Deep-sea in situ determination of sulfide using a sensitized chemiluminescent terbium complex.

A new chemiluminescence (CL) method based on the chemiluminescent reaction between sulfide and an acidic permanganate solution was used to quantify sulfide in seawater. A terbium-pipemidic acid complex was used as CL enhancer. The method was used to determine sulfide in the concentration range of 1-30 μmol/L in artificial seawater samples.

Surfaces immobilized with oligo-prolines prevent protein adsorption and cell adhesion.

In this study, oligo-prolines, (Pro)n (n = 6 and 9) inspired by the backbone structure of collagen, were evaluated as a novel non-ionic anti-fouling peptide. Two oligo-prolines with a cysteine residue were synthesized and immobilized on gold substrates via Au-thiol binding. The surfaces immobilized with oligo-prolines, and forming a polyproline-II conformation, indicated hydrophilic properties (water contact angle ≈ 25 degrees).

In vitro osteoclast formation and resorption of silicon-substituted hydroxyapatite ceramics.

Materials that participate in bone remodeling at the implant/tissue interface represent a modern tissue engineering approach with the aim of balancing implant resorption and nascent tissue formation. Silicon-substituted hydroxyapatite (SiHA) ceramics are capable of stimulating new bone formation, but little is known about their interaction with osteoclasts (OC). The effects of soluble silicate and SiHA on OCs were investigated in this study.

Determination of sulfide with acidic permanganate chemiluminescence for development of deep-sea in-situ analyzers.

A new chemiluminescence method is proposed for the determination of sulfide in seawater based on the chemiluminescence reaction between sulfide and an acidic permanganate solution. 3-Cyclohexylaminopropanesulfonic acid was used as a chemiluminescence enhancer. By use of this method, 1-150 µM of sulfide could be determined in artificial seawater.

Inhibition of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and PI3K/Akt Signaling Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Survival through Regulation of Stat3 Activation in Human Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Recent studies have emphasized the important role of Stat3 activation in a number of human tumors from the viewpoint of its oncogenic and antiapoptotic activity. In this study, we examined the role and related signaling molecules of Stat3 in the carcinogenesis of human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In 35 human cutaneous SCC samples, 86% showed overexpression of phosphorylated (p)-Stat3, and most of those simultaneously overexpressed p-EGFR or p-Akt.

E3710, a new proton pump inhibitor, with a long-lasting inhibitory effect on gastric acid secretion.

We have investigated the pharmacology of sodium (R)-2-[4-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxan-5-yl) methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyridin-2-yl]methylsulfinyl-1H-benzimidazol (E3710), a new proton pump inhibitor (PPI), and its effect on gastric acid secretion. E3710 irreversibly inhibited H(+),K(+)-ATPase activity in pig gastric vesicles with an acidic internal environment with an IC(50) of 0.28 microM.

Ultraviolet light induces Stat3 activation in human keratinocytes and fibroblasts through reactive oxygen species and DNA damage.

Stat3 is activated by the outer stressors, such as ultraviolet (UV) exposure. In this study, we investigated the Stat3 response to UV irradiation in human epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. Results indicated that UVB and UVC differentially activate Stat3 in these cells.

Melanophages reside in hypermelanotic, aberrantly glycosylated tumor areas and predict improved outcome in primary cutaneous malignant melanoma.

Background: Previously, hypermelanotic regions of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) were found to contain a mixture of highly melanized melanoma cells and melanophages. Both cell types produced beta1,6-branched oligosaccharides. These sugars are used for motility by myeloid cells and cancer cells alike and are associated with poor survival in carcinomas of the breast, colon and lung.

Telomere length of the skin in association with chronological aging and photoaging.

Background: Telomere shortening has been implicated in cellular senescence, which may cause certain aging phenotypes.

Objective: To reveal whether telomere shortening is associated with chronological aging and/or photoaging of the skin, we measured telomere length in the epidermis and in the dermis from sun-protected and from sun-exposed sites of the skin.

Methods: Seventy-six specimens of epidermis from sun-protected sites and 24 specimens of epidermis from sun-exposed sites were analyzed.

8-Oxoguanine formation induced by chronic UVB exposure makes Ogg1 knockout mice susceptible to skin carcinogenesis.

8-Oxoguanine is one of the oxidative DNA damages that can result in stable mutations. The Ogg1 gene encodes the repair enzyme 8-oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase, which removes the oxidized base from DNA. In this study, we investigated the role of 8-oxoguanine in skin carcinogenesis induced by UVB irradiation using Ogg1 knockout mice (C57Bl/6J background).

Decreased expression of Apaf-1 with progression of melanoma.

Defects in apoptotic system may contribute in the pathogenesis and resistance of malignant melanoma cells to chemotherapy. Apoptotic protease-activating factor-1 (Apaf-1) is a cell death effector that acts with cytochrome c and caspase-9 to mediate apoptosis. Recently it was shown that metastatic melanomas often lose Apaf-1 and are concomitantly resistant to apoptosis.

Potentiometric performance of silver ion-selective electrodes based on tridentate Schiff base derivatives.

To examine the directivity for improving the silver ion discrimination ability of a Schiff base, three kinds of tridentate ligands were synthesized and compared with the similar quadridentate ligand as the silver ionophore. Among the Schiff base derivatives tested, 3-(2-pyridylethylimino)-2-butanoneoxime, having one oxime and a pyridine substituent, was found to be the best ionophore for a silver-ion electrode. The electrode based on this derivative exhibited good silver-ion selectivity, -log Kpot(Ag+,K+) = 3.

A case of generalized hair follicle hamartoma associated with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A hair-follicle hamartoma (HFH) may be localized or diffuse. Generalized HFH is frequently associated with an autoimmune disease such as myasthenia gravis or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We report here a female patient with SLE who developed typical generalized HFH.

Two cases of subcutaneous trichoblastoma.

This report concerns two Japanese women, 54 and 53 years old, with trichoblastoma. Histopathologically, these neoplasms were mainly composed of follicular germinative cells with fibrotic stroma. One of them was a giant lesion, but the other was small.

Inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor suppresses telomerase activity in HSC-1 human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Activation of telomerase, which stabilizes the telomere length of chromosomes, is crucial for the continued growth or progression of cancer cells. In a previous study, we showed that telomerase is frequently activated in skin tumors. Because epidermal growth factor plays an important role during the tumorigenesis of epithelial tissue, we have now examined the role of epidermal growth factor signaling in regulating telomerase activity using HSC-1 human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Genistein enhances the cisplatin-induced inhibition of cell growth and apoptosis in human malignant melanoma cells.

Genistein, a naturally occurring isoflavone found chiefly in soybeans, has been reported to be a potent antitumor agent. Genistein is presumed to exert multiple effects related to the inhibition of cancer growth. Metastatic melanoma is a chemotherapy-refractory neoplasm.

Human herpes virus 6 encephalitis in allopurinol-induced hypersensitivity syndrome.

Hypersensitivity syndrome is one of the most severe forms of drug eruption, and is characterized by a severe, potentially lethal, multiorgan involvement. Recently, reactivation of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) has been suggested to be involved in this syndrome, although the exact role of HHV-6 remains elusive. In addition to exanthem subitum, neurological illnesses, such as infantile febrile illness without rash and encephalitis in immunocompromised patients have been attributed to HHV-6.

Formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine in mouse and organ-cultured human skin by irradiation with broadband or with narrowband UVB.

Narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) is a newly developed UVB source that, in addition to the previously used broadband UVB (BB-UVB), has been effectively used in phototherapy of various skin diseases. Besides its therapeutic effectiveness, NB-UVB also has some adverse effects that should be evaluated. As with all phototherapies, the photocarcinogenic potential of NB-UVB is the major concern.

Flavonoids differentially regulate IFN gamma-induced ICAM-1 expression in human keratinocytes: molecular mechanisms of action.

The effect of plant flavonoids on intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression in human keratinocyte was investigated. ICAM-1 is known to mediate skin inflammation. Among the flavonoids tested, taxifolin was the most potent in inhibiting interferon gamma (IFN gamma)-induced ICAM-1 protein as well as mRNA expression in human keratinocytes.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Addition of Organoboronic Acids to Aldehydes.

Highly inert to ionic additions to aldehydes, aryl- and 1-alkenylboronic acids succumb to a catalytic variant mediated by a [Rh(acac)(CO) ]-diphosphane complex in aqueous phase at 80-95°C to yield secondary alcohols [Eq. (a)]. A key step in the catalytic cycle is the transmetalation between the boron reagent and the rhodium complex.