Isolation of leptin-binding peptides from a random peptide phage library

Leptin plays a role in regulating the body weight in mice. Injection of recombinant mouse leptin expressed in Escherichia coli reduced the food intake and body weight in normal, ob/ob and diet-induced obesity mice. Hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and hypothermia can also be corrected in ob/ob mice after leptin injection. Leptin is a 16-kDa secretory protein comprising 167 amino acids produced in adipose tissue and is secreted to blood stream. In this study, a recombinant mouse leptin was generated and purified from a baculovirus expression system. This protein was used to identify putative ligands using a phage library of random peptides. Three leptin-binding phage clones were found, which were characterized by DNA sequencing and ELISA methods. The amino acid sequences of the reactive peptides are: LAYCSDPVRCLVWWY, MFWlSAVSFVDHALV and LVLVLSAFLCCGVG. All three clones bound to recombinant human and mouse leptins. These peptides may be useful tools to study leptin-receptor interaction, food intake and body weight regulation.postprin

Water-induced degradation in lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric ceramics

2001-2002 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Bioenergetics Failure and Oxidative Stress in Brain Stem Mediates Cardiovascular Collapse Associated with Fatal Methamphetamine Intoxication

Background: Whereas sudden death, most often associated with cardiovascular collapse, occurs in abusers of the psychostimulant methamphetamine (METH), the underlying mechanism is much less understood. The demonstration that successful resuscitation of an arrested heart depends on maintained functionality of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), which is responsible for the maintenance of stable blood pressure, suggests that failure of brain stem cardiovascular regulation, rather than the heart, holds the key to cardiovascular collapse. We tested the hypothesis that cessation of brain stem cardiovascular regulation because of a loss of functionality in RVLM mediated by bioenergetics failure and oxidative stress underlies the cardiovascular collapse elicited by lethal doses of METH. Methodology/Principal Findings: Survival rate, cardiovascular responses and biochemical or morphological changes in RVLM induced by intravenous administration of METH in Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated. High doses of METH induced significant mortality within 20 min that paralleled concomitant the collapse of arterial pressure or heart rate and loss of functionality in RVLM. There were concurrent increases in the concentration of METH in serum and ventrolateral medulla, along with tissue anoxia, cessation of microvascular perfusion and necrotic cell death in RVLM. Furthermore, mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme activity or electron transport capacity and ATP production in RVLM were reduced, and mitochondria-derived superoxide anion level was augmented. All those detrimental physiological and biochemica

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Phacoemulsification vs phacotrabeculectomy in chronic angle-closure glaucoma with cataract complications

Objective: To compare the complications of phacoemulsification alone vs combined phacotrabeculectomy in chronic angle-closure glaucoma (CACG) with coexisting cataract. Methods: Patients with CACG with coexisting cataract recruited into 2 randomized controlled trials comparing phacoemulsification alone vs combined phacotrabeculectomy were pooled for analysis. The first trial recruited patients with medically controlled intraocular pressure, while the second trial recruited patients with medically uncontrolled intraocular pressure. The 2 trials had otherwise identical study designs. All patients were reviewed every 3 months for 2 years after surgery. The main outcome measure was the surgical complications of phacoemulsification alone vs combined phacotrabeculectomy in CACG eyes with cataract. Results: One hundred twenty-three CACG eyes with cataract from 123 patients were included. Sixty-two CACG eyes were randomized to receive phacoemulsification alone, and 61 eyes had combined phacotrabeculectomy. In the phacoemulsification group, 5 of the 62 CACG eyes (8.1%) had a total of 5 surgical complications. In the combined phacotrabeculectomy group, 16 of the 61 CACG eyes (26.2%) had a total of 19 surgical complications. The difference in the proportion of eyes with 1 or more surgical complications between the 2 treatment groups was statistically significant (P=.007, Pearson χ2 test). There was no statistically significant difference in final visual acuity or glaucomatous progression during the 24-month follow-up. Conclusions: Combined phacotrabeculectomy resulted in significantly more surgical complications than phacoemulsification alone in CACG eyes with coexisting cataract. There was no difference in visual acuity or disease progression between the 2 treatment groups. ©2010 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Phacoemulsification versus Combined Phacotrabeculectomy in Medically Uncontrolled Chronic Angle Closure Glaucoma with Cataracts

Objective: To compare phacoemulsification alone versus combined phacotrabeculectomy in medically uncontrolled chronic angle closure glaucoma (CACG) with coexisting cataract. Design: Prospective randomized clinical trial. Participants: Fifty-one medically uncontrolled CACG eyes with coexisting cataract of 51 patients. Intervention: Recruited patients were randomized into group 1 (phacoemulsification alone) or group 2 (combined phacotrabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C). Postoperatively, patients were reviewed every 3 months for 2 years. Main Outcome Measures: Intraocular pressure (IOP) and requirement for topical glaucoma drugs. Results: Twenty-seven CACG eyes were randomized into group 1, and 24 CACG eyes were randomized into group 2. Combined phacotrabeculectomy resulted in lower mean postoperative IOP than phacoemulsification alone at 3 months (14.0 vs. 17.0 mmHg, P = 0.01), 15 months (13.2 vs. 15.4 mmHg, P = 0.02), and 18 months (13.6 vs. 15.9 mmHg, P = 0.01). Combined phacotrabeculectomy resulted in 1.25 fewer topical glaucoma drugs (P<0.001) in the 24-month postoperative period, compared with phacoemulsification alone. Combined surgery was associated with more postoperative complications (P<0.001) and more progression of optic neuropathy (P = 0.03), compared with phacoemulsification alone. Conclusions: Combined phacotrabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C is more effective than phacoemulsification alone in controlling IOP in medically uncontrolled CACG eyes with coexisting cataract. Combined phacotrabeculectomy is associated with more postoperative complications. Financial Disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. © 2009 American Academy of Ophthalmology.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Phacoemulsification Versus Combined Phacotrabeculectomy in Medically Controlled Chronic Angle Closure Glaucoma with Cataract

Objective: To compare phacoemulsification alone versus combined phacotrabeculectomy in medically controlled chronic angle closure glaucoma (CACG) with coexisting cataract. Design: Randomized clinical trial. Participants: Seventy-two medically controlled CACG eyes with coexisting cataract. Intervention: Recruited patients were randomized into group 1 (phacoemulsification alone) or group 2 (combined phacotrabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C). Postoperatively, patients were reviewed every 3 months for 2 years. Main Outcome Measures: Intraocular pressure (IOP) and requirement for topical glaucoma drugs. Results: Thirty-five CACG eyes were randomized into group 1, and 37 CACG eyes were randomized into group 2. There were no statistically significant differences (P>0.05) in mean IOP between the 2 treatment groups preoperatively and postoperatively, except at 1 month (P = 0.001) and 3 months (P = 0.008). Combined phacotrabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C resulted in 0.80 less topical glaucoma drugs (P<0.001) in the 24-month postoperative period compared with phacoemulsification alone. The differences in IOP control were, however, not associated with differences in glaucomatous progression. Combined surgery was associated with more postoperative (P<0.001) complications compared with phacoemulsification alone. Conclusions: Combined phacotrabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C may be marginally more effective than phacoemulsification alone in controlling IOP in medically controlled CACG eyes with coexisting cataract. Combined surgery may be associated with more complications and additional surgery in the postoperative period. Further study is needed to determine whether the marginally better IOP control of combined surgery justifies the potential additional risks of complications and further surgery. Financial Disclosure(s): The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article. © 2008 American Academy of Ophthalmology.link_to_subscribed_fulltex