Search Results - (Author, Cooperation:H. Kume)

2014-05-24

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

0036-8075

1095-9203

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Computer Science

Medicine

Natural Sciences in General

Physics

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms/*genetics ; Adrenocortical Adenoma/*genetics ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone/metabolism ; Animals ; Catalytic Domain/genetics ; Cushing Syndrome/*genetics/metabolism ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Catalytic Subunits/*genetics/metabolism ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits/genetics ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Mice ; Mutation ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; PC12 Cells ; Rats

1077-3118

AIP Digital Archive

Physics

Photoexcited etching of SiO2 surface with SF6 gas is studied using undulator radiation at 143 and 251 A(ring) as an extreme ultraviolet light source. The SF6 pressure and the wavelength dependences of the etch rates have been measured for SiO2 in the pressure region between 0.016 and 0.50 Torr. We find that, at these wavelengths, the etch rate is proportional to the intensity of the light absorbed by the surface species, most probably SiO2 in the pressure region studied.

Electronic Resource

1089-7623

AIP Digital Archive

Physics

Electrical Engineering, Measurement and Control Technology

A microchannel-plate photomultiplier (MCP-PMT) has been applied to the time-correlated single-photon counting technique. Electrical and timing characteristics were investigated for the two types of MCP-PMT's, nonproximity type (Hamamatsu R1264) and proximity type (R1564), which are different in distance between the photocathode and MCP. In the proximity type, the transit-time spread was found to be 60 ps, i.e., a factor of 4 shorter than that in conventional photomultipliers with a dynode string. It was concluded that both types of MCP-PMT's are fully applicable to the single-photon counting method and that the proximity type MCP-PMT in particular leads to further improvements in the cathode transit-time difference and the wavelength effect of the timing properties. Some examples of experimental results are shown for fluorescence decay curves and picosecond time-resolved spectra.

Electronic Resource

1365-2222

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Medicine

Background Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is generally considered to play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation and fibrosis.Objective and methods This study was designed to determine mechanisms of reduced responsiveness of guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle to β-adrenoceptor agonists by TGF-β1, using isometric tension records and tissue cAMP measurement. Moreover, we examined the involvement of the signal transduction processes of TGF-β superfamily in the desensitization of β-adrenoceptors.Results After exposure to 0.2–2000 pm TGF-β1 for 4–8 h, the inhibitory effects of 1 µm isoprenaline (ISO) and 10 µm forskolin on 1 µm MCh-induced contraction were markedly reduced in a concentration-dependent fashion. The desensitization by TGF-β1 was greater against ISO than for forskolin. The values of EC75 for the curves for ISO after exposure to the normal bathing solution and TGF-β1 were 0.039 ± 0.02 and 0.38 ± 0.28 µm, respectively. The values of EC50 for the curves for forskolin under these conditions were 0.50 ± 0.12 and 0.89 ± 0.21 µm, respectively. On the other hand, the inhibitory effects of phosphodiesterase inhibitors such as theophylline and rolipram were not attenuated after exposure to TGF-β1. Concentration–inhibition curve for ISO was shifted to the right after exposure to 2000 pm TGF-β1 for 8 h more than that curve for forskolin. In contrast, the curve for theophylline was not shifted to the right by TGF-β1. When the tissues were incubated with TGF-β1 in the presence of IFN-γ, an intracellular antagonist of TGF-β signalling, IFN-γ inhibited the reduced response to ISO and forskolin after exposure to TGF-β1 in a concentration-dependent fashion. After exposure to TGF-β1, the effects of cAMP accumulation of ISO was significantly reduced, however, neither forskolin-nor theophylline-induced cAMP accumulation was affected. IFN-γ had no significant effect on cAMP accumulation either to ISO or forskolin.Conclusions Impairment of the β-adrenoceptors/adenylyl cyclase pathway are involved in heterologous desensitization of β-adrenoceptors induced by TGF-β1 in airway smooth muscle. IFN-γ functionally suppresses this phenomenon via cAMP-independent processes. Phosphodiesterase is still intact under this condition.

Electronic Resource

1365-2222

Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005

Medicine

Background ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channel activators produce relaxation of smooth muscle in many tissues. However, this wide range of effects restricts their clinical usefulness in bronchial asthma because of a reduction in systemic blood pressure.Methods We have now examined the effects of JTV-506, a new benzopyran derivative, on airway smooth muscle contraction and systemic blood pressure and have compared this compound with cromakalim. We measured isometric tension records from guinea-pig isolated trachea, as well as the respiratory resistance (Rrs) and systemic blood pressure in anesthetized guinea-pigs.Results JTV-506 caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of histamine-induced contraction in guinea-pig isolated tracheal smooth muscle, and was antagonized by glibenclamide. JTV-506 was 7.6-fold more potent than cromakalim. In anesthetized animals the intravenous injection of JTV-506 reduced the increase in Rrs induced by intravenous application of 5 μg/kg of histamine in a dose-dependent manner, 10μ/kg of JTV-506 resulted in 57.0 17.9% inhibition of the increase in Rrs at 10 min. The inhibitory action on Rrs disappeared after 60 min. 10μg/kg of cromakalim caused 25.4 ± 5.8% inhibition of the increase in Rrs induced by histamine at 1 min. The ED50 values for JTV-506 and cromakalim were 6.7 ± 3.5μg/kg and 60.1 ± 15.8μg/kg, respectively (P〈0.05). Cromakalim was ± 9-fold less potent in inhibiting the increased Rrs by histamine. and the inhibitory action lasted less than 10 min. The reduction of systemic blood pressure by JTV-506 and cromakalim (each at a dose of 10μg/kg iv) was 11.3% and 21.5%, respectivelyConclusion JTV-506 inhibits histamine-induced contraction of tracheal smooth muscle by activation of KATP channels. This compound is more potent and longer-lasting in the suppression of histamine-induced increases in Rrs, and is less hypotensive than cromakalim. Our results suggest that this compound merits further investigation for utility as a bronchodilator in the clinic.

Electronic Resource

0006-291X

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Physics

Electronic Resource

0009-2614

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Physics

Electronic Resource

0301-0104

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Physics

Electronic Resource

0167-5087

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002

Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering

Physics

Electronic Resource

0040-6031

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Electronic Resource

0040-4039

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Electronic Resource

0040-4039

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Electronic Resource

0167-0115

Capsaicin ; Guinea pig ; Nonanoyl vanillylamide ; Substance P ; Vocalization response

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002

Medicine

Electronic Resource

0167-0115

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect 1907 - 2002

Medicine

Electronic Resource

1476-4687

Nature Archives 1869 - 2009

Biology

Chemistry and Pharmacology

Medicine

Natural Sciences in General

Physics

[Auszug] Smooth muscle cells were enzymatically isolated14 from the trachea of adult male rabbits (2.5-3 kg). The giga-seal method8 was applied to measure the membrane current under FIG. 1 Effect of isoprenaline on the channel activity and its enhancement by a protein phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic ...

Electronic Resource

1432-8798

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Medicine

Summary.  We developed a rabbit polyclonal antiserum reactive against a recombinant 6x His-UL46 fusion protein expressed in*Escherichia coli, and using this antiserum identified the UL46 gene product of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) to be phosphoproteins with apparent molecular masses of 82-, 84-, and 86-kDa in infected Vero cells. The UL46 protein was produced in the late phase of infection in a manner highly dependent on viral DNA synthesis, and was mainly distributed at the edge of the nucleus in the cytoplasm. Although its kinetics of production and its progress of distribution were different from those of the major tegument protein VP16 (the UL48 gene product or α-trans-inducing factor (αTIF)), most of the UL46 protein colocalized with VP16 in the late phase of infection, and copurified with it in column chromatography. Moreover, our data showed that the HSV-2 UL46 protein, when coexpressed with VP16, enhanced α4 promotor-regulated gene expression in a transient luciferase reporter assay, while the expression of the UL46 protein alone suppressed it.

Electronic Resource

1573-675X

Apoptosis ; caspase-3 ; eosinophil ; interleukin-3 ; poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase ; theophylline.

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Biology

Medicine

Abstract In bronchial asthma, eosinophils are upregulated and their survival is suggested to be prolonged by the action of some cytokines such as Interleukin (IL)-3, IL-5 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). We find here that the survival of eosinophils in the peripheral blood of patients with asthma is correlated with the serum levels of IL-3 but not of IL-5 and GM-CSF. Interestingly, theophylline is revealed to induce apoptosis of the prolonged survival eosinophils by IL-3, as judged by morphological changes and nucleosomal DNA fragmentation. During the apoptosis, caspase-3 in eosinophils stimulated by IL-3 is activated by theophylline. The substrate of caspase-3, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), is cleaved in the eosinophils after theophylline treatment. These results suggest that theophylline is able to induce apoptosis of the IL-3 activated eosinophils in patients with bronchial asthma, and that its clinical effectiveness may be due to the reduction of inflammatory cells in the airway.

Electronic Resource

1573-4803

Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000

Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics

Abstract Al2O3/Y2O3-doped ZrO2 composite powders with 25 mol% ZrO2 have been prepared by the hydrazine method. As-prepared powders are the mixtures of AlO (OH) gel solid solutions and amorphous ZrO2. The formation process leading to α-Al2O3/t-ZrO2 composite powders is investigated. Hot isostatic pressing has been performed for 1 h at 1500 °C under 196 MPa. Dense ZrO2-toughened Al2O3 (ZTA) ceramics with homogeneous-dispersed ZrO2 particles show excellent mechanical properties. The toughening mechanism is discussed.

Electronic Resource