Oxidative Stability of Lipids Rich in EPA and DHA Extracted from Fermented Scallop Ovary

A novel seafood paste was developed by the fermentation of scallop ovary using rice malt (koji) and yeast culture. Chemical analysis of the product showed the formation of high level of free amino acids and organic acids during the fermentation. The product color and flavor resembled to Japanese traditional soybean miso. The contents of total lipids (TLs) extracted from the fermented products were ranged from 9.18% to 11.59% or 11.38% to 13.57%/dry sample weight. Although the TL was rich in oxidatively unstable polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), little decrease was found in these PUFAs during the fermentation, showing the high oxidative stability of the TL from the fermented scallop ovary. Moreover, the oxidative stability of the TL extracted from the fermented products increased with increasing the fermentation time. This would be mainly due to the formation of lipid soluble antioxidants such as tocopherols, which might be derived from yeast used for fermentation.     

All-digital A/D converter TAD with high-resolution and low-power for sensor/RF digitization

For achieving both high resolution and low power of a sensor/RF interface, time-domain processing using full-digital circuits, which deals with only two voltage levels (i.e., V _in-supply-voltage and ground-level), is presented. In a much broader sense, digital circuits can be used for time-domain processing instead of conventional analog signal processing. In this study, an all-digital 6- to 16-bit adaptive sensor-interface ADC is experimentally evaluated for high-resolution and low-power operation along with high scalability. The circuit architecture is completely digital, using a ring-delay-line (RDL) driven by an input voltage V _in as its power supply. Resolutions can be controlled by setting its conversion time T _cv, resulting in 16 bit (1 kS/s, 34 μW) and 6 bit (1 MS/s, 48 μW) with a prototype IC in a low-cost 0.65-μm (650-nm) digital CMOS, achieving the sensor digitizer (sensor-digitization product) of a pressure sensor ASIC. The all-digital structure has been scaled into a 0.18-μm technology, and the test IC presented a higher performance with 28 μV/LSB (160-kS/s). Finally, as an RF digitization application, the circuit is demonstrated to realize the time-domain processing of an RF signal, working as both mixer and ADC, achieving minimum/maximum detectable sensitivity of 0.7-μVrms/100-mVrms, respectively, for a 40-kHz sine wave at the LNA input terminal of a 0.18-μm digital CMOS one-chip radio-controlled clock receiver IC.     

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of novel 2',2'-difluoro analogues of docetaxel

To investigate the role of the 2'-hydroxy group at the C-13 side chain of docetaxel in the antitumor activity, we prepared several 2',2'-difluoro derivatives of docetaxel and evaluated their cytotoxicity against mouse leukemia and human tumor cell lines and their microtubule disassembly-inhibitory activity. These analogues were prepared by esterification of protected 10-deacetylbaccatin III (21) with appropriate alpha, alpha-difluorinated carboxylic acids (Charts 1 and 2). Among these 2',2'-difluorodocetaxel derivatives, 2',2'-difluorodocetaxel (23b) was approximately 3-10 times as active as 2'-fluorodocetaxel (29a) in terms of cytotoxicity. In addition, the 3'-(2-furyl) (23h) and 3'-(2-pyrrolyl) (23p) analogues showed activity comparable or superior to that of docetaxel (2).     

Synthesis and evaluation of water-soluble non-prodrug analogs of docetaxel bearing sec-aminoethyl group at the C-10 position

To develop non-prodrugs of taxoids with satisfactory stability in vivo, high water-solubility, and potent antitumor activity, we prepared several 10-O-sec-aminoethyl docetaxel analogs (3) and evaluated their cytotoxicity against mouse leukemia and human tumor cell lines, microtubule disassembly-inhibitory activity, and water-solubility. These analogs were synthesized from the 10-O-allyl baccatin derivatives (5a-c) using the beta-lactam synthon method. Among these analogs, the 10-O-(2-morpholinoethyl) (18, 21) and 10-O-(2-thiomorpholinoethyl) (19, 24) analogs exhibited cytotoxicity comparable or superior to that of docetaxel (2). In addition, the methanesulfonic acid salt (18a) had a high water-solubility.     

Formation of metal–TiN/TiC nanocomposite powders by mechanical alloying and their consolidation

Fe–TiN, Ni–TiN, and SUS316–TiC nanocomposite powders were prepared by ball-milling Fe–Ti, Ni–Ti, and SUS316–TiC powder mixtures in a nitrogen or argon gas atmosphere. Fe–63vol.% TiN and Ni–44–64vol.% TiN milled powders were dynamically compacted by use of a propellant gun to produce bulk materials of nanocrystalline structure and having grain sizes between about 5 and 400 nm. SUS316–2.8–5.6vol.% TiC milled powders were consolidated by hot isostatic pressing (HIP) to produce bulk materials having grain sizes between about 100 and 400 nm. The possibility of using fine-dispersed TiN/TiC particles to pin grain boundaries and thereby maintain ultra-fine grained structures of grain sizes down to the nanocrystalline scale has been discussed.     

High energy resolution PIXE with high efficiency using the heavy ion microbeam

An X-ray crystal spectrometer using a position sensitive proportional counter combined with tandem microbeam line at Osaka National Research Institute have been developed. This system realizes high energy resolution PIXE analysis using a heavy ion microbeam (E < 6 MeV) with reasonable detection efficiency. The design of the spectrometer, such as detection geometry, detectable energy range and energy resolution, are described. This system was applied to high energy resolution PIXE analysis of Ti, SUS and Si with 2 MeV proton and 5 MeV Si³⁺ focused or collimated beams. The best energy resolution was 2 eV for the Si K line.     

Mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells in advanced ovarian cancer

High-dose chemotherapy with hematopoietic support has been expected to improve the survival of advanced ovarian cancer patients in recent years. An essential component of such treatment has been the ability to collect and reinfuse a large number of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) following high dose therapy. This study was designed to determine which clinical and hematological factors would be better indicators to collect the proper volume of PBSCs. Thirteen patients received a total of 24 courses of induction chemotherapy and 69 of apheresis. We usually mobilized stem cells using CEP chemotherapy (cisplatin 50-70 mg/m2, epirubicin 50 mg/m2 and cyclophosphamide 1.5 g/m2) with G-CSF and CEE regimen (cyclophosphamide 2.0 g/m2, epirubicin 50 mg/m2, and etoposide 50 mg/m2) as a salvage for mobilization. We obtained an average 5 x 10(6)/kg of CD34+ cells for 3 days as one course. The number of CD34+ cells collected significantly depended on the platelets and reticulocytes on the first day of apheresis, but not a nadir of WBCs. It is concluded that apheresis should be started on recovery of WBCs to 5,000-10,000/microliters, of immature granulocytes to > or = 10% and of reticulocytes to > or = 20%. This study confirmed the feasibility of collecting enough PBSCs to use standard chemotherapy of ovarian cancer patients.     

Urinary norepinephrine excretion in elderly hypertensive patients during administration of fusaric acid

The urinary norepinephrine excretion during fusaric acid calcium salt administration was examined in 5 elderly hypertensive patients by double blind cross-over method. The average daily excretion of the last 5 days during fusaric acid calcium salt or placebo administration of 5 weeks' duration was compared in each patient. In 4 patients except for one, the average daily urinary excretion of norephinephrine during fusaric acid calcium salt administration showed an increase, being highly significant (p less than 0.01) statistically, when compared with that during placebo administration, the latter being essentially unchanged. In the one patient, however, the average daily urinary excretion of norepinephrine was significantly higher during placebo administration than that during fusaric acid calcium salt administration. The relationship between the changes in the average daily urinary excretion of norepinephrine and those in blood pressures seemed to be not consistent. The mechanism which brought about an increased norepinephrine excretion in the urine of the hypertensive patients is not obscure at present.