Deficiency of the cystine-transporter gene, xCT, does not exacerbate the deleterious phenotypic consequences of SOD1 knockout in mice.

Because glutathione scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS) and also donates electrons to antioxidative systems, it may compensate for the oxidative stress caused by SOD1 deficiency. The cystine/glutamate transporter, which consists of two proteins, xCT and 4F2hc, has been designated system x (c) (-) . This transporter system plays a role in the maintenance of glutathione levels in mammalian cells.

Effect of surface preparation using ethyl acetate on the shear bond strength of repair resin to denture base resin.

Purpose: This study evaluated the effect of using ethyl acetate as a surface preparation agent on the shear bond strength of repair resin to denture base resin.

Materials And Methods: The flat surfaces of a heat-processed denture base resin were prepared with one of the following: (1) without preparation, (2) 60-second application of ethyl acetate, (3) 120-second application of ethyl acetate, (4) 180-second application of ethyl acetate, and (5) 5-second application of dichloromethane. An autopolymerizing repair resin was applied.

Shiga toxin 2 causes apoptosis in human brain microvascular endothelial cells via C/EBP homologous protein.

Shiga toxin 1 (Stx1) and Stx2 produced by Escherichia coli O157 are known to be cytotoxic to Vero and HeLa cells by inhibiting protein synthesis and by inducing apoptosis. In the present study, we have demonstrated that 10 ng/ml Stx2 induced DNA fragmentation in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC), with cleavage activation of caspase-3, -6, -8, and -9. A microarray approach used to search for apoptotic potential signals in response to Stx2 revealed that Stx2 treatment induced a marked upregulation of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP)/growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible protein 153 (GADD153).

[Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its correlation with PTH, biochemical bone turnover markers and bone mineral density, among patients from ambulatories].

Consequences of VD deficiency include rickets and osteomalacia. However, marginal concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)VD) are associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism and osteoporosis. In this context, levels of 25(OH)VD capable to elevate parathyroid hormone (PTH) could be considered as insufficient.

Application of unstable Gfp variants to the kinetic study of Legionella pneumophila icm gene expression during infection.

An unstable type of green fluorescent protein (Gfp) tagged with a C-terminal extension, which is a target for tail-specific protease, was used as a reporter gene in Legionella pneumophila. To analyse Gfp expression in legionellae, transcriptional fusions of unstable gfp with the Legionella-specific icm (intracellular multiplication) promoters (P(icmS), P(icmT) and P(icmQ)) were constructed. Infection studies using J774.

Role of P-glycoprotein in accumulation and cytotoxicity of amrubicin and amrubicinol in MDR1 gene-transfected LLC-PK1 cells and human A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Amrubicin is a completely synthetic 9-aminoanthracycline agent for the treatment of lung cancer in Japan. The cytotoxicity of C-13 hydroxy metabolite, amrubicinol, is 10 to 100 times greater than that of amrubicin. The transporters responsible for the intracellular pharmacokinetics of amrubicin and amrubicinol remains unclear.

Association between decreased WWOX protein expression and thyroid cancer development.

Context: Chromosomal fragile sites are often related to cancer development. The WW domain-containing oxidoreductase gene (WWOX) spans the second most common chromosomal fragile site (FRA16D) and encodes an important proapoptotic protein.

Objective: To verify our hypothesis that underexpression of WWOX could contribute to malignant transformation of the thyroid cells.

Three-dimensional tomography of the beryllium fermi surface: surface charge redistribution.

The discontinuity in the lattice periodic potential at surfaces often leads to the creation of new electronic surface states. We developed a photoemission based Fermi surface tomography whose surface sensitivity allowed us to quantify the charge redistribution on the Be(0001) surface. The volume enclosed by the bulklike Fermi surface is significantly reduced at the surface, consistent with the charge transfer to the two surface states as estimated from the area within their two-dimensional Fermi contours.

Primary cervical epidural malignant lymphoma with rheumatoid arthritis: a case report.

We report a case of primary cervical epidural malignant lymphoma with rheumatoid arthritis. Because of the acute progression of paralysis in both legs, surgical decompression and stabilization of the cervical spine were performed. The resected specimen showed proliferation of lymphoblastic cells diagnosed as malignant lymphoma.

Two-dimensional chiral single domain by D-alaninol functionalization of Cu(100).

We report the results of chemisorption in saturating conditions of D-alaninol on Cu(100) in term of the analysis of low-energy electron diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy data. A large two-dimensional, single domain, ordered chiral structure of quadrangular tetrameric molecular units is formed. The four molecules interact differently with the surface in the two orthogonal directions.

High-energy scale revival and giant kink in the dispersion of a cuprate superconductor.

In the present photoemission study of a cuprate superconductor Bi1.74Pb0.38Sr1.

Inactivation of cysteine and serine proteases by singlet oxygen.

The reaction of singlet oxygen with individual proteins is less well understood than that with other biological molecules. The inhibition of caspase 3 by singlet oxygen appears to involve the modification of a catalytic cysteine residue, since the reactivity of the sulfhydryl with alkylating agents decreased after singlet oxygen treatment. In addition to three cysteine proteases, two serine proteases were also found to be inhibited by singlet oxygen with a similar dose dependency, while an aspartate protease and a metalloprotease were not affected.

Deterioration of ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute renal failure in SOD1-deficient mice.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are likely candidates for involvement in ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute renal failure (ARF). In this study, the issue of whether superoxide dismutase (SOD1)-deficiency exacerbates the ischemia/reperfusion-induced ARF was examined. At two weeks after a right nephrectomy of mice, the left renal vessels were clipped to induce renal ischemia and were then released after 45 min.

A spiroisoxazolinoproline-based amino acid scaffold for solid phase and one-bead-one-compound library synthesis.

An efficient, multigram synthesis of a spiroisoxazolinoproline-based amino acid, 7, requiring minimal purification, delivering good cis:trans diastereoselectivity (approximately 1:4), and providing good yields is reported. Surface-bound studies of the reduction of an arylnitro group in the presence of an isoxazoline ring with tin(II) dichloride dihydrate were undertaken to confirm the stability of the isoxazoline ring. Full derivitization of this spiroisoxazolinoproline-based amino acid scaffold was performed during the synthesis of a sample library with high yields and high purity that validated the efficiency of the chemistry that was employed in resin-bound library synthesis.

Elevated oxidative stress in erythrocytes due to a SOD1 deficiency causes anaemia and triggers autoantibody production.

Reactive oxygen species are involved in the aging process and diseases. Despite the important role of Cu/Zn SOD (superoxide dismutase) encoded by SOD1, SOD1-/- mice appear to grow normally under conventional breeding conditions. In the present paper we report on a novel finding showing a distinct connection between oxidative stress in erythrocytes and the production of autoantibodies against erythrocytes in SOD1-/- mice.

Quasicrystalline electronic states of a one-dimensionally modulated Ag film.

Ag films on GaAs(110) exhibit a one-dimensional quasiperiodic modulation, resulting in a Fibonacci sequence of parallel stripes with two different widths. Valence level photoemission shows that the Ag electronic states acquire a unique character along the quasiperiodic direction, distinctively manifested by a hierarchy of energy level replicas and avoided crossings at characteristic intervals in reciprocal space. These observations demonstrate the strong influence of the one-dimensional quasiperiodic potential on the Ag film states.

Variation in parasystolic cycle length.

At the time of the first visit to our clinic, an electrocardiographic examination of a 73-year-old female patient revealed ventricular premature contractions (VPCs) with variable coupling intervals that were diagnosed as parasystole. Characteristically many of the parasystoles had no sinus contractions between two consecutive VPCs, which we referred to as pure parasystole. We first repeatedly examined variations in the length of the parasystolic cycles between January 6, 1997 and March 2, 2003 using electrocardiography.

Effect of tacrolimus and partial hepatectomy on transthyretin metabolism in rats.

Liver transplantation, which serves as treatment of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP), and domino liver transplantation, which utilizes resected livers from patients with FAP for treatment of liver diseases, may induce changes in transthyretin (TTR), a pathogenic FAP-related protein. To evaluate this possibility, we performed a 70% hepatectomy or administered tacrolimus to Dark Agouti (DA) rats for 7 days and then measured changes in liver TTR mRNA levels and changes in serum TTR concentrations. After hepatectomy, TTR mRNA levels decreased by 77%; at day 3, they returned to preoperative levels.

Caspase and bid involvement in Clostridium difficile toxin A-induced apoptosis and modulation of toxin A effects by glutamine and alanyl-glutamine in vivo and in vitro.

Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of nosocomial bacterial diarrhea. Glutamine and its stable and highly soluble derivative alanyl-glutamine, have been beneficial in models of intestinal injury. In this study, we extend our work on the mechanisms of Clostridium difficile toxin A (TxA)-induced apoptosis in human intestinal epithelial T84 cells and evaluate the effects of glutamine and alanyl-glutamine on TxA-induced apoptosis in vitro and disruption of ileal mucosa in vivo.

Dysregulation of TGF-beta1 receptor activation leads to abnormal lung development and emphysema-like phenotype in core fucose-deficient mice.

The core fucosylation (alpha1,6-fucosylation) of glycoproteins is widely distributed in mammalian tissues, and is altered under pathological conditions. To investigate physiological functions of the core fucose, we generated alpha1,6-fucosyltransferase (Fut8)-null mice and found that disruption of Fut8 induces severe growth retardation and death during postnatal development. Histopathological analysis revealed that Fut8(-/-) mice showed emphysema-like changes in the lung, verified by a physiological compliance analysis.

Fundamental roles of reactive oxygen species and protective mechanisms in the female reproductive system.

Controlled oxidation, such as disulfide bond formation in sperm nuclei and during ovulation, plays a fundamental role in mammalian reproduction. Excess oxidation, however, causes oxidative stress, resulting in the dysfunction of the reproductive process. Antioxidation reactions that reduce the levels of reactive oxygen species are of prime importance in reproductive systems in maintaining the quality of gametes and support reproduction.

Accelerated impairment of spermatogenic cells in SOD1-knockout mice under heat stress.

For normal spermatogenesis, the temperature of the scrotum is lower than that of the body. The mechanism by which mammalian testes undergoes cell death as the result of exposure to heat continues to be a matter of debate. Since generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during heat stress and involvement in spermatogenic cell damage are postulated, we induced experimental cryptorchidism in the testes of SOD1-knockout mice and examined effects of the gene deficiency.

Suppression of the pro-apoptotic function of cytochrome c by singlet oxygen via a haem redox state-independent mechanism.

Stimuli for apoptotic signalling typically induce release of cyt c (cytochrome c) from mitochondria. Cyt c then initiates the formation of the apoptosome, comprising Apaf-1 (apoptotic protease-activating factor 1), caspase-9 and other cofactors. The issue of whether the redox state of the haem in cyt c affects the initiation of the apoptotic pathway is currently a subject of debate.