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The antibody titer is known to wane within months after receiving two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. However, knowledge of the cellular immune response dynamics following vaccination is limited. This study to aimed to determine antibody and cellular immune responses following vaccination, and the incidence and determinants of breakthrough infection.This prospective cohort study a 6-month follow-up period was conducted among Japanese healthcare workers. All participants received two doses of BNT162b2 vaccine. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers and T-cell immune responses were measured in serum samples collected at several timepoints before and after vaccination.A total of 608 participants were included in the analysis. Antibody titers were elevated 3 weeks after vaccination and waned over the remainder of the study period. T-cell immune responses showed similar dynamics. Six participants without predisposing medical conditions seroconverted from negative to positive on the IgG assay for nucleocapsid proteins, indicating breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection. Five of the six breakthrough infections were asymptomatic.Both humoral and cellular immunity waned within 6 months after BNT162b2 vaccination. The incidence of asymptomatic breakthrough infection within 6 months after vaccination was approximately one percent.UMIN000043340.

The detection sensitivity of immunostick colorimetric assay has been increased by using a bio-nanocapsule as a scaffold for oriented immobilization of immunoglobulin Gs. This immunostick produced ∼82-folds stronger coloration in the detection of food allergens and reduced detection time by a factor of 5.

Integrated densities across fractions

Expression of CD24, phospho-Met, MDR-1 and MRP in cisplatin-treated EC xenogrft tumors

CD24 knocked down EC cells are more cisplatin-resistant

Figure legends of supplemental figure 1 - 5.

Endometrial cancer is the most prevalent gynecologic cancer in the Western world, and the number of advanced chemotherapy-resistant cancers is increasing with the absolute increase in patients. The development of resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs by cancer cells represents a major challenge in the clinical cure of advanced and metastatic cancers. CD24 has been reported to be a marker for a poor prognosis in several tumors, and we herein examined the functions of CD24 in human endometrioid adenocarcinoma cell lines and evaluated how it contributes to cancer drug resistance. We demonstrated that CD24 was responsible for the recruitment of phosphorylated Met to the lipid raft domain of the cell membrane, resulting in amplification of the Met signaling cascade, ultimately leading endometrial cancer cells to express higher levels of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Our findings suggest that CD24-mediated amplification of the Met cascade may contribute to the drug resistance of endometrial cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 14(10); 2353–63. ©2015 AACR.

Confirmation of CD24 overexpression in CD24 DNA construct transfected cells

Background SARS-CoV-2 vaccination has started worldwide, including Japan. Although high rates of vaccine response and adverse reactions of BNT162b2 vaccine have been reported, knowledge about the relationship between sex differences and antibody response is limited. Furthermore, it is uncertain whether adverse reactions are associated with the vaccine response. Methods This prospective observational study included 673 Japanese participants working in a medical school and its affiliated hospital in Tokyo, Japan (UMIN000043340). Serum samples were collected before the first dose and three weeks after the second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine, and antibody titers against the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 were measured. Answers to questionnaires about background characteristics and adverse reactions were obtained at the time of sample collection, and the relationship between antibody titers was analyzed. Results After excluding participants who did not complete receiving two doses of vaccination or two series of serum sample collection, 646 participants were analyzed. Although all participants became sero-positive after vaccination, antibody titers were highly variable among individuals (260.9–57,399.7A U/mL), with a median titer of 13478.0AU/mL. Mean titer was higher in females than in males and higher in young (≤45 years old) participants than in aged (>45 years old) participants. Participants who experienced adverse reactions demonstrated a higher antibody titer after vaccination than those without adverse reactions. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that young age, female sex, and adverse reactions after the second dose were independently related to higher antibody titers after the second dose. Discussion A favorable antibody response was observed after two doses of BNT162b2 vaccination among mostly healthy Japanese participants, especially among female and young participants. Although further investigation is essential, our results imply that the systemic adverse reactions (i.e., fever and general fatigue) are associated with a higher antibody response that indicates the acquisition of humoral immunity.

Memory T cell responses have been analyzed only in small cohorts of COVID-19 vaccines. Herein, we aimed to assess anti-SARS-CoV-2 cellular immunity in a large cohort using QuantiFERON assays, which are IFN-γ release assays (IGRAs) based on short-term whole blood culture. The study included 571 individuals receiving the viral spike (S) protein-expressing BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. QuantiFERON assays revealed antigen-specific IFN-γ production in most individuals 8 weeks after the second dose. Simultaneous flow cytometric assays to detect T cells expressing activation-induced markers (AIMs) performed for 28 randomly selected individuals provided data correlating with the QuantiFERON data. Simultaneous IFN-γ enzyme-linked immunospot and AIM assays for another subset of 31 individuals, based on short-term peripheral blood mononuclear cell culture, also indicated a correlation between IFN-γ production and AIM positivity. These observations indicated the acquisition of T cell memory responses and supported the usability of IGRAs to assess cellular immunity. The QuantiFERON results were weakly correlated with serum IgG titers against the receptor-binding domain of the S protein and were associated with pre-vaccination infection and adverse reactions after the second dose. The present study revealed cellular immunity after COVID-19 vaccination, providing insights into the effects and adverse reactions of vaccination.

Background: Correlations between upright CT and pulmonary function test (PFT) measurements, and differences in lung/lobe/airway volumes between supine and standing positions in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain unknown. Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate correlations between lung/airway volumes on both supine and upright CT and PFT measurements in patients with COPD, and compare CT-based inspiratory/expiratory lung/lobe/airway volumes between the two positions. Methods: Forty-eight patients with COPD underwent both conventional supine and upright CT in a randomized order during inspiration and expiration breath-holds, and PFTs within 2 h. We measured the lung/lobe/airway volumes on both CT. Results: The correlation coefficients between total lung volumes on inspiratory CT in supine/standing position and PFT total lung capacity and vital capacity were 0.887/0.920 and 0.711/0.781, respectively; between total lung volumes on expiratory CT in supine/standing position and PFT functional residual capacity and residual volume, 0.676/0.744 and 0.713/0.739, respectively; and between airway volume on inspiratory CT in supine/standing position and PFT forced expiratory volume in 1 s, 0.471/0.524, respectively. Inspiratory/expiratory bilateral upper and right lower lobe, bilateral lung, and airway volumes were significantly higher in the standing than supine position (3.6–21.2% increases, all p < 0.05); however, inspiratory/expiratory right middle lobe volumes were significantly lower in the standing position (4.6%/15.9% decreases, respectively, both p < 0.001). Conclusions: Upright CT-based volumes were more correlated with PFT measurements than supine CT-based volumes in patients with COPD. Unlike other lobes and airway, inspiratory/expiratory right middle lobe volumes were significantly lower in the standing than supine position.

Currently, no clinical studies have compared the inspiratory and expiratory volumes of unilateral lung or of each lobe among supine, standing, and sitting positions. In this prospective study, 100 asymptomatic volunteers underwent both low-radiation-dose conventional (supine position, with arms raised) and upright computed tomography (CT) (standing and sitting positions, with arms down) during inspiration and expiration breath-holds and pulmonary function test (PFT) on the same day. We compared the inspiratory/expiratory lung/lobe volumes on CT in the three positions. The inspiratory and expiratory bilateral upper and lower lobe and lung volumes were significantly higher in the standing/sitting positions than in the supine position (5.3–14.7% increases, all P 0.15); the expiratory right middle lobe volume was significantly lower in the standing/sitting positions (16.3/14.1% decrease) than in the supine position (both P r) used to compare the total lung volumes on inspiratory CT in the supine/standing/sitting positions and the total lung capacity on PFT were 0.83/0.93/0.95, respectively. The r values comparing the total lung volumes on expiratory CT in the supine/standing/sitting positions and the functional residual capacity on PFT were 0.83/0.85/0.82, respectively. The r values comparing the total lung volume changes from expiration to inspiration on CT in the supine/standing/sitting positions and the inspiratory capacity on PFT were 0.53/0.62/0.65, respectively. The study results could impact preoperative CT volumetry of the lung in lung cancer patients (before lobectomy) for the prediction of postoperative residual pulmonary function, and could be used as the basis for elucidating undetermined pathological mechanisms. Furthermore, in addition to morphological evaluation of the chest, inspiratory and expiratory upright CT may be used as an alternative tool to predict lung volumes such as total lung capacity, functional residual capacity, and inspiratory capacity in situation in which PFT cannot be performed such as during an infectious disease pandemic, with relatively more accurate predictability compared with conventional supine CT.

Background: No clinical studies to date have compared unilateral lung or lobe volumes between the supine and standing positions. Objectives: To compare lung/lobe volumes on computed tomography (CT) between these two positions and evaluate the correlation between the total lung volume and total lung capacity (TLC) on pulmonary function tests (PFTs). Methods: Thirty-two asymptomatic volunteers underwent both conventional CT (supine position) and upright CT (standing position), during deep inspiration breath-hold, and PFTs on the same day. We measured lung/lobe volumes on CT in each position. Paired t tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: The volumes of the total lung (10.9% increase), right lung (10.3% increase), right upper lobe (8.6% increase), right lower lobe (14.6% increase), left lung (11.6% increase), left upper lobe (7.1% increase), and left lower lobe (16.0% increase) were significantly greater in the standing position than in the supine position (all p < 0.0001). The right middle lobe volume was similar between the two positions (p = 0.16). Intraclass correlation coefficients for agreement between total lung volumes on CT in the supine/standing positions and the TLC on PFT were 0.891/0.938, respectively. Conclusions: While the volumes of the bilateral upper and lower lobes and bilateral lungs were significantly greater in the standing than in the supine position, with lower lobes showing larger changes, the right middle lobe volume did not change significantly between positions. The total lung volume on upright CT in the standing position was more similar to TLC on PFT than that in the supine position.

Introduction Cyclophosphamide, which is widely used to treat malignant disease, causes ovarian follicular atresia, which leads to premature ovarian insufficiency. The present study evaluated the protective effect of testosterone in preventing the decline in the ovarian reserve during cyclophosphamide treatment. Methods Using the COV434 human granulosa cell line, the protective effect of testosterone against cyclophosphamide was evaluated by immunocytochemistry, Western blotting and an MTS assay. The follicles in mouse ovaries and serum anti-Mullerian hormone were also assessed to evaluate the effects of testosterone. Results Testosterone suppressed the decrease in cell viability and apoptosis caused by cyclophosphamide treatment in vitro. In vivo, the number of atretic follicles in the mouse ovary was significantly lower in the testosterone plus cyclophosphamide group than in the cyclophosphamide alone group (p=0.03). The serum anti-Mullerian hormone was significantly higher in the testosterone plus cyclophosphamide group than in the cyclophosphamide alone group (16.2 [9.7-22.6]) vs 11.2 [8.9-12.1], p

Generation of antigen-specific memory T cells has been analyzed only for few coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinees, whereas antibody titers have been serologically measured for a large number of individuals. Here, we assessed the anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) cellular immune response in a large cohort using interferon (IFN)-γ release assays (IGRAs) based on short-term whole blood culture. The study included 571 individuals who received the viral spike (S) protein-expressing BNT162b2 mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Serum IgG titers against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of S protein were measured. Samples of 28 vaccinees were subjected to flow cytometry analysis of T cells derived from short-term whole blood culture. IFN-γ production triggered by S antigens was observed in most individuals 8 weeks after receiving the second dose of the vaccine, indicating acquisition of T cell memory responses. The frequencies of activated T cell subsets were strongly correlated with IFN-γ levels, supporting the usability of our approach. S antigen-stimulated IFN-γ levels were weakly correlated with anti-RBD IgG titers and associated with pre-vaccination infection and adverse reactions after the second dose. Our approach revealed cellular immunity acquired after COVID-19 vaccination, providing insights regarding the effects and adverse reactions of vaccination.

No clinical studies to date have compared the airway luminal area between supine and standing positions. Our aim was therefore to compare the airway luminal area between these two positions on computed tomography (CT) and to determine its correlation with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). Thirty-two asymptomatic volunteers underwent both conventional (supine position) and upright (standing position) CT during deep inspiration breath-holding. Pulmonary function tests were conducted on the same day. We measured the airway luminal area on CT in each position. Paired t-tests and Pearson's correlation coefficients were used for statistical analysis. The average luminal areas of the trachea, right and left main bronchi, and average third-generation airway were greater in the standing than the supine position by 3.4%, 6.1%, 5.5%, and 5.2%, respectively. The correlation coefficients between airway luminal areas and FEV1 tended to be higher in the standing than the supine position; this correlation was highest for the average third-generation airway (r = 0.70, P < 0.0001). The airway luminal areas of the trachea, bilateral main bronchi, and average third-generation airway were greater in the standing than the supine position. The average third-generation airway area in the standing position had the highest correlation with FEV1.

Background No clinical studies to date have compared the inspiratory and expiratory airway lumen area between supine and standing positions. Thus, the aims of this study were twofold: (1) to compare inspiratory and expiratory airway lumen area (IAA and EAA, respectively) on computed tomography (CT) among supine and standing positions; and (2) to investigate if IAA and EAA are associated with lung function abnormality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods Forty-eight patients with COPD underwent both low-dose conventional (supine position) and upright CT (standing position) during inspiration and expiration breath-holds and a pulmonary function test (PFT) on the same day. We measured the IAA and EAA in each position. Results For the trachea to the third-generation bronchi, the IAA was significantly larger in the standing position than in the supine position (4.1–4.9% increase, all p Conclusions Airway lumen areas were larger in the standing position than in the supine position. IAAs reflect airway obstruction, and EAAs reflect lung hyperinflation. Upright CT might reveal these abnormalities more precisely. Trial registration University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN 000026587), Registered 17 March 2017. URL: https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000030456.

Introduction Cyclophosphamide, which is widely used to treat malignant disease, causes ovarian follicular atresia, which leads to premature ovarian insufficiency. The present study evaluated the protective effect of testosterone in preventing the decline in the ovarian reserve during cyclophosphamide treatment. Methods Using the COV434 human granulosa cell line, the protective effect of testosterone against cyclophosphamide was evaluated by immunocytochemistry, Western blotting and an MTS assay. The follicles in mouse ovaries and serum anti-Mullerian hormone were also assessed to evaluate the effects of testosterone. Results Testosterone suppressed the decrease in cell viability and apoptosis caused by cyclophosphamide treatment in vitro. In vivo, the number of atretic follicles in the mouse ovary was significantly lower in the testosterone plus cyclophosphamide group than in the cyclophosphamide alone group (p=0.03). The serum anti-Mullerian hormone was significantly higher in the testosterone plus cyclophosphamide group than in the cyclophosphamide alone group (16.2 [9.7–22.6]) vs 11.2 [8.9–12.1], p

The degree of peritoneal dissemination and chemotherapy-resistant tumors is related to the prognosis in patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer. The epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT) is a multifaceted pathological program that endows cancer cells with the ability to invade and disseminate. CD24 is frequently overexpressed in various human cancers and is correlated with a poor prognosis. We herein examined the functions of CD24 in human ovarian cancer cell lines and evaluated how it contributes to the molecular mechanism underlying the regeneration of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) through the EMT mechanism in ovarian carcinoma. We demonstrated that CD24 was expressed in 70.1% of primary ovarian carcinoma tissues, which were obtained from 174 patients, and that the expression of CD24 was an independent predictor of survival in patients with ovarian cancer. The expression of CD24 has been found to be correlated with the FIGO stage, presence of peritoneal and lymph node metastasis. CD24 induces the EMT phenomenon, which is involved in cell invasion, the highly proliferative phenotype, colony formation and which is associated with cisplatin resistance and the properties of CSCs, via the activation of PI3K/Akt, NF-κB and ERK in Caov-3 cisplatin-resistant cell lines. CD24-positive ovarian carcinomas have been shown to have a greater potential for intra-abdominal tumor cell dissemination in in vivo models. Our findings suggest that CD24 induced the EMT phenomenon in ovarian cancer, and that CD24 amplified cell growth-related intracellular signaling via the PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways by affecting the EMT signal pathways. We believe that CD24 is a key molecule of metastatic progression in the EMT phenomenon and a promising therapeutic target for advanced ovarian cancer.

Endometrial cancer is the most prevalent gynecologic cancer in the Western world, and the number of advanced chemotherapy-resistant cancers is increasing with the absolute increase in patients. The development of resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs by cancer cells represents a major challenge in the clinical cure of advanced and metastatic cancers. CD24 has been reported to be a marker for a poor prognosis in several tumors, and we herein examined the functions of CD24 in human endometrioid adenocarcinoma cell lines and evaluated how it contributes to cancer drug resistance. We demonstrated that CD24 was responsible for the recruitment of phosphorylated Met to the lipid raft domain of the cell membrane, resulting in amplification of the Met signaling cascade, ultimately leading endometrial cancer cells to express higher levels of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Our findings suggest that CD24-mediated amplification of the Met cascade may contribute to the drug resistance of endometrial cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 14(10); 2353–63. ©2015 AACR.

CD24, a small heavily glycosylated mucin-like glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored cell surface protein, plays an important role in the carcinogenesis of various human malignancies. However, its function in cervical cancer remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of CD24 clinicopathologically and to analyze its functional behavior biologically in cervical cancer. A total of 117 uterine cervical cancer tumors were immunohistochemically analyzed using a CD24 monoclonal antibody on paraffin blocks. We also examined whether CD24 enhanced the invasive activity or the Akt, ERK, NF-κB and MMP activity in a uterine cervical cancer cell line (CaSki) by a western blot analysis. The patients with enhanced CD24 expression had a higher rate of advanced clinical stage (50 vs. 16.5%, p

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is one of the most promising pharmacological targets for all types of cancer, including ovarian cancer. Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) has poor prognosis because of its insensitivity to chemotherapy. To elucidate the characteristics of this troublesome cancer, we examined HIF-1α expression under normoxia or hypoxia in various ovarian cancer cell lines. HIF-1α was highly expressed under normoxia only in RMG-1, an OCCC cell line. To examine whether HIF-1 is involved in the tumorigenesis of RMG-1 cells, we established HIF-1α-silenced cells, RMG-1HKD. The proliferation rate of RMG-1HKD cells was faster than that of RMG-1 cells. Furthermore, the activity of MEK/ERK in the Ras pathway increased in RMG-1HKD cells, whereas that of mTOR in the PI3K pathway did not change. Activation of the Ras pathway was attributable to the increase in phosphorylated MEK via PP2A inactivation. To confirm the crosstalk between the PI3K and Ras pathways in vivo, RMG-1 or RMG-1HKD cells were transplanted into the skin of nude mice with rapamycin (an inhibitor of mTOR), PD98059 (an inhibitor of MEK), or both. RMG-1HKD cells showed higher sensitivity to PD98059 than that observed in RMD-1 cells, whereas the combination therapy resulted in synergistic inhibition of both cells. These findings suggest that inhibition of HIF-1, a downstream target of mTOR in the PI3K pathway, activates the Ras pathway on account of the increase in MEK phosphorylation via PP2A inactivation, and the crosstalk between the 2 pathways could be applied in the combination therapy for HIF-1-overexpressing cancers such as OCCC.

Although we previously demonstrated that paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy (TCchem) is associated with vascular toxicities, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Cisplatin is known to inhibit PPARα following microvascular damage to the kidneys. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate whether TCchem induces vascular endothelial dysfunction via systemic PPARα deficiency. In addition, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for TCchem-induced vascular toxicities. This study enrolled 45 gynecological cancer patients with normal lipid profiles who underwent surgical treatment followed by TCchem. The elevated triglyceride (TG) group included patients (n = 19) who exhibited hypertriglyceridemia during TCchem, and the stable TG group (n = 15) included patients with a normal TG level. Eleven patients exhibiting hypertriglyceridemia during TCchem were administered bezafibrate (fibrate group). Endothelial dysfunction was evaluated based on flow-mediated dilation (FMD) values and serum pentraxin-3 levels measured before TCchem and immediately after the final TCchem. HUVECs were used to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying the endothelial dysfunction induced by TCchem. The administration of TCchem induced hypertriglyceridemia in 66 percent of the participants, and bezafibrate reduced the serum TG levels. Meanwhile, the decrease in flow-mediated dilatation (%FMD) induced by TCchem improved following treatment with bezafibrate. The serum pentraxin-3 level increased rapidly after TCchem and decreased following bezafibrate treatment. An in vitro examination demonstrated TCchem attenuated nitric oxide production and PPARα activity in HUVECs, which was partially improved by treatment with bezafibrate. Bezafibrate prevents endothelial dysfunction induced by TCchem via TG-dependent and TG-independent mechanisms.

Objective Menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of menses. Although previous studies demonstrated a slight production of androgens and estrogens by postmenopausal ovaries, the impact of hormone production on lipid metabolism is still uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the postmenopausal ovary is hormonally active and whether hormone status contributes to lipid metabolism. Methods This was a prospective study of 87 women who were treated for gynecological diseases (29% had cervical cancer, 49% had endometrial cancer, 7% had fibroid tumors, and 15% had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia). They were categorized as early postmenopausal (n = 40; mean [SD], 56.8 [3.8] y) or late postmenopausal (n = 47; mean [SD], 66.6 [5.7] y) women. Serum specimens were collected from the peripheral and ovarian veins of participants undergoing bilateral oophorectomy. Sex steroid hormone levels and lipid profiles were determined. Results Statistically significant differences in estradiol (E2) and testosterone were seen between the ovarian samples and the peripheral samples in all groups. E2 and estrone obtained from ovarian venous samples gradually decreased with age in postmenopausal women. There was a significant correlation between ovarian E2 and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and the low-density lipoprotein-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio. However, there was no correlation between peripheral E2 levels and any of the lipid parameters examined. Conclusions Although this study investigates women with gynecological diseases, the postmenopausal ovary is hormonally active, and the E2 produced by postmenopausal ovaries may therefore contribute to the maintenance of lipid metabolism.

Dienogest, a synthetic progestin, has been shown to be effective against endometriosis, although it is still unclear as to how it affects the ectopic endometrial cells. Decorin has been shown to be a powerful endogenous tumor repressor acting in a paracrine fashion to limit tumor growth. Our objectives were to examine the direct effects of progesterone and dienogest on thein vitroproliferation of the human ectopic endometrial epithelial and stromal cell lines, and evaluate as to how decorin contributes to this effect. We also examinedDCNmRNA expression in 50 endometriosis patients. The growth of both cell lines was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by both decorin and dienogest. Using a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, it was noted that progesterone and dienogest directly induced the binding of the decorin promoter in the EMOsis cc/TERT cells (immortalized human ovarian epithelial cells) and CRL-4003 cells (immortalized human endometrial stromal cells). Progesterone and dienogest also led to significant induced cell cycle arrest via decorin by promoting production of p21 in both cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Decorin also suppressed the expression of MET in both cell lines. We confirmed thatDCNmRNA expression in patients treated with dienogest was higher than that in the control group. In conclusion, decorin induced by dienogest appears to play a crucial role in suppressing endometriosis by exerting anti-proliferative effects and inducing cell cycle arrest via the production of p21 human ectopic endometrial cells and eutopic endometrial stromal cells.

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of local injection of vasopressin on blood loss and secondary impact on complications during cesarean section in patients with placenta previa. Material and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients diagnosed with placenta previa admitted to our hospital. Two consecutive periods were compared. During period B, 59 patients underwent the local injection of a vasopressin solution (4 U in 20 mL of saline) into the placental implantation site after placental delivery. During period A, 50 patients underwent cesarean section without vasopressin injection, and were analyzed as a control group. The estimated blood loss was recorded, as were the complications during surgery. In addition, the expression of the vasopressin V1α receptor in uterine smooth muscle was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results The mean estimated blood loss was significantly lower in the vasopressin group than in the control group. There were no statistically significant differences with surgical complications. The vasopressin V1α receptor was highly expressed in smooth muscle cells in the lower segment of the uterine body, whereas the immunoreactivity for the oxytocin receptor was faint in the lower segment. Conclusion The local injection of vasopressin into the placental implantation site significantly reduced the blood loss without increasing the morbidity.

GPR30 is a seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled estrogen receptor that regulates endometrial cellular responses to estrogen. GPR30 is often highly expressed in cancer cells from aggressive tumors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression patterns of GPR30 in endometriosis during medical treatment.A total of 38 females, 28 patients with endometriosis and 10 patients with leiomyoma who underwent laparoscopic surgery were included this study.Eutopic endometrial tissue sampling from women without endometriosis and ectopic endometrial tissue sampling from women with endometriosis.A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of the mRNA expression in eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues with or without GnRH agonist treatment. The expression of GPR30 was confirmed by immunohistochemistry.There was an increased level of GPR30 mRNA in eutopic endometrium during the proliferative phase, whereas higher expression was observed in the ectopic endometrium during the secretory phase. Increased GPR30 mRNA was observed in ectopic endometrium in comparison to eutopic endometrium. GnRH agonist treatment before laparoscopic surgery decreased GPR30 mRNA in ectopic endometrium. The immunohistochemical analysis also revealed that GPR30 was strongly expressed in epithelial cells in ectopic endometrium, whereas GnRH agonist treatment decreased the GPR30 expression.High levels of GPR30 expression can play an important role in the progression of endometriosis.

Objectives: The epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT) is an important step in the invasion and metastasis of cancer. A critical molecular feature of this process is the downregulation of E-cadherin expression, which is mainly controlled by Snail-related zinc-finger transcription factors (Snail and Slug). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of EMT-related protein (E-cadherin, Snail and Slug) expression in endometrial cancer. Methods: An immunohistochemical analysis was conducted using tissue microarray samples of 354 primary tumors and 30 metastases of endometrial carcinomas, and the relationship between protein expression, clinicopathological features and outcomes were investigated. Results: Reduced E-cadherin was seen in 39.8% of primary tumors. Reduced E-cadherin was seen in 19.5%, 40.8% and 72.7% of G1, G2 and G3 endometrioid adenocarcinomas, respectively. The nuclear expression of Snail and Slug were positive in 16.9% and 3.7% of primary tumors, respectively. EMT status, which was represented by both reduced E-cadherin and nuclear expression of Snail, was significantly associated with histological type, FIGO stage, myometrial invasion, positive peritoneal cytology and patient survival (p < 0.01). There was no difference in the rates of EMT status between the primary tumors and metastases. A multivariate analysis showed that EMT-positive status was a significant predictor for both the progression-free survival and overall survival (p < 0.01). Conclusions: These data indicate that EMT status has a prognostic impact in endometrial cancer. Therefore, the clarification and control of EMT signaling is a promising molecular targeting therapy in endometrial cancer.

We report two cases of rectal malignant melanomas. The patients were an 84-year-old male and a 66-year-old female who had blood in their stools. They were preoperatively diagnosed with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the rectum. The clinical diagnosis for each was rectal carcinoma at stage IIIc according to the tumor-node-metastasis classification (6th edition), and the patients underwent abdominoperineal resection with dissection of lymph nodes. Pathological examination of the resected specimens revealed a malignant melanoma. Immunohistochemical analysis results were positive for HMB-45 and negative for cytokeratin AE1/AE3, CD45, and synaptophysin. Primary anorectal melanoma is an uncommon and aggressive disease that carries a poor prognosis. Therefore, it is necessary to provide systemic treatment. To improve prognosis, it is important to detect anorectal melanoma at an early stage.

The infection of feline thymic lymphoma 3201 cells with a cell culture-adapted Petaluma strain of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) led to the establishment of survivor cells designated as 3201-S after a productive infection associated with extensive cell killing. 3201-S cells were free of FIV DNA, and were found to express CXCR4, a coreceptor for infection but not CD134, a primary receptor. When 3201-S cells were reinfected with FIV, viral DNA was transiently detectable for 5 days postinfection, indicating that 3201-S cells cannot support the FIV replicative cycle. Furthermore, comparative studies found that in contrast to SDF-1α-responsive 3201 cells, 3201-S cells did not show a flux of Ca2+ in response to SDF-1α, implying that CXCR4 is not functionally active on 3201-S cells. These results suggest that 3201 cells can be heterogeneous in the phenotype of the CXCR4 expressed, and this heterogeneity may account for the differences in susceptibility to FIV. Determining the mechanism(s) within 3201-S cells that restrict FIV could result in therapeutic strategies against FIV infection.

The impacts of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) from domestic effluents on rivers were evaluated. The hourly DMF concentrations in the inflows (0.21-0.52 mug/L in mean) and the outflows (0.18-0.62 mug/L in mean) of two sewage treatment plants did not show any characteristic variations, and DMF was not removed at both plants. The monthly variations of DMF in the outflows of four sewage treatment plants (0.16-0.62 mug/L in mean) and three rivers (0.06-0.11 mug/L in mean) into which the outflows of the plants were discharged did not show any significant variations. The domestic DMF load per person was calculated to be 0.25 mg/d/person. The percent DMF loads of domestic effluents in the rivers were estimated to be below (8%-32%).

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a central role in tumor angiogenesis and is regarded as a promising therapeutic target. We hypothesized that treatment with bevacizumab, a humanized recombinant anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody, could enhance antitumor response to cisplatin and prolong survival in a murine ovarian cancer model.Experimental Design: We conducted an MTS assay to examine the effect of bevacizumab on proliferation of the VEGF producing human ovarian cancer cell lines in vitro. Next, the antiangiogenic activity of bevacizumab was investigated by in vivo angiogenesis and wound healing assays. We then determined the toxicity and antitumor response of bevacizumab and cisplatin as single agents or in combination in xenograft models of ovarian cancer. Finally, using the same xenograft model, we examined the effect of these regimens, as well as bevacizumab maintenance therapy, on survival.Results: Bevacizumab had no effect on the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells in vitro but significantly inhibited angiogenesis and delayed wound healing in vivo. Bevacizumab inhibited i.p. tumor growth and ascites production in the nu/nu mouse xenograft model and enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin. Combination therapy with bevacizumab and cisplatin for 3 weeks was associated with complete disappearance of all macroscopic evidence of disease. Moreover, maintenance treatment with bevacizumab after 3 weeks of induction combination therapy inhibited recurrence and significantly prolonged survival.Conclusions: Bevacizumab has significant antitumor activity not only as a single agent or in combination with cisplatin but may also prolong survival when used as maintenance therapy after a complete response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

A possible human carcinogen, 1,4-dioxane, was investigated as to its concentration levels in household detergents and cleaners currently sold in Japan. A solid-phase extraction combined with stable isotope dilution and gas chromatographic/ mass spectrometric determination was evaluated for the determination of 1,4-dioxane in household products. The evaluation of the method was performed using a recovery study of 1,4-dioxane-d8 from detergent and cleaner samples. The mean overall recovery and relative standard deviation were 78 and 15, respectively. The limit of quantitation was 0.05 mg/kg. This method was satisfactorily applied to the determination of 1,4-dioxane in household products. 1,4-Dioxane was detected in 40 out of the 51 investigated samples. The concentrations ranged from 0.05 to 33 mg/kg, and the mean was 2.7 mg/kg. The mean of the products that included anionic surfactants, i.e., alkylpoly(oxyethylene)sulfates, was 7.2 mg/kg, which was higher than the 0.39 mg/kg mean for the other surfactants. Moreover, the 1,4-dioxane load/person was estimated to be 0.061 mg/day/person in Japan, which was 27 of the load from the domestic effluent.

In our previous study, sorption process of water into a biocompatible polymer film, poly(2-methoxyethy 1 acrylate) (PMEA) was monitored by time-resolved in situ attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy [S. Morita, et al., Langmuir 23, 3750 (2007)]. In the present study, noisy and heavily overlapped O–H stretching vibrational bands of diffusing water have been analyzed from the series spectra where the spectral shapes change irregularly with time. In spite of these complications, a powerful spectral analysis technique, multivariate curve resolution (MCR) by means of alternating least squares (ALS), yielded smooth and meaningful pure component spectra and detailed kinetic sorption profiles of each component, excluding noise. Ordinary smoothing techniques and Gaussian curve fitting would not achieve these significant results. The quantification of the kinetic parameters such as amplitudes ( a) and relaxation time constants (τ) is significant for the systematic development of biocompatible materials and also for revealing the mechanisms of biocompatibility of a material. Moreover, the ratios of coefficients of each component at saturation corresponded well to the values obtained by Tanaka et al. measured by gravimetric analysis. This study is the first to report the detailed concentration profile of each water component whose sorption kinetics is discussed comprehensively.

Vibration and acoustic noise generated by the excitation force at radial direction (radial force) of Switched Reluctance Motors are the most critical issue. Due to these unfavorable characteristics of SR motors, the application for the industry machine has been delayed. The main factor of the vibration in the driving condition is caused by an electromagnetic force in the radial direction. The radial force is generated when the voltage instantly turned off, this instantaneous voltage change makes all of resonant frequency of the motor excite. This paper considers that a relationship between a variation of the input voltage and the generated vibration to establish a low vibration and low acoustic noise driving method. A new method to reduce them by adding a smoothing voltage modulated by PWM is proposed in this paper, the method is compared with the conventional single pulse operation by experimental results.

The pathogenesis of endometriosis, a chronic painful gynecological disease characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue located outside of the uterus and often adhering to the peritoneum, is known to be estrogen dependent. However, the precise pathophysiology of endometriosis remains elusive. Recent studies indicate that the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human endometrial cells is important for the progression of endometriosis, and another previous study has implicated hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in endometriosis progression. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of estradiol in the regulation of HGF production and progression of peritoneal endometriosis, focusing on the interactions between the peritoneum and endometriotic cells. Consequently, estradiol was found to promote the proliferation, invasion, and migration of immortalized human endometrial epithelial cells (hEECs) via HGF upregulation, and the estradiol-induced direct binding of estrogen receptor-α to the HGF promoter was confirmed on a chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. Estradiol also induced the EMT in hEECs by promoting HGF production. Furthermore, human mesothelial cells underwent the mesothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (MMT) during culture with estradiol-stimulated hEEC conditioned medium. Importantly, estradiol itself did not induce the MMT, and the estradiol-stimulated hEEC-conditioned medium in the presence of HGF antibodies reversed the MMT process. These results, which were obtained using immortalized hEECs, indicate that estradiol-induced HGF production may play a crucial role in the peritoneal implantation of human endometriotic cells by exerting proliferative and invasive effects via the EMT in hEECs and promoting the MMT in mesothelial cells.

River water collected from 27 sites in 21 rivers, groundwater from 66 sites in 34 cities, and 2 sewage plants in the Niigata Prefecture, Japan (total 301 samples) were analyzed for methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) using an improved purge-and-trap-GC-MS method. The amount of MTBE found in water samples from the 27 river sites ranged from 0.003 to 5.3 microg l(-1). MTBE was found in all 27 sites during winter but it was found at only 9 sites and 14 sites, respectively, during the summer. MTBE was found most frequently (in 21 sites) at levels ranging from 0.003 to 0.009 microg l(-1) during February. The highest levels of MTBE were always found in the samples collected from the same site. The amount of MTBE found in sewage water samples ranged from0.003 to 0.025 microgl(-1). No significant differences were observed between the amounts of MTBE recovered from inflow and outflow waters. Relatively high levels (0.02-0.034 microg l(-1) ) of MTBE were found in January at two sites, which were located on the upper course of the Shinano River. MTBE levels ranged from 0.004 to 0.035 microgl(-l) and from 0.005 to 0.041 microgl(-1) at the mouths of the Shinano River and Agano River, respectively. The levels of MTBE in groundwater collected from 66 sites in 34 cities in Niigata Prefecture ranged from0.003 to 5.9 microg l(-1).

CD11c(+) peripheral blood myeloid dendritic cells (MDC), and CD123(bright) plasmacytoid cells (PDC), are two human dendritic cell (DC) populations. In the present study, the percentages of MDC [lin(-)/HLA-DR(+)/CD123(-)/CD11c(+)] and PDC [lin(-)/HLA-DR(+)/CD123(bright)] in a peripheral blood (PB) sample obtained from women at the time of delivery and in their umbilical cord blood (UCB) were compared with those in the PB of healthy volunteers. The percentages of MDC and PDC were determined by four-color flow cytometry. The percentages of MDC and PDC were significantly lower in the PB obtained at delivery (MDC, 0.11% +/- 0.08%; PDC, 0.06% +/- 0.06%) and in the UCB (MDC, 0.15% +/- 0.03%; PDC, 0.05% +/- 0.05%) than in the PB of the controls (males, 0.28% +/- 0.12%, 0.11% +/- 0.06%; females, 0.32% +/- 0.13%, 0.11% +/- 0.07%). Among the pregnant women at delivery, there were significant correlations between the percentage of MDC or percentage of PDC in the PB at delivery and the respective parameter in the UCB. The PB of other pregnant women, at 20-35 weeks of gestational age, also indicated significantly low percentages of MDC and PDC (0.1% +/- 0.1%, 0.06% +/- 0.07%). The ratio of MDC/PDC was not reduced in the UCB (4.25 +/- 2.74), but was reduced in the PB obtained at delivery and the PB obtained during pregnancy (0.79 +/- 0.91) in comparison with that in age-matched, nonpregnant females (3.96 +/- 2.95). It was assumed that reduction of MDC during pregnancy plays an important role in maintaining immune tolerance against the embryo.

Neonatal gene transfer using adenovirus vectors expressing human beta-glucuronidase (AxCAhGUS) resulted in pathological improvement in multiple visceral organs of mice with mucopolysaccharidosis type VII (MPSVII). However, the therapeutic effect on skeletal deformities and growth retardation, the major clinical symptoms in MPSVII, was not fully investigated by biochemical and histopathological analyses. In this study, we injected AxCAhGUS into a murine model of MPSVII (B6/MPSVII) within 24 h of birth and evaluated the therapeutic effects on skeletal deformities and growth retardation. High levels of beta-glucuronidase (GUSB) activity (approximately threefold higher than normal GUSB activity) were observed in the articular cartilage of the mice 30 days after the treatment. Histopathological study in the knee joints showed elimination of vacuole cells in the articular cartilage and growth plate. Subchondral bone near the articular surface was almost normal in the treated MPSVII mice. Long-term observation (for 140 days after treatment) indicated that characteristic phenotypes such as flattened face, hunched stature, and shortening of bone length in the treated mice were almost normal. These results demonstrate that a single injection of adenovirus vector into neonatal MPSVII mice is sufficient for long-term normalization of skeletal deformities and effective in pathological correction of the articular cartilage and growth plate.