Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of spherical fine red (Y(1-x-y)Gd(x)EU(y))BO3 (0 < or = x < or = 0.36, 0.06 < or = y < or = 0.13) phosphors using ultrasonic spray pyrolysis.

The post-heat treated (Y(1-x-y)Gd(x)Eu(y))BO3 (0 < or = x < or = 0.36, 0.06 < or = y < or = 0.13) powders crystallized in a solution of (Y(1-x-y)Gd(x)Eu(y))BO3 with the hexagonal vaterite crystal structure, irrespective of composition. The lattice parameter of the (Y(0.9-x)Gd(x)Eu(0.1))BO3 (0 < or = x < or = 0.36) powders slightly increased with an increase in Gd content. The average powder sizes were sub-micron order and the powders showed relatively uniform size distribution and smooth surface. We obtained improved powder morphologies by adding organic additives such as ethylene glycol and citric acid. For the post-treated (Y(0.9-x)Gd(x)Eu(0.1))BO3, the emission intensity became stronger with increasing Gd content up to x = 0.27. In addition, for the post-treated (Y(0.73-y)Gd(0.27)Eu(y))BO3, the emission intensity gradually increased with Eu content up to y = 0.13. In particular, the emission intensity of the (Y(0.6)Gd)0.27)Eu(0.13))BO3 powders synthesized was higher than that of the commercial (Y,Gd)BO3:Eu3+ product.

Persistent organochlorine residues in northern fur seal from the Pacific coast of Japan since 1971.

The present study was conducted to determine the residue levels of persistent organochlorines such as PCB homologues, DDT and its metabolites, and HCH isomers in the ventral blubber of female northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) collected off Sanriku, the Pacific coast of northern Japan, since 1971. Among the organochlorines examined, the concentrations of PCBs and DDTs were found to be high in all samples. The residue levels of these two contaminants showed a drastic reduction following maturity and then a slight increase after the retirement from pregnancy/menopause. Temporal variation of PCB and DDT residues showed maximum levels around 1976 and then decreased, whereas HCH residue levels revealed a very slow declining pattern. Considering the concentrations and compositions of the residues, the northern fur seal is likely to be exposed to organochlorine contamination deriving from global terms. In this context, continuous contamination has been foreseen with regard to PCB and HCH residues. The pattern of organochlorine residues indicated that the northern fur seal has higher metabolic capacity than Dall's porpoise, while it is comparable to those of larga seal and Steller sea lion.

Application of pulsed Doppler ultrasound for the evaluation of small intestinal motility in dogs.

The purpose of this study was to verify whether small intestinal peristalsis could be observed and quantitatively assessed using pulsed-Doppler ultrasound. Pulsed-Doppler ultrasound was used to evaluate small intestinal peristalsis after a meal in ten normal dogs and ten sedated dogs. The small intestinal peristalses were measured 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hours after a 24-hour fast and after feeding. The number of small intestinal peristalsis were 0.133/min, 0.100/min, 0.033/min, 0.167/min, 0.070/min, 0.067/min, and 0.100/min in the fasted dogs, and 1.667/ min, 0.933/min, 1.133/min, 1.234/min, 1.933/min, 1.533/ min, and 0.533/min in fed dogs, respectively. In the dogs sedated with xylazine HCl, the number of small intestinal peristalsis was significantly reduced (p<0.01). However, in the dogs treated with ketamine HCl and acepromazine, the number of small intestinal peristalsis remained unchanged. Therefore, it can be concluded that pulsed-Doppler ultrasound allows graphic visualization of the intestinal movements, which can be subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis, and may be suitable for a non-invasive study of small intestinal motility.

Expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and its induction by tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 in sensory neurons in the ventral rhizotomy model of neuropathic pain.

The expression and role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord was evaluated in the lumbar 5 ventral rhizotomy (L5 VR) model of neuropathic pain. MCP-1 protein expression in the L4/L5 DRG neurons following L5 VR peaked after 3 days, and then declined. Immunohistochemistry showed that no MCP-1 immunoreactivity was observed in the spinal cord after L5 VR, while enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) revealed a small but significant increase in MCP-1 protein content. L5 VR resulted in robust and prolonged mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Administration of anti-MCP-1 neutralizing antibody before and at early time points after L5 VR resulted in a significant attenuation of mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, while post-treatment had a weaker effect on established neuropathic pain. Extensive colocalization of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) and MCP-1 was observed in the L5 DRG following L5 VR, and treatment with TNFR1 antisense oligonucleotide reduced L5 VR-induced MCP-1 expression in L5 DRG neurons and neuropathic pain behaviors. MCP-1/chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 2 signaling has been proposed as a major regulator of macrophage trafficking. In contrast to the effect on pain behaviors, however, intrathecal administration of anti-MCP-1 neutralizing antibody had no effect on the L5 VR-induced increase in ED-1-immunoreactive macrophages in the L5 DRG and the distal stump of the transected L5 ventral root. These data indicate that increased MCP-1 in DRG neurons might participate in the initiation, rather than the maintenance, of neuropathic pain induced by L5 VR. Furthermore, increased MCP-1 in the DRG is induced by TNF-α/TNFR1 and has no effect on the infiltration of macrophages into the DRG following L5 VR.

T cell subsets in chronic hepatitis B and the effect of prednisolone withdrawal and interferon alpha-2b.

OBJECTIVES: The evaluations of the pathogenetic roles of cell mediated immunity and of the preventive effect for disease progression with interferon(IFN) treatment in patients with chronic active hepatitis-B(CAH-B) are the objectives of this study. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with CAH-B were treated with interferon alpha-2b(IFN alpha-2b) with prednisolone withdrawal and 30 control patients were treated with conventional hepatotonics for 6 months. Peripheral total T cell fractions and T cell subsets of the patients with CAH-B, treated with IFN alpha-2b with prednisolone withdrawal, were examined 1 month before administration of prednisolone, and compared with 12 normal controls for assessing the potential role of cellular immunity in the development of CAH-B. To estimate the effectiveness of IFN therapy for the patients with CAH-B, levels of various liver function tests, HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe, HBV DNA, anti-HCV and others were assessed for the treatment group and compared with control patients at pre- and post-treatment period each. RESULTS: The value of CD4 was significantly lower in patients with CAH-B than normal controls (36.3 +/- 7.7% vs 42.1 +/- 5.7%, p < 0.05) and the value of CD8 was significantly higher in patients with CAH-B than normal controls (30.6 +/- 10.3% vs 24.3 +/- 5.2%, p < 0.05) before prednisolone administration. The patients in responder group (n = 26) had significantly lower CD4 cells compared with normal controls, but non-responders (n = 6) did not have. The levels of liver function test(LFT) in the patients with IFN alpha-2b treatment with prednisolone withdrawal were not different from the control patient group at pretreatment, but significantly lower than control patient group's after treatment, regardless of response to IFN alpha-2b treatment with prednisolone withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS: The cellular immunity of the host may have a potential role in the pathogenesis of chronicity of hepatitis B infection. IFN alpha-2b treatment with prednisolone withdrawal may be regarded as one of the effective treatment modalities for the inhibition of disease progression in patients with CAH-B.