A fluorescent acrylamide-type monomer bearing an environment-sensitive methoxybenzocoumarin structure for the development of functional polymeric sensors

A new fluorescent acrylamide-type monomer bearing a hydrogen bonding- and polarity-sensitive benzocoumarin fluorophore was synthesized. The absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra, and fluorescence lifetime of a model compound were measured in ten solvents with different hydrogen-bonding abilities and polarities to investigate the sensitivity of the fluorophore to the surrounding environment. These spectroscopic studies demonstrated that the fluorophore emits stronger fluorescence in more protic, polar environments. A fluorescent polymeric thermometer was prepared from N-isopropylacrylamide and the new fluorescent monomer, and it showed good functionality in aqueous solution (e.g., high sensitivity to temperature changes and high chemical stability), indicating the applicability of the herein developed fluorescent monomer for use in functional sensors.We acknowledge the Japan Science and Technology Agency (the Development of Advanced Measurement and Analysis Systems program for S. U.), the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research 16K14002 for S. U.), and the Spanish Ministry for Economy and Competitiveness (grants CTQ2008-06777-C02-02 and CTQ2014-54729-C2-1-P for U. P. and PhD fellowship BES-2009-012264 and travel grant EEBB-I-13-07155 for P. R.).Departamento de Química "Profesor José Carlos Vílchez Martín

Prevalence of Giardia intestinalis and other zoonotic intestinal parasites in private household dogs of the Hachinohe area in Aomori prefecture, Japan in 1997, 2002 and 2007

An epidemiological study on canine intestinal parasites was undertaken to evaluate changes in the prevalence among private household dogs from the Hachinohe region of Aomori prefecture, Japan, in 1997, 2002 and 2007, using the formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation technique. The risk of zoonotic transmission from household dogs to humans was also discussed. All intestinal parasites detected in the present study (Giardia intestinalis, Isospora spp., Toxocara canis, Ancylostoma caninum, Trichuris vulpis and Strongyloides stercoralis) showed no changes in prevalence over the past 10 years based on analysis considering canine epidemiological profiles. In particular, prevalence of Giardia intestinalis in dogs under 1 year old, derived from pet shops/breeding kennels and kept indoors was unchanged, remaining at a high level of >15.0% at each time point. Toxocara canis also showed no changes in the group of dogs under 1 year old, bred by private owners and kept outdoors, and the prevalence was >10.0% every year. The present results indicate that the prevalence of Giardia intestinalis and other intestinal parasites in private household dogs has not always decreased, and the potential for direct parasitic zoonotic transmission from dogs to humans may be relatively high level, than from the environment (indoors and outdoors). We recommend careful surveillance of intestinal parasites and aggressive use of anthelminthic in private household dogs under considering the epidemiological factors

Induction of Liver Steatosis and Lipid Droplet Formation in ATF6α-Knockout Mice Burdened with Pharmacological Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

We burdened mice with intraperitoneal injection of the endoplasmic reticulum stress-inducing reagent tunicamycin, and found that wild-type mice were able to recover from the insult, whereas ATF6α-knockout mice exhibited liver dysfunction and steatosis. Our results establish links between endoplasmic reticulum stress, lipid metabolism and steatosi