Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against human protein C specific for the calcium ion-induced conformation or for the activation peptide region

AbstractThree monoclonal antibodies have been produced that are specific for the activation peptide region m human protein C. These antibodies inhibited the activation of protein C by thrombin and by the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex. A fourth monoclonal antibody specifically recognized the Ca2+-stabilized conformation in protein C. This antibody bound both intact protein C and protein C from which the γ-carboxy-glutamic acid-containing region had been removed by limited proteolysis. These results indicate that this antibody recognizes the conformation in protein C stabilized by Ca2+ bound to the single binding site that is independent of γ-carboxyglutamic acid

A New Serum Biomarker Set to Detect Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease by Peptidome Technology

Background: Because dementia is an emerging problem in the world, biochemical markers of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and radio-isotopic analyses are helpful for diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although blood sample is more feasible and plausible than CSF or radiological biomarkers for screening potential AD, measurements of serum amyloid- β (Aβ), plasma tau, and serum antibodies for Aβ1 - 42 are not yet well established. Objective: We aimed to identify a new serum biomarker to detect mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD in comparison to cognitively healthy control by a new peptidome technology. Methods: With only 1.5μl of serum, we examined a new target plate “BLOTCHIP®” plus a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) to discriminate control (n = 100), MCI (n = 60), and AD (n = 99). In some subjects, cognitive Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were compared to positron emission tomography (PET) with Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) and the serum probability of dementia (SPD). The mother proteins of candidate serum peptides were examined in autopsied AD brains. Results: Apart from Aβ or tau, the present study discovered a new diagnostic 4-peptides-set biomarker for discriminating control, MCI, and AD with 87% of sensitivity and 65% of specificity between control and AD (***p  Conclusion: The present serum biomarker set provides a new, rapid, non-invasive, highly quantitative and low-cost clinical application for dementia screening, and also suggests an alternative pathomechanism of AD for neuroinflammation and neurovascular unit damage

Effects of Rakkyofructan on Postprandial Glucose Level in Plasma

The effect of Rakkyofructan on the glucose level in plasma after intake of high carbohydrate diet was investigated. The six healthy female volunteers consumed 50 g of carbohydrate meal (the glucose, the cooked white rice, the bread, or the cooked sweet potato) with or without Rakkyofructan. Blood specimen was collected of before and 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 and 150 min after intake, and the glucose level in plasma was measured. The peak value (Cmax) and the area under curve (AUC) of blood glucose level were significantly decreased in the group ingested glucose with Rakkyofructan compared to the group which ingested glucose only. The blood glucose level was suppressed from 60% to 32% (glucose; 43.1±15.5%, cooked white rice; 40.5±13.5%, cooked sweet potato; 53.4±16.5%, bread; 68.5±20.5%) (p＜0.01) by Rakkyofructan with 50 g of carbohydrate meal. These results indicated that Rakkyofructan could inhibit the increase of blood glucose level after high carbohydrate diet intake

Recent and future situation of Japan’s T&D system

Japan suffered from the Great East Japan Earthquake followed by the nuclear disaster. As a result, we experienced rolling outages for a few months in the Tokyo and Tohoku area. Japan’s power transmission system consists of 50 Hz AC and 60 Hz AC in eastern and western Japan respectively. When the nuclear disaster occurred in Fukushima, enough electricity hasn’t been supplied in eastern area. Power interchange capacity between east and west was small because of small redundant T&D system design. Based on this rolling outage and some present electricity supplying issues in Japan, METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) has set the electricity system reform committee to improve this situation and make a good T&D system for the future. This committee reported the discussed issue to the Japanese METI and METI proposed policy on Electricity System Reform to the Japanese Cabinet. As a result, the Japanese Electricity System Reform policy was adopted. This future T&D system deals with redundant T&D systems between east and west, how to handle large amounts of renewable electrical energy, and how to fully de-regulate the distribution market. HVDC (VSC system) will be introduced between Hokkaido and Honshu as a subsea cable transmission system and HVDC transmission system between eastern area and western area. This paper describes recent and future Japan’s T&D systems. This will be helpful to understand how to solve the issues of Japan’s T&D system

Severe epidemic myalgia with an elevated level of serum interleukin-6 caused by human parechovirus type 3: a case report and brief review of the literature

Abstract Background Human parechovirus type 3 (HPeV-3) is known to cause cold-like symptoms, diarrhea, or severe infections such as sepsis in infants and children. In adults, HPeV-3 infection is rarely diagnosed because the symptoms are generally mild and self-limiting; however, this infection has been linked to epidemic myalgia, regardless of the presence of underlying diseases, immunosuppression, or sex. Case presentation We describe an adult case of severe systemic myalgia and orchiodynia after infection with HPeV-3, which was transmitted from the child of the patient. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) level was found to be elevated in the patient’s serum. Conclusion Severe myalgia associated with HPeV-3 infection is potentially caused by an elevated serum level of IL-6