Relative inhibitory activities of the eluted fractions on the contractile responses to SP (10 nM) and acetylcholine (ACh, 100 nM) of the guinea pig ileum are shown by black bars.

Magnetic resonance imaging with high static magnetic fields (SMFs) has become widely used for medical imaging purposes because SMFs cause fewer genotoxic side effects than ionizing radiation (IR). However, the effect of exposure to high SMFs on global transcription is little understood. We demonstrate that genes involved in motor activity, actin binding, cell adhesion, and cuticles are transiently and specifically induced following exposure to 3 or 5 T SMF in the experimental model metazoan Caenorhabditis elegans. In addition, transient induction of hsp12 family genes was observed after SMF exposure. The small-heat shock protein gene hsp16 was also induced but to a much lesser extent, and the LacZ-stained population of hsp-16.1::lacZ transgenic worms did not significantly increase after exposure to SMFs with or without a second stressor, mild heat shock. Several genes encoding apoptotic cell-death activators and secreted surface proteins were upregulated after IR, but were not induced by SMFs. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR analyses for 12 of these genes confirmed these expression differences between worms exposed to SMFs and IR. In contrast to IR, exposure to high SMFs did not induce DNA double-strand breaks or germline cell apoptosis during meiosis. These results suggest that the response of C. elegans to high SMFs is unique and capable of adjustment during long exposure, and that this treatment may be less hazardous than other therapeutic tools.

Accumulation of intracellular sorbitol, the reduced product of glucose, catalyzed by aldose reductase (AR) (EC 1.1.1.21), is thought to be the cause of the development of diabetic complications. Our attention is focused on finding compounds which inhibit AR without significantly inhibiting aldehyde reductase (ALR) (EC 1.1.1.2). The uracil or 2,4-dioxoimidazolidine skeleton having the benzothiazolyl or 4-chloro-3-nitrophenyl group as an aryl part indicated not only extremely high AR inhibitory activity but also AR selectivity. The ratio of IC50(ALR)/IC50(AR) of 3-[(5-chlorobenzothiazol-2-yl)methyl]-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2,4- dioxopyrimidine-1-acetic acid (47d) was more than 17 500. The uracil skeleton with the benzothiazolyl moiety seemed to be the best combination for selective AR inhibition.

The expression of human glutathione S-transferase-r (GST-r) in resected primary esophageal tumors and in matching normal esophageal mucosa from 25 patients undergoing radical surgery was measured by RNA blot hybridization. The RNA transcript levels of GST-r in the tumor tissues were higher than those in normal tissues in 20 of 25 cases (80%). The mean G S T -r mRNA value in the tumor tissues (n = 25) was significantly ( P < 0.01) elevated as compared with that in background mucosa (n = 29), and in ten of 25 tumors (40%) the level of GST-r mRNA exceeded the mean normal tissue value by two standard deviations (normal mean value + 2 X SD). The results obtained from the current experiment thus suggests that GST-T might be a useful marker for human esophageal cancer. No correlation between GST-r mRNA level and clinical stage or histologic characteristics was apparent.

Japan has been recognized as having successfully controlled the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. This study aims to gather insights to combat the spread of infection in our daily lives by observing our purchasing behavior. We use Point of Sales (POS) data from supermarkets, convenience stores, home centers, drug stores, and electronics retail stores for a nationwide analysis. Our analysis revealed the following. First, the Japanese people actively prevented the spread of infection by voluntarily wearing masks, using alcohol-based disinfectants, and gargling. Second, they willingly stayed home during the semi-lockdown. Third, they continued to purchase infection prevention essentials during periods of both low and high levels of infection. We conclude that continuing to wear masks, wash and sanitize hands, and gargle, along with spending more time at home to maintain safe distancing, will be effective in reducing the spread of the virus and combatting the pandemic. Finally, the infections and deaths were primarily concentrated in the metropolitan area and Kansai region, where the nature of the spread of the infection was different from that in small and middle-sized prefectures.