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Additional file 1: Fig. S1 General behavioral characteristics of GD mice. (A) Body weight (g), (B) body temperature (°C), (C) grip strength (Newton, N) (D) and wire hang latency (s) are represented. The p-values indicate genotype effect in one-way ANOVA. Values are means ± SEM. Suppl. Fig. S2. Barnes maze in GD mice. (A) Latency, (B) Number of errors, and (C) Distance traveled to first reach the target hole during the training session. The p-values indicate genotype effect in two-way repeated measures ANOVA. Values are means ± SEM. The test was conducted on a white circular surface, 1.0 m in diameter, with 12 holes equally spaced around the perimeter (O’Hara & Co., Tokyo, Japan). The circular open field was elevated 75 cm from the floor. A black Plexiglas escape box (17 × 13 × 7 cm), which had paper cage bedding at the bottom, was located under one of the holes. The hole above the escape box represented the target. The maze was rotated daily, with the spatial location of the target unchanged with respect to the distal visual room cues. Three trials per day were conducted for 5 days. One day and 8 days after the acquisition test, probe trials were conducted without the escape box. The number of errors, latency and distance traveled to reach the target hole and the time spent around each hole were recorded by Image BM software. Fig. S3. Probe test of Barnes maze in GD mice. (A) Time spent around the target hole in the probe test 1 day after the last training session (right panel). Latency, number of errors, and distance traveled to first reach the target hole are represented in left panel. (B) Time spent around the target hole in the probe test 8 days after the last training session (right panel). Latency, number of errors, and distance traveled to first reach the target hole are represented in left panel. The p-values indicate genotype effect in two-way repeated measures ANOVA (A; left panel, B; left panel) or one-way ANOVA (A; three panels on the right, B; three panels on the right). Values are means ± SEM. Fig. S4. Brain weight and macroscopic architecture in GD mice. There is no obvious difference in the total weight (A) and macroscopic architecture (B) of the brain between WT and GD mouse (n = 3, p = 0.4871, t-test). (C) Golgi staining of spines in CA1 region. There is no obvious difference in CA1 region between WT and GD mouse brains. Fig. S5. Detection of trans-dimer in WT or GD mutant N-cadherin. (A) Scheme of the experiment methods to detect N-cadherin trans-dimer. Either NcadWT(GD)-HA or NcadWT(GD)-Flag were separately transfected into HEK293 cells. 24 after transfection, cells were scraped off. Then HEK293 cells transfected with NcadWT(GD)-HA and with NcadWT(GD)-Flag were co-cultured for another 48hrs to allow formation of trans-dimer (dimer formed by cell–cell adhesion). Cells were harvested and N-cadherin trans-dimer were detected by immunoprecipitation with anti-HA antibody followed by western blot. (B) Cell lysates were pulled down with anti-HA anti-body, followed by the blotting with anti-Flag antibody. (C) N-cadherin trans-dimer quantified by normalization with total N-cadherin and β-actin, mean + SD (p = 0.8274 n = 4, t-test). Fig. S6. Intact basal synaptic transmission in hippocampal CA1 region of GD mice. Schaffer collateral/commissural fiber-CA1 pyramidal cell synaptic transmission was examined in the presence of the NMDAR antagonist D-APV. GD mice showed no changes in the dependence of fiber volley amplitude (left) and EPSP slope (right) on stimulus intensity. Table S1.

Background: MTX is transported into cells and retained long after polyglutamation. Recently, it has been described that the response to MTX treatment is related to the intracellular MTX-polyglutamate (MTX-PG) levels, but little is known about its details and determinants1). Objectives: To clarify the association of erythrocyte concentrations of MTX-PGs (PG1 to PG4) with the efficacy of MTX in 35 MTX naive patients with RA. Methods: We measured erythrocyte MTX-PGs at 4, 12, 24, and 48 weeks after administration of MTX using liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS)/MS assay. The associations of MTX-PG concentrations with disease activity and the 9 SNPs including 5 SNPs reported for associations with MTX-efficacy were analyzed. Results: As shown in the figure, MTX-PG1 and PG2 elevated at week 4, and total MTX-PGs as well as MTX-PG3 and MTX-PG4 increased until week 12. The MTX-PG2 fraction (as percentage of total) was 26% to 29% and almost constant throughout the course. MTX-PG3 and MTX-PG4 fractions were gradually elevated over time, although MTX-PG1 fraction was decreased. A negative association of Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) at week 4, 12 and 24 was observed with levels of MTX-PG2 (p=0.008), MTX-PG3 (p=0.0045), MTX-PG4 (p=0.0142) and total MTX-PG (p=0.023). On the other hand, ΔDAS28 (change in DAS28 scores from baseline) was positively correlated to fraction of MTX-PG3 (p=0.011) but negatively correlated to that of MTX-PG1 (p=0.0071). At week 12 and 24, MTX-PG2 fraction was higher (p=0.0783) in the patients who achieved the EULAR good response criteria than in those who did not. MTX-PG3 levels were associated with SLC19A1c.80G>A and FMO2_c.585A>G, and the fraction of MTX-PG2 in total MTX-PGs was associated with GGH c.452C>T and with FMO2_c.585A>G. Conclusions: This study suggests that rapid elevation of erythrocyte MTX-PG3 levels from MTX-PG1 through MTX-PG2 and higher distribution of MTX-PG3 is important to exert certain efficacy of MTX. We previously reported in retrospective study that MTX-PG concentration in RA patients keeping remission for long time was associated with several SNPs2), and some of the results were confirmed in this prospective study. References 1) de Rotte MCFJ, et al. Ann Rheum Dis, 2015;74:408–414. 2) Kumagai S, et al. Ann Rheum Dis76(Suppl2)282. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-eular.2585 Disclosure of Interest: None declared

Background Detection of the intracellular levels of polyglutamated MTX (MTX-PGn) can predict response of MTX or possibly its adverse effects. As efficacy and toxicity of MTX differs among individual patients, we had proposed a predictive model for MTX efficacy consisting of 9 SNPs (2015 EULAR). In the present study, we measured erythrocyte MTX-PGn in RA patients with low disease activity for long time receiving a stable dose of MTX, investigated their associations with genetic polymorphisms, and speculated MTX dose required to reach possible effective MTX-PG levels. Objectives To investigate if erythrocytes MTX-PGn concentration is associated with the 9 SNPs in 7 genes reportedly related to MTX-efficacy in RA patients with low disease activity. Methods The study was cross-sectional using 121 adult patients with RA in Shinko Hospital. All patients enrolled had received a stable dose of MTX (mean 8.9±0.3 mg/week), and kept lower disease activity (DAS28-CRP Results Total PGn concentrations were 82.1±31.7 nmol/L (m±SD) and positively correlated with MTX dose (Rs =0.4104, p T was associated with PG1, PG2, and total PG, SLC19A1 c.80G>A with total PG, and SLC28A3_c.267G>A with PG3. Three SNPs (FPGS c. 192T>C, EPHX1_c.357G>A, SLC28A3_c.267G>A) were related to MTX doses. Next, we investigated roles of MTX dose and 9 SNPs in maintenance of MTX-PGn concentrations as by multiple regression analyses. As PG1 levels were related to GGH c.452C>T but not to MTX dose, PG1 levels were 38.2±19.6 and 54.8±21.5 nmol/L in CC and CT genotypes, respectively (P=0.0291). MTX dose was strongly associated with PG3 levels as well as with those of PG4. MTX-PG3 levels were regressed as follows; MTX-PG3 (nmol/L) = -0.035 +[2.04 * MTX dose] + [2.34 * SLC19A1 c.80G>A] + [-2.01 * FPGS c.*192T>C]. When upper and lower limits of them were defined, we can speculate MTX dose to reach the effective levels for individual patients. However, the ranges of effective levels were rather wide, suggesting that effectiveness of MTX may depend on not only concentrations of MTX-PG but also responsiveness to MTX-PG. Conclusions We measured erythrocyte MTX-PGn in RA patients with low disease activity and investigated for their associations with MTX dose and genetic polymorphisms. We could speculate MTX dose required to reach possible effective MTX-PG levels in individual patient. References Den Boer E, et al: Measuring methotrexate polyglutamates in red blood cells: A new LC-MS/MS-based method. Anal Bioanal Chem, 405:1673–1681, 2013. Disclosure of Interest S. Kumagai Consultant for: Sysmex CO, M. Nishida: None declared, Y. Uemura: None declared, M. Izumi: None declared, K. Abe: None declared, K. Yoneda: None declared, Y. Noda: None declared, S. Sendo: None declared, A. Ohishi: None declared, M. Shinohara: None declared, G. Tsuji: None declared

Vaccination of poultry is one promising strategy to mitigate Salmonella infection in poultry and, in turn, humans as well. We evaluated the efficacy of outer membrane protein A (OmpA) as a novel vaccine candidate against Salmonella in poultry. Native OmpA purified from Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis was mixed with adjuvant and administered intramuscularly to 41-d-old chicks. The vaccinated birds showed no decrease in cecal excretion and tissue colonization compared with the unvaccinated birds after oral challenge with 10(9) cfu of the homologous strain at 28 d postimmunization. However, this vaccination induced an increased level of serum anti-OmpA IgG. Similar results were obtained in the replication experiments using a recombinant OmpA with single and double doses. For the development of more effective component vaccines for avian salmonellosis, the vaccine efficacy of outer membrane proteins other than OmpA and route of immunization other than parenteral administration should be evaluated with regard to protection and immune responses, including mucosal IgA.

Summary Background Idiopathic mesenteric phlebosclerosis (IMP) is a rare disease, characterised by thickening of the wall of the right hemicolon with calcification of mesenteric veins. However, the aetiology remains unknown. Aim To investigate the possible association of herbal medicines with IMP. Method The clinical data of four of our own patients were collected. Furthermore, we searched for previous reports about similar patients with detailed descriptions of herbal prescriptions that they had taken. We compared herbal ingredients to identify the toxic agent as a possible aetiological factor. Results Clinical data on a total of 25 patients were summarised. Mean age was 61.8 years and there was female predominance (6 men and 19 women). The used Kampo prescription, the number of cases, and the mean duration of use were as follows: kamisyoyosan in 12 cases for 12.8 years, inshin-iseihaito in 5 cases for 13.4 years, orengedokuto in 4 cases for 14.3 years, inchinkoto in 1 case for 20 years, kamikihitou in 1 case for 19 years, seijobofuto in 1 case for 10 years and gorinsan in 1 case for an unknown duration. Only one ingredient, sansisi, was common to the herbal medicines of all 25 patients. This crude drug called geniposide in English is a major constituent of the Gardenia fruits. Conclusion The long-term use of geniposide in herbal medicines appears to be associated with mesenteric phlebosclerosis.

SUMMARYWe examined 20 300 raw shell chicken eggs sold at retail stores in Japan for Salmonella outside and inside eggs. The eggs were purchased at 220 retail stores throughout Japan between August 2007 and January 2008. Of 2030 pooled egg samples (10 eggs/sample), Salmonella was isolated from five shell samples (0·25%), but not from any of egg-content samples. The serovars of the isolates were Salmonella Enteritidis (2), S. Derby, S. Livingstone and S. Cerro. The samples positive for Salmonella originated from five different egg grading and packaging (GP) centres. All the GP centres washed their egg shells according to government guidelines for hygienic practice in GP centres. Thus, practical control measures at GP centres need to be reviewed and implemented to diminish Salmonella prevalence of egg shells because Salmonella contamination on eggs is a potential hazard for foodborne salmonellosis in Japan.

A phenomenological study of the characteristics of a two-phase, oil and air mixture was undertaken in a combustion engine crankcase model at speeds of up to 6000 rpm. The idealized model comprised production components and tolerances. Nonintrusive measurement techniques, such as PIV and PDA and high-speed photography, were applied to the study of the oil aerosol and liquid films. Agitated oil pools and impingement on the crankcase surfaces contributed to the aeration of oil in the sump due to windage effects. A mean, wakelike, flow pattern was observed that lagged the crankshaft rotation. Harmonic frequencies were recorded that could be identified with the passage of the position of the maximum crank profile radii and a delay time related to the involute-shaped cord and droplet trajectories induced by drag forces. Highly unsteady flow conditions were measured close to the chamber walls. Three classical breakup modes were identified over three speed ranges. Sheet, ligament, and droplet breakup were observed in the ranges of idle to 1800, 4200, and 6000 rpm. Classification of the particle size distribution for the break-up modes was carried out using the PDA technique. Droplet diameter and velocity data varied in the ranges of 2 μm (dmin) to 130 μm (dmax) and 0−40 ms−1 at 6000 rpm. The ratio of the droplet diameter, dmin;max to a characteristic diameter D at which the oil was observed to break away was compared to the disk Bond number, BoD. For the largest measured droplets, the ratio was approximated by dmax/D = 1.30BoD−0.33 . The disk Bond number was 2.21, while the empirical constant was in the range of 1.82−2.39. The result showed that an appropriate correction must be applied to the universal power law, proposed by Simpkins in 1997 for the estimate of the primary droplet size generated by a spinning disk homogenous atomizer, which had overpredicted the droplet sizes in the case of the crankshaft.

Recently, a press casting process using a greensand mould was actively developed by the authors' group to improve productivity and casting quality. This process consists mainly of two parts: in the first, molten metal is poured in the lower mould by a ladle, and in the second, the upper mould falls down toward the lower mould to press the molten metal. The feature based advantages of this greensand casting are an astonishing increase in casting yield (over 90%) and energy saving. A rapid pressing process should be realised as a vital task to achieve an increase in productivity. In addition, the advanced technique of this process will also suppress casting defects such as a cold shut and the inclusion of generated oxide film due to the temperature decrease in molten metal. As the technical problem on high speed pressing, the other defects are caused by increased pressure. Metal penetration, in which the solidified molten metal is soaked among the sand particles in greensand, often occurs. Hence, th...

This paper presents an advanced control system in a tilting ladle type automatic pouring system. To improve the productivity and save energy, in the pouring process, it is important that the mould be filled precisely and quickly with molten metal. A sequence control employing prediction of filling weight is proposed in this paper. In the proposed control system, the sequence parameter varies depending on the predicted filling weight during the back tilting. The proposed control system has an advantage in that it can be performed by common control equipment such as a programmable logical controller. The effectiveness of the proposed filling weight control system is demonstrated through the experiments using water.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel microcontroller for grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems. As a prototype model, a 100-W-class module-integrated converter composed of the proposed controller and a flyback inverter has been built and tested. The prototype model is designed to satisfy the Japanese grid-connection guideline. Basic functions as those of a grid-connected PV inverter, such as the maximum-power-point tracking and the anti-islanding protection, have been confirmed in the experiments using a distribution network simulator located in a laboratory. This paper presents the description of the controller and the experimental results. A microcontroller has been developed with a 50-MHz-class microcomputer and simple interfaces. By revising the program, the proposed controller can be applied to various types of PV systems or grid-connected equipment

Martensitic transformation of a Heusler-type Ni 2.18 Mn 0.82 Ga (subscripts indicate relative numbers of atoms) single crystal was observed by neutron diffraction and by white X-ray diffraction of synchrotron radiation with decreasing temperature. The single crystal shows a shape memory effect due to a thermo-elastic martensitic transformation at around 340 K. Both neutron and high intensity white X-ray beams are suitable for the observation of the transformation process, because neutron beam penetrates far into the material and the white X-ray beam exhibits many Laue spots simultaneouly. We observed the change of Laue spots during the transformation process. As a result, the single crystal shows a cubic Heusler structure at 400 K. One of the cubic axes is along the direction of crystal growth. In the process of decreasing temperature, the crystal divided into many small variants with tetragonal structures. Some of them have an axis, [1 0 0], [0 1 0] or [0 0 1], along the direction of crystal growth. The others are made by rotating the unit cell around a 〈1 1 1〉 axis of cubic structure or by forming the twin of these rotated unit cells. An angle of rotation is at most a few degrees. At 103 K the transformation is almost complete and many tetragonal structures are rearranged into several tetragonal structures, the axes of which, [1 0 0], [0 1 0] or [0 0 1], are along the direction of the crystal growth.

Summary Aim To conduct a retrospective multicentre study at 31 medical centres in Japan, to investigate the association between the eradication of Helicobacter pylori and the development of new gastric cancer after endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) for early gastric cancer. Methods Patients included those in whom early gastric cancer had been removed by EMR, and who had received follow-up endoscopic treatment. All patients underwent follow-up endoscopic treatment at least once a year after the initial EMR. The rate of new gastric cancer development was compared among those patients for whom H. pylori had been successfully eradicated and those with persistent H. pylori infection. Results The study included 2835 patients with a median follow-up period of 2 years (range 0.5–12 years). Helicobacter pylori was eradicated in 356 patients (13%). Metachronous gastric cancers developed in eight (2%) patients among those who had been successfully treated for H. pylori, compared with 129 patients (5%) among those with persistent H. pylori infection (P = 0.021; OR = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.20–0.86). Conclusion Although longer term, prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to better estimate the extent and sustainability of possible benefits, this study suggests that the eradication of H. pylori may help reduce the incidence of metachronous gastric cancer.

Novel co-operative phenomena in a coupled oscillation system have been demonstrated in both experiments and simulations. The system has 16 LCR nonlinear oscillators as subsystems. In experiments, the system has been constructed on a broadboard by using electrical circuits. The nonlinearity of every subsystem is realised by a varactor. The system takes various phases, such as turbulence, synchronised and partially synchronised phases. Co-operative phenomena takes place in partially synchronised phases. The system shows that a subsystem synchronises with another subsystem placed at a certain spatial distance while all subsystems behave chaotically. Moreover, an intermittent chaos with power law is found in boundary regions between synchronised and partially synchronised phases. This implies that the present intermittent chaos breaks synchronised states similarly to phenomena in globally coupled map and coupled map lattice. In order to verify the experimental results, SPICE simulations are carried out. Statistical analyses make clear that the system forms a spatial wave structure with a specific wavelength when the novel synchronised phenomenon occurs, and the intermittent chaos has close properties with the on-off intermittency.

Helical TiO2/CMC (carbon microcoils) microtubes and helical TiO2 microtubes were obtained by making TiO2 layer coatings on the surface of CMC templates using a sol-gel and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes. The preparation conditions, morphologies and some properties were examined. Uniform TiO2 (anatase) layers were obtained on the CMC templates by a CVD process using vapor phase hydrolysis of titanium tetra-isopropoxide at 300°C followed by heat treatment in N2 or by calcination in air at 500–;650°C. The helical TiO2/CMC microtubes showed good photocatalytic activity. It was considered that the helical structure activated and enhanced the photocatalytic activity of TiO2, probably caused by the generation of inductive microelectric current induced by the irradiation of UV light, resulting in the generation of micromagnetic fields around the tubes.

The electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption properties in the gigahertz region (12–110 GHz) of carbon microcoils (CMCs) with a three-dimensional-helical/spiral chiral structure (1–10 μm coil diameter and 0.1–10 mm coil length) were examined using the open space method. It was found that the target value of reflection loss, over −20 dB (above 99% absorptivity) necessitated for commercial applications, could be obtained for EM absorption composites of only 1–2 wt % addition of CMCs in a polyurethane matrix for the 30–35, 50–55, 75–80, and 95–100 GHz bands. A CMCs addition of more than 3 wt % resulted in a decrease of the EM wave absorptivity, because of the increase in the reflection of the EM waves. Multilayer absorption composites showed a higher EM absorptivity than that of single-layer composites. The longer the coil length, the higher the absorptivity could be obtained. The absorption mechanism of the EM waves by CMCs is discussed.

Novel TiO 2 microcoils were obtained by coating TiO 2 layers on the carbon microcoil templates by using a sol–gel process. The preparation conditions, morphologies, microstructure, and some properties were examined. It was found that helical TiO 2 fibers, including TiO 2 microcoils (TMCs) or TiO 2 microtubes with negative coiling patterns on the surface (TMCNCs) were obtained, depending on the coating conditions. TMCNCs were formed when used low concentrations of titanium tetra-isopropoxide in ethanol, while TMCs were formed when used high concentrations.

Liquid phase growth (LPG) of Bi 0.5 Sb 1.5 Te 3 was performed by the sliding-boat method. The LPG samples were found to be highly oriented along the hexagonal c -axis, where the thermoelectric properties are excellent. The loss of Te during the LPG process is compensated by setting up a Te reservoir or in raw material rooms in a sliding-boat.

A fast in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry technique has been adopted to investigate the plasma-carburising process in a d.c. glow discharge of 100% methane at 1200 K. The optical constant spectra of carbon film on Si at 1200 K have been successfully used for analyzing the plasma-carburising process in a mild steel. A multi-wavelength ellipsometric analysis of the plasma-carburising process in the mild steel strongly suggests that: (1) active carbon transferred to the surface starts diffusing into the mild steel immediately after methane plasma generation and then cementite Fe 3 C precipitates in a few minutes in the present experimental condition; and (2) carbon diffusion ceases and the cementite dissolves into the bulk or transforms to graphite once graphite begins to be deposited on the surface. In situ ellipsometry is also found to be useful in the surface cleaning process with Ar ion sputtering prior to plasma-carburising in stainless steel. It can monitor the reduction of native oxide on the surface and reveal the timing of plasma-carburising.

We report the clinical and histopathological features of a keratosis that developed in association with syringocystadenoma papilliferum. This tumour shows a pinkish, pedunculated, spherical nodule with a cerebriform surface and visible keratinous plugs. In addition to the typical features of syringocystadenoma papilliferum, the tumour shows many hyperkeratotic columns surrounded by acanthotic epidermis with the characteristics of trichilemmal keratinization and keratohyalin granules. This keratosis seems to be derived from the middle to lower portion of the apocrine acrosyringium, based on the distribution of keratohyalin granules and the direct connection with the apocrine acrosyringium in an early lesion. Accordingly, we propose to identify this rare keratosis as apocrine acrosyringeal keratosis.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae VIG9 gene encodes GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase, which synthesizes GDP-mannose from GTP and mannose-1-phosphate. Although the null mutant was lethal, the vig9 mutants so far obtained showed no growth defect but immature protein glycosylation and drug hypersensitivity. During our search for cell-wall mutants, we found a novel temperature-sensitive mutant, JS30, which required an osmotic stabilizer for viability. JS30 excreted cell surface proteins in the medium without any indication of cell lysis. Although conventional genetic analysis using mating was impossible, by detailed characterization of JS30 including an in vitro enzyme assay and nucleotide sequencing, we found the defect of JS30 was due to a mutation in the VIG9 gene. These results indicated a critical role of GDP-mannose in maintenance of cell-wall integrity.

Precise thermal and X-ray diffraction measurements were carried out for the phase transition in CsPbCl 3 using `mK-stabilized cells' with the temperature stability less than a few mK. It was found that the transition between the perovskite-type phase and the adjacent low temperature phase at 320 K occurs with two thermal anomalies on heating and three anomalies on cooling in the temperature range of 0.1 K. Corresponding multistage change in the interplanar spacing and superlattice reflection intensity was recognized by X-ray diffraction. The results show the inadequateness of commonly accepted explanation of the condensation of M 3 -phonon mode of PbCl 6 for the 320 K transition. It is needed to introduce the idea that some big density fluctuation is released from the cubic phase through the `hyperfine multistage transition'.

K3D(SO4)2 undergoes a phase transition at Tc = 85 K associated with cell doubling (ax2bx2c) with decreasing temperature. Structure analysis of K3D(SO4)2 was performed by X-ray diffraction experiments at 20 K in order to investigate the structure of the low temperature phase. The excess electrons in the hydrogen-bond were studied by differential fourier synthesis. The excess electrons at room temperature were symmetrically double peaks along the hydrogen-bond while they changed to become asymmetrical along the hydrogen-bond. If we define a dipole moment induced by the deuteron shift patterns in the unit cell, the sum of the dipole moment is almost zero in a larger unit cell, which is consistent with the mode condensation model at the zone boundary point in a reciprocal cell.

For breeding to increase amylose content in the starch of hexaploid wheat, either the introduction of genes from Aegilops squarrosa (DD genome) or the development of high-amylose amphiploids between Triticum durum (AABB genome) and Ae. squarrosa is one of the most efficient ways. The high-amylose genes have not been detected in any species of Triticum and Aegilops. Therefore, we assessed the apparent amylose content in endosperm starch of T. durum and Ae. squarrosa accessions supplied from the major gene banks from world wide, and found several accessions with higher amylose content out of 665 T. durum accessions and out of 732 Ae. squarrosa accessions. Genetic analysis indicated that a high amylose trait in Ae. squarrosa is monogenically inherited by a recessive major gene.

The role of immunological surveillance in carcinogenesis is still controversial. In our previous experiments, urethan-induced lung tumorigenesis in athymic (nu/nu) mice and euthymic (nu/+) littermates was examined, and it was concluded that immunosurveillance mediated by T cells could not be demonstrated. However, the reported enhancement of development of various tumors following ionizing radiation might be achieved through modulating the host immunological conditions. In the present experiment,nu/nu and littermatenu/+ mice were treated with 1–4 Gy γ-rays alone at 6 weeks of age or treated with urethan at 0.5 mg/g body weight when aged 14 days followed by 1–4 Gy γ-rays 4 weeks later. Lung tumors were assessed at 6.5 months of age. Ionizing radiation itself caused a very low incidence of these lesions. On the other hand, multiplicities and incidences of lung tumors after urethan treatment at 0.5 mg/g body weight were similar between the two phenotypically different groups of mice (1.66 and 1.84 tumors/mouse, 73% and 80% incidences, fornu/nu andnu/+ cases respectively). This urethan-induced lung tumorigenesis was significantly enhanced by γ-rays in bothnu/nu andnu/+ mice, and the magnitude of tumor enhancement was somewhat higher innu/+ mice than innu/nu mice, especially with a 2-Gy dose. In conclusion, it may be said that lung tumorigenicity of γ-ray irradiation itself and the enhancing effect of radiation on urethan-induced tumorigenesis are scarcely influenced by immunosurveillance mechanisms mediated by T cells

Montelukast, a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 antagonist, is safe and efficacious in patients with asthma. The mechanisms underlying the significant interpatient variability in response to montelukast are not clear but are believed to be, in part, because of genetic variability.To examine the associations between polymorphisms in candidate genes in the leukotriene pathway and outcomes in patients with asthma on montelukast for 4-8 weeks, we evaluated the changes in peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1·0) ) and patients' subjective symptom before and after montelukast treatment. DNA was collected from 252 Japanese participants.Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ALOX5 (rs2115819) and LTA4H (rs2660845) genes were successfully typed. There was no difference between members of the general population (n = 200) and patients (n = 52) in each genotype frequency. Significant associations were found between SNP genotypes in the LTA4H gene and changes in PEF and FEV(1·0) . The PEF and FEV(1·0) responses to montelukast in the A/A genotypes (n = 4) for the LTA4H SNP were significantly higher than those in the G allele carriers (A/G+G/G) (n = 17).Despite the small sample size, our results suggest that genetic variation in leukotriene pathway candidate genes contributes to variability in clinical responses to montelukast in Japanese patients with asthma.

Renal impairment is unavoidable after laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) and is an important consideration for drug therapy. It is possible that the renal impairment after LRN causes adverse reactions following reduced elimination of some renally excreted drugs, such as hypoglycaemic drugs. However, there are few studies of renal function in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) in the first week after LRN. The purpose of this study was to examine whether renal impairment after LRN affected glycaemic control. We assessed pre- and postoperative renal function of DM patients and examined whether re-administration of hypoglycaemic drugs in the first week after LRN causes episodes of hypoglycaemia.Renal carcinoma patients undergoing LRN in Nagoya University Hospital from January 2007 to December 2009 were identified in a retrospective cohort study design. Patients were divided into non-DM (n = 60) and DM (n = 14) groups.There were significant differences in postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate values between the non-DM and DM groups. Four of nine patients (44%) experienced hypoglycaemia induced by re-administration of hypoglycaemic drugs, namely, sulfonylureas.In the present study, we found the first evidence that renal impairment in the first week after LRN was a risk factor of hypoglycaemia. To prevent hypoglycaemia after LRN, assessment of renal function and the use of insulin therapy are important.

Electrophoretic preparation has been studied to develop a useful method for the deposition of proton-conductive antimonic acid. The substrate used was ITO-glass coated with a tungsten trioxide thin film and was operated mainly as the anode. Antimonic acid powder, which had been ground beforehand with a ball mill, was dispersed in acetone to prepare the suspension. For preparation of a suitable depositing suspension, ammonium hydroxide and amyl alcohol were effective as the first and second additive, respectively. The applied voltage and time were found to be important factors for the formation of smooth and adhesive films. The amount of deposit or the film thickness was controlled by regulating the quantity of electricity or time.

In order to study coloration-bleaching processes in an ECD, WO 3 /Sb 2 O 5 /C, a quasi-reference electrode (q-REF) system W/ WO 3 was developed by vacuum evaporation of WO 3 on tungsten foil. Potential changes with time, i.e. potential wave forms, of the working and counter electrodes on constant voltage operation were measured at both coloration and bleaching processes using the q-REF. The q-REF was found to be available for potential wave-form measurements, and distribution values of the applied voltage to the individual electrodes provided useful information about load of reactions at the initial and final stages of both processes.

Both the atomic short-range order diffuse intensities and the phonon frequencies along the high-symmetry directions for disordered Cu0.715Pd0.285 alloy were measured using neutron experiments, to investigate the relationship between the diffuse maxima due to the atomic short-range order and the Kohn anomalies. The observed phonon dispersion curves were compared with the curves calculated from the second-nearest-neighbour Born-von Karman model. There were no anomalies in the phonon dispersion curves themselves or their derivatives under the authors experimental conditions. An improvement in energy resolution would be required to search further for the Kohn anomalies in this alloy system.

The reaction of Zn-protected (Z)-3-iodo-2-buten-1-ol with organozincs in the presence of 1–5 mol% of a Pd complex, e.g., Pd(PPh3)4 or Cl2Pd(PPh3)2 and n-BuLi (2 equiv), in DMF provides a highly stereoselective (> -96%), general, and high-yielding procedure for preparing (Z)-3-methyl-2-alken-1-ols, while the use of organometals containing B and Sn along with a Pd catalyst or organocoppers alone gives the desired products in moderate to good yields.