Spin gap in the zigzag spin-1/2 chain cuprate Sr(0.9)Ca(0.1)CuO(2).

We report a comparative study of (63)Cu nuclear magnetic resonance spin lattice relaxation rates T(1)(-1) on undoped SrCuO(2) and Ca-doped Sr(0.9)Ca(0.1)CuO(2) spin chain compounds.

Immunostimulatory effects of collagen from jellyfish in vivo.

We focused on the biological activity of the collagen extracts obtained from the giant edible jellyfish, Nemopilema nomurai. Jellyfish collagen extracts stimulates the production of immunoglobulins (Igs) and cytokines by human hybridoma cells and human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Therefore, we examined the immunoregulatory function of jellyfish collagen extracts in mice.

Photochromism-based detection of volatile organic compounds by W-doped TiO2 nanofibers.

W-doped TiO(2) nanofibers with various compositions (W/Ti: 2-8%) were fabricated by the electrospinning method from respective precursor solutions containing tungsten(V) pentaethoxide, titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), followed with calcination at 550 °C. Morphological and structural characteristics of these nanofibers were studied with SEM, XRD and XPS. W-doping inhibited the crystal growth and anatase-to-rutile transformation of TiO(2) nanofibers.

αvβ3-Integrin-targeting lanthanide complex: synthesis and evaluation as a tumor-homing luminescent probe.

The application of lanthanide complexes in the time-resolved fluorescence imaging of living cells has emerged in the last few decades, providing high-contrast images of cells through detection of the delayed emission. In the present study, we synthesized novel trivalent lanthanide complexes containing the cyclic peptide c(RGDfK) to visualize the α(v)β(3)-integrin-expressing tumor cells. Conjugation of c(RGDfK) with the macrocyclic bipyridine ligand had little effect on the fluorescence properties of the complex, indicating that the coordinated lanthanide ion was well isolated from the peptide.

Immunomodulatory effect of (--)-matairesinol in vivo and ex vivo.

Matairesinol is one of the lignan compounds found in a variety of plant foodstuffs. We investigated the immunomodulatory effects of (-)-matairesinol in vivo and ex vivo by using mice. Although we found no significant differences in the IgG, IgA and IgM levels in the serum, the IgE level was strongly suppressed by the uptake of (-)-matairesinol in both intact and ovalbumin-immunized mice.

Immunostimulation effects of yellowtail heart extracts in vitro and in vivo.

The immunostimulation effects of yellowtail heart extracts were examined. Screening various parts of the yellowtail viscera, we found that extracts from the yellowtail heart enhanced IgM production by human hybridoma HB4C5 cells. Yellowtail heart extracts heated at 121°C for 20 min and dialyzed showed the highest IgM production-stimulating activity toward HB4C5 cells.

Inhibition of myotube formation by paraquat in the myoblast cell line C2C12.

Paraquat (PQ) is one of the most frequently used pesticides in worldwide. In most countries, PQ is used without restrictions. To investigate the effect of PQ on myogenesis, cultures of C2C12, a useful model to study differentiation of myoblasts into myotubes, were exposed to various concentrations of PQ.

Bfr1p is responsible for tributyltin resistance in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter plays an important role for resistance against xenobiotics. There are eleven ABC transporter genes in the genome of fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We examined the role of ABC transporter against the toxicity of tributyltin chloride (TBT), a widespread environmental pollutant, in cell growth.

Anthraquinone-sensitized photooxidation of 5-methylcytosine in DNA leading to piperidine-induced efficient strand cleavage.

One-electron photooxidations of 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine (d(m)C) and 5-trideuteriomethyl-2'-deoxycytidine ([D(3)]d(m)C) by sensitization with anthraquinone (AQ) derivatives were investigated. Photoirradiation of an aerated aqueous solution containing d(m)C and anthraquinone 2-sulfonate (AQS) afforded 5-formyl-2'-deoxycytidine (d(f)C) and 5-hydroxymethyl-2'-deoxycytidine (d(hm)C) in good yield through an initial one-electron oxidation process. The deuterium isotope effect on the AQS-sensitized photooxidation of d(m)C suggests that the rate-determining step in the photosensitized oxidation of d(m)C involves internal transfer of the C5-hydrogen atom of a d(m)C-tetroxide intermediate to produce d(f)C and d(hm)C.

Immunostimulatory in vitro and in vivo effects of a water-soluble extract from kale.

The water-soluble fraction of kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala DC.

(13)C-labeled indolequinone-DTPA-Gd conjugate for NMR probing cytochrome:P450 reductase-mediated one-electron reduction.

We designed and synthesized a new class of (13)C-labeled NMR probe, (13)C-IQ-Gd, to monitor one-electron reductions by cytochrome:P450 (CYP450) reductase under hypoxic conditions. (13)C-IQ-Gd consisted of a Gd(3+)-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) complex unit and an indolequinone ((13)C-IQ) unit bearing a (13)C-labeled methoxy group. The (13)C NMR signal of (13)C-IQ-Gd was suppressed because of the intramolecular paramagnetic effect of Gd(3+), whereas enzymatic reduction mediated by CYP450 reductase under hypoxic conditions yielded an intensed (13)C NMR signal due to enzymatic activation of the IQ unit followed by release of the DTPA-Gd unit from (13)C-IQ-Gd.

A case of blastomycosis-like pyoderma caused by mixed infection of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Trichophyton rubrum.

Blastomycosis-like pyoderma (BLP) is a type of chronic pyoderma characterized histologically by specific epidermal changes namely: pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia and intraepithelial abscesses. These epidermal changes are also seen in blastomycosis (referred to as deep dermatophytosis in North America). Here, we describe the case of a 53-year-old male with prurigo nodularis, diabetes, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia who presented with multiple yellowish-red colored papules that coalesced to form a vegetating plaque.

The secreted integrin ligand nephronectin is necessary for forelimb formation in Xenopus tropicalis.

While limb regeneration has been extensively studied in amphibians, little is known about the initial events in limb formation in metamorphosing anurans. The small secreted integrin ligand nephronectin (npnt) is necessary for development of the metanephros in mouse. Although expressed in many tissues, its role in other developmental processes is not well-studied.

Metal-insulator transition of fermions on a kagome lattice at 1/3 filling.

We discuss the metal-insulator transition of the spinless fermion model on a kagome lattice at 1/3 filling. The system is analyzed by using exact diagonalization, density-matrix renormalization group methods, and random-phase approximation. In the strong-coupling region, the charge-ordered ground state is consistent with the predictions of an effective model, i.

Radiolytic cyclization of stem-and-loop structured oligodeoxynucleotide with neighboring arrangement of α,ω-bis-disulfides.

Upon X-ray irradiation of hypoxic aqueous solution, modified oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) bearing a pair of disulfides at both ends of the strand that forms a stem-and-loop structure with a neighboring arrangement of α,ω-bis-disulfides underwent efficient cyclization via an intramolecular exchange reaction at the disulfide moieties with a multiple turnover process. Mechanistic studies revealed that hydrogen atoms generated in the radiolysis of water are key active species initiating a chain reaction to produce cyclic ODN disulfides, in which addition of hydrogen atom results in dissociation of the original disulfide bond to generate a thiyl radical intermediate as the chain carrier for the succeeding disulfide exchange into cyclization. The properties were also assessed for the resultant cyclic ODN disulfide that has several favorable features for use in the transcriptional decoy strategy.

Monitoring of duplex and triplex formation by 19F NMR using oligodeoxynucleotides possessing 5-fluorodeoxyuridine unit as 19F signal transmitter.

We prepared oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) possessing a 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (5-FU) unit as a 19F-signal transmitter, and characterized their structures including single strand, duplex, and triplex using 19F NMR. The change in chemical shift induced by incorporation of 5-FU into the ODNs and the formation of higher order structures allowed monitoring of structural changes. Data from UV melting experiments and CD spectra were consistent with the spectral changes in the NMR studies.

Encoding and decoding in fMRI.

Over the past decade fMRI researchers have developed increasingly sensitive techniques for analyzing the information represented in BOLD activity. The most popular of these techniques is linear classification, a simple technique for decoding information about experimental stimuli or tasks from patterns of activity across an array of voxels. A more recent development is the voxel-based encoding model, which describes the information about the stimulus or task that is represented in the activity of single voxels.

Proteose peptone fraction of bovine milk depressed IgE production in vitro and in vivo.

Proteose peptone (PP) is a heat-stable and acid-soluble protein in milk whey. We reveal in this study the IgE production-suppressing activity of the PP fraction in bovine milk. The PP fraction suppressed IgE production by human myeloma cell line U266 cells by depressing the IgE mRNA expression.

Oral administration of paraquat perturbs immunoglobulin productivity in mouse.

Paraquat is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world and has been known to injure lungs, liver and skin in animals and human. Hence, it is important to understand the manner of paraquat in mammals. We studied the effect of paraquat on the immune function of mouse in vitro and in vivo.

A chitosan/beta-glycerophosphate thermo-sensitive gel for the delivery of ellagic acid for the treatment of brain cancer.

We report here the development of a chitosan/beta-glycerophosphate(Ch/beta-GP) thermo-sensitive gel to deliver ellagic acid (EA) for cancer treatment. The properties of the Ch/beta-GP gels were characterized regarding chemical structure, surface morphology, and viscoelasticity. In vitro EA release rate from the EA loaded Ch/beta-GP gel and chitosan degradation rate were investigated.

Uterine artery flow velocity waveforms during uterine contractions: differences between oxytocin-induced contractions and spontaneous labor contractions.

Aim: To clarify the effects on uterine arterial flow velocity waveforms of uterine contractions following oxytocin infusion and during spontaneous labor.

Methods: Uterine arterial flow velocity waveforms were obtained by pulsed Doppler methods from 22 women during an oxytocin challenge test (OCT), 26 women during oxytocin-induced labor, and 40 women during spontaneous labor. Mean resistance index (RI) for bilateral arteries was used for analyses.

Monitoring of biological one-electron reduction by (19)F NMR using hypoxia selective activation of an (19)F-labeled indolequinone derivative.

Biological reduction of fluorine-labeled indolequinone derivative (IQ-F) was characterized by (19)F NMR for quantitative molecular understanding. The chemical shift change in (19)F NMR allowed monitoring of the enzymatic reduction of IQ-F. Upon hypoxic treatment of IQ-F with NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase, IQ-F was activated via catalytic one-electron reduction to release nonafluoro-tert-butyl alcohol (F-OH), while the formation of F-OH was significantly suppressed under aerobic conditions.

Tributyltin induces Yca1p-dependent cell death of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Tributyltin chloride (TBT), an environmental pollutant, is toxic to a variety of eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. Although it has been reported that TBT induces apoptotic cell death in mammalian, the action of TBT on eukaryotic microorganisms has not yet been fully investigated. In this study we examined the mechanism involved in cell death caused by TBT exposure in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.