Bis(2,3,5-triphenyl­tetra­zolium) tetra­thio­cyanato­cobaltate(II)

The title compound, (C19H15N4)2[Co(NCS)4], has two crystallographycally different molecules of bis­(2,3,5-triphenyl­tetra­zolium) tetra­thio­cyanatecobaltate in the asymmetric unit. There are only minor geometric differences between them. Each cobalt(II) ion is coordinated by the N atoms of four NCS anions, showing the magnitude of the magnetic moment expected from the NCS− crystal field strength

TGF-βbgr-activating kinase-1 inhibits cell cycle and expression of cyclin D1 and A in LLC-PK1 cells

TGF-βbgr-activating kinase-1 inhibits cell cycle and expression of cyclin D1 and A in LLC-PK1 cells.BackgroundTransforming growth factor-βbgr (TGF-βbgr) is known to play an important role in the pathophysiology of renal tubular disease. Researchers have recently identified a novel mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK), TAK (TGF-βbgr activated kinase)1, which stimulates the MKK3/6-p38K pathway. The purpose of our study was to investigate the functional role of the TAK1-MKK3/6-p38K pathway and classical MAPK cascades in the progression of the cell cycle in renal tubular cells.MethodsThe constitutive active form and negative form of TAK1 (TAK1dN and TAK1K63W, respectively), and active and negative forms of the p42/44 MAPK-activator, MKK1 (S222E and S222A, respectively) were transfected to LLC-PK1 cells. Western blot analyses and promoter-luciferase assay of cyclins D1, D2, D3, E, and A were performed, and cell cycle progression was analyzed by FACS scan.ResultsTAK1dN stimulated MKK6 and p38K activity and inhibited the percentage of the S and G2/M phases. TAK1K63 W inhibited TGF-βbgr-stimulated MKK6 and p38K activity. Cyclin D1 and cyclin A protein levels and promoter activities were negatively regulated by TAK1dN. In contrast, overexpression of the active form of p42/44 MAPK-activator, MKK1, increased cyclin D1 and A promoter activity and protein levels.ConclusionThe growth-inhibitory effects of TGF-βbgr are at least partially mediated by the TAK1-MKK6-p38K pathway. Cyclin D1 and A promoter activity and cell cycle progression in renal tubular cells are negatively regulated by the TAK1-MKK6-p38K pathway and positively regulated by the MKK1-p42/44MAPK pathway

Quantification of Hepatic Iron Concentration in Chronic Viral Hepatitis: Usefulness of T2-weighted Single-Shot Spin-Echo Echo-Planar MR Imaging

Objective: To investigate the usefulness of single-shot spin-echo echo-planar imaging (SSEPI) sequence for quantifying mild degree of hepatic iron stores in patients with viral hepatitis. Methods: This retrospective study included 34 patients with chronic viral hepatitis/cirrhosis who had undergone histological investigation and magnetic resonance imaging with T2-weighted gradient-recalled echo sequence (T2-GRE) and diffusion-weighted SSEPI sequence with b-factors of 0 s/mm 2 (T2-EPI), 500 s/mm 2 (DW-EPI-500), and 1000 s/mm 2 (DW-EPI-1000). The correlation between the liver-to-muscle signal intensity ratio, which was generated by regions of interest placed in the liver and paraspinous muscles of each sequence image, and the hepatic iron concentration (mmol/g dry liver), which was assessed by spectrophotometry, was analyzed by linear regression using a spline model. Akaike information criterion (AIC) was used to select the optimal model. Results: Mean 6 standard deviation of the hepatic iron concentration quantified by spectrophotometry was 24.6616.

Manipulation of charge carrier flow in Bi₄NbO₈Cl nanoplate photocatalyst with metal loading

Separation of photoexcited charge carriers in semiconductors is important for efficient solar energy conversion and yet the control strategies and underlying mechanisms are not fully established. Although layered compounds have been widely studied as photocatalysts, spatial separation between oxidation and reduction reaction sites is a challenging issue due to the parallel flow of photoexcited carriers along the layers. Here we demonstrate orthogonal carrier flow in layered Bi₄NbO₈Cl by depositing a Rh cocatalyst at the edges of nanoplates, resulting in spatial charge separation and significant enhancement of the photocatalytic activity. Combined experimental and theoretical studies revealed that lighter photogenerated electrons, due to a greater in-plane dispersion of the conduction band (vs. valence band), can travel along the plane and are readily trapped by the cocatalyst, whereas the remaining holes hop perpendicular to the plane because of the anisotropic crystal geometry. Our results propose manipulating carrier flow via cocatalyst deposition to achieve desirable carrier dynamics for photocatalytic reactions in layered compounds

Recurrent transient thyrotoxicosis with painless thyroiditis--a case report.

A case of a 40-year-old woman who was suffering from painless thyroiditis with recurrent transient thyrotoxicosis is reported. Acute exacerbations occurred four times during the past ten years, two after delivery and two after catching a cold. Serum thyroid hormones increased, though radioiodine uptake by the thyroid was very low and no inflammatory signs were observed. The histological findings of the thyroid were of atypical thyroiditis and not consistent with either chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis or subacute thyroiditis. Tanned sheep red cell hemagglutination titers for anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TRC) and for anti-microsomal antibodies (MHA) were negative or low. The disease seems to be rare and the pathophysiology and etiology are discussed.</p

Studies on thyroid function in rats with experimentally induced thyroiditis.

Function of pituitary-thyroid axis was studied in rats with experimentally induced thyroiditisWistar strain female rats were immunized with homologous thyroid extract in Freund's complete adjuvant and with simultaneous intradermal injection of pertussis vaccine concentrate. They received booster shots at the first and third week after the initial immunization. Serum thyroid hormones and TSH were measured just before, and at weekly intervals after, the initial immunization. Histological examination of the thyroid gland at the second week after immunization showed slight infiltration of macrophages in the thyroid follicles. From the third to the fourth week, massive lymphoid cell infiltration and destruction of follicular architecture developed in all immunized rats. Serum R3 levels slightly decreased during the second week, increased transiently during the third week, then decreased again thereafter. Serum T4 levels decreased slightly durinf the fourth week. Serum TSH levels were not elevated significantly during the third week, but the response to TRH was significantly increased at this time. Basal TSH levels were increased during the fourth week. The TRH test was a sensitive method capable of detecting minimal failure of thyroid function undetected by other routine measuremens of thyroid hormones and TSH.</p

The Pavlik harness in the treatment of developmentally dislocated hips: results of Japanese multicenter studies in 1994 and 2008

AbstractBackgroundIt has already been more than 50years since the Pavlik harness was introduced in Japan, and today the Pavlik harness is widely recognized as the standard initial treatment modality for developmental dysplasia of the hip. We performed a multicenter nationwide questionnaire study concerning the results of Pavlik harness treatment twice in 1994 and 2008.MethodsIn 1994 and in 2008, we sent questionnaires to 12 institutes in Japan specializing mainly in pediatric orthopedics. We compare the results of these two studies and discuss differences in reduction rates, incidence of avascular necrosis in the femoral epiphysis and the percentage of joints with acceptable morphology (Severin grade I+II/total) at skeletal maturity. We statistically assessed these results to see whether there were changes in the treatment outcomes over this 14-year period.ResultsReduction of the dislocated hips was obtained by the Pavlik harness in 80.2% (1990/2481 hips; 1994) and 81.9% (1248/1523 hips; 2008). The incidences of avascular necrosis of the proximal femoral epiphysis in the dysplastic hips were 14.3% (119/835 hips; 1994) and 11.5% (76/663 hips; 2008). The type of avascular necrosis in hips from the 2008 study was determined according to the classification of Kalamchi and MacEwen: 24/69 hips (34.8%) were classified as group I; 20/69 hips (29.0%) as group II; 11/69 hips (15.9%) as group Ill; 14/69 hips (20.3%) as group IV. The percentages of hips with acceptable outcomes at skeletal maturity discerned from Severin X-ray changes (grade I+II/total) were 72.3% (604/835 hips; 1994) and 77.7% (488/628 hips; 2008).ConclusionReduction rates and the incidence of avascular necrosis in 2008 were statistically similar to the results in 1994. The rate of acceptable outcome (Severin grade I+II/total) in 2008 was statistically higher than that of 1994

Inhibition of microRNA-33b in humanized mice ameliorates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

マイクロRNA-33bの阻害は非アルコール性脂肪肝炎を改善する --核酸医薬による治療応用へ--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-06-13.Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in their advanced stages; however, there are currently no approved therapies. Here, we show that microRNA (miR)-33b in hepatocytes is critical for the development of NASH. miR-33b is located in the intron of sterol regulatory element–binding transcription factor 1 and is abundantly expressed in humans, but absent in rodents. miR-33b knock-in (KI) mice, which have a miR-33b sequence in the same intron of sterol regulatory element–binding transcription factor 1 as humans and express miR-33b similar to humans, exhibit NASH under high-fat diet feeding. This condition is ameliorated by hepatocyte-specific miR-33b deficiency but unaffected by macrophage-specific miR-33b deficiency. Anti-miR-33b oligonucleotide improves the phenotype of NASH in miR-33b KI mice fed a Gubra Amylin NASH diet, which induces miR-33b and worsens NASH more than a high-fat diet. Anti-miR-33b treatment reduces hepatic free cholesterol and triglyceride accumulation through up-regulation of the lipid metabolism–related target genes. Furthermore, it decreases the expression of fibrosis marker genes in cultured hepatic stellate cells. Thus, inhibition of miR-33b using nucleic acid medicine is a promising treatment for NASH