High-resolution genetic and physical mapping of modifier-of-deafwaddler (mdfw) and Waltzer (Cdh23v)

Modifier-of-deafwaddler (mdfw) and waltzer (Cdh23v) are loci on mouse chromosome 10 encoding factors that are essential for the function of auditory hair cells. The BALB/cByJ-specific mdfw allele encodes a necessary and sufficient modifier that induces progressive early onset hearing loss in CBy-dfw2J heterozygotes. Recessive mutations in the waltzer locus result in circling behavior and congenital deafness. In this report we present a high-resolution integrated genetic and physical map of mdfw and Cdh23(v). Our genetic analyses localize mdfw between markers D10Mit60 and 148M13T7 within a 1.01-cM region. The Cdh23v critical interval is fully contained within the mdfw region and localizes between markers 146O23T7 and 148M13T7 within a 0.35-cM interval that is represented in an approximately 500-kb BAC contig. Our data suggest that mdfw and Cdh23v are allelic.

Involvement of oxidative stress in experimentally induced reflux esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus: clue for the chemoprevention of esophageal carcinoma by antioxidants

Oxidative damage has long been related to mucosal damages of gastrointestinal tracts and their ensuing carcinogenesis. In spite of treatment with anti-secretory medications for reflux esophagitis, considerable portions of patient did not achieve the complete mucosal healings or suffered from sustaining symptoms or development of dread complication like Barrett's esophagus, suggesting other damaging factors or impaired mucosal resistance are also involved in their pathogenesis. The present study was designed either to evaluate the oxidative stress as the major pathogenic factor of reflux esophagitis or to find out the usefulness of antioxidant in the treatment of reflux esophagitis and the prevention of development of Barrett's esophagus. Acute or chronic reflux esophagitis was induced through either narrowing the third portion of duodenal lumen or performing myotomy of lower esophageal sphincter in rats, respectively. DA-9601, a new phytopharmaceutical possessing antioxidative properties, significantly attenuated the gross and histopathologic scores of acute reflux esophagitis in a dose-dependent manner compared to those treated with ranitidine alone. Only scattered erosions were observed in antioxidant pre-treated group, but acid suppression by ranitidine was not so effective in decreasing the severity of reflux esophagitis. Significantly increased amounts of malondialdehyde (MDA), increased NF-kappa B activations, and depletions of reduced glutathione (GSH) were observed in experimentally induced reflux esophagitis, but DA-9601 pre-treatment attenuated the decrement of mucosal GSH levels and decreased MDA formations significantly. DA-9601 treatment showed significant reductions in the activation of NF-kappa B transcription factor. DA-9601 significantly decreased the proliferating cell nuclear antigen-labeling index (PCNA-LI) of esophagus (P<0.05) in chronic reflux esophagitis model and prevented the development of Barrett's esophagus. In conclusion, reflux esophagitis provoked considerable levels of oxidative stress in the esophageal mucosa. Antioxidant treatment seems to be the first line therapeutics in the prevention or treatment of reflux esophagitis. Moreover, antioxidant possibly played the chemopreventive role through preventing the development of Barrett's esophagus.

Incomplete pancreas divisum: is it merely a normal anatomic variant without clinical implications?

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Incomplete pancreas divisum (PD) has been generally regarded as merely a normal anatomic variant, without clinical implications. This study compares the prevalence, symptom occurrence rate, clinical presentation, and outcomes of endoscopic treatment in patients with incomplete PD and those with complete PD.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study population consisted of 56 patients (27 with complete PD and 29 with incomplete PD), identified from 4473 newly performed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography examinations. Endoscopic treatment (minor papilla sphincterotomy with stents or nasopancreatic drainage tube insertion) was attempted in 25 symptomatic patients with PD, which was suspected to be causing the associated pancreatic diseases: acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) (n = 13; five patients with complete PD and eight with incomplete PD); chronic pancreatitis (CP) (n = 10: five patients with complete PD and five with incomplete PD); and pancreatic-type pain (PP) (n = 2; one patient with complete PD and one with incomplete PD). The mean follow-up period was 17 months (range 9 - 49 months).

RESULTS

In 12 of the 27 patients with complete PD--six with ARP, five with CP, and one with PP--it was suspected that PD was the cause of pancreatic disease. Ten of the 11 symptomatic patients with complete PD underwent successful endoscopic treatment (five with endoscopic minor papilla sphincterotomy and stenting, and five with endoscopic minor papilla sphincterotomy and endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage), and seven of these ten patients benefited from the endoscopic treatment. In 14 of the 29 patients with incomplete PD--eight with ARP, five with CP, and one with PP--it was suspected that pancreas divisum was the cause of pancreatic disease. Thirteen of the 14 symptomatic patients with incomplete PD underwent successful endoscopic treatments (six with endoscopic minor papilla sphincterotomy and stenting, and seven with endoscopic minor papilla sphincterotomy and endoscopic nasopancreatic drainage), and eight of these 13 patients experienced clinical improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence rate, symptom occurrence rate, clinical presentation, and outcomes of endoscopic treatment were similar in patients with complete PD and incomplete PD. Incomplete PD may therefore have similar clinical implications to those of complete PD.

Bilateral selective internal mammary artery angiography via right radial approach: clinical experience with newly designed Yumiko catheter

The radial artery has been increasingly used as a primary access site for coronary angiography and intervention. But the technique for internal mammary artery (IMA) visualization via the right radial artery has not been well described. Therefore, the study was conducted to investigate the feasibility, safety, and adequacy of selective bilateral IMA angiography via the right radial artery using the recently developed Yumiko catheter. From November 1999 to October 2000, both IMA angiographies were undertaken immediately following the diagnostic coronary angiogram taken from right transradial approach in 114 patients. IMA angiography was successfully obtained in 99% (113/114) patients. For left IMA angiography, 73 (64%), 28 (25%), and 12 (11%) imagings were obtained in a selective, a semiselective, and a nonselective way, respectively. After initial periods of 33 left-IMA-only imaging, right IMA angiography was obtained in 81 patients (phase 2). Selective right IMA imaging was done in 73 (90%), semiselective in 6, and nonselective in 2 patients. The reasons for failure of selective or semiselective visualization were severe vascular tortuosity, far distal anatomical origin of left IMA and ulcerative plaque, or acutely angled left subclavian artery. The feasibility and safety of selective and semiselective bilateral IMA angiography were demonstrated using a 5 Fr Yumiko catheter from the right radial approach. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2001;54:19-24.

Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among high school students in Korea

SETTING

Screening of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients from high school students by chest radiography and sputum examination.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among high school students.

DESIGN

The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) profiles of M. tuberculosis isolated from PTB patients of high school students were analysed.

RESULTS

Clustering cases were found in PTB patients screened among high school students. During this study, a single strain with a particular RFLP profile was found most frequently. This particular strain was also the one that was found to be most prevalent among Korean clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis during a nationwide TB prevalence survey previously done in 1995. This strain seems to be the most widely distributed one in Korea, and has thus been designated K1. In addition, by close examination of the RFLP profiles, it was also found that there existed 34 isolates that had RFLP profiles that were similar to the K1 strain. Therefore, K1 and K1-related strains (18.4% of strains, designated as the K family) seem to comprise the most dominant M. tuberculosis strains present in Korea.

CONCLUSION

Clustering cases were found in PTB patients screened among high school students in Korea. The K family was found to be most prevalent among the clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis found.

Nicotine alters the usual reciprocity between meal size and meal number in female rat

Tobacco smoking reduces appetite and body weight (BW). Cessation of smoking leads to hyperphagia and weight gain. Daily food intake (FI) is a function of meal number (MN) and meal size (MZ), i.e., FI=MNxMZ. Under normal conditions, the female Fischer rat has a periodic reciprocal fluctuation between MZ and MN corresponding to phase of estrous cycle. Wide fluctuations between MZ and MN compensate each other to keep FI constant. Nicotine (5 mg/kg BW/day) was infused via osmotic minipump for 7 days. Controls received saline. FI, MZ, and MN were measured by an Automated Computerized Rat Eater Meter. Nicotine significantly decreased BW and FI via a decrease in MZ without compensatory increase of MN. Nicotine cessation led to hyperphagia, normalizing BW loss via an increase in MZ, which exceeded a compensatory decrease in MN. Nicotine significantly prolonged the estrous cycle by an extension of proestrous phase. Nicotine significantly lengthened the intermeal interval (IMI), delaying the start of the next meal and simultaneously decreasing subsequent MZ. Stopping nicotine led to normalization of IMI and MZ. Data show that nicotine alters the usual reciprocal regulation between MZ and MN and leads to a prolongation of the estrous cycle.

Differential cell death induced by salsolinol with and without copper: possible role of reactive oxygen species

Salsolinol (SAL), a novel dopaminergic catechol tetrahydroisoquinoline neurotoxin, has been speculated to contribute to the etiology of Parkinson's disease and neuropathology of chronic alcoholism. Our previous studies have demonstrated that SAL induces strand scission in øX174 supercoiled DNA and oxidative base modification in calf thymus DNA in the presence of cupric ion. We now report that treatment of rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells with SAL causes reduced viability, which was exacerbated by Cu(2+). The copper chelator bathocuproinedisulfonic acid ameliorated cytotoxicity induced by SAL and Cu(2+). N-Acetyl-L-cysteine and reduced glutathione protected against SAL- plus Cu(2+)-mediated PC12 cell death. Cells exposed to SAL underwent apoptosis, as revealed by characteristic morphological and biochemical changes. SAL treatment resulted in increased levels of Bax with a concomitant decrease in expression of Bcl-x(L). Furthermore, SAL rapidly activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase, whereas the activity of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase remained unchanged. Transfection with Bcl-x(L) or Bcl-2 led to protection against SAL-mediated PC12 cell death. Although SAL alone could cause apoptotic death in PC12 cells, cells treated with SAL together with Cu(2+) became necrotic. Cells exposed to both SAL and Cu(2+) exhibited higher levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine than did those treated with SAL alone. These results suggest that copper accelerates redox cycling of SAL, leading to massive production of reactive oxygen species, which can divert the SAL-induced cell death to necrosis.

Distribution characteristics of PCBs in the sediments of the lower Nakdong River, Korea

The objective of this study is to investigate the distribution characteristics of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in sediments of the lower Nakdong River of Korea. The sediments were collected using a grab sampler in May 1999. PCBs were extracted in the Soxhlet extractor and cleaned by using adsorption chromatographic techniques and concentrated sulfuric acid. A HP6890 gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector was used for quantification. The results of congener specific analysis showed that the total concentration is ranged over 1.1-141 ng/g dry weight. The levels of PCB congeners are significantly correlated with the total organic carbons (TOC) in the sediments. The major fractions of PCBs in these sediments are congeners containing 4, 5 or 6 chlorine atoms per biphenyl molecule.

Gene lmrB of Corynebacterium glutamicum confers efflux-mediated resistance to lincomycin

The lmrB gene of Corynebacterium glutamicum, which confers specific resistance to lincosamides, such as lincomycin and clindamycin, was isolated. C. glutamicum cells, carrying the lmrB gene in a multicopy plasmid, showed increased resistance to lincomycin with a MIC of 230 microg/ml, which is a 9-fold increase compared to that of the wild type. The lmrB-disrupted mutant became sensitive to the compound. No difference in sensitivity to erythromycin, penicillin G, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, spectinomycin, nalidixic acid, gentamicin, streptomycin, ethidium bromide, and sodium dodecyl sulfate was observed. The protonophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone abolished the lincomycin-resistance of lmrB-carrying cells. The putative protein product of the gene contained 14-transmembrane regions and showed high amino acid-sequence homology to the drug efflux pumps of other organisms. In addition, the putative protein contained a motif for major facilitators, suggesting a role in efflux-mediated resistance to lincomycin.

Observation of large CP violation in the neutral B meson system

We present a measurement of the standard model CP violation parameter sin2 phi(1) based on a 29.1 fb(-1) data sample collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. One neutral B meson is fully reconstructed as a J/psi K(S), psi(2S)K(S), chi(c1)K(S), eta(c)K(S), J/psi K(L), or J/psi K(*0) decay and the flavor of the accompanying B meson is identified from its decay products. From the asymmetry in the distribution of the time intervals between the two B meson decay points, we determine sin2 phi(1) = 0.99+/-0.14(stat)+/-0.06(syst). We conclude that we have observed CP violation in the neutral B meson system.

Diagnostic patterns of very-long-chain fatty acids in plasma of patients with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy

Pattern recognition analysis on the levels of the very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in plasma is described for the visual discrimination of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) patients from normal healthy group. Plasma VLCFA compositions of 58 normal subjects and 16 X-ALD patients were examined by gas chromatography as their methyl esters to determine the area percentages of behenic acid (C22:0), lignoceric acid (C24:0) and hexacosanoic acid (C26:0) in the total fatty acids, and the concentration (microg/ml) of C26:0. When star symbol plotting was applied to the VLCFA values of C22:0 (%), C24:0 (%), C26:0 (%), C24:0/C22:0, C26:0/C22:0 and C26:0 (microg/ml) after normalization to the corresponding median values in normal group, the resulting deformed hexagonal star pattern was characteristic of each patient. Therefore, simple visual comparison with the equilateral hexagon of normal group average as the control pattern enabled one readily to discriminate X-ALD patients from the normal group. Additionally, canonical discriminant analysis performed on the six unnormalized VLCFA values correctly classified 74 plasma specimens into two separate clusters according to normal subject or X-ALD patient in the canonical plot.

High current-carrying capability in c-axis-oriented superconducting MgB2 thin films

In high-quality c-axis-oriented MgB2 thin films, we observed high critical current densities ( J(c)) of approximately 16 MA/cm(2) at 15 K under self-fields comparable to those of cuprate high-temperature superconductors. The extrapolated value of J(c) at 5 K was estimated to be approximately 40 MA/cm(2). For a magnetic field of 5 T, a J(c) of approximately 0.1 MA/cm(2) was detected at 15 K, suggesting that this compound would be a very promising candidate for practical applications at high temperature and lower power consumption. The vortex-glass phase is considered to be a possible explanation for the observed high current-carrying capability.

Cyclophilin a binds to peroxiredoxins and activates its peroxidase activity

Six distinct peroxiredoxin (Prx) proteins (Prx I-VI) from distinct genes have been identified in mammalian tissues. Prxs are members of a group of peroxidases that have conserved reactive cysteine residue(s) in the active site(s). An immediate physiological electron donor for the peroxidase catalysis for five Prx proteins (Prx I-V) has been identified as thioredoxin (Trx), but that for Prx VI (1-Cys Prx) is still unclear. To identify an immediate electron donor and a binding protein for Prx VI, we performed a Prx VI protein overlay assay. A 20-kDa binding protein was identified by the Prx VI protein overlay assay with flow-through fractions from a High-Q column with rat lung crude extracts. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) and MS-Fit, we identified the 20-kDa Prx VI-binding protein as a cyclophilin A (CyP-A). The binding of recombinant human CyP-A (hCyP-A) to Prx VI was confirmed by using the hCyP-A protein overlay assay and Western immunoblot analysis with hCyP-A-specific antibodies. hCyP-A enhanced the antioxidant activity of Prx VI, as well as the other known mammalian Prx isotypes. hCyP-A supported antioxidant activity of Prx II and Prx VI both against thiol (dithiothreitol)-containing metal-catalyzed oxidation (MCO) systems and ascorbate-containing MCO systems. Prx II was reduced by hCyP-A without help from any other reductant, and the reduction was cyclosporin A-independent. These results strongly suggest that CyP-A not only binds to Prx proteins but also supports its peroxidase activity as an immediate electron donor. In addition, Cys(115) and Cys(161) of hCyP-A were found to be involved in the activation and the reduction of Prx.

Topographical anatomy of the fibula and peroneal artery in Koreans

Vascularized fibula flaps have many advantages in the restoration of the contour and function of the mandible. Potential disadvantages include, unreliable skin paddle and the limited volume of the fibula. This study was designed, to clarify the anatomy of the peroneal artery to the fibula and lateral leg skin, and to measure the dimensions of the fibula available for dental implant placement in Korean. Through the dissection of 63 legs of Korean cadavers, we demonstrated that in most cases the musculoperiosteal (mp) and septocutaneous (sc) branches of the peroneal artery were distributed at the middle and lower thirds of the fibula. There were double the number of mp perforators to the skin compared to sc branches. This indicates the inclusion of a generous > 1 cm cuff of Peroneous longus and flexor hallucis longus (FHL) in the distal and middle third of the fibula. The location of the nutrient foramen was just proximal to the midpoint. Thus, a 15-20 cm length of the fibula is available in Koreans and an 8 12 mm length of implant can be placed to the fibula, which provides sufficient bone to reconstruct a large mandibular defect.

Using edge enhancement to identify subtle findings on soft-copy neonatal chest radiographs

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether edge enhancement could improve the visibility of subtle findings on soft copies of neonatal chest radiographs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two radiologists reviewed 82 soft-copy neonatal chest radiographs before and after the application of edge enhancement on our picture archiving and communication system (PACS). The visibility of a pneumothorax (n = 22), central venous catheter (n = 32), umbilical arterial catheter (n = 36), endotracheal tube (n = 40), and normal anatomic structures (the minor fissure, anterior segmental bronchus of the right upper lobe, and aortic arch, n = 57) was evaluated. Six of 22 soft-copy images depicting a pneumothorax were excluded from the evaluation of image quality either because of the large size of the pneumothorax itself (n = 7) or because of the lack of confirmatory evidence that would have been provided by an additional lateral decubitus (n = 6) or cross-table lateral radiograph (n = 3). Image quality was evaluated by visual grading analysis.

RESULTS

The visibility of a pneumothorax (p < 0.01), vascular catheters (p < 0.001), the minor fissure (p < 0.001), and the anterior segmental bronchus of the right upper lobe (p < 0.001) improved significantly after applying edge enhancement to soft copies of neonatal chest radiographs, whereas the visibility of the aortic arch did not improve. Evaluations of the improvements in the visibility of the endotracheal tube were inconsistent.

CONCLUSION

Application of edge enhancement to soft copies of neonatal chest radiographs helps radiologists to identify small pneumothoraces, vascular catheters, and delicate normal structures, thereby improving the detection of subtle chest findings in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Early development of vasogenic edema in experimental cerebral fat embolism in cats: correlation with MRI and electron microscopic findings

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging and electron microscopic findings of the hyperacute stage of cerebral fat embolism in cats and the time needed for the development of vasogenic edema.

METHODS

Magnetic resonance imaging was performed at 30 minutes (group 1, n = 9) and at 30 minutes and 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours after embolization with triolein (group 2, n = 10). As a control for group 2, the same acquisition was obtained after embolization with polyvinyl alcohol particles (group 3, n = 5). Magnetic resonance images were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Electron microscopic examination was done in all cats.

RESULTS

In group 1, the lesions were iso- or slightly hyperintense on T2-weighted (T2W) and diffusion-weighted (DWIs) images, hypointense on the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map image, and markedly enhanced on the gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images (Gd-T1WIs). In group 2 at 30 minutes, the lesions were similar to those in group 1. Thereafter, the lesions became more hyperintense on T2WIs and DWIs and more hypointense on the ADC map image. The lesions were enhanced on Gd-T1WIs at all acquisition times. In group 3, the lesions showed mild hyperintensity on T2WIs at 6 hours but hypointensity on the ADC map image from 30 minutes, with a tendency toward a greater decrease over time. The lesions were not enhanced on Gd-T1WIs at any time point. Electron microscopic findings revealed discontinuity of the capillary endothelial wall, perivascular and interstitial edema, and swelling of glial and neuronal cells in groups 1 and 2. Cellular swelling and interstitial edema were more prominent in group 2. In group 3, interstitial edema was seen; however, discontinuity of the endothelial wall was absent.

CONCLUSIONS

The lesions were hyperintense on T2WIs and DWIs, hypointense on the ADC map image, and enhanced on Gd-T1WIs. On electron microscopy, the lesions showed cytotoxic and vasogenic edema with disruption of the blood-brain barrier. Vasogenic edema seems to develop within 30 minutes in cerebral fat embolism in cats.

Immune response induced by immunization with Hepatitis B virus core DNA isolated from chronic active hepatitis patients

There are many mutations in the gene encoding Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antigen of chronic active hepatitis patients, and such mutations are most likely to be related to the severity of disease. Here, we constructed plasmids containing wild-type and deletion type of HBV core gene (HBc) to develop an experimental DNA vaccine and to compare immunogenicity of two types of HBc vaccine. Twenty-nine wild-types and seven deletion types of HBc were detected in sera of 32 Korean patients with chronic active hepatitis. Four wild-types (W1, W2, W4, W6) and two deletion types (D3, D4) of HBc were cloned into the pcDNA3 vector. Intramuscular immunization with wild-type HBc efficiently increased serum anti-HBc antibody response in a dose-dependent manner. Anti-HBc antibody response in mice injected with W6 increased 14 days after immunization, and peaked after 30 days and was maintained at least up to 50 days. W6 immunization induced a specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte response to W6-transfected 3LL (3LL-W6), and reduced the sizes of tumor mass of mice challenged with 3LL-W6 or 3LL transfected with D4. However, intramuscular immunization with D3 and D4 did not show antibody response at all. D3 and D4 have 157 bp (from 331 to 491 bp) and 122 bp (from 327 to 448 bp) gene deletion, respectively, and these encode class II MHC-restricted T-cell epitope. Altogether, these results suggest that mutant virus that has deleted HBc gene may evade immune systems due to loss of T-cell epitope.

CT and MR findings of anthrax meningoencephalitis: report of two cases and review of the literature

Anthrax meningoencephalitis is a rare complication of infection with Bacillus anthracis and generally produces a hemorrhagic meningoencephalitis. We present the CT and MR imaging findings in two patients demonstrating subarachnoid, intracerebral, and intraventricular hemorrhage with leptomeningeal enhancement.

Bioequivalence of clarithromycin tablet formulations assessed in Korean males

AIM

Determination of the bioequivalence of 2 clarithromycin tablet formulations manufactured in Korea.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-four healthy male Korean volunteers received each of the 2 clarithromycin formulations at a dose of 250 mg in a 2 x 2 crossover study. There was a one-week washout period between doses. Plasma concentrations of clarithromycin were monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography over a period of 12 hours after administration. AUCinf (the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to time infinity) was calculated using the linear-log trapezoidal method. Cmax (maximum plasma drug concentration) and Tmax (time to reach Cmax) were compiled from the plasma concentration-time data. Analysis of variance was carried out using logarithmically transformed AUCinf and Cmax and untransformed Tmax.

RESULTS

The point estimates and 90% confidence intervals for AUCinf (parametric) and Cmax (parametric) were 0.971 (0.886 approximately 1.063) and 0.982 (0.868 approximately 1.107), respectively, satisfying the bioequivalence criteria of the European Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products and the US Food and Drug Administration guidelines. The corresponding value of Tmax was 0.000 (-0.250 approximately 0.250).

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that the 2 medications of clarithromycin are bioequivalent and, thus, may be prescribed interchangeably.

Near-infrared spectroscopy as a convenient analytical method for alkyl polyglycosides

Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is used for the rapid determination of decyl glucopyranoside (10G1) and alkyl polyglycoside (AG) mixtures having different alkyl chain length and the number of glucose unit in aqueous solution. NIR spectroscopy is a much simpler spectroscopic analysis method compared to three analytical methods for mixture of AGs such as thin layer chromatography (TLC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and photometry method. NIR spectra of AGs between 0.030 and 0.540 mg/ml in aqueous solutions were utilized to develop a calibration model. Both raw spectra and the second derivatives of AGs were tested for the best fit. The best calibration was built with second derivative spectra by using multiple linear regression (MLR). The standard error of calibration (SEC) and the standard error of prediction (SEP) were used for the evaluation of the model. The best calibration provides an SEP of 0.052 and 0.061 mg/ml for the prediction set of 10G1 and AG mixture, respectively.

HIV-1 integrase inhibitory phenylpropanoid glycosides from Clerodendron trichotomum

Seven phenylpropanoid glycosides named acteoside (1), acteoside isomer (2), leucosceptoside A (3), plantainoside C (4), jionoside D (5), martynoside (6), and isomartynoside (7) were isolated from Clerodendron trichotomum. Compounds 1 and 2 showed potent inhibitory activities against HIV-1 integrase with IC50 values of 7.8 +/- 3.6 and 13.7 +/- 6.0 microM, respectively.

Chiral separation of beta2-agonists by capillary electrophoresis using hydroxypropyl-alpha-cyclodextrin as a chiral selector

Enantiomers of five racemic beta2-agonists were investigated by capillary electrophoresis employing a hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD). The effects of the concentration of HP-beta-CD added to the background electrolyte and of the pH of the buffer on the effective mobility and resolution of the studied compounds were examined. Very good resolution was achieved for terbutaline and clenbuterol; salbutamol and bambuterol was able to be partially resolved. Enantioselectivity and resolution were influenced by the concentration of the HP-beta-CD, buffer composition and pH.

Hoarding by elderly people

Although hoarding has been studied in adults, little is known about problems of hoarding by elderly people. This study used a structured telephone interview with elder services providers to investigate hoarding behaviors in relation to functional impairment, cognitive deficits, and physical and psychological conditions in 62 elderly clients. Most elderly hoarders were female, unmarried, and lived alone. Extensive clutter was associated with significant impairment, interfering with basic hygiene, and posing a serious physical threat for many elderly clients. Clients were rarely insightful about their collecting and often resisted change, rendering interventions generally ineffective. Never-married status was associated with more severe hoarding and greater impairment and possibly with worse outcomes of intervention efforts. Health and mental health implications of hoarding by elderly people and implications for treatment are discussed.

Protective effects of Debo on zinc-induced apoptosis of C6 glial cells via modulation of intracellular antioxidant, reduced glutathione

In the present study, the mechanical basis of a traditional herbal prescription, Debo. on cytotoxic damage of the brain cells including C6 glial and PC12 cells has been studied. Traditionally, Debo has been employed for the purpose of preventing responses to trauma, ischemia, and other diseases in the nervous system. C6 glial cells were exposed to oxidative stress through the imployment of ZnCl2, and generates H2O2 and hydroxyl radicals by fenton reaction. ZnCl2-induced death of C6 glial cells, which was revealed as apoptosis by chromatin condensation as well as DNA fragmentation. Pretreatment of Debo significantly prevented apoptotic death of C6 glial cells via inhibition of H2O, generation as well as the recovering of an antioxidant, reduced glutathione (GSH). Also, deprivation of serum and glucose, found in ischemia, deceased the viability of PC12 cells up to 60% via generation of H2O2. However, Debo significantly protected cells from ischemic damage through decrease in H2O, generation. Furthermore, Debo markedly inhibited the transcriptional activation of NF-kappaB by ZnCI, in C6 glial cells. These results suggest that Debo may function as an antioxidant system against free radicals and be applicable to protect brain cells against oxidative or ischemic stresses.