The effect of the H-1152P, a potent Rho-associated coiled coil-formed protein kinase inhibitor, in rabbit normal and ocular hypertensive eyes.

Purpose: We wanted to determine the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect of H-1152P by utilizing a rabbit ocular hypertension-glaucoma model and normal eyes. H-1152P is a potent, Rho-associated, coiled, coil-forming protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor.

Methods: IOPs were monitored by a pneumatonometer in New Zealand White rabbits that were given topically administered H-1152P or vehicle alone.

The acute lymphoblastic leukemia-associated JAK2 L611S mutant induces tumorigenesis in nude mice.

JAK2 plays important roles in the regulation of a variety of cellular processes including cell migration, proliferation, and protection from apoptosis. Recently the L611S point mutation in JAK2 has been identified in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Here we analyzed the mechanism by which JAK2 exhibits its oncogenicity.

Palladium(0)-mediated rapid methylation and fluoromethylation on carbon frameworks by reacting methyl and fluoromethyl iodide with aryl and alkenyl boronic acid esters: useful for the synthesis of [11C]CH(3)--C- and [18F]FCH2--C-Containing PET tracers (PET=positron emission tomography).

A new synthetic methodology for the rapid methylation and fluoromethylation on aryl and alkenyl frameworks by using methyl and fluoromethyl iodide with an organoboronic acid ester has been developed under the simple and mild conditions of [Pd(2)(dba)(3)]/P(o-CH(3)C(6)H(4))(3)/K(2)CO(3) (dba= dibenzylideneacetone) in DMF at 60 degrees C for 5 min (see scheme). This boron protocol provides a firm chemical basis for the synthesis of (11)C- and (18)F-incorporated PET tracers.The rapid methylation and fluoromethylation on aryl and alkenyl carbon frameworks by reacting methyl and fluoromethyl iodide with aryl and alkenyl boronates have been studied with the focus on the realization of the synthesis of [(11)C]CH(3)- and [(18)F]FCH(2)-labeled positron emission tomography (PET) tracers.

Synthesis and properties of a novel tripodal bipyridyl ligand tb-carbinol and its Ru(II)-Re(I) trimetallic complexes: investigation of multimetallic artificial systems for photocatalytic CO(2) reduction.

A novel tripodal ligand, tris[(4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridin-4-yl)methyl]carbinol (tb-carbinol) and its homonuclear and heteronuclear Ru(II)-Re(I) complexes have been synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectroscopy. The spectroscopic, electrochemical and photocatalytic properties of the Ru(II)-Re(I) complexes have been investigated. In these supramolecular complexes with tb-carbinol as a bridging ligand, the intramolecular interaction among the terminal metal centers is very weak.

Cardiac autonomic control immediately after exercise in female distance runners.

The purpose of this study was to examine the timing of recovery of the high-frequency (HF) component of heart rate variability (HRV) after exercise in female distance runners using frequency analysis of HRV. Twenty-two female young (n=11; YG) and middle-aged (n=11; MG) distance runners participated in this study. The two groups performed incremental cycle exercise with progressive intensity until exhaustion.

A novel tripodal ligand, tris[(4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridyl-4-yl)methyl]carbinol and its trinuclear Ru(II)/Re(I) mixed-metal complexes: synthesis, emission properties, and photocatalytic CO2 reduction.

A novel tripodal ligand, tris[(4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridyl-4-yl)methyl]carbinol (L), has been synthesized. The spectroscopic, electrochemical, and photocatalytic properties of the new trinuclear complexes (Ru(2)Re and RuRe(2)) linked by the tripodal bridging ligand L are then investigated. In addition, 2-fold-improved photocatalytic activities were obtained in the case of these trinuclear complexes compared to the mixtures of the appropriate monometallic model complexes in the reduction of CO(2) under visible irradiation.

Acylated ghrelin level in patients with OSA before and after nasal CPAP treatment.

Background And Objective: Patients with newly diagnosed OSA have been reported to have recent weight gain prior to diagnosis. Ghrelin stimulates food intake and increases weight gain. Plasma ghrelin is decreased in obese and increased in lean individuals.

Further evidence for construct validity of the Interpersonal Relationship Inventory: Japanese version.

The Japanese versions of the Interpersonal Relationship Inventory, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Self-esteem Scale were administered to 153 Japanese college students. Weak to modest significant correlations between scores on the inventory and measure of life satisfaction and self-esteem provided further incremental support for construct validity of the inventory.

Human atrial natriuretic peptide prevents the increase in pulmonary artery pressure associated with aortic unclamping during abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy.

Objective: To assess the effect of human atrial natriuretic peptide (HANP) on the pulmonary and systemic circulations during infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy.

Design: A prospective, randomized study.

Setting: A university hospital.

Sleep-disordered breathing in the usual lifestyle setting as detected with home monitoring in a population of working men in Japan.

Study Objectives: To examine (1) the prevalence of home-monitored sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in a Japanese working population and (2) whether home monitoring with a type 3 portable monitor and actigraphy can produce reliable data to analyze SDB in usual lifestyles.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted on a group of employees at a wholesale company in Osaka, Japan. Examinations by physicians and by sleep monitoring were also performed.

Plasma thioredoxin, a novel oxidative stress marker, in patients with obstructive sleep apnea before and after nasal continuous positive airway pressure.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality, and oxidative stress was suggested to play an important role. We hypothesized that the plasma TRX level, a novel oxidative stress marker, is elevated in OSA patients. Plasma TRX and adiponectin levels, which are significantly associated with cardiovascular mortality, were measured in 41 patients with severe OSA before (n = 41) and after (n = 27) nasal continuous positive airway pressure therapy (nCPAP) for 1 month and in 12 subjects without OSA (non-OSA group).

[A case of advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination effectively treated with fourth-line chemotherapy of S-1 alone].

The patient was a 42-year-old female diagnosed with unresectable highly advanced gastric cancer complicated by peritoneal dissemination. We performed systemic chemotherapy with MTX+5-FU as the first-line treatment, which stabilized the disease. Since the patient initially wished a radical resection, we tried chemotherapy with weekly PTX as a second-line treatment.

Inhaled nitric oxide therapy decreases the risk of cerebral palsy in preterm infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.

Objective: The aim was to determine whether inhaled nitric oxide therapy improves neurodevelopmental outcomes for infants with preterm persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.

Methods: We conducted a historical cohort study to compare the 3-year incidence of cerebral palsy in preterm singleton infants (< 34 gestational weeks) with hypoxemic respiratory failure caused by persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn who received inhaled nitric oxide (16 patients) or 100% oxygen (15 patients) therapy. All neonates had clinical and echocardiographic evidence of pulmonary hypertension without structural heart disease.

Cooperative interaction between hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha and GATA transcription factors regulates ATP-binding cassette sterol transporters ABCG5 and ABCG8.

Cholesterol homeostasis is maintained by coordinate regulation of cholesterol synthesis and its conversion to bile acids in the liver. The excretion of cholesterol from liver and intestine is regulated by ATP-binding cassette half-transporters ABCG5 and ABCG8. The genes for these two proteins are closely linked and divergently transcribed from a common intergenic promoter region.

Correlations between optimism and social relationships.

This study examined the relationships between self-report scores of 275 Japanese college students on the Japanese version of the revised Life Orientation Test and the Interpersonal Relationship Inventory. Ratings for optimism were positively correlated with those for social support and reciprocity (rs= .39 and .

Factor structure of work commitment for Japanese employees.

The factor structure of the Japanese translation of five work commitment measures, i.e., the Work Involvement Questionnaire, the Career Commitment Scale, the Job Involvement Questionnaire, the Organizational Commitment Questionnaire, and the Work Group Attachment Scale, was examined in 496 Japanese employees.

[A case of nasal dermal sinus-cyst (NDSC) with intracranial extension].

Nasal dermal sinus-cyst (NDSC) is a rare abnormality consisting of a dermal sinus opening at the nasal skin and dermoid cyst localized in the frontobasal area. A 2-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital due to swelling of the fronto-nasal regions with pus running from an orifice situated in the nasal skin. Bone-image CT and 3D-CT revealed bone defects within the frontal skull base.

A case of primary hyperparathyroidism in childhood found by a chance hematuria.

A 10-yr-old boy visited Minoh City Hospital complaining of gross hematuria. Laboratory investigations revealed hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia, and elevated serum levels of parathyroid hormone. A stone was found in the right ureter with drip infusion pyelography.

Cloning and functional characterization of the copper/zinc superoxide dismutase gene from the heavy-metal-tolerant yeast Cryptococcus liquefaciens strain N6.

The deep-sea yeast Cryptococcus liquefaciens strain N6 possesses high superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and a high tolerance toward metal ions. To clarify the relationship between metal tolerance and SOD activity in this strain, we cloned the Cu/Zn SOD gene. This gene (Cl-SOD1) consists of 471 bp encoding 157 amino acids; the associated protein had 59.

Heart rate variability during high-intensity field exercise in female distance runners.

The purposes of this study were to demonstrate the transition of heart rate variability (HRV) during trials in the field and to examine the relationship between peak frequency of high-frequency band (HF) and stride frequency. Ten healthy long-distance college female runners (age 19-21 years) performed a 3000 m realistic time trial. The time-series power spectrum analysis by maximum entropy method was used to evaluate cardiac autonomic nervous activity during the race.

Falls in blood pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea after long-term nasal continuous positive airway pressure treatment.

Objectives: Effective treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) lowers blood pressure (BP). The long-term effects of nCPAP treatment on BP in OSA patients are not well known. The time period of such treatment sufficient to lower BP in OSA patients is also not known.

Prostaglandin D2 plays an essential role in chronic allergic inflammation of the skin via CRTH2 receptor.

PGD(2) plays roles in allergic inflammation via specific receptors, the PGD receptor designated DP and CRTH2 (chemoattractant receptor homologous molecule expressed on Th2 cells). We generated mutant mice carrying a targeted disruption of the CRTH2 gene to investigate the functional roles of CRTH2 in cutaneous inflammatory responses. CRTH2-deficent mice were fertile and grew normally.

Effect of nCPAP therapy on heart rate in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea.

Background: Elevated heart rate (HR) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The effects of obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) on HR are controversial.

Aim: To investigate the effect of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) therapy on HR in OSAHS patients.

Utilization of host SR protein kinases and RNA-splicing machinery during viral replication.

Although the viral genome is often quite small, it encodes a broad series of proteins. The virus takes advantage of the host-RNA-processing machinery to provide the alternative splicing capability necessary for the expression of this proteomic diversity. Serine-arginine-rich (SR) proteins and the kinases that activate them are central to this alternative splicing machinery.