OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we measured hippocampal N-acetyl-l-aspartate (NAA), choline (CHO) and creatine (CRE) values in patients with panic disorder and healthy control subjects using in vivo 1H MRS. METHODS: We scanned 20 patients meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV) criteria for panic disorder and 20 matched healthy controls with a 1.5 Tesla GE Signa Imaging System and measured of NAA, CHO, and CRE in hippocampal regions. RESULTS: When NAA, CHO and CRE values were compared between groups, statistically significant lower levels for all ones were detected for both sides. CONCLUSION: Consequently, in the present study we found that NAA, CHO and CRE values of the patients with panic disorder were lower than those healthy controls. Future studies involving a large number of panic patients may shed further light on the generalizability of the current findings to persons with panic disorder.
Aspartic Acid ; Choline ; Creatine ; Humans ; Light ; Panic ; Panic Disorder

OBJECTIVE: To measure aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity in the pulp of teeth treated with fixed appliances for 6 months, and compare it with AST activity measured in untreated teeth. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 16 healthy subjects (mean age 25.7 +/- 4.3 years) who required the extraction of maxillary premolars for orthodontic reasons. Of these, 6 individuals had a total of 11 sound teeth extracted without any orthodontic treatment (the control group), and 10 individuals had a total of 20 sound teeth extracted after 6 months of orthodontic alignment (the experimental group). Dental pulp samples were extracted from all control and experimental teeth, and the AST activity exhibited by these samples was determined spectrophotometrically at 20degrees C. RESULTS: Mean AST values were 25.29 x 10(-5) U/mg (standard deviation [SD] 9.95) in the control group and 27.54 x 10(-5) U/mg (SD 31.81) in the experimental group. The difference between these means was not statistically significantly (p = 0.778), and the distribution of the AST values was also similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: No statistically significant increase in AST activity in the pulp of mechanically loaded teeth was detected after 6 months of orthodontic alignment, as compared to that of teeth extracted from individuals who had not undergone orthodontic treatment. This suggests that time-related regenerative processes occur in the dental pulp.
Aspartate Aminotransferases* ; Aspartic Acid* ; Bicuspid ; Dental Pulp ; Orthodontic Appliances* ; Tooth*

This study aimed to develop a UPLC-MS/MS method for determining plasma levels of L-aspartic acid and L-asparagine and the activity of L-asparaginase. L-aspartic acid, L-asparagine, and L-aspartic acid-2,3,3-d3 were extracted from human plasma by protein precipitation with sulfosalicylic acid (30%, v/v). The plasma samples were analyzed using an Imtakt Intrada amino acid analysis column with 25 mM ammonium formate and 0.5% formic acid in acetonitrile as the mobile phase with step gradient method at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The injection volume was 5 µL, and the total run time was 15 min. Inter- and intra-batch accuracies (%) ranged from 96.62–106.0% for L-aspartic acid and 89.85–104.8%, for L-asparagine, and the coefficient of variation (CV%) did not exceed 7%. The validation results for L-aspartic acid and L-asparagine satisfied the specified criterion, however, the results for L-asparaginase activity assay showed a borderline validity. This study could be a foundation for further development of therapeutic drug monitoring systems using UPLC-MS/MS.
Ammonium Compounds ; Asparagine ; Aspartic Acid ; Drug Monitoring ; Humans ; Methods ; Plasma

PURPOSE: To investigate the 3-bond and spatial connectivity of human brain metabolites by scalar coupling and dipolar nuclear Overhauser effect/enhancement (NOE) interaction through 2D- correlation spectroscopy (COSY) and 2D- NOE spectroscopy (NOESY) techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All 2D experiments were performed on Bruker Avance 500 (11.8 T) with the zshield gradient triple resonance cryoprobe at 298 K. Human brain metabolites were prepared with 10% D2O. Two-dimensional spectra with 2048 data points contains 320 free induction decay (FID) averaging. Repetition delay was 2 sec. The Top Spin 2.0 software was used for post-processing. Total 7 metabolites such as N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr), choline (Cho), glutamine (Gln), glutamate (Glu), myo-inositol (Ins), and lactate (Lac) were included for major target metabolites. RESULTS: Symmetrical 2D-COSY and 2D-NOESY spectra were successfully acquired: COSY cross peaks were observed in the only 1.0-4.5 ppm, however, NOESY cross peaks were observed in the 1.0-4.5 ppm and 7.9 ppm. From the result of the 2-D COSY data, cross peaks between the methyl protons (CH3(3)) at 1.33 ppm and methine proton (CH(2)) at 4.11 ppm were observed in Lac. Cross peaks between the methylene protons (CH2(3,H alpha)) at 2.50ppm and methylene protons (CH2,(3,HB)) at 2.70 ppm were observed in NAA. Cross peaks between the methine proton (CH(5)) at 3.27 ppm and the methine proton (CH(4,6)) at 3.59 ppm, between the methine proton (CH(1,3)) at 3.53 ppm and methine proton (CH(4,6)) at 3.59 ppm, and between the methine proton (CH(1,3)) at 3.53 ppm and methine proton (CH(2)) at 4.05 ppm were observed in Ins. From the result of 2-D NOESY data, cross peaks between the NH proton at 8.00 ppm and methyl protons (CH3) were observed in NAA. Cross peaks between the methyl protons (CH3(3)) at 1.33 ppm and methine proton (CH(2)) at 4.11 ppm were observed in Lac. Cross peaks between the methyl protons (CH3) at 3.03 ppm and methylene protons (CH2) at 3.93 ppm were observed in Cr. Cross peaks between the methylene protons (CH2(3)) at 2.11 ppm and methylene protons (CH2(4)) at 2.35 ppm, and between the methylene protons(CH2 (3)) at 2.11 ppm and methine proton (CH(2)) at 3.76 ppm were observed in Glu. Cross peaks between the methylene protons (CH2 (3)) at 2.14 ppm and methine proton (CH(2)) at 3.79 ppm were observed in Gln. Cross peaks between the methine proton (CH(5)) at 3.27 ppm and the methine proton (CH(4,6)) at 3.59 ppm, and between the methine proton (CH(1,3)) at 3.53 ppm and methine proton (CH(2)) at 4.05 ppm were observed in Ins. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that in vitro 2D-COSY and NOESY represented the 3-bond and spatial connectivity of human brain metabolites by scalar coupling and dipolar NOE interaction. This study could aid in better understanding the interactions between human brain metabolites in vivo 2DCOSY study.
Aspartic Acid ; Brain ; Choline ; Creatine ; Glutamic Acid ; Glutamine ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; Protons ; Spectrum Analysis

Citric Acid Cycle ; Citric Acid ; Malates/metabolism* ; Citrates/metabolism* ; Aspartic Acid/metabolism*

Localized, water-suppressed in vivo 'H MRS was performed to evaluated the proton metabolic alterations in patients with acute cerebral infarction.Ten brain infarction patients(six males and four females; age range 53-77) participated in this study. GE Signa 1.5-T whole-body NMI/MRS system using STEAM pulse sequence was used. Voxels were selected from the cerebral infarcted region and contralateral normal region as control in the same patient. Proton metaboliteratiosrelativetocreatine (Cr) wereobtainedusingaMa-rquartalgorithm. The specific features in the cerebral infarcted regions demonstrated a significant decrease of N-acetyl aspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) ratio, compared with control regions. Markedly increased lactate (Lac) level was observed in areas of cerebral infarctioln in all patients. Our preliminary study showed that NAA/Cr ratio in the infarcted regions was substanially different from that in control regions.The signal intensity of Lac may be served as a metabolic criterion that can specify acuteness of infarction, and also evaluate the therapeutic effect. It is necessary to investigate the spectral alterations in various stages of cerebral infarction for further detail analysis.
Aspartic Acid ; Brain Infarction ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Female ; Humans ; Infarction ; Lactic Acid ; Male ; Metabolism ; Protons ; Steam

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease is a progressive, common neuro-degenerative disorder of the extrapyramidal system leading to specific motor symptoms, but there is no specific early diagnostic tool. This study was aimed to investigate the change of cerebral metabolites in patients with parkinson's disease by 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). METHODS: Eighteen patients with idiopathic unilateral symptomatic parkinson's disease underwent MRS study to compare metabolites of basal ganglia and thalamus, in ipsilateral and contralateral to the clinically affected side. RESULTS: In patients with unilateral symptomatic parkinson's disease, N-acetyl aspartate (NAA)/Creatine (Cr) ratio was significantly lower in contralateral side to the clinically affected side than in ipsilateral side (p=0.023). Other cerebral metabolites (Cho, mI, alpha-Glx, beta-Glx, lactate, lipid) were showed no significant difference in patients with parkinson's disease. CONCLUSIONS: The comparison and quantification of cerebral metabolites by using MRS may be helpful to diagnosis and investigation of parkinson's disease.
Aspartic Acid ; Basal Ganglia ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy* ; Parkinson Disease* ; Protons* ; Thalamus

Osteoclasts resorb bone by the hydrogen ions and proteolytic enzymes in the localize environment under the ruffled border. Before releasing hydrogen ion and enzymes, osteoclast should attach to bone surface very tightly and make a room to release enzymes and hydrogen ion in the center. Specialized attachment molecule in the cell membrane, such as integrin, is associated with specific noncollagenous protein in the matrix, which has specific amino acid sequence (Arginine-Glycine- Aspartic acid sequence). We may speculate that osteoclast action would be decreased if the integrin is blocked by antibody or RGD protein. In this study, the osteoclasts were cultured on the coverslip or bone slice with or without RGD protein in the culture medium, and numbers of growing giant cells were much less in group with RGD protein. The number resorption pits, formed on mineralized bone slice, was also lower in the group adding RGD protein in the medium. And we made a conclusion that the osteoclastic bone resorption was inhibited by soluble RGD protein.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Aspartic Acid ; Bone Resorption ; Cell Membrane ; Giant Cells ; Osteoclasts* ; Peptide Hydrolases ; Protons

We analysed the multivariate relationship between alcohol intake and serum gamma glutamyl-transpeptidase(S-GGTP), aspartate aminotransferase(S-ASAT), alinine aminotransferase(S-ALAT) and age. A group of 1,351 healthy male white color workers aged 18 to 59 years were systematically examined. Weekly alcohol intake and duration was obtained by an interview. The results are as follows: 1. Weekly alcohol intake of 18-29 age groups was significantly less than that of other age group each. And no differences between other age groups can be seen. 2. Statistical analysis of variance showed that the differences found between the various drinking groups was significant for the mean S-GGTP, S-ASAT(P<0.01). 3. From the weekly alcohol intake 180-269 g group, significantly higher values of S-GGTP was found, whereas S-ASAT and S-ALAT were not. 4. Statistical chi-square trends test showed that the difference found between the various drinking groups was significant for the percentage of abnormal S-GGTP, S-ASAT and S-ALAT (P<0.01). 5. Fifty-five percent of the raised values of S-GGTP found between had no identifiable clinical or biochemical abnormality apart from a raised S-GGTP. Fifty-six percent of these otherwise normal subjects came from 31.7% who were moderate or heavy drinkers. It is suggested that the determination of S-GGTP might have value as a screening test for alcoholism. 6. Significant correlations have been found between weekly alcohol intake and corresponding S-GGTP, S-ASAT and S-ALAT values, 0.33, 0.20 and 0.26. respectively. 7. Multiple regression analyses confirmed the superiority of S-GGTP over S-ALAT and S-ALAT as a laboratory marker of alcohol intake and showed the advantage of using S-GGTP and S-ALAT together.
Adult* ; Alcoholism ; Aspartic Acid ; Biological Markers ; Drinking ; Humans ; Liver* ; Male* ; Mass Screening

BACKGROUND: ras gene mutations have been described in various human malignancies, suggesting that their activation may play a role in oncogenesis. However, there are few reports concerning ras gene alterations in malignant fibrous histiocytomas. We therefore designed a study to determine the prevalence and type of mutations in the first exons of H-ras and K-ras genes in these tumors. METHODS: Twenty-seven malignant fibrous histiocytomas were investigated by direct sequencing analysis with the automated DNA sequencing of polymerase chain reaction-amplified ras sequences. RESULTS: Twenty-four mutations were found in 18 (67%) of the tumors: GGC to GAC transition mutations at codon 13 of K-ras (coding for aspartic acid instead of glycine) in 18 of the samples and GGC to GTC transversions at codon 12 of H-ras (coding for valine instead of glycine) in six of the lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest an involvement of the ras gene mutation in conjunction with other yet unknown events in the tumorigenesis and/or progression of malignant fibrous histiocytomas. The K-ras gene activation predominated in these tumors by a mutation at codon 13. It is noteworthy that H-ras mutations were detected only in association with the lesions containing K-ras mutated genes, the significance of which remains to be determined.
Aspartic Acid ; Carcinogenesis ; Codon ; Exons ; Genes, ras* ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Valine