Expression of 5-lipoxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein mRNAs in the peripheral blood leukocytes of asthmatics

Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) catalyzes the rate-limiting step in adipocyte lipolysis. We have studied the effect of glucose and long chain fatty acids on the HSL mRNA content of 3T3-F442A adipocytes. Exposure of the cells for 32 h to a medium without glucose led to a decrease by a factor of 2.5-3 in the HSL mRNA without a change in C/EBP alpha mRNA or triglyceride content of the adipocytes. The reduction in HSL mRNA level was accompanied by a decrease in HSL total activity. The effect of glucose exposure was observed after 24 h of exposure and was reversible. Treatment of the adipocytes with oleate did not affect HSL expression. These data show that glucose modulates HSL gene expression and hence could participate in the regulation of adipose tissue lipolysis.     

The prevalence of orthostatic dysregulation complicated with bronchial asthma

Orthostatic dysregulation (OD) has been reported to be complicated with childhood bronchial asthma. 42 patients (28 females and 14 males) with adult-onset bronchial asthma were selected randomly to investigate the prevalence of OD. OD was diagnosed by both questionnaire for subjective symptoms and tilting test (Schellong test and upright ECG). Our results revealed that 64.3% (both 64.3% in females and males) of the patients were complicated with OD. There was no significant difference in the duration of asthma, FEV0.1, %FEV1.0, serum IgE level, and severity of asthma between patients with OD and without OD. Furthermore, no significant difference in the results of tilting test were observed. In serum level of theophylline we couldn't detect any subjective difference between the two groups, however there was significant difference between positive patients and negative patients in tilting test. In conclusion, OD is frequently complicated with adult-onset asthma and we should be careful of the subjective symptoms concerned with OD.     

Donor–acceptor-structured 1,4-diazatriphenylene derivatives exhibiting thermally activated delayed fluorescence: design and synthesis,photophysical properties and OLED characteristics

A new series of luminescent 1,4-diazatriphenylene (ATP) derivatives with various peripheral donor units, including phenoxazine, 9,9-dimethylacridane and 3-(diphenylamino)carbazole, is synthesized and characterized as thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters. The influence of the donor substituents on the electronic and photophysical properties of the materials is investigated by theoretical calculations and experimental spectroscopic measurements. These ATP-based molecules with donor–acceptor–donor (D–A–D) structures can reduce the singlet–triplet energy gap (0.04–0.26 eV) upon chemical modification of the ATP core, and thus exhibit obvious TADF characteristics in solution and doped thin films. As a demonstration of the potential of these materials, organic light-emitting diodes containing the D–A–D-structured ATP derivatives as emitters are fabricated and tested. External electroluminescence quantum efficiencies above 12% and 8% for green- and sky-blue-emitting devices, respectively, are achieved.     

Numerical Investigation of Kinetic Energy and Surface Energy of Wavy Falling Liquid Film

Numerical simulations have been carried out for two-dimensional wavy falling liquid film in order to investigatekinetic energy and surface energy of that liquid film.Governing equations,which are continuity equation,Na-vier-Stokes equation,and equations of interfacial boundary conditions including surface movement and effect ofsurface tension,have been solved directly by means of a numerical scheme based on the finite difference method.In most cases,periodic disturbances superimposed at inflow boundary grow to fully developed waves which re-tain the given periodic behavior.In some cases,however,random waves appear after the fully developed waves.Variations of kinetic energy and surface energy of the periodically developed waves and the random waves havebeen discussed.     

Moiré interferometry measurements of neartip deformation in inhomogeneous elasticplastic fracture specimens

Moiré interferometry was used for direct measurements of the crack tip behavior in the homogeneous compact tension (CT) specimens of A533B and HT80 steels, and in electron-beam welded inhomogeneous CT specimens of the two materials. These two materials have considerably different yield stresses, although their elastic properties are the same. Five types of homogeneous and inhomogeneous specimens were used in the experiment. Moiré fringe patterns of the five specimen types were directly compared for elastic, elastic-plastic and unloaded stages. Although the global deformations in terms of the load versus COD relations exhibit little inhomogeneity effects, large inhomogeneity effects were observed in the moiré fringe patterns in the elastic-plastic and unloaded stages. The near-tip deformations were also compared with the corresponding HRR singular fields. In a horizontal weld specimen, due to strong hardening in the weld region, the slope of the displacement field does not shift the characteristic HRR field for the A533B or the HT80 steel for increasing load.     

Measurement method of Stokes parameters using a quarter-wave plate with phase difference errors

The Stokes parameters (S0, S1, S2, and S3) of monochromatic light can be measured using the adjustable azimuth settings of a quarter-wave plate and a polarizer. When measuring the Stokes parameters of light of an arbitrary wavelength, the measurement of S3 is affected by the phase difference error Δq(λi), due to the mismatch with respect to wavelength with the quarter-wave plate. In this method, Δq(λi), due to such a mismatch of incident light of arbitrary wavelength, can be overcome by a judicious choice of azimuth settings of the quarter-wave plate and the use of a polarizer; however, the use of a precision quarter-wave plate is necessary. The present paper proposes a measurement method of Stokes parameters of incident light of arbitrary wavelength using a quarter-wave plate with phase difference errors.     

Lipoprotein(a) enhances the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Quite a substantial number of human disorders have been associated with a primary or a secondary impairment of one or several of the dopaminergic pathways. Among disorders associated with a primary impairment of dopaminergic transmission are Parkinson's disease, striatonigral degeneration, progressive supranuclear palsy, and possibly schizophrenia. Diseases of secondary dopamine dysfunction are chiefly represented by Huntington's disease in which dopaminergic transmission is being interrupted by progressive loss of the striatal neurons bearing the postsynaptic D1- and D2-dopamine receptors. Central dopaminergic systems have anatomical as well as organizational properties that render them unique by comparison to other neurotransmission systems, making them able to play a pivotal role in the modulation of various important brain functions such as locomotor activity, attention, and some cognitive abilities. These properties of dopamine neurons have obviously several implications in the clinical expression of human disorders involving dopamine neuron dysfunction. In addition, they can greatly influence the clinical/behavioral consequences of experimental lesions in animal models of dopamine dysfunctions.     

Involvement of R-cadherin in the early stage of glomerulogenesis

The earliest commitment to the formation of glomeruli is recognizable in S-shaped bodies. Although cell-cell adhesion seems likely to play a crucial role in this process, how glomerular epithelial cells segregate from the other parts of the nephron is unknown. In this study, immunofluorescence microscopy and monoclonal antibodies specific for mouse R-, E-, P- and N-cadherins were used to examine which of these adhesion molecules are involved in glomerulogenesis of the mouse kidney. Weak R-cadherin staining was first found in the vesicle stage, becoming restricted to glomerular visceral epithelial cells (VEC) during the S-shaped body stage. The intensity of this staining became stronger in the capillary loop stage, whereas parietal epithelial cells (PEC) and tubular cells did not stain. In the maturing stage, VEC gradually lost their staining for R-cadherin. E-cadherin was detected in ureteric buds and the upper limb of S-shaped bodies. From the capillary loop to the maturing stage, anti-E-cadherin stained epithelial cells in all tubule segments, but no label was seen in VEC or PEC. P-cadherin was also stained in the ureteric buds and in the upper limb of S-shaped bodies. N-Cadherin was weakly stained in cells at the vesicle stage, but thereafter staining of N-cadherin was not detected at any stage of glomerular formation. Immunoelectron microscopy of differentiating VEC was performed using antibodies specific to alpha-catenin, which is associated with cadherin. Subsequently, immunogold particles identifying alpha-catenin were localized on junctions between primary processes of VEC. These findings indicate that R-cadherin is uniquely expressed in differentiating VEC, suggesting an important role in the early stages of glomerulogenesis.     

A case of stage IV breast cancer showing long-term complete response to combination therapy with 5'-DFUR and MPA

We report a 62-year-old woman with supraclavicular lymph node, pleural and bone metastases from breast cancer showing a long-term complete response to combination therapy with 5'-DFUR and MPA. A large amount of pleural effusion was drained followed by administration of ADM, which improved the amount of effusion. Treatment with CAF and TAM decreased tumor size, but CAF was abandoned due to severe leukopenia. Mastectomy was performed for local control. However, levels of tumor markers increased progressively. Administration of CMF was tried, but tumor markers continued to increase. Therefore, combined chemoendocrine therapy with 5'-DFUR and MPA was undertaken. Levels of tumor markers normalized and a complete response was obtained 13 months after starting this combination therapy. There are no further metastatic lesions evident, and this status has been consistently maintained for more than three years (six years and five months after diagnosis of breast cancer). There were no significant side effects of this combination therapy except for mild weight gain and moon face. This combination regimen with 5'-DFUR and MPA is considered useful as a second-line treatment for advanced breast cancer.