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     

Efficient decomposition of environmentally persistent perfluorocarboxylic acids by use of persulfate as a photochemical oxidant

Photochemical decomposition of persistent perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) in water by use of persulfate ion (S2O8(2-)) was examined to develop a technique to neutralize stationary sources of PFCAs. Photolysis of S2O8(2-) produced highly oxidative sulfate radical anions (SO4-), which efficiently decomposed perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and other PFCAs bearing C4-C8 perfluoroalkyl groups. The major products were F- and CO2; also, small amounts of PFCAs with shorter than initial chain lengths were detected in the reaction solution. PFOA at a concentration of 1.35 mM (typical of that in untreated wastewater after an emulsifying process in fluoropolymer manufacture) was completely decomposed by a photochemical system with 50 mM S2O8(2-) and 4 h of irradiation from a 200-W xenon-mercury lamp. The initial PFOA decomposition rate was 11 times higherthan with photolysis alone. All sulfur-containing species in the reaction solution were eventually transformed to sulfate ions by this method. This method was successfully applied to the decomposition of perfluorononanoic acid contained in a floor wax solution.     

TiO2-induced heterogeneous photodegradation of a fluorotelomer alcohol in air

Degradation of C4F9C2H4OH in air over TiO2 particles was examined in this first report of gas-solid heterogeneous photochemical degradation of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), which may be precursors of perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) in the environment. Photoirradiation (>290 nm) of C4F9C2H4OH in air flowing over TiO2 produced CO2, via C4F9CH2CHO, C4F9CHO, CnF(2n+1)COF (n=2 and/or 3), and COF2, in that order. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the Ti02 surface showed a decrease in the amount of fluorine bonded to carbon and an increase in the amount of F- as the degradation of C4F9C2H4OH in air proceeded. Of the carbon content in the initial C4F9C2H4OH (78.8 ppmv), 90.7% was transformed to CO2, and the predominant fluorine species produced on the TiO2 surface was F-. Fluorotelomer unsaturated acids, which are considered to be toxic and have been observed in the biodegradation of FTOHs, did notform. Increased relative humidity in the air accelerated the decomposition of the reaction intermediates, which led to increased CO2 and F- formation. This result indicates that humidity is a key factor for counteracting FTOHs in indoor air. Although perfluoroalkyl substances such as PFCAs in water reportedly undergo little photodegradation over TiO2, our data show that mineralization of C4F9C2H4OH in air can be achieved with TiO2.     

Polyether-segmented nylon hemodialysis membranes. I. Preparation and permeability characteristics of polyether-segmented nylon 610 hemodialysis membrane

The effect of the coagulation condition in the phase inversion method on the permeability characteristics of poly(propylene oxide) or poly(tetramethylene oxide)-segmented nylon 610 (PPO-Ny610 or PTMO-Ny610) hemodialysis membranes, the stability of the membrane performance, and the mechanical strength were investigated. The polymers were dissolved in a solvent such as formic acid and methanol saturated with calcium chloride, and thus PPO-Ny610 and PTMO-Ny610 membranes were prepared using formic acid and a calcium chloride/methanol/water mixture as a polymer solvent and a coagulant, respectively. It is concluded that PPO-Ny610 membrane has better permeability characteristics than PTMO-Ny610 membrane, and possesses additional properties for hemodialysis membranes such as mechanical properties and permeability stability in the drying and sterilizing processes. Furthermore, the blood compatibilities of PPO-Ny610 and PTMO-Ny610 membranes were superior to regenerated cellulose membranes on the basis of the result of platelet adhesion test. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 65:1703–1711, 1997     

Knee Osteoarthritis Progression Is Delayed in Silent Information Regulator 2 Ortholog 1 Knock-in Mice

Overexpression of silent information regulator 2 ortholog 1 (SIRT1) is associated with beneficial roles in aging-related diseases; however, the effects of SIRT1 overexpression on osteoarthritis (OA) progression have not yet been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate OA progression in SIRT1-KI mice using a mouse OA model. OA was induced via destabilization of the medial meniscus using 12-week-old SIRT1-KI and wild type (control) mice. OA progression was evaluated histologically based on the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) score at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after surgery. The production of SIRT1, type II collagen, MMP-13, ADAMTS-5, cleaved caspase 3, Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) p85, acetylated NF-κB p65, interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), and IL-6 was examined via immunostaining. The OARSI scores were significantly lower in SIRT1-KI mice than those in control mice at 8, 12, and 16 weeks after surgery. The proportion of SIRT1 and type II collagen-positive-chondrocytes was significantly higher in SIRT1-KI mice than that in control mice. Moreover, the proportion of MMP-13-, ADAMTS-5-, cleaved caspase 3-, PARP p85-, acetylated NF-κB p65-, IL-1β-, and IL-6-positive chondrocytes was significantly lower in SIRT1-KI mice than that in control mice. The mechanically induced OA progression was delayed in SIRT1-KI mice compared to that in control mice. Therefore, overexpression of SIRT1 may represent a mechanism for delaying OA progression.     

Polyether‐segmented nylon hemodialysis membrane. VII. Studies on surface structures of various poly(ethylene oxide)‐segmented nylon membranes

The relationships of the surface morphologies to the surface chemical compositions in poly(ethylene oxide)‐segmented nylon (PEO–Ny) membranes prepared by the phase‐inversion method were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), and static secondary ion mass spectrometry (SSIMS). The PEO–Ny's used were high semicrystalline PEO‐segmented polyiminosebacoyliminohexamethylene (PEO–Ny610), low semicrystalline PEO‐segmented poly(iminosebacoylimino‐m‐xylylene) (PEO–NyM10), and amorphous PEO‐ segmented poly(iminoisophthaloyliminomethylene‐1,3‐cyclohexylenemethylene) (PEO–NyBI). SEM observation showed that the surfaces of the PEO–Ny610 and PEO–NyM10 membranes were composed of crystalline spherulite and that the PEO–NyBI membrane surface had a nodular structure. ESCA analysis exhibited the enrichment of the PEO segment at the surfaces of the PEO–Ny610 and PEO–NyM10 membranes. On the other hand, the enrichment of the Ny segment was observed in the case of the PEO–NyBI membrane. SSIMS analysis revealed that the outermost surfaces of the PEO–Ny membranes except the PEO–NyBI membrane were almost covered with the PEO segment. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 517–528, 2000     

The influence of Goishi tea on adipocytokines in obese mice

This study investigated the influence of Goishi-tea on visceral fat weight in induced obese mice. Mice were divided into two main groups, normal and obesity. In obesity group, mice were fed with high-fat diet. Goishi-tea including its fractions (ethyl-acetate layer and water layer) was administrated in normal and obesity three sub-groups. Results showed no influence of Goishi-tea in normal group. However, visceral fat weight, size of adipose cell and cholesterol level were significantly decreased in obesity group fed Goishi-tea compared to control group. Moreover, adiponectin levels tended to increase and adipocytokines has significant values lower in obesity group fed Goishi-tea compared to control group. Interestingly, Goishi tea involved in the high-fat diet induced-obese mice can inhibit fat accumulation and maintain adiponectins without increasing tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6. It would be beneficial for the prevention of metabolic syndrome and obesity-related disorder.     

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Silicon Nitride Ceramics with Controlled Porosity

Porous silicon nitride ceramic with a porosity from 0–0.3 was fabricated by partial hot-pressing of a powder mixture of α-Si₃N₄ and 5 wt% Yb₂O₃ as sintering additive. Irrespective of the porosity, the samples exhibited almost the same microstructural features including grain size, grain aspect ratio, and pore size. Porosity dependences of Young's modulus, flexural strength, and fracture toughness ( K _{I C} ) were investigated. All these properties decreased with increasing porosity. However, because of the fibrous microstructure, the decreases of flexural strength and fracture toughness were moderate compared with the much greater decrease of Young's modulus. Thus, the strain tolerance (fracture strength/Young's modulus) increased with increasing porosity. The critical energy release rate also increased slightly with an increasing volume fraction of porosity to 0.166 and remained at the same level with that of the dense sample when the porosity was 0.233. They decreased as porosity increased further.