Association between central systolic blood pressure, white matter lesions in cerebral MRI and carotid atherosclerosis.

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) observed on cerebral magnetic resonance images (MRIs) are associated with age and hypertension, suggesting a vascular mechanism of pathogenesis. Central systolic blood pressure (cSBP) correlates more closely with measures of cardiovascular disease risk than brachial pressure. We sought to determine whether cSBP correlates with WMHs and if cSBP is predictive of cerebrovascular disease.

Diagonal ear-lobe crease is correlated with atherosclerotic changes in carotid arteries.

Background: The diagonal ear-lobe crease (ELC) is reported to be a marker of cardiovascular disease. Very few reports have assessed the relationship of ELC with atherosclerosis. This relationship is investigated here using a Japanese population.

[Adult onset Alexander disease with a novel variant (S398F) in the glial fibrillary acidic protein gene].

We report a 58-year-old woman with adult onset Alexander disease. At the age of 54 she noticed numbness in bilateral legs and at 57 she developed left sided spastic gait. Her walking difficulty was gradually worsened and followed by the development of weakness in left arm, dysarthria and dysphagia.

Enhanced excitability of the corticospinal pathway of the ankle extensor and flexor muscles during standing in humans.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the recruitment properties of the corticospinal pathway are modulated in the soleus (SOL) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles depending on postures. A wide range of stimulus intensities were applied via transcranial magnetic stimulation over the primary motor cortex during standing (STD) and sitting (SIT) with a comparable background activity level in each muscle. The relationship between the stimulation intensities and the size of motor-evoked potentials was assessed by the Boltzmann sigmoid function, which is characterized by a plateau value, maximum slope, and threshold.

Cardenolide glycosides of Thevetia peruviana and triterpenoid saponins of Sapindus emarginatus as TRAIL resistance-overcoming compounds.

A screening study for TRAIL resistance-overcoming activity was carried out, and activity-guided fractionations of Thevetia peruviana and Sapindus emarginatus led to the isolation of four cardenolide glycosides (1-4) and four triterpenoid saponins (5-8), respectively. In particular, cardenolide glycosides (1 and 2) from T. peruviana were shown to have a significant reversal effect on TRAIL resistance in human gastric adenocarcinoma cells, and real-time PCR showed that thevefolin (2) enhanced mRNA expression of death receptor 4 (DR4) and DR5.

Carrier PNA for shRNA delivery into cells.

A peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) conjugate (carrier PNA) was used as 'bridge-builder' to connect a CPP with an shRNA. The carrier PNA successfully formed a hybrid with an shRNA bearing complementary dangling bases and the shRNA was introduced into cells by the carrier PNA, and RNAi was induced by the shRNA.

Tapping performance and underlying wrist muscle activity of non-drummers, drummers, and the world's fastest drummer.

Studies of rapid unimanual tapping have assumed that the human rate limit for voluntary rhythmic movement is 5-7 Hz, which corresponds to an inter-tap interval (ITI) of 150-200ms. In fact, the winner of a recent contest to find the world's fastest drummer (WFD) can perform such movements using a handheld drumstick at 10 Hz, which corresponds to an ITI of 100 ms. Because the contest measured only the number of taps by the WFD, we examined the stability of the ITI and the underlying wrist muscle activity of the WFD.

A protease inhibitor discovery method using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy with position-specific labeled protein substrates.

We developed novel substrates for protease activity evaluation by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS). Substrates were labeled in a position-specific manner with a fluorophore near the N terminus and included a C-terminal, 30 kDa, highly soluble protein (elongation factor Ts [EF-Ts]). The C-terminal protein enhanced the substrate peptide solubility and increased the molecular weight, enabling sensitive detection by FCS.

Cellular siRNA delivery using cell-penetrating peptides modified for endosomal escape.

RNAi-mediated silencing of specific genes is a promising strategy for gene therapy. To utilize RNAi for therapy, an efficient and safe method for delivery of RNA into the cell cytosol is necessary. The plasma membrane is the primary, and most difficult, barrier for RNA to cross, because negatively charged RNA is strongly repulsed by the negatively charged membrane.

Spatial regulation of specific gene expression through photoactivation of RNAi.

In this study we describe the spatial regulation of RNA interference (RNAi) using an RNA-carrier protein labeled with a fluorescent dye and a light source to trigger the RNAi. We demonstrate photo-dependent gene silencing using several dyes with different excitation wavelengths. Additionally, we use light from a halogen lamp and a photomask to produce photopatterned RNAi, and laser light to trigger single-cell RNAi on cell culture plates.

Broad usage spectrum of G protein-coupled receptors as coreceptors by primary isolates of HIV.

Objective: HIV-1 can use various G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in addition to CCR5 and CXCR4 as coreceptors; however, this type of HIV-1 infection has hardly been detected in vivo. The objective of this study was to elucidate the spectrum of GPCR usage by HIV-1 populations in vivo.

Design: CD4-expressing glioma cell line, NP-2/CD4, becomes highly susceptible to HIV-1 when the cells express GPCRs with coreceptor activities.

Age-related changes of the stretch reflex excitability in human ankle muscles.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the effects of aging on the stretch reflex in the ankle muscles, and in particular to compare the effects on the ankle dorsi-flexor (tibialis anterior: TA) and the plantar-flexor (soleus: SOL). Stretch reflex responses were elicited in the TA and SOL at rest and during weak voluntary contractions in 20 elderly and 23 young volunteers. The results indicated that, in the TA muscle, the elderly group had a remarkably larger long-latency reflex (LLR), whereas no aging effect was found in the short latency reflex (SLR).

Structure of new monoterpene glycoside from Sibiraea angustata RCHD. and its anti-obestic effect.

A new monoterpene glycoside (1) isolated from the aerial part of Sibirae angustata RCHD. (Rosaceae) was found to be 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-geraniol-5,10-olide and named as sibiskoside. Acute toxicity study revealed that oral administration of 1 (2.

Cadinane sesquiterpenes from Curcuma parviflora.

Two new cadinane sesquiterpenes (1 and 2) were isolated from Curcuma parviflora, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data. Compound 1, 4alpha-acetoxycadina-2,9-diene-1,8-dione, possesses two conjugated enone chromophores, while compound 2, 1alpha,3alpha,4beta-trihydroxy-9-cadinen-8-one, has an enone moiety with three hydroxy groups. Isolation of these cadinane monomers may reasonably suggest that parviflorenes are biogenetically classified as cadinane dimers.

Chemical synthesis and properties of 5-taurinomethyluridine and 5-taurinomethyl-2-thiouridine.

Unique taurine-containing uridine derivatives, 5-taurinomethyluridine (tau m5U) and 5-taurinomethyl-2-thiouridine (tau m5s2U), which were discovered in mammalian mitochondrial tRNAs, exist at the first position of the anticodon. In this paper, we report the first efficient synthesis of tau m5U and tau m5s2U and describe their physicochemical properties. These modified ribonucleosides were synthesized by the reaction of 5-substituted uridine derivatives with a tetrabutylammonium salt of taurine that is highly reactive and well-soluble in common organic solvents.

Development of a rapid source preparation method for high-resolution alpha-particle spectrometry.

In order to prepare sources of short-lived actinides for alpha-particle spectrometry, a coprecipitation method with Sm hydroxide was developed. The preparation procedure can be completed within 5 min with a high chemical yield of over 90%. It was found that the uniformity of the produced sources was sufficient to provide a high resolution of better than 20 keV.

Death receptor 5 targeting activity-guided isolation of isoflavones from Millettia brandisiana and Ardisia colorata and evaluation of ability to induce TRAIL-mediated apoptosis.

Death receptor 5 (DR5) is an apoptosis-inducing membrane receptor for TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). On screening for compounds that enhance DR5 expression using a luciferase assay with DLD-1/SacI, we previously identified 4'-demethyltoxicarol isoflavone (1) isolated from the leaves of Millettia brandisiana. In this study, we revealed that 1 sensitized TRAIL-resistant human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by up-regulating the expression of DR5.

New Wnt/beta-catenin signaling inhibitors isolated from Eleutherine palmifolia.

Aberrant Wnt/beta-catenin signaling has recently been implicated in tumorigenesis. On the basis of our screening program targeting inhibition of TCF/beta-catenin transcriptional activity, a plant extract of Eleutherine palmifolia was selected as a hit sample. Activity-guided fractionations led to the isolation of 15 naphthalene derivatives (1-15), including 4 new glucosides, eleutherinosides B-E (1-4), and 10 of the 15 compounds showed strong activities with high viability among 293T cells.

Investigation of production of the therapeutic radioisotope 165 Er by proton induced reactions on erbium in comparison with other production routes.

The excitation function of the (nat)Er(p,xn)(165)Tm reaction resulting in production of (165)Er was measured up to 70 MeV by activation of stacked foils practically for the first time. The theoretical interpretation is based on the results of the ALICE-IPPE and EMPIRE-II codes. From the measured experimental cross section data integral production yield was calculated and compared with experimental integral yield data reported in the literature.

Tyrosine derivatives isolated from Streptomyces sp. IFM 10937 in a screening program for TRAIL-resistance-overcoming activity.

Exploration of actinomycetes for isolation of natural products for abrogating TRAIL resistance led to the isolation of two new tyrosine derivatives (1 and 2) along with novobiocin (3). The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by spectroscopic methods, while the absolute configuration was determined by analyzing CD spectra and by a modified Marfey's method. Compounds 1 (150 μM) and 3 (37.

Exploring the mechanism of skilled overarm throwing.

Although the kinematics and dynamics of overarm throws, such as baseball pitching, have been studied extensively, the relations between these measures remain largely unknown. This review uses a three-dimensional analysis to characterize the mechanical basis of skilled overarm throws by focusing on how each joint angular acceleration is produced by the muscle torques, gravity torques, and velocity-dependent torques.

Isolation of small RNAs using biotinylated PNAs.

In this study, an RNA isolation method was developed using a biotinylated peptide nucleic acid (PNA) that is complementary to the target RNA. Using the biotinylated PNA method, we successfully isolated several RNAs from Escherichia coli and from human total RNA in pure form. Damage to the RNA appears to be negligible by this method because the method is rapid and does not require a high temperature treatment to facilitate RNA-PNA binding.