Tyrphostin AG 1478 Accelerates Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Apoptosis in A431 Cells

Oxidative stress is a potent inducer of apoptosis and activates protein tyrosine kinases and cytokine receptors, such as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Previous studies suggest that cytokine receptors are potential effectors for anti-apoptotic signals, but it has not previously been determined whether cytokine receptors regulate down-stream protein kinases. To investigate the role of EGFR on oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and its downstream protein kinases, we blocked EGFR activation with Tyrphostin AG1478, a highly selective EGFR inhibitor. We determined that Tyrphostin AG1478 accelerated hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in A431 cells, with activation of caspases 3 and 9, and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Hydrogen peroxide induced-activation of EGFR, Akt/PKB, MAPK, and Bad (both Ser-112 and Ser-136 residues) were inhibited by Tyrphostin AG1478. These results suggest that early upstream signaling events, such as EGFR activation, exert anti-apoptotic effects by regulating MAPK, Akt/PKB, and phosphorylation of Bad

Characteristics of late-onset spondyloarthritis in Japan: A retrospective cohort study

Spondyloarthritis may be increasingly present in older patients as life expectancy increases. We investigated clinical differences between early-onset and late-onset spondyloarthritis in Japan.We retrospectively reviewed 114 patients consecutively diagnosed with spondyloarthritis. The clinical course of each patient was observed for ?1 year. We defined early-onset and late-onset spondyloarthritis as <57 or ?57 years at a median age of this study group,respectively. We compared clinical characteristics between these 2 groups.Disease duration was significantly shorter before diagnosis in the late-onset group (P?<?.01). Inflammatory back pain (IBP) was significantly more common in the early-onset group (P?<?.01), whereas dactylitis frequency was significantly higher in the late-onset group. Significantly more patients with early-onset spondyloarthritis were human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B27-positive (P?<?.01). Articular synovitis, particularly of the wrist, was significantly more common on power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) in the late-onset group (P?<?.01). Tenosynovitis or peritendinitis, particularly in the finger and wrist flexors were also more frequent in the late-onset group (P?<?.001 and P?<?.05, respectively). Enthesitis of the finger collateral ligament and lateral collateral ligament were significantly more common in the late-onset group (both P?<?.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that, comparatively, IBP was significantly and independently much more likely to occur in the early-onset group.The patients with late-onset spondyloarthritis had a lower frequency of IBP and HLA B27 and a higher frequency of dactylitis and PDUS findings in peripheral involvement

Mineral paragenesis and its implications in the högbomite-bearing skarn, Sør Rondane Mountains, East Antarctica

第2回極域科学シンポジウム/第31回極域地学シンポジウム 11月17日（木） 国立極地研究所　2階大会議

Aprepitant plus granisetron and dexamethasone for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients with gastric cancer treated with S-1 plus cisplatin

Background: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a new combination antiemetic therapy comprising aprepitant, granisetron, and dexamethasone in gastric cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy with cisplatin and S-1. Methods: Gastric cancer patients scheduled to receive their first course of chemotherapy with cisplatin (60 mg/m2) and S-1 (80 mg/m2) were treated with a new combination antiemetic therapy aprepitant, granisetron, and dexamethasone on day 1; aprepitant and dexamethasone on days 2 and 3; and dexamethasone on day 4. The patients reported vomiting, nausea, use of rescue therapy, and change in the amount of diet intake, and completed the Functional Living Index-Emesis (FLIE) questionnaire. The primary endpoint was complete response (CR; no emesis and use of no rescue antiemetics) during the overall study phase (0-120 h after cisplatin administration). The secondary endpoints included complete protection (CP; CR plus no significant nausea); change in the amount of diet intake; and the impact of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) on daily life during the overall, acute (0-24 h), and delayed (24-120 h) phases. Results: Fifty-three patients were included. CR was achieved in 88.7, 98.1, and 88.7 % of patients in the overall, acute, and delayed phases, respectively. The corresponding rates of CP were 67.9, 96.2, and 67.9 %. Approximately half of the patients had some degree of anorexia. FLIE results indicated that 79.5 % of patients reported "minimal or no impact of CINV on daily life". Conclusions: Addition of aprepitant to standard antiemetic therapy was effective in gastric cancer patients undergoing treatment with cisplatin and S-1. © 2013 Springer Japan

ヒガシ ドロンイングモードランド, セール・ロンダーネ サンチ チガク チョウサタイ ホウコク 2008-2009 (JARE-50)

第50次日本南極地域観測隊(JARE-50)夏隊・セール・ロンダーネ山地地学調査隊は,山地西部地域の地質調査を実施した(国立極地研究所一般研究プロジェクト,P-5-1:代表・本吉洋一).調査地へは,ドロンイングモードランド航空ネットワークを利用して空路ケープタウンから山地に入った.メンバーの構成は,地質調査担当5名とフィールドアシスタント1名である.調査地では三つのキャンプ(ベースキャンプ,前進キャンプ1および前進キャンプ2)を設営し,75日間すべてテントで生活した.本報告では,セール・ロンダーネ山地地学調査隊の設営,西部の気象条件および野外調査結果を含め,調査計画から実施に至る過程について記述する.The Sør Rondane Mountains field party, part of the summer party of the 50th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-50), consisted of five geologists and one field assistant, and conducted geological fieldwork in the western Sr Rondane Mountains, Eastern Dronning Maud Land, as part of a research project of the National Institute of Polar Research (#P-5-1). The field party accessed the mountains using the Dronning Maud Land Air Network (DROMLAN) from Cape Town to a runway close to the Belgian base, via the Novolazarevskaya runway. The field party made three campsites (Base Camp, Camp 1, and Camp 3) and stayed on the snowfield for 75 days. Here, we report the detailed operation plans and present a summary of the fieldwork, including information on logistics and weather reports for the western Sør Rondane Mountains

Whole-rock chemical compositions of granitic dykes in western part of the Sør Rondane Mountains, East Antarctica

第6回極域科学シンポジウム[OG] 地圏11月16日（月）　国立極地研究所１階交流アトリウ

Zirconolite from högbomite-bearing metamorphic rocks from the Koyubi-Ridge, Sør Rondane Mountains, East Antarctica

第3回極域科学シンポジウム/第32回極域地学シンポジウム 11月30日（金） 国立極地研究所 ３階ラウン

ナンキョク ヤガイ チョウサ ニ オケル タイヨウコウ ハツデン システム ノ カツヨウ ダイ50ジ ニホン ナンキョク チイキ カンソクタイ セール・ロンダーネサンチ チガク チョウサタイ ノ レイ

第50次日本南極地域観測隊(第50次隊)夏隊のセール・ロンダーネ山地地学調査隊は67日間におよぶ野外調査を行い,その間に必要な電力を太陽光発電で賄った.今回使用した太陽光発電システム(出力電圧約12 V)の1日あたりの発電量は6724 Ahであった.そして,この調査によって以下の3つの重要なことが明らかとなった.1)南極での野外調査生活に必要な電力は太陽光発電システムにより得ることが可能である.2)最大出力電流2.3 Aの太陽パネルは1日あたり910 Ahを発電する.3)夏季の南極は白夜のために日照が途絶える事はないが,当山地では0000 LTから0500 LT (昭和基地時刻) の間に太陽光発電ができない.The field party in the Sør Rondane Mountains, a part of the summer party of the 50th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-50), performed as outdoor survey using a solar-electric system for field camping over a period of 67 days. The total amount of power generation (output: ca 12V) varied from 67 to 24 Ah/day. We obtained three important conclusions: 1) Electric power is sufficiently supplied from the solar-electric system in the field camp. 2) The solar panel (maximum output 2.3 A) used by JARE-50 generates 9-10Ah/day. 3) The solar panel did not produce electric power during the midnight sun (0000-0500 LT; the time for Showa Station area) in the Antarctic summer season

Prediction of DAS28-ESR remission at 6 months by baseline variables in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with etanercept in Japanese population

We tried to determine which baseline variables are responsible for remission induction at 6 months in unselected rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of Japanese population treated with etanercept. One hundred forty-one patients with RA who were administered etanercept were registered. Thirty-four patients were started on etanercept monotherapy, 60 patients on cotherapy with methotrexate (MTX) (MTX cotherapy), and 47 patients on cotherapy with other non-MTX nonbiologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) (non-MTX cotherapy). None of the patients were treated with both MTX and non-MTX nonbiologic DMARDs at entry. Outcome was set as achievement of disease activity score 28 (DAS28)-ESR remission at 6 months. We examined association of gender, DAS at baseline, MTX cotherapy at baseline, non-MTX cotherapy at baseline, and prednisolone use at baseline with achievement of remission at 6 months by logistic regression analysis. All subjects were classified as having high (N = 109) or moderate disease activity (N = 32) at entry. One hundred twenty out of 141 patients (85.1%) continued treatment with etanercept at 6 months. Continuation rate was statistically higher in MTX cotherapy (93.3%) compared with etanercept monotherapy (73.5%), and tended to be higher than with non-MTX cotherapy (85.1%). Logistic regression analysis identified that MTX cotherapy at entry and moderate disease activity at entry were independent variables for remission induction at 6 months. Accordingly, DAS28-ESR at 6 months was significantly lower with MTX cotherapy as compared with etanercept monotherapy or non-MTX cotherapy. To a lesser extent, DAS28-ESR with non-MTX cotherapy at 6 months was lower than with etanercept monotherapy. In this study of unselected patients, use of MTX and moderate disease activity at entry were associated with higher likelihood of response to etanercept. Non-MTX nonbiologic DMARDs may be an alternative in RA patients administrated etanercept who are intolerant to MTX