Anti-apoptotic effect by Bcl-2 in UVB-irradiated keratinocytes.

Takahashi, Hidetoshi,Honma, Masaru,Ishida-Yamamoto, Akemi,Namikawa, Kazuhiko,Miwa, Akiko,Okado, Haruo,Kiyama, Hiroshi,Iizuka, Hajime Korean Society of Photoscience 2002 Journal of Photosciences Vol.9 No.2

Bcl-2 is a member of large bcl-2 family and protects cells from apoptosis. Using bcl-2-expressing adenovirus vector (Ad-bc1-2), we investigated the effect of bc1-2 on UVB-induced apoptosis. Adenovirus vector efficiently introduced bc1-2 gene in cultured normal mouse keratinocytes (NMK cells); almost all NMK cells (lx10$^{6}$ ) were transfected at Ixl0$^{8}$ PFU/ml. Bcl-2-transfected NMK cells were significantly resistant to UVB-induced apoptosis with the suppressive effect dependent on bcl-2-expression level. Following UVB irradiation caspase 8, 3, 9 activities were stimulated in NMK cells, while in bc1-2-transfected cells, only caspase 8, but not caspase 3 or 9 activities were stimulated. In order to investigate the effect of bc1-2 in vivo, topical application of Ad-bc1-2 on tape-stripped mouse skin was performed. Following the application, Bc1-2 was efficiently overexpressed in almost all viable keratinocytes. The expression was transient with the maximal expression of Bc1-2 at 1st day following the application of lxl0$^{9}$ PFU in 200ml. The introduced Bc1-2 remained at least for 6 days. UVB irradiation (1250 J/m$^2$) induced apoptosis within 12 h and the maximal effect was observed at 24 h in control mouse skin. Bc1-2-transfected mice skin were resistant to UVB-induced apoptosis. Topical application of empty adenovirus vector alone had no effect on Bc1-2 expression or UVB-induced apoptosis. These results indicate that adenovirus vector is an efficient gene delivery system into keratinocytes and that Bcl-2 is a potent inhibitor of UVB-induced apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo.

Myocardial Coverage and Radiation Dose in Dynamic Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Using Third-Generation Dual-Source CT

Masafumi Takafuji,Kakuya Kitagawa,Masaki Ishida,Yoshitaka Goto,Satoshi Nakamura,Naoki Nagasawa,Hajime Sakuma 대한영상의학회 2020 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.21 No.1

Objective: Third-generation dual-source computed tomography (3rd-DSCT) allows dynamic myocardial CT perfusion imaging (dynamic CTP) with a 10.5-cm z-axis coverage. Although the increased radiation exposure associated with the 50% wider scan range compared to second-generation DSCT (2nd-DSCT) may be suppressed by using a tube voltage of 70 kV, it remains unclear whether image quality and the ability to quantify myocardial blood flow (MBF) can be maintained under these conditions. This study aimed to compare the image quality, estimated MBF, and radiation dose of dynamic CTP between 2nd- DSCT and 3rd-DSCT and to evaluate whether a 10.5-cm coverage is suitable for dynamic CTP. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 107 patients who underwent dynamic CTP using 2nd-DSCT at 80 kV (n = 54) or 3rd-DSCT at 70 kV (n = 53). Image quality, estimated MBF, radiation dose, and coverage of left ventricular (LV) myocardium were compared. Results: No significant differences were observed between 3rd-DSCT and 2nd-DSCT in contrast-to-noise ratio (37.4 ± 11.4 vs. 35.5 ± 11.2, p = 0.396). Effective radiation dose was lower with 3rd-DSCT (3.97 ± 0.92 mSv with a conversion factor of 0.017 mSv/mGy∙cm) compared to 2nd-DSCT (5.49 ± 1.36 mSv, p < 0.001). Incomplete coverage was more frequent with 2nd-DSCT than with 3rd-DSCT (1.9% [1/53] vs. 56% [30/54], p < 0.001). In propensity score-matched cohorts, MBF was comparable between 3rd-DSCT and 2nd-DSCT in non-ischemic (146.2 ± 26.5 vs. 157.5 ± 34.9 mL/min/100 g, p = 0.137) as well as ischemic myocardium (92.7 ± 21.1 vs. 90.9 ± 29.7 mL/min/100 g, p = 0.876). Conclusion: The radiation increase inherent to the widened z-axis coverage in 3rd-DSCT can be balanced by using a tube voltage of 70 kV without compromising image quality or MBF quantification. In dynamic CTP, a z-axis coverage of 10.5 cm is sufficient to achieve complete coverage of the LV myocardium in most patients.

Variability of Surface Water Properties in the Japan/East Sea on Different Time Scales

Ponomarev, Vladimir,Rudykh, Natalya,Dmitrieva, Elena,Ishida, Hajime Korea Institute of Ocean ScienceTechnology 2009 Ocean and Polar Research Vol.31 No.2

This study examined the multi-scale variabilities of sea surface temperature (SST) and salinity in the Japan/East Sea (JES) based on statistical analyses of observational data, with a focus on the northwestern part of the sea. The regionality of JES SST variability was estimated for different frequency ranges on semimonthly (11-17 days), monthly to seasonal (30-90 days), quasi-semiannual (157-220 days), and quasi-biennial (1.5-3 years) time scales using cluster analyses of daily gridded SST data for 1996 to 2007 from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Several significant peaks and regional cores were found in each frequency range of the SST anomaly (SSTA) oscillations. Quasi-semiannual SSTA oscillations with high amplitude were found in the south-southwestern part of the Japan Basin ($41-43^{\circ}N$) and were amplified in the area adjacent to Peter the Great Bay. Oscillations with periods of 79 and 55 days also prevailed over the southwest Japan Basin between the Yamato Rise and the continental slope. A similar method was applied to classify SST and the annual cycle of surface salinity using Generalized Digital Environmental Model (GDEM) gridded data. The Tatarskii Strait and adjacent area showed the most specific annual cycles and variability in salinity on interannual to interdecadal time scales. The most significant inverse relationship between surface salinity in the Tatarskii Strait and southern JES areas was found on the interdecadal time scale. Linkages of sea water salinity in the Tatarskii Strait with Amur River discharge and wind velocity over Amurskii Liman were also revealed.

Variability of Surface Water Properties in the Japan/East Sea on Different Time Scales

Vladimir Ponomarev,Natalya Rudykh,Elena Dmitrieva,Hajime Ishida 한국해양과학기술원 2009 Ocean and Polar Research Vol.31 No.2

This study examined the multi-scale variabilities of sea surface temperature (SST) and salinity in the Japan/East Sea (JES) based on statistical analyses of observational data, with a focus on the northwestern part of the sea. The regionality of JES SST variability was estimated for different frequency ranges on semimonthly (11-17 days), monthly to seasonal (30-90 days), quasi-semiannual (157-220 days), and quasi-biennial (1.5-3 years) time scales using cluster analyses of daily gridded SST data for 1996 to 2007 from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Several significant peaks and regional cores were found in each frequency range of the SST anomaly (SSTA) oscillations. Quasi-semiannual SSTA oscillations with high amplitude were found in the south-southwestern part of the Japan Basin (41-43oN) and were amplified in the area adjacent to Peter the Great Bay. Oscillations with periods of 79 and 55 days also prevailed over the southwest Japan Basin between the Yamato Rise and the continental slope. A similar method was applied to classify SST and the annual cycle of surface salinity using Generalized Digital Environmental Model (GDEM) gridded data. The Tatarskii Strait and adjacent area showed the most specific annual cycles and variability in salinity on interannual to interdecadal time scales. The most significant inverse relationship between surface salinity in the Tatarskii Strait and southern JES areas was found on the interdecadal time scale. Linkages of sea water salinity in the Tatarskii Strait with Amur River discharge and wind velocity over Amurskii Liman were also revealed. This study examined the multi-scale variabilities of sea surface temperature (SST) and salinity in the Japan/East Sea (JES) based on statistical analyses of observational data, with a focus on the northwestern part of the sea. The regionality of JES SST variability was estimated for different frequency ranges on semimonthly (11-17 days), monthly to seasonal (30-90 days), quasi-semiannual (157-220 days), and quasi-biennial (1.5-3 years) time scales using cluster analyses of daily gridded SST data for 1996 to 2007 from the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Several significant peaks and regional cores were found in each frequency range of the SST anomaly (SSTA) oscillations. Quasi-semiannual SSTA oscillations with high amplitude were found in the south-southwestern part of the Japan Basin (41-43oN) and were amplified in the area adjacent to Peter the Great Bay. Oscillations with periods of 79 and 55 days also prevailed over the southwest Japan Basin between the Yamato Rise and the continental slope. A similar method was applied to classify SST and the annual cycle of surface salinity using Generalized Digital Environmental Model (GDEM) gridded data. The Tatarskii Strait and adjacent area showed the most specific annual cycles and variability in salinity on interannual to interdecadal time scales. The most significant inverse relationship between surface salinity in the Tatarskii Strait and southern JES areas was found on the interdecadal time scale. Linkages of sea water salinity in the Tatarskii Strait with Amur River discharge and wind velocity over Amurskii Liman were also revealed.

The role of polymorphisms associated with early tooth eruption in dental and occlusal traits in EastAsian populations

Tetsutaro Yamaguchi,Akira Kawaguchi,Yong-Il Kim,Shugo Haga,Koshu Katayama,Hajime Ishida,Soo-Byung Park,Koutaro Maki,Ryosuke Kimura 대한치과교정학회 2014 대한치과교정학회지 Vol.44 No.2

Objective: A recent study suggested that rs6504340, a polymorphism within the homeobox B (HOXB) gene cluster, is associated with the susceptibility for malocclusions in Europeans. The resulting malocclusions require orthodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of rs6504340 and other dentition-implicated polymorphisms with dental and occlusal traits in Korean and Japanese populations. Methods: The study participants included 223 unrelated Koreans from the Busan area and 256 unrelated Japanese individuals from the Tokyo metropolitan area. DNA samples were extracted from saliva specimens. Genotyping for rs6504340 and four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that have been shown to be associated with the timing of first tooth eruption and the number of teeth at 1 year of age (rs10506525, rs1956529, rs9674544, and rs8079702) was performed using TaqMan assays. The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN), overjet, overbite, arch length discrepancy, crown sizes, and length and width of the dental arches were measured. Spearman’s correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate relationships between rs6504340 and these dental/occlusal traits. Results: We evaluated the aesthetic components and dental health components of the IOTN in the Korean and Japanese populations and found that neither rs6504340 nor the other four SNPs showed any association with dental and occlusal traits in these East Asian populations. Conclusions: These negative results suggest that further research is needed to identify the genetic determinants of malocclusions in order to reach a consensus.

Formation and Cycloreversion of 2-Silacyclobuta[2.3]cyclophances via Photoinduced Electron Transfer

Mizuno, Kazuhiko,Nakanishi, Kazuhisa,Otsuji, Yoshio,Hayamizu, Tomoo,Maeda, Hajime,Adachi, Tomohiro,Ishida, Akito,Takamuku, Setsuo Korean Society of Photoscience 2003 Journal of Photosciences Vol.10 No.1

Irradiation of an acetonitrile solution containing dimethylbis(4-vinylphenylmethyl)silane 1a in the presence of 9,10-dicyanoanthracene leads to formation of the intramolecular photocycloadduct, 2-sila-cyclobuta[2.3]cyclophane(2a). In contrast, prolonged irradiation gave insoluble polymeric material. The photocycloreversion of 2a occurs efficiently (quantum yields exceeds unity) by use of redox-type photosensitization in the presence of magnesium perchlorate. The transient absorption spectra generated by pulse radiolysis and gamma-radiolysis show that the radical cation species generated from 1a is different from that arising from 2a.

Anti-tumor Immunity and Radioprotection Effect by Fuscoporia oblique

Yeunhwa Gu,Yuka Itokawa,Toshihiro Maenaka,Takenori Yamashita,Kenichiro Tanaka,Koru Tano,Hiroyo Kondo,Insuk Choi,Torao Ishida,Takashi Nakamura,Kiyoto Saito,Kaoru Terai,Hajime Monzen,Masami Oshima,Tetsu 한의병리학회 2005 대한동의병리학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2005 No.8

Isolated Right Ventricular Apical Hypoplasia: A Case Report with 18 Years of Follow Up

Oya Takashi,Kitagawa Kakuya,Kokawa Takanori,Nakajima Hiroshi,Nakamori Shiro,Ogihara Yoshito,Nakata Kei,Ishida Masaki,Ichikawa Yasutaka,Sakuma Hajime 아시아심장혈관영상의학회 2021 Cardiovascular Imaging Asia Vol.5 No.2

Isolated right ventricular (RV) hypoplasia is a rare congenital anomaly in which the apical trabecular component of the ventricle fails to develop. In severe forms of isolated RV hypoplasia, patients usually develop cyanosis early in life and require prompt surgical intervention. Mild forms, however, can be asymptomatic until the development of severe tricuspid regurgitation due to annular dilatation. We report a 50-year-old woman with isolated RV apical hypoplasia who presented to our hospital 18 years ago and was followed with serial imaging studies.

Characterization of Lignin Structure in Chemithermomechanical Pulp Predicting Photo-Yellowing Level by Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography with Tetrabuthylammonium Hydroxide

TOSHIHIRO ONA,AKI YOSHIOKA,YASUO KOJIMA,TERUYUKI SEINO,MIHO MIZUMOTO,HIDEO NOZAKI,YASUYUKI ISHIDA,HAJIME OHTANI 한국펄프·종이공학회 2006 한국펄프종이학회 기타 간행물 Vol.- No.-

Pyrolysis-gas chromatography (Py-GC) in the presence of organic alkali of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAH) was applied to characterize the polyphenol fragments with a carbonyl group causing different magnitude of photoyellowing in chemithermomechanical pulp (CTMP) papers. Two different origin of CTMP papers prepared from different individuals of Eucalyptus globulus trees showing high and low yellowing after photo-irradiation was compared before photo-irradiation. As a result, 7 peaks assigned to a series of phenol compounds with a carbonyl group, derived mainly from lignin, gave significant amount of phenol compounds with a carbonyl group for the paper sample of latent high yellowing, i.e., butoxy- and syringaldehyde, butoxy- and syringylacetone, butoxy-acetoguaiacone, butoxy-acetosyringone, butoxy-acetoethylsyringone, 3-methoxy-4-butoxy butyl ester, and 3,5-dimethoxy-4-butoxy butyl ester, using Py-GC/mass spectrometry (MS). The Py-GC method combined with TBAH successfully characterized polyphenol fragments with a carbonyl group causing differ high photo-yellowing in CTMP papers using a microgram order of samples.

Antioxidant activity and anti-tumor immunity by Propolis in mice

Choi, In-Sook,Itokawa, Yuka,Maenaka, Toshihiro,Yamashita, Takenori,Mitsumoto, Morihide,Tano, Kaoru,Kondo, Hiroyo,Ishida, Torao,Nakamura, Takashi,Saito, Kiyoto,Terai, Kaoru,Monzen, Hajime,Oshima, Masam Kyung Hee Oriental Medicine Research Center 2005 Oriental pharmacy and experimental medicine Vol.5 No.2

In South America, natural products with unknown drug effects are used as folk remedies and for preventive medicine. Among South American natural products, we directed our attention to Propolis, which have been known as medicinal plants, and examined the mechanisms by which these substances affect antioxidant activity, anti-tumor activity and immunoresponse. When the antioxidant activities of Propolis were examined by the DPPH and Rhoudan iron methods, since Propolis contains high levels of flavonoids, it is thought that flavonoids may be responsible for the antioxidant activity in this study. In the examination of immunoenhancement activity, we measured lymphocyte versus polymorphonuclear leukocyte ratios (L/P activity). The number of lymphocytes was significantly increased in groups treated with Proplolis. Specifically, slightly high levels of $IFN-{\gamma}$ were measured in mice bearing the S-180 carcinoma, after administration of Propolis. This strongly suggests that cellular immunity is especially activated by treatment with Propolis, because production of $IFN-{\alpha}$ is limited to the T cells and NK cells stimulated by mitogen and sensitized antigen. $TNF-{\alpha}$ shows a different extent and mechanism of action depending on the target cells. When $TNF-{\alpha}$ was measured in mice bearing the S-180 carcinoma, mice treated with Propolis showed slightly higher $TNF-{\alpha}$ levels as compared to the control group. This suggests that activated macrophages produce $TNF-{\alpha}$ in mice treated with Prapolis, since activated macrophages and lymphocytes are the source of most $TNF-{\alpha}$. When anti-tumor action was examined using two kinds of sarcoma (Ehrlich solid carcinoma and Sarcoma-180 carcinoma), tumor-suppressive ratios after treatment with Propolis was 29.1%. When Sarcoma-180 solid carcinoma was used, tumor-suppressive ratios were 62%. Thus, Propolis showed strong anti-tumor activity against two kinds of solid carcinoma. Taken altogether, this strongly suggests that Propolis enhances original functions of macrophages and NK cells, and as a result, secondarily enhances the immune reaction and suppresses tumor growth.