We showed recently that mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) cells provide a buffering mechanism for salt-sensitive hypertension by driving interstitial lymphangiogenesis, modulating interstitial Na(+) clearance, and increasing endothelial NO synthase protein expression in response to very high dietary salt via a tonicity-responsive enhancer binding protein/vascular endothelial growth factor C re...

• A novel homoserine dehydrogenase ( An HSD) from A. nicotinovorans was identified. HSD not homologous to HSDs enzymes which are part of the aspartate pathway. insensitive feedback inhibition l -threonine and -methionine. This study provided possibility for biosynthesis -aspartate-β-semialdehyde. Homoserine (HSD) is a key enzyme in synthesis pathway family amino acids. can catalyze reversible r...

Using expressed sequence tag (EST) homology screening, a new human serine dependent phospholipase A2 (HSD-PLA2) was identified that has 40% amino acid identity with human low density lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (LDL-PLA2). HSD-PLA2 has very recently been purified and cloned from brain tissue but named PAF-AH II. However, because the homology with LDL-PLA2 suggested a broader substra...

Despite major advances in understanding monogenic causes of morbid obesity, the complex genetic and environmental etiology of idiopathic metabolic syndrome remains poorly understood. One hypothesis suggests that similarities between the metabolic disease of plasma glucocorticoid excess (Cushing's syndrome) and idiopathic metabolic syndrome results from increased glucocorticoid reamplification w...

In the present study, we report the mutation of the 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) gene in a family suffering from adrenocortical insufficiency. The index patient was clinically diagnosed with adrenocortical insufficiency. Peripheral venous blood (5 ml) was collected from the proband and 5 members of his family, and genomic DNA was extra...

RATIONALE Cyclooxygenase (COX)-derived prostanoids (PGs) are involved in blood pressure homeostasis. Both traditional nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that inhibit COX-1 and COX-2 and NSAIDs designed to be selective for inhibition of COX-2 cause sodium retention and elevate blood pressure. OBJECTIVE To elucidate the role of COX-2 in blood pressure homeostasis using COX-1>COX-2 mic...

The type I restriction-modification (hsd) systems of 73 Campylobacter jejuni strains were characterized according to their DNA and amino acid sequences, and/or gene organization. A number of new genes were identified which are not present in the sequenced strain NCTC 11168. The closely related organism Helicobacter pylori has three type I systems; however, no evidence was found that C. jejuni s...

BACKGROUND Taiwan has integrated the previous vertical tuberculosis (TB) control system into the general health care system. With the phase out of the specialized TB care system and the declining TB incidence, it is likely that clinical workers become less familiar with the presentation of TB, resulting in delay in TB diagnosis and treatment. METHODS We used the detailed information of health...

Recent questions have renewed concerns regarding possible irritation associated with intravenous (i.v.) injection of 7.5% hypertonic saline (HS) or hypertonic saline-dextran (HSD: 7.5% NaCl and 6% Dextran-70). This study investigated local injection site irritation associated with i.v., paravenous (p.v.), intramuscular (i.m.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of HSD or its individual components...