Benzylglucosinolate Derived Isothiocyanate from Tropaeolum majus Reduces Gluconeogenic Gene and Protein Expression in Human Cells

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) contains high concentrations of benzylglcosinolate. We found that a hydrolysis product of benzyl glucosinolate—the benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC)—modulates the intracellular localization of the transcription factor Forkhead box O 1 (FOXO1). FoxO transcription factors can antagonize insulin effects and trigger a variety of cellular processes involved in tumor suppression, longevity, development and metabolism. The current study evaluated the ability of BITC—extracted as intact glucosinolate from nasturtium and hydrolyzed with myrosinase—to modulate i) the insulin-signaling pathway, ii) the intracellular localization of FOXO1 and, iii) the expression of proteins involved in gluconeogenesis, antioxidant response and detoxification. Stably transfected human osteosarcoma cells (U-2 OS) with constitutive expression of FOXO1 protein labeled with GFP (green fluorescent protein) were used to evaluate the effect of BITC on FOXO1. Human hepatoma HepG2 cell cultures were selected to evaluate the effect on gluconeogenic, antioxidant and detoxification genes and protein expression. BITC reduced the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT/PKB) and FOXO1; promoted FOXO1 translocation from cytoplasm into the nucleus antagonizing the insulin effect; was able to down-regulate the gene and protein expression of gluconeogenic enzymes; and induced the gene expression of antioxidant and detoxification enzymes. Knockdown analyses with specific siRNAs showed that the expression of gluconeogenic genes was dependent on nuclear factor (erythroid derived)-like2 (NRF2) and independent of FOXO1, AKT and NAD- dependent deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1). The current study provides evidence that BITC might have a role in type 2 diabetes T2D by reducing hepatic glucose production and increasing antioxidant resistance

Net precipitation over the Baltic Sea for one year using several methods

Precipitation and evaporation over the Baltic Sea are calculated for a one-year period from September 1998 to August 1999 by four different tools, the two atmospheric regional models HIRLAM and REMO, the oceanographic model PROBE-Baltic in combination with the SMHI (1 × 1)° database and Interpolated Fields, based essentially on ship measurements. The investigated period is slightly warmer and wetter than the climatological mean. Correlation coefficients of the differently calculated latent heat fluxes vary between 0.81 (HIRLAM and REMO) and 0.56 (SMHI/PROBE-Baltic and Interpolated Fields), while the correlation coefficients between model fluxes and measured fluxes range from 0.61 and 0.78. Deviations of simulated and interpolated monthly precipitation over the Baltic Sea are less than ±5 mm in the southern Baltic and up to 20 mm near the Finnish coast for the one-year period. The methods simulate the annual cycle of precipitation and evaporation of the Baltic Proper in a similar manner with a broad maximum of net precipitation in spring and early summer and a minimum in late summer. The annual averages of net precipitation of the Baltic Proper range from 57 mm (REMO) to 262 mm (HIRLAM) and for the Baltic Sea from 96 mm (SMHI/PROBE-Baltic) to 209 mm (HIRLAM). This range is considered to give the uncertainty of present-day determination of the net precipitation over the Baltic Sea

Air-sea exchange of water vapor and sensible heat: The humidity exchange over the sea (HEXOS) results

Surface layer fluxes of sensible heat and water vapor were measured from a fixed platform in the North Sea during the Humidity Exchange over the Sea (HEXOS) Main Experiment (HEXMAX). Eddy wind stress and other relevant atmospheric and oceanic parameters were measured simultaneously and are used to interpret the heat and water vapor flux results. One of the main goals of the HEXOS program was to find accurate empirical heat and water vapor flux parameterization formulas for high wind conditions over the sea. It had been postulated that breaking waves and sea spray, which dominate the air-sea interface at high wind speeds, would significantly affect the air-sea heat and water vapor exchange for wind speeds above 15 m/s. Water vapor flux has been measured at wind speeds up to 18 m/s, sufficient to test these predictions, and sensible heat flux was measured at wind speeds up to 23 m/s. Within experimental error, the HEXMAX data do not show significant variation of the flux exchange coefficients with wind speed, indicating that modification of the models is needed. Roughness lengths for heat and water vapor derived from these direct flux measurements are slightly lower in value but closely parallel the decreasing trend with increasing wind speed predicted by the surface renewal model of Liu et al. [1979], created for lower wind speed regimes, which does not include effects of wave breaking. This suggests that either wave breaking does not significantly affect the surface layer fluxes for the wind speed range in the HEXMAX data, or that a compensating negative feedback process is at work in the lower atmosphere. The implication of the feedback hypothesis is that the moisture gained in the lower atmosphere from evaporation of sea spray over rough seas may be largely offset by decreased vapor flux from the air-sea interface

APOLAS - More Accurate Areal Precipitation Over Land and Sea

Long-term feild comparisons of four progressive precipitation sensors demonstrate their superior performance. Measurements yield differences in cloud micro physics between land and sea and between surface and higher altitutdes. A pattern recognition algorithm based on CAPPI-fields of Rostock weather radar was developed to separate convective from stratiform rain area

第1090回千葉医学会例会・第7回環境生命医学研究会

<p>HepG2 cells were incubated with BITC 30 μM, insulin 100 nM and insulin + BITC for 30 min. PathScan Signaling Array Kit was used for the detection of the phosphorylated AKT (Thr308). Data shown as mean of fold phosphorylation normalized to untreated control + SEM (n = 3) *p<0.05(Unpaired Student’s t test).</p

Parasympathetic nervous system dysfunction, as identified by pupil light reflex, and its possible connection to hearing impairment

Context Although the pupil light reflex has been widely used as a clinical diagnostic tool for autonomic nervous system dysfunction, there is no systematic review available to summarize the evidence that the pupil light reflex is a sensitive method to detect parasympathetic dysfunction. Meanwhile, the relationship between parasympathetic functioning and hearing impairment is relatively unknown. Objectives To 1) review the evidence for the pupil light reflex being a sensitive method to evaluate parasympathetic dysfunction, 2) review the evidence relating hearing impairment and parasympathetic activity and 3) seek evidence of possible connections between hearing impairment and the pupil light reflex. Methods Literature searches were performed in five electronic databases. All selected articles were categorized into three sections: pupil light reflex and parasympathetic dysfunction, hearing impairment and parasympathetic activity, pupil light reflex and hearing impairment. Results Thirty-eight articles were included in this review. Among them, 36 articles addressed the pupil light reflex and parasympathetic dysfunction. We summarized the information in these data according to different types of parasympathetic-related diseases. Most of the studies showed a difference on at least one pupil light reflex parameter between patients and healthy controls. Two articles discussed the relationship between hearing impairment and parasympathetic activity. Both studies reported a reduced parasympathetic activity in the hearing impaired groups. The searches identified no results for pupil light reflex and hearing impairment. Discussion and Conclusions As the first systematic review of the evidence, our findings suggest that the pupil light reflex is a sensitive tool to assess the presence of parasympathetic dysfunction. Maximum constriction velocity and relative constriction amplitude appear to be the most sensitive parameters. There are only two studies investigating the relationship between parasympathetic activity and hearing impairment, hence further research is needed. The pupil light reflex could be a candidate measurement tool to achieve this goal