The chemiluminescence compound 2-methyl-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)imidazo[1, 2-a]pyrazin-3(7H)-one (MCLA) was attached to cyclomaltooligosaccharides (cyclodextrins) through a single spacer by the formation of an amide bond. The properties of oxygen-induced chemiluminescence of the synthesized cyclodextrin-bound MCLA were investigated in an aqueous phosphate buffer, pH 8.0. The light-emitting efficiency was remarkably dependent on the kind of bound cyclodextrin, spacer length between the MCLA and cyclodextrin, and the binding site in cyclodextrin. The light-emitting efficiencies of cyclomaltooctaose (gamma-cyclodextrin)-bound compounds were higher than those of cyclomaltohexaose- or cyclomaltoheptaose-bound compounds. Especially, compounds in which MCLA attached to the secondary side of gamma-cyclodextrin through a short chain showed an up to 44-fold enhancement over that of a non-cyclodextrin compound. In the current case, the efficiency of single excited-state formation was 23 times greater than that of the non-cyclodextrin compound and significantly responsible for greater light-emitting efficiency. The chemiluminescence spectra indicated the wide entrance of the secondary side of gamma-cyclodextrin, and the short spacer allowed suitable intramolecular affinity between the singlet excited-state chromophore moiety and the cyclodextrin.

Cyclodextrins↗

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Effects of bromocriptine for prolactin-secreting adenomas: analysis by CT scan.

Effects of bromocriptine on the size of adenomas in CT scans were examined in eight patients with prolactin-secreting adenomas. The changes on CT scans were classified into three types: Type I showed a reduction of enhanced area, Type II showed a decrease of enhanced density and Type III showed no change on CT scans.

Adenoma↗

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Number and variations of the red and green visual pigment genes in Japanese men with normal color vision.

PURPOSE: We analyzed the red/green visual pigment genes in color-normal Japanese men to understand the relationship between color anomalies and genetic defects. METHODS: DNA from 120 color-normal Japanese men was subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplification for exons 2-5 of the red/green visual pigment genes and the PCR products were sequenced. The red:green gene ratios were estimated from the sequencing electropherograms of exon 5 and also from MvaI-restriction fragment analysis of the same exon. The first gene and the downstream genes in the pigment gene array were separately analyzed by PCR, direct sequencing, and/or single-strand conformation polymorphisms. RESULTS: The red:green gene ratios estimated from the ratios of peak heights of nucleotides on the sequencing electropherograms coincided with those estimated from the MvaI-restriction fragment analysis. Among the subjects analyzed, they were 1:1 in 43% (n = 52), 1:2 in 41% (n = 49), 1:3 in 6% (n = 7), and 1:>3 in 9% (n = 11). The first gene in the pigment gene arrays was red in all subjects. Only 1 subject (N22) had a green-red hybrid gene. Exons 2 and 4 had 2 haplotypes each, but exon 3 was highly polymorphic. Exon 5 of the green genes had one polymorphism at codon 283 with a frequency of 32%. CONCLUSIONS: The features of visual pigment genes in color-normal Japanese men were revealed. The data and establishing techniques may be useful for analyzing these genes in color-deficient subjects in the Japanese population.

Color Perception↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Enhanced expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor in the neointima of transplant renal arteriosclerosis in human renal allografts.

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Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Up-regulation of endothelin-converting enzyme during the development of transplant renal arteriosclerosis in human renal allografts.

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Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Facilitation of passive avoidance response by newly synthesized cationized arginine vasopressin fragment 4-9 in rats.

The effects of a newly synthesized cationized arginine vasopressin fragment 4-9 analogue (C-AVP-(4-9)) on learning and memory in rats were studied by the passive avoidance test. C-AVP-(4-9) and its parent peptide, arginine vasopressin fragment 4-9 (AVP-(4-9)), a well known potent neuropeptide, were subcutaneously injected 1.5 hr prior to the retention test. The most effective doses of C-AVP-(4-9) and AVP-(4-9) were 8.6 x 10(-2) and 1.3 nmol/kg, respectively. To evaluate the distribution of C-AVP-(4-9) in the control nervous system (CNS), apparent tissue-plasma concentration rations (Kp.app) of intravenously administered radioiodinated C-AVP-(4-9) (125I-C-AVP-(4-9)) in the CNS in mice were determined. At the apparent steady state of plasma concentration of 125I-C-AVP-(4-9), the Kp.app values of the 125I-C-AVP-(4-9) in the cerebrum, cerebellum and spinal cord were over 12 times higher than that of the vascular space marker which slightly penetrates the BBB. Moreover, the rat cerebral homogenate converted C-AVP-(4-9) into its parent peptide AVP-(4-9). These results suggest that the potent effects of C-AVP-(4-9) on learning and memory may be due to AVP-(4-9) generated as a result of distribution and metabolism of peripherally administered C-AVP-(4-9) in the CNS.

Animals↗

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Coherence resonance and discharge time reliability in neurons and neuronal models.

Neurons are subject to internal and external noise that have been known to modify the way they process incoming signals. Recent studies have suggested that such alterations have functional roles and can also be used in biomedical applications. The present work goes over experimental and theoretical descriptions of the response of neurons to white noise stimulation. It examines various forms of noise related behavior in a standard neuronal model, namely the leaky integrate and fire. This clarifies the conditions under which specific noise induced changes occur in neurons, and consequently can help in determining whether nervous systems operate under similar circumstances.

Action Potentials↗

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Potentially hazardous residues of non-ortho chlorine substituted coplanar PCBs in human adipose tissue.

The non-ortho chlorine substituted coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), namely, 3,3',4,4'-tetra-(T4CB), 3,3'4,4',5-penta-(P5CB), and 3,3',4,4',5,5', hexachlorobiphenyl (H6CB) are found to be the most toxic congeners of PCBs eliciting toxic and biological responses typical of 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro dibenzo-p-dioxin (T4CDD). Analyses of human adipose tissues for these congeners revealed 94-860 pg/g of T4CB, 120-730 pg/g of P5CB, and 36-200 pg/g of H6CB on wet weight basis. These were significantly higher than 2,3,7,8-T4CDD detected in the same samples (less than 1-18 pg/g). On the basis of in vitro and in vivo induction of hepatic microsomal benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase (AHH) and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), "T4CDD toxic equivalents" were calculated for coplanar PCBs in humans. "T4CDD toxic equivalent" for 3,3',4,4',5-P5CB was one order of magnitude higher than 2,3,7,8-T4CDD. Considering the extreme toxic potential and persistence of coplanar PCBs, their presence in the human body may pose a greater toxic threat than dioxins and dibenzofurans.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Fatigue fracture of the ulna occurring in pitchers of fast-pitch softball.

We have reported three cases of fatigue fracture of the ulna in male pitchers of fast-pitch softball. To elucidate the etiology of injury, we first selected three healthy male and three healthy female pitchers from a well-trained college team and analyzed their forearm movement by high-speed cinematography. This showed slight flexion of the elbow joints during wind-up motion, dorsal flexion of the hand joints upon releasing the ball, and extreme pronation of the forearms during the follow-through. We then took 8 mm CT scanning sections of the forearms. Using these images, we investigated shapes and areas of cross-sections of the ulna and its cortical and cancellous bones from the elbow to the hand joints. Our results reveal that the shapes of the sections are significantly different from circles at around the center of the ulna, and the cross-sectional areas are smaller in the middle one-third of the ulna than in other parts. These observations imply that fatigue fractures of the ulna in pitchers of fast-pitch softball must be torsionally induced, tending to occur at the middle one-third of the bone.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of nonmetal and metal hydrophilic photosensitizer, ATX-S10 (Na) and ATN-2, binding with human serum proteins using spectrophotometry.

Intermolecular interactions of human serum proteins with a hydrophilic nonmetalloporphyrin, 13,17-bis(1-carboxypropionyl)carbomoylethyl-8-ethenyl-2-hydroxy-3-hydroxyiminoethylidene-2,7,12,18-tetramethylporphyrin sodium salt (ATX-S10 (Na)), or a hydrophilic gallium-metalloporphyrin, diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid ester of 2-[1-(2-hydroxy-ethoxy)ethyl]-4-vinyl-deuteroporphyrin (IX) Ga complex (ATN-2), were investigated using spectrophotometry. ATX-S10 (Na) caused a bathochromic shift with albumin, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein, but little or no shift was observed with hemopexin, transferrin and immunoglobulin G. In contrast, ATN-2 displayed a bathochromic shift only with hemopexin. These results suggest that the association energy of ATX-S10 (Na) with albumin might be slightly greater than that with lipoproteins and that of ATN-2 with hemopexin might be greater than that with other serum proteins.

Blood Proteins↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pilot study of combined treatment with continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin C, and cisplatin (FMP) in patients with inoperable advanced gastric cancer.

We investigated combined chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (600 mg/m2/day, day 1-5, c.i.v.), mitomycin-C (6 mg/m2, day 6), and cisplatin (60 mg/m2, day 7) for inoperable advanced gastric cancer, including those with poor performance status (PS). Overall response rates were 62.5% (20/32), 59.1% (12/22) for PS 0-2 and 70.0% (7/10) for PS 3-4. Median survival was 7.2 months, 8.7 for PS 0-2; and 6.3 for PS 3-4. There was no serious toxicity or any treatment-related death. This therapy is useful, even for poor PS.

Adult↗