Characterization of oil-palm trunk residue degradation enzymes derived from the isolated fungus, Penicillium rolfsii c3-2(1) IBRL.

This study characterizes crude enzymes derived from Penicillium rolfsii c3-2(1) IBRL, a mesophilic fungus isolated from the local soil of Malaysia. Prior to enzyme activity evaluation, P. rolfsii c3-2(1) IBRL was inoculated into a broth medium containing oil-palm trunk residues for the preparation of crude enzymes. Oil-palm trunk residues were optimally hydrolysed at pH5.0 and 50°C. P. rolfsii c3-2(1) IBRL-derived crude enzymes displayed higher thermal stability compared with the commercial enzymes, Celluclast 1.5 L and Acellerase 1500. Moreover, the hydrolysing activities of the P. rolfsii c3-2(1) IBRL-derived crude enzymes (xylan, arabinan, and laminarin) were superior compared to that of Celluclast 1.5 L and Acellerase 1500, and exhibit 2- to 3-fold and 3- to 4-fold higher oil-palm trunk residues-hydrolysing specific activity, respectively. This higher hydrolysis efficiency may be attributed to the weak 'lignin-binding' ability of the P. rolfsii c3-2(1) IBRL-derived enzymes compared to the commercial enzymes.

Additive effects of cilnidipine, an L-/N-type calcium channel blocker, and an angiotensin II receptor blocker on reducing cardiorenal damage in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Cilnidipine (Cil), which is an L-/N-type calcium channel blocker (CCB), has been known to provide renal protection by decreasing the activity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the renin-angiotensin system. In this study, we compared the effects of the combination of Cil and amlodipine (Aml), which is an L-type CCB, with an angiotensin (Ang) II receptor blocker on diabetic cardiorenal damage in spontaneously type 2 diabetic rats. Seventeen-week-old Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats were randomly assigned to receive Cil, Aml, valsartan (Val), Cil + Val, Aml + Val, or a vehicle (eight rats per group) for 22 weeks. Antihypertensive potencies were nearly equal among the CCB monotherapy groups and the combination therapy groups. The lowering of blood pressure by either treatment did not significantly affect the glycemic variables. However, exacerbations of renal and heart failure were significantly suppressed in rats administered Cil or Val, and additional suppression was observed in those administered Cil + Val. Although Val increased the renin-Ang system, Aml + Val treatment resulted in additional increases in these parameters, while Cil + Val did not show such effects. Furthermore, Cil increased the ratio of Ang-(1-7) to Ang-I, despite the fact that Val and Aml + Val decreased the Ang-(1-7) levels. These actions of Cil + Val might be due to their synergistic inhibitory effect on the activity of the SNS, and on aldosterone secretion through N-type calcium channel antagonism and Ang II receptor type 1 antagonism. Thus, Cil may inhibit the progression of cardiorenal disease in type 2 diabetes patients by acting as an N-type CCB and inhibiting the aldosterone secretion and SNS activation when these drugs were administered in combination with an Ang II receptor blocker.

Efficient ethanol production from separated parenchyma and vascular bundle of oil palm trunk.

For efficient utilization of both starchy and cellulosic materials, oil palm trunk was separated into parenchyma (PA) and vascular bundle (VB). High solid-state simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (HSS-SSF) using 30% (w/v) PA, containing 46.7% (w/w) starch, supplemented with amylases and Saccharomyces cerevisiae K3, produced 6.1% (w/v) ethanol. Subsequent alkali-pretreatment using sodium hydroxide was carried out with starch-free PA (sfPA) and VB. Enzymatic digestibility of 5% (w/v) pretreated sfPA and VB was 92% and 97%, respectively, using 18 FPU of commercial cellulase supplemented with 10 U of Novozyme-188 per gram of substrate. Likewise, HSS-SSF using 30% (w/v) alkali-pretreated sfPA and VB, with cellulases and yeast, resulted in high ethanol production (8.2% and 8.5% (w/v), respectively). These results show that HSS-SSF using separated PA and VB is a useful fermentation strategy, without loss of starchy and cellulosic materials, for oil palm trunk.

Ethanol and lactic acid production using sap squeezed from old oil palm trunks felled for replanting.

Old oil palm trunks that had been felled for replanting were found to contain large quantities of high glucose content sap. Notably, the sap in the inner part of the trunk accounted for more than 80% of the whole trunk weight. The glucose concentration of the sap from the inner part was 85.2g/L and decreased towards the outer part. Other sugars found in relatively low concentrations were sucrose, fructose, galactose, xylose, and rhamnose. In addition, oil palm sap was found to be rich in various kinds of amino acids, organic acids, minerals and vitamins. Based on these findings, we fermented the sap to produce ethanol using the sake brewing yeast strain, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Kyokai no.7. Ethanol was produced from the sap without the addition of nutrients, at a comparable rate and yield to the reference fermentation on YPD medium with glucose as a carbon source. Likewise, we produced lactic acid, a promising material for bio-plastics, poly-lactate, from the sap using the homolactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus lactis ATCC19435. We confirmed that sugars contained in the sap were readily converted to lactic acid with almost the same efficiency as the reference fermentation on MSR medium with glucose as a substrate. These results indicate that oil palm trunks felled for replanting are a significant resource for the production of fuel ethanol and lactic acid in palm oil-producing countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia.

[Preoperative prediction of remnant renal function in nephron-sparing surgery: the usefulness of 99mTc-mercapto-acetyl-triglycine scintigraphy].

A total of 10 patients with the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) underwent nephron-sparing surgery between January 1990 and December 2001. Serial pre- and postoperative 99mTc-mercapto-acetyl-triglycine (MAG3) scans were obtained. To examine preoperative predictability of remnant renal function, values of remnant renal plasma flow (ERPF) predicted prior to surgery were compared with values measured postoperatively. With preoperative MAG3 data, we designed the range of interest (ROI) except for the tumor area and recalculated remnant ERPF values. Remnant ERPF values predicted preoperatively correlated significantly with the postoperatively measured values 99mTc-(196.4 +/- 69.1 ml/min/1.73 vs 171.3 +/- 72.9 ml/min/1.73 [mean +/- SD], p > 0.05, r = 0.806). MAG3 dynamic renoscintigraphy appeared useful for preoperative prediction of remnant renal function after nephron sparing surgery.

A case of ganglioneuroma in which 131I-6beta-iodomethyl-19-norcholest-5(10)-en-3beta-ol scintigraphy showed high uptake in the adrenal gland leading to a misdiagnosis.

We experienced a case in which 131I-6beta-iodomethyl-19-norcholest-5(10)-en-3beta-ol (131I-adosterol) scintigraphy showed high uptake in the right adrenal gland. We diagnosed functional cortical adenoma because of the finding of 131I-adosterol scintigraphy. However, no positive findings for the existence of cortical adenoma were obtained in other examinations and we performed right adrenalectomy. Unexpectedly, pathological finding showed the right adrenal gland was occupied with a large ganglioneuroma. This is an instructive case in which 131I-adosterol scintigraphy showed abnormal high uptake in the adrenal gland, in spite of the fact that the adrenal gland was occupied by a tumor derived from adrenal medulla.

Smoking as a risk factor for visceral fat accumulation in Japanese men.

Epidemiological and clinical studies on the lifestyle-related obesity have identified smoking, physical activity and alcohol intake as risk factors for obesity. However, no consensus has yet been reached on the effect of smoking on visceral adiposity. This study was designed to assess whether smoking is associated with the accumulation of visceral fat, glucose and lipid metabolism. The subjects were 450 males aged from 24 to 68 years old, who were examined at the health control center in the regular health check conducted by their company. A self-administered questionnaire was used to ascertain smoking status, daily physical activity and alcohol drinking. The number of Brinkman index as an index for smoking status was positively related to being visceral fat area (VFA). In smokers whose Brinkman index was higher, the percent of subjects with abnormal body mass index, VFA, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, atherosclerotic index, plasma glucose, immunoreactive insulin, or homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was higher than that in non-smokers. When evaluated in terms of age-adjusted odds ratios for incidence of a VFA of 100 cm(2) or greater, alcohol drinking was associated with the highest odds ratio. Smoking, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol drinking were associated with visceral adiposity, and smoking affected glucose and lipid metabolism. In conclusions, these findings suggest that smoking is a risk factor for visceral fat accumulation and deterioration of glucose and lipid metabolism.

[Guidelines for radio-iodine (131I) therapy in Graves' disease and thyroid cancer].

Radio-iodine (131I) therapy has been using in Graves' disease and well differentiated thyroid cancer. The rules of control in the discharge from radio-isotope hospital were notified in 1999 in Japan. Guideline of the 131I therapy in Graves' disease and thyroid cancer were prepared by sub-group of Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine.

Adenosine A1 receptor mapping of the human brain by PET with 8-dicyclopropylmethyl-1-11C-methyl-3-propylxanthine.

UNLABELLED: Adenosine is an endogenous modulator of synaptic functions in the central nervous system. To investigate the physiologic and pathologic roles of the adenosine receptors in the human brain, PET is a powerful in vivo technique. In this study, we quantitatively evaluated the distribution of a major subtype A(1) adenosine receptor in the human brain by PET with a newly developed radioligand, 8-dicyclopropylmethyl-1-(11)C-methyl-3-propylxanthine ((11)C-MPDX). METHODS: In 5 healthy volunteers, after PET measurement of the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) with (15)O-H(2)O, a 60-min PET scan with (11)C-MPDX was performed. The distribution volume (DV) of (11)C-MPDX was quantitatively evaluated by Logan's graphical analysis. RESULTS: (11)C-MPDX was taken up at a high level, reaching a peak at 2-2.5 min, followed by a rapid decrease. The unchanged form of (11)C-MPDX in plasma was 75% at 60 min after injection. The DV of (11)C-MPDX was large in the striatum and thalamus, moderate in the cerebral cortices and pons, and small in the cerebellum. The distribution pattern of (11)C-MPDX in the brain was coincident with that of adenosine A(1) receptors in vitro, reported previously, but discretely different from that of rCBF. CONCLUSION: (11)C-MPDX PET has the potential for mapping adenosine A(1) receptors in the human brain.

Usefulness of radio-guided surgery using technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile for primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism.

The efficacy of technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI)-guided surgery for detecting abnormal parathyroid glands in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (2-HPT) was evaluated and compared with the results from the same examination in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (1-HPT). The results were also compared with those found by ultrasonography (US) and preoperative 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy was also made. At operation 99mTc-MIBI accumulated in 64 nodules of 15 cases of 2-HPT, and all of 60 parathyroid swellings were detected (true-positives 60, sensitivity 100%, accuracy 94%). In the cases of 1-HPT, 99mTc-MIBI revealed 11 hot nodules in 10 cases, and the evaluation was true-positive 10, sensitivity 100%, and accuracy 91%. US and preoperative 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy in patients with 2-HPT had a sensitivity of 75% and 67% and an accuracy of 70% and 66%, respectively. The usefulness of 99mTc-MIBI-guided surgery for detecting abnormal parathyroid tissue in 2-HPT patients was similar to that in 1-HPT patients but was superior to US and preoperative 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy. Intraoperative 9mTc-MIBI for patients with 2-HPT is effective and makes the surgery easier, especially when the parathyroid glands are ectopic or when a few glands are markedly enlarged but the other glands are atrophied.

The usefulness of radio-guided surgery in secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Recent reports have shown that radio-guided surgery with an intraoperative gamma probe (IGP) is useful for identifying parathyroid adenomas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of IGP mapping in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. Seven patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism underwent technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (Tc-99m MIBI) scintigraphy immediately before undergoing surgical resection of all parathyroid tissues. We compared the sensitivity of Tc-99m MIBI scintigraphy alone with that of the combination of Tc-99m MIBI scintigraphy and IGP mapping. The sensitivity of the combination of Tc-99m MIBI scintigraphy and IGP mapping was 100% (28 of 28 lesions) and was significantly higher than that of Tc-99m MIBI scintigraphy alone (71.4%, 20 of 28 lesions). The combination of the Tc-99m MIBI scintigraphy and IGP mapping has increased sensitivity for identifying parathyroid lesions during parathyroidectomy in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Long-term administration of highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester improves blood coagulation abnormalities and dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty rats.

We investigated the effect of highly purified eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (EPA-E) on blood coagulation abnormalities and dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells in spontaneously diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats. The animals were treated with either EPA-E or lard at a daily dose of 0.3 g/kg/day for 52 weeks by gavage, and their coagulation/fibrinolytic parameters, platelet aggregation, and functions of the vascular endothelial cells were examined. EPA-E significantly improved coagulation-related parameters including prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen level, and activities of factor II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII, and antithrombin III, and fibrinolysis-related parameters including plasminogen, tissue-type plasminogen activator, alpha(2)-plasmin inhibitor, and plasminogen activator inhibitor. It also suppressed ADP- or collagen-induced platelet aggregation and the cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio in platelet membranes at a dose of 0.3 g/kg. In addition, it significantly increased the migration activity of vascular endothelial cells, and decreased the binding of vascular endothelial cells to vascular endothelial growth factor. In contrast, lard had no effect on hypercoagulation, hypofibrinolysis, and platelet hyperaggregation but significantly aggravated the dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells. These data demonstrate that EPA-E beneficially altered certain factors known to promote thrombosis and atherosclerosis in this animal model.

Imaging of adenosine A1 receptors in the human brain by positron emission tomography with [11C]MPDX.

We report the first clinical PET study using [1-methyl-11C]8-dicyclopropylmethyl-1-methyl-3-propylxanthine ([11C]MPDX) for imaging adenosine A1 receptors in the human brain. The binding of [11C]MPDX evaluated quantitatively as the distribution volume by a graphical analysis was high in the striatum and thalamus, and low in the cerebellum. The distribution pattern of [11C]MPDX was coincident with that of adenosine A1 receptors in vitro reported previously, and was different from those of blood flow and [18F]FDG. The [11C]MPDX PET has the potential for mapping adenosine A1 receptors in the human brain.

A comparative study of prostate specific antigen (PSA), C-terminal propeptide of blood type I procollagen (PICP) and urine type I collagen-crosslinked N telopeptide (NTx) levels using bone scintigraphy in prostate cancer patients.

We compared the ability to diagnose skeletal metastasis between serum prostate specific antigen (PSA), C-terminal propeptide of blood type I procollagen (PICP), and urine type I collagen-crosslinked N telopeptide (NTx) in prostate cancer patients. In sixty-nine patients with prostate cancer, bone scintigraphy was performed, and serum PSA and PICP and urine NTx were measured. The median level of serum PSA in the osseous metastasis-negative group (n = 33) was 0.80 ng/ml being significantly lower as compared to the osseous metastasis-positive group (n = 36, 7.70 ng/ml) (p < 0.0001). The serum PICP and urine NTx/Cr levels appeared lower in the osseous metastasis-negative group than the osseous metastasis-positive group, but there was no significant difference. Logistic regression analysis showed that ability to diagnose skeletal metastasis of serum PSA was 68.1% and superior to those of serum PICP (56.5%) and urine NTx/Cr (53.6%). Serum PSA improved the ability to diagnose skeletal metastasis when combined with serum PICP or urine NTx/Cr. When patients were grouped according to the extent of disease grade (EOD grade) nomenclature, Spearman's correlation coefficient by rank showed that serum PSA was most significantly correlated with EOD grade (p < 0.0001). In 14 patients whose skeletal metastases progressed or regressed, the change of serum PSA more clearly separated the osseous metastasis-regression group and osseous metastasis-progression group than did serum PICP and urine NTx/Cr. Serum PSA was more reliable than bone resorption and formation markers produced by crosslinking of type I collagen.

[The present status of I-131 therapy for Graves' hyperthyroidism in Japan (survey by questionnaire)].

A survey on the I-131 therapy of Graves' hyperthyroidism was undertaken by questionnaire in 1,246 hospitals of Japan. One thousand and ninety seven of them (88.0%) responded to the questionnaire. In this paper, we report the results and analysis of the replies to the questionnaire. In the 121 hospitals (11.03%) of the respondents, I-131 therapy is being performed for Graves' hyperthyroidism. A gradual increase was observed in the annual number of I-131 treated Graves' disease patients during the period of 1998-2001, from 1,740 to 2,484. I-131 treatment was selected mainly for the cases with side effects from antithyroid drug (ATD) therapy, followed by the cases with complication of heart or hepatic diseases, recurrences of hyperthyroidism after surgery, radioiodine treatment, and long-term ATD treatment. The 41% of respondents used I-131 in order to restore euthyroidism, 34% aimed for hyperthyroidism and 41% used the dose properly between the two according to the patients. Administration dosage of I-131 was estimated mainly on the basis of thyroid uptake and volume in 93% of the respondents and 48% calculated the radiation dose by also determining the effective half-life in the thyroid gland. Thyroid size was estimated by scintigram (51%), US (33%), CT (22%) and palpation (12%). ATD treatment was used before I-131 administration by 70% of the respondents and 34% after radioiodine therapy. A low-iodine diet was given to the patients for a week (46%) or two weeks (47%) before I-131 administration. However, after treatment only 46% of the respondents continued low-iodine diet for a week.

Imaging of bilateral striopallidodentate calcinosis.

Bilateral symmetric striopallidodentate calcinosis, also known as Fahr's disease, is characterized by bilateral calcifications of the basal ganglia, thalami, dentate nuclei of the cerebellum, and the white matter of the cerebral hemisphere. Intracranial calcifications are easily visible as high-density areas on computed tomographic images. On magnetic resonance images, the calcifications exhibit different signal intensities. The differences in signal intensity are thought to be related to the stage of the disease, differences in calcium metabolism, and the volume of the calcium deposit. The moderate reduction of cerebral blood flow in bilateral thalami was also identified using brain SPECT.

Correlation of urine type I collagen-cross-linked N telopeptide levels with bone scintigraphic results in prostate cancer patients.

The diagnostic potential of a new bone resorption marker, type I collagen-cross-linked N telopeptide (NTx), for bone metastasis of prostate cancer was evaluated. Ninty-one prostate cancer patients underwent bone scintigraphy, and urine NTx/creatinine (NTx/Cr) was measured. Urine NTx/Cr levels were compared with bone scintigraphic results. Urine NTx/Cr levels in the bone metastasis-positive group (n = 47) were 92.9 +/- 105.1 nmol/L of bone collagen, which is equivalent to per millimole of urinary creatinine (nmol/L BCE/mmol/L Cr), significantly higher than the level of the bone metastasis-negative group (n = 44) (59.0 +/- 41.6 nmol/L BCE/mmol/L Cr). When patients were classified by the extent of disease grade (EOD grade) nomenclature, the urine NTx/Cr level of the EOD (4+) group was 209.5 +/- 186.5 nmol/L BCE/mmol/L Cr. This level was significantly higher than those of the EOD (-) group (59.0 +/- 41.6 nmol/L BCE/mmol/L Cr), EOD (1+) group (59.0 +/- 47.8 nmol/L BCE/mmol/L Cr), and EOD (2+) group (81.1 +/- 41.3 nmol/L BCE/mmol/L Cr). However, no significant difference was observed between the EOD (-) and EOD (1+) groups. The mean change in urine NTx/Cr level 3 to 17 months after the first bone scintigraphy and urine NTx/Cr examination in the bone metastasis-progression group (n = 8) was 11.0 +/- 31.2 nmol/L BCE/mmol/L Cr, significantly higher than that in the bone metastasis-regression group (n = 15) (-26.8 +/- 40.7 nmol/L BCE/mmol/L Cr). In conclusion, urine NTx /Cr can be measured noninvasively and reflects the state of bone metastasis. However, the sensitivity of urine NTx/Cr is not as high as that of bone scintigraphy. Therefore, it may provide an auxiliary diagnostic index for bone scintigraphy.

Interobserver variation in diagnosis of dementia by brain perfusion SPECT.

Brain perfusion SPECT (BP-SPECT) has characteristic patterns of abnormality, enabling the differential diagnosis of dementia. The purpose of this study was to measure interobserver variations in the diagnosis of dementia using BP-SPECT. BP-SPECT images of 57 cases, 19 of Alzheimer's disease (AD), eight of multi-infarct dementia (MID), three of Pick's disease, five of other dementias, and 22 normal controls, were interpreted by ten nuclear medicine physicians with varying levels of experience. Brain MR images of the cases were then interpreted apart from SPECT. The physicians independently rated all of the diagnoses listed beforehand according to a five-point scale, with clinical information provided. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the ROC curve (Az) were calculated. Az varied from 0.48 to 0.87. Mean Az's were significantly larger (p<0.05) in the diagnosis by SPECT than in that by MRI (0.715 and 0.629 for dementia vs. normal, 0.670 and 0.560 for AD or MID vs. normal, 0.610 and 0.416 for AD vs. normal, and 0.672 and 0.412 for AD vs. MID, respectively). Considerable interobserver variation was present in BP-SPECT interpretation. BP-SPECT may be more effective for the evaluation of dementia than MRI when the same nuclear medicine physicians interpret both images.