Association of interleukin-1 gene polymorphisms with sudden sensorineural hearing loss and Ménière's disease

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and Ménière's disease are the most common inner ear diseases in which the causes are unknown. As recent magnetic resonance imaging has demonstrated disruption of the blood-labyrinth barrier in these inner ear diseases, inflammatory reaction associated with increased permeability of the blood vessels may be involved. The genotypes of interleukin 1A (IL1A) (-889C/T; rs1800587) and interleukin 1B (IL1B) (-511C/T; rs16944) were determined using an allele-specific primer-polymerase chain reaction method in 72 patients with SSNHL, 68 patients with Ménière's disease, and 2202 control subjects living almost in the same area as the patients. A significantly higher prevalence of the IL1A-889T allele was observed in SSNHL and Ménière's disease compared with controls, although no significant difference in distribution of IL1B-511C/T genotypes was observed between the patients and controls. Adjusted odd ratios for SSNHL and Ménière's disease risks in the -889TT genotypes were 25.89 (95% confidence interval (CI) 12.19-54.98) and 18.20 (95% CI 7.80-42.46), respectively, after age and gender were taken as moderator variables. Our results suggested that IL1A is closely associated with susceptibility of SSNHL and Ménière's disease.

Concise synthesis of catechin probes enabling analysis and imaging of EGCg

A concise synthesis of APDOEGCg (3) was accomplished. Due to the reactivity of its amine group, the compound could be easily converted to the fluorescein probe 21 and immunogen probe 22 efficiently. We then demonstrated the usefulness of the probes for imaging studies and the generation of antibodies.

Structural characteristics of green tea catechins for formation of protein carbonyl in human serum albumin

Catechins are polyphenolic antioxidants found in green tea leaves. Recent studies have reported that various polyphenolic compounds, including catechins, cause protein carbonyl formation in proteins via their pro-oxidant actions. In this study, we evaluate the formation of protein carbonyl in human serum albumin (HSA) by tea catechins and investigate the relationship between catechin chemical structure and its pro-oxidant property. To assess the formation of protein carbonyl in HSA, HSA was incubated with four individual catechins under physiological conditions to generate biotin-LC-hydrazide labeled protein carbonyls. Comparison of catechins using Western blotting revealed that the formation of protein carbonyl in HSA was higher for pyrogallol-type catechins than the corresponding catechol-type catechins. In addition, the formation of protein carbonyl was also found to be higher for the catechins having a galloyl group than the corresponding catechins lacking a galloyl group. The importance of the pyrogallol structural motif in the B-ring and the galloyl group was confirmed using methylated catechins and phenolic acids. These results indicate that the most important structural element contributing to the formation of protein carbonyl in HSA by tea catechins is the pyrogallol structural motif in the B-ring, followed by the galloyl group. The oxidation stability and binding affinity of tea catechins with proteins are responsible for the formation of protein carbonyl, and consequently the difference in these properties of each catechin may contribute to the magnitude of their biological activities.

[13C]-pantoprazole breath test to predict CYP2C19 phenotype and efficacy of a proton pump inhibitor, lansoprazole

BACKGROUND

(13)CO(2) is produced on metabolism of (13)C-labelled-pantoprazole ([(13)C]-pantoprazole) by CYP2C19.

AIM

To investigate whether the [(13)C]-pantoprazole breath test can predict CYP2C19 status and efficacy of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in Japanese.

METHODS

We classified 110 healthy volunteers as rapid metabolizers (RM), intermediate metabolizers (IM) or poor metabolizers (PM) of CYP2C19 by genotyping. Breath samples were collected at 10-min intervals for 60 min after dosing with 100 mg [(13)C]-pantoprazole. Changes in the carbon isotope ratios ((13)CO(2)/(12)CO(2)) in carbon dioxide in breath samples were measured and expressed as a delta-over-baseline (DOB) ratio ( per thousand). Of the 110 subjects, twenty-two randomly selected subjects underwent intragastric pH monitoring on day 7 of dosing with 30 mg of lansoprazole.

RESULTS

The DOB values of RMs were the highest and those of PMs the lowest of the three groups. Statistically significant differences were observed in the area-under-the-curve (AUC)(20-60 min) of DOB among the three groups. The mean 24-h intragastric pHs attained by lansoprazole 30 mg for 7 days were inversely correlated with the AUC(20-60 min) of DOB.

CONCLUSIONS

[(13)C]-pantoprazole breath test can easily estimate the individual activity of CYP2C19 and predict the efficacy of a PPI (i.e. lansoprazole). This test would be useful for individualized medicine with a PPI.

Concise synthesis of chafurosides A and B

The regioselective synthesis of chafurosides A (1) and B (2) from the same methyl ketone 5 was accomplished using a novel protecting group strategy. Both flavone rings were constructed from beta-diketone intermediate 4, which was readily obtained by condensation of an acyl donor and ketone 5. Construction of the dihydrofuran ring was achieved via an intramolecular Mitsunobu reaction.

Versatile synthesis of head group functionalized phospholipids via oxime bond formation

A method for introduction of various head groups on phospholipid frameworks via oxime bond formation has been developed for the synthesis of cyclen-Cu(II), pyrene, naphthalene, and other headgroup functionalized phospholipids that can cleave the membrane protein, hemagglutinin.