Effects of Postural Conditions During Magnetic Resonance Imaging on Thigh Muscle Size.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard for measuring muscle size. However, postural conditions for thigh musculature have not been standardized across studies, with some employing supine or prone positions and the thigh either placed on the examination table or suspended to avoid contact. In either case, the thigh is compressed or sagged by gravity, potentially affecting muscle size.

Age- and sex-dependence of muscle quality: Influence of intramuscular non-contractile tissues.

Purpose: Muscle quality is explained by the ratio between muscle size and strength. Conventionally, muscle size is evaluated without considering the composition of contractile and non-contractile tissues in muscle, hence the influence of non-contractile tissues on muscle quality is not fully understood, especially within aging muscle. This study investigated the differences in intramuscular non-contractile tissues between different age and sex groups, and investigated their influence on muscle quality.

Comparative Study of Blood Neopterin and Biopterins in Patients with COVID-19 and Secondary Bacterial Infection.

: As COVID-19 can be severe, early predictive markers of both severity and onset of secondary bacterial infections are needed. This study first examined changes over time in the levels of plasma neopterin (NP) and biopterins (BPs), among others, in patients with COVID-19 and then in those with secondary bacterial infection complications. : Fifty-two patients with COVID-19 admitted to two tertiary care centers were included.

Inhibition of QDPR synergistically modulates intracellular tetrahydrobiopterin profiles in cooperation with methotrexate.

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential cofactor for dopamine and serotonin synthesis in monoaminergic neurons, phenylalanine metabolism in hepatocytes, and nitric oxide synthesis in endothelial and immune cells. BH4 is consumed as a cofactor or is readily oxidized by autooxidation. Quinonoid dihydropteridine reductase (QDPR) is an enzyme that reduces quinonoid dihydrobiopterin (qBH2) back to BH4, and we have previously demonstrated the significance of QDPR in maintaining BH4 in vivo using Qdpr-KO mice.

Physiological and Metabolic Responses to Low-Volume Sprint Interval Exercises: Influence of Sprint Duration and Repetitions.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine physiological and metabolic responses to two different sprint interval exercises (SIE) matched for total sprint duration and sprint-rest ratio.

Methods: After having measured peak oxygen uptake (V̇O 2peak ), 14 healthy males (27.1 ± 4.

Evaluation of brain activation related to resting pain using functional magnetic resonance imaging in cynomolgus macaques undergoing knee surgery.

Purpose: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) visualizes hemodynamic responses associated with brain and spinal cord activation. Various types of pain have been objectively assessed using fMRI as considerable brain activations. This study aimed to develop a pain model in cynomolgus macaques undergoing knee surgery and confirm brain activation due to resting pain after knee surgery.

Role of NT5DC2 in tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation based on the analysis of NT5DC2-binding proteins.

The gene encoding 5'-nucleotidase domain-containing protein 2 (NT5DC2) has been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders related to the abnormality of dopamine activity in the brain. However, its physiological functions remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed the features of NT5DC2 that influence its binding with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and its effects on dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) synthesis, using NT5DC2 overexpressed in PC12D cells by the pCMV vector.

Binding profile of quinonoid-dihydrobiopterin to quinonoid-dihydropteridine reductase examined by in silico and in vitro analyses.

Quinonoid dihydropteridine reductase (QDPR) catalyses the reduction of quinonoid-form dihydrobiopterin (qBH2) to tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). BH4 metabolism is a drug target for neglected tropical disorders because trypanosomatid protozoans, including Leishmania and Trypanosoma, require exogenous sources of biopterin for growth. Although QDPR is a key enzyme for maintaining intracellular BH4 levels, the precise catalytic properties and reaction mechanisms of QDPR are poorly understood due to the instability of quinonoid-form substrates.

Neutrophil-derived catecholamines mediate negative stress effects on bone.

Mental traumatization is associated with long-bone growth retardation, osteoporosis and increased fracture risk. We revealed earlier that mental trauma disturbs cartilage-to-bone transition during bone growth and repair in mice. Trauma increased tyrosine hydroxylase-expressing neutrophils in bone marrow and fracture callus.

Conversion and synthesis of chemicals catalyzed by fungal cytochrome P450 monooxygenases: A review.

Cytochrome P450s (also called CYPs or P450s) are a superfamily of heme-containing monooxygenases. They are distributed in all biological kingdoms. Most fungi have at least two P450-encoding genes, CYP51 and CYP61, which are housekeeping genes that play important roles in the synthesis of sterols.

The Lower Limbs of Sprinters Have Larger Relative Mass But Not Larger Normalized Moment of Inertia than Controls.

Purpose: Sprinters exhibit inhomogeneous muscularity corresponding to musculoskeletal demand for sprinting execution. An inhomogeneous morphology would affect the mass distribution, which in turn may affect the mechanical difficulty in moving from an inertia perspective; however, the morphological characteristics of sprinters from the inertia perspective have not been examined. Here we show no corresponding differences in the normalized mass and normalized moment of inertia between the sprinters and untrained nonsprinters.

[Current practices of transition from pediatric to adult health care for patients with neurological disease: promote the cooperation between child and adult neurologists].

The Special Committee for Measures Against Transition from Pediatric to Adult Health Care of the Japanese Society of Neurology, which consists of child and adult neurologists, started to tackle the issues of pediatric to adult health care transition for patients with neurological disease in July 2020. The Committee held a workshop with a theme of "cooperation between child and adult neurologists," which is a critical issue in the pediatric to adult health care transition. To solve the many problems in the pediatric to adult health care transition, it is crucial that child and adult neurologists and primary care physicians cooperate on the following issues: preparing child neurologists for the transition, encouraging adult neurologists to study child neurology, promoting the formation of multidisciplinary teams, improving the medical system and medical fees, appealing to governmental agencies for issues of community health care and welfare services.

Overexpression of tyrosine hydroxylase in dopaminergic neurons increased sensitivity to methamphetamine.

Drug abuse is one of the great social problems in the world and a major healthcare challenge. It is supposed that sensitivity and reactivity to abuse drugs may vary from person to person, while its molecular basis is largely unknown. Dopaminergic neurons are deeply involved in addiction, and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step of the biosynthesis of dopamine (DA).

The present circumstances of pediatric practice by family physicians in Japan: Cross sectional research.

Background: In Japan, pediatric primary care has often been provided not by general practitioners, but by specialists. Although official pediatric training of general practitioners started in Japan in 2018 no studies to date show the extent to which Japanese general practitioners are committed to pediatric care.

Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey on pediatric training and current pediatric practice for family physicians certified by the Japan Primary Care Association.

Biocatalyst collection and heterologous expression of sesquiterpene synthases from basidiomycetous fungi: Discovery of a novel sesquiterpene hydrocarbon.

Basidiomycetes produce a wide variety of sesquiterpenoids, which attract significant interest in pharmaceutical and industrial applications. Structural diversification of sesquiterpenoids is performed by sesquiterpene synthases (STSs), which produce a wide array of backbone structures; therefore, functional characterization and increased biocatalyst collection of STSs are important for expanding scientific knowledge and meeting the needs of advanced biotechnology. Gene identification and functional annotation of STSs from the basidiomycetous fungi Agaricus bisporus, Auriscalpium vulgare, Lepista nuda, Pleurotus ostreatus and Trametes versicolor were conducted.

Early ascorbic acid administration prevents vascular endothelial cell damage in septic mice.

Oxidation of BH, a cofactor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) through uncoupling of NOS and affects vascular endothelial dysfunction. Ascorbic acid (AsA) inhibits the oxidation of BH and reduces ROS. However, the kinetic changes of BH in sepsis and its effect on the kinetic changes in AsA administration therapy, as well as the appropriate timing of AsA administration for AsA therapy to be effective, are unclear.

Myeloid cell-derived catecholamines influence bone turnover and regeneration in mice.

Catecholamine signaling is known to influence bone tissue as reuptake of norepinephrine released from sympathetic nerves into bone cells declines with age leading to osteoporosis. Further, β-adrenoceptor-blockers like propranolol provoke osteoprotective effects in osteoporotic patients. However, besides systemic adrenal and sympathetic catecholamine production, it is also known that myeloid cells can synthesize catecholamines, especially under inflammatory conditions.

Quinonoid dihydropteridine reductase, a tetrahydrobiopterin-recycling enzyme, contributes to 5-hydroxytryptamine-associated platelet aggregation in mice.

Quinonoid dihydropteridine reductase (QDPR) regenerates tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), which is an essential cofactor for catecholamine and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) biosynthesis. Serotonin is known as an important platelet agonist, but its role under BH4-synthesizing or recycling enzymes deficiency is unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of Qdpr gene disruption on platelet aggregation using knockout (Qdpr) mice.

Latent Functions and Applications of Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenases from : A Novel Biocatalyst for 14α-Hydroxylation of Testosterone.

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) are ubiquitous enzymes with high availability and diversity in nature. Fungi provide a diverse and complex array of P450s, and these enzymes play essential roles in various secondary metabolic processes. Besides the physiological impacts of P450s on fungal life, their versatile functions are attractive for use in advanced applications of the biotechnology sector.

Comparison of the levels of neopterin, CRP, and IL-6 in patients infected with and without SARS-CoV-2.

Background: Neopterin (NP) is a biomarker for activated cellular immunity and is elevated in diseases including viral and bacterial infections, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. However, the clinical assessment of neopterin has not been used for these disorders because the physiological significance of measuring NP is obscure. It would be important to compare the NP profiles with those of other inflammation markers especially in relatively early phase of patients to reveal the significance of NP measurements in pathological states.

Latent potentials of the white-rot basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium responsible for sesquiterpene metabolism: CYP5158A1 and CYP5144C8 decorate (E)-α-bisabolene.

Basidiomycetes produce various sesquiterpenoids and their relevance for pharmaceutical and agricultural applications and understanding their biosynthetic machinery to produce these secondary metabolites have attracted significant interest. Because sesquiterpene synthases (STSs) and cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) play pivotal roles in the production of sesquiterpenoids, functional characterization of these enzymes is fundamentally essential. In this study, we found 11 possible STSs from the white-rot basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium (PcSTSs) and isolated nine of these as full-length cDNAs encoding a mature open reading frame.

Perturbation of monoamine metabolism and enhanced fear responses in mice defective in the regeneration of tetrahydrobiopterin.

Increasing evidence suggests the involvement of peripheral amino acid metabolism in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders, whereas the molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is a cofactor for enzymes that catalyze phenylalanine metabolism, monoamine synthesis, nitric oxide production, and lipid metabolism. BH4 is synthesized from guanosine triphosphate and regenerated by quinonoid dihydropteridine reductase (QDPR), which catalyzes the reduction of quinonoid dihydrobiopterin.

Priapism caused by partial deficiency of tetrahydrobiopterin through hypofunction of the sympathetic neurons in sepiapterin reductase gene-disrupted mice.

6R-L-erythro-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential cofactor for aromatic L-amino acid hydroxylases, including tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), alkylglycerol monooxygenase, and three types of nitric oxide (NO) synthases (NOS). Sepiapterin reductase (SPR) catalyzes the third step of BH4 biosynthesis. SPR gene-disrupted (Spr ) mice exhibit a dystonic posture, low body weight, hyperphenylalaninemia, and unstable hypertension with endothelial dysfunction.

Tyrosine hydroxylase activity is regulated through the modification of the 176th cysteine residue.

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of dopamine (DA), and the regulation of its activity is important for DA homeostasis. In this study, we focused on the modification of TH through a cysteine residue. We found that incubation with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), a cysteine modification reagent, inactivated TH.

How does corrective fusion surgery for adult spinal deformities affect pelvic inclination in the supine position as the reference plane for THA?

Purpose: To determine the changes in pelvic inclination in the supine and standing positions after spinal corrective surgery, and to identify the most predictive factor for changes in pelvic inclination with the supine position as the reference plane for total hip arthroplasty.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed the data of 124 patients who underwent spinal corrective fusion surgery for adult spinal deformity between 2012 and 2016 at our institution. Spinal parameters were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively using whole spine radiographs in the standing position.