A SNP in a Steroidogenic Enzyme Is Associated with Phenotypic Sex in Seriola Fishes.

Vertebrate sex development consists largely of two processes: "sex determination," the initial bifurcation of sexual identity, and "sex differentiation," which subsequently facilitates maleness or femaleness according to the sex determination signal. Steroid hormones promote multiple types of sexual dimorphism in eutherian mammals and avians [1-3], in which they are indispensable for proper sex differentiation. By contrast, in many poikilothermic vertebrates, steroid hormones have been proposed to be key players in sex determination as well as sex differentiation [4-8]. This hypothesis was introduced more than 50 years ago but has never been rigorously tested due to difficulties in discriminating the roles of steroids in sex determination and differentiation. We found that a missense SNP in the gene encoding the steroidogenic enzyme 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (Hsd17b1) was perfectly associated with ZZ/ZW sex determination in Seriola fishes. Biochemical analyses revealed that a glutamate residue present specifically in Z-type HSD17B1 attenuated interconversion between 17-keto and 17ß-hydroxy steroids relative to the allelic product from the W chromosome, which harbors glycine at that position, by disrupting the hydrogen bond network between the steroid and the enzyme's catalytic residues. Hsd17b1 mRNA is constitutively expressed in undifferentiated and differentiating gonads of both genotypic sexes, whereas W-type mRNA is expressed only in genotypic females. Meanwhile, Cyp19a1 is predominantly expressed in differentiating ovary. We conclude that the combination of Hsd17b1 alleles determines sex by modulating endogenous estrogen levels in Seriola species. These findings strongly support the long-standing hypothesis on steroids in sex determination.

Convenient Synthesis and Physiological Activities of Flavonoids in Coreopsis lanceolata L. Petals and Their Related Compounds.

Chalcones, flavanones, and flavonols, including 8-methoxybutin isolated from Coreopsis lanceolata L. petals, were successfully synthesized with total yields of 2⁻59% from O-methylpyrogallols using the Horner⁻Wadsworth⁻Emmons reaction as a key reaction. Aurones, including leptosidin, were also successfully synthesized with 5⁻36% total yields using the Aldol condensation reaction as a key reaction. Each chalcone, flavanone, flavonol, and aurone with the 3,4-dihydroxy groups in the B-ring showed high antioxidant activity. Additionally, each of the chalcones, flavanones, flavonols, and aurones with the 2,4-dihydroxy groups in the B-ring showed an excellent whitening ability.

[Suspended Ventricular Septal Defect Closure Due to Heparin Resistance;Report of a Case].

We present a case of heparin resistance whereby open heart surgery was discontinued. A 53-year-old woman who was diagnosed with ventricular septal defect and atrial septal defect was scheduled for intracardiac repair. However, after intravenous heparin (400 U kg-1) supplementation, the activated clotting time (ACT) increased only to seconds. The operation was discontinued because the addition of heparin( 200 U kg-1) did not show sufficient prolongation of ACT, fully indicative of heparin resistance. Additional antithrombin III concentrate was also ineffective. Postoperative study of the administration of heparin in vitro to the patient's serum showed the probability of transient heparin resistance arising from the stress of surgery.

Evaluation of the fatty acid composition of the seeds of Mangifera indica L. and their application.

Mango (Mangifera indica L.), an edible fruit, is one of the main agricultural products in many tropical regions. Mango varieties differ in not only fruit shape but also aroma, which is an important characteristic. Although the fruit has many uses, the seeds are discarded as waste. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the fatty acid content of seed oil of mangoes from different cultivation areas (Miyazaki, Japan, and Taiwan), and to evaluate their application in cosmetics. Five fatty acids were identified in the mango seed oil. Oleic acid and stearic acid were the principal components of mango seed oil obtained from Miyazaki (46.1% and 39.8%, respectively) and Taiwan (43.7% and 40.1%, respectively). As a cosmetic ingredient, mango seed oil showed good deodorizing effect on both 2-nonenal and isovaleric acid. The results indicated the potential applications of mango seed oil in the cosmetic industry.

Isolation and identification of flavonoids from Coreopsis lanceolata L. petals.

The methanol extract of Coreopsis lanceolata L. petals was acid-hydrolysed, and 7,3',4'-trihydroxy-8-methoxyflavanone (1) and 6,3',4'-trihydroxy-7-methoxyaurone (leptosidin) (2) were successfully isolated. The structure of compound 1 is designated to flavanone based on X-ray crystallographic analysis and NMR spectroscopic analysis. Compound 1 showed high-antioxidant effects based on diphenylpicrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay (94.3% scavenging rate) and superoxide dismutase-like activity assay (23.9% inhibition rate).

[Full root replacement with a Freestyle bioprosthesis for prosthetic valve endocarditis complicated by aortic-root pseudoaneurysm after subcoronary technique; report of a case].

We report a surgical case of prosthetic valve endocarditis( PVE) after aortic valve replacement with a Freestyle stentless bioprosthesis, which was successfully treated with full root replacement using a Freestyle valve. A 80-year-old man underwent aortic valve replacement with a Freestyle stentless bioprosthesis, using subcoronary technique for aortic stenosis in 2004. Three years later he had late PVE, and we found the aortic-root pseudoaneurysm. Although homografts are the optimal for cases of severe aortic annular destruction, availability of these are limited in Japan. We chose a Freestyle valve with full root technique, which fitted well to the destroyed annulus. The postoperative course was uneventful. Freestyle stentless bioprosthesis can be useful option for PVE, meanwhile care should be taken to dead cavity between prosthesis and aortic wall in the subcoronary technique.

A study on fatty acids in seeds of Euterpe oleracea Mart seeds.

Fatty acids of Euterpe oleracea Mart seeds were analyzed in hexane and diethyl ether extracts. The hexane extract contained dodecanoic acid (3), tetradecanoic acid (4), hexadecanoic acid (7), and 9-octadecenoic acid (10). The diethyl ether extract contained (10). The oil of Mart seeds was obtained firstly by methanol extract and further extracted with diethyl ether. The hexane and diethyl ether extracts were then analyzed for antioxidant effects. Both extracts demonstrated a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical elimination effect similar to that of α-tocopherol and an active oxygen inhibition effect. Significant quantities (0.6212 mg/mL) of polyphenol, in comparison to the standard rejected gallic acid, were found in the extract oil of Mart seeds by the methanol extraction.

Pharmacological activity of compounds extracted from persimmon peel (Diospyros kaki THUNB.).

Persimmon peels (Diospyros kaki THUNB.) are discarded during the production of dried fruit. The 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (8) which is component of persimmon peel had high antioxidant activity on the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging assay and SOD (superoxide dismutase) assay. And (8) had higher tyrosinase inhibiting activity than that of arbutin using both L-tyrosine and L-DOPA as substrates. In addition, tyrosinase inhibiting activity of synthesized 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol glycoside (8a) was studied. (8a) had tyrosinase inhibiting activity, suggesting that (8a) has possibilities for ingredient of cosmetics that are possessed of whitening effect.

Chemical constituents of Coreopsis lanceolata L. and their physiological activities.

Petals from Coreopsis lanceolata L. were extracted in methanol and subjected to solvent-solvent partitioning to yield four fractions: hexane, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, and aqueous. These fractions were screened using a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay and an active oxygen inhibition assay. The ethyl acetate extract contained the highest level of active components. Four compounds isolated from this fraction by HPLC were screened for antioxidant activity and anti-allergic activity. Anti-allergic activity was assessed by measuring release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells. One compound, termed laceolin, was characterized by spectroscopic analysis, including extensive NMR and mass spectra. This compound had significant radical scavenging activity, with an SC50 (scavenging concentration of 50%) value of 2.6 microg/mL and superoxide dismutase activity of 46.2%.

Stent graft treatment for thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic disease using a unibody Z-stent that adapts to flexure.

Positioning a stent graft (SG) that adapts to the anatomical shape of the aorta is important to prevent complications after SG procedures to treat aortic disease. The Gianturco Z-stent has several benefits, but its rigid structure prevents adaptation to flexure. We improved this stent and studied its ability to adapt in the clinical environment. We positioned SGs and inspected their adaptability to flexure in an aortic arch model. We examined several gap lengths and strut directions, and determined the distance generated between the stent and the aortic wall. We found that adaptation was quite satisfactory with a gap of more than 10 mm or when the struts faced the major flexure or the side of the model aorta. Based on these findings and to facilitate placement, we manufactured the unibody Z-stent with 10-mm gaps. The unibody Z-stent was applied to treat thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic disease in seven patients. The SG was positioned from the femoral or iliac artery in five patients and from an anastomosed graft to the ascending aorta after median sternotomy and bypass of the arch branches in two patients. A minor endoleak developed in one patient. None of the other six patients developed complications or died during the procedure, although one patient died in the hospital due to cerebral infarction. The unibody Z-stent was applied as a SG that adapts to flexure of the aorta and was easy to apply. The frequency of complications was apparently decreased after clinical application of the unibody Z-stent in SG treatment for thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic disease.

Synthesis and cosmetic whitening effect of glycosides derived from several phenylpropanoids.

Plant-derived phenylpropanoid compounds (4-ethyl-2-methoxyphenol, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, 2,3-dimethoxyphenol, 3,4-dimethoxyphenol, 3,5-dimethoxyphenol, 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid, and 3-hydroxy-4-methoxycinnamic acid) were glycosidated to form glycoside compounds. We evaluated the effects of these compounds on the inhibition of tyrosinase and melanin synthesis and their cytotoxicity from the viewpoint of their use as whitening agents in cosmetics. Some compounds had more potent tyrosinase-inhibiting activity than commercial arbutin, which was used as a control, and showed no cytotoxicity at low concentration ranges.

Simultaneous monitoring of somatosensory evoked potentials and regional cerebral oxygen saturation combined with serial measurement of plasma levels of cerebral specific proteins for the early diagnosis of postoperative brain damage in cardiovascular surgery.

Combined somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) and regional brain oxygen saturation (rSO(2)) monitoring and simultaneous measurement of plasma levels of S100Beta and creatine kinase-isozyme BB (CK-BB) were performed to evaluate how reliable these diagnostic modality complexes are in the early prediction of neurological complications after surgery. Between 1999 and 2002, intraoperative SEP and rSO(2) monitoring combined with measurements of S100Beta and CK-BB levels in blood were performed in 82 consecutive patients undergoing cardiovascular operations with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Twelve (14.6%) of these patients were diagnosed as having neurological complications after surgery; seven with transient neurological dysfunction (8.5%), and five with permanent stroke (6.1%). Twenty one of 82 patients in whom rSO(2) was recorded were judged abnormal; however, only nine of the 21 (42.9%) were diagnosed as having brain damage - diagnostic sensitivity and specificity being 75.0% and 82.9%, respectively. All six patients who showed abnormal SEP during surgery had neurological complications, but normal SEP was recorded in six other patients with apparent evidence of neurological complications - diagnostic sensitivity and specificity being 50% and 100%, respectively. There were no significant differences in S100Beta levels between patients with and without brain complications at 1 h and 24 h after CPB, but significant differences were detected in CK-BB levels at 24 h after CPB. In conclusion, simultaneous abnormalities detected in SEP and rSO(2) are highly predictive of cerebral neurocirculatory disturbances, but they are not so sensitive in diagnosing restricted focal cerebral lesions. Additional determinations of blood CK-BB levels might be valuable only to confirm the newly established brain complications.

Surgical treatment of atherosclerotic and dysplastic aneurysms of the extracranial internal carotid artery.

Atherosclerotic and dysplastic aneurysms of the extracranial internal carotid artery are rare in Japan. We have experienced only four cases since 1982. The patients were two men and two women with a mean age of 67 years (range 51 to 82 years). All four patients had a saccular type aneurysm; sizes ranged from 30 to 75 mm. Aneurysmectomy and end-to-end anastomosis of the internal carotid artery could be performed in two patients. One patient underwent aneurysmorrhaphy followed by primary closure of the internal carotid artery, and the remaining patient underwent aneurysmectomy followed by a prosthetic graft replacement (6 mm-PTFE graft). During aneurysm repair, simple arterial cross-clamping (time 18 to 57 min; mean +/- SD: 31.3 +/- 18.0 min) was used in all patients. During arterial clamping of the carotid artery in two patients, somatosensory evoked potentials and regional cerebral oxygen saturation detected by near-infrared spectroscopy remained within normal ranges. All patients survived without neurologic deficits. These findings indicate that intraluminal shunting may be unnecessary during aneurysm repair if the patient does not have obstructive disease in the contralateral carotid artery and if no somatosensory evoked potentials or regional cerebral oxygen saturation abnormalities occur during proximal arterial clamping. After aneurysmectomy, end-to-end anastomosis of the internal carotid artery is the preferred method of repair if the length of the distal internal carotid artery permits.