Anti-Photoagaing and Photo-Protective Compounds from Marine Organisms

This Special Issue Book ""Anti-Photoagaing and Photo-Protective Compounds from Marine Organisms"" is aimed at collecting literature on the below-mentioned keyword topics, which can significantly increase our basic understanding of marine-derived compounds in cosmeceutical product development and increases the value of marine products at the industrial level

Cooper-Pair Spin Current in a Strontium Ruthenate Heterostructure

It has been recognized that the condensation of spin-triplet Cooper pairs requires not only the broken gauge symmetry but also the spin ordering as well. One consequence of this is the possibility of the Cooper-pair spin current analogous to the magnon spin current in magnetic insulators, the analogy also extending to the existence of the Gilbert damping of the collective spin-triplet dynamics. The recently fabricated heterostructure of the thin film of the itinerant ferromagnet SrRuO3 on the bulk Sr2RuO4, the best-known candidate material for the spin-triplet superconductor, offers a promising platform for generating such spin current. We will show how such heterostructure allows us to not only realize the long-range spin valve but also electrically drive the collective spin mode of the spin-triplet order parameter. Our proposal represents both a new realization of the spin superfluidity and a transport signature of the spin-triplet superconductivity.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Macrophage inflammatory protein-related protein-2, a novel CC chemokine, can regulate preadipocyte migration and adipocyte differentiation

AbstractAdipocytes not only store energy, but also secrete biologically active molecules called adipocytokines, which play a pivotal role in adipocyte-related pathological processes such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have shown that preadipocyte/adipocyte expresses chemokines (e.g. monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha) which alter adipocyte function, indicating the involvement of chemokines in adipocyte-related pathologies. The current study investigated the potential of macrophage inflammatory protein-related protein-2 (MRP-2), a novel CC chemokine, to modulate preadipocyte trafficking and adipocyte differentiation. MRP-2 and its receptors were highly expressed in preadipocytes and differentiated adipocytes as well as in the mouse fat pad. Chemotaxis assays revealed that MRP-2 was a specific chemotactic regulator in preadipocyte migration. The levels of MRP-2 expression in adipose tissue were enhanced in obese mice compared to lean mice. MRP-2 secretion by preadipocytes was suppressed during differentiation. MRP-2 suppressed the expression of adipocyte differentiation markers such as adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein and glycerol-3 phosphate dehydrogenase. Taken together, our data suggest that MRP-2 plays a role in the regulation of preadipocyte migration and adipocyte differentiation during adipose tissue development. MRP-2 may be another adipocytokine, which can be involved in the adipocyte-related pathological process

Dieckol from Ecklonia cava Regulates Invasion of Human Fibrosarcoma Cells and Modulates MMP-2 and MMP-9 Expression via NF-κB Pathway

The matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family is involved in the breakdown of extracellular matrix in normal physiological processes, as well as in the disease processes such as arthritis and cancer metastasis. In the present study, dieckol was obtained with high yield from marine brown alga Ecklonia cava (EC), and its effect was assessed on the expression of MMP-2 and -9 and morphological changes in human fibrosarcoma cell line (HT1080). Dieckol inhibited the expression of MMP-2 and -9 in a dose-dependent manner and also suppressed the cell invasion and the cytomorphology in 3D culture system on HT1080 cells. Moreover, dieckol may influence nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway without obvious influence on activator protein-1 (AP-1) pathway and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). In conclusion, dieckol could significantly suppress MMP-2 and -9 expression and alter cytomorphology of HT1080 cell line via NF-κB pathway

Different contribution of extent of myocardial injury to left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in early reperfused acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: We sought to investigate the influence of the extent of myocardial injury on left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in patients after reperfused acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Thirty-eight reperfused AMI patients underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging after percutaneous coronary revascularization. The extent of myocardial edema and scarring were assessed by T2 weighted imaging and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging, respectively. Within a day of CMR, echocardiography was done. Using 2D speckle tracking analysis, LV longitudinal, circumferential strain, and twist were measured. RESULTS: Extent of LGE were significantly correlated with LV systolic functional indices such as ejection fraction (r��=��-0.57, p��<��0.001), regional wall motion score index (r��=��0.52, p��=��0.001), and global longitudinal strain (r��=��0.56, p��<��0.001). The diastolic functional indices significantly correlated with age (r��=��-0.64, p��<��0.001), LV twist (r��=��-0.39, p��=��0.02), average non-infarcted myocardial circumferential strain (r��=��-0.52, p��=��0.001), and LV end-diastolic wall stress index (r��=��-0.47, p��=��0.003 with e') but not or weakly with extent of LGE. In multivariate analysis, age and non-infarcted myocardial circumferential strain independently correlated with diastolic functional indices rather than extent of injury. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with timely reperfused AMI, not only extent of myocardial injury but also age and non-infarcted myocardial function were more significantly related to LV chamber diastolic function.ope

Enterobacter nimipressuralis as a cause of pseudobacteremia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The clinical significance of the <it>Enterobacter nimipressuralis </it>as human pathogens remains unclear.</p> <p>Case presentations</p> <p>The microbiologic culture monitoring system of sterile body fluids revealed on an episode of <it>Enterobacter cloacae </it>and <it>Enterobacter amnigenus </it>in blood culture results on the same day; the antibiotic sensitivity and MIC were nearly the same for both species. First patient was a healthy woman with postmenopausal syndrome, while second patient with herpes zoster. Both patients had febrile sensations without signs of bacteremia. <it>E. amnigenus </it>was also cultured from the unused package of salined cotton in the container through epidemiologic investigation. The cultured <it>Enterobacter </it>species were all identified as <it>E. nimipressuralis </it>through <it>hsp60 </it>gene sequencing and infrequent-restriction-site PCR (IRS-PCR).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>When an unusual microorganisms such as <it>E. nimipressuralis </it>is isolated from blood of a patient with no clinical signs of sepsis, a pseudobacteremia should be suspected. When the antibiogram and MIC test results of bacterial cultures from two or more patients are nearly the same, although the species involved may appear different, it may be necessary to prove that they are the same species through molecular methods. The microbiologic cultures monitoring system will probably help to detect pseudobacteremia and other pseudo infections through reliable and fast identification.</p

Carrier Woman of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Mimicking Inflammatory Myositis

Carrier woman of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) can mimic the inflammatory myositis in presenting symptoms. Two diseases should be differentiated by the clinical history, muscle biopsy and genetic study. There are few reports in which both histochemical and genetic study showed the possible link of overlapping inflammatory pathophysiology with dystrophinopathy. We report a 40-yr-old woman who presented with subacute proximal muscle weakness and high serum level of creatine kinase. She had a history of Graves' disease and fluctuation of serum liver aminotransferase without definite cause. MRI, EMG and NCV were compatible with proximal muscle myopathy. Muscle biopsy on vastus lateralis showed suspicious perifascicular atrophy and infiltration of mono-macrophage lineage cells complicating the diagnosis. Dystrophin staining showed heterogeneous diverse findings from normal to interrupted mosaic pattern. Multiple ligation probe amplification and X chromosome inactivation test confirmed DMD gene deletion mutation in exon 44 and highly skewed X inactivation

Silicon@porous nitrogen-doped carbon spheres through a bottom-up approach are highly robust lithium-ion battery anodes

Due to its excellent capacity, around 4000 mA h g(-1), silicon has been recognized as one of the most promising lithium-ion battery anodes, especially for future large-scale applications including electrical vehicles and utility power grids. Nevertheless, Si suffers from a short cycle life as well as limitations for scalable electrode fabrication. Herein, we report a novel design for highly robust and scalable Si anodes: Si nanoparticles embedded in porous nitrogen-doped carbon spheres (NCSs). The porous nature of NCSs buffers the volume changes of Si nanoparticles and thus resolves critical issues of Si anode operations, such as pulverization, vulnerable contacts between Si and carbon conductors, and an unstable solid-electrolyte interphase. The unique electrode structure exhibits outstanding performance with a gravimetric capacity as high as 1579 mA h g(-1) at a C/10 rate based on the mass of both Si and C, a cycle life of 300 cycles with 94% capacity retention, as well as a discharge rate capability of 6 min while retaining a capacity of 702 mA h g(-1). Significantly, the coulombic efficiencies of this structure reach 99.99%. The assembled structure suggests a design principle for high capacity alloying electrodes that suffer from volume changes during battery operations.