MC180295 Inhibited Epstein–Barr Virus-Associated Gastric Carcinoma Cell Growth by Suppressing DNA Repair and the Cell Cycle

DNA methylation of both viral and host DNA is one of the major mechanisms involved in the development of Epstein–Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC); thus, epigenetic treatment using demethylating agents would seem to be promising. We have verified the effect of {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295, which was discovered by screening for demethylating agents. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295 inhibited cell growth of the EBVaGC cell lines YCCEL1 and SNU719 in a dose-dependent manner. In a cell cycle analysis, growth arrest and apoptosis were observed in both YCCEL1 and SNU719 cells treated with {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295. MKN28 cells infected with EBV were sensitive to {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295 and showed more significant inhibition of cell growth compared to controls without EBV infection. Serial analysis of gene expression analysis showed the expression of genes belonging to the role of BRCA1 in DNA damage response and cell cycle control chromosomal replication to be significantly reduced after {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295 treatment. We confirmed with quantitative PCR that the expression levels of BRCA2, FANCM, RAD51, TOP2A, and CDC45 were significantly decreased by {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295. LMP1 and BZLF1 are EBV genes with expression that is epigenetically regulated, and {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295 could up-regulate their expression. In conclusion, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295 inhibited the growth of EBVaGC cells by suppressing DNA repair and the cell cycle.     

Field effect surface passivation of SiO2/Si interfaces by heat treatment with high-pressure H2O vapor

We investigated a simple field effect passivation of the silicon surfaces using the high-pressure H₂O vapor heating. Heat treatment with 2.1×10⁶ Pa H₂O vapor at 260°C for 3 h reduced the surface recombination velocity from 405 cm/s (before the heat treatment) to 38 cm/s for the thermally evaporated SiO_x film/Si. Additional deposition of 140 nm-SiO_x films (x<2) with a high density of fixed positive charges on the SiO₂/Si samples further decreased the surface recombination velocity to 22 cm/s. We also demonstrated the field effect passivation for n-type silicon wafer coated with thermally grown SiO₂. Additional deposition of 210 nm SiO_x films on both the front and rear surfaces increased the effective lifetime from 1.4 to 4.6 ms. Combination of thermal evaporation of SiO_x film and the heat treatment with high-pressure H₂O vapor is effective for low-temperature passivation of the silicon surface.     

Elevated Alpha 1(I) to Alpha 2(I) Collagen Ratio in Dermal Fibroblasts Possibly Contributes to Fibrosis in Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by excessive collagen deposition in the skin and internal organs. Activated fibroblasts are the key effector cells for the overproduction of type I collagen, which comprises the α1(I) and α2(I) chains encoded by COL1A1 and COL1A2, respectively. In this study, we examined the expression patterns of α1(I) and α2(I) collagen in SSc fibroblasts, as well as their co-regulation with each other. The relative expression ratio of COL1A1 to COL1A2 in SSc fibroblasts was significantly higher than that in control fibroblasts. The same result was observed for type I collagen protein levels, indicating that α2(I) collagen is more elevated than α2(I) collagen. Inhibition or overexpression of α1(I) collagen in control fibroblasts affected the α2(I) collagen levels, suggesting that α1(I) collagen might act as an upstream regulator of α2(I) collagen. The local injection of COL1A1 small interfering RNA in a bleomycin-induced SSc mouse model was found to attenuate skin fibrosis. Overall, our data indicate that α2(I) collagen is a potent regulator of type I collagen in SSc; further investigations of the overall regulatory mechanisms of type I collagen may help understand the aberrant collagen metabolism in SSc.     

Densification and Cell Performance of Gadolinium-Doped Ceria (GDC) Electrolyte/NiO–GDC Anode Laminates

A thin film (60 μm thick) of a gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC) electrolyte was prepared by the doctor blade method. This film was laminated with freeze-dried 42 vol% NiO–58 vol% GDC mixed powder and pressed uniaxially or isostatically under a pressure of 294 MPa. This laminate was cosintered at 1100 °–1500 °C in air for 4–12 h. The laminate warped because of the difference in the shrinkage of the electrolyte and electrode during the sintering. A higher shrinkage was measured for the electrode at 1100 °–1200 °C and for the electrolyte at 1300 °–1500 °C. The increase of the thickness of anode was effective in decreasing the warp and in increasing the density of the laminated composite. The maximum electric power density with a SrRuO₃ cathode using 3 vol% H₂O-containing H₂ fuel was 100 mW/cm² at 600 °C and 380 mW/cm² at 800 °C, respectively, for the anode-supported GDC electrolyte with 30 μm thickness.     

Synthesis of thermoresponsive block and graft copolymers via the combination of living cationic polymerization and RAFT polymerization using a vinyl ether-type RAFT agent

A novel vinyl ether-type RAFT agent, benzyl 2-(vinyloxy)ethyl carbonotrithioate (BVCT) was synthesized for various block copolymers via the combination of living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers and reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The novel BVCT–trifluoroacetic acid adduct play an important role to produce well-defined block copolymers, which is both as a cationogen under EtAlCl₂ initiation system in the presence of ethyl acetate for living cationic polymerization and a RAFT agent for blocks by RAFT polymerization. The resulting polymer, poly(vinyl ether)s, by living cationic polymerization had a high number average α-end functionality (≥0.9) as determined by both ¹H NMR and MALDI-TOF-MS spectrometry. In addition, this poly(vinyl ether)s worked well as a macromolecular chain transfer agent for RAFT polymerization. The RAFT polymerization of radically polymerizable monomers was conducted in toluene using 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) at 70 °C. For example, a double thermoresponsive block copolymer (MOVE₆₁-b-NIPAM₁₅₀) consisting of 2-methoxyethyl vinyl ether (MOVE) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) was prepared via the combination of living cationic polymerization and RAFT polymerization. The block copolymer reversibly formed and deformed micellar assemblies above the phase separation temperature (T_ps) of poly(NIPAM) block in water. This BVCT is not only functioned as an initiator, but also acted as a monomer. When BVCT was copolymerized with MOVE by living cationic polymerization, followed by graft copolymerization with NIPAM via RAFT polymerization, well-defined graft copolymers (MOVE_n-co-BVCT_m)-g-NIPAM_x (n = 62–73, m = 1–9, x = 19–214) were successfully obtained. However, no micelle formed in water above T_ps of poly(NIPAM) graft chain unlike the case of block copolymers.     

Synthetic Molecular Gear Based on Double-Decker Porphyrin Complexes

New rotary molecular machines (1 and 2) were synthetically constructed from two distinct porphyrin-based rotors, a cerium(IV) bis(porphyrinate)s double-decker (CeDD) and a porphyrinatorhodium(III)-based rotor. These rotors are adjacently mounted on rotational axes aligned to near vertical as resembling the bevel-gear-shaped structure. Structural study using NMR analysis reveals that these distinct rotors are connected through a coordination bond between rhodium(III) and a pyridyl group. At temperature from 193 to 393 K, each rotor represents rotational motion driven by heat fluctuation without decomposition into the corresponding precursors in dichloromethane-d ₂ and tetrachloroethane-d ₄. Importantly, the mechanical interaction between the teeth of these rotors is strongly dependent on the central metal atom in a DD rotor and the teeth structure in a porphyrinatorhodium(III)-based rotor. Understanding such relationship between the chemical structures and mechanical interaction is of importance for generating cooperative motion in the hybrid machinery system.     

Connection, a microcomputer program for storing and analyzing structural properties of neural circuits

The application of a microcomputer-based system (the Connection system) designed to deal with neuroanatomical information commonly analyzed by researchers and involved in the study of structural properties of neural circuits is presented. This system can be employed at first as a readily-accessible database containing physiological and anatomical data from nuclei of the central nervous system which define a network with up to 45 elements and their subdivisions and connections. Once the database from a specific network is built and stored in a file, routines of this system can be used to classify the nuclei in term of their afferents and efferents and also to display all possible pathways linking any pair of nuclei and their respective length (number of synapses). The role of such a system as an auxiliary tool in neuroanatomical and electrophysiological research is discussed by presenting the results obtained from the analysis of the neural circuits involved in cardiovascular function control in higher vertebrates.     

The study of metal ion release and cytotoxicity in Co–Cr–Mo and Ti–Al–V alloy in total knee prosthesis – scanning electron microscopic observation

We surgically retrieved two cobalt(Co)–chromium(Cr)–molybdenum(Mo) and five titanium(Ti)–aluminum(Al)–vanadium(V) alloy knee prostheses from patients because of mechanical failure and pain. We examined the distribution of the small particles which were released from the Co–Cr–Mo and Ti–Al–V alloys using a backscattered scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition we analyzed the metals in the artificial knee joints and the tissues adjacent to them using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). We demonstrated that a myriad of fine particles, produced by the abrasion of both Co–Cr–Mo and Ti–Al–V alloys, accumulated in the synovial cells. As Co–Cr–Mo alloys disintegrate easily in the cells, Co dissolves from the peripheral areas of them, although Cr remains within the cells. In contrast Ti–Al–V alloys are very stable in the synovial cells. From these findings we conclude that the Co–Cr–Mo alloys are hazardous to the body as the alloys release Co which enters the body. In contrast the Ti–Al–V alloys are very stable and are patently safer. Artificial joints, however, are still in considerable need of improvement.     

Facile one-step route to polyaniline–silver nanocomposite particles and their application as a colored particulate emulsifier

Polyaniline–silver nanocomposites were synthesized in the form of colloidal particles by the facile one-step aqueous chemical oxidative dispersion polymerization of aniline using silver nitrate as an oxidant and poly(vinyl alcohol) as a colloidal stabilizer. Aniline monomer was oxidized by silver ions, yielding polyaniline and elemental Ag simultaneously. The synthesized nanocomposite particles were colloidally stable over 2 years and transmission electron microscopy studies indicated the production of spherical, plate and rod-shaped polyaniline–silver nanocomposite particles with a silver core–polyaniline shell morphology. The conductivity of a pressed pellet of the nanocomposite particles using the conventional four-point probe technique was 1.4 × 10^?2 S/cm at 25 °C. The nanocomposite particles behaved as a ‘colored’ particulate emulsifier for the stabilization of transparent oil-in-water emulsions.