Regional neuroinflammation induced by peripheral infection contributes to fatigue-like symptoms: a [F]DPA-714 positron emission tomography study in rats.

Introduction: A series of symptoms, including fever, widespread pain, fatigue, and even ageusia, have frequently been reported in the context of various infections, such as COVID-19. Although the pathogenic mechanisms underlying an infection causing fever and pain have been well established, the mechanisms of fatigue induced by infection in specific brain regions remain unclear.

Methods: To elucidate whether and how the peripheral infection cause fatigue via regional neuroinflammation, we performed a brain-wide investigation of neuroinflammation in a peripheral pseudoinfection rat model using [F]DPA-714 positron emission tomography (PET) imaging analysis, in which the polyriboinosinic: polyribocytidylic acid (poly I:C) was intraperitoneally injected.

Lipofection with Lipofectamine™ 2000 in a heparin-free growth medium results in high transfection efficiency in chicken primordial germ cells.

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) that can differentiate into gametes are used to produce genome-edited chickens. However, the transfection efficiency into PGCs is low in chickens; therefore, the yield efficiency of PGCs modified via genome editing is problematic. In this study, we improved transfection efficiency and achieved highly efficient genome editing in chicken PGCs.

Electrolyzed Hydrogen Water Alleviates Abdominal Pain through Suppression of Colonic Tissue Inflammation in a Rat Model of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract and is typically accompanied by characteristic symptoms, such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody stool, severely deteriorating the quality of the patient's life. Electrolyzed hydrogen water (EHW) has been shown to alleviate inflammation in several diseases, such as renal disease and polymyositis/dermatomyositis. To investigate whether and how daily EHW consumption alleviates abdominal pain, the most common symptom of IBD, we examined the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of EHW in an IBD rat model, wherein colonic inflammation was induced by colorectal administration of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS).

-Methylamide-structured SB366791 derivatives with high TRPV1 antagonistic activity: toward PET radiotracers to visualize TRPV1.

Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1)-targeted compounds were synthesized by modifying the structure of SB366791, a pharmaceutically representative TRPV1 antagonist. To avoid amide-iminol tautomerization, structurally supported -methylated amides (, 3-alkoxy-substitued -meythylamide derivatives of SB366791) were evaluated using a Ca influx assay, in which cells expressed recombinant TRPV1 in the presence of 1.0 μM capsaicin.

Alleviation of the chronic stress response attributed to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of electrolyzed hydrogen water.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive and directly attack surrounding biomolecules to deteriorate cellular and tissue functions. Meanwhile, ROS also serve as signaling mediators to upregulate pro-inflammatory cytokine expression via activation of the nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway, and the increased pro-inflammatory cytokines trigger respiratory burst of inflammatory cells that further accelerates ROS production in the inflamed tissue. Such crosstalk between ROS and inflammatory responses leads to a chain reaction of negativity, and cause progression of several chronic pathologies.

Homeostatic disturbance of thermoregulatory functions in rats with chronic fatigue.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized by long-lasting fatigue, and a range of symptoms, and is involved in homeostasis disruption. CFS patients frequently complain of low grade fever or chill even under normal body temperature indicating that thermosensory or thermoregulatory functions might be disturbed in CFS. However, little is known about the detailed mechanisms.

Copper-Oxygen Dynamics in the Tyrosinase Mechanism.

The dinuclear copper enzyme, tyrosinase, activates O to form a (μ-η :η -peroxido)dicopper(II) species, which hydroxylates phenols to catechols. However, the exact mechanism of phenolase reaction in the catalytic site of tyrosinase is still under debate. We herein report the near atomic resolution X-ray crystal structures of the active tyrosinases with substrate l-tyrosine.

Neurosecretory protein GL stimulates food intake, de novo lipogenesis, and onset of obesity.

Mechanisms underlying the central regulation of food intake and fat accumulation are not fully understood. We found that neurosecretory protein GL (NPGL), a newly-identified neuropeptide, increased food intake and white adipose tissue (WAT) in rats. NPGL-precursor gene overexpression in the hypothalamus caused increases in food intake, WAT, body mass, and circulating insulin when fed a high calorie diet.

Neurosecretory Protein GL, a Hypothalamic Small Secretory Protein, Participates in Energy Homeostasis in Male Mice.

We have recently identified from the avian hypothalamus a complementary DNA encoding a small secretory protein termed neurosecretory protein GL (NPGL). In chicks, NPGL increases body weight gain without affecting food intake. A database search reveals that NPGL is conserved throughout vertebrates.

Evaluation of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for hepatocellular carcinoma prior to and following stereotactic body radiation therapy using the CyberKnife® system: A preliminary report.

The CyberKnife® is expected to be a novel local treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), however, a long-term follow-up using dynamic computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging is required to determine the effect of treatment in a number of the affected patients. Therefore, there is a requirement to evaluate procedures for early determination of the effect of CyberKnife treatment. The present study aimed to evaluate the changes in the hemodynamics of the tumors and the hepatic parenchyma surrounding the tumor prior to and following CyberKnife treatment for HCC.

NMR studies on monofunctionalized fullerenyl cation and anion encapsulating a H2 molecule.

(1)H NMR chemical shifts of molecular hydrogen encapsulated in dichloromethyl-C(60) cation and (1-octynyl)-C(60) anion were studied to clarify the difference in magnetic shielding effects inside the fullerene cages. The signals of the H(2) molecule inside both cationic and anionic C(60) cages appeared at lower fields than those of the neutral counterparts. These results were interpreted based on the results of NICS calculations.