Biphenyl-induced cytotoxicity is mediated by an increase in intracellular Zn.

Biphenyl is found both in natural and anthropogenic sources and is used as a fungistat in the packaging of citrus fruits. Acute exposure to high levels of biphenyl has been observed to cause skin irritation and toxic effects on the liver and kidneys. However, the mechanisms of cytotoxicity induced by biphenyl are not yet well understood.

L-tryptophan suppresses rise in blood glucose and preserves insulin secretion in type-2 diabetes mellitus rats.

Ample evidence indicates that a high-protein/low-carbohydrate diet increases glucose energy expenditure and is beneficial in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The present study was designed to investigate the effects of L-tryptophan in T2DM. Blood glucose was measured by the glucose dehydrogenase assay and serum insulin was measured with ELISA in both normal and hereditary T2DM rats after oral glucose administration with or without L-D-tryptophan and tryptamine.

Changes of glucose metabolism and skin-collagen neogenesis in vitamin B6 deficiency.

The mechanism of pellagrous changes in skin caused by a deficiency of vitamin B6 was studied in respect to neogenesis of proline in skin collagen and glucose metabolism. In vitamin B6 deficiency the insulin/glucagon coefficient in serum decreased significantly from 3.02 to 2.

Significant accumulations of cathepsin B and prolylendopeptidase in inflammatory focus of delayed-type hypersensitivity induced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mice.

To clarify what kinds of proteinases are secreted into the foci of allergic-inflammation involving delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, we examined the characteristic releases of various proteinases into the foci of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuber.)-induced delayed-type allergic-inflammation in mice.