Kōchi University

About: Kōchi University is a education organization based out in Kochi, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Zircon. The organization has 5314 authors who have published 10056 publications receiving 204869 citations. The organization is also known as: Kōchi Daigaku.

High glucose alone, as well as in combination with proinflammatory cytokines, stimulates nuclear factor kappa-B-mediated transcription in hepatocytes in vitro

Abstract: Diabetes mellitus is frequently associated with coagulation disorders such as coronary heart disease and stroke. We aimed to clarify the molecular mechanism whereby hyperglycemia causes the procoagulant state. HuH7 human hepatocyte cells were treated with high glucose alone or in combination with proinflammatory cytokines, and the effects on the activity of the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappaB), which mediates the expression of acute-phase and coagulation-related genes, were examined. The results showed that increasing the medium glucose concentration from 3 to 24 mM significantly enhanced NF-kappaB-luciferase activity by 40% in the presence of insulin. The effect was promoter specific and not mimicked by comparable hyperosmolality with L-glucose. Proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) also stimulated NF-kappaB-dependent transcription and showed an additive effect with high glucose. Similar effects were obtained on acute-phase or coagulation/fibrinolysis-related gene promoters such as fibrinogen or plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, all of which are shown to have NF-kappaB-mediated transcription. Finally, pretreatment of the cells with an antioxidant PDTC completely abolished the effect of high glucose and markedly attenuated that of TNF-alpha, suggesting the involvement of reactive oxygen species. These results suggest that (1) high glucose as well as proinflammatory cytokines have positive effects on NF-kappaB-mediated transcription in an additive manner and enhance coagulation-related gene expression and (2) the effects are mediated, at least partly, by the generation of oxidative stress and may be responsible for the high prevalence of thrombotic disorders in the metabolic syndrome with diabetes, hyperinsulinemia, obesity, and/or inflammation.

Taxonomic and ecological profile of ‘green tide’ species of Ulva (Ulvales, Chlorophyta) in central Philippines

Abstract: Ulva spp. are common in the intertidal zones of the Philippines, but, at certain times, could over-proliferate producing blooms or `green tide' in some protected bays. In Mactan Island (Cebu), central Philippines, at least two species constitute the Ulva population, either as free-living or attached form. The one referred to in the literature as `Ulva lactuca' mainly consists of free-living population while the species referred to as Ulva reticulata consists mainly of attached population. Based on morphological and physiological characteristics, `U. lactuca' differs much from the descriptions of the species from its type locality in Europe in having a crumpled texture of blade, presence of tooth-like protuberances at the margins, thinner thallus (40–50 μm) and more pyrenoids per cell (two to four). The species referred to as `U. lactuca' in the Philippines therefore is a different species. Two morphotypes consisted the `U. lactuca' population from Mactan – a thick thallus and a thin thallus type. However, both morphotypes cultured under the same condition in the laboratory could transform into the same thin-thallus type observed in the field. `Green tide' caused by `U. lactuca' occur almost regularly in Station 1 of Mactan Island, reaching an average biomass of up to 2.6 kg wet wt m−2 (or 0.5 kg dry wt m−2). Ulva reticulata, although was less abundant in the rocky tidal zone at most times, reaching an average biomass of only up to 0.15 kg wet wt m−2 (or 0.03 kg dry wt m−2) had caused green tide in Station 2 around February–March. Reproductive structures were not observed in both Ulva species during the survey period suggesting that vegetative fragmentation is the main mode of propagation. Vegetative tissues excised from the thallus can be induced to release biflagellated large and small zooids.

A chemical kinetic approach to estimate dynamic shear stress during the 1999 Taiwan Chi‐Chi earthquake

Abstract: [1] Estimation of the dynamic shear stress on a fault during an earthquake is important for understanding the earthquake itself. Using a chemical kinetic approach, we examined the thermal decomposition of carbonate minerals to estimate the shear stress on the Taiwan Chelungpu fault, which slipped during the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake. The reaction rate of the decomposition was related to temperature by using the Arrhenius equation, and the chemical kinetics, taking into account the temperature change over time caused by frictional heating and heat conduction, was solved by the finite difference method. The dynamic shear stress during the Chi-Chi earthquake was deduced to be 1.31 MPa, and the frictional coefficient to be 0.04–0.05. This estimated value agrees with the hypothesis that friction along the Chelungpu fault was low.

Single-photon agents for tumor imaging: 201Tl, 99mTc-MIBI, and 99mTc-tetrofosmin.

Abstract: This review aims at fostering comprehension and knowledge not only for expert physicians who can skillfully handle various techniques for tumor imaging but also for young practitioners in the field of nuclear medicine. As image processing software and hardware become smaller, faster and better, SPECT will adapt and incorporate these advances. A principal advantage of SPECT over PET is the more widespread availability of the equipment and lower cost for the introduction of the system in community-based facilities. Moreover, SPECT has become less dependent on a limited number of acknowledged experts for its interpretation owing to a variety of handy computer tools for imaging analyses. The increasing use of PET in tumor imaging is not necessarily proportional to the decline of SPECT. General physicians’ attention to SPECT technology would also increase more by evoking their interest in “tracer imaging.”