Coagulation-fibrinolysis system in poststroke patients receiving antiplatelet medication

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We studied the activities of the coagulation-fibrinolysis system in the chronic stage of poststroke patients and the effect of antiplatelet medication on the system. METHODS: We determined fibrinogen, antithrombin III, thrombin-antithrombin III complex, tissue plasminogen activator antigen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, plasmin-alpha 2 plasmin inhibitor complex, and D-dimer in plasma from 153 poststroke patients in the chronic phase (ie, 33 patients not receiving antiplatelet medication, 78 patients receiving 200 mg/d ticlopidine, and 42 patients receiving 40 mg/d aspirin), and compared the results in control subjects and among the treatment groups. RESULTS: The concentrations of fibrinogen, thrombin-antithrombin III complex, antithrombin III, plasmin-alpha 2 plasmin inhibitor complex, and tissue plasminogen activator were slightly but significantly increased in all treatment groups compared with control subjects (P < .01) but did not differ among the treatment groups. The plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels were significantly elevated in patients not receiving antiplatelet medication compared with control subjects (P < .01), whereas they were in the normal range and significantly lower in patients receiving ticlopidine or aspirin than in patients not receiving antiplatelet medication (P < .01). The plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels were significantly lower in patients whose platelet aggregation was inhibited by antiplatelet medication than in patients with uninhibited platelet aggregability (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that coagulation-fibrinolysis markers are mildly increased in poststroke patients in the chronic phase and that antiplatelet medication is effective in reducing the elevated plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels.     

Asymptomatic Becker muscular dystrophy: expression of dystrophin and dystrophin-related protein

We report a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), who had developed metabolic alkalosis during plasmapheresis. The metabolic alkalosis could be promptly corrected by reducing the amount of citrate load. The development of metabolic alkalosis can be explained by the citrate load during plasmapheresis. Careful monitoring of acid base status is mandatory in patients with limited renal function and the reduction of citrate load may be advisable in plasmapheresis.     

Sex Attractant Pheromone from the Rice Stalk Stink Bug, Tibraca limbativentris Stal

The male-produced sex pheromone from the Brazilian rice stalk stink bug Tibraca limbativentris is reported. Olfactometer bioassays with sexually mature males and females showed that males attracted females, which suggests that males release a sex pheromone. Males were not attracted to either sex, nor were females attractive to conspecific females. Attraction of the females to males was highest at night. The headspace volatiles collected from male and female bugs were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC–mass spectrometry. Two male-specific compounds were identified as isomers of 1′S-zingiberenol, whereas a series of defensive compounds were identified in extracts from both sexes. Zingiberenol has three chiral centers, and the nonselective syntheses used produced two groups of isomers, zingiberenol I containing four isomers, namely (1RS,4RS,1′R)-4-(1′,5′-dimethylhex-4′-enyl)-1-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-ol, and zingiberenol II containing the other four isomers, namely (1RS,4RS,1′S)-4-(1′,5′-dimethylhex-4′-enyl)-1-methylcyclohex-2-en-1-ol. Both groups of stereoisomers were more attractive than hexane controls. The absolute configuration of the insect-produced pheromonal components remains to be elucidated, but the 1′S stereochemistry was established for at least one of the isomers.     

Detection of norovirus RNA in bivalve molluscs by using bacteria-culture-employed method (A3T method)

Norovirus (NV) RNA has rarely been detected in foods despite the use of highly sensitive methods such as RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR. In the modified method (A3T method) reported previously, a bacterial culture process was introduced into the standard protocol for NV detection to remove some inhibitor(s) present in food ingredients. To confirm the efficiency of the A3T method and to examine NV contamination in bivalve molluscs, we tried to detect NV RNA in bivalve molluscs on the market and in oyster samples associated with foodborne outbreaks by using the standard method and the A3T method. NV RNAs were detected in 20 samples (18.0%) of 111 bivalve molluscs, including oysters, on the market by use of the A3T method, while only one sample (0.9%) was positive according to the standard method. NV RNA was also detected in 10 of 35 oyster samples related to foodborne outbreaks by the A3T method. Those results show that the A3T method is suitable for the detection of NV in bivalve molluscs in general laboratories.     

Clinical diagnostic indicators of renal and bone damage in rats intramuscularly injected with depleted uranium

The toxic effects and changes in biochemical markers related to kidney and bone in depleted uranium (DU)-injected rats were examined in order to clarify the relation between clinical biochemical markers and the degree of damage in these organs. Male Wistar rats received a single injection in the femoral muscles of 0.2, 1.0 or 2.0 mg kg(-1) of DU which was dissolved in nitric acid solution adjusted to pH 3.2, for comparison with the group injected with nitric acid solution, and the control group. Urine and faeces were collected periodically over a 24 h period. Thereafter, the rats were killed at 28 d after DU injection. The body weights of the DU-injected groups decreased dose-dependently for the first 3-7 d, and then began to increase. The DU concentrations in the urine and faeces decreased rapidly within 3-7 d after DU injection. Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG)/creatinine peaked at the third day after DU injection, with a high correlation to the injected DU doses. There were high correlations among the injected DU doses, DU concentrations in the kidney and urinary NAG/creatinine values that were obtained at 28 d, respectively. The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine in the serum also showed a high correlation with the DU-injected doses. The results indicated that urinary NAG/creatinine, BUN and creatinine in serum were useful indicators to diagnose the renal damage by DU, as well as to estimate the DU intake and concentration in the kidney when the intake is >2 mg kg(-1) DU. The total bone mineral density of the proximal metaphysis of the tibia decreased in the 2 mg kg(-1) DU group. In addition, alterations of the trabecular bone structure by inhibiting bone formation and promoting bone resorption were observed by bone histomorphometery. The bone biochemical markers osteocalcin, tartrate-resistance acid phosphatase, pyridinoline and rat-parathyroid hormone increased in all the DU injected groups, indicating that these markers were useful as sensitive indicators for diagnosing bone damage, even if the DU dose injected is low.     

Docosahexaenoic Acid Esters of Hydroxy Fatty Acid Is a Novel Activator of NRF2

Fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFAs) are a new class of endogenous lipids with interesting physiological functions in mammals. Despite their structural diversity and links with nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) biosynthesis, FAHFAs are less explored as NRF2 activators. Herein, we examined for the first time the synthetic docosahexaenoic acid esters of 12-hydroxy stearic acid (12-DHAHSA) or oleic acid (12-DHAHOA) against NRF2 activation in cultured human hepatoma-derived cells (C3A). The effect of DHA-derived FAHFAs on lipid metabolism was explored by the nontargeted lipidomic analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Furthermore, their action on lipid droplet (LD) oxidation was investigated by the fluorescence imaging technique. The DHA-derived FAHFAs showed less cytotoxicity compared to their native fatty acids and activated the NRF2 in a dose-dependent pattern. Treatment of 12-DHAHOA with C3A cells upregulated the cellular triacylglycerol levels by 17-fold compared to the untreated group. Fluorescence imaging analysis also revealed the suppression of the degree of LDs oxidation upon treatment with 12-DHAHSA. Overall, these results suggest that DHA-derived FAHFAs as novel and potent activators of NRF2 with plausible antioxidant function.     

Additive-Free Enzymatic Phosphorylation and Ligation of Artificial Oligonucleotides with C-Nucleosides at the Reaction Points

We report enzymatic phosphorylation and additive-free ligation of DNAs containing unnatural C-nucleotide residues through the action of T4 polynucleotide kinase and T4 DNA ligase. The artificial units are each made up of an alkynyl deoxyribose component and one of the unnatural nucleobases D * , T * , G * , and C * , corresponding—from a viewpoint of hydrogen-bonding patterns—to natural A, T, G, and C, respectively. Phosphorylation progressed quantitatively at the 5′-end in the cases of all of the artificial units in the chimeric DNAs. Ligation also smoothly progressed at the 5′-end in the cases of the D* and G* nucleotide residues, but only negligibly in those of their T* and C* counterparts. Chemical redesign of the last two units successfully improved the ligation efficiency, so that enzymatic ligation worked well for all of the artificial units in every 3′-natural ⋅ 5′-artificial, 3′-artificial ⋅ 5′-natural, and 3′-artificial ⋅ 5′-artificial terminal combination at the nicks.     

First nuclear transmutation of 237Np and 241Am by accelerator-driven system at Kyoto University Critical Assembly

This study demonstrates, for the first time, the principle of nuclear transmutation of minor actinide (MA) by the accelerator-driven system (ADS) through the injection of high-energy neutrons into the subcritical core at the Kyoto University Critical Assembly. The main objective of the experiments is to confirm fission reactions of neptunium-237 (²³⁷Np) and americium-241 (²⁴¹Am), and capture reactions of ²³⁷Np. Subcritical irradiation of ²³⁷Np and ²⁴¹Am foils is conducted in a hard spectrum core with the use of the back-to-back fission chamber that obtains simultaneously two signals from specially installed test (²³⁷Np or ²⁴¹Am) and reference (uranium-235) foils. The first nuclear transmutation of ²³⁷Np and ²⁴¹Am by ADS soundly implemented by combining the subcritical core and the 100 MeV proton accelerator, and the use of a lead-bismuth target, is conclusively demonstrated through the experimental results of fission and capture reaction events.