Radio frequency magnetic field effects on molecular dynamics and iron uptake in cage proteins.

The protein ferritin has a natural ferrihydrite nanoparticle that is superparamagnetic at room temperature. For native horse spleen ferritin, we measure the low field magnetic susceptibility of the nanoparticle as 2.2 x 10(-6) m(3) kg(-1) and its Néel relaxation time at about 10(-10) s.

[Questionnaire on sexual quality of life in aging couples].

A questionnaire study was conducted on sexual life such as intercourse frequency, libido and erectile function and degree of satisfaction of sexual life in aging couples. Half of them had sexual intercourse and satisfaction of life. According to multivariate analysis using stiffness of penis at erection, erection maintained, and difficulty of maintenance of erection state, there was a significant relationship between satisfaction of sexual life and frequency of erection maintained or difficulty of maintenance of erection state, and also between confidence on erection and difficulty of maintenance of erection state.

Influence of glucose and inflammatory cytokines on TGF-beta1 and CTGF mRNA expressions in human peritoneal mesothelial cells.

Peritoneal fibrosis is a major complication of long-term continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) treatment. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has been reported to play an important role in the fibrosis of various tissues by stimulating connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression. In order to elucidate the mechanism of CAPD-related peritoneal fibrosis, we studied the influence of high glucose concentrations and inflammatory cytokines on mRNA expressions of TGF-beta and CTGF in cultured human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC).

Decreased sulfotransferase SULT1C2 gene expression in DPT-induced polycystic kidney.

Background: The pathogenesis of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) remains unclear despite the identification of the genes responsible for hereditary PKD. In this study, we investigated the alteration of gene expressions in an acquired PKD model induced by 2-amino-4,5-diphenylthiazole (DPT) using the differential display method.

Methods: Kidney mRNA from a Sprague-Dawley rat fed with 1% DPT for 4 days and from a control rat was compared by the RT-PCR differential display method.