Ayumi Hara

Changes of proliferative activity and phenotypes in spontaneous differentiation of a colon cancer cell line

We examined the alterations of proliferative activity and c‐myc expression of a colon cancer cell line (Caco‐2) during its spontaneous differentiation. Caco‐2 cells were cultured in various types of media and the degree of differentiation was monitored in terms of dome formation in cell monolayers and expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. In Caco‐2 cells cultured with Eagles minimum essential medium (EMEM) containing 10% fetal calf serum (FCS), dome formation was demonstrated and ALP activity was markedly increased after the cells reached confluence. Five‐fold reduction of c‐myc mRNA and a marked decrease in S‐phase cells were observed in the differentiated cells. These changes were not induced in FCS‐free EMEM. The addition of insulin and transferrin to FCS‐free EMEM did not induce cell differentiation or reduction of c‐myc mRNA expression. When Caco‐2 cells were cultured with three different serum‐free media, the induction of dome formation and the increase of ALP activity were observed to varying degrees. Expression of c‐myc mRNA in the cells cultured with one serum‐free medium decreased to a level similar to that in fully differentiated cells cultured with EMEM containing 10% FCS. These results suggest that a spontaneous switch from a proliferative state with high c‐myc expression to differentiated phenotype occurs after cells reach confluence and depends on the culture conditions.

Identification of connexins in human oral mucosa and therapeutic effect of irsogladine maleate on aphthous stomatitis.

Abstract: We identified connexins 26 and 32 in human oral mucosa. The presence of the connexins indicates the presence of gap junctions in this tissue. However, immunofluorescence study found no significant differences in the expression of the connexins between patients with aphthons stomatitis and controls. Irsogladine maleate, which reinforces gap junctional intercellular communication in vitro, was effective for the treatment of transient and relapsing aphthous stomatitis, as well as symptomatic and drug-induced aphthous stomatitis. It was also useful for prevention of episodes of relapsing aphthous stomatitis, with daily administration preverting recurrence of stomatitis for more than 4 years one patient. These findings suggest that irsogladine maleate accelerates the wound healing process in oral mucosa by reinforcing gap junctional intercellular communication among oral mucosal cells; and that it is useful for the treatment and prevention of aphthous stomatitis.

Fabric simulation using measurement data for dress design

The state of wrinkles and folds formed on our dress according to human postures and movements is an important design element. Fashion designers must envisage the fabric state as wrinkling and folding. However, this is not easy because the fabric state strongly depends on the mechanical properties of the fabric, and in this sense, fabric simulation can aid designers in envisaging the fabric state. In previous works on fabric simulation, fabric models are proposed and developed based on the simple mass spring model. Since none of the models proposed so far take into account the state of slipping at the contact point of the warp and weft, simulated results differ from real fabric states. This paper proposes a method to simulate real fabric state taking into consideration slipping. In order to obtain real simulation results, the mechanical properties of fabric obtained by KES: Kawabata Evaluation System [1], were used in the simulation. The effectiveness of the proposed model was confirmed by comparing simulated results obtained by the proposed method with simulated results obtained by a previous method. In addition, it was verified by comparing the simulated results obtained by the proposed method with real cloth states.Copyright