Binding of diverse environmental chemicals with human cytochromes P450 2A13, 2A6, and 1B1 and enzyme inhibition.

A total of 68 chemicals including derivatives of naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, biphenyl, and flavone were examined for their abilities to interact with human P450s 2A13 and 2A6. Fifty-one of these 68 chemicals induced stronger Type I binding spectra (iron low- to high-spin state shift) with P450 2A13 than those seen with P450 2A6, i.e.

Characterization of vitamin B₁₂compounds in the wild edible mushrooms black trumpet (Craterellus cornucopioides) and golden chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius).

This study determined the vitamin B₁₂ content of six wild edible mushrooms which are consumed by European vegetarians. Zero or trace levels (0.01-0.

Radiofrequency ablation for treatment for osteoid osteoma of the scapula using a new three-dimensional fluoroscopic navigation system.

Osteoid osteoma is a relatively common benign skeletal tumor. The traditional standard treatment has been surgical resection of the nidus. Recently, computed tomography (CT)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has gained favor as a more precise alternative due to potentially less bone destruction.

IL-18 induces airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary inflammation via CD4+ T cell and IL-13.

IL-18 plays a key role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary inflammatory diseases including pulmonary infection, pulmonary fibrosis, lung injury and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, it is unknown whether IL-18 plays any role in the pathogenesis of asthma. We hypothesized that overexpression of mature IL-18 protein in the lungs may exacerbate disease activities of asthma.

Rat hair follicle-constituting cells labeled by a newly-developed somatic stem cell-recognizing antibody: a possible marker of hair follicle development.

A3 was generated as an antibody recognizing somatic stem cells in rat tissues. We investigated the distribution of A3-positive cells in developing rat hair follicles by immunolabeling. A3-positive cells began to be seen in the hair germ and peg in fetuses and neonates; the positive cells were epithelial cells above basal cells.

Oral cancer diagnosis via a ferrocenylnaphthalene diimide-based electrochemical telomerase assay.

Background: Telomerase is regarded as a good marker for cancer because it is unregulated in most tumor cells compared with normal cells. We evaluated telomerase activity in the lysate of tumor tissue and surrounding cells of oral cancer patients by an electrochemical technique, dubbed the electrochemical telomerase assay (ECTA).

Methods: The assay used ferrocenylnaphthalene diimide (FND) as the probe.

Distribution of cells labelled by a novel somatic stem cell-recognizing antibody (A3) in pulmonary genesis and bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.

Stem cells play important roles in organogenesis and remodelling after tissue injury. A monoclonal antibody (A3) has been produced against rat somatic stem cells. The present study investigated the distribution of cells labelled by A3 in the lung of fetal, neonatal and adult rats, as well as in the lung of rats with bleomycin (BLM) induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Synovial chondromatosis of the metacarpophalangeal joint: a case report and literature review.

Synovial chondromatosis of the small joints of the hand is rare. Here, we present a case of synovial chondromatosis in the metacarpophalangeal joint that did not show calcification on radiographs. Synovectomy and resection of cartilagenous loose bodies was successful and there was no recurrence after eight months.

Constrained total hip megaprosthesis for primary periacetabular tumors.

Background: Limb-salvage reconstruction for periacetabular malignant tumors is one of the most challenging problems in orthopaedic oncology. Reconstructive options include resection arthroplasty, endoprosthesis, allograft, recycled autobone graft, arthrodesis, and pseudarthrosis. However, no standard procedure exists because of rarity and clinical variability of the disease.

Aspartic protease from Aspergillus (Eurotium) repens strain MK82 is involved in the hydrolysis and decolourisation of dried bonito (Katsuobushi).

Background: Katsuobushi is a dried, smoked and fermented bonito used in Japanese cuisine. During the fermentation process with several Aspergillus species, the colour of Katsuobushi gradually changes from a dark reddish-brown derived from haem proteins to pale pink. The change in colour gives Katsuobushi a higher ranking and price.

Improving the affinity of naphthalene diimide ligand to telomeric DNA by incorporating Zn²⁺ ions into its dipicolylamine groups.

N,N'-bis[3-[3-(2,2'-dipicolyl)methylaminopropyl]-methylaminopropyl]naphthalene-1,4,5,8-tetracarboxylic acid diimide, 1, and its complex with zinc ions, 2, were investigated against telomeric sequences, [TAGGG(TTAGGG)(3)] and [AGGG(TTAGGG)(3)], which reveal different G-quadruplex structures depending on the conditions. Spectrophotometric, SPR, and CD techniques revealed that both ligands showed large binding constants to hybrid-type G-quadruplexes formed in the presence of K(+) ions. Moreover, 2 revealed higher affinity to investigated oligonucleotides suggesting that complex of naphthalene diimide derivative with Zn(2+), comparing to 1, provided additional electrostatic or coordination interactions between positively charged zinc ions and condensed negative charged phosphate anions from G4 DNA.

Characterization of corrinoid compounds from edible cyanobacterium Nostochopsis sp.

Vitamin B₁₂ content of an edible cyanobacterium, Nostochopsis sp. was determined to be 140.6±16.

Genetic characterization and susceptibility for sarcoidosis in Japanese patients: risk factors of BTNL2 gene polymorphisms and HLA class II alleles.

Purpose: Sarcoidosis is a heterogeneous and multisystem granulomatous disorder. The etiology still is uncertain, but the disease currently is thought to be triggered by various genetic as well as environmental factors. Recently, an association between sarcoidosis and the butyrophilin-like 2 (BTNL2) gene located in close proximity to the HLA-DRB1 gene was reported.

Differences in the biokinetics of inhaled nano- versus micrometer-sized particles.

Researchers need to study the biokinetics of inhaled biopersistent nano- and micrometer-sized particles (NPs and μPs) to assess their toxicity and to develop an understanding of their potential risks. When particles are inhaled, they do not necessarily remain at their sites of deposition in the respiratory tract. Instead they can undergo numerous transport processes within the various tissues of the lungs, including clearance from the lungs.

Electrochemical DNA detection using supramolecular interactions.

An electrochemical DNA detection format has been developed to allow simple and rapid assays with downsized instruments. Since naphthalene diimide derivatives are known to bind to double stranded DNA (dsDNA) with threading intercalation, they are stabilized by pseudo-catenane formation. For example, ferrocenylnaphthalene diimide (FND) can be efficiently concentrated on dsDNA, thus enabling its electrochemical detection.

Evolution and dispersal of emmer wheat (Triticum sp.) from novel haplotypes of Ppd-1 (photoperiod response) genes and their surrounding DNA sequences.

The sequence data from 5' UTR, intronic, coding and 3' UTR regions of Ppd-A1 and Ppd-B1 were investigated for a total of 158 accessions of emmer wheat landraces comprising 19 of wild emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccoides), 45 of hulled emmer wheat (T. dicoccum) and 94 of free-threshing (FT) emmer wheat (T. durum etc.

Three inositol dehydrogenases involved in utilization and interconversion of inositol stereoisomers in a thermophile, Geobacillus kaustophilus HTA426.

Geobacillus kaustophilus HTA426, a thermophilic Bacillus-related species, utilizes some inositol stereoisomers, including myo-, d-chiro- and scyllo-inositols (MI, DCI and SI), as sole carbon sources. Within its genome are three paralogous genes that possibly encode inositol dehydrogenase. These genes are located in tandem within a large gene cluster containing an almost complete set of iol genes homologous to genes involved in inositol catabolism in Bacillus subtilis.

Evaluation of brain tumors using dynamic 11C-methionine-PET.

The aim of this study is to assess whether dynamic imaging of (11)C-methionine (MET) uptake on positron emission tomography (PET) is useful for the differential diagnosis of brain tumor histology. Regional MET uptake in static brain PET scans from three consecutive phases (5-15, 15-25, and 25-35 min) after intravenous injection were measured in 144 patients with brain tumors. Regions of interest (ROI) were placed in the pituitary gland, confluence, choroid plexus, coronal radiation, brainstem, frontal cortex, parietal cortex, cerebellum, and brain tumors.

Fluorescence imaging of potassium ions in living cells using a fluorescent probe based on a thrombin binding aptamer-peptide conjugate.

When a biotinylated FRET probe based on a peptide-thrombin binding aptamer conjugate was introduced together with streptavidin and biotinylated nuclear export signal peptide into HeLa cells, the resulting ternary complex enabled visualization of K(+) concentration changes in the cell.

Efficient internalization and intracellular translocation of inhaled gold nanoparticles in rat alveolar macrophages.

Aim: To investigate the relationship of alveolar macrophages and inhaled nanoparticles (NPs) in the lung.

Materials & Methods: Rats were exposed by inhalation to 16-nm gold NPs for 6 h, and ultramicroscopic observation on the frequency and localization of gold NPs within lavaged macrophages was performed for 7 days.

Results & Discussion: The majority of macrophages examined on day 0 (94%) contained internalized gold NPs, and the percentage decreased to 59% on day 7.

Effect of biological agents on cervical spine lesions in rheumatoid arthritis.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort analysis.

Objective: To determine the effect of biological agents (BAs) on the development and progression of cervical spine lesions and identify predictors of lesion progression.

Summary Of Background Data: The introduction of BAs has facilitated advances in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).