Evidence for Altered Phosphoinositide Signaling-Associated Molecules in the Postmortem Prefrontal Cortex of Patients with Schizophrenia

Phosphoinositides (PIs) play important roles in the structure and function of the brain. Associations between PIs and the pathophysiology of schizophrenia have been studied. However, the significance of the PI metabolic pathway in the pathology of schizophrenia is unknown. We examined the expression of PI signaling-associated proteins in the postmortem brain of schizophrenia patients. Protein expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase type-1 gamma (PIP5K1C), phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase alpha (PIK4CA, also known as PIK4A), phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted from chromosome 10 (PTEN), protein kinase B (Akt), and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and multiplex fluorescent bead-based immunoassays of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of postmortem samples from 23 schizophrenia patients and 47 normal controls. We also examined the association between PIK4CA expression and its genetic variants in the same brain samples. PIK4CA expression was lower, whereas Akt expression was higher, in the PFC of schizophrenia patients than in that of controls; PIP5K1C, PTEN, and GSK3β expression was not different. No single-nucleotide polymorphism significantly affected protein expression. We identified molecules involved in the pathology of schizophrenia via this lipid metabolic pathway. These results suggest that PIK4CA is involved in the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and is a potential novel therapeutic target.     

Optimizing natural rubber blends for examination gloves: Vacuum radiation for mechanical strength and solvent barrier

Natural rubber (NR) is emblematic of sustainability compared to synthetic rubber. However, the tradition of adding sulfur as a vulcanization ingredient results in the release of toxic substances and the potential for health issues. In this study, a feasible strategy was proposed to replace sulfur and discover a safe bulk modification process for NR films. The results have shown that the NR particle size was disintegrated to below 10 nm by gamma irradiation. High tension strength up to 24.45 MPa was observed in the vulcanized NR blend film, which could be elongated up to 800% strain after exposure to an optimum dose of 14 kGy. In comparison to commercial NR latex and nitrile gloves, the vulcanized NR/ SIS films exhibited better chemical resistance ability against hexane, methanol, toluene, and acetone, as revealed by the permeation test. The appearance of amorphous regions and highly oriented NR crystallites was observed through transmission electron microscopy. Findings from this study propose the vacuum radiation strategy that can replace conventional vulcanization methods, resulting in NR films with high mechanical and barrier performance. Furthermore, the emission of toxic substances is reduced by this green process, making it practically useful for potential chemical-resistant examination glove applications.     

Migration of dehydroabietic and abietic acids from paper and paperboard food packaging into food-simulating solvents and Tenax TA

An investigation was undertaken to establish the concentration in paper products of dehydroabietic (DHA) and abietic (AA) resin acids, present in rosin, which are major toxicants of pulp- and paper-mill effluent. Their migration was studied from paper and paperboard products into various food-simulating solvents and the substitute fatty food simulant Tenax TA (modified polyphenylene oxide). DHA and AA were detected in five of 10 virgin paper products and in all 10 recycled paperboard products for food-contact use at concentrations of 14-500 and 110-1200 µg/g, respectively. In virgin paper products, the highest migration was into 95% ethanol or heptane, with negligible or no migration into other solvents. In recycled paperboard products, migration was highest into 95% ethanol, but was also observed into 20% ethanol, water and heptane. Migration to Tenax TA was also observed and the migration level increased with time. The maximum migration levels of DHA and AA into food simulants were 0.853 and 3.14 µg/g, respectively. The results suggest that, in the worst case, the daily intake of DHA and AA from paper and paperboard products was 50 times lower than the tolerable daily intake of rosin.     

Determination of alkylphenols,bisphenol A,benzophenone and phthalates in containers of baby food,and migration into food simulants

Infants, whose growth and development are highly dependent upon the endocrine system, are particularly vulnerable to endocrine disruptor exposure. In our study, we examined whether or not alkylphenols, bisphenol A, benzophenone, di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate and 10 phthalates are present in containers of baby food. Furthermore, the migration into food-simulating solvents was also examined. Sixteen types of containers of baby food, obtained on the Japanese market in 2001, were examined: 8 glass bottle types, 1 plastic type, 1 metallic package (laminated with plastic) and 6 multilayered laminated film packages. Alkylphenols, benzophenone, bisphenol A and di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate were not detected in any of the samples. On the other hand, dibutylphthalate (DBP) was detected in 7 samples (1.2-9.1 micrograms/sample), and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) was detected in 15 samples (1.3-18 micrograms/sample). Migration tests were carried out for 5 samples, and the levels of DBP and DEHP that migrated into n-heptane were 0.68-1.7 micrograms/sample and 0.33-3.5 micrograms/sample, respectively. From these results, a baby's intake levels of DBP and DEHP were estimated to be about 1/2,500 and 1/90-300 of the tolerable daily intake (TDI), respectively.     

Determination of optical purity and absolute configuration of natural 12‐hydroxystearic acid by the 1H NMR anisotropy method

The enantiopure of (R)‐(?) MαNPA was allowed to react with racemic 18‐(tert‐butyldimethylsilyloxy)‐5‐octadecayne‐7‐ol which was derived from dodecane‐1,12‐diol, yielding diastereomeric esters mixture. These racemic esters were easily separated by HPLC on silica‐gel. The absolute configurations of the first‐eluted diastereomeric esters from the separated esters were determined using ¹H NMR anisotropy method. Analysis on ¹H NMR spectra and HPLC elution time of the synthesized esters and those of MαNP ester derived from natural methyl‐12‐hydroxystealate showed that the absolute configuration of natural 12‐hydroxystearic acid was R form, and the enantiomeric excess was over 99%.     

Continuous electric resistance heating—Hot forming system for high-alloy metals with poor workability

A new hot forming system for high-alloy metals with poor workability is developed. This forming system is a direct combination of a forming machine and continuous electric resistance heating, and is capable of the high-speed forming of metals with flexible and precise control of elevated temperature. The prototype of the new forming system is applied to the forming of high-alloy metals with poor formability, such as a Ti–6Al–4V bar, and the basic characteristics of this forming system are clarified. Using this system, sound, high speed forming of high alloys becomes possible, and the Ti–6Al–4V bar is successfully formed without fracture.     

RADIOLYTIC DEGRADATION OF A CROWN ETHER FOR EXTRACT ABILITY OF STRONTIUM

ABSTRACT

Dicyclohexano- 18-crown-6 (DC18C6), dissolved in chloroform, 1-octanol, toluene or cyclohexane, was irradiated by ⁶⁰Co γ-rays. Radiolytic destruction of DC18C6, measured by gas chromatography, decreased in the order: chloroform > cyclohexane > 1-octanol > toluene. Distribution coefficients in the solvent extraction of strontium from nitric acid solution were measured. These distribution coefficients were minimally affected by γ-irradiation in toluene solution, but decreased with the absorbed dose in chloroform solution. It was suggested that the distribution coefficient for the liquid-liquid extraction system was influenced by radiolytic products. The effect of radiolytic products on the distribution coefficients was evaluated by considering DC18C6 remaining in the organic phase after irradiation. The distribution coefficient measured for the organic phase with radiolytic products was larger than that without radiolytic products. The radiolytic products were thus shown to contribute to the increase in the distribution coefficient.     

Relative pitch perception in Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata).

To investigate whether monkeys perceive relative pitch, the author trained 3 Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) to detect changes from rising to falling contours of 3-tone sequences. Tone sequences were presented serially with transposition, so monkeys were urged to attend to cues other than the absolute frequency of a component tone. Results from probe tests with novel sequences showed that monkeys discriminated by the relative pitch when the frequency ranges of sequences were within the training range, showing a similar tendency as birds in previous studies (e.g., S. H. Hulse, J. Cynx, & J. Humpal, 1984). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)