Association of Ligamentum Flavum Hypertrophy with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Progression—Comparative Microarray Gene Expression Analysis

The role of the ligamentum flavum (LF) in the pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is not well understood. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we investigated the degrees of LF hypertrophy in 18 patients without scoliosis and on the convex and concave sides of the apex of the curvature in 22 patients with AIS. Next, gene expression was compared among neutral vertebral LF and LF on the convex and concave sides of the apex of the curvature in patients with AIS. Histological and microarray analyses of the LF were compared among neutral vertebrae (control) and the LF on the apex of the curvatures. The mean area of LF in the without scoliosis, apical concave, and convex with scoliosis groups was 10.5, 13.5, and 20.3 mm², respectively. There were significant differences among the three groups (p < 0.05). Histological analysis showed that the ratio of fibers (Collagen/Elastic) was significantly increased on the convex side compared to the concave side (p < 0.05). Microarray analysis showed that ERC2 and MAFB showed significantly increased gene expression on the convex side compared with those of the concave side and the neutral vertebral LF cells. These genes were significantly associated with increased expression of collagen by LF cells (p < 0.05). LF hypertrophy was identified in scoliosis patients, and the convex side was significantly more hypertrophic than that of the concave side. ERC2 and MAFB genes were associated with LF hypertrophy in patients with AIS. These phenomena are likely to be associated with the progression of scoliosis.     

Mutated KIT Tyrosine Kinase as a Novel Molecular Target in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

KIT is a type-III receptor tyrosine kinase that contributes to cell signaling in various cells. Since KIT is activated by overexpression or mutation and plays an important role in the development of some cancers, such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors and mast cell disease, molecular therapies targeting KIT mutations are being developed. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), genome profiling via next-generation sequencing has shown that several genes that are mutated in patients with AML impact patients’ prognosis. Moreover, it was suggested that precision-medicine-based treatment using genomic data will improve treatment outcomes for AML patients. This paper presents (1) previous studies regarding the role of KIT mutations in AML, (2) the data in AML with KIT mutations from the HM-SCREEN-Japan-01 study, a genome profiling study for patients newly diagnosed with AML who are unsuitable for the standard first-line treatment (unfit) or have relapsed/refractory AML, and (3) new therapies targeting KIT mutations, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and heat shock protein 90 inhibitors. In this era when genome profiling via next-generation sequencing is becoming more common, KIT mutations are attractive novel molecular targets in AML.     

Theranostic Agent Combining Fullerene Nanocrystals and Gold Nanoparticles for Photoacoustic Imaging and Photothermal Therapy

Developing photoactivatable theranostic platforms with integrated functionalities of biocompatibility, targeting, imaging contrast, and therapy is a promising approach for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Here, we report a theranostic agent based on a hybrid nanoparticle comprising fullerene nanocrystals and gold nanoparticles (FGNPs) for photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy. Compared to gold nanoparticles and fullerene crystals, FGNPs exhibited stronger photoacoustic signals and photothermal heating characteristics by irradiating light with an optimal wavelength. Our studies demonstrated that FGNPs could kill cancer cells due to their photothermal heating characteristics in vitro. Moreover, FGNPs that are accumulated in tumor tissue via the enhanced permeation and retention effect can visualize tumor tissue due to their photoacoustic signal in tumor xenograft model mice. The theranostic agent with FGNPs shows promise for cancer therapy.     

Discovery of functional protein groups by clustering community links and integration of ontological knowledge

In this paper we cluster data from protein networks and integrate the results with chemical databases and ontologies to investigate functional links between related disease states. It is well know that certain genes participate in more than one function and if they are defective are likely to be responsible for several health problems. Furthermore, genes tend to cooperate in associated networks or cascades often with ’crosstalk’ between networks which can subtly alter cellular functions. Understanding the complexity and role of the various cell functions and mechanisms requires the use of computational models to make inferences and link together the interplay between genes, proteins and chemical interactions. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms of diseases will eventually be of benefit for the development new and improved therapies. The particular disease state we investigate in this work is cystinosis which is characterized by the widespread deposition of the amino acid cystine in cells due to a defect in cystine transport. In cystinosis, cystine accumulates in the lysosomes and eventually forms crystals throughout the body causing problems in the kidneys and the eyes. The defect is caused by a mutation in the CTNS gene and this forms the starting point for our investigation.     

Gourdron theory: revealing synthetically the masses for biological molecular particles of DNA and proteins and abiological particles of quarks and leptons

In the present report, we examine whether or not there are similar and different characteristics between biological molecular particles and non-living ones such as quark and leptons. While the Newton, Schrodinger, and Boltzmann equations and elementary particle theories describe only a narrow range of scales, the present statistic-fluid dynamic theory having only one arbitrary constant synthetically reveals masses as well as frequencies of various particles of quarks, leptons, W–Z bosons, Higgs boson, plank mass, hadrons, atoms, biological molecules, liquid droplets, living cells, biological organs, and stars. This is possible because each flexible particle is commonly generated by a mode in which a larger particle breaks up into two smaller ones through a gourd shape (gourdron) with two lumps rather than strings. These masses and frequencies dominated by the super-magic numbers, including the asymmetrically golden and symmetrically yamato ratios, can be derived by a quasi-stability principle weaker than neutral stability. The primordial mechanism underlying various types of symmetry breaking and the natural four forces including gravity is also revealed by this theory.     

Exact solution of a plastic hollow sphere with a Mises–Schleicher matrix

In this paper we establish the exact solution for a hollow sphere with a rigid-plastic pressure-sensitive matrix and subjected to hydrostatic tension or compression. The matrix is assumed to obey to a parabolic Mises–Schleicher criterion. The closed-form expressions of the velocity field and of the stress field are provided. These exact solutions, expressed by means of the Lambert W function, allow to assess and discuss existing results.     

Absorption isotherms for H2(D2)–Pd0.8Ag0.2 (198–323 K)

Isotherms for H₂/D₂–Pd_0.8Ag_0.2 systems have been measured over a low temperature range, 198–323 K. Such low temperature data for this system have not been obtained previously. The absorption kinetics was found to be fast. The isotherms at low temperatures are compared with literature values at or above 313 K, as well as those for H₂(D₂)–Pd systems. The H/D isotope effect and the separation factors in the plateau range over Pd_0.8Ag_0.2 are calculated at various temperatures and discussed, based on the isotherms. Enthalpies are extracted from van’t Hoff plots and compared with calorimetric values and the results from the literature for both absorption and desorption processes. A method is given for using isotherm information from single isotope systems to estimate the separation factor for the mixed isotope systems and this is a helpful tool.The challenge of measuring absorption isotherms at low temperatures and low pressures is discussed. Sample pre-treatment, non-soluble impurity accumulation in an absorption process and thermal transpiration effects are examined.     

Millimeter and submillimeter wave quasi-optical oscillator withGunn diodes

The grooved-mirror-type Fabry-Perot (GFP) oscillator was used for coherent power-combining of multiple elements in the millimeter- and submillimeter-wave region. The admittance of the Gunn diode in oscillation was measured experimentally in the millimeter-wave region to design the GFP oscillator. The gain characteristics of the diode were found at the frequencies from 42 to 48 GHz from the measured results. With this Gunn diode in the GFP resonator, oscillation was observed. The experimental results indicated that for impedance matching between the diode and the resonant cavity, the groove height must be adjusted