Reduced Claudin-12 Expression Predicts Poor Prognosis in Cervical Cancer

Background: Within the claudin (CLDN) family, CLDN12 mRNA expression is altered in various types of cancer, but its clinicopathological relevance has yet to be established due to the absence of specific antibodies (Abs) with broad applications. Methods: We generated a monoclonal Ab (mAb) against human/mouse CLDN12 and verified its specificity. By performing immunohistochemical staining and semiquantification, we evaluated the relationship between CLDN12 expression and clinicopathological parameters in tissues from 138 cases of cervical cancer. Results: Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the established mAb selectively recognized the CLDN12 protein. Twenty six of the 138 cases (18.8%) showed low CLDN12 expression, and the disease-specific survival (DSS) and recurrence-free survival rates were significantly decreased compared with those in the high CLDN12 expression group. We also demonstrated, via univariable and multivariable analyses, that the low CLDN12 expression represents a significant prognostic factor for the DSS of cervical cancer patients (HR 3.412, p = 0.002 and HR 2.615, p = 0.029, respectively). Conclusions: It can be concluded that a reduced CLDN12 expression predicts a poor outcome for cervical cancer. The novel anti-CLDN12 mAb could be a valuable tool to evaluate the biological relevance of the CLDN12 expression in diverse cancer types and other diseases.     

Nitric oxide synergistically enhances DNA strand breakage induced by polyhydroxyaromatic compounds, but inhibits that induced by the Fenton reaction

This paper deals with the muscle force of the cervical spine in patients with cervical syndrome compared to the muscle activity in non-patients. It has thus been observed that both the flexors' and the extensors' force of the cervical spine is much greater in non-patients (the flexors' P < 0.01 and the extensors' P < 0.01). The precise measurements having been carried out by a dynamometer. The groups being tested comprised 50 persons each, 25 men and 25 women. The average age of the patients group was 43.1 years, namely between 21 and 57 years, while that of the non-patients group was 42.3 years, between 24 and 56 years. As regards the professional engagement of both groups and, accordingly, the strain on the cervical spine and the corresponding musculature, they were approximately the same.     

The T cell-directed CC chemokine TARC is a highly specific biological ligand for CC chemokine receptor 4

Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) is a recently identified CC chemokine that is expressed constitutively in thymus and transiently in stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. TARC functions as a selective chemoattractant for T cells that express a class of receptors binding TARC with high affinity and specificity. To identify the receptor for TARC, we produced TARC as a fusion protein with secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) and used it for specific binding. By stably transfecting five orphan receptors and five known CC chemokine receptors (CCR1 to -5) into K562 cells, we found that TARC-SEAP bound selectively to cells expressing CCR4. TARC-SEAP also bound to K562 cells stably expressing CCR4 with a high affinity (Kd = 0.5 nM). Only TARC and not five other CC chemokines (MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1), RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cells expressed and secreted), MIP-1alpha (macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha), MIP-1beta, and LARC (liver and activation-regulated chemokine)) competed with TARC-SEAP for binding to CCR4. TARC but not RANTES or MIP-1alpha induced migration and calcium mobilization in 293/EBNA-1 cells stably expressing CCR4. K562 cells stably expressing CCR4 also responded to TARC in a calcium mobilization assay. Northern blot analysis revealed that CCR4 mRNA was expressed strongly in human T cell lines and peripheral blood T cells but not in B cells, natural killer cells, monocytes, or granulocytes. Taken together, TARC is a specific functional ligand for CCR4, and CCR4 is the specific receptor for TARC selectively expressed on T cells.     

Determination of horseradish peroxidase concentration using the chemiluminescence of Cypridina luciferin analogue, 2-methyl-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3-one

The chemiluminescence of the Cypridina luciferin analogue, 2-methyl-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin++ +-3-one (MCLA) was observed at 462 nm in the presence of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the total spectrum of light emitted was found to depend linearly on HRP concentration. Methods for the determination of HRP concentration using the chemiluminescence was investigated. HRP could be detected in the range from 100 pmol/L to 100 nmol/L under the optimum condition, H2O2 (10 mmol/L) and MCLA (10 mumol/L) at pH 5.8.     

Poly(pyridine-2,5-diyl)–CuCl2 catalyst for synthesis of dimethyl carbonate by oxidative carbonylation of methanol: catalytic activity and corrosion influence

A -conjugated polymer, poly(pyridine-2,5-diyl) (PPy) was investigated as a support for CuCl₂ in the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate by oxidative carbonylation of methanol. The PPy–CuCl₂ adduct had high catalytic activity which was comparable to that of the homogeneous CuCl₂ catalyst. The adduct caused corrosion of stainless-steel vessels only to minor extent, compared with the homogeneous CuCl₂ catalyst. This PPy–CuCl₂ catalyst was easily recycled by filtration and showed a similar catalytic activity in the third time use. The presence of the -conjugated system in PPy, through which electrons can move, may bring about the high catalytic activity for the oxidative carbonylation of methanol, which involves Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox processes.     

Carbon fiber from natural biopolymer Bombyx mori silk fibroin with iodine treatment

Carbon fibers were prepared from silk fibers after an iodine treatment and the carbon yield, fiber morphology, structure and mechanical properties were investigated. A single or multi-step carbonization process was used for the preparation. In the single step process, silk fibroin (SF) fibers were heated from 25 to 800 °C with a heating rate of 5 °C min⁻¹ under Ar atmosphere. However, the carbon fiber obtained was partially melted and was too fragile to handle. For better performance, SF fibers were treated with iodine vapor at 100 °C for 12 h and untreated and iodinated SF fibers were heated from 25 to 800 °C by a multi-step carbonization process, which was defined based on the optimum thermal degradation rate of silk. In this multi-step process, the carbon fibers obtained from iodinated SF were structurally intact and stable in appearance, and the carbon yield achieved was ca. 36 wt.%, much higher than the value for untreated SF. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopic observation revealed that the obtained carbon fibers from both untreated and iodinated SFs had a basically amorphous structure. The strength of carbon fibers prepared from iodinated SF using the multi-step carbonization was considerably increased compared to that of untreated SF. According to viscoelastic measurement, by heating above 280 °C the iodine introduced intermolecular cross-linking of the SF, and its melt flow was inhibited which produced a higher yield and better performance of the carbon fiber.     

Self-aligned fabrication of single crystal diamond gated field emitter array

This paper describes a self-aligned fabrication process for diamond gated field emitter array (FEA). Utilizing the non-conformal coverage sputtering conditions of silicon oxide, an interesting “sphere on cone” structure is formed on diamond nano tip array, which is the key point of gate hole opening process. This structure causes shadowing at certain regions of side-wall during Ti / Au gate metal deposition. Removal of “sphere” by wet etching leads to the successful fabrication of a single crystalline diamond gated FEA. Scanning electron microscope observations reveal the fabrication of a uniform emitter array with tip radius of curvature (20 nm) and gate hole (1.4 μm). We also confirmed that no noticeable physical damage exists on tip. In field emission characteristics of the fabricated single crystal diamond gated FEA, gate voltage control of field emission current is realized.