Increased ROS levels in mitochondrial outer membrane protein Mul1-deficient oocytes result in abnormal preimplantation embryogenesis.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are associated with oocyte maturation inhibition, and N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) partially reduces their harmful effects. Mitochondrial E3 ubiquitin ligase 1 (Mul1) localizes to the mitochondrial outer membrane. We found that female Mul1-deficient mice are infertile, and their oocytes contain high ROS concentrations. After fertilization, Mul1-deficient embryos showed a DNA damage response (DDR) and abnormal preimplantation embryogenesis, which was rescued by NAC addition and ROS depletion. These observations clearly demonstrate that loss of Mul1 in oocytes increases ROS concentrations and triggers DDR, resulting in abnormal preimplantation embryogenesis. We conclude that manipulating the mitochondrial ROS levels in oocytes may be a potential therapeutic approach to target infertility.

Intermolecular 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reaction of N-Carbamoyl Nitrones Generated by N-Selective Carbamoylation of Oximes with Isocyanates.

N-Selective carbamoylation reaction of oximes with isocyanates generates nitrones, which undergo 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with various dipolarophiles to afford diverse isoxazolidines. Notably, combinations of highly electron-rich oxime and highly electron-deficient dipolarophile exhibited high reactivity, with product yields of up to 94 %. The substituent on the isoxazolidine-nitrogen atom could be successfully removed without loss of the cyclic structure. Computational studies have also elucidated the mechanism of the reaction and origin of stereoselectivity.

The safety of pranlukast and montelukast during the first trimester of pregnancy: A prospective, two-centered cohort study in Japan.

For leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs), especially pranlukast, safety data during pregnancy is limited. Therefore, we conducted a prospective, two-centered cohort study using data from teratogen information services in Japan to clarify the effects of LTRA exposure during pregnancy on maternal and fetal outcomes. Pregnant women who being counseled on drug use during pregnancy at two facilities were enrolled. The primary outcome of this study was major congenital anomalies. The incidence of major congenital anomalies in women exposed to montelukast or pranlukast during the first trimester of pregnancy was compared with that of controls. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the effects of maternal LTRA use during the first trimester of pregnancy on major congenital anomalies. The outcomes of 231 pregnant women exposed to LTRAs (montelukast n = 122; pranlukast n = 106; both n = 3) and 212 live births were compared with those of controls. The rate of major congenital anomalies in the LTRA group was 1.9%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that LTRA exposure was not a risk factor for major congenital anomalies (adjusted odds ratio, 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.23-2.05; p = 0.653). In addition, no significant difference was detected in stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, preterm birth, and low birth weight between the two groups. The present study revealed that montelukast and pranlukast were not associated with the risk of major congenital anomalies. Our findings suggest that LTRAs could be safely employed for asthma therapy during pregnancy.

Dietary Ethanolamine Plasmalogen Alleviates DSS-Induced Colitis by Enhancing Colon Mucosa Integrity, Antioxidative Stress, and Anti-inflammatory Responses via Increased Ethanolamine Plasmalogen Molecular Species: Protective Role of Vinyl Ether Linkages.

Dietary ethanolamine plasmalogen (PlsEtn) has been reported to have several health benefits; however, its functional role during colon pathophysiology remains elusive. The present study investigated the anticolitis effect of dietary ethanolamine glycerophospholipids (EtnGpls) with high PlsEtn from ascidian muscle (86.2 mol %) and low PlsEtn from porcine liver (7.7 mol %) in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Dietary EtnGpls lowered myeloperoxidase activity, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, proinflammatory cytokines and proapoptosis-related protein levels in colon mucosa after 16 days of DSS treatment, with ascidian muscle (0.1% EtnGpl in diet) showing higher suppression than porcine liver (0.1% EtnGpl in diet). Moreover, dietary EtnGpls suppressed DSS symptoms after 38 days of DSS treatment as evidenced by increased body weight, colon length, and ameliorated colon mucosa integrity. Additionally, dietary EtnGpls elevated short-chain fatty acid production in DSS-treated mice. Altogether, these results indicate the potential of utilizing diets with abundant PlsEtn for the prevention of colon inflammation-related disorders.

Sebaceous carcinoma of the vulva treated with sentinel lymph node biopsy: a case report and literature review.

Sebaceous carcinoma (SC) is a rare and aggressive cutaneous malignancy. It often occurs on the eyelid, where it is called periocular SC, while extraocular SC mainly occurs on the head and heck. Extraocular vulvar SC is extremely rare; only nine cases have been described in the literature, and the optimal treatment strategy is unknown. We herein report a case of vulvar SC that was successfully treated with local excision in combination with sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB). A 66-year-old female presented with vulvar discomfort. An 8 mm ulcerated mass was palpable in her left labia minora. Skin biopsy suggested SC. Imaging showed no swelling of the pelvic and inguinal lymph nodes and no metastasis. Sentinel lymph node scintigraphy using technetium-99 m showed three sentinel lymph nodes. The patient underwent local excision with SNB; intraoperative frozen-section examination revealed no nodal metastasis, and no further inguinal lymphadenectomy was performed. The final diagnosis was SC of the vulva, FIGO stage IB (pT1bN0M0). At the 14-month follow-up, she remained asymptomatic and had no signs of recurrence. The scientific rationale for SNB in extraocular SC has not yet been established, although SNB can be considered for periocular SC. However, considering the insufficient data on the management of vulvar SC and the aggressive nature of both periocular and extraocular SCs, SNB can be a reasonable and useful method for avoiding inadequate treatment and reducing the complications caused by unnecessary inguinal lymphadenectomy.

Theaflavins decrease skeletal muscle wasting in disuse atrophy induced by hindlimb suspension in mice.

We previously found that a single dose of theaflavins induced skeletal muscle metabolic changes. In this study, we examined the effect of theaflavins on disuse muscle atrophy model mice by hindlimb suspension. Mice were assigned to 4 groups; ground-vehicle, ground-theaflavins, suspension-vehicle, and suspension-theaflavins, dosed with theaflavins (250 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks. The peak of myotube size of cross sectional area was significantly moved to the smaller side in the suspension-vehicle group compared with the ground-vehicle group, and these shifts were significantly reduced by the treatment with theaflavins in both soleus and extensor digitorum longus. The level of phosphorylated eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein (4EBP)-1, located downstream of the Akt/mTOR pathway, was significantly different between suspension-vehicle and suspension-theaflavins in soleus. The ratio of forkhead box O (FoxO) 3a to phosphorylated FoxO3a significantly increased in soleus or tended to rise in extensor digitorum longus of suspension-vehicle group compared with ground-vehicle. In contrast, these changes were not observed in suspension-theaflavins group. These results suggested that theaflavins inhibited the progress of disuse muscle atrophy through modulation of protein metabolism.

Ethanolamine Plasmalogen Suppresses Apoptosis in Human Intestinal Tract Cells in Vitro by Attenuating Induced Inflammatory Stress.

Ethanolamine plasmalogen (PlsEtn) is a subtype of ethanolamine glycerophospholipids (EtnGpl). Recently, PlsEtn has attracted increasing research interest due to its beneficial effects in health and disease; however, its functional role in colonic health has not been well established. This study was conducted to determine the mechanism underlying the antiapoptotic effect of PlsEtn in human intestinal tract cells under induced inflammatory stress. Lipopolysaccharide induced apoptosis of differentiated Caco-2 cells, which was suppressed by EtnGpl in a dose-dependent manner. Cells treated with ascidian muscle EtnGpl containing high levels of PlsEtn demonstrated a lower degree of apoptosis, and downregulated TNF-α and apoptosis-related proteins compared to those treated with porcine liver EtnGpl containing low PlsEtn. This indicates that PlsEtn exerted the observed effects, which provided protection against induced inflammatory stress. Overall, our results suggest that PlsEtn with abundant vinyl ether linkages is potentially beneficial in preventing the initiation of inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.

Absorption Kinetics of Ethanolamine Plasmalogen and Its Hydrolysate in Mice.

Ethanolamine plasmalogen (PlsEtn), a subclass of ethanolamine glycerophospholipid (EtnGpl), has been reported to have many biological and dietary functions. In terms of PlsEtn absorption, some studies have reported that PlsEtn is re-esterized at the sn-2 position using lymph cannulation and the everted jejunal sac model. In this study, we aimed to better understand the uptake kinetics of PlsEtn and increase its absorption. We thus compared the uptake kinetics of PlsEtn with that of the lyso-form, in which the fatty acid at the sn-2 position was hydrolyzed enzymatically. Upon administration of EtnGpl (extracted from oysters or ascidians, 75.4 mol% and 88.4 mol% of PlsEtn ratio, respectively), the plasma PlsEtn species in mice showed the highest levels at 4 or 8 hours after administration. In the contrast, administration of the EtnGpl hydrolysate, which contained lysoEtnGpl and free fatty acids, markedly increased the plasma levels of PlsEtn species at 2 h after administration. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC), especially the AUC0-4 h of PlsEtn species, was higher with hydrolysate administration than that with EtnGpl administration. These results indicate that EtnGpl hydrolysis accelerated the absorption and metabolism of PlsEtn. Consequently, using a different experimental approach from that used in previous studies, we reconfirmed that PlsEtn species were absorbed via hydrolysis at the sn-2 position, suggesting that hydrolysis in advance could increase PlsEtn uptake.

Dietary PlsEtn Ameliorates Colon Mucosa Inflammatory Stress and ACF in DMH-Induced Colon Carcinogenesis Mice: Protective Role of Vinyl Ether Linkage.

Ethanolamine plasmalogen (PlsEtn), a sub-class of ethanolamine glycerophospholipids (EtnGpl), is a universal phospholipid in mammalian membranes. Several researchers are interested in the relationship between colon carcinogenesis and colon PlsEtn levels. Here, we evaluated the functional role of dietary purified EtnGpl from the ascidian muscle (87.3 mol% PlsEtn in EtnGpl) and porcine liver (7.2 mol% PlsEtn in EtnGpl) in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in vivo, and elucidated the possible underlying mechanisms behind it. Dietary EtnGpl-suppressed DMH-induced aberrant crypt with one foci (AC1) and total ACF formation (P < 0.05). ACF suppression by dietary ascidian muscle EtnGpl was higher compared with dietary porcine liver EtnGpl. Additionally, dietary EtnGpl decreased DMH-induced oxidative damage, overproduction of TNF-α, and expression of apoptosis-related proteins in the colon mucosa. The effect of dietary ascidian muscle EtnGpl showed superiority compared with dietary porcine liver EtnGpl. Our results demonstrate the mechanisms by which dietary PlsEtn suppress ACF formation and apoptosis. Dietary PlsEtn attained this suppression by reducing colon inflammation and oxidative stress hence a reduction in DMH-induced intestinal impairment. These findings provide new insights about the functional role of dietary PlsEtn during colon carcinogenesis.

Food Additives (Hypochlorous Acid Water, Sodium Metabisulfite, and Sodium Sulfite) Strongly Affect the Chemical and Biological Properties of Vitamin B12 in Aqueous Solution.

Food additives, such as hypochlorous acid water, sodium metabisulfite, and sodium sulfite, strongly affect the chemical and biological properties of vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) in aqueous solution. When cyanocobalamin (10 µmol/L) was treated with these compounds, hypochlorous acid water (an effective chlorine concentration of 30 ppm) rapidly reacted with cyanocobalamin. The maximum absorptions at 361 and 550 nm completely disappeared by 1 h, and vitamin B12 activity was lost. There were no significant changes observed in the absorption spectra of cyanocobalamin for 0.01% (w/v) sodium metabisulfite; however, a small amount of the reaction product was formed within 48 h, which was subsequently identified as sulfitocobalamin through high-performance liquid chromatography. Similar results were shown for sodium sulfite. The effects of these food additives on the vitamin B12 content of red shrimp and beef meats were determined, revealing no significant difference in vitamin B12 content of shrimp and beef meats with or without the treatment even in hypochlorous acid water. The results suggest that these food additives could not react with food vitamin B12 in food, as most of this vitamin present in food is its protein-bound form rather than the free form.

Identification and characterization of oligomeric proanthocyanidins with significant anti-cancer activity in adzuki beans (Vigna angularis).

The aim of the present study was to characterize and evaluate the anti-cancer activity of proanthocyanidin-enriched fractions from adzuki beans. For this purpose, we concentrated proanthocyanidins from adzuki beans (Vigna angularis) into five fractions using Amberlite XAD-1180N, Toyopearl HW40F, and Sepacore C-18 reverse-phase flash column chromatography. Proanthocyanidin-enriched fractions were characterized as (epi)catechin hexamer, heptamer, and octamer, epigallocatechin-(epi)catechin pentamer, and epigallocatechin-(epi)catechin hexamer using electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and thiolytic degradation. These fractions showed significant anti-cancer activity against the human PC-3 prostate cancer cell line. They also significantly suppressed the expression of the fatty acid-binding protein 5 gene, which plays critical roles in cell growth and metastasis in prostate cancer.

Isolation and characterization of a novel oligomeric proanthocyanidin with significant anti-cancer activities from grape stems (Vitis vinifera).

Novel proanthocyanidin fractions from grape stem extracts were purified using Amberlite XAD-1180N, Sephadex-LH-20, Toyopearl HW40F and reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Two key compounds were estimated as epigallocatechin-(epicatechin)7 gallate using electron-spray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Epigallocatechin-(epicatechin)7 gallate (compound 1) showed significant anti-cancer activity in PC-3 prostate cancer cells. In particular, compound 1 suppressed the gene expression of fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5), which is involved in promoting cell proliferation and metastasis in prostate cancer cells.

Catechin and caffeine contents in green tea at different harvest periods and their metabolism in miniature swine.

The catechin content in green tea leaves varies according to cultivation conditions such as intensity of solar radiation, temperature, and precipitation, and thus, there is ambiguity about the best harvest time for obtaining optimal functional effects. In this study, the Yabukita (ordinary) and Benifuki varieties, which contain methylated catechin, were used to determine the difference in green tea catechins according to harvest times and tea manufacturing processes. Caffeine determination was also carried out to provide information about green tea intake for all age-groups of children and pregnant women. Determining the quantity of each catechin was difficult because of degradation, polymerization, and isomerization that had occurred during heat-drying in the refining process. In addition, the absorption of catechin compounds was tested using miniature swine because of their functional and physiological similarity to humans. Benifuki tea leaves contained epigallocatechin-3-(3"-O-methyl) gallate (EGCg3"Me) instead of epigallocatechin-3-(4"-O-methyl) gallate (EGCg4"Me). However, EGCg4"Me was detected during the entire intake period, but EGCg3"Me was not detected in the blood of miniature swine fed Benifuki tea. It is possible that the position of the methyl group was modified by the pig metabolism. Furthermore, caffeine from both Yabukita and Benifuki tea varieties was found to be easily accumulated in miniature swine. These results suggest that nonrefined September-October picking tea (autumn and winter tea) of the Benifuki variety is preferable over the Yabukita variety for consumption by children and pregnant women owing to its lower caffeine content and higher content of methylated catechin.

Synergistic Effects of Olaparib and DNA-damaging Agents in Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Chemotherapy is an important first-line treatment for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, there are few secondary options. Olaparib, a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, enhances the cytotoxicity of various anticancer drugs and has been used to treat advanced ovarian and breast cancers. This study examined the effect of olaparib on the cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs in ESCC cell lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ESCC KYSE70 and KYSE140 cells were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium and treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), cisplatin, docetaxel, doxorubicin, SN-38, or temozolomide without or with olaparib. RESULTS: Olaparib enhanced the cytotoxicity of all tested anticancer drugs and increased the effects of cisplatin, doxorubicin, SN-38, and temozolomide synergistically. These anticancer drugs caused the accumulation of phospho-histone H2AX Ser139 (γH2AX), a biomarker of DNA damage, and olaparib increased this accumulation. CONCLUSION: PARP inhibitors may potentiate the anticancer activity of DNA-damaging agents in ESCC patients synergistically.

Mllt10 knockout mouse model reveals critical role of Af10-dependent H3K79 methylation in midfacial development.

Epigenetic regulation is required to ensure the precise spatial and temporal pattern of gene expression that is necessary for embryonic development. Although the roles of some epigenetic modifications in embryonic development have been investigated in depth, the role of methylation at lysine 79 (H3K79me) is poorly understood. Dot1L, a unique methyltransferase for H3K79, forms complexes with distinct sets of co-factors. To further understand the role of H3K79me in embryogenesis, we generated a mouse knockout of Mllt10, the gene encoding Af10, one Dot1L complex co-factor. We find homozygous Mllt10 knockout mutants (Mllt10-KO) exhibit midline facial cleft. The midfacial defects of Mllt10-KO embryos correspond to hyperterolism and are associated with reduced proliferation of mesenchyme in developing nasal processes and adjacent tissue. We demonstrate that H3K79me level is significantly decreased in nasal processes of Mllt10-KO embryos. Importantly, we find that expression of AP2α, a gene critical for midfacial development, is directly regulated by Af10-dependent H3K79me, and expression AP2α is reduced specifically in nasal processes of Mllt10-KO embryos. Suppression of H3K79me completely mimicked the Mllt10-KO phenotype. Together these data are the first to demonstrate that Af10-dependent H3K79me is essential for development of nasal processes and adjacent tissues, and consequent midfacial formation.

Effect of oral theaflavin administration on body weight, fat, and muscle in healthy subjects: a randomized pilot study.

Theaflavins are reddish-colored polyphenols in black tea. To test the efficacy of theaflavin administration on body fat and muscle, we performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study and investigated the effect of theaflavins administration on the body composition using of healthy subjects. In this study, 30 male and female Japanese were enrolled and participants were randomly allocated to receive placebo, theaflavin (50 or 100 mg/day), or catechin (400 mg/ml) for 10 weeks. The effects were evaluated using body weight, body fat percentage, subcutaneous fat percentage, and skeletal muscle percentage. Theaflavin administration significantly improved body fat percentage, subcutaneous fat percentage, and skeletal muscle percentage when compared to with the placebo. In contrast, there was no significant difference in all measured outcomes between the catechin and the placebo groups. The results indicate that oral administration of theaflavin had a beneficial effect on body fat and muscle in healthy individuals.

Effects of conventional anticonvulsant drugs on generalized tonic-clonic seizures in Noda epileptic rats.

Noda epileptic rats (NERs) present with clinico-pathological manifestations reminiscent of human generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy. Thus, this strain of rat has been a model of primary, generalized, tonic-clonic epilepsy. However, the infrequency of seizures in these rats makes the assessment of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) difficult. Therefore, traditional AEDs have only been tested in NERs against audiogenic seizures evoked by weekly acoustic priming from 3 to 22 weeks of age or by using the kindling procedure in adult animals. Adult NERs are susceptible to changes in their environment, such as bedding replacement or unpleasant sensory stimuli. In the present study, traditional AEDs-phenobarbital (PB) and sodium valproate (VPA)-were evaluated against seizures evoked by strong environmental stimuli in mature NERs that had not been previously primed. The number of animals presenting with seizures decreased in a dose-dependent manner following administration of either PB (dose range 1.0-5.0mg/kg) or VPA (50 and 100mg/kg). Consequently, the utility of NERs as a model of generalized tonic-clonic epilepsy was confirmed. This type of protocol can be used to further evaluate AEDs and test effects of chronic administration of AEDs.

Efficient DNA fingerprinting based on the targeted sequencing of active retrotransposon insertion sites using a bench-top high-throughput sequencing platform.

In many crop species, DNA fingerprinting is required for the precise identification of cultivars to protect the rights of breeders. Many families of retrotransposons have multiple copies throughout the eukaryotic genome and their integrated copies are inherited genetically. Thus, their insertion polymorphisms among cultivars are useful for DNA fingerprinting. In this study, we conducted a DNA fingerprinting based on the insertion polymorphisms of active retrotransposon families (Rtsp-1 and LIb) in sweet potato. Using 38 cultivars, we identified 2,024 insertion sites in the two families with an Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform. Of these insertion sites, 91.4% appeared to be polymorphic among the cultivars and 376 cultivar-specific insertion sites were identified, which were converted directly into cultivar-specific sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using these insertion sites, which corresponded well with known pedigree information, thereby indicating their suitability for genetic diversity studies. Thus, the genome-wide comparative analysis of active retrotransposon insertion sites using the bench-top MiSeq sequencing platform is highly effective for DNA fingerprinting without any requirement for whole genome sequence information. This approach may facilitate the development of practical polymerase chain reaction-based cultivar diagnostic system and could also be applied to the determination of genetic relationships.

Fatty acid-bearing albumin but not fatty acid-depleted albumin induces HIF-1 activation in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2.

Recently, we found that albumin overload induces expression of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) protein and several HIF-1 target genes in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2. In this study, the role of albumin-bound fatty acids in the albumin-induced HIF-1 activation was studied. The enhancing effect of fatty acid-bearing human serum albumin [FA(+)HSA] treatment on HIF-1α protein expression was much greater than that of fatty acid-depleted human serum albumin [FA(-)HSA] treatment. The FA(+)HSA treatment induced HIF-1 target gene mRNAs such as those of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) in concentration-dependent manners, while FA(-)HSA caused no significant increases in these mRNAs. Consistent with increased GLUT1 mRNA, GLUT1 protein expression and GLUT inhibitor cytochalasin B-sensitive d-[(3)H]glucose uptake activity were significantly enhanced by treatment with FA(+)HSA, but not with FA(-)HSA. These findings indicate that fatty acids bound to albumin play a crucial role in albumin-induced HIF-1 activation followed by changes in HIF-1 target gene expression and protein product activity.

Albumin overload induces expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α and its target genes in HK-2 human renal proximal tubular cell line.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of human serum albumin (HSA) overload on the expression of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in human renal proximal tubular cell line HK-2. First, the cell viability and cytotoxic activity were examined to assess the cellular conditions in HK-2 cells with HSA treatment employed in this study. HSA treatment for 48h decreased the cell viability and increased the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) into the medium in a concentration-dependent manner, but the toxicity was relatively mild. Western Blot analysis revealed that HSA treatment induced the expression of HIF-1α protein in a concentration-dependent manner without a change in ß-actin protein expression. Confocal microscopy analysis revealed that HIF-1α protein was predominantly localized in the nucleus but was also observed in the cytoplasm. The HIF-1 target gene mRNAs, glucose transporter 1 and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, were up-regulated by HSA treatment, leading to the increases in the protein expression levels. In addition, the mRNA of HIF-1α was increased by HSA treatment. In conclusion, albumin loading induces HIF-1α in HK-2 cells, resulting in the increases in the expression of proteins of its target genes.