β-Carotene effectively scavenges toxic nitrogen oxides: nitrogen dioxide and peroxynitrous acid

Abstractβ-Carotene absorbed 2 equimolar amounts of NO2 accompanying the complete destruction of β-carotene. Electron spin resonance study using 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-3-oxide-1-oxyl revealed that no significant amounts of NO were released by the interaction. Nitrogen atoms derived from NO2 were tightly bound to the β-carotene molecules. Destruction of β-carotene was inhibited little by α-tocopherol and polyunsaturated fatty esters, and slightly by ascorbyl palmitate, indicating that β-carotene was a more effective scavenger of NO2. ONOOH/ONOO− and 3-morpholinosydononimine similarly destroyed β-carotene. The results suggest that β-carotene contributes to the prevention of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of NO2 and ONOOH/ONOO− derived from NO.©1997 Federation of European Biochemical Societies

女性マスターズスイマーの社会化パターン : 過去のスポーツ活動と現在の活動特性

Swimming and underwater exercise have a variety of advantages with regard to the human body There are few muscle or joint injuries because of the water\u27s bupyancy, it is easy to control the training load, and they provide full body exercise, can use many calories in a short time, and have a benefit effect on circulatory organs. For these reasons, the number of middle-aged persons who take up swimming is increasing. The purpose of the present study was to clarify and classify the sports activity patterns of master swimmers. In early November, 1992, we sent a questionnaire survey to 300 members of seven swimming clubs. The number of effective respomses was 156 (52.0%). Subjects were classified into three socialization patterns according to their past and present sports activities; an "Early socialized Group" of those who have continued sports from their student days, a "Resocialized Group" of those who discontinued sports activity after graduating from school and then resumed after a few years rest, and a who stopped doing sports activities after graduating school and start it again after few years rest. "Latter socialized Group" of those who started sports activities after graduating from school. The main results of the study were as follws : 1) Of the respondents, 12.2% were classified in the Early socialized Group, 41.6% in the Resocialized Group, and 46.2% in the Later socialized Group. 2) About a half of the respondents indicated that they started swimming to "make up for the lack of exercise in their daily lives." 3) The main purpos of swimming for most respondents was to "maintain or improve health" and "relieve stress." The was followed by the purpose of "physical training " and "to refresh myselfand change my daily routine" 4) The present attitude of master swimmers toward sports differs according to the sport socialization pattern