Identification of protein kinase C domains involved in its translocation induced by propofol.

Propofol is widely used for general anesthesia and sedation; however, the mechanisms of its anesthetic and adverse effects are not fully understood. We have previously shown that propofol activates protein kinase C (PKC) and induces its translocation in a subtype-specific manner. The purpose of this study was to identify the PKC domains involved in propofol-induced PKC translocation.

Establishment of a method for determining the origin of glutamic acid in processed food based on carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios.

We developed a discriminant method based on the stable isotope ratio of carbon and nitrogen (δC and δN) to evaluate whether monosodium glutamate (MSG) is used in processed food samples. δC measurements were performed by elemental analyzer/isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (EA/IRMS) for on glutamic acid isolated from samples at high purity, and δN measurements were performed by gas chromatography/combustion/IRMS (GC/C/IRMS) following the purification and derivatization steps. By applying these methods, the δC and δN values for glutamic acid present in a wide variety of processed foods were obtained.

Distinguishing glutamic acid in foodstuffs and monosodium glutamate used as seasoning by stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios.

Recently, a number of consumers have begun to appreciate more natural ingredients and have become less willing to consume monosodium glutamate (MSG) as a seasoning. By measuring stable isotope ratios (δC and δN) of glutamic acid contained in foodstuffs and MSG used as seasoning, we attempted to distinguish between both using elemental analyzer-isotope-ratio mass spectrometry (EA/IRMS) and gas chromatography/combustion/IRMS (GC/C/IRMS). As a result, seasoning MSG was observed to have a lower δN value than glutamic acid in foodstuffs.

Biochemical and Clinical Predictive Approach and Time Point Analysis of Hepatobiliary Phase Liver Enhancement on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR Images: A Multicenter Study.

Purpose To identify biochemical factors associated with liver enhancement over time on gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) images and predict the optimal time point of the hepatobiliary phase in various clinical settings. Materials and Methods This study was approved by the institutional review boards, and written informed consent was obtained from the 1903 patients enrolled. Simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the biochemical factors associated with liver-to-spleen contrast (LSC) of at least 1.

High-fat Diet-induced Intestinal Hyperpermeability is Associated with Increased Bile Acids in the Large Intestine of Mice.

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by low-grade chronic systemic inflammation, which is associated with intestinal hyperpermeability. This study examined the effects of 3 high-fat diets (HFDs) composed of different fat sources (soybean oil and lard) on the intestinal permeability, tight junction (TJ) protein expression, and cecal bile acid (BA) concentrations in mice, and then analyzed their interrelations. C57/BL6 mice were fed the control diet, HFD (soybean oil), HFD (lard), and HFD (mix; containing equal concentrations of soybean oil and lard) for 8 wk.

Beneficial Effects of Supplementation of the Rare Sugar "D-allulose" Against Hepatic Steatosis and Severe Obesity in Lep(ob)/Lep(ob) Mice.

A rare sugar, D-allulose (also called D-psicose), has recently been applied as a food supplement in view of controlling diabetes and obesity in Japan. D-allulose has been proven to have unique effects against hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia in a number of studies using several species of rats and mice. However, the antiobesity effects of D-allulose have not yet been assessed in Lep(ob)/Lep(ob) (ob/ob) mice.

Antiviral effects of persimmon extract on human norovirus and its surrogate, bacteriophage MS2.

Unlabelled: Human noroviruses (NoVs) are the leading cause of gastroenteritis and foodborne illnesses worldwide. In this study, we investigated the effects of persimmon extract (PE) on NoV GII.4 and bacteriophage MS2.

Differential contribution of central command to the cardiovascular responses during static exercise of ankle dorsal and plantar flexion in humans.

To examine whether central command contributes differently to the cardiovascular responses during voluntary static exercise engaged by different muscle groups, we encouraged healthy subjects to perform voluntary and electrically evoked involuntary static exercise of ankle dorsal and plantar flexion. Each exercise was conducted with 25% of the maximum voluntary force of the right ankle dorsal and plantar flexion, respectively, for 2 min. Heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were recorded, and stroke volume, cardiac output (CO), and total peripheral resistance were calculated.

Sympathetic cholinergic nerve contributes to increased muscle blood flow at the onset of voluntary static exercise in conscious cats.

We examined whether a sympathetic cholinergic mechanism contributed to increased blood flow of the exercising muscle at the onset of voluntary static exercise in conscious cats. After six cats were operantly conditioned to perform static bar press exercise with a forelimb while maintaining a sitting posture, a Transonic or pulsed Doppler flow probe was implanted on the brachial artery of the exercising forelimb, and catheters were inserted into the left carotid artery and jugular vein. After the baseline brachial blood flow and vascular conductance decreased and became stable in progress of postoperative recovery, the static exercise experiments were started.

An interactive fuzzy satisficing method for multiobjective nonconvex programming problems with fuzzy numbers through coevolutionary genetic algorithms.

In this paper, by considering the experts' fuzzy understanding of the nature of the parameters in the problem-formulation process, multiobjective nonconvex nonlinear programming problems with fuzzy numbers are formulated and an interactive fuzzy satisficing method through coevolutionary genetic algorithms is presented. Using the alpha-level sets of fuzzy numbers, the corresponding nonfuzzy alpha-programming problem is introduced. After determining the fuzzy goals of the decision maker, if the decision maker specifies the degree alpha and the reference membership values, the corresponding extended Pareto optimal solution can be obtained by solving the augmented minimax problems for which the coevolutionary genetic algorithm, called GENOCOP III, is applicable.

Genetic algorithms with decomposition procedures for multidimensional 0-1 knapsack problems with block angular structures.

This paper presents a detailed treatment of genetic algorithms with decomposition procedures as developed for large scale multidimensional 0-1 knapsack problems with block angular structures. Through the introduction of a triple string representation and the corresponding decoding algorithm, it is shown that a potential solution satisfying not only block constraints but also coupling constraints can be obtained for each individual. Then genetic algorithms with decomposition procedures are presented as an approximate solution method for multidimensional 0-1 knapsack problems with block angular structures.

A recurrent log-linearized Gaussian mixture network.

Context in time series is one of the most useful and interesting characteristics for machine learning. In some cases, the dynamic characteristic would be the only basis for achieving a possible classification. A novel neural network, which is named "a recurrent log-linearized Gaussian mixture network (R-LLGMN)," is proposed in this paper for classification of time series.

Muscle mechanosensitive reflex is suppressed in the conscious condition: effect of anesthesia.

To test the hypothesis that a muscle mechanosensitive reflex is suppressed in the conscious condition, we examined the effect of anesthesia on the cardiovascular responses to passive mechanical stretch of the hindlimb triceps surae muscle in six conscious cats. The triceps surae muscle was manually stretched for 30 s by extending the hip and knee joints and subsequently by dorsiflexing the ankle joint; the lateral gastrocnemius muscle was lengthened by 19 +/- 2.6 mm.

Skin surface shock wave.

This paper discusses the Skin Surface Shock Wave which is generated after we impart an impulsive force to human skin. The force is given by an air jet during 200 [ms]. The basic behavior of shock wave is measured by a high speed camera with the frame rate of 2000 [Hz].

Gadolinium does not blunt the cardiovascular responses at the onset of voluntary static exercise in cats: a predominant role of central command.

The cardiovascular adaptation at the onset of voluntary static exercise is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. Two neural mechanisms are responsible for the cardiovascular adaptation: one is central command descending from higher brain centers, and the other is a muscle mechanosensitive reflex from activation of mechanoreceptors in the contracting muscles. To examine which mechanism played a major role in producing the initial cardiovascular adaptation during static exercise, we studied the effect of intravenous administration of gadolinium (55 micromol/kg), a blocker of stretch-activated ion channels, on the increases in heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) at the onset of voluntary static exercise (pressing a bar with a forelimb) in conscious cats.

Central command blunts sensitivity of arterial baroreceptor-heart rate reflex at onset of voluntary static exercise.

We have reported that baroreflex bradycardia by stimulation of the aortic depressor nerve is blunted at the onset of voluntary static exercise in conscious cats. Central command may contribute to the blunted bradycardia, because the most blunted bradycardia occurs immediately before exercise or when a forelimb is extended before force development. However, it remained unknown whether the blunted bradycardia is due to either reduced sensitivity of the baroreflex stimulus-response curve or resetting of the curve toward a higher blood pressure.

Apparent diffusion coefficient of human brain tumors at MR imaging.

Purpose: To determine if apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) can be used to differentiate brain tumors at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval or informed patient consent was not required. MR images were reviewed retrospectively in 275 patients with brain tumors: 147 males and 128 females 1-81 years old, treated between September 1997 and July 2003.

Central inhibition of the aortic baroreceptors-heart rate reflex at the onset of spontaneous muscle contraction.

Animals decerebrated at the precollicular-premammillary body level exhibit spontaneous locomotion without any artificial stimulation. Our laboratory reported that the cardiovascular and autonomic responses at the onset of spontaneous locomotor events are evoked by central command, generated from the caudal diencephalon and the brain stem (Matsukawa K, Murata J, and Wada T. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 275: H1115-H1121, 1998).

Growth stimulatory effect of interleukin (IL)-1 alpha produced by oral squamous carcinoma cell lines.

The expression of IL-1 alpha and its effect on the cell growth were examined in six human oral squamous carcinoma cell lines. All the cell lines expressed IL-1 alpha mRNA and protein at various levels. Particularly, HSC-2 and HSC-3 cells showed high level of the mRNA expression and secreted large amounts of IL-1 alpha into the culture fluid.

nm23-H1 expression in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma in relation to metastasis and survival.

The expression of nm23-H1, product of putative metastasis suppressor gene, was evaluated immunohistochemically in 31 cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of salivary glands and correlated with their clinicopathologic features. All benign salivary gland tumors of various types, which were used as a non-metastatic control, showed obvious nm23-H1 expression. The immunoreactivity of tumor cells was stronger than that of normal salivary gland components, although the distribution patterns of positive cells considerably varied between tumor types.

Alteration of telomeric repeat length in hepatocellular carcinoma is independent of telomerase activity.

Length of terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) was examined in 34 samples from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. TRF length alterations (reduction or elongation) were found in 18 of 34 (53%) HCC nodules (13 cases reduced, 5 cases elongated). The incidence of TRF alteration was significantly higher in HCC exceeding 3 cm in diameter, moderately- or poorly-differentiated in histology, or with microscopic aggressive lesions (P<0.

Single carcinoma cells at the deepest invasive portion correlate with metastatic potential of advanced colorectal carcinoma.

The clinical significance of detecting single carcinoma cells (SC) at the deepest invasive portion of a tumor in terms of metastatic potential and prognosis was examined in 57 patients with surgically resected advanced colorectal carcinoma. SC were detected using an immunohistochemical stain for cytokeratin in these sections. The deepest invasive portions of tumors were subclassified by histology into three grades as follows: well-differentiated (W), moderately-well differentiated (Mw; a type that more closely resembles the W tumor), and moderately-poorly differentiated (Mp; more closely resembling poorly differentiated tumor).

Colon tissue implanted into the glandular stomach in rats lack susceptibility to N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) carcinogenesis.

The present study was undertaken to determine the response of colon mucosa implanted into the fundus of stomach in 6-week old male F344 rats to oral administration of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Samples of colonic tissue about 8 mm in diameter were obtained from various colon sites and surgically implanted into the anterior wall of the fundus by isografting. MNNG was chronically administered at a concentration of 100 mg/l in the drinking water for 16 weeks starting 4 weeks after the operation and the grafted colon mucosa was examined at 12 months after the operation.