Visualization of sialoglycoproteins in polyacrylamide gels by acidic ninhydrin reaction.

A new method for staining sialoglycoproteins in polyacrylamide gel after disc electrophoresis is described. The method utilizes the reaction of sialic acids with an acidic ninhydrin reagent which yields a stable color with an absorption maximum at 470 nm. After electrophoresis, the polyacrylamide gel is placed in a test tube and heated with 5 ml of the acidic ninhydrin reagent for 10 min in a boiling water bath. Sialoglycoproteins are detected as brown bands. No additional procedure such as destaining is necessary. When 20 micrograms fetuin, a sialoglycoprotein, per gel is applied, the band remains visible for at least 2 h. Stained gel can be scanned with a gel scanner at 470 nm. When the stained gel was dried on a sheet of polypropylene filter, the color was stable for at least one month. The present method is superior to the method using Stains-all (3,3'-diethyl-9-methyl-4,5,4',5'-dibenzothiacarbocyanine) in specificity and simplicity for the detection of sialoglycoproteins.</p

Time-resolved magnetic resonance angiography as a follow-up method for visceral artery aneurysm treated with coil-embolisation

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility and usefulness of time-resolved magnetic resonance angiography (TR-MRA) for follow-up of visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) after embolotherapy. Material and methods: Twenty-one VAAs (11 splenic, six renal, three internal iliac, and one superior pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms) in 18 patients (median age, 64 years; range, 36-88 years) previously treated by embolisation with platinum coils, were evaluated. The mean size of the aneurysm was 10.5 cm3 (range, 0.3-132 cm3). Among them, 19 lesions were treated by aneurysmal packing with or without distal-to-proximal embolisation. For the remaining two lesions, distal-to-proximal embolization alone was performed. The mean observation period after embolotherapy was 35 weeks (range, 4-216). All patients underwent TR-MRA following an intravenous bolus injection of gadolinium chelate. Recanalisation was diagnosed when any portion of the aneurysmal sac was enhanced in the arterial phase. Results: On TR-MRA, two lesions were diagnosed as recanalised. They were confirmed by transcatheter arteriography and re-treated by embolotherapy. For the remaining 19 lesions, there were no findings of recanalisation on TR-MRA. Conclusions: TR-MRA appears to be a feasible method for follow-up examination of VAAs treated by embolotherapy

Age, gender, will, and use of home-visit nursing care are critical factors in home care for malignant diseases; a retrospective study involving 346 patients in Japan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We aimed to clarify the factors affecting outcomes of home care for patients with malignant diseases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Of 607 patients who were treated in 10 clinics specialized in home care between January and December 2007 at Chiba, Fukuoka, Iwate, Kagoshima, Tochigi and Tokyo prefectures across Japan, 346 (57%; 145 men and 201 women) had malignant diseases. We collected information on medical and social backgrounds, details of home care, and its outcomes based on their medical records.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Median age of the patients was 77 years (range, 11-102), and 335 patients were economically self-sufficient. Their general condition was poor; advanced cancer (n = 308), performance status of 3-4 (n = 261), and dementia (n = 121). At the beginning of home care, 143 patients and 174 family members expressed their wish to die at home. All the patients received supportive treatments including fluid replacement and oxygenation. Median duration of home care was 47 days (range, 0-2,712). 224 patients died at home. For the remaining 122, home care was terminated due to complications (n = 109), change of attending physicians (n = 8), and others (n = 5). The factors which inhibited the continuity of home care were the non-use of home-visit nursing care (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-3.00, <it>p </it>= 0.03), the fact that the patients themselves do not wish to die at home (HR = 1.83, CI: 1.09-3.07, <it>p </it>= 0.02), women (HR = 1.81, CI: 1.11-2.94, <it>p </it>= 0.02), and age (HR = 0.98, CI: 0.97-1.00, <it>p </it>= 0.02).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Continuation of home care is influenced by patients' age, gender, will, and use of home-visit nursing.</p

スフィンゴ脂質の消化管吸収と皮膚改善効果に関する研究

京都大学新制・課程博士博士(農学)甲第23940号農博第2489号新制||農||1090(附属図書館)学位論文||R4||N5375(農学部図書室)京都大学大学院農学研究科応用生物科学専攻(主査)教授 菅原 達也, 教授 佐藤 健司, 教授 松井 徹学位規則第4条第1項該当Doctor of Agricultural ScienceKyoto UniversityDGA

Dietary Ceramide Prepared from Soy Sauce Lees Improves Skin Barrier Function in Hairless Mice

Dietary sphingolipids such as glucosylceramide and sphingomyelin are known to improve the skin barrier function of damaged skin. In this study, we focused on free-ceramide prepared from soy sauce lees, which is a byproduct of soy sauce production. The effects of dietary soy sauce lees ceramide on the skin of normal mice were evaluated and compared with those of dietary maize glucosylceramide. We found that transepidermal water loss value was significantly suppressed by dietary supplementation with soy sauce lees ceramide as effectively as or more effectively than maize glucosylceramide. Although the content of total and each subclass of ceramide in the epidermis was not significantly altered by dietary sphingolipids, that of 12 types of ceramide molecules, which were not present in dietary sources, was significantly increased upon ingestion of maize glucosylceramide and showed a tendency to increase with soy sauce lees ceramide intake. In addition, the mRNA expression of ceramide synthase 4 and involucrin in the skin was downregulated by sphingolipids. This study, for the first time, demonstrated that dietary soy sauce lees ceramide enhances skin barrier function in normal hairless mice, although further studies are needed to clarify the molecular mechanism

Genetic and acquired factors for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the spines in Japan; a case-control study.

To elucidate risk factors of genetic variants and acquired factors such as lifestyles for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the spines (OPLL) in Japan, a case-control study was carried out. A self-administered questionnaire was obtained from 63 patients with OPLL in collaborate hospitals and age, sex and domicile-matched controls, 126 from hospital patients without OPLL and 126 from health check up in a town. Genotypes of vitamin-D receptor gene (VDR) FokI genotype, lipoprotein lipase gene (LPL) HindIII genotype, and nucleotide pyrophosphatase gene (NPPS) IVS15-14T->C were identified by use of PCR-RFLP methods. Frequency of VDR FokI F allele was higher in OPLL (0.66) than in hospital controls (0.54) and population controls (0.56)(pC genotypes between cases and controls. An univariate analysis of the data from the questionnaire survey revealed high body mass after middle age, history of diabetes, history of hypertension, lack of body pliableness or stocky body shape, and some characters in "Type A" tendency were significantly associated with OPLL. A tree-based analysis to clarify confoundings among them revealed VDR FokI F allele was associated with history of diabetes, suggesting that VDR FokI F allele was the third factor of the association between OPLL and diabetes. VDR F allele was suggested to be associated with OPLL as well as diabetes. Further case-control studies in OPLL using candidate genes of hypertension are needed to elucidate the pathogenesis in OPLL and establish an effective intervention program for OPLL.The 56th Annual Meeting of The American Society of Human Genetic

Carbonyl Compounds Generated from Electronic Cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are advertised as being safer than tobacco cigarettes products as the chemical compounds inhaled from e-cigarettes are believed to be fewer and less toxic than those from tobacco cigarettes. Therefore, continuous careful monitoring and risk management of e-cigarettes should be implemented, with the aim of protecting and promoting public health worldwide. Moreover, basic scientific data are required for the regulation of e-cigarette. To date, there have been reports of many hazardous chemical compounds generated from e-cigarettes, particularly carbonyl compounds such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, and glyoxal, which are often found in e-cigarette aerosols. These carbonyl compounds are incidentally generated by the oxidation of e-liquid (liquid in e-cigarette; glycerol and glycols) when the liquid comes in contact with the heated nichrome wire. The compositions and concentrations of these compounds vary depending on the type of e-liquid and the battery voltage. In some cases, extremely high concentrations of these carbonyl compounds are generated, and may contribute to various health effects. Suppliers, risk management organizations, and users of e-cigarettes should be aware of this phenomenon