Activation of TRPV3 Regulates Inflammatory Actions of Human Epidermal Keratinocytes.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels were first characterized on neurons, where they are classically implicated in sensory functions; however, research in recent decades has shown that many of these channels are also expressed on nonneuronal cell types. Emerging findings have highlighted the role of TRP channels in the skin, where they have been shown to be important in numerous cutaneous functions. Of particular interest is TRPV3, which was first described on keratinocytes.

Combination of hot compressed water treatment and wet disk milling for high sugar recovery yield in enzymatic hydrolysis of rice straw.

Rice straw has attracted significant interest in Japan as a potential raw material for biorefineries. Combination of hot-compressed water treatment (HCWT) and wet disk milling (WDM) was investigated to improve the enzymatic digestibility of rice straw and enhance sugar recovery yield. Rice straw, cut to <3 mm, was autoclaved at 121, 135, and 150 °C for 60 min, and subsequently treated by wet disk milling.

Detoxification of 6-hydroxydopamine-induced Parkinsonian neurodegeneration by G-CYPMPO, a novel radical trapper.

2-(5,5-Dimethyl-2-oxo-2-λ(5)-[1,3,2]dioxaphosphinan-2-yl)-2-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrroline N-oxide {2-(5,5-dimethyl-2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxaphosphinan-2-yl)-3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-2H-pyrrole N-oxide, G-CYPMPO} as the stable crystals having gauche conformation was successfully synthesized as a novel 5-diethoxyphosphoryl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DEPMPO)-type spin trap agent. However, the function of G-CYPMPO in vivo is still unclear. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of G-CYPMPO in an in vivo model of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Oxidative neurodegeneration is prevented by UCP0045037, an allosteric modulator for the reduced form of DJ-1, a wild-type of familial Parkinson's disease-linked PARK7.

Although a loss-of-function mutation has been identified in familial Parkinson's disease PARK7, the wild-type of DJ-1 is known to act as an oxidative stress sensor in neuronal cells. Recently, we identified UCP0045037 as a compound that bound to the reduced form of DJ-1 by in silico virtual screening. In this study, we determined the neuroprotective effects of UCP0045037 against focal cerebral ischemia-induced neurodegeneration in rats.

Oxidative stress induction of DJ-1 protein in reactive astrocytes scavenges free radicals and reduces cell injury.

Astrocytes, one of the predominant types of glial cells, function as both supportive and metabolic cells for the brain. Under cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced oxidative conditions, astrocytes accumulate and activate in the ischemic region. DJ-1 has recently been shown to be a sensor of oxidative stress in living cells.

Application of the severity parameter for predicting viscosity during hydrothermal processing of dewatered sewage sludge for a commercial PFBC plant.

Dewatered sewage sludge (approximately 80% water, but with low fluidity) was liquidized by hydrothermal treatment in order to make coal-water paste (CWP) for use in a pressurized-fluidized-bed-combustion (PFBC) power plant. Prediction of the viscosity of the dewatered sewage sludge during batch reactor hydrothermal liquefaction is important in order to avoid inputting excess energy. A single parameter, the severity parameter, has been used to predict viscosity during the hydrothermal process.

Neuroprotective effect of the antiparkinsonian drug pramipexole against nigrostriatal dopaminergic degeneration in rotenone-treated mice.

Pramipexole, an agonist for dopamine (DA) D2/D3-receptors, has been used to treat both early and advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we examined the effect of pramipexole on DA neurons in a PD model of C57BL/6 mice, which were treated with rotenone (30 mg/kg, p.o.

Recovery of activated carbon catalyst, calcium, nitrogen and phosphate from effluent following supercritical water gasification of poultry manure.

A new method for suspending a fine, activated carbon catalyst in a biomass feedstock used for a supercritical water gasification (SCWG) continuous reactor is proposed. In a previous study, the organic matter in poultry manure was shown to be completely converted into gases such as H(2), CO(2) and CH(4) using SCWG. In practice, however, since the feedstock is not only composed of organic matter, but also contains inorganic material, water and catalyst, products such as gas, solid and liquid are produced during SCWG.

Protection against oxidative stress-induced neurodegeneration by a modulator for DJ-1, the wild-type of familial Parkinson's disease-linked PARK7.

Although a loss-of-function type mutation was identified in familial Parkinson's disease PARK7, the wild-type of DJ-1 is known to act as an oxidative stress sensor in neuronal cells. Recently, we found a DJ-1 modulator UCP0054278 by in silico virtual screening. In this study, we determined the neuroprotective effects of UCP0054278 against focal ischemia-induced neurodegeneration in rats.

Synergistic effect of galantamine on nicotine-induced neuroprotection in hemiparkinsonian rat model.

Recent studies have reported that smokers tend to be less susceptible to Parkinson's disease (PD) and the stimulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is considered to confer a neuroprotective effect. Galantamine is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and an allosteric potentiating ligand for nAChRs. However, the effects of galantamine and nicotine on dopaminergic neurons remain unclear.

Nicotinic receptor stimulation protects nigral dopaminergic neurons in rotenone-induced Parkinson's disease models.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and is characterized by dopaminergic (DA) neuronal cell loss in the substantia nigra. Although the entire pathogenesis of PD is still unclear, both environmental and genetic factors contribute to neurodegeneration. Epidemiologic studies show that prevalence of PD is lower in smokers than in nonsmokers.

DJ-1-binding compounds prevent oxidative stress-induced cell death and movement defect in Parkinson's disease model rats.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is caused by neuronal cell death. Although a precursor of dopamine and inhibitors of dopamine degradation have been used for PD therapy, cell death progresses during treatment. DJ-1, a causative gene product of a familial form of PD, PARK7, plays roles in transcriptional regulation and anti-oxidative stress, and loss of its function is thought to result in the onset of PD.

Neurodegeneration of mouse nigrostriatal dopaminergic system induced by repeated oral administration of rotenone is prevented by 4-phenylbutyrate, a chemical chaperone.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is primarily characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway. Previous studies have demonstrated that chronic systemic exposure of Lewis rats to rotenone produced many features of PD, and cerebral tauopathy was also detected in the case of severe weight loss. The present study was designed to assess the neurotoxicity of rotenone after daily oral administration for 28 days at several doses in C57BL/6 mice.

Distribution of DJ-1, Parkinson's disease-related protein PARK7, and its alteration in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated hemiparkinsonian rat brain.

DJ-1 has multiple functions and its dysfunction may be linked to the onset of familial Parkinson's disease PARK7. However, the function and distribution of DJ-1 is unclear. In this study, we determined DJ-1 distribution and change after intranigral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA).

PARK7 DJ-1 protects against degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease rat model.

DJ-1 has recently been shown to be responsible for onset of familial Parkinson's disease (PD), PARK7. DJ-1 has been shown to play roles in transcriptional regulation and anti-oxidative stress, and loss of its function is thought to trigger onset of PD. In this study, a recombinant DJ-1 protein was administrated into the brain of PD model rats that had been injected to 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in the left substantia nigra.

Serofendic acid prevents 6-hydroxydopamine-induced nigral neurodegeneration and drug-induced rotational asymmetry in hemi-parkinsonian rats.

Serofendic acid was recently identified as a neuroprotective factor from fetal calf serum. This study was designed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of an intranigral microinjection of serofendic acid based on behavioral, neurochemical and histochemical studies in hemi-parkinsonian rats using 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Rats were injected with 6-OHDA in the presence or absence of serofendic acid, or were treated with serofendic acid on the same lateral side, at 12, 24 or 72 h after 6-OHDA lesion.

Immunohistochemical and molecular genetic evidence for type IV collagen alpha5 chain abnormality in the anterior lenticonus associated with Alport syndrome.

Objective: To present evidence for a type IV collagen alpha5 chain (alpha5[IV]) abnormality in the anterior lens capsule of a patient with anterior lenticonus associated with Alport syndrome.

Methods: The anterior lens capsule obtained from a 54-year-old man with anterior lenticonus associated with Alport syndrome was examined ultrastructurally and stained immunohistochemically for the alpha chains of type IV collagen, alpha1(IV) to alpha6(IV). A search was also made for a mutation in the COL4A5 complementary DNA encoding the alpha5(IV) chain by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of illegitimate transcripts.