Spin Trapping Analysis of Radical Intermediates on the Thermo-Oxidative Degradation of Polypropylene.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the thermo-oxidative degradation behavior of polypropylene (PP) by comparing three types of pristine PP granules (consisting of homopolymer, random copolymer, and block copolymer) with their corresponding oxidized analogues. These analogues were intensely oxidized under oxygen at 90 °C for 1000 h by using the electron spin resonance (ESR) spin trapping method that can detect short-lived radical intermediates during the degradation. The degrees of oxidation could be evaluated by chemiluminescence (CL) intensity, which was related to the concentration of hydroperoxide groups generated in the PP chain. In the pristine PP samples, a small amount of hydroperoxides were found to be formed unintentionally, and their homolysis produces alkoxy radicals, RO•, which then undergo ß-scission to yield chain-end aldehydes or chain-end ketones. These oxidation products continue to take part in homolysis to produce their respective carbonyl and carbon radicals. On the other hand, in the oxidized PP granules, because of their much higher hydroperoxide concentration, the two-stage cage reaction and the bimolecular decomposition of hydroperoxides are energetically favorable. Carbonyl compounds are formed in both reactions, which are then homolyzed to form the carbonyl radical species, •C(O)-. PP homopolymer produced the largest amount of carbonyl radical spin adduct; thus, it was found that the homopolymer is most sensitive to oxygen attack, and the presence of ethylene units in copolymers enhances the oxidation resistance of PP copolymers.

Effects of a novel method for enteral nutrition infusion involving a viscosity-regulating pectin solution: A multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The initial complications associated with infusion of enteral nutrition (EN) for clinical and nutritional care are vomiting, aspiration pneumonia, and diarrhea. There are many recommendations to prevent these complications. A novel method involving a viscosity-regulating pectin solution has been demonstrated. In Japan, this method along with the other so-called "semi-solid EN" approaches has been widely used in practice. However, there has been no randomized clinical trial to prove the efficiency and safety of a viscosity-regulating pectin solution in EN management. Therefore, we planned and initiated a multicenter randomized controlled trial to determine the efficiency and safety. METHODS: This study included 34 patients from 7 medical institutions who participated. Institutional review board (IRB) approval was obtained from all participating institutions. Patients who required EN management were enrolled and randomly assigned to the viscosity regulation of enteral feeding (VREF) group and control group. The VREF group (n = 15) was managed with the addition of a viscosity-regulating pectin solution. The control group (n = 12) was managed with conventional EN administration, usually in a gradual step-up method. Daily clinical symptoms of pneumonia, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea; defecation frequency; and stool form were observed in the 2 week trial period. The dose of EN and duration of infusion were also examined. RESULTS: A favorable trend for clinical symptoms was noticed in the VREF group. No significant differences were observed in episodes of pneumonia, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea between the 2 groups. An apparent reduction in infusion duration and hardening of stool form were noted in the VREF group. CONCLUSIONS: The novel method involving a viscosity-regulating pectin solution with EN administration can be clinically performed safely and efficiently, similar to the conventional method. Moreover, there were benefits, such as improvement in stool form, a short time for EN infusion, and a reduction in vomiting episodes, with the use of the novel method. This indicates some potential advantages in the quality of life among patients receiving this novel method.

Cross Nucleation in Polyethylene with Precisely Spaced Ethyl Branches.

In cross nucleation, an early nucleating crystalline polymorph (A) nucleates another crystalline polymorph (B) of higher or lower thermodynamic stability without undergoing a polymorphic transformation. Although this phenomenon was recently observed in the crystallization process of several small molecules, there has been insufficient evidence for cross nucleation in a crystalline polymer. In this paper, we report cross nucleation behavior during an isothermal crystallization of a crystalline polymer with precisely spaced branches. Polyethylene with ethyl branches on every 21st carbon exhibited growth of new spherulites at the growth front of an initially formed spherulite. The radial growth rate of the initially formed spherulite and the newly grown spherulite calculated from polarized optical microscope data were 0.76 µm/min and 1.01 µm/min, respectively. The growth rate of the newly grown spherulite is faster than that of the initially formed spherulite, which meets a required condition for cross nucleation. Scanning microbeam wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) confirmed that the crystalline polymorphs of the two kinds of spherulites are not the same.

Quantitative analysis of survivin mRNA expression in bladder transitional cell carcinomas.

We assessed the expression levels of survivin mRNA in bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) to provide additional information regarding its malignant potential. The real-time PCR method was used to detect the survivin mRNA level for 21 bladder tumor specimens, and for urinary exfoliated cells from 12 newly diagnosed bladder tumor patients. All bladder tumor specimens and 7 of 12 voided urine specimens expressed survivin mRNA. In tumor specimens, high grade, high stage tumors had the tendency to express more survivin mRNA. Of 12 superficial bladder tumor patients who had transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURB), 3 showed high survivin mRNA expression and intravesical recurrence after the surgery. However, for the patients who had total cystectomy due to invasive tumor, no relations were observed between the survivin mRNA expression level and development of local recurrence and/or distant metastasis. Our results suggested that the quantitative analysis of the survivin mRNA may indicate local malignant potential, which contribute to the possibility of an intravesical recurrence.

[A clinical study of renal pelvic and ureteral cancer].

We investigated the clinicopathological features of 52 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of renal pelvic and/or ureter who underwent surgical treatment at Tokyo Medical University Hachioji Medical Center from April, 1992 to June, 2005. The patitents consisted of 38 males and 14 females, ranging from 29 to 86 years old with a median age of 68 years old. The mean follow-up period was 39 months. Pathologicaly, 32 cases were less than pT2 and 20 cases were pT3. Findings of lymphatic and venous invasion were present in 10 and 8 cases, respectively. The infiltration pattern (INF) of gamma was observed in 9 cases. The overall cause-specific survival rate was 95.8% at 1 year, 87.7% at 3 years and 80.6% at 5 years, respectively. According to univariate analysis, the high stage of tumor, the presence of lymphatic and/or venous invasion, the inclusion of infiltration pattern of gamma and positive reginonal lymph nodes indicated a significantly poor prognosis. On the other hand, multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards regression revealed the presence of infiltration pattern of gamma as the most significant predictor of survival.

[Early effect of non-surgical treatment using betamethasone valerate ointment for phimosis in childhood].

We evaluated the early efficacy of non-surgical treatment using 0.07% betamethasone valerate ointment on, 34 boys with phimosis between January 2001 and June 2005. Patients were treated with 0.07% betamethasone valerate ointment applied to the distal aspect of the prepuce every other day for 2-6 weeks. During the treatment period, patients were instructed to retract the foreskin to penis root without overstraining. The overall success rate was 94.1% and therapeutic effects were observed in 58.8% of the patients in two weeks. There were no medical side effects. Treatment using betamethasone valerate ointment is very effective, easy and safe. We recommend this treatment for patients with phimosis and/or those with recurring balanoposthitis.

[Inflammatory pseudotumor of the urinary bladder: a case report].

A 65-year-old female was referred to our hospital with a complaint of urinary retention and macrohematuria. Ultrasongraphy, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and cystoscopy revealed a 2 x 2 cm broad-based nonpapillary bladder tumor localized in the anterior wall of the urinary bladder. The clinical diagnosis was an invasive bladder tumor and transurethral resection of bladder tumor carried out for pathological investigation. Finally, we diagnosed it as inflammatory pseudotumor of urinary bladder. No local recurrence was seen 12 months after surgery. Inflammatory pseudotumor of urinary bladder is a relatively rare condition, and this is the 52nd case reported in the Japanese literature.

[Clinical evaluation of urinary NMP22 (nuclear matrix protein 22) bladder chek in the detection of patients with bladder cancer].

The clinical usefulness of the nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP22) Bladder Chek test as a novel urine marker in the detection of patients with bladder cancer was evaluated in comparison with the urinary NMP22 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and urinary cytology. A total of 40 patients with pathologically proven bladder cancer voided urine specimen before treatment. The urine samples were divided for NMP22 Bladder Chek test, NMP22 ELISA, and urinary cytology. In the 40 patients with bladder cancer, the overall positive rate was 62.5% for the NMP22 Bladder Chek test, 55% for the NMP22 ELISA test, and 27.5% for urine cytology. There was a significant difference between NMP22 Bladder Chek, NMP22 ELISA and cytology. The positive rate with the NMP22 Bladder Chek and NMP22 ELISA was higher in the patients with high grade and large-size (1 cm < or =) tumor. In 40 patients presenting with microhematuria without urothelial cancer, the false positive rate 12.5, 10, and 0% for NMP22 Bladder Chek, NMP22 ELISA, and urinary cytology. No significant difference was found with the test. In conclusion, the urine NMP22 Bladder Chek test provided a higher positive rate than the NMP22 ELISA test and urinary cytology. Therefore, the NMP22 Bladder Chek test may be clinically more useful as a tumor marker for the diagnosis of bladder cancer.

[Localized amyloidosis of the ureter: a case report].

A 46-year-old female was referred to our hospital with a complaint of left flank pain. Ultrasongraphy and computed tomography demonstrated a left hydronephroureter due to stenosis with a ureteral mass in the left lower ureter. Retrograde pyelography revealed severe stricture of left lower ureter and brushing cytology showed papanicolaou class III. Ureteral tumor was suspected and left nephroureterectomy with partial cystectomy was performed. Histopathological diagnosis was amyloidosis of the left ureter. There was no evidence of secondary or systemic amyloidosis. Finally, we diagnosed her with localized amyloidosis of the left ureter. Localized amyloidosis of the ureter is a relatively rare condition, and this is the 55th case reported in the Japanese literature.