Synthesis of 2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-1,6-dithio-d-glucose and its Derivatives

2-Acetamido-3,4-di-Oacetyl-2,6-dideoxy-6-S-acetyl-6-thio-d-glucopyranosyl chloride (III) was condensed with potassium thiolacetate, potassium ethylxanthate or thiourea to give three crystalline derivatives of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-1,6-dithio-d-glucose. An attempt to prepare 2-acetamido-1,2,6-trideoxy-1,6-dimercapto-D-glucose (VII) from 2-acetamido-3,4-di-O-acetyl-1,2,6-trideoxy-1,6-di-S-acetyl-1,6-dithio-β-d-glucopyranose was described. 2-Acetamido-3,4-di-O-acetyl-1,2,6-trideoxy-1-mercapto-6-S-acetyl-6-thio-β-d-glucopyranose (VIII) was synthesized from the condensation product of III with thiourea.     

The obesity epidemic and changes in self‐report biases in BMI

Objective:

To assess time trends in measurement error of BMI and the sensitivity/specificity of classifying weight status in the United States by analyzing the difference in BMI between self‐reported and measured height and weight.

Design and Methods:

Data from 18,394 respondents aged 20‐89 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 through 2008 were analyzed. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression models estimated trends in reporting bias and misclassification of weight status by BMI categories, sex, age, and racial/ethnic groups, adjusting for the sampling design.

Results:

We find no evidence that there are time trends in the accuracy of self‐report by BMI categories, sex, age, or racial/ethnic groups. The well‐known downward bias in self‐report has remained stable over the last decade; approximately one in six to seven obese individuals were misclassified as nonobese due to underestimation of BMI.

Conclusion:

Increases in obesity rates based on self‐reported height and weight are likely to reflect actual weight increases and are not inflated by changes in reporting accuracy.     

Dnajb8, a Member of the Heat Shock Protein 40 Family Has a Role in the Tumor Initiation and Resistance to Docetaxel but Is Dispensable for Stress Response

Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs)/cancer-initiating cells (CICs) are defined by their abilities of tumor initiation, self-renewal and differentiation. In a previous study, we showed by gene knockdown using siRNA and gene overexpression experiments that Dnaj (Hsp40) homolog, subfamily B, member 8 (DNAJB8), a role in the maintenance, of renal cell carcinoma CSCs/CICs. In the present study, we established Dnajb8 knockout (KO) renal cell carcinoma (RCC) line cells (RenCa cells) and analyzed the cells to confirm the function of Dnajb8 in RCC CSCs/CICs. Dnajb8 KO cells showed reduced ratios of side population cells and reduced sphere forming ability. An in vivo single cell tumor initiation assay revealed that the numbers of CSCs/CICs were 3 in 4 wild-type RenCa cells and 1 in 4 Dnajb8 KO cells. Dnajb8 KO cells showed sensitivity to Docetaxel. On the other hand, Dnajb8 KO cells did not show any sensitivities to stresses including low pH, low glucose, heat shock and sensitivity to cisplatin. The results indicate that Dnajb8 has a role in tumor initiation, side population ratio and sphere formation but it is dispensable for stress responses.     

Temperature dependence on the pesticide sampling rate of polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS)

Laboratory experiments were performed to determine the sampling rates of pesticides for the polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) used in Japan. The concentrations of pesticides in aquatic environments were estimated from the accumulated amounts of pesticide on POCIS, and the effect of water temperature on the pesticide sampling rates was evaluated. The sampling rates of 48 pesticides at 18, 24, and 30 °C were obtained, and this study confirmed that increasing trend of sampling rates was resulted with increasing water temperature for many pesticides.     

Comparison of patient-specific intensity modulated radiation therapy quality assurance for the prostate across multiple institutions

AimTo evaluate the success of a patient-specific intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) quality assurance (QA) practice for prostate cancer patients across multiple institutions using a questionnaire survey.BackgroundThe IMRT QA practice involves different methods of dose distribution verification and analysis at different institutions.Materials and MethodsTwo full-arc volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plan and 7 fixed-gantry IMRT plan with DMLC were used for patient specific QA across 22 institutions. The same computed tomography image and structure set were used for all plans. Each institution recalculated the dose distribution with fixed monitor units and without any modification. Single-point dose measurement with a cylindrical ionization chamber and dose distribution verification with a multi-detector or radiochromic film were performed, according to the QA process at each institution.ResultsTwenty-two institutions performed the patient-specific IMRT QA verifications. With a single-point dose measurement at the isocenter, the average difference between the calculated and measured doses was 0.5 ± 1.9%. For the comparison of dose distributions, 18 institutions used a two or three-dimensional array detector, while the others used Gafchromic film. In the γ test with dose difference/distance-to-agreement criteria of 3%?3 mm and 2%?2 mm with a 30% dose threshold, the median gamma pass rates were 99.3% (range: 41.7%–100.0%) and 96.4% (range: 29.4%–100.0%), respectively.ConclusionThis survey was an informative trial to understand the verification status of patient-specific IMRT QA measurements for prostate cancer. In most institutions, the point dose measurement and dose distribution differences met the desired criteria.     

Differences in flowering phenology,architecture, sexual expression and resource allocation between a heavily haired and a lightly haired nettle population: relationships with sika deer

Plant Ecology - Japanese stinging nettles, Urtica thunbergiana, in Nara Park (660 ha), central Japan, where several hundred sika deer Cervus nippon have been protected for...     

Septicemia from Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG,from a Probiotic Enriched Yogurt,in a Patient with Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - Probiotic-rich foods are consumed without much restriction. We report here, a case of septic shock caused by yogurt derived Lactobacillus species in a...     

Sialic acid is an essential moiety of mucin as a hydroxyl radical scavenger

In this work, we examined the antioxidant role of mucin, a typical sialic acid containing high-molecular weight glycoprotein. The function of mucin as a hydroxyl radical (.OH) scavenger was characterized using bovine submaxillary gland mucin (BSM). Non-treated BSM effectively protected DNA from the attack of .OH; however, desialylated BSM lost this potential. Moreover, we estimated the scavenging effects of BSM against .OH generated by UV irradiation of hydrogen peroxide using ESR analysis. Our results indicate that BSM has .OH scavenging ability the and sialic acid in mucin is an essential moiety to scavenge .OH.