Chemical modification of zein by bifunctional polycaprolactone (PCL)

Prepolymer was synthesized by use of PCL and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), and then used to prepare modified zein-based polymers (ZPs). Solid-state ¹³C NMR results showed that at least four amino acids (Glu, Gln, Tyr and His) reacted with the prepolymer, and urea-urethane links were prominent. Thermal analysis indicated that micro-phase separation formed between zein matrix and PCL-HDI (PCLH) component in ZPs. With the increasing PCLH content, the melting point of PCL in ZP decreased, and the T_g of zein reduced due to plasticizer role of PCLH. The breaking elongation of modified zein containing 10% PCLH content, increased about 15 times while its strength at break only reduced by about 2 times than that of commercial zein. In addition, with the increasing PCLH content, the flexibility of modified zein sheet improved dramatically with negligible reduction in strength. This indicates that PCL was an elastic fraction in ZPs. Therefore, it is an effective way to improve the mechanical properties of zein by modification with PCL, showing a potential in the field of biodegradable polymers.     

An assay method for nitric oxide-related compounds in whole blood

The tibialis anterior muscle and soleus muscle of apolipoprotein-E-deficient mice were examined by light and electron microscopy. By light microscopy, sarcoplasmic inclusions were seen in tibialis anterior muscle and 40% of type 2 myofibers were affected in all animals over 8 months of age. These inclusions reacted for nonspecific esterase, cytochrome oxidase, and myoadenylate deaminase and were also periodic acid Schiff positive and stained basophilic with hematoxylin. Moreover, they reacted immunocytochemically with an antibody specific to fragment 17 to 24 of the published sequence of Alzheimer's cerebrovascular amyloid peptide. Immunoreactivity was lost when the antibody was adsorbed with the appropriate synthetic peptide. Ultrastructurally, the inclusions consisted of tubular arrays and were similar to those observed in human muscle in several pathological conditions. In type 1 myofibers of both tibialis anterior and soleus muscle, however, mitochondrial abnormalities including an increase in their number and size were detected, but tubular aggregates were not seen. These large mitochondria possessed an electron-dense inner chamber with an increased number of tightly packed cristae. The results obtained suggest that in these mice there is a disturbed lipid metabolism in skeletal muscle fibers that manifests itself with an accumulation of phospholipid in the form of sarcoplasmic reticulum tubules in the type 2 fibers and enlarged mitochondria with tightly packed cristae in the type 1 fibers. In addition, beta-amyloid protein was closely associated with the accumulated tubules and vesicles of sarcoplasmic reticulum and may represent dysregulation of amyloid precursor protein metabolism.     

Analysis of pulmonary manifestations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

We studied chest X rays of 911 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The findings showed interstitial shadow in 28 patients (3.1%), pleuritis in 13 patients (1.4%) and nodular shadow in 3 patients (0.3%). RA patients with interstitial pneumonia were commonly male and older. And they had significantly high levels of rheumatoid factor (RF), RAPA and IgG-RF in serum, but they were not associated with high score of Lansbary index. All patients with more than 1500 IU/ml in RF value had a complication of interstitial pneumonia. These results suggest the importance of chest X-ray in the management of RA patients with high titer in RF.     

A metalloproteinase inhibitor prevents lethal acute graft-versus-host disease in mice

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and Fas ligand (FasL) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which is a major complication after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. We examined here the ameliorating effect of a metalloproteinase inhibitor (KB-R7785) that inhibits TNF-alpha and FasL release in a lethal acute GVHD model in mice. Administration of KB-R7785 into (BALB/c x C57BL/6) F1 that received C57BL/6 spleen cells markedly reduced the mortality and weight loss in association with minimal signs of GVHD pathology in the liver, intestine, and hematopoietic tissues. The ameliorating effect of KB-R7785 was superior to that of anti-TNF-alpha antibody. Our results suggest that KB-R7785 could be a potent therapeutic agent for GVHD.     

Recovery of 80 GHz optical clock from 160 Gbit/s data using regeneratively modelocked laser diode

An 80 GHz optical clock signal was successfully recovered from a 160 Gbit/s data stream using a regeneratively modelocking scheme of a semiconductor modelocked laser (MLLD). To handle an 80 GHz electrical signal, the MLLD integrated with a high-mesa electroabsorption modulator and a W-band UTC-PD module are used in this scheme.     

Optical electric-power sensor by use of one bismuth germanate crystal

An optical electric-power sensor is presented that allows active and apparent powers to be measured simultaneously using one block of bismuth germanate (Bi/sub 4/Ge/sub 3/O/sub 12/) crystal as sensing element, which exhibits both the Faraday effect and the Pockels effect. It is based on the fact that the polarization-related intensity of the light wave passing through the crystal can be modulated by the product signal of applied electric and magnetic fields. When load current and voltage are simultaneously applied to the sensing crystal, the instantaneous electric power signal can be directly obtained from the intensity-modulated light wave. The simultaneous measurements of active power and apparent power, as well as the direction of power flow, have been carried out in experiments. Measurement uncertainty is theoretically analyzed. The potential applications of the proposed optical electric-power sensor are also discussed.     

Common clonal origin of lymphocytes and plasma cells in splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes

In two-thirds of patients with splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes (SLVL) a small amount of M-protein can be detected in association with the presence of plasma cells in the peripheral blood (PB) and/or bone marrow (BM). However, it is not known whether lymphoma cells and plasma cells originate from the same clone. In this report we describe a case of SLVL which was characterized by the presence of marked monoclonal gammopathy (IgG-kappa 90 g/l) and increased plasma cells in the BM. In an attempt to elucidate the origin of lymphoma cells and plasma cells, we performed morphological, cytogenetic and molecular studies on PB mononuclear cells (PBMNC) without plasma cells and BMMNC containing 10% plasma cells from this patient. Immunofluorescence showed that lymphoma cells and plasma cells were positive for cytoplasmic gamma heavy and kappa light chains. Well-developed endoplasmic reticulum was observed in the cytoplasmic organelles of PBMNC using an electron microscope. The mean IgG concentration in the 3 d supernatant cultures of PBMNC was 374 +/- 24 microg/l. More than 50% PBMNC differentiated into plasmacytoid cells in 6 d of liquid culture with IL-3 and IL-6. Analysis by two-colour FISH revealed that karyotypic abnormalities of monosomy X and trisomy 17 existed simultaneously in both lymphoma cells and plasma cells. JH gene rearranged bands from PBMNC and BMMNC by Southern blot hybridization were identical, whereas DNAs from PBMNC failed to hybridize with the Cmu probe. These observations strongly suggest that lymphoma cells and plasma cells originate from the same clone, and that plasma cells, as well as lymphoma cells, which have undergone class switch recombination, could produce IgG type M-protein in this case.     

A 100-MHz 64-tap FIR digital filter in 0.8-μm BiCMOS gate array

A 64-tap FIR (finite impulse response) digital filter that has been designed using a newly developed filter compiler and fabricated in a 0.8-μm triple-level interconnect BiCMOS gate array technology is presented. The filter has been tested and is fully functional at a 100-MHz clock rate. These results are obtained by combining an optimized architecture and gate array floorplan with submicrometer BiCMOS technology. The filter occupies 49 mm², which is approximately two-thirds of the 100 K gate array core. The design uses an equivalent of 55 K gates (two-input NAND gates). The device input/output are 100 K emitter-coupled-logic (ECL) compatible     

The effect of arginine supplementation on growth hormone release and intestinal mucosal growth after massive small bowel resection in growing rats

Four-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent a 90% small bowel resection. From the fourth day after surgery, they were divided into group 1 and 2, and pair-fed by elemental diets (0.8 kcal/mL, 50 mL/day) with L-arginine (n = 10) or L-glycine (n = 11) as an isonitrogenous and isoenergetic supplement for 3 weeks. They were compared with each other 3 weeks after surgery. A statistical analysis was performed using the unpaired Student's t test and the one-way factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Bonferroni/Dunn multiple comparison test. A Pvalue of < .05 was considered significant. There were no significant differences between the two groups in food intake, body weight, tail length, residual ileal length, and plasma IGF-I level. However, the mean height of ileal villi in group 1 showed higher than that in group 2 (P < .01). Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) provocative tests (1 microg per rat, intravenously) showed the more significant elevation of growth hormone IGH) secretion in the arginine supplement group than that of glycine supplement group at 5 minutes (P < .05). There were no significant differences between basal levels of plasma rat GH in both groups. It is suggested that arginine has a possible significant role of GH secretion and intestinal mucosal growth after massive small bowel resection.     

An organic infrared electroluminescent diode utilizing aphthalocyanine film

Electroluminescent (EL) diodes utilizing metal-free phthalocyanine (H₂Pc) have been fabricated by the vacuum evaporation method. The EL characteristics of the diodes depending upon the metal cathode and the characteristics of the diodes with the coevaporated layer with 4-(dicyanomethylene)-2-methyl-6-(p-dimethylaminostyryl)-4H-pyran (DCM) have been investigated. We have demonstrated the infrared electroluminescence originated from the radiative transition corresponding to the Q band of H₂Pc by taking the energy band structure into consideration