Angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activity and insulin secretion stimulative activity of fermented fish sauce

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides, Ala-Pro, Lys-Pro, and Arg-Pro, were isolated from fermented fish sauce. Five other proline-containing dipeptides having weak ACE inhibitory activity were also isolated from the fermented fish sauce. Orally administered Lys-Pro showed a tendency to lower the blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats. As fermented anchovy sauce also stimulated insulin secretion by cultured RINm5F insulinoma cells, the sauce may be useful as a source of biologically active substances.     

Compatibility of U-67590A Sterile Solution with Normal Saline, Dextrose Solution, and Solita-T No. 3 with or without Aminophylline Injectable

The compatibility of U-67590A sterile solution (SS) with three drip fluids (normal saline, 5% dextrose solution, and Solita-T No. 3) and Neophylline^R (an aminophylline injectable) was studied. The entire volume of U-67590A SS in an ampoule was transferred into each of the drip fluid containers (500 mL fill). The container was laid under fluorescent light (ca. 1,200 lux) at room temperature. The physical appearance (color and precipitates), pH, U-67590A concentration, and degradation impurity levels were examined for 24 hr. The chemical and physical stability of U-67590A in these drip fluids was adequate enough so that any one of the three can be used for U-67590A administration. However, the stability was reduced when aminophylline co-existed in the admixtures because of increased pH levels. In this case, the stability depended on the strength of U-67590A SS added and the drip fluid used. In terms of chemical stability, Solita-T No. 3 was most favorable when admixed with aminophylline injectable. The fastest degradation was observed in normal saline containing aminophylline. This instability was caused by the higher ionic strength. Dextrose did not seem to affect the stability of U-67590A significantly. The Solita-T No. 3 admixture had the lowest pH, thereby overcoming the negative effect of ionic strength and giving the highest stability among the three admixtures. The stability of U-67590A in direct admixture with Neophylline^R also depended on the strength of U-67590A; the stability increased with strength of U-67590A.     

Post-infantile giant cell hepatitis in an elderly female patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

A 69-year-old Japanese female was admitted because of general fatigue. Laboratory data showed elevation of serum total bilirubin, transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and creatinine levels. An immunological study revealed hypergammaglobulinemia, low titer of complement, and high titers of antinuclear antibody, anti-DNA antibody, and circulating immune complexes. Antibodies to parainfluenza virus 3 were positive. Histology of the liver disclosed numerous giant cell hepatocyte transformations with the lobular architecture being slightly distorted by portal inflammation and fibrosis. These findings led us to make a diagnosis of giant cell hepatitis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Prednisolone was effective in improving the anemia and the serum immunoglobulin, immune complex, and antinuclear antibody levels. The addition of cyclosporine to the initial corticosteroid therapy was also beneficial in decreasing the transaminase level and in improving liver histology. The patient died of acute pneumonitis and renal failure on the 166th day after admission. Parainfluenza virus 3 and autoimmune mechanisms were thus considered to be the causes of the giant cell hepatitis.     

A GTO DC Circuit Breaker Controlled by a Single-Chip Microcomputer

Power semiconductor circuit-breaker application suggests the need for microcomputers that provide firing control, excellent dc short-circuit fault interrupting performance, precise overload protection of themselves, as well as high reliability with minimum components. This paper deals with the prototype dc 1500 V GTO (gate turnoff thyristor) circuit breaker controlled by a single-chip microcomputer. Emphasis is on the GTO junction temperature observation.     

Two-dimensional intravenous coronary arteriography using above-K-edge monochromatic synchrotron X-ray

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: For intravenous (i.v.) coronary arteriography, a real-time two-dimensional (2D) imaging system is being developed using above-K-edge monochromatic X-rays alone. The potential diagnostic value of this system was examined in the current study. METHODS: The angiographic system consisted of an asymmetric silicon (311) monocrystal, an image intensifier, and a charged-coupled device camera. It was constructed at the beam line of the Tristan Accumulation Ring. Monochromatic X-rays of 33.32 keV were used, and each image was recorded over 2 msec. RESULTS: Ventricular wall motion and the anatomy of the coronary arteries could be seen in dogs by sequential images obtained without subtraction. The left anterior descending coronary artery, left circumflex coronary artery, and right coronary artery and the branches of these vessels were observed. The parts of the coronary arteries overlapping the aorta and left ventricle were revealed somewhat during washout of the contrast material. CONCLUSION: For a 2D imaging system, monochromatic i.v. coronary angiography using an energy above the iodine K-edge might be able to image the coronary arteries without subtraction. However, the image quality needs to be improved by increasing the X-ray flux, decreasing background radiation scatter from the object, and decreasing contamination with 99-keV X-rays.     

Use of a microcomputer with a gas permeation apparatus

Hardware and software for collecting and storing the data of gas permeation in polymer membranes from the vacuum detector and various sensors have been developed for the GP-IB microcomputer online system. The system uses BASIC language programs. In comparison to manual inputs and calculations, the programs allow reductions in the time required for data treatment and in the standard deviation for a determination and, moreover, an improvement in the reproducibility of the results.