Activity

trans-Anethole oxygenase (TAO) is the key enzyme responsible for the oxidation of trans-anethole to p-anisaldehyde. A strain, Paraburkholderia sp. MR185, was isolated from soil in Yulin star anise-planting regions using trans-anethole as a sole carbon source and a gene which encodes a protein with high similarities to a hypothetical protein of Paraburkholderia sp. MM5384-R2 which shows 61.27% identies with TAO from Pseudomonas putida JYR-1 was cloned and sequenced. The gene, tao, was expressed in E. coli cells and its protein product was purified by affinity chromatography through regenerated amorphous cellulose (RAC). SDS-PAGE analysis indicated a clear band of recombinant protein TAO, and its molecular weight, 38.3 kDa, was consistent with the theoretical value. Its enzyme activity of producing p-anisaldehyde from trans-anethole was detected by DNPH (2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine) chromogenic reaction and HPLC, and the specific activity of TAO reached 3.93 U/mg protein. Immobilized TAO on RAC was used to catalyze the production of p-anisaldehyde from trans-anethole, and the enzyme retained more than 60% of its initial activity after 10 uses. This is the first report on Paraburkholderia TAO.Screening for new sake yeasts can expand the sensory diversity of sake, due to their production of metabolites that characterize sake’s aroma and taste. In this study, mud from tidal flats in the Ariake Sea was screened for Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains with ethanol productivity suitable for sake brewing, and the brewing characteristics of isolated strains were evaluated. Five strains (H1-1, H1-2, H1-3, H3-1, and H3-2) classified as S. cerevisiae were isolated. Karyotype analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that five isolated strains were closely related to sake yeast strains (K7, K701, K9, K901, and Y52) instead of laboratory yeast strain. Results of small-scale brewing tests including sake yeast strains K701, K901, and Y52 showed that the five isolated strains have fermentation activity comparable to sake yeast strains. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the five isolated strains produce higher levels of ethyl caproate and lower levels of acidic compounds than sake yeasts. In addition, isolated strains H3-1 and H3-2 produce higher levels of isoamyl acetate and lower levels of acetic acid than other isolated strains. Consequently, five S. cerevisiae strains that have high fermentation activity and differ from common sake yeast strains in terms of brewing characteristics were successfully isolated from the Ariake Sea.Torpor, a state of lowered body temperature due to active reduction of the metabolic rate, has potential medical benefits. The aim of this study was to establish a novel laboratory animal that enter torpor without imposing complex conditions. When house musk shrews (Suncus murinus) were kept at an ambient temperature of 24°C, most of the animals did not enter daily torpor. However, when the ambient temperature was lowered to below 20°C, all of the shrews showed torpor in the absence of fasting and short-day photoperiod. The shrews that were exposed to a stepwise decrease in ambient temperature from 24°C to 8°C entered torpor even after returning them to a room kept at 24°C. In conclusion, this study indicates that Suncus murinus may be a suitable model animal for elucidating the mechanism of daily torpor. Elucidation of the mechanisms of torpor by using this model may be useful for inducing a state of artificial hibernation in various species including humans.Bone fracture is an important trauma frequently encountered into emergency medicine as well as orthopedics reflecting an aging society. Oncostatin M, an inflammatory cytokine produced by osteal macrophages, has been considered to play a crucial role in fracture healing. Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) secreted from osteoblasts is essential in osteoclastgenesis, and the secretion is stimulated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). The aim of this study is to elucidate the effects of oncostatin M on the TGF-β-induced M-CSF synthesis in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells and the underlying mechanisms. Oncostatin M attenuated the TGF-β-stimulated M-CSF release and the mRNA expressions. SMAD3 inhibitor SIS3, p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580, MEK1/2 inhibitor PD98059, and SAPK/JNK inhibitor SP600125 significantly suppressed the M-CSF release. Oncostatin M suppressed the TGF-β-induced phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase and SAPK/JNK, but failed to affect the phosphorylation of SMAD3 and p38 MAP kinase. Oncostatin M attenuated the TGF-β-stimulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release and the TGF-β-induced mRNA expressions of VEGF. These results strongly suggest that oncostatin M downregulates TGF-β signaling upstream of p44/p42 MAP kinase and SAPK/JNK, but not SMAD 2/3 and p38 MAP kinase, in osteoblasts, leading to the attenuation of M-CSF synthesis. Our findings might provide a new therapeutic strategy for the acceleration of fracture healing process.Silibinin is a flavonolignan isolated from milk thistle (Silybum marianum). Silibinin has been reported to possess multiple biological activities; however, its effect on melanogenesis remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of silibinin on melanogenesis in melanoma cells and the associated molecular mechanism. Our findings demonstrated that silibinin markedly increased melanin content in murine B16-F1 and human HMV-II melanoma cells. Silibinin activated intracellular tyrosinase activity and expression of tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)-1, TRP-2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF). Furthermore, silibinin enhanced the phosphorylation of cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB), protein kinase A (PKA), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) but not of Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). The specific PKA (H-89) and p38 (SB203580) inhibitors significantly attenuated silibinin-mediated melanin synthesis. These results suggest that silibinin is an effective stimulator of melanogenesis through upregulation of the protein expression of melanogenic enzymes activated by the PKA and p38 pathways, leading to CREB phosphorylation and MITF expression. selleck inhibitor Therefore, silibinin may have potential for use in the treatment of hypopigmentation disorders.The aim of the current study was to review the current state and characteristics of the elderly population in China in the context of aging, difficulties and challenges faced by older people, and efforts of the current Chinese Government in this area. The process of population aging in China began to accelerate in the late 1970s and has continued to increase at a rate of about 3.2% per year since then. This process took more than 45 years in developed countries, while it took only about 27 years in China, and aging may continue to increase for a long time. China is now moving toward a superannuated society due to declining fertility rates and increasing life expectancy. There is a great need for care due to the high disease burden among older people. However, more than 1 million “families have lost their only child”, and this number is increasing annually by about 76,000; moreover, there are a large number of “deficient families [with an injured family member]” in China. These families face greater difficulties due to aging and need to rely on society for more support given the lack of care provided by their children or spouses. The current study has focused on improving the quality of life of older people, helping them achieve healthy aging, and to assist the country in further providing care for the elderly.Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been the fifth most common malignancy worldwide and is the second most common cause of tumor-related mortality globally. In China, a high proportion of patients with HCC present with an advanced stage of the disease, so HCC is a major challenge to the healthcare system and a substantial socioeconomic burden. The last decade has witnessed an expansion of the treatment landscape for HCC. Various approaches have been explored as potential conversion therapies for advanced HCC. Despite controversies, mounting data have indicated that successful conversion therapy followed by subsequent surgery is achievable in a population of patients with advanced HCC. This conversion therapy is a safe and promising treatment strategy to prolong long-term outcomes. Based on preliminary research, this review has assembled and summarized current clinical experience with and evidence of the efficacy of conversion therapies followed by subsequent surgery for advanced HCC.Asthma is a respiratory disease characterized by heterogeneous chronic airway inflammation. Activation of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is involved in the development of many pulmonary inflammatory diseases. The role and regulatory mechanism of carbenoxolone (CBX) in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma models are not fully clear. Therefore, the study investigated whether CBX ameliorates airway inflammation and remodeling, as well as its mechanism in OVA induced-inflammation in mice. Wright-Giemsa staining was used to count inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The level of inflammatory cells infiltration, mucus cell proliferation, and collagen deposition in lung tissue were separately assessed by hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, and Masson trichrome staining, respectively. Airway resistance (AR) was measured by non-invasive airway system. Immunohistochemical assay was used to observe NLRP3 expression area. The expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), p-NF-κB, inhibitor of kappaB (IκB)-α, p-IκB-α, NLRP3, pro-caspase-1, caspase-1, and interleukin (IL)-1β in lung tissue were measured using quantitative real-time PCR or Western blotting. Our results showed that CBX can significantly attenuate the leukocyte count and the percentage of eosinophils and neutrophils in the BALF, peribronchial inflammation, airway mucus secretion, collagen deposition area, and AR in OVA-induced airway inflammation. In addition, the expression of p-NF-κB, p-IκB-α, NLRP3 and related factors were dramatically alleviated after CBX treatment. These data suggest that CBX has a significant protective effect on allergic airway inflammation by suppressing the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome through NF-κB pathway in asthmatic mice.

Hydrofluoric acid has been used to remove salivary contamination in dental glass-ceramics before bonding treatment. However, alternative methods are required because hydrofluoric acid is harmful. This study examined the cleaning effects of phosphoric acid and sodium hydroxide on glass-ceramics for bonding pre-treatment.

Feldspar porcelain was divided into four groups (C) cleaned porcelain without any contamination, (S) porcelain contaminated with saliva, (SPA) porcelain cleaned with 37% phosphoric acid after saliva contamination, and (SSH) porcelain cleaned with 10% sodium hydroxide after saliva contamination. Each sample was bonded to the resin cement using a silane-containing primer. They were then subjected to a shear bond strength (SBS) test. Each surface was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle measurements, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR).

The SBS of group SSH was comparable to that of group C but significantly higher than that of groups S and SPA. SEM observations showed that saliva-like structures remained on the samples of groups S and SPA, but not on the SSH group.