Removal of I from radioactive experimental waste with an anion exchange paper membrane

The behavior of radioactive iodide and chloride ions through an anion exchange paper membrane to remove ¹²⁵I from radioactive experimental waste has been studied with nonequilibrium thermodynamic analyses. Anion exchange paper membrane was found to be electroconductively more permeable to iodide ion than to chloride ion. The iodide ion bound more strongly to the anion exchange site within a membrane phase than the chloride ion by more than twice. The results suggested that an anion exchange paper membrane was appropriate for the filtration removal system.     

The Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Does Not Predict Further Miscarriage in Japanese Couples Experiencing Recurrent Miscarriages

Problem  It has been a matter of controversy whether the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is actually a causal factor of miscarriages because of the absence of internationally established criteria. We, therefore, in this study investigated whether PCOS and a polycystic ovary (PCO) morphology have predictive value for subsequent miscarriages using new International and Japanese criteria.
Method of study  A total of 195 patients with a history of two consecutive first trimester miscarriages and without abnormal chromosomes in either partner, antiphospholipid antibodies or uterine anomalies, were examined. The prospective pregnancy outcome was compared between patients with and without PCOS, PCO morphology, elevated luteinizing hormone (LH), hyperandrogenism and obesity.
Results  Of a total of 195 patients, 56 (28.7%) miscarried subsequently. Three (1.5%) and 12 (6.2%) were diagnosed as suffering from PCOS by Japanese and International criteria respectively. There was no relation between a diagnosis of PCOS, PCO morphology, elevated LH, free testosterone or obesity and the subsequent miscarriage rate.
Conclusion  A routine test for diagnosis of PCOS is not necessary in patients experiencing recurrent miscarriages because none of the related parameters examined in this study predicted subsequent miscarriage.     

Alteration of adipokines during peripheral blood stem cell mobilization induced by granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor

Adipokines, soluble mediators produced by adipocytes, have been shown to play a role in various physiological and pathological conditions. We investigated the involvement of adipokines in granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF)‐induced mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells in 21 healthy donors. We found that serum visfatin and resistin levels, but not leptin and adiponectin levels, were significantly elevated by G‐CSF treatment. G‐CSF treatment activated signaling proteins like extracellular signal‐regulated kinase and stimulated secretion of visfatin from 3T3‐L1 adipocytes. These findings suggest that some adipokines may play a role in G‐CSF‐induced mobilization of stem cells from the bone marrow into systemic circulation. J. Clin. Apheresis 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Chemically induced lung and forestomach neoplasias in transgenic mice carry mutant forms of the human c-Ha-ras transgene

Susceptibility to lung carcinogens and genetic changes in neoplasticlesions were investigated in transgenic mice carrying a humanhybrid c-Ha-ras gene, encoding a prototype p21 gene product.Nine-week-old male and female transgenic mice and non-transgeniclittermates were injected i.p. with 6-nitrochrysene (6NC) threetimes biweekly or administerted urethane in their drinking waterfor 3 weeks. Control mice were given dimethylsulfoxide(DMSO),the solvent for 6NC,alone. The incidences of lung adenocarcinomaswere four out of seven female (57%)transgenic mice treated with6NC and three out of three males (100%) and three out of threefemales (100%) receiving urethane. No adenocarcinomas were observedin control animals or non-transgenic mice. Adenomas developedin all treated groups, but the incidence and multiplicity werehigher in transgenic animals than in their non-transgenic counterparts.In the 6NC-treated group, forestomach papillomas and squamouscell carcinomas were also observed in both male (25 and 50%)and female (56 and 33%) transgenic mice. PCR-SSCP and DNA sequenceanalysis of these induced lesions revealed point mutations atcodon 61 of transgenic human c-Ha-ras, from CAG (Gin) to CTG(Leu) or CAG (Gin) to AAG (Lyn) in lung hyperplasias (two outof three), an adenoma (one out of two), adenocarcinomas (fiveout of seven) and forestomach squamous cell carcinomas (fourout of five). Mutations were not observed in forestomach papillomas.No changes in mouse Ha-ras or KI-ras were found in any lesions.Furthermore, p21 overexpression was not evident in lung or forestomachtumors on immunohistochemical analysis. These findings indicatea high sensitivity to lung carcinogens in transgenicmice carryingthe human c-Ha-ras gene and that this might be effected by mutationalactivation.     

Application of fusogenic liposomes containing fragment A of diphtheria toxin to cancer therapy.

Previously we reported that fusogenic liposomes, prepared by fusing simple liposomes with Sendai virus particles, could introduce their contents directly and efficiently into the cytoplasm. In this study, we examined the anti-tumour activity of fusogenic liposomes containing fragment A of diphtheria toxin (DTA). Fusogenic liposomes containing DTA showed high cytotoxicity against sarcoma-180 (S-180) cells in vitro. When these liposomes were administered into the abdominal cavity of ddY mice carrying S-180, tumour cells completely disappeared in four of six tumour-bearing mice without decrease in body weight. Neither simple liposomes containing DTA nor empty fusogenic liposomes had any effect on tumour suppression. We conclude that fusogenic liposomes containing DTA are new and potentially effective tools for the treatment of ascites tumours without any severe side-effects.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of antigens expressed on rat tumor vascular endothelial cells

We have previously prepared monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against tumor vasculature using cultured rat tumor endothelial cells (TECs) isolated from solid KMT-17 tumors and identified 40 and 80 kDa antigens recognized by TES-17 and TES-23 MAbs, respectively. To clarify the nature of antigens on tumor vasculature, molecular cloning was conducted by screening the rat TEC cDNA library. Two antigens were detected: a 40 kDa OTS-8 antigen, which had been defined as a differentiation marker for osteoblastic lineage, and an 80 kDa CD44H antigen. Northern blots showed that OTS-8 mRNA was expressed exclusively in the lung, in addition to TECs, while CD44H mRNA was detected in the lung, intestine, spleen, thymus and peripheral blood cells, in addition to TECs. Immuno-histochemistry of KMT-17 tumors revealed that OTS-8 and CD44 were expressed on sprouting TECs. In addition, TES-23 MAb stained TECs of tubular vessels as well as sprouting TECs, but anti-rat CD44 MAbs stained only sprouting TECs. PCR showed that CD44 cDNA with a splice in exon 6 (CD44ex6) was present in rat TECs at low levels. Our results indicate that OTS-8 and CD44 are expressed on rat sprouting TECs and that TES-23 MAb recognizes CD44H on sprouting TECs as well as an unknown epitope on TECs of tubular vessels that could not be recognized by anti-rat CD44 MAbs.