Nuclear interaction of Smac/DIABLO with Survivin at G2/M arrest prompts docetaxel-induced apoptosis in DU145 prostate cancer cells.

Smac/DIABLO is released by mitochondria in response to apoptotic stimuli and is thought to antagonize the function of inhibitors of apoptosis proteins. Recently, it has been shown that, like XIAP, Survivin can potentially interact with Smac/DIABLO. However, the precise mechanisms and cellular location of their action have not been determined.

Development of ligand-dependent regulatory system and its application to gene therapy of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

To develop an inducible expression system, the enhanced artificial nuclear receptors and target reporters were constructed. Artificial nuclear receptors were generated by fusing three domains, consisting of DNA-binding domain (DBD) of GAL4, ligand binding domain (LBD) of progesterone or estrogen receptor, and activation domain (AD) of VP16, sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1a, or SREBP-2. The activation domain of SREBP-1a showed most potent transcriptional activity.

Atomic force microscopy observation of highly arrayed phospholipid bilayer vesicle on a gold surface.

Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) imaging of a phospholipid bilayer vesicle (liposome) immobilized on a gold surface was performed to investigate morphologies of the electrode surfaces produced through application of three different sample preparation methods. We compared both methods from a morphological viewpoint using TM-AFM images. Liposomes, composed of zwitterionic and anionic phospholipids, were prepared by extrusion.

Puerariafuran, a new inhibitor of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) isolated from the roots of Pueraria lobata.

A new 2-arylbenzofuran, puerariafuran (1), as well as three known compounds, coumestrol (2), daidzein (3), and genistein (4), were isolated from a MeOH extract of the roots of Pueraria lobata as active constituents, using an in vitro bioassay based on the inhibition of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) to monitor chromatographic fractionation. The structure of 1 was determined by spectroscopic data interpretation, particularly by extensive 1D and 2D NMR studies. All the isolates (1-4) were evaluated for the inhibitory activity on AGEs formation in vitro.

Naphthopyrone glucosides from the seeds of Cassia tora with inhibitory activity on advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation.

Three naphthopyrone glucosides, cassiaside (1), rubrofusarin-6-O-beta-D-gentiobioside (2), and toralactone-9-O-beta-D-gentiobioside (3), were isolated from the BuOH-soluble extract of the seeds of Cassia tora as active constituents, using an in vitro bioassay based on the inhibition of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) to monitor chromatographic fractionation. The structures of 1-3 were determined by spectroscopic data interpretation, particularly by extensive 1D and 2D NMR studies. All the isolates (1-3) were evaluated for the inhibitory activity on AGEs formation in vitro.

Arthroscopic synovectomy in wrists with advanced rheumatoid arthritis.

Unlabelled: We evaluated the effects of arthroscopic wrist synovectomy for patients with advanced rheumatoid arthritis. We retrospectively reviewed data for 11 patients with moderately advanced arthritis and joint space narrowing of 25% to 50% (Group A) treated from May 1993 to March 2000. We compared effects of these patients with effects of six patients with earlier disease and joint space narrowing of 0% to 25% (Group B).

Arthroscopic synovectomy of the knee joint in rheumatoid arthritis: surgical steps for complete synovectomy.

For successful arthroscopic total synovectomy in rheumatoid arthritis of the knee, proper sequential steps are required. First, we resect hypertrophied synovial villi on the intercondylar notch to make a gateway for the posterior compartments. We also perform synovectomy at the posterolateral chamber because of the narrower space of the chamber than that of the posteromedial chamber and the intra-articular crowding due to swollen synovial villi with the passage of operation time.

Arthroscopic excision of the symptomatic discoid medial meniscus in one piece: a surgical technique.

We introduce a surgical technique of arthroscopic excision of the symptomatic discoid medial meniscus in one piece. Compared with other surgical techniques of partial meniscectomy, our technique has several advantages. It is easier, less aggressive, there is less formation of foreign bodies, and it is a time-saving technique.

24-nor-Ursane type triterpenoids from the stems of Rumex japonicus.

Fractionation of an EtOAc-soluble extract of the stems of Rumex japonicus led to the isolation of two new 24-norursane type triterpenoids, 2alpha,3alpha,19alpha-trihydroxy-24-norurs-4(23),12-dien-28-oic acid (1) and 4(R),23-epoxy-2alpha,3alpha,19alpha-trihydroxy-24-norurs-12-en-28-oic acid (2), along with the known compounds myrianthic acid (3), tormentic acid, and emodin. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, particularly by extensive 1D and 2D NMR studies.

Arthroscopic all-inside repair of tears of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus.

Presently, the outside-in or inside-out meniscal repair techniques are recommended for the repair of tears of the anterior horn of the lateral meniscus. However, an incision about 1 to 2 cm or more in length is needed, and the biomechanics of the lateral meniscus may be altered during motion. We have developed a new alternative repair technique to prevent this skin incision and preserve the normal biomechanics of the lateral meniscus during motion.

Electrochemical detection of nonlabeled oligonucleotide DNA using biotin-modified DNA(ss) on a streptavidin-modified gold electrode.

In the electrochemical detection of nonlabeled DNA, it is important to control the bonding at the interface between the DNA and the electrode. Atomic force microscope (AFM) was taken for the commonly used thiol-modified DNA on a gold surface. It was found that the coverage of the DNA was very low.

Co-effect of aqueous solubility of drugs and glycolide monomer on in vitro release rates from poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) discs and polymer degradation.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of aqueous solubility of model drugs and glycolide monomer (GM) from poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) discs on in vitro release rates and polymer degradation. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), a water-soluble compound, and dexamethasone in a water-insoluble base form were selected as model drugs. Glycolide monomer, that has moderate solubility in water, was a non-toxic and biodegradable additive as a derivative material of hydrolysis of PLGA in order to obtain desirable drugs release rates.

Enhanced Mn-SOD immunoreactivity in the dopaminergic neurons of long-evans cinnamon rats.

The abundance of cellular superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) was examined immunocytochemically in different regions of the brain of Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats at 4 and 50 weeks of age. When all animals develop chronic hepatitis, the substantia nigra and striatum showed a marked increase in Mn-SOD immunoreactivity versus Long-Evans agouti (LEA) rats of the same age. Mn-SOD was localized predominantly in dopaminergic neurons.

Vitamin E, aging and Leydig cell steroidogenesis.

Previous studies have suggested that oxidant-induced damage may play a role in the reduced ability of aged Brown Norway rat Leydig cells to produce testosterone. We reasoned that if this was the case, antioxidants such as vitamin E (VE) would be expected to have protective effects on steroidogenesis. To test this hypothesis, the effects of VE on Leydig cell steroidogenesis were examined both in vitro and in vivo.

Role of ERK activation in cisplatin-induced apoptosis in OK renal epithelial cells.

Cisplatin induces apoptosis in a variety of cell types. However, the signaling pathway of cisplatin-induced apoptosis in renal epithelial cells is poorly understood. The present study was undertaken to determine the role of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in cisplatin-induced apoptosis of renal epithelial cells using opossum kidney cells.

Characterization of degradation behavior for PLGA in various pH condition by simple liquid chromatography method.

The aim of this study was to detect the amount of lactic acid (LA) and glycolic acid (GA) in poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) by development a simple HPLC method and to determine the pH of media, which can influence on degradation of PLGA and drug release. Analysis of in vitro degradation behavior of PLGA with two different molecular weights as 8000 and 33,000 g/mol were performed in various media conditions (pH 3.0, 5.

Amperometric immunosensor for direct detection based upon functional lipid vesicles immobilized on nanowell array electrode.

An original electrochemical immunosensor has now been developed that is based upon the spontaneous immobilization of biotinylated, functional lipid vesicles (FLVs) on a polymeric resist layer. An electrode was fabricated utilizing a form of electron-beam (e-beam) that has been used to fabricate 200 nm (nanoscale) wells in the resist layer covering of the gold electrode. The stability of adhered FLVs upon the nanowell (NW) electrode was observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Ferrous and ferric iron accumulates in the brain of aged Long-Evans Cinnamon rats, an animal model of Wilson's disease.

The Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rat, which accumulates excess copper (Cu) in its liver, is an animal model of Wilson's disease. We evaluated and compared the distributions of Cu, ferrous (Fe2+), and ferric (Fe3+) iron in four-brain regions, namely, in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, substantia nigra (SN), and striatum of LEC and Long-Evans Agouti rats at 30 and 55 weeks. Cu levels were elevated in the striatum of LEC rats, and Fe2+ and Fe3+ were higher in the striatum and SN of LEC rats.

Pyruvate protects motor neurons expressing mutant superoxide dismutase 1 against copper toxicity.

Mutations in the copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene are known to be responsible for familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Alteration of metal binding properties of mutant SOD1 has been proposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We investigated the toxic effects of excess extracellular copper on motor neuronal cells expressing human mutant SOD1 (G93A), and evaluated the neuroprotective effects of energy metabolism intermediates or cofactors.

Two-photon photopolymerized tips for adhesion-free scanning-probe microscopy.

A hydrophobic polymeric tip of atomic force microscopy has been fabricated by two-photon adsorbed photopolymerization methods (TPAP). The fabrication was performed by a layer-by-layer polymerization of sliced multiple three-dimensional computer-aided design data. The used base resin was composed of acrylate and epoxy, which showed hydrophobic properties after the photopolymerization.

Spontaneous immobilization of liposomes on electron-beam exposed resist surfaces.

We have found an interesting immobilization technique of liposomes on electron-beam exposed resist surfaces. The immobilized liposomes have been visualized by the atomic force microscope and have shown well-organized three-dimensional physical structures, in which the liposomes maintain their shapes and sizes similar to those of the original design in prepared solution. The immobilization is based on a strong static charge interaction between the resist surface and the liposomes.

Alternative usages of multiple promoters of the acetyl-CoA carboxylase beta gene are related to differential transcriptional regulation in human and rodent tissues.

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase beta (ACCbeta) is a critical enzyme in the regulation of fatty acid oxidation and is dominantly expressed in the skeletal muscle, heart, and liver. It has been established that two promoters, P-I and P-II, control the transcription of the ACCbeta gene. However, the precise mechanism involved in controlling tissue-specific gene expression of ACCbeta is largely unknown yet.

Electrochemical assay of nonlabeled DNA chip and SNOM imaging by using streptavidin-biotin interaction.

The assay of DNA biosensor-based nucleic acid recognition using microfabrication technology provides for high sensitivity, good surface coverage and reproducibility. We have achieved efficient immobilization and hybridization of nonlabeled DNA using cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave voltammetry (SWV) and scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) techniques. The increased electrochemical response observed following the immobilization of biotinlyated ssDNA probe suggests that nucleic acid is a somewhat better medium for electronic transfer.

Survival and migration of transplanted neural stem cell-derived dopamine cells in the brain of parkinsonian rat.

Dopamine cells derived from neural stem cells were transplanted into the dopamine-denervated striatum in the rat. Survival of the dopamine cells, gliosis, and immunological reaction were examined by immunostaining. Tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive (TH+) cells were seen in the needle tract, walls of the lateral ventricle, thalamus, hippocampus, and external and internal capsules for up to 3 weeks examination.

A case of adult onset tic disorder following carbon monoxide intoxication.

Background: Adult onset tic disorders are usually secondary in origin. We report a case of adult onset tic disorder following carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication with typical magnetic resonance imaging features.

Case Report: A 36-year-old woman developed temporarily suppressible patterned movements on her face, neck, and shoulder associated with sensory discomfort after CO poisoning.