Does reticulocyte synthesize RNA ?

As has been well established, reticulocytes (RC) synthesize the species specific protein, globin, actively for about 24 hours or more till the time of their complete maturation1,2,3. This will be possible only in the presence of messenger RNA (m-RNA)4,5. Since the splendid hypothesis of m-RNA proposed by JACOB and MONOD6 for explaining the mechanism of the transfer of genetic information from nucleus to cytoplasm, it has largely been accepted through the numerous observations that followed7,8,9,10. However, the m-RNA hypothesis, which has been deduced by observing the protein synthesis in E. Coli, includes the meaning of labile RNA which is incessantly decomposed and newly synthesized to compensate the rapid degradation. As m-RNA cannot be synthesized in RC which have no detectable DNA, it has been supposed that the m-RNA of RC should be considerably stablell,12,13. Even in the denucleated cells, however, the RNA synthesis might be possible because Borsook reported the positive RNA synthesis of RC14, and this result has recently been reconfirmed by BURNY15.</p

Leukemia autopsies in Japan

For the purpose to know whether the annual increase of leukemia incidence in Japan is due to some leukemogenic factors or due to the increased detection rate, the authors made some statistical survey of autopsy cases in which the diagnosis is reliable and not any type of leukemias escape the detection. The results showed that acute leukemias, which are found mostly in younger age, is actually increasing. In addition, it has been deduced that among the suspected factors the increase in ionizing radiation will be one of the most probable factors for the increase in leukemia incidence</p

SGA性低身長症における成長ホルモンの体格および脂質代謝に及ぼす影響

東医療センター小児科開局50 周年記念論文

A tri-axial accelerometer with structure-based voltage operation by using series-connected piezoelectric elements

AbstractOutput-voltage operation on a sensor structure is proposed and a tri-axial accelerometer with low cross-axis sensitivities is designed. The output voltage between the electrodes sandwiching piezoelectric thin-films on a deforming structure is proportional to the in-plane stress of the piezoelectric thin-film. If the piezoelectric thin-film is processed to separated elements and the electrodes of the elements are connected in series, the output voltages from the series-connected piezoelectric elements are multiplied or canceled depending on the situations of the internal-stresses (i.e. compressive or tensile) of the elements. Proper design of the electrode connections by taking the deformation shape of structures into consideration can realize expected outputvoltage operations on the device structure. The principle of structure-based output-voltage operation is applied to the design of a tri-axial accelerometer with low cross-axes sensitivities. Finite-element-method (FEM) simulations of the tri-axial accelerometer revealed the cross-axis sensitivity of less than 1.5%

Demonstration of periodic nanostructure formation with less ablation by double-pulse laser irradiation on titanium

By pairing femtosecond laser pulses (duration ∼40 fs and central wavelength ∼810 nm) at an appropriate time interval, a laser-induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) is formed with much less ablation than one formed with a single pulse. On a titanium plate, a pair of laser pulses with fluences of 70 and 140 mJ/cm² and a rather large time interval (>10 ps) creates a LIPSS with an interspace of 600 nm, the same as that formed by a single pulse of 210 mJ/cm², while the double pulse ablates only 4 nm, a quarter of the ablation depth of a single pulse

A computational framework for bioimaging simulation

Using bioimaging technology, biologists have attempted to identify and document analytical interpretations that underlie biological phenomena in biological cells. Theoretical biology aims at distilling those interpretations into knowledge in the mathematical form of biochemical reaction networks and understanding how higher level functions emerge from the combined action of biomolecules. However, there still remain formidable challenges in bridging the gap between bioimaging and mathematical modeling. Generally, measurements using fluorescence microscopy systems are influenced by systematic effects that arise from stochastic nature of biological cells, the imaging apparatus, and optical physics. Such systematic effects are always present in all bioimaging systems and hinder quantitative comparison between the cell model and bioimages. Computational tools for such a comparison are still unavailable. Thus, in this work, we present a computational framework for handling the parameters of the cell models and the optical physics governing bioimaging systems. Simulation using this framework can generate digital images of cell simulation results after accounting for the systematic effects. We then demonstrate that such a framework enables comparison at the level of photon-counting units.Comment: 57 page

Synchronous Total Occlusion of the Celiac Axis and Superior Mesenteric Artery: An Autopsy Case

Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is often caused by superior mesenteric artery (SMA) embolization. We report a rare case of synchronous celiac axis and SMA embolization in an elderly woman with initially mild abdominal pain. Ultimately, a second contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed extensive necrosis from the stomach to the transverse colon together with liver ischemia due to hours of occlusion. Multiorgan failure made palliation the only option, and she died the following evening. Autopsy revealed a fragile atherosclerosis-asso-ciated thrombus. Careful examination and repeat diagnostic tests should be performed in patients with mild abdominal symptoms at risk for AMI