Studies on γ-amino-β-hydroxybutyric acid II. Oxygen consumption of brain homogenate in the presence of γ-amino-β-hydroxybutyric acid

With the purpose to see if GABOB is in any way concerned with the mechanism of the epileptic attack observations were carried on the oxygen consumption of the brain homogenates of rabbits, normal and CLA, and of human, epileptic and non-epileptic. The experiment proved that the oxygen consumption is increased in the epileptic brain and in the brain of CLA rabbit. It was raised by adding ATP-Na salt or DPN, but GABOB itself showed only a slight effect. The results suggested that the oxygen consumption of brain is not so closely correlated with GABOB, but there is a possibility that the decrease in GABOB contents in epileptic brain by the accelerated decomposition with its elevated oxygen consumption may be correlated to the epileptic attack, though the final conclusion requires further observations.</p

Stubies on &#947;-amino-&#946;-hydroxybutyric acid I. Influences of &#947;-amino-&#946;-hydroxybutyric acid on the blood pressure, respiration and body temperature

The biological specificity of GABOB on the blood pressure, respiration and body temperature was observed in dogs. The results show that GABOB has the similar action as GABA on the lowering of blood pressure as shown by subcutaneous, intravenous or intrathecal injection, but loses its action on the respiration. The specificity of GABOB action on the blood pressure is seen in the initiation of the effect at which the transient rise in pressure can be seen, the like of which can never be seen in the case of GABA injection. The lowering mechanism of GABOB on blood pressure should be the central one as the intrathecal injection is most effective comparing with those of intravenous and subcutaneous injection.</p

Studies on &#947;-amino-&#946;-hydroxybutyric acid III. Metabolism of &#947;-amino-&#946;-hydroxybutyric acid in perfusion through the liver and brain

For the purpose to reveal the metabolic pathway of GABOB the analyses were performed with the GABOB containing fluid perfused through the liver and the brain of rabbits, and the following results were obtained. Qualitative observations by paperchromatography on the fluid containing GABOB after perfusing the organs proved the presence of some amino acids. These were identified as glycine, glutamic acid and glutamine. The observation on the GABOBcontaining fluid perfused the organs showed a decrease in GABOB and an increase in these amino acids. Quantitative observation proved a considerable increase in glycive and a moderate increase in glutamic acid and glutamine with a marked decrease in the amount of GABOB injected. From these results it is believed that GABOB is decomposed into glycine and acetic acid probably passing the stage of &#947;-aminoacetoacetic acid in one way and into glutamic acid by the transamination of GABOB with &#945;-ketoglutaric acid in the other.</p

Artificial Production and Natural Breeding of the Endangered Frog Species Odorrana ishikawae, with Special Reference to Fauna Conservation in the Laboratory

Odorrana ishikawae is listed as a class IB endangered species in the IUCN Red List and is protected by law in both Okinawa and Kagoshima Prefectures, Japan. Here, in an effort to help effectively preserve the genetic diversity of this endangered species in the laboratory, we tested a farming technique involving the artificial breeding of frogs, and also promoted natural breeding in the laboratory. Field-caught male/female pairs of the Amami and Okinawa Island populations were artificially bred using an artificial insemination method in the 2004, 2006, and 2008 breeding seasons (March to April). Although fewer than 50% of the inseminated eggs achieved metamorphosis, approximately 500, 300, and 250 offspring from the three respective trials are currently being raised in the laboratory. During the 2009 and 2010 breeding seasons, second-generation offspring were produced by the natural mating activities of the first offspring derived from the two artificial matings in 2004. The findings and the methods presented here appear to be applicable to the temporary protection of genetic diversity of local populations in which the number of individuals has decreased or the environmental conditions have worsened to levels that frogs are unable to survive by themselves

Assessment of epigenetic alterations in early colorectal lesions containing BRAF mutations

金沢大学医薬保健学総合研究科先進的地域医療研究講座 = Department of Advanced Research in Community MedicineTo clarify the molecular and clinicopathological characteristics of colorectal serrated lesions, we assessed the DNA methylation of cancer-associated genes in a cohort of BRAF-mutant precancerous lesions from 94 individuals. We then compared those results with the lesions’ clinicopathological features, especially colorectal subsites. The lesions included hyperplastic polyps (n = 16), traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs) (n = 15), TSAs with sessile serrated adenomas (SSAs) (n = 6), SSAs (n = 49) and SSAs with dysplasia (n = 16). The prevalence of lesions exhibiting the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) was lower in the sigmoid colon and rectum than in other bowel subsites, including the cecum, ascending, transverse and descending colon. In addition, several cancer-associated genes showed higher methylation levels within lesions in the proximal to sigmoid colon than in the sigmoid colon and rectum. These results indicate that the methylation status of lesions with BRAF mutation is strongly associated with their location, histological findings and neoplastic pathways. By contrast, no difference in aberrant DNA methylation was observed in normal-appearing background colonic mucosa along the bowel subsites, which may indicate the absence of an epigenetic field defect

Autophagy and bacterial infectious diseases

Autophagy is a housekeeping process that maintains cellular homeostasis through recycling of nutrients and degradation of damaged or aged cytoplasmic constituents. Over the past several years, accumulating evidence has suggested that autophagy can function as an intracellular innate defense pathway in response to infection with a variety of bacteria and viruses. Autophagy plays a role as a specialized immunologic effector and regulates innate immunity to exert antimicrobial defense mechanisms. Numerous bacterial pathogens have developed the ability to invade host cells or to subvert host autophagy to establish a persistent infection. In this review, we have summarized the recent advances in our understanding of the interaction between antibacterial autophagy (xenophagy) and different bacterial pathogens

APPLICATION OF ANALOG-DIGITAL CONVERTER FOR SEISMIC DATA

An analog-digital converter is applied for analysis of seismic data. This apparatus is generally designed for digitizing the analog data recorded on magnetic tape. The maximum sampling speed is 3, 000 per sec. Some results for the aftershocks of the Niigata Earthquake are shown