Unique advantages of dynamic l-[11C]methionine PET/CT for assessing the rate of skeletal muscle protein synthesis: A pilot trial in young men.

Although the standard method to evaluate skeletal muscle protein synthesis (MPS) is muscle biopsy, the method is invasive and problematic for multisite use. We conducted a small pilot study in volunteers to investigate changes in MPS according to skeletal muscle site using a noninvasive method in which 6 healthy young men were given yogurt (containing 20 g milk protein) or water, and 1 h later, l-[11C]methionine ([11C]Met) was administered intravenously. Dynamic PET/CT imaging of their thighs was performed for 60 min.

Potential Application of the Myocardial Scintigraphy Agent [I]BMIPP in Colon Cancer Cell Imaging.

[I]β-methyl-p-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid ([I]BMIPP), which is used for nuclear medicine imaging of myocardial fatty acid metabolism, accumulates in cancer cells. However, the mechanism of accumulation remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the accumulation and accumulation mechanism of [I]BMIPP in cancer cells.

Evaluation of L-Alanine Metabolism in Bacteria and Whole-Body Distribution with Bacterial Infection Model Mice.

The World Health Organization has cautioned that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will be responsible for an estimated 10 million deaths annually by 2050. To facilitate prompt and accurate diagnosis and treatment of infectious disease, we investigated the potential of amino acids for use as indicators of bacterial growth activity by clarifying which amino acids are taken up by bacteria during the various growth phases. In addition, we examined the amino acid transport mechanisms that are employed by bacteria based on the accumulation of labeled amino acids, Na dependence, and inhibitory effects using a specific inhibitor of system A.

Biological Distribution after Oral Administration of Radioiodine-Labeled Acetaminophen to Estimate Gastrointestinal Absorption Function via OATPs, OATs, and/or MRPs.

We evaluated the whole-body distribution of orally-administered radioiodine-125 labeled acetaminophen (I-AP) to estimate gastrointestinal absorption of anionic drugs. I-AP was added to human embryonic kidney (HEK)293 and Flp293 cells expressing human organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP)1B1/3, OATP2B1, organic anion transporter (OAT)1/2/3, or carnitine/organic cation transporter (OCTN)2, with and without bromosulfalein (OATP and multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) inhibitor) and probenecid (OAT and MRP inhibitor). The biological distribution in mice was determined by oral administration of I-AP with and without bromosulfalein and by intravenous administration of I-AP.

A single high-dose irradiation changes accumulation of methotrexate and gene expression levels of SLC and ABC transporters in cancer cells.

Chemoradiotherapy is frequently used to treat cancer. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a single high-dose radiotherapy used to treat a variety of cancers. The anticancer drug methotrexate (MTX) shows affinity for solute carrier (SLC) and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters.

[S-methyl-C]-L-methionine positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging parameters to evaluate early response for esophageal cancer with neoadjuvant carbon ion radiotherapy.

This study aimed to evaluate the uptake of the clinical effectiveness of [S-methyl-C]-L-methionine positron emission tomography/computed tomography (MET PET/CT) in patients with esophageal cancer and to investigate MET PET/CT imaging parameters to assess early response for esophageal cancer with neoadjuvant carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT). MET PET/CT scans were performed in nineteen patients before and 3 weeks after completion of CIRT. After Surgery, the effect of neoadjuvant CIRT was investigated by examining the relationship between each parameter of MET uptake and the histological assessment (grade and tumor residual ratio).

I-BMIPP, a Radiopharmaceutical for Myocardial Fatty Acid Metabolism Scintigraphy, Could Be Utilized in Bacterial Infection Imaging.

In this study, we evaluated the use of 15-(4-I-iodophenyl)-3(R,S)-methylpentadecanoic acid (I-BMIPP) to visualize fatty acid metabolism in bacteria for bacterial infection imaging. We found that I-BMIPP, which is used for fatty acid metabolism scintigraphy in Japan, accumulated markedly in EC-14 similar to F-FDG, which has previously been studied for bacterial imaging. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we evaluated changes in I-BMIPP accumulation under low-temperature conditions and in the presence of a CD36 inhibitor.

Comparison of L- and D-Amino Acids for Bacterial Imaging in Lung Infection Mouse Model.

The effectiveness of L- and D-amino acids for detecting the early stage of infection in bacterial imaging was compared. We evaluated the accumulation of H-L-methionine (Met), H-D-Met, H-L-alanine (Ala), and H-D-Ala in EC-14 and HaCaT cells. Biological distribution was assessed in control and lung-infection-model mice with EC-14 using H-L- and D-Met, and F-FDG.

Chiroptical switching behavior of heteroleptic ruthenium complexes bearing acetylacetonato and tropolonato ligands.

Four types of tris-chelate ruthenium complexes bearing acetylacetonato (acac) and tropolonato (trop) ligands were synthesized and optically resolved into Δ and Λ isomers: [Ru(acac)] (Ru-0), [Ru(acac)(trop)] (Ru-1), [Ru(acac)(trop)] (Ru-2), and [Ru(trop)] (Ru-3). Chiral HPLC chromatograms, electronic circular dichroism (ECD), and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) of the four ruthenium complexes were systematically investigated. As a result, the absolute configurations of the newly prepared enantiomeric complexes Ru-2 and Ru-3 were determined.

Differentiation between non-small cell lung cancer and radiation pneumonitis after carbon-ion radiotherapy by F-FDG PET/CT texture analysis.

The differentiation of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and radiation pneumonitis (RP) is critically essential for selecting optimal clinical therapeutic strategies to manage post carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) in patients with NSCLC. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of F-FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters and its textural image features to differentiate NSCLC from RP after CIRT to develop a differential diagnosis of malignancy and benign lesion. We retrospectively analyzed F-FDG PET/CT image data from 32 patients with histopathologically proven NSCLC who were scheduled to undergo CIRT and 31 patients diagnosed with RP after CIRT.

Clinical value of PET/CT with carbon-11 4DST in the evaluation of malignant and benign lung tumors.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the clinical value of [C]4DST uptake in patients with lung nodules, including benign and malignant tumors, and to assess the correlation between [C]4DST uptake and proliferative activity of tumors in comparison with [F]FDG uptake.

Methods: Twenty-six patients (22 males and 4 females, mean age of 65.5-year-old) were analyzed in this prospective study.

Assessment of SPECT-CT fusion images and semi-quantitative evaluation using SUV in I-IMP SPECT in patients with choroidal melanoma.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic ability of N-isopropyl-p-[I-123] iodoamphetamine (IMP) SPECT semi-quantitative evaluation based on the standardized uptake value (SUV) in patients with choroidal melanoma. The secondary aim was to investigate the 6-h IMP SPECT imaging in comparison with 24-h imaging.

Methods: Twenty-five patients (14 males and 11 females, mean age of 59.

Evaluation of the usefulness of the MRI jelly method for diagnosing complete cul-de-sac obliteration.

Objective: We conducted a single-center study to evaluate the usefulness of the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging jelly method for diagnosing endometriosis-associated adhesions in the Pouch of Douglas.

Methods: Thirty women with menstrual pain, dyspareunia, and chronic pelvic pain were enrolled in the study. All had been scheduled for laparoscopic surgery on the basis of pelvic and/or ultrasonographic (US) evaluation.

Magnolol and honokiol prevent learning and memory impairment and cholinergic deficit in SAMP8 mice.

The therapeutic use of neurotrophic factors to treat neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, is considered feasible. Magnolol and honokiol, constituents of the Magnolia plant, are small organic compounds with neurotrophic activity. We investigated whether magnolol and honokiol can prevent age-related learning and memory impairment and cholinergic deficits in senescence-accelerated mice (SAM).

Molecular and structural characterization of hexameric beta-D-glucosidases in wheat and rye.

The wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rye (Secale cereale) beta-D-glucosidases hydrolyze hydroxamic acid-glucose conjugates, exist as different types of isozyme, and function as oligomers. In this study, three cDNAs encoding beta-D-glucosidases (TaGlu1a, TaGlu1b, and TaGlu1c) were isolated from young wheat shoots. Although the TaGlu1s share very high sequence homology, the mRNA level of Taglu1c was much lower than the other two genes in 48- and 96-h-old wheat shoots.

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of a hexameric beta-glucosidase from wheat.

The wheat beta-glucosidase TaGlu1b, which is only active in a hexameric form, was tagged with 6xHis at the N-terminus, overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified in two steps. The protein complexed with a substrate aglycone was crystallized at 293 K from a solution containing 10 mM HEPES pH 7.2, 1 M LiSO4 and 150 mM NaCl using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method.