Three-dimensional real time imaging of amyloid β aggregation on living cells

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive disorder of the brain that gradually decreases thinking, memory, and language abilities. The aggregation process of amyloid β (Aβ) is a key step in the expression of its neurocytotoxicity and development of AD because Aβ aggregation and accumulation around neuronal cells induces cell death. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the neurocytotoxicity and cell death by Aβ aggregation has not been clearly elucidated. In this study, we successfully visualized real-time process of Aβ42 aggregation around living cells by applying our established QD imaging method. 3D observations using confocal laser microscopy revealed that Aβ42 preferentially started to aggregate at the region where membrane protrusions frequently formed. Furthermore, we found that inhibition of actin polymerization using cytochalasin D reduced aggregation of Aβ42 on the cell surface. These results indicate that actin polymerization-dependent cell motility is responsible for the promotion of Aβ42 aggregation at the cell periphery. 3D observation also revealed that the aggregates around the cell remained in that location even if cell death occurred, implying that amyloid plaques found in the AD brain grew from the debris of dead cells that accumulated Aβ42 aggregates

Red thermoluminescence of enstatite from the Chainpur meteorite

For most ordinary chondrites feldspar is mainly responsible for thermoluminescence [TL], but in type 3 ordinary chondrites, especially those which are most primitive, other minerals are important. We observed red TL with a ∿660nm spectral peak in an ordinary chondrite, Chainpur (LL3.4). The mineral responsible for the red TL was identified as iron-free enstatite. Spatial distribution of TL and cathodoluminescence [CL] for the same specimen was also investigated, and it was found that the red TL areas corresponded to the high-sensitivity areas of red CL

Current Topics in Food and Biodynamic Chemistry Research

Studies on chemical structures, metabolisms and physiological significances of food and bioactive natural products are currently being addressed in our laboratory to explain their health effects in humans. Some novel molecules and functions of food and nutrients were discovered, and new foodstuffs and products were developed. The researches were carried out on stable authentic phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide; membrane lipid glycation and its inhibitors; cancer growth suppression by conjugated triene fatty acids; antiangiogenicity of rice bran tocotrienol; glucosidase inhibition by mulberry 1-deoxynojirimycin; and high quality broccoli products regarding hepatoprotective sulforaphane contents

Thermoluminescence of chondrules in primitive ordinary chondrites,Semarkona and Bishunpur

The spatial distribution of the induced thermoluminescence (TL) and TL glow curves of the primitive ordinary chondrites, Semarkona (LL3.0) and Bishunpur (LL3.1), were investigated over a wide range of wavelengths using a TL spatial distribution readout system. Although bulk samples of Semarkona and Bishunpur have very low TL sensitivity, individual chondrules show a wide variety of induced TL intensity and glow curve shape. Chondrules with anorthite-normative mesostases have especially high induced TL intensity, and their TL is produced at wavelengths >480nm, compared with <480nm for the sensitivity range of the usual TL measuring systems. Some of the metamorphism-dependent TL sensitivity of type 3 ordinary chondrite therefore results in changes in the spectrum of the light produced

Lin4Neuro: a customized Linux distribution ready for neuroimaging analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A variety of neuroimaging software packages have been released from various laboratories worldwide, and many researchers use these packages in combination. Though most of these software packages are freely available, some people find them difficult to install and configure because they are mostly based on UNIX-like operating systems. We developed a live USB-bootable Linux package named "Lin4Neuro." This system includes popular neuroimaging analysis tools. The user interface is customized so that even Windows users can use it intuitively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The boot time of this system was only around 40 seconds. We performed a benchmark test of inhomogeneity correction on 10 subjects of three-dimensional T1-weighted MRI scans. The processing speed of USB-booted Lin4Neuro was as fast as that of the package installed on the hard disk drive. We also installed Lin4Neuro on a virtualization software package that emulates the Linux environment on a Windows-based operation system. Although the processing speed was slower than that under other conditions, it remained comparable.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>With Lin4Neuro in one's hand, one can access neuroimaging software packages easily, and immediately focus on analyzing data. Lin4Neuro can be a good primer for beginners of neuroimaging analysis or students who are interested in neuroimaging analysis. It also provides a practical means of sharing analysis environments across sites.</p

The effect of duration of illness and antipsychotics on subcortical volumes in schizophrenia: Analysis of 778 subjects

BackgroundThe effect of duration of illness and antipsychotic medication on the volumes of subcortical structures in schizophrenia is inconsistent among previous reports. We implemented a large sample analysis utilizing clinical data from 11 institutions in a previous meta-analysis.MethodsImaging and clinical data of 778 schizophrenia subjects were taken from a prospective meta-analysis conducted by the COCORO consortium in Japan. The effect of duration of illness and daily dose and type of antipsychotics were assessed using the linear mixed effect model where the volumes of subcortical structures computed by FreeSurfer were used as a dependent variable and age, sex, duration of illness, daily dose of antipsychotics and intracranial volume were used as independent variables, and the type of protocol was incorporated as a random effect for intercept. The statistical significance of fixed-effect of dependent variable was assessed.ResultsDaily dose of antipsychotics was positively associated with left globus pallidus volume and negatively associated with right hippocampus. It was also positively associated with laterality index of globus pallidus. Duration of illness was positively associated with bilateral globus pallidus volumes. Type of antipsychotics did not have any effect on the subcortical volumes.DiscussionA large sample size, uniform data collection methodology and robust statistical analysis are strengths of the current study. This result suggests that we need special attention to discuss about relationship between subcortical regional brain volumes and pathophysiology of schizophrenia because regional brain volumes may be affected by antipsychotic medication

ウチュウセン ケンシュツヨウ ネツ ルミネセンス シート BASO4 EU ニオケル ボウガイ フクシャコウ ノ ジョキョ

Phton counting methodにより, 宇宙線測定用TL(Thermoluminescence)-sheet[BaSO_4 : Eu]の発光特性を調べた.[I]放射線照射によるSignal light[SL]は, UV-域にピークがある.[II]TL-sheetを長時間曝露したり, 手荒く扱った際に生ずるObstructive light[OL]は, yellowとblueにpeakがある.[III][OL]の原因であるObstructive radiation[OR]はO_2の関与する表面現象に起因する.[IV-1]窒素雰囲気中で加熱計測をすれば, [OR]を抑えることができる.[IV-2]適当なバンドパスフィルタを用いれば[OL]を減少させることができる.TL-sheetを用いた高エネルギー宇宙線観測に対して, これら[IV-1,2]の方法の導入は, (a)"大量のシートも容易に取扱うことができる."(b)"[OR]によるbackgroundを小さくするので, シャワーエネルギーの計測しきい値を下げることができる."等の点で有効である.We have investigted emission light characteristics of the thermoluminescence [TL]-sheet [BaSO_4 : Eu]. More, we have introduced the rejecting methods for the obstructive light [OL] of these sheets. [I] Signal light [SL] emission spectra due to high energy γ, β and cosmic rays irradiations were observed in ultra-violet regions (that peak is about 370 nm). [II] In the case of rough treatments of TL-sheets or locating them for long time, we observed the OL emission in addition to the SL emission. These OL spectra are two bands of 570 nm (yellow) and 450 nm (blue). [III] The OL emission due to the obstructive radiation [OR] is caused by surface phenomena concerned with O_2 for the TL-sheet [BaSO_4 : Eu]. [IV-1] The glow curves, in which the OR emission suppressed are obtained in a nitrogen atmosphere. [IV-2] By using moderate band pass filter, the OL can be cut easily. For high energy cosmic ray researches by using TL-sheets, these methods [IV-1,2] are effective as follows ; a) One can treat easily TL-sheets in large quantities. b) Deminishing backgrounds due to the OR emission, one can observe shower energies of lower threshold values

ジカン ブンカイ ブンコウ ケイソク システム

秒のオーダで分光の強度変化が起こる現象を測定する分光計測システムを開発した.このシステムを使えば, 分光量が微弱で, かつ時間変化する(例えば熱ルミネッセンス)発光スペクトルを紫外から可視光にわたって計測することができる.A new system of spectroscopy for a time varying phenomenon in a order of second is introduced. It consists of a monochromator, an image intensifier and TV-camera system. Spectral images recorded onto video tape are processed by an image processor interfaced to an personal computer. The low intensity and time-dependent spectroscopy yield (for example, thermoluminescent spectrum) is able to be measured in the range from ultra violet to visual light by using the system

ネツ ルミネッセンス 2ジゲン ヨミトリ システム

熱ルミネッセンス[TL]2次元読み取りシステムを開発した。このシステムを使った応用として, 人工のTL-sheet(BaSO_4 : Eu)を用いて高エネルギー宇宙線シャワーの検出を行なった例と, 天然の試料(鍾乳石, 花崗岩)のTL空間分布を測定した例を示す.A spatial distribution read-out system of thermoluminescence [TL] is developed. This system is applied to artificial TL-sheets (BaSO_4 : Eu) for detecting high energy cosmic ray showers and to inhomogeneous materials for measuring natural TL spatial distributions of stalactite and Mannari-granite

Application of a spatial distribution readout system of thermoluminescence to meteorites

A spatial distribution readout system of thermoluminescence (TL) was recently developed. Spatial distribution of natural TL near fusion crust (MET-78028(L6)) and glow curve of each chondrule (ALH-77278(LL3) and ALH-77294(H5)) were measured using this system. More, TL emission spectra of a meteorite (MET-78028(L6)) were measured by replacing the objective camera lens by a spectroscope in this system