Search

Bone loss and bone-related disease are associated with the deregulation of osteoclast function, and therefore agents that affect osteoclastogenesis have attracted attention. The purpose of the present study was to discover modified kavalactone analogs as potential anti-osteoclastogenic agents. We assessed the effect of 26 analogs on osteoclast differentiation in vitro. The most potent compound, (E)-6-(2-fluorostyryl)-4-methoxy-2H-pyran-2-one (22), suppressed receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenic differentiation of RAW264 cells with IC50 values of 4.3 µM. A partial structure-activity relationship study revealed the importance of fluorine and its position within the 5,6-dehydrokawain skeleton. The results of a pit formation assay suggested that compound 22 prevents osteoclastic bone resorption by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis. Moreover, compound 22 downregulated mRNA expression levels of RANKL-induced nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1) and osteoclastogenesis-related genes. These results suggest that (E)-6-(2-fluorostyryl)-4-methoxy-2H-pyran-2-one scaffold could lead to the identification of new anti-resorptive agents.

Oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and shear stress (physical effect) are risk factors associated with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Rice bran, a by-product of rice milling process, is known to house polyphenols and vitamins which exhibit potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Through recent emerging knowledge of rice bran in health and wellness, the present study was aimed to assess the ameliorative effects of rice bran extracts (RBE) derived from Japanese colored rice varieties in modulating risk factors of atherosclerosis via in vitro and in vivo study models. Pre-treatment of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine J774A.1 macrophage-like cells with RBE alleviated nitric oxide (NO) overproduction and downregulated gene expressions of pro-inflammatory modulators: tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-α (IL-1α), IL-1β, IL-6, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In addition, RBE also significantly attenuated LPS-stimulated protein expressions of iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1α, and IL-6 in J774A.1 macrophage-like cells as compared to non-treated LPS control group. In in vivo, 12 weeks of RBE dietary supplementations significantly reduced (p < 0.05) total cholesterol, triglycerides, and pro-atherogenic oxidized LDL/β2-glycoprotein I (oxLDL/β2GPI) complexes at plasma levels, in high fat diet (HFD) induced low density lipoprotein receptor knockout (Ldlr−/-) mice. En face pathological assessments of murine aortas also revealed significant reductions by 38% (p < 0.05) in plaque sizes of RBE-supplemented HFD mice groups as compared to non RBE-supplemented HFD control mice group. Moreover, gene expressions of aortic (iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1β) and hepatic (TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β) pro-inflammatory modulators were also downregulated in RBE-supplemented mice groups. Present study has revealed the potent health attributes and application of RBE as a dietary supplement to attenuate risks of inadvertent oxidative damage and chronic inflammation underlying the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Intrinsically, present preliminary findings may provide global health prospects for future dietary implementation of RBE in management of atherosclerosis., Food science; Food analysis; Rice bran extract (RBE); Functional food; Phytochemicals; Atherosclerosis; Oxidative stress; Inflammation; Antioxidant; Anti-inflammation; Oxidized lipoprotein (oxLDL).

As a Japanese folk medicine, Tithonia diversifolia is used for cardiovascular disease prevention and health maintenance. We isolated T. diversifolia-derived orizabin based on the nitric oxide production inhibitory effect. This study aimed to consider orizabin as a novel functional compound with anti-atherosclerotic activity. Orizabin significantly inhibited the adhesion of THP-1 cells to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and suppressed the mRNA expression of adhesion molecules in HUVECs. In Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulated THP-1 cells, orizabin suppressed macrophage differentiation, CD36 expression (1% at 10 μM), and NFκB transcriptional activity. Furthermore, orizabin suppressed oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) uptake in macrophages and the Akt phosphorylation. On the contrary, we revealed that phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate 3-phosphatase (PTEN) mRNA and protein expression were promoted significantly by orizabin (mRNA, 270-fold at 10 μM). Our study presented the possibility that T. diversifolia-derived orizabin is novel anti-atherosclerotic compound via the suppression of Akt phosphorylation, and T. diversifolia may be effective as a new crop for vascular health maintenance. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In this study, the differentiation of monocytes was suppressed without any toxicity, it was obvious in the image, and the oxLDL uptake in monocytes was clearly suppressed by orizabin. Our findings presented that T. diversifolia-derived compound orizabin specifically contributes to the promotion of PTEN expression and suppression of Akt signal in cells, and acts to suppress inflammation by suppression of NFκB transcriptional activity. As a component derived from food, it has a strong function and can be used to maintain the health for blood vessels. It is also a finding that deserves to expand production currently being carried out on a small scale. Furthermore, the promoting effect of PTEN known as a cancer suppressor in orizabin may result in further use for pharmaceuticals research. Orizabin can be safely used as a food-derived compound for maintaining human health.

Circadian rhythms are endogenous oscillations of approximately 24-h periods and regulate diel changes in physiological biochemical processes. We examined the effects of black ginger (Kaempferia parviflora) on the expression of circadian clock genes and the disruption of circadian rhythms using in vitro and in vivo assays. K. parviflora extract increased the amplitude of circadian rhythms, extended the circadian period, and caused phase delays in NIH3T3 cells. We identified chemical components involved in the circadian clock gene expression using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. 3,5,7,3′,4′-Pentamethoxyflavone, 5,7,4′-trimethoxyflavone, and 5,7-dimethoxyflavone were identified as components that regulated the circadian clock gene expression. In addition, we examined the effects of K. parviflora on behavioral entrainment in mice subjected to experimental jet lag (6-h phase advance), finding that K. parviflora enhanced adaptation to jet lag. These results suggested that polymethoxyflavones in K. parviflora could regulate the circadian clock and reduce circadian disruption.

A long-term operation test of PEFCs was conducted for single cells having an effective area of 25 cm2. The decay rate of the cell voltage was relatively large in the beginning, decreased to about 4 µV h−1 from 3000 to 6000 h, and about 7 µV h−1 in the later stage from 9000 to 12000 h. In order to clarify the cause of the voltage decay, materials composing membrane electrode assembly (MEA) were analyzed by disassembling a cell every 3000 h. After operation, changes of materials, such as particle size change of Pt-Co cathode catalyst, loss of ionomer layers on Pt-Co/C, decrease in thickness of the polymer electrolyte membrane, pore size changes of the cathode, were observed. Electrochemical active surface area of the electrode showed a decreasing tendency. Based on these results, we focused on the improvement of cathode, and developed a “four-layer electrode catalyst” which consisted of Pt-Co alloy particle, carbon support, ionomer and fluorocarbon resin. A test cell using this new type cathode exhibited better performances than a cell using conventional cathode in the durability test under low humidity or low temperature conditions.

Water management of the catalyst layer in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell was improved by focusing on the three-phase boundary. To fabricate the cathode catalyst layer, carbon-support with catalyst and fluorine resin were mixed and heat-treated at the melting temperature of fluorine resin. The transmission electron microscopy images of this electrode catalyst showed that the surfaces of the catalyst particle and of the carbon-support were partly coated by thin film of melted fluorine resin. Ionomer electrolyte material was added to this electrode catalyst, and an electrode catalyst with a four-layer structure was fabricated. The durability at 50°C of a single cell using the four-layer electrode catalyst as the cathode was examined. The deterioration rate was lower than that using the conventional three-layer electrode catalyst. In addition, a load change test at 50°C, an OCV test at 50°C, and a durability test at room temperature gave good results.

術中経食道心エコー (IOTEE) は心臓大血管手術において必要不可欠な診断機器としてだけではなく, 心臓大血管手術麻酔の管理においても大変有用性の高いモニターであり, 拡張機能を含めたリアルタイムでの心機能や心室内容量の評価が可能である. 従来, 左心室容量の評価に肺動脈カテーテルが利用されていたが, その解析や治療方法の選択にばらつきが多いため, 近年, IOTEEが心臓大血管麻酔管理における血行動態モニターとして日常的に利用されるようになった. さらに, IOTEEの情報を心臓外科医と共有することで, 体外循環離脱時の薬剤の適切な選択や麻酔管理の戦略に応用することも可能である. IOTEEは比較的安全な機器ではあるが, 適切に使用することがIOTEEに関連する合併症の防止には肝要である. IOTEEの技術や知識を効率的に蓄積し, 実践できるようなトレーニングシステムを構築し, 客観的な評価を通して, 心臓外科医や集中治療医とこれらの情報を共有すれば, 循環器疾患に対する包括的な理解とともに, 心臓大血管手術患者に対する周術期管理の質をさらに向上させることができると考えられる.

The gravity model of interregional trade coefficients is regarded as an economically meaningful behavioral model. However, several important problems remain in the process of specifying a stochastic model which is appropriate id its substance. We focus our concentration on logit type formulations of these models. This paper aims to clarify the importance of the links between the model specifications and the distributive characteristics peculiar to the data concerned, and, simultaneously, to investigate the validity of our model empirically using the pooling data from interregional and intertemporal input-output tables.

非体外循環下冠動脈バイパス術(off-pump coronary-artery bypass grafting, off-pump CABG)術後に原因不明の強い全身性炎症を示し多臓器障害を呈したが,大量のコルチコステロイド投与により劇的に改善した症例を経験したので報告する。症例は72歳男性,既往症は高血圧,59歳時にCABG,70歳時に腹部大動脈瘤に対して人工血管置換術を受けた。今回増悪する狭心症に対してoff-pump CABGを受けたが,術後3日目より高熱,白血球増多,CRP高値を呈し,ショック,腎不全,高ビリルビン血症を合併した。アレルギー性疾患,感染症は否定的であった。術後12日目に,炎症の治療目的で,メチルプレドニゾロン500mgを3日間投与したところ,発熱,高炎症,多臓器障害は速やかに改善した。メチルプレドニゾロンの投与期間は25日間,その後,術後42日目に無事転棟となった。敗血症,ARDSなどの重症患者に対する高用量ステロイド投与による予後改善は現在否定されているが,今回のように全身性炎症状態のみが病態をなしている場合には有効でありうると考えた。

“Rotary Press” which is a new rotary pressure dehydrator with an unconventional dewatering mechanism, has been developed by Fournier Industries Inc, in Canada, and is going to be imported and marketed by Tomoe Engineering Co., Ltd, in technical cooperation with the Fournier Industries, The Rotary Press, which is a well-balanced machine with high dewaterability for less operating and maintenance costs including energy consumption, has recently been finding increasingly wider applications including sewage treatment in Canada, This paper describes dewatering principles, features, and dewatering performance of the Rotary Press.

パラチオンを服毒した慢性透析患者において,持続的血液透析(continuous venovenous hemodialysis,CVVHD)下におけるpralidoxime(2-PAM)薬物動態を検討しえた。症例は67歳の男性で,週3回の血液透析を受けていた。自殺企図にてパラチオン15mlを服毒し,アトロピン,2-PAMを併用した心肺蘇生に成功の後,ICUに収容した。筋攣縮や縮瞳などの症状の改善を目安にCVVHD施行下で2-PAM0.1g・hr-1を約20時間持続投与し,血中ならびに透析廃液中の2-PAM濃度を経時的に測定してCVVHDによる排泄と薬物動態を検討した。その結果,持続投与中の血中濃度は22～23mg・ml-1と高値であり,CVVHDによるクリアランスは約8.1ml・min-1と極めて小さく,半減期が健常人の1.1時間に比べ40時間と著明に延長することが判明した。有機リン中毒に対しCVVHD施行下で2-PAMを投与する場合,体外排泄の遅延による過剰投与に十分注意する必要があると考えられた。

Thermochromism was observed for an aqueous solution containing zinc(II) and mercury( II) cations and N-p-nitrobenzyl-5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin anion (NO2Bz(Htpps)4-) in the temperature range 10 to 70 °C. The equilibrium constants and the thermodynamic parameters of Zn(NO2Bztpps)3- and Hg(NO2Bztpps)3- have been determined spectrophotometrically to elucidate the thermochromism at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 °C in 0.1 mol dm-3 NaNO3. The protonation and metalation constants of NO2Bz(Htpps)4- are defined as K2 = [H2P][H+]-1[HP]-1, K3 = [H3P][H+]-1[H2P]-1 and KMP = [M P][H+][M2+]-1[HP]-1, where HP and MP denote the free base form of the prophyrin and the metalloporphyrins of zinc(II) and mercury(II), respectively. Charges of the prophyrin and metalloporphyrins are omitted for simplicity. The following values were found: logK2 = 7.75 ±0.02 (25 °C), ΔH°/kJmol-1 = -21.2±0.5 and ΔS°/Jmol-1K-1 = 77±1, logK3 = 2.55±0.02 (25 °C), ΔH°/kJmol-1 = -25±0.8 and ΔS°/Jmol-1K-1 = -35±3 and log KZnP = 0.63±0.03 (25 °C), ΔH°/kJmol-1 = 31.0±0.8 and ΔS°/Jmol-1K-1 = 116±3, logKHgP = 6.22±0.03 (25 °C), ΔH°/kJmol-1 = 4.5±0.7 and ΔS°/Jmol-1K-1 = 134±2. The distribution curve calculated from the thermodynamic parameters sufficiently agrees with the observed metal exchange reaction between the metalloporphyrins.

not Available.

Water management of the catalyst layer in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell was improved by focusing on the three-phase boundary. To fabricate the cathode catalyst layer, carbon-support with catalyst and fluorocarbon resin were mixed and heat-treated at the melting temperature of fluorocarbon resin. The transmission electron microscopy images of this electrode catalyst showed that the surfaces of the catalyst particle and of the carbon-support were partly coated by thin film of melted fluorocarbon resin. Ionomer electrolyte material was added to this electrode catalyst, and an electrode catalyst with a four-layer structure was fabricated. The durability at 50{degree sign}C of a single cell using the four-layer electrode catalyst as the cathode was examined. The deterioration rate was lower than that using the conventional three-layer electrode catalyst. In addition, a load change test at 50{degree sign}C, and a durability test at room temperature gave good results.

The analysis and the clarification of the deterioration phenomena of MEA for the practical use of PEFC are important. For this purpose, we carried out the investigation of MEA which was made of well-defined materials throughout well-defined process of manufacturing. The long term durability test was conducted for the improvement of cell operations. Various performances were measured periodically by electrochemical measurements. The cells were disassembled periodically to observe the change of materials that composed MEA. The deterioration phenomena of the cells were revealed.