POLYAMINE ANALYSIS OF CROWN GALL AND NORMAL ROOT, STEM, LEAF, FRUIT AND SEED IN ROSEALES AND FAGALES PLANTS

To determine taxonomically specific plant polyamines and organ-specific plant polyamines, the polyamines acid-extracted from crown galls in addition to normal roots, stems, leaves, fruits, and seeds of 11 Roseales plants and a Fagales plant of the phylum Angiospermae were quantitatively analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and high-performance gas chromatography. Putrescine, spermidine and spermine were detected ubiquitously as the major polyamines present in the plant organs. The crown galls on the stem of cherry (Cerasus), apple (Malus) and oak (Quercus), caused by the infection of phytopathogenic Rhizobium (Agrobacterium), were rich in homospermidine in addition to the three major polyamines and minor norspermine and/or thermospermine also found in the normal stems. The concentrations of the three polyamines in the young leaves were decreased in the fallen (aged) leaves in two mulberry (Morus) samples. High homospermidine level was observed in the roots of the cherry and mulberries. In addition to similar distribution of the three major polyamines, diaminopropane, cadaverine, norspermidine and homospermidine were detected sporadically as a minor polyamine in the eight Roseales fruits, apple, loquat (Eriobotrya), fig (Ficus), mulberry, apricot (Prunus), peach (Prunus), plum (Prunus) and pear (Pyrus). In pear fruit, the skin of the fruit had a lower polyamine level. Cellular polyamines function in adapting to the environment of plant growth

POLYAMINE ANALYSES OF SEED PLANT ORGANS OF CROPS, VEGETABLES AND FRUIT/FLOWERING TREES IN AGRICULTURE, AND FORESTRY PLANTS IN NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS: CO2 CAPTURED BY POLYAMINES ARE USED FOR CARBON ASSIMILATION IN PLANT LEAVES

To determine taxonomically species-specific and organ-specific plant polyamines, cellular polyamines were acid-extracted from 95 seed plant organs, including agricultural, flowering and forestry products, and were quantitatively analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and high-performance gas chromatography. The distribution of 15 polyamines (e.g. diaminopropane, putrescine, cadaverine, norspermidine, spermidine, homospermidine, norspermine, spermine, thermospermine, aminopropylhomospermidine, canavalmine, homospermine, caldopentamine, homocaldopentamine and agmatine) were shown in 55 plant species of Eudicots of Angiosperms, 15 species of Monocots of Angiosperms, and 9 species of Gymnosperms. Polyamine profiles are compared and considered among mangrove plants, parasitic plants, salt-tolerant plants, saprophytic plants, aquatic plants, and succulent plants, furthermore among the organs; root, stem, normal green leaf, fallen leaf, evergreen leaf, acupuncture leaf, flower, flower bud, fruit without seed, fruit skin, seed, seedling, sprout, tuber, skin of tuber, tuberous root, and skin of tuberous root. Over the past 40 years, we have analyzed 261 species of seed plants and their 1-5 organs in our 21 reports. Therefore, we have drawn four conclusions “Novel polyamines and polyamine derivatives in seed plants”, “Polyamine change in microbial symbiosis and infection in seed plants”, “Polyamines of seed plant organs as a food nutrient for human health”, and “Polyamines in CO2 assimilation of photosynthetic plant cells”

Alcohol-related brain damage in humans

Chronic excessive alcohol intoxications evoke cumulative damage to tissues and organs. We examined prefrontal cortex (Brodmann’s area (BA) 9) from 20 human alcoholics and 20 age, gender, and postmortem delay matched control subjects. H & E staining and light microscopy of prefrontal cortex tissue revealed a reduction in the levels of cytoskeleton surrounding the nuclei of cortical and subcortical neurons, and a disruption of subcortical neuron patterning in alcoholic subjects. BA 9 tissue homogenisation and one dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) proteomics of cytosolic proteins identified dramatic reductions in the protein levels of spectrin β II, and α- and β-tubulins in alcoholics, and these were validated and quantitated by Western blotting. We detected a significant increase in α-tubulin acetylation in alcoholics, a non-significant increase in isoaspartate protein damage, but a significant increase in protein isoaspartyl methyltransferase protein levels, the enzyme that triggers isoaspartate damage repair in vivo. There was also a significant reduction in proteasome activity in alcoholics. One dimensional PAGE of membrane-enriched fractions detected a reduction in β-spectrin protein levels, and a significant increase in transmembranous α3 (catalytic) subunit of the Na+,K+-ATPase in alcoholic subjects. However, control subjects retained stable oligomeric forms of α-subunit that were diminished in alcoholics. In alcoholics, significant loss of cytosolic α- and β-tubulins were also seen in caudate nucleus, hippocampus and cerebellum, but to different levels, indicative of brain regional susceptibility to alcohol-related damage. Collectively, these protein changes provide a molecular basis for some of the neuronal and behavioural abnormalities attributed to alcoholics

Field-Induced Spin Nematic Liquid of the S=1/2S=1/2 Bond-Alternating Chain with the Anisotropy

The $S=1/2$ ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic bond-alternating spin chain with the anisotropy on the ferromagnetic exchange interaction in magnetic field is investigated using the numerical diagonalization and the density matrix renormalization group analyses. It is found that the nematic-spin-dominant Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid phase is induced by the external magnetic field for sufficiently large anisotropy. The phase diagram with respect to the anisotropy and the magnetization is presented.Comment: to be published in JPS Conf. Pro

五角形格子上のフラストレート磁性体に関する理論的研究

兵庫県立大学大学院博士（理学）2023doctoral thesi

五角形格子上のフラストレート磁性体に関する理論的研究

兵庫県立大学大学院博士（理学）2023thesi

Direct bonded fixed partial denture with an artificial denture tooth as a pontic

Background: The present review aimed to investigate the feasibility and clinical effectiveness of a direct bonded fixed partial denture (DBFPD) based on available literature. The efficiency of a DBFPD is mainly affected by the type of artificial denture tooth, the type of luting agent, and the adhesive preparation. Methods: The parameters were reviewed based on the in vitro and in vivo studies conducted. An acrylic resin tooth or a composite resin tooth for removable dentures should be used as the artificial tooth for the pontic. Results: Considering the luting agent, a methyl methacrylate-based resin luting agent, which has low mechanical strength but is capable of plastic deformation and could sustain for a long time, should be used. Appropriate pre-adhesive treatment should be performed on both the artificial and abutment teeth. The cases in which a DBFPD can be applied are limited to one missing anterior tooth, as long as it is not overstressed. Patient cooperation in cases of occlusion seems to be another prerequisite. Conclusion: Knowledge and selection of the material and case indications are essential, and patient cooperation is pertinent in studying the long-term prognosis of a DBFPD.Japanese Dental Science Review, 57, pp.154-157; 2021journal articl

Mammalian Sprouty-1 and -2 Are Membrane-Anchored Phosphoprotein Inhibitors of Growth Factor Signaling in Endothelial Cells

Growth factor–induced signaling by receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) plays a central role in embryonic development and in pathogenesis and, hence, is tightly controlled by several regulatory proteins. Recently, Sprouty, an inhibitor of Drosophila development-associated RTK signaling, has been discovered. Subsequently, four mammalian Sprouty homologues (Spry-1–4) have been identified. Here, we report the functional characterization of two of them, Spry-1 and -2, in endothelial cells. Overexpressed Spry-1 and -2 inhibit fibroblast growth factor– and vascular endothelial growth factor–induced proliferation and differentiation by repressing pathways leading to p42/44 mitogen-activating protein (MAP) kinase activation. In contrast, although epidermal growth factor–induced proliferation of endothelial cells was also inhibited by Spry-1 and -2, activation of p42/44 MAP kinase was not affected. Biochemical and immunofluorescence analysis of endogenous and overexpressed Spry-1 and -2 reveal that both Spry-1 and -2 are anchored to membranes by palmitoylation and associate with caveolin-1 in perinuclear and vesicular structures. They are phosphorylated on serine residues and, upon growth factor stimulation, a subset is recruited to the leading edge of the plasma membrane. The data indicate that mammalian Spry-1 and -2 are membrane-anchored proteins that negatively regulate angiogenesis-associated RTK signaling, possibly in a RTK-specific fashion

Caveolin 1 protein expression in renal cell carcinoma predicts survival

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Caveolae play a significant role in disease phenotypes such as cancer, diabetes, bladder dysfunction, and muscular dystrophy. The aim of this study was to elucidate the caveolin-1 <it>(</it>CAV1<it>) </it>protein expression in renal cell cancer (RCC) and to determine its potential prognostic relevance.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>289 clear cell RCC tissue specimens were collected from patients undergoing surgery for renal tumors. Both cytoplasmic and membranous CAV1 expression were determined by immunohistochemistry and correlated with clinical variables. Survival analysis was carried out for 169 evaluable patients with a median follow up of 80.5 months (interquartile range (IQR), 24.5 - 131.7 months).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A high CAV1 expression in the tumor cell cytoplasm was significantly associated with male sex (p = 0.04), a positive nodal status (p = 0.04), and poor tumor differentiation (p = 0.04). In contrast, a higher than average (i.e. > median) CAV1 expression in tumor cell membranes was only linked to male sex (p = 0.03). Kaplan-Meier analysis disclosed significant differences in 5-year overall (51.4 vs. 75.2%, p = 0.001) and tumor specific survival (55.3 vs. 80.1%, p = 0.001) for patients with higher and lower than average cytoplasmic CAV1 expression levels, respectively. Applying multivariable Cox regression analysis a high CAV1 protein expression level in the tumor cell cytoplasm could be identified as an independent poor prognostic marker of both overall (p = 0.02) and tumor specific survival (p = 0.03) in clear cell RCC patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Over expression of caveolin-1 in the tumour cell cytoplasm predicts a poor prognosis of patients with clear cell RCC. CAV1 is likely to be a useful prognostic marker and may play an important role in tumour progression. Therefore, our data encourage further investigations to enlighten the role of CAV1 and its function as diagnostic and prognostic marker in serum and/or urine of RCC patients.</p

Opposing effects of D-aspartic acid and nitric oxide on tuning of testosterone production in mallard testis during the reproductive cycle

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>D-Aspartic acid (D-Asp) and nitric oxide (NO) play an important role in tuning testosterone production in the gonads of male vertebrates. In particular, D-Asp promotes either the synthesis or the release of testosterone, whereas NO inhibits it. In this study, we have investigated for the first time in birds the putative effects of D-Asp and NO on testicular testosterone production in relation to two phases of the reproductive cycle of the adult captive wild-strain mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) drake. It is a typical seasonal breeder and its cycle consists of a short reproductive period (RP) in the spring (April-May) and a non reproductive period (NRP) in the summer (July), a time when the gonads are quiescent. The presence and the localization of D-Asp and NO in the testis and the trends of D-Asp, NO and testosterone levels were assessed during the main phases of the bird's reproductive cycle. Furthermore, in vitro experiments revealed the direct effect of exogenously administered D-Asp and NO on testosterone steroidogenesis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>By using immunohistochemical (IHC) techniques, we studied the presence and the distributional pattern of D-Asp and NO in the testes of RP and NRP drakes. D-Asp levels were evaluated by an enzymatic method, whereas NO content, via nitrite, was assessed using biochemical measurements. Finally, immunoenzymatic techniques determined testicular testosterone levels.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>IHC analyses revealed the presence of D-Asp and NO in Leydig cells. The distributional pattern of both molecules was in some way correlated to the steroidogenic pathway, which is involved in autocrine testosterone production. Indeed, whereas NO was present only during the NRP, D-Asp was almost exclusively present during the RP. Consistently, the high testosterone testicular content occurring during RP was coupled to a high D-Asp level and a low NO content in the gonad. By contrast, in sexually inactive drakes (NRP), the low testosterone content in the gonad was coupled to a low D-Asp content and to a relatively high NO level. Consequently, to determine the exogenous effects of the two amino acids on testosterone synthesis, we carried out in vitro experiments using testis sections deriving from both the RP and NRP. When testis slices were incubated for 60 or 120 min with D-Asp, testosterone was enhanced, whereas in the presence of L-Arg, a precursor of NO, it was inhibited.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results provide new insights into the involvement of D-Asp and NO in testicular testosterone production in the adult captive wild-strain mallard drake. The localization of these two molecules in the Leydig cells in different periods of the reproductive cycle demonstrates that they play a potential role in regulating local testosterone production.</p