Dominant factors that determine the dissolution state of complexes between poorly water-soluble ingredients and casein hydrolysate.

Casein hydrolysate (Pep) is a dispersant for poorly water-soluble drugs and nutraceutical ingredients. However, two types of complexes may be between Pep and poorly water-soluble molecules: those that are (1) dispersed as hydrocolloids in aqueous media with a particle size of 100-500 nm; and (2) not hydrocolloids, as indicated by permeability of the complex through an ultrafiltration (UF) membrane and the fact that the particle size is ambiguous by dynamic light scattering. This study was conducted to clarify the factors that determine the dissolution state of the complexes between poorly water-soluble ingredients and casein hydrolysate. We classified the dissolution state of the complexes between poorly water-soluble ingredients and Pep by the permeability using a UF membrane. Complexes containing larger and more-hydrophobic molecules are hydrocolloids and do not permeate the UF membrane, whereas complexes containing comparatively smaller and less-hydrophobic molecules do permeate the UF membrane. A complex containing indomethacin, which has borderline solubility properties, does not permeate the UF membrane at pH values in which the indomethacin carboxylic acid group is protonated, but it is permeable at pH values in which its carboxylic acid group is deprotonated. Furthermore, we determined the stoichiometry and association constant for the complex between a major peptide in Pep and poorly water-soluble resveratrol (Res) based on fluorescence quenching. We calculated the stoichiometry of Res and PepY to be 2:3 and the association constant to be 2.4 × 107 M-1.

Synthesis, thermal properties and cell-compatibility of photocrosslinked cinnamoyl-modified hydroxypropyl cellulose.

Biocompatibility of cinnamoyl-modified carbohydrate materials is not well-known, while they are attracting attention as a photoreactive material. In order to investigate biocompatible properties of cinnamoyl-modified carbohydrate, hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) was reacted with cinnamoyl chloride to yield cinnamoyl-modified HPC (HPC-C) for a cell proliferation test. HPC-Cs with three different degrees of substitution (DS) were prepared by changing a feed ratio of cinnamoyl chloride to HPC. The DS of the products ranged from 1.3 to 3.0 per one hydroxylpropyl anhydroglucose unit. Thermal analysis using DSC and TGA showed that the HPC-C with higher DS has a glass transition temperature and higher thermal stability. Ultraviolet (UV) light was irradiated on the HPC-C thin films, and changes in the UV-vis spectrum of the films were examined. In the course of UV irradiation, the absorbance at 280 nm was reduced. Fibroblast cells were cultured on the photocrosslinked HPC-C films, and cell growth was examined. The cell proliferation test revealed that the photocrosslinked HPC-C films have good compatibility with fibroblast cells.

The dose and risk factors for radiation exposure to medical staff during endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath for peripheral pulmonary lesions under X-ray fluoroscopy.

OBJECTIVE: Therapy for lung cancer has recently evolved to include molecular targeted therapy and adequate amounts of lung cancer tissue are needed to identify particular phenotypes. For this purpose, quite a number of investigations on diagnostic bronchoscopy have been undertaken. Corollary to the increasing number of transbronchial biopsies for peripheral pulmonary nodules is the increased chances of radiation exposure during fluoroscopy. Our aim was to determine the dose and risk factors of radiation exposure to medical staff. METHODS: Endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath under X-ray fluoroscopy was performed on 132 cases of peripheral pulmonary lesions. The radiation exposure dose to medical staff (operator physicians, assistant physicians, nurses and radiological technologists) was measured. RESULTS: The median time of fluoroscopy was 7.6 min (range 1.5-23.9). The median radiation exposure dose to operator physicians was 12 µSv/exam (range 1-99), while that of the other medical staff was lower. In a multivariate analysis, body mass index and the location of the radial ultrasound probe had significantly higher odds ratios. CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors for an increased radiation exposure dose were patients' BMI and the location of the radial ultrasound probe. But even then, the radiation exposure dose to medical staff during endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath was very low, especially for nurses and radiological technologists in whom the exposure dose was negligible.

The value of chest tomosynthesis in locating a ground glass nodule (GGN) during endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath: a case report.

A 74-year-old man was referred to our department for work-up of a pure ground glass nodule (GGN) on computed tomography (CT). He was suspected to have lung cancer by CT scan, but no lesion was visible on chest X-ray. Chest tomosynthesis was performed before bronchoscopy, showing a clear GGN. We could not detect a tumor signal on endobronchial ultrasonography so we relied on the chest tomosynthesis image as a guide during transbronchial biopsy. The diagnosis of adenocarcinoma was confirmed on histopathology. In this case, transbronchial biopsy under the guidance of chest tomosynthesis was useful for the diagnosis of GGN.