The use of thrombomodulin to study epithelial cell differentiation in neoplastic and non-neoplastic oral lesions

Thrombomodulin (TM) is a glycoprotein originally isolated from rabbit lung vasculature and characterized as a natural endothelial anticoagulant. Thrombin binds to TM noncovalently with high affinity. Thrombin-TM complexes can activate protein C efficiently. Activated protein C inactivates factors Va and VIIIa and regulates the blood coagulation cascade. Thus TM converts thrombin from a procoagulant protease to an anticoagulant. TM is found on endothelial cells in veins, arteries and capillaries. Our previous study has shown that TM is also expressed on the cell surface of squamous epithelium. In the present study, we aimed to disclose differences in TM expression among normal, dysplastic, and malignant squamous epithelium in human oral mucosa by counting TM-positive cells in each lesion. TM was uniformly expressed in the spinous layer of normal human oral squamous epithelium. The number of TM-positive cells was not significantly different between normal epithelium, lichen planus and mild dysplasia. In contrast, in moderate and severe dysplasia and well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), there were significantly fewer positive cells compared with normal epithelium. In SCCs, the periphery and the central keratinized area of tumor islands were often negative. The proportion of TM-positive cells in poorly differentiated SCC was significantly lower than in well-differentiated SCC. These results indicate that TM may have diagnostic value in the histological examination of oral premalignant and malignant lesions.     

Restoration of radiation injury by intraperitoneal injection of ginseng extract in mice

The lead and cadmium contents in 30 commercially prepared soup products (soup powders and cubes) of several producers were determined. The average lead value was 0.28 ppm. 29 samples contained between 0,095 ppm and 0.45 ppm, whereas in 1 product 1.4 ppm was found. The average cadmium concentration in 21 products was 0.025 ppm (highest value 0.052 ppm). In the other samples cadmium was not found (less than 0.004 ppm Cd).     

Preparation and luminescence properties of the J aggregate of cyanine dyes in phospholipid Langmuir- Blodgett films

The J aggregate of two cyanine dyes—dye I (5,6,5′,6′-dibenzo-1,1′-diethyl-2,2′- cyanine chloride) and dye II (5,5′-dichloro-3,3′-diethyl-9-phenyl-thiacarbocyanine chloride)—can be incorporated into acidic-phospholipid-containing Langmuir- Blodgett (LB) films. Dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dipalmitoyl- phosphatidic acid (DPPA) were used for preparation of the LB films. An observation that J aggregation was difficult in the absence of negatively charged lipid species (DPPA) in the membrane reconfirms the importance of electrostatic interaction between negative charge at the matrix molecules and positive charge at the chromophore. The luminescence properties of the J aggregate in the more elaborate LB films with dye I and dye II aggregates at the same lipid surface were examined and interpreted in terms of excitation energy transfer from dye I to dye II aggregates.     

Biodegradation pathway of o-cresol by heterogeneous culture Phenol acclimated activated sludge

The biodegradation process of o-cresol by heterogeneous culture is presented in this paper. Metabolic intermediates of o-cresol by phenol acclimated activated sludge were analyzed by GC-MS. o-Cresol was first transformed to three dihydroxytoluenes; 3-methylcatechol, 4-methylresorcinol and methylhydroquinone. Three dihydroxytoluene biodegradation experiments with 3-methylcatechol, 4-methylresorcinol and methylhydroquinone revealed that 3-methylcatechol was the main route, and 3-methylcatechol was further degraded through at least two meta cleavage pathways. Various hydroxylated toluenes, namely trihydroxytoluenes and tetrahydroxytoluene were also found among the metabolites from 3-methylcatechol, 4-methylresorcinol and methylhydroquinone. These results indicated that various metabolism with main and side pathways coexisted in the biodegradation process by the heterogeneous culture.     

Interface optimization using diindenoperylene for C60 thin film transistors with high electron mobility and stability

C₆₀-based organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) with high electron mobility and high operational stability are achieved with (1 1 1) oriented C₆₀ films grown by using template effects of diindenoperylene (DIP) under layer on the SiO₂ gate insulator. The electron mobility of the C₆₀ transistor is significantly increased from 0.21 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ to 2.92 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ by inserting the template-DIP layer. Moreover much higher operational stability is also observed for the DIP-template C₆₀ OTFTs. A grazing incidence X-ray diffraction and ultrahigh-sensitivity photoelectron spectroscopy measurements indicate that the improved electron mobility and stability arise from the decreased density of trap states in the C₆₀ film due to increased (1 1 1) orientation of C₆₀-grains and their crystallinity on the DIP template.     

Improved viability of bifidobacteria in fermented milk by cocultivation with Lactococcus lactis subspecies lactis

The poor survival of probiotic bacteria in commercial yogurts may limit their potential to exert health benefits in humans. The objective was to improve the survival of bifidobacteria in fermented milk. Cocultivation with some strains of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis improved the survival of bifidobacteria in fermented milk during refrigerated storage. Studies on one strain, Lc. lactis ssp. lactis MCC866, showed that the concentrations of dissolved oxygen were kept lower in the cocultivated fermented milk during storage compared with monocultured Bifidobacterium longum BB536 or samples cocultured with another noneffective Lc. lactis ssp. lactis strain. Degradation of genomic DNA was suppressed in the cocultivating system with Lc. lactis ssp. lactis MCC866. Several genes that participated in protection from active oxygen species (e.g., genes coding for alkyl hydroperoxide reductase and Fe²⁺ transport system) were expressed at higher levels during refrigerated storage in Lc. lactis ssp. lactis MCC 866 compared with another noneffective Lc. lactis ssp. lactis strain. Concentration of free iron ion was also lower in supernatants of fermented milk cocultivated with B. longum BB536 and Lc. lactis ssp. lactis MCC866. These results suggest that Lc. lactis ssp. lactis MCC 866 is potentially superior in reducing oxygen damage and consequently improves the survival of bifidobacteria in the cocultivating system. This cocultivation system is of industrial interest for producing fermented milk containing viable bifidobacteria with long shelf life.     

Corrosion of Al-Sn-Bi alloys in alcohols at high temperatures. Part II: Effect of anodizing on corrosion

Nine kinds of Al alloys were anodized to form porous anodic oxide films, and then anodized specimens were immersed in 2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol (MEEE) and 2-(2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol (BEEE) at 415 K. Al-1.0%Sn-1.0%Bi alloy was corroded severely in both BEEE and MEEE, whereas other eight alloys showed no corrosion. The corrosion proceeded under the anodic oxide films through cracks formed in the film. Cathodic polarization in Cu electroplating solution after corrosion suggested that the crack formation during immersion in hot MEEE is due to thermal expansion of the substrate and Sn and Bi containing particles included in the anodic oxide film.     

Short‐term prediction of water flow data into hydroelectric power stations using local fuzzy reconstruction method

For predicting the flow into a hydroelectric power station, complex natural phenomena have to be dealt with, so conventional mathematical models based on hydraulics may not produce satisfactory results. When a neural network is used, its construction cannot be easily determined, and extra neural networks must be provided separately in addition to the normal neural network, according to experts' opinions about the problem. To solve these problems, the authors took the standpoint that if the inflow rate time‐series data for hydroelectric power stations exhibit deterministic chaos, the status in the near future can be predicted. Thus, the authors have applied the local fuzzy reconstruction method as a deterministic nonlinear short‐term prediction method to data for the flow of water into hydroelectric power stations. In this paper, typical outflow analysis method using conventional mathematical models is first described briefly. Next, the “Local Fuzzy Reconstruction Method” is described. Third, chaotic behavior of water flow data into hydroelectric power stations is illustrated. Finally, the results of applying the method to the prediction of the flow into hydroelectric power stations are presented. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 130(4): 99–106, 2000