The Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor Teneligliptin Attenuates Hepatic Lipogenesis via AMPK Activation in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Model Mice

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome, is increasingly a major cause of hepatic disorder. Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP)-4 inhibitors, anti-diabetic agents, are expected to be effective for the treatment of NAFLD. In the present study, we established a novel NAFLD model mouse using monosodium glutamate (MSG) and a high-fat diet (HFD) and investigated the effects of a DPP-4 inhibitor, teneligliptin, on the progression of NAFLD. Male MSG/HFD-treated mice were divided into two groups, one of which received teneligliptin in drinking water. Administration of MSG and HFD caused mice to develop severe fatty changes in the liver, but teneligliptin treatment improved hepatic steatosis and inflammation, as evaluated by the NAFLD activity score. Serum alanine aminotransferase and intrahepatic triglyceride levels were significantly decreased in teneligliptin-treated mice (p < 0.05). Hepatic mRNA levels of the genes involved in de novo lipogenesis were significantly downregulated by teneligliptin (p < 0.05). Moreover, teneligliptin increased hepatic expression levels of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) protein. These findings suggest that teneligliptin attenuates lipogenesis in the liver by activating AMPK and downregulating the expression of genes involved in lipogenesis. DPP-4 inhibitors may be effective for the treatment of NAFLD and may be able to prevent its progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.     

Fatigue-creep life prediction of Cr-1Mo steel under combined tension-torsion at 600°C

The results of fatigue-creep life prediction for Cr-1Mo steel under multiaxial stress conditions of combined tension-compression and cyclic torsion are summarized. This work was performed as the second task A-II of the cooperative project of phase 3 by the Subcommittee on Inelastic Analysis and Life Prediction of High Temperature Materials, JSMS. The ratios of axial to torsional strain range, Δε/Δ(γ/3^1/2), were set to be non-unity in these phase 3 tests for both in-phase and out-of-phase (with 90° phase difference) strain-controlled wave patterns, including pure torsion, while the ratios were unity in phase 2. By comparing the evaluated failure lives with the corresponding data of phase 2, some discussion on the effect of the wave patterns is presented and the validity of the life prediction methods is evaluated.     

Oxide-encapsulated vertical germanium nanowire structures and their DC transport properties

We demonstrate the p-type doping of Ge nanowires (NWs) and p-n junction arrays in a scalable vertically aligned structure with all processing performed below 400?°C. These structures are advantageous for the large scale production of parallel arrays of devices for nanoelectronics and sensing applications. Efficient methods for the oxide encapsulation, chemical mechanical polishing and cleaning of vertical Ge NWs embedded in silicon dioxide are reported. Approaches for avoiding the selective oxidation and dissolution of Ge NWs in aqueous solutions during chemical mechanical polishing and cleaning of oxide-encapsulated Ge NWs are emphasized. NWs were doped through the epitaxial deposition of a B-doped shell and transport measurements indicate doping concentrations on the order of 10(19)?cm(-3).     

Improved emulsifying properties of soy proteins by acylation with saturated fatty acids

Effects of acylation on emulsifying properties of soy proteins were investigated using a variety of saturated fatty acids. Beta conglycinin (7S), glycinin (11S), and acid-precipitated protein (APP) were acylated with activated fatty acid esters (6C–18C) to form covalent linkage between the carboxyl group of the fatty acid and the free amino groups of the protein. Reduction in the free amino groups of acylated 7S, 11S and APP resulted into the dissociation of the protein, indicating a structural change, as evidenced by the fluorescence spectra and the degree of modification. It was shown that the emulsifying activity (EAI) and emulsion stability (ES) of 7S and 11S were significantly improved (p < 0.05) upon acylation with all saturated fatty acids, whereas no change in EAI and ES for the acylated APP was observed upon attachment of short and long chain fatty acids. The fluorescence intensity was also remarkably affected by acylation showing significant changes in protein structure. Covalent attachment of fatty acids resulted into 1.4–2.2 and 1.1–1.8-fold increase in the oil binding capacity (OBC) of 7S and 11S respectively, however no changes in acylated APP. Acylated 7S showed 3.0–9.4-fold increase in the water binding capacity (WBC), with no change in acylated 11S, while acylated APP with longest chains showed low WBC. The surface hydrophobicity of 7S was significantly improved (p < 0.05) by acylation; no changes were observed in the acylated 11S. Furthermore, acylation decreased the surface hydrophobicity of APP. Thus, it was demonstrated that saturated fatty acids with adequate chain length are suitable candidates for the preparation of functional lipoproteins from soy proteins.     

A study on the deterioration characteristics of power capacitors with oil-impregnated paper

Power capacitors are highly reliable due to their completely enclosed configuration. They are relatively trouble-free over the long term. However, their dielectric strength can be reduced due to some stresses, including overvoltage application or thermal degradation of the insulation material during long periods of operation; these events can result in dielectric breakdown of capacitors in extreme cases. Since almost all power capacitors with oil-impregnated paper have been operated for more than twenty years, some kind of failure should be expected. To prevent these incipient accidents, it is important to examine the insulation deterioration mechanism and evaluate the degree of deterioration before capacitor breakdown. To establish a diagnostic method of deterioration of the capacitors with oil-impregnated paper, we have conducted thermally and electrically accelerated deterioration tests and investigated the changes of their characteristics. Based on the experimental results we obtained, it can be concluded that the behavior of the oil-dissolved gases can be used as a useful index to diagnose the insulation deterioration of these capacitors.     

Interaction of ozone and allergen challenges on bronchial responsiveness and inflammation in sensitised guinea pigs

We studied the potential of PET with L-[1-11C]-tyrosine (TYR) to visualize tumors outside the central nervous system and to quantify their protein synthesis rates (PSRs). METHODS: Twenty-two patients suspected of having a malignant tumor underwent a PET study with TYR before biopsy. The PSR in nanomoles per milliliter tumor tissue per minute as well as the PSR in contralateral normal tissue, standardized uptake values (SUVs) and tumor-to-nontumor-ratios (T/N ratios) were calculated. RESULTS: Fifteen of the 16 malignancies (94%) were correctly visualized as a hot spot. A chondrosarcoma of the sacrum was not visualized. Of the six patients with benign lesions, cold spots were correctly identified in four (67%). A benign schwannoma and an intramuscular hemangioma of the forearm were visualized as hot spots. PSR in tumor tissue was higher than in the corresponding contralateral normal tissues. PSR and SUV in malignant tumors were higher than in benign tumors. CONCLUSION: TYR appears to be a good tracer for imaging malignancies. The PSR, which was higher in malignant tumors than in normal tissue and the studied benign lesions, could be quantified and correlated with the SUV.     

Circular multilayer zone plate for high-energy x-ray nano-imaging

A circular multilayer zone plate (MZP) was fabricated and its focusing performance was evaluated using 20-keV x-rays. MoSi(2) and Si layers were alternately deposited by DC magnetron sputtering on a wire core; all the interfaces satisfied the Fresnel zone condition. The measured line spread function was converted to a point spread function by tomographic reconstruction. The results suggest that the MZP has the potential to realize the diffraction-limited resolving power, which is calculated to be 35 nm using the diffraction integral. Furthermore, scanning transmission microscopy using the MZP could resolve a 50-nm line-and-space pattern.