Thermal Effects on Fast Skeletal Myosins from Alaska Pollock, White Croaker, and Rabbit in Relation to Gel Formation

Thermodynamic properties in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and changes in viscoelasticity upon heating of myosins from white croaker, Alaska pollock, and rabbit fast muscles were investigated in relation to their thermal gel formation abilities. Alaska pollock myosin unfolded in a wide temperature range of 19 to 69°C as revealed by DSC, whereas rabbit myosin unfolded in very narrow range of 32 to 56°C. Thermal unfolding of white croaker myosin occurred in an intermediate temperature range of 30 to 60°C. Viscoelastic properties determined as storage modulus, G′, and loss modulus, G″, reflected differences observed in DSC for the 3 myosins.     

Colorimetric determination of sulfite in "kanpyo" (dried gourd shavings) and "konnyakuseiko" (devil's-tongue fine powder) using sulfite oxidase and catalase

A simple and convenient method for colorimetric determination of sulfite in foods based on its conversion to formaldehyde with sulfite oxidase and catalase was developed. Sulfite in a sample was extracted with water and then diluted with methanol. One mL of sample solution containing about 5-10 micrograms of sulfite was taken into a test tube with a ground-glass stopper, and 3 mL of 0.04 mol/L borate buffer (pH 8.7), 1 mL of 0.4% 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone (MBTH) solution, 2,000 units of catalase solution and 1.0 units of sulfite oxidase were added. The mixture was incubated for 35 minutes at 37 degrees C. Then 0.15 mL of 1 mol/L hydrochloric acid and 5 mL of 0.2% iron(III) nitrate solution were added. The reaction mixture was transferred to a measuring flask after standing for 5 minutes at room temperature, and diluted to 20 mL with methanol. The absorbance of this solution was measured using a spectrophotometer at the wavelength of 635 nm. The calibration curve prepared with sodium sulfite showed linearity between 0 to 16 micrograms/mL as sulfur dioxide. The recoveries of sulfite in "Kanpyo" (dried gourd shavings) and "Konnyaku-seiko" (devil's-tongue fine powder) by the proposed method were 97-104%, and the coefficients of variation were below 6%. The sulfite values in these foods determined by the proposed method were reasonably consistent with those obtained by the bubbling distillation-alkaline titration method.     

Gel‐forming properties of surimi produced from bigeye snapper,Priacanthus tayenus and P macracanthus,stored in ice

The influence of iced storage of two species of bigeye snapper, Priacanthus tayenus and P macracanthus, on the gel‐forming ability of the resulting surimi was investigated. Upon iced storage, whole fish underwent deterioration faster than beheaded/eviscerated fish. Total volatile base and trimethylamine contents of whole fish were higher than those of beheaded/eviscerated fish, particularly after 9 days of storage (P < 0.05). P macracanthus muscle was more susceptible to proteolytic degradation than P tayenus muscle. Ca²⁺‐ATPase activity decreased as the storage time increased (P < 0.05), indicating the denaturation of myosin. A marked decrease in Ca²⁺‐ATPase activity was found in whole fish kept for more than 6 days in ice (P < 0.05). Breaking force and deformation of surimi gels from both species decreased, with a concomitant decrease in whiteness, as the storage time increased (P < 0.05). Beheading and evisceration of fish retarded the deterioration. However, the gel‐forming ability of surimi produced from both species decreased continuously throughout iced storage (P < 0.05), probably owing to the denaturation and degradation of myofibrillar proteins. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Growth of Pt Subnano Clusters on Limited Surface Areas of Prussian Blue Nanoparticles

We synthesized insoluble Prussian blue nanoparticles (PB NPs) and water-soluble PB NPs ([Fe(CN)₆]^4?-modified PB NPs) as synthetic fields and carriers of Pt subnano clusters. Pt²⁺ can attach on their surface Fe–CN sites. The amount of the attached Pt²⁺ on the insoluble and water-soluble PB NP surfaces was saturated to reach Pt/Fe = 15 and 40 mol%, respectively, based on the total metal ions of PB. The results showed that the attachment amount of Pt²⁺ on the surface CN sites was controlled by the surface modification. From results of TEM and STEM-HADDF-EDS, Pt subnano clusters (1.4 nm) were observed on water-soluble PB NPs after the reduction using hydrazine.     

SOLVENT EXTRACTION OF ZINC(II) ANIONIC g-DIKETONATE COMPLEXES AS ION-PAIRS WITH TETRABUTYLAMMONIUM IONS

Solvent extraction equilibria of zinc(II)with five 6-diketones(HA)in carbon tetrachloride-aqueous 1 mol dm^?3NaN0₃systems are studied in the absence and presence of tetrabutylammonium ions(tba⁺The distribution data of zinc(II)in the absence of tba+ are explained in terms of extractions of uncharged ZnA2 complex from the aqueous phase where the ZnA⁺, ZnA₂and ZnA₃complexes are formed, and those in the presence of tba+ in terms of extraction of the ZnA3~tba+ ion-pairs in addition to the uncharged one. The extraction of the ZnA³-tba⁺species is better with hexafluoroacetylacetone than with trifluoroacetyl-acetone. It is better when the extractant is benzoyltri-fluoroacetone than when it is trifluoroacetylacetone and this is explained in terms of a greater increase in the hydrofobic character by formation of the tris-complex from the bis-complex with the larger ligand. However, the extraction with acetylacetone and benzoylacetone is not affected by though the formation of the tris-chelate with these ligands in the aqueous phase is recognized from the extraction curves. No explanation can be given at the moment for the poor extractability of the most stable tris-complexes among those studied.     

Effect of LiAlSiO4 particle size on the properties of LAS/SiC porous ceramics with near zero thermal expansion

Near zero thermal expansion porous ceramics were fabricated by using SiC and LiAlSiO₄ as positive and negative thermal expansion materials, respectively, bonded by glassy material. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and thermal expansion behavior of LAS/SiC porous ceramics with different particle sizes of LiAlSiO₄ were investigated. The results indicated that the coefficient of thermal expansion of the LAS/SiC porous ceramics decreased from 0.5206×10⁻⁶ to −1.1053×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ with increasing the LiAlSiO₄ particle size from ~45 µm to ~125 μm. It was attributed to the reduction in the reaction between LiAlSiO₄ and SiO₂ as the particle size of LiAlSiO₄ increased. Young’s modulus increased from 36 MPa to 54 MPa as the sintering temperature increased from 850 °C to 950 °C because of the good bonding between the SiC grains and the glass materials.     

Role of transforming growth factor-beta1 in the pathogenesis of moyamoya disease

N-Nitroso propoxur (NP) can be synthesized from a widely used N-methylcarbamate insecticide, propoxur, in vitro in the laboratory. Because of the extensive use of aerosol propoxur, the adverse effect on cells of respiratory origin is worth elucidating. In this report, two mammalian cell cultures from respiratory tissues [a hamster lung fibroblast, V79, and a primary rat tracheal epithelial cell (RTE)], were used to investigate the genotoxicity of propoxur and NP. NP was more cytotoxic than propoxur, with LC50s (20 and six times smaller, respectively in V79 and RTE cells. NP significantly induced sister chromatid exchange (> or = 0.01 microg/ml), chromosome aberration (> or = 2.5 microg/ml) and hprt gene mutation (> or = 0.5 microg/ml) in V79 cells, and cell transformation (> or = 0.2 microg/ml) in RTE cells. Results of chromosome aberration and hprt gene mutation indicated that the major pre-mutagenic lesion induced by NP must be the O6-methylguanine adduct, which frequently mispairs with thymine and thus gives rise to a GC-->AT transition. Propoxur was not mutagenic to either type of cells. However, it inhibited gap-junctional intercellular communication in V79 cells, which indicates that propoxur could act through some epigenetic mechanisms, such as tumor promotion or cell proliferation, in the multiple process of chemical carcinogenesis.     

Effect of genetic differences in omeprazole metabolism on cure rates for Helicobacter pylori infection and peptic ulcer

We report a 65-year-old woman with thyrotropin (TSH) secreting pituitary adenoma, who was diagnosed based on the lack of inhibition of serum TSH despite an increased serum free thyroxine (T4), a low response of serum TSH to thyrotropin releasing hormone, and a pituitary tumor as revealed by magnetic resonance imaging. The pituitary adenoma was, however, inoperable due to chronic respiratory failure. The treatment with octreotide in a dose of 100 microg b.i.d. resulted in inhibition of serum TSH and free T4 to euthyroid levels and considerable shrinkage of the pituitary tumor. These effects were continued over 8 months after the start of octreotide therapy without any adverse effects. These findings add further evidence that octreotide is useful for treating inoperable TSH secreting pituitary adenoma.     

Impact of HIV Infection and Anti-Retroviral Therapy on the Immune Profile of and Microbial Translocation in HIV-Infected Children in Vietnam

CD4⁺ T-lymphocyte destruction, microbial translocation, and systemic immune activation are the main mechanisms of the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) infection. To investigate the impact of HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the immune profile of and microbial translocation in HIV-infected children, 60 HIV vertically infected children (31 without ART: HIV(+) and 29 with ART: ART(+)) and 20 HIV-uninfected children (HIV(−)) aged 2–12 years were recruited in Vietnam, and their blood samples were immunologically and bacteriologically analyzed. Among the HIV(+) children, the total CD4⁺-cell and their subset (type 1 helper T-cell (Th1)/Th2/Th17) counts were inversely correlated with age (all p < 0.05), whereas regulatory T-cell (Treg) counts and CD4/CD8 ratios had become lower, and the CD38⁺HLA (human leukocyte antigen)-DR⁺CD8⁺- (activated CD8⁺) cell percentage and plasma soluble CD14 (sCD14, a monocyte activation marker) levels had become higher than those of HIV(−) children by the age of 2 years; the CD4/CD8 ratio was inversely correlated with the plasma HIV RNA load and CD8⁺-cell activation status. Among the ART(+) children, the total CD4⁺-cell and Th2/Th17/Treg-subset counts and the CD4/CD8 ratio gradually increased, with estimated ART periods of normalization being 4.8–8.3 years, whereas Th1 counts and the CD8⁺-cell activation status normalized within 1 year of ART initiation. sCD14 levels remained high even after ART initiation. The detection frequency of bacterial 16S/23S ribosomal DNA/RNA in blood did not differ between HIV-infected and -uninfected children. Thus, in children, HIV infection caused a rapid decrease in Treg counts and the early activation of CD8⁺ cells and monocytes, and ART induced rapid Th1 recovery and early CD8⁺-cell activation normalization but had little effect on monocyte activation. The CD4/CD8 ratio could therefore be an additional marker for ART monitoring.