A case of severe acute hyponatremia after colonoscopy with polyethylene glycol plus ascorbic acid bowel preparation.

Previous reports have shown that bowel preparation can, in extremely rare circumstances, induce severe acute hyponatremia. Polyethylene glycol plus ascorbic acid as a bowel preparation is considered relatively safe with a smaller amount of free water load and a more pleasant taste with additives.We present the case of an 86-year-old man who developed severe acute hyponatremia presenting with tremor and impaired consciousness after colonoscopy, which is life-threatening.

Isolation and characterization of a novel glucosyltransferase involved in production of emodin-6--glucoside and rhaponticin in .

Anthraquinones are widely distributed in various organisms and known as bioactive ingredients. Some of the anthraquinones accumulate as glycosides in higher plants. Plant secondary product glycosyltransferases (PSPGs) are the well-characterized enzymes producing plant secondary metabolite glycosides.

A glucosyltransferase specific for 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone in strawberry.

Unlabelled: 4-Hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone (HDMF) is a key aroma compound in Fragaria × ananassa (strawberry). A considerable amount of HDMF is converted into HDMF β-D-glucoside and accumulated in mature strawberry fruits. Here we isolated a novel UDP-glucose: HDMF glucosyltransferase, UGT85K16 from Fragaria × ananassa.

BRD4 regulates fructose-inducible lipid accumulation-related genes in the mouse liver.

Objective: Fructose intake induces hepatic steatosis by activating fat synthesis. In this study, we searched for genes that showed acute induction in the livers of mice force-fed with fructose, and examined how this induction is regulated.

Materials/methods: We identified genes induced at 6h after the fructose force-feeding using a microarray and quantitative real-time RT-PCR.

Effects of chewing and swallowing behavior on jaw opening reflex responses in freely feeding rabbits.

It has been reported that the jaw opening reflex (JOR) evoked by intra-oral innocuous stimulation was suppressed during a reflex swallow in anesthetized animals only. However, the mechanism of JOR inhibition during swallowing has not yet been elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of peripheral nerve stimulation on masticatory behaviors, as well as the modulation of low threshold afferent evoked JOR responses during chewing and swallowing in freely feeding animals.

Differential involvement of two cortical masticatory areas in modulation of the swallowing reflex in rats.

To clarify the functional role of cortical descending inputs involved in the swallowing reflex, the effect of electrical stimulation of two cortical masticatory areas (CMAs: A- and P-area) on rhythmic jaw movements (RJMs) and superior laryngeal nerve (SLN)-evoked swallows were studied. RJMs and swallowing reflex were elicited by repetitive electrical stimulation of CMAs and the SLN, respectively. The electromyographic activities of jaw-closer (masseter), jaw-opener (digastric), and laryngeal-elevator (thyrohyoid) muscles were recorded to identify the RJMs and swallowing reflex.

The digastric muscle is less involved in pharyngeal swallowing in rabbits.

The swallowing reflex is centrally programmed by the lower brain stem, the so-called swallowing central pattern generator (CPG), and once the reflex is initiated, many muscles in the oral, pharyngeal, laryngeal, and esophageal regions are systematically activated. The mylohyoid (MH) muscle has been considered to be a "leading muscle" according to previous studies, but the functional role of the digastric (DIG) muscle in the swallowing reflex remains unclear. In the present study, therefore, the activities of single units of MH and DIG neurons were recorded extracellularly, and the functional involvement of these neurons in the swallowing reflex was investigated.

[A patient with pulmonary metastasis from breast cancer after surgery who responded to S-1].

We report a 60-year-old female with pulmonary metastasis from breast cancer who responded to S-1. In November 2001, she underwent surgery. In October 2005, relapse was detected.

Real-time imaging of myosin II regulatory light-chain phosphorylation using a new protein biosensor.

Phosphorylation of the RMLC (regulatory myosin light chain) regulates the activity of myosin II, which is critically involved in the motility of both muscle and non-muscle cells. There are both Ca2+-dependent and -independent pathways for RMLC phosphorylation in smooth-muscle cells, and the latter pathway is often involved in an abnormal contractility in pathological states such as asthma and hypertension. Therefore pharmacological interventions of RMLC phosphorylation may have a therapeutic value.

KB-R7943 reveals possible involvement of Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger in elevation of intracellular Ca2+ in rat carotid arterial myocytes.

A Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX) is one of the major regulators of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in cardiac muscle cells. Although vascular smooth muscle myocytes also express NCX proteins, their functional role has not been clear, mainly due to the lack of specific inhibitors of NCX and relatively low levels of expression of NCX. In the present study, we have examined the involvement of NCX in the Na(+) deficient (0 Na(+)) elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) in rat carotid arterial myocytes using KB-R7943, an inhibitor of NCX.

Requirement of ryanodine receptors for pacemaker Ca2+ activity in ICC and HEK293 cells.

Intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) oscillations seen in interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are considered to be the primary pacemaker activity in the gut. Here, we show evidence that periodic Ca(2+) release from intracellular Ca(2+) stores produces [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations in ICCs, using cell cluster preparations isolated from mouse ileum. The pacemaker [Ca(2+)](i) oscillations in ICCs are preserved in the presence of dihydropyridine Ca(2+) antagonists, which suppress Ca(2+) activity in smooth muscle cells.

Evaluation of heart-rate turbulence as a new prognostic marker in patients with chronic heart failure.

The significance of heart-rate turbulence (HRT) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) was evaluated to examine whether it is sensitive to the risk of ventricular tachycardia (VT). HRT is reported to predict the prognosis after myocardial infarction (MI), but its prognostic value in patients with CHF remains unknown. HRT was measured in 50 CHF patients (left ventricular ejection fraction <50% and/or left ventricular end-diastolic diameter >55 mm, 34 cardiomyopathy, 16 post-MI) and 21 patients without obvious heart diseases (control).

Molecular basis of pimarane compounds as novel activators of large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel alpha-subunit.

Effects of pimaric acid (PiMA) and eight closely related compounds on large-conductance K(+) (BK) channels were examined using human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells, in which either the alpha subunit of BK channel (HEKBKalpha) or both alpha and beta1 (HEKBKalphabeta1) subunits were heterologously expressed. Effects of these compounds (10 microM) on the membrane potential of HEKBKalphabeta1 were monitored by use of DiBAC(4)(3), a voltage-sensitive dye. PiMA, isopimaric acid, sandaracoisopimaric acid, dihydropimaric acid, dihydroisopimaric acid, and dihydroisopimarinol induced substantial membrane hyperpolarization.