Wavelength-sensitive photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange in aqueous suspension over iron(III)-doped TiO2 nanopowders under UV and visible light irradiation.

Well-crystallized iron(III)-doped TiO2 nanopowders with controlled Fe3+ doping concentration and uniform dopant distribution, have been synthesized with plasma oxidative pyrolysis. The photocatalytic reactivity of the synthesized TiO2 nanopowders with a mean particle size of 50-70 nm was quantified in terms of the degradation rates of methyl orange (MO) in aqueous TiO2 suspension under UV (mainly 365 and 316 nm) and visible light irradiation (mainly 405 and 436 nm). The photodecomposition of MO over TiO2 nanopowders followed a distinct two-stage pseudo first order kinetics. Interestingly, the photocatalytic reactivity depends not only on the iron doping concentration but also on the wavelength of the irradiating light. Under UV irradiation, nominally undoped TiO2 had much higher reactivity than Fe3+ -doped TiO2, suggesting that Fe3+ doping (> 0.05 at. %) in TiO2 with a mean particle size of approximately 60 nm was detrimental to the photocatalytic decomposition of methyl orange. Whereas, under visible light irradiation, the Fe3+ -doped TiO2 with an intermediate iron doping concentration of approximately 1 at. % had the highest photocatalytic reactivity due to the narrowing of band gap so that it could effectively absorb the light with longer wavelength. A strategy for improving the photocatalytic reactivity of Fe3+ -doped TiO2 used in the visible light region is also proposed.

Pyrogenic iron(III)-doped TiO2 nanopowders synthesized in RF thermal plasma: phase formation, defect structure, band gap, and magnetic properties.

Iron(III)-doped TiO(2) nanopowders, with controlled iron to titanium atomic ratios (R(Fe/Ti)) ranging from nominal 0 to 20%, were synthesized using oxidative pyrolysis of liquid-feed metallorganic precursors in a radiation-frequency (RF) thermal plasma. The valence of iron doped in the TiO(2), phase formation, defect structures, band gaps, and magnetic properties of the resultant nanopowders were systematically investigated using Mössbauer spectroscopy, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, TEM/HRTEM, UV-vis spectroscopy, and measurements of magnetic properties. The iron doped in TiO(2) was trivalent (3+) in a high-spin state as determined by the isomer shift and quadrupole splitting from the Mössbauer spectra. No other phases except anatase and rutile TiO(2) were identified in the resultant nanopowders. Interestingly, thermodynamically metastable anatase predominated in the undoped TiO(2) nanopowders, which can be explained from a kinetic point of view based on classical homogeneous nucleation theory. With iron doping, the formation of rutile was strongly promoted because rutile is more tolerant than anatase to the defects such as oxygen vacancies resulting from the substitution of Fe(3+) for Ti(4+) in TiO(2). The concentration of oxygen vacancies reached a maximum at R(Fe/Ti) = 2% above which excessive oxygen vacancies tended to concentrate. As a result of this concentration, an extended defect like crystallographic shear (CS) structure was established. With iron doping, red shift of the absorption edges occurred in addition to the d-d electron transition of iron in the visible light region. The as-prepared iron-doped TiO(2) nanopowders were paramagnetic in nature at room temperature.

[A study of hypertriglyceridemia occurring in patients with chronic hepatitis C during administration of interferon beta].

The prevalence and risk factors of hypertriglyceridemia during the administration of interferon (IFN) were examined in 78 patients with chronic hepatitis C who were treated with 6 MU of IFN-beta once or 3 MU of IFN-beta twice a day for 6 weeks. Hypertriglyceridemia (serum triglyceride (TG) above 150 mg/dl) was found before the start of IFN treatment in 9% of the patients. During the administration of IFN, elevation of serum TG above 150 mg/dl was found in 82% of patients. In addition, serum TG level exceeded 500 mg/dl at least once during the administration of IFN in 13% of patients. On stepwise multiple regression analysis, three risk factors, high serum TG value before the administration of IFN, high ALT value before the administration of IFN, and divided administration of IFN-beta twice daily were found to be associated with hypertriglyceridemia during IFN administration.

[Percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma--study on its therapeutic effect in surgical cases].

Six patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were subjected to percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy (PMCT) by ultrasonic guiding. The size of the main tumor in the present cases was limited to not more than 2 cm. From 18 to 48 days after PMCT, each patient was subjected to surgery and pathological examination. By macroscopic observation, the PMCT area including both non-tumor and tumor regions looked yellowish white, and the boundary was clearly recognized. In the histological examination, the coagulation area surrounded by fibrous capsule was found, and deletion of nuclei and changes in stainability were observed in the marginal region. These changes indicated obvious coagulation necrosis, but the changes became less intense toward the center in the area, and in some portions, the tissue was indistinguishable from viable cells by light microscopy. In 2 cases out of the 6, part of the tumor remained outside the coagulation area. Since only the area determined by the microwave electrode is coagulated to cause necrosis on PMCT, sufficient safety margin should be required.

Duration of anti-cholecystokinin (CCK) action on the rat exocrine pancreas of new CCK receptor antagonist FK480 administered orally.

We assessed the duration of the anti-cholecystokinin (CCK) action of FK480, a new non-peptide CCK-A receptor antagonist developed in Japan, in an in vivo study in rats, comparing it with CR 1505. Pancreatic exocrine secretion stimulated by intravenous infusion of CCK-8 (0.06 microgram/kg per h) was measured at intervals of 0-24 h after the oral administration of FK480 (1.5 mg/kg) and CR 1505 (30 mg/kg). FK480 significantly inhibited both CCK-stimulated pancreatic juice volume flow and amylase output 0, 4, 8, and 12 h after oral administration, whereas the inhibitory effect of CR 1505 had completely disappeared by 8 h after oral administration. It was concluded that orally administered FK480 has a prolonged anti-CCK action.

Effect of a novel cholecystokinin receptor antagonist, FK480, administered intraduodenally, on pancreatic secretion in rats.

The effect of a new cholecystokinin (CCK)-A receptor antagonist, FK480, developed in Japan, on pancreatic exocrine secretion stimulated by exogenous CCK and intraduodenal casein was investigated in vivo when administered to anesthetized rats intraduodenally, and its CCK antagonistic activity was compared with that of CR 1505. Intraduodenal administration of FK480 at graded doses of 0.0016-1.0 mg/kg-h produced dose-dependent inhibition of pancreatic juice volume and amylase output stimulated by intravenous infusion of CCK-8 at a dose of 0.06 micrograms/kg-h. The half-maximal inhibitory dose (ID50) of FK480 for CCK-8-stimulated amylase secretion was 0.025 mg/kg-h, whereas the ID50 of CR 1505 was 5.2 mg/kg-h, indicating that FK480 is 208 times more potent than CR 1505. Moreover, intraduodenal FK480 (0.2 mg/kg-h) significantly suppressed pancreatic juice volume and amylase output augmented by intraduodenal infusion of casein (400 mg/h). It is concluded that FK480 administered intraduodenally has a significant, potent inhibitory action on the exocrine pancreas stimulated by exogenous CCK and intraduodenal casein.

A new CCK-A antagonist, KSG-504, administered intraduodenally, inhibits pancreatic secretion in rats.

We studied the effect in anesthetized rats of a new cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonist developed in Japan, KSG-504, administered intraduodenally, on pancreatic exocrine secretion stimulated by exogenous CCK and intraduodenal casein. Intraduodenal administration of KSG-504 in graded doses of 2.5-50 mg/kg/h produced dose-dependent inhibition of pancreatic juice volume and amylase output stimulated by intravenous infusion of CCK-8 in a dose of 0.06 micrograms/kg/h. The ID50 (half-maximal inhibition dose) of KSG-504 for CCK-8-stimulated amylase secretion was 3.4 mg/kg/h. Moreover, intraduodenal KSG-504 (5 and 25 mg/kg/h) dose dependently suppressed pancreatic juice volume, and amylase output increased with intraduodenal infusion of casein (400 mg/h). It is concluded that KSG-504 administered intraduodenally has a significant, potent inhibitory action on the exocrine pancreas stimulated by exogenous CCK and intraduodenal casein.

Potentiating effect of CCK and secretin on rat exocrine pancreas and its cholinergic dependence.

We investigated whether physiological doses of cholecystokinin (CCK) potentiate the stimulating effect of a physiological dose of secretin on exocrine pancreatic secretion, and the effect of atropine on this potentiating action in rats. Pure pancreatic juice was collected from anesthetized rats prepared by pancreatic duct and bile duct cannulation. Intravenous infusion of CCK-8 in three different doses, 0.03, 0.06, and 0.12 micrograms/kg/h, significantly increased pancreatic juice volume and amylase output, dose-dependently. Simultaneous infusion of CCK-8 in graded doses with secretin in a dose of 0.03 CU/kg/h, produced a dose-related increase in pancreatic secretory response significantly greater than the response to CCK-8 alone (p less than 0.05) and greater than the sum of the response to secretin alone and CCK-8 alone. The incremental pancreatic secretion, including juice volume and amylase output, in response to intravenous infusion of CCK-8 with secretin, was significantly suppressed by intravenous administration of atropine in a dose of 100 micrograms/kg/h (p less than 0.01). Thus, it is concluded that CCK-8 and secretin in physiological doses potentiate each other's stimulatory action on exocrine pancreatic secretion and this potentiating action appears to be cholinergic-dependent.

Secretin as a potential mediator of antiulcer actions of mucosal protective agents.

Recently, we have reported that several nonacid agents including phenylpentol, methanol extract of licorice root (FM 100), plaunotol, and teprenon stimulate release of endogenous secretin in humans, dogs, and rats. The latter three are antiulcer agents developed in Japan that have a protective effect on the gastric mucosa. We have clearly shown that plaunotol inhibits postprandial gastrin release and gastric acid secretion that parallel the increase in plasma secretin concentration. It has also been recently demonstrated that the secretin-induced inhibition of gastric acid secretion in rats is completely blocked by indomethacin, a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis. It appears that the inhibitory action of secretin on gastric acid secretion is mediated mainly by endogenous prostaglandins. Because the three antiulcer agents FM 100, plaunotol, and teprenon have been shown to increase the content of endogenous prostaglandins in the gastric mucosa, endogenous secretin released by these agents may play a significant role in their mucosal protective action. It is concluded that the antiulcer effect of these drugs could in part be attributable to their unique ability to release endogenous secretin, and that secretin is a potential mediator of the antiulcer actions of mucosal protective agents.

Fecal isoamylase activity in patients with pancreatic diseases.

Fecal isoamylase activity was studied in 93 consecutive patients (26 in the recovery stage of acute pancreatitis, 24 with chronic pancreatitis, 13 with pancreatic cancer, and 30 with other gastrointestinal diseases) and compared with fecal chymotrypsin activity and the results of the secretin test. Seventy-six healthy subjects were studied as controls. Both pancreatic (p)-type and salivary (s)-type isoamylase activities in stool were determined by inhibitor assay as well as cellulose acetate electrophoresis. The mean fecal amylase activity in healthy subjects was 757 +/- 88 IU/g (p-type isoamylase: 77 +/- 2%, s-type isoamylase: 23 +/- 2%). There was a good correlation between fecal p-type isoamylase and chymotrypsin activities (r = 0.625, p less than 0.001). Fecal p-type isoamylase activity in patients with chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer was significantly lower than in healthy subjects (p less than 0.001). Patients with moderate and severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency as determined by the secretin test had significantly lower fecal p-type isoamylase activity. Daily fat intake did not affect fecal amylase or isoamylase activities. Fecal s-type isoamylase activity in patients with hypoacidity was significantly higher than in patients with hyperacidity, but no difference in fecal p-type isoamylase activity was observed. It is concluded that analysis of fecal isoamylase activity is useful in the assessment of pancreatic function.

[Influence of gastric juice on human amylase activity].

Although it is well established that amylase activity is inactivated by acid, little is known about the influence of native gastric juice on amylase activity. We investigated the effect of gastric juice, acid, and pepsin on both pancreatic (P-) and salivary (S-) isoamylase activities in vitro. S- and P-isoamylase activities were completely inactivated by HCl (10 mEq/l), but 20% of each isoamylase activity remained when bovine serum albumin (BSA) (3%) was added. However pepsin (0.2 tyrosine mg/ml/min) inactivated both isoamylase activities even though BSA was added. When saliva or pancreatic juice was mixed with gastric juice, both isoamylase activities were detected until the mixing ratio was 3:7 (gastric juice:saliva or pancreatic juice, v/v). It is suggested that some of both isoamylase activities could survive after exposure to gastric juice in the stomach and duodenum, depending on the concentrations of acid and protein in gastric juice, and mixing ratio to gastric juice.

Role of secretin and cholecystokinin in oleic acid-stimulated pancreatic secretion in rats.

We investigated the possible role of endogenous secretin and cholecystokinin (CCK) on oleic acid-stimulated pancreatic exocrine secretion in anesthetized rats. Intraduodenal infusion of oleic acid (pH 6.5) in three different doses (0.06, 0.25 and 1 mmole/hr) resulted in dose-related increases in pancreatic juice volume, bicarbonate and amylase outputs (r = 0.665, 0.736 and 0.517, respectively) (P less than 0.001). Plasma secretin and CCK concentrations also elevated significantly in response to oleic acid, in a dose-related manner (r = 0.721 and 0.546, respectively) (P less than 0.001). There were statistically significant correlations between plasma secretin concentrations and bicarbonate outputs, and between plasma CCK concentrations and amylase outputs in response to oleic acid (P less than 0.01). Potent CCK antagonist, CR 1409 (5 mg/kg.hr) administered intravenously suppressed completely increase in amylase output induced by oleic acid, and partially in juice volume and bicarbonate output. It is concluded that both endogenous secretin and CCK play important roles on oleic acid-induced pancreatic secretion in rats.

[Potentiating effect of secretin on cholecystokinin-stimulated exocrine pancreatic secretion in rats].

The potentiating effect of secretin on cholecystokinin (CCK)-stimulated exocrine pancreatic secretion was studied in anesthetized rats. Intravenous infusion of CCK-8 in three different doses of 0.03, 0.06 and 0.12 micrograms/kg-hr increased pancreatic secretion of volume, bicarbonate, amylase and trypsin outputs dose-dependently. Simultaneous infusion of CCK-8 with secretin in a dose of 0.03 CU/kg-hr produced statistically greater pancreatic secretion of volume, bicarbonate, amylase and trypsin outputs than that by CCK-8 alone, and than the sum by secretin alone and CCK-8 alone in each dose. Proglumide (600 mg/kg-hr) significantly suppressed exocrine pancreatic secretion produced by CCK-8 (0.06 micrograms/kg-hr) plus secretin (0.03 CU/kg-hr), to the level induced by secretin alone. These results indicate that CCK-8 increased pancreatic secretion dose-dependently, and secretin in a physiological dose potentiates the stimulating effect of CCK-8 on exocrine pancreatic secretion in rats.

[Inhibitory effect of CR 1409 (cholecystokinin antagonist) on pancreatic exocrine secretion in rats].

New cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor antagonist, CR 1409 (lorglumide), was evaluated for anti-CCK activity on pancreatic exocrine secretion in anesthetized rats in vivo, compared with proglumide. Both CR 1409 in a dose range of 0.04-25 mg/kg-hr and proglumide in a dose range of 30-600 mg/kg-hr given intravenously, showed significant inhibitory effect on pancreatic secretion in terms of juice volume and amylase output stimulated by intravenous CCK-8 (0.06 micrograms/kg-hr), in a dose-related manner. CR 1409 is about 1000 times more potent than proglumide, based on ED 50. Furthermore, intravenous administration of either CR 1409 (5 mg/kg-hr) or proglumide (600 mg/kg-hr) resulted in significant suppression on pancreatic secretion stimulated by intraduodenal casein in a dose of 400 mg/hr. Thus, very potent CCK receptor antagonist, CR 1409, inhibited pancreatic exocrine secretion stimulated by not only exogenous CCK, but also intraduodenal casein in rats.

Effect of plaunotol on release of plasma secretin and pancreatic exocrine secretion in humans.

Plaunotol, an acyclic diterpene alcohol is a new antiulcer agent derived from the leaves of the plau-noi plant. We investigated the effect of plaunotol on the release of endogenous secretin with radioimmunoassay and exocrine pancreatic secretion, using a dye dilution technique with polyethylene glycol 4,000 as a nonabsorbable marker in eight human volunteers. Intrajejunal administration of plaunotol (pH 6.5) in three different doses (80, 160, and 320 mg/30 min) resulted in significant increases in both plasma secretin concentration and pancreatic bicarbonate secretion in a dose-related manner (r = 0.819 and 0.701, p less than 0.001, respectively). Bicarbonate outputs produced by plaunotol correlated well with plasma secretin concentrations (r = 0.727, p less than 0.001). Amylase output was also increased significantly by plaunotol. However, the response was not dose-dependent from that of bicarbonate output. These results indicate that endogenous secretin is released by plaunotol in humans and suggest that the increased pancreatic bicarbonate secretion can be attributed to the increased plasma secretin concentration.