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The main objective of this study was to improve the extractability and quality of rice bran oil using different mixtures of ethanol (Eth) and hexane (He). Eth/He ratios of 0:100, 20:80, 40:60, 60:40, 80:20, and 100:0 (%v/v) were used for the extraction. The ultrasound extraction processes were experimented at 2.5 W/g, 30 °C for 15 min. The results indicated that the highest oil extractability was found in the 60:40 (%v/v) Eth/He mixture. Experimental results also showed that the mixture of 60:40 (%v/v) Eth/He had significant effect on the physiochemical properties and phytochemical content of crude rice bran oil (p

Background: Studies were conducted using samples from early and late-stage HBV-infected persons to determine the pool size at which PCR had better sensitivity than a sensitive HBsAg chemoluminescence immunoassay (CLIA-HBsAg).Study Design and Methods: HBV seroconversion panels were tested for HBsAg by CLIA and for HBV DNA by nested PCR (95% hit rate: 100 copies/mL); PCR was carried out at various dilutions. HBV serologically positive samples that were detected from the simultaneous screening of 540,161 routine whole-blood donations using CLIA-HBsAg and agglutination assays were also characterized for additional markers of HBV infection.Results: In 9 of 10 HBV seroconversion panels, PCR had better sensitivity than CLIA-HBsAg at dilutions of 1-in-25 or lower. Of 65 CLIA-only confirmed-positive donor samples (agglutination assay-negative), 8 represented early infection, 2 of which were PCR positive at a 1-in-50 dilution but negative at a 1-in-100 dilution. Only 2 of 47 samples from probable late-stage HBV infection that were positive on CLIA only were PCR positive with 0.1-mL sample volume and the S-region primer; the remaining 45 samples required a 1.0-mL sample input and C-region primer for increased PCR positivity. The remaining 10 CLIA-only confirmed-positive donor samples were from HBV vaccine recipients. None of the 12 CLIA- and HBsAg-negative donor samples that were strongly anti-HBc reactive could be detected by PCR at any dilution; all 12 were PCR positive when undiluted, but 4 required a 1.0-mL input volume for PCR positivity.Conclusion: For the detection of samples representing early-stage HBV infection, PCR at dilutions of 1-in-25 or lower (equivalent to a pool of < or =25 members) had greater sensitivity than CLIA-HBsAg. In contrast, samples from late-stage HBV infection were detected by PCR only with undiluted samples (0.1-mL or 1.0-mL input volumes), regardless of CLIA-HBsAg reactivity. Therefore, although NAT using minipools of 25 donations or less may be effective for the detection of early-stage HBV infection, it may not be effective for the detection of persistent HBV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This research establishes the optimal microwave‐assisted alkali pretreatment (MAP) condition of cassava rhizome (CR) using response surface methodology with Box–Behnken design for enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis glucose yield. The pretreatment parameters included microwave power (300–900 W), irradiation time (5–15 min), and NaOH concentration (3%–7% w/v); and the enzymatic hydrolysis was 24 and 48 hr. Quadratic models were generated and statistical analysis performed to validate the adequacy of the models. The results indicated that the optimal MAP condition was 840 W microwave power, 9 min irradiation time, and 3% w/v NaOH concentration. Under the optimal condition, the predicted and experimental glucose yields were 15.39 and 15.82 g/100 g native cassava rhizome (NCR) for 24 hr hydrolysis, and 16.40 and 16.95 g/100 g NCR for 48 hr hydrolysis, indicating good agreement. In addition, this study examined the effect of MAP on the physical characteristics and morphology of NCR and pretreated CR. The results showed significant structural changes in pretreated CR, indicating that MAP enhanced enzymatic accessibility and glucose yield.

Background: Partial D category IIIb (D[sup IIIb]) is defined as a very rare Rh phenotype lacking G epitope. The G epitope is almost invariably present on Rh D, Ce or CE polypeptides. While the few reported cases of D[sup IIIb] were detected by use of alloanti-D induced in D[sup IIIb] individuals, we report here a Japanese blood donor with D[sup IIIb] that was detected by screening with monoclonal anti-G. Methods: The G antigen screening was carried out by HMR8 (Hokkaido Red Cross Blood Center, Japan), an IgM monoclonal anti-G and bromelain treated red cells using PK7200, an autoanalyzer for agglutination reactions. Further serological analyses were performed by Flow cytometry or agglutination tests with human polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. RHD-specific PCRs were performed with specific primers located on RHD exon 3 (forward: 5'-TCG GTC CTG ATC TCA GTC GA-3', reverse: 5'-ACT GAT GAC CAT CCT CAT CT-3') and exon 5 (forward: 5'-TAC CTT TGA ATT AAG CAC TTC AC-3', reverse: 5'-GTC GGG AGG GCC ATA AAT-3'). PCR-RFLP for exon 2 of RHD or RHCE were carried out using PCR products amplified with a forward primer on intron 1 (5'-CTC CCC ACC GAG CAG-3') and a reverse primer on intron 2 (5'-CCA CCA TCC CAA TAC-3') with BstNI as a restriction enzyme. The nucleotide sequences of exon 2 of RHD or RHCE were analyzed by direct cycle sequencing of the PCR products used for RFLP analyses. Results: In screening of approximately 250,000 blood donors with monoclonal anti-G, 1 donor (RS) was found to be G-negative and D-positive. Her red cells were neither reactive to LHM59-19 specific to D epitope 27 nor to HMR8 despite that they were strongly reactive to monoclonal anti-Ds defining 9-epitope model. RS red cells were phenotyped as DccEe, G-. Her serum did not contain anti-D or anti-G. Although RHD-specific PCRs were positive in RS, RFLP analyses showed the absence of thymidine at nt 307 of exon 2. The results suggested RS was possibly D[sup IIIb]. The nucleotide sequencing analyses of the exon 2 specific PCR products showed heterologous peaks at nt 150, 178, 201, and 203 and homologous peak at nt 307 indicating that the D[sup IIIb] was derived from point mutation of nt 307 of RHD exon 2. Conclusions: A very rare partial D category IIIb phenotype in a Japanese blood donor was detected by screening with monoclonal anti-G and is probably derived from point mutation of nt 307 (T®C) of RHD exon2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thyroid storm can be complicated by liver dysfunction, which may occasionally progress to acute liver failure. We herein report a case of acute liver failure following thyroid storm that was treated with living donor liver transplantation after resuscitation from cardiopulmonary arrest., Case Report: The patient was a woman in her 40 s who had been diagnosed with an abnormal thyroid function. She suffered from fatigue and vomiting, and was found to have consciousness disorder, a fever, and tachycardia with a neck mass. She was diagnosed with thyroid storm and was referred to our hospital. After arrival, she went into cardiopulmonary arrest and veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was initiated. In addition to treatment for thyroid storm with antithyroid drugs, steroids, and plasma exchange, extracorporeal life support was required for 5 days. However, despite improvements in her thyroid function, her liver function deteriorated. We planned living donor liver transplantation for acute liver failure after ensuring the recovery and control of the thyroid function following total thyroidectomy. The donor was her husband who donated the right lobe of his liver. Although she experienced acute cellular rejection after surgery, and other complications-including intra-abdominal hemorrhaging and ischemic changes in the intestine-her liver function and general condition gradually improved. One year after living donor liver transplantation, the patient was in a good condition with a normal liver function., Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report of living donor liver transplantation in a patient with acute liver failure following thyroid storm. Liver transplantation should be recognized as an effective treatment for acute liver failure following thyroid storm., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background/aims: The therapeutic strategies for small rectal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) have not been standardized. We examined the efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal resection with a ligation device (ESMR-L) and the long-term outcomes after endoscopic treatment., Methods: A total of 181 patients with rectal NETs <10 mm who were treated between May 2002 and May 2017 were retrospectively enrolled. All the lesions had been resected using ESMR-L, and the follow-up strategies were determined according to the pathological examinations. The long-term outcomes after a 53-month follow-up period were also evaluated., Results: R0 resection was achieved in 180 cases (99.4%). Lymphovascular invasion was confirmed in 67 cases (37.0%), while a curative resection was achieved in 114 cases (63.0%). One perforation (0.6%) and 11 cases with delayed bleeding (6.1%) were observed. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a tumor size > 5 mm (OR 2.06; 95% CI 1.04-4.08, p = 0.04) was a significant independent predictor of the presence of lymphovascular invasion. Of the 67 patients with non-curative resections, 11 patients underwent additional surgery; lymph node metastasis was confirmed in 2 cases (18.2%). No local or distant metastases were observed during the follow-up period in 77 patients with a curative resection, 9 patients who received additional surgery, and 50 patients with non-curative resections., Conclusion: ESMR-L is an easy, safe and effective treatment for rectal NETs <10 mm in diameter, and the prognosis of patients seems to be good, despite a relatively high rate of lymphovascular invasion., (© 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

In order to investigate the immunogenetic factors associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier state, the HBe seroconversion and the development of chronic liver disease, HLA typing were performed in 278 asymptomatic HBV carriers (ASC) and 110 patients with chronic B type hepatitis (CH). HLA typing was also performed in 178 vaccinees who had received hepatitis B vaccine. The significantly decreased frequencies of DR1 and DRw13 were found in ASC, CH and non-responders to HB vaccine. This suggests that DR1 and DRw13 may be associated with the elimination of HBV. The frequency of DR4.2 was increased in ASC, but decreased in CH. The seroconversion rate of DR4.2 positive CH as well as ASC was high. Therefore DR4.2 may have relevance to the seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe.

Effects of dl-1-(4-amino-3-chloro-5-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-2-tert.-butylamino-etha nol hydrochloride (mabuterol) on the central nervous system, the striated muscle and the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism were investigated in comparison with those of isoprenaline and salbutamol. Mabuterol caused the following changes in behavior: increased touch response (10 mg/kg p.o.), decreased spontaneous movement and ptosis (30 and 100 mg/kg p.o., resp.), observed for 240-300 min. Mabuterol (5 mg/kg p.o. and 2.5 mg/kg s.c.) prolonged the sleeping time induced by hexobarbital Na, but not dose-dependently. Mabuterol depressed reactive movement at 80 mg/kg p.o. and 40 mg/kg s.c. in the rotarod test, at 160 mg/kg p.o. and 40 mg/kg s.c. in the traction test and at 200 mg/kg p.o. and 160 mg/kg s.c. in the inclined plane test in mice, whereas isoprenaline and salbutamol were almost ineffective. Analgesic activity of mabuterol was found in the acetic acid writhing test but not in the bradykinin-induced nociception test. An anticonvulsive effect was not observed. Mabuterol (10 mg/kg i.v.) produced a change in the spontaneous EEG of one of three rabbits, showing synchronization of cortical activity with sedation. Equipotent dose (i.v.) ratios of mabuterol to isoprenaline were 10.2, 30 and 133 in the depression of incomplete tetanic contraction of cat soleus muscle, hypotensive effect and tachycardia respectively, whereas neither indirect nor direct electrical stimulation induced contraction of diaphragm and gastrocnemius muscle was affected. Equipotent dose (s.c.) ratios of mabuterol to isoprenaline were 2.07, 4.64 and 3.21 in increasing plasma levels of glucose, lactic acid and free fatty acids respectively. Mabuterol caused no remarkable change in myocardial glycogen content.

Beraprost sodium (sodium (+/-)-(1R*,2R*,3aS*,8bS*)-2,3,3a,8b-tetrahydro-2- hydroxy-1-[(E)-(3S*)-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-1-octen-6-ynyl]-1H- cyclopenta[b]benzofuran-5-butyrate, TRK-100) is an orally active epoprostenol (prostaglandin I2, PGI2) analogue. Its effect on the central nervous system (CNS) was studied. 1. When orally administered in mice, beraprost sodium at 0.3 mg/kg caused a flush of skin, a suppression of spontaneous motility, and a fall of body temperature. At 1 mg/kg and more, it showed obvious sedation, prolongation of hexobarbital hypnosis, and analgesic action in acetic acid-induced writhing test. However, even at 3 mg/kg beraprost sodium neither induced ataxia nor had anticonvulsant activity. Hypothermia was also observed in rabbits at 1 mg/kg (p.o. and i.v.). 2. When intravenously administered, beraprost sodium exerted long-lasting action on the CNS, while its pharmacological effects resembled those of PGI2. 3. Oral administration of beraprost sodium did not inhibit aggregation toxicity induced by methamphetamine (20 mg/kg i.p.) in mice. Beraprost sodium at doses higher than 1 mg/kg enhanced aggregation toxicity induced by methamphetamine (5 mg/kg i.p.), while intracerebral ventricular administration of beraprost sodium failed to enhance it. 4. In rat spinal reflex, intravenous administration of beraprost sodium (0.1 mg/kg) slightly enhanced monosynaptic reflex and at a high dose (1 mg/kg) suppressed polysynaptic reflex. 5. In the rabbit EEG, intravenous administration of beraprost sodium at a high dose (1 mg/kg) showed some effects such as the continuous pattern of wakefulness and a fall in power of the EEG.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)