23 research outputs found
Genetic differentiation of the northern Far East cyprinids, <i>Phoxinus</i> and <i>Rhynchocypris</i>
Phylogenetic and Taxonomic Relationships of Northern Far Eastern Phoxinin Minnows, Phoxinus and Rhynchocypris (Pisces, Cyprinidae), as Inferred from Allozyme and Mitochondrial 16S rRNA Sequence Analyses
Analyses of allozyme (18 loci) and partial mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences (1295 bp, 16S rRNA) support the classification of phoxinin minnows from the northern Far East into 2 genera of 8 species: Phoxinus phoxinus, Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, R. perenurus, R. czekanowskii, R. kumgangensis, R. semotilus, R. lagowskii and R. sp. (bergi ?). Although R. lagowskii from Japan and the Amur basin and R. sp. from Vladivostok region to Korea have been classified into a single species by many authors as R. lagowskii, they form separate clusters in both analyses, suggesting different specific status. Some R. oxycephalus and R. perenurus had the mtDNA haplotypes of R. lagowskii and R. czekanowskii, respectively, which probably indicates that local introgression of mtDNA occurred through inter-specific hybridization. Rhynchocypris forms a monophyletic cluster with dace genera Tribolodon and Pseudaspius, not with Phoxinus. Eurasian and American Phoxinus are suggested to be paraphyletic
Pomegranate-Derived Polyphenols Reduce Reactive Oxygen Species Production via SIRT3-Mediated SOD2 Activation
Pomegranate-derived polyphenols are expected to prevent life-style related diseases. In this study, we evaluated the ability of 8 pomegranate-derived polyphenols, along with other polyphenols, to augment SIRT3, a mammalian SIR2 homolog localized in mitochondria. We established a system for screening foods/food ingredients that augment the SIRT3 promoter in Caco-2 cells and identified 3 SIRT3-augmenting pomegranate-derived polyphenols (eucalbanin B, pomegraniin A, and eucarpanin T1). Among them, pomegraniin A activated superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) through SIRT3-mediated deacetylation, thereby reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species. The other SIRT3-augmenting polyphenols tested also activated SOD2, suggesting antioxidant activity. Our findings clarify the underlying mechanisms involved in the antioxidant activity of pomegraniin A
Spinal endodermal cyst undergoing malignant transformation and marked elevation of serum carbohydrate 19-9 level
Laminin Isoforms Containing the γ3 Chain Are Unable to Bind to Integrins due to the Absence of the Glutamic Acid Residue Conserved in the C-terminal Regions of the γ1 and γ2 Chains*S⃞
Laminins are the major cell adhesive proteins in basement membranes, and
consist of three subunits termed α, β, and γ. Recently, we
found that the Glu residue at the third position from the C termini of the
γ1 and γ2 chains is critically involved in integrin binding by
laminins. However, the γ3 chain lacks this Glu residue, suggesting that
laminin isoforms containing the γ3 chain may be unable to bind to
integrins. To address this possibility, we expressed the E8 fragment of
laminin-213 and found that it was incapable of binding to integrins.
Similarly, the E8 fragment of laminin-113 was expressed and also found to be
inactive in binding to integrins, confirming the distinction between the
integrin binding activities of γ3 chain-containing isoforms and those
containing the γ1 or γ2 chain. To further address the importance
of the Glu residue, we swapped the C-terminal four amino acids of the γ3
chain with the C-terminal nine amino acids of the γ1 chain, which
contain the Glu residue. The resulting chimeric E8 fragment of laminin-213
became fully active in integrin binding, whereas replacement with the nine
amino acids of the γ1 chain after substitution of Gln for the conserved
Glu residue failed to restore the integrin binding activity. These results
provide both loss-of-function and gain-of-function evidence that laminin
isoforms containing the γ3 chain are unable to bind to integrins due to
the absence of the conserved Glu residue, which should play a critical role in
integrin binding by laminins
Large presacral epidermoid cyst in an asymptomatic woman
An epidermoid cyst is an infrequent entity among cysts found in the presacral region, frequently coexistent with a meningocele. Diffusion-weighted imaging is known to be a useful diagnostic measure for differentiating presacral epidermoid cysts. Here, we present a large but asymptomatic case found in the presacral region. Epidermoid cysts should be considered in patients with presacral cysts
Longitudinally Extensive Transverse Myelitis with Intramedullary Metastasis of Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma: An Autopsy Case Report
Background. Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) is characterized by spinal cord inflammation extending vertically through three or more vertebral segments. The widespread use of MRI revealed LETM more frequency than ever. We report the case of a patient with pathologically confirmed small-cell lung carcinoma metastasis into the spinal cord presenting as LETM. Case Presentation. A 74-year-old man developed rapidly progressive sensorimotor disturbance and vesicorectal dysfunction. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the spine revealed LETM at the level of from T3 to conus medullaris; gadolinium enhancement showed concurrent tumor in the thoracic spinal cord from T10 to T11. Systemic survey identified a nodular mass in the lung that was verified as small-cell carcinoma. Following initial failed treatment by high-dose steroid, the patient underwent an emergent microsurgical tumor resection. Histological examination was identical with the lung carcinoma. The patient died of tumor progression at the 47th day after admission. At autopsy, only changes of edema were found in the gray matter of the cord, while tumor cells were not noted in it. Conclusion. Metastasis may rarely present symptoms of LETM. Prompt identification of underlying etiology by contrast examination and systemic survey is crucial for the patient assumed as LETM