Estimating transboundary transported anthropogenic sulfate deposition in Japan using the sulfur isotopic ratio.

High emissions of air pollutants from Northeast Asia are strongly influenced by air quality as well as by ecosystems. This study investigated the spatiotemporal variations in the sulfur isotopic ratio (δ34S) in atmospheric deposition at eleven monitoring stations in Japan from 2011 to 2016 and estimated the amount of transboundary transported anthropogenic sulfate (TRB) deposition using mass balance calculations. The δ34S of sulfate in precipitation ranged from -0.42 to +22.7‰. Sea salt (SS), TRB, and domestic anthropogenic sources (DOM) were the dominant sources of sulfate deposition in Japan. TRB sulfate deposition was largest on the Sea of Japan side, with an annual average value of 1.5 ±â€¯0.3-6.9 ±â€¯0.5 mg m-2 d-1 (36-44%), followed by Mt. Happo (4.5 ±â€¯0.1 mg m-2 d-1; 88%), the Pacific Ocean side (1.5 ±â€¯0.8, 4.3 ±â€¯0.9 mg m-2 d-1; 24-50%), and the remote islands in the North Pacific Ocean (1.1 ±â€¯0.2, 2.0 ±â€¯0.8 mg m-2 d-1; 19-32%). TRB sulfate deposition on the Sea of Japan side was 2-12 times higher in winter and 1-2 times higher in summer than that of DOM. In contrast, TRB sulfate deposition on the Pacific Ocean side was 1.5-3 times higher in summer than in winter due to high precipitation levels. In Tokyo, the annual contribution from DOM sulfate deposition is approximately three times higher than that from TRB. Annual TRB sulfate deposition is lowest at Ogasawara at 1.1 ±â€¯0.2 mg m-2 d-1, and the annual oceanic DMS contribution to sulfate deposition is high, accounting for 1.3 mg m-2 d-1 (20 ±â€¯6%). The contribution of Asian dust was estimated to be 1-5.2 mg m-2 d-1(3-6%), which occurred in a single Asian dust event on the Sea of Japan side.

Determination and profiling of purines in foods by using HPLC and LC-MS.

Purines in food are known to raise serum uric acid levels. We determined the purine content of sweet potato and beef by high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The purine content of the samples was 118-1,034 µmol/100 g. The total purine content was also divided into purine bases, nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleic acids. Our results suggest that differences in total purine content and in the ratio of purine types between vegetables and beef cause a difference in elevation of serum uric acid levels.

Delimitation of a QTL region controlling cold tolerance at booting stage of a cultivar, 'Lijiangxintuanheigu', in rice, Oryza sativa L.

Low temperature at the booting stage of rice causes male sterility resulting in severe yield loss. Cold tolerance has long been an important objective in rice breeding. We identified a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for cold tolerance on the long arm of chromosome 3 from the cold-tolerant breeding line 'Ukei 840' by using F(2) and BC(1)F(2) populations from crosses between 'Ukei 840' and 'Hitomebore'. The cold tolerance of 'Ukei 840' is derived from the Chinese cultivar 'Lijiangxintuanheigu'. The effect of this QTL on cold tolerance was confirmed by developing 'Hitomebore' chromosome segment substitution lines having 'Lijiangxintuanheigu' alleles on chromosome 3. By producing recombinants in chromosome 3, the QTL region for cold tolerance was delimited to the region of about 1.2-Mb region between RM3719 and RM7000. All lines heterozygous for the QTL showed seed fertilities as low as that of 'Hitomebore', suggesting that the 'Lijiangxintuanheigu' allele for cold tolerance in the QTL region is recessive. Determination of a 1.2-Mb nucleotide sequence of 'Ukei 840' and comparison with the published genomic sequence of 'Nipponbare' showed 254 SNPs, of which 11 were in coding regions of genes, seven in five genes being non-synonymous. SNPs were detected in the 5-kb upstream regions of 89 genes, but no differences of gene expression levels were detected between alleles of these genes. Although further delimitation is required to identify the gene responsible for cold tolerance of 'Lijiangxintuanheigu', SNP markers developed here will be useful for marker-assisted selection in a breeding program using 'Lijiangxintuanheigu' as a donor of cold tolerance.

Simultaneous determination of purine and pyrimidine metabolites in HPRT-deficient cell lines.

Genetic mutations in the purine salvage enzyme, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT), are known to cause Lesch-Nyhan syndrome and Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome. In patients, purine metabolism is different from that of normal persons. We have previously developed a method for simultaneously determining the concentration of purine and pyrimidine nucleosides and nucleotides. This system was applied to determine the concentrations of nucleosides and nucleotides in HPRT-deficient cell lines. The amount of inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) was different in Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, Kelley-Seegmiller syndrome, and control cell lines. The difference in the amount of IMP confirmed the mutation of the enzyme.

Development of LC-MS method for detection of mutant uromodulin protein.

Mutations in the uromodulin gene cause the autosomal disorders familial juvenile hyperuricemic nephropathy (FJHN) and medullary cystic kidney disease type 2 (MCKD2). However, methods to detect the mutant form of the uromodulin protein have not been developed. In this study, we developed a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for detection of the mutated uromodulin peptide (C148W). Our method can distinguish the mutant peptide, GWHWE, from wildtype peptide, GWHC*E. Using MS/MS analysis with a selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode, peptide-specific fragment ions (m/z 714 --> 381, 471, 567, and 679 for GWHWE and m/z 688 --> 381, 445, 541, and 653 for GWHC*E) were detected.

Analysis of purine in purine-rich cauliflower.

Purine is a general term for purine nucleotides, nucleosides, bases, and nucleic acid. The amount of purine nucleotides, nucleosides, and bases in purine-rich cauliflower was determined with the use of LC-MS and HPLC, and the ratio of these molecules were compared with in raw and in heated condition. Total purine content of raw and heated cauliflower was 42.6 and 43.2 mg/100 g, respectively. Nucleotide content was increased from 0.02 to 50.8 micromol/100 g, and nucleoside content was decreased from 12.4 to 7.7 micromol/100 g, by heating.

Purine contents of soybean-derived foods and selected Japanese vegetables and mushrooms.

Purine contents of soybean-derived food and various other Japanese foods were quantitatively determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Purine contents were as follows: soybean-derived foods, 21.9-172.5 mg/100 g or 100 mL; Japanese vegetables, 2.3-171.8 mg/100 g; Japanese mushrooms, 9.5-142.3 mg/100 g. Since purine levels in these foods did not exceed 200 mg/100 g, we recommend that eating of them should be adopted and good dietary habits followed.

Vasodilative effect of perillaldehyde on isolated rat aorta.

The vasodilative effect of perillaldehyde, one of the major oil components in Perilla frutescens BRITTON, was studied using isolated rat aorta. Perillaldehyde at final concentrations of 0.01 to 1 mM showed dose-dependent relaxation of the aorta contracted by treatment with prostaglandin F2alpha or norepinephrine. Neither the presence of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester nor removal of the aortic endothelium affected the vasodilatation, suggesting that perillaldehyde exerts a direct effect on vascular smooth muscle cells. The vasodilative effect of perillaldehyde was not inhibited by pretreatment with a beta-adrenergic receptor blocker (propranolol), an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase (theophylline), a delayed rectifier K+ channel blocker (tetraethylammonium chloride), or an ATP-sensitive K+ channel blocker (glibenclamide). However, perillaldehyde showed contrasting effects on vasodilatation of the aorta contracted by an influx of extracellular Ca2+ - perillaldehyde caused little vasodilatation on the aorta contracted by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, while it inhibited the vasoconstriction induced by treatment with high-concentration K+, which dominantly opened the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel. These results suggest that the vasodilative effect of perillaldehyde is derived from blocking the Ca2+ channels.

Detection of prothrombin and osteopontin in a renal stone found in a hyperuricemic patient using 2D-PAGE and LC-MS analysis.

The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) following on from the two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) technique was applied for the analysis of proteins in a renal stone found in a hyperuricemic patient. This technique was sensitive enough to detect small quantities of proteins even in a renal stone.

A model of photoprobe docking with beta1,4-galactosyltransferase identifies a possible carboxylate involved in glycosylation steps.

A molecular docking study has been performed on the interaction of beta1,4-galactosyltransferase with an acceptor site photoprobe. This is based on an acceptor site peptide fragment which was recently identified by the use of a photoprobe. The present model strongly suggests that the carboxylate group of Asp318 could be involved in the activation of the acceptor sugar 4-OH for the efficient galactosyltransfer. The result also exemplified that the combination of photoaffinity labeling with crystallography is a powerful method for the detailed structural analysis of ligand protein complex.

Properties and human origin of two angiotensin-I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptides isolated from a tryptic hydrolysate of human serum albumin.

Two angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides were isolated from a tryptic hydrolysate of human serum albumin (HSA). The peptides were identified by sequencing and other analyses as Ala-Trp and the nonapeptide Ala-Phe-Lys-Ala-Trp-Ala-Val-Ala-Arg (human albutensin A), corresponding to f(213-214) and f(210--218) of HSA, respectively. Synthetic versions of both peptides had previously been shown to have ACE inhibitory activity. The present results are the first to show that these peptides have a potential natural origin in humans. Additional studies were done to define the inhibitory properties of these peptides, as they had not been previously reported. The dipeptide and nonapeptide showed dose-dependent inhibition of ACE, with IC50 values of 12 and 1.7 micromol/l, respectively. Lineweaver-Burk plots suggested that Ala-Trp is a competitive inhibitor, and that human albutensin A is a noncompetitive inhibitor.

Isolation of acein-2, a novel angiotensin-I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptide derived from a tryptic hydrolysate of human plasma.

We previously described a novel angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide, designated Acein-1, that was isolated from a tryptic hydrolysate of human plasma. We now report a second such inhibitory peptide, Acein-2 obtained from the same hydrolysate. The peptide was purified by gel filtration and cation exchange chromatography followed by reversed-phase gradient and isocratic high performance liquid chromatography. Acein-2 was found to be a tripeptide, Leu-Ile-Tyr, which is thought to correspond to f(518-520) of human alpha2-macroglobulin. The synthetic tripeptide showed a potent dose-dependent inhibition of ACE, with an IC(50) value of 0.82 micromol/l. Lineweaver-Burk plots suggested that Acein-2 as well as the previously described Acein-1 are non-competitive inhibitors.

Glycoprotein derived from the hot water extract of mint plant, Perilla frutescens britton.

Glycoprotein showing inhibitory activity against mast cell degranulation and hyaluronidase activity was purified from the hot water extract of mint plant (Perilla frutescens Britton). The purified inhibitor gave a single band detected with Coomassie brilliant blue staining and periodic acid-Schiff staining on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis. The molecular mass was estimated to be 6.0 kDa on SDS-PAGE. The inhibitor did not become inactivated when boiled for 30 min or digested with trypsin, V8 protease, or proteinase K but was inactivated by NaIO(4) oxidation. The inhibitor prevented mast cell degranulation and hyaluronidase activity (IC(50) = 0.42 mg/mL) in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitor also inhibited the protein kinase C activity. It is possible to purify and characterize a glycoprotein with putative pharmacological properties from mint plants.

Acein-1, a novel angiotensin-I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptide isolated from tryptic hydrolysate of human plasma.

A novel angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide, designated acein-1, was isolated from the tryptic hydrolysate of human plasma. Gel filtration and cation exchange chromatography were performed to purify this peptide, followed by reversed-phase gradient and isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography. Acein-1 was found to be a heptapeptide, Tyr-Leu-Tyr-Glu-Ile-Ala-Arg, corresponding to f(138-144) of human serum albumin. The synthetic heptapeptide, hexapeptide (Tyr-Leu-Tyr-Glu-Ile-Ala, des-7R acein-1) and octapeptide (Tyr-Leu-Tyr-Glu-Ile-Ala-Arg-Arg, acein-1R) showed dose-dependent inhibitions of ACE, and their IC50 values were 16 micromol/l, 500 micromol/l and 86 micromol/l, respectively. Acein-1 might be a non-competitive inhibitor, while acein-1R may be an uncompetitive inhibitor, as shown by Lineweaver-Burk plots.

[Inhibitory effects of natural medicines on the enzymes related to the skin].

In this paper, we investigated the inhibitory effects of water extracts from sixty-six natural medicines on the enzymes related to the skin, which were tyrosinase, hyaluronidase and collagenase. To clarify the inhibitory components in water extracts, tannin quantity and the inhibitory activity of the water extracts after removal of phenolic compounds using polyclar AT, were measured. Twelve kinds of natural medicines were found to have tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Six of them showed that tannin, which contains sufficient amounts in extracts, might be major inhibitory compounds due to a significant decrease of inhibition by these samples after removal of phenolic compounds. The inhibitory compound of Aurantii fructus immaturus was thought phenolic compounds except tannin. The inhibitory compounds may include Armeniacae semen, Perillae folium and Persicae semen besides a phenolic compound. Twenty-seven species among the natural medicines studied showed inhibitory activity on hyaluronidase. Phenolic compounds in these extracts except Artemisiae argyi folium, could not be candidates for hyaluronidase inhibitors. Seven kinds of the natural medicines have inhibitory activity on collagenase. It was estimated that these inhibitory compounds were phenolic compounds. These results are to be expected for finding novel compounds for skin disease or skin-care cosmetics.

Inhibitory effect of alginic acids on hyaluronidase and on histamine release from mast cells.

The effects of various types of alginic acid consisting of L-guluronic acids (G) and D-mannuronic acids (M) on hyaluronidase and mast cell degranulation were examined. Alginic acid with an M/G ratio of 1.0 exhibited the strongest inhibition of both activities, the higher molecular weight alginic acids of 150 to 370 kDa being preferable in both cases. Esterification of the carboxyl residue enhanced the latter activity.

[Clinical evaluation of intra-operative radiotherapy combined with subtotal cystectomy for invasive bladder carcinoma].

From 1981 to 1994, intra-operative radiotherapy after subtotal cystectomy was performed on 22 patients with invasive bladder carcinoma on whom radical cystectomy could not be recommended because of old age or condition. All the patients received 25 to 30 Gy of radiotherapy focused on trigonum and internal urethral orifice after subtotal cystectomy with uretero-cutaneostomy. Of 22 patients, 15 patients died. Five patients died of bladder cancer, one died of gastric cancer, one died of rectal cancer and the others died of pneumonia, heart failure, sepsis and senility. The five-year survival rate was 41% and the cause-specific five-year survival rate was 75%. Local recurrence was seen only in one patients, who received second intra-operative radiotherapy and recovered well in complete remission. We believe that intra-operative radiotherapy after subtotal cystectomy is useful for patients with invasive bladder carcinoma on whom radical cystectomy could not be recommended because of old age or condition.

[Single-stomal ureterostomy by extraperitoneal approach].

Single-stomal ureterostomy such as double barreled ureterocutaneostomy and cutaneous transureteroureterostomy have usually been performed by transperitoneal approach. However, extraperitoneal method is preferable since the patients for whom ureterocutaneostomy is indicated usually have a deteriorating general condition. We have reported single-stomal ureterocutaneostomy which can be done extraperitoneally. A total of thirteen patients, one man and twelve women, for whom permanent urinary diversion was indicated, have undergone this extraperitoneal ureterocutaneostomy for February 1988 to June 1994. Those with retroperitoneal lesions or with a history of paraaortic radiotherapy were excluded. The mean age was 61.7 (range: 42-76). The reasons for urinary diversion were vesicovaginal fistula in seven, obstructive nephropathy in four, rectovesical fistula in one and postoperative urine leak from the bladder in one. All patients had been treated for malignant diseases and had undergone transperitoneal surgery. Six patients had colostomy and ten had clinically evident recurrent diseases. In the operation, left ureter was dissected and severed extraperitoneally through left paramedian incision or left lumbotomy. The ureteral end was pushed to the right in a retroperitoneal tunnel created by blunt dissection. Then the ureter was picked up through the contralateral retroperitoneal approach. After both ureters were exposed, ureterocutaneostomy was made in right hypogastrium. Transureteroureterstomy with end-cutaneous ureterostomy, double barreled ureterocutaneostomy and ureteroureterostomy with loop ureterostomy were done in six, four and three patients, respectively. The mean operative time was 119 (range: 75-175) minutes and the mean intraoperative blood loss was 210 (range: 48-682) grams. Arrhythmia developed during retroperitoneal manipulation in one patient for whom the operation was done under spinal anesthesia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Retroperitoneal malignant mesenchymoma: a case report.

A case of a 37-year-old woman with a retroperitoneal tumor is reported. Angiography revealed that the tumor was partially supplied via an intercostal artery, suggesting that the cause of the tumor might be located in the rib. Histologically the tumor was diagnosed as a malignant mesenchymoma composed of chondrosarcoma and myxoid liposarcoma in addition to fibrosarcoma. The chondrosarcomatous element was predominant, a phenomenon which is extremely rare. Pulmonary metastases developed 8 mo after surgical removal of the tumor and the patient died of the disease 2 yr postoperatively.