Circular Dichroism of Optically Active Poly(dialkylsilane) Aggregates in Microcapsules

Terao K., Kikuchi N., Sato S., et al. Circular Dichroism of Optically Active Poly(dialkylsilane) Aggregates in Microcapsules. Langmuir, 22(19), 7975-7980, August 10, 2006. Copyright © 2006, American Chemical Society. https://doi.org/10.1021/la060810+

Mechanisms of Neuronal Death in Synucleinopathy

α-synuclein is a key molecule in the pathogenesis of synucleinopathy including Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy. In this mini-review, we mainly focus on recent data obtained from cellular models of synucleinopathy and discuss the possible mechanisms of neurodegeneration. Recent progress suggests that the aggregate formation of α-synuclein is cytoprotective and that its precursor oligomer (protofibril) may be cytotoxic. The catechol-derived quinones are the candidate molecules that facilitate the oligomer formation of α-synuclein. Furthermore, the cellular membranes are shown to be the primary targets injured by mutant α-synucleins, and the mitochondrial dysfunction seems to be an initial step in the neuronal death

Walking and Sports Participation and Mortality From Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke

ObjectivesWe aimed to examine the impact of exercise on mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Asian populations.BackgroundFew data have been available in Asian countries, where job-related physical activity is higher than that in Western countries.MethodsBetween 1988 and 1990, 31,023 men and 42,242 women in Japan, ages 40 to 79 years with no history of stroke, coronary heart disease (CHD), or cancer, completed a self-administered questionnaire. Systematic mortality surveillance was performed through 1999, and 1,946 cardiovascular deaths were identified. We chose the second lowest categories of walking and sports participation as the reference to reduce a potential effect of ill health.ResultsMen and women who reported having physical activity in the highest category (i.e., walking ≥1 h/day or doing sports ≥5 h/week) had a 20% to 60% lower age-adjusted risk of mortality from CVD, compared with those in the second lowest physical activity category (i.e., walking 0.5 h/day, or sports participation for 1 to 2 h/week). Adjustment for known risk factors, exclusion of individuals who died within two years of baseline inquiry, or gender-specific analysis did not substantially alter these associations. The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for the highest versus the second lowest categories of walking or sports participation were 0.71 (0.54 to 0.94) and 0.80 (0.48 to 1.31), respectively, for ischemic stroke (IS); 0.84 (0.64 to 1.09) and 0.51 (0.32 to 0.82), respectively, for CHD; and 0.84 (0.75 to 0.95) and 0.73 (0.60 to 0.90), respectively, for CVD.ConclusionsPhysical activity through walking and sports participation might reduce the risk of mortality from IS and CHD

Effects of genotypes, environments and hydrothermal treatments on the isoflavone aglycone concentration in soybean grains

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos de tratamentos hidrotérmicos, da variabilidade genética e de ambientes no teor de isoflavonas agliconas em grãos de soja [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]. O estudo foi realizado com as cultivares de soja BR 36, FEPAGRO RS-10 e BRS 155, cultivadas em Londrina, em Capanema e em Palmas, PR, na safra 1999/2000, mediante tratamentos hidrotérmicos de 40, 50 e 60°C por 12 e 18 horas. As maiores concentrações de isoflavonas totais (280 mg/100 g) foram observadas nos grãos colhidos em Palmas, onde a temperatura média durante o enchimento de vagens foi mais baixa (19ºC). Em Londrina (23ºC), houve menor concentração de isoflavonas (140 mg/100 g). A cultivar BRS 155 apresentou o maior teor de isoflavonas totais em Palmas e em Londrina. Grãos não-tratados da BRS 155 apresentaram em média 4,0 mg/100 g de agliconas, as quais aumentaram para 52 mg/100 g, após os tratamentos hidrotérmicos. O tratamento a 50ºC por 12 horas foi mais efetivo no desenvolvimento de isoflavonas agliconas. A 60°C, houve redução das agliconas, decorrente da inativação das b-glicosidases. As formas malonil, que são termicamente instáveis, também foram reduzidas nas temperaturas mais altas.The objective of this work was to assess the effects of hydrothermal treatments and the environmental and genetic variability on the isoflavone aglycones concentration in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] grains. The study was carried out with the soybean cultivars BR 36, FEPAGRO RS-10, and BRS 155, cultivated in three locals of Paraná State (Londrina, Capanema, and Palmas), during 1999/2000 soybean season, submitted to hydrothermal treatments at 40, 50 and 60°C for 12 and 18 hours. Higher concentrations of total isoflavones (280 mg/100 g) were observed in grains harvested in Palmas, where the average temperature during pod filling was 19ºC. In Londrina (23ºC), there was lower concentration of isoflavones (140 mg/100 g). The cultivar BRS 155 presented the highest content of total isoflavones in Palmas and in Londrina. Non-treated grains of BRS 155 showed in average 4.0 mg/100 g of aglycones, which increased to 52 mg/100 g, after hydrothermal treatments. The treatment at 50ºC for 12 hours was the most effective in developing isoflavone aglycones. At 60°C, there was a decrease of the aglycones, due to inactivation of b-glycosidases. Malonyl forms, which are thermal unstable, were reduced at higher temperatures