Complex between α-Chymotrypsin and poly(ethylene glycol) catalytically active in organic media

-Chymotrypsin and poly(ethylene glycol) were mixed in an aqueous phosphate buffer solution and lyophilized. The preparation was readily soluble in anhydrous isooctane. The polymer/enzyme complex, i.e., poly(ethylene glycol)/-chymotrypsin, was catalytically active in anhydrous isooctane even when the molecular ratio of them was unity.     

Regio-selective preparation of vinyl adenosine ester catalyzed by alkaline protease

The transesterification of divinyladipate with adenosine in DMF containing 20% (v/v) DMSO was catalyzed by Streptomyces sp. alkaline protease and esterification occurred exclusively at the 3-position of hydroxyl group of ribofuranose in adenosine to give 3-O-vinyladipoyl adenosine without other products.     

Oligomerization of N-tosylindole with aluminum chloride

The reactivity of N-tosylindole (4) in the presence of aluminum chloride was studied, and two types of oligomerization of 4 were observed. One type was condensation between both pyrrole parts (dimers 5 and 6 and trimer 7) and the other was between a pyrrole part and a benzene part of each indole nucleus (dimers 8 and 9).     

Monitoring ovarian cycle and conception by fecal progesterone analysis in sika deer

The ovarian cycle and conception of sika deer were studied to reveal factors responsible for delayed conception. Concentration of progesterone in feces from 12 female Hokkaido sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis Heude, 1884) was measured during the mating season in 2000. The cyclic pattern of fecal progesterone synchronized with estrous symptoms, which could hence be interpreted as indicating ovarian cycle. All observed females ovulated by 14 October. However, during the early mating season, females did not permit copulation at ovulation, and the length of luteal phase following ovulation without estrus was 9.8±4.6 days (5–24days). Most females conceived at the first copulation, which were confirmed by progesterone profiles that was sustained at a high level after the copulation. This indicates the presence of a functional corpus luteum, a state of pregnancy. Thus, some females had repeated ovulation without copulation several times, creating a 3–4week variation in the timing of conception. But some females conceived very late in the mating season after the repetition of ovulation and copulation.     

Acute and chronic effects of FR-149175, a beta 3-adrenergic receptor agonist, on energy expenditure in Zucker fatty rats

Clinical therapies for both obesity and obese non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus require maintenance of reduced body weight after the initial successful reduction resulting from calorie control, exercise, or medication. Although beta(3)-adrenergic receptor (beta(3)-AR) agonists have been shown to stimulate whole body energy expenditure and lipid mobilization, whether stimulatory effects on oxygen consumption and lipolysis are influenced by chronic exposure to agonists has not been fully characterized. We therefore examined the acute and chronic effects of FR-149175, a selective beta(3)-AR agonist, on whole body oxygen consumption in genetically obese Zucker fatty rats. Chronic treatment with FR-149175 caused a decrease in both body weight gain and white fat pad weight at doses that induced lipolysis in acute treatment (1 and 3.2 mg/kg p.o.). Single administration of FR-149175 (0.1, 1, and 3.2 mg/kg p.o.) dose dependently increased whole body oxygen consumption. Repetitive administration did not cause attenuation of the thermogenic response at lower doses (0.1 and 1 mg/kg 2 times daily), whereas the highest dose (3.2 mg/kg 2 times daily) induced a progressive increase in oxygen consumption. PCR analyses of retroperitoneal white adipose tissue indicated little or no change in beta(3)-AR mRNA levels. Uncoupling protein 1 gene expression increased at 1 mg/kg, and drastic upregulation was detected at 3.2 mg/kg. FR-149175 also increased HSL mRNA levels in a dose-related manner, whereas there was no effect on genes involved in beta-oxidation. These results support that the thermogenic effect of beta(3)-AR agonists is not attenuated by chronic exposure to agonists.     

Expression of cys-cys chemokine ligand 21 on human gingival lymphatic vessels

The cys-cys (C-C) chemokine ligand 21 is a member of the C-C chemokines that constitute a group of heparin-binding cytokines with a pattern of four or six conserved cysteines. The CCL21 is known to be expressed in secondary lymphoid tissues, however it has rarely been reported for the expression on peripheral lymphatic vessels in somatic tissue. Here we investigated the expression of CCL21 on lymphatic vessels identified by anti-desmoplakin in uninflamed and inflamed human gingiva. In uninflamed tissue the expression of CCL21 was detected on lymphatic vessels in gingiva. In uninflamed gingiva the expression of CCL21 was detected on all lymphatic capillaries of the mucosal connective tissue papillae. There were two types of collecting lymphatic vessels in the lamina propria mucosae expressing CCL21 strongly or very weakly. In inflamed gingiva no expression of CCL21 was detected on lymphatic vessels. In all tissue sections no blood vessels expressing CCL21 were observed. These results may suggest that the expression of CCL21 is predominantly induced in the peripheral lymphatic endothelium of the uninflamed mucosal microcirculation, and that under inflamed conditions a reduction of CCL21 occurs in lymphatic endothelium.     

Plasma adrenomedullin concentration is increased in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease associated with vascular inflammation

Adrenomedullin (AM), a potent vasodepressor, is known to have anti-atherosclerotic and anti-inflammatory effects. However, there is no information about its level in severe atherosclerotic diseases, such as peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). The present study investigated the plasma concentration of AM and several inflammatory parameters in 72 patients with and without PAOD. The plasma AM concentration in patients with PAOD was significantly higher than in those without PAOD. Its concentration had significant correlations with ankle-brachial index and Fontaine's stage. The plasma AM level also correlated with high sensitive C-reactive protein and interleukin-6. As an additional study, plasma levels of two forms of AM drawn from the femoral artery and saphenous vein were measured in 27 other subjects. Both mature and intermediate forms of plasma AM in the femoral artery and saphenous vein were higher in patients with PAOD than in those without PAOD. A significant step-up of the mature form of AM from the femoral artery to the saphenous vein was observed. Our findings indicate that the plasma AM concentration was elevated in patients with PAOD in proportion to the severity of the disease and associated with vascular inflammation. An increased production of AM in PAOD may play a protective role against advanced atherosclerosis with an inflammatory signature.     

Adrenomedullin as a sensitive marker for coronary and peripheral arterial complications in patients with atherosclerotic risks

Plasma adrenomedullin (AM) levels are elevated in various pathological states including cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. The present study investigated whether an increased AM level is a marker of vascular complications in patients with atherosclerotic risks. In 114 patients with cardiovascular risks and/or diseases including ischemic heart disease (IHD) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD), plasma AM concentration and other inflammatory markers such as high sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6 were examined. The plasma AM level was not altered by the absence or presence of each of four major risk factors, i.e., hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and smoking and its level was not significantly correlated with blood pressure, plasma glucose, or serum lipid levels. The patients with IHD had a significantly higher concentration of plasma AM than those without IHD. The AM level in subjects with PAD was also increased significantly compared with those without PAD. The plasma AM was strongly correlated with inflammatory parameters such as CRP and IL-6. Among AM, CRP, and IL-6, however, only AM was an independent predictor for both IHD and PAD by multiple logistic regression analysis. Our findings suggest the possibility that plasma AM is a novel sensitive marker for the presence of vascular lesions in patients with atherosclerotic risks.