Pannexin 1-Mediated ATP Signaling in the Trigeminal Spinal Subnucleus Caudalis Is Involved in Tongue Cancer Pain

Pain is one of the most severe concerns in tongue cancer patients. However, the underlying mechanisms of tongue cancer pain are not fully understood. We investigated the molecular mechanisms of tongue cancer-induced mechanical allodynia in the tongue by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) inoculation in rats. The head-withdrawal threshold of mechanical stimulation (MHWT) to the tongue was reduced following SCC inoculation, which was inhibited by intracisternal administration of 10Panx, an inhibitory peptide for pannexin 1 (PANX1) channels. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the expression of PANX1 was upregulated in the trigeminal spinal subnucleus caudalis (Vc) following SCC inoculation. The majority of PANX1 immunofluorescence was merged with ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) fluorescence and a part of it was merged with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) fluorescence. Spike frequencies of Vc nociceptive neurons to noxious mechanical stimulation were significantly enhanced in SCC-inoculated rats, which was suppressed by intracisternal 10Panx administration. Phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK)-immunoreactive (IR) neurons increased significantly in the Vc after SCC inoculation, which was inhibited by intracisternal 10Panx administration. SCC inoculation-induced MHWT reduction and increased pERK-IR Vc neuron numbers were inhibited by P2X7 purinoceptor (P2X7R) antagonism. Conversely, these effects were observed in the presence of P2X7R agonist in SCC-inoculated rats with PANX1 inhibition. SCC inoculation-induced MHWT reduction was significantly recovered by intracisternal interleukin-1 receptor antagonist administration. These observations suggest that SCC inoculation causes PANX1 upregulation in Vc microglia and adenosine triphosphate released through PANX1 sensitizes nociceptive neurons in the Vc, resulting in tongue cancer pain.     

Orientation controlled deposition of Pb(Zr,Ti)O<Subscript>3</Subscript> films using a micron-size patterned SrRuO<Subscript>3</Subscript> buffer layer

Orientation controlled, micron-sized dot-patterned PZT films were grown by metal organic chemical vapor phase deposition (MOCVD), and their crystal structure was evaluated. A micron-size dot-patterned SrRuO₃ (SRO) buffer layer was initially prepared by MOCVD through a metal mask on the (111) Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrate. Then, a PZT film was deposited over the entire substrate. Micron-beam X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy indicated that (111)-orientated PZT was prepared on the SRO covered area, while the (100)/(001)-orientated one was directly grown on Pt-covered substrates. The PZT film grown on SRO was thinner than that on the Pt-covered substrate. The estimated ferroelectric property on the center of the dot pattern was larger than that at the circumference by Raman spectroscopy because the strain is accelerated at the center of the dot.     

因次分析法在水模型实验中的应用

采用相似原理指导下的水模型实验对各种条件下的气泡-熔体两相流动过程进行研究.分别进行无搅拌桨水模型实验和有桨水模型实验,进一步确定影响气泡直径的主要因素,根据齐次性原理和巴金汉定理建立相似准则关系式,最后分别整理不同实验条件下的实验数据,得出相应的拟合数,从而得出不同实验条件下具体的气泡平均直径的经验公式,为气泡细化条件下气泡直径的预测提供了参考依据.最终通过拟合值和实验值的对比分析得出结论,经验公式拟合值与实验数据吻合良好,误差在4.2%左右.     

Analysis of nine kinds of sweeteners in foods by LC/MS

A simple and rapid method for the simultaneous determination of nine kinds of sweeteners (acesulfame potassium, AK; sucralose, SUC; saccharin, SA; cyclamate, CYC; aspartame, APM; dulcin, DU; glycyrrhizic acid, GA; stevioside, STV; rebaudioside A, REB) in various foods by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) was developed. The LC separation was performed on a ZORBAX Eclipse XDB-C18 (2.1 mm x 150 mm) with a mobile phase of 5 mmol/L dibutylammonium acetate (DBAA) and acetonitrile-water (8: 2). Mass spectral acquisition was done in the negative ion mode by applying selected ion monitoring (SIM). The sweeteners were extracted from foods with 0.08 mol/L phosphate buffer (pH 7.0)- ethanol (1:1), and the extract was cleaned up on a Sep-pak Vac C18 cartridge after the addition of tetrabutylammonium bromide and phosphate buffer (pH 3.0). The recovery of the nine kinds of sweeteners from five kinds of foods fortified at the level 0.01 g/kg, 0.05 g/kg and 0.20 g/kg was 75.7-109.2%, and the between-day SD values were 0.5-10.9%. The quantification limits of AK, SA, CYC, APM and STV were 0.001 g/kg, and those of SUC, DU, GA and REB were 0.005 g/kg. A recovery test from each cleaned-up sample solution was necessary to detect ionization suppression.     

Construction of cardiac tissue rings using a magnetic tissue fabrication technique

Here we applied a magnetic force-based tissue engineering technique to cardiac tissue fabrication. A mixture of extracellular matrix precursor and cardiomyocytes labeled with magnetic nanoparticles was added into a well containing a central polycarbonate cylinder. With the use of a magnet, the cells were attracted to the bottom of the well and allowed to form a cell layer. During cultivation, the cell layer shrank towards the cylinder, leading to the formation of a ring-shaped tissue that possessed a multilayered cell structure and contractile properties. These results indicate that magnetic tissue fabrication is a promising approach for cardiac tissue engineering.     

Spin-trapping reactions of a novel gauchetype radical trapper G-CYPMPO

Chemical reactions of a novel gauchetype spin trap, G-CYPMPO (sc-5-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphinan-2-yl)-5-methy-1-pyrroline N-oxide, O1-P1-C6-N1 torsion angle = 52.8°), with reactive oxygen species were examined by pulse radiolysis technique with 35 MeV electron beam and by electron spin resonance spectroscopy after (60)Co γ-ray irradiation. The spin-trapping reaction rate constants of G-CYPMPO toward the hydroxyl radical and the hydrated electron were estimated to be (4.2 ± 0.1) × 10(9) and (11.8 ± 0.2) × 10(9) M(-1)s(-1), respectively. Half-lives of the spin adducts, hydroxyl radical, and perhydroxyl radical adducted G-CYPMPO were estimated to be ～35 and ～90 min, respectively. A comparison of the results with earlier reports using different radical sources suggests that the purity of the solution and/or the radical generation technique may influence the stability of the spin adducts.