Effects of Repeated Kurort Health Walking on Blood Pressure and Mental Health.

Background: The German word "kurort" means cure (kur) and area (ort), whereby a patient's health improves through walking in areas full of nature. A single session of kurort health walking (kurort) decreased high blood pressure and improved mental health. However, its continuing effect with repeat sessions remains unclear.

Evaluation of the Effects of Solvents Used in the Fabrication of Microfluidic Devices on Cell Cultures.

Microfluidic microphysiological systems (MPSs) or "organs-on-a-chip" are a promising alternative to animal models for drug screening and toxicology tests. However, most microfluidic devices employ polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the structural material; and this has several drawbacks. Cyclo-olefin polymers (COPs) are more advantageous than PDMS and other thermoplastic materials because of their low drug absorption and autofluorescence.

Frequency of Treponema pallidum invasion into cerebrospinal fluid in primary or secondary early-stage syphilis.

Frequency of Treponema pallidum invasion into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has not been clear at this present. Since it is impossible to culture T. pallidum in vitro at this present, we need molecular based-approach to detect it in CSF.

Relationship of aging and nutritional status to innate immunity in tube-fed bedridden patients.

Background And Objectives: Aging and malnutrition are known to influence immune functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of aging and malnutrition to innate immune functions in tube-fed bedridden patients.

Methods And Study Design: A cross-sectional survey was performed in 71 tube-fed bedridden patients aged 50-95 years (mean age±SD, 80.

Real-time analysis of the circadian oscillation of the Rev-Erb β promoter.

Aim: Rev-Erb β gene plays crucial roles in circadian rhythm, lipid and glucose metabolism, and several diseases. The molecular mechanisms of the transcriptional regulation of Rev-Erb β that generate and determine the phase of the circadian oscillation remain unclear.

Methods: We analyzed the Rev-Erb β promoter by luciferase reporter assays, real-time bioluminescence monitoring assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assays.

Long-term enteral immunonutrition containing lactoferrin in tube-fed bedridden patients: immunological and nutritional status.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of a novel immune-enhancing enteral formula, Prem-8, which contains lactoferrin as an immunonutrient.

Design, Setting, Patients: A multicenter, randomized controlled trial was conducted in 5 hospitals in Japan, and 71 tube-fed bedridden patients with serum albumin concentrations between 2.5 and 3.

Comparative phenotypic analysis of the two major splice isoforms of phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase type Iγ in vivo.

Localized production of polyphosphoinositides is critical for their signaling function. To examine the biological relevance of specific pools of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate we compared the consequences of genetically ablating all isoforms of phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PIP) kinase type Iγ (PIPKIγ), encoded by the gene Pip5k1c, versus ablation of a specific splice isoform, PIPKIγ_i2, with respect to three reported PIPKIγ functions. Ablation of PIPKIγ_i2 caused a neuron-specific endocytosis defect similar to that found in PIPKIγ(-/-) mice, while agonist-induced calcium signaling was reduced in PIPKIγ(-/-) cells, but was not affected in the absence of PIPKIγ_i2.

Factors contributing to the overall survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated by sorafenib.

Background/aims: In both SHARP and Asia-Pacific Study, sorafenib was proved to improve the overall survival of the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. However, factors contributing to the improvement of overall survival of the patients treated by sorafenib have not been fully evaluated. In this study, patient-derived, background liver disease-derived and tumor-derived factors before treatment were evaluated whether they have contributed to the improvement of the overall survival.

The signaling pathway of Campylobacter jejuni-induced Cdc42 activation: Role of fibronectin, integrin beta1, tyrosine kinases and guanine exchange factor Vav2.

Background: Host cell invasion by the foodborne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni is considered as one of the primary reasons of gut tissue damage, however, mechanisms and key factors involved in this process are widely unclear. It was reported that small Rho GTPases, including Cdc42, are activated and play a role during invasion, but the involved signaling cascades remained unknown. Here we utilised knockout cell lines derived from fibronectin-/-, integrin-beta1-/-, focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-/- and Src/Yes/Fyn-/- deficient mice, and wild-type control cells, to investigate C.

Integrin adhesion and force coupling are independently regulated by localized PtdIns(4,5)2 synthesis.

The 90-kDa isoform of the lipid kinase PIP kinase Type I γ (PIPKIγ) localizes to focal adhesions (FAs), where it provides a local source of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P(2)). Although PtdIns(4,5)P(2) regulates the function of several FA-associated molecules, the role of the FA-specific pool of PtdIns(4,5)P(2) is not known. We report that the genetic ablation of PIPKIγ specifically from FAs results in defective integrin-mediated adhesion and force coupling.

Integrin-dependent and -independent functions of astrocytic fibronectin in retinal angiogenesis.

Fibronectin (FN) is a major component of the extracellular matrix and functions in cell adhesion, cell spreading and cell migration. In the retina, FN is transiently expressed and assembled on astrocytes (ACs), which guide sprouting tip cells and deposit a provisional matrix for sprouting angiogenesis. The precise function of FN in retinal angiogenesis is largely unknown.

Major host factors involved in epithelial cell invasion of Campylobacter jejuni: role of fibronectin, integrin beta1, FAK, Tiam-1, and DOCK180 in activating Rho GTPase Rac1.

Host cell entry by the food-borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni has been reported as one of the primary reasons of tissue damage in infected humans, however, molecular invasion mechanisms and cellular factors involved in this process are widely unclear. Here we used knockout cell lines derived from fibronectin(-/-), integrin beta1(-/-), and focal adhesion kinase (FAK)(-/-) deficient mice and corresponding wild-type (WT) controls, to study C. jejuni-induced signaling cascades involved in the bacterial invasion process.

A small fibronectin-mimicking protein from bacteria induces cell spreading and focal adhesion formation.

Fibronectin, a 250-kDa eukaryotic extracellular matrix protein containing an RGD motif plays crucial roles in cell-cell communication, development, tissue homeostasis, and disease development. The highly complex fibrillar fibronectin meshwork orchestrates the functions of other extracellular matrix proteins, promoting cell adhesion, migration, and intracellular signaling. Here, we demonstrate that CagL, a 26-kDa protein of the gastric pathogen and type I carcinogen Helicobacter pylori, mimics fibronectin in various cellular functions.

A promoter in the novel exon of hPPARgamma directs the circadian expression of PPARgamma.

Aim: PPARgamma (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors that regulate the expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism. Herein, we show that expression levels of the novel PPARgamma transcript exhibit circadian oscillation. To study the mechanisms controlling PPARgamma expression, a novel PPARgamma gene promoter was cloned and characterized.

Activating effect of momordin, extract of bitter melon (Momordica Charantia L.), on the promoter of human PPARdelta.

Aim: Bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) is a common vegetable grown in Okinawa that has also been used recently in medicine for the treatment of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Among Bitter melon extracts compounds, we focused on an extract known as momordin in the present study, to examine its effect on peroxisome-proliferator activated-receptor (PPAR) delta (also called PPARdelta in rodents) expression and promoter activity of the human PPARdelta gene.

Lysophosphatidylcholine for efficient intestinal lipid absorption and lipoprotein secretion in caco-2 cells.

Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and its hydrolysates are considered to stimulate intestinal lipid absorption, however, their exact effects on lipoproteins and apolipoprotein (apo) metabolism remain ambiguous. This study aimed to further differentiate the effects of them using fully differentiated enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells. Lipid micelles (oleic acid 0.

A possible role of lysophospholipids produced by calcium-independent phospholipase A(2) in membrane-raft budding and fission.

Phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) not only plays a role in the membrane vesiculation system but also mediates membrane-raft budding and fission in artificial giant liposomes. This study aimed to demonstrate the same effects in living cells. Differentiated Caco-2 cells were cultured on filter membranes.

Role of lysophosphatidylcholine in brush-border intestinal alkaline phosphatase release and restoration.

Intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) is a brush-border membrane ectoenzyme (BBM-IAP) that is released into the lumen (L-IAP) after a high-fat diet. We examined the effects of oil feeding and the addition of mixed-lipid micelles on the formation of L-IAP in oil-fed rat intestine, Caco-2 cell monolayers, and mouse intestinal loops. We localized IAP in the duodenum of rats fed corn oil using fluorescence microscopy with enzyme-labeled fluorescence-97 as substrate.

Rapid and simple profiling of lipoproteins by polyacrylamide-gel disc electrophoresis to determine the heterogeneity of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) including small, dense LDL.

This study aimed to explore the potential of polyacrylamide-gel disc electrophoresis (PAGE) for lipoprotein profiling in clinical practice. Blood samples were collected from 146 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and lipid parameters were assayed by PAGE, including small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (n = 41), and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein remnant cholesterol (n = 37). We also used a commercial kit to measure small, dense LDL (n = 41).

Statins Activate Human PPARalpha Promoter and Increase PPARalpha mRNA Expression and Activation in HepG2 Cells.

Statins increase peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) mRNA expression, but the mechanism of this increased PPARalpha production remains elusive. To examine the regulation of PPARalpha production, we examined the effect of 7 statins (atorvastatin, cerivastatin, fluvastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, and simvastatin) on human PPARalpha promoter activity, mRNA expression, nuclear protein levels, and transcriptional activity. The main results are as follows.

Formation and activation of fibroblast spheroids depend on fibronectin-integrin interaction.

Clustering of fibroblasts into spheroids induces a massive proinflammatory, proteolytic and growth-factor response, named nemosis, which promotes tumor cell invasiveness and differentiation of leukemia cells. We have now sought to investigate mechanisms leading to the formation of multicellular spheroids and subsequent activation of fibroblasts (nemosis). Cell lines either lacking fibronectin expression (FN-/-) or expressing FN with a mutated integrin-binding site (FNRGE/RGE) were unable to form compact spheroids.

Fibrillin-1 microfibril deposition is dependent on fibronectin assembly.

Newly deposited microfibrils strongly colocalise with fibronectin in primary fibroblasts. Microfibril formation is grossly inhibited by fibronectin depletion, but rescued by supplementation with exogenous cellular fibronectin. As integrin receptors are key determinants of fibronectin assembly, we investigated whether they also influenced microfibril deposition.

Cryptochrome and Period Proteins Are Regulated by the CLOCK/BMAL1 Gene: Crosstalk between the PPARs/RXRalpha-Regulated and CLOCK/BMAL1-Regulated Systems.

Feeding and the circadian system regulate lipid absorption and metabolism, and the expression of enzymes involved in lipid metabolism is believed to be directly controlled by the clock system. To investigate the interaction between the lipid metabolism system and the circadian system, we analyzed the effect of a CLOCK/BMAL1 heterodimer on the transcriptional regulation of PPAR-controlled genes through PPAR response elements (PPREs). Transcription of acyl-CoA oxidase, cellular retinol binding protein II (CRBPII), and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) synthase was altered by CLOCK/BMAL1, and transcriptional activity via PPRE by PPARs/RXRalpha was enhanced by CLOCK/BMAL1 and/or by PPARs ligand/activators.

Photoinduced electron transfer of N-[(3- and 4-diarylamino)phenyl]-1,8-naphthalimide dyads: orbital-orthogonal approach in a short-linked D-A system.

The photoinduced electron transfer of a series of meta- and para-linked triphenylamine-naphthalimide dyads, N-{3- and 4-[bis(4-R-substituted phenyl)amino]phenyl}-1,8-naphthalimide, 1m,p (R = H), 2m,p (R = Me), 3m,p (R = OMe), and 4m,p (R = NMe2) was investigated in toluene and DMF. The singlet charge-transfer (CT) states were observed in all cases. The decay rates were found to be faster in DMF (tau = 6.