Tokyo University of Science

About: Tokyo University of Science is a education organization based out in Tokyo, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Thin film. The organization has 15800 authors who have published 24147 publications receiving 438081 citations. The organization is also known as: Tōkyō Rika Daigaku & Science University of Tokyo.

Combination therapy of an anticancer drug with the FNIII14 peptide of fibronectin effectively overcomes cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance of acute myelogenous leukemia.

Abstract: We investigated whether FNIII14, a 22-mer peptide derived from fibronectin (FN) that potently impairs interaction of FN with β1-integrin, could overcome cell adhesion-mediated drug resistance (CAM-DR) induced by very late antigen (VLA)-4-to-FN interaction in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Two AML cell lines, U937 cells and HL-60 cells, and fresh leukemic cells from six AML patients with high α4-integrin expression exhibited CAM-DR to cytosine arabinoside (Ara C) through VLA-4-to-FN interaction, while fresh leukemic cells from two AML patients with low α4-integrin expression did not display CAM-DR to Ara C. FNIII14 impaired VLA-4-to-FN interaction and restored sensitivity to Ara C in the CAM-DR leukemic cells. In these CAM-DR leukemic cells, upregulation of Bcl-2, which was induced through the focal adhesion kinase/Akt signal pathway upon VLA-4-to-FN interaction, was inhibited by FNIII14 treatment. In a mouse model of minimal residual disease (MRD) in bone marrow, 100% survival was achieved by combining FNIII14 with Ara C, whereas Ara C alone prolonged survival only slightly. The myelosuppression induced by Ara C was not augmented by the combination of FNIII14 in mouse experiments. Thus, the combination of anticancer drugs and FNIII14 holds promise to eradicate MRD in bone marrow after chemotherapy.

P′2-Na2/3Mn0.9Me0.1O2 (Me = Mg, Ti, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn): Correlation between Orthorhombic Distortion and Electrochemical Property

Abstract: Single-phase samples of differently distorted P’2-Na2/3Mn0.9Me0.1O2 (Me = Mg, Ti, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn) are synthesized by a conventional solid-state reaction. Cooperative Jahn-Teller distortion, which causes an orthorhombic lattice from a distortion-free hexagonal lattice, proportionally increases with increase in the concentration of Jahn-Teller ions of MnIII and CuII in P’2-Na2/3Mn0.9Me0.1O2. All of samples deliver initial reversible capacity approaching 230 mAh g-1 in non-aqueous Na cells. The redox potential of Mn(III/IV) with sodium extraction is highly correlated with degree of the dis-tortion. Because CuII is only Jahn-Teller active among the substituent ions, P’2-Na2/3Mn0.9Cu0.1O2 has remarkable distor-tion than other samples, resulting in both better cycle and rate performances in Na cells.

Differential apoptotic pathways in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells exposed to UVB and UVC

Abstract: The induction of apoptosis in keratinocytes by ultraviolet (UV)-irradiation is considered to be a protective function against skin cancer. UV-induced DNA damage is a crucial event in UVB- and UVC-mediated apoptosis. However, the differences between the UVB- and UVC-induced apoptotic pathways remain unclear. Here we examine the differential mechanisms by which UVB and UVC irradiations induce keratinocyte apoptosis using human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Differences in the production of (6-4)photoproducts ((6-4)PPs) and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) were measured following irradiation with UVB and UVC at doses causing the same extent of apoptotic cell death. In addition, main apoptotic features, such as caspase activation and its regulation, were compared between UVB- and UVC-induced apoptosis. Exposures of 500 J/m2 UVB and 100 J/m2 UVC resulted in apoptosis to almost the same extent. At these apoptotic doses, the amounts of both (6-4)PPs and CPDs were significantly larger in the case of UVC irradiation than UVB irradiation; in parallel, the release of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO and the activation of caspases-9 following UVC irradiation were greater than after UVB irradiation. Importantly, caspase-8 activation occurred only in UVB-irradiated cells. Furthermore, the activation of caspase-8 was not inhibited by caspases-9 and -3 specific tetrapeptide inhibitors, indicating that the caspase-8 cleavage is not due to feedback from activation of caspases-9 and -3. Thus, these results clearly suggest that the reason apoptosis is induced to the same extent by UVB irradiation as by UVC irradiation, despite the lower production of photoproducts in DNA by UVB irradiation, is attributable to the additional activation of the caspase-8 pathway. Thus, UVB irradiation induces apoptosis through both mitochondrial (intrinsic) and caspase-8 activation (extrinsic) pathways, while UVC induces apoptosis only via the intrinsic pathway.

Energy structure and photocatalytic activity of niobates and tantalates containing Sn(II) with a 5s2 electron configuration

Abstract: SnNb2O6 (BG = 2.3 eV) containing Sn2+ with a 5s2 electron configuration showed the photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution from an aqueous methanol solution under visible light irradiation (λ > 42...

Some Experimental Aspects of Turbulent Diffusion Flames and Buoyant Plumes from Fire Sources Against a Wall and in a Corner of Walls

Abstract: Measurements of temperature distribution and visible flame height were made on the fire plumes from square burners in a semi-infinite space, against a wall and in a corner of walls, Flame height is formulated as a function of Q * = Q/poC p T og3/4 D 3/4;52 and the maximum temperature on each height was formulated with the concept of virtual heat source. According to the comparison of the results on the fires against a wall and, n a corner of walls with those in a semi-infinite space, the existence of walls near a fire source is thought to suppress the growth of eddy scale in the plume. The characteristics of natural fuels as sources of turbulent diffusion flame are also discussed.