Summary
Background
Eosinophil peroxidase and myeloperoxidase halogenate tyrosine residues in plasma proteins and generate 3‐bromotyrosine (BY) and 3‐chlorotyrosine (CY), respectively.
Objectives
(1) ...To estimate urinary concentrations of BY and CY in asthmatic patients. (2) To investigate BY concentration in relation to urinary leukotriene E4 (LTE4) concentration in order to evaluate the activation of eosinophils in patients with aspirin‐induced asthma (AIA).
Methods
BY and CY were quantified with a gas chromatograph‐mass spectrometer using 13C‐labelled compounds as internal standards.
Results
(1) Activation of eosinophils and neutrophils by immobilized IgG1 induced preferential formation of BY and CY, respectively. (2) A significantly higher concentration of BY was observed in the urine from asthmatic patients than in that from healthy control subjects (45±21.7 vs. 22.6±10.8 ng/mg‐creatinine, P<0.01). CY concentration was also elevated in the urine from asthmatic patients (4.4±3.2 vs. 1.5±1.0 ng/mg‐creatinine, P<0.01). (3) After intravenous aspirin challenge of aspirin‐induced asthmatic patients, the concentration of BY in urine did not significantly change. No significant change was also observed in the ratio of BY concentration to total tyrosine concentration in plasma proteins. In contrast, the concentration of urinary LTE4 significantly increased after the intravenous aspirin challenge.
Conclusion
Determination of BY and CY concentrations may be useful for monitoring the activation of eosinophils and neutrophils in asthmatic patients, respectively. After aspirin challenge of AIA patients, the increased concentration of urinary LTE4 did not accompany changes in BY concentration in both urine and plasma proteins. These results may preclude the activation of eosinophils after aspirin challenge in patients with AIA.
Photon Factory storage ring (PF-ring) is the 2.5 GeV synchrotron radiation light source in KEK. After the earthquake hit in 2011, the injection efficiency using the conventional pulsed kicker and ...septum system has decreased. The primary cause of the problem seems to be the change of the injection parameters. To analyze the present injection parameter, we carried out the simulations 1 and beam studies. In this paper, we show the beam based estimation of the position and divergence angle of the injected beam at the exit of the injection septum magnet.
The asymmetric hydrogenation of aryl- and alkyl-substituted enamides catalyzed by Rh-BisP* complex affords optically active amides with very high ee values. The Rh-MiniPHOS catalyst gives somewhat ...less satisfactory results. Hydrogenation of the aryl-substituted enamides with (S,S)-BisP*-Rh catalyst gives R-amides, whereas the t-Bu- and 1-adamantyl-substituted enamides give S-products with 99% ee. Reaction of Rh(BisP*)(CD3OD)2BF4 (11) with CH2C(C6H5)NHCOCH3 (5) gives two diastereomers of the catalyst−substrate complex (12a,b), which interconvert reversibly by both intra- and intermolecular pathways as shown by EXSY data. Only one isomer in equilibrium with solvate complex 11 was detected for each of the catalyst−substrate complexes 17 and 18 obtained from CH2C(t-Bu)NHCOCH3 (6) or CH2C(1-adamantyl)NHCOCH3 (7). Hydrogenation of these equilibrium mixtures at −100 °C gave monohydride intermediates 19 and 20, respectively. In these monohydrides the Rh atom is bound to the β-carbon. A new effect of the significant decrease of ee was found for the asymmetric hydrogenation of CH2C(C6H4OCH3-o)NHCOCH3 (21), when H2 was substituted for HD or D2.
The high-luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) upgrade project aims to increase the LHC peak luminosity up to 5×10 34 cm -2 s -1 and the integrated luminosity up to3000 fb -1 . To achieve this ...goal, the quadrupole and dipole magnets around the two interaction points, i.e., the ATLAS and the CMS, will be upgraded. The High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) is in charge of the development of beam separation dipole (D1). In new D1, the coil aperture is enlarged to be 150 mm, and an integrated field of 35 T · m is required at 1.9 K and 12.0 kA. This paper reports the current status of the development of a 2-m model magnet.
The High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) has been developing the beam separation dipole magnet for the High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) upgrade. The magnet has a coil ...aperture of 150 mm, using Nb-Ti superconducting cable, and a dipole magnetic field of 5.6 T will be generated at 12 kA, at 1.9 K, to provide the field integral of 35 T·m. To verify the mechanical behavior of the magnet and to optimize the fabrication processes, we develop a 200-mm short model, which is the cross-sectional cutout of the magnet. The development includes validation of a series of fabrication processes. Coil stress in pole was monitored by strain gauges during collaring, yoking, and cooldown test.
Summary
Background
Collection of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a simple, non‐invasive method of obtaining samples from the airways and it can be repeated in short intervals without side effects; ...therefore, it provides an opportunity to monitor the changes in concentration of inflammatory mediators in the airways. However, EBC analysis still has several unresolved issues.
Objective
To better understand the characteristics of EBC, we compared cysteinyl leukotriene (CysLT) concentrations between bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and EBC. We also attempted to correct CysLT concentrations in BALF and EBC diluted with saline and water vapour using biological markers.
Methods
EBC was collected from 14 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis before bronchoscopy. We measured CysLT concentrations and also quantified tyrosine, urea and total protein as possible biomarkers for correcting dilution.
Results
(1) We have validated the quantification of CysLTs in EBC. (2) Although a significant correlation was observed among tyrosine and urea concentrations in BALF, urea and total protein concentrations were below the detection limit in EBC. (3) CysLT concentrations were higher in BALF than in EBC (median, 15.96 pg/mL vs. 5.5 pg/mL; P=0.001) and there was no correlation of CysLT concentrations in BALF with those in EBC. A significant correlation of the ratio of total CysLT concentration to tyrosine concentration (CysLT/Y) in EBC with that in BALF was observed (r=0.547, P=0.043). (4) CysLT/Y in EBC correlated with serum KL‐6 concentration and total cell count in BALF, and CysLT/Y in BALF also correlated with exhaled NO concentration and %VC.
Conclusions
CysLT/Y in EBC significantly correlated with that in BALF and some clinical parameters correlated with CysLT/Y. Tyrosine concentration may be used to correct the dilution error for CysLT concentrations, and CysLT/Y in EBC can be a surrogate marker for CysLT concentrations in BALF.
Summary
Background
Aspirin challenge of aspirin‐intolerant asthma (AIA) patients causes a significant increase in leukotriene E4 (LTE4) concentration in urine. However, knowledge on leukotriene B4 ...(LTB4) generation in patients with AIA is insufficient. Recent research has demonstrated that exogenously administered LTB4 is excreted as glucuronide into the urine in human healthy subjects.
Objective
The purpose of this study is to estimate urinary LTB4 glucuronide (LTBG) concentration in the clinically stable condition in healthy subjects and asthmatic patients and to investigate changes in urinary LTBG concentration in patients with AIA after aspirin challenge.
Methods
A provocation test was performed by intravenous aspirin challenge. After urine was hydrolysed by β‐glucuronidase, the fraction containing LTB4 was purified by high‐performance liquid chromatography and LTB4 concentration was quantified by enzyme immunoassay. Urinary LTBG concentration was calculated as the difference between the concentration obtained with hydrolysis and that without hydrolysis.
Results
(1) After hydrolysis, the presence of urinary LTB4 was verified by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry‐selected ion monitoring. (2) The urinary LTBG concentration was significantly higher in the asthmatic patients than in the healthy subjects (median, 5.37 pg/mg creatinine range 1.2–13 vs. 3.32 pg/mg creatinine range, 0.14–10.5, P=0.0159). (3) The patients with AIA (n=7), but not those with aspirin‐tolerant asthma (n=6), showed significant increases in LTBG and LTE4 excretions after aspirin challenge. (4) When the concentrations after aspirin challenge were analysed simultaneously, a significant linear correlation was observed between urinary LTBG concentration and urinary LTE4 concentration in patients with AIA (Spearman's rank correlation test, r=0.817, P=0.0003).
Conclusion
LTBG is present in human urine, albeit at a concentration lower than urinary LTE4. In addition to a marked increase in cysteinyl‐leukotriene production, aspirin challenge induced LTB4 production in AIA patients.
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