Analysis of water sorption isotherms of amorphous food materials by solution thermodynamics with relevance to glass transition: evaluation of plasticizing effect of water by the thermodynamic parameters.

Relation between the thermodynamic parameters obtained from water sorption isotherms and the degree of reduction in the glass transition temperature (Tg), accompanied by water sorption, was quantitatively studied. Two well-known glassy food materials namely, wheat gluten and maltodextrin were used as samples. The difference between the chemical potential of water in a solution and that of pure water ([Formula: see text]), the difference between the chemical potential of solid in a solution and that of a pure solid ([Formula: see text]), and the change in the integral Gibbs free energy ([Formula: see text]) were obtained by analyzing the water sorption isotherms using solution thermodynamics. The parameter [Formula: see text] correlated well with ΔTg (≡Tg - Tg0; where Tg0 is the glass transition temperature of dry material), which had been taken to be an index of plasticizing effect. This indicates that plasticizing effect of water on foods can be evaluated through the parameter [Formula: see text].

Massive bleeding from an infected pseudoaneurysm in an arteriovenous graft that resulted in death: A case report.

We report an autopsy of a death due to a ruptured infected pseudoaneurysm; a man in his 70s was found dead with massive bleeding from the shunt of his right arm. Autopsy and pathological examination revealed that the cause of death was hemorrhagic shock due to rupture of an infected pseudoaneurysm. Ruptured aneurysms and pseudoaneurysm are a complication of dialysis, and death is rare because they are treated immediately on discovery. However, these ruptures often occur in non-medical facilities and could result in death if the patient does not have knowledge of first aid. Thus, patient education is important. Approximately only half of the deaths due to massive bleeding from a shunt are autopsied. In Japan, autopsies or partial autopsies are considered necessary to determine whether a bleeding was traumatic and to prevent medical errors from being overlooked.

Uptake dynamics of scrapie agent in the intestinal villous epithelium of suckling and weanling Syrian hamsters.

In mice, the number of intestinal villous columnar epithelium cells that incorporate abnormal prion protein (PrP(Sc) ) decreases significantly after weaning. In this study, the dynamics of PrP(Sc) uptake during the growth of hamsters were investigated by inoculating scrapie 263K agent orally into suckling and weanling Syrian hamsters and estimating the number of PrP(Sc) -positive villous epithelium cells immunohistochemically. The number of PrP(Sc) -positive cells declined significantly as the hamsters aged. The present results suggest that a tendency toward decline of PrP(Sc) -positive cells with increasing age might be a common phenomenon among the superfamily Muridae.

Relationship between the rheological properties of thickener solutions and their velocity through the pharynx as measured by the ultrasonic pulse Doppler method.

The dependence of the dynamic viscoelastic parameters of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), xanthan gum, and guar gum solutions on the angular frequency (omega) was compared with that of their viscosity (mu) on the shear rate (gamma). In addition, the effect of these rheological properties on the maximum velocity through the pharynx, V(max), as measured by the ultrasonic pulse Doppler method, was investigated. The CMC and guar gum solutions examined were taken as a dilute solution and a true polymer solution, respectively. The xanthan gum solution was taken as a weak gel above 0.5% and a true polymer solution below 0.2%. The maximum velocity, V(max), of the thickener solutions correlated well with mu, the dynamic viscosity eta', and the complex viscosity eta(*), especially those measured at gamma or omega of 20-30 s(-1) (or rad/s) and above, suggesting that mu, eta', and eta(*) are suitable indexes for care foods of the liquid type for dysphagic patients.