Quantification of aminobutyric acids and their clinical applications as biomarkers for osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a highly prevalent chronic aging-related disease that frequently is only detected after fracture. We hypothesized that aminobutyric acids could serve as biomarkers for osteoporosis. We developed a quick, accurate, and sensitive screening method for aminobutyric acid isomers and enantiomers yielding correlations with bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporotic fracture. In serum, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and (R)-3-aminoisobutyric acid (D-BAIBA) have positive associations with physical activity in young lean women. D-BAIBA positively associated with hip BMD in older individuals without osteoporosis/osteopenia. Lower levels of GABA were observed in 60-80 year old women with osteoporotic fractures. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in seven genes related to these metabolites associated with BMD and osteoporosis. In peripheral blood monocytes, dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, an enzyme essential to D-BAIBA generation, exhibited positive association with physical activity and hip BMD. Along with their signaling roles, BAIBA and GABA might serve as biomarkers for diagnosis and treatments of osteoporosis

Terrestrial-Type Xenon in Sulfides of the Allende Meteorite

Two FeS-rich samples from the Allende (C3V) chondrite were analyzed for Xe and Kr. One sample was irradiated in a neutron flux to generate a tracer isotope of Xe by the 130Te(n,γ2β)131*Xe reaction. The experiment was designed to use this tracer isotope to identify the temperature at which gases were released from within the sulfide. When the sulfide melted at 950°C, the Xe released was terrestrial in isotopic composition, except for enrichments from spallogenic and radiogenic components. It is concluded that terrestrial-type Xe, Xe-T, was a primordial component that was dominant in the inner Fe, S-rich region of the solar nebula

Anomalous ¹³¹Xe in Barites

Five barites from North America were analyzed for the abundance and isotopic composition of Kr and Xe in an attempt to find 131Xe anomalies from the capture of epithermal neutrons on 130Ba. Excess 131Xe was found in two of the samples, 118B from Pea Ridge Mine of Sullivan, Missouri, and 119B from Franklin, New Jersey. The highest enrichment of 131Xe (108%) was observed in the gas released from sample 118B. The enrichment of 131Xe for sample 119B is 27%. We show that the neutron source for the reaction 130Ba(n, γ) → 131Xe is the decay of actinide elements in the host rocks. However, no prominent anomalies were observed from the presence of fissiogenic xenon

Ratio of Double Beta-Decay Rates of \u3csup\u3e128,130\u3c/sup\u3eTe

We have measured the amounts of radiogenic 128Xe and 130Xe in two, old telluride minerals-krennerite (AuTe2) from Western Australia and altaite (PbTe) from Quebec. We calculated values of (4.2±0.8) × 10-4 and (4.4±0.8) × 10-4 for the ratio of the total ββ-decay half-lives, 130T1 2/128T1 2, from the amounts of radiogenic 130Xe and 128Xe in the krennerite and the altaite, respectively. These values are in good agreement with the ratio of half-lives calculated by the quasi-particle random phase approximation for 2v ββ-decay

Origin of the Solar System and Its Elements

Formation of the Solar System from heterogeneous debris of a supernova (SN) that exploded 5 billion years ago as recorded as (1) inter-linked chemical and isotopic heterogeneities in meteorites, (2) higher levels of extinct nuclides in grains that trapped larger isotopic anomalies, (3) the physical properties of grains mentioned in part (2), and (4) patterns of isotopic anomalies in meteorites, in the solar-wind, and in solar flare particles. The Sun formed on the SN core, and planets formed in a rationally- supported, equatorial disk of SN debris. Interiors of the Sun and the inner planets accreted first in a central, Fe-rich region surrounding the SN core. These were layered as condensate from other parts of the SN fell toward the condensing Sun. Elements in outer SN layers formed low-density, giant Jovian planets. Intra-solar diffusion enriches hydrogen and lighter isotopes of individual elements at the Sun\u27s surface