Formation of Amino Acids and Carboxylic Acids in Weakly Reducing Planetary Atmospheres by Solar Energetic Particles from the Young Sun.

Life most likely started during the Hadean Eon; however, the environmental conditions which contributed to the complexity of its chemistry are poorly known. A better understanding of various environmental conditions, including global (heliospheric) and local (atmospheric, surface, and oceanic), along with the internal dynamic conditions of the early Earth, are required to understand the onset of abiogenesis. Herein, we examine the contributions of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) and solar energetic particles (SEPs) associated with superflares from the young Sun to the formation of amino acids and carboxylic acids in weakly reduced gas mixtures representing the early Earth's atmosphere. We also compare the products with those introduced by lightning events and solar ultraviolet light (UV). In a series of laboratory experiments, we detected and characterized the formation of amino acids and carboxylic acids via proton irradiation of a mixture of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen, and water in various mixing ratios. These experiments show the detection of amino acids after acid hydrolysis when 0.5% (v/v) of initial methane was introduced to the gas mixture. In the set of experiments with spark discharges (simulation of lightning flashes) performed for the same gas mixture, we found that at least 15% methane was required to detect the formation of amino acids, and no amino acids were detected in experiments via UV irradiation, even when 50% methane was used. Carboxylic acids were formed in non-reducing gas mixtures (0% methane) by proton irradiation and spark discharges. Hence, we suggest that GCRs and SEP events from the young Sun represent the most effective energy sources for the prebiotic formation of biologically important organic compounds from weakly reducing atmospheres. Since the energy flux of space weather, which generated frequent SEPs from the young Sun in the first 600 million years after the birth of the solar system, was expected to be much greater than that of GCRs, we conclude that SEP-driven energetic protons are the most promising energy sources for the prebiotic production of bioorganic compounds in the atmosphere of the Hadean Earth.

Pulmonary tumor embolism from breast cancer diagnosed by selective aspiration cytology using a Swan-Ganz catheter.

We describe a case of pulmonary tumor embolism (PTE) from breast cancer diagnosed by selective aspiration cytology using a Swan-Ganz catheter. A 60-year-old woman was referred to Hamanomachi Hospital because of increased levels of tumor markers. The patient complained only of slight exertional dyspnea and a dry cough. Due to breast cancer, she had undergone a mastectomy followed by radiation and chemotherapy one year earlier. Positron emission tomography scanning with CT images revealed no evidence of malignancy. Repeated chest CT images showed emerging wedge-shaped nodules in the subpleural zones of the left lower lobe with diffuse ground-glass opacities in the bilateral lower lobes. The D-dimer level was negative. Pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy showed multiple small wedge-shaped defect areas on the peripheral sides of the bilateral lungs. Suspecting PTE, we performed selective aspiration cytology from the left pulmonary arteries. Cancer cells were detected from selected branches of left A8 and A9. Morphology and immunostaining led to a final diagnosis of PTE of recurrent breast cancer. Pulmonary embolism of cancer is a progressive, fatal condition with challenging diagnosis. Selective aspiration cytology with a Swan-Ganz catheter is a useful, less invasive option in patients with suspected PTE.

Direct detection of diclofenac radical produced by ultraviolet irradiation using electron spin resonance method.

Diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is commonly used as an antipyretic analgesic owing to its strong anti-inflammatory action in clinical treatment. However, diclofenac can cause injury, with gastrointestinal mucosal lesions and skin photosensitivity as the main side effects. In general, photosensitive drugs contain photosensitive chemical sites, and form free radicals under ultraviolet irradiation, leading to phototoxic reactions. Therefore, this study focuses on free radical production in photosensitive reactions of diclofenac. The free radical production mechanism of diclofenac under ultraviolet irradiation, which might result in photo-toxicity, was clarified using a direct electron spin resonance method. When diclofenac was irradiated with ultraviolet light (254 nm), diclofenac radicals were generated depending on the ultraviolet irradiation time and stably present for 30 min at room temperature. Diclofenac radicals were produced by the ultraviolet irradiation system depending on the dose of diclofenac until 2 mM. Therefore, diclofenac radicals might directly or indirectly react with various biomolecules to cause phototoxicity, other side effects, and new diclofenac pharmacology owing to its stability of diclofenac radicals.

GLP-1 release and vagal afferent activation mediate the beneficial metabolic and chronotherapeutic effects of D-allulose.

Overeating and arrhythmic feeding promote obesity and diabetes. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists are effective anti-obesity drugs but their use is limited by side effects. Here we show that oral administration of the non-calorie sweetener, rare sugar D-allulose (D-psicose), induces GLP-1 release, activates vagal afferent signaling, reduces food intake and promotes glucose tolerance in healthy and obese-diabetic animal models. Subchronic D-allulose administered at the light period (LP) onset ameliorates LP-specific hyperphagia, visceral obesity, and glucose intolerance. These effects are blunted by vagotomy or pharmacological GLP-1R blockade, and by genetic inactivation of GLP-1R signaling in whole body or selectively in vagal afferents. Our results identify D-allulose as prominent GLP-1 releaser that acts via vagal afferents to restrict feeding and hyperglycemia. Furthermore, when administered in a time-specific manner, chronic D-allulose corrects arrhythmic overeating, obesity and diabetes, suggesting that chronotherapeutic modulation of vagal afferent GLP-1R signaling may aid in treating metabolic disorders.