Crosslinking of Cys-mutated human galectin-1 to the model glycoprotein ligands asialofetuin and laminin by using a photoactivatable bifunctional reagent.

Galectins are a group of animal lectins characterized by their specificity for ß-galactosides. In our previous study, we showed that a human galectin-1 (hGal-1) mutant, in which a cysteine residue was introduced at Lys(28), forms a covalently cross-linked complex with the model glycoprotein ligands asialofetuin and laminin by using the photoactivatable sulfhydryl reagent benzophenone-4-maleimide (BPM). In the present study, we used several hGal-1 mutants in which single cysteine residues were introduced at different positions and examined their ability to form a covalent complex with asialofetuin or laminin by using BPM. We found that the efficiency of formation of the cross-linked products differed depending on the positions of the cysteine introduced and also on the ligand used for crosslinking. Therefore, by using different cysteine hGal-1 mutants, the chances of isolating different ligands for hGal-1 should increase depending on the systems and cells used.

Impact of energy intake on the activities of daily living in patients with cervical spinal cord injury undergoing post-acute rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between sufficient energy intake and improvement in activities of daily living (ADL) after hospitalization in patients with cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) undergoing post-acute rehabilitation. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Post-acute care hospital from September 2013 to December 2020. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with CSCI admitted to a post-acute care hospital for rehabilitation. INTERVENTION: Not applicable. OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate the relationship of sufficient energy intake to Motor Functional Independence Measure (mFIM) gain, mFIM score at discharge, and body weight change during hospitalization. RESULTS: In total, 116 patients (104 men and 12 women), median age: 55 (interquartile range [IQR] 41-65) years were included in the analysis. Then, 68 (58.6%) were in the energy-sufficient group, and 48 (41.4%) patients were classified under the energy-deficient group. The two groups did not significantly differ in terms of mFIM gain and mFIM score at discharge. The energy-sufficient group maintained body weight change during hospitalization than the energy-deficient group (0.6 [-2.0-2.0] vs. -1.9 [-4.0--0.3], P < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed no association between sufficient energy intake and outcomes. CONCLUSION: Sufficient energy intake within the first 3 days of admission did not affect ADL improvement during hospitalization in patients with a post-cute CSCI undergoing rehabilitation.

Detection and persistence of environmental DNA (eDNA) of the different developmental stages of a vector mosquito, Culex pipiens pallens.

Preventing mosquito-borne infectious diseases requires that vector mosquitoes are monitored and controlled. Targeting immature mosquitoes (eggs, larvae, and pupae), which have less mobility than adults, is an effective management approach. However, conducting these surveys is often difficult due to the limitations of morphological classification and survey costs. The application of environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis can solve these issues because it allows easy estimation of species distribution and morphology-independent species identification. Although a few previous studies have reported mosquito eDNA detection, there is a gap in knowledge regarding the dynamics related to the persistence of immature mosquito eDNA. We used Culex pipiens pallens, a vector of West Nile fever, as a model species. First, we developed a species-specific detection assay and confirmed its specificity using in silico and in vitro tests. Next, we conducted laboratory experiments using breeding tanks. Water samples were collected at each developmental stage. In addition, water samples were collected daily until the seventh day after emergence from the pupae. We quantified eDNA using real-time PCR with the developed assay to investigate the dynamics of mosquito eDNA. The specificity of the developed assay was confirmed by in silico and in vitro tests. Mosquito eDNA was detected at all developmental stages and detected up to seven days after emergence of pupae. In particular, high concentrations of eDNA were detected immediately after hatching from eggs and after emergence from pupae. Highly frequent positive eDNA signals were continuously detected between egg hatching and pupa hatching. Mosquito eDNA was detected immediately after the eggs were introduced, and eDNA-positive detections continued until pupae emergence, suggesting that eDNA analysis is useful for monitoring mosquito larvae. In the future, monitoring immature mosquitoes using eDNA analysis will contribute to prevent mosquito-borne infectious diseases.

Control of mosquito vectors of tropical infectious diseases: (3) susceptibility of Aedes aegypti to pyrethroid and mosquito coils.

We collected 11 groups of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from various locations of Thailand. After rearing in the laboratory, the colonies were tested for KT50 values to dl,d-T80-allethrin 0.5% mosquito coils in a 25 m3 room semi-field test and KD50 and LD50 values to dl,d-T80-allethrin by a topical application method. Two groups of mosquitoes were susceptible to allethrin similar to a SS (known allethrin sensitive) group, and other 9 groups showed various levels of lower susceptibility to allethrin; of these 6 had susceptibilities similar to a BS (known allethrin resistant) group with extremely low susceptibility, while the remaining 3 groups had susceptibilities to allethrin between the SS and BS groups. The KD50 values with the topical application were found to correlate highly with the KT50 values in the 25 m3 room semi-field test, providing a useful test method for insect susceptibility evaluation. The allethrin mosquito coils, even at higher concentrations, had no activity against the 6 decreased susceptibility groups, similar to the BS group. With the 25 m3 room semi-field test, mosquito coils with d,d-T-prallethrin at concentrations of 0.1 to 0.15% plus a synergist and those with methoxymethyl-tetrafluorobenzyl tetramethylcyclopropane carboxylate (K-3050) at a concentration of 0.1% plus a synergist were found to be highly effective against these mosquito groups. These two pyrethroids had smaller KD50 and LD50 values for topical application, and were more effective than dl,d-T80-allethrin, having the potential to control Ae. aegypti mosquitoes with low allethrin susceptibility.

Control of mosquito vectors of tropical infectious diseases: (1) bioefficacy of mosquito coils containing several pyrethroids and a synergist.

The bioefficacy of mosquito coils containing several pyrethroids were tested in a 25 m3 room against Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus, Aedes aegypti and Anopheles dirus. The test results were compared with tests against Culex pipiens pallens in Japan. Based on the KT50 values (the 50% knockdown time) of mosquito coils containing dl, d-T80-allethrin, d, d-T-prallethrin and methoxymethyl-tetrafluorobenzyl tetramethyl-cyclopropanecarboxylate (K-3050) at doses of 0.05-0.5% (w/w) with or without a synergist, the pyrethroid susceptibility of the four mosquito species was as follows: Cx. p. quinquefasciatus was several times more tolerant to pyrethroids than Cx. p. pallens, Ae. aegypti was a further several times more tolerant than Cx. p. quinquefasciatus, and An. dirus was more susceptible than Cx. p. pallens (KT50 value: about half of Cx. p. pallens). The order of their susceptibilities is common for pyrethroids. Mosquito coils containing d, d-T-prallethrin and K-3050 at doses of 0.05-0.2% (w/w) and N-(2-ethylhexyl)bicycle-[2,2,1]-hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxyimide as a synergist at a ratio of 2 times the active ingredient were highly effective against Ae. aegypti, the most important mosquito vector for dengue fever.

Control of mosquito vectors of tropical infectious diseases: (2) pyrethroid susceptibility of Aedes aegypti ( l) collected from different sites in Thailand.

Four strains (SS, BS, A and B) of Aedes aegypti collected from different sites in Bangkok and at different times were examined for their pyrethroid susceptibility. Mosquito coils containing dl, d-T80-allethrin, d, d-T-prallethrin and methoxymethyl-tetrafluorobenzyl tetramethyl-cyclopropanecarboxylate (K-3050) with or without a synergist were tested by the 25 m3 semi-field test method. One strain (SS) was the most susceptible with KT50 values of about < 30 minutes for all mosquito coils, while the other three strains (BS, A and B) were found to be around 10 to 20 times more tolerant to pyrethroids than the SS strain. A similar tendency for the pyrethroid susceptibility of the four strains was obtained with tests by topical application method. In field efficacy tests, mosquito coils with d, d-T-prallethrin 0.20% plus N-(2-ethylhexyl)bicycle-[2,2,1]- hept-5- ene-2,3-dicarboxyimide as a synergist exhibited a repellent effect of about 85%, while those with K-3050 0.10% plus the synergist exhibited a greater repellent effect of about 90%. In contrast, the repellent effect of commercial dl, d-T80-allethrin 0.20% coils was as low as about 50%. The d, d-T-prallethrin and K-3050 coils with the synergist were confirmed to be highly effective in repelling Ae. aegypti.

Assessing intentions to eat low-glycemic index foods by adults with diabetes using a new questionnaire based on the theory of planned behaviour.

OBJECTIVE: The Canadian Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes choose foods with low-glycemic index (GI). This study developed a questionnaire measuring Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) constructs relative to consuming a low-GI diet by people with diabetes so as to achieve a better understanding of which TPB constructs, demographic characteristics and diabetes-related variables best predict intention to consume a low-GI diet. METHOD: A questionnaire to measure intentions to consume a low-GI diet was developed based on TPB constructs and was administered to 369 adults (30 to 75 years) with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Responses were analyzed using multiple linear regression. RESULTS: More than 90% of participants (mean age, 56.5±10.8 years; mean body mass index, 30.5±7.2 kg/m(2)) cited reduction and maintenance of healthy blood glucose levels as an advantage of eating low-GI foods. Older age, higher income, female gender, having type 2 diabetes, diabetes treatment (diet only) and understanding of the GI were positively associated with intention to eat a low-GI diet. TPB constructs that significantly predicted intentions to eat a low-GI diet were instrumental attitude (beta = 0.24, p<0.001); subjective norms (beta = 0.13, p=0.007); and perceived behavioural control (beta = 0.55, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This new questionnaire is a valid tool to assess TPB constructs contributing to intentions to eat a low-GI diet by people with diabetes. Future studies that use this questionnaire can shed light on how TPB concepts in clinical practice can help people with diabetes to change their dietary intake.

Nervous system disruption and concomitant behavioral abnormality in early hatched pufferfish larvae exposed to heavy oil.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Spills of heavy oil (HO) over the oceans have been proven to have an adverse effect on marine life. It has been hypothesized that exposure of early larvae of sinking eggs to HO leads largely to normal morphology, whereas abnormal organization of the developing neural scaffold is likely to be found. HO-induced disruption of the nervous system, which controls animal behavior, may in turn cause abnormalities in the swimming behavior of hatched larvae. To clarify the toxicological effects of HO, we performed exposure experiments and morphological and behavioral analyses in pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes) larvae. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE: Fertilized eggs of pufferfish were exposed to 50 mg/L of HO for 8 days and transferred to fresh seawater before hatching. The hatched larvae were observed for their swimming behavior, morphological appearance, and construction of muscles and nervous system. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: In HO-exposed larvae, we did not detect any anomaly of body morphology. However, they showed an abnormal swimming pattern and disorganized midbrain, a higher center controlling movement. Our results suggest that HO-exposed fishes suffer developmental disorder of the brain that triggers an abnormal swimming behavior and that HO may be selectively toxic to the brain and cause physical disability throughout the life span of these fishes.