Wavelength- and Tissue-dependent Variations in the Mutagenicity of Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers in Mouse Skin

The cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) is a main mutagenic photolesion in DNA produced by UVR. We previously studied the wavelength-dependent kinetics of mutation induction efficiency using monochromatic UVR sources and transgenic mice developed for mutation assay and established the action spectra of UVR mutagenicity in the mouse epidermis and dermis. Here, we further established the action spectra of CPD and pyrimidine(6-4)pyrimidone photoproduct formation in the same tissues and in naked DNA using the same sources and mouse strain. Quantitative ELISA helped us estimate the photolesion formation efficiencies on a molecule-per-nucleotide basis. Using these action spectra, we confirmed that the UVR mutation mostly depends on CPD formation. Moreover, the mutagenicity of a CPD molecule (CPD mutagenicity) was found to vary by wavelength, peaking at approximately 313 nm in both the epidermis and dermis with similar wavelength-dependent patterns. Thus, the CPD formation efficiency is a main determinant of UVR mutagenicity in mouse skin, whereas a wavelength-dependent variation in the qualitative characteristics of CPD molecules also affects the mutagenic consequences of UVR insults. In addition, the CPD mutagenicity was always higher in the epidermis than in the dermis, suggesting different cellular responses to UVR between the two tissues irrespective of the wavelength.     

Production yields of H(D) atoms in the reactions of N(2)(A (3)Sigma(u) (+)) with C(2)H(2), C(2)H(4), and their deuterated variants

The production yields of H(D) atoms in the reactions of N(2)(A (3)Sigma(u) (+)) with C(2)H(2), C(2)H(4), and their deuterated variants were determined. N(2)(A (3)Sigma(u) (+)) was produced by excitation transfer between Xe(6s[32](1)) and ground-state N(2) followed by collisional relaxation. Xe(6s[32](1)) was produced by two-photon laser excitation of Xe(6p[12](0)) followed by concomitant amplified spontaneous emission. H(D) atoms were detected by using vacuum-ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). The H(D)-atom yields were evaluated from the LIF intensities and the overall rate constants for the quenching, which were determined from the temporal profiles of the NO tracer emission. The absolute yields were evaluated by assuming that the yield for NH(3)(ND(3)) is 0.9. Although no HD isotope effects were observed in the overall rate constants, there were isotope effects in the H(D)-atom yields. The H-atom yields for C(2)H(2) and C(2)H(4) were 0.52 and 0.30, respectively, while the D-atom yields for C(2)D(2) and C(2)D(4) were 0.33 and 0.13, respectively. The presence of isotope effects in yields suggests that H(2)(D(2)) molecular elimination processes are competing and that molecular elimination is more dominant in deuterated species than in hydrides.     

Photo-hydrogen-evolving molecular devices driving visible-light-induced water reduction into molecular hydrogen: structure-activity relationship and reaction mechanism

This article summarizes the ongoing studies on the photo-hydrogen-evolving molecular devices (PHEMDs) made up of polypyridyl Ru(II) photosensitizers and Pt(II)-based molecular catalysts, carried out in the authors' group in the last two decades. The H(2)-evolving activities of Pt(II)-based molecular catalysts demonstrated by various experimental evidences are first described. Then the structure-activity relationship, some important factors required for the higher catalytic activity, and several important insights into the mechanism of photochemical H(2) evolution catalyzed by the Ru(II)Pt(II)-based PHEMDs will be discussed in detail.     

Synthesis of the sphingolipid activator protein, saposin C, using an azido-protected O-acyl isopeptide as an aggregation-disrupting element

In order to achieve an efficient synthesis of highly hydrophobic proteins by the native chemical ligation (NCL) reaction, we examined to incorporate the O-acyl isopeptide method, which is known to improve the solubility of the segment, to the NCL reaction: a peptide thioester having O-acyl isopeptide structures is prepared by the Boc mode solid-phase method using an azido group as a protecting group for the isopeptide site, and then ligated with C-terminal segment with an in situ reduction of the azido group followed by an O- to N-acyl shift. This method was successfully applied to the synthesis of the sphingolipid activator protein, saposin C.     

Magnetic phases of a highly frustrated magnet, ZnCr2O4, up to an ultrahigh magnetic field of 600 T

The Faraday rotation and magneto-optical absorption spectral measurements were conducted to reveal the full-magnetization process and map out a magnetic phase diagram of a typical geometrical frustrated magnet, ZnCr(2)O(4), by using the electro-magnetic flux compression method in ultrahigh magnetic fields up to 600 T. A fully polarized ferromagnetic phase is observed in which the absorption spectra associated with an exciton-magnon-phonon transition disappears. Furthermore, prior to the fully polarized ferromagnetic phase above 410 T, we found a novel magnetic phase above 350 T at 4.6 K followed by a canted 3∶1 phase.     

Synthesis of 5-Thio-D-Mannose

Abstract

5-Thio-D-mannose (1), the first 5-thiosugar found recently in nature, was synthesized in 12 steps from D-mannose.     

Effects of gadoxetic acid on liver elasticity measurement by using magnetic resonance elastography

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) on measurements of liver stiffness by using magnetic resonance elastography (MRE). In this study, 104 consecutive patients (mean age, 67.7±9.4 years) underwent MRE using a 1.5-T MR scanner equipped with a cylindrical passive driver that was placed across the right chest wall for delivering vibrations. Axial gradient-echo images, which were automatically converted to elastograms that represented stiffness (kPa), were acquired using a continuous sinusoidal vibration of 60 Hz. Two raters independently placed a region of interest on the right lobe of the liver on the elastograms obtained before and after Gd-EOB-DTPA was administered. Liver stiffness was measured using these two elastograms and compared using a paired t test and correlation analysis. No significant difference was observed in liver stiffness before and after Gd-EOB-DTPA was administered (Rater 1, P=.1200; Rater 2, P=.3585). The correlation coefficients were 0.986 (Rater 1) and 0.984 (Rater 2), indicating excellent correlation between the stiffness values before and after Gd-EOB-DTPA was administered. Liver stiffness measured by MRE did not differ before and after Gd-EOB-DTPA was administered.     

Influence of groove depth and surface profile on fluorescence enhancement by grating-coupled surface plasmon resonance

The fluorescence intensity of a sample placed on a metal grating pattern is enhanced due to excitation by the electric field of the grating-coupled surface plasmon resonance (GC-SPR). The dependence of the enhancement on groove depth and surface profile was studied with the aim of improving the sensitivity of fluorescence detection. The enhancement was found to depend on the groove depth, with intensity most enhanced on grating substrate of about 20 nm depth, which produced an intensity about 30 times greater than that on a flat borosilicate glass substrate. Rigorous coupled wave analysis calculation showed that the shape of the groove influenced GC-SPR, suggesting that controlling not only the depth but also the shape of the grating surface profile can be an important factor in improving the sensitivity of detection by fluorescence microscopy.     

Impairment in Physical Function and Mental Status in a Survivor of Severe COVID-19 at Discharge from an Acute Care a Hospital: A Case Report

Background: Early mobilization and rehabilitation interventions should be provided to patients who survived severe COVID-19 to improve their physical function and activities of daily living (ADL). However, their physical and mental status at discharge has not been well described in Japan. We report the intervention provided for a survivor of severe COVID-19 and his physical and mental status at discharge from an acute care hospital. Case Report: A 62-year-old man was admitted to our emergency department with a diagnosis of COVID-19 with severe acute respiratory dysfunction. He had complicated intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) and delirium during mechanical ventilation therapy. Rehabilitation intervention was initiated on the seventh day post-admission and was gradually performed according to his respiratory and hemodynamic status. As a result of the rehabilitation intervention, ICU-AW and cognitive function gradually improved. On hospital day 37, he independently performed basic ADL and was discharged. However, he lost approximately 9% of his body weight at discharge. In addition, his hand grip strength and six-minute walking distance were lower and shorter than the reference values, respectively. His mental component summary of the Short Form-8™ was lower than the national standard deviation for the Japanese population. Conclusion: Although survivors of severe COVID-19 who undergo early rehabilitation can be discharged from an acute care hospital, they may have several impairments in their physical and mental status, including muscle function, diffusion capacity, exercise tolerance, and health-related quality of life.