Reduced Claudin-12 Expression Predicts Poor Prognosis in Cervical Cancer

Background: Within the claudin (CLDN) family, CLDN12 mRNA expression is altered in various types of cancer, but its clinicopathological relevance has yet to be established due to the absence of specific antibodies (Abs) with broad applications. Methods: We generated a monoclonal Ab (mAb) against human/mouse CLDN12 and verified its specificity. By performing immunohistochemical staining and semiquantification, we evaluated the relationship between CLDN12 expression and clinicopathological parameters in tissues from 138 cases of cervical cancer. Results: Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the established mAb selectively recognized the CLDN12 protein. Twenty six of the 138 cases (18.8%) showed low CLDN12 expression, and the disease-specific survival (DSS) and recurrence-free survival rates were significantly decreased compared with those in the high CLDN12 expression group. We also demonstrated, via univariable and multivariable analyses, that the low CLDN12 expression represents a significant prognostic factor for the DSS of cervical cancer patients (HR 3.412, p = 0.002 and HR 2.615, p = 0.029, respectively). Conclusions: It can be concluded that a reduced CLDN12 expression predicts a poor outcome for cervical cancer. The novel anti-CLDN12 mAb could be a valuable tool to evaluate the biological relevance of the CLDN12 expression in diverse cancer types and other diseases.     

Establishment time of liquid flow in a bath agitated by bottom gas injection

The establishment time of gas-liquid two-phase flows in a cylindrical bath agitated by bottom gas injection through a central single-hole bottom nozzle was investigated. Because the turbulence intensity in the bath was comparable to or larger than the unity, the conventional definition of the flow establishment time based on the history of mean velocity was not suitable for the present case. In fact, it was difficult to determine the flow establishment time based on the well-known 90 or 99 pct criterion for the mean velocity. Accordingly, two methods of determining the flow establishment time by focusing on the turbulence components instead of the mean velocity components were proposed. Velocity measurements were made with a two-channel laser Doppler velocimeter. The flow establishment time was correlated as a function of gas flow rate. Close agreement was obtained by the two methods.     

Rapid detection cytomegalovirus pneumonia in recipients of bone marrow transplant: evaluation and comparison of five survey methods for bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

To detect cytomegalovirus-associated interstitial pneumonia (CMV-IP) in recipients of BMT in its earliest stage, five CMV methods were assessed for their usefulness using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as the test specimen. Of the 43 cases enrolled in the study, PCR was positive in 12 cases, shell vial in eight, culture in eight and cytology in three. There were no positive cases in in situ hybridization. Based on this result, the 43 cases were classified into four groups: Group 1, three cases: positive in PCR, shell vial and cytology; Group 2, five cases: positive in PCR and shell vial; Group 3, four cases: positive only in PCR; and Group 4, 31 cases: negative in all CMV tests. Cases in Group 1 were judged as having the highest risk of overt CMV-IP. They were successfully treated with a combination of ganciclovir and immunoglobulin. Group 2 was diagnosed as having active CMV infection and ganciclovir monotherapy was effective for these patients. Groups 3 and 4 were not given anti-CMV therapy, but they were free from CMV-related manifestations throughout the study. The sensitivity and specificity of each survey method for the detection of Groups 1 and 2 were 1.0 and 0.89 in PCR, 1.0 and 1.0 in shell vial, 0.88 and 1.0 in culture, and 0.38 and 1.0 in cytology. Similarly, the positive and negative predictive values were 0.67 and 1.0 in PCR, 1.0 and 1.0 in shell vial, 1.0 and 0.97 in culture, and 1.0 and 0.88 in cytology. Thus, CMV survey on bronchoalveolar fluid was thought to be useful in detecting post BMT CMV-IP in its earliest stage.     

Body effects on SAR distributions for microwave exposures in a realistic model of the human head.

The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations of specific absorption rate (SAR) in a human head exposed to microwaves have, to date, been carried out on models of the head only. This was because it was believed that the body effects on the average SAR of the head could be ignored at high frequencies of around 1 GHz. That opinion, however, was based on inappropriate calculation conditions and is therefore unreliable. In this paper, we have re-examined the body effects on the SAR distributions in a realistic homogeneous model of the adult head exposed to microwaves. We found that the SAR on the eye surface of the head-only model exposed to E-polarized waves was 31% smaller than that of the whole-body model at 900 MHz, and 43% larger at 1.5 GHz. For a size that can practically be considered whole-body, it is necessary to have the top of the head to the belly for 900 MHz and to the chest area for 1.5 GHz. The previously unclear body effects of H-polarized waves were assumed to be less than those of E-polarized waves, suggesting that the chest area would be sufficient for both frequencies.     

Effects of cytogenin on spontaneous arthritis in MRL/1 mice and on pristane-induced arthritis (PIA) in DBA/1J mice

Cytogenin, 8-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-6-methoxyisocoumarin, has low cytotoxicity on murine and human tumour cells in vitro. It augments or suppresses phagocytosis of macrophages and lymphocyte proliferation. It has been reported that cytogenin has a potent inhibitory effect clinically on adjuvant arthritis in Lewis rats and on type II collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice. Our experimental findings provide evidence that cytogenin has beneficial effects on spontaneous polyarthritis in MRL/1 mice and pristane-induced arthritis in DBA/1J mice. The results suggest that the mode of the anti-arthritic action of cytogenin is different from those of NSAIDs; although the precise mode of action remains unclear, cytogenin may become an excellent therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis.     

Modern interpretation on the high-stretching of natural rubber attained by the classic ‘racking’ method

To investigate the mechanism of high elongation of natural rubber attained by the ‘racking method’, a strip of smoked-sheet was elongated up to 150 times in length, by stretching rapidly at room temperature and forcing to shrink at 75-80 °C repeatedly. On X-ray diffraction, a typical fibre pattern with an amorphous ring appeared already at ×10 (stretch ratio=10). The degree of crystallinity increased to the level of 17-18% at ×20 and turned to decrease after ×60, but the degree of crystallite orientation reached at a high level already at ×10 and did not change significantly and the half-height width of reflection profiles stayed almost at a constant level, while the Young's modulus increased up to ca. 300 MPa at ×100 and then fell rather discontinuously. It was assumed that some fractions of chain segments between entanglements were gradually broken in each step of stretching operation, rather than disentangled and slipped.     

Series resonant ZCS‐PFM DC‐DC power converter with high‐frequency high‐voltage transformer link for high‐power magnetron drive

This paper presents a single lossless inductive snubber‐assisted ZCS‐PFM series resonant DC‐DC power converter with a high‐frequency high‐voltage transformer link for industrial‐use high‐power magnetron drive. The current flowing through the active power switches rises gradually at a turned‐on transient state with the aid of a single lossless snubber inductor, and ZCS turn‐on commutation based on overlapping current can be achieved via the wide range pulse frequency modulation control scheme. The high‐frequency high‐voltage transformer primary side resonant current always becomes continuous operation mode, by electromagnetic loose coupling design of the high‐frequency high‐voltage transformer and the magnetizing inductance of the high‐frequency high‐voltage transformer. As a result, this high‐voltage power converter circuit for the magnetron can achieve a complete zero current soft switching under the condition of broad width gate voltage signals. Furthermore, this high‐voltage DC‐DC power converter circuit can regulate the output power from zero to full over audible frequency range via the two resonant frequency circuit design. Its operating performances are evaluated and discussed on the basis of the power loss analysis simulation and the experimental results from a practical point of view. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 153(3): 79–87, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20126     

Fractal dimension of the grain boundary fracture in creep-fracture of cobalt-based heat resistant alloys

The effects of grain boundary configuration and creep conditions on the fractal dimension of the grain boundary fracture (D _f) were investigated using commercial cobalt-based heat resistant alloys, namely, HS-21 and L-605 alloys. Creep-rupture experiments were carried out under the initial creep stresses of 19.6–176 MPa in the temperature range from 1089–1422 K in air. The value of D _f was larger in specimens with serrated grain boundaries than in those with straight grain boundaries in the HS-21 alloy under the same creep condition, and the difference in the value of D _f between these specimens was large in the scale range of the analysis which was less than about one grain boundary length. However, there was almost no difference in the value of D _f between the specimens with serrated grain boundaries and those with straight grain boundaries in the L-605 alloy, because there was no obvious difference in the microstructure between these specimens. The value of D _f increased with decreasing creep stress in the scale range of the fractal analysis larger than about one grain boundary length in both HS-21 and L-605 alloys, while the stress dependence of D _f was larger in the HS-21 alloy. The stress dependence of D _f was explained by the stress dependence on the number of grain boundary microcracks linked to the fracture surface. The value of D _f estimated in the scale range smaller than about one grain boundary length showed essentially no stress dependence in both L-605 and HS-21 alloys.     

Induction of necrosis by zinc in prostate carcinoma cells and identification of proteins increased in association with this induction

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a cardiovascular peptide that binds to two distinct receptors, ET(A) and ET(B), resulting in systemic and regional vasoconstriction, alteration in sodium excretion, mitogenesis, and release of other vasoactive peptides such as atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). A role for ET-1 has been proposed in congestive heart failure (CHF) based on the increase in circulating ET-1 in this cardiovascular disease state. The present study determined the cardiorenal and endocrine responses to chronic selective oral ETA antagonism in experimental CHF. Two groups of conscious dogs underwent 21 days of pacing-induced CHF. These groups included a control untreated group (n = 6) and a group that received an orally active ET(A) receptor antagonist (A-127722, Abbott Pharmaceuticals, 5 mg/kg PO bid, n = 6). Each group was studied at baseline before the onset of CHF and after 14 and 21 days of CHF. Compared with the CHF control group, the ET(A) receptor antagonism group at 14 days of CHF showed lower mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance. Similarly, ET(A) receptor antagonism markedly attenuated the increase in circulating ANP despite similar atrial pressures. At 21 days of CHF, ET(A) receptor antagonism lowered pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, and systemic vascular resistance in association with a higher cardiac output. Plasma ANP remained suppressed. Despite the lower mean arterial pressure and circulating ANP in the ET(A) receptor antagonist group, the absolute decrease in sodium excretion from baseline was less compared with the untreated CHF control group. The present investigation supports the conclusion that endogenous ET-1 participates in the systemic and pulmonary vasoconstriction, the elevation of ANP, and the sodium retention that characterize this model of experimental CHF, suggesting a potential therapeutic role for ET(A) receptor antagonism in CHF.     

Sensitivity of an anadically oxidized aluminium film on a surface acoustic wave sensor to humidity

The sensitivity, transient response and sensitivity mechanism of a surface acoustic wave humidity sensor using porous anodically oxidized aluminium (alumina) films as mechanical interfaces have been studied theoretically and experimentally. It is found that the sensitivity of alumina films of 1.0 μm thickness is -0.034 m/(s %RH) and is the same order as that of polyimide films. The transient response of alumina films to humidity is about one order faster than that of polyimide films. For the sensitivity mechanism, the phase-velocity change is attributed to the mechanical perturbation caused by the absorption of water molecules. The equivalent density change of alumina films between 0 and 100%RH is about 0.7%. In addition, the actual stiffness constants of alumina films are two orders less than those of bulk alumina.