Pharmacokinetic analysis of nicotine and its metabolites (cotinine and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine) in male Sprague-Dawley rats following nose-only inhalation, oral gavage, and intravenous infusion of nicotine.

Nicotine is an alkaloid found in tobacco. Human exposure to nicotine primarily occurs through the use of tobacco products. To date, limited nicotine pharmacokinetic data in animals have been reported.

Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis in the Nasal Bone: A Rare Case.

Nasal bone involvement of Langerhans cell histiocytosis is rarely reported. Here we present a case of a 13-year-old boy with a palpable nasal mass. Ultrasonography revealed a hypoechoic mass on the left side of the nose.

90-day nose-only inhalation toxicity study of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in Sprague-Dawley rats.

4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is one of the key tobacco-specific nitrosamines that plays an important role in human lung carcinogenesis. Repeated dose inhalation toxicity data on NNK, particularly relevant to cigarette smoking, however, is surprisingly limited. Hence, there is a lack of direct information available on the carcinogenic and potential non-carcinogenic effects of NNK via inhalational route exposure.

14-Day Nose-Only Inhalation Toxicity and Haber's Rule Study of NNK in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is one of the key tobacco-specific nitrosamines that plays an important role in human lung carcinogenesis. However, repeated inhalation toxicity data on NNK, which is more directly relevant to cigarette smoking, are currently limited. In the present study, the subacute inhalation toxicity of NNK was evaluated in Sprague Dawley rats.

Sequential biowashing-biopile processes for remediation of crude oil contaminated soil in Kuwait.

The application of biological processes for remediation of the aged crude oil-contaminated soil of Kuwait can be an inefficient way, thus, this study developed 20 d-sequential biowashing and biopile processes where the biowashing step uses an enrichment culture of the indigenous soil bacterial community and the biopile step includes hemoglobin-catalyzed oxidation (HCO). The residual total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) concentrations and CO generation were measured to determine the removal efficiency, and the bacterial community changes were studied to investigate the effect of the sequential processes on the soil indigenous bacterial community. The enrichment culture grown on hemoglobin showed an increased surface activity, and this promoted desorption and emulsification of crude oil from the soil sample in the biowashing step resulting in 75% TPH removal.

Evaluation of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) mutagenicity using in vitro and in vivo Pig-a assays.

4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is a genotoxic carcinogen found in tobacco and tobacco smoke. Several in vitro and in vivo assays have been used for evaluating the genotoxicity of tobacco smoke and tobacco smoke constituents like NNK, yet it is not clear which in vitro assays are most appropriate for extrapolating the in vitro responses of these test agents to animal models and humans. The Pig-a gene mutation assay can be performed in vitro, in laboratory animals, and in humans, a potential benefit in estimating in vivo responses from in vitro data.

Chitinimonas lacunae sp. nov., isolated from artificial pond in Korea.

A gram-negative, rod shaped bacterium designated as strain H2 was isolated from an artificial pond in Korea. The strain H2 was able to grow aerobically and anaerobically with optimal growth occurring at 30 °C and pH 7.0 under aerobic conditions.

Pedobacter solisilvae sp. nov., isolated from forest soil.

The bacteria strain EN12 was isolated from forest soil in the Republic of Korea. The cells were Gram-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped, and the strain was strictly aerobic. Phylogenetic analysis of its 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain EN12 belonged to the class Sphingobacteriia of the phylum Bacteroidetes, and its closest relative is Pedobacter namyangjuensis 5G38, with a sequence similarity of 95.

Characteristics of orbital wall fractures in preschool and school-aged children.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the injury patterns in pediatric patients with an orbital wall fracture (OWF) and to identify the differences in injury patterns between preschool and school-aged patients with OWF who presented to the emergency department.

Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study in the emergency department of a tertiary hospital between January 2004 and March 2014. A total of 177 pediatric patients (<18 years) with OWF who underwent facial bone computed tomography scans with specific discharge codes were included.

Patterns and injuries associated with orbital wall fractures in elderly patients who visited the emergency room: a retrospective case-control study.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine orbital wall fracture (OWF) patterns and associated facial injuries in elderly patients and compare them with those in their younger adult counterparts.

Design: A retrospective case-control study.

Setting: An emergency department of a university-affiliated hospital located in an urban area.

Two helices in the third intracellular loop determine anoctamin 1 (TMEM16A) activation by calcium.

Anoctamin 1 (ANO1)/TMEM16A is a Cl(-) channel activated by intracellular Ca(2+) mediating numerous physiological functions. However, little is known of the ANO1 activation mechanism by Ca(2+). Here, we demonstrate that two helices, "reference" and "Ca(2+) sensor" helices in the third intracellular loop face each other with opposite charges.

Anoctamin 1 contributes to inflammatory and nerve-injury induced hypersensitivity.

Background: Various pathological conditions such as inflammation or injury can evoke pain hypersensitivity. That represents the response to innocuous stimuli or exaggerated response to noxious stimuli. The molecular mechanism based on the pain hypersensitivity is associated with changes in many of ion channels in dorsal-root ganglion (DRG) neurons.

TRPM2 mediates the lysophosphatidic acid-induced neurite retraction in the developing brain.

Intracellular Ca(2+) signal is a key regulator of axonal growth during brain development. As transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are permeable to Ca(2+) and mediate numerous brain functions, it is conceivable that many TRP channels would regulate neuronal differentiation. We therefore screened TRP channels that are involved in the regulation of neurite growth.

[Influence of indium net position on 253.7 nm resonance spectra line of electrodeless discharge lamps].

As a kind of new electric light source, electrodeless discharge lamps (EDL) are based on high-frequency electromagnetic induction and nonpolar gas discharge. Visible light is emitted as a result of Hg 253.7 nm resonance spectrum line inspiring phosphor.

[Influence of cold spot temperature on 253.7 nm resonance spectra line of electrodeless discharge lamps].

As a kind of new electric light source, electrodeless discharge lamps are of long life, low mercury and non-stroboscopic light. The lighting effect of electrodeless discharge lamps depends on the radiation efficiency of 253.7 nm resonance spectra line to a large extent.

Axonal neuropathy-associated TRPV4 regulates neurotrophic factor-derived axonal growth.

Spinal muscular atrophy and hereditary motor and sensory neuropathies are characterized by muscle weakness and atrophy caused by the degenerations of peripheral motor and sensory nerves. Recent advances in genetics have resulted in the identification of missense mutations in TRPV4 in patients with these hereditary neuropathies. Neurodegeneration caused by Ca(2+) overload due to the gain-of-function mutation of TRPV4 was suggested as the molecular mechanism for the neuropathies.

[Study on the distribution of plasma parameters in electrodeless lamp using emission spectrometry].

Electrodeless lamp in pear shape was ignited using inductively coupled discharge setup and Ar-Hg mixtures as working gas. The changes in electronic temperature and density with axial and radial positions at 5 s of igniting were studied by means of emission spectrometry. The changes in electronic temperature were obtained according to the Ar line intensity ratio of 425.

Slug, mammalian homologue gene of Drosophila escargot, promotes neuronal-differentiation through suppression of HEB/daughterless.

At the neuron developmental stage, neuron-precursor cells can be differentiated into neuron or glia cells. However, precise molecular mechanism to determine the cell fate has not been clearly demonstrated. In this study, we reveal that Drosophila esgarcot and its mammalian homologue genes, Snail and Slug, play a key role in neuronal differentiation.

[A case of renal vein thrombosis in a patient with ulcerative colitis].

Venous thrombosis and thromboembolism appear to occur more often in patient with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The cause of thrombotic complications in IBD is generally considered to be associated with hypercoagulable conditions. Its prevalence rate ranges from 1% to 8% in clinical studies and rises to 39% in autopsy, but the renal vein thrombosis is very rare complication in ulcerative colitis patient.

Big brain, a Drosophila homologue of mammalian aquaporin, is regulated by the DRE/DREF system.

Drosophila big brain (bib) encodes for a protein similar to members of the major intrinsic protein family, which includes the water- and ion-conducting aquaporin (AQP) channels. In mammals, AQP dysregulation has been implicated in a variety of diseases, including colorectal cancer and colonic injury. However, the regulatory mechanisms of AQP expression remain to be clearly elucidated.

Age-related changes in Drosophila midgut are associated with PVF2, a PDGF/VEGF-like growth factor.

Age-associated changes in stem cell populations have been implicated in age-related diseases, including cancer. However, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms that link aging to the modulation of adult stem cell populations. Drosophila midgut is an excellent model system for the study of stem cell renewal and aging.

Pulsed-UV light inactivation of Cryptosporidium parvum.

Cryptosporidium parvum is an organism that threatens public health in the water industry. It is critical to develop improved detection methods as well as disinfection methods for protecting against cryptosporidiosis, which is caused by C. parvum.

A new neolignan glycoside from the leaves of Acer truncatum.

A new neolignan glycoside, (7R,8R)-7,8-dihydro-9'-hydroxyl-3'-methoxyl- 8-hydroxymethyl-7-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1'-benzofuranpropanol 9'-O-beta-D- glucopyranoside (1) was isolated from the leaves of Acer truncatum along with (7R,8R)-7,8-dihydro-9'-hydroxyl-3'-methoxyl-8-hydroxymethyl-7-(4-O-alpha-L-rhamno- pyranosyloxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1'-benzofuranpropanol (2), schizandriside (3), lyoniresinol (4), berchemol (5), (-)-pinoresinol-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), hecogenin (7), chlorogenic acid (8) and neochlorogenic acid (9). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of compounds 1 was established by its CD spectrum.

Transcriptional regulation of the Drosophila ANT gene by the DRE/DREF system.

Adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) is a crucial component in the maintenance of cellular energy homeostasis, as well as in the formation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pores. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating the expression of the ANT gene are poorly understood. In this study, we have identified three DNA replication-related elements (DRE; 5'-TATCGATA) in the 5'-flanking region of the Drosophila ANT (dANT) gene.