Vitamin B6 suppresses serine protease inhibitor 3 expression in the colon of rats and in TNF-α-stimulated HT-29 cells

Scope: Previous reports in the areas of animal studies and, recently epidemiology, have linked anti‐tumorigenic and anti‐inflammatory effects to dietary vitamin B6. This study investigated the molecular mechanism of these effects of vitamin B6. Methods and results: DNA microarray analysis was used to obtain information on changes in colon gene expression from vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) repletion in vitamin B6‐deficient rats. Pyridoxine supplementation down‐regulated the inflammatory molecule, serine protease inhibitor clade A member 3 (SPI‐3) mRNA expression in the colon. This study also showed that tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α) induced SPI‐3 mRNA expression in HT‐29 human colon cancer cells, and vitamin B6 (pyridoxal hydrochloride) pretreatment of HT‐29 cells inhibited TNF ‐induced mRNA expression of SPI‐3. Vitamin B6 inhibited TNF‐α‐induced NF‐κB activation via suppression of IκBα degradation in HT‐29 cells. HT‐29 cells stably expressing epitope‐tagged ubiquitin were generated and vitamin B6 pretreatment was shown to inhibit ubiquitination of the IkB protein in response to TNF‐α‐i. Conclusion: Vitamin B6 suppressed SPI‐3 expression in the colon of rats and in TNF‐α‐stimulated HT‐29 cells. Further, this study showed a possible role of vitamin B6 in the regulation of protein ubiquitination.     

Removal of lead compounds from polyvinylchloride in electric wires and cables using cation-exchange resin

Recycling treatment of cable insulation resin generated from electric wires and cables was investigated. Conventional insulation PVC contains a lead component, tribase, as a thermal stabilizer and lead removal is necessary to recycle this PVC as insulation resin. This paper describes a solid surface adsorption method using ion exchange resin to remove the fine lead containing particles from PVC dissolved solution. Low lead concentration in the recovered PVC, complying with the requirements of RoHS, was achieved.     

Dynamic buckling experiments of fluid-structure-coupled co-axial thin cylinder

The purpose of this paper is to clarify dynamic buckling behaviours such as buckling mode and buckling pressure for thin cylindrical shells immersed in fluid subjected to seismic excitations. For this purpose, dynamic buckling experiments of thin cylindrical shells placed inside a rigid liquid container are carried out using a shaking table. These shells and the container are intended to represent thermal baffles and a main vessel of a fast breeder reactor, respectively. The fluid pressure caused by horizontal excitation induces buckling deformation which involves flower-shaped deformation, which is a type of external pressure buckling. The buckling pressure is measured with various types of the test cylinders under seismic excitations and this pressure is confirmed to agree with static buckling pressure predicted by static buckling analysis. It is also found that sub-harmonic vibration occurs under a certain sinusoidal excitation inducing a sudden increase in response displacement at a lower pressure level than the buckling pressure under seismic excitations. Based on these experiments, it is pointed out that, in seismic design, to prevent the buckling of thermal baffles, static buckling analyses can be used as long as sub-harmonic vibration does not occur.     

Prospective Validation of High-Shear Wet Granulation Process by Wet Granule Sieving Method. I. Selection and Characterization of Sieving Parameters for Wet Granules

To characterize the progression of high-shear wet granulation for various drugs and formulations based on the particle size distribution of wet granules during granulation, a general sieving method for wet granules was investigated. Wet granulation was conducted in a 25-liter high-shear mixer using four model drugs with different solubilities and particle sizes (ethenzamide, unmilled and milled acetaminophen, and antipyrine). Because of its small size and efficient sifting mechanism, a sonic sifter was used to determine the wet granulation particle size distribution. From the good correlation of particle size distribution between wet granules and dry-sized granules, an intensity of 80% of full-scale amplitude and a sieving time of 3 min were selected as wet granule sieving parameters. 7% general sieving method showed good measurement precision as long as the determination was completed within 20 min after sampling, Further, the method was independent of sampling position within the mixer chamber.     

A Remark on Intramolecular Transfer of an Injected Electron in C60 and C70

A simple analysis on the intramolecular transfer of an injected electron into C₆₀ and C₇₀ has been performed based on the concept of orbital interaction. This analysis contains the partitioning of each fullerene into three parts and the examination of the frontier molecular orbital interaction for propagation of an injected electron into the whole Cgo or C70 molecule. This electron transfer process is shown to be “one-way” from energetical point of view.     

Incidence and influence of GB virus C and hepatitis C virus infection in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation

Markers of GB virus C (GBV-C) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) were sought in 80 patients before and after they underwent BMT in a metropolitan hospital in Tokyo between 1990 and 1996. RNA of GBV-C was detected in 14 (18%) patients before BMT. Of the 55 patients who had been transfused, 14 (25%) possessed GBV-C RNA at a frequency significantly higher than in the 25 untransfused patients who were all negative (P < 0.01). HCV RNA was detected in three of the 55 (5%) transfused patients, but in none of the 25 untransfused patients. Sera at 3 months after BMT were available for 57 patients. GBV-C RNA persisted in all 10 patients who were infected before BMT, while it was detected in five of the remaining 47 (11%) patients who were not. However, persistent and/or ongoing GBV-C infection had no appreciable influence on patient morbidity or mortality. Two of the 57 patients were positive for HCV RNA before BMT and this persisted after BMT in both. HCV RNA became positive in eight of the remaining 55 (15%) patients who were negative before BMT. Of the 14 patients who received transfusions screened by the first-generation test at BMT, seven (50%) became positive for HCV RNA, a rate significantly higher than the one of 41 (2%) patients who received transfusions screened by the second-generation test (P < 0.001). These results indicate that BMT patients are at increased risk of GBV-C infection transmitted by transfusions received before and at the time of BMT, and that the risk of HCV infection has decreased after the implementation of the second-generation anti-HCV test.     

Poly (ricinoleic acid) based novel thermosetting elastomer

A novel bio-based thermosetting elastomer was prepared by the lipase-catalyzed polymerization of methyl ricinoleate with subsequent vulcanization. Some mechanical properties of the cured carbon black-filled polyricinoleate compounds were evaluated as a thermosetting elastomer. It was found that the carbon black-filled polyricinoleate compounds were readily cured by sulfur curatives to produce a thermosetting elastomer that formed a rubber-like sheet with a smooth and non-sticky surface. The curing behaviors and mechanical properties were dependent on both the molecular weight of the polyricinoleate and the amount of the sulfur curatives. Cured compounds consisting of polyricinoleate with a molecular weight of 100,800 showed good mechanical properties, such as a hardness of 48 A based on the durometer A measurements, a tensile strength at break of 6.91 MPa and an elongation at break of 350%.     

Relationship between metabolic hormones and ovulation of dominant follicle during the first follicular wave post-partum in high-producing dairy cows

Recent studies suggest that IGF-I is a crucial regulatory factor in follicular growth during early post-partum period. The aim of the present study was to determine in detail the changing profiles of metabolic and reproductive hormones in relation to ovulation of the dominant follicle (DF) of the first follicular wave post-partum in high-producing dairy cows. Plasma concentrations of related hormones in 22 multiparous Holstein cows were measured from 4 weeks pre-partum to 3 weeks post-partum, and the development of DF was observed with colour Doppler ultrasound. Thirteen cows showed ovulation by 15.2 days post-partum. Anovulatory cows showed higher GH and lower IGF-I levels than those in ovulatory cows during the peri-partum period. Each DF developed similarly, and a clear blood flow in the follicle wall was observed despite ovulation or anovulation. In addition, detailed endocrine profiles were analyzed in 9 out of the 22 cows. Five cows showed an increase in plasma oestradiol-17beta (E2) with follicular growth followed by E2 peak, LH surge and ovulation. In these cows, plasma IGF-I concentrations remained high until 10 days post-partum followed by a gradual decrease. Subsequently, the insulin level increased together with the E2 peak towards ovulation. These profiles were not observed in anovulatory cows. In conclusion, our data strongly support the concept that IGF-I and insulin represent 'metabolic signals' of the resumption of ovarian function post-partum in high-producing dairy cows. Moreover, we provide the first visual evidence that both ovulatory and anovulatory DFs of the first follicular wave post-partum are similarly supplied with active blood flow.     

Analysis of methane production by microorganisms indigenous to a depleted oil reservoir for application in Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery

We examined methane production by microorganisms collected from a depleted oilfield. Our results indicated that microorganisms indigenous to the petroleum reservoir could effectively utilize yeast extract, suggesting that the indigenous microorganisms and proteinaceous nutrients could be recruitable for Microbially Enhanced Oil Recovery.