PAF responsiveness in Japanese subjects with plasma PAF acetylhydrolase deficiency.

Approximately 4% of the Japanese population genetically lack plasma platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) and show a higher prevalence of thromboembolic disease, but whether they are susceptible to another PAF-related disease, asthma, remains controversial. To determine the role of plasma PAF-AH in airway physiology, we performed PAF bronchoprovocation tests in 8 plasma PAF-AH-deficient subjects and 16 control subjects. Serial inhalation of PAF (1-1000 microg/ml) concentration-dependently induced acute bronchoconstriction, but there was no significant difference between PAF-AH-deficient and control subjects (11.

Acute nephrotoxicity of aristolochic acids in mice.

Aristolochic acids (AA), present in Aristolochia plants, are the toxin responsible for Chinese herbs nephropathy (CHN), a rapidly progressive tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN). To clarify the mechanisms of the development of CHN, we tried to induce TIN in mice using AA. Three strains of inbred mice, BALB/c, C3H/He and C57BL/6, received 2.

Fluorescent in situ hybridization to ascidian chromosomes.

The draft genome of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis has been sequenced. Mapping of the genome sequence to the Ciona 14 haploid chromosomes is essential for future studies of the genome-wide control of gene expression in this basal chordate. Here we describe an efficient protocol for fluorescent in situ hybridization for mapping genes to the Ciona chromosomes.

A zinc finger transcription factor, ZicL, is a direct activator of Brachyury in the notochord specification of Ciona intestinalis.

In ascidian embryos, Brachyury is expressed exclusively in blastomeres of the notochord lineage and play an essential role in the notochord cell differentiation. The genetic cascade leading to the transcriptional activation of Brachyury in A-line notochord cells of Ciona embryos begins with maternally provided beta-catenin, which is essential for endodermal cell specification. beta-catenin directly activates zygotic expression of a forkhead transcription factor gene, FoxD, at the 16-cell stage, which in turn somehow activates a zinc finger transcription factor gene, ZicL, at the 32-cell stage, and then Brachyury at the 64-cell stage.

Effect of zaprinast on nitric oxide levels in serum and aortic tissue.

Nitric oxide (NO), which is synthesized from the guanidino nitrogen of l-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS), plays an important role in many physiological and pathological processes. Most of the effects of NO are mediated by cyclic guanosine 3'5 monophosphate (cGMP), which is synthesized by soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and degraded by phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Although the NO/cGMP pathway has been extensively studied, remarkably little is known about the regulation of NO release.

Genetic relatedness and variability in inbred and wild populations of the solitary ascidian Ciona intestinalis revealed by arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction.

As the first step in the establishment of inbred Ciona intestinalis strains, the genetic backgrounds of several local populations were evaluated on the basis of comparing 313 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) loci. Cluster analyses of individuals indicated that this species has local genetic characteristics, although various genetic distances among the populations were relatively low. The bulked RAPD analyses revealed that populations from Torihama and from Onagawa were the most distantly related among the 7 populations examined, suggesting that these two populations are the best candidates for outbreeding.

The evolutionary origin of animal cellulose synthase.

Urochordates are the only animals that produce cellulose, a polysaccharide existing primarily in the extracellular matrices of plant, algal, and bacterial cells. Here we report a Ciona intestinalis homolog of cellulose synthase, which is the core catalytic subunit of multi-enzyme complexes where cellulose biosynthesis occurs. The Ciona cellulose synthase gene, Ci-CesA, is a fusion of a cellulose synthase domain and a cellulase (cellulose-hydrolyzing enzyme) domain.

Cytoplasmic expression of EGFP in dendritic cells transfected with in vitro transcribed mRNA or cellular total RNA extracted from EGFP expressing leukemia cells.

The present study was designed for identifying the protein synthesis in cytoplasm of dendritic cells transfected with in vitro transcribed mRNA and cellular total RNA extracted from tumor cells. Dendritic cells were generated from cord blood-CD34+ cells by culture with GM-CSF, SCF, and TNF-alpha, or from peripheral blood adherent cells or CD14+ cells by culture with GM-CSF and IL-4. Dendritic cells were transfected with in vitro transcribed EGFP mRNA or cellular total RNA, which was isolated from EGFP expressing K562, by electroporation using a square-wave pulse.

[Preparation of a manual treatment of pressure ulcers which draws attention to moisture of the affected part].

As for pressure ulcers care, prevention is the most important approach. However, pressure ulcers, might develop despite enough care, depending on each person's physical condition. As for the treatment of pressure ulcers, maintenance of a moderately moist environment (60-70%) is quite important.

Complete sequencing and characterization of 21,243 full-length human cDNAs.

As a base for human transcriptome and functional genomics, we created the "full-length long Japan" (FLJ) collection of sequenced human cDNAs. We determined the entire sequence of 21,243 selected clones and found that 14,490 cDNAs (10,897 clusters) were unique to the FLJ collection. About half of them (5,416) seemed to be protein-coding.

Selective inhibitors of membrane-bound semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) activity in mammalian tissues.

Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO, EC 1.4.3.

Monoamine oxidase and head-twitch response in mice. Mechanisms of alpha-methylated substrate derivatives.

It is well known that head-twitch response (HTR) in mice represents hallucinations, since administration of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) produces hallucinations in humans, and the HTR in mice is induced by administration of LSD as a hallucinogen. The HTR is produced by excitation of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)2A receptors. In this paper, we review the mechanisms of HTR induced by various drugs such as 5-HT precursor, 5-HT receptor agonist, 5-HT releaser, hallucinogenic compounds, benzodiazepins and cannabinoid.

Identification and sequence of seventy-nine new transcripts expressed in hemocytes of Ciona intestinalis, three of which may be involved in characteristic cell-cell communication.

Ascidian is a useful experimental animal for studying body planning principles and host defense mechanisms employed by the phylum chordata. Toward this goal, genome and cDNA/EST projects of Ciona intestinalis have been undertaken. Using cDNAs and ESTs derived from Ciona hemocytes, we identified 79 possible hemocyte-preferential transcripts and determined the cDNA sequence of each clone.

Morpholino-based gene knockdown screen of novel genes with developmental function in Ciona intestinalis.

In the present study, we conducted an extensive analysis to identify novel genes with developmental function among Ciona intestinalis genes discovered by cDNA projects. Translation of a total of 200 genes expressed during embryogenesis was suppressed by using specific morpholino antisense oligonucleotides. Suppression of the translation of any of 40 genes (one-fifth of the genes tested) was thereby shown to cause specific embryonic defects.

Regulation of ascidian Rel by its alternative splice variant.

The Rel/NF-kappaB family of transcription factors play key roles in morphogenesis and immune responses. We reported previously that As-rel1 and As-rel2 of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi are involved in notochord formation. The As-rel1 protein is a typical Rel/NF-kappaB family member, whereas the As-rel2 protein is a novel truncated product of As-rel1 that lacks a nuclear localization signal and the unique C-terminal region.

Construction of a cDNA microarray derived from the ascidian Ciona intestinalis.

A cDNA microarray was constructed from a basal chordate, the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. The draft genome of Ciona has been read and inferred to contain approximately 16,000 protein-coding genes, and cDNAs for transcripts of 13,464 genes have been characterized and compiled as the "Ciona intestinalis Gene Collection Release I". In the present study, we constructed a cDNA microarray of these 13,464 Ciona genes.

Genomic analysis of immunity in a Urochordate and the emergence of the vertebrate immune system: "waiting for Godot".

Genome-wide sequence analysis in the invertebrate chordate, Ciona intestinalis, has provided a comprehensive picture of immune-related genes in an organism that occupies a key phylogenetic position in vertebrate evolution. The pivotal genes for adaptive immunity, such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II genes, T-cell receptors, or dimeric immunoglobulin molecules, have not been identified in the Ciona genome. Many genes involved in innate immunity have been identified, including complement components, Toll-like receptors, and the genes involved in intracellular signal transduction of immune responses, and show both expansion and unexpected diversity in comparison with the vertebrates.

Influence of internal structures of hair fiber on hair appearance. III. Generation of light-scattering factors in hair cuticles and the influence on hair shine.

The effects of thermal treatments on hair fiber induced by blow-drying have been investigated. It was found that the hair shows whitish and powdery appearance after heat drying, especially when dark hair is rapidly dried from a wet condition. For all kinds of hair, the appearance of numerous glittering speckles was confirmed on the cuticle surface by optical microscopic observations.

Region specific gene expressions in the central nervous system of the ascidian embryo.

The vertebrate brain is regionalized during development into forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain. Fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) is expressed in the midbrain/hindbrain boundary (MHB) and functions as an organizer molecule. Previous studies demonstrated that the brain of basal chordates or ascidians is also regionalized at least into fore/midbrain and hindbrain.

Rupture of the descending thoracic aorta caused by blunt chest trauma: report of a case.

A 66-year-old man fell from a tree and was diagnosed to have multiple fractured ribs and hemopneumothorax based upon the chest roentgenogram findings. He underwent chest tube drainage and evacuation using video-assisted thoracic surgery. One week after the operation, he exhibited recurrent hemothorax.

Quantitation of bovine macrophage colony-stimulating factor in bovine serum by ELISA.

We established an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system for the quantitation of bovine macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and used it to measure the serum M-CSF levels in bovine fetuses and calves. The average serum M-CSF level was 2.7+/-1.

Effects of MCC-135 on Ca2+ uptake by sarcoplasmic reticulum and myofilament sensitivity to Ca2+ in isolated ventricular muscles of rats with diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is characterized by delayed cardiac relaxation. Delayed relaxation is suggested to be associated with sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) dysfunction and/or increase in myofilament sensitivity to Ca2+. Although MCC-135, an intracellular Ca2+-handling modulator, accelerates the delayed relaxation without inotropic effect in the ventricular muscle isolated from rats with diabetic cardiomyopathy, the underlying mechanism has not been fully understood.

Possible impact of nitric oxide on the antihypertensive effect of captopril and zaprinast.

The interaction between the renin-angiotensin system and nitric oxide (NO) is undeniable, but its nature is not fully known. This study investigated the contribution of NO to the acute hypotensive effect of captopril in conscious normotensive rats and the effect on blood pressure of dual administration of captopril and the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor zaprinast. In two separate experiments, rats were pretreated with the NO inhibitor L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and with the NO enhancer zaprinast.

Novel endostyle-specific genes in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis.

The endostyle is a pharyngeal organ of Urochordata, Cephalochordata and larval Cyclostomata. This organ secretes mucus-proteins for internal filter feeding, a feeding system that must have developed in the common ancestor of these subphyla. Therefore, the endostyle is a key structure to understanding the origin and evolution of chordates.

Expression of muscle-related genes and two MyoD genes during amphioxus notochord development.

The notochord is one of the diagnostic features of the phylum Chordata. Despite the similarities in the early morphogenetic patterns of the notochords of various chordates, they are strikingly distinct from one another at the histological level. The amphioxus notochord is one example of an evolutionary novelty because it is made up of muscle cells.