5-aminolevulinic acid combined with ferrous ion reduces adiposity and improves glucose tolerance in diet-induced obese mice via enhancing mitochondrial function.

Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with obesity and various obesity-associated pathological conditions including glucose intolerance. 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a precursor of heme metabolites, is a natural amino acid synthesized in the mitochondria, and various types of cytochromes containing heme contribute to aerobic energy metabolism. Thus, ALA might have beneficial effects on the reduction of adiposity and improvement of glucose tolerance through its promotion of heme synthesis.

The Safety and Tolerability of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Phosphate with Sodium Ferrous Citrate in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Bahrain.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is prevalent especially in Gulf countries and poses serious long-term risks to patients. A multifaceted treatment approach can include nutritional supplements with antioxidant properties such as 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) with sodium ferrous citrate (SFC). This prospective, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, dose escalating pilot clinical trial assessed the safety of 5-ALA with SFC at doses up to 200 mg 5-ALA/229.

Combination of 5-aminolevulinic acid and ferrous ion reduces plasma glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels in Zucker diabetic fatty rats.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), a natural amino acid produced only in the mitochondria, is a precursor of heme. Cytochromes that contain heme play an important role in aerobic energy metabolism.

[Successful treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder by early initiation of plasma exchange].

A 39-year-old woman initially developed vomiting and intractable hiccup, followed by progressive dysphagia, dysarthria and hypoglossal nerve palsy. She was admitted to our department on the 30th day of illness. MRI-FLAIR images of the brain revealed a hyperintense lesion in the dorsal medulla.

Alternately binding probe competitive PCR as a simple, cost-effective, and accurate quantification method for JAK2V617F allele burden in myeloproliferative neoplasms.

We developed a simple, cost-effective, and accurate JAK2 allele burden quantification method named alternately binding probe competitive PCR (ABC-PCR). ABC-PCR can be performed to quantify target JAK2 allele burdens in a single reaction. The throughput and running cost of ABC-PCR are markedly improved compared with those of allele-specific quantitative PCR (AS-qPCR).

Urinary prostasin in humans: relationships among prostasin, aldosterone and epithelial sodium channel activity.

Prostasin, a membrane-bound serine protease, is known to increase the activity of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). Gene expression of prostasin was shown to be regulated by aldosterone, which increases the rate of sodium reabsorption through ENaC. To clarify the physiological relationships among prostasin, aldosterone and ENaC, we developed a specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) for human prostasin.

Structures and diverse functions of frog growth hormone-releasing peptide (fGRP) and its related peptides (fGRP-RPs): a review.

A new Arg-Phe-NH(2) (RFamide) peptide has been discovered in the amphibian hypothalamus. The cell bodies and terminals containing this peptide were localized in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and median eminence, respectively. This peptide was further revealed to have a considerable growth hormone (GH)-releasing activity in vitro and in vivo and hence designated as frog GH-releasing peptide (fGRP).

Identification of immunoreactive plasma and stomach ghrelin, and expression of stomach ghrelin mRNA in the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana.

In this study, we established a radioimmunoassay (RIA) specific for ghrelin from the bullfrog Rana catesbeiana using a novel antibody raised against the C-terminal amino acid sequence of bullfrog ghrelin [13-28]. We also examined the distribution of ghrelin-producing cells in the stomachs of bullfrogs using this antibody and a cRNA probe specific for the bullfrog ghrelin gene. Ghrelin levels in plasma and stomach extracts were approximately 150 fmol/ml and 83-135 fmol/mg wet tissue, respectively.

Development of radioimmunoassay for bullfrog thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): effects of hypothalamic releasing hormones on the release of TSH from the pituitary in vitro.

A bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) beta-subunit (TSHbeta) antiserum was produced by employing a C-terminal peptide synthesized on the basis of the amino acid sequence deduced from bullfrog TSHbeta cDNA. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that the bullfrog adenohypophyseal cells that immunologically reacted with the anti-bullfrog TSHbeta corresponded to those positively stained with an antiserum against human (h) TSHbeta. The antiserum was used for the development of a specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the measurement of bullfrog TSH.

Novel neuropeptides related to frog growth hormone-releasing peptide: isolation, sequence, and functional analysis.

We previously identified in the bullfrog a novel hypothalamic RFamide peptide (SLKPAANLPLRF-NH(2)) that stimulated GH release in vitro and in vivo and therefore was designated frog GH-releasing peptide (fGRP). Molecular cloning of cDNA encoding the deduced fGRP precursor polypeptide further revealed that it encodes fGRP and its related peptides (fGRP-RP-1, -RP-2, and -RP-3). In this study immunoaffinity purification using the antibody against fGRP was therefore conducted to determine whether these three putative fGRP-RPs exist as mature endogenous ligands in the frog brain.

A novel amphibian hypothalamic neuropeptide: isolation, localization, and biological activity.

Neuropeptides similar to the molluscan cardioexcitatory Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2 have been identified in several vertebrates and characterized by the RFa motif at their C terminus (RFa peptides). In this study, we sought to identify an amphibian hypothalamic RFa peptide that may regulate secretion of hormones by the anterior pituitary gland. An acid extract of bullfrog hypothalami was passed through C-18 reversed-phase cartridges, and then the retained material was subjected to HPLC, initially using a C-18 reversed-phase column.