<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Methyl-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">D</Emphasis>-Aspartate Receptor Type 1 Immunoreactivity and Protein Level in the Gerbil Main Olfactory Bulb After Transient Forebrain Ischemia

It has been reported that the over-stimulation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NR) modulates glutamate postsynaptic neurotransmission by generating long lasting Ca²⁺ channel openings. In the present study, we investigated ischemia-induced change in NR1 immunoreactivity and level in the main olfactory bulb (MOB) after 5 min of transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils. NR1 immunoreactivity in the sham-operated group was shown mainly in tufted cells of the external plexiform and in mitral cells of the mitral cell layer. NR1 immunoreactivity in these neurons was increased with time and was very strong 15 days after ischemia/reperfusion. At that time, NR1 protein level in the MOB was also highest. Thereafter, NR1 immunoreactivity and protein level in the MOB were decreased with time after ischemia/reperfusion. Thus, NR1 in tufted and mitral cells in the gerbil MOB is changed after transient forebrain ischemia. This suggests that mitral and tufted cells may be the principal neurons in the MOB affected in receiving inputs and sending projections to the olfactory area after transient ischemia. Y. Her and K.-Y. Yoo contributed equally to this article.     

DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A NOVEL TAEKWONDO CHEST PROTECTOR TO IMPROVE MOBILITY WHEN PERFORMING AXE KICKS

The axe kick, in Olympic style taekwondo, has been identified as the most popular scoring technique aimed to the head during full contact competition. The first purpose of this study was to identify and investigate design issues with the current World Taekwondo Federation approved chest protector. A secondary purpose was to develop a novel chest protector addressing the identified design issues and to conduct a biomechanical analysis. Fifteen male elite Taekwondo players were selected to perform three different styles of the axe kick, i.e., front, in-out, and out-in axe kick five times each for a total of 45 kicks. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA showed significant differences between the novel and existing chest protector conditions for vertical height of the toe, downward kicking foot speed, hip flexion angle and ipsilateral shoulder flexion extension range of motion (ROM) (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the control condition (no chest protector) and the novel chest protector condition for these variables (p > 0.05). These results indicate that the novel chest protector interferes less with both the lower and upper limbs during the performance of the axe kick and provides a more natural, free-moving alternative to the current equipment used.     

IL-32 and IL-17 interact and have the potential to aggravate osteoclastogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction

Interleukin (IL)-32 and IL-17 play critical roles in pro-inflammatory responses and are highly expressed in the synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We investigated the relations between these two cytokines (IL-17 and IL-32) for their ability to induce each other and to stimulate osteoclasts in RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) and T cells.

Methods

FLSs were isolated through surgical synovectomy obtained from patients with RA or osteoarthritis (OA). Real-time PCR were performed to evaluate the expression of IL-32, IL-17 and osteoclast-related genes. Immunohistochemical staining and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining were performed to determine the distribution of inflammatory cytokines and the presence of osteoclastogenesis.

Results

IL-17 induced the expression of IL-32 in the FLSs from RA patients, as assessed by microarray. IL-32 production was increased by IL-17. IL-32 in the FLSs from RA patients induced the production of IL-17 in CD4⁺ T cells. IL-32 and IL-17 were colocalized near TRAP-positive areas in joint specimens. IL-17 and IL-32 synergistically induced the differentiation of osteoclasts, as demonstrated by the expression of osteoclast-related genes. IL-32 and IL-17 also could induce resorption by osteoclasts in a RANKL-dependent manner.

Conclusions

IL-17 affected the expression of IL-32 in FLSs of RA patients and IL-32 induced the production of IL-17 in CD4+ T cells. Both IL-17 and IL-32 cytokines can reciprocally influence each other''s production and amplify the function of osteoclastogenesis in the in RA synovium. Separately, IL-17 and IL-32 each stimulated osteoclastogenesis without RANKL. Together, the two cytokines synergistically amplified the differentiation of osteoclasts, independent of RANKL stimulation.     

Crystal structure, neutron vibrational spectroscopy, and DFT calculations of Li2B12H12 · 4H2O

The crystal structure of Li₂B₁₂H₁₂ · 4H₂O has been determined by X-ray powder diffraction and confirmed by a combination of neutron vibrational spectroscopy and first-principles calculations. The solvent-free analog of this compound (Li₂B₁₂H₁₂) has recently attracted interest as a putative intermediate in the decomposition of LiBH₄. Li₂B₁₂H₁₂ · 4H₂O appears in the initial stages of Li₂B₁₂H₁₂ synthesis from LiBH₄ and B₁₀H₁₄     

Analysis of N-glycosylation of phospholipase A2 from venom of individual bees by microbore high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry using an ion trap mass spectrometer

The N-linked oligosaccharides were released from the phospholipase A2 (PLA) with glycopeptidases and reductively aminated with the chromophore, p-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester (ABEE). The ABEE-labeled oligosaccharides were separated by microbore high-performance liquid chromatography (micro-HPLC) using a reversed-phase column and analyzed by electrospray mass spectrometry. Differentiation between alpha-1,3 and alpha-1,6 core-fucosylated glycans was achieved by comparison the glycans released by glycopeptidases peptide-N-glycanase A (PNase A) and peptide-N-glycanase F (PNase F). All N-linked oligosaccharides except 3B and 3C could be identified in this approach. The analysis of PLA oligosaccharides from the venom of individual bees indicated that glycosylation patterns between the younger and the older bees were similar.     

Qualitative discrimination of sweet stimuli: behavioural study on rats

Rats conditioned to avoid drinking a sucrose solution or a glucosesolution were tested for generalization of the learned aversionto three lower concentrations of these sweeteners. The behaviouralresponses indicated two types of discrimination. The first one,after two seconds, is of a qualitative nature; the second one,after five seconds, is of a quantitative nature showing an aversiveresponse depending on the concentration. Cross-aversion to tengustatory stimuli showed on the basis of the qualitative discriminationthat the rats discriminate between the different sweetenersin a similar way as man does.     

Transgenic peppers that are highly tolerant to a new CMV pathotype

The CMV (cucumber mosaic virus) is the most frequently occurring virus in chili pepper farms. A variety of peppers that are resistant to CMVP0 were developed in the middle of 1990s through a breeding program, and commercial cultivars have since been able to control the spread of CMVP0. However, a new pathotype (CMVP1) that breaks the resistance of CMVP0-resistant peppers has recently appeared and caused a heavy loss in productivity. Since no genetic source of this new pathotype was available, a traditional breeding method cannot be used to generate a CMVP1-resistant pepper variety. Therefore, we set up a transformation system of pepper using Agrobacterium that had been transfected with the coat protein gene, CMVP0-CP, with the aim of developing a new CMVP1-resistant pepper line. A large number of transgenic peppers (T₁, T₂ and T₃) were screened for CMVP1 tolerance using CMVP1 inoculation. Transgenic peppers tolerant to CMVP1 were selected in a plastic house as well as in the field. Three independent T₃ pepper lines highly tolerant to the CMVP1 pathogen were found to also be tolerant to the CMVP0 pathogen. These selected T₃ pepper lines were phenotypically identical or close to the non-transformed lines. However, after CMVP1 infection, the height and fruit size of the non-transformed lines became shorter and smaller, respectively, while the T₃ pepper lines maintained a normal phenotype.