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The amount of β-1 structures in lignin is small; however, they are assumed to significantly affect the reactivity of lignin because they form dienone structures. A method employing thioacidolysis and subsequent desulfurization yields products that can be analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to quantify these β-1 structures. However, the retention times and response factors of the reaction products have not been accurately determined thus far. Here, 12 standard compounds combined with p -hydroxyphenyl (H), guaiacyl (G), and syringyl (S) units were synthesized, and their retention times and response factors were determined through GC-MS, using selective ions. Based on these data, we also investigated the β-1 structures of lignocellulosic lignin samples. Our results clarified that the successful formation of the β-1 structure was dependent on the type of aromatic rings present; there were very few β-1 structures containing H units; and the amount of G-G type was higher and that of the heterotype, i.e., G-S type, was lower than the stochastic value.

A soybean certified reference material for pesticide residue analysis was developed by the National Metrology Institute of Japan. Three organophosphorus (diazinon, fenitrothion, chlorphyrifos) and one pyrethroid (permethrin) pesticides were sprayed on soybeans three times before harvest. These soybeans were freeze pulverized, homogenized, bottled, and sterilized by γ-irradiation to prepare the candidate material. Three isotope-dilution mass spectrometric methods that varied in terms of the solvents used for extraction of the target pesticides, the clean-up procedure, and the injection techniques and columns used for quantification via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry were applied to the characterization. Each target pesticide was quantified by two of these analytical methods, and the results were in good agreement. Homogeneity and stability assessment of the material demonstrated that the relative standard uncertainties due to the inhomogeneity and the instability for an expiry date of 55 months were 1.89-4.00% and 6.65-11.5%, respectively. The certified pesticide concentrations with expanded uncertainties (coverage factor k=2, approximate 95% confidence interval) calculated using the results of the characterization and the homogeneity and stability assessment were 21.7 ± 3.2 μg/kg for diazinon, 88 ± 21 μg/kg for fenitrothion, 11.1 ± 3.2 μg/kg for chlorpyrifos, and 20.1 ± 4.3 μg/kg for permethrin (as the sum of the constituent isomers)., (© 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V.)

An apple certified reference material for the analysis of pesticide residues was issued by the National Metrology Institute of Japan. Organophosphorus and pyrethroid pesticides were sprayed on apples, and these were used as raw materials of certified reference material. The harvested apples were cut into small pieces, freeze-dried, pulverized, sieved, placed into 200 brown glass bottles (3g each), and sterilized by γ-irradiation. Stability and homogeneity assessment was performed, and the relative uncertainties due to instability (for an expiry date of 32 months) and inhomogeneity were 10.3-25.0% and 4.0-6.8%, respectively. The characterization was carried out using multiple analytical methods to ensure the reliability of analytical results; the values of target pesticides were obtained by isotope dilution mass spectrometry. Certified values were 2.28 ± 0.82 mg/kg for diazinon, 3.14 ± 0.79 mg/kg for fenitrothion, 1.55 ± 0.81 mg/kg for cypermethrin, and 2.81 ± 0.70 mg/kg for permethrin., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We investigated the effects of two carbohydrate-based sports drinks on fluid intake and immunoendocrine responses to cycling. Six well-trained male cyclists completed trials on three separate days that involved cycling at 60% VO(2peak) for 90 min in hot conditions (28.1 ± 1.5ºC and 52.6 ± 3.1% relative humidity). During each trial, the subjects consumed ad libitum (1) an isotonic sports drink (osmolality 317 mOsm/kg), (2) a hypotonic sports drink (osmolality 193 mOsm/kg) or (3) plain water. The cyclists consumed significantly (p<0.05) more of the isotonic drink (1.23 ± 0.35 L) and hypotonic drink (1.44 ± 0.55 L) compared with water (0.73 ± 0.26 L). Compared with water (-0.96 ± 0.26 kg), body mass decreased significantly less after consuming the hypotonic drink (-0.50 ± 0.38 kg) but not the isotonic drink (-0.51 ± 0.41 kg). Blood glucose concentration was significantly higher at the end of the isotonic and hypotonic drink trials compared with the water trial. Neutrophil count and the plasma concentrations of catecholamines, interleukin 6 (IL-6), myeloperoxidase, calprotectin and myoglobin increased significantly during all three trials. IL-6 and calprotectin were significantly lower following the hypotonic drink trial compared with the water trial. In conclusion, hypotonic sports drinks are appealing for athletes to drink during exercise, and may help to offset fluid losses and attenuate some inflammatory responses to exercise.

The development of Reference Materials for Nutrients in Seawater (RMNS) has been in progress since 1993. When RMNS were produced for nitrate, silicate, and phosphate, their initial homogeneities were as low as 0.1 to 0.2% in samples of high-nutrient seawater, such as deep water from the Pacific Ocean. The relative standard uncertainties associated with instability during long-term (4.8 years) storage were approximately 0.2, 0.2, and 0.4% for nitrate, silicate, and phosphate, respectively. No instability was observed for 1.9 to 6.4 years based on the ISO Guide 35:2006 criteria; however, the relative standard uncertainties associated with instability during long-term storage were larger than the initial homogeneities of RMNS. RMNS produced by state-of-the-art techniques are currently available for global use to improve the comparability of nutrients data in the open ocean and, as discussed here, are reliable candidates to be used for certified reference materials.

In our previous work, we found that synephrine has six conformers in the gas phase, while adrenaline, which is a catecholamine and has the same side chain as synephrine, has been reported to have only two conformers. To determine the conformational geometries of synephrine, we measured resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization, ultraviolet-ultraviolet hole burning, and infrared dip spectra by utilizing the laser desorption supersonic jet technique. By comparing the observed infrared spectra with theoretical ones, we assigned geometries except for the orientations of the phenolic OH group. Comparison between the determined structures of synephrine and those of 2-methylaminno-1-phenylethanol, which has the same side chain as synephrine but no phenol OH group, leads to the conclusion that the phenolic OH group in synephrine does not affect the conformational flexibility of the side chain. In the case of adrenaline, which is expected to have 12 conformers if there are no interactions between the catecholic OH groups and the side chain, some interactions possibly exist between them because only two conformations are observed. By estimation of the dipole-dipole interaction energy between partial dipole moments of the catecholic OH groups and the side chain, it was concluded that the dipole-dipole interaction stabilizes specific conformers which are actually observed., (© 2011 American Chemical Society)

Green onion and cabbage certified reference materials for the analysis of pesticide residues were issued by the National Metrology Institute of Japan, part of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. Green onion and cabbage samples were grown so as to contain several kinds of organophosphorus and pyrethroid pesticides, and those were collected from a field in the Kochi Prefecture in Japan. The certification was carried out by using multiple analytical methods to ensure the reliability of analytical results; the values of target pesticides (diazinon, fenitrothion, cypermethrin, etofenprox, and permethrin for green onion and chlorpyrifos, fenitrothion, and permethrin for cabbage) were obtained by isotope dilution mass spectrometry. Certified values of target pesticides were 0.96-13.9 and 2.41-6.9 mg/kg for green onion and cabbage, respectively. These are the first green onion and cabbage powder certified reference materials in which organophosphorus and pyrethroid pesticides are determined.

Dispersed fluorescence and IR dip spectra of seven conformers of tyramine were measured in a supersonic jet. Observed vibrational bands are assigned based on quantum chemical calculations. The vibrational frequency of out-of-plane CH bending in the benzene ring shows characteristic shifts according to the conformation of C(beta)-C(alpha), while that of CH stretching in the methylene chain reflects the conformation of N-C(beta). From these vibrational frequencies, assignments of the conformers observed in the S(1)-S(0) laser induced fluorescence spectrum are discussed.

Purpose: An inferotemporal visual field defect sometimes occurs following vitreous surgery for idiopathic macular hole. There is a possibility that this visual field defect is due to damage to the superonasal retina by fluid or air irrigation through an inferonasal infusion port. We tested this hypothesis by placing the infusion port in the inferonasal sector during vitreous surgery., Cases and Method: We performed vitreous surgery on 31 eyes with idiopathic macular hole. The infusion port was placed in the inferonasal sector. The vitreous cavity was replanced either by 20% SF6 or 12% C3F8. We did not abrade the retinal pigment epithelium within the hole. The visual field was assessed before and 1 month after surgery using a Goldmann perimeter., Findings: Three eyes developed a wedge-shaped visual field defect in the inferonasal sector. No visual field defect developed in the other 28 eyes., Conclusion: The findings show that visual field defect following surgery for idiopathic macular hole is dependent upon the site of the infusion port. We presume that the visual field defect is consequent to retinal damage caused by the flow of air or fluid during surgery.

Chickens were immunized with human prion protein (PrP) peptide H25 (amino acid residues 25-49) coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. From a fusion experiment using the chicken fusion partner cell line MuH1 and immune spleen cells, one mAb, HUC2-13, was generated which reacted with the peptide. HUC2-13 was specific for a pentapeptide (RPKPG) of the N-terminal of the peptide H25. In Western blotting analysis, the mAb reacted with PrP materials from a human Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) case and the membrane fraction from normal murine brain, but not with the same materials pretreated with proteinase K. When compared with the HUC2-13 and the conventional mouse mAb 3F4, the background stainings using the HUC2-13 were minimal. In immunohistochemistry, the HUC2-13 stained positively with kuru plaques in brain sections from patients with Gerstmann-Straussler syndrome (GSS), and also reacted with synaptic structures of the CJD patients. However, any immunolabelings using the HUC2-13 were not observed in the section from a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as CJD-negative control. These results indicate that the mAb HUC2-13 is a suitable tool for immunological and diagnostic analyses of prion disease in humans and other mammals.

Patients with pulmonary embolism may have no definitive predisposing factors for thrombi. The clinical entity of chronic pulmonary embolism is also uncertain. This study clarified the clinical characteristics of pulmonary embolism without definitive predisposing factors. During the last 10 years, 36 consecutive patients were diagnosed as having pulmonary embolism (mean age 61 years, female 75%). Twenty-four patients (67%) had definitive predisposing factors ("definitive" group). Patients without definitive predisposing factors had the following characteristics. The onset of symptoms was out-hospital and insidious. The main symptom was exertional dyspnea without acute episode compatible with an embolism. In four patients (33%) there was a delay of over 2 years form the onset of symptoms to the diagnosis. Three patients had been treated for depression. Thrombolytic therapy caused an inadequate fall in mean pulmonary artery pressure from 41 +/- 11 to 24 +/- 8 mmHg and in three patients it remained over 30 mmHg. Deep vein thrombosis were found in four of nine patients in whom venography were performed 10 days after thrombolytic therapy, but only one patient showed thrombus in the "definitive" group. During the convalescent stage, all patients were treated with prophylactic warfarin. Home oxygen therapy was indicated in three patients and an inferior vena caval filter was implanted in two patients. One third of patients with pulmonary embolism in our institute had no definitive predisposing factors. In these patients, even with thrombolytic therapy, recovery of pulmonary hypertension was often insufficient and deep vein thrombosis persisted. Clinicians should be aware of this disease to avoid undue delay in its diagnosis.

Purpose: To assess the result of surgical removal of submacular hemorrhage by using tissue plasminogen activator and perfluorocarbon liquid., Methods: In 22 consecutive patients (22 eyes), subretinal hemorrhage associated with age-related macular degeneration, which involved the fovea and completely obscured the choroidal vascular pattern, was treated by pars plana vitrectomy. The hemorrhages were liquefied with tissue plasminogen activator, squeezed into the vitreous cavity with perfluorocarbon liquid, and then evacuated., Results: Efficacy of the procedure was judged by the best postoperative corrected visual acuity, which was 20/100 or better in 16 eyes (73%). Submacular hemorrhage recurred in four (18%) eyes, epiretinal membrane formed in three (14%) eyes, and retinal detachment occurred in three (14%) eyes. Best-corrected final visual acuity was improved postoperatively in 18 (82%) of the 22 eyes, unchanged in three (14%) eyes, and decreased in one (5%) eye, final visual acuity was 20/200 or better in 15 eyes (68%) and limited in other eyes by subretinal hemorrhage of greater than 30 days' duration or subfoveal neovascularizations., Conclusions: Use of tissue plasminogen activator and perfluorocarbon liquid in surgical removal of submacular hemorrhage may improve the outcome of surgery by reducing surgically induced retinal damage.

We evaluated visual functional measurements, visual acuity, central retinal sensitivity in a Humphrey field analyzer, and binocular function in Stereotest, Amsler grid testing, of 51 idiopathic macular holes before and after vitrectomy. In 36 of 51 eyes (71%) where the macular hole was closed after vitrectomy, there were improvements in all visual functional measurements postoperatively. The eyes in which the macular hole was closed had significantly better visual acuity before vitrectomy than those in which the hole was not closed. In 16 of 51 eyes that had visual acuity of less than 20/200 preoperatively, central retinal sensitivity before vitrectomy was higher in the eyes where the macular hole was closed than in those in which it was not closed. These measurements are useful for evaluation of visual functional improvements after vitrectomy and can help to choose candidates for macular hole surgery.

In 30-40% of patients with primary aldosteronism owing to adenoma, hypertension is not relieved even though a hyper-functioning adenoma has been completely removed. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the prognosis of hypertension can be evaluated pre-operatively in patients with primary aldosteronism. Thirteen patients (6 men, 7 women; 47 +/- 9 years old) with primary aldosteronism were studied and adrenalectomy was performed in all cases. The success of the operation was confirmed by the normalization of plasma renin activity (PRA), plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and serum potassium. Eight patients, 3 men and 5 women, whose blood pressure (BP) was reduced to below 140mmHg systolic and 90mmHg diastolic at one year after the operation were classified as "group N" and the other 5 cases, 3 men and 2 women, remained hypertensive and were classified as "group H". There were no significant differences in the age of the patients, duration of hypertension, pretreatment mean BP and severity of hypertension between the two groups. Thus, it is doubtful that the lack of improvement of hypertension is due to the irreversible damage of the small arteries. Although pretreatment BP was similar in the two groups, systolic BP after the administration of 200mg per day of spironolactone for one week was significantly reduced in group N, but not in group H. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between mean BP after treatment with spironolactone and post-operative mean BP in all subjects. Pretreatment PRA was significantly lower in group H.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

1. Effects of moderate hypercapnia (10% CO2) on rectal temperature, oxygen consumption and body weight loss were examined during and after acute hypothermia induced by cold and helium-oxygen. 2. Hypothermia induction time was reduced significantly by hypercapnia. Rewarming tended to be faster in hypercapnic animals than in normocapnic animals. 3. Hypercapnia significantly reduced body weight loss when measured during hypothermia and during normothermia after rewarming. 4. Oxygen consumption during cooling was decreased by hypercapnia. 5. Exposure to 10% CO2 during cooling may spare energy substrate and favor survival in hypothermia.