Effect of Caffeine-Containing Beverage Consumption on Serum Alanine Aminotransferase Levels in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Hospital-Based Cohort Study

Introduction

To date, there have been no prospective studies examining the effect of coffee consumption on serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level among individuals infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). We conducted a hospital-based cohort study among patients with chronic HCV infection to assess an association between baseline coffee consumption and subsequent ALT levels for 12 months.

Materials and Methods

From 1 August 2005 to 31 July 2006, total 376 HCV-RNA positive patients were recruited. A baseline questionnaire elicited information on the frequency of coffee consumption and other caffeine-containing beverages. ALT level as a study outcome was followed through the patients’ medical records during 12 months. The association between baseline beverage consumption and subsequent ALT levels was evaluated separately among patients with baseline ALT levels within normal range (≤45 IU/L) and among those with higher ALT levels (>45 IU/L).

Results

Among 229 patients with baseline ALT levels within normal range, 186 (81%) retained normal ALT levels at 12 months after recruitment. Daily drinkers of filtered coffee were three times more likely to preserve a normal ALT level than non-drinkers (OR=2.74; P=0.037). However, decaffeinated coffee drinkers had a somewhat inverse effect for sustained normal ALT levels, with marginal significance (OR=0.26; P=0.076). In addition, among 147 patients with higher baseline ALT levels, 39 patients (27%) had ALT reductions of ≥20 IU/L at 12 months after recruitment. Daily drinkers of filtered coffee had a significantly increased OR for ALT reduction (OR=3.79; P=0.034). However, in decaffeinated coffee drinkers, OR could not be calculated because no patients had ALT reduction.

Conclusion

Among patients with chronic HCV infection, daily consumption of filtered coffee may have a beneficial effect on the stabilization of ALT levels.     

Hormonal control of storage protein synthesis and uptake by the fat body in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

The female silkworm, Bombyx mori, rapidly accumulates two storage proteins, that are synthesized by the fat body, in the haemolymph during the feeding stage of the last-larval instar, and then sequesters them from the haemolymph into fat body during the larval-pupal transformation.The rapid synthesis and uptake of storage proteins by the fat body are shown to be induced by allatectomy in the early-penultimate larval instar. A juvenile hormone analogue, methoprene, is highly effective in inhibiting the allatectomy-induced synthesis, and, in a higher dosage, further blocks the uptake. Allatectomy in the late-penultimate larval instar shortly before moulting does not enhance the storage protein synthesis, but causes the uptake to occur two days earlier in the last-larval instar. Injection of 20-hydroxyecdysone is not stimulatory for synthesis of the proteins, but is effective to induce their uptake. Starvation during the early last-larval instar completely blocks the synthesis.From these results, it is suggested that storage protein synthesis is induced in the absence of juvenile hormone by some supplementary stimulus, possibly the supply of nutrient after feeding, and uptake is induced by ecdysteroids after a decline in the juvenile hormone level.     

Regulation of the expression of the rat angiotensin II receptor mRNA.

Regulation of the expression levels of the rat angiotensin II receptor mRNA in the adrenal, aorta, kidney, and brain was assessed by the competitive polymerase chain reaction method. The bilateral nephrectomy or the administration of Dup753 markedly reduced the expression levels of this receptor mRNA in the adrenal and brain stem, but not in the kidney nor aorta. A continuous infusion of angiotensin II increased the expression level of this receptor mRNA in the adrenal but not in the other tissues. It is suggested that the expression level of this receptor mRNA in the adrenal is dependent on the renin angiotensin aldosterone system.     

Studies of the Essential Oil of Mentha rotundifolia

Rotundifolone, a new terpenic ketone, C₁₀H₁₄O₂ has been isolated from the essential oil of M. rotundifolia in Japan. This ketone is highly dextro-rotatory, and has a low, melting point 27.5° The wave lengths of the ultraviolet absorption maxima of rotundifolone and its semicarbazone are 260 mμ (log ε = 3.95) and 273 mμ (log ε = 4.12) respectively. This indicates that rotundifolone has an α,β-unsaturated carbonylic system.     

Virtual issue: cell wall functions in plant growth and environmental responses

Journal of Plant Research - Plant cell walls have multiple functions, including determining cell shape and size, cell–cell adhesion, controlling cell differentiation and growth, and promoting...     

Hsp90 facilitates accurate loading of precursor piRNAs into PIWI proteins

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) defend the genome against transposon activity in animal gonads. The Hsp90 chaperone machinery has been implicated in the piRNA pathway, but its exact role remains obscure. Here, we examined the effect of 17-N-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG), an Hsp90-specific inhibitor, on the piRNA pathway. In the silkworm ovary-derived BmN4 cells, 17-AAG treatment reduced the level of piRNAs and PIWI proteins. In vitro, the 5′-nucleotide preference upon precursor piRNA loading was compromised by 17-AAG, whereas 3′-end trimming and 2′-O-methylation were unaffected. Our data highlight a role of Hsp90 in accurate loading of precursor piRNAs into PIWI proteins.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of diffusion of hydrogen in binary hydrogen–tetrahydrofuran hydrate

The binary structure II hydrogen–tetrahydrofuran (THF) hydrate was studied with molecular dynamics simulation. The simulations were carried out at 300, 310 K and 10.1 MPa, and with various contents of hydrogen and THF. The migrations of hydrogen molecules from cage to cage were observed. The migration process of hydrogen was also analysed, and the diffusion coefficients of hydrogen in the hydrate were calculated. The calculated diffusion coefficients qualitatively agreed with the experimental data. Double and quintet occupancies of hydrogen molecules were observed in the small and large cages, respectively, without changing the hydrate structure.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of fluorination effect for solvation of trifluoromethylbenzoic acid isomers in supercritical carbon dioxide

A molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was applied to carbon dioxide+trifluoromethylbenzoic acid isomer and carbon dioxide+methylbenzoic acid isomer systems to investigate the interactions between carbon dioxide and the solutes. The pair correlation functions between the carbon dioxide and trifluoromethyl group or methyl group in the solutes were calculated to study the fluorination effect of solvation. As a result, it was found that the interactions between carbon dioxide and trifluoromethyl group in trifluoromethylbenzoic acid isomers were stronger than those between carbon dioxide and the methyl group in methylbenzoic acid isomers. The simulation results had the same tendency as the experimental solubility enhancements and coincided with the trend of the interaction parameters of the Peng-Robinson equation of state that were determined from the solubility data.     

Localization of the Major Allergen Bet V 1 in Betula Pollen Using Monoclonal Antibody Labelling

The major allergen Bet ver 1 of Betula pendula (= B. verrucosa) pollen grains has been localized by gold labelling with monoclonal antibodies. The allergen is located predominantly in the starch grains and to a slight extent in the exine and intine. The possibility that environmental factors might influence the liberation of allergenic compounds present in birch pollen grains is discussed.