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The article examines the involvement of anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds in 1,1 Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity of purple-fleshed sweet potato cultivars. Results of high-performance liquid chromatography analysis showed the high anthocyanin content of Ayamurasaki, while Miyanou-36, Bise and Tanegashimurasaki contained cyanidin aglycon. The researchers also measured the color value of sweet potato powder.

Twelve elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty received lumbar epidural anaesthesia and propofol infusion at 5 mg.kg[sup -1].h[sup -1] following a 1.5-2.0 mg.kg[sup -1] bolus dose with preservation of spontaneous respiration via a laryngeal mask airway. Circulatory, respiratory and metabolic variables were measured before and 1, 3, 5, 15 and 30 min after release of a pneumatic thigh tourniquet. The blood pressure was decreased at all time-points and the respiratory rate increased at 1 min. The P[sub a]co[sub 2] was increased only at 1 min. Arterial blood pH and base excess were decreased at 1 and 3 min and 1, 3 and 5 min, respectively. Arterial blood lactate levels were increased at all times. These characteristics were considered to be identical to those under regional anaesthesia with conscious spontaneous respiration, showing that spontaneous respiration under this anaesthetic regimen has a similar respiratory capacity to that of conscious spontaneous respiration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an evaluative study on the fluorometric assay of antioxidative activities, based on the inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Materials and methodology used for study; Results and conclusions of study.

Aims: To identify the cytochrome P450 (CYP) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isoforms responsible for the formation of the primary metabolite(s) of zaltoprofen, and to predict possible drug interactions by investigating the inhibition of CYP isoforms in vitro., Methods: The metabolism of zaltoprofen was studied in vitro using recombinant CYP and UGT isoform cDNA-expression systems. The effects of selective isoform inhibitors on zaltoprofen metabolism were studied using human liver microsomes. The inhibitory effects of zaltoprofen on the metabolism of selective probe substrates for CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 and CYP3A4 were also determined in human liver microsomes., Results: Zaltoprofen was extensively metabolized by CYP2C9 and UGT2B7. CYP2C9 catalysed sulphoxidation but not hydroxylation of zaltoprofen. In the human liver microsomal metabolism study, zaltoprofen metabolism was markedly inhibited by sulphaphenazole, a selective inhibitor of CYP2C9. In the drug interaction study, negligible inhibition (< 15%) of the activities of CYP1A2, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 and CYP3A4 was apparent at 5 micro g ml(-1), the maximum plasma concentration observed in humans after oral administration of an 80 mg zaltoprofen tablet. However, zaltoprofen inhibited CYP2C9 by 26% at 5 micro g ml(-1). At higher concentrations, zaltoprofen produced some inhibition of CYP2C9 (IC50 = 19.2 micro g ml(-1); 64.4 micro m) and CYP3A4 (IC50 = 53.9 micro g ml(-1); 181 micro m). The free drug concentrations in plasma (0.02 micro g ml(-1), 67.0 nm) at the Cmax of the clinically effective doses are much lower than the IC50 values corrected for the nonspecific binding ratio of zaltoprofen to microsomal protein (15.5 micro g ml(-1) for CYP3A4, 49.5 micro g ml(-1) for CYP3A4). Furthermore, the maximum free drug concentrations in the hepatic intracellular was calculated to be 0.068 micro g ml(-1) and the increase in the AUC in the presence of zaltoprofen was estimated to be only 0.4% for CYP2C9 substrates and 0.1% for CYP3A4 substrates, respectively., Conclusions: Zaltoprofen is predominantly metabolized by CYP2C9 and UGT2B7, and is considered unlikely to cause significant drug interactions in vivo when coadministered with CYP substrates at clinically effective doses.

We evaluated the apnea index (AI), the oxygen saturation above 95% (SA95), the lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT), and snoring before and after laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) in 106 patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (n=59) or snoring (n=47). Type 1 LAUP was performed in 42 patients and type 2 LAUP in 64 patients. A 50% or greater reduction in AI was observed in 15 patients (35.7%) who underwent type 1 LAUP and 37 patients (57.8%) who underwent type 2 LAUP. Snoring was diminished in 18 (51.4%) of 35 patients who underwent type 1 LAUP and 30 (55.6%) of 54 patients who underwent type 2 LAUP. SA95 and LSAT showed no difference. No serious complications such as significant bleeding, postoperative episodes of asphyxia, nasopharyngeal stenosis, or nasal regurgitation were observed. LAUP was an effective outpatient treatment.

We used human respiratory epithelial cells in floating culture to study the motility and surface morphology of the cilia during ciliogenesis. Ciliary motility and surface morphology was examined by a high-speed video system and electron microscopy, respectively. On day 8 of floating culture, but rarely before, cells with numerous moving short cilia with mean ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of 17.8 +/- 2.5 Hz (mean +/- SD) were seen. The mean CBF was highest on day 10 (19.6 +/- 3.9 Hz) and reached 17.4 +/- 2.5 Hz on day 14. The ciliary beat amplitude (CBA) was recognized on day 8, abruptly increased on day 9, then continued with aging of the culture. The intracellular coordination of ciliary beats was poor on day 8 with random beat direction but improved up to day 12 when the intracellular uniform beat direction was established. However, intercellular coordination remained absent even on day 14. Results suggest that immature short cilia have a rigid beat pattern. With the elongation of the resulting whip-like movement, the ciliary beat was gradually synchronized. Although a ciliary elongation seems to be required for making intracellular coordination, other factors are involved in intercellular coordination. Also, a high CBF does not always indicate the activity of mature cilia.

We present a patient with acute monoblastic leukaemia (AMoL) who achieved a complete remission on combination therapy with macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and low dose of cytosine arabinoside (ara-C). This 26-year-old man was admitted with a relapse of AMoL which proved refractory to several chemotherapeutic regimens. To kill dormant leukaemic cells, we administered 20 mg/m2 ara-C by continuous intravenous infusion and 800 x 10(4) unit M-CSF by 30 min drip intravenous infusion together for 14 d. The blasts disappeared, followed by a recovery of normal blood cells. The patient continued the complete remission for 5 months. This observation suggests that a combination M-CSF and a low dose of ara-C may be useful in treating some patients with AMoL.

A 64-year-old woman with mild bilateral parotid gland swelling and bilateral lower extremity purpura was admitted for evaluation of xerostomia and pancytopenia. The patient had an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, pancytopenia, and positive tests for antibodies to nuclear antigen, SS-A, and SS-B. Impaired cell-mediated immunity was also present. Bone marrow aspiration showed a hypoplastic marrow with an increased percentage of lymphocytes. A positive Schirmer's test and keratoconjunctivitis were also noted. A diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome was made by sialography and histological salivary gland findings. Therapy with prednisolone improved the pancytopenia. Addition of the patient's peripheral blood mononuclear cells to cultures of bone marrow mononuclear cells derived from a healthy volunteer dose dependently inhibited colony formation, including mixed hemopoietic colonies. On the other hand, addition of the patient's serum failed to inhibit colony formation by normal bone marrow mononuclear cells. These results suggested that one of the causes of pancytopenia in primary Sjögren's syndrome might be mediated by the inhibition of mononuclear cells to the hemopoietic progenitors.

We report a case of transfusion-associated graft-vs.-host disease (TA-GVHD) in a previously healthy, 58 year old Japanese man following an accidental injury. Despite intensive treatment, the patient died 22 days after the transfusion. Although many cases of fatal TA-GVHD have been reported in immunocompetent patients, only two are known to have developed this disorder unrelated to a surgical procedure. This is the first such case to be confirmed by HLA typing. Our report suggests that TA-GVHD can occur even in a healthy, immunocompetent recipient. Thus, it seems necessary to establish guidelines for the irradiation of cellular blood products before transfusion.

Reflectance spectrophotometry analysis has been applied to the human nasal mucosa in vivo to determine the objective parameters of the colors of the mucous membrane, as well as to study the hemodynamics and enzymatic activities related to respiratory chain metabolism in the nasal mucosa. In 24 normal subjects, there were three main spectral peaks: the peak at around 500 nm (PI), the smallest at 560 nm (P2) and the highest one at 660 nm (P3). In 28 patients with nasal allergy, spectral P3 shifted remarkably toward the shorter wavelength at around 640 nm, compared to that of normal subjects. Additionally, the increment of the absorption band at P2 was also observed. These phenomena could be seen in the nasal mucosa of the subjects after use of decongestant spray. Reflectance spectrophotometric analysis will serve as a non-invasive method of giving us useful information for a further understanding of the mucosal pathophysiology of the upper airway.

Peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) from patients with toxoplasmosis were shown to be highly responsive to in vitro stimulation with Toxoplasma gondii extract as measured by incorporation of [3H]methylated thymidine. Analysis of Toxoplasma-specific proliferative cells in PBL by using monoclonal antibodies specific for human T cell subsets revealed that the Toxoplasma-specific proliferation response of PBL from the patients was mediated by Leu 1, Leu 3a positive cells, that is, helper/inducer T cells. Tests for the Toxoplasma-specific proliferation response may provide a readily available method for the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis, especially during the newborn period.