Sodium polystyrene sulfonate as an additional contributing factor to repeated gastric ulcers among other multiple factors in a patient undergoing hemodialysis: a case report.

Background: Sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS) is a cation-exchange resin used to treat hyperkalemia. Although colorectal ulcers are known side effects of long-term SPS use, few studies have reported SPS-associated gastric ulcers. Herein, we report a case of repeated gastric ulcers during SPS administration.

Accelerated involution of germinal center in palatine tonsils in IgA nephropathy.

Background: Altered immunological responses in the palatine tonsils may be involved in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). The germinal center serves as the site for antigen-specific humoral immune responses in the palatine tonsils. Germinal center involution is frequently observed in the palatine tonsils of IgAN (IgAN tonsils).

Possible prevention of uremic nausea by vitamin D receptor activators in non-dialysis patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease.

Background: Nausea is a major uremic symptom and a frequent indication for starting dialysis. However, preventive medication for uremic nausea has not yet been identified. Vitamin D receptor activators (VDRAs) may prevent uremic nausea via their pleiotropic actions.

New Insights into the Pathogenesis of IgA Nephropathy.

Background: IgA nephropathy, a frequent cause of end-stage renal disease, is an autoimmune disease wherein immune complexes consisting of IgA1 with galactose-deficient -glycans (autoantigen) and anti-glycan autoantibodies deposit in glomeruli and induce renal injury. Multiple genetic loci associated with disease risk have been identified. The prevalence of risk alleles varies geographically, highest in eastern Asia and northern Europe, fewer in other parts of Europe and North America, and the least in Africa.

A combination of unnatural phosphatidyl acceptor and tandem electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for tracing phospholipase D activity.

Phospholipase D (PLD) is a biocatalyst in the synthesis of bioactive compounds and a key enzyme in a variety of biological signal transductions. A combination of unnatural phosphatidyl acceptor, N,N,N-triethyl-N-2-hydroxyethylammonium bromide 6, as a substrate for PLD, and tandem electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) was found to provide information as to whether a given phospholipid serves as a substrate for the PLD-catalyzed reaction. Thus 2-(13'-hydroperoxy-octadecadienoyl)-1-palmitoylglycerophosphocholine 1, and its degradation products 2-(13'-oxo-octadecadienoyl)-1-palmitoylglycerophosphocholine 9 and 2-(13'-hydroxy-octadecadienoyl)-1-palmitoylglycerophosphocholine 11, in a mixture were found to be a substrate of the PLD-catalyzed transphosphatidylation.

Cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase-catalyzed transglycosylation from dextrin to alkanol maltosides.

Maltosides of butanol, octanol, and lauryl alcohol were found for the first time to serve as substrates for cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase), and glycosyl residue was transfered from dextrin to the substrate affording novel maltosides with 3-4 glucose units.

Antianaphylactic and antipruritic effects of the flowers of Impatiens textori MIQ.

The anti-anaphylactic and anti-pruritic activities of a 35% EtOH extract (IT) of the flowers of Impatiens textori MIQ. were investigated by in vivo assay. IT and apigenin (1), apigenin 7-glucoside (2) and luteolin (3), principal compounds from IT, inhibited compound 48/80 (COM)-induced by blood pressure (BP) decrease, which was an immunoglobulin (Ig)E-independent anaphylaxis-like response.

Development of an in vivo bioassay method for allergy-preventive substances using hen-egg white lysozyme (HEL)-induced blood flow decrease.

We discovered a phenomenon in which the blood flow in vein microcirculation markedly decreases in response to hen-egg white lysozyme (HEL)-sensitization without any change in blood pressure. Using this blood flow decrease as a guide, we developed an in vivo assay method to search for substances, which can prevent allergies. Antagonists of histamine, serotonin and platelet activating factor (PAF) did not affect the blood flow decrease in response to HEL-sensitization.

Inhibitory effects of xanthones from guttiferae plants on PAF-induced hypotension in mice.

The inhibitory effects of 22 xanthones from three Guttiferae plants (Hypericum patulum, Calophyllum inophyllum and C. austroindium) on exogenous platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced hypotension were examined using a blood pressure monitoring in vivo assay method. Guanandin (2), caloxanthone E (3), 1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxy-2-isoprenylxanthone (8), 6-deoxyjacareubin (11) and patulone (18) showed strong inhibition of PAF-induced hypotension, with inhibitory effects of more than 60 %.

Effects on blood pressure decrease in response to PAF of Impatiens textori MIQ.

A 35% EtOH extract of flowers of Impatiens textori MIQ. showed an inhibitory effect on blood pressure decrease in response to platelet activating factor (PAF) measured with a blood pressure monitoring system. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the 35% EtOH extract (IT) led to isolation of the flavones apigenin (1) and luteolin (3), which significantly inhibited blood pressure decrease in response to PAF.

Antipruritic effects of the fruits of Chaenomeles sinensis.

A 35% EtOH extract of the fruits of Chaenomeles sinensis, long utilized as a folk medicine for cough, significantly inhibited the pruritogenic agent compound 48/80 (COM)-induced scratching behavior in mice. Antipruritic activity-guided fractionation and purification yielded active quercetin, apigenin, and catechin derivatives, which exhibited significant inhibitory effects on COM-induced scratching behavior. To the best of our knowledge, apigenin (5), apigenin 7-glucronide (6), and apigenin 4'-methoxy-7-glucronide (acacetin 7-glucronide) (7) were isolated from the fruits of C.