Melatonin is a multifunctional molecule that mediates several circadian and seasonal processes in animal reproduction. Melatonin and its metabolites are antioxidants and free radical scavengers. We investigated the effects of melatonin on porcine oocyte maturation and embryo development. We then investigated the local expression of the melatonin receptor 1 (MT1) gene in cumulus cells, granulosa cells, and the oocytes with the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. We further evaluated the antioxidant effects [reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in cumulus-oocytes complexes] of melatonin supplementation during in vitro maturation (IVM). Compared with control, melatonin supplementation (10 ng/mL) during IVM resulted in a greater proportion of oocytes extruding the polar body (75.6% versus 84.6%). Significantly greater proportion of parthenogenetically activated oocytes developed to blastocysts when the in vitro medium was supplemented with melatonin; however, cleavage frequency and blastocyst cell number were not affected by the treatment. RT-PCR analysis revealed the expression of MT1 gene in cumulus and granulosa cells but not in oocytes. Melatonin-treated oocytes had significantly lower levels of ROS than did control (untreated) oocytes. We conclude that exogenous melatonin has beneficial effects on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation during porcine IVM. Some of the observed effects may be mediated by receptor binding and while others may have been receptor independent, e.g., direct free radical scavenging.

The conversion of chemical energy to electrical energy through the use of fuel cells is an important step in the transition to a hydrogen-based economy. [1,2] Of the many types of fuel cells, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), employing either oxygen ions or protons as charge carriers, provide an efficient, environmentally benign, and fuel-flexible power generation system that can be adapted for small power units (including mobile applications) and for large scale power plants. [3,4] However, SOFCs require high temperatures (800-1000°C), a condition that presents material degradation problems, [5,6] as well as other technological complications and economic obstacles. [7] Numerous attempts have been made to find alternative systems that can be operated at lower temperatures. [8,9] We report here unprecedented observations of power generation at temperatures as low as room temperature using dense bulk nanostructured yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and samaria-doped ceria (SDC) as electrolytes. This behavior is observed only when the material is nanostructured (grain size ∼ 15 nm). Open circuit electromotive force (emf) (up to 180 mV for YSZ and 400 mV for SDC) and closed circuit currents (∼ 6 nA for YSZ and 30 nA for SDC) were measured from water concentration cells, indicating proton conduction within the nanostructured oxides. These results show that with optimization, viable power generation using water concentration cells at room temperature is a possible goal. Low-temperature protonic conduction has been reported before for polymeric electrolytes and for structurally hydrated (i.e., hydrous) oxides. However, these materials have limitations that have largely restricted their further considerations for practical utilization. Polymeric electrolytes (e.g., Nafion) have limitations with respect to thermal stability, so that they are mostly limited to temperatures below 100°C. [10,11] In addition, polymeric systems require a catalyst whose optimal operation temperature is inconsistent with the thermal stability of the polymer. Another factor for these systems is the cost. In the case of hydrous oxides (e.g., SnO 2 · nH 2 O, ZrO 2 · nH 2 O, WO 3 · nH 2 O [11][12][13][14] ), the loss of structural water (at low temperatures, < 100°C) changes the protonic conductivity irreversibly, [12] with a concomitant degradation of mechanical properties. We were successful in making dense, bulk nanostructured YSZ (8 mol % yttria) and SDC (20 mol % samaria) with a grain size of ∼ 15 nm through the use of field-activated sintering of nanopowders.[15] We found ionic conductivity at low temperatures in structurally unhydrated YSZ only when the grain size of the material is in the nanoscale. [16] In the present work, we use these materials as electrolytes and demonstrate electrical power generation at room temperature using water concentration cells. We constructed concentration cells, using the nanostructured YSZ and SDC as electrolytes, as shown schematically in Figure 1. We measured the emf of both the YSZ and the SDC cells at room t...

In SCLC, sarcopenic male patients with high NLR have a poor prognosis and do not tolerate standard treatment. Intensive supportive care is needed in these patients.

PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PRA) using the novel region of the rpoB gene was developed for rapid and precise identification of mycobacteria to the species level. A total of 50 mycobacterial reference strains and 3 related bacterial strains were used to amplify the 360-bp region of rpoB, and the amplified DNAs were subsequently digested with restriction enzymes such as MspI and HaeIII. The results from this study clearly show that most of the mycobacterial species were easily differentiated at the species level by this PRA method. In addition, species with several subtypes, such as Mycobacterium gordonae, M. kansasii, M. celatum, andM. fortuitum, were also differentiated by this PRA method. Subsequently, an algorithm was constructed based on the results, and a blinded test was carried out with more than 260 clinical isolates that had been identified on the basis of conventional tests. Comparison of these two sets of results clearly indicates that this new PRA method based on the rpoB gene is more simple, more rapid, and more accurate than conventional procedures for differentiating mycobacterial species.

SummaryArabidopsis thaliana homeobox 12 (ATHB12), a homeodomain-leucine zipper class I (HDZip I) gene, is highly expressed in leaves and stems, and induced by abiotic stresses, but its role in development remains obscure.To understand its function during plant development, we studied the effects of loss and gain of function. Expression of ATHB12 fused to the EAR-motif repression domain (SRDX) -P 35S ::ATHB12SRDX (A12SRDX) and P ATHB12 ::ATHB12SRDX -slowed both leaf and root growth, while the growth of ATHB12-overexpressing seedlings (A12OX) was accelerated.Microscopic examination revealed changes in the size and number of leaf cells. Ploidy was reduced in A12SRDX plants, accompanied by decreased cell expansion and increased cell numbers. By contrast, cell size was increased in A12OX plants, along with increased ploidy and elevated expression of cell cycle switch 52s (CCS52s), which are positive regulators of endoreduplication, indicating that ATHB12 promotes leaf cell expansion and endoreduplication. Overexpression of ATHB12 led to decreased phosphorylation of Arabidopsis thaliana ribosomal protein S6 (AtRPS6), a regulator of cell growth. In addition, induction of ATHB12 in the presence of cycloheximide increased the expression of several genes related to cell expansion, such as EXPANSIN A10 (EXPA10) and DWARF4 (DWF4).Our findings strongly suggest that ATHB12 acts as a positive regulator of endoreduplication and cell growth during leaf development.

Aims: This study was conducted to determine the antioxidant capacity, immunomodulatory and lipid-lowering effects of spirulina in healthy elderly subjects and to document the effectiveness of spirulina as a functional food for the elderly. Methods: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed. The subjects were 78 individuals aged 60–87 years and were randomly assigned in a blinded fashion to receive either spirulina or placebo. The elderly were instructed to consume the spirulina or placebo at home, 8 g/day, for 16 consecutive weeks. Results: In male subjects, a significant plasma cholesterol-lowering effect was observed after the spirulina intervention (p < 0.05). Spirulina supplementation resulted in a significant rise in plasma interleukin (IL)-2 concentration, and a significant reduction in IL-6 concentration. A significant time-by-treatment intervention for total antioxidant status was observed between spirulina and placebo groups (p < 0.05). In female subjects, significant increases in IL-2 level and superoxide dismutase activity were observed (p < 0.05) after spirulina supplementation. There were significant reductions in total cholesterol in female subjects. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that spirulina has favorable effects on lipid profiles, immune variables, and antioxidant capacity in healthy, elderly male and female subjects and is suitable as a functional food.

Background/AimsGastric glomus tumors are extremely rare, and presurgical confirmation is often impossible. The identification of clinical and radiologic characteristics of this tumor type is important for preoperative diagnosis and treatment planning.MethodsIn this study, we analyzed 10 cases of gastric glomus tumors resected at a single institute over 9 years.ResultsEight of the patients were men and 2 were women, with a mean age of 49 years. Five patients presented with abdominal discomfort or pain, 1 presented with anemia, and the remaining 4 cases were found incidentally during endoscopic examinations. The most common location of the tumor was the antrum (n=7), followed by the low (n=2) and high body (n=1). Although the endoscopic ultrasonography findings were variable, contrast-enhanced computed tomography generally showed a strong homogeneous enhancement. The resected tumors were well-demarcated solid masses with sizes ranging from 1.0 to 3.6 cm. Microscopically, the masses were composed of abundant vascular channels with clusters of uniform and round glomus cells. There was no evidence of recurrence after complete surgical resection.ConclusionsGastric glomus tumors are unusual, distinct lesions that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a gastric submucosal mass. Unlike their deep soft tissue counterparts, most glomus tumors in the stomach are benign.

Glioma stem cells (GSCs) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are strongly associated with therapy resistance and tumor recurrence, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here we show that S100A4 is a novel biomarker of GSCs. S100A4+ cells in gliomas are enriched with cancer cells that have tumor-initiating and sphere-forming abilities, with the majority located in perivascular niches where GSCs are found. Selective ablation of S100A4-expressing cells was sufficient to block tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. We also identified S100A4 as a critical regulator of GSC self-renewal in mouse and patient-derived glioma tumorspheres. In contrast to previous reports of S100A4 as a reporter of EMT, we discovered that S100A4 is an upstream regulator of the master EMT regulators SNAIL2 and ZEB along with other mesenchymal transition regulators in glioblastoma. Overall, our results establish S100A4 as a central node in a molecular network that controls stemness and EMT in glioblastoma, suggesting S100A4 as a candidate therapeutic target.