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Aim: Sarcopenia has been with a decrease in masseter muscle (MM) thickness in high-risk older populations. However, the relationship between sarcopenia and determinants of MM volume (MMV) in the general elderly population remains unclear., Method: In a cross-sectional study of 1,484 older adults in Tokyo, we evaluated MMV using 3D MRI scanning, appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASMM), handgrip strength, dietary intake, smoking, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels, and the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism. Participants were divided into quintiles based on MMV (Q1-5)., Results: Participants in our study had a mean age of 73.0 ± 5.3 years and their MMV (Men: 35.3 ± 7.8 mL, Women: 25.0 ± 5.1 mL) was significantly higher in men than in women. A significant association between MMV and sarcopenia was observed, with the lowest quintile (Q1) showing a higher risk compared to the highest quintile (Q5) in both sexes. Body mass index (BMI) and age were independent determinants of ASMM in both sexes, whereas BMI, but interestingly not age, was a determinant of MMV. Moreover, IGF-1 was positively correlated with MMV in both sexes; smoking was negatively correlated with MMV in women. The ACTN3 577XX genotype was only associated with smaller MMV in men., Conclusion: Low MMV increased the risk of sarcopenia, particularly in men. BMI and age strongly influenced ASMM, while MMV was only weakly associated with BMI and not with age. Notably, IGF-1 level was positively associated with MMV only, and ACTN3 genotype was associated to reduced MMV only in men., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Insects taste nonvolatile chemicals through gustatory receptors (Grs) and make choices for feeding, mating, and oviposition. To date, genome projects have identified 69 Gr genes in the silkworm, Bombyx mori; however, the expression sites of these Grs remain to be explored. In this study, we used reverse transcription (RT)-PCR to investigate expression of the B. mori Gr-6 (BmGr6) gene, a member of the putative sugar clade gene family in various tissues. BmGr6 is expressed in the midgut, central nervous system (CNS), and oral sensory organs. Moreover, immunohistochemistry using an anti-BmGr6 antiserum demonstrated that BmGr6 is expressed in cells by oral sensory organs, midgut and nervous system. Furthermore, double-immunohistochemistry indicated that BmGr6 is expressed in midgut enteroendocrine cells, also in CNS neurosecretory cells. In particular, a portion of BmGr6-expressing cells, in both midgut and CNS, secretes FMRFamide-related peptides (FaRPs). These results suggest that BmGr6 functions not only as a taste receptor, but also as a chemical sensor such as for the regulation of gut movement, physiological conditions, and feeding behavior of larvae., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are phytohormones that control several important agronomic traits, such as flowering, plant architecture, seed yield, and stress tolerance. To manipulate the BR levels in plant tissues using specific inhibitors of BR biosynthesis, a series of novel azole derivatives were synthesized and their inhibitory activity on BR biosynthesis was investigated. Structure-activity relationship studies revealed that 2RS, 4RS-1-[4-(2-allyloxyphenoxymethyl)-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-[1,3]dioxolan-2-ylmethyl]-1H-[1,2,4]triazole (G(2)) is a highly selective inhibitor of BR biosynthesis, with an IC(50) value of approximately 46 ± 2 nM, which is the most potent BR biosynthesis inhibitor observed to date. Use of gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis mutants and BR signaling mutants to analyze the mechanism of action of this synthetic series indicated that the primary site of action is BR biosynthesis. Experiments feeding BR biosynthesis intermediates to chemically treated Arabidopsis seedlings suggested that the target sites of this synthetic series are CYP90s, which are responsible for the C-22 and/or C-23 hydroxylation of campesterol., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of the maxillary galea of the silkworm were analyzed to identify proteins involved in food selection systems. From the 1251 redundant genes of the ESTs, we identified 7 odorant-binding protein-like genes (bmObpL), 6 takeout-like genes (bmToL), and 6 chemosensory protein genes (bmCsp). Quantitative RT-PCR analysis indicated that bmObpL1, bmObpL2, bmObpL3, bmObpL5, bmToL1, bmToL3, and bmorCsp15 were predominantly expressed in the larval oral appendages, such as the maxilla, labrum, labium and antenna. Immunocytochemical analysis indicated that the proteins of bmObpL1, bmObpL3, and bmToL1 were localized in the gustatory chemosensilla on the maxillary galea and olfactory sensilla in the antenna. The proteins encoded by bmObpL1 and bmObpL3 were detected in the gustatory chemosensilla of the epipharynx. However, bmObpL1 and bmToL1 were also detected in tactile hairs and in the epidermis of several chemosensory organs. The bmObpL2 protein was localized inside and in the epidermis around the chemosensilla, tactile hairs, and wide surface of the epipharynx. From these results, bmObpL3 is the most likely to have a dedicated role in chemoreception in the silkworm, Bombyx mori., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The molecular mechanisms underlying nodule formation and melanization, an important pathogen defense mechanism in insects, are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of BmSPH-1, a catalytically inactive Bombyx mori serine protease homolog, in nodule melanization induced by injection of Escherichia coli cells into the B. mori larval hemocoel. Addition of the melanization substrate L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) to newly formed nodules prompted nodule melanization, confirming that nodules contain activated prophenoloxidase needed for melanization. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblot studies demonstrated that BmSPH-1 interacts with BmLBP, a C-type lectin that binds Gram-negative bacteria, and that BmSPH-1 is present in a truncated, putatively activated form at the E. coli cell surface in nodules. Pretreatment of larvae with anti-BmSPH-1 serum inhibited nodule melanization in E. coli-injected larvae. These results suggest that BmSPH-1 regulates nodule melanization and is recruited into nodules from the hemolymph by BmLBP., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

C-type lectins can act as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in innate immunity. Previously, we identified two C-type lectins from silkworm (Bombyx mori), BmLBP and BmMBP, as PRRs. In the present study, we identified three homologs of these lectins by searching the silkworm genome database. These novel B. mori low-expression lectins were designated BmLEL-1, BmLEL-2, and BmLEL-3. Although Western-blot analysis failed to detect BmLEL-1, -2, or -3 in plasma, affinity precipitation of larval plasma with various microorganisms revealed that BmLEL-1 and -2 bind to rough and smooth strains of Gram-negative bacteria, respectively. BmLEL-1, -2, and -3 were found to be expressed in testis and ovary, where BmLEL-2 expression was up-regulated after bacteria infection. These results indicate that the novel C-type lectins might play a role in the innate immunity in these tissues as PRRs. Here, we discuss the roles and members of the C-type lectins as primary PRRs in B. mori cellular immunity.

The preparation of both enantiomers of 8-[1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-imidazol-1-yl-ethoxy] octanoic acid heptyl ester (JM-8686), a potent inhibitor of allene oxide synthase, has been achieved using 2,4-dichlorophenacyl bromide as a starting material. The key step was the asymmetric reduction of 1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-imidazol-1-yl-ethanone with chiral BINAL-H. The products were purified by chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to afford pure (R)-JM-8686 and (S)-JM-8686. The inhibitory activities and binding affinities of these enantiomers toward allene oxide synthase were determined. We found that the inhibition potency of (R)-JM-8686 is approximately 200 times greater than that of (S)-JM-8686, with IC(50) values of approximately 5+/-0.2 nM and 950+/-18 nM, respectively. The dissociation constants of (R)-JM-8686 and (S)-JM-8686 with respect to the recombinant allene oxide synthase were approximately 1.4+/-0.3 microM and 4.8+/-0.6 microM, respectively.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the author, Dr. Kimihito Yagami. Dr. Yagami's collaborators Yohei Uyama, Yasumasa Yoshizawa, Saburo Kakuta, Akira Yamaguchi, Masao Nagumo were not involved in the RT-PCR experiments and figure preparation The editor, Sundeep Khosla, was notified by an independent group that specific bands in Figure 3 of the paper appear to be duplicated. This was brought to the attention of the authors. Due to the long interval from the original publication of the paper, the raw data was not available; however, the authors subsequently chose to retract the entire manuscript, and the editor agreed.

To elucidate the effect of in-phase chest wall vibration (IPV) during exercise, 17 COPD male patients performed two constant-load exercise tests on a cycle ergometer with and without IPV. The Borg dyspnea score significantly decreased from IPV (-) to IPV (+) (from 13.6+/-2.9 to 12.5+/-2.9, P<0.01). IPV elicited a significant increase in V(O(2)) (P<0.005) and significant decreases in both VE/V(O(2)) (P<0.05) and respiratory frequency (P<0.05), but it did not elicit any changes in VE. The change in Borg score between IPV (+) and IPV (-) showed a significant positive correlation with % predicted V(O(2),max) (r=0.71) and FEV(1)/FVC (r=0.69). Patients in the responsive group (n=11) showed significantly lower FEV(1) (P<0.05) and higher DeltaN(2)/L (P<0.01) than patients in the non-responsive group (n=6). We conclude that IPV reduces dyspnea and improves respiratory efficiency during aerobic exercise in severe COPD.

The effects of the kappa-opioid receptor agonist, TRK-820, (-)-17-(cyclopropylmethyl)-3, 14beta-dihydroxy-4, 5alpha-epoxy-6beta-[N-methyl-trans-3-(3-furyl) acrylamido] morphinan hydrochloride, on the itch sensation were compared with those of histamine H1 receptor antagonists, using the mouse pruritogen-induced scratching model. Peroral administration of TRK-820 reduced the numbers of substance P- or histamine-induced scratches dose dependently. No obvious suppression of the spontaneous locomotor activity was observed at the doses used for the experiments, indicating that the inhibition of scratches was not due to the effect on general behavior. Furthermore, the scratching inhibitory activity of TRK-820 was dose dependently antagonized by the specific kappa-opioid receptor antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine, suggesting that the inhibitory activity was mediated via kappa-opioid receptors. Histamine H1 receptor antagonists, chlorpheniramine and ketotifen, did not inhibit substance P-induced scratches, or did so only partially. Both antihistamines inhibited the histamine-induced scratches completely. These results suggest that TRK-820 has antipruritic activity which is mediated by kappa-opioid receptors, and is effective in both antihistamine-sensitive and -resistant pruritus.