Fine and hyperfine coupling constants of the -β-cyanovinyl radical, HCCHCN.

A Fourier-transform microwave spectrum of the -β-cyanovinyl radical is re-measured for the = 0 ladder of the a-type transitions up to 30 GHz and the 2-1 transition at 19.85 GHz. Four b-type transitions are also observed using a MW-MW double-resonance technique.

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system for detecting β'-component (Onk k 5), a major IgE-binding protein in salmon roe.

A novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system has been established for selective detection of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) yolk protein (SYP). Rabbit and rat polyclonal Immunoglobulin G antibodies to β'-component (the major allergic protein in fish roe; anti-β) were applied for designing the ELISA system. The sandwich ELISA using rabbit anti-β for the capture antibody and horseradish peroxidase-labeled F(ab')2 fragment of rat anti-β for the detection antibody obtained high sensitivity and narrow specificity for SYP.

Unique heparan sulfate from shrimp heads exhibits a strong inhibitory effect on infections by dengue virus and Japanese encephalitis virus.

The structure and biological activities of a highly sulfated heparan sulfate (HS) extracted from shrimp (Penaeus brasiliensis) heads were characterized. Structurally the shrimp HS was more heterogenous than heparin, although it is still highly sulfated. The molecular mass of the shrimp HS preparation was determined to be 32.

[Study of preparation of the calibration standard for the crustacean protein detection method].

We examined the preparation method of the calibration standard for an ELISA kit for measuring crustacean protein in food products. The initial extract of the calibration standard was stabilized by addition of protease inhibitor to the extracting solution and heating at 100 degrees C for 10 min. In accordance with the preparation procedure for calibrators, we prepared 3 lots of initial extract of calibration standard and analyzed the protein concentration and SDS-electrophoretic pattern.

Urinary excretions of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase predict renal injury in type-2 diabetes: a cross-sectional and prospective multicentre study.

Background: Urinary excretions of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase/beta-trace (L-PGDS) probably reflect the increased permeability of injured glomerular capillary walls of the kidney. We tested the hypothesis in cross-sectional and prospective studies that urinary L-PGDS excretions predict renal injury in type-2 diabetes.

Methods: (1) In the cross-sectional studies, we evaluated whether urinary L-PGDS excretions were able to predict renal diseases in a pooled population including 793 healthy subjects and 200 patients with various forms of renal diseases.

Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase is a powerful biomarker for severity of stable coronary artery disease.

Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS), which is responsible for the biosynthesis of prostaglandin (PG) D(2), has been found to be present in the atherosclerotic plaque of the human coronary artery and also to be detectable in human serum. This multicenter cooperative study was designed to establish the diagnostic value of measuring serum L-PGDS for coronary artery disease. The study included 1013 consecutive patients suspected of having stable coronary artery disease who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography.

Interlaboratory evaluation of two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits for the determination of crustacean protein in processed foods.

The labeling of foods containing material derived from crustaceans such as shrimp and crab is to become mandatory in Japan because of increases in the number of allergy patients. To ensure proper labeling, 2 novel sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits for the determination of crustacean protein in processed foods, the N kit (Nissui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Ibaraki, Japan) and the M kit (Maruha Nichiro Holdings, Inc.

A reliable and sensitive immunoassay for the determination of crustacean protein in processed foods.

Among food allergens, crustacea such as shrimps, crabs, and lobsters are a frequent cause of adverse food reactions in allergic patients. The major allergen has been identified as a muscular protein, tropomyosin. A novel sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection and quantification of crustacean protein in processed foods was developed using the sample dilution buffer that is added to porcine tropomyosin.

Urinary PGDS levels are associated with vascular injury in type 2 diabetes patients.

Background: The presence of metabolic syndrome has been shown to be predictors of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. In a cross-sectional clinical study, we investigated the association of metabolic syndrome with asymptomatic lacunar strokes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and we compared its significance with urinary protein markers.

Methods: We studied Japanese type 2 diabetes patients (n=233, men=124, women=109).

Urinary excretions of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D2 synthase predict the development of proteinuria and renal injury in OLETF rats.

Background: Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats genetically develop diabetes which is associated with hypertension. In preliminary studies, urinary excretions of L-PGDS (lipocaline-type prostaglandin D synthase) increase before diabetic nephropathy obviously develops, and this may predict progression of renal injury following diabetes. In the present study, we attempted to define whether urinary excretions of L-PGDS behave as the predictor of development of diabetic nephropathy in OLETF rats.

Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase in urine in adriamycin-induced nephropathy of mice.

Background/aims: Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS), an enzyme converting prostaglandin H(2) to prostaglandin D(2), occurs particularly in the cardiovascular system. Urinary L-PGDS excretion is increased in diabetes prior to overt proteinuria, suggesting that it is a predictor of renal injury. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that L-PGDS excretion reflects renal injury in primary glomerular diseases using Adriamycin-induced nephropathy in mice.

Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (beta-trace) in cerebrospinal fluid: a useful marker for the diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (PGDS) is considered to be mainly produced in the leptomeninges and secreted into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We found PGDS levels in CSF of patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) (8.99+/-2.

Effect of reinsertion of activated nucleus pulposus on disc degeneration: an experimental study on various types of collagen in degenerative discs.

We examined the emergence and sequential changes in type I, II, and VI collagen production in an experimental rabbit model of disc degeneration. Type I collagen was minimally present initially and did not change over 24 weeks. Type I collagen seemed to have no effect on the degenerative process in this model.

Development and evaluation of a practical ELISA for human urinary lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase.

Background: Urinary excretion of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) is significantly increased in patients with chronic renal failure, but its diagnostic potential in less advanced stages of renal diseases remains to be elucidated.

Methods: Six mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were raised against recombinant human L-PGDS. We constructed a sandwich ELISA with two MAbs that recognized different epitopes with high affinities and assessed its assay performance and clinical utility with urine samples from healthy controls, diabetic patients, and patients with various renal diseases.

Blood sugar control reverses the increase in urinary excretion of prostaglandin D synthase in diabetic patients.

Background/aims: We investigated basal levels of serum and urinary lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase/beta-trace (L-PGDS) in type-2 diabetic patients and explored whether glycemic control affects L-PGDS status in another 55 diabetic inpatients with normoalbuminuria.

Methods: Fifty-five type-2 diabetic outpatients (HbA1c, 9.14 +/- 0.

Lipocalin-type prostaglandin d synthase in essential hypertension.

Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) reportedly well predicts cardiovascular injuries in humans. However, little is known about the implications of L-PGDS in hypertension. In the present study, we investigated the alterations of serum and urinary L-PGDS in hypertensive patients with or without renal dysfunction.

Charge microheterogeneity of the beta-trace proteins (lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase) in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neurological disorders analyzed by capillary isoelectrofocusing.

Charge microheterogeneity of the beta-trace protein (beta-TP = lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with various neurological disorders was analyzed by capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF). Under the conditions employed, beta-TP in the low-molecular-weight protein fraction of CSF was separated into at least four isoforms with different p/ values. An isoform with the pl value of 4.

Urinary prostaglandin D synthase (beta-trace) excretion increases in the early stage of diabetes mellitus.

Objective: Circulating levels of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS)/beta-trace reportedly increase in renal failure as well as in cardiovascular injuries. We investigated the alterations of L-PGDS in urine and plasma in the early stage of type-2 diabetic patients.

Method: Thirty-six type-2 diabetic patients and 29 normal subjects were studied.

Serum prostaglandin D synthase level after coronary angioplasty may predict occurrence of restenosis.

Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS), which is responsible for the biosynthesis of PGD2, has recently been found to be present in the atherosclerotic plaque of the human coronary artery and also to be secreted in human serum. We measured the serum L-PGDS level and compared it with the expressions of the platelet membrane surface glycoprotein and neutrophil adhesion molecule in patients undergoing PTCA. The L-PGDS level significantly decreased (P < 0.

Reinsertion of stimulated nucleus pulposus cells retards intervertebral disc degeneration: an in vitro and in vivo experimental study.

Reinsertion of autogenous nucleus pulposus, an innovative method to delay further disc degeneration, has been proved with an experimental animal model. This study examined whether coculture of nucleus pulposus cells with annulus fibrosus cells (a) activates annulus fibrosus cells and (b) retards disc degeneration when reinserted into the disc in a rabbit model of disc degeneration. Coculture of the two cell types stimulated proliferation of each, as indicated by increased DNA synthesis measured by increases in DNA polymerase alpha expression and uptake of 5-bromo-2'deoxy-uridine assessed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Comparative study of the asparagine-linked sugar chains of human lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase purified from urine and amniotic fluid, and recombinantly expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) is a highly glycosylated member of the lipocalin gene family and is secreted into various human body fluids. We comparatively analyzed the structures of asparagine-linked sugar chains of human L-PGDS produced by recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cells and naturally occurring human urine and amniotic fluid. After the sugar chains were liberated by hydrazinolysis followed by N-acetylation, they were derivatized with 2-aminobenzamide.

Acute and transient increase of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (beta-trace) level in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

We measured the concentration of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (PGDS) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum in patients 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14 and 17 days after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to ruptured cerebral aneurysms. The PGDS level in lumbar CSF increased about two-fold at day 3 (20.85 +/- 2.

Life-threatening hemorrhage in a patient with gastric cancer and acquired hemophilia.

We report a case of a patient with life-threatening hemorrhage caused by the presence of acquired factor VIII inhibitors after gastrectomy for signet-ring cell carcinoma of the stomach. Acquired factor VIII inhibitors should be taken into consideration as a cause of acquired bleeding tendency among patients with gastrointestinal malignancies especially when the coagulation tests are unusual.

Expression of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (beta-trace) in human heart and its accumulation in the coronary circulation of angina patients.

Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) is localized in the central nervous system and male genital organs of various mammals and is secreted as beta-trace into the closed compartment of these tissues separated from the systemic circulation. In this study, we found that the mRNA for the human enzyme was expressed most intensely in the heart among various tissues examined. In human autopsy specimens, the enzyme was localized immunocytochemically in myocardial cells, atrial endocardial cells, and a synthetic phenotype of smooth muscle cells in the arteriosclerotic intima, and accumulated in the atherosclerotic plaque of coronary arteries with severe stenosis.