Direct Evaluation of Local Dynamic Viscoelastic Properties of Isotactic Polypropylene Films Based on a Dynamic µ-Beam X-ray Diffraction Method.

The local mechanical properties of crystalline polymer were evaluated using synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction with 10 µm lateral resolution. A nonoriented isotactic polypropylene (iPP) film with isolated spherulites in a crystallized matrix was used as a model sample. In situ wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) measurement was performed on the iPP film using a microbeam synchrotron radiation X-ray under sinusoidal strain. The lattice spacing of the crystal planes increased and decreased in response to the applied sinusoidal strain. Local dynamic viscoelastic functions (dynamic storage and loss moduli (E' and E″)) were calculated at room temperature from the relationship between the calculated applied stress and the response strain obtained by dynamic µ-beam WAXD measurement inside and outside of the spherulites. The E' values inside and outside of spherulite obtained from the change in spacing of the (110) plane were 1.8 and 1.1 GPa, respectively. Furthermore, the E' value inside of spherulite obtained from the change in spacing of the (1̅13) plane was 6.0 GPa. These values can be explained by the deformation of crystallite, which depends on the direction of crystal planes. The results obtained here revealed that synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction measurement gives not only structural information but also the local mechanical properties of the materials E'.

Gender-divergent expression of lipid and bile acid metabolism related genes in adult mice offspring of dams fed a high-fat diet.

Maternal high-fat diet (HFD) consumption during pregnancy and lactation affects metabolic outcomes and lipid metabolism of offspring in later life in a gender-specific manner. However, it is not known whether maternal HFD alters bile acid metabolism in adult mice offspring. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between maternal HFDinduced metabolic diseases and bile acid metabolism in male and female adult mice offspring. Female mice were fed either standard chow (C) or HFD (H) for 10 weeks pre-pregnancy until lactation. After weaning, offspring were fed a chow diet until 11 weeks of age, then challenged with either C or H diet for 4 weeks, and divided into eight groups in accordance with mother's and offspring's diets: male(M) CC, MHC, MCH, MHH, female(F) CC, FHC, FCH, and FHH. MHH showed greater weight gain compared to FHH. Liver weight was higher in MHH than in FHH. Serum total cholesterol levels were higher in MHH than in MHC, and tended to be higher in MHH than in FHH. Serum glucose levels were higher in MHH than in MHC. Hepatic triglyceride levels were higher in MHH than in MHC. Hepatic mRNA expression of bile acid uptake transporters Oatp1a1 and Oatp1b2 was increased in MHH, compared to MCH. Hepatic mRNA expression of HMGCoAR, Cyp7a1, Sult2a1, and Oatp1a4 was increased in FHH, compared to FCH. In conclusion, maternal HFD consumption may promote bile acid synthesis, sulfation and excretion in female offspring fed a HFD, which may confer resistance to HFDinduced metabolic phenotypes.

Evaluation of menstrual cycle-related changes in 85 clinical laboratory analytes.

OBJECTIVE: The menstrual cycle-related changes in clinical laboratory values were analysed by use of data obtained in the Asian multicentre study aimed at derivation of common reference intervals for 85 major clinical laboratory tests. METHODS: Among 1876 healthy female volunteers, 893 had regular menstruation. They were classified into five groups according to dates between sample collection and the start of the last menstrual cycle: early follicular phase (1-6 days), late follicular phase (7-12 days), ovulatory phase (13-16 days), early luteal phase (17-22 days), and late luteal phase (23-31 days). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the menstrual cycle-related changes in test results. The magnitude was expressed as a standard deviation ratio of between-phase standard deviation to between-individual standard deviation based on nested ANOVA. RESULTS: Aside from obvious changes for four sex hormones (oestradiol, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone), we observed statistically significant menstrual cycle-related changes in the following tests (standard deviation ratio >0.15): Na, Cl, creatine kinase, C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, carbohydrate antigen 125, and parathyroid hormone were higher during the early follicular phase, while insulin, total cholesterol, and white blood cell were higher during the luteal phase. Significant associations of those test items with the four sex hormones were revealed. CONCLUSIONS: The menstrual cycle-related changes in laboratory test results were revealed in some commonly tested items other than sex hormones. The findings are of interest in understanding female physiology in relation to hormonal changes, but the magnitude of changes is rather small and not very relevant in interpreting test results.

Role of Nrf2 in the alteration of cholesterol and bile acid metabolism-related gene expression by dietary cholesterol in high fat-fed mice.

Nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a regulator of lipid metabolism as well as various cytoprotective enzymes and may be involved in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Although, bile acids affect lipid metabolism, the role of Nrf2 in bile acid metabolism remains unclear. In this study, it was tested how Nrf2 modulates lipid and bile acid homeostasis in liver in response to changes of cholesterol absorption under high-fat diet using Nrf2-null mice. Eight-week-old male wild-type and Nrf2-null mice (n = 6/group) were divided into three groups fed the following diets: 1) control diet containing 4% soybean oil and 16% lard, 2) control diet plus ezetimibe, 3) control diet plus cholesterol. Blood and livers were removed after 4 weeks feeding. High cholesterol diet increased hepatic expression of liver X receptor α target genes related to fatty acid metabolism (FAS, ACC1, SREBP-1c, SCD-1c and CD36), cholesterol transport (Abcg5/abcg8) and bile acid synthesis (Cyp7a1) in wild type mice. However, these genes were not induced in Nrf2-null mice. These findings suggest that Nrf2 has a relation to liver X receptor α and controls the regulation of gene expressions related to lipid and bile acid metabolism.

Relationship between serum bilirubin and remnant lipoprotein cholesterol level.

BACKGROUND: Bilirubin has antioxidant properties and is known to have a role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Bilirubin is known to be negatively associated with serum parameters related to atherosclerosis. Triglyceride-rich lipoprotein is known to play an important role in the progression of atherosclerosis. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the relationship between serum bilirubin and serum remnant lipoprotein cholesterol (RLP-c). METHODS: We examined 270 Japanese males (mean age 64.8 years) without liver dysfunction and anemia from the Outpatient Clinic of Kinki University Hospital. Serum bilirubin, cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride and RLP-c levels were measured. RESULTS: Serum RLP-c level was significantly lower in patients in the high bilirubin group than those in the low bilirubin group. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study show that serum bilirubin within physiological levels may affect the serum RLP-c and suggest bilirubin may have a role in preventing atherosclerosis.

[The values of multi-laboratories serum values evaluation].

The members of 23 laboratories, ten clinical laboratory centers and thirteen hospital laboratories in the Kinki District participated in share their clinical laboratory data. In this joint work, we cross-checked twenty-seven serum values, and all data from the 23 laboratories well accorded; however, several values, such as urea nitrogen, calcium, and albumin needed to be standardized to share the laboratory data.

[From routine laboratory testing to research--the message for all medical technologists].

To carry out routine clinical laboratory testing, it is essential to make efforts to acquire specialized knowledge and techniques. The identification and investigation of problems in routine laboratory testing and presentation of achievements at meetings and submission to journals increase individual motivation and promote focus and observational abilities and the acquisition of new knowledge and techniques. Herein, I introduce activities that I experienced, and describe the pathway from routine laboratory testing to research that I consider appropriate. For technologists to perform a study, the following 3 viewpoints are important: 'Clinical laboratory testing is practical science', 'technologists professionally organize information', and 'laboratory testing is the pivot of team medical care'.