Yukiko Nishimura

Potentiometric selectivity coefficients of ion-selective electrodes. Part II. Inorganic anions (IUPAC Technical Report)

Potentiometric selectivity coefficients, KA,Bpot have been collected for ionophore-based ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) for inorganic anions reported during 1988-1998. In addition to the actual numerical values of KA,Bpot together with the methods and conditions for their determination, response slopes, linear concentration (activity) ranges, chemical compositions, and ionophore structures for the ISE membranes are tabulated.

The need for worldwide policy and action plans for rare diseases

There are more than 6000 rare diseases (defined as affecting <5/10 000 individuals in Europe, <200 000 people in the United States). The rarity can create problems including: difficulties in obtaining timely, accurate diagnoses; lack of experienced healthcare providers; useful, reliable and timely information may be hard to find; research activities are less common; developing new medicines may not be economically feasible; treatments are sometimes very expensive; and in developing countries, the problems are compounded by other resource limitations. Emphasis is required to support appropriate research and development leading to better prevention, diagnosis and treatments of rare diseases. Notably, clinical trials using already existing drugs may result in new, affordable, treatment strategies. Moreover, rare diseases may teach us about common disorders.

Genetic analysis of a Japanese cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis family: identification of a novel mutation in the adrenodoxin binding region of the CYP 27 gene

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX), an autosomal recessive lipid-storage hereditary disorder, is caused by mutations in the sterol 27-hydroxylase gene (CYP 27). A 24-year-old female Japanese CTX patient and her parents were studied for a CYP 27 mutation. Multiple xanthomas were the main complaint of the patient and plasma cholestanol level was markedly elevated. Sterol analysis of a xanthoma biopsy confirmed cholesterol and cholestanol deposition, and the cholestanol accounted for 8.1% of the total sterols. Sterol 27-hydroxylase activity in fibroblasts derived from the patient was undetectable, while the activities in fibroblasts from her mother and father were 54% and 41% of the normal level, respectively. Direct sequence analysis showed a missense mutation of A for G substitution in the CYP 27 gene at codon 362 (CGT 362Arg to CAT 362His) with a homozygous pattern in the patient, and a heterozygous pattern in the parents. The mutation, which eliminates a normal HgaI endonuclease site at position 1195 of the cDNA and is located at the adrenodoxin binding region of the gene, is most probably responsible for the decreased sterol 27-hydroxylase activity in this Japanese CTX family. The combined data strongly support that the primary enzymatic defect in CTX is the disruption of sterol 27-hydroxylase and that the disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive trait.

PCDH10 is required for the tumorigenicity of glioblastoma cells

Protocadherin10 (PCDH10)/OL-protocadherin is a cadherin-related transmembrane protein that has multiple roles in the brain, including facilitating specific cell-cell connections, cell migration and axon guidance. It has recently been reported that PCDH10 functions as a tumor suppressor and that its overexpression inhibits proliferation or invasion of multiple tumor cells. However, the function of PCDH10 in glioblastoma cells has not been elucidated. In contrast to previous reports on other tumors, we show here that suppression of the expression of PCDH10 by RNA interference (RNAi) induces the growth arrest and apoptosis of glioblastoma cells in vitro. Furthermore, we demonstrate that knockdown of PCDH10 inhibits the growth of glioblastoma cells xenografted into immunocompromised mice. These results suggest that PCDH10 is required for the proliferation and tumorigenicity of glioblastoma cells. We speculate that PCDH10 may be a promising target for the therapy of glioblastoma.

Research on the gap between skillful/non skillful users of a cellular phone, and anticipation of the risks arising out of lack of information in Japan

We are interested in the userspsila level of understanding of an innovative Japanese portable phone (KEITAI) unit with multiple functions. This research focuses on userspsila knowledge of cellular phone usage and design and practice of the information transfer method for users who need more information. In this article, we conducted several surveys and their data analysis to determine the necessary knowledge about KEITAIpsilas potential and possible risks for the improvement of KEITAIpsilas usability as well as the operation of successful workshop. We further focus on how KEITAI users gain the knowledge of cellular phones (as information tool), and which functions they have concerns about by comparing the results of nationwide Internet survey and regional survey. Based on these results, we review the knowledge users need, as well as the appropriate area and scale of a trial experiment of the workshop for the effective provision of KEITAI knowledge for ldquonot advanced KEITAI userrdquo. We also found that users concerns are focused on security-related functions such as service suspension in case of theft and electric money, regardless of user type. As a solution to bridge such gap, we held a workshop for providing information on a cellular phone including a quiz game and one-on-one lecture, etc. The repetitive training effectively contributed to the userspsila satisfaction and the improvement of their understandings.

Review of knowledge transfer program based on mobile phone (KEITAI)'s technology prediction and its psychological impact on users

Under the rapid spread of mobile phone (KEITAI) in recent years, it is expected that the introduction of new technology and functions will further increase the gap between users in their consciousness of KEITAIs new technology. In view of such background, we have conducted the research for the safer usage of KEITAI. We so far proposed and conducted a seminar as a method of knowledge transfer to bridge the gap between KEITAI users as well as between new technology and user consciousness. The seminar is organized based on the KEITAI user survey results and the analysis of the existing KEITAI products. We analyzed the level of users skill in KEITAI usage and the seminar includes a training program adapting to this 4 different user groups. We conducted a survey for KEITAI user consciousness asking about the feasible KEITAI technology and services in the near future. In this report, we compare the different user groups survey results to review the points that will expand the gap between users and clarify the points that need knowledge transfer to solve the users gap in knowledge. Further, we conducted an effect measurement after the KEITAI seminar to confirm its effectiveness. We adopted scaling technique based on semantic differential method and factor analysis to review the validity of our KEITAI seminar in a broad sense.