Contribution of hematopoietic stem cells in blood vessel formation

Vascular development consists of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. The system of TIE2-Angiopoietin (Ang) is involved in angiogenesis. TIE2 regulates adhesion and dissociation between endothelial cells and mural cells, and survival, apoptosis, and chemotaxis of endothelial cells. Ang-2, which is produced by endothelial cells under tissue hypoxia, has been suggested to be a key regulator for the initiation of endothelial cell sprouting from pre-existing vessels. Although Ang-2 binds to TIE2, it does not promote activation of TIE2 on endothelial cells. Ang-2 produced from endothelial cells under hypoxia inhibits the binding of Ang-1 to TIE2. On the other hand, Ang-1 promotes activation of TIE2 and adhesion between endothelial cells and mural cells. Therefore, endothelial cells dissociated from mural cells by Ang-2 are free to move to avascular area where oxygen or nutrient is needed. We recently found that hematopoietic stem cells produce Ang-1 and promote chemotaxis and network formation of TIE2-positive endothelial cells. Moreover, hematopoietic stem cells change their fate into mural cell and stabilize the vessel structure. This novel function may be applied clinically to promote neovascularization by transplanting the hematopoietic stem cells at the desired site.Biomedical Reviews 2003; 14: 1-8

ADOPTION OF ORGANIC RICE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN BANGLADESH

Bangladesh now needs to thank its soil health, environment and human health for the country being almost self-sufficient in rice production. The present study has been undertaken to gain knowledge of the level of awareness by farmers and consumers regarding the status of organic rice, and knowledge of demand and marketing opportunities and limitations for organic rice in the country. The present study has highlighted the overall organic rice situation in Bangladesh, which is not yet well documented. The results also demonstrate that farmers and consumers are aware of the hazards of chemical compounds but have little knowledge about organic rice. The present study may open a new window for organic rice research and marketing (both local and export) for all stakeholders (including planners) and could succeed in the adoption of organic rice in Bangladesh

The QT Intervals in Infancy and Time for Infantile ECG Screening for Long QT Syndrome

Background: Electrocardiographic and molecular studies have clarified an association between sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and long QT syndrome (LQTS), and few data are available for the QT interval in infancy from birth to 1 year of age. Appropriate time of electrocardiographic screening is not clarified. Medical examinations during infancy are mandatory in Japan.Methods and Results: The study population included 1,058 infants. Electrocardiograms were collected with information of infants at birth and at examination. The QT intervals of three consecutive beats were measured in lead V5. Statistical analysis revealed that the following formula was appropriate to minimize the effect of heart rate for infants: corrected QT interval; QTc = QT interval/RR interval 0.43. Subjects were divided into four groups as follows: 0–2, 3–6, 6–11, and 12–52 weeks of age. Tukey's multiple comparison showed that the QTc intervals were longest (p < 0:0001) in subjects who were 6–11 weeks of age.Conclusions: The QTc interval showed the highest peak at 6-11 weeks of age in infancy. The peak period of occurrence of SIDS is at approximately 2 months of age. An appropriate time of electrocardiographic screening for QT prolongation will be one month of age, and follow-up studies are needed

CD146 is a potential immunotarget for neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma, the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood, is thought to arise from neural crest-derived immature cells. The prognosis of patients with high-risk or recurrent/refractory neuroblastoma remains quite poor despite intensive multimodality therapy; therefore, novel therapeutic interventions are required. We examined the expression of a cell adhesion molecule CD146 (melanoma cell adhesion molecule [MCAM]) by neuroblastoma cell lines and in clinical samples and investigated the anti-tumor effects of CD146-targeting treatment for neuroblastoma cells both in vitro and in vivo. CD146 is expressed by 4 cell lines and by most of primary tumors at any stage. Short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown of CD146, or treatment with an anti-CD146 polyclonal antibody, effectively inhibited growth of neuroblastoma cells both in vitro and in vivo, principally due to increased apoptosis via the focal adhesion kinase and/or nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway. Furthermore, the anti-CD146 polyclonal antibody markedly inhibited tumor growth in immunodeficient mice inoculated with primary neuroblastoma cells. In conclusion, CD146 represents a promising therapeutic target for neuroblastoma

Rice Direct Seeding Method with Recycled-paper Mulching

We developed a new direct hill seeding method, paper-mulched direct seeding (PMDS). In this method, recycled-paper sheets with rice (Oryza Sativa L.) seeds affixed are spread over a flooded paddy field just after puddling and leveling. Three or five rice seeds were sandwiched between biodegradable gauze or non-woven mesh, fixed to a hole (25 mm diameter) arranged on the sheet at a distance corresponding to the planting density. The sheet gave a very high percentage (98.3%) of germination in water culture of cultivar, Koshihikari. Koshihikari sown by the PMDS method showed a relatively high percentage of seedling establishment, ranging from 70 to 80%. Moreover, a high stability of seedling establishment was obtained by the PMDS method as compared with lowland hill seeding of non-germinated seeds without use of the oxygen supplying chemical, calcium peroxide. Frequencies of vacant hills in the PMDS plot of 5 cultivars, Akitakomachi, Dontokoi, Hinohikari, Hitomebore and Koshihikari, were very low, ranging from 0.40 to 2.33%. Although no herbicide was applied in the PMDS plot, only a few weeds, i.e., Scripus juncoides Roxb. var. ohwians T. koyama and Eleocharis kuroguwai Ohwi were observed, indicating that herbicides are not required in the PMDS. Little lodging was seen in the PMDS plot. The brown rice yield by the PMDS was 615 g m−2. These results clearly demonstrate that the PMDS is useful for hill seeding in flooded paddy fields