Figure correction of a Wolter mirror master mandrel by organic abrasive machining

In this study, figure correction of a master mandrel of a Wolter mirror by organic abrasive machining (OAM) was demonstrated. In OAM, a flow of slurry, dispersed with organic particles, locally removes the surface of a workpiece in contact with a rotating machining tool. A computer-controlled machining system was used to perform the selective removal of a fused silica surface at a spatial resolution of 200 µm. A master mandrel of a Wolter mirror for soft x-ray microscopes was fabricated with a figure accuracy of <1 nm root mean square, which is sufficient for diffraction-limited imaging at a wavelength of 10 nm.

Soft X-ray ptychography system using a Wolter mirror for achromatic illumination optics

A soft X-ray ptychography system using a Wolter mirror for the illumination optics has been developed. By taking advantage of the achromaticity of the optics, the system is capable of seamlessly imaging at half-period resolution of 50 nm with a broad photon-energy range from 250 eV to 2 keV while maintaining the focal position. Imaging a mammalian cell at various wavelengths was demonstrated, and high-resolution visualization of organelle was achieved. Stereo imaging was also performed with a long working distance of 20 mm. In combination with in-situ/operando and tomographic measurements, this system will be a powerful tool for observing biological and material targets with complex features.

Fabrication of soft x-ray monolithic Wolter mirror based on surface scanning measurement using touch probe

The monolithic Wolter mirror is an ideal optical device for focusing soft x rays to a submicron-sized spot, with the advantages of high efficiency, large acceptance, achromaticity, and robustness to alignment error. The fabrication process for this type of mirror has not been established because of the difficulty in highly accurate figure measurement of free-form surfaces with small radii of curvature and steep profiles. In this study, we employed tactile scanning measurement for surface characterization to fabricate a high-precision Wolter mirror. First, it was demonstrated that the touch probe measurement did not leave scratches on the raw surface of the mirror substrate. Next, the measurement capability of the surface profiler was assessed, and the data analysis conditions were determined. Finally, the Wolter mirror was fabricated through repeated figure correction based on the tactile measurement, and the figure error of the final surface was evaluated. Wave-optical simulations that used this error as reference suggested that the size of the beam focused by the mirror was equivalent to the theoretical value at 1000 eV. The reflected image with uniform intensity distribution obtained at SPring-8 also revealed the effectiveness of the present fabrication approach based on tactile measurement.

Copper electroforming replication process for soft x-ray mirrors

We developed a copper electroforming replication (CER) process to fabricate precise ellipsoidal mirrors for soft x-ray focusing. Some applications of ellipsoidal mirrors in x-ray microscopy require that all components that are close to samples, including the mirrors, are made of non-magnetic materials. In this study, a non-magnetic copper ellipsoidal mirror was fabricated by replicating a figured and super-polished quartz glass mandrel using an electroforming technique. It was found that the CER process has a high replication accuracy of 8 nm. The focusing performance of the mirror was characterized using a soft x-ray free-electron laser with a photon energy of 100 eV. A small focus size of 370 × 400 nm² was achieved with a high reflectivity of 65%.

Full-field microscope with twin Wolter mirrors for soft X-ray free-electron lasers

We developed a full-field microscope with twin Wolter mirrors for soft X-ray free-electron lasers. The Wolter mirrors for a condenser and an objective were fabricated using an electroforming process with a precisely figured master mandrel. In the imaging system constructed at SACLA BL1, sub-micrometer spatial resolution was achieved at wavelengths of 10.3 and 3.4 nm. Single-shot bright-field images were acquired with a maximum illumination intensity of 7×10¹⁴ W/cm².

P5612In vivo histological and clinical evaluation of layered culprit plaque by optical coherence tomography in stable angina patients

Background

In patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP), exact mechanism of plaque progression overtime is still unclear due to lack of histological evaluation. Directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) allows for the differential cutting of atherosclerotic lesions and for the histological examination.

Purpose

The aims of this study were to compare the histological features obtained by DCA and layered pattern (LP) by OCT, and to establish the prevalence and clinical characteristics of LP in culprit lesion form SAP patients.

Methods

SAP patients who underwent OCT imaging guide PCI in our medical school hospital between June 2016 and June 2018 were included into this study. This was two-fold histological and clinical studies. In a histological study, we evaluated histological features of 42 specimens from 18 patients who underwent DCA and compare OCT findings. Lesions were classified into the following categories based on the OCT finding before DCA cutting; homogeneous or heterogeneous group. Furthermore, lesions in heterogeneous group were classified into 2 categories; LP or non-LP group. In a clinical study, 205 target lesions form 205 patients were categorized as shown above at minimum lumen area (MLA) sites. Plaque characteristics were compared among these groups.

Results

In the histological study, 9 (21.4%) specimens were classified in homogeneous group and 33 (78.6%) in heterogeneous group. In 33 heterogeneous group, LP group were observed in 12 specimens (36.3%). Of 12 LP group, 10 LP group consisted of intramural thrombosis. In clinical study, 39 (19.0%) lesion were classified in homogeneous group and 166 (81.0%) in heterogeneous group. In 166 heterogeneous group, LP group were observed in 75 lesions (45.2%). Of heterogeneous group, LP group had significantly smaller MLA (1.5±0.9 mm2 vs 1.9±1.0 mm2, p<0.05) and higher rate of microchannels (57.3% vs 15.4%, p<0.05) than non-LP group.

A representative layered pattern case

Conclusions

LP in culprit lesion with SAP was significantly associated with intramural thrombosis. MLA sites in LP was significantly smaller than in non-LP group. These data suggest that thrombus formation and subsequent their organization overtime might contribute to the plaque progression even in SAP patients.

P2810Clinical outcomes 1 year after filter protection during percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with attenuated plaque identified by intravascular ultrasound

Background

In the VAMPIRE 3 (VAcuuM asPIration thrombus REemoval 3) trial, we have previously shown that selective use of distal filter protection during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) decreased the incidence of no-reflow phenomenon and was associated with fewer in-hospital serious adverse cardiac events than conventional PCI in patients with attenuated plaque ≥5mm. However, whether the early efficacy of distal embolic protection translate into long term clinical benefit is unknown.

Methods

Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with attenuated plaque ≥5mm were assigned to distal protection (DP) (n=98) or conventional treatment (CT) (n=96). The primary end point of the incidence of no-reflow phenomenon during PCI and the secondary end point of in-hospital serious adverse cardiac events has been reported previously. The rate of a major adverse events, a composite of death from any cause, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or unplanned target vessel revascularization (TVR) at 1 year was the prespecified secondary end point of the trial. All clinical endpoint events were adjudicated by an independent Clinical Event Committee.

Results

Major adverse events at 1 year occurred in 12 patients (12.2%) in the DP group and in 3 patients (3.1%) in the CT group (P=0.029). The difference was driven by a higher risk of TVR (11 [11.2%] vs. 2 [2.1%], p=0.018) in the DP group compared with the CT group. In patients treated with bare metal stents (n=42), major adverse events occurred in 25.0% of the patients in the DP group and in none of the patients in the CT group (P=0.029), whereas in patients treated with drug eluting stents (n=152), rates of major adverse events were similar between the groups (8.1% vs. 3.9%, p=0.32). Rates of cardiac death were not significantly different (1.0% vs. 1.0%, p=1.00). No definite stent thrombosis was observed in either group.

Conclusions

In the VAMPIRE 3 trial of patients with ACS with attenuated plaque ≥5mm, the 1-year rates of major adverse events in the distal protection group were higher than in the conventional treatment group. This effect could be mitigated by the use of drug eluting stents.

Acknowledgement/Funding

This work was supported in part by a grant from Nipro, Boston Scientific Corporation, and Japan Lifeline.

Intense sub-micrometre focusing of soft X-ray free-electron laser beyond 1016 W cm-2 with an ellipsoidal mirror

Intense sub-micrometre focusing of a soft X-ray free-electron laser (FEL) was achieved by using an ellipsoidal mirror with a high numerical aperture. A hybrid focusing system in combination with a Kirkpatrick-Baez mirror was applied for compensation of a small spatial acceptance of the ellipsoidal mirror. With this system, the soft X-ray FEL pulses were focused down to 480 nm × 680 nm with an extremely high intensity of 8.8×10¹⁶ W cm^-2 at a photon energy of 120 eV, which yielded saturable absorption at the L-edge of Si (99.8 eV) with a drastic increase of transmittance from 8% to 48%.

Development of electroforming process for soft x-ray ellipsoidal mirror

An x-ray ellipsoidal mirror is an ideal tool for focusing soft x-rays. Because nanometer-level shape accuracy is required in the internal surface of a mirror having a small diameter, it is difficult to fabricate the mirror by processing the surface directly. We developed a fabrication process for soft x-ray ellipsoidal mirrors in which the surface of a high-precision quartz mandrel with the inverted shape of the designed mirror is replicated by nickel sulfamate electroforming. In this study, an ellipsoidal mirror of 40-mm length was fabricated and the shape accuracy of the replicated surface was evaluated by a measurement method using a contact probe. The root mean square (RMS) of the replication error in the entire measured surface was 27.2 nm. When the evaluated area was half the replicated surface near the middle of the mirror, the RMS of the replication error was 14.7 nm. Wave-optical simulation suggested that it is possible to focus soft x-rays to a spot with a diameter of 400 nm.

Fabrication of a precise ellipsoidal mirror for soft X-ray nanofocusing

In X-ray focusing, grazing incidence mirrors offer advantages of no chromatic aberration and high focusing efficiency. Although nanofocusing mirrors have been developed for the hard X-ray region, there is no mirror with nanofocusing performance in the soft X-ray region. Designing a system with the ability to focus to a beam size smaller than 100 nm at an X-ray energy of less than 1 keV requires a numerical aperture larger than 0.01. This leads to difficulties in the fabrication of a soft X-ray focusing mirror with high accuracy. Ellipsoidal mirrors enable soft X-ray focusing with a high numerical aperture. In this study, we report a production process for ellipsoidal mirrors involving mandrel fabrication and replication processes. The fabricated ellipsoidal mirror was assessed under partial illumination conditions at the soft X-ray beamline (BL25SU) of SPring-8. A focal spot size of less than 250 nm was confirmed at 300 eV. The focusing tests indicated that the proposed fabrication process is promising for X-ray mirrors that have the form of a solid of revolution, including Wolter mirrors.

A possible connection between tumor necrosis factor alpha and adropin levels in polycystic ovary syndrome

CONTEXT

Adropin is a peptide hormone implicated in the regulation of insulin sensitivity and energy homeostasis. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a metabolic and reproductive disease associated with insulin resistance. It has been demonstrated that various inflammatory markers increased in PCOS including TNF-α. TNF-α regulates the secretion of certain peptides which play a crucial role in glucose and lipid homeostasis. There is also some evidence of a link between TNF-α and adropin.

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain whether there is an association between circulating adropin levels and TNF-α in PCOS.

PATIENTS AND DESIGN

152 women with PCOS and 152 age- and body mass index-matched controls without PCOS were recruited for this cross-sectional study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Adropin and TNF-α levels were measured using ELISA.

RESULTS

Adropin levels were lower in the PCOS group compared with the control group (7.43 ± 0.79 vs. 9.42 ± 0.76 ng/ml, P < 0.001), whereas TNF-α levels were higher (49.93 ± 3.39 vs. 35.83 ± 2.47 pg/ml, P < 0.001). A strongly negative correlation was found between circulating adropin levels and TNF-α levels in women with PCOS (r = -0.407, P < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that decreased adropin levels were significantly associated with high odds of having PCOS, although, after adjustment for TNF-α, this link vanished. Additionally, multiple linear regression analysis showed that HOMA-IR and TFN-α independently predicted adropin levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum adropin levels are significantly decreased in PCOS and are inversely associated with TNF-α. Further dissection of the nature of this association can open new therapeutic options for metabolic diseases.

Development of high-order harmonic focusing system based on ellipsoidal mirror

We have developed a focusing system for extreme ultraviolet light produced by high-order harmonic generation. An ellipsoidal mirror with a precise surface shape was fabricated and installed into the focusing system. A rigid mirror manipulator and a beam profiler were employed to perform precise and stable mirror alignment. As a demonstration of the focusing performance, high-order harmonics in the wavelength range of 13.5-19.5 nm were successfully focused into a 2.4 × 2.3 μm(2) spot.

Lower cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript levels pose a risk for developing PCOS

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) is an anorectic neuropeptide abundantly expressed in the central, peripheral, and enteric nervous systems, as well as in several different endocrine cell types. Besides regulating food intake and endocrine function, it is also proposed to modulate ovarian function during follicular waves in cattle and has potent inhibitory effects on follicular development. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), presenting itself with multiple follicular ovarian cysts, is the most common endocrinological disorder among women of reproductive age. Here we aimed to investigate the association of this peptide with PCOS. Our research was designed as a case-control study, in which a total of 148 subjects (73 with PCOS and 75 age- and BMI-matched CONTROLS) were consecutively recruited. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, lipids, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, CART, and free testosterone levels were measured in all participants. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. CART levels were found to be significantly lower in patients with PCOS (PCOS: 90.77 ± 5.98 pg/ml,

CONTROLS

93.24 ± 8.17 pg/ml, p=0.038). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that CART was significantly and negatively correlated with BMI and waist circumference in both (PCOS and control) groups. In CONTROLS only, CART was positively correlated with insulin and HOMA-IR, and negatively correlated with FBG. Logistic regression analysis results are suggestive of a possible protective effect of CART against PCOS (OR: 0.94, 95% CI=0.888-0.997, p=0.038).

Experimental validation of a novel compact focusing scheme for future energy-frontier linear lepton colliders

A novel scheme for the focusing of high-energy leptons in future linear colliders was proposed in 2001 [P. Raimondi and A. Seryi, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 3779 (2001)]. This scheme has many advantageous properties over previously studied focusing schemes, including being significantly shorter for a given energy and having a significantly better energy bandwidth. Experimental results from the ATF2 accelerator at KEK are presented that validate the operating principle of such a scheme by demonstrating the demagnification of a 1.3 GeV electron beam down to below 65 nm in height using an energy-scaled version of the compact focusing optics designed for the ILC collider.

Seasonal changes of fertilizer impacts on agricultural drainage in a salinized area in Adana, Turkey

Seasonal changes in the impacts of fertilizer on the composition of agricultural drainage water were examined by analyzing the (87)Sr/(86)Sr isotope ratio and chemical composition of drainage water samples. Samples of drainage water were taken from the main drainage canals of the Lower Seyhan Irrigation Project, at sites designated as D10, D11, and D12. Plots of (87)Sr/(86)Sr vs. 1/Sr indicated that the (87)Sr/(86)Sr ratio of drainage water was positively related to those of fertilizer and irrigation water. The origins of Sr in two of the end-components were fertilizer and irrigation water. The data from the end-drain in winter suggested that the origin of Sr in the third end-component was fossil seawater. Analysis of a mixing model incorporating these three end-components showed that the origins of Sr in drainage differed markedly between summer and winter. Fertilizer made the greatest contribution to Sr in drainage water both in summer and winter, contributing 38-72% of total Sr in summer and 64-87% of total Sr in winter. In summer, fertilizer contributed 72% of total Sr in drainage water in D12, 44% in D10, and 38% in D11. This result implies that fertilizer was applied excessively at the D12 site. In winter, seawater accounted for 10% of Sr in drainage water in D12, whereas it accounted for 19-27% of Sr in drainage water in D10 and D11. Therefore, at least 70% of the salt in drainage water originates from fertilizer and irrigation water. At this study site, the salt originating from seawater is replaced by that from fertilizer and irrigation water, due to intensive agricultural management. The study site is a delta that lay on the ocean subsurface at least 3000years ago, and therefore, was originally a primary salinization area. This result suggests that anthropogenic secondary salinization progressed over time via fertilizer and irrigation applications.

Cocktail-substrate assay system for mechanism-based inhibition of CYP2C9, CYP2D6, and CYP3A using human liver microsomes at an early stage of drug development

We established a mechanism-based inhibition cocktail-substrate assay system using human liver microsomes and drug-probe substrates that enabled simultaneous estimation of the inactivation of main cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, and CYP3A, in drug metabolism. The inactivation kinetic parameters of typical mechanism-based inhibitors, tienilic acid, paroxetine, and erythromycin, for each enzyme in the cocktail-substrate assay were almost in agreement with the values obtained in the single-substrate assay. Using this system, we confirmed that multiple CYP inactivation caused by mechanism-based inhibitors such as isoniazid and amiodarone could be detected simultaneously. Mechanism-based inhibition potency can be estimated by the determination of the observed inactivation rate constants (k(obs)) at a single concentration of test compounds because the k(obs) of eleven CYP3A inactivators at 10 microM in the assay system nearly corresponded to k(inact)/K(I) values, an indicator of a compound's propensity to alter the activity of a CYP in vivo (R(2) = 0.97). Therefore, this cocktail-substrate assay is considered to be a powerful tool for evaluating mechanism-based inhibition at an early stage of drug development.

Optical coherence tomography evaluation of zotarolimus-eluting stents at 9-month follow-up: comparison with sirolimus-eluting stents

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the vascular response at 9 months after zotarolimus-eluting stent (ZES; Endeavor) implantation using optical coherence tomography (OCT). These findings were compared with those after implantation of a sirolimus-eluting stent (SES; Cypher Select).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional observational study with prospective OCT registry.

SETTING

Nine months after ZES or SES implantation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 68 patients (32 ZES and 36 SES) underwent OCT at 9 months after stent implantation. The neointima hyperplasia (NIH) thickness inside each strut and percentage of NIH area at every 1 mm cross section were measured.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT

The degree of neointimal coverage and the prevalence of malapposition at 9 months after ZES and SES implantation using OCT.

RESULTS

The mean (SD) NIH thickness (251.2 (110.0) mum vs 85.5 (53.3) mum, p<0.001) and percentage of NIH area (27.9 (9.1)% vs 11.2 (7.1)%, p<0.001) were significantly greater in ZES than in SES. The prevalence of uncovered strut as well as malapposed strut was significantly lower in ZES than in SES (0.3% vs 12.3%, p<0.001 and 0.08% vs 2.6%, p<0.001). Thrombus was not observed in ZES (0.0% in ZES vs 27.8% in SES, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Neointimal coverage in ZES was almost complete and malapposition was very rare at 9-months' follow-up.

Altered activity of lysophospholipase D, which produces bioactive lysophosphatidic acid and choline, in serum from women with pathological pregnancy

Altered lipid metabolism is associated with human abnormal pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia and preterm labor, and potentially leads to fetus loss. A causative factor for the onset and progress of the systemic multifactorial syndromes associated with the pathological pregnancy is oxidized low-density lipoprotein, an active identity of which was postulated to be lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). We previously found that LPA is produced extracellularly by plasma lysophospholipase D (lysoPLD) activity of autotaxin, a tumor cell motility-stimulating protein. In this study, a convenient assay based on the choline released from endogenous substrate or exogenous lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) was used for comparison of serum lysoPLD activity among patients with normal and abnormal pregnancy. The serum choline-producing activity was found to be mainly due to autotaxin, and dependent on its dilution rate. There was some association between low dilution dependency of serum lysoPLD activity toward an exogenous LPC and high lysoPLD activity toward endogenous substrates in cases of patients with preterm labor and pre-eclampsia. However, there was no difference in the serum level of LPC between women with normal pregnancy and those with pathological pregnancy. These results indicate that production of bioactive LPA by lysoPLD activity is elevated by an unknown mechanism that may be related to increased availability of endogenous substrates LPC, but not its concentration in human serum. If the level of LPA in blood circulation is elevated in the pathological pregnancies in vivo, it may play a role in induction and/or progression of systemic vascular dysfunction seen patients with preterm labor or pre-eclampsia.

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of TR-14035, a novel antagonist of α4β1/α4β7 integrin mediated cell adhesion, in rat and dog

The pharmacokinetics and disposition of N-(2,6-dichlorobenzoyl)-4-(2,6-dimethoxyphenyl)-L-phenylalanine (TR-14035), a novel a4ss1/a4ss7 antagonist, were investigated in the rat and dog. Results indicate extensive clearance of TR-14035 and low oral bioavailability, 17% and 13% in the rat and dog, respectively, at an oral dose of 10 mg/kg. At least 63% of the oral dose was absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract in the rat, and about one-third of the intravenous dose was excreted into bile as unchanged drug in the rat and dog. These data indicate that the oral bioavailability of TR-14035 was limited due to significant first-pass metabolism and biliary excretion in the liver. A species-dependent difference in metabolism was observed. The principal metabolite, O-desmethyl TR-14035, observed in rat, dog and probably human, was further conjugated with sulfate in the rat, but never in dog and human, based on in vitro metabolism and in vivo metabolite profile studies. Urinary excretion was a minor elimination route, but an interesting species difference was recognized. TR-14035 was reabsorbed from the rat renal proximal tubules, and by contrast, secreted into the tubules in the dog, probably via active transport systems.

Thrombin induces striatal neurotoxicity depending on mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in vivo

Intracerebral hemorrhage represents stroke characterized by formation and expansion of hematoma within brain parenchyma. Blood-derived factors released from hematoma are considered to be involved in poor prognosis of this disorder. We previously reported that thrombin, a blood-derived serine protease, induced cytotoxicity in the cerebral cortex and the striatum in organotypic slice cultures, which depended on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Here we investigated the mechanisms of thrombin cytotoxicity in the striatum in vivo. Thrombin microinjected into the striatum of adult rats induced neuronal death and microglial activation around the injection site. Neuronal loss without any sign of nuclear fragmentation was observed as early as 4 h after thrombin injection, which was followed by gradual neuronal death exhibiting nuclear fragmentation. Thrombin-induced damage assessed at 72 h after injection was partially but significantly reduced by concomitant administration of inhibitors of MAPK pathways. Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 MAPK in response to thrombin was verified by Western blot analysis. Moreover, phosphorylated ERK and p38 MAPK were localized prominently in reactive microglia, and inhibition of microglial activation by minocycline attenuated thrombin-induced damage, suggesting that reactive microglia were responsible for thrombin-induced neuronal death. Thus, MAPK pathways and microglial activation may serve as therapeutic targets of pathogenic conditions associated with hemorrhagic stroke.

Differences in pharmacokinetics and hepatobiliary transport of a novel anti-inflammatory agent between normal and adjuvant arthritis rats

1. The pharmacokinetics, particularly the hepatobiliary transport of T-5557 ((3-methyl-2-oxo-piperadin-3-yl)-acetic acid N'-(3-thieophen-2-yl-8-methoxy-quinazolin-1-yl)-hydrazide), a novel anti-inflammatory agent, has been examined in normal and adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats. 2. Following oral administration of T-5557, the absolute bioavailability in AA rats was increased by sixfold compared with normal rats. The extent of binding T-5557 to plasma proteins obtained from AA rats was markedly greater than in normal rats (97.0 versus 88.2%). The biliary clearance in AA rats was significantly lower than that in normal rats (1.186 versus 5.621 ml min(-1) kg(-1)), and lower intrinsic biliary clearance was also observed in AA rats (40.33 versus 69.83 ml min(-1) kg(-1)). 3. Concomitant administration of T-5557 with quinidine, a potent P-glycoprotein inhibitor, to normal rats caused a significant decrease in the biliary clearance of T-5557 by 37.9%. Moreover, the transport of T-5557 for the apical-to-basal compartment in a Caco-2 cells' monolayer was fourfold lower than that for the opposite direction, and was increased in the presence of quinidine and verapamil. 4. These results suggest that P-glycoprotein is involved in the biliary excretion of T-5557 and the decrease in the transport activity as well as the increase in plasma protein binding caused the elevated plasma concentration and bioavailability of T-5557 in AA rats.

Decreased hepatobiliary transport of methotrexate in adjuvant arthritis rats

1. We investigated the difference in hepatobiliary transport of methotrexate in normal and adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats and substantiated the expression level of multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) in the liver. 2. Biliary clearance of methotrexate in normal and AA rats was calculated from plasma concentrations and biliary excretion following intravenous infusion and hepatic uptake clearance was estimated from an integration plot using methotrexate concentrations in plasma and liver. 3. Biliary clearance of methotrexate in AA rats was 2.30 +/- 0.23 ml min(-1) kg(-1) (mean SD) and significantly lower than in normal rats (8.42 +/- 0.81 ml min(-1) kg(-1)). The uptake clearance of methotrexate in AA rats was also lower than in normal rats (0.138 versus 0.278 ml min(-1) g liver(-1)). 4. MRP2 in the liver was detected by fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled antibody and visualized using a confocal laser microscope system. The expression level of MRP2 in AA rats was very low compared with normal rats, indicating a down-regulation in AA rats. 5. In conclusion, biliary clearance of methotrexate was decreased due to the lower activities in both uptake and canalicular secretion, suggesting that several active transporters in the liver, including MRP2, are down-regulated in AA rats.

Decreased activity of hepatic P-glycoprotein in the isolated perfused liver of the adjuvant arthritis rat

1. We investigated the hepatobiliary transport of doxorubicin in the isolated perfused liver prepared from the adjuvant arthritis rat, an animal model for rheumatoid arthritis, to examine the hepatic P-glycoprotein activity in the adjuvant arthritis rat. 2. Liver was isolated from the normal and the adjuvant arthritis rat and perfused for 60 min with recirculating buffer and the perfusate and bile samples were collected at timed interval. 3. The elimination of doxorubicin in the adjuvant arthritis rat tended to be reduced, but it was not significantly different from the normal rat. Biliary clearance (CL(bile)) in the normal rat was 1.93 +/- 0.48 ml min(-1), whereas, CL(bile) in the adjuvant arthritis rat was significantly decreased to 0.40 +/- 0.13 ml min(-1). 4. CL(bile) was markedly decreased to about 0.15 ml min(-1) in the presence of 100 microM verapamil in both types of rat. Methotrexate treatment had no effect on CL(bile) in both the normal and adjuvant arthritis rat (2.18 +/- 0.22 and 0.47 +/- 0.22 ml min(-1), respectively). 5. The results suggest that the hepatic P-glycoprotein activity was markedly decreased in the adjuvant arthritis rat and the effect of methotrexate on the hepatic P-glycoprotein activity did not corresponded to its anti-inflammatory effect.

[Thrombus entrapped in a patent foramen ovale of the atrial septum]

A 59-year-old women was referred to our hospital due to severe dyspnea and shock status 12 days after intracranial hematoma evacuation for the hypertensive right putaminal hemorrhage. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed right ventricular dilatation and floating structures in the right atrium. Transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a large, snake-like structure crossing her foramen ovale of the interatrial septum, and impending paradoxical embolism was diagnosed. She did not receive any anticoagulation and surgery due to recent cerebral hemorrhage. Follow-up TEE showed complete disappearance of the thrombus in the atrium two weeks after the onset. Phlebogram of deep vein demonstrated several thrombus in her leg. She underwent placement of inferior vena cava filter and was discharged from our hospital without any symptom of paradoxical embolism.

The murine winged helix transcription factors, Foxc1 and Foxc2, are both required for cardiovascular development and somitogenesis

The murine Foxc1/Mf1 and Foxc2/Mfh1 genes encode closely related forkhead/winged helix transcription factors with overlapping expression in the forming somites and head mesoderm and endothelial and mesenchymal cells of the developing heart and blood vessels. Embryos lacking either Foxc1 or Foxc2, and most compound heterozygotes, die pre- or perinatally with similar abnormal phenotypes, including defects in the axial skeleton and cardiovascular system. However, somites and major blood vessels do form. This suggested that the genes have similar, dose-dependent functions, and compensate for each other in the early development of the heart, blood vessels, and somites. In support of this hypothesis, we show here that compound Foxc1; Foxc2 homozygotes die earlier and with much more severe defects than single homozygotes alone. Significantly, they have profound abnormalities in the first and second branchial arches, and the early remodeling of blood vessels. Moreover, they show a complete absence of segmented paraxial mesoderm, including anterior somites. Analysis of compound homozygotes shows that Foxc1 and Foxc2 are both required for transcription in the anterior presomitic mesoderm of paraxis, Mesp1, Mesp2, Hes5, and Notch1, and for the formation of sharp boundaries of Dll1, Lfng, and ephrinB2 expression. We propose that the two genes interact with the Notch signaling pathway and are required for the prepatterning of anterior and posterior domains in the presumptive somites through a putative Notch/Delta/Mesp regulatory loop.

The winged helix transcription factor Foxc1a is essential for somitogenesis in zebrafish

Previous studies identified zebrafish foxc1a and foxc1b as homologs of the mouse forkhead gene, Foxc1. Both genes are transcribed in the unsegmented presomitic mesoderm (PSM), newly formed somites, adaxial cells, and head mesoderm. Here, we show that inhibiting synthesis of Foxc1a (but not Foxc1b) protein with two different morpholino antisense oligonucleotides blocks formation of morphological somites, segment boundaries, and segmented expression of genes normally transcribed in anterior and posterior somites and expression of paraxis implicated in somite epithelialization. Patterning of the anterior PSM is also affected, as judged by the absence of mesp-b, ephrinB2, and ephA4 expression, and the down-regulation of notch5 and notch6. In contrast, the expression of other genes, including mesp-a and papc, in the anterior of somite primordia, and the oscillating expression of deltaC and deltaD in the PSM appear normal. Nevertheless, this expression is apparently insufficient for the maturation of the presumptive somites to proceed to the stage when boundary formation occurs or for the maintenance of anterior/posterior patterning. Mouse embryos that are compound null mutants for Foxc1 and the closely related Foxc2 have no morphological somites and show abnormal expression of Notch signaling pathway genes in the anterior PSM. Therefore, zebrafish foxc1a plays an essential and conserved role in somite formation, regulating both the expression of paraxis and the A/P patterning of somite primordia.

Real-time [11C]methionine translocation in barley in relation to mugineic acid phytosiderophore biosynthesis

[11C]Methionine was supplied through barley roots and the 11C signal was followed for 90 min using a real-time imaging system (PETIS), with subsequent development of autoradiographic images of the whole plant. In all cases, [11C]methionine was first translocated to the 'discrimination center', the basal part of the shoot, and this part was most strongly labeled. Methionine absorbed by the roots of the plants was subsequently translocated to other parts of the plant. In Fe-deficient barley plants, a drastic reduction in [11C]methionine translocation from the roots to the shoot was observed, while a greater amount of 11C was found in the leaves of Fe-sufficient or methionine-pretreated Fe-deficient plants. Treatment of Fe-deficient plants with aminooxyacetic acid, an inhibitor of nicotianamine aminotransferase, increased the translocation of [11C]methionine to the shoot. The retention of exogenously supplied [11C]methionine in the roots of Fe-deficient barley indicates that the methionine is used in the biosynthesis of mugineic acid phytosiderophores in barley roots. This and the absence of methionine movement from shoots to the roots suggest that the mugineic acid precursor methionine originates in the roots of plants.

High-pressure elastic properties of solid argon to 70 GPa

The acoustic velocities, adiabatic elastic constants, bulk modulus, elastic anisotropy, Cauchy violation, and density in an ideal solid argon (Ar) have been determined at high pressures up to 70 GPa in a diamond anvil cell by making new approaches of Brillouin spectroscopy. These results place the first complete study for elastic properties of dense Ar and provide an improved basis for making the theoretical calculations of rare-gas solids over a wide range of compression.