Multiple Pre-Treatment miRNAs Levels in Untreated Major Depressive Disorder Patients Predict Early Response to Antidepressants and Interact with Key Pathways

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a life-impairing disorder, and early successful treatment is important for a favorable prognosis. However, early response to antidepressants differs widely among individuals, and is difficult to predict pre-treatment. As miRNAs have been reported to play important roles in depression, identification of miRNAs associated with antidepressant treatment responses and their interacting genes and pathways will be beneficial in understanding the predictors and molecular mechanisms of depression treatment. This randomized control trial examined miRNAs correlated with the early therapeutic effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; paroxetine or sertraline) and mirtazapine monotherapy. Before medication, we comprehensively analyzed the miRNA expression of 92 depressed participants and identified genes and pathways interacting with miRNAs. A total of 228 miRNAs were significantly correlated with depressive symptoms improvements after 2 weeks of SSRIs treatment, with miR-483.5p showing the most robust correlation. These miRNAs are involved in 21 pathways, including TGF-β, glutamatergic synapse, long-term depression, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Using these miRNAs enabled us to predict SSRI response at week 2 with a 57% difference. This study shows that pre-treatment levels of miRNAs could be used to predict early responses to antidepressant administration, a knowledge of genes, and an identification of genes and pathways associated with the antidepressant response.     

Continuous measurements of bronchial exposure induced by radon decay products during inhalation

The deposition of radon decay products is not equal in each of the respiratory regions and as the presence of radon has been linked with an increase in lung cancer risk, it is important to calculate the deposition of radon decay products in each of the respiratory regions. Recently, many studies on the deposition of radon in respiratory regions have been simulated using wire screens. The systems and equipment used in those studies are not suitable for field measurements as their dimensions are relatively massive, nor can they measure continuously. We developed a continuous bronchial dosimeter (CBD) which is suitable for field measurements. It was designed with specifications that allow it to be remain compact. The CBD simulates the deposition of radon decay products in the different respiratory regions by the use of a combination of wire screens. Deposition in the simulated regions of the lung can be continuously estimated in various environments. The ratio of activities deposited in a simulated nasal cavity (N) and tracheobronchial (TB) regions was calculated from the results of simultaneous measurements using CBD-R (reference), CBD-N (nasal), and CBD-TB (tracheobronchial) measurement units. After aerosols were injected into the radon chamber, the ratio of N and TB depositions decreased. This results indicate that the CBD gave a good response to changes in the environment. It was found that the ratio of N and TB deposition also varied with time in each actual environment.     

Effective cell-seeding technique using magnetite nanoparticles and magnetic force onto decellularized blood vessels for vascular tissue engineering

Increasing attention has been given to vascular tissue engineering in recent years. Although cell seeding onto tubular scaffolds is the first step for constructing three-dimensional vascular grafts, the tubular geometry of the grafts hinders the efficient delivery of cells onto the scaffold. To overcome these limitations, we present here a novel cell-seeding technique using magnetic force and magnetite nanoparticles, termed Mag-seeding. NIH/3T3 fibroblasts (3T3s) were labeled magnetically using our original magnetite cationic liposomes (MCLs), which have a positive surface charge, to improve adsorption onto cell surface. In this study, porcine decellularized common carotid artery (dCCA) was used as one of the most promising scaffolds, because dCCA consists of a mixture of structural and functional proteins that constitute the extracellular matrix. When a cylindrical magnet was inserted into the lumen of dCCA and the dCCA was immersed into a suspension of magnetically labeled 3T3s, almost all the 3T3s attached onto the dCCA, whereas a low cell-seeding efficiency was achieved without using a magnet. When the magnetite uptake rate per cell increased, cell-seeding efficiency by Mag-seeding was enhanced. Furthermore, to construct a vascular graft for humans, the porcine dCCA, which was reseeded with two human cells (smooth muscle cells and dermal fibroblasts), was successfully constructed by Mag-seeding. These results indicate that Mag-seeding can be used for vascular tissue engineering.     

Application of bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide-based ionic liquid electrolyte to silicon-nickel-carbon composite anode for lithium-ion batteries

An ionic liquid electrolyte containing bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (FSI) anion without any solvent is applied to a silicon-nickel-carbon (Si-Ni-carbon) composite anode for rechargeable lithium (Li)-ion batteries. The FSI-based ionic liquid electrolyte successfully provides a stable, reversible capacity for the Si-Ni-carbon anode, which is comparable to the performance observed in a typical commercialized solvent-based electrolyte, while a common ionic liquid electrolyte containing bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TFSI) anion without FSI presents no reversible capacity to the anode at all. Ac impedance analysis reveals that the FSI-based electrolyte provides very low interfacial and charge-transfer resistances at the Si-based composite anode, even when compared to the corresponding resistances observed in a typical solvent-based electrolyte. Galvanostatic cycling of the Si-based composite anode in the FSI-based electrolyte with a charge limitation of 800 mAh g⁻¹ is stable and provides a discharge capacity of 790 mAh g⁻¹ at the 50th cycle, corresponding to a cycle efficiency of 98.8%.     

Compatibility of LiCoO2 and LiMn2O4 cathode materials for Li0.55La0.35TiO3 electrolyte to fabricate all-solid-state lithium battery

In order to improve performance of all-solid-state lithium ion battery with honeycomb structure, a compatibility of two commonly used cathode materials, LiCoO₂ and LiMn₂O₄, to Li_0.55La_0.35TiO₃ (LLT) solid electrolyte was studied. LiCoO₂/honeycomb LLT and LiMn₂O₄/honeycomb LLT half cells were fabricated by the impregnation of mixture of the cathode material with its precursor sol into honeycomb holes followed by the calcination. Impurity phases were observed at interface between LiCoO₂ and honeycomb LLT, while no impurity phase was confirmed in the case of LiMn₂O₄. In half cell test, the LiMn₂O₄/honeycomb LLT cell showed about 6 times larger discharge capacity than the LiCoO₂/honeycomb LLT cell, because of high internal resistance of the LiCoO₂/honeycomb LLT cell caused by the impurity phases. It can be said that the formation of low resistance interface at active material/electrolyte is one of the most important key to improve performance of the all-solid-state battery. Using LiMn₂O₄ instead of LiCoO₂, better interface between cathode material and LLT was obtained.     

Chemical constituents of the leaves of rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei) and characterisation of polymeric proanthocyanidins containing phenylpropanoid units and A-type linkages

Chemical constituents of the leaves of rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei READE) were investigated in detail. The major phenolic components were caffeoyl quinic acids, flavonol glycosides, flavan-3-ols and proanthocyanidins. Catechins and proanthocyanidins having additional phenylpropanoid units, such as cinchonains, kandelins and mururins, characterised the polyphenols of this plant. Among them, vaccinin A, an isomer of mururin A, was found to be a new compound, and the structure was characterised by spectroscopic methods. The most abundant polyphenols (11.3% of freeze-dried leaves) were oligomeric proanthocyanidins. Thiol degradation with mercaptoethanol indicated that the polymer was constituted of (+)-catechin and (−)-epicatechin as the terminal units and (−)-epicatechin, procyanidin A-2, and cinchonains Ia and Ib as the extension units. Mass spectral analysis suggested the presence of at least dodecamers with A-type linkages and phenylpropanoid moieties.     

A 6.6‐kV transformerless STATCOM based on a five‐level diode‐clamped converter. Experiments using a three‐phase laboratory model rated at 200 V and 10 kVA

This paper discusses a 6.6‐kV transformerless STATCOM intended for installation on industrial and utility distribution systems in the near future. In addition, this paper provides experimental results obtained from a laboratory model rate at 200 V and 10 kVA. The authors propose such a control method as to superimpose a sixth harmonic zero‐sequence component on each of three‐phase voltage references. This helps to stabilize the voltage of the inner midpoint in the DC link. As a result, the laboratory model installs two bidirectional buck‐boost choppers on the DC link for the purpose of stabilizing the voltages of two outer midpoints. Experimental results obtained from the laboratory model verify the validity of the system design, giving promise of the viability of the 6.6‐kV transformerless STATCOM. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 168(2): 60–68, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20733     

Role of Tannin-Binding Salivary Proteins and Tannase-Producing Bacteria in the Acclimation of the Japanese Wood Mouse to Acorn Tannins

We studied the defense mechanisms against the negative effects of tannins in acorns by using the Japanese wood mouse (Apodemus speciosus) and acorns of a Japanese deciduous oak Quercus crispula, which contain 9.9% tannins on a dry weight basis. For the experiment, we allocated 26 wood mice into two groups: acclimated (N = 12) and nonacclimated (N = 14). Mice in the nonacclimated group were fed only acorns for 10 d after 4 wk of receiving a tannin-free diet. In contrast, mice in the acclimated group received ca. 3 g acorns daily in addition to the tannin-free diet for the first 4 wk, then they were fed only acorns for 10 d. Body weight, food intake, and digestibility were monitored. In addition, the amount of salivary proline-rich proteins (PRPs) and abundance of tannase-producing bacteria (TPB) in the feces of mice were measured. Of the 14 mice in the nonacclimated group, 8 died, whereas only 1 of the 12 in the acclimated group died. During the first 5 d of feeding acorns only, mice in the nonacclimated group lost, on average, 17.5% of their body mass, while those in the acclimated group lost only 2.5%. Food intake, dry matter digestibility, and nitrogen digestibility were higher in the acclimated group than in the nonacclimated group. The results indicate that wood mice can mitigate the negative effects of tannins by acclimation. Path analysis revealed that increased secretion of PRPs and abundance of Lactobacillus type of TPB might explain the acclimation to tannins.     

A novel structure of ceramics electrolyte for future lithium battery

In order to fabricate large scale all-solid-state Li battery, we suggested a novel structure of solid electrolyte, which is composed of porous electrolyte supported by honeycomb-type electrolyte. A possibility of fabrication of the honeycomb-supported porous electrolyte and a compatibility of this structure with all-solid-state battery were examined using LLT (Li_0.35La_0.55TiO₃) solid electrolyte which is one of the anticipated solid electrolytes due to its high Li ion conductivity. A porous layer membrane with 3 dimensionally ordered (3DOM) macroporous structure was prepared by a colloidal crystal templating method. The porous honeycomb was fabricated by pushing the membrane into holes of honycomb using a needle followed by calcination. The 3DOM membrane and honeycmb electrolyte were sintered well each other. After filling the 3DOM pores with LiMn₂O₄ cathode material, the compatibility of this novel porous honeycomb electrolyte with all-solid-state battery was examined. The LiMn₂O₄/porous honeycomb cell clearly demonstrated charge and discharge behaviors, indicating the porous honeycomb structure can be applied to the all-solid-state battery. The discharge capacity was 71 mA h g⁻¹ (1.3 mA h cm⁻²) at 30 °C.