Enhanced Expression of Integrin αvβ3 Induced by TGF-β Is Required for the Enhancing Effect of Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 (FGF1) in TGF-β-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Mammary Epithelial Cells.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a critical role in cancer metastasis, and is regulated by growth factors such as transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and fibroblast growth factors (FGF) secreted from the stromal and tumor cells. However, the role of growth factors in EMT has not been fully established. Several integrins are upregulated by TGF-β1 during EMT. Integrins are involved in growth factor signaling through integrin-growth factor receptor crosstalk. We previously reported that FGF1 directly binds to integrin αvβ3 and the interaction was required for FGF1 functions such as cell proliferation and migration. We studied the role of αvβ3 induced by TGF-β on TGF-β-induced EMT. Here, we describe that FGF1 augmented EMT induced by TGF-β1 in MCF10A and MCF12A mammary epithelial cells. TGF-β1 markedly amplified integrin αvβ3 and FGFR1 (but not FGFR2). We studied if the enhancing effect of FGF1 on TGF-β1-induced EMT requires enhanced levels of both integrin αvβ3 expression and FGFR1. Knockdown of β3 suppressed the enhancement by FGF1 of TGF-β1-induced EMT in MCF10A cells. Antagonists to FGFR suppressed the enhancing effect of FGF1 on EMT. Integrin-binding defective FGF1 mutant did not augment TGF-β1-induced EMT in MCF10A cells. These findings suggest that enhanced integrin αvβ3 expression in addition to enhanced FGFR1 expression is critical for FGF1 to augment TGF-β1-induced EMT in mammary epithelial cells

Mitral valve repair in patient with absent right superior vena cava in visceroatrial situs solitus

We report on a 74-year-old woman with an absence of right superior vena cava in visceroatrial situs solitus who underwent mitral valve plasty for severe mitral regurgitation. Preoperative three-dimensional computed tomography revealed an absent right and persistent left superior vena cava that drained into the right atrium by way of the coronary sinus. Perioperaively, placement of pulmonary artery catheter, site of venous cannulation, and management of associated rhythm abnormalities were great concern. Obtaining the information about this central venous malformation preoperatively, we performed mitral valve plasty without any difficulties related to this anomaly

Pure nematic state in iron-based superconductor

Lattice and electronic states of thin FeSe films on LaAlO$_3$ substrates are investigated in the vicinity of the nematic phase transition. No evidence of structural phase transition is found by x-ray diffraction below $T^\ast \sim 90$ K, while results obtained from resistivity measurement and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy clearly show the appearance of a nematic state. These results indicate formation of a pure nematic state in the iron-based superconductor and provide conclusive evidence that the nematic state originates from the electronic degrees of freedom. This pure nematicity in the thin film implies difference in the electron-lattice interaction from bulk FeSe crystals. FeSe films provide valuable playgrounds for observing the pure response of "bare" electron systems free from the electron-lattice interaction, and should make important contribution to investigate nematicity and its relationship with superconductivity

Enhancement of superconducting properties in FeSe wires using a quenching technique

Enhancements of superconducting properties were observed in FeSe wires using a quenching technique. Zero resistivity was achieved at about 10 K in quenched wires, which is about 2 K higher than that of polycrystalline FeSe bulk. Furthermore, transport Jc of quenched wires showed three times higher than that of furnace-cooled wires. In contrast, the quenched polycrystalline FeSe bulks did not show the enhancement of Tc. The quenching technique is a greatly promising for fabricating FeSe wires with high Tc and high Jc, and quenched FeSe wires have high potential for superconducting wire applications

Role of interstitial "caged" Fe in the superconductivity of FeTe1/2Se1/2

All samples are synthesized through standard solid state reaction route and are quenched to room temperature systematically at 7000C, 5000C, 3000C and room temperature (RT); named as 700Q, 500Q, 300Q and RTQ respectively. The structural and magnetic properties are studied. Careful Reitveld analysis of XRD patterns revealed that though all samples except 700Q are crystallized in single phase with space group P4/nmm, the presence of interstitial Fe (Feint) at 2c site is increased from 5% for RTQ to 8% for 500Q. The 700Q sample is crystallized in Fe7Se8 phase. The transport and magnetization results revealed that though RTQ and 300Q are superconducting at 10 K and 13 K respectively, while the 500Q and 700Q are not. Magnetic ordering (Tmag) is observed at around 125 K for all the samples. The prominence of Tmag in terms of effective moment is sufficiently higher for 500Q and 700Q than RTQ and 300Q. Summarily it is found that quenching induced disorder affects the occupancy of interstitial Fe in FeTe1/2Se1/2 and thus both its superconducting and magnetic properties. Further it clear that limited presence of interstitial Fe at 2c site is not fully against observation of superconductivity, because 300Q sample possesses higher Tc (13 K) for higher Feint (6%) than RTQ sample with relatively lower Tc (10 K) having lower Feint (5%). Further the 500Q sample with much higher Feint (8%) is though non-superconducting.Comment: 8 pages text + figures contact- [email protected]

Dynamic modification of sphingomyelin in lipid microdomains controls development of obesity, fatty liver, and type 2 diabetes

Susumu Mitsutake, Kota Zama, Hazuki Yokota, Tetsuya Yoshida, Miki Tanaka, Masaru Mitsui, Masahito Ikawa, Masaru Okabe, Yoshikazu Tanaka, Tadashi Yamashita, Hiroshi Takemoto, Toshiro Okazaki, Ken Watanabe, Yasuyuki Igarashi, Dynamic Modification of Sphingomyelin in Lipid Microdomains Controls Development of Obesity, Fatty Liver, and Type 2 Diabetes, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Volume 286, Issue 32, 2011, Pages 28544-28555, ISSN 0021-9258, https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M111.255646