Scanning electron-microscopy of starch granules, with or without amylase attack

Scanning electron-microscopy (SEM) revealed that, for starch granules relatively susceptible to amylase, numerous pin holes could be observed on the surfaces of granules attacked by amylase. We also observed that the pores penetrated into the inner layers of granules during the enzyme action and some of the granules exhibited a terraced or step-shaped apperance in their inner portions. These internal characteristics are most probably indicative of layered internal structures of the granules. The other characteristic observations by SEM were striated structures on the surfaces of starch granules of banana, lily, and lotus attacked by pancreatin.     

Isolation and Characterization of Globulin from Seeds of Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.

Seeds of grain amaranths contain a high amount (about 60% of total nitrogen) of albumin and globulin and a trace amount of prolamin. From salt-soluble extracts of A. hypochondriacus seeds, a globulin (440,000 in apparent molecular weight and ) was purified by Sepharose 6B gel and DEAE-cellulose column chromatographies. The protein comprised at least four kinds of subunits whose molecular weights were 36,000, 32,000, 20,000 and 18,000, respectively. The amino acid composition of the globulin was almost similar to those of soybean and oat globulins.     

Structures and Syntheses of Two Phenolic Amides from Piper nigrum L.

Two phenolic amides were isolated from the fruits of white pepper (Piper nigrum L.) and identified to be N-trans-feruloyl tyramine (2a) and N-5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2E, 4E-pentadienoyl piperidine (6a) on the basis of chemical and specrtal evidence. Both compounds were synthesized.     

Purification and Some Properties of Debranching Enzyme of Germinating Rice Endosperm

A debranching enzyme was extracted from the endosperm of germinating rice seeds and purified through three steps, namely cyclohexaamylose-coupled Sepharose 6B, Ultrogel AcA-44 and Bio-Gel P-150 column chromatography. This disc-electrophoretically homogeneous enzyme showed a specific activity of 43 units/mg of protein (30°C) with a pH optimum of 5.5. The isoelectric point was 4.9, unlike that (pI 3.5) of debranching enzyme of ungerminated rice seeds. Our enzyme hydrolyzed pullulan rapidly, and glutinous rice starch and waxy corn starch moderately. The enzyme was also able to act on phytoglycogen and glycogen unlike debranching enzymes originating in some plants.     

Change of the Gluconeogenic Capacity of Rat Kidney Cortex Slices with Dietary Components

Substituting protein for carbohydrate in diets significantly enhanced the rates of glucose formation from pyruvate, glutamate, or glycerol in rat kidney cortex slices. The tissue, however, increased slightly its gluconeogenic capacity in response to low carbohydrate, high fat diet. The rates of glucose taken up per unit weight of kidney cortex of rats fed a high carbohydrate diet was higher than those of rats fed diets high in protein or fat. Kidney weight in g per 100 g body weight (relative kidney size) of rats fed diets high in protein was significantly higher than that of rats fed diets high in carbohydrate or fat.     

Saturated glucose uptake capacity and impaired fatty acid oxidation in hypertensive hearts before development of heart failure

Abnormalities in energy metabolism may play an important role in the development of hypertensive heart failure. However, the transition from compensated hypertrophy to heart failure is not fully understood in terms of energy metabolism. In Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) and salt-resistant (DR) rats, myocardial fatty acid and glucose uptake values were determined using (131)I- or (125)I-labeled 9-methylpentadecanoic acid ((131)I- or (125)I-9MPA), and [(14)C]deoxyglucose ([(14)C]DG), fatty acid beta-oxidation was identified using thin-layer chromatography, and insulin-stimulated glucose-uptake was observed using a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp. Six-week-old rats were fed a diet that contained 8% NaCl, which resulted in development of compensated hypertrophy in DS rats at 12 wk of age and ultimately led to heart failure by 18 wk of age. Uptake of [(14)C]DG increased markedly with age in the DS rats, whereas (131)I-9MPA uptake was marginally but significantly increased only in animals aged 12 wk. The ratio of (125)I-9MPA beta-oxidation metabolites to total uptake in the DS rats was significantly lower (P < 0.05) at 12 (37%) and 18 (34%) wk compared with at 6 (45%) wk. Insulin increased [(14)C]DG uptake more than twofold in the DS rats at 6 wk, although this increase was markedly attenuated at 12 and 18 wk (11 and 8%, respectively). Our data suggest that in a hypertrophied heart before heart failure, fatty acid oxidation is impaired and the capacity to increase glucose uptake during insulin stimulation is markedly reduced. These changes in both glucose and fatty acid metabolism that occur in association with myocardial hypertrophy may have a pathogenic role in the subsequent development of heart failure.     

Polycation liposome-mediated gene transfer in vivo

The polycation liposome (PCL), a recently developed gene transfer system, is simply prepared by a modification of liposomes with cetylated polyethylenimine (PEI), and shows remarkable transgene efficiency with low cytotoxicity. In the present study, we investigated the applicability of PCLs for in vivo gene transfer, since the PCL-mediated transgene efficiency was found to be maintained in the presence of serum. PCLs composed of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) with 5 mol% cetyl PEI (PEI average mr. wt. 1800), were superior for transfection to those of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and cholesterol (2:1 as molar ratio) with 5 mol% cetyl PEI in vitro, although the latter PCLs were more efficient for gene transfer in vivo. PCL-DNA complexes were injected into mice via a tail or the portal vein, with the DNA being a plasmid encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) or luciferase; and the expression was monitored qualitatively or quantitatively, respectively. Tail vein injection resulted in high expression of both GFP and luciferase genes in lung, and portal vein injection resulted in high expression of both genes in the liver. Concerning the gene delivery efficiency, the PCL was found to be superior to PEI or cetyl PEI alone. The optimal conditions for in vivo transfection with PCLs were also examined.     

The relationship and its change with aging between ADL and daily life satisfaction characteristics in independent Japanese elderly living at home

The purposes of this study were to examine the characteristics of the relationship between ADL ability and daily life satisfaction and the pattern change with aging in independent Japanese elderly, and to compare these tendencies between males and females. The characteristics of ADL ability and daily life satisfaction of 482 subjects (213 males, 269 females) were investigated in a self-response survey. Seventy-four ADL items, considered from previous studies, were selected from nine ADL domains of 1) movement, 2) going up and down stairs, 3) changing and holding posture, 4) bathing, 5) toileting, 6) dressing, 7) grooming, 8) eating, and 9) manual activities, and nine items of daily life satisfaction were selected from physical, psychological and sociological factors. Both ADL ability and life satisfaction of independent elderly tended to decline with aging. From correlation analysis, since life satisfaction of the elderly was higher with high ADL ability level, it was considered that ADL ability level is one of the important factors in providing for life satisfaction of independent elderly. The subjective symptoms of inconvenience in the lower extremity and lumbar region increased from the 70s in both genders, and the use of assisting devices for movement remarkably increased in the 80s in both genders. The use of assisting devices closely related to the activity area in daily life and influenced the characteristics of life satisfaction and its age-related change in the relationship between ADL ability and life satisfaction. The relationship between ADL ability and satisfaction with physical function was similar in both genders, while the relationship between ADL ability and satisfaction with sociological and psychological factors was different between males and females. Since the relationship between ADL ability and life satisfaction of independent elderly is influenced by a combination of personal, cultural, and environmental factors, additional study must investigate in detail the influence of these factors.     

Lower extremity function in terms of shock absorption when landing with unsynchronized feet

The purpose of this study was to clarify the lower extremity function in terms of the shock absorption during unsynchronized-foot landings. The characteristics of the supination and pronation in the ankle joint at landing were investigated, assuming that the measurements of the impact force on the body could be demonstrated by the changes that occurred during 3 different landing motions: -unsynchronized-foot landings, synchronized-foot landings, and one-foot landings. Subjects jumped to the floor from 10-cm footstools 3 times for each type of landing. For the synchronized-foot landing, the rear foot angle was 92.2 degrees at the start of landing and did not change significantly from landing start to 100 msec. For the one-foot landing, rear foot angle was 95.1 degrees at the start of landing and decreased rapidly to 87.1 degrees by 75 msec, and then increased rapidly to 90.8 degrees by 140 msec. For the unsynchronized-foot landing, the rear foot angle was 93.8 degrees at the start of the landing, decreased rapidly to 88.0 degrees by 75 msec, and then increased rapidly to 89.9 degrees by 115 msec.It was clarified that the lower extremity function for the shock attenuation during landing with the unsynchronized-foot was similar to that with one-foot landings, and the lower extremity function for supporting the body after another foot landing was similar to that after the synchronized-foot landings in this study.