Anti-inflammatory sesquiterpenes fromCurcuma zedoaria

From the methanolic extract of the rhizome of Curcuma zedoaria, we isolated anti-inflammatory sesquiterpene furanodiene (1) and furanodienone (2) along with new sesquiterpene compound 3 and known eight sesquiterpenes, zederone (4), curzerenone (5), curzeone (6), germacrone (7), 13-hydroxygermacrone (8), dehydrocurdione (9), curcumenone (10), and zedoaronediol (11). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. The anti-inflammatory effect of isolated components on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation of mouse ears were examined. Compounds 1 and 2 suppressed the TPA-induced inflammation of mouse ears by 75% and 53%, respectively, at a dose of 1.0 micromol. Their activities are comparable to that of indomethacin, the normally used anti-inflammatory agent.

Aspirin enhances the induction of type I allergic symptoms when combined with food and exercise in patients with food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis

We examined the effect of aspirin as a substitute for exercise in inducing urticaria/anaphylaxis in three patients with food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA). Two of the patients had specific IgE antibodies to wheat and the other had antibodies to shrimp. Administration of aspirin before ingestion of food allergens induced urticaria in one patient and urticaria and hypotension in another, while aspirin alone or food alone elicited no response. The third patient developed urticaria only when he took all three items, i.e. aspirin, food and additional exercise, whereas provocation with any one or or two of these did not induce any symptoms. These findings suggest that aspirin upregulates type I allergic responses to food in patients with FDEIA, and further shows that aspirin synergizes with exercise to provoke symptoms of FDEIA. This is the first report of a synergistic effect of aspirin in inducing urticaria/anaphylaxis, which was confirmed using challenge tests in patients with FDEIA.

Designed abscisic acid analogs as antagonists of PYL-PP2C receptor interactions

The plant stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA) is critical for several abiotic stress responses. ABA signaling is normally repressed by group-A protein phosphatases 2C (PP2Cs), but stress-induced ABA binds Arabidopsis PYR/PYL/RCAR (PYL) receptors, which then bind and inhibit PP2Cs. X-ray structures of several receptor-ABA complexes revealed a tunnel above ABA's 3' ring CH that opens at the PP2C binding interface. Here, ABA analogs with sufficiently long 3' alkyl chains were predicted to traverse this tunnel and block PYL-PP2C interactions. To test this, a series of 3'-alkylsulfanyl ABAs were synthesized with different alkyl chain lengths. Physiological, biochemical and structural analyses revealed that a six-carbon alkyl substitution produced a potent ABA antagonist that was sufficiently active to block multiple stress-induced ABA responses in vivo. This study provides a new approach for the design of ABA analogs, and the results validated structure-based design for this target class.

Isolation and localization of type IIb Na/Pi cotransporter in the developing rat lung

Differential display analysis of rat lung at different developmental stages identified a fragment, HG80, which appeared on embryonic day 16.5 and thereafter. A full-length cDNA derived from a cDNA library of newborn rat lung probed with HG80 was the rat counterpart of sodium-dependent phosphate transporter type IIb and was designated rNaPi IIb. In situ hybridization showed that rNaPi IIb was expressed in type II alveolar cells, suggesting a role in the synthesis of surfactant in the alveoli. The time-dependent changes in localization of this gene in the developing lung and its possible use as a type II pneumocyte marker are discussed.

'So-called' cortical deafness. Clinical, neurophysiological and radiological observations

Two patients with severe, persistent hearing loss caused by bilateral cerebral lesions are described. To determine the location of lesions responsible for the severe hearing loss, we examined magnetic resonance images and compared the lesions in these 2 patients with those in another with only mild hearing loss following extensive bilateral temporoparietal lesions. The extent of bilateral damage to the white matter adjacent to the posterior half of the putamen proved crucial in determining the severity of the hearing loss. Hearing loss was more severe when the white matter immediately ventral and lateral to the posterior half of the putamen was involved bilaterally. Based on this observation and from a review of the literature, we infer that the auditory radiations in humans course in a dense tract from the medial geniculate body up to the sublenticular region, and disperse from there to the primary auditory cortex as well as to the other auditory-related areas, partly by coursing through the white matter immediately ventral to the posterior half of the putamen, and partly by penetrating the ventral and lateral portions of the posterior half of the putamen. Accordingly, bilateral lesions in the white matter ventral and lateral to the posterior half of the putamen appear to interrupt all the projection fibres from the medial geniculate bodies to the auditory-related areas, resulting in severe, persistent hearing loss.

Insight and clinical correlates in schizophrenia

It is not clear to what extent poor insight is inherent in schizophrenic psychopathology or is related to clinical factors. It is clinically important to elucidate this point to know how some insight remains intact in schizophrenia. Sixty-three ICD-10 schizophrenics were recruited. Insight was measured by David's three-dimensional scale, which deals with the awareness of the need for treatment, of the illness, and of psychotic experiences. Clinical factors that may influence insight were grouped into objective psychopathology, subjective experience, and treatment settings, according to the normal development of insight starting from objective illness, through subjective perception of it, to seeking treatment. Psychopathology was measured by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS), and the subjective experience was measured by a checklist of our own. Positive symptoms, especially disordered thought, hallucinations, and delusions, had a modest inverse correlation with awareness of illness and of psychotic experiences, but these were not correlated with alogia or other negative symptoms. Later age at the first onset was significantly correlated with poor awareness of psychotic experience, but no correlation of subjective experience with insight emerged. Awareness of the need for treatment was significantly higher in outpatient than in inpatient groups, and was not correlated with any other variables. Poor awareness of illness and of psychotic experience seems to be a trait of the acute rather than the chronic psychopathology of schizophrenia. Poor awareness of psychotic experience was related to later onset. Awareness of the need for treatment seems to improve, even in the absence of awareness of illness or of psychotic experience, in outpatient settings--the effects of social interaction may be relevant to this.

Subunit constitution of carbonic anhydrase from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Carbonic anhydrase purified from the cell surface of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was inactivated by treatment with dithiothreitol. This treatment caused dissociation of the holoenzyme into 35-kDa (A) and 4-kDa (B) subunits as revealed by SDS/PAGE. The 35-kDa subunit was further separated into two components A1 (35 kDa) and A2 (36.5 kDa) by SDS/PAGE using a gradient gel. These two components have the same amino acid sequence up to at least the 10th amino acid from the N-terminus. The molecular masses were estimated at 76 kDa and 35 kDa for the holoenzyme and the large subunit, respectively, and the molar ratio of the former to the latter at 1:2, by using the techniques of low-angle laser light-scattering photometry and precision differential refractometry combined with gel-filtration HPLC. The molar ratio of the 35-kDa/4-kDa subunits was estimated at 1:1 the gel-filtration HPLC monitored with precision differential refractometry. Atomic-absorption spectrophotometry revealed that the holoenzyme contains two atoms of zinc. These results suggest that the holoenzyme is a heterotetramer composed of two large subunits (A1 and A2) and two small subunits (B).

Changes in the content and biosynthesis of phytoalexins in banana fruit

Changes in the phytoalexin content in unripe fruit of banana, Musa acuminata, were analyzed after various treatments. The results show that level of hydroxyanigorufone started to increase 1-2 day after either wounding or inoculation with conidia of Colletotrichum musae. Inoculation followed by wounding induced the formation of many other phenylphenalenones. The accumulation of hydroxyanigorufone decreased, after its transient maximum, on ripening by exposure of the wounded fruit to ethylene. The level of production of hydroxyanigorufone in ripe fruit treated by wounding and/or by inoculation was much lower than that in unripe fruit. 2-Aminooxyacetic acid, an inhibitor of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), inhibited the accumulation of hydroxyanigorufone in wounded fruit, and the PAL activity increased after wounding and ethylene treatment, respectively. Feeding experiments with [1-(13)C] and [2-(13)C]cinnamic acids, and [2-(13)C]malonate show that two molecules of cinnamic acid and one of malonate were incorporated into each molecule of hydroxyanigorufone. The phytoalexins isolated from fruit to which deuterated hydroxyanigorufone and irenolone had been administered revealed that 2-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-1,8-naphthalic anhydride was biosynthesized from hydroxyanigorufone rather than from irenolone.

A longitudinal follow-up study of seasonal affective disorder

OBJECTIVE

The purposes of this study were to evaluate the long-term stability of a seasonal pattern of recurrent depression, identify possible factors associated with alteration of the seasonal pattern, and determine whether atypical vegetative symptoms during early seasonal depressive episodes predict future seasonal relapses.

METHOD

The subjects were 41 patients satisfying the criteria used in the Japanese multicenter study of seasonal affective disorder who were consistently treated at the same outpatient clinic. Their longitudinal courses were evaluated by using case records and the Schedule for Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia--Life-time Version; the mean follow-up period was 10.4 years.

RESULTS

Nine subjects (22.0%) consistently showed a fall-winter pattern of recurrence throughout follow-up. Seventeen patients with an initial fall-winter pattern subsequently tended to shift seasons or show less seasonality. This alteration in pattern was possibly associated with antidepressant therapy or life events. Eleven patients with an initial diagnosis of nonseasonal affective disorder subsequently developed seasonal affective disorder; no specific factors were associated with this change. Atypical vegetative symptoms were significantly more common in patients with stable seasonal patterns of recurrence than in those who lost seasonality.

CONCLUSIONS

Although seasonal affective disorder appeared to be altered by antidepressant treatment, the presence of a core group of patients with a consistent seasonal pattern of recurrent depression suggests the validity of seasonal affective disorder as a distinct subtype of recurrent affective illness. The findings also suggest that atypical vegetative symptoms during early seasonal depressive episodes predict the subsequent seasonality of depression.

First isolation of natural cyanamide as a possible allelochemical from hairy vetch Vicia villosa

Cyanamide was isolated from the leaves and stems of hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), guided by plant growth inhibitory activity against lettuce (Lectuca sativa) seedlings. A large proportion of the inhibitory activity in the crude extract was explained by the presence of cyanamide, suggesting it to be a possible allelochemical in this species. The amount in a 9-day-old seedling, which had been grown without nutrients, reached approx. 40 times that of a nongerminated seed, demonstrating cyanamide biosynthesis in the seedlings. This is the first report on the isolation of a possible allelochemical from hairy vetch and also of the finding of cyanamide as a natural product.

A nationwide survey of seasonal affective disorder at 53 outpatient university clinics in Japan

A nationwide survey of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) was performed from autumn 1990 to spring 1991 with the cooperation of 53 outpatient university psychiatric clinics in Japan. Forty-six SAD patients were identified among 5265 depressed outpatients. SAD was generally reported to occur in 1-3% of the depressed outpatients newly attending each facility. Hours of sunshine were found to be a more relevant variable influencing the prevalence of SAD than latitude or the mean temperature in December. The unexpectedly low percentage (20-30%) of SAD patients with atypical vegetative symptoms suggests that SAD patients who have no prior knowledge of SAD and those who are recruited via the media have different vegetative symptom profiles.

Evolution of substrate recognition sites (SRSs) in cytochromes P450 from Apiaceae exemplified by the CYP71AJ subfamily

BACKGROUND

Large proliferations of cytochrome P450 encoding genes resulting from gene duplications can be termed as 'blooms', providing genetic material for the genesis and evolution of biosynthetic pathways. Furanocoumarins are allelochemicals produced by many of the species in Apiaceaous plants belonging to the Apioideae subfamily of Apiaceae and have been described as being involved in the defence reaction against phytophageous insects.

RESULTS

A bloom in the cytochromes P450 CYP71AJ subfamily has been identified, showing at least 2 clades and 6 subclades within the CYP71AJ subfamily. Two of the subclades were functionally assigned to the biosynthesis of furanocoumarins. Six substrate recognition sites (SRS1-6) important for the enzymatic conversion were investigated in the described cytochromes P450 and display significant variability within the CYP71AJ subfamily. Homology models underline a significant modification of the accession to the iron atom, which might explain the difference of the substrate specificity between the cytochromes P450 restricted to furanocoumarins as substrates and the orphan CYP71AJ.

CONCLUSION

Two subclades functionally assigned to the biosynthesis of furanocoumarins and four other subclades were identified and shown to be part of two distinct clades within the CYP71AJ subfamily. The subclades show significant variability within their substrate recognition sites between the clades, suggesting different biochemical functions and providing insights into the evolution of cytochrome P450 'blooms' in response to environmental pressures.

Anti-inflammatory cyathane diterpenoids from Sarcodon scabrosus

Four novel diterpenoids were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Sarcodon scabrosus (Fr.) Karst. (Boraginaceae) together with neosarcodonin A. One of the novel compounds was elucidated to be a cyathane diterpenoid, namely neosarcodonin O, by its spectral data. The others were characterized as 19-O-linoleoyl, 19-O-oleoyl and 19-O-stearoyl derivatives of sarcodonin A, after comparison with the authentic samples synthetically prepared from sarcodonin A. These compounds, together with the five 19-O-acyl derivatives synthesized from sarcodonin A, each exhibited inhibitory activity against 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation on mouse ears by topical application.

Actinidic acid, a new triterpene phytoalexin from unripe kiwi fruit

Seven phytoalexins (1-7), including a new compound, were isolated from the peel of unripe kiwi fruit (Actinidia deliciosa cv. Golden King) that had been wounded and inoculated with Colletotrichum musae. The new phytoalexin (1) was identified as 2alpha,3beta,23-trihydroxy-12,20(30)-ursadien-28-oic acid, and named actinidic acid. Phytoalexins 2-6 are known triterpenes but have not previously been described as phytoalexins. Phytoalexin 7 is the same triterpene as the phytoalexin of nectarine fruit.

Phyllosphere Methylobacterium bacteria contain UVA-absorbing compounds

Microbes inhabiting the phyllosphere encounter harmful ultraviolet rays, and must develop adaptive strategies against this irradiation. In this study, we screened bacterial isolates originating from the phyllosphere of various plants which harbored absorbers of ultraviolet A (UVA), a wavelength range which is recognized as harmful to human skin. Of the 200 phyllosphere bacterial isolates we screened, methanol extracts from bacterial cells of seventeen isolates absorbed wavelengths in the range of 315-400nm. All of the UVA-absorbing strains belonged to Methylobacterium species based on 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences, suggesting that cells of this bacterial genus contain specific UVA-absorbing compounds. When cells of a representative Methylobacterium strain were extracted using various solvents, UVA absorption was observed in the extracts obtained using several aqueous solvents, indicating that the UVA-absorbing compounds were highly polar. A compound was purified using solid columns and HPLC separation, and comparative analysis revealed that the absorption strength and spectrum of the compound were similar to those of the known UVA filter, avobenzone. The compound was also verified to be stable under UVA exposure for at least 480min. Based on these results, the UVA-absorbing compound harbored by Methylobacterium has potential to be used as a novel sunscreen ingredient.

Seasonality in major depressed inpatients

The proportion of patients with a fall-winter pattern of feeling worst comparable to that of patients with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) was 11.4% in our sample of major depressed inpatients. Since admission to psychiatric inpatient services is influenced to an unknown extent by various factors it is not possible to generalize our data to other facilities. However, based on the results of our study it seems worth while to screen depressed patients for their degree of seasonality since treatment with bright artificial light has been shown to be beneficial in SAD patients and its subsyndromal form.

Anti-inflammatory lanostane-type triterpene acids from Piptoporus betulinus

Six lanostane-type triterpene acids were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Piptoporus betulinus. They were identified as polyporenic acids A (1) and C (2), three derivatives of polyporenic acid A (3-5), and a novel compound, (+)-12 alpha,28-dihydroxy-3 alpha-(3'-hydroxy-3'-methylglutaryloxy)-24-methyllanosta-8,24(31)-dien-26-oic acid (6). All these compounds suppressed the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced edema on mouse ears by 49-86% with a 400 nmol/ear application.

Triterpene phytoalexins from strawberry fruit

Strawberry cv. Houkouwase is resistant to infection by Colletotrichum fragariae. The formation of antifungal compounds was observed in unripe fruit which had been wounded and inoculated with conidia of C. musae. Three antifungal compounds were isolated and identified as euscaphic acid, tormentic acid and myrianthic acid. Myrianthic acid inhibited the growth of C. musae at 3 microg, and euscaphic and tormentic acids showed inhibitory effects at 100 microg. A quantitative analysis of their contents showed that the triterpenes increased in wounded fruit, and in wounded and inoculated fruit, but not in non-treated fruit. These findings indicate that unripe fruit of Houkouwase produced the triterpenes as phytoalexins. The triterpene phytoalexins seem to be involved in the resistance of strawberry to the fungus.

New plant growth promoters, repraesentins A, B and C, from Lactarius repraesentaneus

Three new plant growth regulatory sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the Lactarius repraesentaneus fungus. Their structures were elucidated to be a protoilludene sesquiterpene, namely repraesentin A (1), and two related sesquiterpenes, namely repraesentins B (2) and C (3). Compounds 1-3 showed promotion activities toward the radicle elongation of lettuce seedlings by 136%, 118% and 184% at 67 ppm, respectively.

Myrsinoic Acid E, an Anti-inflammatory Compound fromMyrsine seguinii

The methanolic extract of Myrsine seguinii yielded the novel anti-inflammatory compound, myrsinoic acid E (1), whose structure was elucidated to be 3,5-digeranyl-4-hydroxy benzoic acid. We synthesized 1- and its 3,5-diprenyl (2) and 3,5-difarnesyl analogues (3). Compounds 1-3 suppressed 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation of mouse ears by 59%, 14%, and 69% at a dose of 1.4 micromol.

Interaction of EphB2-tyrosine kinase receptor and its ligand conveys dorsalization signal in Xenopus laevis development

The Eph class is the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases and has been shown to play various roles in neural development including axon pathfinding and neural crest migration. EphB2 associates with transmembrane ligands Ephrin-B1 and -B2, which leads to tyrosine phosphorylation of both the ligands and receptor and is presumed to regulate cell-to-cell interactions by bidirectional signaling. We have investigated the biological effects of the EphB2-induced signal in the early stage of Xenopus laevis development. Xenopus EphB2 transcripts were detected maternally and were expressed at equal levels between the ventral and dorsal halves of the gastrulae, with expression increasing after the late gastrula stage. EphB2 mRNA expression in dorsal marginal zone explants from gastrulae increases during later development while that in ventral explants does not. We show here that microinjection of RNA encoding EphB2 into a ventral blastomere of embryos induced a partial secondary dorsal axis which consisted of neural tissues, notochord and somites. Analysis with molecular markers verified that the microinjected EphB2 dorsalized the mesoderm of ventral marginal zone explants. These dorsalizing effects of EphB2 in both the whole embryo and ventral explants were inhibited by the coinjection of RNA encoding the soluble form of Ephrin-B1. Furthermore, co-injection of EphB2 and Ephrin-B1 RNAs synergistically enhanced the dorsalization effect. These data show that the interaction between EphB2 and its ligands including Ephrin-B1 causes signaling events which lead to dorsal development, and strongly suggests the existence of proteins which mediate the dorsalization induced by EphB2 in early stage embryos of Xenopus laevis.