Stabilization of cyclo (Gly-Tyr)-hydrolyzing Enzyme by Synthetic Glycoside-bearing Polymer

An enrichment technique led us to isolate 13 cyclo (Gly-Tyr)-assimilating bacteria, which had higher cyclo (Gly-Tyr)-hydrolyzing activity that the coryneform rod bacterium strain T-1-3-Y,previously isolated from soil. The cell-free extract of the strain Ol-L-2 prepared by ultrasonication in a buffer containing bovine serum albumin had cyclo (Gly-Tyr)-hydrolyzing activity while that of the strain T-1-3-Y showed no activity. GEMA (Glucosyloxyethyl methacrylate) polymer was found to be a more effective stabilizer for solubilizing cyclo (Gly-Tyr) hydrolase than bovine serum albumin.集積培養法を用いて新たに土壌よりcyclo(Gly-Tyr)資化性菌を分離し、その中から、従来の資化性菌より菌体当たりの活性の高い菌株を13株見いだした。これらの菌株を牛血清アルブミンを添加した緩衝液中に懸濁し、超音波破砕に供したところ、OI-L-2株由来の無細胞抽出液中にcyclo(Gly-Tyr)分解活性が検出された。この活性は安定化剤をアルブミンから配糖化合成高分子GEMAポリマーに代えることによりさらに安定に抽出された

Comparison of Sustained Hemodiafiltration with Acetate-Free Dialysate and Continuous Venovenous Hemodiafiltration for the Treatment of Critically Ill Patients with Acute Kidney Injury

We conducted a prospective, randomized study to compare conventional continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) with sustained hemodiafiltration (SHDF) using an acetate-free dialysate. Fifty critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) who required renal replacement therapy were treated with either CVVHDF or SHDF. CVVDHF was performed using a conventional dialysate with an effluent rate of 25 mL·kg−1 · h−1, and SHDF was performed using an acetate-free dialysate with a flow rate of 300−500 mL/min. The primary study outcome, 30 d survival rate was 76.0% in the CVVHDF arm and 88.0% in the SHDF arm (NS). Both the number of patients who showed renal recovery (40.0% and 68.0%, CVVHDF and SHDF, resp.; P < .05), and the hospital stay length (42.3 days and 33.7 days, CVVHDF and SHDF, resp.; P < .05), significantly differed between the two treatments. Although the total convective volumes did not significantly differ, the dialysate flow rate was higher and mean duration of daily treatment was shorter in the SHDF treatment arm. Our results suggest that compared with conventional CVVHDF, more intensive renal support in the form of post-dilution SHDF with acetate-free dialysate may accelerate renal recovery in critically ill patients with AKI

Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke) tubers improve glucose tolerance and hepatic lipid profile in rats fed a high-fat diet

Objectives: To analyze the effects of feeding Helianthus tuberosus (HT) tubers on glucose tolerance and lipid profile in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods: A normal HFD or HFD including 10 w/w% HT tubers (HFD + HT) was fed to F334/Jcl rats. After 10 weeks, organ weights, glucose tolerance, and lipid profile were analyzed. Results: The body weight, liver weight, and epidermal fat content in the HFD group were higher than those of the normal group, and similar to those of the HFD + HT group. The oral glucose tolerance test at 10 weeks revealed that the blood glucose level 30 min after beginning the test in the HFD + HT group was significantly lower than that in the HFD group. Liver triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in the HFD + HT group were significantly lower than those in the HFD group. Fecal triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in the HFD + HT group were higher than those in the HFD group. Histological analyses revealed that fat and glycogen accumulation increased in the HFD group, but decreased in the HFD + HT group. Conclusions: These results indicate that HT tubers have anti-fatty liver effects based on improvements in glucose tolerance and the hepatic lipid profile

Gene expression profiles of novel caprine placental prolactin-related proteins similar to bovine placental prolactin-related proteins

BACKGROUND: This study reports the identification of a full-length cDNA sequence for two novel caprine prolactin-related proteins (cPRP1 and cPRP6), and their localization and quantitative expression in the placenta. Caprine PRPs are compared with known bovine PRPs. We examined their evolution and role in the ruminant placenta. RESULTS: Full-length cPRP1 and cPRP6 cDNA were cloned with a 717- and 720- nucleotide open-reading frame corresponding to proteins of 238 and 239 amino acids. The cPRP1 predicted amino acid sequence shares a 72% homology with bovine PRP1 (bPRP1). The cPRP6 predicted amino acid sequence shares a 74% homology with bovine PRP6 (bPRP6). The two cPRPs as well as bPRPs were detected only in the placentome by RT-PCR. Analysis by in situ hybridization revealed the presence of both cPRPs mRNA in the trophoblast binucleate cells. These mRNA were quantified by real-time RT-PCR analysis of the placentome at 30, 50, 90 and 140 days of pregnancy. Both new cPRP genes were able to translate a mature protein in a mammalian cell-expression system. Western blotting established the molecular sizes of 33 kDa for cPRP1 with FLAG-tag and 45 kDa for cPRP6 with FLAG-tag. The sequence properties and localized expression of cPRP1 and cPRP6 were similar to those of bovine. However, their expression profiles differed from those in bovine placenta. Although this study demonstrated possible roles of PRPs in caprine placenta, PRPs may regulate binucleate-cell functions like those in bovine, but their crucial roles are still unclear. CONCLUSION: We have identified the novel PRPs in caprine placenta. Localization and quantitative expression of caprine PRPs were compared with bovine PRPs. The data indicate that PRP genes in caprine placenta have coordination functions for gestation, as they do in bovine. This is the first study of PRPs function in caprine placenta

Dealloying of Cu–Zr–Ti bulk metallic glass in hydrofluoric acid solution

The dealloying behavior of Cu 60 Zr 30 Ti 10 metallic glass was investigated under free corrosion conditions using hydrofluoric acid (HF) solutions at room temperature. After immersing in HF solutions with various concentrations (0.05, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 M) for 300 s, color of all samples changed to be pinkish or peachy, which was ascribed to Cu based on the XRD patterns. According to the SEM-EDS study, HF immersion selectively leached the Zr and Ti elements, leaving Cu behind. Increasing the HF concentration increased the dealloying rate. Moreover, the HF concentration strongly influenced the surface morphology of the resulting Cu

On-The-Fly Observing System of the Nobeyama 45-m and ASTE 10-m Telescopes

We have developed spectral line On-The-Fly (OTF) observing mode for the Nobeyama Radio Observatory 45-m and the Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment 10-m telescopes. Sets of digital autocorrelation spectrometers are available for OTF with heterodyne receivers mounted on the telescopes, including the focal-plane 5 x 5 array receiver, BEARS, on the 45-m. During OTF observations, the antenna is continuously driven to cover the mapped region rapidly, resulting in high observing efficiency and accuracy. Pointing of the antenna and readouts from the spectrometer are recorded as fast as 0.1 second. In this paper we report improvements made on software and instruments, requirements and optimization of observing parameters, data reduction process, and verification of the system. It is confirmed that, using optimal parameters, the OTF is about twice as efficient as conventional position-switch observing method.Comment: 11 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in PAS