Central hypertensive actions of angiotensin I, II and III in conscious rats

The effects of intracerebroventricular administrations of three natural angiotensins, angiotensin I (ANG I 3.8 X 10-11-9.4 X10-10 mol/kg body weight), II (9.6 X 10-12-2.4 X 10-10 mol/kg body weight) and III (2.7 X 10-10 2.5 X 10-9 mol/kg body weight) on systemic blood pressure were investigated in conscious rats. Angiotensin II (ANG II), ANG I and angiotensin III (ANG III), increased blood pressure in a dose-related manner. The order of potency of angiotensins was ANG II greater than ANG I greater than ANG III. The intraventricular administration of a converting enzyme inhibitor (SQ 14225, 6.9 X10-8 mol/kg) abolished the central effect of ANG I, while an angiotensin II analogue ([Sar1-Ala8]ANG II, 1.1 X 10-8 mol/kg) administered intraventricularly inhibited the central pressor effects of these three angiotensins. These results suggest that ANG II is a main mediator of the renin-angiotensin system in the central nervous system.     

Neutralization tests for dengue and Japanese encephalitis viruses by the focus reduction method using peroxidase-anti-peroxidase staining.

Neutralization tests were made on 4 types of dengue (DEN) virus and Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus by incubation of serially diluted antisera and constant amounts of the viruses and then focus assay of surviving virus infectivity with peroxidase-anti-peroxidase (PAP) staining. Neutralization reactions were virtually completed in 2 hr on incubation of serum-virus mixtures at 28 C. A straight regression line was obtained on a probit chart by plotting the focus reduction rates at various dilutions of a given serum against the logarithm of the serum dilution used in the test. The slopes of the probit regression lines for the neutralization for DEN types 1 and 3 were similar, but differed somewhat from those for DEN type 2 and type 4. The slope of the line for JE virus was quite different from those for DEN viruses. Using these relations, the fifty percent focus reduction titer (FR50) of neutralizing antibodies of a given serum could be estimated from the focus reduction rates at several dilutions of the test serum when the latter was between 25-75% of the value of the control.     

Microflow system promotes acetaminophen crystal nucleation

It is known that interfaces have various impacts on crystallization from a solution. Here, we describe crystallization of acetaminophen using a microflow channel, in which two liquids meet and form a liquid–liquid interface due to laminar flow, resulting in uniform mixing of solvents on the molecular scale. In the anti‐solvent method, the microflow mixing promoted the crystallization more than bulk mixing. Furthermore, increased flow rate encouraged crystal formation, and a metastable form appeared under a certain flow condition. This means that interface management by the microchannel could be a beneficial tool for crystallization and polymorph control.     

Correction to: Comparative analysis of sperm motility in liquid and seminal coagulum portions between Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)

Primates - In the original publication of the article, the coauthor “Takashi Hayakawa” was wrongly assigned as co-corresponding author.     

Proteomic Study to Understand Promotive Effects of Plant-Derived Smoke on Soybean (Glycine max L.) Root Growth Under Flooding Stress

Plant-derived smoke plays a key role in plant growth. Proteomic technique was used for underlying mechanisms of plant-derived smoke on the growth of soybean (Glycine max L.) under flooding stress. The length and weight of soybean root increased with 2000 parts per million plant-derived smoke under flooding stress within 4 days. Altered proteins by plant-derived smoke treatment under flooding stress were mainly related to protein metabolism, stress, and redox. Furthermore, proteins related to mitochondrial electron transport chain decreased by flooding stress; however, they increased by addition of plant-derived smoke under flooding stress. Based on the results of proteomic analysis, confirmation experiments were performed. ATPase abundance and ATP content increased with the treatment of plant-derived smoke under flooding stress. Furthermore, the ascorbate/glutathione cycle was activated with the treatment of plant-derived smoke under flooding stress. These results suggest that plant-derived smoke improves the root growth of soybean with energy production and reactive oxygen scavenging even if it is under flooding stress, which might positively regulate soybean tolerance towards flooding stress.