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For the identification of the botanical origin of licorice (ML-44, N-99) stored in Shosoin, the Imperial Storehouse in the city of Nara since 756AD, we made genetic and chemical analyses in comparison with 205 and 117, respectively, authentic samples of licorice roots derived from Glycyrrhiza uralensis, G. glabra and G. inßata. Referring to the experimental results of the genetic analysis study of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) on nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) of the above three species of licorice, the contents of glycyrrhizin and five main flavonoids, and their scattering pattern of occurrence, Shosoinlicorice was finally identified to be the root of G. uralensis.

A13C- NMR study of 56 species of Umbilicariaceae shows that pustulan-type polysaccharides, previously known from only 11 species, are apparently constant in the family. For most species analyzed, the high concentration of this single linear homoglucan enables its detection in very small samples, in this case primarily the same ones used earlier to identify secondary products by HPLC and TLC. For chemical analysis, pustulan is extracted with boiling water. Using sections prepared for SEM, however, even cold water extracted some pustulan from two species containing only trace amounts of secondary products, but not from two others having them in high concentrations. The thallus structure, observed with SEM, was altered in the first pair, but scarcely changed in the second. Pustulan is less readily extracted from thalli with high concentrations of secondary products.

The amplitude of the early plateau phase of the action potential and the slow action potential of cardiac muscle were much lower in hibernating chipmunks than in nonhibernating chipmunks. The frequency-dependent contraction was decreased in hibernating animals but increased in nonhibernating animals. Caffeine caused a negative inotropic effect in hibernating animals but a positive inotropic effect in nonhibernating animals. Ryanodine caused greater inhibition in hibernating animals than in nonhibernating animals. These results suggest that the respective roles of the sources of calcium for cardiac excitation-contraction coupling are changed during hibernation.

Most species in the lichen family Umbilicariaceae accumulate the tridepside gyrophoric acid and its satellite depside lecanoric acid. For many years, the detection of chemical variation in these species was hampered by interference due to the generally high concentrations of gyrophoric acid accumulating in thalli. Recent investigations using high-performance liquid chromatography have shown that previous studies underestimated both the chemical variation and the correlations of chemistry with generic limits within the family. In the present study, an improved gradient high-performance liquid chromatographic method is combined with thin-layer chromatography to analyze representative specimens of 56 species. The known chemistry of the family is expanded, and problems in the identification of satellite compounds occurring with high concentrations of gyrophoric acid are reexamined.

The use of fluorescence-based sensors holds great promise for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in vivo, allowing wireless transdermal transmission and long-lasting functionality in vivo. The ability to monitor glucose concentrations in vivo over the long term enables the sensors to be implanted and replaced less often, thereby bringing CGM closer to practical implementation. However, the full potential of long-term in vivo glucose monitoring has yet to be realized because current fluorescence-based sensors cannot remain at an implantation site and respond to blood glucose concentrations over an extended period. Here, we present a long-term in vivo glucose monitoring method using glucose-responsive fluorescent hydrogel fibers. We fabricated glucose-responsive fluorescent hydrogels in a fibrous structure because this structure enables the sensors to remain at the implantation site for a long period. Moreover, these fibers allow easy control of the amount of fluorescent sensors implanted, simply by cutting the fibers to the desired length, and facilitate sensor removal from the implantation site after use. We found that the polyethylene glycol (PEG)-bonded polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogel fibers reduced inflammation compared with PAM hydrogel fibers, transdermally glowed, and continuously responded to blood glucose concentration changes for up to 140 days, showing their potential application for long-term in vivo continuous glucose monitoring.

Background There is global concern over significant threats from a wide variety of environmental hazards to which children face. Large-scale and long-term birth cohort studies are needed for better environmental management based on sound science. The primary objective of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS), a nation-wide birth cohort study that started its recruitment in January 2011, is to elucidate environmental factors that affect children’s health and development. Methods/Design Approximately 100,000 expecting mothers who live in designated study areas will be recruited over a 3-year period from January 2011. Participating children will be followed until they reach 13 years of age. Exposure to environmental factors will be assessed by chemical analyses of bio-specimens (blood, cord blood, urine, breast milk, and hair), household environment measurements, and computational simulations using monitoring data (e.g. ambient air quality monitoring) as well as questionnaires. JECS’ priority outcomes include reproduction/pregnancy complications, congenital anomalies, neuropsychiatric disorders, immune system disorders, and metabolic/endocrine system disorders. Genetic factors, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle factors will also be examined as covariates and potential confounders. To maximize representativeness, we adopted provider-mediated community-based recruitment. Discussion Through JECS, chemical substances to which children are exposed during the fetal stage or early childhood will be identified. The JECS results will be translated to better risk assessment and management to provide healthy environment for next generations.

Fluorescent microbeads hold great promise for in vivo continuous glucose monitoring with wireless transdermal transmission and long-lasting activity. The full potential of fluorescent microbeads has yet to be realized due to insufficient intensity for transdermal transmission and material toxicity. This paper illustrates the highly-sensitive, biostable, long-lasting, and injectable fluorescent microbeads for in vivo continuous glucose monitoring. We synthesized a fluorescent monomer composed of glucose-recognition sites, a fluorogenic site, spacers, and polymerization sites. The spacers are designed to be long and hydrophilic for increasing opportunities to bind glucose molecules; consequently, the fluorescent monomers enable high-intensive responsiveness to glucose. We then fabricated injectable-sized fluorescent polyacrylamide hydrogel beads with high uniformity and high throughput. We found that our fluorescent beads provide sufficient intensity to transdermally monitor glucose concentrations in vivo. The fluorescence intensity successfully traced the blood glucose concentration fluctuation, indicating our method has potential uses in highly-sensitive and minimally invasive continuous blood glucose monitoring.