An Investigation of Proteins Produced by Porcine Oviduct Epithelial Cells Cultured in a Serum-free Medium.

本研究ではブタ卵管上皮細胞の無血清培養法を検討し,この培養法によってブタの卵管上皮細胞から産生されるタンパク質の解析と培養上清中の高分子画分の細胞増殖活性を探索した. 未成熟のブタの卵管をEDTAとコラーゲナーゼで処理して,上皮細胞を分離した,無血清培地にはDMEM/Ham'sF12の1:1混合液にインスリン,トランスフェリン,亜セレン酸ナトリウム,ヒドロコルチゾン,レチノール,硫酸ストレプトマイシン,およびペニシリンを添加したものを用いた.卵管細胞は培養6日目には単層コンフルーエントの状態に達し,この状態は2週間保持された.また,電子顕微鏡観察の結果,培養細胞には上皮細胞の特徴である徴絨毛とスポットデスモゾームが認められ,上皮細胞と判定された.初代培養卵管上皮細胞の凍結保存を試み,10% DMSOを含む凍結用培地に0.1% メチルセルロースを添加すると融解後に高い生存率が得られた. 培養6日目から8日目まで10-6MのE2を培地に添加すると培養期間は2週間から3週間へと延長された.しかし,培養上清をSDS-電気泳動によって解析した結果,エストロジェン依存タンパクバンドは見いだせなかった. ブタの卵管膨大部と峡部の上皮細胞を別々に培養した結果,E2の添加によってそれぞれの細胞において培養期間の延長が認められた.さらに,膨大部と峡部細胞の培養上清の電気泳動の結果,タンパクバンドの相違がみられた. 卵管膨大部と峡部の上皮細胞から産生される10KDa以上の高分子画分の細胞増殖活性をブタ卵管峡部培養細胞のコロニー形成によって調べた.それぞれの培養上清中の高分子画分を10% 血清加培地に加えて検定培地とした.その結果,培養5日後に対照とした10% 血清区のコロニー形成率は極めて低く(2% ),卵管峡部の産生物質を含む培地で19% ,卵管膨大部画分を含む培地では33% であり膨大部の細胞増殖活性が最も高かった. この研究から,卵管膨大部と峡部細胞から細胞増殖因子が生産・放出されること,ならびに両者の活性に違いのあることが明らかにされた

Page Curves for General Interacting Systems

We calculate in detail the Renyi entanglement entropies of cTPQ states as a function of subsystem volume, filling the details of our prior work [Nature Communications 9, 1635 (2018)], where the formulas were first presented. Working in a limit of large total volume, we find universal formulas for the Renyi entanglement entropies in a region where the subsystem volume is comparable to that of the total system. The formulas are applicable to the infinite temperature limit as well as general interacting systems. For example we find that the second Renyi entropy of cTPQ states in terms of subsystem volume is written universally up to two constants, $S_2(\ell)=-\ln K(\beta)+\ell\ln a(\beta)-\ln\left(1+a(\beta)^{-L+2\ell}\right)$, where $L$ is the total volume of the system and $a$ and $K$ are two undetermined constants. The uses of the formulas were already presented in our prior work and we mostly concentrate on the theoretical aspect of the formulas themselves. Aside from deriving the formulas for the Renyi Page curves, the expression for the von Neumann Page curve is also derived, which was not presented in our previous work.Comment: 29 pages, 3 figures; JHEP preparatio

Tumor Occupation in the Spinal Canal and Clinical Symptoms of Cauda Equina Schwannoma: An Analysis of 22 Cases

Study DesignRetrospective, radiological study.PurposeTo determine the relationship between clinical symptoms and the extent of tumor occupation of the spinal canal by cauda equina schwannoma.Overview of LiteratureLittle is known about the relationship between the size of tumors of the cauda equina and the manifestation of clinical symptoms. We analyzed this relationship by estimating the percentage of tumor occupation (PTO) in the spinal canal in cauda equina schwannomas and by correlating this parameter with the presence and severity of clinical symptoms.MethodsTwenty-two patients (9 men and 13 women; age, 19–79 years; mean age, 55.3 years) who were radiologically diagnosed with schwannomas of the cauda equina between April 2004 and July 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. PTO was measured in axial and sagittal magnetic resonance imaging slices in which the cross-sectional area of the tumor was the largest. Data regarding clinical symptoms and results of physical examinations were collected from patient medical records. PTO differences between symptom-positive and -negative groups were analyzed for each variable.ResultsIn the 4 cases in which tumor presence was not related to clinical symptoms, PTO was 5%–10% (mean, 9%) in axial slices and 23%–31% (mean, 30%) in sagittal slices. In the 18 cases in which symptoms were associated with the tumor, PTO was 11%–86% (mean, 50%) in axial slices and 43%–88% (mean, 71%) in sagittal slices. PTO in axial slices was significantly higher in the presence of Déjèrine symptoms and/or muscle weakness, a positive straight leg raise test, and a positive Kemp sign.ConclusionsPTO >20% in axial slices and >40% in sagittal slices can be an indication of symptomatic cauda equina schwannoma

Sarcopenia, intramuscular fat deposition, and visceral adiposity independently predict the outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma

Background & AimsObesity defined by body mass index (BMI) significantly increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In contrast, not only obesity but also underweight is associated with poor prognosis in patients with HCC. Differences in body composition rather than BMI were suggested to be true determinants of prognosis. However, this hypothesis has not been demonstrated conclusively.MethodsWe measured skeletal muscle index (SMI), mean muscle attenuation (MA), visceral adipose tissue index, subcutaneous adipose tissue index, and visceral to subcutaneous adipose tissue area ratios (VSR) via computed tomography in a large-scale retrospective cohort of 1257 patients with different stages of HCC, and comprehensively analyzed the impact of body composition on the prognoses.ResultsAmong five body composition components, low SMI (called sarcopenia), low MA (called intramuscular fat [IMF] deposition), and high VSR (called visceral adiposity) were significantly associated with mortality, independently of cancer stage or Child-Pugh class. A multivariate analysis revealed that sarcopenia (hazard ratio [HR], 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18–1.96; p=0.001), IMF deposition (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.05–1.71; p=0.020), and visceral adiposity (HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.09–1.66; p=0.005) but not BMI were significant predictors of survival. The prevalence of poor prognostic body composition components was significantly higher in underweight and obese patients than in normal weight patients.ConclusionsSarcopenia, IMF deposition, and visceral adiposity independently predict mortality in patients with HCC. Body composition rather than BMI is a major determinant of prognosis in patients with HCC