High-affinity uptake of kynurenine and nitric oxide-mediated inhibition of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in bone marrow-derived myeloid dendritic cells

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO)-initiated tryptophan metabolism along the kynurenine (Kyn) pathway in some dendritic cells (DC) such as plasmacytoid DC regulates T-cell responses. It is unclear whether bone marrow-derived myeloid DC (BMDC) express functional IDO. The IDO expression was examined in CD11c+CD11b+ BMDC differentiated from mouse bone marrow cells using GM-CSF. CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG) induced the expression of IDO protein with the production of nitric oxide (NO) in BMDC in cultures for 24 hr. In the enzyme assay using cellular extracts of BMDC, the IDO activity of BMDC stimulated with CpG was enhanced by the addition of a NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor, suggesting that IDO activity was suppressed by NO production. On the other hand, the concentration of Kyn in the culture supernatant of BMDC was not increased by stimulation with CpG. Exogenously added Kyn was taken up by BMDC independently of CpG stimulation and NO production, and the uptake of Kyn was inhibited by a transport system L-specific inhibitor or high concentrations of tryptophan. The uptake of tryptophan by BMDC was markedly lower than that of Kyn. In conclusion, IDO activity in BMDC is down-regulated by NO production, whereas BMDC strongly take up exogenous Kyn.journal articl

中学校技術・家庭科技術分野の「水産生物の栽培」におけるキンギョ（三尾和金）を用いた題材の開発<教育科学>

The “cultivation of aquatic organisms” topic from the “nurturing living things” subject of the “technology and home economics” course has very little teaching materials available. This is because its systematic study guidance method has been not considered in detail. Hence, this study aimed to develop the teaching materials for the above-mentioned topic by focusing on goldfish (Garassius auratus) cultivation. To effectively develop the teaching materials, we actually cultivated goldfish and devised a method for developing fisheries in high school. We further interviewed a specialist in the field and evaluated the problems involved in cultivating goldfish and the educational effects that this cultivation has on students. On the one hand, goldfish cultivation as teaching material showed the following advantages based on the physiological and ecological characteristics of goldfish: (1) they are easy to handle, (2) they have high resistance to diseases, and (3) feeding them immediately after they hatch directly influences their survival rate. On the other hand, the following disadvantages were revealed: (1) lack of clear criteria to evaluate the gold fish based on appearance and (2) managing the goldfish during summer vacation as students are away from school during this time. Further, the teaching material also evaluated the effect of different cultivation densities on the individual size and body color of the goldfish.textapplication/pdfdepartmental bulletin pape

Upper Bound on the Decay τ→μγ from the Belle Detector

journal articl

Mean values (SEM) of oxLDL, MMP9, ICAM1 and MCP1 determined before clamping (1), during clamping (5) and 15 minutes after declamping (9)

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Relationships between free radical levels during carotid endarterectomy and markers of arteriosclerotic disease"</p><p></p><p>International Journal of Medical Sciences 2007;4(3):124-130.</p><p>Published online 14 Apr 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1868659.</p><p>© Ivyspring International Publisher. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/). Reproduction is permitted for personal, noncommercial use, provided that the article is in whole, unmodified, and properly cited.</p> Stars denote significant differences compared to preclamp values. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01

Free radical production measured in vitro in blood samples from the internal jugular vein

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Relationships between free radical levels during carotid endarterectomy and markers of arteriosclerotic disease"</p><p></p><p>International Journal of Medical Sciences 2007;4(3):124-130.</p><p>Published online 14 Apr 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1868659.</p><p>© Ivyspring International Publisher. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/). Reproduction is permitted for personal, noncommercial use, provided that the article is in whole, unmodified, and properly cited.</p> Mean values ± SEM are given for OXANO values obtained before clamp, during clamp and at reperfusion. n = 13

Table_1_Hepatic Unsaturated Fatty Acids Are Linked to Lower Degree of Fibrosis in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.DOCX

Background: The hepatic lipidome of patients with early stages of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been fairly well-explored. However, studies on more progressive forms of NAFLD, i.e., liver fibrosis, are limited.Materials and methods: Liver fatty acids were determined in cholesteryl esters (CE), phospholipids (PL), and triacylglycerols (TAG) by gas chromatography. Cross-sectional associations between fatty acids and biopsy-proven NAFLD fibrosis (n = 60) were assessed using multivariable logistic regression models. Stages of fibrosis were dichotomized into none-mild (F0–1) or significant fibrosis (F2–4). Models were adjusted for body-mass index (BMI), age and patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3 rs738409) (I148M) genotype. A secondary analysis examined whether associations from the primary analysis could be confirmed in the corresponding plasma lipid fractions.Results: PL behenic acid (22:0) was directly associated [OR (95% CI): 1.86 (1.00, 3.45)] whereas PL docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) [OR (95% CI): 0.45 (0.23, 0.89)], TAG oleic acid (18:1n-9) [OR (95% CI): 0.52 (0.28, 0.95)] and 18:1n-9 and vaccenic acid (18:1n-7) (18:1) [OR (95% CI): 0.52 (0.28, 0.96)] were inversely associated with liver fibrosis. In plasma, TAG 18:1n-9 [OR (95% CI): 0.55 (0.31, 0.99)], TAG 18:1 [OR (95% CI): 0.54 (0.30, 0.97)] and PL 22:0 [OR (95% CI): 0.46 (0.25, 0.86)] were inversely associated with liver fibrosis.Conclusion: Higher TAG 18:1n-9 levels were linked to lower fibrosis in both liver and plasma, possibly reflecting an altered fatty acid metabolism. Whether PL 22:6n-3 has a protective role, together with a potentially adverse effect of hepatic 22:0, on liver fibrosis warrants large-scale studies.</p

Data_Sheet_1_Hepatic Unsaturated Fatty Acids Are Linked to Lower Degree of Fibrosis in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.PDF

Background: The hepatic lipidome of patients with early stages of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been fairly well-explored. However, studies on more progressive forms of NAFLD, i.e., liver fibrosis, are limited.Materials and methods: Liver fatty acids were determined in cholesteryl esters (CE), phospholipids (PL), and triacylglycerols (TAG) by gas chromatography. Cross-sectional associations between fatty acids and biopsy-proven NAFLD fibrosis (n = 60) were assessed using multivariable logistic regression models. Stages of fibrosis were dichotomized into none-mild (F0–1) or significant fibrosis (F2–4). Models were adjusted for body-mass index (BMI), age and patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3 rs738409) (I148M) genotype. A secondary analysis examined whether associations from the primary analysis could be confirmed in the corresponding plasma lipid fractions.Results: PL behenic acid (22:0) was directly associated [OR (95% CI): 1.86 (1.00, 3.45)] whereas PL docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) [OR (95% CI): 0.45 (0.23, 0.89)], TAG oleic acid (18:1n-9) [OR (95% CI): 0.52 (0.28, 0.95)] and 18:1n-9 and vaccenic acid (18:1n-7) (18:1) [OR (95% CI): 0.52 (0.28, 0.96)] were inversely associated with liver fibrosis. In plasma, TAG 18:1n-9 [OR (95% CI): 0.55 (0.31, 0.99)], TAG 18:1 [OR (95% CI): 0.54 (0.30, 0.97)] and PL 22:0 [OR (95% CI): 0.46 (0.25, 0.86)] were inversely associated with liver fibrosis.Conclusion: Higher TAG 18:1n-9 levels were linked to lower fibrosis in both liver and plasma, possibly reflecting an altered fatty acid metabolism. Whether PL 22:6n-3 has a protective role, together with a potentially adverse effect of hepatic 22:0, on liver fibrosis warrants large-scale studies.</p

Accessibility of ARPES for Three-dimensionally Architected Si{111}7×7 Facet Surfaces on Micro-patterned Si(110)

The creation of three-dimensional (3D) geometrical shapes with atomically ordered surfaces and the investigation of their physical properties are major steps contributing to the development of a new paradigm in surface science. We produced a 3D-patterned Si sample with atomically flat and reconstructed {111} facet surfaces, and investigated its structural and physical properties. To apply the conventional techniques in surface science to 3D samples with various oriented surfaces, instead of two-dimensional planar samples, an appropriate relationship between the crystallographic surface ordering on the 3D-architected surfaces and the angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES) setup considering the configuration in 3D space is indispensable. The distinctive and complex low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) patterns reflecting the 3D-arranged facet surfaces showed the realization of atomically reconstructed facet surfaces on 3D-patterned Si. Surface states of the 3D-patterned Si{111} surfaces are mapped by ARPES by considering the 3D geometrical relationship. The selection of the appropriate alignment of the incident electron beam (light) for the target surfaces allows the clear observation of the band dispersion from the produced {111}7×7 facet surfaces in 3D space. Our demonstration of accessibility of ARPES technique could provide useful guidelines for new methodologies, giving a fundamental understanding of 3D-shape-induced novel functionalities.journal articl