Organic Liquid Impregnation Behavior into Nanofibrous Membranes: Quantitative Analysis of the Effects of Structural Parameters.

This paper reports the effects of structural parameters on organic liquid impregnation behavior into nanofibrous (NF) polymer membranes. The NF membranes were prepared from organic liquidphilic polymers, poly(amide-imide)s (PAIs), by electrospinning. The impregnation velocity of the organic liquid, ethylmethylcarbonate, into the as-spun PAI NF membranes with diameters ranging from 400 to 900 nm was approximately 10-20 times higher than that into commercial cellulose nonwoven membranes.

Effect of proton concentration on membrane potential across a weak amphoteric polymer membrane.

An amphoteric membrane consists of both positively and negatively fixed charge groups chemically bound to the polymer chains. If the external solution is changed from alkali to acid, it is possible to obtain an experimental result in which the membrane potential changes from positive to negative through the isoelectric point. It was characterized by examining the relationship between membrane potential and proton concentration (pH) obtained from both experimental and theoretical considerations.

Surface morphology and biological activity of protein thin films produced by electrospray deposition.

Protein thin films were prepared by the electrospray deposition (ESD) method from aqueous solutions of alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA) at different concentrations, and their surface morphologies and biological activities were characterized. The surface morphologies of the deposited films were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The SEM and AFM images showed that the film surfaces had a fine porous structure, in which the pore diameters ranged from 40 to 600 nm.

Cellulose acetate electrophoretic determination of bone alkaline phosphatase activity in healthy subjects and diabetic patients with and without osteopenia.

We adapted the electrophoretic method of bone alkaline phosphatase (ALP) determination using neuraminidase from Vibrio cholerae to separate bone and liver ALP on cellulose acetate membrane. Treatment of separator plus serum (1:8, neuraminidase 111 U/l in final) for 10 min at room temperature (25 +/- 1 degree C) and subsequent electrophoresis made it possible to quantify bone ALP activity simply and rapidly. The precision of the data was at the level of CV of 1.

[Biochemical analysis of bone and mineral metabolism in liver cirrhosis].

We investigated the disorder of bone and mineral metabolism in 29 patients with liver cirrhosis who were classified into two subgroups with (group 1, n = 13) or without (group 2, n = 13) osteopenia according to the method of Jikei. Serum levels of osteocalcin level, bone-type alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium concentration in serum and urine in these patients and 25 normal control subjects were determined. Serum osteocalcin level and bone-type alkaline phosphatase activity were elevated in group 1 compared with those in group 2 and normal control subjects.

[The disorder of vitamin D metabolism in patients with liver cirrhosis].

Liver cirrhosis (LC) is often associated with osteomalacia and osteoporosis. Since it has been shown that serum levels of 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH-D) are reduced in LC, defective hepatic hydroxylation of vitamin D has been postulated to be responsible for the low serum 25-OH-D levels and skeletal demineralization. This study was designed, therefore, to determine serum 25-OH-D and 1 alpha, 25-(OH)2-D levels in patients with LC.

Evaluation of biliary pressure by perfusion method and its significance.

The present authors have made it a rule to use a modified Mellet-Guy's method for measuring pressure in the bile duct. The determined manometric pressure expressed in curve has been classified into (a) basal pressure, (b) rising time, (c) perfusion pressure, (d) dumping time and (e) residual pressure. The basal pressure (a) represents a static pressure free from any load in the bile duct.

Follow-up studies of surgical treatment for choledocholithiasis.

The follow-up results of cholecystectomy and common duct exploration with T-tube drainage for 308 patients with common bile duct stones were studied. Nine patients evaluated as "poor" included seven with residual stones and two with recurrent stones..

Surgical management of intrahepatic gallstones.

The results of surgical treatment in 100 patients with intrahepatic gallstones are reported including follow-up on 61 patients who survived more than three years. Nine patients died in the follow-up period, and of the remainder, 44 showed complete rehabilitation (72%). The results of follow-up examinations were best shown by improvement in the tests of hepatic function when compared with the values at the time of discharge.