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Natural ester is viewed as the most promising future alternative to mineral oil due to its high degradability, but its inferior breakdown characteristics prevent its application of large power equipment. The purpose of this research is to investigate the breakdown characteristics of natural ester. First, the natural ester's ionization potential and molecular number density are calculated. Then, an improved natural ester streamer discharge model is developed using the Poisson's equation and the carrier continuity equation, taking into account the effect of temperature on carrier mobility and incorporating the computed ionization potential and other factors. The results for different lightning impulse voltages were analyzed by COMSOL software. Comparing the mineral oil, the results indicate that the natural ester breakdown voltage is close to and slightly lower than that of the mineral oil but the acceleration voltage is very similar to the breakdown voltage. The lower ability of esters in prevention against the development of fast and energetic streamers is consistent with the description of the experimental results. In addition, the model takes into account the effect of temperature on the carrier mobility. As the applied voltage increases, the change of temperature in the streamer channel accelerates the carrier motion and promotes the propagation of the streamer. © 2022 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Japanese mitten crab Eriocheir japonica inhabits rivers throughout Japan and is being cultivated for food. To conduct aquaculture efficiently, it is crucial to comprehend the physiological functions of the target organisms. However, there is a lack of fundamental information on Japanese mitten crabs. In this study, hydrolases were extracted from the midgut glands of Japanese mitten crabs and their metabolic activities were analyzed. An enzyme with hydrolytic activity was discovered within the cytosol of the midgut gland. Western blot analysis also revealed that the Japanese mitten crab contains a hydrolase with cross-reactivity to human carboxylesterase 1 (hCES1) antibodies. The substrate specificity of the S9 fraction of the midgut gland was investigated and, interestingly, it was revealed that it reacts well with indomethacin phenyl ester and fluorescein diacetate, which are substrates of hCES2, not substrates of hCES1. Furthermore, this enzyme was observed to metabolize the ester derivative of astaxanthin, which is a red pigment inherent to the Japanese mitten crab. These findings underscore the significance the midgut gland in the Japanese mitten crab as an important organ for metabolizing both endogenous and exogenous ester-type compounds., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Tricholoma anatolicum collected from Turkey is consumed by public and exported to Japan every year. It was previously identified as Tricholoma caligatum until it was recognized as a new species. In the existing literature, there is no information on the aromatic composition of T. anatolicum. Therefore, in this study it was aimed to identify the volatile composition of T. anatolicum together with T. caligatum. Species identification was confirmed using molecular analyses based on ITS rDNA sequencing. Volatile compounds of both mushroom species were extracted using liquid-liquid extraction method and determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Flame Ionization Detector (GC-MS-FID). In the two Tricholoma species, 31 volatiles were obtained and grouped in seven chemical classes. The amounts of alcohols, volatile acids and esters were found to be higher in T. anatolicum, whereas the amounts of terpenes were detected as higher in T. caligatum. 1-Octen-3-ol responsible for the mushroom-like odour was only found in T. anatolicum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To compare changes in macular pigment optical density ( MPOD) and serum lutein concentration between free lutein and lutein esters supplements in healthy Japanese individuals. Methods Twenty healthy subjects (age range, 22-47 years) were recruited into this prospective, randomized, doubled-blind comparative study. Individuals were evenly divided into two groups: free lutein group, supplementation with 10 mg of free lutein; or lutein esters group, supplementation with 20 mg of lutein esters equivalent to 10 mg of free lutein. Each participant took either type of oral lutein daily for 3 months. The serum lutein concentrations and MPOD levels were measured at baseline and 3 and 6 months after the start of supplementation. Results There were no significant differences in the serum lutein concentrations and MPOD levels at baseline between the groups. The increased serum lutein concentration and MPOD levels at 3 months were respectively, 89% and 38% in the free lutein group and 97% and 17% in the lutein esters group. The serum lutein concentrations in both groups and MPOD levels in the free lutein group increased significantly (p < 0.05) from baseline. No significant differences in serum lutein concentrations and MPOD levels were seen between the groups. Three months after supplementation ended, the serum lutein concentration decreased; the MPOD remained elevated in both groups. Conclusions The serum lutein concentrations and MPOD levels increased significantly with either free lutein or lutein esters, and no significant differences were found between the two. Both were considered useful as lutein supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determined the fifteen types of plasticizers, including four kinds of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) used in 220 polyvinyl chloride (PVC) toys on Japanese market from 2019 to 2020. Three kinds of previously undetected types of PAEs were also detected, but not identified in this study. Di (2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP) was the highest detection rate in 209 soft PVC toys out of 220 toys, with 71.2% for designated toys and 88.9% for not-designated toys, respectively, showing a gradual increase from the previous reports in 2009 and 2014. On the other hand, the usages of o-acetyl tributyl citrate and adipic acid esters decreased, but the six types of PAEs prohibited to use for the designated toys in Japan were not detected in them, the usage of diisobutyl phthalate were increased. In contrast, four types of PAEs were detected in not-designated toys. Among them, the detection ratio of di (2-ethyhexyl) phthalate decreased to about 1/10. The content levels of plasticizers in per each sample were continued to keep low level from the report five years ago. These results showed that the main plasticizer used in PVC toys is DEHTP, and that the usage of other plasticizers was decreased.

Introduction: This study will compare the lowering effects of pemafibrate and omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters on fasting apolipoprotein B-48 (apoB-48), a surrogate marker reflecting postprandial hypertriglyceridaemia, which is a residual risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with statin treatment., Methods and Analysis: This is a prospective, multicentre, open-label, randomised, parallel group, comparative trial. Adult Japanese patients with dyslipidaemia receiving statin treatment for more than 4 weeks with a fasting triglyceride level ≥177 mg/dL will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive pemafibrate (0.4 mg orally per day) or omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters (4 g orally per day) for 16 weeks. The primary endpoint is the percentage change in fasting apoB-48 from baseline to 16 weeks. The key secondary endpoints include the change in fasting apoB-48 from baseline to 16 weeks, the percentage changes in clinical variables from baseline to 16 weeks and the incidence of adverse events. A total sample size of 128 was set by considering the increased drop-out rate due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to estimation based on a two-sided alpha of 0.05 and a power of 0.8 for apoB-48., Ethics and Dissemination: The study protocol has been approved by the Certified Review Board of the University of the Ryukyus for Clinical Research Ethics (No. CRB7200001) and will be performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The results of the study will be disseminated through publications and conference presentations to participants, healthcare professionals and the public., Trial Registration Number: jRCTs071200011., Competing Interests: Competing interests: YT, MO and MS have no potential competing interests to disclose. IS received an honorarium for a lecture from GlaxoSmithKline and research funding from Kowa. SH has received honoraria for lectures from Bayer Yakuhin, Daiichi Sankyo, Kowa, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, MSD, Novartis Pharma, Otsuka Pharmaceutical and Takeda Pharmaceutical. SU has received honoraria for lectures from Daiichi Sankyo, Kowa and Taiho Pharmaceutical and grants from Bayer Yakuhin, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Kowa., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Phthalates are used as plasticizers in many products used in daily life worldwide. Due to industrial and economic developments, exposure among general population to phthalates may vary geographically and temporally. However, studies are lacking for investigating temporal changes in phthalate exposure in the Japanese population. In the present study, the temporal trends in exposure to various phthalates were assessed among a group of Japanese adult female population over 1993-2016 and derived associated risks. For this purpose, urine samples of healthy Japanese females in Kyoto, Japan (N = 132) collected in 1993, 2000, 2003, 2009, 2011, and 2016, were employed and measured for the concentrations of 18 phthalate metabolites. Over this period, the detection rates of mono(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate (MCPP) and monoisobutyl phthalate (MiBP) decreased, and the geometric means of the urinary concentrations of mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP), and mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) showed a significant decreasing trend. Cumulative risk due to exposure to dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) showed a dramatic decrease only between 1993 and 2000. The maximum hazard quotient (HQ M ) was attributed to DEHP in most subjects regardless of sampling year. This study showed the temporal trend of the exposure of Japanese females to several phthalate esters over two decades. As of the late 2010's, DEHP was still the predominant component of phthalate ester exposure in the population. The HI value, however, indicates that direct risk due to phthalate exposure was unlikely among the studied population., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: Background: The half of hyperalphalipoproteinemia (HALP) in Japan is caused by CETP gene mutations. Other than two prevalent mutations (D442G and Intron 14 splicing donor site +1G>A), some rare CETP mutations are found in Japanese HALP subjects. Methods: CETP gene analysis of genomic DNA from subjects was performed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequencing analysis. Mutations which were suspected to cause a splicing defect or a protein secretion defect were investigated in COS-1 cells transfected with a CETP minigene construct or a cDNA expression vector. Results: Each of three subjects was identified as a carrier of CETP gene mutation of a compound heterozygote of c.653_654delGGinsAAAC and Intron 14 splicing donor site +1G>A, a heterozygote of c.658G>A or a homozygote of L261R. The c.658G>A mutation was located at the last nucleotide of exon 7, and it was confirmed to cause splicing abnormality revealed by the CETP minigene analysis. The L261R CETP was not secreted to conditioned media of the cells. Conclusions: Three novel CETP gene mutations are responsible for HALP by CETP deficiency. It is predicted that there are more rare CETP gene mutations in Japanese, and these multiple rare mutations alone or a combination with each of prevalent mutations is responsible for mild-to-moderate or marked HALP, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Five cytotoxic macrolides, aplyronines D–H (4–8), were isolated from the Japanese sea hare Aplysia kurodai. They are new congeners of the antitumor compound aplyronine A (1), which was previously isolated from the same organism. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis (NMR and MS). The cytotoxicity of these new compounds was evaluated in comparison with that of aplyronines A–C (1–3), suggesting the importance of the 7-O-seryl ester group for mediating the potent cytotoxicity of aplyronines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Synth. Commun. 2005, 35 , 259 NOVEL SYNTHESIS OF OPTICALLY ACTIVE 2-ETHYLHEXANOIC ACID, 2-ETHYLHEXANOL, AND 2-ETHYLHEXYLAMINE VIA THE ASYMMETRIC FAVORSKII REARRANGEMENT Motofumi Miura, Masaharu Toriyama, and Shigeyasu Motohashi College of Pharmacy, Nihon University, Chiba, Japan [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies enantiomers of propionic acid by researchers from Japan. Determination on the absolute configuration of the enantiomers; Success on the conversion of racemate to diastereomeric esters; Result of the assay performed on the coleoptile elongation of Avena sativa.

Studies protocatechuic acid and its alkyl esters by researchers from Japan. Investigation on the scavenging reactions of protocatechuic acid; Effects of alcoholic solvents on its antiradical abilities; Implication of phenolic acids and esters as one of the principal groups of dietary polyphenols known for their antioxidant activities.

Background: We aimed to determine the cumulative rate of diabetes mellitus (DM) and the risk factors for DM in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) in Japan., Methods: We conducted a follow-up survey of CP in 2002 in patients registered as having CP in 1994, and confirmed 656 patients to be checked in regard to the survey items concerning diabetes. We analyzed the cumulative rate of DM and the risk factors for DM over an 8-year follow up period., Results: In 1994, 35.1% of 656 CP patients had DM, and the incidence of diabetes had increased to 50.4% in 2002. Of 418 patients without diabetes in 1994, 28.9% (121/418) were newly diagnosed with DM in 2002. Alcoholic CP was the most common type of CP in patients with newly developed diabetes, accounting for 67.8%. The incidence of DM was highest in those with alcoholic CP (34.3%) followed by idiopathic CP (23.0%). The risk of diabetes increased 1.32-fold after the onset of pancreatic calcification. Of 121 patients with newly diagnosed DM in 2002, 37 (30.6%) had pancreatic stones in 1994 and 49 (40.5%) had a stone in 2002. The highest incidence of newly diagnosed DM was observed in patients with continuous alcoholic intake (40.9%). Patients treated with camostat mesilate developed DM less frequently than those without camostat mesilate., Conclusions: The present study showed that the incidence of DM in patients with CP increased with time. Of 418 CP patients without DM in 1994, 28.9% developed DM over a period of 8 years. Continuous alcoholic intake aggravated CP and increased the risk of DM in those with CP.

Background: Differentiation between functional dyspepsia and early chronic pancreatitis is difficult because these diseases do not produce specific abnormalities in laboratory testing. The aim of this study was to examine the potential efficacy of camostat mesilate, a protease inhibitor, against functional dyspepsia and to characterize patients with favorable responses., Methods: Dyspeptic patients who exhibited no abnormalities on laboratory blood and urine testing, abdominal ultrasonography and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were randomized to receive camostat mesilate 200 mg three times daily or famotidine 20 mg twice daily for 4 weeks. Symptoms severity was recorded before and at 2 and 4 weeks after starting treatment using a visual analog scale., Results: Epigastralgia was significantly improved after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment in both groups (P < 0.01); this improvement tended to be more marked in the camostat mesilate group (P < 0.05 at 2 weeks). The beneficial effect of camostat mesilate on epigastralgia was more prominent in chronic alcohol drinkers at 2 weeks (P < 0.05) and 4 weeks (P < 0.01)., Conclusions: Camostat mesilate is superior to famotidine for relieving epigastralgia in patients with functional dyspepsia. Its pain-relieving effect is greater in patients who habitually drink alcohol.

FA components of 11 musts made from grape cultivars grown for making red wine in various regions of Japan and of wines made from the musts were compared to elucidate variety-dependent characteristics and to clarify their effect on FA ethyl ester (FAEE) formation in wine. Sixteen FA with carbon chain lengths from 12 to 26 were detected in all musts, with palmitic, linoleic, and linolenic acids generally predominating. Higher levels of linoleic acid were found in musts from a cold region (Hokkaido), and higher levels of oleic acid occurred in musts from a warm region (Honshu). Moreover, the unsaturation indexes (1.31-1.56) of five grape musts from the cold region showed significant differences among varieties, corresponding to the grapevines' degree of cryotolerance. The FA levels (610-6,610 nmol/100 mL) of all wines were extremely low (1.2-12.8%) compared with those of must, but the FA compositions were similar to those of must. Additionally, significant amounts of FAEE, possibly derived from yeast activity, were found in wines by using a solid-phase extraction method. The amounts of FAEE in wine significantly differed among samples (245-904 nmol/100 mL) and were inversely correlated with the percentage of linoleic acid in musts (R = -0.883). Thus, higher linoleic acid levels in must may be related to lower FAEE formation by yeast.

Phthalate esters and phosphate esters in samples of indoor air from 27 houses in the Tokyo Metropolitan area were quantified using gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer and gas chromatograph/flame photometric detector after adsorption on to charcoal and solvent extraction. The median concentrations of diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate (DBP), butylbenzyl phthalate, dicyclohexyl phthalate and diethylhexyl phthalate were 0.10, 0.39, 0.01, 0.07 and 0.11 microg/m(3), respectively. The median concentrations of tributyl phosphate, tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate, triphenyl phosphate and tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate were less than 0.001 microg/m(3). DBP was detected at the highest concentration (6.18 microg/m(3)) in a new residential housing. This research indicated that exposure to phthalate esters through inhalation of air from the indoor environment is as important as dietary intake of phthalate esters, and can contribute to daily intake to a much greater extent than has been assumed hitherto.

The objective of the study was to investigate whether different initial baseline cholesterol levels modulate the efficacy of a spread enriched with plant sterol-esters (PS) in lowering blood cholesterol in a Japanese population consuming their usual diet. Healthy adults with a mean age of 45 y and mean plasma total cholesterol (TC) level of 6.5 mmol/L were recruited to participate in a double-blind trial comprised of a run-in period of 1 wk, followed by two intervention periods of 3 wks in a 2 x 2 crossover design and a post-trial follow-up of 3 wk. Volunteers consumed two spreads, one enriched with PS (12 g/100 g plant sterols) and a control spread not fortified with PS. Recommended spread intake was 15 g/d. Effects on plasma lipids, lipoproteins, beta-carotene and vitamins A and E were assessed. Plasma TC and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations were 5.8 and 9.1% lower, respectively, when subjects consumed the PS spread than when they consumed the control spread (P < 0.001). Subjects were divided into two groups [normal and mildly cholesterolemic (TC <5.7 mmol/L) and hypercholesterolemic (TC >/= 5.7 mmol/L)]. Reductions (P < 0.001) in TC and LDL-C due to treatment in the former group were 4.9 and 7.9%, respectively. In the hypercholesterolemic group, the reductions (P < 0.001) were 7.1 and 10.6%, respectively. The decreases did not differ between normal/mildly cholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic subjects. Plasma apolipoprotein B (apoB) and remnant-like particle (RLP) cholesterol (RLP-C) concentrations were lower when subjects consumed the PS spread (44.3 g/L) than the control spread (49.7 g/L). Plasma beta-carotene concentration was lower (P < 0.001) in subjects consuming the PS spread than in the control. Changes in plasma vitamins A and E levels did not differ after intake of the PS and control spreads. In conclusion, consumption of a PS-enriched spread effectively lowered plasma TC, LDL-C, apoB and RLP-C regardless of baseline plasma TC at an intake of 1.8 g/d of plant sterols.

We have previously reported a potent and specific cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor JTT-705 was a potentially anti-atherogenic compound (Nature 406 (2000) 203). In the present study, we investigated in vitro how this compound affects properties of high density lipoprotein (HDL) in Japanese white (JW) rabbits in terms of reverse cholesterol transport in J774 macrophages. Plasma HDL-cholesterol (C) level was significantly higher in the rabbits administered JTT-705 than in control rabbits on days 3 and 7. Both HDL(2) and HDL(3)-C levels were also significantly higher in JTT-705-administered rabbits than in control rabbits. During this period, plasma CETP activity was kept lower in JTT-705-administered rabbits than in controls. To determine how this compound affects the property of HDL particles, we investigated the C efflux induced by HDL from JTT-705-administered and control rabbits in J774 macrophages. Cholesterol ester (CE) concentration in J774 macrophages was reduced in proportion with increasing concentration of the added HDL to the culture media for J774 macrophages in both groups, suggesting that the HDL from JTT-705-administered rabbits was able to reduce CE concentration in J774 macrophages as efficiently as that from control rabbits. This result, together with the finding that the absolute HDL concentration increased in JW rabbits administered this CETP inhibitor, suggests that treatment with this new compound causes a beneficial effect on lipid metabolism in terms of anti-atherogenicity.

Our previous report stated that kikyo-to, a Japanese herbal medicine, consisting of the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum and Glycyrrhiza sp., stimulates the pancreatic exocrine secretion of conscious rats. The present study focused on the effective components of kikyo-to and the mechanism of stimuli to pancreatic secretion of rats. When 10 to 100 mg of platycodin D, a saponin from the root of Platycodon grandiflorum, was intragastrically administered, the pancreatic secretion of rats was stimulated. At the same time, the plasma CCK concentration increased. On the other hand, the stimulative effects of glycyrrhizin, a saponin from the root of Glycyrrhiza sp. were weak compared to platycodin D. The effects of 10 mg/kg of platycodin D on pancreatic secretion were inhibited by loxiglumide (50 mg/kg, i.g.), a CCK receptor antagonist. In contrast, the suppressive effect of atropine (300 micrograms/kg/h, i.v.) on pancreatic secretion was reduced by administering 10 mg/kg of platycodin D. In addition, up to 1 mM of platycodin D did not inhibit the trypsin activities in vitro. In conclusion, kikyo-to serves to stimulate pancreatic exocrine secretion mainly because platycodin D causes gastrointestinal hormones, particularly, CCK to be released from the duodenum.