Cholelithiasis in hamsters: Effects of cholic acid and calcium on gallstone formation

Dietary cholic acid (0.1%) and/or calcium (2.6% as calcium carbonate) were added to a semipurified diet containing cholesterol and ethynyl estradiol to determine whether the incidence of pigment and/or cholesterol gallstones would be changed. Male golden Syrian hamsters were fed the experimental diets for 96 days (Group 1, control; Group 3, cholic acid plus calcium) or only an average of 60 days (Group 2, 0.1% cholic acid). Animals in Group 2 became ill (weight loss, low food intake, diarrhea) possibly due to cholic acid (or deoxycholic acid) toxicity. Cholesterol gallstones and crystals were absent in all experimental groups. The incidence of pigment gallstones was: control, Group 1, 12/16; 0.1% cholic acid, Group 2, 3/13; and 0.1% cholic acid plus calcium, Group 3, 11/22. Cholic acid with or without calcium produced an elevation of both liver and plasma cholesterol: Group 2, 80.1 mg/g and 501 mg/dl; Group 3, 103.7 mg/g and 475 mg/dl vs Group 1, 65 mg/g and 209 mg/dl, respectively. The lithogenic indices of the bile were lower in Groups 2 and 3 compared to Group 1, controls, 0.45 and 0.58 vs 1.16, respectively. The extent of the portal tract pathology could not be correlated with the presence or absence of pigment gallstones or with the levels of lithocholic acid in the hamster bile. In summary, when semipurified diets were supplemented with ethynyl estradiol and cholic acid, with and without calcium supplementation, no cholesterol gallstones formed and the incidence of pigment gallstones was not altered.     

Dietary protein effects on cholelithiasis in hamsters: Interaction with amino acids and bile acids

The objective of this experiment was to study the effects of dietary cottonseed protein and casein on plasma and biliary lipids, plasma amino acids and gallstones in hamsters. Thirty-four male hamsters (60 ± 5 g) were fed either the lithogenic “Dam Diet” (containing 20% casein, 74.3% sucrose and 5.7% vitamin-mineral mix) or a similar diet that contained 20% cottonseed protein for 30 days. Both diets contained protein as a protein isolate. The concentration of alpha-aminobutyric acid was significantly elevated in the casein-fed group. Significant differences in the total plasma cholesterol or lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were not observed between the two dietary groups. A significant elevation in the absolute concentration of biliary cholesterol was observed in the casein-fed hamsters. Cottonseed protein-fed animals exhibited a significantly elevated concentration of bile acids. The ratio of glycochenodeoxycholic:glycocholic acid was significantly higher in the cotton-seed protein-fed group. This study reports that an elevated concentration of biliary cholesterol with a concomitant decrease in bile acid concentration yields a condition favorable to gallstone formation. It is proposed that cottonseed protein may have a specific effect on the bile acid pool by increasing the ratio of glycochenodeoxycholic acid:glycocholic acid which, in turn, prevents formation of cholesterol gallstones.     

The effects of phenobarbital on biliary lipid metabolism in cholesterol gallstone subjects

The effect of 1.7–2.2 mg/day oral phenobarbital over short (1 MO) and long term (6–24 MO) treatment on primary bile acid (BA) secretion, composition, synthesis, pool size, and enterohepatic cycling rates as well as phospholipid (PL) and cholesterol (C) secretion rates and biliary composition was determined in 12 asymptomatic cholesterol gallstone subjects while 5 normals had only short term studies. Phenobarbital enhanced BA and C secretion (BA-636±166 to 2110±382 mg/hr, p<0.001 and C-42±5 to 224±48 mg/hr, p<0.001) and BA cycling rate in all subjects studied during stimulated enterohepatic circulation but, during fasting, it only enhanced BA secretion (451±129 vs. 759±159 mg/hr, p<0.05) in gallstone subjects. Cholic acid (CA) production rate (171±28 to 395±9 mg/hr, p<0.05) and pool size (727±80 to 1209±132 mg/hr, p<0.05) were increased during long term treatment of gallstone subjects, while the proportion of CA in bile and deoxycholic acid (DCA) in feces increased. Treatment decreased biliary cholesterol from supersaturated to saturated levels (9.5±0.6 vs. 6.1±0.9 moles%, p<0.02) in all fasting gallstone subjects and decreased cholesterol crystal loads during long term treatment; but, while prohibiting gallstone growth, it did not affect stone dissolution over 24 month's treatment. Phenobarbital also failed to affect biliary lipid composition or bile acid pool size in short term treatment of normals. Thus, phenobarbital affected hepatic metabolism of CA by enhancing production rate, secretion, and pool size; and in testinal metabolism of both CA and chenodeoxycholic (CDC) acids by increasing their cycling rates. Phenobarbital may have failed to produce stone dissolution by enhancing CA production and pool size more than that of CDC. Portions of this work were presented at the National Meeting of the American Federation of Clinical Research, Atlantic City, April 29, 1973 and at the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society of Clinical Investigation, Winnepeg, Manitoba, January 21, 1975 as well as that of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, January 27, 1977 at Toronto, Canada.     

Effects of various dietary animal and vegetable proteins on serum and biliary lipids and on gallstone formation in the hamster

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of various dietary animal (casein, bovine albumin and egg albumin) and vegetable (soy, cottonseed and peanut) proteins on serum and biliary constitutents and gallstone formation in the hamster. Eighty-four hamsters (60±5g) were assigned to either a control group (Purina rat chow) or to one of the 6 experimental groups. Experimental diets contained 20.0% protein. With the exception of hamsters fed egg albumin, gallstone incidence was greater among hamsters fed animal proteins. Hamsters fed egg albumin exhibited a lower concentration of total serum cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol than most of the other experimental groups. There were no significant differences between experimental groups for either HDL₃-cholesterol concentration or VLDL-LDL-cholesterol concentration. Bile acid concentrations within the vegetable protein-fed groups were significantly higher than within the animal protein-fed groups. Casein- and bovine albumin-fed hamsters showed a significantly higher percentage of biliary cholesterol in the bile fluid. As the percentage of biliary cholesterol increased, the percentage of bile acids was found to decrease. Preliminary reports of portions of this work were presented at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Oil Chemist’s Society in May 1983 in Chicago.     

Dietary arachidonic and linoleic acids: Comparative effects on tissue lipids

The effects of preformed dietary arachidonic acid (AA, 20∶4n−6) on murine phospholipid fatty acid composition in tissues capable (liver) and incapable (peritoneal exudate cells, PEC) of desaturating and elongating linoleic acid (LA, 18∶2n−6) to AA were investigated. The results were compared with those obtained on matched animals on LA diets by either substituting or supplementing dietary LA with AA. Modest amounts of AA ethyl ester (0.5 wt%) included in the diet significantly increased tissue phospholipid AA levels by 39% and 57% in the liver and in PEC, respectively. The changes were further enhanced when dietary LA and AA intakes were equivalent,i.e., 57% and 68% in liver and PEC, respectively. This enrichment was observed in all phospholipid classes analyzed, with the greatest impact on phosphatidylcholine. In addition, the doubling of dietary LA had little effect on tissue phospholipid AA levels. The data suggest that while the level of n−6 PUFA may have an important effect on tissue fatty acid composition, the type of n−6 PUFA in the diet could be of greater significance.     

Unusual kinetic inhibitor effects on gas hydrate formation

Gas hydrate formation experiments were conducted with a methane-ethane mixture at 273.7 or 273.9 K and 5100 kPa and using water droplets or water contained in cylindrical glass columns. The effect of kinetic inhibitors and the water/solid interface on the induction time for hydrate crystallization and on the hydrate growth and decomposition characteristics was studied. It was found that inhibitors GHI 101 and Luvicap EG delayed the onset of hydrate nucleation. While this inhibition effects has been reported previously some unusual behaviour was observed and reported for the first time. In particular, the water droplet containing GHI 101 or Luvicap EG was found to collapse prior to nucleation and spread out on the Teflon surface. Subsequently, hydrate was formed as a layer on the surface. Catastrophic growth and spreading of the hydrate crystals was also observed during hydrate formation in the glass columns in the presence of the kinetic inhibitor. Finally, when polyethylene oxide (PEO) was added into the kinetic inhibitor solution the memory effect on the induction time decreased dramatically.     

One year soy protein supplementation has positive effects on bone formation markers but not bone density in postmenopausal women

Background  

Although soy protein and its isoflavones have been reported to reduce the risk of osteoporosis in peri- and post-menopausal women, most of these studies are of short duration (i.e. six months). The objective of this study was to examine if one year consumption of soy-containing foods (providing 25 g protein and 60 mg isoflavones) exerts beneficial effects on bone in postmenopausal women.     

Dietary protein level during pregnancy. Its influence on maternal-fetal exchange of substrates

It is well known that the dietary protein level influences both the pregnancy process and development of the offspring. Therefore, a study was carried out to determine the effect that different protein percentages: 10%, 4% and 20% in diets administered to rats during pregnancy, had on food efficiency and on the substrates partition between rat dams and their neonates. Experimentation was thus carried out over a period of 21 days (pregnancy) and comparisons were made with well-nourished rats receiving 10% protein (controls) and between one and other group. Moreover, the effect on pregnancy was observed by comparing pregnant rats with non pregnant rats within each dietary situation. Food intake, weight parameters and food efficiency ratio were recorded in adult rats. Weight parameters were also evaluated in newborns. As results revealed, the highest the protein level in the diet, the highest the food efficiency ratio, both in the pregnant group and in the non pregnant group. Weight changes were determined in rat dams and their neonates, as a consequence of the different protein intakes. These also involved alterations in the substrates partition between the mothers and their offspring. Such findings might lead to the retention of substrates by the maternal tissues and, hence, to impairment of neonatal development.     

Surface-mediated effects on porous polymer monolith formation within capillaries

The formation of a porous polymer monolith (PPM) is influenced by the physico-chemical properties of the wall surface of its container. This influence can have a dramatic effect on the resulting monolith morphology depending on the nature and composition of the wall. Indeed, a dense polymer layer or “sheath”, distinct from the bulk porous material, has been observed at the wall surface of capillaries, and thus a study was undertaken to explore the dependence of this layer on the hydrophobicity of the surface. A range of silanizing reagents were used to modify the surface of the fused silica capillary, including aminopropyl, trimethylsilyl, octadecyl and perfluorooctyl functionalities. Crosslinked butyl acrylate-based PPM was formed in the modified capillaries and extruded. SEM images of the monoliths were used to examine the sheath morphology and thickness, which are discussed with respect to surface hydrophobicity.     

Dietary proteins modulate the effects of fish oil on triglyceridemia in the rat

Sprague-Dawley rats were fed purified diets varying in both protein (20%) and lipid (11%) content for 28 d to verify the independent and interactive effects of dietary proteins and lipids on serum and hepatic lipids, and on tissue lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in both fasted and postprandial states. These diets consisted of either casein-menhaden oil, casein-coconut oil, soy protein-menhaden oil (SPMO), soy protein-coconut oil, cod protein-menhaden oil, or cod protein-coconut oil. A randomized 3×2 factorial design was used. A significant protein-lipid interaction was seen on serum triglyceride levels: menhaden oil, compared with coconut oil, induced a decrease in serum triglyceride levels when combined with soy protein but not when combined with cod protein and casein. The lower serum triglyceride concentrations observed in the SPMO-fed rats could be the result of decreased hepatic triglycerides when soy protein was compared with casein and when menhaden oil was compared with coconut oil. Total LPL activity in the heart was higher in menhaden oil-fed rats than in coconut oil-fed rats in the postprandial state. The higher LPL activity in the heart could, however, explain only 10% of the reduction of serum triglycerides, contributing slightly to the lowering effects of SPMO diet on serum triglycerides. Therefore, the present results indicate that dietary proteins can modulate the effects of fish oil on triglyceridemia in the rat, and that could be mainly related to specific alterations in hepatic lipid concentrations.     

Dietary pseudopurpurin effects on bone mineral density and bone geometry architecture in rats

The objective of our study was to evaluate whether feeding pseudopurpurin affects bone mineral density and bone geometry architecture in rats. Pseudopurpurin was extracted, analyzed and purified using an HLPC-ESI-MS. Rats were given 0% and 0.5% pseudopurpurin powder in their diet. Femurs of rats were examined at 0.5, 1 and 2 months after pseudopurpurin feeding. Compared with rats in the group 0%, the bone mineral density, and the calcium, magnesium, zinc and manganese concentrations in the rats femur in the group 0.5% increased significantly at 1 month and 2 months after pseudopurpurin feeding. Analytical results of micro-computed tomography showed that the group 0.5% displayed an increase in the trabecular volume fraction, trabecular thickness and trabecular number of the distal femur at 1 and 2 months after pseudopurpurin feeding, and the mean thickness, inner perimeter, outer perimeter, and area of the femur diaphysis were significantly increased at 2 months after pseudopurpurin feeding compared with the group 0%. In parallel, the trabecular separation and structure model index of the distal femur were decreased, compared with the group 0% at 1 and 2 months after pseudopurpurin feeding. In the 0.5% and 0% groups, there was no damage to kidney and liver by histopathology analysis. The long-term feeding of pseudopurpurin is safe for rats. The feeding of 0.5% pseudopurpurin which has specific chemical affinities for calcium for bone improvement and level of bone mineral density, enhances the geometry architecture compared with the 0% group.     

Dietary protein supplementation. Fundamentals and examples of practical application

Involving the most expensive of all the nutrients required by the body, the biological utilization of dietary protein remains an important topic, particularly to Third World countries wherein protein supplies are frequently limited. Protein supplementation of cereals and other foodstuffs is often used as a means of increasing protein intake. Supplementation not only increases protein intake but often also changes the physiological usability of the protein component of the resultant mixture. Employing an updated biological method for assessment of protein nutritive value, the author investigated the nature of the change in protein assimilability as a result of graded changes in the proportions of certain proteins combined pairwise into single mixtures. Data are presented on the basis of which the digestibility and/or assimilability of the protein component of a given mixture can be estimated. Lastly, the author indicates the need to evaluate high-protein foods and protein supplements in terms of, not only protein content relative to cost, but also of inherent nutritive value and complementary effect.     

Scaling effects upon fractal etch pattern formation on silicon photoelectrodes

Fractal etch structures on n-type silicon photoelectrodes were obtained under anodic bias in concentrated ammonium fluoride solution. The propagating branches of the structures generally reflect the surface lattice geometry of the substrates on a micrometer-scale while inner topographies are characterized by ensembles of slow-etching planes. In a medium and high photon flux range, scaling effects on Si(1 0 0) were observed for gradually increased light intensities: while the number of structures increases, the structure size reduces to the sub-micrometer range. Simultaneously, the thickness of integrally measured anodic oxides, analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, was found to decrease. These observations are addressed in model considerations where multi-axial stress at the SiO₂/Si interface is assumed to provide the feedback mechanism of the dynamic system and to result in locally increased substrate dissolution. A simplified flow-diagram for computer simulations, in agreement with numerical in-plane stress analysis, was finally developed which allows for prediction of the propagation process on arbitrary lattice geometries and for varied experimental conditions.     

The effects of process variables on the formation oftrans-unsaturation during hydrogenation

The amount oftrans unsaturation in 80 IV hydrogenated soybean oil produced under different reaction conditions of pressure, temperature, catalyst concentration and agitation may be calculated with good accuracy from a polynomial equation. The polynomial equation was developed from data produced by 30 experimental hydrogenations using a nonlinear equation estimation procedure with a digital computer to fit the data. The equation may be used to calculate the anticipated amount oftrans unsaturation from the reaction conditions or select reaction conditions to produce a desired amount oftrans unsaturation. One of 10 papers to be published from the Symposium “Hydrogenation”, presented at the AOCS Meeting, New Orleans, April 1970.     

Alkyl substituent effects on J- or H-aggregate formation of bisazomethine dyes

Bisazomethine dyes with terminal alkyl substituents of different chain lengths (BAR: R = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6) were synthesized and deposited on a glass substrate to investigate the effect of the alkyl chain length on aggregate formation. Methyl- and ethyl-substituted bisazomethine dyes (BA1 and BA2) formed J-aggregates in thin films (ca. 50 nm), whereas, propyl-, butyl-, pentyl- and hexyl-substituted derivatives (BA3, BA4, BA5 and BA6) formed H-aggregates in thin films (ca. 50 nm). The aggregate formation of the BARs changed drastically between ethyl- and propyl-substituents (BA2/BA3). However, no remarkable changes were observed in the surface morphologies of BA2 and BA3 films. It is suggested that the critical determinant of aggregate formation of BAR is the molecular packing in the film, which depends on the chain length of the terminal alkyl substituent.     

Dietary and hormonal effects upon activity of “soluble” protein and particulate fraction of fatty acid desaturation system of rat liver microsomes

Rat liver microsomes were extracted with a buffered 0.15 M KCl and 0.25 M sucrose solution and fractionated by centrifugation into a particulate component and a supernatant containing a protein factor necessary for fatty acid desaturation. The Δ6 fatty acid desaturation activity of the extracted microsomes was reduced significantly, and the readdition of the supernatant restored the enzymatic activity to the original value of the whole microsomes. A protein diet or a fat-free diet increased the Δ6 desaturation activity of the whole microsomes. The activating effect was evoked upon the particulate components of the enzymatic desaturation system and not upon the protein factor present in the supernatant. Fasting, refeeding, and refeeding plus glucagon and theophylline treatments of rats also modified the Δ6 desaturation activity of whole liver microsomes. The effect also was evoked on the Δ6 desaturation system tightly bound to the microsomal membrane but not on the protein factor of the supernatant. Accordingly, the protein factor of the supernatant is considered to be different from the cyanide sensitive factor and the desaturase.     

超声波抑制积垢的影响因素与机理的研究

通过静态抑垢实验,研究了积垢溶液中[Ca^2 ]和[Mg^2 ]总浓度,溶液的pH值对超声抑垢的影响,得出超声抑垢的适宜条件;引进抑垢曲线新概念,直观地描述超声抑垢的效果,并从抑垢静态、动态实验得到验证;同时研究了超声波对溶液的电导率,表面张力的影响。最后,探讨了超声波的抑垢机理,为超声防垢的实际应用提供了一定的理论依据。     

钢渣对硬化水泥浆体结构形成的影响研究

研究了钢渣对水泥强度及体积膨胀率的影响,采用SEM和EDXA分析了水化产物的形貌和微区化学成分,并用XRD对水化产物的矿物组成进行了分析研究。研究结果表明,钢渣的掺入会降低水泥净浆的早期抗压强度,但随钢渣水化的进行,掺钢渣的水泥浆体7d以后的强度增长较快,至120d时净浆抗压强度已与纯硅酸盐水泥相近。掺钢渣的水泥的体积膨胀率比纯硅酸盐水泥的体积膨胀率大,钢渣水泥的体积膨胀率主要取决于钢渣中的fCaO含量。掺钢渣水泥的主要水化产物组成和形貌与纯硅酸盐水泥无明显差别,所不同的是C-S-H凝胶中有较多的铁相。掺钢渣水泥的水化产物主要有C2SH(C)、AFt和Ca(OH)2。     

天然气水合物的生成对浆液流动稳定性影响综述

目前在海底混输管道的水合物风险控制策略中,允许水合物在管道内的生成,以液固浆液流动的形式对海底油气产物进行输送。其中主要通过控制浆液中水合物的生成量和聚集程度,来实现对海底集输管线的流动安全保障。液固浆液流动具有相当复杂的流动特性,固相颗粒的引入对于流体的流动特性影响很大。本文分别综述了拟单相流动体系和气液多相流动体系中水合物颗粒对于管输体系流动稳定性的影响以及水合物对混输管道堵管特性的影响。着重讨论了水合物在管道壁面的生长和沉积特性、水合物与气液流型的耦合关系以及不同体系中水合物的堵管机理。此外,对软件模拟在水合物生成及浆液流动特性研究中的应用做了简单介绍。最后,根据对相关研究结果的总结,指出水合物在壁面生长沉积的微观特性和定量表述、颗粒不同分散形式的临界流速、不同气液流型条件下的水合物生成特性和颗粒行为等是今后水合物相关研究中需要进一步深入探究和明确的问题。     

Confinement effects on the kinetics of formation of sequential semi-interpenetrating polymer networks

Summary Peculiarities of formation kinetics of sequential semi-interpenetrating polymer networks based on crosslinked polyurethane with different cross-linking density and linear polystyrene and polybutylmethacrylate have been studied. Polyurethane networks were synthesized differing in molecular mass M_c of the chains between cross-links. Monomeric styrene and butyl methacrylate were introduced into these networks by swelling them in monomers up to equilibrium. The kinetics of polymerization of monomers in swollen networks was investigated. The experimental data show the dependence of the kinetic parameters of polymerization on M_c, this dependence being different for various monomers. Sharp discrepancy in molecular mass distribution of polymers formed in various matrices has been observed. The differences in dependencies of reaction kinetics and molecular mass distribution are supposed to be connected to various dependence of the chain growth and termination of various monomers on the density of network, i.e. on the confinements imposed by the intranetwork space.