Differential effects of ursodeoxycholic acid and ursocholic acid on the formation of biliary cholesterol crystals in mice

The preventive effect of 3α,7β,12α-trihydroxy-5β-cholanoic acid (ursocholic acid) and ursodeoxycholic acid on the formation of biliary cholesterol crystals was studied in mice. Cholesterol crystals developed with 80% incidence after feeding for five weeks a lithogenic diet containing 0.5% cholesterol and 0.25% sodium cholate. When 0.25% ursocholic acid or ursodeoxycholic acid was added to the lithogenic diet, the incidence as well as the grade (severity) of the gallstones were reduced. Plasma and liver cholesterol levels were decreased by ursodeoxycholic acid but not by ursocholic acid. Gallbladder cholesterol and phospholipid levels were decreased by both bile acids. The biliary bile acid level was decreased by ursocholic acid but not by ursodeoxycholic acid. After feeding ursocholic acid, its level in the bile was about 25% and the levels of cholic acid and β-muricholic acid decreased. Fecal sterol excretion was not changed by ursocholic acid, but was increased by ursodeoxycholic acid. After feeding ursocholic acid, fecal excretion of deoxycholic acid, cholic acid, and ursocholic acid increased. No differences were found between mice, with or without gallstones, in plasma and liver cholesterol levels, biliary phospholipid and bile acid levels, fecal sterol and bile acid levels, and biliary and fecal bile acid composition. The results suggest that the lower incidence of crystal formation after treatment with ursocholic acid is probably by a different mechanism than with ursodeoxycholic acid. In the mouse model, ursodeoxycholic acid exerts its effect at least partially, by decreasing cholesterol absorption. Ursocholic acid is well absorbed and excreted into bile and transformed into deoxycholic acid by the intestinal microflora in mice.     

Effect of previous nutritional status on the formation of cholesterol gallstones in the prairie dog

In the prairie dog model of cholesterol cholelithiasis, a high incidence of gallstones is achieved by feeding a semipurified lithogenic diet containing 0.4% cholesterol for 2 mo. On occasion, we noted a decrease in the percentage of animals with gallstones from 90–100% to 50–55%. To explain this phenomenon, we studied the effect of dietary history on gallstone formation. After weaning, animals were fed either rodent chow or alfalfa plus corn (mo 0–3) followed by a cross-over experiment at mo 4–6. Gallstone formation then was studied by feeding the lithogenic diet from mo 7 to 8. At sacrifice, the incidences of gallstones, biliary lipids and tissue cholesterol levels were correlated with dietary history. The incidence of gallstones was 100% only in animals fed the alfalfa-corn diet from weaning to 3 mo. In addition, the feeding of the alfalfa-corn diet at mo 4–6 increased gallstone incidence from 65% to 86%. The lithogenic index of all groups was highest when the animals received only alfalfa-corn prior to the lithogenic stimulus. The activity of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase was elevated in animals fed alfalfa-corn from weaning to 8 mo, suggesting that this diet stimulates hepatic cholesterol synthesis, leading to increased biliary cholesterol secretion. It is concluded that previous nutritional conditioning affects the incidence of gallstones. The prairie dog is a useful model of cholesterol cholelithiasis, but the dietary history of the animals plays an important role in lithogenesis.     

A hydrophilic bile acid effects partial dissolution of cholesterol gallstones in the prairie dog

Gallstone formation and dissolution were studied in a prairie dog model of cholesterol (CH) cholelithiasis. Gallstones were induced in 49 prairie dogs by feeding 1.2% CH in a nutritionally adequate semisynthetic diet for 6 wk (period 1). At 6 wk, gallstones had developed in all animals examined. The diets were modified by reducing the amounts of CH to 0.4, 0.2, 0.1 and 0.0% (diets 1–4); hyodeoxycholic acid (HDA; 30 mg/kg/day) was added to these diets (diets 5–8). All animals were fed the modified experimental diets for an additional 8 wk (period 2). At week 14, spontaneous gallstone dissolution had not occurred, even in the groups given no added dietary CH during period 2 (group 4). Addition of HDA to the diet tended to reduce the incidence of biliary CH crystals and the size and number of CH gallstones. Biliary CH remained elevated and the lithogenic indices in all groups were found to be greater than 1.0 at the end of the experiment. Liver and plasma CH levels tended to be lower in the groups fed HDA. In these groups, HDA and 6βHDA became the major biliary bile acids. This study demonstrates that HDA achieved partial dissolution of gallstones in bile supersaturated with CH.     

Fish oil prevents change in arachidonic acid and cholesterol content in rat caused by dietary cholesterol

Rats were fed diets high in either saturated fat (beef tallow) or α-linolenic acid (linseed oil) or eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (fish oil) with or without 2% cholesterol supplementation. Consumption of linseed oil and fish oil diets for 28 days lowered arachidonic acid content of plasma, liver and heart phospholipids. Addition of 2% cholesterol to diets containing beef tallow or linseed oil lowered 20∶4ω6 levels but failed to reduce 20∶4ω6 levels when fed in combination with fish oil. Feeding ω3 fatty acids lowered plasma cholesterol levels. Addition of 2% cholesterol to the beef tallow or linseed oil diet increased plasma cholesterol concentrations but not when fish oil was fed. Feeding the fish oil diet reduced the cholesterol content of liver, whereas feeding the linseed oil diet did not. Dietary cholesterol supplementation elevated the cholesterol concentration in liver in the order: linseed oil > beef tallow > fish oil (8.6-, 5.5-, 2.6-fold, respectively). Feeding fish oil and cholesterol apparently reduced 20∶4ω6 levels in plasma and tissue lipids. Fish oil accentuates the 20∶4ω6 lowering effect of dietary cholesterol and appears to prevent accumulation of cholesterol in plasma and tissue lipids under a high dietary load of cholesterol.     

Dissolution of cholesterol gallstones by bile acids in the prairie dog

The effect of chenodeoxycholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid and hyodeoxycholic acid on gallstone dissolution was studied in the prairie dog. Cholesterol gallstones were found in all animals after feeding a semipurified diet plus 1.2% cholesterol for six wk. Gallstone regression was examined by feeding a chow diet containing the bile acids (chenodeoxycholic acid, ursodeoxycholic acid or hyodeoxycholic acid) alone (30 mg/kg/day) or in combination (chenodeoxycholic acid plus ursodeoxycholic acid) for an additional six wk. Chenodeoxycholic acid was effective in dissolving established cholesterol gallstones (two out of 16 animals still had stones) and cholesterol crystals (six out of 16 animals had crystals); the hydrophilic bile acids, ursodeoxycholic acid and hyodeoxycholic acid, were ineffective in the six-wk regression study. The lithogenic indices averaged 1.09 at the end of the induction period: all biles became unsaturated with respect to cholesterol after the six-wk regression period (group 1, 0.82; group 2, 0.66; group 3, 0.81; group 4,0.84; group 5, 0.66). Cholesterol levels in liver, plasma and bile were elevated after the six-wk induction phase (4.59 mg/g, 610 mg/dl and 0.36 mg/ml, respectively) but returned to near normal levels after the six-wk regression period. Biliary bile acids contained increased levels of the dietary bile acid administered to each group. This experiment shows that relatively hydrophobic bile acids may be more effective than hydrophilic bile acids for gallstone dissolution during the period studied.     

The effect of alfalfa-corn diets on cholesterol metabolism and gallstones in prairie dogs

Cholesterol gallstones were present in prairie dogs fed alfalfa plus corn with and without exogenous cholesterol (0.4%). The diets fed to the animals for eight weeks contained alfalfa plus corn in fixed proportions of 50∶50, 85∶15 and 15∶85 (w/w). At sacrifice, all animals were healthy but had not gained weight; no deaths occurred during the experiment. Cholesterol gallstones were present in all groups. In the absence of exogenous cholesterol, the highest stone incidence was found in the animals which received the lowest fiber (highest corn) diets (alfalfa plus corn, 50∶50, 67%; alfalfa plus corn, 15∶85, 83%). Cholesterol gallstone incidence was 100% when exogenous cholesterol was added to the alfalfa plus corn diets (50∶50 and 15∶85). No pigment gallstones were detected in any animal. Liver and plasma cholesterol concentrations were highest in the animals receiving alfalfa plus corn (15∶85) plus 0.4% cholesterol (4.29 mg/g, and 356 mg/dl, respectively). These values were lowest in animals receiving 85% alfalfa plus 15% corn without cholesterol (2.19 mg/g and 88 mg/dl, respectively). Lithogenic indices were below 1.00 in all groups. Biliary bile acids were mainly amidates of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid, with the former predominating. Thus, gallstones can be formed in prairie dogs in the absence of exogenous cholesterol; gallstone incidence is reduced by dietary fiber.     

Aliphatic poly(amido acids) and polyimides with cyclobutane ring in the main chain

New aliphatic polyimides with cyclobutane ring in the main chain have been synthesized successfully from cyclobutane tetracarboxylic dianhydride and diamine. In order to establish the reaction path poly(amido acids), intermediates to polyimides, were isolated and characterized. All poly(amido acids) are hygroscopic and were found to be converted into polymides through dicarboacetoxy intermediate by heating in dimethylformamide at 100°C in the presence of acetic anhydride. Thermal study by means of thermal gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry revealed that conversion of poly(amido acid) to polyimide also occurred by thermal cyclocondensation reaction at around 180°C. These reactions were confirmed by parallel reaction of the model compounds. Properties of polyimides thus obtained were characterized and are discussed in comparison with known polymers with polyimide or cyclobutane ring structures.     

Evidence that leptin contributes to intestinal cholesterol absorption in obese (ob/ob) mice and wild-type mice

In the present study, the effect of leptin on intestinal cholesterol absorption was investigated in C57 BL/6 OlaHsd Lep^ob/Lep^ob obese (ob/ob) mice and lean C57 BL/6 (wild-type) mice. Animals were treated either with or without recombinant leptin for 2 wk. Cholesterol absorption was measured by the constant isotope feeding method and indirectly by the ratio of campesterol to cholesterol in serum. In ob/ob mice, cholesterol absorption was significantly higher compared to wild-type mice [83.4±2.3% (SD) vs. 77.6±1.5%, P<0.01]. Treatment with leptin significantly reduced cholesterol absorption in both ob/ob and wild-type mice by 8.5 (P<0.001) and 5.2% (P<0.05), respectively. Serum concentrations of campesterol and the ratio of campesterol to cholesterol in ob/ob mice were significantly higher compared to wild-type mice (2.2±0.3 mg/dL vs. 1.2±0.3 mg/dL, P<0.001; and 36.8±2.8 μg/mg vs. 28.0±3.3 μg/mg, P<0.001). After treatment of ob/ob mice with leptin, concentrations of campesterol and its ratio to cholesterol were significantly lower (2.2±0.3 mg/dL vs. 1.0±0.2 μg/mg, P<0.001; and 36.8±2.8 μg/mg vs. 13.2±2.2 μg/mg, P<0.001, respectively). In wild-type mice, the ratio of campesterol to cholesterol in serum was also significantly lower after treatment with leptin (28.0±3.3 μg/mg vs. 22.6±5.0 μg/mg, P<0.05). A significant positive correlation (r=0.701, P<0.01) between cholesterol absorption and the ratio of campesterol to cholesterol, in serum was found. It is concluded that leptin contributes to intestinal cholesterol absorption in ob/ob mice and lean wild-type mice.     

Effects of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on de novo fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis in the rat

The effects of 1, 5, 10 and 20 μg/kg dosages of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) upon de novo fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis in liver and adipose tissue were determined in pair-fed rats. The incorporation of tritium from³H₂O into tissue lipids was measured. Hepatic and adipose fatty acid synthetic rates (μmoles acetyl units g⁻¹ hr⁻¹ in the control groups were 19.6±4 and 75.7±18.5, respectively, and the liver cholesterol synthetic rate was 2.9±0.5 TCDD (1 μg/kg) inhibited fatty acid synthesis in the liver and adipose tissue, by 44% and 41% respectively, and the liver cholesterol synthesis was inhibited by 37%. The extent of these inhibitions increased with increasing dosages of TCDD. The effect of TCDD on sterol synthesis in adipose tissue could not be determined, because the tritium incorporation into the sterol fraction in this tissue was not detectable.     

Complex formation of methylcellulose with poly(acrylic acid)

Complex formation between poly(acrylic acid) and methylcellulose in aqueous solutions has been studied by viscometric and turbidimetric methods. The critical pH values in their dependence of polymer concentration were determined. The influence of the nature of a nonionic polymer on the composition and stability of interpolymer complexes is shown. The phase behaviour of acrylic acid‐graft‐methylcellulose copolymer in aqueous solutions is analysed from their complexation point of view. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Radical formation and deformation in poly-p-(2-hydroxyethoxy) benzoic acid fibers

Radical generation during tensile deformation of poly-p-(2-hydroxyethoxy) benzoic acid (PEOB) fibers was studied by electron spin resonance techniques under various stretching conditions. Primary phenoxy radicals were detected at room temperature, indicating main-chain rupture during mechanical loading. The kinetics of phenoxy radical formation were observed at constant strain, constant load, constant strain-rate, and in constant load rate experiments. The effect of strain rate on the radical formation was found to be larger in this sample than was observed in Nylon 6. These results coupled with other experimental observations have yielded information on a basic structural model and improved insight into the basic molecular mechanism responsible for deformation and fracture.     

NMR of the formation of cyclic imide on poly(methacrylic acid)

Summary The reaction of syndiotactic poly (methacrylic acid) and formamide above 100C yields a syndiotactic copolymer of methacrylic acid and dimethacryloylimide. The ₁₃C-NMR spectra of the copolymers show resolved -CH₃ and C=O resonances which are evaluated to yield the triad probabilities. The triad statistics prove a nearly random formation of the cyclic imide along the polymer chain.     

Inhibition by 5-(tetradecyloxy)-2-furoic acid of fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis in isolated rat hepatocytes

Fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis in isolated rat hepatocytes were strongly inhibited by 5-(tetradecyloxy)-2-furoic acid. With either³H₂O or [2-¹⁴C]acetate as the labeled precursor, the concentrations of inhibitor causing 50% decrease in fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis were, respectively, <0.005 mM and 0.020 mM. At 0.1 mM inhibitor, citrate concentration in cells from fed rats was increased by 75%; lactate and pyruvate concentrations were decreased by 30%; ethanol oxidation was decreased by 20%; with cells from starved rats, the mitochondrial [NAD⁺]/[NADH] was decreased. Other parameters were unaffected. Both its potency and its specificity indicate that 5-(tetradecyloxy)-2-furoic acid will be useful in studies on the regulation of lipid biosynthesis.     

Complex formation in the template polymerization of methacrylic acid along poly(2-vinylpyridine)

Summary The polymerization of methacrylic acid in presence of poly/2-vinylpyridine/ of different molecular weight was investigated. The resulted complex has been separated and analysed by elemental analysis and UV spectrometry. The kinetics of complex formation was examined by means of nephelometric analysis and determination of acid groups. The results obtained show that the complex formation rate does not depend visibly on the degree of polymerization of the template due to the template polymerization.     

DNA与（S）-2-（5-氟尿嘧啶-1-基-乙酰基）氨基-1，4-丁二酸相互作用的电化学和光谱学研究

以自组装制得的DNA修饰电极为工作电极,采用循环伏安研究了抗癌药物（S）-2-（5-氟尿嘧啶-1-基-乙酰基）氨基-1,4-丁二酸（5FUASP）与DNA的相互作用,还结合紫外-可见光谱进一步研究了这种相互作用。循环伏安测试结果表明：5FUASP与DNA在pH=6．86的缓冲溶液中有强烈的相互作用,在电极表面反应的过程为准可逆电化学反应一化学反应偶合（Ec）过程。当扫描速度较低时,EC反应是扩散控制过程;紫外吸收光谱表明抗癌药物5FUASP与DNA通过插入作用相互结合。     

Structure formation in solutions of isotactic poly(methacrylic acid) in dimethyl formamide

Summary Structure formation in solutions of non-neutralised isotactic poly(methacrylic acid) in dimethyl formamide was studied. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopic measurements, X-ray diffraction analysis and dynamic rheological observations revealed that two different processes of structure formation can take place. The first process can lead to the formation of very weak, thermoreversible gels. It is proposed to consist of an intramolecular coil-to-helix transition, followed by an intermolecular association. The second one shows the characteristics of a crystallisation into a supramolecular organisation different from what is obtained in the first process. These processes can compete with each other and this depends on the experimental conditions, the molar mass and the tacticity of the sample.     

Concentration effects during the formation of poly (acrylic acid)-metal complexes in aqueous solutions

Summary The formation of metal complexes between poly (acrylic acid) and divalent, trivalent and tetravalent metal ions was studied. For divalent metal ions, the formation constants determined according to the method of Gregor et al. strongly decrease with increasing ligand concentration in the range 25–280 mM but are nearly insensitive to the ligand to metal concentration ratio. The metal ions were divided in four groups depending on their effect on the pH decrease of the solution. These groups differ from one another by i) the speed of water exchange or ii) by the speed of ligand exchange in the coordination sphere of the metal. The increase of the ligand concentration or of the ligand to metal ratio always led to an increase of the exchange speed of both water and carboxyl groups. Received: 7 August 2000/Revised version: 15 October/Accepted: 15 October 2000     

Stereocomplex formation between enantiomeric poly(lactic acid). VIII. Complex fibers spun from mixed solution of poly(D-lactic acid) and poly(L-lactic acid)

To obtain poly(lactic acid) (PLA) complex fibers, spinning was performed by wet and dry methods from 5–10 g/dL chloroform solutions of poly(D-lactic acid) (PDLA) and poly(L-lactic), both with a viscosity-average molecular weight of 3 × 10⁵. The dope was extruded from a monohole nozzle into coagulation baths from ethanol and chloroform for wet spinning and into a drying column kept at 60°C for dry spinning. Scanning electron microscopic observation of the as-spun fibers showed that the surface of the wet-spun fiber had large basins with diameters of 50–100 μm and many pores with diameters from sub μm to 10 μm, whereas the surface of dry-spun fiber had a microporous structure with the pore diameter of 1–3 μm. The tensile strength of the wet-spun complex fiber was very low and could not be drawn at high temperatures, in contrast to the dry-spun fiber. The tensile strength of dry-spun complex fiber increased upon hot drawing and showed the tensile strength of 94 kg/mm² by drawing at 160°C to the draw ratio of 13. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that the complex fibers contained both the stereocomplex crystallites (racemic crystallites) and the crystallites of the single polymers, PDLA and PLLA, regardless of the spinning methods. The ratio of the racemic crystallites to the single-polymer crystallites increased with the draw ratio of the complex fiber. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Trihalomethanes (THMs) formation in a distillation process

In this study, the fate of THMs formation in seawater distillation process and the rates of THMs formation in the chlorinated blended distillate were examined under various experimental conditions. The following general equation was obtained empirically: Log (THM) = A * Log (Cl₂) + B * Log (TOC) + C (THM) is the concentration of total THMs in μg/l, (Cl₂) and (TOC) are the concentration of chlorine doese and total organic carton in mg/l, A,B, and C are estimated parameters. The results showed that THMs level increases with the increase of both chlorine and initial humic substances concentrations. Increase in temperature and contact time also increased THMs concentrations. On the other hand, pre-chlorination and aeration step of the seawater resulted in a reduction of THMs concentrations in the blended distillate.