Synthesis of Disk-Shaped Tungsten(VI) Oxide Particles with Various Physical Properties for Mineralization of Acetic Acid in Water Under Irradiation of Visible Light.

Disk-shaped tungsten(VI) oxide (D-WO3) particles were synthesized according to a previously reported method consisting of pyrolysis, precipitation, and calcination, and the calcination temperature was changed (200-600 °C). The samples were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, the Brunauer- Emmett-Teller single-point method, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. In addition, to evaluate the photocatalytic activities of the samples, the mineralization of acetic acid to carbon dioxide (CO2) was measured by loading Pt particles onto the surface of the samples by photodeposition and irradiating them in an aqueous suspension with a blue light-emitting diode. Increasing the calcination temperature was associated with several changes: the crystallites grew larger, increasing the crystallinity; the specific surface area decreased, decreasing the adsorption capacity; and the rate of the photocatalytic CO2 evolution reaction increased. Pt-loaded (0.1 wt%) D-WO3 calcined at 600 °C showed the highest activity with a CO2 evolution rate of 5.9 µmol h-1. These results indicated that improving the crystallinity of the D-WO3 samples was effective in increasing their photocatalytic activities.

Preparation of Ni nanoparticles by liquid-phase reduction to fabricate metal nanoparticle-polyimide composite films.

Nickel-nanoparticle-containing polyimide composite films were prepared by liquid-phase reduction of Ni2+ ions with potassium borohydride (KBH4). The nanoparticles were amorphous with diameters of approximately 10-20 nm, depending on the KBH4 concentration and reduction temperature. At high KBH4 concentrations, the nanoparticles appeared to contain various nickel boride species. The number of nanoparticles and Ni content both increased upon repeated adsorption/reduction of Ni2+ ions, where the particle growth was inhibited by the rigid polymer chain and the formation of smaller particles was favored.

Synthesis, structure, and fluorescence properties of a calcium-based metal-organic framework.

The solvothermal reaction of a mixture of calcium acetylacetonate and 1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (H2NDC) in a solution containing ethanol and distilled water gave rise to a metal-organic framework (MOF), {(H3O+)2[Ca(NDC)(C2H5O)(OH)]}4·1.1H2O. This MOF possesses a new structure composed of calcium clusters and H2NDC linker anions and shows a unique fluorescence property; it exhibits a fluorescence peak at 395 nm (λ ex = 350 nm) at room temperature, which is blue-shifted compared with that exhibited by the free H2NDC ligand. One of the possible mechanisms for this fluorescence is likely attributable to a ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) transition and is the first example of a calcium-based MOF exhibiting blue-shifted fluorescence due to LMCT.

In vivo distribution of single chain variable fragment (scFv) against atherothrombotic oxidized LDL/ß2-glycoprotein I complexes into atherosclerotic plaques of WHHL rabbits: Implication for clinical PET imaging.

BACKGROUND: Oxidized LDL (oxLDL) can exist as a complex with ß2-glycoprotein I (ß2GPI) in plasma/serum of patients with non-autoimmune atherosclerotic disease or antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Nonetheless, direct in vivo evidence supporting the pathophysiological involvement of oxLDL/ß2GPI complexes and specific autoantibody against the complexes in developing atherothrombosis has yet been established. In the present study, we demonstrated in vivo distribution of single chain variable fragment of IgG anti-oxLDL/ß2GPI complexes (3H3-scFv) in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits by PET/CT imaging. METHODS: An antibody-based PET probe, 64Cu-3H3-scFv, was established, and WHHL rabbits were applied for a non-autoimmune atherosclerotic model to demonstrate in vivo distribution of the probe. RESULTS: 3H3-scFv has exhibits specificity towards ß2GPI complexed with oxLDL but neither a free form of ß2GPI nor oxLDL alone. Post-intravenous administration of 64Cu-3H3-scFv into WHHL rabbits has demonstrated a non-invasive approach for in vivo visualization of atherosclerotic lesion. The imaging probe achieved ideal blood clearance and distribution for optimal imaging capacity in 24h, significantly shorter than that of an intact IgG-based imaging probe. 64Cu-3H3-scFv targeted on atherosclerotic plaques in aortas of WHHL rabbits where extensive accumulation of lipid deposits was observed by lipid staining and autoradiography. The accumulation of 64Cu-3H3-scFv in aortic segments of WHHL rabbits was 2.8-folds higher than that of controls (p=0.0045). CONCLUSIONS: The present in vivo evidence supports the pathophysiological involvement of oxLDL/ß2GPI complexes in atherosclerotic complications of WHHL rabbits. 64Cu-3H3-scFv represents a novel PET imaging probe for non-invasive pathophysiological assessment of oxLDL/ß2GPI complexes accumulated in atherosclerotic plaques.

Validation of chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay in detection of autoantibodies in pemphigus and pemphigoid.

BACKGROUND: A novel chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) was recently developed to quantify autoantibodies specific for desmogleins (Dsgs) and BP180, the target antigens of pemphigus and pemphigoid. This assay is automated and highly accurate and efficient. OBJECTIVE: To validate the use of the CLEIA for detection of autoantibodies during the clinical courses of patients with pemphigus and pemphigoid. METHODS: To define cut-off values for Dsg1, Dsg3, and BP180, we evaluated 47 serum samples from patients with pemphigus foliaceus (PF), 59 from those with pemphigus vulgaris (PV), 52 from those with bullous pemphigoid (BP), and 995 from healthy individuals. We also evaluated any fluctuations in CLEIA titers according to disease activity during the clinical course of 10 cases each of PF, PV, and BP. We used clinical symptom scores, the pemphigus disease area index (PDAI) and the bullous pemphigoid disease area index (BPDAI), to evaluate disease activity. RESULTS: The cut-off values for the CLEIA titers determined by the Youden index were 15.4U/mL for Dsg1, 14.9U/mL for Dsg3, and 16.8U/mL for BP180. CLEIA titers fluctuated in parallel with the PDAI/BPDAI scores in 28 of the 30 cases with PF, PV, or BP. Although the CLEIA and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) values in the same samples differed substantially in some cases, the concordance rates of positive/negative results between the CLEIA and ELISA were 96% for Dsg1, 97% for Dsg3, and 96% for BP180. CONCLUSION: The CLEIA, a newly developed, highly effective autoantibody detection system, is as reliable as ELISA for evaluation of the clinical courses of pemphigus and pemphigoid.

The usefulness of measuring liver stiffness by transient elastography for assessing hepatic fibrosis in patients with various chronic liver diseases.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The degree of hepatic fibrosis is an important factor for prognosis and management of patients with chronic liver disease; however, liver biopsy is an invasive method of measuring fibrosis. Here, we investigated the diagnostic utility of liver stiffness, as measured by transient elastography in assessing hepatic fibrosis of viral chronic liver disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODOLOGY: Four hundred and nine eligible patients underwent transient elastography to measure liver stiffness. Liver biopsy for histopathological assessment of fibrosis (F0-F4) was performed in 71 of these patients. Serum levels of hyaluronic acid were determined in 110 patients. We assessed liver stiffness in several chronic liver diseases and compared correlations among liver stiffness, hepatic fibrosis stage and serum hyaluronic acid levels. RESULTS: A steady stepwise increase in liver stiffness was observed with progressing severity of hepatic fibrosis (p<0.0001) in 71 patients who underwent liver biopsy. In 32 chronic viral hepatitis patients, measuring liver stiffness was useful for differentiating between F1, or F2, or F3 and F4, while in 32 NAFLD liver stiffness can differentiate between F0 and F1, F2, or F3, F1 and F3 or F4 and F2 and F4. There was no significant correlation between liver fibrotic stages and serum hyaluronic levels. CONCLUSIONS: The present data advocates measuring liver stiffness for assessing hepatic fibrosis is more sensitive in NAFLD than viral chronic diseases, and liver stiffness is useful compared to serum hyaluronic acid level in estimating hepatic fibrosis.

Wavelength dependence of polyyne preparation by liquid-phase laser ablation using pellet targets.

The amount of polyynes produced by Nd:YAG laser (355, 532, and 1064 nm) ablation of fullerene and graphite pellet targets was the largest for 1064 nm ablation, contrary to the powder target in the previous report. This result is believed to come from the difference in the main polyyne-production area in liquids in the optical cell, depending on the pellet and powder targets.

Oxidized-LDL/beta(2)-glycoprotein I complexes are associated with disease severity and increased risk for adverse outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)/beta(2)-glycoprotein I (beta2GPI) complexes have been implicated in atherogenesis. oxLDL/beta2GPI complexes were measured in 339 patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes. Approximately 68% had angiographically documented coronary artery disease (CAD) and significantly higher mean + or - SD levels of oxLDL/beta2GPI (3.75 + or - 6.31 U/mL) than patients with normal coronary arteries (2.21 + or - 3.03 U/mL; P = .0026). Patients with severe CAD had significantly higher mean + or - SD levels of oxLDL/beta2GPI (8.71 + or - 12.87 U/mL) compared with the overall mean of 3.25 U/mL (P < .05) and a significantly higher rate (28.9%) of adverse events than the overall rate of 11.2% (P < .05). Patients with adverse events had higher mean + or - SD levels of oxLDL/beta2GPI (4.05 + or - 5.38 U/mL) than patients without adverse events (3.15 + or - 5.53; P = .029). The relative risk for adverse events in higher oxLDL/beta2GPI quartiles was 3.1 (95% confidence interval, 1.0-9.1; P = .06) for quartile 3 and 3.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.2-10.4; P = .02) for quartile 4. Our results support the concept that oxLDL/beta2GPI complexes are associated with severity of CAD and a 3.5-fold increased risk for adverse outcomes.

[A case of acute pancreatitis with systemic lupus erythematosus].

A 16-year-old girl had been given a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at age 4, and a diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome caused by lupus nephritis at age 9. Medical treatment began with steroids from age 4. She developed acute pancreatitis in May 2007. Abdominal computed tomography showed cystic lesions in the abdominal cavity, and surgical drainage was performed for intracystic bleeding, infection and alimentary canal perforation.

Effect of vitamin K2 on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in type C cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma occurs frequently in cirrhosis related to hepatitis C virus (type C cirrhosis), and preventative treatment with interferon is costly and likely to cause adverse reactions. Menatetrenone, a vitamin K2 preparation, has recently been reported to inhibit the posttreatment relapse of hepatocellular carcinoma. We therefore examined whether menatetrenone could prevent the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with type C cirrhosis. METHODOLOGY: This prospective, randomized trial recruited patients with type C cirrhosis, platelet count of 10 x 10(4) microl or less, and no history of hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients were assigned to a menatetrenone group (n = 22, 4 5mg of menatetrenone daily, orally) or a control group (n = 18). Follow-up with image diagnosis was performed every 3-6 months. RESULTS: No adverse events of menatetrenone treatment were observed. Hepatocellular carcinoma occurred in 2 of 22 patients in the menatetrenone group (9.1%) and 5 of 18 patients in the control group (27.8%); however, this difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that menatetrenone has some inhibitory effect on development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with type C cirrhosis. Consequently, to further validate its benefits, we believe that menatetrenone should be actively administered to patients with intractable (interferon-resistant) cirrhosis.

Diagnosis of hepatic hydrothorax using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with intraperitoneal injection of Sonazoid.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: We investigated the utility and safety of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography using Sonazoid in the diagnosis of hepatic hydrothorax. METHODS: The study consisted of seven liver cirrhosis patients with hydrothorax and hydroperitoneum. After obtaining informed consent, Sonazoid was injected intraperitoneally, and enhancement in the peritoneal and pleural cavities was observed. RESULTS: In all patients, the peritoneal cavity was quickly enhanced after the Sonazoid injection. The pleural cavity was enhanced in five of the seven patients, and these five patients were diagnosed with hepatic hydrothorax. Two patients without enhancement of the pleural cavity were diagnosed with inflammatory hydrothorax. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report to confirm transdiaphragmatic movement of ascitic fluid into the pleural cavity using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with Sonazoid. This method can safely detect ascitic flow in real time, and is thus very useful for the diagnosis of hepatic hydrothorax.

Hepatocellular carcinoma associated with noncirrhotic autoimmune hepatitis.

A rare case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a 78-year-old woman with a 10-year history of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) without liver cirrhosis and no history of alcohol abuse, drug injection, or blood transfusion is presented. At the time HCC was diagnosed, based on imaging studies showing a 5-cm-diameter S6 liver tumor, she had normal liver function, positive anti-nuclear antibodies, negative hepatitis B and C markers, and elevated alfa-fetoprotein (AFP; 169 ng/ml) and protein-induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist II (PIVKA-II; 721 mAU/ml) levels. Following subsegmental S6 resection, no evidence of fibrosis or cirrhosis was observed.

HPLC profiling of Phellinus linteus.

HPLC chromatograms of MeOH extracts from a fruit body of the wild-grown P. linteus (natural fruit body), from cultivated fungus (cultivated fruit body), and from the cultured mycelia were compared. The extract prepared from the natural fruit bodies revealed a typical HPLC profile referred to as type 1 with a major peak corresponding to meshimakobnol A (1) together with two minor peaks of hypholomine B (3) and inoscavin A (4); the cultivated fruit bodies exhibited a profile referred to as type 2 with major peaks corresponding to 3 and 4 and a minor peak of 1, and the cultured mycelia showed a profile referred to as type 3 without any of these peaks. We also analyzed HPLC chromatograms of commercial products of P. linteus obtained in the markets. Most of the products claimed to be natural fruit bodies exhibited type 1 profiles, except for one product having an intermediate HPLC profile between type 1 and type 2. The products claimed to be cultivated fruit bodies and cultured mycelia revealed type 2 and type 3 profiles, respectively. The present results indicate that the HPLC chromatogram of the methanol extract of P. linteus can be used as a fingerprint to identify whether the product is from natural fruit bodies, cultivated fruit bodies, or cultured mycelia.

Suppressive role of leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2 in mouse anti-type II collagen antibody-induced arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: We previously reported that the Val58Ile polymorphism of the leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2 gene (LECT2) is associated with the severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To define the role of LECT2 in inflammatory arthritides, we investigated the development of collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA) in LECT2-deficient (LECT2(-/-)) mice. METHODS: CAIA was induced in mice by administering anti-type II collagen antibodies followed by lipopolysaccharide. Daily assessment of hind paw swelling was used to monitor the development of arthritis. The histopathologic features and expression of inflammatory cytokines were also analyzed. We confirmed the role of LECT2 by introducing a LECT2 expression vector into LECT2(-/-) mice, using a hydrodynamic gene transfer method. RESULTS: Arthritis in LECT2(-/-) mice was significantly exacerbated compared with that in wild-type (WT) controls. Histopathologic assessment of the tarsal joints showed that inflammation and erosion of cartilage and bone in LECT2(-/-) mice were more severe than that in controls. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, and certain chemokines were present at significantly higher levels in the arthritic hind paws of LECT2(-/-) mice. In contrast, the amount of LECT2 in the serum and locally in the hind paws was higher in arthritic WT mice. Finally, hydrodynamic gene transfer experiments revealed that the severity of arthritis was reduced by the systemic expression of exogenous mouse LECT2 protein in LECT2(-/-) mice. CONCLUSION: These results strongly suggest that LECT2 directly suppresses the development of CAIA. Manipulation of LECT2 might provide a rationale for novel therapeutic approaches to the treatment of inflammatory arthritides such as RA.

Phellifuropyranone A: a new furopyranone compound isolated from fruit bodies of wild Phellinus linteus.

A new furopyranone, phellifuropyranone A, was isolated from fruit bodies of wild Phellinus linteus as well as phelligridin G, and their chemical structures were determined by various spectroscopic methods including measurement of NMR spectra. Phellifuropyranone A together with meshimakobnol A and meshimakobnol B showed antiproliferative activity against mouse melanoma cells and human lung cancer cells in vitro.

Left-sided hepatic hydrothorax diagnosed by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with intraperitoneal injection of Levovist.

A 62-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea. Chest X-ray revealed massive pleural effusion on the left side. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography using Levovist was performed to confirm the transdiaphragmatic passage of ascitic fluid into the pleural cavity. After injection of Levovist into the peritoneal cavity, an enhanced pulsative flow into the pleural cavity was detected. This is the first report of hepatic hydrothorax diagnosed by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. This method is safe and useful for the diagnosis of hepatic hydrothorax, and it allows observation of the real-time movement of ascitic fluid from the peritoneal cavity to the pleural space and detection of the site of the peritoneopleural communication.

Evaluation of esophageal varices using contrast-enhanced coded harmonic ultrasonography.

AIM: To investigate if esophageal varices can be evaluated using external contrast-enhanced ultrasonography with Levovist and coded harmonic angio (CHA). METHODS: Subjects were six healthy adult volunteers and 23 patients with liver cirrhosis. After identification of the lower esophagus under B-mode scanning, 300 mg/mL of Levovist was intravenously injected into the cubital vein at a rate of 1 mL/s under observation by CHA-mode scanning. Approximately 30 s after intravenous administration, interval-delay scanning was performed every second to visualize the area around the lower esophageal lumen. The degree of ultrasonographic enhancement was assessed as either no enhancement (negative); linear enhancement along the esophageal wall (weak) or full enhancement of the esophageal lumen (strong). Endoscopic evaluation of esophageal varices was also performed. RESULTS: The CHA enhancement around the lower esophageal lumen was identified in 21 of the 23 patients. Of these 21 patients, endoscopic assessments of varices were as follows: F0 in four patients, F1 in seven patients, F2 in three patients, and F3 in seven patients. Nine patients were red color sign (RCS)-positive. Regarding the relationship between ultrasonographic enhancement and endoscopic assessment, enhancement was identified as negative in all four F0 patients, negative in three and weak in three and strong in one of the seven F1 patients, weak in one and strong in two of the three F2 patients, and weak in two and strong in five of the seven F3 patients, respectively. Furthermore, of the nine RCS-positive patients, enhancement was recognized as strong in seven and weak in two patients. Ultrasonographic enhancement was identified as negative in all six healthy volunteers. CONCLUSIONS: By performing contrast-enhanced CHA ultrasonography using Levovist, ultrasonographic enhancement was detectable in all patients with varices categorized as F2 or above. Because the present method is easy to perform and causes less pain to patients compared to endoscopy, it is useful for following and assessing esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Effects of chitin and chitosan on collagen synthesis in wound healing.

Collagen synthesis was evaluated by measuring prolyl hydroxylase (PHL) activity induced within rat granulation tissue by a polyester non-woven fabric (NWF, 1 x 1 cm, 0.6 mm in thickness) impregnated with a chitin or chitosan suspension ranging in concentration from 0.1 to 10 mg/ml. In addition, PHL activity induced in rat granulation tissue by a NWF impregnated with a phosphate buffer solution was examined as a control. The PHL activity in each group remained low until 4 days post-implantation (Day 4). However, in the 10 mg chitin group, the PHL activity increased rapidly without scatter of the data at Day 7 and remained at a plateau until Day 14. In other groups, PHL activity increased linearly until Day 14. The data varied widely at Day 7. Compared to chitosan, chitin at the higher concentration was found to induce stable collagen synthesis in the early wound healing process.

A new conformational epitope generated by the binding of recombinant 70-kd protein and U1 RNA to anti-U1 RNP autoantibodies in sera from patients with mixed connective tissue disease.

OBJECTIVE: To establish an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a complex of in vitro-transcribed U1 RNA and recombinant 70-kd, A, and C proteins (C-ELISA) to detect anti-U1 RNP antibodies reactive in double immunodiffusion (DID), but not in ELISA using the proteins alone (P-ELISA). METHODS: Sera from 196 patients with mixed connective tissue disease were used to test reactivity in P- and C-ELISAs, and the specificity of the sera was also tested by DID and immunoprecipitation (IP). RESULTS: In P-ELISA, 15 of 196 sera positive for anti-U1 RNP in DID did not react, while all sera reacted in C-ELISA. The reactivity of 15 sera to the U1 RNA was tested by IP and ELISA, and only 3 sera reacted with the U1 RNA. These results indicated that the increased reactivity in C-ELISA was not due to the U1 RNA itself. We confirmed that the 70-kd and A proteins were bound directly to the U1 RNA by IP using antibodies to His-tag, and we tested the reactivity of the sera to the U1 RNA-70-kd protein complex and the U1 RNA-A protein complex by IP. All sera reacted with the U1 RNA-70-kd protein complex, and 1 sample reacted with the U1 RNA-A protein complex. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that some anti-U1 RNP-positive sera specifically recognize the conformational structure altered by the binding of U1 RNA to the proteins, and the ELISA using U1 RNA and recombinant proteins is as useful as the DID method for detecting anti-U1 RNP antibodies.