The optoelectronic properties of single‐crystal rubrene are investigated by microwave and optical spectroscopy, demonstrating the anisotropy, ambipolarity, and dynamics of the charge carriers. They ...are discussed in terms of charge recombination, exciton‐exciton annihilation, quantum efficiency, triplet contribution, the extinction coefficient of radical cations/anions, and density functional theory.
Summary
The NLRP3 inflammasome, an intracellular sensor consisting of the nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain‐like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), the adaptor protein ...apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein containing a caspase‐recruitment domain (ASC), and procaspase‐1, plays critical roles in host defense against microbial pathogens by inducing production of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and IL‐18. Mycoplasma salivarium and Mycoplasma pneumoniae cells activated murine bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMMs) to induce production of IL‐1α, IL‐1β, and IL‐18. The IL‐1β production‐inducing activities of these mycoplasmas toward BMMs from Toll‐like receptor 2 (TLR2)‐deficient mice were significantly attenuated compared with those from C57BL/6 mice (B6BMMs). This result suggests the possibility that their lipoproteins as TLR2 agonists are involved in the activity. Lipoproteins of M. salivarium and M. pneumoniae (MsLP and MpLP), and the M. salivarium‐derived lipopeptide FSL‐1 induced IL‐1β production by B6BMMs, but not by BMMs from caspase‐1‐, NLRP3‐ or ASC‐deficient mice. The activities of MsLP and MpLP were not downregulated by the proteinase K treatment, suggesting that the active sites are their N‐terminal lipopeptide moieties. B6BMMs internalized the mycoplasmal N‐terminal lipopeptide FSL‐1 at least 30 min after incubation, FSL‐1‐containing endosomes started to fuse with the lysosomes around 2 hours, and then FSL‐1 translocated into the cytosol from LAMP‐1+ endosomes. The artificial delivery of FSL‐1 into the cytosol of B6BMMs drastically enhanced the IL‐1β production‐inducing activity. FSL‐1 as well as the representative NLRP3 inflammasome activator nigericin induced the NLRP3/ASC speck, but FSL‐1 located in a compartment different from the NLRP3/ASC speck.
Summary
Interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) plays crucial roles in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. It is produced after the processing of pro‐IL‐1β by caspase‐1, which is activated by the inflammasome‐a ...multiprotein complex comprising nucleotide‐binding domain leucine‐rich repeat‐containing receptor (NLR), the adaptor protein apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein containing a caspase‐recruitment domain (ASC), and procaspase‐1. Mycoplasma salivarium preferentially inhabits the gingival sulcus and the incidence and number of organisms in the oral cavity increase significantly with the progression of periodontal disease. To initially clarify the association of this organism with periodontal diseases, this study determined whether it induces IL‐1β production by innate immune cells such as dendritic cells or macrophages by using Mycoplasma pneumoniae as a positive control. Both live and heat‐killed M. salivarium and M. pneumoniae cells induced IL‐1β production by XS106 murine dendritic cells as well as pyroptosis. The activities were significantly downregulated by silencing of caspase‐1. Bone‐marrow‐derived macrophage (BMMs) from wild‐type and NLR‐containing protein 3 (NLRP3)‐, ASC‐, and caspase‐1‐deficient mice were examined for IL‐1β production in response to these mycoplasmas. Live M. salivarium and M. pneumoniae cells almost completely lost the ability to induce IL‐1β production by BMMs from ASC‐ and caspase‐1–deficient mice. Their activities toward BMMs from NLRP3‐deficient mice were significantly but not completely attenuated. These results suggest that live M. salivarium and M. pneumoniae cells can activate several types of inflammasomes including the NLRP3 inflammasome. Both M. salivarium and M. pneumoniae cells can activate THP‐1 human monocytic cells to induce IL‐1β production. Hence, the present finding that M. salivarium induces IL‐1β production by dendritic cells and macrophages may suggest the association of this organism with periodontal diseases.
Fishing of graphitic nanotubes with a macroscopic glass hook: A ∼30 mm long fiber (see figure and cover) is readily processed from a suspension of self‐assembled nanotubes with one‐handed helical ...chirality, formed from the (R)‐ or (S)‐enantiomer of chiral amphiphile 2. The majority of the nanotubes in the fiber are unidirectionally oriented along the fiber axis. Upon doping with I2, the fiber displays an anisotropic electrical conduction along the fiber axis more than an order of magnitude greater than that across the fiber axis.
Introduction It is indicated that Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB) increase the risk of motor vehicle crashes and injuries because of their daytime sleepiness. However, to date the potential SDB ...without daytime sleepiness also increase the risk of accidents. Therefore, not only the subjective sleepiness but also the objective sleepiness are needed to measure for the detection of SDB. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of severity of SDB with subjective sleepiness by Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and objective sleepiness by Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT). Materials and methods Among police officers who usually drive by their work, 928 men aged 22–59 years mean age was 41.4 years were tested by ESS questionnaire and 10 min PVT and were measured blood oxygen saturation level using pulse-oximeters during night. In PVT, participants were compelled to push buttons right after increasing number was displayed, and they were estimated objective sleepiness by reaction time. We selected three indicators in this study; Fastest 10% RT, Mean 1/RT and Slowest 10% 1/RT. Data was divided into three groups by 3% oxygen desaturation index (3%ODI)<5, 5–15 and ⩾15, and we examined associations of severity of SDB with mean values of ESS and three PVT indicators of each groups. Results We calculated age-adjusted mean values of subjective and objective sleepiness indicators for each 3% ODI groups <5, 5–15 and ⩾15, and found the positive associations of severity of SDB with subjective and objective sleepiness; ESS 5.1, 5.7, 5.9 ( p for trend = 0.02), Fastest 10% RT195.3, 196.2, 198.5 ( p for trend = 0.05), Mean 1/RT4.28, 4.22, 4.18 ( p for trend = 0.02), Slowest 10% 1/RT 3.01, 2.93, 2.87 ( p for trend = 0.01). Additionally we also compared the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves of ESS with those of each PVT indicator for severe or moderate SDB (3%ODI ⩾15), and then each PVT indicator were more evident but non-significant difference from ESS ( p < 0.10 for differences from ESS). Conclusion Our study showed that the severity of SDB is positively associated with subjective and objective sleepiness indicators, but relationship of SDB with objective sleepiness is tend to be more evident than with subjective sleepiness. Acknowledgement We are grateful to Dr. Yasuhiko Tanno for his technical assistance.
Summary
1 Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a useful pharmacological tool for distinguishing neural and myogenic responses of isolated visceral organs to drugs. Although TTX does not generally affect smooth ...muscle tonus, in this study, we have found that TTX causes contraction of the mouse colon. The aim of this study was to characterize this TTX‐induced contraction in the mouse gastrointestinal tract.
2 Longitudinal and circular muscle strips from the stomach and small intestine were less sensitive to TTX. However, TTX contracted both smooth muscle strips from the proximal colon and distal colon.
3 Pretreatment with TTX, Nω‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME), (1)H‐1,2,4oxadiazolo4,3‐aquinoxalin‐1‐one (ODQ) and apamin inhibited the TTX‐induced contraction. l‐NAME, ODQ or apamin itself caused contraction in the colon but not in the gastric and small intestinal strips. Region dependency of l‐NAME, ODQ and apamin‐induced contraction correlated with that of TTX‐induced contraction.
4 l‐Arginine but not d‐arginine inhibited contractility of the colonic strips without affecting the contractility of muscle strips from other regions. Sodium nitroprusside caused strong relaxation of the colonic strips.
5 1,1‐Dimethyl‐4‐phenylpiperazinium (DMPP) caused relaxation of proximal and distal colons, which was significantly decreased by l‐NAME or apamin.
6 In conclusion, among mouse gastrointestinal preparations, TTX induces contraction of colonic strips preferentially through blockade of potent tonic inhibitory neural outflow, which involves nitrergic and apamin‐sensitive pathways. Colon‐specific responses to l‐arginine, l‐NAME, ODQ and apamin support the hypothesis that there is a continuous suppression of colonic motility by enteric inhibitory neurons.
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