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Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) contribute to endothelial repair and angiogenesis. Reduced number of circulating EPCs is associated with future cardiovascular events. We tested whether dysregulated glucose and/or triglyceride (TG) metabolism has an impact on EPC homeostasis. The analysis of metabolic factors associated with circulating EPC number in humans revealed that postprandial hyperglycemia is negatively correlated with circulating EPC number, and this correlation appears to be further enhanced in the presence of postprandial hypertriglyceridemia (hTG). We therefore examined the effect of glucose/TG spikes on bone marrow lineage-sca-1

Prostaglandin E-major urinary metabolite (PGE-MUM) is a useful biomarker for adult ulcerative colitis (UC) activity. In the present study, we evaluated whether PGE-MUM can also be a biomarker of pediatric UC activity and compared its efficacy in predicting UC activity with that of C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.Twenty-nine pediatric patients with UC (8-18 years) and 29 healthy age- and sex-matched subjects were enrolled. UC activity was evaluated using the Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index, highest Mayo endoscopic scoring (Mayo), and Matts grading (Matts) for histologic scoring, and the sum of Mayo (total of 6 segments) and Matts in all patients with UC. PGE-MUM levels were measured using a radioimmunoassay.PGE-MUM levels were elevated in endoscopically and histologically active UC patients, but not in patients with endoscopic and histologic remission or controls. PGE-MUM levels positively and significantly correlated with UC activity. PGE-MUM levels were positively correlated with Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (r = 0.594), highest Mayo (r = 0.462), the sum of Mayo (r = 0.694), and the sum of Matts (r = 0.613), but not with highest Matt (r = 0.352). The sum of Mayo and the sum of Matts, which reflect total colon inflammation, showed highest correlation with PGE-MUM. C-reactive protein levels did not correlate with any UC activity scores. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate exhibited correlation (r = 0.490) with the sum of Mayo only.PGE-MUM is a reliable biomarker that reflects both the endoscopic and histologic activity of the entire colon in pediatric UC.

A highly porous carbonaceous material was formed from hemoglobin, which is a natural compound that could be abundantly and inexpensively obtained. Porous carbonized hemoglobin was formed using MgO nanoparticles as a template; in addition, heat treatment of the carbonized hemoglobin with ammonia was performed. Two series of ammonia treatments were examined: long-time heat treatments at various temperatures and high-temperature heat treatments for various times. The specific surface area and, in particular, the pore volume were increased by the ammonia treatment most efficiently at a high temperature for a short period of time. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed a significant decrease in the surface nitrogen concentration and a slight decrease in the surface Fe concentration by the ammonia treatment. The extended X-ray absorption fine structure at the Fe K-edge indicated that Fe was coordinated with four nitrogen atoms (Fe–N4 moiety) in the ammonia-treated carbonized hemoglobin. The oxygen reduction ac...

The prognosis for metastatic malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) is poor, and metastatic (stage IV) MRT was resistant to conventional treatment, with less than 20% of cure rate. Moreover, there have been no reports of patients who have survived relapsed stage IV MRT. Here we report a long-term survivor of relapsed MRT with lung metastasis at diagnosis. He was diagnosed as MRT of the kidney at 5-month-old. After resection of the renal tumor, he was treated with ICE (ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide), total abdominal irradiation 10.8 Gy and high-dose chemotherapy using thiotepa and melphalan. Six months after initial treatment, a relapse in the lung was detected, and he received chemotherapy including doxorubicin/pirarubicin for 78 weeks. He is alive at five years of follow up, without any evidence of disease. Our report suggests the important role of anthracycline in treatment of MRT.

The atomic-scale processes of benzene adsorption and desorption on an Si(111)-7 × 7 surface have been investigated with scanning tunnelling microscopy. Analysis of the atomic-scale images obtained during the adsorption and desorption processes yielded the following results: benzene molecules adsorbed on Si(111)-7 × 7 with the di-σ bonds between molecules and two Si atoms, an adatom and a rest atom; and benzene molecules chemisorb and desorb through physisorption states. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The dilution enthalpies,ΔdilH, of tetraalkylammonium chondroitin 4-sulfate (R4NChSA) and polyacrylate (R4NPAA) having methyl (Me), ethyl (Et), propyl (Pr) and butyl (Bu) as alkyl groups (R) were measured to elucidate the effects of hydrophobic counterions. TheΔdilH of R4NChS-A and R4NPAA were negative (exothermic) and decreased as the carbon number of tetraalkylammonium cation (R4N+) increased. These results were found to possess the same effects onΔdilH as these of bromides. The non-electrostatic terms of dilution enthalpiesΔdilHn of R4NChS and R4NPAA were evaluated by using the electrostatic terms ofΔdilH obtained from Manning's theory. TheΔdilHn of R4NChS-A and R4NPAA decreased, i.e., their exothermic tendencies increased as the carbon number of R4N+ increased, and the rate of decrease of the R4NPAA was more than that of the R4NChS-A. These results are discussed in relation to the increase of the hydrated water structure around R4N+ on dilution.

Viscoelastic properties of blend hydrogels composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and alginate (Alg) were studied by measuring tensile stress. Mixed aqueous solutions of PVA and Alg formed gels by repeating freeze-thaw cycles and/or by adding Ca2+ ions. The interpenetrating gels in which both polymers form networks showed greater elastic moduli, ultimate tensile strength and lower water contents than the snake-cage gels in which the network of one polymer (cage) traps the other polymer chains (snakes). The original samples, mixing ratio and the gelling sequence of the two polymers affected significantly the viscoelastic properties of the snake-cage and the interpenetrating gels. The equilibrium elastic moduli of the interpenetrating gels were discussed by using theoretical models of blend hydrogels. Simultaneous stress change was observed with the transition between the snake-cage and the interpenetrating gels.

Interfacial adsorption of chondroitin sulfates (ChS-A) between isooctane and aqueous salt free solution were studied by interfacial tensions obtained from a drop volume method to elucidate effects of hydrophobic counterions on the adsorption. As counterions of ChS-A, NH 4 + and tetraalkylammonium ions R 4 N + ((CH 4 ) 4 + , (C 2 H 5 ) 4 N + , (C 3 H 7 ) 4 N + and (C 4 H 9 ) 4 N + ) were used. Increasing with the carbon numbers of R , the interfacial tensions showed more rapid decreases with concentrations of R 4 NChS-A than those of R 4 NBr. The former interfacial excesses Γ p were obtained using mean activity coefficients calculated from their osmotic coefficients. Γ p of R 4 NChS-A increased with the carbon numbers of R and were saturated in the region of very diluted concentrations about m = 10 −4 mol/dm 3 based on the concentration of the counterions. The interfacial excesses of R 4 NBr Γ were saturated at almost m = 2 × 10 −2 mol/dm 3 , which required almost 200 times as much as those of R 4 NChS-A. The saturated interfacial excesses of the counterions of R 4 NChS-A were found to be much more than those of R 4 NBr. The effects of the arrangements of the counterions along ChS-A chains enhanced their interfacial adsorptions, especially in the cases of the carbon numbers of R > 2.

In aqueous solution of borates, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels prepared by a freeze-drying method showed reversible changes of tensile forces responding to pH and the concentra tions of glucose Cglu. Linear relationships between the stress changes and Cglu were confirmed in the region Cglu > 0.2 mmol/dm3.

Headspace gas chromatographic analysis using a semi-wide bore capillary column and a dual detection system with a flame ionzation detector (FID) and an electron capture detector (ECD) was carried out for the simple and rapid simultaneous determination of 13 kinds of volatile organic pollutants : benzene (1), toluene (2), ethyl benzene (3), o-, m-and p-xylenes (4-6), monochlorobenzene (7), o-, m-and p-dichlorobenzenes (8-10), 1, 1, 1-trichloroethane (11), trichloroethylene (12) and tetrachloroethylene (13) in drinking water at low ppb (10-9g/ml) level. The effects of the headspace and syringe temperatures as well as the equilibration time and injection volume of headspace gas on the sensitivity and reproducibility of analysis were examined to find the optimal conditions. The capillary column permitted satisfactory separation of the target compounds except m-and p-xylenes (5 and 6) without interference by trihalomethanes in drinking water. FID was sensitive to all aromatic hydrocarbons (1-6) and monochlorobenzene (7) at 0.3-0.5 ppb, while ECD was poorly sensitive to them. By contrast, ECD was highly sensitive to chlorinated hydrocarbons (11-13) and aromatic chlorinated hydrocarbons except monochlorobenzene (8-10) with detection limits of 0.005-0.02 and 0.2-0.6 ppb, respectively, while FID was poorly sensitive to them. The coefficients of variation (n=4) in the simultaneous analysis using FID and ECD for sample water containing 0.1-20 ppb of the target compounds were 3.4-7.4% with good precision and reproducibility.

Stress relaxations of calcium alginate hydrogel (CaAlg gel) rods induced by adding other counterions were investigated by measuring their tensile stresses. The stress decreased upon adding Ba2+ and H+, whereas it increased upon adding Pb2+. The relaxation time, equilibrium elastic modulus and spontaneous elastic modulus were obtained. The relaxation times were analyzed using a theory involving counterion diffusion accompanied by an ion-exchange reaction under the assumption that the rate-determing step is the diffusion of added counterions (M2+ and M+) in the gel. The relaxation time was found to be a function of the concentration and diffusivity of the added counterions, the radius of the gel rod, the concentration of carboxylate ions and the counterion-selectivity coefficient () of the alginate. By fitting the observed relaxation times with theoretical ones, the optimal values of a were obtained: = 100, = 20 and = 3 × 103. The rate-determing step of stree relaxation was confirmed to be the counterion di...

Soluble and insoluble complex formations of gelatin and chondroitin 6-sulfate (Chs-C) were studied by measuring their viscosities and transmittances; the effects of complex formations on H+ ion binding were studied by pH titrations. Soluble complexes were formed electrostatically with low ionic strengths; the compositions of the complexes varied with pH from those of solutions. The weight fraction of Chs-C of the saturated soluble complex was found to be 0.294 at pH=5.1. The composition of the insoluble complexes increased in the fraction of Chs-C with decreasing pH. The compositions were found to agree with the theoretical predictions obtained from the condition of electroneutrality. Furthermore, from pH titrations of mixed solutions comprising gelatin and Chs-C, the apparent dissociation constants, pKa of the carboxylic groups of both polymers were obtained. They were found to increase due to soluble complex formation; soluble complex formation depresses the dissociation of H+ ions due to a shielding of...

We examined changes in high density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism during a very low calorie diet weight reduction program in 6 massively obese normolipidemic women. The diet protocol consisted of a 1st low calorie diet (LCD; 1440, 1280, and 880 kcal daily for 1 week, each, in succession), a 1st very low calorie diet (VLCD; 420 kcal daily for 4 weeks, using Optifast 70), intermission (880 kcal daily for 1 week), the 2nd VLCD (4 weeks) and the 2nd LCD (880 and 1280-1440 kcal daily for 1 week, each). Mean body weight reduction was 18.9 kg. HDL-cholesterol, more specifically HDL2-cholesterol, reduced transiently during the 1st VLCD, intermission, and 2nd VLCD periods, and tended to increase in the 2nd LCD. Apolipoprotein (apo) A-I showed a similar change to HDL-cholesterol. However, apo A-II decreased persistently throughout the weight reduction program, and the apo A-I/apo A-II ratio increased significantly in the later part of the program. Serum triglyceride, apo B, and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in post-heparin plasma did not change. These data suggest that the observed decrease in HDL-cholesterol was not due to a reduction in very low density lipoprotein-derived HDL production or to an LPL deficiency, but was consistent with reduction in chylomicron-derived HDL formation following dietary fat restriction.

The electric conductivities of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in methanol and water were measured at 298 K in a concentration range up to 10 mmol dm−3. The values of the limiting molar conductivities of SDS, Λ0, in methanol and water were estimated to be 81.5 and 74.0 S cm2mol−1, respectively, and compared with each other. From those values and the values of NaCl in both solvents, the limiting molar conductivities of dodecyl sulfate ion in methanol and water were estimated to be 36.27 and 23.90 S cm2mol−1, respectively. Also, the vapor-pressure depression of SDS in methanol was measured at 298 K in the concentration range up to 42 mmol kg−1. From the results, and according to the theory regarding strong electrolytes, the mean ionic activity coefficient, γ±, of SDS in methanol at 298 K was calculated. Further, the solubility and heat of solution of SDS in methanol at various temperatures and at 298 K, respectively, were measured. From a thermodynamic analysis of these results, the theoretical relation betwee...

Diffusion-reactions through enzyme membranes were studied by using a multimembrane, consisting of an enzyme layer sandwiched between films. The multimembrane was shown to possess the following characteristics: (1) the microenvironments around the enzyme can be altered arbitrarily by adding polymers etc., and (2) the asymmetries of the multimembranes can be controlled easily by using various films. Diffusion-reactions of urea through symmetric and asymmetric multimembranes having a urease layer were studied by measuring total fluxes J p T and flux ratios — J p I / J p II of one of the products (NH 4 + ion) into a donor and an acceptor compartment. By adding sodium alginate NaAlg to the urease layer, the pH showing the maximum J p T shifted towards the alkaline pH region by 0.6 pH unit, and the maximum J p T increased. From the value of the pH shift, the electrostatic potentialψ α around the active site of the urease was calculated to be − 0.0343 V. The values of J p I / J p II through the symmetric multimembrane were in the range 1.2–1.7, and those for the asymmetric multimembrane were in the range 0.2–0.3. In the diffusion-reaction through the latter membrane, carbamate anions were found to play an important role. Diffusionreaction through the multimembranes was analyzed by assuming that the reactions in the enzyme layer obey a first order reaction.

We conducted an observation program of neuroblastoma in infants, detected by mass screening at 6 months of age; we followed up with them for 15 years. No recurrence was observed after disappearance of tumors, and persistent tumors showed no malignant transformation or metastasis. Histology of the resected tumors showed age-related differentiation.

We examined the changes in high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism in eight female obese patients undergoing a very-low-calorie diet (VLCD). In the first half of the study, HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A-I (apo AI), and apo A-Il showed a parallel decrease. Although lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic lipase (HTGL) did not change, lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) decreased. In the latter half of the protocol, HDL-C and apo A-I increased whereas apo AII decreased, resulting in increased apo A-I-A-Il ratios. There was no change in LPL, HTGL, or LCAT. LCAT and apolipoprotein composition may be important in HDL-C changes after VLCD. Mn J C/in Nuir 1992:56:2975-85.

We studied the crystallographic, magnetic, optical and microwave propagation properties of fibrous rare-earth-substituted Y2.7R0.3Fe5O12 (R:YIG) single crystals, grown by a simple floating zone (FZ) method with yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG) laser heating assisted by infrared irradiation, for all rare-earth elements. The first purpose of our studies was to seek outstanding properties of R:YIG crystals and the second aim was to obtain data in order to develop crystals with complex properties, such as large Faraday rotation and low saturation magnetization, by substituting two or more rare-earth elements for Y into the YIG crystal. The lattice constant, saturation magnetization, Faraday rotation, optical absorption coefficient, full-width at half aximum (ΔH) of ferromagnetic resonance and microwave propagation in magnetostatic wave (MSW) modes were measured for R:YIG single crystals. Low saturation magnetization in Gd:YIG and Tb:YIG, large Faraday rotation in Ce:YIG and low loss propagation of MSW in Lu:YIG were found. Our comprehensive results will also contribute to identifying new materials applicable in for optical and microwave devices utilizing R:YIG crystals.

The addition of cyanide (CN–) ion to N-alkyl-3-carbamoylpyridinium ion (alkyl derivatives) with various alkyl chains in water pools of the reversed micellar system, water/hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB)/chloroform–iso-octane (3 : 2, v/v) has been determined spectrophotometrically. The results of the reaction series are examined with respect to the molar ratio of water to HTAB, R, and the CN– ion concentration in the water pool, [CN–]aq, in order to study the effect of the alkyl chain length of the alkyl derivatives on the addition reaction in HTAB reversed micelles. The rate constant, k2w, and the equilibrium constant, Kw, are evaluated on the basis of the dispersed water pools in the micellar system as the space for reaction.Based on the behaviour of k2w and Kw with R, the present results are obtained. The addition reaction proceeds favourably with decreasing R and with increasing alkyl chain length of the alkyl derivatives. Furthermore, the reaction tends not to be affected significantly by water content in the reversed micelles with increasing alkyl chain length.The effect of CN– ion concentration in water pools on kw and k2w suggests that the reverse reaction for the longer alkyl derivatives is highly affected by CN– ion concentration compared to that for the shorter alkyl derivatives.The behaviour of k2w and Kw with R and [CN–]aq is interpreted mainly on the basis of the different localizations of respective alkyl derivatives in the water pool.

The vapor-pressure depression, surface tension, density and viscosity of the aqueous solution of Surfynol 465, nonionic surfactant, α,α′-[2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-5-decyne-4,7-diyl]bis[ω-hydroxy-poly(oxyethylene)], were measured at various concentrations and 298.15 K, indicating cmc at 11–14×10−3 mol kg−1 and a second cmc at ca. 30×10−3 mol kg−1. From vapor-pressure depression, the association numbers of first and second micelles were approximately estimated at 4 and 13–16, respectively. From the results of density and viscosity measurements, the molar volume and Einstein’s parameter, k, were calculated, respectively. The cohesion between the two hydrophobic chains in monomer was suggested by the analysis of molar volume. It was estimated on the molar volume and k of Surfynol 465 that the hydration of two hydrophilic poly(oxyethylene) chains is significant in monomer as well as micelles, but scarcely changes through micelle formation. The effect of concentration on k was discussed with respect to the shape and...

The solution states of Aerosol OT were studied by 1H-NMR measurements. In water two hydrocarbon chains of Aerosol OT molecules in monomeric state aggregate with each other with hydrophobic interactions as in micellar state.

Contact angles of phospholipid monolayers with polished glass plate were measured by a Wilhelmy method. On monolayers of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline and sphingomyelin with choline residue, we obtained finite contact angles which increased with the increase of surface pressure. On the other hand, on monolayers of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine without choline residue and fatty acids, such as myristic acid and stearic acid, we had nearly zero contact angles in the surface pressure range of 0–40 dyn cm −1 .

Synthetic phosphatidylcholine possesses the first and second c.m.c. in chloroform. The disagreement among c.m.c. values obtained from various methods was due to the fact that different methods detect different c.m.c., i.e. the first and second c.m.c. and the intermediate values. The average association number of first micelle was 2 and that of second micelle was 4.

The osmotic coefficients of a nonionic surfactant, Surfynol 465, φ2, at various molalities, m2, were determined from the results of vapor-pressure depression measurements of its aqueous solutions up to 0.7 mole kg−1 at 25°C. Its activity coefficient and activity, γ2 and a2, respectively, were obtained through a thermodynamic analysis of the plot of φ2 vs m2. The relationships of φ2, γ'2, and a2 to m2 were described according to the association equilibrium model between monomeric and micellar species. Below ca. 0.1 mole kg−1, both species were treated as ideal solutes. To quantitatively account for the nonideal behavior of surfactant above 0.1 mole kg−1, overlapping among micelles was proposed, similar to the case of excess enthalpy discussed in a previous work of the authors.

The dynamic behavior of Aerosol OT in the monomeric state in methanol and in micellar states in water, chloroform and benzene has been studied by measurement of 13 C-NMR spin-lattice relaxation time ( T 1 ) with the following results. The correlation time for the overall reorientation of micelle or monomer calculated from T 1 was compared with that calculated from the viscosity of the solvent and a reasonably postulated radius of the solute particle, showing good agreement in organic solvents. In the micellar state the motion near the polar head group was restricted and the segmental mobility was increasing as one moves along the chain away from the polar group. This trend was significantly noticeable in organic solvents, where the polar head group serves to anchor the chain of Aerosol OT molecules. Also, the 13 C-NMR chemical shifts and the effects of lanthanide shift reagents, Yb( fod ) 3 in organic solvents and Pr(NO 3 ) 3 in water, were measured and analyzed on the basis of the molecular conformation and micellar structure of Aerosol OT.

For the elucidation of molecular behaviors of surfactant solutions from the view-point of thermodynamic parameters, the standard heats of solution and micelle formation per mole of sodium dodecyl sulfate (NaDS), typical anionic surfactant, or ΔH°sol and ΔH°m were determined by calorimetry in the wide range of temperature from 20° to 45°, with parallel experiments determining critical micelle concentration by conductivity measurement and degree of Na+ ion dissociation on micelle by electromotive force measurement using Na+ ion responsive electrode. From the values of both the standard heats, the standard enthalpies of NaDS in monomeric and micellar states, H°mono and H°mie, were calculated on the relative base of standard enthalpy of solid state. The change of these values with temperature gave ca. 120 and 16 cal deg-1 mole-1 to the increases of the standard partial molar heat capacity of NaDS on transferring from solid state to monomeric and micellar states, i.e. ΔC°p (solid→mono, NaDS) and ΔC°p (solid→mic, NaDS), respectively. By applying a simple additivity rule, it was concluded that the change of heat capacity of the paraffin portion of NaDS plays an important role in the above-mentioned ΔC°ps, implying the formation of hydrophobic interaction between the paraffin portion and water. With other experimental data, also the systematic description of surfactant solution was done in thermodymanic terms.

The osmotic coefficients of a solvent, φ, in aqueous solutions of sodium chondroitin-4-sulfate (NaChS-A) with a relatively low molecular weight and -6-sulfate (NaChS-C) with various molecular weight were measured by means of vapor-pressure osmometry. The molar Gibbs energes of dilution, ΔdilG were determined from the thermodynamic analysis of the φ values. The molar entropies of dilution, ΔdilS were calculated through the substitution of the molar dilution enthalpies, ΔdilH which had been measured previously, into ΔdilG. These thermodynamic quantities of dilution were discussed by taking Manning’s limiting law into consideration. The concentration and temperature dependencies of the observed ΔdilH agreed well quantitatively with those of the electrostatic ΔdilH calculated by Manning’s limiting law, when the distance between the neighboring charges of the polyion, b, was assumed to be 4.8 A, whereas the observed ΔdilG and ΔdilS values did not agree quantitatively with the theoretical ones based on electros...

The enthalpies of complex formation of tetranactin with alkali ions in methanol were measured by a micro-calorimeter. The enthalpies were mostly determined by conformational energies of complexes and solvation enthalpies of ions. The minimum enthalpy was observed for potassium ion complex. This tendency coincided with the ion selectivity of tetranactin.

By means of differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing microscopy, the transition paths, temperatures, enthalpies and isopiestic heat capacities were measured for four mesogenic esters, i.e. cholesteryl myristate (ChM), palmitate (ChP), stearate (ChS), and oleate (ChO). By using the above-mentioned thermodynamic quantities, relative chemical potential diagrams were constructed to clarify the thermodynamic phase stability of each ester. The viscosity behavior of each ester was measured at various temperatures under various conditions : continuous heating and cooling as well as isothermal. The effect of thermal history before the isothermal measurements was also examined. On the basis of chemical potential and viscometric diagrams, the phase stability of each ester with or without the influence of shear in the viscometer is discussed. Each ester in cholesteric phase was estimated to behave as a "continuum" without shear, but as a "swarm" under shear. The nature of the peak or hump in the transtion region between isotropic and cholesteric phases is also discussed.

The dynamic structure of Aerosol OT molecules in micellar state was studied by measurements of 13C-NMR spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) and the effect of a lantanide shift reagent Yb(fod)3 in chloroform at 25 MHz and 40°C. The results were analyzed on the basis of the conformation and segmental motions of Aerosol OT molecules in micellar state, with the following conclusions: Aerosol OT molecules in the micellar state associate with each other by the polar head groups; their hydrocarbon chains are flexible; the mobility of side chain is restricted to a greater extent than that of the main chain; carbonyl carbon-(2′) is located nearer to the polar group than carbon-(2) in steric conformation.

Lipid-dispersed nitrocellulose membranes (L-N membranes) were prepared by casting mixed solutions composed of L-α-lecithin, β,γ-dipalmitoyl and nitrocellulose in a glass vessel. Their lipid contents varied from 0 to 0.2 in the weight ratio of lipid to nitrocellulose, and their water contents were adjusted to 60-65% w/w under experimental conditions depending on the composition of the casting solutions. Various strong electrolytes (LiCl, NaCl, KCl, MgCl2 and CaCl2) and carboxylic acids (acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and valeric acid) were permeated through the membranes in a two-compartment cell at 25°C while stirring two bulk solutions at 650 rpm. The results were analyzed quantitatively by a lipid multibarrier channel model, i.e., a membrane model which consists of water channels, WC, and lipid barrier channels, LC. The membrane parameters, such as the fractional areas of WC and LC and tortuosity, were obtained from the water content, the lipid content and the permeability of strong electrolytes, and the effects of the lipid content on these parameters were then examined. The permeability coefficients, P, of L-N membranes were theoretically shown to be a function of the ratio of the diffusivity of a permeant through the water channel to the diffusivity through the lipid barrier. In the case of weak electrolytes the effeccts of their degree of dissociation on the values of P were analyzed. Furthermore, the permeability coefficients of carboxylic acids through the lipid barrier phase in the channel were obtained from the values of P.

The retention and selectivity behaviour of some aromatic amines were studied by high-performance liquid chromatography using amino-chemically bonded stationary phases (column gel), prepared from silica gel treated with benzene solution containing 5–50% of N-(2-aminoethyl)-γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (N2AAPTS). The N2AAPTS gel was compared with the 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3APTS)-treated silica gel. From elemental analysis data for nitrogen and carbon, the maximum number of accessible amino surface groups per 100 A2 of silica gel (mean pore diameter 85 A, particle size distribution 5.8 μm) in N2AAPTS gel was estimated to be 1.81. The N2AAPTS gel provided better resolution of some amines than the 3APTS gel. The effect of the kind of component in the mobile phase on the capacity factor was studied using various alkanes (basic component) and normal alcohols (additive component).

Enthalpies of dilution of aqueous sodium chondroitin 4- and 6-sulfate were measured by a microcalorimeter from the various initial concentrations m=0.16–0.07 monomole kg−1 to the final concentration m′=3.85×10−3monomole kg−1 at various temperatures. The concentration and temperature dependencies of measured enthalpies well agreed quantitatively with the theoretical ones calculated by Manning’s limiting law, when the distance between the neighboring charges of polyion, b, was assumed to be 4.8 A, which was obtained from X-ray diffraction measurement.

Non-ossified (28 cases; 6 to 70 years old) and ossified (8 cases) yellow ligaments were histopathologically investigated to clarify the mechanism of the ossification of the spinal ligament.In the non-ossified group, the size of the collagen and elastic fibers had gradually become larger with the maturing process at the light microscopic level. Electron microscopic investigation revealed that the mature elastic fibers with poorly developed microfibrils increased in number and size. The microfibrils decreased in amount with increasing age, being replaced by structureless masses less stained with tannic acid techique. This observation was remarkable in the older-aged group. In the ossified group, however, elastic fibers became less numerous. On the contrary, the cartilage tissue constituted the predominant structure bordering on the ossifying zone. Electron microscopically, the periphery of the remained elastic fibers consisted of a large amount of the amorphous substances, of which appearance was compatible with that of the senescent group.

The acetylenic nonionic surfactant, Surfynol 465, was studied in aqueous media at 298.15 K, to characterize the various physico-chemical parameters of its monomer and micelle. To analyze the experimental data of Surfynol 465 at various concentrations, two alternative models of micelle formation, i.e., phase separation and association equilibrium, were adopted. From the measured results of surface tension, density, vapor-pressure depression, heat of dilution, and UV and 13C-NMR spectra, we estimated the aggregation number of the micelle, the association equilibrium constant, and the standard molar volume and enthalpy changes accompanying micelle formation as well as the cmc. Also, the standard molar volumes and the NMR chemical shifts of the methyl carbon were estimated separately for the monomer and the micelle. From the detailed analysis of the heat of dilution, we found a repulsive interaction between micelles.