On-Demand Chirality Transfer of Human Serum Albumin to Bis(thiophen-2-yl)hexafluorocyclopentenes through Their Photochromic Ring Closure.

Photochromic 1,2-bis(5-carboxy-3-methyl-2-thienyl)hexafluorocyclopentene and its dimethyl ester incorporated in human serum albumin (HSA) showed highly enantioselective photochromic ring-closing reactions upon 366 nm light irradiation. The absolute stereochemistry of the major ring-closed form of the dicarboxylic acid at the newly formed sp carbon atoms was determined to be () by the process of docking simulation of the diarylethene molecule and HSA followed by molecular dynamics calculations and comparison of the measured and calculated CD spectra. Esterification of the major closed form of the diacid gave the minor closed form of the diester.

Protective effect of Actinidia arguta in MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease model mice.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Oxidative stress-induced neuronal death has been identified as one of the major causes of nigrostriatal degeneration in PD. The fruit of Actinidia arguta (A.

Effects of partial body-weight support and functional electrical stimulation on gait characteristics during treadmill locomotion: Pros and cons of saddle-seat-type body-weight support.

Robotic therapy for rehabilitation of the lower extremity is currently in its early stage of development. Aiming at exploring an efficacious intervention for gait rehabilitation, we investigate the characteristics of an end-effector gait-training device that combines saddle-seat-type body-weight-supported treadmill training with functional electrical stimulation (FES). This is a task-oriented approach to restoring voluntary control of locomotion in patients with neuromuscular diseases.

Photocyclization of photoswitches with high enantioselectivity in human serum albumin in an artificial environment.

Three photochromic bisthienylethenes exhibited 56 to >99% enantiomeric excess in photochemical ring closure upon UV irradiation when incorporated in human serum albumin dissolved in 15% acetonitrile-phosphate buffer solution and incubated for 24 h at -4 °C. The absolute stereochemistry of the major enantiomers of two bisthienylethenes has been determined by their chemical transformations.

Lipoproteins modulate growth and differentiation of cultured human epidermal keratinocytes.

The effects of various lipoproteins on the growth and the differentiation of cultured normal human keratinocytes were investigated. Primary cultures of human epidermal keratinocytes were obtained from neonatal foreskin, and then added with lipoproteins, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL). Cell growth potential was examined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.