Recovery from indomethacin-induced gastrointestinal bleeding by treatment with teprenone.

Background: Gastrointestinal injuries caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is a serious side effect in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, effective therapeutic strategies have yet to be established. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of teprenone (TEP), a gastric mucosal protective drug, on NSAID-induced gastrointestinal injuries in rats with RA (AA rats).

Changes in mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase mRNA levels with cataract severity in lens epithelia of Japanese patients.

We previously reported that the collapse of ATP production via mitochondrial damage causes ATPase dysfunction, resulting in the onset or progression of lens opacification in cataracts in model rats. In the present study, it was investigated whether the mRNA expression levels of the three subtypes of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (MTCO)1, 2 and 3 and ATP content change with the type and severity of cataracts in human lens. Samples of lens epithelium were collected from Japanese patients during cataract surgery, and the type and severity of the cataracts (grade) were determined according to the WHO classification [cortical (COR), nuclear (NUC), posterior subcapsular (PSC) opacification].

Ferulic Acid Suppresses Amyloid Production in the Human Lens Epithelial Cell Stimulated with Hydrogen Peroxide.

It is well known that oxidative stresses induce the production of amyloid (A) in the brain, lens, and retina, leading to age-related diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ferulic acid on the A levels in HO-stimulated human lens epithelial (HLE) SRA 01/04 cells. Three types of A peptides (A, A, and A) were measured by ELISA, and the levels of mRNA for the expressed proteins related to A production (APP, BACE1, and PS proteins) and degradation (ADAM10, NEP, and ECE1 proteins) were determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR.

An Ophthalmic Formulation of Disulfiram Nanoparticles Prolongs Drug Residence Time in Lens.

Disulfiram (DSF) is a dimer of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) that we previously added to a solution of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (DSF solution). We found that the instillation of this DSF solution delayed lens opacification in a hereditary cataractous ICR/f rat. In this study, we attempted to design an ophthalmic formulation containing DSF nanoparticles for use as a lens targeted drug delivery system (nano-DSF suspension), and investigated the changes in drug content in the lens after the instillation of DSF solution or nano-DSF suspension.

A nanoparticle formulation of disulfiram prolongs corneal residence time of the drug and reduces intraocular pressure.

The goal in the search for successful therapies for glaucoma is the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP), and the search for effective eye drops that reduce IOP is a high priority. We previously reported the potential of a 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) solution containing 0.5% DSF (DSF solution) to provide effective anti-glaucoma treatment in eye drop form.

Sequence and structural determinants of human APOBEC3H deaminase and anti-HIV-1 activities.

Background: Human APOBEC3H (A3H) belongs to the A3 family of host restriction factors, which are cytidine deaminases that catalyze conversion of deoxycytidine to deoxyuridine in single-stranded DNA. A3 proteins contain either one (A3A, A3C, A3H) or two (A3B, A3D, A3F, A3G) Zn-binding domains. A3H has seven haplotypes (I-VII) that exhibit diverse biological phenotypes and geographical distribution in the human population.

Effect of Eye Drops Containing Disulfiram and Low-Substituted Methylcellulose in Reducing Intraocular Pressure in Rabbit Models.

Purpose: We attempted to develop anti-glaucoma eye drops using 0.5% disulfiram (DSF), 5% 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, 0.1% hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, and 2% methylcellulose (MC) (DSF eye drops with MC), and tested the ability of a DSF eye drops with MC to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) in rabbit models.