T Tauri binary AS 353 with the
Subaru Telescope shows that it is a hierarchical triple system. The secondary
component, located 5.6" south of AS 353A, is resolved into a subarcsecond
binary, AS 353Ba and Bb, separated by 0.24". Resolved spectroscopy of the two
close components shows that both have nearly identical spectral types of about
M1.5. Whereas AS 353A and Ba show clear evidence for an infrared excess, AS
353Bb does not. We discuss the possible role of multiplicity in launching the
large Herbig-Haro flow associated with AS 353A.Comment: AASTeXv5.0, 21 pages, 5 figures, Astronomical Journal, in pres
First Detection of NaI D lines in High-Redshift Damped Lyman-alpha Systems
A Near-infrared (1.18-1.35 micron) high-resolution spectrum of the
gravitationally-lensed QSO APM 08279+5255 was obtained with the IRCS mounted on
the Subaru Telescope using the AO system. We detected strong NaI D 5891,5897
doublet absorption in high-redshift DLAs at z=1.062 and 1.181, confirming the
presence of NaI, which was first reported for the rest-frame UV NaI
3303.3,3303.9 doublet by Petitjean et al. This is the first detection of NaI D
absorption in a high-redshift (z>1) DLA. In addition, we detected a new NaI
component in the z=1.062 DLA and four new components in the z=1.181 DLA. Using
an empirical relationship between NaI and HI column density, we found that all
"components" have large HI column density, so that each component is classified
as DLA absorption. We also detected strong NaI D absorption associated with a
MgII system at z=1.173. Because no other metal absorption lines were detected
in this system at the velocity of the NaI absorption in previously reported
optical spectra (observed 3.6 years ago), we interpret this NaI absorption
cloud probably appeared in the line of sight toward the QSO after the optical
observation. This newly found cloud is likely to be a DLA based upon its large
estimated HI column density. We found that the N(NaI)/N(CaII) ratios in these
DLAs are systematically smaller than those observed in the Galaxy; they are
more consistent with the ratios seen in the Large Magellanic Cloud. This is
consistent with dust depletion generally being smaller in lower metallicity
environments. However, all five clouds of the z=1.181 system have a high
N(NaI)/N(CaII) ratio, which is characteristic of cold dense gas. We tentatively
suggest that the host galaxy of this system may be the most significant
contributor to the gravitational-lens toward APM 08279+5255.Comment: 22 pages, 6 Postscript figures, 3 tables, ApJ in press (Vol.643, 2
June 2006
Direct Observation of the Extended Molecular Atmosphere of o Cet by Differential Spectral Imaging with an Adaptive Optics System
We present new measurements of the diameter of o Cet (Mira) as a function of
wavelength in the 2.2 micron atmospheric window using the adaptive optics
system and the infrared camera and spectrograph mounted on the Subaru
Telescope. We found that the angular size of the star at the wavelengths of CO
and H2O absorption lines were up to twice as large as the continuum
photosphere. This size difference is attributable to the optically thick CO and
H2O molecular layers surrounding the photosphere. This measurement is the first
direct differential spectroscopic imaging of stellar extension that resolves
individual molecular lines with high spectral-resolution observations. This
observation technique is extremely sensitive to differences in spatial profiles
at different wavelengths; we show that a difference in diameter much smaller
than the point spread function can be measured.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in PAS
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