Fluid dynamic assessment of tracheal flow in infants with congenital tracheal stenosis before and after surgery.

Tracheal flow in infants with congenital tracheal stenosis (CTS) was numerically investigated using subject-specific airway models before and after reconstructive surgery. We quantified tracheal flow based on airway resistance during inhalation, and compared it between controls and patients before and after surgery. The airway resistance in each subject was assessed using geometrical parameters of the trachea: the minimum cross-sectional area A, the minimum cross-sectional area normalized by the standard deviation of the cross-sectional area A/σ, the area ratio of the minimum and maximum cross-sectional area A/A, and ratio of the normalized standard deviation of cross-sectional area to the mean cross-sectional area σ/A.

Reduced Production of Hydrogen Sulfide and Sulfane Sulfur Due to Low Cystathionine β-Synthase Levels in Brain Astrocytes of Stroke-Prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP/Izm; SHRSP) develop severe hypertension and die of cerebral stroke. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying their stroke susceptibility have not been clarified yet. In this study, we used astrocytes from the newborn brain cortex of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR/Izm; SHR) and SHRSP to find the difference of genetic characteristics.

Live Cell Microscopy-Based RNAi Screening in the Moss Physcomitrella patens.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful technique enabling the identification of the genes involved in a certain cellular process. Here, we discuss protocols for microscopy-based RNAi screening in protonemal cells of the moss Physcomitrella patens, an emerging model system for plant cell biology. Our method is characterized by the use of conditional (inducible) RNAi vectors, transgenic moss lines in which the RNAi vector is integrated, and time-lapse fluorescent microscopy.

Imaging Mitosis in the Moss Physcomitrella patens.

At first glance, mitosis in plants looks quite different from that in animals. In fact, terrestrial plants have lost the centrosome during evolution, and the mitotic spindle is assembled independently of a strong microtubule organizing center. The phragmoplast is a plant-specific mitotic apparatus formed after anaphase, which expands centrifugally towards the cell cortex.

RNAi screening identifies the armadillo repeat-containing kinesins responsible for microtubule-dependent nuclear positioning in Physcomitrella patens.

Proper positioning of the nucleus is critical for the functioning of various cells. Actin and myosin have been shown to be crucial for the localization of the nucleus in plant cells, whereas microtubule (MT)-based mechanisms are commonly utilized in animal and fungal cells. In this study, we combined live cell microscopy with RNA interference (RNAi) screening or drug treatment and showed that MTs and a plant-specific motor protein, armadillo repeat-containing kinesin (kinesin-ARK), are required for nuclear positioning in the moss Physcomitrella patens.

Factors related to prevalence of hallux valgus in female university students: a cross-sectional study.

Background: We investigated the prevalence of hallux valgus (HV) and examined its association with various factors in a cross-sectional study of Japanese female university students.

Methods: A questionnaire survey of foot symptoms, lifestyle, and body mass index (BMI) was administered to 343 women who provided informed consent at a women's university. Footprints were obtained and bone density was measured.

Endogenous localizome identifies 43 mitotic kinesins in a plant cell.

Kinesins are microtubule (MT)-based motor proteins that have been identified in every eukaryotic species. Intriguingly, land plants have more than 60 kinesins in their genomes, many more than that in yeasts or animals. However, many of these have not yet been characterized, and their cellular functions are unknown.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester suppresses oxidative stress in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

The generation of oxidative stress, characterized by enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, has been found in obesity. ROS production was increased during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into adipocytes. We previously reported that caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) suppresses 3T3-L1 differentiation to adipocytes through the inhibition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ.

Effects of long-term oral administration of arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on the immune functions of young rats.

Natural killer (NK) cells have many functional activities, including cytotoxicity and the capacity to produce cytokines and chemokines. NK cell activity is regulated partly by eicosanoids, which are produced from arachidonic acid (ARA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acid. In this study, we investigated the effects of long-term therapy with ARA or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on the cytotoxic effects of the NK cells of young rats, which were fed on a nonfish oil diet for two generations.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester suppresses the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in hypertrophic adipocytes through lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages.

Obesity is a condition in which excess body fat accumulates due to lipids producing adipocytes and an increased number of differentiated mature cells. Recently, new findings have shown that macrophages infiltrate into adipose tissues and produce various pro-inflammatory cytokines in obese subjects. The inflammatory changes induced by the cross-talk between adipocytes and macrophages are critical for the pathophysiology of obesity and thus of metabolic syndrome.

An inducible RNA interference system in Physcomitrella patens reveals a dominant role of augmin in phragmoplast microtubule generation.

Mitosis is a fundamental process of eukaryotic cell proliferation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying mitosis remain poorly understood in plants partly because of the lack of an appropriate model cell system in which loss-of-function analyses can be easily combined with high-resolution microscopy. Here, we developed an inducible RNA interference (RNAi) system and three-dimensional time-lapse confocal microscopy in the moss Physcomitrella patens that allowed in-depth phenotype characterization of the moss genes essential for cell division.

EB1 promotes microtubule dynamics by recruiting Sentin in Drosophila cells.

Highly conserved EB1 family proteins bind to the growing ends of microtubules, recruit multiple cargo proteins, and are critical for making dynamic microtubules in vivo. However, it is unclear how these master regulators of microtubule plus ends promote microtubule dynamics. In this paper, we identify a novel EB1 cargo protein, Sentin.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester suppresses the production of adipocytokines, leptin, tumor necrosis factor -alpha and resistin, during differentiation to adipocytes in 3T3-L1 cells.

We previously reported that caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) suppresses 3T3-L1 differentiation to adipocytes through the inhibition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) alpha, fatty acid synthase (Fas) and adipocytes-specific fatty acid binding protein 2 (aP2) expressions (Juman et al., Biol. Pharm.

New chromone derivative terminalianone from African plant Terminalia brownii Fresen (Combretaceae) in Tanzania.

A new chromone derivative named terminalianone (1) was isolated from the African plant, Terminalia brownii Fresen (Combretaceae) in Tanzania. Its structure was determined to be 7-hydroxy-3-[6'-hydroxyphenyl-2'-oxo-ethyl]chromone by FAB-MS and NMR spectral data.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester inhibits differentiation to adipocytes in 3T3-L1 mouse fibroblasts.

We investigated the inhibitory effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 mouse fibroblasts to adipocytes. 3T3-L1 cells were differentiated for adipocytes given high glucose Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 1 microM dexamethasone (DEX), 500 microM isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), and 5 microg/ml insulin for 7 days. After differentiation, cells were stained with Oil-Red-O to detect oil droplets in adipocytes.

Isoflavones regulate secretion of leukemia inhibitory factor and transforming growth factor {beta} and expression of glycodelin in human endometrial epithelial cells.

Isoflavones have attracted much attention due to their association with health benefits; however, comprehensive understanding of the beneficial impacts of isoflavones on uterine biology at the molecular level remains unexplored. In the present study, our data showed that isoflavones aglycones AglyMax, genistein, and equol, but not daidzein, within the range of plasma concentration, displayed bioavailability in regulating the secretion of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in Ishikawa cells, which was blocked by an estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182 780, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)1/2 inhibitor PD98059, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor SB203580. We also found that AglyMax and genistein increased in cyclic AMP release and the expression of glycodelin protein in Ishikawa cells assayed using western blot and immunochemical staining.

C-reactive protein suppresses insulin signaling in endothelial cells: role of spleen tyrosine kinase.

Although few epidemiological studies have demonstrated that C-reactive protein (CRP) is related to insulin resistance, no study to date has examined the molecular mechanism. Here, we show that recombinant CRP attenuates insulin signaling through the regulation of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) on small G-protein RhoA, jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) MAPK, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase in vascular endothelial cells. Recombinant CRP suppressed insulin-induced NO production, inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and stimulated the phosphorylation of IRS-1 at the Ser307 site in a dose-dependent manner.

Obesity, emerging risk in China: trend of increasing prevalence of obesity and its association with hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia among the Chinese.

1. The aim of the present study was to investigate the trend of the prevalence of obesity in China and its association with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. 2.

Soy isoflavones improve bone metabolism in postmenopausal Japanese women.

1. This study examines whether the supplementation of isoflavones (ISO) exerts beneficial effects on serum and urinary biomarkers of bone metabolism. 2.

Soy isoflavone tablets reduce osteoporosis risk factors and obesity in middle-aged Japanese women.

1. This study examines whether the supplementation of isoflavones (ISO) exerts beneficial effects on the bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). 2.

Serum lipid effects of a monounsaturated (palmitoleic) fatty acid-rich diet based on macadamia nuts in healthy, young Japanese women.

1. Recent studies have identified potential beneficial effects of eating nuts, most of which have substantial amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA). Macadamia nuts consist of 75% fat by weight, 80% of which is MUFA (palmitoleic acid).

Nutritional variation and cardiovascular risk factors in Tanzania--rural-urban difference.

Objective: To assess the relationship between dietary factors and cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors in middle-aged men and women, in urban, rural and pastoral settings in Tanzania.

Design: Cross-sectional epidemiological study designed according to the protocol of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison (CARDIAC) study.

Setting: Three centres in Tanzania, namely Dar es Salaam (urban), Handeni (rural) and Monduli (pastoral population).

Prevalence of overweight and hypertension in Tanzania: special emphasis on resting energy expenditure and leptin.

1. In the present study we investigated the difference in the distribution of selected cardiovascular disease risk factors among three middle-aged Tanzanian populations with different lifestyles. 2.

Prevalence of overweight and hypertension in Tanzania: Special emphasis on resting energy expenditure and leptin.

1. In the present study we investigated the difference in the distribution of selected cardiovascular disease risk factors among three middle-aged Tanzanian populations with different lifestyles. 2.