Performance of GaN vertical light emitting diodes using wafer bonding process with Al-alloyed graphite substrate

We report on the vertical-structure light emitting diodes (VLEDs) fabricated with wafer bonding method using Al-alloyed graphite and Si supporter. VLEDs with Al-alloyed graphite produced no crack during/after laser lift-off (LLO) techniques while the wafer crack took place using Si supporter because of the difference of thermal expansion coefficients between Si and sapphire. The performance of VLEDs with wafer bonding method using Al-alloyed graphite supporter was compared to those fabricated by Cu plating methods. The output power of the chips with wafer bonding method was nearly same as the one with Cu-plating method. However, the forward voltage of VLEDs with wafer bonding method was higher than those with Cu-plating method. In the terms of reliabilities the wafer bonding process is more preferable to Cu-plating and our report proposes that Al-alloyed graphite could be one of promising candidates for the supporters in wafer bonding process.

Deletion of bone marrow stromal cell antigen-1 (CD157) gene impaired systemic thymus independent-2 antigen-induced IgG3 and mucosal TD antigen-elicited IgA responses

Bone marrow stromal cell Ag-1 (BST-1; CD157)-deficient mice were generated to examine the immunologic roles of the molecule in vivo. In BST-1(-/-) mice, the development of peritoneal B-1 cells was delayed, and CD38(low/-) B-lineage cells were increased in the bone marrow and spleen. Partial impairment of thymus-independent (TI-2) and thymus-dependent (TD) Ag-specific immune responses was noted in the systemic and mucosal compartments of BST-1(-/-) mice, respectively. Although serum Ig levels as well as TD and TI-1 Ag-specific systemic immune responses were normal, the TI-2 Ag-induced IgG3 response was selectively impaired. Oral immunization of BST-1(-/-) mice with cholera toxin, a potent TD Ag for the induction of IgA response, resulted in the poor production of Ag-specific Abs at the intestinal mucosa accompanied by the reduced number of Ag-specific IgA-producing cells in the lamina propria. These results indicate that BST-1 has roles in B cell development and Ab production in vivo.

Female sex hormones and body mass in adolescent and postmenopausal Korean women

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between body mass and serum level of female sex hormones among 153 adolescent girls, and 153 postmenopausal women in Korea. Information on lifestyles, and both menstrual and reproductive factors was collected by personal interview. Serum total estradiol (E2), progesterone (Pg), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine whether the hormonal levels would be affected by the obesity indices. Body weight and body mass index (BMI) were inversely related to SHBG level in both premenopausal (p<0.005) and postmenopausal women (p<0.005) after adjusting for age. E2 levels during any phase in premenopausal girls were not related to BMI, whereas heavier girls had significantly higher levels of late luteal-phase Pg (p<0.05). Taller postmenopausal women had lower E2 levels (p<0.05). Results on the association between SHBG and BMI are consistent with previous results in Caucasian women, and might suggest the potential role of bioavailable estradiol in breast carcinogenesis in pre- and post-menopausal women. The finding that progesterone might be related to body mass in premenopausal women should be pursued in further studies.

Laterality in somatization

OBJECTIVE

To identify whether there is a lateralized pattern in somatic symptoms related to emotional disturbances.

METHOD

Sixty-one patients with depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and somatization disorders were examined for the lateralized distribution of somatic symptoms in the body and its relationship to the severity of anxiety and depression.

RESULTS

The chief somatic symptoms presented significantly more on the left side than on the right side of the body. Headache and other forms of pain, especially, occurred more on the left side. There was no significant difference between left-sided and right-sided groups in demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, education level, diagnosis, and duration of illness. The scores on Hamilton's anxiety scale or Hamilton's depression scale were higher in the left-sided group than the right-sided group, although the difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the right hemisphere of the brain is more involved then the left with somatization symptom formation related to emotional disturbances.

Stage-specific expression of mouse BST-1/BP-3 on the early B and T cell progenitors prior to gene rearrangement of antigen receptor

Human bone marrow stromal cell antigen 1 (BST-1) was identified as a glycosylphosphatidyl-inositol-anchored ectoenzyme expressed on bone marrow stromal or synovial cell lines and having the ability to facilitate pre-B cell line growth. The analysis of the expression of mouse BST-1/BP-3 on the surface of lymphoid cells in the bone marrow and thymus revealed that it was very transiently expressed on both B and T cell progenitors undergoing gene rearrangement of the antigen receptor. Among CD45R+ CD43+ B cell progenitors in the bone marrow, BST-1 expression appeared on the CD24 (heat stable antigen)+, CD19+ or CD117 (c-kit)+ population. In the thymus, BST-1 was expressed on CD4-CD8-CD3- [triple negative (TN)] CD90 (Thy-1)+ cells. In TN thymocytes, the majority of CD25+ cells and CD44(10)/- cells expressed BST-1. In fetuses, BST-1+ cells appeared in the thymus and liver at day 14 and 16 of gestation respectively. The expression level of BST-1 by fetal thymus was maximal and > 60% of thymocytes were positive for BST-1 at day 15 or 16 and the proportion then gradually decreased during development. Among day 15 fetal thymocytes, BST-1 was negative on the CD44+ CD25- fraction, very slightly positive on the CD44+ CD25+ fraction, and strongly positive on the CD44(10)/- CD25+ and CD44-CD25- fractions. These results showed that murine BST-1 is a useful marker for lymphoid progenitor cells initiating gene rearrangement of their antigen receptors.

Elevated levels of the soluble form of bone marrow stromal cell antigen 1 in the sera of patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

Bone marrow stromal cell antigen 1 (BST-1) is a novel glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-anchored ectoenzyme, which is overexpressed on bone marrow stromal and synovial cell lines derived from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To investigate the pathophysiologic roles of BST-1 in RA, we established an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system to detect the soluble form of BST-1 (sBST-1) and examined levels of sBST-1 in the sera of RA patients.

METHODS

Concentrations of sBST-1 in sera from healthy donors and from patients with RA, osteoarthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, and systemic lupus erythematosus were measured with the ELISA.

RESULTS

In 7% of the RA patient samples (10 of 143), concentrations of serum sBST-1 were higher (approximately 30-50-fold) than in non-RA samples. Serum sBST-1 concentrations showed no correlation with age, C-reactive protein level, or rheumatoid factor level. All RA patients with high concentrations of serum sBST-1 had severe disease with involvement of several large joints.

CONCLUSION

We believe the measurement of serum sBST-1 may have prognostic value, but further analysis is necessary to clarify the clinical significance of elevated sBST-1 in RA.

Treating premature ejaculation in the multi-modal therapeutic framework: a single case study

Generally, premature ejaculation is caused by organic, psychological, interpersonal factors and lay beliefs. It is defined as a lack of adequate voluntary ejaculatory control with the result that a patient climaxes involuntarily. An ejaculatory control may be said to be established when the patient can tolerate high levels of excitement which characterise the plateau stage of the sexual response cycle without ejaculating reflexly. The most effective treatment for premature ejaculation so far is the stop-start exercises that aim to help patients tolerate a prolonged period of intense pleasurable arousal and to enjoy sexual sensation before ejaculation. However, the stop-start exercises would be more effective if they are employed in a multi-modal therapeutic framework. This is because cases of premature ejaculation differ in terms of the aetiology, pathological patterns, and the patients' personal characteristics and background. A case is presented to illustrate how the conventional stop-start exercises are prescribed in this multi-modal framework.

Molecular cloning and chromosomal mapping of a bone marrow stromal cell surface gene, BST2, that may be involved in pre-B-cell growth

Bone marrow stromal cells regulate B-cell growth and development through their surface molecules and cytokines. In this study, we generated a mAb, RS38, that recognized a novel human membrane protein, BST-2, expressed on bone marrow stromal cell lines and synovial cell lines. We cloned a cDNA encoding BST-2 from a rheumatoid arthritis-derived synovial cell line. BST-2 is a 30- to 36-kDa type II transmembrane protein, consisting of 180 amino acids. The BST-2 gene (HGMW-approved symbol BST2) is located on chromosome 19p13.2. BST-2 is expressed not only on certain bone marrow stromal cell lines but also on various normal tissues, although its expression pattern is different from that of another bone marrow stromal cell surface molecule, BST-1. BST-2 surface expression on fibroblast cell lines facilitated the stromal cell-dependent growth of a murine bone marrow-derived pre-B-cell line, DW34. The results suggest that BST-2 may be involved in pre-B-cell growth.