Electronic structure and magnetism of intermetallic mixed compound Mn₄N₁₋xCx

By applying the recursion method to the intermetallic mixed compound Mn₄N₁₋xCx with cubic perovskite-type structure we investigate the effects of substitution of C atoms for N atoms on the electronic structure and the magnetic properties of Mn₄N. By calculating the DOS's for the ferrimagnetic states of both Mn₄N and Mn₄N₀.₇₅C₀.₂₅ we have determined the magnetic moments at two types of Mn site, Mn(I)(corner site) and Mn(II) (face center site), which are antiparallel to each other. The obtained magnetic moment of Mn(I) in Mn₄N₀.₇₅C₀.₂₅ is found to be the same with that in Mn₄N while the absolute value of Mn(II) moment increases by the substitution of C atoms. As the result the total ferromagnetic moment decreases by the substitution of C atoms. These results are in good agreement with the observations.Article信州大学理学部紀要 30(1): 25-36(1995)departmental bulletin pape

Antiviral and Virucidal Activities of Nα-Cocoyl-L-Arginine Ethyl Ester

Various amino acid-derived compounds, for example, Nα-Cocoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester (CAE), alkyloxyhydroxylpropylarginine, arginine cocoate, and cocoyl glycine potassium salt (Amilite), were examined for their virucidal activities against herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), influenza A virus (IAV), and poliovirus type 1 (PV-1) in comparison to benzalkonium chloride (BKC) and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) as a cationic and anionic control detergent and also to other commercially available disinfectants. While these amino acid-derived compounds were all effective against HSV-1 and HSV-2, CAE and Amilite were the most effective. These two compounds were, however, not as effective against IAV, another enveloped virus, as against HSV. Cytotoxicity of CAE was weak; at 0.012%, only 5% of the cells were killed under the conditions, in which 100% cells were killed by either SDS or BKC. In addition to these direct virucidal effects, CAE inhibited the virus growth in the HSV-1- or PV-1-infected cells even at 0.01%. These results suggest a potential application of CAE as a therapeutic or preventive medicine against HSV superficial infection at body surface

Stimulation of ultraviolet-induced apoptosis of human fibroblast UVr-1 cells by tyrosine kinase inhibitors

AbstractDamnacanthal is an anthraquinone compound isolated from the root of Morinda citrifolia and was reported to have a potent inhibitory activity towards tyrosine kinases such as Lck, Src, Lyn and EGF receptor. In the present study, we have examined the effects of damnacanthal on ultraviolet ray-induced apoptosis in ultraviolet-resistant human UVr-1 cells. When the cells were treated with damnacanthal prior to ultraviolet irradiation, DNA fragmentation was more pronounced as compared to the case of ultraviolet irradiation alone. The other tyrosine kinase inhibitors, herbimycin A and genistein, also caused similar effects on ultraviolet-induced apoptosis but to a lesser extent. Serine/threonine kinase inhibitors, K252a, staurosporine and GF109203X, rather suppressed the ultraviolet-induced DNA cleavage. Immunoblot analysis showed that pretreatment with damnacanthal followed by ultraviolet irradiation increased the levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases and stress-activated protein kinases. However, the other tyrosine kinase inhibitors did not increase the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases but stimulated phosphorylation of stress-activated protein kinases. Consequently, the ultraviolet-induced concurrent increase in both phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases and stress-activated protein kinases after pretreatment with damnacanthal might be characteristically related to the stimulatory effect of damnacanthal on ultraviolet-induced apoptosis

Effect of cysteine on the inactivation of cystathionine gamma-lyase by D,L-propargylglycine.

In vivo inactivation of cystathionine gamma-lyase by D,L-propargylglycine, a suicide inhibitor, was found to be less profound in rat kidney than in the liver. We investigated the cause of this difference using rat tissues. We fractionated kidney extract to characterize the substance which protected enzyme, and found that cysteine exhibits protecting action. Addition of 0.3 mM L-cysteine to the incubation mixture containing dialyzed kidney supernatant and 0.5 mM D,L-propargylglycine resulted in the protection of cystathionine gamma-lyase from the inactivation by the inhibitor. The content of cysteine in the kidney was six-fold higher than that in the liver. Thus, we have concluded that one of the reasons why the in vivo inactivation of cystathionine gamma-lyase in rat kidney was less than that in the liver is the presence of a higher concentration of cysteine in the kidney. S-Carboxymethylcysteine, a cysteine derivative, exhibited a similar, but weaker, protective effect.</p

Understanding anthropometry, metabolism and menstrual status of Japanese college female long-distance runners

Aim: To understand the anthropometry, metabolism, and menstrual status of Japanese collegiate female long-distance runners. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 29 Japanese college female long-distance runners divided into three menstruation status groups: 1) Regular; 2) Irregular; and 3) Amenorrhea. The amenorrhea group was further divided into participants who consulted a gynecologist and those who did not. Metabolism was measured using resting metabolic rate, total energy expenditure, and physical activity level. Energy was measured using energy intake, exercise energy expenditure, and energy availability (EA). Anthropometric measurements were performed following standardized techniques from the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. Results: Of the 29 runners, 68% had menstrual dysfunction. The amenorrhea group who had consulted a gynecologist had lower body mass index (BMI) and lower skinfolds than the other groups. All groups had more than 30 kcal/kg fat free mass/day for EA with no difference between the groups. Conclusions: There was high prevalence of menstrual dysfunction in the female Japanese college long-distance runners. Runners with amenorrhea had lower BMI and lower skinfolds than the other groups, despite having consulted a gynecologist for medical support. All the runners had an energy deficiency higher than the published threshold; therefore, this threshold did not differentiate the amenorrhea or irregular menstruating athletes from regular menstruating athletes. Longitudinal tracking of athletes should include measurement of height, body mass, and skinfolds to enable evaluation of BMI, the sum of eight skinfold sites, and leanness ratio score as possible indicators over time for menstrual dysfunction.Objetivo: Comprender la antropometría, el metabolismo y el estado menstrual de las corredoras de larga distancia universitarias japonesas. Métodos: Este fue un estudio transversal de 29 corredoras de larga distancia universitarias japonesas divididas en tres grupos de estado de menstruación: 1) Regular; 2) Irregular; y 3) amenorrea. El grupo de amenorrea se dividió en participantes que consultaron a un ginecólogo y los que no lo hicieron. El metabolismo se midió utilizando la tasa metabólica en reposo, el gasto energético total y el nivel de actividad física. La energía se midió utilizando la ingesta de energía, el gasto energético del ejercicio y la disponibilidad de energía (EA). Las mediciones antropométricas se realizaron siguiendo técnicas estandarizadas de la Sociedad Internacional para el Avance de la Cineantropometría. Resultados: De las 29 corredoras, el 68% tenía disfunción menstrual. El grupo de amenorrea que había consultado a un ginecólogo tenía un índice de masa corporal (IMC) más bajo y pliegues cutáneos más bajos que los otros grupos. Todos los grupos tenían más de 30 kcal / kg de masa libre de grasa / día para EA sin diferencias entre los grupos. Conclusiones: Hubo una alta prevalencia de disfunción menstrual en las corredoras de larga distancia universitarias japonesas. Las corredoras con amenorrea tenían un IMC más bajo y pliegues cutáneos más bajos que los otros grupos, a pesar de haber consultado a un ginecólogo para recibir apoyo médico. Todos los corredores tenían una deficiencia energética superior al umbral publicado; por lo tanto, este umbral no diferenciaba la amenorrea o los atletas con menstruación irregular de los atletas con menstruación regular. El seguimiento longitudinal de los atletas debe incluir la medición de la altura, la masa corporal y los pliegues cutáneos para permitir la evaluación del IMC, la suma de ocho sitios de pliegues cutáneos y la puntuación del índice de delgadez como posibles indicadores a lo largo del tiempo de la disfunción menstrual

ミクロ2次元電気泳動法を用いたネコ尿タンパク質分析の基礎的検討

本研究では糖尿病性腎症の病態を把握するひとつとして，正常ネコ，糖尿病ネコおよび慢性腎不全ネコから採取した尿 (0.25μl) をミクロ2次元電気泳動 (M2D-PAGE : 未変性-変性) 分析により，タンパク質スポット (スポット) の動態観察を行った。　糖尿病ネコ尿では，正常ネコとほぼ同様にスポットaがわずかに観察されるA群と，明瞭なスポットaに加えスポットa以外の複数スポットが観察されるB群の2群に大別することが可能であった。　本研究により，濃縮操作を伴わない尿を用いるM2D-PAGE分析法は臨床獣医におけるスクリーニング検査として有用であることが示唆された。今後は，標的タンパク質の同定を各種抗ネコ抗体を用いることで実施し，スポットの定量を行うことで，より適切に糖尿病の進行状況や糖尿病性腎症の病態の把握することが可能と考えられる。One method of understanding of the pathology of diabetic nephropathy is to evaluate protein spot (spot) dynamics through micro two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (M2D-PAGE; native and denaturing) analysis of urine. In this study 0.25-μl aliquots of urine were collected from and analyzed for normal. diabetes mellitus and chronic renal failure cats. The urine of diabetes mellitus cats could be broadly divided into two groups: minimal observation of spot A, almost identical to that in normal cats (Group A); and, observation of multiple other spots in addition to clearly defined spot A (Group B). This study suggests the expediency of M2D-PAGE analysis, which uses non-concentrated urine, for clinical veterinary screening tests. In future studies, identification of target proteins will be carried out using each type of anti-cat antibody. Moreover, better understanding of diabetes mellitus progression and diabetic nephropathy pathology may be possible through protein spot assay