The role of iron in obesity and diabetes

Iron is an essential trace metal for all life, but excess iron causes oxidative stress through catalyzing the toxic hydroxy-radical production via the Fenton reaction. The number of patients with obesity and diabetes has been increasing worldwide, and their onset and development are affected by diet. In both clinical and experimental studies, a high body iron content was associated with obesity and diabetes, and the reduction of body iron content to an appropriate level can ameliorate the status and development of obesity and diabetes. Macrophages play an essential role in the pathophysiology of obesity and diabetes, and in the metabolism and homeostasis of iron in the body. Recent studies demonstrated that macrophage polarization is related to adipocyte hypertrophy and insulin resistance through their capabilities of iron handling. Control of iron in macrophages is a potential therapeutic strategy for obesity and diabetes

The Formation Process of Thematic Unit in Japanese Language Education in the 1970s : In the case of practical research by Hiroshima University High School

In this paper, I considered the formation process of the thematic unit in Japanese education in the 1970s. The 1970s is very important period, because many theorists who insisted on the thematic unit refer to the practical research by Hiroshima University High School in 1970s. This practical research was born by the following situations. 1. In Japanese language education, the recovery of the human nature has been demanded. 2. When students learn the literature, teachers had set the pursuit of humanity to the goal from before. 3. Japanese language education textbook that was used by Hiroshima University High School (Be made by SANSEIDO Co.,Ltd.) was composed of the thematic units. These situations was formed the thematic unit of the 1970s. And, the practical research by Hiroshima University High School was to have a big influence

Control of the incorporation and release of guest molecules by photodimerization in liposomes

In a drug-delivery system using liposomes, the use of guest molecules bearing hydrophilic moieties results in some leakage from lipid membranes. We suppressed the leakage of coumarins (used as model guest molecules in a drug-delivery system) from lipid membranes by photodimerization at 365 nm. The reason for this phenomenon could be ascribed to an increase in the hydrophobicity of the dimers of the coumarins. The formation of the dimers was detected by 1H NMR, UV-vis absorption, and mass spectra and the leakage percentages of the coumarins were determined by 1H NMR spectra based on the peak intensities. In contrast, when the dimer reverted to a monomer by ultraviolet (254 nm) irradiation, the resulting monomer was released from liposomes.This work was supported by a JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (Grant No. JP16H04133) and a Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research (Grant No. JP16K13982)

COVID-19と心疾患

Coronavirus disease-2019（COVID-19） induces of multi-organs damage including heart, vessels, and lung neurological systems in addition to respiratory disorders, causing subsequent complications. Patients with cardiovascular damage induced by COVID-19 show ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, and venous thromboembolism, resulting in death. Patients with a medical history of hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease are associated with an increased rate of aggravation and mortality. It is very important to prevent the onset of cardiovascular complications caused by COVID-19, however, there are no therapeutics for them and new treatments and therapeutic agents need to be developed. Kampo medicine is a traditional Japanese herbal medicine and has been attracting attention in the treatment of COVID-19. This article outlines the pathophysiological findings of COVID-19-related cardiovascular complications and the potential effect of Kampo as supportive care against it

TJ-17 (Goreisan) mitigates renal fibrosis in a mouse model of folic acid-induced chronic kidney disease

Background and purpose: TJ-17 (Goreisan), a traditional Japanese Kampo medicine, has been generally used to treat edema, such as heart failure, due to its diuretic effect. In the present study, we investigate the effects of TJ-17 on chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: We the preventive action of TJ-17 against acute kidney injury (AKI) transition to CKD in vivo using a folic acid (FA)-induced mouse model. Mice were treated with food containing TJ-17 at 48 h after FA intraperitoneal injection (AKI phase). Results: Histological analysis, as well as renal function and renal injury markers, deteriorated in mice with FA-induced CKD and were ameliorated by TJ-17 treatment. Increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and macrophage infiltration were also alleviated in mice treated with TJ-17. Renal fibrosis, a crucial factor in CKD, was induced by FA administration and inhibited by TJ-17 treatment. Pretreatment with TJ-17 did not exert an inhibitory effect on FA-induced AKI. The increase in urinary volume in FA-induced CKD mice was ameliorated by TJ-17 treatment, with a concurrent correction of reduced aquaporins expression in the kidney. Conclusion: TJ-17 may have a novel preventive effect against inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis, contributing to innovation in the treatment of CKD

Mapping Observations of DNC and HN^13C in Dark Cloud Cores

We present results of mapping observations of the DNC, HN^13C, and H^13CO^+ lines (J=1-0) toward 4 nearby dark cloud cores, TMC-1, L1512, L1544, and L63, along with observations of the DNC and HN^13C lines (J=2-1) toward selected positions. By use of statistical equilibrium calculations based on the LVG model, the H_2 densities are derived to be (1.4-5.5)*10^5 cm^-3, and the [DNC]/[HN^13C] ratios are derived to be 1.25-5.44 with a typical uncertainty by a factor of 2. The observed [DNC]/[HNC] ratios range from 0.02 to 0.09, assuming the [^12C]/[^13C] ratio of 60. Distributions of DNC and HN^13C are generally similar to each other, whereas the distribution of H^13CO^+ is more extended than those of DNC and HN^13C, indicating that they reside in an inner part of the cores than HCO^+. The [DNC]/[HN^13C] ratio is rather constant within each core, although a small systematic gradients are observed in TMC-1 and L63. Particularly, no such systematic gradient is found in L1512 and L1544, where a significant effect of depletion of molecules is reported toward the central part of the cores. This suggests that the [DNC]/[HNC] ratio would not be very sensitive to depletion factor, unlike the [DCO^+]/[HCO^+] ratio. On the other hand, the core to core variation of the [DNC]/[HNC] ratio, which range an order of magnitude, is more remarkable than the variation within each core. These results are interpreted qualitatively by a combination of three competing time-dependent processes; gas-phase deuterium fractionation, depletion of molecules onto grain surface, and dynamical evolution of a core.Comment: 22 pages, 8 EPS figures, aasLaTex 5.0, accepted to The Astrophysical Journa

Curcumin (1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1, 6-heptadiene-3,5-dione) Blocks the Chemotaxis of Neutrophils by Inhibiting Signal Transduction through IL-8 Receptors

We investigated the impact of curcumin on neutrophils. Chemotactic activity via human recombinant IL-8 (hrIL-8) was significantly inhibited by curcumin. Curcumin reduced calcium ion flow induced by internalization of the IL-8 receptor. We analyzed flow cytometry to evaluate the status of the IL-8 receptor after curcumin treatment. The change in the distribution of receptors intracellularly and on the cell surface suggested that curcumin may affect the receptor trafficking pathway intracellulary. Rab11 is a low molecular weight G protein associated with the CXCR recycling pathway. Following curcumin treatment, immunoprecipitation studies showed that the IL-8 receptor was associated with larger amounts of active Rab11 than that in control cells. These data suggest that curcumin induces the stacking of the Rab11 vesicle complex with CXCR1 and CXCR2 in the endocytic pathway. The mechanism for antiinflammatory response by curcumin may involve unique regulation of the Rab11 trafficking molecule in recycling of IL-8 receptors