Enhancement of optical Faraday effect of nonanuclear Tb(III) complexes.

The effective magneto-optical properties of novel nonanuclear Tb(III) complexes with Tb-O lattice (specifically, [Tb9(sal-R)16(µ-OH)10](+)NO3(-), where sal-R = alkyl salicylate (R = -CH3 (Me), -C2H5 (Et), -C3H7 (Pr), or -C4H9 (Bu)) are reported. The geometrical structures of these nonanuclear Tb(III) complexes were characterized using X-ray single-crystal analysis and shape-measure calculation. Optical Faraday rotation was observed in nonanuclear Tb(III) complexes in the visible region. The Verdet constant per Tb(III) ion of the Tb9(sal-Me) complex is 150 times larger than that of general Tb(III) oxide glass. To understand their large Faraday rotation, electron paramagnetic resonance measurements of Gd(III) complexes were carried out. In this Report, the magneto-optical relation to the coordination geometry of Tb ions is discussed.

Effective optical Faraday rotations of semiconductor EuS nanocrystals with paramagnetic transition-metal ions.

Novel EuS nanocrystals containing paramagnetic Mn(II), Co(II), or Fe(II) ions have been reported as advanced semiconductor materials with effective optical rotation under a magnetic field, Faraday rotation. EuS nanocrystals with transition-metal ions, EuS:M nanocrystals, were prepared by the reduction of the Eu(III) dithiocarbamate complex tetraphenylphosphonium tetrakis(diethyldithiocarbamate)europium(III) with transition-metal complexes at 300 °C. The EuS:M nanocrystals thus prepared were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroanalysis (ICP-AES), and a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Enhanced Faraday rotations of the EuS:M nanocrystals were observed around 550 nm, and their enhanced spin polarization was estimated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements. In this report, the magneto-optical relationship between the Faraday rotation efficiency and spin polarization is discussed.

Enhanced magneto-optical properties of semiconductor EuS nanocrystals assisted by surface plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles.

Remarkable magneto-optical properties of a new isolator material, that is, europium sulfide nanocrystals with gold (EuS-Au nanosystem), has been demonstrated for a future photo-information technology. Attachment of gold particles that exhibit surface plasmon resonance leads to amplification of the magneto-optical properties of the EuS nanocrystals. To construct the EuS-Au nanosystems, cubic EuS and spherical Au nanocrystals have been joined by a variety of organic linkers, that is, 1,2-ethanedithiol (EDT), 1,6-hexanedithiol (HDT), 1,10-decanedithiol (DDT), 1,4-bisethanethionaphthalene (NpEDT), or 1,4-bisdecanethionaphthalene (NpDDT) . Formation of these systems was observed by XRD, TEM, and absorption spectra measurements. The magneto-optical properties of the EuS-Au nanosystem have been characterized by using Faraday rotation spectroscopy. The Faraday rotation angle of the EuS-Au nanosystem is dependent on the Au particle size and interparticle distance between EuS and Au nanocrystals. Enhancement of the Faraday rotation of EuS-Au nanosystems was observed. The spin configuration in the excited state of the EuS-Au nanosystem was also investigated using photo-assisted electron paramagnetic resonance.

Estradiol protects hair cells from cisplatin-induced ototoxicity via Nrf2 activation.

Cisplatin-induced ototoxicity is caused by reactive oxygen species. It has been recognized that estradiol (E2) regulates redox balance. However, little is known about the protective mechanisms of E2 against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. In this study, we investigated the effect of E2 on nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated hair cell protection using the organ of Corti isolated from mice. The organ of Corti collected from C57BL/6 mice at 3-5 postnatal days was used in all experiments. The organ of Corti was exposed to 20 µM cisplatin with/without 100 nM E2 to examine the effect of E2 on cisplatin-induced hair cell loss. The mRNA expression of Nrf2 and the phase II detoxification gene after E2 and cisplatin treatment was analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR. E2 significantly reduces cisplatin-induced cochlear hair cell death. In addition, 100 nM E2 increased the mRNA expression of Nrf2 and phase II detoxification genes in the organ of Corti under cisplatin treatment. Our results suggest that E2 activates Nrf2, phase II detoxification enzymes and exerts a protective effect against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.

Development of Monoclonal Antibodies Specific to Either CD300AR111 or CD300AQ111 or Both.

CD300A is a member of the CD300 immunoglobulin (Ig)-like receptor family consisting of eight molecules in humans, all of which contain one Ig-like domain in the extracellular portion. Upon binding its ligand phosphatidylserine or phosphatidylethanolamine, CD300A mediates an inhibitory signal through the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif in the cytoplasmic portion. The CD300 family molecules are highly homologous to each other. In addition, CD300A has a single nucleotide polymorphism (rs2272111), which is a nonsense mutation encoding glutamine (CD300AQ111) instead of arginine (CD300AR111) at residue 111 in the Ig-like domain of CD300A. In this study, we successfully generated monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to either CD300AR111 or CD300AQ111 or both. These mAbs are useful for the analysis of CD300A genotype by flow cytometry and the development of an antibody drug for the treatment of various diseases.

Objective evaluation of gustatory function after surgery for vestibular schwannoma: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the gustatory function before and after vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we evaluated the gustatory function of 12 patients who underwent VS surgery at Tsukuba University Hospital between 2012 and 2018. Gustatory function was examined using electrogustometry before VS surgery and 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after surgery. Electrogustometry was tested at the area mapped to the chorda tympani nerve, glossopharyngeal nerve and greater superficial petrosal nerve (GSPN). Intergroup mean comparisons of the threshold were performed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the Bonferroni post-hoc test. RESULTS: The gustatory function mapped to the chorda tympani nerve was significantly disturbed 6 months after the surgery as compared with the preoperative function (p = 0.033) and that the dysfunction recovered at 1 year. However, gustatory function mapped to the glossopharyngeal nerve and greater superficial petrosal nerve (GSPN) was not impaired. CONCLUSION: The gustatory function mapped to the chorda tympani nerve is impaired after surgery for VS. The dysfunction peaked at 6 months after surgery, and recovered within 1 year.

Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles regulate tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells via the inhibitory immunoreceptor CD300a.

Although tumor-infiltrating regulatory T (Treg) cells play a pivotal role in tumor immunity, how Treg cell activation are regulated in tumor microenvironments remains unclear. Here, we found that mice deficient in the inhibitory immunoreceptor CD300a on their dendritic cells (DCs) have increased numbers of Treg cells in tumors and greater tumor growth compared with wild-type mice after transplantation of B16 melanoma. Pharmacological impairment of extracellular vesicle (EV) release decreased Treg cell numbers in CD300a-deficient mice. Coculture of DCs with tumor-derived EV (TEV) induced the internalization of CD300a and the incorporation of EVs into endosomes, in which CD300a inhibited TEV-mediated TLR3-TRIF signaling for activation of the IFN-ß-Treg cells axis. We also show that higher expression of CD300A was associated with decreased tumor-infiltrating Treg cells and longer survival time in patients with melanoma. Our findings reveal the role of TEV and CD300a on DCs in Treg cell activation in the tumor microenvironment.

Flow-injection determination of L-histidine with an immobilized histidine oxidase from Brevibacillus borstelensis KAIT-B-022 and chemiluminescence detection.

A chemiluminometric flow injection analytical system for the quantitation of L-histidine is described. Histidine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.-) from Brevibacillus borstelensis KAIT-B-022 was immobilized on tresylated poly(vinyl alcohol) beads and packed into a stainless-steel column. The hydrogen peroxide produced was detected chemiluminometrically by a flowthrough sensor containing immobilized peroxidase (EC 1.1 1.1.7). The maximum sample throughput was 10 h(-1). The calibration graph was linear from 0.05 to 5 mM; the detection limit (signal to noise ratio = 3) was 0.01 mM. The activity of immobilized histidine oxidase reduced to 65% of the initial value after 350 injections. The system was applied to the determination of L-histidine in fish meat, such as salmon, tunny, bonito, and mackerel.

Mechanism of dedoping processes of conducting poly(3-alkylthiophenes).

To clarify the mechanism of thermal dedoping processes of conducting poly(3-alkylthiophenes), temporal changes in electric conductivity, photoabsorption, and electron spin resonance of iodine-doped poly(3-octylthiophene) were examined. A decrease in the electric conductivity was accompanied by a decrease in the photoabsorption of the polymer cation and an increase in the spin concentration: the cation is a spinless charge carrier and it was converted to an immobile paramagnetic species. The conversion proceeds through deprotonation of the cation, which results in the formation of a polyenyl radical.

Radiation-induced chain reactions in alcohol solutions of diphenyliodonium salts: a high-sensitivity chemical dosimeter.

Chain reactions in gamma-irradiated 2-propanol solutions of diphenyliodonium salts have been studied. Protonic acids were generated in the irradiated solutions with high yields, whereas acid formation as a result of thermal reactions was negligible. The solution can be used as a high-sensitivity chemical dosimeter. The G value of acidic protons increases with increasing concentration of diphenyliodonium salt at the lower concentrations because the reaction rate of a propagation reaction increases. However, the chain is limited by a termination reaction between phenyl radical and the iodonium salt: The G value shows a maximum value of 610 micromol J(-1) at the concentration of 0.08 mol dm(-3) and decreases at higher salt concentrations.

Simultaneous determination of choline and acetylcholine based on a trienzyme chemiluminometric biosensor in a single line flow injection system.

A detector for the simultaneous determination of choline (Ch) and acetylcholine (ACh) based on a sensitive trienzyme chemiluminometric biosensor in a single line flow injection (FI) system is described. Immobilized choline oxidase (ChOx), immobilized peroxidase (POx), immobilized acetylcholinesterase, and coimmobilized ChOx/POx were packed, in turn, in a transparent ETFE tube (1 mm i.d., 75 cm) and the tube was placed in front of a photomultipier tube as a flow cell. Two-peak response was obtained by one injection of the sample solution. The first and second peaks were dependent on the concentrations of Ch and ACh, respectively. The influence of some experimental parameters such as flow rate, amounts of immobilized enzymes on the behavior of the sensor was studied in order to optimize the sensitivity, sample throughput and resolution. Calibration curves were linear at 1 - 1000 nM for Ch and 3 - 3000 nM for ACh. The sample throughput was 25/h without carryover. The FI system was applied to the simultaneous determination of Ch and ACh in rabbit brain tissue homogenates.

Simultaneous determination of D-glucose and 3-hydroxybutyrate by chemiluminescence detection with immobilized enzymes in a flow injection system.

A chemiluminometric flow-through sensor for the simultaneous determination of glucose (Glu) and 3-hydroxybutyrate (HB) in a single sample has been developed. Coimmobilized 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase/NADH oxidase/peroxidase, a support material, and coimmobilized glucose dehydrogenase/NADH oxidase/peroxidase were packed sequentially in a transparent PTFE tube. The tube was then placed in front of a photomultiplier tube as a flow cell. A two-peak recording was obtained by one injection of the sample solution. The peak heights of the first and second peaks were dependent on the concentrations of HB and Glu, respectively. The calibration graphs for HB and Glu were linear at 0.05-10 and 0.1-30 microM, respectively. The maximum sample throughput was 30 h(-1). The sensor was stable for two weeks.

Flow-through micro sensor using immobilized peroxidase with chemiluminometric FIA system for determining hydrogen peroxide.

A micromachined flow cell (overall size; 25 x 25 x 1 mm3) was designed for the fast determination of hydrogen peroxide, based on a luminol-H2O2 chemiluminescence reaction catalyzed by immobilized peroxidase (POD). The flow cell consisted of a sandwich of anisotropically etched silicon and glass chips and contained a spiral channel (20 turns, 50 cm long, 150 microm wide, 20 microm depth, channel volume 1.4 microl) and two holes (1 mm diameter). POD was covalently immobilized with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyldietylenetriamine and glutaraldehyde on the inner surface of the channel. The chip was placed in front of a window of a photomultiplier tube and used as a flow cell in a single-line flow-injection analysis system using a luminol solution as a carrier solution. The sample volume for one measurement was 0.2 microl. The maximal sampling rate was 315 h(-1) at a carrier solution flow rate of 10 microl min(-1). A calibration graph for H2O2 was linear for 5 nM - 5 microM; the detection limit (signal-to-noise = 3) was 1 nM (7 fg in 0.2 microl injection). The H2O2 concentration in rainwater was determined using this sensor system.

Prompt diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy with the human chorionic gonadotropin test using exuded extract from endometrial curettings.

Using saline solution including exuded extract from uterine curettings, hCG tests were performed in 63 women in whom there was a suspicion of ectopic pregnancy, and their results correlated highly with the microscopic existence of chorionic villi and trophoblasts. Ectopic pregnancy can be mostly excluded when the test is positive, and either ectopic pregnancy or complete abortion is probable when it is negative.

Chemiluminometric sensor for simultaneous determination of L-glutamate and L-lysine with immobilized oxidases in a flow injection system.

A chemiluminometric flow-through sensor for simultaneous determination of L-glutamate (Glu) and L-lysine (Lys) in a single sample has been developed. Immobilized uricase, immobilized peroxidase, support material, coimmobilized glutamate oxidase/peroxidase, support material, and coimmobilized lysine oxidase/peroxidase were packed sequentially in a transparent PTFE tube, and the tube was placed in front of a photomultiplier tube as a flow cell. A three-peak recording was obtained by one injection of the sample solution. The peak height of the first peak was due to the concentrations of urate and other reductants in the sample; the immobilized uricase was used to decompose urate, and the hydrogen peroxide produced was decomposed with a luminol-hydrogen peroxide reaction by immobilized peroxidase. The peak heights of the second and third peaks were free from the interferences from the reductants and were dependent only on the concentrations of Glu and Lys, respectively. Calibration graphs for Glu and Lys were linear at 40-1,000 and 50-1,200 nM, respectively. The sampling rate was 11/h without carryover. The sensor was stable for two weeks. The sensor system was applied to the simultaneous determination of Glu and Lys in serum.