Safety assessment of ellagic acid, a food additive, in a subchronic toxicity study using F344 rats.

Ellagic acid is a phenolic acid compound, used as a food additive for its antioxidative properties. Because of its chemical characteristics, use is also to be expected in cosmetics. The present 90-day subchronic toxicity study was performed in F344 rats at dose levels of 0, 1.

Enhancement of esophageal carcinogenesis in acid reflux model rats treated with ascorbic acid and sodium nitrite in combination with or without initiation.

Combined treatment with sodium nitrite (NaNO2) and ascorbic acid (AsA) has already been shown to promote rat forestomach carcinogenesis, possibly due to nitric oxide generation under acidic conditions. We hypothesized that a similar effect might occur in the esophagus when the luminal pH is decreased by acid reflux. To clarify this possibility, reflux esophagitis model rats (F344 male) were coadministered 0.

In-depth proteomic profiling of the normal human kidney glomerulus using two-dimensional protein prefractionation in combination with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

The kidney glomerulus plays a pivotal role in ultrafiltration of plasma into urine and also is the locus of kidney disease progressing to chronic renal failure. We have focused proteomic analysis on the glomerulus that is most proximal to the disease locus. In the present study, we aimed to provide a confident, in-depth profiling of the glomerulus proteome.

Detection of oxidative DNA damage, cell proliferation and in vivo mutagenicity induced by dicyclanil, a non-genotoxic carcinogen, using gpt delta mice.

To ascertain whether measurement of possible contributing factors to carcinogenesis concurrently with the transgenic mutation assay is useful to understand the mode of action underlying tumorigenesis of non-genotoxic carcinogens, male and female gpt delta mice were given dicyclanil (DC), a mouse hepatocarcinogen showing all negative results in various genotoxicity tests, at a carcinogenic dose for 13 weeks. Together with gpt and Spi(-) mutations, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and bromodeoxyuridine labeling indices (BrdU-LIs) in the livers were examined. Whereas there were no changes in TBARS levels among the groups, significant increases in 8-OHdG levels and centrilobular hepatocyte hypertrophy were observed in the treated mice of both genders.

Sequence analysis of full-length cDNA of sex chromosome-linked novel gene 2d-2F9 in Gallus gallus.

We obtained two novel W chromosome-linked chick genes by the use of female-male subtraction macroarrays, one of which, 2d-2F9, (recorded as AB188527 in DDBJ) did not have sufficient length (776 bp) to reveal its real form or characteristics. Hence, we obtained full-length Z-linked and W-linked 2d-2F9 genes of 2596 bp and 2589 bp respectively by the oligo-capping and RACE methods. Sequence analysis of these genes not only revealed that there is a counterpart of the W-linked 2d-2F9 gene on the Z chromosome, but also that there is a low homologous area at 5'-UTR between the W- and Z-kinked genes.

[Urinary diversion in a case of bilateral ureteral endometriosis].

Endometriosis of the urinary tract is uncommon. We report a case of bilateral ureteral endometriosis. A 46-years-old woman was presented with facial edema.

[Comparison of intensive and moderate individual life-style intervention programs for overweight or obese persons with fasting glucose levels of 95-125 mg/dl in Japan].

Objectives: There are considerable differences in individual health education programs for persons at high risk of type 2 diabetes between ordinary Japanese life-style modification programs and the Diabetes Prevention Program in the US, the former being relatively moderate and the latter more intensive. We therefore compared the effectiveness of intensive and moderate intervention, focusing on the frequency of individual educational classes.

Methods: The subjects were men and women aged 44-69 years living in Nishiaizu town, Fukushima prefecture in Japan.

Oxidation of cholesterol catalyzed by amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta)-Cu complex on lipid membrane.

A catalytic reaction of H2O2 production by an amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta)-Cu complex with cholesterol incorporated in a liposome was kinetically analyzed. The Michaelis-Menten model was applied to the H2O2 production reaction using cholesterol as the substrate catalyzed by the Abeta-Cu complex. The Km value for the Abeta-Cu complex catalytic reaction with cholesterol-containing 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) liposomes (Km=0.

The critical role of disulfide bond formation in protein sorting in the endosperm of rice.

Many seed storage proteins, including monomeric 2S albumin and polymeric prolamin, contain conserved sequences in three separate regions, termed A, B, and C, which contain the consensus motifs LxxC, CCxQL, and PxxC, respectively. Protein-sorting mechanisms in rice (Oryza sativa) endosperm were studied with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to different segments of rice alpha-globulin, a monomeric, ABC-containing storage protein. The whole ABC region together with GFP was efficiently transported to protein storage vacuoles (type II protein bodies [PB-II]) in the endosperm cells and sequestered in the matrix that surrounds the crystalloids.

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy with 14484 mutation in Central Java, Indonesia.

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a maternally inherited late-onset form of blindness characterized by acute or subacute bilateral retinal degradation resulting in a permanent loss of central vision. G11778A, C3460A, and T14484C mutations on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are specific for LHON and account for most, but not all, worldwide LHON cases. A six-generation Indonesian LHON family with the T14484C mutation was analyzed.

[A case of gas gangrene caused by colon diverticulitis with perforation into the retroperitoneal space].

We report a case of retroperitoneal gas gangrene, which was caused by cecal diverticulitis with perforation. A-57-year-old male was admitted to the Sado General Hospital with the chief complaint of right lateral abdominal pain. Roentogenogram and Computelized Tomography (CT) showed gas accumulation in the retroperitoneal space behind the ascending colon.

Classification and prevalence of temporomandibular joint disk displacement in patients and symptom-free volunteers.

The purposes of this study were to develop a classification system for disk displacement in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and to study the prevalence of the various types of TMJ disk displacement in patients and symptom-free volunteers. The study was based on bilateral MRIs of 243 patients and 57 symptom-free volunteers. Eight different types of disk displacements were identified in addition to the superior disk position and a tenth indeterminate category.

Temporomandibular joint pathosis related to sex, age, and dentition in autopsy material.

The purpose of this autopsy study was to test the hypotheses that temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthrosis is more common in women than in men, increases with age, and is more common in edentulous persons than in those with natural teeth. Two hundred forty-eight TMJs removed at autopsy from 224 fresh cadavers were investigated macroscopically with dissection or cryosectioning. Age was found to be a significant factor in prediction of TMJ arthrosis (p < 0.

Observer variation in interpretation of magnetic resonance images of the temporomandibular joint.

The purpose of this study was to measure interobserver and intraobserver variation in reporting magnetic resonance images of the temporomandibular joint. This study was based on magnetic resonance images of 149 joints. The images were interpreted independently by two of us on two occasions, 2 to 4 weeks apart.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the temporomandibular joint. Value of axial images.

The purpose of this study was to determine the value of axial images for diagnosis of disk displacement and osseous changes of the temporomandibular joint. Sagittal, coronal, and axial magnetic resonance images were obtained of 35 fresh temporomandibular joint autopsy specimens. The sagittal and coronal images were interpreted for position of the disk and osseous changes.

Temporomandibular joint: diagnostic accuracy with sagittal and coronal MR imaging.

To determine the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in the assessment of disk position, disk form, and changes in the osseous components, 55 fresh cadaver joints were imaged. A 1.5-T imager was used in the sagittal and coronal planes.

Analyses of serum copper and zinc levels and copper/zinc ratios in skin diseases.

With the objective of comprehending abnormal metabolisms of the essential metals of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in three groups of skin diseases, skin cancer, inflammatory diseases, and non-inflammatory disease, we measured serum levels of Zn and Cu in 151 cases of various cutaneous manifestations and estimated the significance of the ratios between the two metals (Cu/Zn). The serum level of Zn was significantly decreased in cases of bullous pemphigoid, decubitus ulcer, and alopecia areata. The serum level of Cu was elevated in cases of psoriasis, decubitus ulcer, and skin cancer.

Diagnosis of medial temporomandibular joint disc displacement with dual space anteroposterior arthrotomography: correlation with cryosectional morphology.

This study was undertaken to determine if it is possible to identify medial disc displacement with dual space anteroposterior (AP) arthrotomography. Contrast medium was injected into the upper and lower joint spaces of 11 fresh temporomandibular joint (TMJ) autopsy specimens and arthrotomograms were obtained with an AP projection. The arthrotomograms of five joints showed an enlargement of the medial recess of the upper joint compartment with folding of the disc inferiorly.

Temporomandibular joint: diagnosis of medial and lateral disk displacement with anteroposterior arthrography. Correlation with cryosections.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether it is possible to diagnose medial and lateral disk displacements by single-contrast lower-compartment arthrography with an anteroposterior projection. Contrast medium was injected into the lower joint space of 29 fresh temporomandibular joint autopsy specimens. Anteroposterior arthrograms and anteroposterior arthrotomograms were obtained.

Utilization of methoxylated benzoates and formation of intermediates by Desulfotomaculum thermobenzoicum in the presence or absence of sulfate.

Desulfotomaculum thermobenzoicum strain TSB (DSM 6193) was found to utilize some methoxylated benzoates as carbon and energy source with or without sulfate. 3- or 4-Methoxybenzoate, vanillate (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoate), syringate (3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzoate) and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate were converted to corresponding hydroxybenzoates. However, neither 2-methoxybenzoate nor 2,6-dimethoxybenzoate was utilized.

Inhibitory effect of cis-dehydromatricaria ester isolated from Solidago altissima on the growth of mammalian cells.

A cell growth inhibitory substance was isolated from Solidago altissima, which is known as a naturalized weed. The data of infrared spectrum, proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum, and mass spectrum were identical with those of cis-dehydromatricaria ester. The compound inhibited both tumor and normal mammalian cells.

Endocrine profiles and embryo quality in superovulated Japanese Black cattle.

The relationships between plasma concentrations of progesterone (P4), estradiol-17beta (E2) and lutenizing hormone (LH) and embryo yield and quality were examined in 40 superovulated Japanese Black cattle. The results indicated that the ovarian function, especially the function of corpus luteum on the first treatment day, is an important factor for reliable superovulation in cattle. The levels of plasma E2 and LH at estrus were related to embryo yield and quality.

Development of a psoriasis-like syndrome following lithium therapy.

A correlation between lithium and psoriasis has been observed. In this paper, the case of a 17-yr-old girl is reported who developed psoriatic lesions after administration of lithium carbonate. Further-more, serum lithium levels in some psoriatic patients are disclosed, and induction of psoriasis by lithium in experimental animals is described.