Transport Form and Pathway from the Intestine to the Peripheral Tissues and the Intestinal Absorption and Metabolism Properties of Oleamide.

This study aimed to obtain information on the transport form and pathway from the intestine to the peripheral tissues and on the intestinal absorption and metabolism properties of oleamide (-9-octadecenamide). Oleamide was primarily transported via the portal vein. Density gradient centrifugation indicated that plasma oleamide was enriched in the fractions containing albumin in the portal and peripheral blood.

Metals by Micro-Scale Additive Manufacturing: Comparison of Microstructure and Mechanical Properties.

Many emerging applications in microscale engineering rely on the fabrication of 3D architectures in inorganic materials. Small-scale additive manufacturing (AM) aspires to provide flexible and facile access to these geometries. Yet, the synthesis of device-grade inorganic materials is still a key challenge toward the implementation of AM in microfabrication.

Rare form of extraovarian peritoneal serous papillary carcinoma with solitary tumor in the abdominal wall: a case report and literature review.

Cases of cancer presenting with microscopically confirmed metastatic malignancies for which no primary site can be detected are a challenge to stage clinically. Adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site is a subtype with high frequency that has no standard treatment and a poor prognosis. A 32-year-old female was found to have a tumor in the abdominal wall.

Hypolipidemic effect of Shoyu polysaccharides from soy sauce in animals and humans.

Soy sauce (Shoyu) is a traditional Japanese fermented seasoning and is available worldwide. We investigated the effects of Shoyu polysaccharides (SPS) prepared from soy sauce on hyperlipidemia in vitro and in vivo. First, SPS inhibited pancreatic lipase.

Natural IVF cycles may be desirable for women with repeated failures by stimulated IVF cycles.

Purpose: Although many reports support stimulated in vitro fertilization, several patients do not respond to it well. Furthermore, stimulated treatment could be associated with reduced ovarian response. We describe three successful cases involving patients of advanced age from whom dominant follicles were retrieved during the natural cycle.

Modulation of the intestinal Ca2+ uptake by a cheese whey protein digest.

We have previously constructed a system which enables the search for factors that could modulate the intestinal calcium transporter, CaT1 (TRPV6; Takano et al., Cytotechnology, 43, 113 (2003)). This system evaluates the CaT1-mediated calcium uptake by using CHO cells stably expressing human CaT1 (CHO-hCaT1 cells).

Exogenous vascular endothelial growth factor can induce preeclampsia-like symptoms in pregnant mice.

It is reported that expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in trophoblasts increases in cases with preeclampsia. Recently, we demonstrated that the lack of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p57kip2, expression in the fetus and the placenta plays a role in the development of preeclampsia-like symptoms in pregnant mice. Furthermore, we observed that VEGF mRNA and protein levels, especially VEGF (164), were higher and its expression was stronger in placentas of p57kip2-null embryos than in placentas of wild-type embryos.

[Suppression of glucose absorption by various health teas in rats].

The inhibitory effects on the intestinal digestion and absorption of sugar of health teas that claim beneficial dietary and diabetes-controlling effects were compared in rats using portal cannulae. The measured durations were the times during which the elevation of portal glucose levels resulting from continuous intragastric infusion of sucrose or maltose was suppressed by concentrated teas. The teas investigated included salacia oblonga, mulberry, guava, gymunema, taheebo, yacon, and banaba.

Alteration of integrins under hypoxic stress in early placenta and choriocarcinoma cell line BeWo.

Invasion of the trophoblast into the decidua and the myometrium is very important for the establishment of a normal pregnancy. This invasion is regulated by the expression of integrins in the trophoblast. Recently, it has been shown that invasion of the trophoblast is impaired in preeclampsia.

Recombinant adenovirus vector bearing antisense macrophage migration inhibitory factor cDNA prevents acute lipopolysaccharide-induced liver failure in mice.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in delayed hypersensitivity and cellular immunity. MIF also acts as a proinflammatory cytokine and counterregulates the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids. Exogenous gene transfer mediated by adenovirus is useful to study a particular molecular function as well as to develop gene therapy strategies.

Anti-macrophage inhibitory factor antibody inhibits PMSG-hCG-induced follicular growth and ovulation in mice.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of an anti-MIF antibody on PMSG-hCG-induced murine follicular growth and ovulation and to determine whether MIF plays an essential role in this process.

Methods: Mice were primed with an intraperitoneal injection of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and were treated with an anti-rat MIF antibody and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to induce ovulation. After that, the ovulated ova were counted.

Increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in placentas of p57(Kip2) null embryos.

Placentas of mice lacking p57(Kip2) expression have trophoblastic hyperplasia. To elucidate the mechanism underlying this phenomenon, we studied expression of two angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placenta growth factor (PlGF). Immunohistochemical analysis with anti-VEGF antibodies indicated that VEGF expression was stronger and more clearly detectable in placentas of p57(Kip2) null embryos compared to wild-type placentas.

Deficiency in p57Kip2 expression induces preeclampsia-like symptoms in mice.

p57Kip2, a potent inhibitor of several cyclin/cyclin dependent kinase complexes (CDK ), is a paternally imprinted gene in both humans and mice, and here we show that pregnant mice which are heterozygous for p57Kip2 deficiency display symptoms similar to preeclampsia. p57-/+ (heterozygotes for p57Kip2 ) female mice that were mated with p57-/+ males showed hypertension, proteinuria, thrombocytopenia, decreased anti-thrombin III activity, and increased endothelin levels during late pregnancy. In their kidneys, endotheliosis of glomeruli were recognized along with fibrinoid or hyalinoid deposits.