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Rat basophilic leukaemia cells (RBL-2H3) were analyzed by in air micro-PIXE analysis to investigate the relationship between the distribution of elements and histamine release in immune system. RBL-2H3 cells were sensitized with monoclonal immunoglobuline E(IgE) and stimulated with antigen. In the stimulated cells, it is understood that the level of Ca²⁺ increases in cytoplasm and then the degranulation or the release of chemical mediators occur. In this study, stimulated RBL-2H3 cells with antigen and control cells were analyzed. After the stimulation, the Na in the cells was increased. Moreover some stimulated cells showed the characteristic distribution of sulfur that is not accompany with the distribution of phosphorus. In the same measurement, the aggregations of Na, Ca, Fe, and Zn were observed.

We used the particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) spectrometry to perform elemental analysis of liver biopsy materials from patients with three different kinds of liver diseases; acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. We compared the Cu/Fe and Zn/Fe concentration ratios in these different liver diseases. There was no significant difference in the ratios because of the kind of liver disease. However, we found a positive correlation between the Cu/Fe concentration ratio and both serum GOT (glutamate oxalacetic transaminase) and GPT (glutamate pyruvate transaminase) levels in 14 patients with liver diseases.

The quantitative changes of elements in blood plasma were observed with the passage of time after X-ray whole body irradiation with 12 Gy on C57BL/6J mice by PIXE method. From 4 days after irradiation, dead mouse was found and all mice died by 8 days. Hematocrit (Ht) values indicated a decrease from the 1st day, but on days 3 and 4 there was a small rise. Finally the values became 64 % of that of non-irradiated control on day 7, it was just before death. By analysis with PIXE method, 15 elements were observable in blood plasma of control mice. The elements such as P, S, Cl, K, Ca and Cr were abundant and Fe and Br followed. As trace elements, the peaks of Zn, Cu and Ni were clearly observed. After irradiation, K and Ca decreased on day 1st, afterwards increased gradually. On the contrary, the elements, S, Cl, were rather stable. While Fe decreased from 1st day, Cu increased from the day 2. Zn and Ni showed intensely down and rise in amount, and decreased on day 7. The results of possible measurement of the changes in amount of these elements of blood plasma suggest PIXE method is an easy and useful way for diagnosis.

The quantitative changes in the elements, amounts of Cl, K, Ca, in blood plasma were measured by PIXE method. The samples were obtained at appropriate intervals after transplantation of EL-4 tumor cells in three strains of mice, C57BL/6J (H-2^b), C57BL/10J (abbreviation: B10; H-2^b) and A/J (H-2^a). Transplanted EL-4 tumor cells proliferated in both strains of C57BL/6J and B10. In A/J mice, transplanted EL-4 cells proliferated about 10 days and then were rejected completely by the immunological reaction according to the difference of major histocompatibility antigens. The amounts of Cl in plasma remained at similar level in the time course in any strains, but K fluctuated in C57BL/6J and B10, and less in A/J. On the other hand, Ca showed always higher values in C57BL/6J than other two strains of mice. In B10 mice, Ca increased just before death, but in A/J it decreased at the time of healing by rejection. These changes of Ca in the three strains of mice were related quantitatively 10 the hematocrit values of these strains of mice after transplantation of EL-4 cells.

The abnormal cell exit of apoptosis from S-phase, correlation between apoptosis and Mg, and between its S-phase fraction and Zn were studied in inoculated Sarcoma-180 receiving 10 or 20 Gy of ⁶⁰Co gamma ray, IN VIVO, in BALB/c mice.

The apoptosis and S-phase fraction were detected by double immunostaining: 1) TUNEL that colors apoptosis brown; and 2) histone H3 mRNA probe that results in blue deposition to S-phase of cells. The concentrations of Mg and Zn were studied by PIXE.

The Mg strongly correlated with the frequency of apoptosis, but other kinds of cells did not. On the contrary, The S-phase fraction of apoptosis did not correlated with Zn, but S-phase of other kinds of cells did. This different correlation suggests the different metabolism between apoptosis and other kinds of cell.

Zn-doped p-type InP has been examined by far-infrared absorption magnetospectroscopy to fields much higher than previously. The impurity-related transitions observed confirm and greatly extend previous data and reveal new phenomena.

The purpose of experiment was to produce bulk nanocrystalline Zn by mechanical attrition. The bulk nanocrystalline Zn produced by mechanical attrition was studied. The microstructural evolution during cryomilling and subsequent room temperature milling was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In this paper, Nanocrystalline Zn was produced by insitu consolidation of Zn elemental powder using mechanical attrition at liquid nitrogen and room temperature. For the samples studied, the longest elongation of 65% and highest stress of 200 MPa is obtained in nanocrystalline Zn during tensile testing at the condition of strain rate (10^-3 sec^-1) and 20°C which is equal to 0.43 T_m (T_m is the melting temperature of pure Zn).

Tricalcium phosphate containing Zn (ZnTCP; 0.63, 6.17 and 12.05 Zn w/w%) were investigated Zn²⁺ release from ZnTCP. The in-vitro release rates from Zn-TCP powders were measured in 25 ml of SBF containing 10 mg/100mL Ca²⁺(SBF (H)), SBF containing 5 mg/100mL Ca²⁺ (SBF(L)) or SBF without Ca²⁺ (SBF(-)) at pH7.25, 37.0+0.1°C. The Zn²⁺ release rate from 6 and 12 % ZnTCP were much faster than that at the latter stage. The Zn²⁺ release rate from ZnTCP decreased with increasing Ca²⁺ concentration in dissolution media. The rate from ZnTCP increased with increasing Zn²⁺ concentration in TCP. On the other hand, the aqueous ZnTCP suspension containing 10mg of 6 and 12% ZnTCP was subcutaneously injected into the backs of the ovarictomized female Wistar rats. The plasma Zn²⁺ levels at 1-5 days of ZnTCP loaded rats increased comparing with the control disease model. The area under the curve of Zn release profiles (AUC) of 6 and 12%ZnTCP were significantly higher than that of control disease model.