A comparison of dust concentration with high resolution analysis and visible strata in the Holocene and Last Glacial Maximum periods from the Dome Fuji ice core, East Antarctica

第3回極域科学シンポジウム　横断セッション「海・陸・氷床から探る後期新生代の南極寒冷圏環境変動」11月26日（月）、27日（火） ２階ラウン

Expression of Cdk5 in eyes with PDR

Aims/Introduction: Inhibition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) phosphorylation mediated by cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is one of the main mechanisms of action of antidiabetic drugs. In this study, we analyzed the ocular expression and activation of Cdk5 in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Materials and Methods: The concentrations of PPARγ, Cdk5 and its activating subunit (p35) were determined in the vitreous body of 24 PDR and 63 control eyes by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the messenger ribonucleic acid and protein expression levels of PPARγ, Cdk5 and p35 were measured in proliferative neovascular membranes from seven PDR eyes and non-neovascular epiretinal membranes from five control eyes by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analysis. Results: PPARγ, Cdk5 and p35 concentrations in the vitreous body were significantly higher in the PDR group compared with the control group. There was also a positive significant correlation of Cdk5 with PPARγ and p35 in the PDR group. Furthermore, the messenger ribonucleic acid expression levels of PPARc, Cdk5 and p35 in proliferative neovascular membranes were significantly higher in the PDR group compared with the control group. Immunostaining showed increased protein expression levels of PPARγ, Cdk5 and p35 in proliferative neovascular membranes in the PDR group compared with the control group. Conclusions: Cdk5 activation is involved in PDR pathogenesis through PPARγ expression, and inhibition of Cdk5-mediated PPARγ phosphorylation might be a new therapeutic target for treatment of PDR

Adsorption characteristics of an enteric virus-binding protein to norovirus, rotavirus and poliovirus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Water contamination with human enteric viruses has posed human health risks all over the world. Reasonable and facile methodologies for recovering and quantifying infectious enteric viruses in environmental samples are needed to address the issues of waterborne viral infectious diseases. In this study, a bacterial protein that has a binding capability with several enteric viruses is discovered, and its binding characteristics were investigated for utilizing it as a viral adsorbent in virus recovery and detection technologies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A gene of an enteric virus-binding protein (EVBP), derived from a monomer of a bacterial chaperon protein GroEL, was successfully acquired from a genomic DNA library of activated sludge microorganisms with nested PCR. Equilibrium dissociation constants between EVBP and norovirus-like particles (NoVLPs) of genotypes GI.7 and GII.4, estimated with quartz crystal microbalance method, were 240 and 210 nM, respectively. These values of equilibrium dissociation constant imply that the binding affinity between EVBP and NoVLPs is 1 to 3-log weaker than that in general antigen-antibody interactions, but about 2-log stronger than that in weak specific interactions of proteins with cations and organic polymers. The adsorptions of EVBP to norovirus, group A rotavirus and poliovirus type 1 were found to be significant in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Meanwhile, the binding of native GroEL tetradecamer to viral particles was weaker than that of EVBP, presumably because of a steric hindrance. The small molecule of EVBP could have an advantage in the access to the surface of viral particles with rugged structure.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>EVBP that has a broad binding spectrum to enteric viruses was newly discovered. The broad binding characteristic of EVBP would allow us to utilize it as a novel adsorbent for detecting diverse enteric viruses in clinical and environmental samples.</p

2種類の正常眼圧緑内障モデルマウスに対するN-アセチルシステインの網膜変性抑制効果の違い

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is widely used as a mucolytic agent and as an antidote to paracetamol overdose. NAC serves as a precursor of cysteine and stimulates the synthesis of glutathione in neural cells. Suppressing oxidative stress in the retina may be an effective therapeutic strategy for glaucoma, a chronic neurodegenerative disease of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and optic nerves. Here we examined the therapeutic potential of NAC in two mouse models of normal tension glaucoma, in which excitatory amino-acid carrier 1 (EAAC1) or glutamate/aspartate transporter (GLAST) gene was deleted. EAAC1 is expressed in retinal neurons including RGCs, whereas GLAST is mainly expressed in Müller glial cells. Intraperitoneal administration of NAC prevented RGC degeneration and visual impairment in EAAC1-deficient (knockout; KO) mice, but not in GLAST KO mice. In EAAC1 KO mice, oxidative stress and autophagy were suppressed with increased glutathione levels by NAC treatment. Our findings suggest a possibility that systemic administration of NAC may be available for some types of glaucoma patients

Ripasudil Promotes Neuroprotection

PURPOSE. To assess if ripasudil has a neuroprotective effect using mice with excitatory amino acid carrier 1 (EAAC1) deletion (EAAC1 knockout [KO] mice), a mouse model of normal tension glaucoma. METHODS. Topical administration (5 μL/day) of two different concentrations of ripasudil (0.4% and 2%) were applied to EAAC1 KO mice from 5 to 12 weeks old. Optical coherence tomography, multifocal electroretinograms, the measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP), and histopathology analyses were performed at 5, 8, and 12 weeks old. Retrograde labeling of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), immunoblot, and immunohistochemical analyses of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the retina were performed at 8 weeks old. RESULTS. Topical ripasudil ameliorated retinal degeneration and improved visual function in EAAC1 KO mice at both 8 and 12 weeks old. Ripasudil reduced IOP and strongly suppressed the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK that stimulates RGC death in EAAC1 KO mice. CONCLUSIONS. These results suggest that, in addition to IOP reduction, ripasudil prevents glaucomatous retinal degeneration by neuroprotection, which is achieved by suppressing cell-death signaling pathways

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Starfish Bone-Derived -Tricalcium Phosphate as a Bone Substitute Material

We evaluated starfish-derived -tricalcium phosphate (Sf-TCP) obtained by phosphatization of starfish-bone-derived porous calcium carbonate as a potential bone substitute material. The Sf-TCP had a communicating pore structure with a pore size of approximately 10 m. Although the porosity of Sf-TCP was similar to that of Cerasorb M (CM)a commercially available -TCP bone fillerthe specific surface area was roughly three times larger than that of CM. Observation by scanning electron microscopy showed that pores communicated to the inside of the Sf-TCP. Cell growth tests showed that Sf-TCP improved cell proliferation compared with CM. Cells grown on Sf-TCP showed stretched filopodia and adhered; cells migrated both to the surface and into pores. In vivo, vigorous tissue invasion into pores was observed in Sf-TCP, and more fibrous tissue was observed for Sf-TCP than CM. Moreover, capillary formation into pores was observed for Sf-TCP. Thus, Sf-TCP showed excellent biocompatibility in vitro and more vigorous bone formation in vivo, indicating the possible applications of this material as a bone substitute. In addition, our findings suggested that mimicking the microstructure derived from whole organisms may facilitate the development of superior artificial bone.ArticleMATERIALS. 12(11):1881 (2019)journal articl

Cytological analysis of glycogen-rich carcinoma of the breast : report of two cases

Background : Glycogen-rich carcinoma is a rare special histologic subtype of breast cancer and its incidence is estimated to be 1.4% in breast malignancies. However, its precise characteristics in cytological specimens have not yet been fully clarified. Case : Fifty-nine-year-old and 53-year-old women underwent fine-needle aspiration biopsy cytology (FNABC) of a breast tumor, confirming malignancy. A mastectomy with axillary dissection was performed. Cytologically, a moderate amount of eosinophilic, finely granular cytoplasm was seen in the majority of the tumor cells, however, foamy and vacuolated cytoplasm was noted in some tumor cells. Histologically, the tumor cells of both cases had clear and granular cytoplasm, which showed a positive reaction with periodic acid-Schiff, eliminated by diastase. Conclusion : While clear cytoplasm in the tumor cells in the FNABC seemed to be a pivotal cytological characteristic of glycogen-rich carcinoma, it may not be a major component of cytological specimens. Routine periodic acid-Schiff staining may be required to diagnose glycogen-rich carcinoma in cytological methods