Antiviral activity of curcumin and its analogs selected by an artificial intelligence-supported activity prediction system in SARS-CoV-2-infected VeroE6 cells.

Curcumin has been reported to exert its anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity by inhibiting the binding of spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) to angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2). To identify more potent compounds, we evaluated the antiviral activities of curcumin and its analogs in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells. An artificial intelligence-supported activity prediction system was used to select the compounds, and 116 of the 334 curcumin analogs were proposed to have spike RBD-ACE2 binding inhibitory activity.

Pharmacokinetics of a single dose of novel curcumin formulations mixed with fish oils in healthy humans.

The pharmacokinetics of novel formulations of curcumin mixed with squalene (CSQU) and of curcumin mixed with docosahexaenoic acid (CDHA) was investigated and compared with a standardized unformulated curcumin extract (StdC) and a solid lipid curcumin particle (SLCP) formulation in a randomized, open-label, crossover study. A total of 10 healthy subjects consumed a single dose of each formulation, and blood samples were collected over 8 h. Plasma concentrations of curcumin, demethoxycurcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) were measured.

Host DNA repair response to oxidative damage is modulated by Trypanosoma cruzi in a strain-dependent manner.

The conservation of genomic integrity and stability is essential for cell survival. DNA Damage Responses (DDRs) are considered of paramount importance for all living beings and involve mechanisms of cell cycle regulation and damage-specific DNA repair pathways. Hydrogen peroxide (HO) is a compound that, in supraphysiological concentrations, damages biomolecules including the DNA, causing base modifications and strand breaks.

Correlation of Parasite Burden, kDNA Integration, Autoreactive Antibodies, and Cytokine Pattern in the Pathophysiology of Chagas Disease.

Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan (), is the main parasitic disease in the Western Hemisphere. Unfortunately, its physiopathology is not completely understood, and cardiomegaly development is hard to predict. Trying to explain tissue lesion and the fact that only a percentage of the infected individuals develops clinical manifestations, a variety of mechanisms have been suggested as the provokers of CD, such as parasite persistence and autoimmune responses.

Estimating transboundary transported anthropogenic sulfate deposition in Japan using the sulfur isotopic ratio.

High emissions of air pollutants from Northeast Asia are strongly influenced by air quality as well as by ecosystems. This study investigated the spatiotemporal variations in the sulfur isotopic ratio (δS) in atmospheric deposition at eleven monitoring stations in Japan from 2011 to 2016 and estimated the amount of transboundary transported anthropogenic sulfate (TRB) deposition using mass balance calculations. The δS of sulfate in precipitation ranged from -0.

Molecular characterization of Fasciola flukes obtained from wild sika deer and domestic cattle in Hokkaido, Japan.

The number of wild sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) continues to increase in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. The major concern for the livestock industry is the transmission of pathogens between sika deer and cattle. Fasciolosis is an important disease that can occur in both animals.

First detection of Allobilharzia visceralis (Schistosomatidae, Trematoda) from Cygnus cygnus in Japan.

Adult schistosomes were detected in the veins or capillaries of the large intestine, mesentery, liver, and adrenal glands in eight of 13 whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) examined in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. However, neither eggs nor severe tissue injuries were observed in any of the swans. The schistosomes were definitively identified as Allobilharzia visceralis based on the nucleotide sequences of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region.

[A case of non-small cell lung cancer treated safely by whole brain radiation therapy and erlotinib].

In December 2006, a 55-year-old-man was given a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the lung with multiple brain metastases. Systemic chemotherapy was given consisting of carboplatin plus paclitaxel and carboplatin plus gemcitabine. But with the increase of the brain metastases, he was admitted in February 2008.

Purification and characterization of extracellular cysteine protease inhibitor, ECPI-2, from Chlorella sp.

An extracellular cysteine protease inhibitor (ECPI-2) was purified to homogeneity from the culture filtrate of Chlorella sp. 4533 by the combination of various column chromatographies. The molecular mass of the inhibitor was estimated to be 340 kDa by SDS-PAGE.

Marked increase of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA titer during treatment with high-dose prednisolone in a case of polymyositis.

A 70-year-old Japanese woman with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was diagnosed with polymyositis and treated with high-dose prednisolone (PSL). The serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level increased from 78 to 345 U/l 1 week after initiating treatment, although the polymyositis settled promptly. Furthermore, the serum HCV RNA level increased markedly from 110 to 850 kIU/ml 3 weeks after starting treatment.

Ocular findings of Beals syndrome.

Background: In this report of two Okinawan patients with Beals syndrome and accompanying ocular complications, the symptoms of Beals syndrome and Marfan syndrome are compared. The etiology of these two syndromes is considered in relation to fibrillin.

Cases: Case 1 was a 5-year-old boy who showed blue sclera and bilateral enlargement of optic disc cupping.

Search for active endogenous retroviruses: identification and characterization of a HERV-E gene that is expressed in the pancreas and thyroid.

To elucidate possible physiological functions of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) and their role in the pathogenesis of human diseases, we have developed a strategy to identify transcriptionally active HERV genes. By this approach, we have identified and isolated an active HERV-E gene that was mapped to 17q11. Although the gene was predicted to produce no intact viral particles due to the presence of stop codons, long open reading frames were retained in each gag and pol region.

[Production and metabolism of prostaglandin D2 by cultured chick retinal pigment epithelial cells].

The production and metabolism of prostaglandin (PG) D2 in cultured chick retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells were studied. The production of PGD2 was evaluated using thin layer chromatography (TLC) after labeling the RPE cells with 1-14Carachidonic acid (AA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA). The metabolism was evaluated by measuring the activity of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase.

Report of colon cancer detection in mass surveys using immunological occult blood test (Latex method).

Occult blood test for the screening of colon cancer has been made by immunological method using latex agglutination for 4 years since 1988. A total of 35,139 persons have received the screening test and out of 1886 persons, that is, 5.4% showed positive.

[A case of Morgagni's hernia complicated with esophageal hiatus hernia].

A rare case of Morgagni's hernia complicated with esophageal hiatus hernia is reported. A 85-year-old female suffered from swallowing disturbance admitted for evaluation of abnormal finding on chest X-ray film. The diagnosis was confirmed by chest roentgenogram, gastro-intestinal series and CT scan.