On the Relationship between Food Composition and Serine Dehydrase Activity in Rat Liver

Effects of the change of dietary protein on serine dehydrase activity in rat liver have been studied, using egg albumin, casein, rice protein, and wheat gluten as protein source. At 35% of dietary protein level, the activity induced by egg albumin and casein diets were higher than those by rice protein and wheat gluten diets. Parallel relation was observed between the enzyme activity and the protein intake. These results suggest that the dietary induction of this enzyme are based on the protein intake, which reflects the nutritional quality of dietary protein, rather than merely on the dietary protein level.

The contribution of individual amino acid for the enzyme induction by the egg albumin diet at 35% level was investigated, and it was concluded that this enzyme induction is dependent not on a specific amino acid but on the combined effect of each amino acid.     

Studies on the Adjuvant Action of Mineral Oil and Bacterial Endotoxin

Water-in-oil emulsion (WOE) of the Freund's type and a bacterial endotoxin (ET) enhanced the antibody response of mice to bovine _γ-globulin (BGG) in a different manner. WOE even without the antigen revealed an adjuvant action when given prior to or simultaneously with the antigen, while ET was effectual when given simultaneously with or after the antigen. Thus, the concurrent administration of these two adjuvants either before or after the antigen secured enhancement. It was shown that ET facilitated IgM antibody formation. WOE including antigen (BGG-WOE) was found to form an ‘antigen-depot’ at the injected site. Antigen released bit by bit from this depot thus might supply a continuous stimulus for the antibody response. This was mimicked by a divided daily injection of a small amount of antigen without adjuvants. Surgical removal of the hind foot containing the depot resulted in reduction of the circulating antibody. The popliteal lymph node cells from mice given BGG-WOE via hind foot pads could adoptively immunize X-irradiated recipients without the additional administration of antigen, axillary lymph node cells and spleen cells being unable to do so. ET was inadequate for this purpose. The morphological changes of the nodes seemed compatible with these results.     

Design,synthesis and pharmacology of aortic-selective acyl-CoA: Cholesterol O-acyltransferase (ACAT/SOAT) inhibitors

We describe our molecular design of aortic-selective acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol O-acyltransferase (ACAT, also abbreviated as SOAT) inhibitors, their structure–activity relationships (SARs) and their pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacological profiles. The connection of two weak ligands—N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)acetamide (50% inhibitory concentration [IC₅₀]?=?8.6?μM) and 2-(methylthio)benzo[d]oxazole (IC₅₀?=?31?μM)—via a linker comprising a 6 methylene group chains yielded a highly potent molecule, 9-(benzo[d]oxazol-2-ylthio)-N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)nonanamide (3h) that exhibited high potency (IC₅₀?=?0.004?μM) toward aortic ACAT. This head-to-tail design made it possible to markedly enhance the activity to 2150- to 7750-fold and to discriminate the isoform-selectivity based on the double-induced fit mechanism. At doses of 1 and 3?mg/kg, 3h significantly decreased the lipid-accumulation areas in the aortic arch to 74 and 69%, respectively without reducing the plasma total cholesterol level in high fat- and cholesterol-fed F₁B hamsters. Here, we demonstrate the antiatherosclerotic effect of 3hin vivo via its direct action on aortic ACAT and its powerful modulator of cholesterol level. This molecule is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of diseases involving ACAT-1 overexpression.     

The giant mycoheterotrophic orchid Erythrorchis altissima is associated mainly with a divergent set of wood‐decaying fungi

The climbing orchid Erythrorchis altissima is the largest mycoheterotroph in the world. Although previous in vitro work suggests that E. altissima has a unique symbiosis with wood‐decaying fungi, little is known about how this giant orchid meets its carbon and nutrient demands exclusively via mycorrhizal fungi. In this study, the mycorrhizal fungi of E. altissima were molecularly identified using root samples from 26 individuals. Furthermore, in vitro symbiotic germination with five fungi and stable isotope compositions in five E. altissima at one site were examined. In total, 37 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to nine orders in Basidiomycota were identified from the orchid roots. Most of the fungal OTUs were wood‐decaying fungi, but underground roots had ectomycorrhizal Russula. Two fungal isolates from mycorrhizal roots induced seed germination and subsequent seedling development in vitro. Measurement of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope abundances revealed that E. altissima is a full mycoheterotroph whose carbon originates mainly from wood‐decaying fungi. All of the results show that E. altissima is associated with a wide range of wood‐ and soil‐inhabiting fungi, the majority of which are wood‐decaying taxa. This generalist association enables E. altissima to access a large carbon pool in woody debris and has been key to the evolution of such a large mycoheterotroph.     

Current topics in clinical FES in Japan

This paper reviews recent topics of clinical application of functional electrical stimulation (FES) for the paralyzed extremities in Japan. Transcutaneous and percutaneous FES systems have been clinically used in Japan. Candidates of extremity FES arer mostly stroke and spinal cord injury patients. By using percutaneous FES system, all of the joints of the upper extremity including the shoulder have been controlled for activities of daily living in the hemiplegic patient. Simultaneous FES control of the hand and wrist and the bilateral hands have also been achieved in C5 and C6 quadriplegics, respectively. Hybrid FES systems using percutaneous and surface electrodes, where FES is used in combination with orthoses, have been applied to the paraplegics because they are highly practical for assisting their locomotive activities. Percutaneous FES have been also provided the amyotropic lateral sclerosis patients with standing up motion. A total implant FES system with 16 output channels is currently developing as a next generation FES system.