Totally chlorine-free bleaching of prehydrolysis soda pulp from plantation hardwoods consisting of various lignin structures

The process of prehydrolysis followed by soda-anthraquinone (AQ) cooking and totally chlorine-free (TCF) bleaching with peroxymonosulfuric acid (Psa) was investigated to develop a biorefinery process. Eucalyptus globulus, showing a high syringaldehyde (Sa) to vanillin (Va) molar ratio after nitrobenzene oxidation, was utilized. Xylooligosaccharide yield in the prehydrolysate (PHL) obtained at 150 °C for 2.5 h reached 7.2% of wood weight, indicating 47% extraction of xylan. Furfural yields increased with acid catalytic dehydration of the PHL to 1.0–1.8% of wood weight; adding an earlier acid post-hydrolysis of the PHL to generate monomeric xylose enhanced furfural production to 4.0%. Soda-AQ cooking, a non-sulfur process affording simpler alkali lignin isolation than kraft cooking, was utilized. Active alkali dosage increment decreased both Sa to Va molar ratio (S/V ratio) and Sa and Va yields of dissolved lignin. Gel permeation chromatography indicated decreased or increased purified lignin weight-average molecular weight (Mw) upon increased active alkali dosage or prehydrolysis temperature, respectively (e.g., 150 to 170 °C at 18% alkali increased Mw 1653 to 2050). Chlorine dioxide (0.083% and 0.042% as active chlorine) inclusion during the 1st and 2nd Psa stages with Psa (0.2% and 0.1% as H2SO5 weight, respectively) improved final bleached pulp viscosity from 6.0 to 7.2 mPa s

Inhibition of APN/CD13 leads to suppressed progressive potential in ovarian carcinoma cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13), a 150-kDa metalloprotease, is a multifunctional cell surface aminopeptidase with ubiquitous expression. Recent studies have suggested that APN/CD13 plays an important role in tumor progression of several human malignancies. In the current study, we investigated the role of APN/CD13 in ovarian carcinoma (OVCA) progression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We first examined the expression of APN/CD13 at the protein level in a variety of OVCA cell lines and tissues. We subsequently investigated whether there was a correlation between APN/CD13 expression and invasive potential of various OVCA cell lines. Moreover, we investigated the function of APN/CD13 in OVCA cells using bestatin, an APN/CD13 inhibitor, or transfection of siRNA for APN/CD13.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We confirmed that APN/CD13 was expressed in OVCA tissues and cell lines to various extents. There was a positive correlation between APN/CD13 expression and migratory potential in various OVCA cell lines with accordingly enhanced secretion of endogenous MMP-2. Subsequently, we found a significant decrease in the proliferative and migratory abilities of OVCA cells after the addition of bestatin or the inhibition of APN/CD13 expression by siRNA. Furthermore, in an animal model, daily intraperitoneal administration of bestatin after inoculation of OVCA cells resulted in a decrease of peritoneal dissemination and in prolonged survival of nude mice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The current data indicate the possible involvement of APN/CD13 in the development of OVCA, and suggest that clinical use of bestatin may contribute to better prognosis for ovarian carcinoma patients.</p

マトリックス重合によるケラチン複合体の生成

科学研究費助成事業 研究成果報告書：挑戦的萌芽研究2015-2016課題番号 : 15K1224

Thermal Stability of Polycaprolactone Grafted Densely with Maleic Anhydride Analysed Using the Coats–Redfern Equation

The plastic waste problem has recently attracted unprecedented attention globally. To reduce the adverse eff ects on environments, biodegradable polymers have been studied to solve the problems. Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is one of the common biodegradable plastics used on its own or blended with natural polymers because of its excellent properties after blending. However, PCL and natural polymers are difficult to blend due to the polymers’ properties. Grafted polymerization of maleic anhydride and dibenzoyl peroxide (DBPO) with PCL is one of the improvements used for blending immiscible polymers. In this study, we first focused on the effects of three factors (stirring time, maleic anhydride (MA) amount and benzoyl peroxide amount) on the grafting ratio with a maximum value of 4.16% when applying 3.000 g MA and 1.120 g DBPO to 3.375 g PCL with a stirring time of 18 h. After that, the grafting condition was studied based on the kinetic thermal decomposition and activation energy by the Coats–Redfern method. The optimal fitting model was confirmed by the determination coefficient of nearly 1 to explain the contracting volume mechanism of synthesized PCL-g-MA. Consequently, grafted MA hydrophilically augmented PCL as the reduced contact angle of water suggests, facilitating the creation of a plastic–biomaterial composite

HeLa cells were pretreated with 100 μg/ml Ubenimex for 24 h, followed by 16 Gy radiation

At 72 h after radiation treatment, whole-cell protein extracts were prepare and subjected to Western blot analysis of Bcl-xL, Bcl-2, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, PARP, and cleaved PARP. The β-actin protein level served as a protein loading control. The combination of Ubenimex and radiation cleaved caspase-3 and PARP, leading to apoptosis (A). Anti-apoptotic molecules, Bcl-xlL and Bcl-2, were down-regulated by Ubenimex and radiation (B).<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Aminopeptidase N (APN)/CD13 inhibitor, Ubenimex, enhances radiation sensitivity in human cervical cancer"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/8/74</p><p>BMC Cancer 2008;8():74-74.</p><p>Published online 19 Mar 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2289833.</p><p></p