A closer look at energy transduction in muscle.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Onishi H
PROVIDER: S-EPMC1924791 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC5481269 | biostudies-literature
Project description:A homologous series of pore-forming amphiphiles (PFAs), derived from cholic acid, lysine, and spermine, have been used as "thermal gates" for releasing sucrose from liposomes made from 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)] (sodium salt) [DPPG]. Binding measurements have established that these PFAs are fully bound to these liposomes in their gel state and that their transfer to fluid phase membranes is negligible. Release experiments have shown that thermal gating is sensitive to both the size and the concentration of the PFA that are used. Increases in the extent of release of sucrose with increasing temperature that have been found in the gel/fluid coexistence region indicate the existence of heterogeneity among the liposomes.
| S-EPMC2765578 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundGiven the prominence of Cheap Whites in illicit tobacco discussions, we examined various definitions, market presence, brand proliferation, manufacturers, production locations, trademark ownership, prices and compliance with tax stamp and warning labels.MethodsData from peer-reviewed and grey literature, newspapers, trademark registries, governments/international organisation reports, and the tobacco industry were contrasted with two visual legal requirements (tax stamps and warning labels) and prices from the Tobacco Pack Surveillance System (TPackSS).ResultsMultiple sources identified 82 Cheap White brands and 53 manufacturers operating at least 82 production facilities. One-third of these manufacturers are in the free zones of Russia, Cyprus and the UAE. Two-thirds of the 37 Cheap White brands in the TPackSS had neither the correct health warning nor the required tax stamp in at least one country where they were purchased. Cheap Whites are on average less expensive than all other brands, but the price gap is often not as large as anecdotally reported. The cheapest Cheap White cigarettes purchased in one of the TPackSS countries irrespective of the presence of legal signs were still more expensive than the least expensive other brands satisfying both legal requirements.ConclusionsWe confirmed that many Cheap White brands do not comply with the legal requirements in countries where they are sold, but also found that some of these cigarettes appear to be sold legally even outside their country of origin. The presence of untaxed Cheap Whites undermines tobacco tax policies, while the availability of legal cheap cigarettes is a public health concern.
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Project description:The transient receptor potential subfamily vanilloid type 1 ion channel (TRPV1), located in the peripheral nervous system has been implicated in the perception of pain and possesses the ability to be modulated by various cannabinoid ligands. Because of its location, TRPV1 is an ideal target for the development of novel pain therapeutics. Literature precedent suggests a wide range of cannabinoid ligands can activate TRPV1, but the location and mode of entry is not well understood. Understanding the modes in which cannabinoids can enter and bind to TRPV1 can aid in rational drug design. The first endogenous ligand identified for TRPV1 was the endocannabinoid, anandamide (AEA). The Molecular Dynamics (MD) studies discussed here investigate the entry mode of AEA into TRPV1. During the course of the 10+ microsecond MD simulations, two distinct binding modes were observed: AEA binding in the tunnel formed by the S1-S4 region, and AEA binding in the vanilloid binding pocket, with preference for the former. Unbiased MD simulations have revealed multiple spontaneous binding events into the S1-S4 region, with only one event of AEA binding the vanilloid binding pocket. These results suggest that AEA enters TRPV1 via a novel location between helices S1-S4 via the lipid bilayer.
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Project description:Complicated grief (CG) is characterized by a wide range of symptoms, including identity confusion or a sense that a part of oneself has died with the decedent. Although identity confusion is a commonly reported feature of CG, little is known about which specific aspects of self-concept are compromised. In the current study, we used qualitative coding methods to investigate which aspects of the sense of self differed between those with and without CG in a sample of 77 bereaved adults. Relative to individuals without CG, those with CG provided fewer descriptors of their self-concept overall (lower self-fluency), provided sets of descriptors that consisted of fewer categories (lower self-diversity), and had lower proportions of self-relevant preferences and activities. However, group differences were not observed for proportions of any other categories of self-concept descriptors, including references to the loss, the past, or distress-related self-statements. Directions for future research and clinical implications are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
| S-EPMC7370894 | biostudies-literature
Project description:α-Helices are the most abundant structures found within proteins and play an important role in the determination of the global structure of proteins and their function. Representation of α-helical structures with the common (φ, ψ) dihedrals, as in Ramachandran maps, does not provide informative details regarding the helical structure apart for the abstract geometric meaning of the dihedrals. We present an alternative coordinate system that describes helical conformations in terms of residues per turn (ρ) and angle (ϑ) between backbone carbonyls relative to the helix direction through an approximate linear transformation between the two coordinates system (φ, ψ and ρ, ϑ). In this way, valuable information on the helical structure becomes directly available. Analysis of α-helical conformations acquired from the Protein Data Bank (PDB) demonstrates that a conformational energy function of the α-helix backbone can be harmonically approximated on the (ρ, ϑ) space, which is not applicable to the (φ, ψ) space due to the diagonal distribution of the conformations. The observed trends of helical conformations obtained from the PDB are captured by four conceptual simulations that theoretically examine the effects of residue bulkiness, external electric field, and externally applied mechanical forces. Flory's isolated pair hypothesis is shown to be partially correct for α-helical conformations.
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Project description:Although bacteria are commonly co-occurring in microalgal cultivation and production systems, little is known about their community structure and how it might be affected by specific microalgal groups or growth conditions. A better understanding about the underlying factors that determine the growth of specific bacterial populations is not only important for optimizing microalgal production processes, but also in the context of product quality when the algal biomass is to be used for future food or feed. We analyzed the bacterial community composition associated with nine microalgal strains in stock culture, maintained in two different growth media, to explore how specific taxonomic microalgal groups, microalgal origin, or the growth medium affect the bacterial community composition. Furthermore, we monitored the bacterial community composition for three Phaeodactylum strains during batch cultivation in bubble columns to examine if the bacterial composition alters during cultivation. Our results reveal that different microalgal genera, kept at the same cultivation conditions over many years, displayed separate and unique bacterial communities, and that different strains of the same genus had very similar bacterial community compositions, despite originating from different habitats. However, when maintained in a different growth medium, the bacterial composition changed for some. During batch cultivation, the bacterial community structure remained relatively stable for each Phaeodactylum strain. This indicates that microalgae seem to impact the development of the associated bacterial communities and that different microalgal genera could create distinct conditions that select for dominance of specific bacteria. However, other factors such as the composition of growth medium also affect the formation of the bacterial community structure.
| S-EPMC9908576 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The Non-Structural 1 (NS1) protein is a multifactorial protein of type A influenza viruses that plays an important role in the virulence of the virus. A large amount of what we know about this protein has been obtained from studies using human influenza isolates and, consequently, the human NS1 protein. The current global interest in avian influenza, however, has highlighted a number of sequence and functional differences between the human and avian NS1. This review discusses these differences in addition to describing potential uses of NS1 in the management and control of avian influenza outbreaks.
| S-EPMC3185538 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Extended sleep onset latency (SOL), or "sleep onset insomnia," can decrease total sleep time, increasing risk for many health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality. Sleep disorders persist in the United States despite current behavioral/pharmaceutical remedies, with 10% to 15% of the population suffering from insomnia. Mind-body therapies offer additional solutions, as meditation has been correlated with decreased SOL. More research on use of mind-body practices for insomnia is needed. This study investigates the guided meditation practice of Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep) as a promising intervention for sleep disorders because of its purported ability to induce mental, physical, and emotional relaxation. In this pilot study, we address the feasibility of Yoga Nidra for insomnia, appropriateness of our selected measurement systems, and effect of Yoga Nidra on brainwaves, sleep onset, and the autonomic nervous system. Our study sample includes 22 adults, ages 18-45, with insomnia. The design includes two clinic visits (V1, lying quietly for 90 min; V2, randomization to 90-min lying quietly vs. 30-min Yoga Nidra plus 60-min lying quietly), taking place 1 to 14 days apart. Outcomes measured during/after Yoga Nidra (vs. control) include sleep onset, electroencephalography (EEG) power, heart rate variability (HRV), and respiratory rate. Self-reported mood and anxiety will be measured before/after each visit. Resulting physiological, psychological, and feasibility data will be used to inform future clinical studies of Yoga Nidra for sleep and relaxation.
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Project description:Thrombin is a key enzyme in the maintenance of normal hemostatic function and is the central product of an interconnected set of simultaneously occurring cellular and proteolytic events. Antithrombin (AT) is a natural anticoagulant that downregulates different components of the clotting process, particularly thrombin generation. In good health, well-regulated hemostasis is the result of a balance between procoagulant and anticoagulant elements. Cumulative understanding of the regulation of thrombin generation and its central role in hemostasis and bleeding disorders has led to the clinical development of therapeutic strategies that aim to rebalance hemostasis in individuals with hemophilia and other coagulation factor deficiencies to improve bleeding phenotype. The aim of this review is to discuss the rationale for AT lowering in individuals with hemophilia, with a focus on fitusiran, its mechanism of action, and its potential as a prophylactic therapy for individuals with hemophilia A or B, with or without inhibitors. Fitusiran is an investigational small, interfering RNA therapeutic that targets and lowers AT. It is currently in phase III clinical trials and results have shown its potential to increase thrombin generation, leading to enhanced hemostasis and improved quality of life while reducing the overall treatment burden.
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