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Intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) offspring are at increased risk of adult obesity, as a result of changes in energy balance mechanisms. We hypothesized that impairment of hypothalamic insulin signaling contributes to hyperphagia in IUGR offspring. Study pregnant dams were 50% food restricted from days 10 to 21 to create IUGR newborns. At 5 weeks of age, food intake was measured following intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of vehicle or insulin (10 mU) in control and IUGR pups. At 6 weeks of age, with pups in fed or fasted (48 h) states, pups received icv vehicle or insulin after which they were decapitated, and hypothalamic arcuate (ARC) nucleus dissected for RNA and protein expression. IUGR rats consumed more food than controls under basal conditions, consistent with upregulated ARC phospho AMP-activated protein kinase (pAMPK) and neuropeptide Y (NPY). Insulin acutely reduced food intake in both control and IUGR rats. Consistent with anorexigenic stimulation, central insulin decreased AMP-activated protein kinase and NPY mRNA expression and increased proopiomelanocortin mRNA expression and pAkt, with significantly reduced responses in IUGR as compared with controls. Despite feeding, IUGR offspring exhibit a persistent state of orexigenic stimulation in the ARC nucleus and relative resistance to the anorexigenic effects of icv insulin. These results suggest that impaired insulin signaling contributes to hyperphagia and obesity in IUGR offspring.

Spontaneous intradural vertebral artery dissections may cause subarachnoid hemorrhage and often result in devastating damage. Increased use of noninvasive imaging studies has allowed larger numbers of patients to be diagnosed. In addition, intracranial vertebral artery dissection tends to induce multiple lesions affecting both intracranial vertebral arteries recurrently. Although unruptured dissections in this area usually have a benign nature, some authors have reported on the incidence of rupture from this lesion. Once hemorrhage from a dissecting vessel wall has occurred, it needs to be treated in the acute phase because of the high risk of rebleeding resulting in high morbidity and mortality. From December 2004 to July 2010, we managed 47 patients with spontaneous vertebral artery dissection, 31 patients were ruptured and 16 were unruptured. All patients who suffered from subarachnoid hemorrhage were treated with endovascular procedures. Most of the patients with unruptured dissection received medical therapy, but if the aneurysmal dilatation persisted or grew, surgical interventions were performed. Stenting with or without coils was deployed for 13 patients with posterior inferior cerebellar artery involvement at the site of dissection and/or were affected on the dominant side. In some patients, stenting was performed even if they were in the acute phase. For other ruptured patients, internal coil trappings were performed. Six patients died due to severe initial subarachnoid hemorrhage and one patient, who underwent stent deployment with coils for the dominant vertebral artery, with bilateral dissection continuing to the basilar artery died due to rerupture while the next additional coiling was planning. There were two cases of complications related to the intervention. During the follow-up period no bleeding occurred in any of the patients except for the previously mentioned patient. In conclusion, internal coil trapping or stent placement with or without coils was effective in preventing rebleeding of ruptured vertebral artery dissection. If the dissection is unruptured, it is necessary to detect the risk of bleeding with careful watching and when progress appears to be made, patients should be treated promptly. Stent-assisted therapy for preserving the patency of the parent artery and major branches is a promising treatment for vertebral artery dissection, even in the acute stage of subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, the risk of acute rerupture and recurrence remains even with the porous stent placement with or without coils.

A new type of dicesium disulfur trisulfate, Cs2S2(SO4)3, crystal has been crystallized. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction measurements have been performed on this compound. The crystal does not reveal any structural phase transition in the temperature range from 120 to 920 K. The compound belongs to a cubic system with space group P213 at room temperature. It is found that both Cs and S atoms located on special positions are 93% occupied and 7% in exchange with each other. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

A new type of trirubidium nonahydrogen tetraphosphate, Rb3H9(PO4)4, crystal has been crystallized. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction measurements have been performed on the title compound. The crystal does not undergo any structural phase transition in the temperature range from 120 to 440 K except a melting transition at 399 K. The compound belongs to a monoclinic system with space group C2/c at room temperature. The structure is built on a framework of PO4 tetrahedra linked by five types of OH-O hydrogen bonds in the length range from 2.472(4) to 2.679(4) Å. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Differential scanning calorimetric, dielectric, electrical conductivity and X-ray diffraction measurements have been performed on a highly deuterated triammonium hydrogen diselenate (ND4)3D(SeO4)2 crystal. It is found that this deuterated crystal undergoes four phase transitions at 231, 282, 304 and 328 K, and phase III, which was not detected in our previous studies on other deuterated crystals, exists between 282 and 304 K. The crystal structures of phases I, II and III are determined. The isotope effect on O–H–O hydrogen bonds by the substitution of deuterium for hydrogen is discussed. (© 2003 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Novel arylpyrazole derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y5 receptor antagonists. Compound (−)-7, which features a novel chiral 2,3-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]naphthalene moiety, showed good binding affinity and antagonistic activity for the Y5 receptor. After intracerebroventricular administration in SD rats, (−)-7 significantly inhibited food intake that was induced by the centrally administered Y5-preferring agonist, bovine pancreatic polypeptide, but had only a negligible effect on NPY-induced feeding.

Electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements were carried out on a triammonium hydrogen diselenate (NH 4 ) 3 H(SeO 4 ) 2 crystal in the temperature range 127-323 K. A detailed analysis of the ESR spectra has been performed and the parameters of the spin Hamiltonian have been determined. The relations between the obtained parameters and the symmetry changes of SeO 4 tetrahedra with phase transitions are studied.

A new 23‐inch diagonal IPS (In‐Plane‐Switching) mode TFT‐LCD with H1920 × V1200 pixels has been developed. This TFT‐LCD has obtained good uniformity by using an advanced driving method which combines the Dual‐line driving and the design of optimized storage‐capacitance for each pixels. Furthermore, using a new pixel structure, which is a zigzag shaped pixel including zigzag shaped source lines, common electrodes, pixel electrodes and a color‐filter, the aperture ratio becomes 25% larger than a conventional LCD.

Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction measurements were performed on deuterated trisodium hydrogen disulphate, Na3D(SO4)2, crystals. Two structural phase transitions are found at around 195(2) K and 540.3(5) K. The space group symmetry (monoclinic P21/c) and the crystal structure of Na3D(SO4)2 are determined at 295 K. The isotope effect for the hydrogen bond of Na3H(SO4)2 is discussed.

Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction measurements were performed on tetra-ammonium dihydrogen triselenate (NH4)4H2(SeO4)3 and deuterated tetraammonium dihydrogen triselenate (ND4)4D2(SeO4)3 crystals. The phase transition temperatures are found at 377.2(3) and 432.0(1) K for (NH4)4H2(SeO4)3 crystal, and at 377.9(8), 427.6(6) and 433.2(1) K for (ND4)4D2(SeO4)3 crystal. The detected temperatures above 430 K are confirmed to be the melting points of the crystals. The crystal structures of (NH4)4H2(SeO4)3 and (ND4)4D2(SeO4)3 are determined at 295 K. The geometric isotope effect for the O–H–O hydrogen bonds caused by the replacement of hydrogen by deuterium is observed in the crystals.

Differential scanning calorimetry and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements were carried out on a tetraammonium dihydrogen triselenate, (NH4)4H2(SeO4)3, crystal at low temperature. Both measurements independently indicated a structural phase transition at around 182K. A detailed analysis of the EPR spectra has been performed and the parameters of the spin Hamiltonian have been obtained. It is suggested that one of the three inequivalent SeO4tetrahedra in the unit cell is rotated with decreasing temperature in the low-temperature phase.

The hepatic uptake mechanisms and pharmacokinetics of BQ-123, an anionic cyclopentapeptidic endothelin ET(A) receptor antagonist, were studied in rats. Elimination of BQ-123 from plasma after intravenous injection of the compound was very rapid as evidenced by high total body clearance (CLtot, 50 ml/min/kg), which is comparable with hepatic blood flow rate. Within 1 hr after injection, 86% of the dose was excreted as its intact form in the bile. BQ-123 was taken up extensively by isolated rat hepatocytes both Na(+)-dependently and Na(+)-independently. The Na(+)-dependent system transported BQ-123 with higher affinity than did the Na(+)-independent system (Km; 6 and 12 microM, respectively), but its capacity was lower (Vmax; 140 and 390 pmol/min/10(6) cells, respectively). Both uptake systems were found to be active transport systems because of explicit inhibition by metabolic inhibitors. BQ-485, an anionic linear tripeptide, strongly inhibited BQ-123 uptake with Ki values of 1.6 and 2.5 microM for Na(+)-dependent and Na(+)-independent systems, respectively, whereas BQ-587, a cationic cyclopentapeptide, inhibited BQ-123 uptake only slightly. Considering this in vitro finding and the low in vivo CLtot of BQ-587 together, the carrier systems for BQ-123 seem to recognize negatively charged substances selectively. Both Na(+)-dependent and Na(+)-independent uptake of BQ-123 were competitively inhibited by a bile acid (taurocholate) and an organic anion (dibromosulfophthalein). The Ki values were comparable with the Km values of taurocholate and dibromosulfophthalein transport, which suggests that the Na(+)-dependent system corresponds to the bile acid transporter and that the Na(+)-independent system corresponds to the organic anion transporter.

Phonon anomaly was observed below 140 K for the absorption area (lnA) and the isomer shift (δ) plotted against the temperature (T) in the119Sn Mössbauer study of the Bi2Sr2Ca(Cu0.995Sn0.005)2O8−y superconductor (glass-ceramic,Tc(on)=86 K), which was prepared by heat treatment of the glassy sample. The anomaly suggests that the softening (quenching) of the lattice vibration causes the superconducting transition, as was observed in several YBa2(Cu, Sn)3O7−y superconductors. Fitting of the theoretical curve for the normal phonon of the “combined Debye and Einstein” model to the lnA versusT andδ versusT plots yieldedΘD andΘE of 240 and 140 K, respectively. These results suggest that the probe (Sn4+) was located at the interstitial site close to the Cu site, and the softening of the Cu site vibration could be detected before the superconducting transition took place. Disordered structure seems to be favorable for the detection of phonon anomaly in the Bi system.

By means of high-resolution CT, pituitary stalks and glands were demonstrated in 189 normal subjects and in six patients with microadenomas. In the horizontal view and in reconstructed coronal and sagittal projections, the normal stalks and glands showed homogeneous enhancement with the contrast medium. On metrizamide CT, the stalks and glands were demonstrated in high-density areas as a “defect”. The detection-rate of the stalks and glands was more than 93.6% in all dimensions on enhanced CT and 100% on metrizamide CT. On reconstructed sagittal projections, there was a tendency for the glands to decrease in size with advancing age. Under the age of 29, especially in females, most of the glands were demonstrated as an oval area that filled the sella turcica. After the age of 50, the gland frequently was flattened with enlargement of the CSF space within the sella turcica, giving an appearance reminiscent of the “empty sella”. Of six patients with microadenomas, five presented the appearance of oval gland, and one showed visualization of CSF space in the anterosuperior portion of the sella turcica. On reconstructed coronal projections, the angle of inclination of stalks was 1.5±1.2° in normal subjects and 9.3±2.4° in patients with microadenomas.

Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction measurements are performed on trisodium hydrogen disulphate, Na3H(SO4)2, crystals at low temperatures. A structural phase transition is found at 178(3) K. The space group symmetry (triclinic P1) and the crystal structure are determined at 139K in the new low-temperature phase. It is found that the H atoms on the O─H─O hydrogen bond are not located on the center of the bond. By the shift of the S atom from the center of the SO4 tetrahedron, it points out that Na3H(SO4)2 crystal in the new phase is possible to be ferroelectric with the dipole moment almost along the [1 2 0] direction.

In order to understand the effect of the acceptor doping in perovkite type ceramics, dielectric properties of Ni-doped (Ba, Sr)TiO3 ceramics have been studied with the aid of Thermo-Stimulated Current (TSC) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR). Dielectric properties of these ceramics doped up to 2% of nickel show an anomaly of epsilon around 250°C (paraelectric phase) depending strongly on the measurement frequency. The TSC studies suggest that this phenomenon is mainly due to dielectric rotation of impurity-vacancy dipoles localized on each grain surface. EPR measurements show the existence of Ni2+ and Ni3+ cations in the perovkite matrix, which implies the existence of Ni-Ti-Vo dipole with oxygen vacancy introduced to compensate the charge excess.

Continuing studies on modifications of potent cyclic pentapeptide endothelin (ET) receptor antagonists, represented by BQ-123, and potent linear tripeptide derivative ET receptor antagonists, represented by BQ-788, are described herein. The introduction of d-tryptophan analogues with C-2 substituents in these peptidic ET antagonists resulted in potent ET receptor antagonists with various ETA/ETB subtype selectivity. Combined ETA/ETB receptor antagonists were found in both cyclic pentapeptide and linear tripeptide series with 2-halo- and 2-methyl-d-tryptophans. In contrast, compounds with 2-cyano-d-tryptophan were ETB receptor-selective antagonists. The C-2 substituent of the d-tryptophanyl residue appeared to be very important for the discrimination of ETA/ETB subtype selectivity of the antagonists. The potent ET receptor antagonists with various ETA/ETB subtype selectivity synthesized in this study may be useful tools for elucidating the physiological and pathophysiological roles of ET and ET receptors.

A number of Nb3Ge samples with rather high Tc,on (Tc,on ≲ 22.5 K) were prepared by CVD and characterized by the electrical resistance, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope patterns. It was found that the crystal growth patterns are roughly divided into two categories, (i) a particles-pattern in a nearly single phase of Nb3Ge and (ii) a network pattern with a fairly large amount of the Nb5Ge3 phase but with rather a large resistance ratio and a small resistivity at T ≳ Tc,on. The latter type of samples shows generally higher Tc,on. It is deduced that the origin of high Tc,on comes mainly from a deformation of the atomic potential at the Nb-site into an anharmonic and rather unstable shape due to the coexistence of the Nb5Ge3 phase. The mechanism of the formation of different patterns is discussed on the basis of the theory of non-equilibrium thermodynamics of Prigogine.

Piezoelectric PbTiO3films with preferred c-axis orientation were fabricated on MgO substrates by RF-sputtering method. By using a fabricated interdigital electrode, surface acoustic waves (SAWs) with a frequency of 192 MHz were propagated on PbTiO3film/MgO substrate and on superconducting Bi(Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu2Oyfilm/PbTiO3/MgO substrate. The temperature dependence of the SAW attenuation coefficient was investigated below room temperature.

Using electron superconductor (Nd1−xCex)2CuO4−δfilms prepared by a laser ablation technique, we measured the temperature dependence of the resistivity in magnetic fields and the magnetic field-direction dependence of the critical current. The temperature dependence of the resistivity in magnetic fields was analyzed using an activation type of formula. The temperature dependence of the activation energy for some oxide superconductors for H∥ the basal plane was calculated using the intrinsic pinning model proposed by Tachiki and Takahashi. The temperature dependence changed systematically depending on the ratio of the coherence length along the c-axis to the inter-distance between CuO conductive planes. The magnetic field-direction dependence of the critical current was also explained using the model. From these analyses, the origin of the temperature dependence of the activation energy is discussed.

AbstractAttenuated total reflection (ATR) properties have been investigated for azobenzene LB films adsorbing cyanine dyes on aluminum thin films. The ATR properties changed as the LB films were annealed. From the ATR properties, the complex dielectric constants were calculated as a uniaxial anisotropic dielectrics. It was thought that the ATR properties and the dielectric constants were caused by the dispersion properties due to the absorption bands.

We characterized the endothelin (ET) receptor subtypes responsible for signal transduction in cultured porcine kidney epithelial LLC-PK1 cells. Both ET-1 (IC50, 43 pM) and ET-3 (IC50, 46 pM) inhibited the binding of [125I]ET-1 to LLC-PK1 cells to a similar extent. The binding affinity of LLC-PK1 cells was about 10,000 times higher for the ETB antagonist BQ-788 [N-cis-2,6-dimethyl-piperidinocarbonyl-L-tau-metylleucyl-D-+ ++Nin- methoxycarbonyltryptophanyl-D-norleucine] (IC50, 1.3 nM) than for the ETA antagonist BQ-123 [cyclo-(D-Trp-D-Asp-Pro-D-Val-Leu)] (IC50, 14 microM). ET-1 enhanced cyclic GMP (cGMP) production, but reduced vasopressin- and forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP (cAMP) production. Both effects of ET-1 were antagonized by BQ-788, but not by BQ-123. The cAMP decrease, but not the cGMP increase, in response to ET-1 was inhibited by pertussis toxin, suggesting that the former response is mediated by pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi, whereas the latter is mediated by a pertussis toxin-insensitive G-protein. Therefore, the ETB receptors in LLC-PK1 cells couple to the two types of signal transduction cascades to reduce cAMP production and stimulate cGMP production via distinct G-proteins. ET-1 and probably also ET-3 may play a role in the regulation of renal epithelial transport by decreasing cAMP and increasing cGMP.

We describe the characteristics of a potent and selective endothelin (ET) B-receptor antagonist, BQ-788 [N-cis-2,6-dimethylpiperidinocarbonyl-L-gamma-methylleucyl-D -1- methoxycarbonyltryptophanyl-D-norleucine]. In vitro, this compound potently and competitively inhibits 125I-labeled endothelin 1 (ET-1) binding to ETB receptors on human Girardi heart cells (IC50, 1.2 nM) but only poorly inhibits the binding to ETA receptors on human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-MC cells (IC50, 1300 nM). In isolated rabbit pulmonary arteries, BQ-788 shows no agonist activity up to 10 microM and competitively antagonizes the vasoconstriction induced by an ETB-selective agonist, BQ-3020 (pA2, 8.4). In rat, an ETA-selective antagonist, BQ-123 (1 mg/kg, i.v.), does not affect transient depressor response to ET-1 (0.3 nmol/kg, i.v.) but potently inhibits following sustained pressor response; vice versa, BQ-788 (1 mg/kg, i.v.) abolishes the depressor response, resulting in a rapid onset of apparently enhanced pressor response. Thus, being a potent and selective ETB receptor antagonist, BQ-788 may be considered as a powerful tool for investigating the role of ET in physiological and pathological processes.

To explore the relationships between a thermal hysteretic effect of sound velocity and excess oxygens, the temperature dependence of the sound velocity in sintered Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 +δhas been measured. To vary the oxygen content, samples have been annealed in different atmospheres (nitrogen, air, oxygen) and then furnace-cooled to room temperature or quenched in liquid nitrogen. The thermal hysteresis has been observed only in the quenched samples but not in furnace-cooled samples. It is shown that this hysteresis is related to both the excess oxygen content and the quenching process.