Staff attitudes towards people with intellectual disabilities in Japan and the United States.

Background: Staff attitudes may affect choices available to persons with intellectual disabilities (ID). This study examined attitudes towards people with ID among staff working with people with ID in Japan and the United States.

Method: Attitudes of staff working with people with ID in Japan and the United States were compared using the Community Living Attitudes Scale, Intellectual Disabilities Form.

C-reactive protein specifically enhances platelet-activating factor-induced inflammatory activity in vivo.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent lipid mediator that is implicated in numerous inflammatory diseases. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase plasma protein that increases rapidly and dramatically in response to inflammation. In this study, we investigated the effect of the interaction between CRP and PAF on inflammatory responses in vivo.

The characteristic structure of anti-HIV actinohivin in complex with three HMTG D1 chains of HIV-gp120.

The anti-HIV lectin actinohivin (AH) specifically interacts with HMTG (high-mannose-type glycan), which is attached to the glycoprotein gp120 of HIV-1 in a process in which the three branched mannotriose chains (D1, D2, and D3) of HMTG exhibit different binding affinities, it being estimated that that of D1 is the strongest, that of D3 is weaker, and that of D2 is undetectable. These properties have been ascribed to the stereochemical differences in linkages between the second and the third mannose residues of the three chains. In order to clarify the interaction geometry between AH and the major target D1, an X-ray determination of the crystal structure of AH in complex with D1-which is α(1,2)mannotriose composed of three mannose (Man) residues linked together only by α(1,2) bonding-has been performed.

Highly stable, fluorescence-labeled heptapeptides substituted with a D-amino acid for the specific detection of oxidized low-density lipoprotein in plasma.

Probes that can detect oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in plasma and in atherosclerotic plaques can be useful for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of atherosclerosis. Recently, we have reported that two heptapeptides (Lys-Trp-Tyr-Lys-Asp-Gly-Asp, KP6) coupled to fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) through the ε-amino group of N-terminus Lys in the absence/presence of 6-amino-n-caproic acid (AC) linker to FITC-(FITC)KP6 and (FITC-AC)KP6-can be useful as fluorescent probes for the specific detection of ox-LDL. In this study, to develop the fluorescent peptides with high plasma stability for the specific detection of ox-LDL, we investigated the interaction of (FITC)KP6 and (FITC-AC)KP6 substituted with D-Lys at the N-terminus-(FITC)dKP6 and (FITC-AC)dKP6-with ox-LDL, and the in vitro stability of these peptides in mouse plasma.

Rasa3 controls megakaryocyte Rap1 activation, integrin signaling and differentiation into proplatelet.

Rasa3 is a GTPase activating protein of the GAP1 family which targets Ras and Rap1. Ubiquitous Rasa3 catalytic inactivation in mouse results in early embryonic lethality. Here, we show that Rasa3 catalytic inactivation in mouse hematopoietic cells results in a lethal syndrome characterized by severe defects during megakaryopoiesis, thrombocytopenia and a predisposition to develop preleukemia.

O⁶-carboxymethylguanine in DNA forms a sequence context-dependent wobble base-pair structure with thymine.

N-Nitrosation of glycine and its derivatives generates potent alkylating agents that can lead to the formation of O(6)-carboxymethylguanine (O(6)-CMG) in DNA. O(6)-CMG has been identified in DNA derived from human colon tissue and its occurrence has been linked to diets high in red and processed meats, implying an association with the induction of colorectal cancer. By analogy to O(6)-methylguanine, O(6)-CMG is expected to be mutagenic, inducing G-to-A mutations that may be the molecular basis of increased cancer risk.

A synthetic biotinylated peptide, BP21, inhibits the induction of mRNA expression of inflammatory substances by oxidized- and lyso-phosphatidylcholine.

Preclinical Research Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) is implicated in many inflammatory diseases, e.g., type 2 diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, and metabolic syndrome.

Novel fluorescently labeled peptide compounds for detection of oxidized low-density lipoprotein at high specificity.

The probes for specific detection of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in plasma and in atherosclerotic plaques are expected to be useful for the identification, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment for atherosclerosis. In this study, to develop a fluorescent peptide probe for specific detection of ox-LDL, we investigated the interaction of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled peptides with ox-LDL using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Two heptapeptides (KWYKDGD and KP6) coupled through the ε-amino group of K at the N-terminus to FITC in the presence/absence of 6-amino-n-caproic acid (AC) linker to FITC--(FITC-AC)KP6 and (FITC)KP6--both bound with high specificity to ox-LDL in a dose-dependent manner.

Dirac versus Weyl fermions in topological insulators: Adler-Bell-Jackiw anomaly in transport phenomena.

Dirac metals (gapless semiconductors) are believed to turn into Weyl metals when perturbations, which break either time reversal symmetry or inversion symmetry, are employed. However, no experimental evidence has been reported for the existence of Weyl fermions in three dimensions. Applying magnetic fields near the topological phase transition from a topological insulator to a band insulator in Bi1-xSbx we observe not only the weak antilocalization phenomenon in magnetoconductivity near zero magnetic fields (B<0.

The homogeneity effect on figure/ground perception in infancy.

We examined whether the homogeneity of the two profiles of Rubin's goblet affects figure/ground perception in infants. We modified the two profiles of Rubin's goblet in order to compare figure/ground perception under four test patterns: (1) two profiles painted with horizontal lines (horizontal-line condition), (2) two profiles painted middle gray (uni-color condition), (3) one profile painted light gray and the other dark gray (two-color condition), and (4) a goblet painted with concentric circles (concentric-circles condition). In the horizontal-line condition the homogeneity of the profile was strengthened, and in the two-color condition the homogeneity of the profile was weakened compared to the uni-color condition, which was an original Rubin's goblet.

Visualization of sterol-rich membrane domains with fluorescently-labeled theonellamides.

Cholesterol plays important roles in biological membranes. The cellular location where cholesterol molecules work is prerequisite information for understanding their dynamic action. Bioimaging probes for cholesterol molecules would be the most powerful means for unraveling the complex nature of lipid membranes.

Accumulation of radioactive cesium released from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in terrestrial cyanobacteria Nostoc commune.

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident released large amounts of radioactive substances into the environment and contaminated the soil of Tohoku and Kanto districts in Japan. Removal of radioactive material from the environment is an urgent problem, and soil purification using plants is being considered. In this study, we investigated the ability of 12 seed plant species and a cyanobacterium to accumulate radioactive material.

Common mechanism in endothelin-3 and PAF receptor function for anti-inflammatory responses.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent lipid mediator that is implicated in numerous inflammatory diseases. Under inflammatory conditions, PAF is biosynthesized through the remodelling pathway and elicits many inflammatory responses through binding to its specific PAF receptor. Endogenous bioactive endothelins (ETs: ET-1, -2, and -3) are also considered potent inflammatory mediators that play a critical role in many inflammatory diseases.

Peculiarity in crystal packing of anti-HIV lectin actinohivin in complex with α(1-2)mannobiose.

Previously, the anti-HIV lectin actinohivin (AH) was cocrystallized with the target α(1-2)mannobiose (MB) in the apparent space group P213. However, three MB-bound AH rotamers generated by ±120° rotations around the molecular pseudo-threefold rotation axis are packed randomly in the unit cell according to P212121 symmetry [Hoque et al. (2012).

Inhibitory effect of erythraline on Toll-like receptor signaling pathway in RAW264.7 cells.

Erythraline, isolated from the bark of Erythrina crista-galli which are used as Brazilian medicine plant for the treatment of inflammation diseases, suppressed nitric oxide (NO) production and induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in RAW264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Because of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and its signal transduction are indispensable to the production of NO and iNOS expression by LPS, we investigated the effects of erythraline on TLR signaling molecules.

Secreted calmodulin-like skin protein ameliorates scopolamine-induced memory impairment.

Humanin, a short bioactive peptide, inhibits cell death in a variety of cell-based death models through Humanin receptors in vitro. In vivo, Humanin ameliorates both muscarinic receptor antagonist-induced memory impairment in normal mice and memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD)-relevant mouse models including aged transgenic mice expressing a familial AD-linked gene. Recently, calmodulin-like skin protein (CLSP) has been shown to be secreted from skin tissues, contain a region minimally similar to the core region of Humanin, and inhibit AD-related neuronal death through the heterotrimeric Humanin receptor on the cell surface in vitro.

An endothelin-3-related synthetic biotinylated pentapeptide as a novel inhibitor of platelet-activating factor.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF), a potent proinflammatory mediator, is involved in many inflammatory diseases. We recently reported that synthetic biotinylated peptides having a Tyr-Lys-Asp-Gly sequence inhibit PAF-induced inflammation by directly binding to PAF. In this study, we investigated the effect of two synthetic biotinylated peptides, both of which have a sequence similar to Tyr-Lys-Asp-Gly-an endothelin-3 (ET-3)-related biotinylated pentapeptide (Tyr-Lys-Asp-Lys-Glu, BPET3) and a scavenger receptor CD36-related biotinylated tetrapeptide (Tyr-Lys-Gly-Lys, BPCD36)-on PAF-induced inflammation by using a rat model of hind paw oedema.

Interleukin-5 plays a key role in mouse strain- dependent susceptibility to contact hypersensitivity through its effects on initiator B cells.

Background: Elicitation of contact hypersensitivity requires antigen-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies that trigger recruitment of effector T cells to the local tissue. These antigen-specific IgM antibodies are produced by B-1-like 'initiator B cells'. In this study, we compared susceptibility to hapten-induced contact hypersensitivity between BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice.

Potential use of dietary natural products, especially polyphenols, for improving type-1 allergic symptoms.

Type-1 allergic diseases consist of two phases. An inductive phase comprises IgE formation to allergens based on the immune system being biased to predominant T-helper type 2 responses. In a triggering phase allergic symptoms are triggered due to a robust secretion of mediators from mast cells and other cells after re-exposure to the same allergen.

Structures of DNA duplexes containing O6-carboxymethylguanine, a lesion associated with gastrointestinal cancer, reveal a mechanism for inducing pyrimidine transition mutations.

N-nitrosation of glycine and its derivatives generates potent alkylating agents that can lead to the formation of O(6)-carboxymethylguanine (O(6)-CMG) in DNA. O(6)-CMG has been identified in DNA derived from human colon tissue, and its occurrence has been linked to diets high in red and processed meats. By analogy to O(6)-methylguanine, O(6)-CMG is expected to be highly mutagenic, inducing G to A mutations during DNA replication that can increase the risk of gastrointestinal and other cancers.

Endothelins specifically recognize lysophosphatidylcholine micelles.

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), a major phospholipid component of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), is implicated in numerous inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis. Here, to clarify the relationship between bioactive endothelins (ETs) (which are considered to be potent proinflammatory mediators) and LPC/ox-LDL, we investigated the interaction between ETs and LPC/ox-LDL by fluorescence spectroscopy and western blotting. Tryptophan fluorescence measurements revealed ETs specifically interacted with LPC at concentrations that exceeded the critical micelle concentration (CMC).

Endothelin-3 at low concentrations attenuates inflammatory responses via the endothelin B2 receptor.

Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify a role of endothelins (ETs: ET-1, -2, and -3) and their receptors (ETA, ETB1, and ETB2) in inflammatory responses.

Methods: Male Wistar rats (180-220 g) were used. The effects of ETs in the absence or presence of the ETA antagonist BQ-123/the selective ETB2 antagonist BQ-788, and the effect of the selective ETB1 agonist IRL-1620 and the nonselective ETB agonist BQ-3020, on rat hind paw oedema induced by several proinflammatory substances were examined.