Higher expression of jejunal LPH gene in rats fed the high-carbohydrate/low-fat diet compared with those fed the low-carbohydrate/high-fat diet is associated with in vitro binding of Cdx-2 in nuclear proteins to its promoter regions.

It has been previously demonstrated that the expression of lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LPH) and sucrase-isomaltase (SI) genes are higher in rats fed a high-carbohydrate/low-fat (HCT) diet than in those fed a low-carbohydrate/high-fat (LCT) diet. In the present study, using a nuclear run-on assay we clearly show that higher expression of LPH and SI genes in jejunum of rats fed the HCT diet compared with those fed a LCT diet was regulated at the transcription levels. DNase I foot printing analysis of the 5' flanking region of the rat LPH gene demonstrated that by incubating the jejunal nuclear extract the protected region was conserved as the same sequence as the homeodomain protein-binding element designated as CE-LPH1.

Induction of histone acetylation on the CRBPII gene in perinatal rat small intestine.

The expression of genes associated with lipid and vitamin A metabolism is elevated when the small intestinal mucosa is maturing rapidly during the perinatal period. We have previously reported that cellular retinol-binding protein type II (CRBPII) mRNA levels rise abruptly in the rat small intestine during this period. In this study, we examined whether the acetylation of histones H3 and H4 is involved in the intestinal expression of CRBPII during the perinatal stage.

Effects of miglitol, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, on glycaemic status and histopathological changes in islets in non-obese, non-insulin-dependent diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats.

Miglitol, a 1-deoxynojirimycin derivative, is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor. In the present study, the effects of acute (single-dose) and chronic (8-week) oral administration of miglitol in Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, an animal model of type 2 diabetes, were investigated. Dose-dependent decreases in incremental blood glucose concentrations integrated over a period of 2 h (deltaAUC0-2 h) for values of blood glucose after sucrose-loading in miglitol-treated GK rats were observed following an acute oral administration of miglitol (1, 3 or 10 mg/kg body weight).

Availability, fermentability, and energy value of resistant maltodextrin: modeling of short-term indirect calorimetric measurements in healthy adults.

Background: Determination of the metabolizable (ME) and net metabolizable (NME) energy of total carbohydrate requires estimation of its available (AC) and fermentable (FC) carbohydrate content. Modeling of indirect calorimetric observations (respiratory gas exchange) and breath hydrogen would appear to make it possible to estimate noninvasively these nutritional quantities and the approximate time-course of availability.

Objective: We assessed the time-course of metabolism and energy availability from resistant maltodextrin (RMD) by modeling of respiratory gases after a single oral dose.

Diet-related variation in cellular retinol-binding protein type II gene expression in rat jejunum.

Cellular retinol-binding protein type II (CRBPII) is involved in the transport of vitamin A and its metabolism in the small intestine. In the present study, we demonstrated diet-related variations in CRBPII expression in rat jejunum. The CRBPII protein and mRNA levels increased in parallel after the start of feeding period regardless of whether the feeding period was restricted to the hours of darkness or of light.

Developmental changes of the expression of the genes regulated by retinoic acid in the small intestine of rats.

Retinoic acid (RA) serves as a hormone-like nutrient and it plays pivotal roles in cellular differentiation and proliferation in various tissues including the small intestine. In this study, we aimed to explore a possible role of RA signaling in the developing rat small intestine of perinatal (embryonic and newborn) and suckling-weaning transition period, and we investigated the changes in the expression of several genes regulated by RA. Northern blot analysis showed that both retinal dehydrogenase 1 (RALDH1) and retinal dehydrogenase 2 (RALDH2) mRNA levels were higher in 19-day fetal (2 days before birth) small intestine and then declined after birth.

Postnatal changes in gene expression of retinal dehydrogenase and retinoid receptors in liver of rats.

Retinoic acid (RA) plays important roles in cellular differentiation and proliferation in various tissues including the liver. To explore a possible role of RA in the postnatal development of hepatic function, we analyzed RA-generation enzyme activity and the RA-related hepatic gene expressions in the suckling and weaning rats. At 5 days after birth, retinal dehydrogenase (RALDH) activity in the liver was relatively high.

Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with connective tissue diseases.

To assess the possibility that Helicobacter pylori might be an etiologic agent, titers of anti-H. pylori IgG in sera of patients with connective tissue diseases [rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), polymyositis or dermatomyositis (PM/DM), progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) and Sjögren's syndrome (SjS)] were compared with those of non-patient (healthy) volunteers and of patients with chronic pulmonary diseases (CPD) by ELISA using an extract of sonicated H. pylori as the antigen.

Susceptibility of mice to bacterial and fungal infections after intragastric administration of ebselen.

The seleno-organic compound ebselen (2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one) has anti-inflammatory activity and exhibits glutathione peroxidase-like activity in-vitro. Ebselen inhibited candidacidal activity over the same range of concentrations as it inhibited the production of microbicidal H2O2 by human neutrophils and macrophage-like cells. Therefore, the long-term administration of ebselen might be expected to induce an immunocompromised state in the host.

Expression of calcitonin receptors on human myeloid leukemia cells.

Certain osteoclastic markers (multinucleation and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase) were induced in human leukemia HL-60 cells by treatment with 10(-7) M 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] for 10 days. However, no formation of pits on a bone substrate by vitamin-treated HL-60 cells was detected. Expression of calcitonin receptors (CTR), another osteoclastic marker, was examined by means of the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

Interaction of atrial natriuretic peptide with its receptors in bovine lung membranes.

In bovine lung membranes, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) showed temperature-dependent binding to guanylate cyclase-natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR-GC). Photoaffinity labeling of the receptors with 4-azidobenzoyl (AZB)-125I-ANP and competitive binding studies with 125I-ANP, ANP, and atriopeptin I (API) revealed that NPR-GC was detected as the predominant ANP-binding protein at 0 degrees C, whereas at 37 degrees C natriuretic peptide clearance receptor (NPR-C) was detected as the predominant protein. The ratio of NPR-GC and NPR-C was 89:11 at 0 degrees C for 40 min, respectively, whereas 6:94 at 37 degrees C.

Inhibition by the protein kinase inhibitor HA1077 of the activation of NADPH oxidase in human neutrophils.

The effect of an inhibitor of protein kinase, HA1077 [1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-homopiperazine HCl], and its hydroxylated metabolite, HA1100, on the activation of NADPH oxidase in human neutrophils were studied. Cells were preincubated with each drug for 10 min and then activated by treatment with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or formylmethionyl leucyl phenylalanine (FMLP). After activation, the rate of superoxide dismutase-inhibitable reduction of cytochrome c was estimated.

Appearance of nuclear factors that interact with genes for myeloid calcium binding proteins (MRP-8 and MRP-14) in differentiated HL-60 cells.

Myeloid calcium binding proteins MRP-8 and MRP-14 were induced, and their genes were coordinately expressed, during differentiation of human leukemia HL-60 cells into macrophage-like cells after treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3). Both MRP-8 and MRP-14 mRNAs appeared on the day after VD3 treatment. Their level reached a peak on day 2, and then quickly declined.