Inhibitory Effect of Fermented Papaya Preparation on Hydroxyl Radical Generation from Methylguanidine

We have previously shown that extremely high level of guanidino compounds such as methylguanidine (MG), known as a neurotoxin and also a nephrotoxin, generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) using an electron spin resonance (ESR) technique with spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO). In this in vitro study, the inhibitory effect of fermented papaya preparation (SAIDO-PS501:PS-501) on hydroxyl radical (·OH) generation from MG was examined using an ESR spectrometry, and it was found that PS-501 suppressed ·OH generation from MG in a dose-dependent manner. The ID50 value of PS-501 was 8 mg/ml. On the contrary, glucose itself did not suppress ·OH generation from MG up to100 mg/ml, whereas PS-501 almost completely suppressed ·OH generation from MG at a dose of 100 mg/ml. These results imply that PS-501 itself may have a beneficial effect of preventing ROS- and MG-related diseases

加古川市街の農業用水路における貝類の分布と水環境

Habitat distribution of shellfishes were investigated about Semisulcospira libertina(S.L), Cinotania Mstrica(CH) and Corbicula leana(CL) in the two agricultural canals which are neighboring and have same source of stream. As a result of detailed environmental researches, it was found that the habitat distributions of these shellfishes were different considerably between these two canals. We predicted that speed of stream was main factor of this difference. This prediction was supported by a series of experiments by using an experiment waterway of our college. S.L. can inhabit the wide area of agricultural canal because they do not need substratum such as sand and silt, but they can not stay at more than 50cm/s of flow. It was found that C.H. and C.L. need the substratum for their habitation, a 40cm/s of flow becomes the limit for them because substratum begin to drift from this condition. A series of results obtained in the experiments of waterway accorded with the results of field investigations

Effect of Gamma Ray Irradiation on Friction Property of Poly(vinyl alcohol) Cast-Drying on Freeze-Thawed Hybrid Gel

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is a biocompatible polymer with low toxicity. It is possible to prepare physically cross-linked PVA gels having hydrogen bonds without using a cross-linking agent. The newly reported physically cross-linked PVA cast-drying (CD) on freeze-thawed (FT) hybrid gel has an excellent friction property, which is expected to be applied as a candidate material for artificial cartilage. Gamma ray sterilization for clinical applications usually causes additional chemical cross-linking and changes physical properties of gels. In this study, CD on FT hybrid gels were irradiated using gamma rays at a different dose rate and irradiance. The results showed the optimized irradiation conditions for gamma irradiated gels to retain excellent friction characteristics