Interaction between the CheY response regulator and the histidine-containing phosphotransfer (HPt) domain of the ArcB sensory kinase in Escherichia coli

AbstractBacteria have devised sophisticated His–Asp phosphorelay signaling systems for eliciting a variety of adaptive responses to their environment. The histidine-containing phosphotransfer (HPt) domain, found in many signal transduction protein, functions as a mediator of the His–Asp phosphorelay. The ArcB anaerobic sensor of E. coli contains such a HPt domain, although its function is not fully understood. In this study, we provide in vivo and in vitro evidence that the HPt domain is capable of interacting with the CheY receiver, which contains a phospho-accepting aspartate residue

A CASE OF RUPTURED MITRAL VALVE ANEURYSM DUE TO INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS

58-year-old woman with aortic regurgitation was admitted to our hospi- tal because of high grade fever. She had infective endocarditis and an aneurysm of the anterior mitral leaflet. Doppler echocardiography indicated a ruptured mitral valve aneurysm. Aortic regurgitant flow along the anterior mitral leaflet was suspected to have contributed to mitral valve endocarditis, aneurysm formation and rupture. She was initially treated with high-dose intravenous penicillin, but congestive heart failure worsened. Mitral valve replacement was then successfully performed

Autonomic nervous alterations associated with daily level of fatigue

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Fatigue is a common symptom in both sick and healthy people. We examined autonomic nervous alterations associated with fatigue to clarify the mechanisms underlying fatigue.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study group consisted of 19 healthy participants who performed a 2-back test for 30 min as a fatigue-inducing mental task session. Before and after the session, they completed the advanced trail making test (ATMT) for 30 min for mental fatigue evaluation, subjective scales to measure fatigue sensation, and underwent electrocardiography to allow assessment of autonomic nerve activities.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After the fatigue-inducing task, the total error counts on the ATMT tended to increase (<it>P </it>= 0.076); the ATMT for total trial counts (<it>P </it>= 0.001), the subjective level of fatigue (<it>P </it>< 0.001), and the % low-frequency power (%LF) (<it>P </it>= 0.035) increased significantly; and the % high-frequency power (%HF) decreased compared with before the fatigue-inducing task although this did not reach the statistical significance (<it>P </it>= 0.170). Although LF measured in absolute units did not change significantly before and after the fatigue-inducing task (<it>P </it>= 0.771), and HF measured in absolute units decreased after the task (<it>P </it>= 0.020). The %LF and LF/HF ratio were positively associated with the daily level of fatigue evaluated using Chalder's fatigue scale. In addition, %HF was negatively associated with the fatigue score.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Increased sympathetic activity and decreased parasympathetic activity may be characteristic features of both acute and daily levels of fatigue. Our findings provide new perspectives on the mechanisms underlying fatigue.</p

Improvement of Glucose Metabolism in Patients with Impaired Glucose Tolerance or Diabetes by Long-Term Administration of a Palatinose-Based Liquid Formula as a Part of Breakfast

A palatinose-based liquid formula (palatinose-formula), suppresses postprandial plasma glucose and insulin levels in healthy men. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of long-term palatinose-formula ingestion on glucose metabolism in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or type 2 diabetes. Two patients with IGT and 7 patients with type 2 diabetes participated in the palatinose-formula and dextrin-based liquid formula (dextrin-formula) loading test and long-term palatinose-formula administration study. After a 3-month control period, palatinose-formula (1046 kJ) was ingested daily by patients as a part of breakfast for 5 months. In the loading test, palatinose-formula suppressed postprandial plasma glucose and insulin levels and areas under the curve compared with those after dextrin-formula ingestion. In the long-term study, glycated hemoglobin levels (after 3 months and 5 months of treatment) and serum 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels (after 5 months of treatment) were markedly decreased comparing with those at baseline. Intake of 1046 kJ palatinose-formula as a part of breakfast over a long-term period may be effective for improvement of glucose metabolism in patients with IGT or type 2 diabetes

Angle-resolved photoemission study of MX-chain compound [Ni(chxn)2_2Br]Br2_2

We report on the results of angle-resolved photoemission experiments on a quasi-one-dimensional $MX$-chain compound [Ni(chxn)$_2$Br]Br$_2$ (chxn = 1$R$,2$R$-cyclohexanediamine), a one-dimensional Heisenberg system with $S=1/2$ and $J \sim 3600$ K, which shows a gigantic non-linear optical effect. A "band" having about 500 meV energy dispersion is found in the first half of the Brillouin zone $(0\le kb/\pi <1/2)$, but disappears at $kb / \pi \sim 1/2$. Two dispersive features, expected from the spin-charge separation, as have been observed in other quasi-one-dimensional systems like Sr$_2$CuO$_3$, are not detected. These characteristic features are well reproduced by the $d$-$p$ chain model calculations with a small charge-transfer energy $\Delta$ compared with that of one-dimensional Cu-O based compounds. We propose that this smaller $\Delta$ is the origin of the absence of clear spin- and charge-separation in the photoemission spectra and strong non-linear optical effect in [Ni(chxn)$_2$Br]Br$_2$.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

The Anti-Obesity Effect of the Palatinose-Based Formula Inslow is Likely due to an Increase in the Hepatic PPAR-α and Adipocyte PPAR-γ Gene Expressions

Abdominal obesity is a principal risk factor in the development of metabolic syndrome. Previously, we showed that a palatinose-based liquid formula, Inslow/MHN-01, suppressed postprandial plasma glucose level and reduced visceral fat accumulation better than the standard formula (SF). To elucidate the mechanism of Inslow-mediated anti-obesity effect, expression levels of genes involved in the glucose and lipid metabolism were compared in Inslow- and SF-fed rats. Both fasting plasma insulin level and average islet sizes were reduced in the Inslow group. We also found less abdominal fat accumulation and reduced hepatic triacylglycerol content in the Inslow group. Expression of the β-oxidation enzymes and uncoupling potein-2 (UCP-2) mRNAs in the liver of the Inslow group were higher than the SF group, which was due to a concomitant higher expression of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α mRNA in the former. Furthermore, expression of the UCP-2 and adiponectin mRNAs in the epididymal fat were higher in the Inslow group than the SF group, and were stimulated by a concomitant increase of the PPAR-γ gene expression in the former. These results strongly suggested that the anti-obesity effect of Inslow was due to an increase in the hepatic PPAR-α and adipocyte PPAR-γ gene expressions

Insulin resistance as early sign of hepatic dysfunction in liver cirrhosis

Glucose intolerance characterized by postprandial hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia is commonly seen in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). The aim of this study is to clarify the relation between glucose intolerance and disorder of liver function in patients with LC. The 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (75 g OGTT) and the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp combined with 0.2 g/kg oral glucose load (HECGL) were conducted in 61 patients with LC. Based on the results of 75 g OGTT, the 61 patientswith LCwere divided into groups, 21 (34.4%) patients with normal glucose tolerance (LC-NGT), 12 (19.7%) patients with impaired glucose tolerance (LC-IGT) and 28 (45.9%) patients with diabetes mellitus (LC-DM). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level was normal in 50 (82.0%) patients with LC. All patients with LC showed insulin resistance in both peripheral (skeletal and adipose) and hepatic tissues evaluated by HECGL, although significant correlation between the degree of glucose intolerance and the severity of hepatic dysfunction was not observed. Insulin resistance in both liver and peripheral tissues is the early sign in the patients with LC. This fact indicates that nutritional care from early stages of LC would be necessary in the patients

〓

山豆根は広豆根とも称し, 重要な中草薬である。山豆根の名称は「開宝本草」にはじめて収載されている。解熱・解毒・鎮痛・消炎の目的で繁用されているもので, 山豆根の名称を冠したものは異名として数多くが知られている。山豆根の基源植物は多くの研究者により, Sophora属のものであることが知られてきたが, 植物分類学の点から, 基源植物はSophora tonkinensis GAGNEPが正統である。Shan dou gen (山豆根), also called Guang dou gen (広豆根), is one of important Chinese traditional medicinal herbs. The roots of the plant have been used in Chinese drugs as antifebrile, antidote, anodyne, and anti-inflammatory agents. The name of Shan don gen was described for the first time in the book of Kai baa ben cao (開宝本草) in 10 th century. Other roots of plants, however, have been called and used for the same purpose under the name of Shan dou gen. The original plant for Shan dou gen has been confirmed to be the genus Sophora by many investigators. Among the genus, the proper roots of the plant for it is Sophora tonkinensis GAGNEP