Effect of Japanese horseradish oil on methane production and ruminal fermentation in vitro and in steers1

The effects of alpha-cyclodextrin-horseradish oil complex (CD-HR) on methane production and ruminal fermentation were studied in vitro and in steers. In the in vitro study, diluted ruminal fluid (30 mL) was incubated anaerobically at 38 degrees C for 6 h with or without CD-HR, using cornstarch as substrate. The CD-HR was added at various concentrations (0, 0.17, 0.85 and 1.7 g/L). Treatment affected neither the pH of the medium nor the number of protozoa. Total VFA increased in a linear manner (P = 0.02), and NH3-N decreased quadratically (P = 0.04) as the concentration of CD-HR increased from 0.17 g/L to 1.7 g/L. Molar proportions of acetate decreased in a linear manner (P = 0.03), and propionate increased linearly (P = 0.008) with increasing concentrations of CD-HR. Production of methane was inhibited up to 90%, whereas accumulation of dihydrogen was increased 36-fold by 1.7 g/L of CD-HR supplementation relative to controls. The effect of CD-HR on methane production, ruminal fermentation and microbes, and digestibility was further investigated in vivo using four Holstein steers in a crossover design. The CD-HR supplement was mixed into the concentrate portion of a (1.5:1) Sudangrass hay plus concentrate mixture that was fed twice daily to the steers. Ruminal samples were collected 0, 2, and 5 h after the morning feeding. No effects of CD-HR supplementation on ruminal pH (P = 0.63) or protozoal numbers (P = 0.44) were observed. Molar proportion of acetate was decreased (P = 0.04) and propionate was increased (P = 0.005) by CD-HR treatment. Molar proportion of butyrate was increased (P = 0.05) in CD-HR-supplemented steers. Ruminal NH3-N was decreased (P = 0.05) by treatment. Blood plasma glucose concentration was increased (P = 0.02) and urea-N was decreased (P = 0.04) with CD-HR supplementation. Daily DMI was decreased (P = 0.04), and apparent digestibility of DM (P = 0.13), NDF (P = 0.14), and CP tended (P = 0.14) to be increased by treatment. Methane production was decreased (P = 0.03) by 19%, and the number of methanogens was also decreased (P = 0.03). Although N retention (P = 0.11), total viable bacteria (P = 0.15), and sulfate-reducing bacteria (P = 0.17) were not significantly altered by treatment, tendencies for increases were noted with CD-HR supplementation. The number of cellulolytic (P = 0.38) and acetogenic bacteria (P = 0.32) remained unchanged by treatment. These results indicate that CD-HR supplementation can be used to decrease methane production in steers.

Inhibition of ruminal microbial methane production by beta-cyclodextrin iodopropane, malate and their combination in vitro

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of l-malate (0, 5, 10 and 20 mm), 2-iodopropane-beta-cyclodextrin complex (CD-IP) (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mm) and a combination of malate (10 and 20 mm) plus CD-IP (0.2 and 0.4 mm) on methane production from corn starch. Ruminal fluid was collected from dairy cows, mixed with phosphate buffer (1 : 2) and incubated (30 ml) anaerobically at 38 degrees C for 6 h with or without additives. Fermentation of corn starch in the presence of malate resulted in an increase (p < 0.05) in pH of the medium, total volatile fatty acid (VFA), total gas production and molar proportion of propionate. Acetate and ammonia-N concentration were unchanged. Methane production was decreased (p < 0.05) (15.5 to 20.4%). Addition of CD-IP in corn starch resulted in an increase (p < 0.05) in total VFA and molar proportion of propionate. Acetate, pH and ammonia-N concentration of the medium were decreased (p < 0.05). Total gas production was unchanged. Methane production was decreased (p < 0.05) (25.2 to 97.1%) and hydrogen production was increased (p < 0.05). Addition of l-malate to CD-IP resulted in an increase (p < 0.05) in total VFA, total gas production and molar proportion of propionate. Acetate and ammonia-N concentration were decreased (p < 0.05). No effects were observed on medium pH. Methane production was decreased (p < 0.05) (49.5 to 97.1%). Hydrogen production was also decreased (p < 0.05) (54.5 to 64.1%) compared with those of CD-IP alone. Therefore, these additives may be used as supplements to inhibit methane production as well as to improve rumen fermentation and animal performance.

[Relation between serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) level and asthma attack in children]

Serum eosinophil cationic protein (sECP) levels were measured in 339 patients with childhood asthma, and the clinical courses of these patients were followed for 57 weeks. While considering the history and characteristics of each patient, we examined the correlation between asthma attack frequency and sECP, blood eosinophil count, and serum total IgE (tIgE) to determine their usefulness in predicting asthma attacks. Among patients with no other allergic diseases, sECP levels in patients who had no asthma attacks two weeks before or after the measurement were significantly lower than those of patients who had attacks during the same four-week period. Among patients who had attacks, those patients with no attack for a year after the measurement were also found to have low sECP levels. Similarly, even among patients with asthma attacks and high sECP levels, there were cases where attacks were well controlled using nebulizer treatments with DSCG or BDP. The incident rate of attacks for patients with other allergic diseases and a low sECP was low. Yet, there was no common trend in patients with high sECP levels. Moreover, this study detected a significant correlation between sECP level and blood eosinophil count as well as between sECP level and serum tIgE. The most significant correlation with asthma attack frequency was sECP level. Thus, sECP level seems to reflect the allergy activity level, especially two weeks prior to and after the measurement. For patients without other allergic diseases, asthma attack prediction during the two weeks period after the measurement of sECP also seems possible. Therefore, periodic measurement of sECP level is useful in objectively monitoring the improvement of symptoms and establishing the treatment plan, including treatment with DSCG or BDP.

Effects of branched cyclodextrins on the solubility and stability of terpenes

In order to investigate the application potential of branched CDs, the solubilizing ability and the stabilizing ability of G2-betaCD and GUG-betaCD were investigated by using twelve terpenes (d-limonene, myrcene, terpinolene, geraniol, l-menthol, nerol, alpha-terpineol, citral, d-citronellal, l-perillaldehyde, (R)-l-carvone, and menthone) as guest compounds. G2-betaCD and GUG-betaCD showed more solubilizing ability for these twelve terpenes than betaCD, and the ability of GUG-betaCD was almost the same as that of G2-betaCD. The stabilizing ability of terpene-GUG-betaCD complexes was different from that of G2-betaCD. GUG-betaCD was superior to G2-betaCD, especially in the solid state. This result may have been caused by the difference in structure of side chain, namely the hydroxymethyl group in G2-betaCD and the carboxyl group in GUG-betaCD.

[Patterns of hospitalization and nonhospitalization of the elderly based on individual data of total number of days hospitalized and frequency of hospitalization in one year]

With the aim of developing a method to determine the trends in the time spent by elderly at home or in the hospital, elderly living in a municipality of Hokkaido were classified into four groups according to the number of days spent at home or in the hospital in one year. The classification was based on individual data of the number of days hospitalized in one year obtained from health insurance records. The four groups were: "no hospitalization", "short hospitalization" (< or = 180 days in one year), "long hospitalization" (> 180 days in one year), and "continuous hospitalization". The number of subjects used in this study was 1,302 (532 men and 770 women) in 1992, and 1,345 (551 men and 794 women) in 1993. The findings were as follows: (the two figures in parentheses are the percentages for 1992 and 1993, respectively) 1) The percentage of "no hospitalization" was the highest (66%, 67%), followed by "short hospitalization" (24%, 25%), "continuous hospitalization" (6%, 4%), and "long hospitalization" (4%, 5%). There were no significant differences in the group percentages between 1992 and 1993. There were also no significant differences in the group percentages for men or women between 1992 and 1993. 2) In both years, there was a lower percentage of "short hospitalization", and a higher percentage of "long hospitalization" and "continuous hospitalization" among women than men. There was no difference in the percentage of "no hospitalization" between sexes. 3) In both years, about 70% of elderly people who had been hospitalized were only hospitalized once in the year. However, in the "long hospitalization" group, more than half of the people had been hospitalized two or more times in one year. This classification method is thought to be useful for a longitudinal study of hospitalization and nonhospitalization trends among the elderly in one community.

Chemical modification of earthworm fibrinolytic enzyme with human serum albumin fragment and characterization of the protease as a therapeutic enzyme

The strongest fibrinolytic protease (F-III-2) in the six enzyme proteins purified from earthworm, Lumbricus rubellus [N. Nakajima et al., Biosci. Biotech. Biochem., 57, 1726-1730 (1993)] has been modified chemically with fragmented human serum albumin (mol. wt., 10,000-30,000). The modified enzyme lost the antigenicity of the native enzyme and reacted with the antisera against human serum albumin, the human serum albumin fragments, and the conjugate with the native enzyme to form precipitation lines, which fused with each other. The conjugate was significantly more resistant to inactivation by protease inhibitors in rat plasma. The enzyme was a non-hemorrhagic protein and did not induce platelet aggregation. The enzyme kept potent proteolytic activity for fibrin and fibrinogen than that of human plasmin. The enzyme easily solubilized actual fibrin clots (thrombi) of whole blood induced by thrombin in a rat's vena cava. The continuous fibrinolysis for fibrin suspension in an enzyme reactor system using the modified enzyme immobilized to oxirane-activated acrylic beads has been achieved without any inactivation of the activity at least for more than 1 month. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the protein was also investigated and the sequence showed local similarity to those of the serine proteases such as plasmin and chymotrypsin.

Long-term ingestion of lactosucrose increases Bifidobacterium sp. in human fecal flora

We investigated the influence of lactosucrose on the intestinal flora of healthy volunteers. Eight healthy volunteers (male:female = 4:4, age 34 +/- 4 years) received 6 g of lactosucrose daily for 8 weeks. Fecal microflora, bacterial metabolites, pH, and moisture were analyzed before and after the administration of lactosucrose. The results showed that the number and percentage of Bifidobacterium sp. in relation to the total bacteria significantly increased during the period of lactosucrose administration. Although fecal putrefactive products, fatty acids, pH, moisture content, and stool volume did not show significant changes during the test period, the amount of fecal phenol showed a negative correlation with the number of Bifidobacterium sp. Fecal ammonia significantly decreased after 4 and 8 weeks of lactosucrose administration, and 1 week after the end of lactosucrose administration, compared with results after a 1-week administration of lactosucrose. When the administration was stopped, the percentage of Bifidobacterium sp. in relation to the total count gradually decreased to the same level as before the administration of lactosucrose. These results suggest that under physiological conditions, lactosucrose acts on the intestinal microflora as a growth factor of Bifidobacterium sp.

[Clinical evaluation of biapenem (L-627), a new carbapenem antibiotic in the pediatric field]

We studied the clinical efficacy of biapenem (L-627), a new parenteral carbapenem beta-lactam antibiotic in the pediatric field. L-627 was administered intravenously to 11 patients with ages ranging 2 months to 10 years and 5 months with acute infectious diseases. Doses ranged 28.1 to 72.6 mg/kg/day. The diagnosed diseases included 7 respiratory tract infections, 1 purulent meningitis, 1 sepsis, 1 cervical lymphadenitis and 1 urinary tract infection. Two of these cases one with Mycoplasma infection and the other which had been administered with other antimicrobial agents were not evaluated. The clinical efficacy rate was 77.8% (7/9) and the bacteriological eradication rate was 66.7% (4/6). Laboratory examinations revealed that there was one case with elevated liver enzyme levels with showing elevation of GOT, GPT and LDH. No other side effects attributable to this drug were observed. Thus, it appears that L-627 is a useful antibiotic in treating moderate to severe acute bacterial infections in children.

[Clinical studies of arbekacin sulfate in the pediatric field]

A clinical investigation was carried out to evaluate arbekacin, an aminoglycoside, in the treatment of MRSA infections (pneumonia, septicemia, etc.) of pediatric patients. The obtained results are summarized as follows. 1.

CLINICAL RESULTS

Excluding those patients who met the present exclusion criteria and withdrawal cases from a total of 18 patients, 10 patients (3, 6, and 1 cases of septicemia, pneumonia, and urinary tract infection, respectively) were subjected to clinical evaluation. These were composed of 1, 1, 6, and 2 cases of neonate, infants, pre- and school age children, respectively. Excellent, good and fair results were obtained in 5, 2, and 3 patients, respectively; thus, the efficacy rate was 70.0%. The efficacy rate by disease was 100%, 50.0% and 100% in septicemia, pneumonia, and urinary tract infection, respectively. The bacteriological eradication were obtained in 70.0% of the total patients; by disease, these rates were 100% and 50.0% in septicemia/urinary tract infection and in pneumonia, respectively. The MIC50 as well as the MIC80 against MRSA strains isolated from 9 patients were 0.39 microgram/ml and 1.56 micrograms/ml, respectively. No adverse reactions were observed in the 15 patients, while in laboratory test values, one case each out of 12 patients examined showed gamma-GTP elevation, proteinuria, and hematuria. 2. Pharmacokinetics: The pharmacokinetics of the agent was investigated in a total of 9 patients, which included 1 neonate and 4 cases each of pre- and school age children. The Cmax, 4.85-8.83 micrograms/ml, was observed immediately after the termination of the instillation. The T1/2's were 4.96 hours, 1.24-2.54 hours, and 1.78-1.88 hours in the neonate, the pre- and the school age children, respectively; in the neonate the half-life was longer. When 1.92-2.7 mg/kg were administered to 3 each of the pre- and school age children, urinary excretion rates in the first 6-8 hours were 40.1-56.5% of the dosages administered. In all cases, the urinary concentrations were highest in the first 2 hours, after the administration, and then gradually decreased. These results suggest that arbekacin is a useful antibiotic for treating MRSA infections in the pediatric field.

Galactosylsucrose and xylosylfructoside alter digestive tract size and concentrations of cecal organic acids in rats fed diets containing cholesterol and cholic acid

Influences of galactosylsucrose and xylosylfructoside on body mass gain, the digestive tract mass and concentrations of organic acids such as acetic, propionic, butyric, lactic and succinic acid in the cecum were compared among rats fed a cholesterol-enriched fiber-free diet [cholesterol 6 + cholic acid 1.5 (g/kg)] containing either galactosylsucrose, xylosylfructoside or sucrose (100 g/kg) or the above fiber-free diet without test sugar (control) for 21 d. Body mass gain was greater in rats fed sucrose, but not in rats fed galactosylsucrose or xylosylfructoside, than in control rats. The mass of the small intestine and colon plus rectum was larger in rats fed xylosylfructoside than in control rats. Cecal contents and cecal tissue mass were heavier, water content of cecal contents was higher, and pH and ammonia concentration of cecal contents were lower in rats fed diets containing xylosylfructoside than in control rats. Galactosylsucrose had similar effects, although not all differences were significant. The concentration of hydrogen ion in cecal contents positively correlated to total cecal concentration of measured organic acids and to amount of cecal contents. Total concentration of measured organic acids in cecal contents positively correlated to cecal tissue mass. The estimated contribution of galactosylsucrose, xylosylfructoside and sucrose for body mass deposition were 0.19, -0.29 and 0.51 (g body mass gained/g sugar), respectively.

[Clinical evaluation of meropenem in the pediatric field]

We studied the clinical efficacy of meropenem (SM-7338, MEPM), a new parenteral carbapenem beta-lactam antibiotic, in pediatric field. Thirteen patients with 2 months to 8 years and 8 months of ages, with acute infectious diseases were administered with doses at 39.3 to 76.7 mg/kg/day of MEPM intravenously. The diagnoses consisted of 7 respiratory tract infections, 1 sepsis, 2 orbital cellulitis, 1 parotid abscess, 1 lymphadenitis and 1 pyoderma. The clinical efficacy rate was 84.6% (11/13), and the bacteriological eradication rate was 71.4% (5/7). Clinical laboratory examinations revealed 1 patient with eosinophilia and another with anemia. No other side effects attributable to this drug were observed. It appears that MEPM is a useful antibiotic for moderate to severe acute bacterial infections in children.

[Clinical evaluation of cefdinir in pediatric field]

We studied the clinical efficacy of cefdinir (CFDN), a new oral cephalosporin, in 18 children with ages 2 years and 4 months to 11 years and 4 months with pediatric infections. The diagnoses consisted of respiratory tract infections in 15 cases, impetigo in 2 and balanoposthitis in 1. Clinical efficacies were excellent in 11 patients and good in 7, with an efficacy rate of 100%. Bacteriologically, 9 (64.3%) of the 14 strains of clinical isolates were eradicated. No side effects nor abnormal laboratory findings were observed. We have concluded that CFDN is a useful antibiotic for the treatment of mild to moderate pediatric infections.

Anti-streptopolysaccharide antibody in children with rheumatic fever and scarlet fever

As the serological test of streptococcal infection, the measurement of anti-exotoxin antibodies such as ASO is widely practiced. M protein of the cell wall of group A streptococcus has type specificity. To detect the anti M protein antibody is very significant, but it is not easy to apply this to clinical practice because there are many types and because of the difficulty of purifying M protein. C polypeptide has group specificity, so the measurement of the antibody to C polypeptide is very important as the serological test of group A streptococcus.

[Clinical study of SM-4300 in infectious diseases of pediatrics]

SM-4300, a new developed immunoglobulin preparation with ion-exchange treatment, was used intravenously for 12 infectious diseases. These 12 cases (under 10 years old) were including 4 sepsises, 3 pneumonias, 1 pyothorax, 1 ventriculitis, 1 purulent meningitis, 1 aseptic meningitis and 1 cellulitis. To evaluate the effect of SM-4300, 2 cases were excluded from evaluation because of blood transfusion or immediately death. Since antibiotics were used at the same time, it was surely difficult to evaluate the effect of SM-4300. In 10 cases, 2 cases were excellent effective, 4 cases were fairly effective and others were not effective. Including fairly effective cases, the rate of efficacy was 60%. In all cases, there were no significant side effects regarding clinical findings and laboratory examinations. SM-4300 may be available for severe infectious diseases with antibiotics therapy.

[Experimental and clinical studies on BRL 25000 (clavulanic acid-amoxicillin) granules in pediatric infections]

BRL 25000, granules preparation containing 2 parts of amoxicillin (AMPC) and 1 part of clavulanic acid (CVA, beta-lactamase inhibitor) as its potassium salt, has been investigated fundamentally and clinically. An in vitro study of the antibacterial activity of BRL 25000 against clinically isolated S. aureus (34 strains) showed higher activity than for AMPC alone and demonstrated that CVA potentiated the activity of AMPC, showing a synergistic effect against beta-lactamase producing organisms. A total of 27 pediatric patients aged between 6 months and 13 years 8 months (23 with respiratory infections and 4 with urinary tract infections) were treated with a daily dose ranging from 31.7 to 54.5 mg/kg, divided into 3 or 4 doses a day for periods of 4-18 days. The clinical effect was evaluated as excellent in 26 cases, poor in 1 case and the efficacy ratio was therefore 96.3% (26/27). The bacteriological effect against 12 organisms isolated from 9 patients was studied and all were eradicated (12/12). A drug-related side effect was observed in only 1 patient who developed diarrhea on the 4th day of treatment which continued during the treatment for 10 days. However, no severe side effect and no abnormality related to the drug in laboratory findings were observed. From these results it is concluded that BRL 25000 will be a clinically effective drug in the treatment of mild and moderate infections in the pediatric field.

[Clinical evaluation of ceftriaxone in the pediatric field]

Ceftriaxone CTRX was evaluated about its antibacterial activity against clinical isolates at our department and tried clinically in 10 children of 6 months to 10 years and 6 months of age. The antibacterial activity was equal to cefotaxime or higher while the clinical results were almost satisfactory. Three out of 4 strains were eradicated (75%). As to the adverse reaction, eosinophilia was observed only in 1 case.

[Clinical studies on sulbactam/cefoperazone in the pediatric field]

Sulbactam, a new beta-lactamase inhibitor, in combination with cefoperazone was administered to 18 pediatric patients, 7 months to 10 years 6 months of age, at a daily dose of 56-320 mg/kg divided into 4 times by intravenous bolus infusion for 3 to 11 days, and the sum of 2.6-74.0 g of the drug was given. A total of 18 cases comprised 8 with RTI, 1 with gastric tract infection, 4 with UTI and 5 with sepsis (suspected). Clinical efficacy was excellent in 10 cases, good in 3 cases, fair in 1 case and poor in 4 cases, and efficacy rate was 72.2%. Out of 8 strains (1 of S. aureus, 1 of P. aeruginosa, 1 of Salmonella subgenus I, 2 of E. coli, 2 of P. mirabilis and 1 of K. pneumoniae), possible causative organisms isolated before the treatment, 6 strains were disappeared, 1 strain of K. pneumoniae persisted, and 1 strain of P. aeruginosa was replaced by S. aureus. Diarrhea was noted in 1 case as subjective side effect, and as abnormal laboratory findings, GOT and GPT elevations in 1 case, GPT elevation in 1 case and eosinophil elevation in 1 case were observed.

[Clinical studies of ceftazidime in the pediatric field]

Twenty-four pediatric patients with infections were treated with ceftazidime (CAZ) by one-shot intravenous injection in the doses of 39 approximately 149 mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses as a rule. These patients' ages ranged from 2 months to 13 years 4 months. The duration of the administration ranged from 4 to 19 days, and total doses ranged from 1.38 to 57 g. Infections consisted of respiratory tract infections in 19 cases (acute tonsillitis in 3, acute bronchitis in 7, and pneumonia in 9), urinary tract infection in 1 case, acute peritonitis in 1 case, and suspected sepsis in 3 cases. Clinical efficacy was excellent in 18, good in 1, fair in 1, and poor in 4 cases, and the efficacy rate (excellent + good) was 79.2%. Bacteriological response was evaluated on 14 strains of bacteria isolated from lesions, assumed as the causative organisms (7 strains of S. aureus, 3 of P. aeruginosa, 1 of H. influenzae, 1 of K. pneumoniae, 1 of E. coli, and 1 of S. marcescens). Out of these strains, 10 were eradicated, and 1 (P. aeruginosa) decreased, but 2 strains (both S. aureus) persisted. (One strain of S. aureus was not examined.) No adverse effect suspected to be related to the drug was observed either in subjective symptom or in objective findings.

[Clinical evaluation of cefpiramide in pediatrics]

Clinical studies of cefpiramide (CPM), a newly developed cephem antibiotic, were performed in 10 children with respiratory tract infection in 4 cases, acute enteritis in 2 cases and urinary tract infection in 4 cases aged from 2 months to 10 years and 4 months. CPM was intravenously given to patients at doses of 16 approximately 58 mg/kg/day divided into 3 times for 3 approximately 22 days. Clinical effects were excellent in 6, good in 3 and fair in 1. Bacteriologically, 3 strains of pathogenic organisms (Salmonella C2 group, E. coli and S. faecalis) isolated from the patients were eradicated with the treatment of CPM. No side effect was observed.

[Clinical studies of an ampicillin suppository (KS-R1) in children]

Clinical trials of KS-R1 have been carried out on 28 infections in children, including 8 pharyngitis, 11 tonsillitis, a pharyngolaryngobronchitis, 3 lymphadenitis and 5 urinary tract infections. The following results were obtained. KS-R1 30-50 mg/kg/day, was clinically effective in 27 out of 28 infections. Bacteriologically, the following routine clinical isolates were identified; Enterococci in 1 case, S. viridans 1 case, S. pneumoniae 1 case, S. pyogenes 2 cases, H. parainfluenzae 1 case, E. coli 5 cases and S. aureus + H. influenzae 1 case. Every isolated organism showed +++ sensitivity to the ABPC sensitivity disc in vitro without only 1 case of E. coli. The organisms were eradicated in 11 patients after the administration of KS-R1. Adverse effects did not occur in any patient without case 25, who complained of pollakiuria.