Temperature dependence of water cluster on functionalized graphite

Our recent experimental study of water adsorption in micro-mesoporous carbons at 263 K and 298 K show an unusual temperature dependence of adsorbed density with higher loading at 298 K at the same reduced pressure. The difference is in the filling of mesopore at 298 K and its absence at 263 K, and it was conjectured to the growth of water clusters on the functional groups in the confined space of mesopores in which the water clusters at 298 K are sufficiently large to induce the subsequent filling. Since the growth of these clusters and their coalescence is the prerequisite for filling, the filling is absent at 263 K simply because of the smaller size of the clusters, preventing them from coalescence and hence, no filling. In a quest to understand the effects of temperature on water adsorption in micro-mesoporous carbon, we used molecular dynamic simulation to reveal the mechanism of water adsorption around functional groups from 263 K to 328 K to clarify the growth of the water cluster as a function of temperature. The results clearly show that the water cluster is larger at 298 K compared to 263 K, confirming the conjecture from our previous works

IR SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF THERMAL BEHAVIOR OF ADSORBED WATER ON Y-TYPE ZEOLITE

In this study, we measured the IR spectra of water adsorbed at a differential temperature under constant pressure. Our purpose is to present a simple estimation method for the recycled temperature condition of water adsorbents. For a NaY zeolite, the IR integrated intensity of the bending vibration band of adsorbed water was increased with a decrease of temperature. The IR spectra were measured from 230℃ to 30℃ for several ion-exchanged Y-type zeolites. On the other hand, the adsorption isotherms of water on these zeolites were measured at 30℃. The result of this work is that the best correlation between the IR integrated intensity and the amount of adsorbed water was found for some of the zeolites. We concluded that the obtained correlation equation could easily estimate the amount of water desorbed between arbitrary temperatures

Retroviral gp70 antigen in spontaneous mesangial glomerulonephritis of ddY mice

Retroviral gp70 antigen in spontaneous mesangial glomerulonephritis of ddY mice. We examined whether the retroviral envelope antigen, gp70, is a major nephritogenic antigen in ddY mice, a murine model of spontaneous mesangial glomerulonephritis associated with IgA and IgG deposition. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that the mesangial gp70 deposition increased with age in mice over 24 weeks old, as did the IgG and IgA deposits. Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated the reaction products of gp70 superimposed on the electron dense deposits in the mesangial matrix. Various amounts of serum gp70 were detected in mice as young as 12 weeks without any apparent increase with age. There was no correlation between the serum level of gp70 and the extent of the glomerular gp70 deposition, whereas mice with heavier IgA deposition had higher mean levels of serum IgA. The absorption test demonstrated that significant amounts of serum gp70 composed immune complexes in 40 week-old ddY mice developing glomerulonephritis; however, this bound form of gp70 was not observed in 12 week-old mice without glomerulonephritis. Systemic examinations by immunofluorescence staining showed that gp70 was mainly localized in various lymphoid tissues. These findings suggest that the gp70 antigen, mostly derived from lymphoid cells, may circulate as immune complexes and accumulate in the mesangial area, thus contributing to the development of glomerulonephritis in these mice. In addition, the pathogenic role of the increased IgA production in these mice was discussed

What variables were associated with the inducibility of ventricular fibrillation during electrophysiologic stimulation test in patients without apparent organic heart disease?

SummaryObjectiveThe purpose of our study was to determine what variables were associated with ventricular fibrillation (VF) induced during electrophysiological stimulation test in patients without apparent organic heart disease.MethodsOur study evaluated 77 patients (51±15 years) who underwent electrophysiological stimulation test, signal averaging, and Na+ channel-blocker challenge test (pilsicainide test). The subjects were divided into two groups, the Brugada group and non-Brugada group. Further, the patients were divided into three subgroups on the base of symptoms (8, 7 symptomatic; 9, 13 syncope; 28, 12 asymptomatic group; in the Brugada and non-Brugada groups, respectively). Multivariate analyses evaluated the association between baseline clinical factors and the induction of VF.ResultsThe inducibility of VF was significantly (p<0.0001) higher in the Brugada group (n=33, 73%) than the non-Brugada group (n=4, 13%). The multivariate analysis demonstrated that symptoms (odds ratio (OR) 31.6; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.3–430.6; p<0.01), type 1 electrocardiogram after pilsicainide test (OR 21.3; CI: 1.7–272.2; p<0.02), and syncope (OR 13.5; CI: 1.2–158.8; p<0.05) were strongly associated with the inducibility of VF, but not with family history, type 1 electrocardiogram in control, positive in late potential, maxΔST elevation (≧200μV) after pilsicainide test.ConclusionsThe symptoms, syncope, and type 1 electrocardiogram after pilsicainide test were independently associated with the electrophysiological substrate of VF in patients without apparent heart disease

Analysis of Factors Associated With Radiation-Induced Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia Syndrome After Breast-Conserving Therapy

Purpose: To evaluate factors associated with radiation-induced bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) syndrome after breast-conserving therapy. Methods and materials: A total of 702 women with breast cancer who received radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery at seven institutions between July 1995 and December 2006 were analyzed. In all patients, the whole breast was irradiated with two tangential photon beams. The criteria used for the diagnosis of radiation-induced BOOP syndrome were as follows: (1) radiotherapy to the breast within 12 months, (2) general and/or respiratory symptoms lasting for >or=2 weeks, (3) radiographs showing lung infiltration outside the radiation port, and (4) no evidence of a specific cause. Results: Radiation-induced BOOP syndrome was seen in 16 patients (2.3%). Eleven patients (68.8%) were administered steroids. The duration of steroid administration ranged from 1 week to 3.7 years (median, 1.1 years). Multivariate analysis revealed that age (>or=50 years; odds ratio [OR] 8.88; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-67.76; p = 0.04) and concurrent endocrine therapy (OR 3.05; 95% CI 1.09-8.54; p = 0.03) were significantly associated with BOOP syndrome. Of the 161 patients whose age was >or=50 years and who received concurrent endocrine therapy, 10 (6.2%) developed BOOP syndrome. Conclusions: Age (>or=50 years) and concurrent endocrine therapy can promote the development of radiation-induced BOOP syndrome after breast-conserving therapy. Physicians should carefully follow patients who received breast-conserving therapy, especially those who are older than 50 years and received concurrent endocrine therapy during radiotherapy

Administration route-dependent induction of antitumor immunity by interferon-alpha gene transfer.

Type I interferon (IFN) protein is a cytokine with pleiotropic biological functions that include induction of apoptosis, inhibition of angiogenesis, and immunomodulation. We have demonstrated that intratumoral injection of an IFN-α-expressing adenovirus effectively induces cell death of cancer cells and elicits a systemic tumor-specific immunity in several animal models. On the other hand, reports demonstrated that an elevation of IFN in the serum following an intramuscular delivery of a vector is able to activate antitumor immunity. In this study, we compared the intratumoral and systemic routes of IFN gene transfer with regard to the effect and safety of the treatment. Intratumoral injection of an IFN-α adenovirus effectively activated tumor-responsive lymphocytes and caused tumor suppression not only in the gene-transduced tumors but also in distant tumors, which was more effective than the intravenous administration of the same vector. The expression of co-stimulatory molecules on CD11c+ cells isolated from regional lymph nodes was enhanced by IFN gene transfer into the tumors. Systemic toxicity such as an elevation of hepatic enzymes was much lower in mice treated by intratumoral gene transfer than in those treated by systemic gene transfer. Our data suggest that the intratumoral route of the IFN vector is superior to intravenous administration, due to the effective induction of antitumor immunity and the lower toxicity. © 2010 Japanese Cancer Association

Prolactin and Upstream Migration of the Amphidromous Teleost, Ayu Plecoglossus altivelis

Changes in mRNA levels of prolactin (PRL) during the upstream migration were examined in fry of the amphidromous fish, ayu Plecoglossus altivelis. Quantification of mRNA has been done with real-time PCR and expressed as whole body or pituitary contents depending the body size of fry. PRL mRNA levels of ayu caught in seawater of the coastal area remained low during early spring. Prior to the start of the upstream migration, the fish caught in the coastal area in mid spring showed increased levels of PRL mRNA. There were further increases in PRL levels in the fish caught in the river. Analysis of proportions revealed that there were significant differences among PRL mRNA in the fish caught in different environmental salinities. Body weight showed a positive relation with PRL mRNA in ayu caught in seawater. A landlocked population of ayu, which migrates from lake to river, showed no significant change in PRL mRNA levels before and after upstream migration. Results in this study indicate the importance of up-regulation of PRL gene expression of ayu during the upstream migration from seawater to fresh water. There is a possible relationship between body size and PRL in the early developmental stage of ayu in seawater, but not in the fish in fresh water