A new shear technique: Semi Continuous Shear Flow (SCSF) in medium and ultra high molecular weight Polyhydroxybutyrate blends

In MMWT/UHMWT PHB blends (99.5/0.5), (99/1), (98/2) and (97/3) we demonstrate that by applying our new shear technique, “semi continuous shear flow”, copious fibre formation is guaranteed, irrespective of the ultra high molecular weight composition. The shishes formed via this technique are extremely stable being able to maintain their stability for at least 5–10 min. When this technique was applied to MMWT/UHMWT PHB blends of compositions (95/5), (90/10) and (85/15) disorientated fibres were observed in the flow direction. On increasing the UHMWT component, distinct unordered and intertwining of fibres resulted and with severe shearing orientation occurred, however shish formation was limited. We propose the optimum conditions for shish formation and the critical molecular weight necessary for entanglement.     

Mobilization of a congenital proximal radioulnar synostosis with use of a free vascularized fascio-fat graft

We present the results of a new mobilization procedure for the treatment of a congenital proximal radioulnar synostosis in seven patients. The operative procedure included separation of the synostosis and placement of a free vascularized fascio-fat graft to prevent recurrent ankylosis. The average age at the time of the operation was eight years and two months (range, six years and four months to eleven years and ten months). All of the patients were boys who had no other congenital anomalies. The radial head was dislocated in all seven patients (anteriorly in two and posteriorly in five). The final four index operations included an osteotomy of the radius in order to reduce the dislocated radial head. The average duration of follow-up was three years and eight months (range, two years and four months to four years and five months). Preoperatively, the patients had had difficulty with holding a bowl of soup and accepting objects, such as coins, into the palm. Postoperatively, they were able to perform these activities. None of the patients had recurrent ankylosis or loss of the flap. The average supination was 26 degrees (range, 10 to 45 degrees), and the average pronation was 45 degrees (range, 10 to 80 degrees). The four patients who had had an osteotomy of the radius in addition to the index procedure did not have a dislocation of the radial head and had an average arc of motion of 83 degrees of pronation and supination. The three patients who had not had an osteotomy had a dislocation of the radial head and an average arc of motion of 40 degrees after the index procedure. These findings demonstrate that separation of a congenital radioulnar synostosis with a vascularized fascio-fat graft and osteotomy of the radius can achieve pronation and supination of the forearm.     

Accumulation enhancement of human monoclonal antibody HB4C5 to lung tumor xenografts by N-deglycosylation

The fractional uptake of intact monoclonal antibodies by tumors is relatively low. Various methods to alter the molecular structure have been used to augment tumor uptake. These chemical manipulations, however, may alter the specificity of antibody binding. METHODS: Comparative studies of biodistribution, radioimmunoimaging and macroautoradiography in LC-6 xenografted mice were conducted with the 125I-labeled intact and N-terminal deglycosylated monoclonal antibodies to evaluate the effect on deglycosylation on antibody binding. RESULTS: The removal of N-glycosyl residues from this monoclonal antibody significantly enhanced specific localization of the radioactivity to the tumor, especially to its necrotic fraction. Nonspecific accumulation of radioactivity to the necrotic fraction of the tumor was excluded by biodistribution studies demonstrating selective accumulation of 125I-labeled monoclonal antibody after coadministration of 125I-monoclonal antibody (intact or N-deglycosylated) with 131I-labeled control IgM. CONCLUSION: The lung cancer-associated human monoclonal antibody HB4C5, which recognizes histone H2B as the antigen, accumulates specifically to the necrotic fraction of tumor. The uptake is enhanced by removal of N-terminal glycosyl residues from the antigen-binding site of the light chain.     

High resolution shadowing for electron microscopy by sputter deposition.

The sputtering process by an ion beam well collimated and highly accelerated provides a valuable means of high resolution shadowing, replication of a fine object by a combination of pre-shadowing and deposition as well as a preparation of supporting films. High resolution shadowing and films with grains smaller than 1 nm can be obtained by argon ion-sputtering targets of tungsten and tungsten/tantalum alloy. The resolution of carbon replicas pre-shadowed with tungsten/tantalum is determined from the radius of curvature of replicated magnesium oxide crystal corners.     

Development of a simple method to evaluate medical staff radiation dose and its application to a software system supporting PET facility operation

In recent years, positron-emitting labelled radiopharmaceuticals have come to be used in conjunction with positron emission tomography (PET) in various clinical diagnoses. Radiation exposure of the medical staff is a key issue in the design of PET facilities intended to handle large numbers of persons for PET diagnosis. As a first step, the radiation dose to individuals who received radiopharmaceuticals was calculated using a mathematical phantom model and the EGS4 electromagnetic cascade Monte Carlo code and MCNP Monte Carlo code. Dose rate behind a lead shield was also calculated for various lead thicknesses. The radiation dose distribution around a syringe containing a positron emitter was calculated. The calculated dose distributions were fitted to polynomial equations. These calculations were evaluated against measurements. The second step was to evaluate medical staff dose at a specified time by superimposing dose distribution from each person who received radioisotopes taking into account radioactive decay. In this way, we developed software to support PET facility operation, namely, planning, prediction, control of medical staff dose and facility operation. This system was also designed to schedule daily radiopharmaceuticals production and to manage radioactive wastes by taking decay time into account.     

Thiopental alters contraction, intracellular Ca2+, and pH in rat ventricular myocytes

We have shown that osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) (bone morphogenetic protein-7) is responsible for the induction of nephrogenic mesenchyme during embryonic kidney development. Gene knock-out studies showed that OP-1 null mutant mice die of renal failure within the first day of postnatal life. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of recombinant human OP-1 for the treatment of acute renal failure after 60 min bilateral renal artery occlusion in rats. Bioavailability studies in normal rats indicate that approximately 1.4 microg OP-1/ml is available in the circulation 1 min after intravenous administration of 250 microg/kg, which then declines steadily with a half life of 30 min. About 0.5% of the administered OP-1 dose/g tissue is targeted for OP-1 receptors in the kidney. We show that OP-1 preserves kidney function, as determined by reduced blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine, and increased survival rate when administered 10 min before or 1 or 16 h after ischemia, and then at 24-h intervals up to 72 h after reperfusion. Histochemical and molecular analyses demonstrate that OP-1: (a) minimizes infarction and cell necrosis, and decreases the number of plugged tubules; (b) suppresses inflammation by downregulating the expression of intercellular adhesive molecule, and prevents the accumulation and activity of neutrophils; (c) maintains the expression of the vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype in pericellular capillaries; and (d) reduces programmed cell death during the recovery. Collectively, these data suggest that OP-1 prevents the loss of kidney function associated with ischemic injury and may provide a basis for the treatment of acute renal failure.     

Application of femtosecond laser ablation for detaching grown protein crystals from glass capillary tube

We developed a novel technique for detaching protein crystals from glass capillary tube using the counter diffusion crystallization technique by femtosecond laser irradiation. X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrated that femtosecond laser irradiation has little effect on crystallinity. This technique will contribute to progress in structural genomics as a powerful tool.     

Expression of telomerase activity in human chorion

Telomerase activation is required for cellular immortalization and is found in most malignant tumors. Normal somatic cells are generally telomerase-negative, except for stem cells in renewing tissues. During pregnancy, human trophoblast continues to proliferate and acts as proliferating stem cells for the development of chorion and the formation of placenta. In the present study, a total of 105 chorions from placentas at various weeks of gestation were examined for telomerase activity using the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay. Twenty-five of 33 (76%) normal early chorions at 5 to 9 weeks gestation were telomerase-positive. Chorions from early spontaneous abortions also exhibited telomerase activity but at a low level. In contrast, only 2 (4%) late chorions at 34 to 41 weeks gestation expressed telomerase activity. Significant telomerase activity was observed in trophoblast cell fractions of chorion, demonstrating trophoblast to be the source of the activity. Expression of human telomerase catalytic subunit (hTRT) was observed in early chorions, but not in late placenta, and there was a close correlation between telomerase activity and hTRT expression. In contrast, expression of human telomerase RNA component (hTR) was observed in both early and late chorions and was not liked to telomerase activity. These findings suggest that telomerase activity in chorion is critically regulated over the course of gestation, associated with hTRT expression. The findings of the present study also appear to support the emerging concept that normal somatic cells with stem cell-like characteristics can express telomerase activity.