Functional reconstitution of olfactory receptor complex on baculovirus.

Despite that recent progress in genomics has elucidated the genomic structure of the olfactory receptors (ORs), most of them are still orphan receptors. The low expression level of ORs in heterologous cells has hampered many attempts to establish cell biological OR assay systems. Recently, we demonstrated that certain G protein-coupled receptors, such as the leukotriene B4 receptor or the dopamine D1 receptor, were efficiently reconstituted on baculovirus budding from infected Sf9 cells.

Mild electrical stimulation and heat shock ameliorates progressive proteinuria and renal inflammation in mouse model of Alport syndrome.

Alport syndrome is a hereditary glomerulopathy with proteinuria and nephritis caused by defects in genes encoding type IV collagen in the glomerular basement membrane. All male and most female patients develop end-stage renal disease. Effective treatment to stop or decelerate the progression of proteinuria and nephritis is still under investigation.

Comparative study of C^N and N^C type cyclometalated ruthenium complexes with a NAD+/NADH function.

Cyclometalated ruthenium complexes having C(^)N and N(^)C type coordinating ligands with NAD(+)/NADH function have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods. The variation of the coordinating position of σ-donating carbon atom leads to a drastic change in their properties. Both the complex Ru(phbn)(phen)(2)]PF(6) ([1]PF(6)) and [Ru(pad)(phen)(2)]PF(6) ([2]PF(6)) reduced to Ru(phbnHH)(phen)(2)]PF(6) ([1HH]PF(6)) and [Ru(padHH)(phen)(2)]PF(6) ([2HH]PF(6)) by chemical and electrochemical methods.

Gene regulatory network of unfolded protein response genes in endoplasmic reticulum stress.

In the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), secretory and membrane proteins are properly folded and modified, and the failure of these processes leads to ER stress. At the same time, unfolded protein response (UPR) genes are activated to maintain homeostasis. Despite the thorough characterization of the individual gene regulation of UPR genes to date, further investigation of the mutual regulation among UPR genes is required to understand the complex mechanism underlying the ER stress response.

Photoisomerization and proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) promoted water oxidation by mononuclear cyclometalated ruthenium catalysts.

Photoisomeric transformations in ruthenium polypyridyl complexes have been rarely reported. Herein we report the geometrical transformation of cyclometalated trans-[Ru(tpy)(PAD)(OH(2))](+) ([1](+)) to the cis-[Ru(tpy)(PAD)(OH(2))](+) ([1a](+)) (tpy = 2,2';6',2"-terpyridine, PAD = 2-(pyrid-2'-yl)acridine) isomer upon irradiation of visible light (λ ≥420 nm). Due to a proton-induced tautomeric equilibrium between the Ru-C bond and Ru═C coordination, the π* energy levels of PADH are lower than those of tpy by 12.

HTLV-I Tax regulates the cellular proliferation through the down-regulation of PIP3-phosphatase expressions via the NF-κB pathway.

An oncogenic retrovirus, human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I), encodes an oncoprotein, Tax, which plays critical roles in leukemogenesis of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) through the pleiotropic actions such as transcriptional regulation, cell cycle control, and transformation. We have previously reported that PTEN and SHIP- 1, PIP3 inositol phosphatases that negatively regulate the PI3-kinase signaling cascade, are disrupted in ATLL neoplasias. Overactivation of PI3-kinase signaling has an essential role in onset of ATLL.

Excited states and electronic spectra of annulated dinuclear free-base phthalocyanines: a theoretical study on near-infrared-absorbing dyes.

The electronic excited states and electronic absorption spectra of annulated dinuclear free-base phthalocyanine (C(58)H(30)N(16)) are studied through quantum chemical calculations using the symmetry-adapted cluster-configuration interaction (SAC-CI) method. Three tautomers are possible with respect to the position of the pyrrole protons; therefore, the SAC-CI calculations for these tautomers were performed. The structures of the Q-band states are discussed based on the character of their molecular orbitals.

Aerobic oxidation of methanol to formic acid on Au20-: a theoretical study on the reaction mechanism.

The aerobic oxidation of methanol to formic acid catalyzed by Au(20)(-) has been investigated quantum chemically using density functional theory with the M06 functional. Possible reaction pathways are examined taking account of full structure relaxation of the Au(20)(-) cluster. The proposed reaction mechanism consists of three elementary steps: (1) formation of formaldehyde from methoxy species activated by a superoxo-like anion on the gold cluster; (2) nucleophilic addition by the hydroxyl group of a hydroperoxyl-like complex to formaldehyde resulting in a hemiacetal intermediate; and (3) formation of formic acid by hydrogen transfer from the hemiacetal intermediate to atomic oxygen attached to the gold cluster.

Effect of exercise on bone status and body composition in Japanese students.

Purpose: We evaluated the effect of exercise on stiffness and fat-free mass (FFM), which consists of bone and muscle, in Japanese students. It is uncertain whether exercise or sports activities will help to accumulate overall peak bone mass in Japanese adolescents.

Methods: A total of 710 Japanese students (age = 15-20 yr) were enrolled.

Noninvasive observations of peripheral angle in eyes after penetrating keratoplasty using anterior segment fourier-domain optical coherence tomography.

Purpose: To examine iridotrabecular contact (ITC) as a peripheral anterior synechia (PAS) of patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) using anterior segment Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: Retrospective, observational case series. ITC, ITC index, and ITC area of 60 eyes of 52 patients who underwent PKP at the Department of Ophthalmology in the University of Tokyo Hospital (mean follow-up time 102.

Involvement of Golgi-associated retrograde protein complex in the recycling of the putative Dnf aminophospholipid flippases in yeast.

It is widely accepted that phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is enriched in the cytosolic leaflet of the eukaryotic plasma membranes. To identify genes involved in the establishment and regulation of the asymmetric distribution of PE on the plasma membrane, we screened the deletion strain collection of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae for hypersensitive mutants to the lantibiotic peptide Ro09-0198 (Ro) that specifically binds to PE on the cell surface and inhibits cellular growth. Deletion mutants of VPS51, VPS52, VPS53, and VPS54 encoding the components of Golgi-associated retrograde protein (GARP) complex, YPT6 encoding a Rab family small GTPase that functions with GARP complex, RIC1 and RGP1 encoding its guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), and TLG2 encoding t-SNARE exhibited hypersensitivity to Ro.

Photophysical properties and photochemistry of EE-, EZ-, and ZZ-1,4-dimethoxy-2,5-bis[2-(thien-2-yl)ethenyl] benzene in solution: theory and experiment.

Photophysical properties and photoisomerization of 1,4-dimethoxy-2,5-bis[2-(thien-2-yl)ethenyl] benzene (DMTB) have been investigated for the EE-, EZ-, and ZZ- stereoisomers. The EE-DMTB was prepared, and the absorption/fluorescence spectra of EE- isomer as well as transient spectra in photoisomerization among three isomers were observed. Absorption and fluorescence spectra of three isomers were analyzed by the symmetry-adapted cluster-configuration interaction (SAC-CI) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) methods.

Construction and characterization of a Yarrowia lipolytica mutant lacking genes encoding cytochromes P450 subfamily 52.

The initial hydroxylation of n-alkane is catalyzed by cytochrome P450ALK of the CYP52 family in the n-alkane-assimilating yeast Yarrowia lipolytica. A mutant with a deletion of all 12 genes, ALK1 to ALK12, which are deduced to encode cytochromes P450 of the CYP52 family in Y. lipolytica, was successfully constructed.

Effect of pretreatment with Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2716 on first-line Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy.

Background And Aim: Helicobacter pylori eradication clearly decreases peptic ulcer recurrence rates. H. pylori eradication is achieved in 70-90% of cases, but treatment failures due to poor patient compliance and resistant organisms do occur.

Disseminated mucormycosis infection after the first course of dose-modified R-EPOCH for advanced-stage lymphoma.

We report the case of a 63-year-old man who presented at our hospital after experiencing fever and dyspnea for more than 1 month. Because his general condition was deteriorating, he was referred to our intensive care unit. He needed critical care and was treated with vasopressors, artificial ventilation, and continuous hemodialysis.

A case of scrub typhus with acalculous cholecystitis, aseptic meningitis and mononeuritis multiplex.

We present an unusual case of a patient with scrub typhus who developed acalculous cholecystitis, aseptic meningitis and mononeuritis multiplex. The patient was successfully treated with oral minocycline. To our knowledge, this is the first report of mononeuritis multiplex caused by scrub typhus.

Distribution of Taenia saginata metacestodes: a comparison of routine meat inspection and carcase dissection results in experimentally infected calves.

A comparison of techniques for detecting the presence of Cysticercus bovis in bovine carcasses was made by using carcass dissection and routine beef inspection guidelines. In the study, 28 calves were used after they were tested and found to be negative for the presence of anti-C. bovis serum antibodies and were inoculated orally with aliquots containing 6×10(4) Taenia saginata eggs.

Case of metastatic pulmonary carcinoma in optic disc diagnosed from results of biopsy performed during vitrectomy surgery.

Background: Most intraocular metastatic tumors occur in the uveal tract, while isolated metastasis to the optic nerve is rarely found. We report a case of metastasis to the optic disc from primary lung cancer, diagnosed from biopsy findings obtained during a vitrectomy.

Patient And Methods: A 69-year-old male presented with gradual visual impairment due to a milky white tumour that extended from the optic disc into the vitreous cavity.

Excited-state geometries and vibrational frequencies studied using the analytical energy gradients of the direct symmetry-adapted cluster-configuration interaction method. I. HAX-type molecules.

In this series of studies, we systematically apply the analytical energy gradients of the direct symmetry-adapted cluster-configuration interaction singles and doubles nonvariational method to calculate the equilibrium geometries and vibrational frequencies of excited and ionized states of molecules. The harmonic vibrational frequencies were calculated using the second derivatives numerically computed from the analytical first derivatives and the anharmonicity was evaluated from the three-dimensional potential energy surfaces around the local minima. In this paper, the method is applied to the low-lying valence singlet and triplet excited states of HAX-type molecules, HCF, HCCl, HSiF, HSiCl, HNO, HPO, and their deuterium isotopomers.

Traumatic renal artery occlusion treated with an endovascular stent--the limitations of surgical revascularization: report of a case.

When renal artery occlusion occurs secondary to blunt trauma, the recovery rate of renal function after open revascularization is varied and far from satisfactory. Although the optimal treatment for this type of injury has not been established, percutaneous revascularization by endovascular stenting has recently been advocated for patients with unilateral renal artery occlusion. We herein report a case of blunt renal artery occlusion treated with an endovascular stent.

Visceral ischemia caused by acute aortic dissection following blunt aortic injury: report of a case.

The diagnosis and management of blunt thoracic aortic injuries have seen significant changes over the last decade. The purposeful delay of definitive repair by aggressive blood pressure management has been suggested to be safe, and deliberate nonoperative management may be a reasonable alternative in selected patients with minimal aortic injuries detected with contrast-enhanced computed tomography. We report a case of acute aortic dissection due to blunt thoracic aortic injury resulting in splanchnic ischemia, for which we selected primarily nonoperative management, because the aortic tear was small but was complicated by multiple trauma.

Characteristics of caregiver perceptions of end-of-life caregiving experiences in cancer survivorship: in-depth interview study.

Objective: Little is known about caregiver experiences during the end-of-life period. Our objective was to characterize caregiver perceptions of their experiences in cancer survivorship with special reference to the end-of-life stage considering depression in bereavement.

Methods: Qualitative research using in-depth interviews of 34 caregivers from two palliative care units in Japan.

Nonequilibrium solvation for vertical photoemission and photoabsorption processes using the symmetry-adapted cluster-configuration interaction method in the polarizable continuum model.

In this paper, we present the theory and implementation of a nonequilibrium solvation model for the symmetry-adapted cluster (SAC) and symmetry-adapted cluster-configuration interaction (SAC-CI) method in the polarizable continuum model. For nonequilibrium solvation, we adopted the Pekar partition scheme in which solvent charges are divided into dynamical and inertial components. With this nonequilibrium solvation scheme, a vertical transition from an initial state to a final state may be described as follows: the initial state is described by equilibrium solvation, while in the final state, the inertial component remains in the solvation for the initial state; the dynamical component will be calculated self-consistently for the final state.