Research progress in the effects of terahertz waves on biomacromolecules.

With the rapid development of terahertz technologies, basic research and applications of terahertz waves in biomedicine have attracted increasing attention. The rotation and vibrational energy levels of biomacromolecules fall in the energy range of terahertz waves; thus, terahertz waves might interact with biomacromolecules. Therefore, terahertz waves have been widely applied to explore features of the terahertz spectrum of biomacromolecules. However, the effects of terahertz waves on biomacromolecules are largely unexplored. Although some progress has been reported, there are still numerous technical barriers to clarifying the relation between terahertz waves and biomacromolecules and to realizing the accurate regulation of biological macromolecules by terahertz waves. Therefore, further investigations should be conducted in the future. In this paper, we reviewed terahertz waves and their biomedical research advantages, applications of terahertz waves on biomacromolecules and the effects of terahertz waves on biomacromolecules. These findings will provide novel ideas and methods for the research and application of terahertz waves in the biomedical field.

Taste responsiveness of Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) to five food-associated saccharides.

Using a two-bottle choice test of short duration, we determined taste preference thresholds for sucrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, and maltose in three Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus). Further, we assessed relative preferences for these five saccharides when presented at equimolar concentrations and determined taste preference difference thresholds for sucrose, that is, the smallest concentration difference at which the chimpanzees display a preference for one of the two options. We found that the chimpanzees significantly preferred concentrations as low as 20 mM sucrose, 40 mM fructose, and 80 mM glucose, lactose, and maltose over tap water. When given a choice between all binary combinations of these five saccharides presented at equimolar concentrations of 100, 200, and 400 mM, respectively, the animals displayed significant preferences for individual saccharides in the following order: sucrose > fructose > glucose = maltose = lactose. The taste difference threshold for sucrose, expressed as Weber ratio (ΔI/I), was 0.3 and 0.4, respectively, at reference concentrations of 100 and 200 mM. The taste sensitivity of the chimpanzees to the five saccharides falls into the same range found in other primate species. Remarkably, their taste preference thresholds are similar, and with two saccharides even identical, to human taste detection thresholds. The pattern of relative taste preferences displayed by the chimpanzees was similar to that found in platyrrhine primates and to the pattern of relative sweetness as reported by humans. Taken together, the results of the present study are in line with the notion that taste sensitivity for food-associated carbohydrates may correlate positively with phylogenetic relatedness. Further, they support the notion that relative preferences for food-associated carbohydrates, but not taste difference thresholds, may correlate with dietary specialization in primates.

Intake of monosaccharides or amino acids induces pituitary gland synthesis of proteins regulating intestinal fluid transport.

In cholera diarrhoea, the pituitary gland produces a 60-kDa protein known as antisecretory factor (ASF) which reverses intestinal secretion induced by the cholera toxin. We show here that ASF-like proteins are produced in the rat during intestinal secretion triggered by intake of a 500 mg dose of mannose, sorbitol, glycine or alanine. All the ASF-like proteins reversed cholera secretion, and all were of a similar size. However, they differed in charge: mannose and sorbitol induced a protein with an isoelectric point of 4.5; glycine induced two proteins, one with a pI of 6.3, the other of 7.7; and alanine induced two proteins, one with a pI of 6.3, the other of 9.4. Antibodies against naturally occurring ASF from porcine pituitary gland neutralized ASF induced by cholera toxin and two of the amino acid-induced proteins, while the sugar-induced protein(s) did not cross-react. All the proteins showed affinity to agarose and were dissociated again with methyl alpha-D-glucoside. A single peroral dose of cholera toxin or sorbitol induced antisecretory proteins which persisted in the pituitary gland for only 1-3 days. Seven treatments gave a sustained response, the protein induced by cholera toxin persisting for over 2 months, and that induced by sorbitol about 1 month.

Heparin and its low molecular weight derivatives: anticoagulant and antithrombotic properties.

The anticoagulant and antithrombotic effect of heparin has been known for many decades. Nevertheless, the knowledge of structure-activity relationships and its mechanisms of action has been rather limited. However, in recent years important progress has been made and our understanding of how heparin works has increased significantly. Based on this information, attempts have been made to modify heparin to get improved pharmacological properties. The present communication summarizes the recent development. It is shown that certain heparin derivatives of low molecular weight are highly interesting compounds from a clinical point of view. Biochemical and pharmacological properties of such a preparation named Fragmin are presented.

Monosaccharides in health and disease.

In healthy persons, glucose homeostasis maintains blood glucose levels between 70 and 130 mg/dl despite perturbations by meals, fasting, and exercise. Long-term follow-up of diabetic patients has suggested that "good control" of blood sugar levels minimizes the long-term complications of diabetes, such as retinopathy, nephropathy, and atherosclerosis. It now seems likely the products of insulin-independent metabolic pathways in epithelial and endothelial cells leading to polyol formation and protein glycosylation may be factors in the genesis of retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, and premature atherosclerosis of diabetic patients. Dietary complex carbohydrates of various type, including those rich in dietary fiber, which are the cell walls of fruits, vegetables, and cereals, may slow the rate of absorption of glucose from those diets and contribute to a lowering of the postprandial glucose peak. Glycemic responses to various foods compared to glucose have been studied and show a large variation, which is dependent upon gastric emptying, overall effects on rate of hydrolysis and absorption of glucose from food mixtures. Dietary sucrose seems to cause a degree of insulin resistance. The active part of the disaccharide is fructose, which does not elicit an acute insulin response, but appears indirectly to increase insulin levels in both animals and man. Sucrose in animals appears to promote obesity more than glucose because of its lack of stimulation of thermogenesis. Xylitol has been used as a sweetener and as a sugar substitute in total parenteral nutrition. It is a paradox that the most physiological of sugars (glucose) can be a menace at high concentrations. The use of nonphysiological sugars or their derivatives in diabetics and patients with special needs, such as TPN, requires much more investigation to develop a sound rationale in nutrition management.