Effects of exogenous mevalonic acid on sterol lipid classes in Larix kaempferi callus

In Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr.) calli, free sterol (FS), acylsterol (AS) and glycosylsterol, including the acylated type, were found in the proportion of 1.0:0.1:0.8. When the calli were cultured in the presence of 10 mM mevalonic acid (MVA), the content of AS, but not FS and glycosylsterol, was increased remarkably. The major component sterol in each sterol lipid class was usually sitosterol (more than 90%) with campesterol as a minor one. There were no differences on the sterol compositions between the calli cultured with or without MVA. When the calli cultured with 10 mM MVA for 6 weeks were transferred to the control medium without exogenous MVA, AS contents decreased to the level of the control calli. Thus, it was shown that sterol lipids, such as FS and glycosylsterols, with the structural functions was maintained in the constant content and the excess sterol biosynthesized from exogenous MVA was esterified to form AS for storage of sterol components.     

Efficient decomposition of environmentally persistent perfluorooctanesulfonate and related fluorochemicals using zerovalent iron in subcritical water

Decomposition of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and related chemicals in subcritical water was investigated. Although PFOS demonstrated little reactivity in pure subcritical water, addition of zerovalent metals to the reaction system enhanced the PFOS decomposition to form F-ions, with an increasing order of activity of no metal approximately equal Al < Cu < Zn < Fe. Use of iron led to the most efficient PFOS decomposition: When iron powder was added to an aqueous solution of PFOS (93-372 microM) and the mixture was heated at 350 degrees C for 6 h, PFOS concentration in the reaction solution fell below 2.2 microM (detection limit of HPLC with conductometric detection), with formation of F-ions with yields [i.e., (moles of F- formed)/(moles of fluorine content in initial PFOS) x 100] of 46.2-51.4% and without any formation of perfluorocarboxylic acids. A small amount of CHF3 was detected in the gas phase with a yield [i.e., (moles of CHF3)/(moles of carbon content in initial PFOS) x 100] of 0.7%, after the reaction of PFOS (372 microM) with iron at 350 degree C for 6 h. Spectroscopic measurements indicated that PFOS in water markedly adsorbed on the iron surface even at room temperature, and the adsorbed fluorinated species on the iron surface decomposed with rising temperature, with prominent release of F- ions to the solution phase above 250 degrees C. This method was also effective in decomposing other perfluoroalkylsulfonates bearing shorter chain (C2-C6) perfluoroalkyl groups and was successfully applied to the decomposition of PFOS contained in an antireflective coating agent used in semiconductor manufacturing.     

Induction of interleukin-12 by Lactobacillus strains having a rigid cell wall resistant to intracellular digestion

Some strains of lactobacilli can stimulate macrophages and dendritic cells to secrete IL-12, which plays a key role in activating innate immunity. We examined the IL-12-inducing ability of 47 Lactobacillus strains belonging to 10 species in mouse peritoneal macrophages, and characterized the properties important for the induction of IL-12. Although considerable differences in IL-12-inducing ability were observed among the strains tested, almost all strains belonging to the Lactobacillus casei group (L. casei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Lactobacillus zeae) or to Lactobacillus fermentum induced high levels of IL-12. Phagocytosis of lactobacilli was necessary for IL-12 induction, and the strains with strong IL-12 induction were relatively resistant to lysis in the macrophages. The sensitivity of Lactobacillus strains to in vitro treatment with M-1 enzyme, a member of the N-acetylmuramidases, was negatively correlated with IL-12-inducing ability. Using a probiotic strain, L. casei strain Shirota (LcS), we showed that the cell wall of LcS could be digested by long-term treatment with a high dose of M-1 enzyme and that the IL-12-inducing ability was diminished according to the duration of the enzyme treatment. The soluble polysaccharide-peptidoglycan complex released from the cell wall of LcS did not induce IL-12, whereas the insoluble intact cell wall of LcS induced IL-12. These results suggest that the intact cell wall structure of lactobacilli is an important element in the ability to induce IL-12 and that Lactobacillus strains having a rigid cell wall resistant to intracellular digestion effectively stimulate macrophages to induce IL-12.     

Production of anti-prion scFv-Fc fusion proteins by recombinant animal cells

We constructed a replication-defective retroviral vector plasmid for the expression of a single-chain antibody fragment (scFv), derived from a chicken anti-human prion protein monoclonal antibody, fused with the Fc region of human IgG1. CHO-K1 and NS-1 cells were transformed with the viral vector pseudotyped with vesicular stomatitis virus G protein (VSV-G), and scFv-Fc producer clones were established. Among the established clones, CHO-2A9 cells produced a large amount of the product with an antibody-like dimerized structure in serum-free culture that facilitated the purification of scFv-Fc. The scFv-Fc specifically recognized the epitope sequence of prion protein in solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis. The injection test into quails revealed that the scFv became more stable in vivo by fusion with the Fc region. The scFv-Fc will be a useful tool for the detection of mammalian prion proteins.     

Effect of a dietary supplement containing glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate and quercetin glycosides on symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND: Oral glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, alone and in combination, have been used worldwide for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), but their efficacy is controversial. This clinical study was aimed at investigating the potential of a dietary supplement containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate in combination with derivatives of quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, (GCQ supplement) for knee OA care. RESULTS: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study was conducted in 40 Japanese subjects with symptomatic knee OA. Subjects were randomly assigned to GCQ supplement (1200 mg glucosamine hydrochloride, 60 mg chondroitin sulfate and 45 mg quercetin glycosides per day) or placebo and the treatment and follow‐up were continued for 16 weeks. The results of symptomatic efficacy assessment based on Japanese Orthopaedic Association criteria showed that scores for two of the four symptom/function subscales, as well as the aggregate scores, were significantly improved at week 16 or earlier in the GCQ group compared to the placebo group. Moreover, analyses of cartilage metabolism biomarkers showed a trend of improvement in type II collagen synthesis/degradation balance in the GCQ group during follow‐up. CONCLUSION: GCQ supplement was thought to be more effective than placebo in decreasing the intensity of knee OA‐associated clinical symptoms. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Antioxidant flavonol glycosides in mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaves isolated based on LDL antioxidant activity

Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has been implicated in atherogenesis. Antioxidants that prevent LDL from oxidation may reduce atherosclerosis. We investigated LDL antioxidant activity and extracted compounds of mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaves. The LDL antioxidant activity of 60% ethanol extracted of mulberry leaves, which inhibits human LDL oxidation induced by copper ion, was determined on the basis of oxidation lag time and calculated as epigallocatechin 3-gallate equivalents (58.3 μmol of EGCG equivalent/g of dry weight). Three flavonol glycosides [quercetin 3-(6-malonylglucoside), rutin (quercetin 3-rutinoside) and isoquercitrin (quercetin 3-glucoside)] were identified as the major LDL antioxidant compounds by LC-MS and NMR. The amounts of these flavonol glycosides in mulberry leaves and mulberry-leaf tea were determined by HPLC. Our results showed that quercetin 3-(6-malonylglucoside) and rutin were the predominant flavonol glycosides in the mulberry leaves.     

Modulation of doxorubicin-induced genotoxicity by squalene in Balb/c mice

The present study aims to evaluate the protective effect of squalene against the genotoxicity of the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (Dox) using two genotoxicity assays, the micronucleus assay and the comet assay. Different groups of mice were fed squalene at the doses of 1 and 4 mmol g(-1) body weight (100 or 400 μl as squalene oil) either at 4 h before or 1 h after Dox (20 mg kg(-1)) treatment. 24 h after the Dox treatment, bone marrow erythrocytes were evaluated for the incidence of micronuclei, and the induced DNA strand breaks were examined in heart tissue by the alkaline comet assay. As expected, Dox significantly induced micronuclei in polychromatic (immature) erythrocytes, as well as in total erythrocytes. The frequency of Dox-induced micronucleated erythrocytes was significantly reduced in the mice treated with squalene both before and after Dox administration. Squalene itself obviously did not induce any micronuclei in bone marrow erythrocytes. The comet assay also demonstrated a significant increase in DNA damage, especially DNA single strand breaks in the Dox-treated group of mice as compared to the control. The Dox-induced DNA damage was also effectively reduced by squalene when it was administered either before or after the Dox treatment. Squalene did not induce any significant DNA damage by itself. Compared to the pre-treatment of squalene, post treatment gave rise to more effective prevention against Dox-induced DNA damage. The data suggest that the complimentary use of squalene with Dox will be beneficial to reduce the adverse effect of Dox in cancer chemotherapy, such as the increased incidence of undesirable mutagenic side effects.     

A modeling method and EMTP simulations of an inverter surge

A numerical simulation of the inverter surge is carried out using a frequency‐dependent model of a cabtyre cable. The frequency‐dependent model is based on the Semlyen line model in the EMTP, for which the required parameters are determined from the measured results of the wave propagation characteristic in the cable. A simple model of an induction motor is proposed considering resonances in the motor. The simulated result by the EMTP agrees reasonably well with the measured result. The proposed model can be useful for predicting the peak voltages observed at the motor terminal of inverter‐operated motors. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Feasible solution for dynamic economic load dispatch using feasible operation region

High penetration of renewable energy in the future power system will pose a big problem to the load dispatch operation. The large disturbance and high forecast error must be considered when scheduling a limited number of controllable generators to follow rapid change in load. This paper proposes a dynamic economic load dispatch (DELD) problem approach based on the concept of a feasible operation region (FOR). FOR is defined as the region that committed generators may operate in to match the load profile without violating the ramp‐rate constraints. The DELD problem is solved in two stages. In the first stage, FOR of each generator is computed using recent real‐time forecasted load as well as renewable energy generation. In the second stage, a generation schedule is determined by solving the DELD problem interval by interval while considering ramp‐rate constraints and FOR constraints. The method can gives feasible solution for feasible load and specify the amount of compensation required for feasible solution for infeasible load. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Chemical Composition of Cell Wall Material from Sweet Potato Starch Residue

Cell wall material was isolated from the residue obtained after the extraction of sweet potato starch by treatment with the α-amylase. The wall material was fractionated by successive extraction with various reagents. The pectic substance was mainly composed of uronic acid (47.1%) residues and contained galactose as the predominant neutral sugar residues. The hemicellulosic fraction was further fractionated by precipitation with iodine in the presence of calcium chloride to give two fractions, a iodine precipitatable-iodine complex (HC-IP) and a supernatant solution (HC-IS). The HC-IS fraction had a higher glucose content (53.4%), whereas the HC-IP fraction had a high content of xylose residues (35.1%). The HC-IP fraction consisted mainly of xylan, as judged by the degradation with purified xylanase.