Expression of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (β-trace) in human heart and its accumulation in the coronary circulation of angina patients

Lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) is localized in the central nervous system and male genital organs of various mammals and is secreted as β-trace into the closed compartment of these tissues separated from the systemic circulation. In this study, we found that the mRNA for the human enzyme was expressed most intensely in the heart among various tissues examined. In human autopsy specimens, the enzyme was localized immunocytochemically in myocardial cells, atrial endocardial cells, and a synthetic phenotype of smooth muscle cells in the arteriosclerotic intima, and accumulated in the atherosclerotic plaque of coronary arteries with severe stenosis. In patients with stable angina (75–99% stenosis), the plasma level of L-PGDS was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the great cardiac vein (0.694 ± 0.054 μg/ml, n = 7) than in the coronary artery (0.545 ± 0.034 μg/ml), as determined by a sandwich enzyme immunoassay. However, the veno-arterial difference in the plasma L-PGDS concentration was not observed in normal subjects without stenosis. After a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was performed to compress the stenotic atherosclerotic plaques, the L-PGDS concentration in the cardiac vein decreased significantly (P < 0.05) to 0.610 ± 0.051 μg/ml at 20 min and reached the arterial level within 1 h. These findings suggest that L-PGDS is present in both endocardium and myocardium of normal subjects and the stenotic site of patients with stable angina and is secreted into the coronary circulation.

The Role of Preassembled Cytoplasmic Complexes in Assembly of Flagellar Dynein Subunits

Previous work has revealed a cytoplasmic pool of flagellar precursor proteins capable of contributing to the assembly of new flagella, but how and where these components assemble is unknown. We tested Chlamydomonas outer-dynein arm subunit stability and assembly in the cytoplasm of wild-type cells and 11 outer dynein arm assembly mutant strains (oda1-oda11) by Western blotting of cytoplasmic extracts, or immunoprecipitates from these extracts, with five outer-row dynein subunit-specific antibodies. Western blots reveal that at least three oda mutants (oda6, oda7, and oda9) alter the level of a subunit that is not the mutant gene product. Immunoprecipitation shows that large preassembled flagellar complexes containing all five tested subunits (three heavy chains and two intermediate chains) exist within wild-type cytoplasm. When the preassembly of these subunits was examined in oda strains, we observed three patterns: complete coassembly (oda 1, 3, 5, 8, and 10), partial coassembly (oda7 and oda11), and no coassembly (oda2, 6, and 9) of the four tested subunits with HCβ. Our data, together with previous studies, suggest that flagellar outer-dynein arms preassemble into a complete Mr ≃ 2 × 106 dynein arm that resides in a cytoplasmic precursor pool before transport into the flagellar compartment.

Suppression of adenovirus E1A-induced apoptosis by mutated p53 is overcome by coexpression with Id proteins

The rat 3Y1 derivative cell lines, EId10 and EId23, established by introducing the adenovirus E1A12S, Id-1H, and Id-2H cDNAs linked to the hormone-inducible promoter, express these proteins upon treatment with dexamethasone and elicit apoptosis, although these cell lines express mutated p53. The E1A mutants containing a deletion in either the N terminus or the conserved region 1 were unable to induce apoptosis in cooperation with Ids. Western blot analysis of the immunoprecipitates prepared from the dexamethasone-treated EId10 cell extract showed that Id-2H preferentially binds to E1A and E2A (E12/E47) helix–loop–helix transcription factors in vivo, but scarcely to the retinoblastoma protein. After induction of E1A and Ids, EId10 and EId23 cells began to accumulate in S phase and undergo apoptosis before entering G2 phase, suggesting that abnormal synthesis of DNA induced by coexpression of E1A, Id-1H, and Id-2H results in the induction of apoptosis. Apoptosis also is induced in mouse A40 (p53−/−) cells by E1A alone or E1A plus Ids after transient transfection of the expression vectors. The induction of apoptosis is stimulated by coexpression with wild-type p53; however, apoptosis induced by E1A alone was suppressed completely by coexpression with mutated p53, whereas apoptosis induced by E1A plus Ids was stimulated by the mutated p53 as done by wild-type p53. These results suggest that the suppressive function of mutated p53 is overcome by Ids.

Expression and Differential Intracellular Localization of Two Major Forms of Human 8-Oxoguanine DNA Glycosylase Encoded by Alternatively Spliced OGG1 mRNAs

We identified seven alternatively spliced forms of human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) mRNAs, classified into two types based on their last exons (type 1 with exon 7: 1a and 1b; type 2 with exon 8: 2a to 2e). Types 1a and 2a mRNAs are major in human tissues. Seven mRNAs are expected to encode different polypeptides (OGG1–1a to 2e) that share their N terminus with the common mitochondrial targeting signal, and each possesses a unique C terminus. A 36-kDa polypeptide, corresponding to OGG1–1a recognized only by antibodies against the region containing helix-hairpin-helix-PVD motif, was copurified from the nuclear extract with an activity introducing a nick into DNA containing 8-oxoguanine. A 40-kDa polypeptide corresponding to a processed form of OGG1–2a was detected in their mitochondria using antibodies against its C terminus. Electron microscopic immunocytochemistry and subfractionation of the mitochondria revealed that OGG1–2a locates on the inner membrane of mitochondria. Deletion mutant analyses revealed that the unique C terminus of OGG1–2a and its mitochondrial targeting signal are essential for mitochondrial localization and that nuclear localization of OGG1–1a depends on the NLS at its C terminus.

Brain lipids that induce sleep are novel modulators of 5-hydroxytrypamine receptors.

Amide derivatives of fatty acids were recently isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of sleep-deprived animals and found to induce sleep in rats. To determine which brain receptors might be sensitive to these novel neuromodulators, we tested them on a range of receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. cis-9,10-Octadecenamide (ODA) markedly potentiated the action of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors, but this action was not shared by related compounds such as oleic acid and trans-9,10-octacenamide. ODA was active at concentrations as low as 1 nM. The saturated analog, octadecanamide, inhibited rather than potentiated 5-HT2C responses. ODA had either no effect or only weak effects on other receptors, including muscarinic cholinergic, metabotropic glutamate, GABA(A), N-methyl-D-asparate, or alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxozolepropionic acid receptors. Modulation of 5-HT2 receptors by ODA and related lipids may represent a novel mechanism for regulation of receptors that activate G proteins and thereby play a role in alertness, sleep, and mood as well as disturbances of these states.

Visegrad development aid in the Eastern Partnership Region. OSW Report, February 2014

The international development cooperation systems of the Visegrad countries are all rather new, in most cases only about a decade old. They are still undergoing reforms and the countries are striving to strengthen their own profiles as development donors in the world by gradually increasing their bilateral ODA. Although their resources are limited and were further cut due to the financial and economic crisis, the bilateral ODA ratio of the Visegrad countries as a group spent in the EaP region gradually increased after 2009. Given that the individual systems are still developing and the countries are focusing on creating their own brand, it is highly unlikely that in the near future it would be in their interest to set up a common development fund – either for the EaP region or in general. Instead of creating new institutions, however, a rationalization of the current cooperation systems and a consolidation of existing resources is feasible and should be considered.

(Table 1) Petrological description and consolidation properties of ODP Site 186-1150 and Hole 186-1151A

In order to determine the shear parameters of the forearc sedimentary strata drilled during Ocean Drilling Program Leg 186, West Pacific Seismic Network, Japan Trench, eight whole-round samples were selected from different depths in the drilled sections of Sites 1150 and 1151. Whereas Site 1150 lays above the seismically active part of the subduction zone, Site 1151 is situated in an aseismic zone. The aim of the triaxial tests was, apart from determination of the static stress strain behavior of the sediments, to test the hypothesis that the static stress strain parameter could differ for each sites. In order to simulate undrained deformation conditions according to the high clay mineral content of the strata, consolidated undrained shear tests were performed in a triaxial testing setup. Measurements of water content, grain density, organic content, and microtextural investigations under the scanning electron microscope (SEM) accompanied the compression experiments. After the saturation and consolidation stages were completed, failure occurred in the compression stage of the experiments at peak strengths of 280-7278 kPa. The stiffness moduli calculated for each sample from differential stress vs. strain curves show a linear relationship with depth and range between 181 and 5827 kPa. Under the SEM, the artificial fault planes of the tested specimen only show partial alignment of clay minerals because of the high content of microfossils.

Diatom abundance in sediments of ODP Holes 186-1150A and 186-1151C

The diatom flora from two sediment cores recovered from the upper 27 meters below seafloor (mbsf) in the oceanic frontal area off Sanriku, northeast Japan, during Ocean Drilling Program Leg 186 were analyzed. Diatom abundance seems to be in interglacial stages and suggests a south-north shifting of the frontal area. Diatom temperature values are less reliable because frequency of the warm-water species is smaller. Site 1151 was in a warm climate at ~50 ka, as were Deep Sea Drilling Project Sites 579 and 580 in the western North Pacific Ocean. A mixed diatom assemblage in the upper 3 mbsf at Site 1150 is evidence that the Tsugaru Warm Current flowed into the studied area through the Tsugaru Strait.

Idílicas.

Poems.

Lira heroica; poesías.

Arauco.--Caupolicán.--Lautaro.--Galvarino.--Diana heroica.--Al sol de setiembre.--Después del combate.--La bandera de Chile.--Oda a la patria.

Discursos a la nación mexicana, por Antonio Caso.

La cultura latina y nuestra América.--El genio español.--El descubrimiento de América.--Catolicismo, jacobinismo y positivismo.--El bovarismo nacional.--Comento breve de la Oda a la música de Fray Luis de León.--Justo Sierra, el amante, el escéptico, el historiador.--La filosofía moral de Hostos.--Estudios indostánicos, por José Vasconcelos.--Educar, arte de filósofos.--Nuestra misión humana.

Összes költeményei.

1. köt. Dalok. Odák.--2. köt. Dalok. Odák. Románczok. Balladák.--3. köt. Balladák. Beszélyek. Regék.--4. köt. Népregék. Virágregék.

Tsurezuregusa mondanshō.

Originally published in Meiji 24 [1891], edited by Oda Sugao.