Production of Reducing Sugars from Laminaria japonica by Subcritical Water Hydrolysis

AbstractThis study was to investigate the production of reducing sugars in hydrolysates from raw and deoiled Laminaria japonica produced by subcritical water hydrolysis. Deoiled Laminaria japonica was collected by supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO2) extraction process. Experiments were performed in a batch-type reactor with stirring. It investigated that the effects of reaction temperature and acetic acid as catalyst on content of reducing sugar production. The addition of acetic acid led to an increase in content of reducing sugar. But Removal of oil in Laminaria japonica by SCO2 and increasing of temperature led to decrease in content of reducing sugar production. The highest content of reducing sugar was 814.10mg/100g raw dried sample at 200°C, adding of 1% acetic acid as catalyst

Improvement Characteristics of Ground Using C.G.S Through Field Case Study

Compaction Grouting System is widely used in densifying loose soils or fill voids caused by sinkholes, poorly compacted fills, and soft ground improvement. Also, it is used in preventing liquefaction, re-leveling settled structures, and using compaction bulbs as structural elements of minipiles or underpinning. But the effects of ground improvement depending on the type of soil must be studied in order to adopt in various soils. In this study, characteristics analysis of the ground improvement and the effectiveness of reinforcement were grasped by this study which shows applied ground by Compaction Grouting System in domestic 6 sites. After Compaction Grouting, strength characteristics of the ground are much better than before Compaction Grouting through the results of the standard penetration test, the dynamic cone penetration test, the vane test and laboratory test using performance Evaluation of Linear Regression. Especially improvement of strength was shown over 17% by Compaction Grouting through prediction formulas in sand

Increase in mortality rate following coprescription of cisapride and contraindicated drugs

BACKGROUND: No epidemiologic study, as of this writing, has been published on the use of cisapride with contraindicated drugs and its relation to mortality rates in a population-based setting. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of concomitant use of cisapride with contraindicated drugs and evaluate the association between this and the risk of mortality. METHODS: Claims data were obtained from the Health Insurance Review Agency of Korea. The study population consisted of patients younger than 85 years who visited clinics or hospitals in the city of Busan as new users of cisapride between November 1, 2000, and April 30, 2002. The coprescription of cisapride was defined as prescribing cisapride with one or more contraindicated drugs with the same prescription. Nationwide mortality data were also used. The prevalence of coprescribing cisapride was estimated and the association between this and the risk of mortality was assessed by rate ratios (RRs). The RRs were estimated using Cox's regression model with time-dependent covariate, adjusted for age, sex, and comorbidities. RESULTS: A total of 36,865 patients out of 56,012 claims were newly prescribed cisapride; of these, 1175 patients (3.2%) were concomitantly prescribed at least one contraindicated drug, which suggested adjusted mortality RRs of 14.08 (95% CI 7.41 to 26.76) for recent users and 1.33 (95% CI 0.92 to 1.93) for past users of cisapride. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the discontinuation of the drug's commercial marketing, cisapride was still in use in clinics and hospitals in Busan. In many cases, cisapride was co-prescribed with contraindicated drugs, which is associated with increased mortality rates

Biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids and their protective effect against heavy metals in nitrogen-fixing black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Purpose: To examine the effect of various heavy metals (HMs) on phenylpropanoid pathway compounds in Robinia pseudoacacia.Methods: A series of pot culture experiments were performed to understand how the metabolic profile of phenylpropanoid compounds were affected by various HMs, such as redox-active HMs (AgNO3 and CuCl2), and non-redox-active HMs (HgCl2). Phenylpropanoid compound level was evaluated by high performance liquid chromatography.Results: The total phenylpropanoid level in leaves increased significantly in all the treated groups when compared to that in the untreated group (p < 0.05). However, a significant effect on the total phenylpropanoid levels was only found for redox-active HMs (p < 0.05), whereas non-redox-active HMs showed less accumulation. Chlorogenic acid and rutin were the two major phenylpropanoid compounds found after the plants were subjected to redox and non-redox-active HMs stress. However, when compared to these two compounds, the levels of catechin hydrate, epicatechin, p-coumaric acid, kaempferol, and quercetin were lower. Caffeic acid level was significantly decreased in both redox and non-redox-active HMs when compared to that in the control (p < 0.05). In addition, trans-cinnamic acid accumulation was altered based on the types and concentration of HMs.Conclusion: Phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway participated in the HM tolerance process for the protection of R. pseudoacacia from oxidative damage caused by HMs, thus allowing the species to grow in highly HMs-contaminated areas. Keywords: Heavy metals, Non-redox-active metals, Phenylpropanoid compounds, Redox-active metals, Robinia pseudoacaci

Nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and hemorrhagic stroke risk: the Acute Brain Bleeding Analysis study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The relationship between nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NANSAIDs) and hemorrhagic stroke (HS) remains unclear. We examined the risk of HS associated with the use of NANSAIDs in Koreans. METHODS: We performed a nationwide, multicenter case-control study from 2002 to 2004. This study included 940 nontraumatic acute HS cases in patients aged 30 to 84 years, with an absence of a history of stroke or hemorrhage-prone brain lesions, alongside 940 community controls, matched to each case by age and sex. Pretrained interviewers obtained information on prescription drugs as well as over-the-counter drugs taken within 14 days before the onset of stroke. We adjusted potential confounders, including family histories of stroke, histories of hypertension, smoking, alcohol consumption, high salt intake, and laborious work hours. The adjusted ORs and their 95% CIs were calculated by conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: The proportion of NANSAIDs exposure within 14 days was 2.9% for HS patients and 2.0% for the controls. The adjusted odds ratios of stroke in NANSAIDs users compared with nonusers was 1.12 (95% CI, 0.77 to 1.65) for all HS, 1.03 (95% CI, 0.49 to 2.18) for subarachnoid hemorrhage, and 1.19 (95% CI, 0.76 to 1.87) for intracerebral hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: No increased risk of HS either subarachnoid hemorrhage or intracerebral hemorrhage was found among NANSAIDs users.This study was partially supported by the Korean Food and Drug Administration

Changes in the reproductive function and developmental phenotypes in mice following intramuscular injection of an activin betaA-expressing plasmid

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The TGF-beta family protein activin has numerous reported activities with some uncertainty in the reproductive axis and development. The precise roles of activin in in vivo system were investigated using a transient gain of function model.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To this end, an expression plasmid, pCMV-rAct, with the activin betaA cDNA fused to the cytomegalovirus promoter, was introduced into muscle of the female adult mice by direct injection.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Activin betaA mRNA was detected in the muscle by RT-PCR and subsequent Southern blot analysis. Activin betaA was also detected, and western blot analysis revealed a relatively high level of serum activin with correspondingly increased FSH. In the pCMV-rAct-injected female mice, estrus stage within the estrous cycle was extended. Moreover, increased numbers of corpora lutea and a thickened granulosa cell layer with a small antrum in tertiary follicles within the ovary were observed. When injected female mice were mated with males of proven fertility, a subset of embryos died in utero, and most of those that survived exhibited increased body weight.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Taken together, our data reveal that activin betaA can directly influence the estrous cycle, an integral part of the reproduction in female mice and activin betaA can also influence the embryo development as an endocrine fashion.</p

Lower extremity edema in patients with early ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate clinical manifestations of lower extremity edema (LEE) in early ovarian cancer. METHODS: Patients with early ovarian cancer who underwent staging surgery between January 2001 and December 2010. Medical records for LEE and/or responses to the Gynecologic Cancer Lymphedema Questionnaire (GCLQ) were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients had a median age of 46 years. Twenty-nine patients (40.8%) had past (13 patients, 44.8%) and/or current patient-reported LEE (16 patients, 55.2%). Symptoms reported on the GCLQ in over 20% of respondents were numbness, firmness/tightness, swelling, heaviness, limited movement of knee, and aching. GCLQ total symptoms score was significantly higher in patients with current LEE. Most of the LEE (25/29, 86.2%) developed within 12 months after surgery and LEE lasted more than 6 months in approximately two-thirds of the patients (18/29, 62.1%). Only half of the patients (52.1%) indicated knowledge of lymphedema: 86.2% of LEE patients and 28.6% of patients with no LEE. CONCLUSIONS: Although a significant proportion of patients with ovarian cancer have LEE after surgery, most are not aware of lymphedema until they develop. Education and analyses for LEE and lymphedema are needed in patients with ovarian cancer

Integrative characterization of germ cell-specific genes from mouse spermatocyte UniGene library

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The primary regulator of spermatogenesis, a highly ordered and tightly regulated developmental process, is an intrinsic genetic program involving male germ cell-specific genes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We analyzed the mouse spermatocyte UniGene library containing 2155 gene-oriented transcript clusters. We predict that 11% of these genes are testis-specific and systematically identified 24 authentic genes specifically and abundantly expressed in the testis via in <it>silico </it>and <it>in vitro </it>approaches. Northern blot analysis disclosed various transcript characteristics, such as expression level, size and the presence of isoform. Expression analysis revealed developmentally regulated and stage-specific expression patterns in all of the genes. We further analyzed the genes at the protein and cellular levels. Transfection assays performed using GC-2 cells provided information on the cellular characteristics of the gene products. In addition, antibodies were generated against proteins encoded by some of the genes to facilitate their identification and characterization in spermatogenic cells and sperm. Our data suggest that a number of the gene products are implicated in transcriptional regulation, nuclear integrity, sperm structure and motility, and fertilization. In particular, we found for the first time that Mm.333010, predicted to contain a trypsin-like serine protease domain, is a sperm acrosomal protein.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We identify 24 authentic genes with spermatogenic cell-specific expression, and provide comprehensive information about the genes. Our findings establish a new basis for future investigation into molecular mechanisms underlying male reproduction.</p