Effect of 6,9,12,15-Hexadecatetraenoic Acid (C16:4n-1)-Ethyl Ester on Lipid Content and Fatty Acid Composition in the Blood and Organs of Mice.

The effects of 6,9,12,15-hexadecatetraenoic acid (C16:4n-1, HDTA), an n-1 polyunsaturated fatty acid (FA), on plasma and liver lipid content and distribution in blood and tissues were investigated. Mice were fed experimental diets containing 10% HDTA or eicosapentaenoic acid in ethyl ester form based on corn oil for four weeks. Dietary HDTA intake lowered plasma triacylglycerol content without affecting plasma total cholesterol content.

Single and Repeated Dose 28-Day and 13-Week Toxicity Studies of Oil Prepared from the Internal Organs of the Japanese Giant Scallop () in Mice.

Internal organs of discarded scallops are rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, but it is not used as a food ingredient due to the presence of toxic substances. Recently, our research team prepared high-quality scallop oil (SCO) from the internal organs of the Japanese giant scallop (), in which cadmium and diarrhetic shellfish toxin are below regulated levels. In this study, SCO was prepared from the internal organs of scallops obtained from Mutsu and Uchiura bays in Japan, and was referred to as SCO-M (scallop oil from Mutsu bay) and SCO-U (scallop oil from Uchiura bay), respectively.

Effect of Dietary Partial Hydrolysate of Phospholipids, Rich in Docosahexaenoic Acid-Bound Lysophospholipids, on Lipid and Fatty Acid Composition in Rat Serum and Liver.

Lysophospholipids have been recognized as potent biologically active lipid mediators. However, attention has not been paid to the health benefits of dietary partial hydrolysate of phospholipids (PH-PL), which is rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-bound lysophospholipids. In this study, the effects of PH-PL on serum and liver lipid profiles of rats upon administration of PH-PL are demonstrated in comparison to those of fish oil (FO), which comprises eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and DHA-bound triglyceride (TG).

Ubiquinol-10 and ubiquinone-10 levels in umbilical cord blood of healthy foetuses and the venous blood of their mothers.

Despite their being good markers of oxidative stress for clinical use, little is known about ubiquinol-10 (reduced coenzyme Q10) and ubiquinone-10 (oxidized coenzyme Q10) levels in foetuses and their mothers. This study investigates oxidative stress in 10 healthy maternal venous, umbilical arterial and venous bloods after vaginal delivery by measuring ubiquinol-10 and ubiquinone-10 levels. Serum ubiquinol-10 and ubiquinone-10 levels were measured by HPLC with a highly sensitive electrochemical detector.

Positive correlation between maternal serum coenzyme Q10 levels and infant birth weight.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the level of maternal serum coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which is a lipid-soluble antioxidant, maternal body weight gain, fat mass gain, and infant birth weight. A longitudinal observational study was conducted with 50 healthy pregnant women (average age: 31.1 years, average body mass index (BMI): 21.

Oxidative degradation of BPA using TiO2 in water, and transition of estrogenic activity in the degradation pathways.

The oxidative degradation behavior of bisphenol A (BPA) using titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) in water was investigated. The main purposes were to clarify the relationship with estrogenic activity from the degradation pathways demonstrated by oxidation of BPA in water. Approximately 99% of the BPA decomposed within 300 min, and gas chromatography (GC) mass spectrometry (MS) and liquid chromatography (LC) MS analysis revealed many intermediates during the degradation process.

Gastric estrogen directly induces ghrelin expression and production in the rat stomach.

Ghrelin, an endogenous ligand for the GH secretagogue receptor, is predominantly produced in the stomach. Little is known about the regulation mechanism of gastric ghrelin. Here, we report that estrogen synthesized in the stomach induces rat gastric ghrelin gene expression and production.

Endocrine effects generated by photooxidation of coplanar biphenyls in water using titanium dioxide.

The oxidative photodegradation behaviors of selected three coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), (CB77, CB81, and CB169) using titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) in water were investigated. The main purposes were to clarify the structural relation between the original PCBs and the intermediates derived by TiO(2) oxidation and to evaluate the estrogenic and thyroid hormonal activity in the treated three coplanar PCBs during the oxidative reactions. Approximately 90% of the three coplanar PCBs decomposed within 180 min.

Antioxidant activity of prenylated hydroquinone and benzoic acid derivatives from Piper crassinervium Kunth.

Growing evidence suggests that RNOS (reactive nitrogen and oxygen species) are involved in the damage of biomolecules, contributing to the aetiology of several human diseases. Thus, the demand for antioxidants has stimulated the search for new compounds with potential use in this field. The in vitro antioxidant potential of prenylated hydroquinones and prenylated 4-hydroxy-benzoic acids from fruits of P.

Production mechanism of hydroxylated PCBs by oxidative degradation of selected PCBs using TiO2 in water and estrogenic activity of their intermediates.

The oxidative photodegradation behaviors of selected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) [2,3,3',4'-tetraCB (BZ number: CB56), 2,3',4',5-tetraCB (CB70), and 3,4,4',5-tetraCB (CB81: coplanar PCB)] using titanium dioxide (TiO2) in water were investigated. The main purposes were to clarify the structural relation between the original PCBs and the intermediates derived by TiO2 oxidation and to evaluate the estrogenic activity in the treated PCBs during the oxidative reactions. Approximately 90% of the three tetraCBs decomposed within 120 min.

Mucin phenotypic expression and p53 gene abnormality of gastric super-minute well-differentiated adenocarcinoma: re-evaluation with relationship between histogenesis of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma and intestinal metaplasia in distal stomach.

Background: Although the gastric well-differentiated adenocarcinoma in the distal stomach has been thought to develop via a intestinal metaplasia-carcinoma sequence, there are some disproofs from new mucin examinations for minute-size lesions in same type carcinoma. The current study was performed and pointed out the new findings for the solution to the problem according to the point described above.

Methods: 12 super-minute lesions (less than 1 mm in maximum diameter) of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma in distal stomach (SMCa), which were detected from the pathological examinations of 210 surgically resected stomach specimens, and the mucosa adjacent to these carcinoma lesions, were examined by immunohistochemical mucin stainings (MUC2 and CD-10: intestinal phenotype, 45M1 and MUC6: gastric phenotype) and p53-overexpression.

Intercalated duct cell is starting point in development of pancreatic ductal carcinoma?

Background: Although it is well known that the pancreatic ductal carcinoma may develop having a relationship to the mucous gland hyperplasia (MGH) with atypia (PanIN-1B by PanIN system), the starting point of this atypical MGH is unclear. To know it, we examined the pancreas tissue using many methods described below.

Methods: 1.

Application of a pentafluorobenzyl bromide derivatization method in gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of trace levels of halogenated phenols in air, water and sediment samples.

An analytical method using pentafluorobenzyl bromide (PFBB) derivatization and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) has been applied to identify and quantify chloro-, bromo- and dichlorophenols in air, water and sediment samples. Phenols in air sample were collected with a PS-2 Sep-PAK cartridge, and eluted with 2-propanol. For water and sediment samples, liquid-liquid extraction with dichloromethane was carried out, and the solvent was exchanged to 2-propanol.

Quantitative analysis of triphenylboron in environmental water samples by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) has been applied to the analysis of triphenylboron, which has been produced as a substitute for organotin compounds, in water. Although commercial triphenylboron compounds are produced as pyridinyl complexes, the chemical form in water is supposed to be mainly triphenylboron after liberating pyridine. The triphenylborons were extracted from water with an Empore C18 extraction disk under acidic condition, and the extracts were introduced directly into a liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer equipped with a negative ion electrospray ionization interface.

LC/MS studies on characterization and determination of N,N'-ethylenebisdithiocarbamate fungicides in environmental water samples.

Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) has been applied to analyze N,N'-ethylenebisdithiocarbamate fungicides (EBDCs: manzeb, maneb and zineb) in environmental water samples. The EBDCs that are zinc and/or manganese salts are transformed into readily water-soluble sodium salts by adding an alkaline EDTA solution. The N,N'-ethylenebisdithiocarbamate anion is extracted into chloroform-hexane (3:1) as an ion pair with tetrabutylammonium, and then S-alkylated with methyl iodide.

Mucosal vaccination against influenza: protection of pigs immunized with inactivated virus and ether-split vaccine.

Effective vaccinations against swine influenza reduce the economic loss of pig industries, and also may minimize the possibility of emergence of new pandemic viruses, since pigs are intermediate hosts to generate reassortant viruses among avian and mammalian influenza viruses. In this study, we showed that intranasal immunization of pigs with formalin-inactivated or ether-split influenza vaccine (A/Aichi/2/68) induced virus-specific IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies in their nasal secretions and sera, resulting in complete protection from virus challenge. Antibody response to the challenge virus was not observed in the immunized pigs, suggesting that the replication of the virus in the primary targets, respiratory epithelial cells, was inhibited.

Precursor genes of future pandemic influenza viruses are perpetuated in ducks nesting in Siberia.

Influenza A viruses of different subtypes were isolated from fecal samples of ducks in their nesting areas in Siberia in summer from 1996 to 1998. Phylogenetic analysis of the NP genes of the isolates in Siberia and those in Hokkaido, Japan on their flyway of migration from Siberia to the south in autumn revealed that they belong to the Eurasian lineage of avian influenza viruses. It is noted that the genes of the isolates in Siberia are closely related to those of H5N1 influenza virus strains isolated from chickens and humans in Hong Kong in 1997 as well as to those of isolates from domestic birds in southern China.

The effects of isosorbide dinitrate on exercise-induced ST-segment elevation at the infarcted area in old myocardial infarction.

To clarify the clinical significance and therapeutic implication of exercise-induced ST elevation at the infarcted area in old myocardial infarction (OMI), 30 patients with exercise-induced ST elevation underwent treadmill exercise testing. The patients with transient perfusion defects at the infarcted area on thallium-201 stress myocardial scintigraphy (group I: n = 12) revealed a decreased rate of ST elevation expressed as delta ST/delta HR X 10(2) after 10 mg of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN), compared to the results of treadmill exercise testing under no medication (3.1 +/- 2.