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Background: Excessive consumption of alcohol is involved in the onset of pancreatitis. However, most of heavy drinkers do not always develop chronic pancreatitis. Various genetic factors appear to be involved in these individual differences in onset of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. Here we investigated a possible association of alcoholic pancreatitis with polymorphisms of the various genes belong to the phase II detoxification enzymes responsible for metabolism of the oxidative compounds, and the several genes that have relevance to inherited pancreatitis. Methods: The subjects consisted of 53 patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis, 54 alcoholic patients without pancreatic dysfunction, and 42 healthy individuals. DNA was extracted from the peripheral nucleated blood cells of all subjects and genetic mutations and subtypes were analyzed by the PCR and RFLP methods. We examined the correlation between chronic alcoholic pancreatitis and variants of the phase II detoxification enzymes such as Glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1), glutathione S-transferase theta 1 (GSTTI), NADPH-quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and N-acetyl transferase (NAT2). In addition, genes of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), cationic trypsinogen (PRSS1), pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI), and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) were also analyzed. Results: Frequencies of the gene deletion of GSTM1 and GSTT1 in addition to the C-allele frequency of NQO1 tended to be higher in the alcoholic patients with (AlCP) or without pancreatic dysfunction (Alc) than in the healthy controls although the difference was not significant. The NAT2 gene showed no relation with Alc and AICP patients. PSTI, LPL, PRSSI, and CFTR genes presented no association with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. Conclusions: All genes analyzed in the present study lacked association with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. However, the gene deletion of GSTM1 and GSTT1, and the C-allele of NQO1 cannot be ruled out for association with alcoholism.

It is well known that nuclear pressure vessel steel shows embrittlement under thermal aging and strong neutron irradiation. We focus on nanoscale copper-rich precipitates and try to clarify the effect of the nanoscale copper-rich precipitates on embrittlement of reactor pressure vessel steels. Our final goal is to evaluate such embrittlement from microscopic viewpoint based on atomistic simulation. In this study, we simulate interaction between motion of an edge dislocation and copper clusters using Molecular Dynamics method with a PBC, where uniform shear strain is applied to the boundaries parallel to the slip plane (1 1 2) in the system. As the results, we clarify the effects of size, distance and pinning of the copper clusters on dislocation motion.

Oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL) such as malondialdehyde-modified LDL (MDA-LDL) play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. This study is aimed to establish a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring serum MDA-LDL, and evaluate its usefulness by analyzing serum samples of diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Serum sample stability, analytical sensitivity, intra- and inter-assay precision, dilution linearity, supplementation and recovery, and interfering substances were examined. Normal reference levels in 86 healthy subjects (33 males and 53 females; average age 34.4±7.8 years) with normal lipid profiles were also determined. MDA-LDL levels in blood and serum were unstable and gradually increased during storage. However, it could be stabilized by the addition of a reagent, which included sucrose. The detection limit of the assay was 6.3 U/l. Intra- and inter-assay imprecisions were P P P

In this study, we simulate nanoscale copper precipitation process based on the vacancy jump model using Lattice Monte Carlo (LMC) method, where an activation energy is calculated from the first neighboring interaction model. We confirmed that status of copper clustering at temperature of 300 K is different from those of 600 K and 900 K at the same potential energy decrease, and copper clusters are formed more rapidly at higher temperature. We obtained a fact that process of copper clustering consists of the two phases which are formation phase, and coalescence and/or absorption phase.

This article represents the proceedings of a symposium at the 2000 ISBRA Meeting in Yokohama, Japan. The chairs were Shoji Harada and Dharam P. Agarwal. The presentations were (1) Mutations in the exons, exon-intron junctions, and promoter regions of human CYP2E1 gene and alcoholism, by Fumio Nomura; (2) Genetic variability in alcohol metabolism and drinking habits in Japanese, by Shoji Harada; (3) Genetic studies of alcohol dependence using alcoholics with inactive ALDH2, by Susumu Higuchi; and (4) Alcohol consumption, apolipoprotein polymorphisms, and cardiovascular disorders, by Dharam P. Agarwal.

Recent studies have revealed that GSTM1 and M2 of the μ-class glutathione S-transferases catalyze a glutathione conjugate of catechol o-quinones including dopachrome, noradrenochrome, and adrenochrome under physiological conditions. Reduced or negative levels of activity amongst these enzymes would lead to an excess of neurotoxic compounds of catecholamine o-quinones. A defect in the mechanisms responsible for this form of detoxification may contribute to the development of certain forms of schizophrenia. We have performed a case-control study to explore the association between schizophrenia and polymorphism of the GSTM1 gene. DNA samples were obtained from 87 unrelated patients with schizophrenia who met the DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia and from 176 control subjects. Individuals of both groups were ethnically Japanese and were from the same district. GSTM1 polymorphism was determined using the polymerase chain reaction method. The frequency of the GSTM1*0 allele was significantly higher amongst the patients with schizophrenia compared to controls (P = 0.0075). Moreover, the incidence of the GSTM1*0 was significantly higher amongst the schizophrenic patients classified as disorganized type (P = 0.0008), relative to the control sample. Our findings suggest that the GSTM1*0 is associated with an increased susceptibility to schizophrenia, particularly disorganized type of the disease. It is therefore likely that the GSTM1 gene deletion constitutes to vulnerability for disease states of this kind, rather than being the direct cause of schizophrenic conditions.

Background: Although the mutant low-Km acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) allele (ALDH2 2 ) with reduced capacity to metabolize acetaldehyde offers biological protection against alcoholism and subsequent alcohol-induced organ damage in many individuals, a significant proportion of individuals with heterozygote of the normal and mutant ALDH2 gene (ALDH2 1 /2 2 ) consume excessive amounts of alcohol. Indeed, it has been postulated that habitual drinkers with ALDH2 1 /2 2 may be at a higher risk for alcoholic liver disease than those with ALDH2 1 /2 1 . In this study, we determined how representative biological markers of alcoholism (y-glutamyltransferase [GGT], carbohydrate-deficient transferrin [CDT], and the mean corpuscular volume of erythrocytes [MCV]) differ with respect to theALDH2 genotypes in Japanese habitual drinkers. Methods: We obtained genomic DNA samples from 227 Japanese men with various drinking habits. ALDH2 genotypes were determined by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. GGT, CDT, and MCV were determined and compared between ALDH2 1 /2 1 and ALDH2 1 /2 2 habitual drinkers who consumed more than 66 g of alcohol per day for more than 5 years. We measured CDT by anion-exchange chromatography followed by turbidity immunoassay by using a commercially available assay kit (Axis %CDTTIA). Results: CDT levels were comparable between the two groups. GGT activities were significantly greater in ALDH2 1 /2 1 than in ALDH2 1 /2 2 habitual drinkers (81 ± 85 vs. 53 ± 40 IU/liters,p < 0.02). MCV values, on the other hand, were significantly larger in ALDH2 1 /2 2 than in ALDH2 1 /2 1 subjects (98.2 ± 5.8 vs. 95.8 ± 4.2 fl, p = 0.02). When we used elevation of either CDT or GGT to detect habitual drinking in ALDH2 1 /2 1 and 2 1 /2 2 subjects, the sensitivities were 57% and 46%, respectively. CDT levels were similar between habitual drinkers with normal aspartate aminotransferase levels and those with elevated levels. Conclusion: GGT and MCV, but not CDT, differ with respect to the ALDH2 genotypes in Japanese male habitual drinkers. ALDH2 genotypes should be considered when interpreting data on biological markers of alcoholism.

A low cost surface treatment technique was developed to improve wear resistance of ductile cast iron (DI) in terms of diffusion welding of molten DI with stainless steel. The essential idea of fabricating wear resistant DI is concerned with diffusion-formed chromium carbides made from chromium sourse in stainless steel and carbon source in DI. To find the most suitable condition for forming chromium carbides, two kinds of stainless steel SUS 304 and SUS 340, different pouring temperature and specimen thickness were employed. Finally the validity of the proposed method was checked in a newly developed-erosion-resistant testing machine. Furthermore, the improvement of wear resistance was quantitatively demonstrated through comparison tests using medium carbon steel and non-surface-treated DI.

The protolysis of o-benzoic acid derivatives (OBAD), m/p-benzoic acid derivatives (BAD) and salicylic acid derivatives (SAD) in a micelle of dodecylammonium chloride (DAC) have been studied by the ultrasonic relaxation absorption method. The relaxation absorption was larger than in tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) micellar solution owing to the electrostatic force of NH 3 + in DAC. The rate constants (γ 2 k f , k b ), apparent dissociation constant (K a =k b /γ 2 k f ) and volume change (ΔV) on protolysis were determined. The dependence of the rate constants on pK a in the BAD–DAC system was the same as in the OBAD–DAC system, but differed from those obtained in aqueous solution or in a TTAB micellar solution. The pK a of OBAD in a TTAB micellar solution exceeded that in aqueous solution but in a DAC micellar solution it was less than in aqueous solution. The results, in comparison with those in a TTAB micellar solution, are discussed, based on differences in the electrostatic force of the DAC and TTAB micelles.

In order to modify the continuous network of eutectic cementite normally found in low alloy white cast irons into a dispersive distribution, strategies of controlling the morphology of eutectic cementite by additives are discussed. Qualitative arguments are presented and applied to the development of a complex modifier REAINTi. With the addition of this modifier to low carbon white cast irons nearly one fifth of the original eutectic cementite network can be modified into blocky particles in the plane of polish, and one third into isolated irregular ones. The experimental data shows that Ti(CN) may act as an effective nucleant or a grain refiner for eutectic cementite. The modification effects of rare earth elements are attributed to their abilities to purify the melt, promote divorced eutectic growth and refine the microstructure. Aluminium contributes to the modification by its purification effect.

A surface hardening technique for improving the wear resistance of ductile cast iron (DI) is proposed by fabricating molten DI with stainless steel. The essential idea is concerned with using the chromium source in stainless steel and the carbon source in DI to form chromium carbides. It was demonstrated that the surface of the fabricated DI consisted of firstly a layer of high chromium white cast iron ((Cr,Fe) 7 C 3 eutectic carbides), which was originally stainless steel, and then a layer of medium low-chromium white cast iron ((Fe,Cr) 3 C eutectic carbides), which was originally DI. Thus the hardness of the surface layer became 2–3 times that of the baseline ductile cast iron. Applying austenitic stainless steel produces a much better hardening effect than applying ferritic stainless steel. The depth of the hardened surface layer depends on the pouring temperature of the iron melt, the wall thickness of the iron casting and the cooling rate of the casting mold. The present strategy is, in principle, possibly applied to complete as well as local surface hardening of various kinds of ductile iron castings.

Base equilibria of arginine (basic amino acid) in the absence of a micelle and then in a micellar solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) have been studied by ultrasonic absorption measurements. Forward (γ 2 k f ) and backward (k b ) rate constants, the apparent base dissociation constant K b (=k b /γ 2 k f ), and the volume change (ΔV) for the reaction were obtained. Micellar effects for arginine were greater than those for a neutral amino acid measured previously. This is discussed in terms of total charge of the amino acids. Similar experiments were carried out for aspartic acid (acidic amino acid)-cationic micelle of dodecyl-ammonium chloride (DAC). Relaxation was considered due to the protolysis of aspartic acid. A slightly lower micellar effect than that for an aromatic carboxylic acid-dodecylammonium chloride (DAC) system was noted. ΔV was smaller than that for an aromatic carboxylic acid with the same pK a

Ultrasonic relaxation absorption has been measured in aqueous solutions of amino acids (tryptophan, leucine, glycine, phenylalanine, asparagine) in the absence and in the presence of micelles of sodium dodecylsulphate. The relaxation absorption was ascribed to the base equilibrium of amino acids, and the rate constants, the base dissociation constant, and the volume change of the reaction were obtained. The smaller micellar catalytic effect for the base equilibrium of amino acids, compared to those of amines and ammonia was ascribed to the electrostatic effect of the carboxylate group. The reaction mechanism, including the interactions of amino acid and the SDS micelles, were discussed.

Background Circulating oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) (ox-LDLs) could be a sensitive marker to predict future cardiovascular events. However, a method to evaluate oxidized forms of LDLs systemically in human plasma is not yet established. In this study, we developed a novel and convenient high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for measuring ox-LDL levels in humans. Methods Human plasma lipoproteins were separated by a modified HPLC method using a diethylaminoethyl-type anion-exchange gel column with stepwise elution. Ox-LDLs were detected by postcolumn reaction with a regent containing cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase. Particle size of each LDL fraction separated by HPLC was determined in 61 healthy subjects. Results Our HPLC method separated LDLs into three fractions, which were designated as LDL-1, LDL-2 and LDL-3, on the basis of their negative charges, with LDL-3 the most strongly retained fraction migrating fastest in the anodic direction, a property that reflects the net negative charge of the molecule. Western blot analysis revealed that apolipoprotein B100 in LDL-3 fraction was the most fragmented and oxidatively modified. When LDLs were oxidized in vitro by Cu2+ or 2,2-azo-bis (2-aminopropane)-2HCl or modified by various aldehydes, all of the LDL fractions migrated at the position of LDL-3. Further, among three fractions, particle size was smallest in LDL-3 fraction. Conclusion Here, we developed a convenient HPLC method and identified LDL-3 as oxidized LDL fractions, although ox-LDLs were present in LDL-2 fraction, albeit lesser concentrations than in LDL-3 subfraction. Measuring ox-LDL levels in human plasma by this method may be useful to evaluate atherosclerotic disorders.

The low frequency pulsed MIG welding process of new current waveform control to switch over unit pulse conditions (pulse current, pulse duration) in the fixed cycle was developed and its effect were investigated for aluminium and its alloy.By using this new welding process, the bead appearance having clear ripple pattern, such as TIG welding bead can be obtained and the gap tolerance of lap and butt welding joint can be expanded.

Background: Cholecystokinin (CCK) is considered to play an important role in the central nervous system via its interaction with other neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid, substance P, and enkephalins. We investigated the relationship between the C to T substitution in the Sp1 binding cis-element of the CCK gene promoter region (at position -45 numbered from initiation codon) and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Methods: We examined 214 Japanese men with alcoholism (93 with delirium tremens, 49 with hallucination, 38 with seizure, and 93 with none of these symptoms) and 98 age-matched Japanese male controls by using a polymerase chain reaction-based single strand conformational polymorphism analysis. Results: Patients who displayed hallucination were significantly more likely to possess the C allele than control subjects (x 2 = 8.17, p = 0.017, Bonferroni correction: p = 0.064). In addition, we investigated the influence of CCK gene polymorphism on alcohol consumption among the control subjects but found no significant relationship. Conclusions: Our data suggested that the C allele at -45 locus of the CCK gene was higher in patients with hallucination than the control group at a rate that was not quite significant after Bonferroni correction for multiple testing.

Individual and racial differences in alcohol metabolism and their implications in acute and chronic intoxication of alcohol intake were reviewed in the relationships of genetic polymorphism of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). The recent studies revealed that the catalytic deficiency of ALDH2 isozyme is responsible to the flushing symptom as well as other vasomotor symptoms caused by a higher acetaldehyde level after alcohol consumption. Subsequently the deficiency of ALDH2 has been prevalently found among only the peoples of Mongoloid origin and the individuals deficient in ALDH2 refrain from excessive drinking of alcohol due to averse reaction leading to protection against alcoholism. Moreover, many studies based on DNA analysis have confirmed these findings. As ALDH2 polymorphism was found only in Mongoloid, population studies on the ALDH2 mutant will provide the important information to estimate the dispersal of the ethnic groups in Asia and Oceania and also to prevent alcohol abuse in the developing countries.

Tensile and three-point bending tests were conducted on a hot isostatic pressed silicon nitride. To examine the size effect on the tensile strength, two kinds of different-sized round test specimens were prepared. A special chucking device utilizing a powder cushion between the specimen and the grip surface was used to promote good alignment with increasing load. The percentage of bending stress at the fracture was less than 5%. The mean tensile strengths of large and small specimens were 63% and 74% of the mean value obtained by the three-point bending test on the same material, respectively. The Weibull moduil determined by the large and small tensile specimens were smaller than that in the case of the three-point bending test. These results indicate that care should be taken in Weibull-statistics-based strength comparison for different-sized specimens and different loading conditions.

Variation of a red cell enzyme, S-adenosyl L-homocysteine hydrolase (SAHH) was surveyed among 640 Japanese individuals from four different localities.According to the typing after starch gel electrophoresis, all samples were SAHH 1 and no variant could be detected. These results were inconsistent with those of AKIYAMA et al. (1984), who reported polymorphism of the enzyme among Japanese.Control testing using Caucasian samples and panel red cells obtained from the USA, however, indicated that variant types were detectable and that the typing proceduresused in the present study was appropriate.

Three-point bending and cyclic bending fatigue tests were conducted on two kinds of hot-pressed silicon nitride. To examine the relationship between the defect size 2c and the static and fatigue strength σF, σw respectively a semicircular crack with a radius of 70μm to 310μm long was introduced on each specimen surface with the aid of a Knoop indentation. The result shows that up to a critical value of 2cc, both σF and σw were insensitive to 2c. For 2c > 2cc, both σF and σw decreased with increasing 2c. Both materials had almost the same value of 2cc. The fatigue strength of the materials with a small crack was found to be about 40% of the static bending strength.

The base dissociation of ammonia has been studied by an ultrasonic absorption method in both the absence and presence of SDS micelle in aqueous solution, and kinetic parameters were obtained. The micellar catalyzed reaction mechanism, including the interactions of ammonium ion with SDS micelles, are discussed.

To examine whether a racial difference in apolipoprotein B (Apo B) gene polymorphism between Japanese and American Caucasians corresponds with the lower blood cholesterol concentrations in Japanese than in Americans, we examined the EcoRI polymorphism of the Apo B gene for 271 nonsmoking men and women aged 47-69 years in two population-based samples: rural Japanese living in Akita and Caucasians living in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. Mean values of serum cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower in Japanese than in Caucasians for both men and women (difference = 25-26 mg/dl). An allele-specific polymerase chain reaction was conducted to examine the Eco RI cutting site at the 12669 cDNA position of the Apo B gene. The allele R2 (absence of the cutting site) has been associated with lower cholesterol concentrations in two previous studies. The frequency of the R2 allele was 6% for Japanese and 17% for Caucasians (P < 0.001), and this race difference in allele frequency was identical for men and women. After controlling for age, body mass index, alcohol intake, and for women, menopausal status and hormone replacement therapy, the adjusted mean (SE) cholesterol level among Japanese was 204 (3) mg/dl for genotype R1R1 and 185 (7) mg/dl for genotype R1R2 or R2R2 combined (P = 0.01). The respective mean values among Caucasians were 224(5) mg/dl and 232(7) mg/dl (P = 0.36). The polymorphism had a similar effect on total cholesterol concentrations for both men and women. The observed lower prevalence of the R2 allele in Japanese than in Caucasians indicates that this variation in the Apo B gene does not explain the racial difference in blood cholesterol concentrations.

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), the principal enzymes responsible for oxidative metabolism of ethanol, exist in multiple, genetically determined molecular forms. Widely different kinetic properties in some of these isozymes account for the individual differences in alcohol sensitivity. In this study we used the polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism method to determine the genotypes of the ADH2 and ALDH2 loci of alcoholic and nonalcoholic Chinese living in Shanghai. We also investigated the subjects' drinking patterns by means of semistructured interviews. The alcoholics had significantly lower frequencies of the ADH2(2) and ALDH2(2) alleles than did the nonalcoholics, suggesting the inhibitory effects of these alleles for the development of alcoholism. In the nonalcoholic subjects, ADH2(2) had little, if any, effect, despite the significant effect of the ALDH2(2) allele in decreasing the alcohol consumption of the individual. Taken together, these results fit the proposed hypothesis for the development of alcoholism, i.e., drinking behavior is greatly influenced by the individual's genotypes of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes, and the risk of becoming alcoholic is proportionate with the ethanol consumption of the individual.

The upstream sequence of the glutathione S-transferase pi gene contains pentanucleotide (ATAAA) repeats. Analysis of the region using polymerase chain reaction indicated that the repeat sequence was polymorphic and segregation of the polymorphic alleles was codominant heredity. Heterozygosity of the new VNTR was 0.818 in healthy Japanese and 0.794 in American whites. Allelic frequencies among healthy controls and alcoholics as well as other diseases were not significantly different.

Activity of stimulatory GTP-binding regulatory protein (Gs) in human erythrocyte membranes was assessed by activation of adenylate cyclase in S49 murine lymphoma variant cells to elucidate a relationship to alcohol consumption. In apparently healthy subjects, alcohol consumption g ethanol per week did not alter the Gs activity, but it was significantly higher ( 14.3%, P ) in moderate drinkers (50–150 g/week) than non-drinkers. Then, the Gs activity declined with a further increase in alcohol consumption (150–550 g/week). Those subjects with drinking levels of > 50 g/week also showed significant increases in other alcohol-related markers, Na+, K+-ATPase and γ-glutamyltransferase. The Gs activity was significantly low in alcoholics (a 34.9% reduction). No such reduction was noted in patients with other diseases. The results indicate that the Gs activity in erythrocyte membranes is an alcohol-related marker in humans. The variation of Gs activity is distinctive from those of other alcohol-related markers.

In the central nervous system, cholecystokinin (CCK) is an important neurotransmitter that gives the influences on firings, anxiety, notiception, and dopamine-related behavior. CCK co-exists in the dopaminergic neurons, interacting with dopamine. In this study, we examined the genetic variant -45 C to T substitution of the CCK gene promoter region among 195 healthy Japanese and 174 patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome (52 delirium tremens, 39 hallucinosis, 20 seizures, and 92 lack of these symptoms) by using polymerase chain reaction-based single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis. Patients with delirium tremens showed a significantly higher frequency of the variant, compared with the controls (chi2 = 4.91, p < 0.03), but patients with other symptoms showed no difference. These data suggested that the individuals possessing allelic mutation (-45T) in the promoter region of the CCK gene might be susceptible to delirium tremens caused by alcohol abuse.

AIM: To develop a simple and accurate method for quantifying 8-isoprostane in plasma by employing a combination of two-step solid-phase extraction of samples and a commercially available ELISA kit, and by this method to examine the effects of drinking and smoking habits against the levels of plasma 8-isoprostane in healthy Japanese volunteers. METHODS: Plasma 8-isoprostane was extracted with ODS gel suspension followed by NH2 Sep-Pak column. The 8-isoprostane fractions were assayed using a commercially available ELISA kit. We measured plasma 8-isoprostane levels in 157 healthy Japanese volunteers divided into three groups (64 non-habitual drinkers, 56 moderate drinkers and 37 habitual drinkers) according to their alcohol consumption per week. Genotypes of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) were also determined to investigate the plasma 8-isoprostane levels with reference to drinking habits. In addition, the plasma 8-isoprostane levels of 96 non-smokers and 61 smokers from the same subjects were compared. RESULTS: Our method fulfilled all the requirements for use in routine clinical assays with respect to sensitivity, intra- and inter-assay reproducibility, accuracy and dynamic assay range. Significant increases of plasma 8-isoprostane levels were observed in female habitual drinkers when compared with those of non-habitual drinkers (t = 5.494, P < 0.0001) as well as moderate drinkers (t = 3.542, P < 0.005), and 8-isoprostane levels were also significantly different between ALDH2*2/1 and ALDH2*1/1 in the female habitual drinkers (t = 6.930, P < 0.0001), suggesting that excessive drinking of alcohol may increase oxidization stress, especially in females. On the contrary, no significant difference of the plasma 8-isoprostane levels was observed between non-smokers and smokers. CONCLUSION: Our present method was proved to be a simple and accurate tool for measuring plasma 8-isoprostane. However, the clinical utility of plasma 8-isoprostane for drinking and smoking habits was limited since elevated 8-isoprostane levels were observed in female heavy drinkers, and no association was found between smokers and nonsmokers.

Ultrasonic relaxation absorption has been observed in aqueous solutions of ortho-benzoic acid derivatives (OBAD) in the presence of a micelle of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB). Relaxation absorptions were ascribed to the protolysis of acids on the surface of the micelle. The apparent dissociation constant (pKa=kb/γ2kf), rate constants (γ2kf, kb) and volume change (ΔV) for the reactions were determined. The dependence of rate constants on pKa for OBAD was compared with that for meta- and para-benzoic acid derivatives (BAD). It was especially noticeable that the dissociation of OBAD in the micellar solution is depressed more than that in aqueous solution. This can be explained as due to electrostatic effects, the polarity of solution and solvation in the TTAB micellar solution. The dependence of ΔV of OBAD on pKa was also compared with that of BAD. The result was considered to be due to differences in solute–solvent interactions and the situation around OBAD and BAD in the micellar solution.

The protolysis of carboxylic acids has been kinetically studied by the ultrasonic absorption method in the presence of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) micelles in aqueous solution. The carboxylic acids studied were classified into two categories, one capable of formation of intramolecular hydrogen bond, namely the salicylic acid derivatives (SAD) and the other which cannot form the bond, namely the benzoic acid derivatives (BAD). The rate constant (γ2kf, kb), the apparent dissociation constant (Ka), and the volume change of the reaction (ΔV) were obtained. Different Ka dependences of the rate constants observed for SAD and BAD are discussed in relation to the effect of intramolecular hydrogen bond. pKa dependences were also observed for ΔV of SAD and BAD. These dependences are larger than those in aqueous solution. This result was attributed to the change of arrangement of water molecules around the solute in micellar solution and aqueous solution.

The kinetics of the protolysis of aromatic carboxylic acids solubilized in a micelle of dodecylpyridinium chloride has been studied by the ultrasonic relaxation absorption measurements. The rate constants are dependent on the acid dissociation constant K a and the results are interpreted by means of the Bronsted catalysis law. The micellar catalytic effect is discussed in comparison to those in the acid and base equilibria of carboxylic acids and amines in the micellar solutions. The volume change of the reaction is also found to be dependent on K a .

Kinetic studies of the amylose–iodine complex formation for the amylose of degree of the polymerization (DP) of 32 were made using the temperature-jump method. The reciprocal relaxation time increases with increase of the concentration of iodine and decreases with that of amylose. Based on these results, the reaction, H0+3I3−\ightleftharpoonsH3 was proposed as a plausible mechanism for the relaxation phenomenon, where H0 denotes the free helical segment of amylose and H3 the helical segment containing three I3−. The relaxation phenomena were observed for the amyloses of DP 42, 57, and 76, and analyzed by the same mechanism as that proposed in the case of DP 32. The rate constants for the forward and the backward reactions (kf and kb) were determined: the kf value increases with DP of amylose and the kb value decreases. Examination of the relaxation time and the relaxation amplitude suggested that the relaxation phenomenon is not based on the whole process of the amylose–iodine complex formation but on the...

Ultrasonic absorption was measured in hexane solutions of octylammonium alkanoates (nonanoate, decanoate, dodecanoate, and tetradecanoate). The value of critical micelle concentration (CMC) was determined to be 0.02 M (1 M=1 mol dm−3) for all the surfactants. The excess ultrasonic absorption, observed in the solutions above the CMC, was ascribed to the association-dissociation of the monomer to and from the micelle. From the concentration dependences of the ultrasonic parameters, the mean aggregation number of the micelle, the rate constants, and the enthalpy change of the above reaction were obtained. These results were discussed in relation to the shape of the reversed micelle and the solute-solvent interactions.

Vapor pressure osmometric results on dodecylpyridinium iodide reversed micelle in dry benzene (containing 0.03% w/w water), which lead to an equilibrium description of the system, are discussed. This information in turn, together with spectrophotometric results, is used for the interpretation of the pressure-jump kinetics of the solubilization of 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane by the micelle. Details of the solubilization mechanism are discussed, and numeric values of equilibrium concentrations, rate and equilibrium constants, and the activation energy of solubilization are reported. 20 references.

Micellar catalytic effects on the base dissociation of methylamine have been studied by ultrasonic absorption method. The dissociation constant, the rate constants, and the volume change of the reaction were obtained in the absence and in the presence of SDS. The micellar catalytic effects observed for methylamine was smaller than those for amines of long alkyl chain, which was ascribed to the facts that the former is incorporated into the micellar ionic atmosphere in the concentrated micellar solution while the latters are solubilized into micelles.

A temperature-jump study reveals two relaxation phenomena in aqueous nickel (II)–pyridine solutions. One is observed in a metal-rich and low-concentration system, while the other is found only in a ligand-rich and high-concentration system. The relaxation processes are ascribed to the complex formation reactions:Ni^2++py\oversetk_1\undersetk_-1\ightleftharpoonsNi(py)^2+ and Ni(py)_2^2++py\oversetk_3\undersetk_-3\ightleftharpoonsNi(py)_3^2+The rate constants reported are: 3.6×103 M−1 s−1 for k1 and k3, 37 s−1 for k−1 and 760 s−1 for k−3, at 25 °C. The effect of the coordinated pyridine molecules on the reactivity of the metal is discussed.

The phenotypic distribution and gene frequencies of haptoglobin (Hp), transferrin (Tf), group specific component (Gc), cholinesterase (Cho E2), and alpha1-antitrypsin (Pi) in plasma proteins, and phosphoglucomutase (PGM), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase ((6-PGD), esterase D (Es D), phosphohexose isomerase (PHI), adenosine deaminase (ADA) and acid phosphatase (AcP) in red cells were studied in 127 atopic, asthmatic patients. The gene frequencies were compared with normal groups. The phenotypic distribution of the Pi system in atopic patients was somewhat different from the normal. No significant differences were found between the two groups in protein systems or in enzyme systems, except Pi systems. In conclusion, except for the Pi system, no definite association between polymorphic traits and atopic asthma was found in this study.

The ultrasonic relaxation absorption has been measured in aqueous solution of dipentylamine, dihexylamine, dioctylamine, N-methylphenethylamine, and N-ethylbenzylamine in the presence of the sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS) micelle. The relaxation absorption has been ascribed to the base equilibrium of the amines on the surface of the micelle: RR′NH2++OH−\oversetkf\undersetkb\ightleftharpoonsRR′NH+H2O. The rate constants γ±2kf, kb, the apparent base dissociation constant Kb (=kb⁄γ±2kf), and the volume change in the base equilibrium ΔV were obtained, where γ± is the mean activity coefficient for RR′NH2+ and OH−. The dependence of the rate constants on Kb revealed that, in the detailed mechanism of the base equilibrium of the amines, RR′\underset(I)NH2++OH−\oversetk12\undersetk21\ightleftharpoons(RR′NH\underset(II)2+···OH−)\oversetk23\undersetk32\ightleftharpoonsRR′N\underset(III)H+H2O, the rate-determining step is the proton-transfer process, (II) \ightleftharpoons (III). The pKb values of the secondary amines ...