The efficacy of hot-packed warm baths on limbs severely physically and mentally handicapped children

departmental bulletin pape

Search for B decays into η'p, η'K^*, η'φ, η'ω and η'η^(')

We report on a search for the exclusive two-body charmless hadronic B meson decays B → η'ρ, B → η'K^*, B^0 → ηφ, B^0 → η'ω, and B0 →η'η^('). The results are obtained from a data sample containing 535×10^6 B\bar{B} pairs that were collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e^+e^- collider. We find no significant signals and report upper limits in the range (0.5–6.5)×10^-6 for all of the above decays.journal articl

Observation of Large CP Violation and Evidence for Direct CP Violation in B0→π+π- Decays

journal articl

Three-dimensional Atomic Image of FeSe High-temperature Superconductor by X-ray Fluorescence Holography

Fe Kα X-ray fluorescence holography measurements were carried out at room temperature on an FeSe high-temperature superconductor to clarify the relationship between the local structures around the Fe atoms and the superconducting nature. The obtained three-dimensional atomic arrangements strongly reveal a formation of strong FeSe4 clusters. On the other hand, the Se?Fe?Se bond angle largely spreads, causing a large ambiguity in the chalcogen height and large displacements of the Fe sublattice. Thus, it is reasonable that the tetragonal-to-orthorhombic structural (nematic) transition does not affect the magnetic ordering in the Fe layer.journal articl

C/EBPδ silencing exacerbates cytokine-induced apoptosis in rat β-cells and human islets.

<p>(A, B, C, E, F) INS-1E cells were transfected with either a control siRNA (siCtrl – white dots/bars), or two differents siRNAs targeting C/EBPδ (siC/EBPδ #1 – black triangles/bars and siC/EBPδ #2 – grey squares/bars). Cells were then left untreated, or treated with IL-1β+IFN-γ as indicated; (A) C/EBPδ and α-tubulin expressions were evaluated by Western blot; (B) Mean optical density measurements of C/EBPδ Western blots corrected for α-tubulin (representative figure in A); (C) Apoptosis was assessed by HO/PI staining; (E) Apoptosis was evaluated using the Cell Death Detection ELISAplus kit; (F) Cell viability was evaluated using the neutral red-based toxicology kit. (D, G) Primary FACS-sorted rat β-cells were transfected as described above and subsequently left untreated or treated with IL-1β+IFN-γ as indicated; (D) Apoptosis was assessed by HO/PI staining. (G) Nitrite concentrations in supernatants were measured as described in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0031062#s4" target="_blank">Methods</a>. (H–I) Dispersed human islets were transfected with siCtrl (white bars) or human siC/EBPδ #1 (black bars) or #2 (grey bars) or #3 (hatched bars) and subsequently treated with IL-1β+IFN-γ for 48 h; (H) C/EBPδ mRNA expression was assayed by RT-PCR and normalized for the housekeeping gene β-actin; (I) Apoptosis was assessed by HO/PI staining. (J) INS-1E cells were transfected with siCtrl or siC/EBPδ #1; Cleaved caspase 3, 9 and α-tubulin expressions were evaluated by Western blot. Results are mean ± SEM of 4–7 experiments; *: <i>p</i><0.05, **: <i>p</i><0.01 and ***: <i>p</i><0.001 vs untreated transfected with the same siRNA; §: <i>p</i><0.05, §§: <i>p</i><0.01 and §§§: <i>p</i><0.001 vs siCtrl treated with cytokines at the same time point; ANOVA followed by Student's <i>t</i> test with Bonferroni correction.</p

IL-1β and IFN-γ up-regulate C/EBPδ expression in INS-1E cells, primary rat β-cells and human islets.

<p>INS-1E cells (A–C), primary purified rat β-cells (D) or human islets (E–G) were left untreated or treated with either IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1β+IFN-γ or TNF-α+IFN-γ for the indicated time points. (A, B, D, E) C/EBPδ mRNA expression was assayed by RT-PCR and normalized for the housekeeping gene GAPDH (rat) or β-actin (human); (C, F) C/EBPδ and α-tubulin expressions were evaluated by Western blot. A representative experiment of 5–6 independent experiments is shown. (G) Mean optical density measurements of C/EBPδ Western blots corrected for protein loading by α-tubulin (representative figure in F). Results are mean ± SEM of 4–6 independent experiments; * <i>p</i><0.05, ** <i>p</i><0.01 and *** <i>p</i><0.001 vs untreated cells by Student's <i>t</i> test.</p

C/EBPδ silencing increases cytokine-induced chemokine production by enhancing STAT1 activation.

<p>INS-1E cells were transfected with either siCtrl (white dots/bars), siC/EBPδ #1 (black triangles/bars) or siC/EBPδ #2 (grey squares/bars) and subsequently left untreated, or treated with IL-1β+IFN-γ for the indicated time points; (A–E) C/EBPδ, CXCL1, 9, 10 & CCL20 mRNA expressions were assayed by RT-PCR and normalized for the housekeeping gene GAPDH; (F–G) CXCL1 and CXCL9 protein secretions were evaluated by ELISA. (H) C/EBPδ, phospho-STAT1, total STAT1, IRF-1 and α-tubulin expressions were evaluated by Western blot. (I) 24 h after siRNA transfection, cells were transfected with a STAT1 luciferase reporter+pRL-CMV and subsequently left untreated or exposed to cytokines for 16 h as indicated. Results are mean Relative Luciferase Unit (R.L.U.) ± SEM. (J–L) Mean optical density measurements of IRF1, phospho-STAT1 and total STAT1 Western blots corrected for α-tubulin (representative figure in H). (G) SOCS-1 mRNA expression was assayed by RT-PCR and normalized for the housekeeping gene GAPDH. Results are mean ± SEM of 4–6 experiments; *: <i>p</i><0.05, **: <i>p</i><0.01 and ***: <i>p</i><0.001 vs untreated transfected with the same siRNA; §: <i>p</i><0.05, §§: <i>p</i><0.01 and §§§: <i>p</i><0.001 vs siCtrl treated with cytokines at the same time point; ANOVA followed by Student's <i>t</i> test with Bonferroni correction.</p

The transcription factors STAT1 and CHOP mediate cytokine-induced BIM up-regulation in C/EBPδ-silenced cells.

<p>INS-1E cells were transfected with siCtrl (white bars), siC/EBPδ #1 (black bars), siCHOP (grey bars), siSTAT1 (grid bars), siC/EBPδ #1+siCHOP (hatched grey bars), siC/EBPδ #1+siSTAT1 (hatched bars) or siCHOP+siSTAT1 (grid grey bars) and subsequently left untreated or treated with IL-1β+IFN-γ for 16 or 24 h as indicated. (A–D) CHOP, C/EBPδ, STAT1 & BIM mRNA expressions were assayed by RT-PCR and normalized for the housekeeping gene GAPDH. (E) 24 h after siRNA transfection, cells were transfected with a BIM promoter reporter+pRL-CMV and subsequently left untreated or exposed to cytokines as indicated. Results are mean Relative Luciferase Unit (R.L.U.) ± SEM. (F) Apoptosis was assessed by HO/PI staining. Results are mean ± SEM of 4–5 experiments; *: <i>p</i><0.05, **: <i>p</i><0.01 and ***: <i>p</i><0.001 vs untreated transfected with the same siRNA; §: <i>p</i><0.05, §§: <i>p</i><0.01 and §§§: <i>p</i><0.001 vs siCtrl treated with cytokines at the same time point; #: <i>p</i><0.05 and ###: <i>p</i><0.001 vs siC/EBPδ #1 treated with cytokines at the same time point; ANOVA followed by Student's <i>t</i> test with Bonferroni correction.</p

C/EBPδ-silencing increases the expression of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member BIM.

<p>(A–C) INS-1E cells were transfected with siCtrl (white dots), siC/EBPδ #1 (black triangles) or siC/EBPδ #2 (grey squares) and subsequently left untreated, or treated with IL-1β+IFN-γ for the indicated time points. (A) BIM mRNA expression was assayed by RT-PCR and normalized for the housekeeping gene GAPDH; (B) BIM, C/EBPδ and α-tubulin expressions were evaluated by Western blot. (C) Mean optical density measurements of BIM Western blots corrected for α-tubulin (representative figure in B). (D) INS-1E cells were transfected with siCtrl (white bars), or with either siC/EBPδ #1 (black bars), siBIM (grey bars) or siC/EBPδ #1+siBIM (hatched grey bars) and subsequently left untreated, or treated with IL-1β+IFN-γ for 24 h as indicated. Apoptosis was then assessed by HO/PI staining. Results are mean ± SEM of 4–6 experiments; *: <i>p</i><0.05, **: <i>p</i><0.01 and ***: <i>p</i><0.001 vs untreated transfected with the same siRNA; §: <i>p</i><0.05, §§: <i>p</i><0.01 and §§§: <i>p</i><0.001 vs siCtrl treated with cytokines at the same time point; ###: <i>p</i><0.001 vs siC/EBPδ #1 treated with cytokines at the same time point; ANOVA followed by Student's <i>t</i> test with Bonferroni correction.</p

Amplified CHOP expression contributes to the exacerbation of apoptosis in cytokine-treated C/EBPδ-deficient INS-1E cells.

<p>(A–E) INS-1E cells were transfected with siCtrl (white dots), siC/EBPδ #1 (black triangles) or siC/EBPδ #2 (grey squares) and subsequently left untreated, or treated with IL-1β+IFN-γ for the indicated time points. (A–C) C/EBPδ, CHOP and GADD34 mRNA expressions were assayed by RT-PCR and normalized for the housekeeping gene GAPDH; (D) C/EBPδ, CHOP and α-tubulin expressions were evaluated by Western blot. (E) Mean optical density measurements of CHOP Western blots corrected for α-tubulin (representative figure in D). (F–G) INS-1E cells were transfected with siCtrl (white bars), siC/EBPδ #1 (black bars), siCHOP (grey bars) or siC/EBPδ #1+siCHOP (hatched grey bars) and subsequently left untreated, or treated with IL-1β+IFN-γ for 24 h as indicated. (F) Apoptosis was assessed by HO/PI staining. (G) Cleaved caspase 3, C/EBPδ, CHOP and α-tubulin expressions were evaluated by Western blot. Results are mean ± SEM of 4–5 experiments; *: <i>p</i><0.05, **: <i>p</i><0.01 and ***: <i>p</i><0.001 vs untreated transfected with the same siRNA; §: <i>p</i><0.05, §§: <i>p</i><0.01 and §§§: <i>p</i><0.001 vs siCtrl treated with cytokines at the same time point; ##: <i>p</i><0.01 vs siC/EBPδ #1 treated with cytokines at the same time point; ANOVA followed by Student's <i>t</i> test with Bonferroni correction.</p