Pre-operative body shape concerns moderate excess weight loss trajectory in bariatric surgery patients: a 2-year longitudinal study.

Purpose: The main research aim was to inspect whether pre-operative body shape concerns and discomfort as Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) scores moderate post-operative weight loss trajectory in bariatric patients.

Methods: Two studies were conducted. Study 1 analyzed cross-sectional data and verified the structural validity of the 34-item BSQ questionnaire on a sample of 327 candidates for bariatric surgery.

Sensitivity of solid phase stability to the interparticle potential range: studies of a new Lennard-Jones like model.

In a recent article, Wang (., 2020, , 10624) introduced a new class of interparticle potential for molecular simulations. The potential is defined by a single range parameter, eliminating the need to decide how to truncate truly long-range interactions like the Lennard-Jones (LJ) potential.

SCL-90 empirical factors predict post-surgery weight loss in bariatric patients over longer time periods.

Purpose: This longitudinal study examined how pre-intervention psychological health helps predict bariatric surgery (BS) success as percentage of expected body mass index loss (%EBMIL) over shorter to longer periods.

Methods: Adult candidates for BS (N = 334, 67.4% females) completed the Symptoms Checklist 90 (SCL-90) questionnaire; on average, 11 months occurred between the pre-surgery psychological evaluations and the bariatric intervention.

Quantitative Methods for the Prioritization of Foods Implicated in the Transmission of Hepatititis E to Humans in Italy.

Hepatitis E is considered an emerging foodborne disease in Europe. Several types of foods are implicated in the transmission of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) to humans, in particular, pork and wild boar products. We developed a parametric stochastic model to estimate the risk of foodborne exposure to HEV in the Italian population and to rank the relevance of pork products with and without liver (PL and PNL, respectively), leafy vegetables, shellfish and raw milk in HEV transmission.

Arthroscopic Bankart repair for recurrent shoulder instability: A retrospective study of 86 cases.

The purpose of our study was to retrospectively evaluate the outcomes of arthroscopic Bankart repair in 86 patients, who met the inclusion criteria of at least one episode of shoulder dislocation, with a minimum follow-up of one year. Outcome was measured by the use of Western Ontario Shoulder Instability (WOSI) score. At the end of our study, the recurrence rate was 7%.

A study of the suppression of body odour in elderly subjects by anti-fungal agents.

Objective: The suppression of body odour following the use of shampoos or soaps containing the anti-fungal agent miconazole nitrate (MCZ) has been recognized anecdotally. To determine whether MCZ could play a role in the suppression of body odour through inhibiting squalene oxidation.

Methods: A prospective study recruited 54 elderly subjects residing in a nursing facility who needed bathing assistance.

Immunohistochemical survey of the distribution of epidermal melanoblasts and melanocytes during the development of UVB-induced pigmented spots.

Background: Repeated exposures to ultraviolet B radiation (UVB) induce pigmented spots on dorsal skin of (HR-1 x HR/De) F(1) hairless mouse. We showed previously that this mouse is suitable for studies of melanocyte function.

Objective: To clarify the mechanism of development of pigmented spots induced by chronic UVB exposure.

Gene expression profiling analysis of solar lentigo in relation to immunohistochemical characteristics.

Background: Solar lentigo appears as dark brown spots that occur on sun-exposed areas and is considered to be a hallmark of aged skin. Although considerable knowledge about acute pigmentation has recently been accumulated, little is yet known about the mechanisms underlying chronic- and delayed-type hyperpigmentation, such as solar lentigo.

Objectives: To clarify further the mechanisms underlying the development of solar lentigo, we carried out gene expression analysis in skin biopsy specimens obtained from human solar lentigines using DNA microarray analysis.

MIP-1beta, a novel biomarker for in vitro sensitization test using human monocytic cell line.

In order to seek a novel biomarker for predicting skin sensitization, changes in the gene expression profile of THP-1 cells on exposure to 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), p-phenylenediamine (pPD) and nickel sulfate (Ni) were assessed using oligo-DNA microarrays. While the change in gene expression varied depending on the sensitizers, up-regulation of MIP-1 beta mRNA expression was detected in both DNCB-treated and Ni-treated THP-1 cells. This finding was validated by RT-PCR and confirmed at the protein level by ELISA.

Expression profiling and cellular localization of genes associated with the hair cycle induced by wax depilation.

The hair cycle is a highly regulated process controlled by multiple factors. Systematic analysis of gene expression patterns in each stage of the hair cycle would provide information useful for understanding this complicated process. To identify genes associated with the hair cycle, we used DNA microarray hybridization to analyze sequential gene expression patterns in mouse skin following hair cycle synchronization by wax depilation.

Upregulation of the IFN-gamma-stimulated genes in the development of delayed pigmented spots on the dorsal skin of F1 mice of HR-1 x HR/De.

DNA microarray hybridization was used to measure the changes of mRNA levels over time during the development of delayed pigmented spots on the dorsal skin of F1 mice of HR-1 x HR/De. Upregulation of a number of interferon (IFN)-gamma-stimulated genes was detected in delayed pigmented lesions, suggesting that IFN-gamma may play a pivotal role in the development of delayed pigmented spots in this model. Upregulation of these genes was further supported by the increased protein expression level of IFN-gamma in the lesions.

Involvement of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) in expression of human melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R).

Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of human melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) promoter indicated that an E-box (CANNTG) is present immediately upstream of the transcriptional initiation site. The presence of the CATGTG motif suggests that MC1R gene expression may be regulated by a basic helix-loop-helix-leucine-zipper (bHLH-LZ) type transcription factor. The microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), which belongs to the family of bHLH-LZ type transcription factors, regulates the transcription of melanogenesis-related enzyme genes such as the tyrosinase and TRP-1 genes.

Maxadilan specifically interacts with PAC1 receptor, which is a dominant form of PACAP/VIP family receptors in cultured rat cortical neurons.

Maxadilan is a potent vasodilator peptide isolated from salivary gland extracts of the hematophagous sand fly. Recently, the possibility was demonstrated that maxadilan binds to PAC1 receptor (PACAP, pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide type I receptor) in mammals. In the present study, we demonstrated that: (1) maxadilan specifically binds to PAC1 receptor and stimulates cyclic AMP accumulation in a dose-dependent manner in CHO cells stably expressing PAC1 receptor, not VIP (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide) receptors; that (2) the deleted peptide (amino acid #24-42) of maxadilan (termed max.

Characterization of the promoter region of the human melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene.

We sequenced 3201 bp upstream from the ATG translation start codon of the human melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R). A number of transcriptional initiation sites were detected over a region of approximately 600 base pairs upstream of the receptor coding region. These consist of GC-rich regions, each including SP-1 consensus binding motifs.

Functional characterization of structural alterations in the sequence of the vasodilatory peptide maxadilan yields a pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide type 1 receptor-specific antagonist.

Maxadilan is a vasodilatory peptide derived from sand flies that is an agonist at the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) type 1 receptor. Surprisingly, maxadilan does not share significant sequence homology with PACAP. To examine the relationship between structure and activity of maxadilan, several amino acid substitutions and deletions were made in the peptide.

Maxadilan is a specific agonist and its deleted peptide (M65) is a specific antagonist for PACAP type 1 receptor.

Maxadilan is a potent vasodilator peptide isolated from salivary glands extracts of the hematophagous sand fly. Recently, it was demonstrated that maxadilan binds to PACAP receptor type 1 in mammals, although maxadilan has no significant amino acid sequence homology with PACAP. In the present study, we demonstrated that maxadilan is a specific agonist of PACAP type 1 receptor (PACAP/VIP receptor 1; PVR1) as determined by the binding assay of [125I]PACAP27 and cAMP accumulation using CHO cells stably expressing PVR1, VIP1 receptor (PVR2), and VIP2 receptor (PVR3), and that the deleted peptide (#25-41) of maxadilan (termed as M65) is a specific antagonist of PVR1.

Activation of the cyclic AMP pathway by alpha-melanotropin mediates the response of human melanocytes to ultraviolet B radiation.

A hallmark of sun exposure is increased melanin synthesis by cutaneous melanocytes which protects against photodamage and photocarcinogenesis. Irradiation of human keratinocytes or melanocytes with ultraviolet (UV) rays stimulates the synthesis and release of alpha-melanotropin (alpha-MSH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which induce cyclic AMP (cAMP) formation and increase the proliferation and melanogenesis of human melanocytes. We report that stimulation of cAMP formation is obligatory for the melanogenic response of cultured normal human melanocytes to UVB radiation.

Maxadilan, the vasodilator from sand flies, is a specific pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide type I receptor agonist.

Maxadilan is a potent vasodilator peptide isolated from salivary gland lysates of the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis, a vector of leishmaniasis. The peptide aids the fly in obtaining blood from the skin of its vertebrate hosts but the mammalian receptor through which this insect ligand acts was unknown. We demonstrate that maxadilan is an agonist of the type I receptor for pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide, a neuropeptide with vascular activity.

Receptors for the vasodilator maxadilan are expressed on selected neural crest and smooth muscle-derived cells.

Maxadilan is a potent vasodilator peptide isolated from salivary glands of the blood feeding sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis. The peptide relaxes rabbit aortic rings in an endothelium independent manner while elevating levels of cAMP and has been found to bind to membrane homogenates from brain. These studies on tissues have now been expanded with an examination of binding and signaling of maxadilan to a number of established cell lines and primary cultures.

The role of two endogenous proteases of the stratum corneum in degradation of desmoglein-1 and their reduced activity in the skin of ichthyotic patients.

We investigated the role of stratum corneum (SC) trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like serine proteases in the degradation of desmoglein-1 (DSG-1) in the SC sheet. DSG-1, whose presence in the SC sheet was confirmed by Western blot analysis, was degraded completely during incubation of the SC sheet in Tris buffer. The degradation of DSG-1 was inhibited by the addition of protease inhibitors, such as aprotinin or a mixture of leupeptin and chymostatin.

Maxadilan binds to membrane fractions of brain tissue.

Maxadilan is a potent vasodilator peptide isolated from salivary glands extracts of the hematophagous sand fly. Besides effects on the cutaneous vasculature, it has also been shown to relax rabbit aortic rings while elevating levels of cAMP. As a result of the effects on the skin and aorta, it was elected to undertake an examination of the tissue distribution of binding sites for maxadilan.

Specific induction of cAMP in Langerhans cells by calcitonin gene-related peptide: relevance to functional effects.

Epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) are associated anatomically with epidermal nerves, and a product of these nerves, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), inhibits the antigen-presenting capacity of LC and macrophages. As the CGRP receptor appears to be coupled to Gs alpha protein, which in turn activates adenylate cyclase, the ability of CGRP to induce cAMP in LC was examined and correlated with functional effects. LC were isolated from murine epidermal cells using antibodies on magnetic microspheres.

Activation of a GTP-binding protein and a GTP-binding-protein-coupled receptor kinase (beta-adrenergic-receptor kinase-1) by a muscarinic receptor m2 mutant lacking phosphorylation sites.

A mutant of the human muscarinic acetylcholine receptor m2 subtype (m2 receptor), lacking a large part of the third intracellular loop, was expressed and purified using the baculovirus/insect cell culture system. The mutant was not phosphorylated by beta-adrenergic-receptor kinase, as expected from the previous assignment of phosphorylation sites to the central part of the third intracellular loop. However, the m2 receptor mutant was capable of stimulating beta-adrenergic-receptor-kinase-1-mediated phosphorylation of a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing the m2 phosphorylation sites in an agonist-dependent manner.

Overlapping multi-site domains of the muscarinic cholinergic Hm1 receptor involved in signal transduction and sequestration.

Alanine mutagenesis scanning of the intracellular portion of the human muscarinic cholinergic Hm1 receptor was performed to identify domains mediating agonist induced receptor sequestration. Using these multiple alanine point mutants of Hm1, we had previously identified several receptor domains in the intracellular loops i1-3 that play a role in coupling to phosphatidyl inositol turnover, most notably, a lipophilic residue, Leu-131, in the conserved i2 loop domain DRYXXVXXPL (Moro, O., Lameh, J.