The extracellular lysophospholipase D, autotaxin (ATX), and its product lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) have diverse roles in development and cancer, but little is known about functions in the immune system. We found that ATX was highly expressed in high endothelial venules (HEVs) of lymphoid organs and was secreted. Chemokine-activated lymphocytes expressed enhanced receptors for ATX, providing a mechanism to target the secreted ATX onto lymphocytes undergoing recruitment. LPA induced chemokinesis in T-cells. Intravenous injection of enzymatically inactive ATX attenuated homing of T-cells to lymphoid tissues, likely by competing with endogenous ATX and exerting a dominant-negative effect. Our results support a novel and general step in the homing cascade, in which the ectoenzyme ATX facilitates lymphocyte entry into lymphoid organs.

Surface topography has vital roles in cellular response. Here, to investigate the mechanism behind cellular response to surface topography, we prepared honeycomb (HC)-patterned films from poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) with micropatterned surface topography by casting a polymer solution of water-immiscible solvent under high humidity. We characterized the adsorption of fibronectin (Fn) on the film using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The response of porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAECs) to adsorbed Fn molecules onto HC-patterned films was observed by immunofluorescence labeling of vinculin and the actin fiber of PAECs cultured for 1 and 72 h in serum-free medium. The expression of focal adhesion kinase autophosphorylated at the tyrosine residue (pFAK) at 1 h culture was determined using an immunoprecipitation method. Fn adsorbed selectively around the pore edges to form ring-shaped aggregates. The immunostaining results revealed that PAECs adhered to the HC-patterned films at focal contact points localized around pore peripheries. These points correspond to adsorption sites of Fn. The expression of pFAK after 1 h on the HC-patterned film was 3 times higher than that on a corresponding flat film, indicating that the signaling mediated by the binding between Fn and the integrin receptor was more highly activated on the HC-patterned film. These results suggest that the cellular response to HC-patterned films (e.g., adhesion pattern and phosphorylation of FAK) originates from the regularly aligned adsorption pattern of Fn determined by the pore structure of the film.

The H1N1 influenza A virus, which originated in swine, caused a global pandemic in 2009, and the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus has also caused epidemics in Southeast Asia in recent years. Thus, the threat from influenza A remains a serious global health issue, and novel drugs that target these viruses are highly desirable. Influenza A RNA polymerase consists of the PA, PB1, and PB2 subunits, and the N-terminal domain of the PA subunit demonstrates endonuclease activity. Fullerene (C60) is a unique carbon molecule that forms a sphere. To identify potential new anti-influenza compounds, we screened 12 fullerene derivatives using an in vitro PA endonuclease inhibition assay. We identified 8 fullerene derivatives that inhibited the endonuclease activity of the PA N-terminal domain or full-length PA protein in vitro. We also performed in silico docking simulation analysis of the C60 fullerene and PA endonuclease, which suggested that fullerenes can bind to the active pocket of PA endonuclease. In a cell culture system, we found that several fullerene derivatives inhibit influenza A viral infection and the expression of influenza A nucleoprotein and nonstructural protein 1. These results indicate that fullerene derivatives are possible candidates for the development of novel anti-influenza drugs.

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Children with cancer are at increased risk of life-threatening emergencies, either from the cancer itself or related to the cancer treatment. These conditions need to be assessed and treated as early as possible to minimize morbidity and mortality. Cardiothoracic emergencies encompass a variety of pathologies, including pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade, massive hemoptysis, superior vena cava syndrome, pulmonary embolism, and pneumonia. Abdominal emergencies include bowel obstruction, intussusception, perforation, tumor rupture, intestinal graftversus-host disease, acute pancreatitis, neutropenic colitis, and obstructive uropathy. Radiology plays a vital role in the diagnosis of these emergencies. We here review the clinical features and imaging in pediatric patients with oncologic emergencies, including a review of recently published studies. Key radiological images are presented to highlight the radiological approach to diagnosis. Pediatricians, pediatric surgeons, and pediatric radiologists need to work together to arrive at the correct diagnosis and to ensure prompt and appropriate treatment strategies.

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To our knowledge, this is the first report to show regional differences in the maturation of temporal bone, which could partly account for the differences in the spreading pattern of acute mastoiditis in individuals of different ages.

An ew linear tetraphosphine containing aP NP phosphazane bridge, rac-bis[(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylphosphino]phenylamine (rac-dpmppan), was synthesized andu tilized to support as eries of Pd/Pt mixed metal tetranuclearc hains, [Pd 4Àn Pt n (m-racdpmppan) 2 (XylNC) 2 ](PF 6 ) 2 (XylNC = xylyl isocyanide; n = 0: Pd 4 (1), 1: PtPd 3 (2), 2: PtPd 2 Pt (3), 2: Pt 2 Pd 2 (4), 3: Pt 2 PdPt (5)), in whicht he number and positions of additional Pt atoms were successfully controlled depending on the respective synthetic procedures using transformationsf rom 1 to 3 through 2 and from 4 to 5 by redox-coupled exchange reactions. The 31 P{ 1 H} NMR and ESI mass spectra and X-ray diffractiona nalyses revealed almosti dentical tetranuclear structures, with slight contraction of metalmetal bonds according to incorporation of Pt atoms. The electronic absorption spectra of 1-5 exhibited characteristic bands at 635-510 nm with an energy propensity depending on the number and positions of Pt centres, which were assigned to HOMO (ds*ss*) to LUMO (ds*s*s*) transition by theoretical calculations.T he present results demonstrated that the electronic structures of Pd/Pt mixed-metal tetranuclear complexes are finely tuned as orbital-overlapping alloyedm etal chains by atomically precise Pt incorporation in the Pd 4 chain.[a] Prof.