Comparative hypocholesterolemic effects of six vegetable oils in cholesterol-fed rat

The hypocholesterolemic efficacies of various polyunsaturated fatty acids were compared in rats given cholesterol-enriched diets.Oenothera biennis Linn oil (OBLO, linoleic +γ-linolenic), sunflower oil (linoleic), palm oil (PLO, oleic+linoleic), soybean oil (linoleic+α-linolenic), high-oleic safflower oil (oleic+linoleic), or mixed oil (linoleic+α-linolenic) was added to the diet at 200 g/kg (20% groups). OBLO was also added at 100 g/kg diet (10% group). The serum total and very low density lipoprotein+intermediate lipoprotein+low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations of the 10 and 20% OBLO groups were consistently lower than those in the other groups. The liver cholesterol concentration in the PLO group was lower in all groups. The liver cholesterol concentrations in the 10 and 20% OBLO groups were also lower than in the other groups. There were no significant differences in the fecal neutral sterol and bile acid extraction among groups.     

Kinetics and photoeffects of oxidation and reduction of hexaamminecobalt complex in alkaline media

Cyclic voltammograms of hexaamminecobalt complex have been measured in high pH solutions. The spectroscopic result suggested that hydroamminecobalt complex adsorbed on the electrode surface during cathodic polarization, and this species grew to form cobalt hydroxide after a long time of electrolysis. In the anodic process, the reaction orders for pH and NH₃ were both |1|. Based on these results, the reaction mechanism has been discussed.The effect of light on the electrode process has been studied by irradiating with ultraviolet light of the 254 nm mercury resonance line. It has been indicated that the hydroxoammine complex is decomposed to cobalt hydroxide and free ligand under light.     

Kinetics of Iron Chlorination of Roasted Illmenite Ore,Fe2TiO5 in a Fluidized-Bed Reactor

The preferential chlorination reaction of iron constituents in roasted ilmenite ore was studied in an experimental fluidized bed reactor. The influence of the roasting temperature on the selectivity of chlorination reactions was also examined. It was found that preferential iron chlorination is dependent on roasted product morphology. Effects of chemical and process variables in the fluidized bed reactor, such as chlorination temperature, chlorine gas partial pressure, gas-solid contact time and the quantity of coke added, were investigated in order to study the kinetics of the preferential chlorination reaction. A modified bubble assemblage model was applied to analyze behavior of gases and solids in the reactor. The chlorination reaction rate constant was found to be a function of temperature and coke quantity present.     

Chronic pulmonary nocardiosis with eosinophilia in an immunocompetent host

A 75-year-old man who worked at a horse racing track, had an abnormal shadow on a chest radiography. He had a history of dilated cardiomyopathy and mitral regurgitation but had not had any respiratory or systemic symptoms for two years. Chest radiographs and CT scans showed slowly increasing consolidation with internal areas of low attenuation, and without cavity formation, at the left S8. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level, WBC count, percentage of eosinophils, and IgE level were 35 mm/hr, negative, 8400, 17%, and 3628 IU/ml, respectively. Eosinophils were found in samples of sputum. His immunological status was normal. Transbronchial lung biopsy yielded necrotic tissue, along with gram-positive and irregular acid-fast branching filaments that grew in culture. The microorganism was identified as Nocardia asteroides. Occupational inhalation of soil may have caused his disease.     

Prolonged survival in a patient with sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma with cranial extension. Case report

Sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma is a rare malignant neoplasm characterized by the combined histological features of carcinosarcoma and teratoma. The primary symptoms of this tumor are usually nasal obstruction and epistaxis, and a nasal cavity mass is the most common clinical finding. The authors describe an exceptionally rare case in which the patient presented with massive intracranial extension and exhibited confusion as an initial symptom. He subsequently underwent combined radical surgery and radiation therapy and has remained free of disease for 31 months. The surgical approach to the lesion, histological features, and clinical course are detailed.     

Descriptive epidemiology of IDDM in Hokkaido, Japan: the Childhood IDDM Hokkaido Registry

OBJECTIVE: To identify the incidence of IDDM with regard to sex, age, family history of diabetes, season, and 5-year period of childhood IDDM among children ages 0-14 years from a population-based epidemiological study in Hokkaido, Japan, from 1973 to 1992. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Registration of all new IDDM cases in Hokkaido was conducted by the Childhood IDDM Hokkaido Registry Study Group from 1973 to 1992. The cases were selected from among 1) patients who were admitted to the member hospitals of the study group, 2) patients who answered a questionnaire distributed to hospitals and diabetic clinics throughout Hokkaido, and 3) patients whose cases were recorded in free-treatment medical records of urban and rural districts. The case ascertainment rate was estimated to be 100%. Differences in incidence with regard to sex, age, family history of diabetes, season, and year period were analyzed by the Poisson regression analysis by GENMOD. RESULTS: During the 20-year period studied, 396 cases (181 boys, 215 girls) of abrupt-onset IDDM were registered. Statistically significant differences in annual incidence were found according to sex (female), age (8-14 years), history (having no diabetes in family), season (spring), and 5-year period. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first population-based, long-term epidemiological study of childhood IDDM from Japan. We observed a significantly higher annual incidence (per 100,000/year) of IDDM in female subjects (1.81), older age-groups (2.25 for 8-14 years), subjects with no family history of diabetes (1.26), diabetes onset in the spring (2.20), and an increased trend over the 20 years. In addition, the heterogeneity of IDDM among Japanese children needs to be elucidated.     

Effect of whey hydrolysate formula on the transfer of beta-lactoglobulin into serum and milk in mice

This study was performed to elucidate the effect of whey hydrolysate formula on the transfer of an antigen into serum and milk. The concentrations of beta-lactoglobulin in serum and milk were positively correlated (p < 0.01). The concentration of beta-lactoglobulin in serum tended to become low in the mouse and to be accompanied with a high level of fecal anti-beta-lactoglobulin IgA concentration. The fecal anti-beta-lactoglobulin IgA of mice fed hydrolysate formula for 12 weeks was significantly higher than that of the control formula-fed mice (p < 0.05). These results suggest that a high level of intestinal IgA elicited by the feeding of hydrolysate formula may reduce the transfer of beta-lactoglobulin into serum and milk.     

Small turn-on delay time in 1.3 μm InAsP/InP strained doublequantum-well lasers with very-low threshold current

It is demonstrated for the first time that compressively strained InAsP/InP double quantum-well (DQW) lasers emitting at 1.3 μm performed a very small turn-on delay time by a significant reduction in threshold current. Lasers with 200 μm cavity length and high reflection coating achieved both very low threshold current of 1.8 mA and a small turn-on delay time (200 ps) even under a bias-less 30 mA pulse current. An additional power penalty was simulated, and it was shown that these small-delay and low-threshold performances are suitable for high-speed optical parallel data transmitters in computer networks