High fruit intake is associated with a lower risk of future hypertension determined by home blood pressure measurement: the OHASAMA study.

We investigate associations of fruit and vegetable intake with the risk of future hypertension using home blood pressure in a general population from Ohasama, Japan. We obtained data from 745 residents aged ≥35 years without home hypertension at baseline. Dietary intake was measured using a validated 141-item food frequency questionnaire, and subjects were then divided into quartiles according to the fruit and vegetable intake. Home hypertension was defined as home systolic/diastolic blood pressure of ≥135/85 mm Hg and/or the use of antihypertensive medication. During a 4-year follow-up period, we identified 222 incident cases of home hypertension. After adjustment for all putative confounding factors, the highest quartile of fruit intake was associated with a significantly lower risk of future home hypertension (odds ratio 0.40, 95% confidence interval 0.22-0.74, P=0.004). In conclusion, this study, based on home blood pressure measurement, suggests that higher intake of fruit is associated with a lower risk of future home hypertension.

Films of collagen crosslinked by S-S bonds: preparation and characterization.

Collagen (type I from calf-skin) was chemically modified by 4-butyrothiolactone to obtain the mercapto group-bearing collagen (collagenSH), which possessed SH groups in 8-19 M% of a total amino acid residues. The triple helical strands of the collagen was not completely perturbed to exhibit the rotary dispersion [theta]221, which was as much as 70% of an original intensity of the collagen. In the presence of the oxygen dissolved in water, the collagenSH was cross-linked by disulfide bonds to afford the collagenSS. The collagenSS could preserve about 15 and 40% of an original helix structure at 55-70 degrees C and in 2mm sodium dodecyl sulfate, respectively. The film made of the collagenSS exhibited the tensile strength as high as 36 MPa and was insoluble in most organic solvents including water. The collagenSS film was more resistant to degradation by collagenase (type I) than the collagen film. The collagenSS film supported the growth of L929 fibroblast cell in a manner similar to a collagen film.

Thiolated dermal bovine collagen as a novel support for bioactive substances--conjugation with lysozyme.

Thiol groups were introduced to dermal bovine collagen (DBC) by the reaction with gamma-thiobutyrolactone. Thiolated DBC reacted with 2-pyridyl disulfide group introduced to lysozyme to form DBC-lysozyme conjugate through disulfide bridge. The enzymatic activity of freshly prepared conjugate was almost unchanged during ten consecutive runs over one month. The DBC-lysozyme conjugate showed the maximum activity at pH 6.3, on the contrary, that of native lysozyme was pH 9.0. Thermal stability of lysozyme was enhanced by the conjugation with DBC. The present results showed that the conjugation using thiolated collagen could be one of the useful alternative approaches to modify collagen with bioactive molecules.

Synthesis and bioactivities of novel piperidylpyrimidine derivatives: inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-alpha production.

New piperidylpyrimidine derivatives, including quinazolines, were prepared, and their abilities to inhibit TNF-alpha production evaluated. Some compounds showed potent inhibitory activity in mouse macrophages stimulated with LPS. The synthesis and structure activity relationships of these compounds are described.

Structural characterization of a novel glycoinositolphospholipid from the parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum.

A novel glycosphingolipid containing inositol phosphate as an acidic group has been demonstrated in whole tissues of the porcine roundworm, Ascaris suum. The thin layer chromatographic pattern of the total acidic glycolipid revealed the presence of several components, of which a major component (named AGL) with positive reactions toward both orcinol-sulfuric acid (sugar) and molybdate (phosphate) spray reagents was isolated and purified by the use of successive column chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex and silicic acid (latrobeads). From structural studies including compositional sugar analysis, hydrogen fluoride degradation, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, the structure of AGL was deduced to be Gal alpha 1-2Ins(1-->)-P-Cer. Aliphatic constituents were lignoceric acid and its 2-hydroxy homologue as the principal fatty acids, and octadecasphinganine and branched heptadecasphinganine as the major sphingoids.

High pressure mediated Diels-Alder reaction using 2-iminomalonates as dienophiles: novel synthesis of carbocyclic nucleosides.

9-[c-4-(1,2-Dihydroxyethyl)cyclopent-2-en-r-1-yl]-9H-adenine , an isomer of BCA, has been synthesized from Diels-Alder adducts prepared by the reaction of 2-iminomalonates with cyclopentadiene under high pressure. The synthetic method involves a novel C-N bond cleavage reaction by NaBH4-K2CO3 (RRA reaction conditions) and has wide applicability for the synthesis of various carbocyclic nucleosides.

Synthesis of purine bases having a di(hydroxymethyl)cyclopentenyl group by means of high-pressure reaction and their anti-HIV activity.

The 1'- and 5'-hydroxymethyl derivatives of carbovir and related purine derivatives were synthesized from 5-hydroxymethylcyclopentadiene. The anti-HIV activity evaluation of these compounds has revealed that 9-(c-4,t-5-dihydroxymethylcyclopent-2-en-r-1-yl)-9H-adenine is a prospective chemotherapeutic agent against AIDS.