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To examine the sex steroid-dependent growth mechanisms of the human endometrium, the expression of steroid receptor coactivators [steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1) and p300/CREB-binding protein (p300/CBP)] and corepressors (nuclear receptor corepressor and silencing mediator for retinoid and thyroid hormone receptors) was examined by immunohistochemistry, using 50 samples of normal endometria, and was compared with that of estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), and proliferation marker Ki-67. In addition, actual binding of the coactivators to ER or PR was analyzed by immunoprecipitation. The expression of SRC-1 was diffusely observed in glandular and stromal cells in the proliferative phase and drastically decreased in the secretory phase. Such change in the expression pattern of SRC-1 resembled that of ER, PR, and Ki-67. On the other hand, p300/CBP expression was relatively constant throughout the menstrual cycle, with slight predominance in the proliferative phase. The expression of corepressors nuclear receptor corepressor and silencing mediator for retinoid and thyroid hormone receptors was focal in the endometrium. Immunoprecipitation, using tissue samples of both proliferative and secretory phases, revealed the complex formation between the coactivators and receptors. Binding of SRC-1 to ER was observed in the proliferative (but not in the secretory) endometrium. In contrast, binding p300/CBP to ER was noted in the endometria of both phases. Complex formation between p300/CBP and PR was noted in the secretory endometrium, whereas that between SRC-1 and PR was not apparent. Accordingly, we showed the expression pattern of steroid receptor coactivators and corepressors in the normal endometrium. Cyclic change in the expression of SRC-1 during the menstrual cycle might be important in the estrogen-action for the glandular and stromal cells.

Thin palladium membranes of different thicknesses were prepared on sol‐gel derived mesoporous γ‐alumina/α‐alumina and yttria‐stabilized zirconia/α‐alumina supports by a method combining sputter deposition and electroless plating. The effect of metal‐support interface on hydrogen transport permeation properties was investigated by comparing hydrogen permeation data for these membranes measured under different conditions. Hydrogen permeation fluxes for the Pd/γ‐Al2O3/α‐Al2O3 membranes are significantly smaller than those for the Pd/YSZ/α‐Al2O3 membranes under similar conditions. As the palladium membrane thickness increases, the difference in permeation fluxes between these two groups of membranes decreases and the pressure exponent for permeation flux approaches 0.5 from 1. Analysis of the permeation data with a permeation model shows that both groups of membranes have similar hydrogen permeability for bulk diffusion, but the Pd/γ‐Al2O3/α‐Al2O3 membranes exhibit a much lower surface reaction rate constant with higher activation energy, due possibly to the formation of Pd‐Al alloy, than the Pd/YSZ/α‐Al2O3 membranes. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009

To further elucidate the significance of p53 mutation in endometrial carcinoma, we investigated it in endometrioid-type endometrial carcinomas showing intratumoral heterogeneous p53 expression. In addition, we also examined the correlation of p53 mutation and cyclin A expression, because we previously reported a topological correlation between the expression of p53 and cyclin A. The p53 mutation in exons 5-8 in 54 cases of endometrial carcinoma showing immunohistochemical expression of p53 was examined using microdissected tissue DNAs. Of the 54 p53-positive endometrial carcinomas, 23 (43%) had p53 mutation with a tendency in histologically higher grade tumors. Ten of the 54 showed a heterogeneous p53 expression, and in 9 of the 10 cases, p53 mutation was present only in p53-positive sites, which were often found in histologically less differentiated areas with elevated Ki-67 in the same tumor. Cyclin A expression was topologically observed in p53-positive areas; however, it was noted in both tumors with (12/23, 52%) and without (18/31, 58%) p53 mutation. These results suggest that p53 mutation is a late event and plays an important role in the acquisition of malignant potentials in endometrioid-type endometrial adenocarcinomas. Unexpectedly, accumulation of the p53 protein itself may be important in cyclin A overexpression.

It is important for women snowboarders to realize that in snowboarding there are dangers that may cause vulvar injuries. The prevention of such injuries requires that the binding should be turned down when the foot is left off the board and that snowboarders should try not to tumble onto the board.

This study was designed to compare the degree of reactive astrogliosis occurring around a puncture wound in the brain of normal rats and at different intervals after a similar puncture wound in rats with a portocaval anastomosis. The gliosis was evaluated by the number of astrocytes, the thickness of their processes and the intensity of the glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity. After the puncture wound in the brain of rats with a portocaval anastomosis, the gliosis varied at different intervals being: (1) decreased at 10 days, (2) markedly increased at 5 weeks and (3) significantly decreased at 8, 12, and 16 weeks. These findings suggest that 5 weeks after portocaval anastomosis, an active proliferation of the metabolically altered astrocytes occurs with heightened synthesis of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the period of adaptive compensation, the so-called compensatory 'rebound'. At 8 weeks or more after portocaval anastomosis, these altered astrocytes were considered to be in the phase of decompensation and incapable of maintaining the reactive response which occurred in normal rats. The compensatory rebound and decompensatory 'decline' illustrate the dynamic plasticity of the reactive astrogliosis.