Spontaneous Attenuation of Alcoholic Fermentation via the Dysfunction of Cyc8p in .

A cell population characterized by the release of glucose repression and known as [] emerges spontaneously in the yeast . This study revealed that the [] variants exhibit retarded alcoholic fermentation when glucose is the sole carbon source. To identify the key to the altered glucose response, the gene expression profile of [] cells was examined.

Determination of antibiotics by amperometry using nortropine N-oxyl, a highly active nitroxyl radical.

Nitroxyl radical compounds oxidize hydroxy groups and some amino groups upon application of an electric potential. The resulting anodic current depends on the concentration of these functional groups in solution. Thus, it is possible to quantify compounds containing these functional groups by electrochemical methods.

Electrochemical reactions of highly active nitroxyl radicals with thiol compounds.

Nitroxyl radicals are known to electrochemically oxidize thiols as well as alcohols and amines. In this study, a preliminary investigation of the electrochemical reaction of thiols with 9-azabicyclo[3.3.

Catalysis of electro-oxidation of antibiotics by nitroxyl radicals and the electrochemical sensing of vancomycin.

Quantifying drug concentrations quickly and easily is possible using electrochemical methods. The present study describes the electrochemical detection of vancomycin (VCM) and other antibiotics from the current obtained using nitroxyl radicals as electrocatalysts. Nortropine -oxyl (NNO), which is more active than 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPO), a typical nitroxyl radical compound, produced greater current values for drugs with intramolecular hydroxy groups and secondary and tertiary amines.

Dietary lysine restriction induces lipid accumulation in skeletal muscle through an increase in serum threonine levels in rats.

We previously reported that dietary amino acid restriction induces the accumulation of triglycerides (TAG) in the liver of growing rats. However, differences in TAG accumulation in individual cell types or other tissues were not examined. In this study, we show that TAG also accumulates in the muscle and adipose tissues of rats fed a low amino acid (low-AA) diet.

A novel amino acid signaling process governs glucose-6-phosphatase transcription.

Emerging evidence has shown that amino acids act as metabolic regulatory signals. Here, we showed that glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) mRNA levels in cultured hepatocyte models were downregulated in an amino-acid-depleted medium. Inversely, stimulation with amino acids increased G6Pase mRNA levels, demonstrating that G6Pase mRNA level is directly controlled by amino acids in a reversible manner.

Regional differences in genes and variants causing retinitis pigmentosa in Japan.

Purpose: To investigate the regional differences in the genes and variants causing retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in Japan STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective multicenter study METHODS: In total, 1204 probands of each pedigree clinically diagnosed with nonsyndromic RP were enrolled from 5 Japanese facilities. The regions were divided into the Tohoku region, the Kanto and Chubu regions, and the Kyushu region according to the location of the hospitals where the participants were enrolled. We compared the proportions of the causative genes and the distributions of the pathogenic variants among these 3 regions.

Electrochemical Detection of Sesamol Dimer and its Application to Measurement of Radicals.

In this paper we propose a novel measurement for NO and ·OH by electrochemical detection using sesamol. Standard samples of the sesamol monomer and dimer were subjected to differential pulse voltammetry, resulting in their peaks being clearly separated and detected. Based on the oxidative dimerization of sesamol, the current simple, sensitive and selective method was successfully applied to preliminary measurements for NO and ·OH, respectively.

Genetic characteristics of retinitis pigmentosa in 1204 Japanese patients.

Background: The genetic profile of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in East Asian populations has not been well characterised. Therefore, we conducted a large-scale sequencing study to investigate the genes and variants causing RP in a Japanese population.

Methods: A total of 1209 Japanese patients diagnosed with typical RP were enrolled.

Bonding-Based Wafer-Level Vacuum Packaging Using Atomic Hydrogen Pre-Treated Cu Bonding Frames.

A novel surface activation technology for Cu-Cu bonding-based wafer-level vacuum packaging using hot-wire-generated atomic hydrogen treatment was developed. Vacuum sealing temperature at 300 °C was achieved by atomic hydrogen pre-treatment for Cu native oxide reduction, while 350 °C was needed by the conventional wet chemical oxide reduction procedure. A remote-type hot-wire tool was employed to minimize substrate overheating by thermal emission from the hot-wire.

Metabolic switching of sake yeast by kimoto lactic acid bacteria through the [GAR] non-genetic element.

In traditional kimoto-type sake production, cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae sake yeast are grown in a starter mash generated by lactate fermentation by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) such as Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus sakei. However, the microbial interactions between sake yeast and kimoto LAB have not been well analyzed. Since the formation of a prion-like element (designated [GAR]) in yeast cells is promoted by bacteria, we here examined the associated phenotype (i.

Importance of Serum Amino Acid Profile for Induction of Hepatic Steatosis under Protein Malnutrition.

We previously reported that a low-protein diet caused animals to develop fatty liver containing a high level of triglycerides (TG), similar to the human nutritional disorder "kwashiorkor". To investigate the underlying mechanisms, we cultured hepatocytes in amino acid-sufficient or deficient medium. Surprisingly, the intracellular TG level was increased by amino acid deficiency without addition of any lipids or hormones, accompanied by enhanced lipid synthesis, indicating that hepatocytes themselves monitored the extracellular amino acid concentrations to induce lipid accumulation in a cell-autonomous manner.

Spatial Inhomogeneity of Methylammonium Lead-Mixed Halide Perovskite Examined by Space- and Time-Resolved Microwave Conductivity.

Reducing the spatial inhomogeneity of solution-processed, multicrystalline methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI) perovskite is of great importance for improving its power conversion efficiency, suppressing point-to-point deviations, and delaying degradation during operation. Various techniques, such as conducting-mode atomic force microscopy and photoluminescence mapping, have been applied for this intriguing class of materials, revealing nonuniform electronic properties on the nanometer-to-micrometer scale. Here, we designed a new space- and time-resolved microwave conductivity system that enables mapping of the transient photoconductivity with resolution greater than ∼45 μm.

Nationwide multi-institutional retrospective analysis of high-dose-rate brachytherapy combined with external beam radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer: An Asian Prostate HDR-BT Consortium.

Purpose: To report outcomes and risk factors of high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy combined with external beam radiotherapy with or without androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in prostate cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: This multi-institutional retrospective analysis comprised 3424 patients with localized prostate cancer at 16 Asian hospitals. One-thirds (27.

Hsp27 Inhibition with OGX-427 Sensitizes Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells to Erlotinib and Chemotherapy.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most frequent cause of death from cancer worldwide. Despite the availability of active chemotherapy regimens and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, all advanced patients develop recurrent disease after first-line therapy. Although Hsp27 is a stress-induced chaperone that promotes acquired resistance in several cancers, its relationship to treatment resistance in NSCLC has not been defined.

Pressure Modulation of Backbone Conformation and Intermolecular Distance of Conjugated Polymers Toward Understanding the Dynamism of π-Figuration of their Conjugated System.

Continuous tuning of the backbone conformation and interchain distance of a π-conjugated polymer is an essential prerequisite to unveil the inherent electrical and optical features of organic electronics. To this end, applying pressure in a hydrostatic medium or diamond anvil cell is a facile approach without the need for side-chain synthetic engineering. We report the development of high-pressure, time-resolved microwave conductivity (HP-TRMC) and evaluation of transient photoconductivity in the regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) film and its bulk heterojunction blend with methanofullerene (PCBM).

Significance of random bladder biopsies in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Background/aims: To evaluate retrospectively the clinical outcome of random bladder biopsies in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) undergoing transurethral resection (TUR).

Patients And Method: This study included 234 consecutive patients with NMIBC who underwent random biopsies from normal-appearing urothelium of the bladder, including the anterior wall, posterior wall, right wall, left wall, dome, trigone and/or prostatic urethra, during TUR.

Result: Thirty-seven patients (15.

Value of EUS in early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms.

Background And Study Aims: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) sometimes arise in patients with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). This study examined the incidence of PDACs concomitant to or derived from branch duct IPMNs. The usefulness of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) relative to other imaging methods for detecting these tumors was also assessed.

β4-integrin-mediated cytotoxic activity of AexU in human prostate cancer PC3 cells.

The present study aimed to characterize the cytotoxic activity of AexU, an effector-mediating type three secretion system (TTSS) of gram-negative bacteria, in human prostate cancer cells, focusing on the association with β4-integrin expression. The cytotoxic effects of AexU either alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents were evaluated using several human prostate cancer cell lines. Human prostate cancer PC3 cells, in which an expression vector containing siRNA targeting β4-integrin had been introduced, were established (PC3/sh-In), and the cytotoxic effects of AexU on the PC3/sh-In cells were compared with the PC3 cells that were transfected with a control vector (PC3/C).

Sequential use of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma following failure of tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the clinical experience of the sequential use of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors (mTORIs) for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) refractory to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). This study retrospectively investigated the clinical outcomes in a total of 83 consecutive Japanese patients with mRCC who were treated with either everolimus or temsirolimus following the failure of sorafenib and/or sunitinib. Of the 83 patients, 15, 61, and 7 were classified into favorable-, intermediate-, and poor-risk groups, respectively, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center model, and 47 and 36 patients were administered mTORIs as second- and third-line therapy, respectively.

Acquired resistance to temsirolimus in human renal cell carcinoma cells is mediated by the constitutive activation of signal transduction pathways through mTORC2.

Background: The objective of this study was to characterise the mechanism underlying acquired resistance to temsirolimus, an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Methods: A parental human RCC cell line, ACHN (ACHN/P), was continuously exposed to increasing doses of up to 20 μM of temsirolimus, and a cell line resistant to temsirolimus (ACHN/R), showing a sixfold higher IC50 than that of ACHN/P, was developed.

Results: Following treatment with temsirolimus, phosphorylation of S6 kinase in ACHN/P was markedly inhibited, whereas there was no detectable expression of phosphorylated S6 in ACHN/R before and after temsirolimus treatment.

Assessment of efficacy, safety and quality of life of 55 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with temsirolimus: a single-center experience in Japan.

Background: To evaluate experience of the use of temsirolimus for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in a single center in Japan.

Methods: This study included 55 consecutive patients with mRCC who received temsirolimus in a routine clinical setting, and retrospectively reviewed the comprehensive outcomes of these patients.

Results: Of the 55 patients, 20 had a Karnofsky performance status of ≤80, and 5, 41 and 9 were classified into favorable, intermediate and poor risk groups, respectively, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center model.