Determination of the degree of degradation of frying rapeseed oil using fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy combined with partial least-squares regression

This rapid method for determining the degree of degradation of frying rapeseed oils uses Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy combined with partial least-squares (PLS) regression. One hundred and fifty-six frying oil samples that degraded to different degrees by frying potatoes were scanned by an FTIR spectrometer using attenuated total reflectance (ATR). PLS regression with full cross validation was used for the prediction of acid value (AV) and total polar compounds (TPC) based on raw, first, and second derivative FTIR spectra (4000-650 cm(-1)). The precise calibration model based on the second derivative FTIR spectra shows that the coefficients of determination for calibration (R (2)) and standard errors of cross validation (SECV) were 0.99 and 0.16 mg KOH/g and 0.98 and 1.17% for AV and TPC, respectively. The accuracy of the calibration model, tested using the validation set, yielded standard errors of prediction (SEP) of 0.16 mg KOH/g and 1.10% for AV and TPC, respectively. Therefore, the degradation of frying oils can be accurately measured using FTIR spectroscopy combined with PLS regression.

[A case of primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenocarcinoma]

The present report describes a 31-year-old Japanese woman with a retroperitoneal cystic mass adjoining below the left kidney. No disseminated tumors were observed, and resection of the tumor only was performed laparoscopically. The surgical specimen showed a well-differentiated papillary mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovarian type. Additional gynecological examination, including positron emission tomography-computed tomography, showed no malignancy at other sites. Recurrence or metastasis has not been observed after more than 1 year of follow-up. Primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenocarcinoma is a very rare tumor. Thirty-six and 55 cases have been reported previously in the English and Japanese literature, respectively. The pathogenesis of the disease remains unclear and controversial. A standard treatment has not been established in the literature, and a consistent prognosis has not been reported. Therefore, close post-operative follow-up is strongly recommended.

[Case of urachal cancer treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFOX4 (oxaliplatin, 5-FU and leukovolin)]

A 52-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for treatment of urachal cancer. She complained of supurapubic dull pain and gross hematuria. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a non-papillary sessile tumor, which was located on the dome of the bladder and invaded the small intestine. The tumor was diagnosed as Sheldon's stage IIIC urachal cancer. After three courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFOX4 (oxaliplatin, 5-FU and leukovolin), the tumor was reduced from 7 x 6 cm to 5.5 x 5 cm in size. Consequently, the patient underwent an en-bloc resection of the urachal tumor with the dome of the bladder and the parts of the ileum invaded by the tumor. One course of adjuvant chemotherapy (FOLFOX4) was performed. Surgical specimen revealed histologically well differentiated squamous carcinoma and invasion to the propria of the ileum. The surgical margins were negative for the cancer. For 1.5 years after the surgery, no local recurrence or distant metastasis has been observed.

The role of growth hormone and amino acids on brain protein synthesis in aged rats given proteins of different quantity and quality

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the regulation of brain protein synthesis was mediated through changes in the plasma concentrations of insulin and growth hormone (GH), and whether the concentrations of amino acids in the brain and plasma regulate the brain protein synthesis when the quantity and quality of dietary protein is manipulated. Two experiments were done on three groups of aged rats given diets containing 20% casein, 5% casein or 0% casein (Experiment 1), and 20% casein, 20% gluten, or 20% gelatin (Experiment 2) for 1 d (only one 5-h period) after all rats were fed the 20% casein diet for 10 d (only 5-h feeding per day). The aggregation of brain ribosomes, the concentration in plasma GH, and the branched chain amino acids in the plasma and cerebral cortex declined with a decrease of quantity and quality of dietary protein. The concentration of plasma insulin did not differ among groups. The results suggest that the ingestion of a higher quantity and quality of dietary protein increases the concentrations of GH and several amino acids in aged rats, and that the concentrations of GH and amino acids are at least partly related to the mechanism by which the dietary protein affects brain protein synthesis in aged rats.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for acute thrombotic occlusion of the cervical internal carotid artery using a perfusion balloon catheter

SUMMARY

We performed emergency percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with a perfusion balloon catheter (PBC) for PTCA and, at the same time, thrombolytic therapy was administered by urokinase (UK) perfusion in five cases of severe cervical internal carotid artery stenosis in which sudden cerebral hemisphere ischemia occurred due to acute thrombotic obliteration. In four out of the five cases, effective revascularization was obtained; three resulted in Good recovery, but one showed extensive cerebral infarction after PTA. In the remaining one case, where stenosis of the internal carotid artery of the opposite side occurred subclinically, effective revascularization by PTA was impossible resulting in the death of this patient. While "artery to aetery embolism" was confirmed in all four cases in which revascularization was successful, most emboli were dissolved by combined thrombolysis. As poor prognostic factors, findings of a low density area and closing of cerebral sulci in an initial CT and poor development of the collateral circulation mediating the circle of Willis and leptomeningeal collateral on the cerebral surface were indicated. Since PBC is capable of performing PTA while assuring circulation distant from the balloon, it facilitates gradual and prolonged balloon inflation, which is said to be safer and more effective, and is considered a reasonable method of revascularization at the time of an acute obliteration in the cervical internal carotid artery. In addition, this method can be used as a bridge to carotid endarterectomy. However, "artery to artery embolism" accompanying PTA in the acute stage remains a major problem, and a combination of thrombolysis seems indispensable.

A male case of synchronous double cancers of the breast and prostate

A male case of synchronous double cancers of the breast and prostate is reported. An 84-year-old male was admitted to the hospital complaining of general malaise, anorexia and weight loss. A tumor 3 cm in diameter was noted in his left breast, which was removed by mastectomy, and was diagnosed as papillotubular carcinoma. An induration of his prostate and elevated prostate specific antigen, gamma-seminoprotein and prostatic acid phosphatase levels were also noted. Needle biopsy of his prostate revealed adenocarcinoma. Among the previous 18 reported cases of this combination of cancers, those with no prior estrogen therapy were very rare, the present case being the third ever reported.

Effect of ileo-jejunal transposition on intestinal adaptation after total colectomy in dogs

The effect of ileo-jejunal transposition (IJT) on the intestinal adaptation after total colectomy was investigated in 4 mongrel dogs. Hyperenteroglucagonemia was observed in the IJT with colectomy group, especially in postprandial state. Obvious hyperplastic changes were observed in all part of the small intestinal mucosa in the colectomy with IJT group. However, there were no significant differences in body weight changes between the colectomy with IJT group and the colectomy group. Postprandial plasma gastrin levels were lower in the colectomy with IJT group compared to the control. These results suggest that IJT causes hyperenteroglucagonemia and intestinal mucosal hypertrophy in colectomized dogs. Enteroglucagon may have an inhibitory effect on postprandial gastrin release.