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The state-resolved isotope effect on the cross sections of 2p atom formation via precursor doubly excited states of and is obtained at 80 eV incident electron energy and scattering angle by means of coincident electron-energy-loss spectroscopy as well as theoretical fits based on the reflection approximation and the survival probability. It turns out that the degree of the isotope effect depends strongly on the precursor doubly excited states and hence is a significant character of them. The origin of this dependence is discussed.

Resistin, an adipocytokine, is considered the link between obesity and type 2 diabetes. Pomegranate is a rich source of compounds used to treat metabolic diseases including type 2 diabetes. In this study, we found that consumption of pomegranate fruit extract (PFE) predominantly reduced the serum resistin levels in ovariectomized mice, an animal model with elevated resistin levels in serum and upregulated resistin mRNA expression in white adipose tissue. Moreover, the PFE significantly reduced the secretion and intracellular protein levels of resistin in differentiated murine 3T3-L1 adipocytes, but it did not alter resistin mRNA expression. When de novo protein synthesis was inhibited by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, the intracellular resistin protein levels were drastically reduced by the PFE, suggesting that the PFE promoted the degradation of resistin at the protein level. We also found that ellagic acid (EA), a main component of pomegranate, had the same effects on the secretion and intracellular protein level of resistin. These results suggest that EA in pomegranate suppresses resistin secretion by a novel mechanism involving the degradation of intracellular resistin protein in adipocytes.

Some oral antibiotics contain a pivalate ester, because molecules with a pivalate entity show enhanced absorption in the intestine. Upon absorption, such a "prodrug" is broken down into the active form of a given antibiotic and a pivalate molecule, the latter of which is converted to pivaloylcarnitine through pivaloyl-CoA and is excreted in the urine. Long-term administration of drugs containing pivalate decreases blood carnitine level and causes defects in fatty acid oxidation. Here, we used liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry to measure carnitine and pivaloylcarnitine levels in two patients (Patient 1: 16-month-old boy and Patient 2: 18-month-old boy) with secondary carnitine deficiency and hypoglycemic convulsions caused by pivalate-containing antibiotics. Both patients were administered excessive doses of pivalate for the long-term treatment of recurrent infection, and consequently, the serum free carnitine levels were very low (Patient 1: 1.0 micromol/L and Patient 2: 0.4 micromol/L), compared to normal range of 33.3-43.0 micromol/l, while the serum pivaloylcarnitine levels were elevated from normally undetectable level (Patient 1: 3.7 micromol/L and Patient 2: 1.6 micromol/L). Patient 1 recovered immediately after the glucose infusion, whereas Patient 2 remained symptomatic even after blood glucose level was normalized and fully recovered after carnitine supplementation. The urine pivaloylcarnitine level in Patient 2 was increased during carnitine supplementation (from 821.4 to 12,200 micromol/g creatinine) even after discontinuing the antibiotics, indicating that a considerable amount of pivalate was accumulated in the tissues. In conclusion, long-term administration of pivalate-containing antibiotics should be avoided particularly in children.

An 18-month-old boy was treated with an antibiotic containing pivalic acid for 6 months for intractable otitis media and then developed repeated convulsions and loss of consciousness. Laboratory data showed hypoglycemia and hypocarnitinemia. Intravenous administration of glucose was ineffective against the seizures and loss of consciousness. However, the patient regained consciousness and recovered soon after intravenous infusion of carnitine. To our knowledge, intravenous carnitine administration that contributed to marked improvements in neurologic deficit caused by administration of an antibiotic containing pivalic acid has not been reported previously. These findings indicate that long-term use of such antibiotics should be avoided.

There is currently no qualitative survey of East Asian collections in the United States. One objective of this article is to explore a methodology for collection evaluation for East Asian studies. The method of qualitative collection evaluation used in this pilot study could be applied to other subject areas and other area studies.