Unsaturated Fatty Acids Repress the Expression of ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter A1 in HepG2 and FHs 74 Int Cells

Adenosine triphosphate–binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) plays a critical role in the formation and metabolism of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs). Adenosine triphosphate–binding cassette transporter A1 in the liver and small intestine, in particular, accounts for approximately 90% of plasma HDL cholesterol. Therefore, any alterations in the hepatic and intestinal expression of ABCA1 could have a large impact on HDL biogenesis. We tested the hypothesis that ABCA1 expression is regulated differentially by different types of fatty acids in the liver and small intestine. Human hepatoma HepG2 and human small intestine epithelial FHs 74 Int cells were used as an in vitro model. Cells were incubated with saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the presence or absence of T0901317, a synthetic agonist of liver X receptor. Unsaturated fatty acids decreased ABCA1 protein levels at 100 μmol/L of concentration regardless of the agonist with a minimal effect on messenger RNA abundance. Incubation of HepG2 and FHs 74 Int cells with rottlerin, a protein kinase C δ (PKCδ) inhibitor, increased ABCA1 protein but did not abolish linoleic acid–induced decrease in ABCA1 protein levels. Depletion of PKCδ using small interfering RNA showed decreased ABCA1 protein levels in control, palmitic acid–, and linoleic acid–treated cells, but the repressive effect of linoleic acid was sustained. In conclusion, our results indicate that unsaturated fatty acids regulate ABCA1 expression in HepG2 and FHs 74 Int cells at the posttranscriptional level, and PKCδ is likely to be involved in maintaining ABCA1 protein levels

Hypocholesterolemic effect of \u3ci\u3eNostoc commune\u3c/i\u3e var. \u3ci\u3esphaeroides\u3c/i\u3e Kützing, an edible blue-green alga

Background Intake of an edible blue-green alga Nostoc commune var. sphaeroides Kützing (N. commune) has been shown to lower plasma total cholesterol concentration, but the mechanisms behind the hypocholesterolemic effect have not been elucidated. Aim of the study To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the cholesterol-lowering effect of N. commune in mice. Methods Male C57BL/6J mice were fed the AIN-93 M diet supplemented with 0 or 5% (wt/wt) dried N. commune for 4 weeks. Lipid levels in the plasma and liver, intestinal cholesterol absorption, and fecal sterol excretion were measured. Expression of hepatic and intestinal genes involved in cholesterol metabolism was evaluated by quantitative realtime PCR. Results N. commune supplementation significantly reduced total plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations by ~20% compared to controls. Intestinal cholesterol absorption was significantly decreased, while fecal neutral sterol output was significantly increased in N. commune–fed mice. mRNA levels of the cholesterol transporters such as Niemann Pick C1 Like 1, scavenger receptor class B type 1, ATP-binding cassette transporters G5 and A1 in small intestine were not significantly different between two groups. Hepatic lipid contents including total cholesterol, triglyceride and free cholesterol in N. commune–fed mice were not significantly altered. However, the expression of cholesterol-modulating genes including sterol regulatory element binding protein-2 and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase were significantly increased in mice fed N. commune. Conclusions N. commune supplementation exerted a hypocholesterolemic effect in mice, largely in part, by reducing intestinal cholesterol absorption and promoting fecal neutral sterol excretion

The use of gold nanoparticle aggregation for DNA computing and logic-based biomolecular detection

The use of DNA molecules as a physical computational material has attracted much interest, especially in the area of DNA computing. DNAs are also useful for logical control and analysis of biological systems if efficient visualization methods are available. Here we present a quick and simple visualization technique that displays the results of the DNA computing process based on a colorimetric change induced by gold nanoparticle aggregation, and we apply it to the logic-based detection of biomolecules. Our results demonstrate its effectiveness in both DNA-based logical computation and logic-based biomolecular detection.the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy through the Molecular Evolutionary Computing (MEC) Project the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MOEHRD) under the BK21-IT Program The ICT at Seoul National University provided research facilities a Korea Research Foundation Grant funded by the Korean Government (MOEHRD, Basic Research Promotion) (KRF-2006-351-C00045

Acute Effects of Asian Dust Events on Respiratory Symptoms and Peak Expiratory Flow in Children with Mild Asthma

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible adverse effects of Asian dust events on respiratory health in asthmatic children. Fifty-two children with mild asthma were studied for eight consecutive weeks in the spring of 2004 (March 8 to May 2). During the study period, five Asian dust days were identified; we included a lag period of two days following each of the events. Subjects recorded their respiratory symptom diaries and peak expiratory flow (PEF) twice daily during the study period; and they underwent methacholine bronchial challenge tests. The subjects reported a significantly higher frequency of respiratory symptoms during the Asian dust days than during the control days. They showed significantly more reduced morning and evening PEF values, and more increased PEF variability (10.1%±3.5% vs. 5.5%±2.2%) during the Asian dust days than during the control days. Methacholine PC20 was not significantly different between before and after the study period (geometric mean: 2.82 mg/mL vs. 3.16 mg/mL). These results suggest that the short-term Asian dust events might be associated with increased acute respiratory symptoms and changes in PEF outcomes. However, there might be little long-term influence on airway hyperresponsiveness in children with mild asthma

Imported Intraocular Gnathostomiasis with Subretinal Tracks Confirmed by Western Blot Assay

We report a case of intraocular gnathostomiasis diagnosed by western blot assay in a patient with subretinal tracks. A 15-year-old male patient complained of blurred vision in the right eye, lasting for 2 weeks. Eight months earlier, he had traveled to Vietnam for 1 week and ate raw wild boar meat and lobster. His best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes and anterior chamber examination revealed no abnormalities. Fundus examination showed subretinal tracks in the right eye. Fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography showed linear hyperfluorescence of the subretinal lesion observed on fundus in the right eye. Ultrasound examination revealed no abnormalities. Blood tests indicated mild eosinophilia (7.5%), and there was no abnormality found by systemic examinations. Two years later, the patient visited our department again for ophthalmologic evaluation. Visual acuity remained 20/20 in both eyes and the subretinal tracks in the right eye had not changed since the previous examination. Serologic examination was performed to provide a more accurate diagnosis, and the patient's serum reacted strongly to the Gnathostoma nipponicum antigen by western blot assay, which led to a diagnosis of intraocular gnathostomiasis. This is the first reported case of intraocular gnathostomiasis with subretinal tracks confirmed serologically using western blot in Korea

Sammelrezension

1.) Hanft, Anke / Simmel, Annika (Hrsg.): Vermarktung von Hochschulweiterbildung. Waxmann Verlag: Münster, 2007. 192 S. ISBN 978-3-8309-1785-4. 2.) Bremer, Helmut: Soziale Milieus, Habitus und Lernen: Zur sozialen Selektivität des Bildungswesens am Beispiel der Weiterbildung. Juventa Verlag: Weinheim, 2007. 308 S. ISBN 978-37799-1585-0. 3.) Dust, Martin: 'Unser Ja zum neuen Deutschland': Katholische Erwachsenenbildung von der Weimarer Republik zur Nazi-Diktatur. Studien zur Bildungsreform, Bd. 49. Peter Lang: Frankfurt, 2007. 631 S. ISBN 978-3-631-55693-1. 4.) Gieseke, Wiltrud: Lebenslanges Lernen und Emotionen: Wirkungen von Emotionen auf Bildungsprozesse aus beziehungstheoretischer Perspektive. W. Bertelsmann Verlag: Bielefeld, 2007. 280 S. ISBN 978-3-7639-3331-0. 5.) Heuer, Ulrike / Siebers, Ruth: Weiterbildung am Beginn des 21. Jahrhunderts: Festschrift für Wiltrud Gieseke. Erwachsenenpädagogisches Institut Berlin e.V. Waxmann Verlag: Münster, 2007. 496 S. ISBN 978-3-8309-1811-0. 6.) Janetzko, Dietmar: Eigenlogik: Zur Rolle subjektiver Theorien bei der Bildungsmotivation. Waxmann Verlag: Münster, 2007. 188 S. ISBN 978-3-8309-1693-2. 7.) Kaiser, Arnim / Kaiser, Ruth / Hohmann, Reinhard (Hrsg.): Lernertypen - Lernumgebung - Lernerfolg: Erwachsene im Lernfeld. W. Bertelsmann Verlag: Bielefeld, 2007. 284 S. ISBN 978-3-7639-3560-4. 8.) Koerrenz, Ralf / Meilhammer, Elisabeth / Schneider, Käthe (Hrsg.): Wegweisende Werke zur Erwachsenenbildung. Verlag IKS Garamond: Jena, 2007. 613 S. ISBN 978-3-938203-51-4. 9.) Schiersmann, Christiane: Berufliche Weiterbildung: Lehrbuch. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften: Wiesbaden, 2007. 272 S. ISBN 3-8100-3891-1. 10.) West, Linden / Alheit, Peter / Andersen, Anders Siig / Merill, Barbara (Hrsg.): Using Biographical and Life History Approaches in the Study of Adult and Lifelong Learning. European Perspectives European Studies in Lifelong Learning and Adult Learning Research, Vol. 2. Peter Lang Verlag: Frankfurt a. M., 2007. 310 S. ISBN 978-3-631-56286-4

Catalytic ozone oxidation of benzene at low temperature over MnOx/Al-SBA-16 catalyst

The low-temperature catalytic ozone oxidation of benzene was investigated. In this study, Al-SBA-16 (Si/Al = 20) that has a three-dimensional cubic Im3m structure and a high specific surface area was used for catalytic ozone oxidation for the first time. Two different Mn precursors, i.e., Mn acetate and Mn nitrate, were used to synthesize Mn-impregnated Al-SBA-16 catalysts. The characteristics of these two catalysts were investigated by instrumental analyses using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed reduction. A higher catalytic activity was exhibited when Mn acetate was used as the Mn precursor, which is attributed to high Mn dispersion and a high degree of reduction of Mn oxides formed by Mn acetate than those formed by Mn nitrate

Clinical Characteristics and Etiology of Travelers' Diarrhea among Korean Travelers Visiting South-East Asia

The morbidity of travelers' diarrhea (TD) is still high. This study examined the incidence of common pathogens and characteristics of TD among Korean travelers who visited South-East Asian countries. We performed a prospective study involving 479 Korean travelers with diarrheal disease from February 2009 to April 2009 and stool samples were examined and questionnaire surveys were done after arrival. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) was found in 36.0% of TD cases, as were the following: Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) in 27.0%, Vibrio parahaemolyticus in 13.1%, and Norovirus in 11.5%. The detected rate of classic TD was higher in men (P = 0.007), in patients who had a shorter duration trip (P = 0.023) and in patients who drank more than 1 liter of water per day (P = 0.037). Positive stool culture rates were higher in men (P = 0.005), in hospitalized patients (P = 0.013). and in those who consumed impure water or raw foods (P = 0.033). A higher severity of disease corresponded to a significantly higher culture positivity rate (P = 0.029). We should consider the possibility of other pathogens in addition to ETEC in patients with TD who visit South-East Asia. Travelers need to educate about risk factors associated with TD

Stereotactic body radiation therapy with or without transarterial chemoembolization for patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma: preliminary analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The objectives of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for small non-resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and SBRT combined with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for advanced HCC with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirty one patients with HCC who were treated with SBRT were used for the study. We studied 32 HCC lesions, where 23 lesions (22 patients) were treated targeting small non-resectable primary HCC, and 9 lesions (9 patients) targeting PVTT using the Cyberknife. All the 9 patients targeting PVTT received TACE for the advanced HCC. Tumor volume was 3.6–57.3 cc (median, 25.2 cc) and SBRT dose was 30–39 Gy (median, 36 Gy) in 3 fractions for consecutive days for 70–85% of the planned target volume.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median follow up was 10.5 months. The overall response rate was 71.9% [small HCC: 82.6% (19/23), advanced HCC with PVTT: 44.4% (4/9)], with the complete and partial response rates of 31.3% [small HCC: 26.1% (6/23), advanced HCC with PVTT: 11.1% (1/9)], and 50.0% [small HCC: 56.5% (13/23), advanced HCC with PVTT: 33.3% (3/9)], respectively. The median survival period of small HCC and advanced HCC with PVTT patients was 12 months and 8 months, respectively. No patient experienced Grade 4 toxicity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>SBRT for small HCC and SBRT combined with TACE for advanced HCC with PVTT showed feasible treatment modalities with minimal side effects in selected patients with primary HCC.</p