[The safety assessment of percutaneous transhepatic transpapillary stent insertion in malignant obstructive jaundice: regarding the risk of pancreatitis and the effect of preliminary endoscopic sphincterotomy].

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Metal stent insertion through percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) track is an important palliative treatment modality for malignant biliary obstruction. Acute pancreatitis is one of serious complications of biliary metal stenting. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk of pancreatitis for patients who underwent metal stent insertion via PTBD track. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 90 consecutive patients who received metal stent insertion via PTBD track from Jan. 2002 to Dec. 2007 was carried out. Patients were divided into the transpapillary and non-transpapillary group, and the risks of pancreatitis were compared. The effects of preliminary endoscopic sphincterectomy (EST) was also investigated in transpapillary group. RESULTS: The rate of pancreatitis was higher in transpapillary group compared to nontranspapillary group (odd ratio 1.87, 95% CI 0.516-6.761), but it showed no stastically significance (p=0.502). In transpapillary group, patients who received preliminary EST showed lower rate of pancreatitis (odd ratio 0.91, 95% CI 0.656-1.273), but it showed no stastically significance (p=0.614). CONCLUSIONS: Metallic stent insertion through the intact sphincter of Oddi might have a risk of developing pancreatitis. Further study is needed to elucidate the mechanism of pancreatitis and the way of prevention.

Anti-oxidant activities of mung bean starch and starch gels prepared from whole and hulled seeds.

Anti-oxidant activities of ethanol extracts from whole and hulled mung bean starches (WMS and HMS) isolated using distilled water, and gels (WMSG and HMSG) were investigated. Total chlorophyll contents of WMS and WMSG were 4.61 and 2.14 µg/mL, respectively. WMS at 0.29 mg of gallic acid/g of MS and 0.54 mg of quercetin/g of MS had higher total phenolic compounds and flavonoid contents than HMS at 0.11 mg of gallic acid/g of MS and 0.28 mg of quercetin/g of MS. Total phenolic contents of WMSG and HMSG increased by 2.14x and 1.64x, respectively. Total flavonoid contents decreased by 0.98x and 0.57x. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt radical scavenging activities and reducing powers of WMS and WMSG were higher than for HMS and HMSG. Cheongpomuk made using WMS exhibits increased anti-oxidant activities of gels and is a good food for improvement in health functionality.

Acid stability of anti-Helicobacter pyroli IgY in aqueous polyol solution.

IgY was separated from a hen's egg yolk that was immunized with Helicobacter pyroli. The anti-H. pyroli IgY activity at acidic pH and the suppressive effect of polyol on acid-induced inactivation of IgY were investigated. Sorbitol and xylitol were used as polyols. IgY was quite stable at pH 5-7. Irreversible inactivation of IgY was observed at pH below 4, and proceeded rapidly at pH below 3. The acid stability of IgY was enhanced in the presence of 30% sorbitol or above. In a 50% aqueous sorbitol solution, an acid-induced inactivation was almost completely suppressed at pH 3. However, the improvement of IgY activity was not observed in the aqueous xylitol solution. IgY showed almost the same activity as native IgY when sucrose was substituted for sorbitol. On the other hand, the xylitol replacement with sucrose did not enhance the acid stability of IgY. The acid-induced inactivation of IgY was related to tryptophyl fluorescence. Fluorescence emission spectra suggested that structural changes near the tryptophan residues may occur under acidic conditions. An increase in sorbitol concentration induced a blue shift. The fluorescence emission of IgY in a 50% sorbitol solution had a peak at 330 nm, which was the same emission peak that was exhibited by native IgY. Sorbitol could, therefore, be used as a good stabilizer of IgY under acidic conditions.