Identification and characterization of organic and glycosidic acids in the crude resin glycoside fraction from the leaves and stems of Calystegia japonica.

The alkaline hydrolysis of the crude resin glycoside fraction from the leaves and stems of the plant Calystegia japonica Choisy (Convolvulaceae) yielded organic acid and glycosidic acid fractions. The organic acid fraction was esterified with p-bromophenacyl bromide to obtain p-bromophenacyl 2R-methyl-3R-hydroxybutyrate (1) and p-bromophenacyl (E)-2-methylbut-2-enoate (2). By treating the glycosidic acid fraction with trimethylsilyldiazomethane-hexane, seven new methyl esters of glycosidic acids, namely calyjaponic acid A methyl ester (3) calyjaponic acid B methyl ester (5), calyjaponic acid C methyl ester (6), calyjaponic acid D methyl ester (7), calyjaponic acid E methyl ester (8), calyjaponic acid F methyl ester (9), and calyjaponic acid G methyl ester (10), were isolated along with one known ester (4). Their structures were characterized based on spectroscopic and chemical analyses. Compounds 3-8 had the same sugar moiety, α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 6)]-O-ß-D-glucopyranose, and the aglycones of 3-8 were methyl 3S,11S-dihydroxyhexadecanoate, methyl 3S,12S-dihydroxyhexadecanoate, methyl 11S-hydroxyhexadecanoate, methyl 11S-hydroxypentadecanoate, methyl 3S,11S-dihydroxypentadecanoate, and methyl 3S,12S-dihydroxypentadecanoate, respectively. Compounds 9 and 10 were derivatives of 3 and 4, respectively, in which the C-6 of the second glucosyl residue was methylated. Compounds 6-8 contained methyl esters of unusual odd-carbon fatty acids as aglycones. The cytotoxicity of the crude resin glycoside fraction and 3 against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells was evaluated further; both were either weakly active or inactive compared to the positive control, cisplatin.

Adverse effect of switching only once low-carbohydrate diet to high-carbohydrate diet on postprandial glucose concentration in healthy women.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to evaluate the acute effect of switching low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) to high-carbohydrate diet (HCD) on glycemic parameters in healthy women. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Twen-ty-two women (age 21.7±4.0 years; HbA1c 5.3±0.3 %, mean±SD) wore flash glucose monitoring system and consumed test meals for 3 days from Day 4 to 6. Participants consumed identical HCD meals except LCD dinner on Day 5. The energy ratio of carbohydrate, fat, and protein were 64%, 21%, and 15% for HCD and 47%, 35%, and 18% for Day 5 with LCD dinner (19%, 59%, and 22%). RESULTS: The incremental glucose peak (IGP, both p<0.001) and incremental area under the curve for glucose (IAUC, both p<0.001) 3h of LCD dinner were all sig-nificantly lower than those of HCD dinner on Day 4 and 6. However, after consuming LCD dinner on Day 5, IGP breakfast (2.33±0.15 vs 1.71±0.15 mmo/L, p<0.01), IGP lunch (3.31±0.25 vs 2.54±0.18 mol/L, p<0.01), IAUC 3h of breakfast (210±18 vs 136±14 mmol/L×min, p<0.001), mean blood glucose (5.72±0.11 vs 5.40±0.11 mmol/L, p<0.01), and standard deviation (1.11±0.06 vs 0.88±0.04 mmol/L, p<0.01) on Day 6 were all signifi-cantly higher than those of corresponding meals before LCD dinner on Day 4, in spite of consuming all identical HCD meals. The glycemic parameters returned to the levels before consuming LCD on Day 7. CONCLUSIONS: Consuming LCD only once is enough to cause 24-h higher postprandial blood glucose concentration in subse-quent consumption of HCD in healthy women.

Eating Fast Has a Significant Impact on Glycemic Excursion in Healthy Women: Randomized Controlled Cross-Over Trial.

Epidemiological studies have shown that self-reported fast eating increases the risk of diabetes and obesity. Our aim was to evaluate the acute effect of fast eating on glycemic parameters through conducting a randomized controlled cross-over study with young healthy women. Nineteen healthy women wore a flash glucose monitoring system for 6 days. Each participant consumed identical test meals with a different eating speed of fast eating (10 min) or slow eating (20 min) on the 4th or the 5th day. The daily glycemic parameters were compared between the 2 days. The mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE; fast eating 3.67 ± 0.31 vs. slow eating 2.67 ± 0.20 mmol/L, p < 0.01), incremental glucose peak (IGP; breakfast 2.30 ± 0.19 vs. 1.71 ± 0.12 mmol/L, p < 0.01, lunch 4.06 ± 0.33 vs. 3.13 ± 0.28 mmol/L, p < 0.01, dinner 3.87 ± 0.38 vs. 2.27 ± 0.27 mmol/L, p < 0.001), and incremental area under the curve for glucose of dinner 2 h (IAUC; 256 ± 30 vs. 128 ± 18 mmol/L × min, p < 0.001) for fast eating were all significantly higher than those for slow eating. The results suggest that fast eating is associated with higher glycemic excursion in healthy women.

Tomato juice preload has a significant impact on postprandial glucose concentration in healthy women: A randomized cross-over trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to evaluate the effect of consuming tomato juice before carbohydrate on postprandial glucose concentrations in healthy women. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: In this randomized controlled cross-over study, 25 healthy women (age 21.6±3.8 years, HbA1c 5.3±0.2 %, mean±SD) consumed either 200 g of tomato juice, tomato, or water (control) at 30 min before consuming 200 g of boiled white rice at 9:00 and consumed identical lunch at 13:00 for 3 days. The blood glucose concentrations were measured by selfmonitoring blood glucose at 0, 30, 45, 60, 90, 150, and 210 min pre- and post-breakfast, and at 0, 30, 60, 120, 150, and 180 min pre- and post-lunch. The concentration of postprandial glucose, incremental glucose peak (IGP), and incremental area under the curve for glucose after the test meals were compared among 3 days. RESULTS: Incremental blood glucose concentrations at 60 min (2.32±0.16 vs 2.97±0.19 mmol/L, p<0.05, mean±SEM), 90 min (2.36±0.23 vs 3.23±0.24 mmol/L, p<0.01), and IGP (2.77±0.19 vs 3.68±0.22 mmol/L, p<0.001) in consuming tomato juice 30 min before carbohydrate were all significantly lower than those of water, while IGP of consuming tomato was tended to be lower than that of water (2.82±0.19 mmolL, p=0.023). No significant difference was observed in glycaemic parameters after consuming lunch among 3 days. CONCLUSIONS: Consuming tomato juice half hour before carbohydrate ameliorates the postprandial blood glucose concentrations, although total amounts of energy and carbohydrate of tomato juice are higher than those of water.

Late-night-dinner deteriorates postprandial glucose and insulin whereas consuming dinner dividedly ameliorates them in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized crossover clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study is to explore the acute effect of consuming dinner at different timing on postprandial glucose and hormone in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Eight patients (age 70.8±1.9 years, HbA1c 7.6±0.6 %, BMI 23.3±3.2, mean±SD) were randomly assigned in this crossover study. Patients consumed the test meals of dinner at 18:00 on the first day, and dinner at 21:00 or divided dinner (vegetable and rice at 18:00 and vegetable and the main dish at 21:00) on the second or third day. Postprandial glucose, insulin, glucagon, free fatty acid (FFA), active glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and active glucose- dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) concentration after dinner were evaluated. RESULTS: Both incremental area under the curve (IAUC) 2h for glucose and insulin were higher in dinner at 21:00 than those in dinner at 18:00 (IAUC glucose: 449±83 vs 216±43 mmol/L×min, p<0.01, IAUC insulin:772±104 vs 527±107 µU/mL×min, p<0.01, mean±SEM). However, in divided dinner both IAUC 4h for glucose and insulin tended to be lower than those of dinner at 21:00 (IAUC glucose: 269±76 mmol/L×min, p=0.070, IAUC insulin: 552±114 µU/mL×min, p=0.070). IAUC of active GLP-1 and active GIP demonstrated no difference among different dinner regimen. CONCLUSIONS: Consuming late-night-dinner (21:00) deteriorates postprandial glucose and insulin compared with those of early-evening-dinner (18:00) whereas consuming dinner dividedly ameliorates them.

Cylindrical macrocyclic compounds synthesized by connecting two bowl-shaped calix[3]aramide moieties: structures and chiroptical properties.

Calix[3]aramide-based macrocycles 1 were successfully synthesized by a Glaser coupling reaction of two meta-calix[3]aramide moieties that have three ethynyl groups. The obtained macrocycles have stereoisomers: an enantiomeric pair and a meso form based on a combination of amide bond directions in the calix[3]aramide moieties at both ends of the molecule. Characteristic absorption spectra derived from the 1,4-diphenylbutadiyne structure were observed, while their ECD spectra were mirror-images. Single-crystal X-ray analysis revealed that each stereoisomer had a cylindrical rigid shape, and the absolute structure of the chiral-form was also assigned by comparing the Flack parameters. Mirror-image VCD spectra were observed for the enantiomeric chiral forms, and a VCD signal pattern of one enantiomer corresponded to that predicted by the relationship between the dihedral angle of the pair of C[double bond, length as m-dash]O groups.

Synthesis and chiroptical properties of cylindrical macrocycles comprising two calix[3]aramide moieties.

Calix[3]aramide-based cylindrical macrocycles were synthesized by the one-step amide coupling reaction of a monomer containing two meta-alkylaminobenzoic acid units linked by para-phenylene bridges. The major products included a meso-form and an enantiomeric pair, with stereochemistry derived from the direction of the amide bonds and their fixed conformation. Mirror-image ECD, VCD, and CPL spectra were observed in the enantiomeric pair and the absolute structure was determined by comparing measured and calculated ECD and VCD spectra.

Assessment of nasal septum after Le Fort I osteotomy with computer tomography.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Le Fort I osteotomy on nasal septum deviation and differences in left and right airway sizes, and to determine whether the nasal septum was affected by differences in the direction of movement. Forty patients underwent conventional Le Fort I osteotomy, and computed tomography (CT) was performed preoperatively, and 1 week and 1 year postoperatively. The nasal septum angle and airway area were measured at the anterior, middle, and posterior positions on the CT images Patients were divided into 2 groups depending on each difference in movement (impaction ≥5 mm or other; anterior movement or other; and impaction asymmetry or other). There were no significant differences in the nasal septum angle and the airway of all patients. Among the patient groups, there were no significant differences in the nasal septum angle and airway. We concluded that conventional LI osteotomy did not influence the nasal septum deviation or the left and right airway asymmetry. Differences in the method of moving the maxilla have not been shown to affect changes in the nasal septum.

Chiral Nanoparticles/Lewis Acids as Cooperative Catalysts for Asymmetric 1,4-Addition of Arylboronic Acids to α,ß-Unsaturated Amides.

Cooperative catalysts consisting of chiral Rh/Ag nanoparticles and Sc(OTf)3 have been developed that catalyze asymmetric 1,4-addition reactions of arylboronic acids with α,ß-unsaturated amides efficiently. The reaction has been considered one of the most challenging reactions because of the low reactivity of the amide substrates. The new catalysts provide the desired products with outstanding enantioselectivities (>98 % ee) in the presence of low loadings (<0.5 mol %) of the catalyst.

Epigallocatechin gallate changes mRNA expression level of genes involved in cholesterol metabolism in hepatocytes.

Catechins, compounds derived from green tea, have been shown to improve cholesterol metabolism in animal studies, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this function have not been fully understood. We performed DNA microarray analysis in order to clarify the effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the dominant catechin in green tea, on cholesterol metabolism in HepG2 hepatocytes. This revealed that the expression levels of several genes related to cholesterol metabolism, including the LDL receptor, were changed by EGCG treatment. Using a real-time PCR technique, we confirmed that EGCG treatment up-regulated mRNA expression level of the LDL receptor. Moreover, EGCG decreased extracellular apoB levels. These findings indicated that EGCG improves cholesterol metabolism through the up-regulation of LDL receptor and also reduces extracellular apoB levels.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/apolipoprotein B ratio may be a useful index that differs in statin-treated patients with and without coronary artery disease: a case control study.

Low density lipoproteins (LDLs) are heterogeneous aggregations of molecules of different particle sizes, and small-size LDLs are more potent risk factors for atherosclerosis. We examined the qualitative characteristics of LDLs in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) receiving statin therapy. LDL-particle size was estimated based on the LDL-cholesterol/apolipoprotein B ratio (LDL-C/apoB) in 214 age-adjusted men receiving statin therapy. The LDL-C/apoB ratio was significantly lower in the CAD (+) group (n = 107) than in the CAD (-) group (n = 107) (median, 1.17 versus 1.19, P = 0.0095). LDL-C/apoB was significantly lower in patients with serum TG ≥ 150 mg/dL than in those with serum TG < 150 mg/dL, and in patients with serum HDL-C < 40 mg/dL than in those with serum HDL-C ≥ 40 mg/dL (1.06 versus 1.18, P = 0.012; 1.08 versus 1.22, P = 0.0023). Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that elevated serum TG was an independent predictor for smaller sizes of LDLs, both in the overall subjects (ß : -0.165, P = 0.02) as well as in the subset with serum LDL-C < 100 mg/dL (ß : -0.252, P = 0.011). This study demonstrated that not only the absolute serum LDL-C level, but also the qualitative characteristics of LDL may be monitored for secondary prevention of CAD. Such monitoring is particularly important in patients with elevated serum TG levels, which is associated with smaller sizes of LDL-particles.

Objective and non-invasive evaluation of dry mouth.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the moisture checker (MucusIII), a new device for measuring moisture of the oral submucosa. METHODS: Defective salivary secretion was induced by sialoadenectomy (n=8), while the remaining five guinea pigs underwent sham surgery (control group). We measured the unstimulated salivary flow rate, wetness of the oral mucosa using the oral tester (L-SALIVO) and moisture of the submucosa of the tongue using MucusIII. All tests were performed before (baseline) and 1 month after surgery. RESULTS: Sialoadenectomy significantly reduced both the salivary flow rate and the tester reading at 10 and at 30s (p<0.01). The vale due to the MucusIII as significantly reduced in animals with sialoadenectomy (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The MucusIII is a device for objective evaluation of the moisture of the oral cavity.

Occult neoplastic cells in the lymph node sinuses and recurrence of primary breast, lung, esophageal, and gastric cancer.

The correlation between detection of occult neo-plastic cells (ONCs) in lymph node sinuses and the recurrence/metastasis of primary breast, lung, esophageal, and gastric cancer was examined. Among patients with Stage I-III cancer treated by radical resection with dissection of at least 10 lymph nodes, 40 patients who suffered recurrence/metastasis within 5 years post-operatively and 94 patients who did not have recurrence within 5 years were randomly selected. A total of 1,340 lymph nodes were subjected to immunohistochemical staining for cytokeratin to identify ONCs. Then the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of ONCs were determined for predicting the recurrence of each cancer. These parameters were respectively 40.0, 75.9, 62.4, and 55.8% for breast cancer, while the respective values were 50.0, 77.4, 68.9, and 60.8% for lung, 57.1, 64.3, 61.5, and 60.0% for esophageal, and 68.8, 65.0, 66.3, and 67.5% for gastric cancer. All of the parameters exceeded 65% for gastric cancer. ONCs also showed a high specificity for breast and lung cancer, but both the sensitivity and specificity were low for esophageal cancer.

Improvement of 10-year survival by Japanese radical lymph node dissection in patients with Dukes' B and C colorectal cancer: a 17-year retrospective study.

This study investigated whether the Japanese radical lymph node dissection (J-LND) method was useful for improving the survival and outcome in patients undergoing surgical resection of primary colorectal cancer. The subjects were 434 patients with primary colorectal cancer treated over 17 years. The 10-year survival (10-YS), the number of retrieved and metastatic lymph nodes (LN), the extent of lymph node dissection (D0-D3), and the extent of lymph node metastasis (n0-n4) were compared with Dukes' classification by the Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank test and multivariate analysis. Patients with a D number larger than their n number (D>n group) were defined as being treated according to J-LND principles, while those with a D number equal to their n number were used as controls (D=n group). Among Dukes' B patients, there was a significant difference of 10-YS between those with retrieval of > or =17 LN or < or =16 LN (p=0.0106). Among Dukes' C patients, a significant difference of 10-YS was observed between those with 1 metastatic node or > or =3 metastatic LN (p=0.0401). A significant difference of 10-YS was also noted between Dukes' C patients with D>n or D=n (p=0.0282). Multivariate analysis showed that retrieval of < or =16 LN (HR=9.051) and intramural invasion (se,si/a2,ai; HR=6.313) were independent determinants of 10-YS in Dukes' B patients, while D=n (HR=2.354) and > or =3 metastatic LN (HR=2.210) were independent determinants in Dukes' C patients. These results suggest that the J-LND method should be performed to retrieve at least 17 nodes when serosal dimpling of the primary tumor is observed during surgery. Effective post-operative adjuvant therapy, such as combination chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, should be provided for Dukes' C patients with D=n and/or > or =3 metastatic nodes on histopathological examination.

Is temporary loop colostomy of the right transverse colon appropriate for complete obstruction by colorectal cancer?

We experienced 12 consecutive cases of complete bowel obstruction due to primary colorectal cancer. Among these patients, temporary loop colostomy (loop C) was performed within the resection zone for the primary tumor in 10 cases, and Hartmann's operation was performed in two cases. The loop C was located in the sigmoid colon in five cases and on the left side of the transverse colon in five cases. The interval until radical resection was from 13 to 35 days (mean: 20 days), the duration of surgery was from 2 h 5 min to 4 h 55 min (mean: 4 h 7 min), and the length of resected bowel ranged from 22.5 cm to 51.2 cm (mean: 29.8 cm). Mild wound infection was observed in two cases. Dukes' clinical stage was as follows: A in 0 case, B in 5 cases, C in 6 cases and D (distant metastasis) in 1 case. We have achieved good results over the past two years without performing standard loop C on the right side of the transverse colon.