The characteristics of integrins expression in decidualized human endometrial stromal cell induced by 8-Br-cAMP in in vitro

Integrins are heterodimeric glycoproteins that have been found to undergo dynamic temporal and spatial changes in the endometrium during the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy. Specificity of integrins is known to be different in human endometrial stromal cells and decidual cells. These shifts of integrins suggested to play an important role in embryo implantation and can be modulated by progesterone, cAMP derivatives, and cytokines. The mechanisms of decidualization and its precise physiological role are still not clearly understood and in vitro systems could provide an alternative that overcomes limitations of studying such complex biological phenomena in vivo at the time of implantation. This study was undertaken to establish an in vitro model system for human decidualization using 8-bromo-cAMP and to investigate the characteristics of stromal integrin expression in vitro by 8-Br-cAMP. Endometrial stromal cells were isolated and cultured, and then were induced to decidualize by 0.5 mM 8-Br-cAMP for 15 days. Immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometric analyses of the integrin subunits (alpha1, alpha4, alpha5, alpha6, beta1 and alphavbeta3) were performed at day 9. In the presence of 8-Br-cAMP, the staining intensity of alphavbeta3 was significantly higher than control and measurements for alpha1, alpha4, alpha5, alpha6, and beta1 were similar. Immunofluorescent localization of the integrins reflected the differences obtained from the flow cytometric analyses described above. In summary, the expression of alphavbeta3 integrin increased in stromal cells in vitro decidualized by 8-Br-cAMP and this up-regulation of alphavbeta3 integrin expression during decidualization might influence on human implantation.     

Post-lactonization of vinyl polymers containing pendent ester and hydroxymethyl groups

Copolymers of methyl methacrylate with methyl and ethyl α-hydroxymethylacrylate and with α-hydroxymethylstyrene have been prepared with free-radical initiators at temperatures below 80°C. At higher reaction temperatures or under extrusion conditions, alcohol was eliminated and the free hydroxyl content was greatly decreased. All evidence indicates the formation of six-membered lactone groups in this post-polymerization reaction: direct evidence for their formation is lacking, however, since neither infrared nor nuclear magnetic resonance spectra could be used to detect lactonization in this system. The loss of activity from ¹⁴C ester-labeled methyl methacrylate copolymer on heating could be correlated with the extent of lactonization. The degree of lactonization is relatively less with copolymers containing higher amounts of hydroxymethyl groups. The resulting polymers exhibit higher heat distortion temperatures and decreased impact resistance when compared to poly(methyl methacrylate). Attempts were made to incorporate similar lactone structures by cyclocopolymerization with methyl methacrylate of α-methacryloxymethylstyrene or ethyl α-methacryloxymethylacrylate, but only crosslinked polymers or polymers with pendent unsaturation were found.     

Uniqueness and clustering properties of Gibbs states for classical and quantum unbounded spin systems

We consider quantum unbounded spin systems (lattice boson systems) in -dimensional lattice space Z. Under appropriate conditions on the interactions we prove that in a region of high temperatures the Gibbs state is unique, is translationally invariant, and has clustering properties. The main methods we use are the Wiener integral representation, the cluster expansions for zero boundary conditions and for general Gibbs state, and explicitly -dependent probability estimates. For one-dimensional systems we show the uniqueness of Gibbs states for any value of temperature by using the method of perturbed states. We also consider classical unbounded spin systems. We derive necessary estimates so that all of the results for the quantum systems hold for the classical systems by straightforward applications of the methods used in the quantum case.     

Sample preparation of human serum for the analysis of tumor markers. Comparison of different approaches for albumin and gamma-globulin depletion

LC-MS is a powerful method for the sensitive detection of proteins and peptides in biological fluids. However, the presence of highly abundant proteins often masks those of lower abundance and thus generally prevents their detection and identification in proteomic studies. In human serum the most abundant proteins are albumin and gamma-globulins. We tested several approaches to specifically reduce the level of these proteins based on either specific antibodies, dye ligands (for albumin) and protein A or G (for gamma-globulins). The resulting, depleted serum was analyzed by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and LC-MS for the residual presence of these abundant proteins as well as for other serum proteins that should remain after depletion. To test the applicability of this method to real-life samples, depleted serum of a cervical cancer patient was analyzed for the presence of a specific tumor marker protein SCCA1 (squamous cell carcinoma antigen 1; P29508), which is present at ng/ml concentrations. The results demonstrate that SCCA1 can be detected by LC-MS in patient serum following depletion of albumin and gamma-globulins thus opening the possibility of screening patient sera for other, so far unknown, tumor markers.     

Resolution optimisation in micellar electrokinetic chromatography using empirical models

Theoretical and empirical models can be used to model the migration or separation characteristics in micellar electrokinetic chromatography in order to optimise the resolution. In this paper only empirical models were used, because it is easier and more straightforward to obtain these models. Several empirical approaches for the optimisation of the resolution were compared in order to determine which response should be modelled preferably. The use of models of the effective mobility in combination with average plate numbers proved to be the most suitable approach to optimisation of the resolution, because the relative prediction errors of the models of the effective mobility were a factor of 2-4 smaller than the relative prediction errors of the models of the apparent mobility. Moreover for the least separated peak pair the resolutions based on the models of the apparent and effective mobility showed relative prediction errors that were approximately a factor of 2 smaller than the relative prediction errors of the resolutions based on the models of the resolution and separation factor. The predictions of the separation factor based on the different models generally showed lower prediction errors than the predictions of the corresponding resolutions. Although the relative prediction errors were large, particularly for closely migrating compounds, the empirical approach will probably lead to the optimum separation buffer composition.     

An ultraviolet-curable mold for sub-100-nm lithography

We describe a novel UV-curable mold that is stiff enough for replicating dense sub-100-nm features even with a high aspect ratio. It also allows for flexibility when the mold is prepared on a flexible support such that large area replication can be accomplished. The composite material of the mold is inert to chemicals and solvents. The surface energy is made low with a small amount of releasing agent such that the mold can be removed easily and cleanly after patterning. In addition, the material allows self-replication of the mold. These unique features of the mold material should make the mold quite useful for various patterning purposes.