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We aimed to investigate the relationship between mast cell (MC) infiltration into the bladder with urothelial barrier dysfunction and bladder hyperactivity in a chronic bladder ischemia (CBI) rat model. We compared CBI rats (CBI group; n = 10) with normal rats (control group; n = 10). We measured the expression of mast cell tryptase (MCT) and protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2), which are correlated with C fiber activation via MCT, and Uroplakins (UP Ia, Ib, II and III), which are critical to urothelial barrier function, via Western blotting. The effects of FSLLRY-NH2, a PAR2 antagonist, administered intravenously, on the bladder function of CBI rats were evaluated with a cystometrogram. In the CBI group, the MC number in the bladder was significantly greater (p = 0.03), and the expression of MCT (p = 0.02) and PAR2 (p = 0.02) was significantly increased compared to that of the control group. The 10 μg/kg FSLLRY-NH2 injection significantly increased the micturition interval of CBI rats (p = 0.03). The percentage of UP-II-positive cells on the urothelium with immunohistochemical staining was significantly lower in the CBI group than in the control group (p < 0.01). Chronic ischemia induces urothelial barrier dysfunction via impairing UP II, consequently inducing MC infiltration into the bladder wall and increased PAR2 expression. PAR2 activation by MCT may contribute to bladder hyperactivity.

The masked palm civet (Paguma larvata) in Japan is considered as an alien species; however, the details on introduction routes to Japan and the expansion history are still unclear. In the present study, to further solve these questions, we analyzed the mitochondrial DNA control region (523 base-pairs) of 226 individuals from Japan and Taiwan, and identified 13 haplotypes, which are phylogenetically closely related to each other. Then, we combined the present control region data with the previously reported cytochrome b sequences, and found multiple haplotypes in Shikoku, Gunma, and Tokyo. The population in Shikoku was formed by several genetic lineages, one of which was not found in other areas, indicating the differentiation of the Shikoku population from those in Central Honshu. In addition, animals with the major cytochrome b haplotype in Eastern Japan in the previous study were found to have three different haplotypes in control region. The results strongly show multiple introduced routes of P. larvata in Eastern Japan. Our study much contributes to further understanding of the expansion history of P. larvata on the Japanese islands, in conjunction with previous genetic data.

The highly enantioselective copper-catalyzed hydro-, bora-, and carbo-metalations of difluorocyclopropenes with Si-H, B-H, B-B and (CH3)2Zn are shown to regiodivergently af-ford highly enantioenric...

The catalytic enantioselective difluoromethylation of arylidene Meldrum's acids with (difluoromethyl)zinc reagent, easily prepared through zinc/iodide exchange reaction of difluoroiodomethane and diethylzinc with co-solvent such as pyridines, by a chiral phosphoramidite-Cu catalyst is shown to provide highly enantioselective sp [3]-difluoromethyl Michael addition product in good yields and high levels of enantioselectivity.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT) before radical prostatectomy (RP) is not recommended in current guidelines. Despite this recommendation, NHT before RP is sometimes con...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Our previous study reported that preoperative bladder contractility index (BCI) was a predictive factor of postoperative detrusor underactivity (DU) at 1 month after robo...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:We have reported that the complement system activation including classical complement pathway was involved in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by usi...

Previous studies of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) on Hokkaido Island, Japan, have detected three geographically distinct subpopulations representing different mitochondrial lineages and shown that gene flow between subpopulations has occurred due to male-biased dispersal. In this study, we determined whole-genomic sequences for six Hokkaido brown bears and analyzed these data along with previously published genomic sequences of 17 brown bears from other parts of the world. We found that the Hokkaido population is genetically distinct from the other populations, keeping genetic diversity higher than the endangered populations in western Europe but lower than most populations on the continents. A reconstruction of historical demography showed no increase in population size for the Hokkaido population during the Eemian interglacial period (130,000–114,000 years ago). In a phylogenetic analysis of the autosomal data, the Hokkaido population formed a clade distinct from North American and European populations, showing that it has maintained genetic diversity independently from continental populations following geographical isolation on the island. This autosomal genetic similarity contrasts with the geographically separate mitochondrial lineages on Hokkaido and indicates the occurrence of male-driven gene flow between subpopulations.

The highly enantioselective copper/chiral phosphine-catalyzed hydro-, bora-, and carbo-metalations of difluorocyclopropenes with PHMS [H-Si], H-BPin, (BPin)

The catalytic allylic difluoromethylation of allyl carbonates with (difluoromethyl)zinc reagent, which can be readily prepared via iodine-zinc exchange reaction of difluoroiodomethane with diethylzinc, was achieved by employing copper salt as a catalyst. The difluoromethylation proceeded with not only good-to-high yields but also complete regioselectivity. Furthermore, the reaction was demonstrated to be stereospecific, and hence chiral allylic difluoromethylated compound can be obtained by treatment of chiral substrates which are synthesized through catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds.

18th EISCAT symposiumSession E4: Aurora and airglowMay 30 (Tue), Poster Session

In order to clarify the substitution effect of Nb for V on the thermoelectric properties of Heusler-type Fe2VAl, we prepared the polycrystalline samples of Fe2V1−xNbxAl (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2) and the electrical resistivity (ρ), Seebeck coefficient (S), and thermal conductivity (κ) were investigated. The samples with x = 0 and 0.05 were the Heusler-type single phase, while other samples contained a small amount of impurity phases. The Fe2V0.95Nb0.05Al and the Fe2V0.9Nb0.1Al samples as well as the Fe2VAl sample exhibited relatively high power factor (S2ρ−1) values (>10−3 W m−1 K−2 at around room temperature), while that of the Fe2V0.8Nb0.2Al sample was fairly low. The Nb-substituted Fe2VAl samples indicated lower κ values than that of the Fe2VAl sample, indicating that the effective phonon scattering due to the fluctuation effects between V and Nb occurred in the present system.

In this article, a hardware and software co-design method for the image processing system of Intelligent Transport System (ITS) is proposed. The objective of this method is to optimize the division of functions between hardware and software by the optimum trade-off. Under this method, first, the targeted overall system is modeled by software to adjust functions and structures of the system. Then, the performance of each function of software and hardware in the model is evaluated by simulation, and the optimized division of functions between hardware and software is eventually obtained. Each function divided in hardware and software is designed in detail using development tools and then the results of the design of hardware and software are loaded on the co-design test board to verify and evaluate satisfaction in the design objectives. The ITS image processing development area is chosen as an application example for this method and its effectiveness is verified by evaluating the construction of a safe driving support system.

Prednisolone is a member of synthetic glucocorticoids which are widely used to treat chronic inflammatory diseases. In this study, neuronal degeneration and cell death, and glial reaction were investigated in the rat trigeminal ganglion (TG) and brainstem after subcutaneous injection of prednisolone for 7 days. Expression of c-Jun activating transcription factor 3 and caspase-3 was absent or infrequent in the TG, and cranial sensory and motor nuclei of saline- and prednisolone-treated animals. In these animals, distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive (-IR) neurons and nerve fibers was similar in the brainstem. In addition, the number of Iba1- and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-IR cells with some processes in the brainstem was barely affected by prednisolone treatment. However, the treatment increased ramification of Iba1-IR processes in the subnucleus caudalis of the trigeminal sensory complex. Prednisolone scarcely influenced the morphology of GFAP-IR cells in the brainstem. Expression of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase was very rare in the brainstem of saline- and prednisolone-treated animals. The present study suggests that microglia are activated by prednisolone in the subnucleus caudalis of the trigeminal sensory complex. The glucocorticoid may affect nociceptive transmission in the brainstem.