Dietary exposure to acrylamide in a group of Japanese adults based on 24-hour duplicate diet samples

Acrylamide is a probable human carcinogen and known human neurotoxin that can be generated in food through heating. Using a mathematical modelling approach, our previous study estimated long-term average dietary exposure to acrylamide in the Japanese people; however, the validity of these estimates remained unknown. Here, we aimed to obtain a more accurate estimate of acrylamide exposure that would reflect the usual practice of heat processing and consumption of foods in the population. We collected duplicate diet samples and dietary records during 24 h from a group of Japanese adults. A total of 110 duplicate diet samples were analysed for acrylamide by LC-MS/MS. Data from individual dietary records were used to examine the association between dietary acrylamide exposure and consumption of selected food groups (e.g., coffee, tea, confectioneries, and vegetables prepared at high temperature [deep-frying, stir-frying, sautéing, and baking]). Of the 110 homogenised diet samples, 108 contained detectable levels of acrylamide. Dietary exposure to acrylamide ranged from 8 to 1582 ng/kg body weight (bw)/day, with the mean value of 215 ng/kg-bw/day and median value of 143 ng/kg-bw/day. This mean value was higher than the value we previously estimated for Japanese adults using a mathematical approach. Multiple linear regression analysis showed log dietary acrylamide exposure was significantly associated with consumption of coffee and vegetables prepared at high temperature during 24-hr of sampling (adj. R² = 0.250, p < 0.001). We revealed significant difference in dietary acrylamide exposure between participants who had coffee and vegetables prepared at high temperature (median, 169 ng/kg-bw/day; range, 35–1224 ng/kg-bw/day, n = 42) and those who had none of them (median, 75 ng/kg-bw/day; range, 8–311 ng/kg-bw/day, n = 15) (Steel-Dwass test, p < 0.05).     

Role of Metabolism in Bone Development and Homeostasis

Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are the underlying energy sources for animals and are catabolized through specific biochemical cascades involving numerous enzymes. The catabolites and metabolites in these metabolic pathways are crucial for many cellular functions; therefore, an imbalance and/or dysregulation of these pathways causes cellular dysfunction, resulting in various metabolic diseases. Bone, a highly mineralized organ that serves as a skeleton of the body, undergoes continuous active turnover, which is required for the maintenance of healthy bony components through the deposition and resorption of bone matrix and minerals. This highly coordinated event is regulated throughout life by bone cells such as osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and osteocytes, and requires synchronized activities from different metabolic pathways. Here, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of the cellular metabolism involved in bone development and homeostasis, as revealed by mouse genetic studies.     

Photocatalytic Property and Electronic Structure of Lanthanide-based Oxysulfides

Lanthanide-based oxysulfides and sulfide, LnTaO_3.5S_0.5, Ln₁₀OS₁₄ (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm) and La₄In₅S₁₃, were successively synthesized by sulfurization in a flowing H₂S. The sulfurization decreased the band-gap energies from >4 eV to <3eV, because of the formation of occupied S3p orbitals on the top of valence band. In accordance with the small band gap, the H₂ evolution from a 0.01 M Na₂S and 0.01 M Na₂SO₃ solution system was observed under irradiation of light up to >500 nm. The rate of H₂ evolution under light irradiation of >500 nm increased in the order of Ni/LaTaO_3.5S_0.5 < Ru/La₁₀OS₁₄ < Pt/La₄In₅S₁₃.     

Formation of low-resistivity poly-Si and SiNx films by Cat-CVD for ULSI application

In this paper, bulk-Si metal–oxide–semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) are fabricated using the catalytic chemical vapor deposition (Cat-CVD) method as an alternative technology to the conventional high-temperature thermal chemical vapor deposition. Particularly, formation of low-resistivity phosphorus (P)-doped poly-Si films is attempted by using Cat-CVD-deposited amorphous silicon (a-Si) films and successive rapid thermal annealing (RTA) of them. Even after RTA processes, neither peeling nor bubbling are observed, since hydrogen contents in Cat-CVD a-Si films can be as low as 1.1%. Both the crystallization and low resistivity of 0.004 Ω·cm are realized by RTA at 1000 °C for only 5 s. It is also revealed that Cat-CVD SiN_x films prepared at 250 °C show excellent oxidation resistance, when the thickness of films is larger than approximately 10 nm for wet O₂ oxidation at 1100 °C. It is found that the thickness required to stop oxygen penetration is equivalent to that for thermal CVD SiN_x prepared at 750 °C. Finally, complementary MOSFETs (CMOSs) of single-crystalline Si were fabricated by using Cat-CVD poly-Si for gate electrodes and SiN_x films for masks of local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS). At 3.3 V operation, less than 1.0 pA μm⁻¹ of OFF leakage current and ON/OFF ratio of 10⁷–10⁸ are realized, i.e. the devices can operate similarly to conventional thermal CVD process.     

Preparation of regioisomers of structured TAG consisting of one mole of CLA and two moles of caprylic acid

TAG (MLM) with medium-chain FA (MCFA) at the 1,3-positions and long-chain FA (LCFA) at the 2-position, and TAG (LMM) with LCFA at the 1(3)-position and MCFA at 2,3(1)-positions are a pair of TAG regioisomers. Large-scale preparation of the two TAG regioisomers was attempted. A commercially available FFA mixture (FFA-CLA) containing 9-cis, 11-trans (9c, 11t)- and 10t,12c-CLA was selected as LCFA, and caprylic acid (C₈FA) was selected as MCFA. The MLM isomer was synthesized by acidolysis of acyglycerols (AG) containing two CLA isomers with C₈FA: A mixture of AG-CLA/C₈ FA (1∶10, mol/mol) and 4 wt% immobilized Rhizomucor miehei lipase was agitated at 30°C for 72 h. The ratio of MLM to total AG was 51.1 wt%. Meanwhile, LMM isomer was synthesized by acidolysis of tricaprylin with FFA-CLA: A mixture of tricaprylin/FFA-CLA (1∶2, mol/mol) and 4 wt% immobilized R. miehei lipase was agitated at 30°C for 24 h. The ratio of LMM to total AG was 51.8 wt%. MLM and LMM were purified from 1,968 and 813 g reaction mixtures by stepwise short-path distillation, respectively. Consequently, MLM was purified to 92.3% with 49.1% recovery, and LMM was purified to 93.2% with 52.3% recovery. Regiospecific analyses of MLM and LMM indicated that the 2-positions of MLM and LMM were 95.1 mol% LCFA and 98.3 mol% C₈ FA, respectively. The results showed that a process comprising lipase reaction and short-path distillation is effective for large-scale preparation of high-purity regiospecific TAG isomers.     

Phase separation behavior and morphology development of phenolic resin/PMMA/hexamethylenetetrarnine blends

Summary In order to obtain materials with nanopores which will be applicable for many fields, the structures of the cured blends of phenolic resin (PhN), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and curing agent were studied. After PMMA was extracted from cured blends, the structures of cured phenolic resins were observed with SEM. As a results, it was found that nanosized continuous pore structures were formed in extremely wide composition region if curing temperature was high.     

Preparation of poly(thiophene-alt-pyrrole) bearing chiral LC group

ABSTRACT

Preparation of poly(thiophene-alt-pyrrole bearing mesogen) was carried out with Migita–Kosugi–Stille coupling type polycondensation with an aid of Pd(0) complex catalyst. The resultant polymer shows lyotropic liquid crystallinity with good film-forming property. The smectic fan-shaped texture is maintained after completion of evaporation of solvent from the polymer solution. The cast film having liquid crystal (LC) order shows light emission function upon irradiation of excitation light at 460 nm. The polymer shows LC domain emission. Mechanical orientation allows to yield LC domain aligned film with band structure. Chiral mesogenic side chain induces π-conjugated main chain helicity from distance in molecular level.     

Compact electrostatic levitator for diffraction measurements with a two axis diffractometer and a laboratory x-ray source

A compact electrostatic levitator was developed for the structural analysis of high-temperature liquids by x-ray diffraction methods. The size of the levitator was 200 mm in diameter and 200 mm in height and can be set up on a two axis diffractometer with a laboratory x-ray source, which is very convenient in performing structural measurements of high-temperature liquids. In particular, since the laboratory x-ray source allows a great amount of user time, preliminary or challenging experiments can be performed with trial and error, which prepares and complements synchrotron x-ray experiments. The present small apparatus also provides the advantage of portability and facility of setting. To demonstrate the capability of this electrostatic levitator, the static structure factors of alumina and silicon samples in their liquid phases were successfully measured.     

Simple evaluation of aortic arch calcification by chest radiography in hemodialysis patients

Vascular calcification is associated with a poor prognosis in dialysis patients. It can be assessed with computed tomography but simple inoffice techniques may provide useful information. We compared the results obtained with a simple noninvasive technique with those obtained using multidetector computed tomography for aortic arch calcification volume (AoACV) in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. The enrolled study subjects were 63 (32 men and 31 women) maintenance HD patients. Calcification of the aortic arch was semiquantitatively estimated with a AoAC score (AoACS) on plain chest radiology. The AoACV was increased, with a mean value of 6.6 ranging from 0% to 36.5%. The coefficient of intraobserver variation was less than 2.5%. Aortic arch calcification score was highly correlated with AoACV (r=0.635, P<0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed age (F value=12.62, P<0.001) and pulse pressure (F value=4.54, P=0.037) to be significant independent determinants of AoACS. In conclusion, a simple measurement of AoACS may be useful for inoffice imaging to choose a therapeutic regimen in HD patients.     

Effect of inorganic salts,amino acids and proteins on the degradation of pure magnesium in vitro

The possibility of magnesium and its alloys in medical applications is actively investigated in these days for the realization of biodegradable metallic devices. However, the degradation behavior and mechanisms of magnesium and its alloys in physiological environment such as inside the human body have not been elucidated. In this study, we performed 14-d long immersion tests of pure magnesium (3N) in 4 kinds of physiological solutions simulating the body fluids to examine the effects of the chemical components of the body fluids on the degradation of magnesium. The degradation rate of pure magnesium was strongly influenced by the kinds of the solution used. The highest degradation rate was obtained in NaCl, followed by E-MEM, Earle's solution, and E-MEM+FBS. The average degradation rate in NaCl for 8–14 d is about 100 times larger than that in E-MEM+FBS, which is the closest solution to human blood plasma. These results show that protein adsorption and insoluble salt formation retarded magnesium degradation, whereas organic compounds such as amino acids encourage the dissolution of magnesium. Buffering the solution also influenced the degradation rate; buffering NaCl with HEPES increased the degradation rate but buffering with NaHCO₃ decreased it. Based on these results, the use of appropriate solution such as E-MEM+FBS is important for in vitro evaluation of the magnesium degradation rate under the physiological environment simulating inside the human body.