Mass preparation of oligosaccharides by the hydrolysis of chondroitin sulfate polysaccharides with a subcritical water microreaction system

The biological functions of chondroitin sulfate (CS) are executed by the interaction of specific oligosaccharide sequences in the polysaccharide chain with effective proteins. Thus, CS oligosaccharides are expected to have pharmacological applications. Furthermore, the demand for CS in health food supplements and medication is growing. However, the absorbency of CS polysaccharides in the digestive system is very low. Since the activity of orally administered CS is expected to increase by depolymerization, industrial production of CS oligosaccharides is required. In this study, hydrolysis with subcritical and super-critical water was applied to the depolymerization of CS for the first time, and hydrolytic conditions for oligosaccharide production were examined. CS oligosaccharides principally containing an N-acetyl-D-galactosamine residue at their reducing ends were successfully obtained. No significant desulfation was found in CS oligosaccharides prepared under optimized conditions. The production of CS oligosaccharides by this method will have a strong influence on the CS-related materials market. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Free radical scavenging activity of type II collagen peptides and chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides from by-products of mottled skate processing

The by-products of the skate processing industry have bioactive properties but are mostly discarded. In the present study, the properties of skate cartilage, a major by-product of skate processing that is rich in chondroitin sulfate (CS) and type II collagen were investigated. Enzymatically-hydrolyzed type II collagen peptides (CP) and thermally hydrolyzed CS oligosaccharides (CSo) from skate cartilage were prepared and their antioxidant activities were studied. High free radical scavenging activity was observed in the <3 kDa MW fraction of the papain hydrolyzed CP (Pa-CP). CSo also had high free radical scavenging activity, but the activity was mainly due to the intermediate and final products of the non-enzymatic browning reaction resulting from high-temperature hydrolysis. These products may have included flavonoid-like compounds. Furthermore, Pa-CP and CSo were not cytotoxic. Thus, Pa-CP and CSo derived from skate by-products may be beneficial antioxidant ingredients. The present study may contribute to the development of functional health foods and achieving zero-waste skate processing

Antioxidant and fibroblast-activating activities of the by-product of skate chondroitin extractive production

Owing to the increasing popularity of chondroitin sulfate (CS) for joint pain treatment, the CS-production industry has been producing an increasing amount of waste, which includes type II collagen, non-collagenous proteins, and residual CS. To effectively utilize these resources, we intended to develop new products from the by-product of skate chondroitin sulfate production (BP-sCS). In this study, we examined the antioxidant and fibroblast-activating properties of BP-sCS, intending to apply it for a wound-healing promoter. BP-sCS exhibited ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities, protected L929 fibroblasts from H2O2- or AAPH-induced oxidative stress, and scavenged intracellular reactive oxygen species. Moreover, BP-sCS promoted L929 fibroblast proliferation/metabolism and stimulated collagen deposition into the extracellular matrix. In addition, BP-sCS counteracted AAPH-induced oxidative stress damage that inhibited fibroblast migration. These effect were attributed to the cooperation among the molecules of BP-sCS, namely, type II collagen peptides, non-collagenous peptides, and CS polysaccharides. Our findings indicate that BP-sCS has the potential as a novel wound-healing promoter. This study is the first step toward the realization of a sustainable CS-production industry by waste utilization in healthcare products

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube Removal for Patients With Advanced Dementia: Case Series Study

Background : Although the notion of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube placement for patients with dementia has been changing, the number of cases of PEG placement remains high as Japan has become a super-aged society. However, there is insufficient research about the clinical course of dementia patients with PEG, especially regarding PEG extubation after regaining full oral intake. This case series aimed to reveal the demographic data of patients who successfully underwent PEG extubation and to identify clinical factors that might help predict eventual resumption.Methods : This retrospective case series was identified in a private, community-based long-term care hospital in Sapporo, Japan. Inclusion criteria for the series were: 1) age, ≥75 years, 2) diagnosis of any type of dementia, and 3) resumption of full oral intake after removal of PEG tubes.Results : Eight female patients were identified. Decreased oral intake was triggered by acute medical conditions, such as infectious enteritis. A trial of oral intake was initiated mostly by speech therapists. A majority of the patients ate pureed food. The patients aged ≥85 years with advanced dementia could be weaned from PEG tubes.Conclusion : The series indicates that even patients with limited life expectancy could recover swallowing function by receiving appropriate guidance and care. Constant evaluation for swallowing function even after PEG insertion may be important for PEG extubation