Superoxide dismutase (SOD) as a potential inhibitory mediator of inflammation via neutrophil apoptosis

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is supposed to be an effective agent for neutrophil-mediated inflammation in the area of critical medicine. We investigated the involvement of SOD in the regulation of neutrophil apoptosis. Exogenously added SOD effectively induced neutrophil apoptosis, and the fluorescence patterns determined using annexin-V and the 7-AAD were similar to those seen in Fas-mediated neutrophil apoptosis. Neutrophils are short-lived leukocytes that need to be removed safely by apoptosis. The clearance of apoptotic neutrophils from sites of inflammation is a crucial determinant of the resolution of inflammation. Catalase inhibited the neutrophil apoptosis and caspase-3 activation. Spontaneous apoptosis, hydrogen peroxide and anti-Fas antibody-induced apoptosis of neutrophils were accelerated in Down's syndrome patients, in whom the SOD gene is overexpressed. Hydrogen peroxide was thought to be a possible major mediator of ROS-induced neutrophil apoptosis in caspase-dependent manner. Neutrophil apoptosis represents a crucial step in the mechanism governing the resolution of inflammation and has been suggested as a possible target for the control of neutrophil-mediated tissue injury. SOD may be a potential inhibitory mediator of neutrophil-mediated inflammation.     

Sleep-related factors associated with industrial accidents among factory workers and sleep hygiene education intervention

Sleep and Biological Rhythms - This study was conducted to investigate the association between industrial accidents and sleep-related parameters in factory workers, and to examine the effectiveness...     

New Phospholipase A<Subscript>1</Subscript>-producing Bacteria from a Marine Fish

Phospholipase A1 is a hydrolytic enzyme that catalyzes the removal of the acyl group from position 1 of glycerophospholipids to form 2-acyl lysophospholipids. Lysophospholipids are used in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals as surfactants. Novel forms of phospholipase A1 that function at low temperatures are desirable for use in lipophilic systems in food processing. However, there is currently little variety in the available sources of phospholipase A1. Given this situation, we screened the intestinal contents of marine animals for phospholipase A1-producing bacteria. Colonies that formed a halo on K28CP screening medium and that grew in K28 medium were cultured in liquid K28 medium, and the supernatant was retrieved for analysis. Phosphatidylcholine was added to the culture supernatant, and the product of the reaction was analyzed by using TLC. For culture supernatants that were able to generate lysophosphatidylcholine, synthetic phosphatidylcholines were added, and the site of the reaction was determined by analyzing the fatty acid compositions of the lysophosphatidylcholines generated by GLC. A bacterial isolate from a flatfish, which we named HFKI0020, was found to have phospholipase A1 activity at low temperatures. We determined that the isolate HFKI0020 is closely related to Pseudomonas by using 16S rDNA sequence analysis and by characterizing the isolate with respect to its physiologic and biochemical properties. From the intestinal contents of a marine fish, we successfully isolated a bacterium that secretes phospholipase A1 that is active at low temperatures.     

Suppressive effect of peach leaf extract on glucose absorption from the small intestine of mice

The crude extract of peach leaves dose-dependently suppressed the postprandial elevation in the blood glucose level after an oral administration of soluble starch to mice. This study examines the mechanism for this suppressive effect in vivo. An oral carbohydrate-loading test on mice showed that the peach leaf extract suppressed the glucose-induced increase in the blood level of glucose, but without affecting the insulin level. An enteral soluble starch and glucose loading test on mice also showed that the crude extract (1,000 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the postprandial elevation of the blood glucose level and increased the amount of glucose that remained in the intestine to within the same range as that with phloridzin (500 mg/kg), a natural sodium-dependent glucose transporter (SGLT)-specific inhibitor. In contrast, the extract did not suppress the postprandial elevation of the blood triglyceride and cholesterol levels in mice, and did not affect the normal blood glucose level in a feeding test for 21 d. These results reveal that the extract of peach leaves suppressed the postprandial elevation of blood glucose level by inhibiting the absorption of glucose in the small intestine of mice.     

Identification of Disease-Promoting HLA Class I and Protective Class II Modifiers in Japanese Patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever

ObjectivesThe genotype-phenotype correlation of MEFV remains unclear for the familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients, especially without canonical MEFV mutations in exon 10. The risk of FMF appeared to be under the influence of other factors in this case. The contribution of HLA polymorphisms to the risk of FMF was examined as strong candidates of modifier genes.MethodsGenotypes of HLA-B and -DRB1 loci were determined for 258 mutually unrelated Japanese FMF patients, who satisfied modified Tel-Hashomer criteria, and 299 healthy controls. The effects of carrier status were evaluated for the risk of FMF by odds ratio (OR). The HLA effects were also assessed for clinical forms of FMF, subsets of FMF with certain MEFV genotypes and responsiveness to colchicine treatment.ResultsThe carriers of B*39:01 were increased in the patients (OR = 3.25, p = 0.0012), whereas those of DRB1*15:02 were decreased (OR = 0.45, p = 0.00050), satisfying Bonferroni’s correction for multiple statistical tests (n = 28, p<0.00179). The protective effect of DRB1*15:02 was completely disappeared in the co-existence of B*40:01. The HLA effects were generally augmented in the patients without a canonical MEFV variant allele M694I, in accordance with the notion that the lower penetrance of the mutations is owing to the larger contribution of modifier genes in the pathogenesis, with a few exceptions. Further, 42.9% of 14 colchicine-resistant patients and 13.5% of 156 colchicine-responders possessed B*35:01 allele, giving OR of 4.82 (p = 0.0041).ConclusionsThe differential effects of HLA class I and class II polymorphisms were identified for Japanese FMF even in those with high-penetrance MEFV mutations.     

On-site Direct Detection of Astaxanthin from Salmon Fillet Using Raman Spectroscopy

A new technology employing Raman spectroscopy is attracting attention as a powerful biochemical technique for the detection of beneficial and functional food nutrients, such as carotenoids and unsaturated fatty acids. This technique allows for the dynamic characterization of food nutrient substances for the rapid determination of food quality. In this study, we attempt to detect and measure astaxanthin from salmon fillets using this technology. The Raman spectra showed specific bands corresponding to the astaxanthin present in salmon and the value of astaxanthin (Raman band, 1518 cm^?1) relative to those of protein/lipid (Raman band, 1446 cm^?1) in the spectra increased in a dose-dependent manner. A standard curve was constructed by the standard addition method using astaxanthin as the reference standard for its quantification by Raman spectroscopy. The calculation formula was established using the Raman bands typically observed for astaxanthin (i.e., 1518 cm^?1). In addition, we examined salmon fillets of different species (Atlantic salmon, coho salmon, and sockeye salmon) and five fillets obtained from the locations (from the head to tail) of an entire Atlantic salmon. Moreover, the sockeye salmon fillet exhibited the highest astaxanthin concentration (14.2 mg/kg), while coho salmon exhibited an intermediate concentration of 7.0 mg/kg. The Raman-based astaxanthin concentration in the five locations of Atlantic salmon was more strongly detected from the fillet closer to the tail. From the results, a rapid, convenient Raman spectroscopic method was developed for the detection of astaxanthin in salmon fillets.     

Influence of adjuvant arthritis on main urinary metabolites of prostaglandin F and E in rats

The influence of adjuvant arthritis in rats on main urinary metabolites (MUM) of prostaglandin (PG) F and E type was studied.1) In our model rats, urinary excretion of PGE-MUM increased on day 11 prior to the appearance of secondary lesions, but that of PGF-MUM did not change significantly during the observed period (21 days). The excretion of PGE-MUM was not proportional to the increase in both hind paws volume.2) Indomethacin, which diminished primary lesions but did not suppress secondary lesions, reduced the increase in urinary excretion of PGE-MUM.3) Prednisolone and azathiopurine, which suppressed both primary and secondary lesions, increased the excretion of PGE-MUM over adjuvant control values on days 4 and 8.The facts described above suggest that the increase of endogenous PGE during days 4 to 8 may be important in the suppression of secondary lesions in adjuvant arthritis in rats.