Design of a transmissive optical system of a laser metal deposition three-dimensional printer with metal powder.

A transmissive optical system of a three-dimensional (3D) printer using the laser metal deposition (LMD) technique with a metal powder is proposed here, together with its design method. An f-number of the focused laser beam emitted from the optical system should be large enough for the laser beam not to be absorbed or reflected by the metal powder injection nozzle. On the other hand, owing to the Lagrange-Helmholtz relation, the f-number should be small enough to form a minute laser spot diameter for high-resolution building. A temperature rise induced by the high-power laser may cause damage or a thermal lens effect on the optical system, which can be reduced by using lenses having plano-surfaces contacting thermally with holders. A formula of the relationship of the thermal lens effect with an f-number of each lens is derived to determine the lens specifications. A formula of longitudinal spherical aberration (LSA) of these lenses is also derived, and the total LSA is shown to be able to be zero with an acceptable f-number of the focused laser beam. The prototype LMD 3D printer with 6 kW laser is fabricated and shows favorable properties, such as a minimum building width of 0.3 mm and a building speed of over 500 cc/h.

Retraction Note: Hsa-miR-520d induces hepatoma cells to form normal liver tissues via a stemness-mediated process.

This paper has been retracted.

Pharmacokinetic Interaction Study of Ranitidine and Daijokito in Healthy Volunteers.

BACKGROUND: Ranitidine is a histamine 2 receptor antagonist, and daijokito is a Kampo (Chinese herbal medicine as practiced in Japan) formula, which is traditionally used for treating constipation and digestive trouble. Previous study demonstrated that daijokito significantly affected the pharmacokinetics of ranitidine in rats; however, the doses of ranitidine and daijokito in that study were higher than in clinical practice. Therefore, we examined the pharmacokinetic interaction between ranitidine and daijokito in clinical practice doses in healthy volunteers. METHODS: This was a randomized, open label, two-period crossover study in healthy volunteers (n = 7). Volunteers received administrations of either a single dose of ranitidine 300 mg, or ranitidine 300 mg in combination with daijokito extract granules 2.5 g. Plasma concentrations of ranitidine were measured over 12 h by LC/MS/MS method. RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of ranitidine were lower with co-administration of daijokito compared with ranitidine alone. Co-administration of daijokito significantly decreased ranitidine area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to 12 h (AUC0-12) and maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) with geometric mean (GM) ratio [90% confidence interval (CI)] for AUC0-12 of 0.609 (0.449, 0.826) and Cmax of 0.515 (0.345, 0.771). CONCLUSION: Co-administration of ranitidine with daijokito resulted in a significant decrease in plasma level of ranitidine in healthy volunteers.

Tumor-suppressive effects of atelocollagen-conjugated hsa-miR-520d-5p on un-differentiated cancer cells in a mouse xenograft model.

BACKGROUND: We previously demonstrated that hsa-miR-520d-5p can convert cancer cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) via a demethylation process and p53 upregulation in vivo. Additionally, we have reported the non-tumorigenic effect of miR-520d-5p on normal human cells, including fibroblasts. METHODS: We used atelocollagen-conjugated miR-520d-5p (520d/atelocollagen) to confirm the possibility of a therapeutic effect on cancer cells. We traced the size and signal intensity of GFP-expressing tumors in mice each week, beginning 4 weeks after subcutaneous inoculation. RESULTS: 520d/atelocollagen treatment suppressed tumor growth by greater than 80 % each week relative to controls and resulted in an approximately 30 % disappearance of tumors. In mice whose tumors disappeared, the existence of human genomic material at the injection site was examined by quantitative Alu-PCR, and we confirmed the co-existence of both species-derived cells. In every site where a tumor disappeared in immunodeficient mice, GFP protein was expressed in the connective tissues, and approximately 0.1 % of the extracted DNA contained human genomic material. We could not identify any adverse effects in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report to confirm an inhibitory effect of 520d/atelocollagen on cancer cells in vivo. The development of optimized modifications of this carrier is expected to enhance the efficiency of entry into tumor cells and the induction of its inhibitory effect.

Components of Boiogito Suppress the Progression of Hypercholesterolemia and Fatty Liver Induced by High-Cholesterol Diet in Rats.

BACKGROUND: Ogi, one main component of boiogito (BOT), is reported to have an effect on hypercholesterolemia and NAFLD. In this experiment, we examined effects of ogi on the progression of hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver induced by high-cholesterol diet in rats and compared with the effects of ogi combined with ginger or hesperidin. METHODS: Hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver were induced by a high cholesterol diet in rats. Extract of ogi, ogi with hesperidin, and ogi with ginger were added to the high-cholesterol diet, respectively. Ezetimibe was also added to the high-cholesterol diet as a positive control. After 6 and 12 weeks, body, liver and adipose tissue weights, blood chemistry, lipid-related and inflammatory-related factors were examined. RESULTS: The high cholesterol diet increased body, liver and adipose tissue weights, and serum cholesterol concentrations. Ogi, ogi with hesperidin or ginger and ezetimibe improved them. In the histological examinations, we observed a significant improvement after treatment. The lipid-related factors (RBP4, HFABP and CFABP) were improved by treatment. Biomarkers of cholesterol synthesis (lathosterol) and absorption (campesterol, beta-sitosterol) were lower in the treatment groups. Inflammatory-related factors (MCP1, CCR2 and TNF-alpha) and ICAM-1 were ameliorated after treatment, especially by ogi with ginger. CONCLUSION: Ogi, ogi with hesperidin or ginger have a similar effect of BOT and ezetimibe on hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver. Ogi with ginger reveals a stronger additive effect with no significant difference. However, as for the anti-inflammatory (MCP1, CCR2 and TNF-alpha) and anti-arteriosclerotic (ICAM-1) effects, additive effects of ogi with ginger are more potent than that of ogi alone or ezetimibe.

Hsa-miR-520d-5p promotes survival in human dermal fibroblasts exposed to a lethal dose of UV irradiation.

We previously reported that hsa-miR-520d-5p is functionally involved in the induction of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stemness-mediated processes in normal cells and cancer cells, respectively. On the basis of the synergistic effect of p53 upregulation and demethylation induced by 520d-5p, the current study investigated the effect of this miRNA on apoptotic induction by ultraviolet B (UVB) light in normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells. 520d-5p was lentivirally transfected into NHDF cells either before or after a lethal dose of UVB irradiation (302 nm) to assess its preventive or therapeutic effects, respectively. The methylation level, gene expression, production of type I collagen and cell cycle distribution were estimated in UV-irradiated cells. NHDF cells transfected with 520d-5p prior to UVB irradiation had apoptotic characteristics, and the transfection exerted no preventive effects. However, transfection with 520d-5p into NHDF cells after UVB exposure resulted in the induction of reprogramming in damaged fibroblasts, the survival of CD105-positive cells, an extended cell lifespan and prevention of cellular damage or malfunction; these outcomes were similar to the effects observed in 520d-5p-transfected NHDF cells (520d/NHDF). The gene expression of c-Abl (Abelson murine leukemia viral oncogene homolog 1), ATR (ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein), and BRCA1 (breast cancer susceptibility gene I) in transfectants was transcriptionally upregulated in order. These mechanistic findings indicate that ATR-dependent DNA damage repair was activated under this stressor. In conclusion, 520d-5p exerted a therapeutic effect on cells damaged by UVB and restored them to a normal senescent state following functional restoration via survival of CD105-positive cells through c-Abl-ATR-BRCA1 pathway activation, p53 upregulation, and demethylation.

Comparative study of ¹8F-FDG-PET/CT imaging and serum hTERT mRNA quantification in cancer diagnosis.

We have reported on the clinical usefulness of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA quantification in sera in patients with several cancers. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) using ¹8F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) has recently become an excellent modality for detecting cancer. We performed a diagnostic comparative study of FDG-PET/CT and hTERT mRNA quantification in patients with cancer. Four hundred seventy subjects, including 125 healthy individuals and 345 outpatients with cancer who had received medical treatments for cancer in their own or other hospitals, were enrolled. The subjects were diagnosed by FDG-PET/CT, and we measured their serum hTERT mRNA levels using real-time RT-PCR, correlating the quantified values with the clinical course. In this prospective study, we statistically assessed the sensitivity and specificity, and their clinical significance. hTERT mRNA and FDG-PET/CT were demonstrated to be correlated with the clinical parameters of metastasis and recurrence (P < 0.001), and of recurrence and tumor number in cancer compared with noncancer patients, respectively. A multivariate analysis showed a significant difference in the detection by FDG-PET/CT, ¹8F-FDG uptake, the detection by hTERT mRNA, and age. The use of both FDG-PET/CT and hTERT mRNA resulted in a positivity of 94.4% (221/234) for the detection of viable tumor cells. FDG-PET/CT is superior to hTERT mRNA quantification in the early detection of cancer and combinative use of FDG-PET/CT and hTERT mRNA may improve the diagnostic accuracy of cancer.

Psychological Characteristics in Patients during Treatment for Tobacco Dependence.

BACKGROUND: Few studies compare mood in tobacco cessation patients with mood in continuing smokers and then estimate the effects of a tobacco cessation program according to status of mood. We investigated whether mood in patients (n = 7) dependent on tobacco improved through the standard Japanese 12-week program for smoking cessation comparing smokers (n = 11) and nonsmokers (n = 16). METHODS: A brief Japanese version of the short profile of mood states (POMS) was used in this study. The subscale includes 5 negative mood factors (tension-anxiety, depression, anger-hostility, fatigue and confusion-bewilderment) and positive mood factors (vigor-activity). We also examined expiratory CO concentration (ppm), percentage of COHb, urinary nicotine and its metabolite concentration, Brinkman index, and tobacco dependence score (TDS) for both smoking cessation group and smokers group. RESULTS: All the short profiles for mood state points in nonsmokers were below 50. Two of TDS items in smoking cessation patients were significantly higher in percentage than those in smokers. Brinkman indices and expiratory CO concentration were significantly higher in smoking cessation patients than those in smokers. The rate of improvement in tension-anxiety points in smoking cessation patients was significantly higher than that in smokers. CONCLUSION: Counseling according to the standard program in the treatment of tobacco dependence may be an effective procedure to improve mood status.

Hsa-miR-520d converts fibroblasts into CD105+ populations.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that hsa-miR-520d-5p can convert cancer cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) via a dedifferentiation by a demethylation mechanism. METHODS: We tested the effect of miR-520d-5p on human fibroblasts to determine whether it could be safely used in normal cells for future clinical therapeutic applications. After we transfected the microRNA into fibroblasts, we analyzed the phenotypic changes, gene expression levels, and stemness induction in vitro, and we evaluated tumor formation in an in vivo xenograft model. RESULTS: The transfected fibroblasts turned into CD105+ cell populations, survived approximately 24 weeks, and exhibited increases in both the collagen-producing ability and in differentiation. Combinatorial transfection of small interfering RNAs for miR-520d-5p target genes (ELAVL2, GATAD2B, and TEAD1) produced similar results to miR-520d-5p transfection. These molecules converted normal cells into MSCs and not iPSCs. CONCLUSIONS: In vitro data indicate the potent usefulness of this small molecule as a therapeutic biomaterial in normal cells and cancer cells because CD105+ cells never converted to iPSCs despite repeated transfections and all types of transfectants lost their tumorigenicity. This maintenance of a benign state following miR-520d-5p transfection appears to be caused by p53 upregulation. We conclude that miR-520d-5p may be a useful biomaterial at an in vitro level.

Hsa-miR-520d induces hepatoma cells to form normal liver tissues via a stemness-mediated process.

The human ncRNA gene RGM249 regulates the extent of differentiation of cancer cells and the conversion of 293FT cells to hiPSCs. To identify the factors underlying this process, we investigated the effects of lentivirally inducing miR-520d expression in 293FT and HLF cells in vitro. Subsequently, we evaluated tumor formation in a xenograft model. Transformed HLF cells were Oct4 and Nanog positive within 24 h, showed p53 upregulation and hTERT downregulation, and mostly lost their migration abilities. After lentiviral infection, the cells were intraperitoneally injected into mice, resulting in benign teratomas (6%), the absence of tumors (87%) or differentiation into benign liver tissues (7%) at the injection site after 1 month. We are the first to demonstrate the loss of malignant properties in cancer cells in vivo through the expression of a single microRNA (miRNA). This miRNA successfully converted 293FT and hepatoma cells to hiPSC-like cells. The regulation of malignancy by miR-520d appears to be through the conversion of cancer cells to normal stem cells, maintaining p53 upregulation.

Effects of kampo formulas on the progression of hypercholesterolemia and Fatty liver induced by high-cholesterol diet in rats.

BACKGROUND: Bofutsushosan is a well known Kampo, traditional Japanese medicine, based on ancient Chinese medicine mainly used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in Japan. We selected two Kampo formulas, Boiogito and Keishibukuryogan mainly used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in China to compare with Bofutsushosan and cholesterol absorption inhibitor ezetimibe. METHODS: Hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver were induced by high cholesterol (containing 2% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid) diet in male Wistar rats for 6 and 12 weeks. Kampo formulas Boiogito, Bofutsushosan, Keishibukuryogan and ezetimibe were added to the high-cholesterol diet, respectively. After 6 and 12 weeks, body and liver weights, blood chemistry, cholesterol concentrations, fat-related and inflammatory-related factors were examined. RESULTS: High-cholesterol diet increased body and liver weights, and serum cholesterol concentrations. Boiogito and ezetimibe improved them. Serum ICAM-1 and RBP4 were increased in the high cholesterol diet group. Boiogito and ezetimibe improved them too. In the histological examinations of liver and adipose tissues, we observed a significant improvement after treatment. Immunostaining expression of ICAM-1 in aorta was improved by Boiogito, Bofutsushosan, Keishibukuryogan and ezetimibe. The mRNA expression of RBP4, HFABP, CFABP, MCP1 and CCR2 in liver and adipose tissue were decreased by Boiogito and ezetimibe. CONCLUSION: Boiogito has a protective effect on the progression of hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver induced by high-cholesterol diet in rats and more effective than Bofutsushosan and Keishibukuryogan. The lipid-lowering effect of Boiogito is not stronger than ezetimibe. But the anti-inflammatory (MCP1, CCR2) and anti-arteriosclerotic (ICAM-1) effects of Boiogito are more potent than ezetimibe.

Human RGM249-derived small RNAs potentially regulate tumor malignancy.

The human noncoding RNA gene RGM249 has been shown to regulate the degree of cancer cell differentiation. In this study, we investigated the effects of 3 microRNA-like molecules digested from RGM249 on the loss of malignant properties in cancer cells in immunodeficient KSN/Slc mice. We utilized small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) alone or in combination with a cationized drug delivery system (DDS) consisting of atelocollagen or gelatin hydrogel microspheres. The results demonstrated growth inhibition and apoptosis and the inhibition of both neovascularization and metastasis, indicating that the DDSs effectively infiltrated the majority of tumor cells in vivo. Systemic administration of the 3 siRNAs inhibited the metastatic ability of malignant cells. Cotransfection of these siRNAs exerted a regulatory effect upon the genes involved in differentiation, pluripotency, and proliferation in cancer cells. These results suggest that RGM249-derived oligonucleotides may be involved in the regulation of metastasis, proliferation, and differentiation in vivo, and that the tested siRNAs may therefore represent a new anticancer therapeutic approach.