Synthesis of low-phenylalanine polypeptides

Low-phenylalanine-peptides for dietotherapy of phenylketonuria (PKU) were prepared from soybean protein isolate. Soluble fraction of soybean protein isolate was hydrolysed by α-chymotrypsin then followed by carboxypeptidase-A. Molecular weight distribution and amino acid analysis were made on the resultant polypeptides. The chymotrypsin hydrolysate was divided into two fractions, Fraction I (molecular weight > 2500) and Fraction II (molecular weight between 1000 and 2500). The phenylalanine content of Fraction I (3.1%) was lower than that of Fraction II (5%), indicating the nonuniform distribution of phenylalanine in soybean protein. Carboxypeptidase hydrolysis of Fraction I further reduced the phenylalanine concentration to 2.3%, approximately half of the original concentration in soybean protein isolate.     

Mechanical properties of chitosan films: Effect of solvent acid

The apparent Young's modulus shows a linear relationship with junction density of chitosan films. The linear relationship of apparent Young's modulus with chitosan concentration is also observed. The linear relationship depends of the acid used in the casting solution. Relaxation times were of the order of 10⁴ seconds, indicating a slow physical process. Stress-relaxation behavior of swollen chitosan films, prepared by solvent casting from dilute acetic or propionic acid solutions, can be represented by a one-component Maxwell model.     

Intermediate dose 5-fluorouracil-induced encephalopathy

As an acute neurotoxicity, high dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-inducedencephalopathy is well-known, but encephalopathy associatedwith lower dose is rarely reported. Here, we report a case ofa male with anal cancer who was treated with 5-FU 1000 mg/m²,continuous infusion for 5 days q4 weeks. At the second and thefourth cycles of chemotherapy, sudden confusion, cognitive dysfunctionand disorientation occurred during 5-FU infusion. They wereaccompanied by hyperammonemia in the absence of focal neurologicaldeficits or structural abnormalities. These symptoms completelydisappeared and the serum ammonia level returned to normal afterdiscontinuation of 5-FU and conservative care. In order to investigatea possible deficit of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD),we checked its mRNA level before and after treatment using real-timePCR. The patient's pre-treatment level was 80% compared withreference group, and it was elevated up to 187% of initial after5-FU treatment, implying that that his encephalopathy may be5-FU catabolite type rather than DPD deficiency. In conclusion,we report that encephalopathy can develop even with the doseof 5-FU lower than ever reported, and it should be consideredas a differential diagnosis for proper management.     

Relationship between inspiratory muscle strength and cough capacity in cervical spinal cord injured patients

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective single centre study. OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary rehabilitation focuses on improving the expiratory muscle function in order to increase the reduced cough capacity in patients with cervical spinal cord injuries (SCI). However, an improvement in the inspiratory function is also important for coughing effectively. Therefore, this study was to examine the significance of the inspiratory muscle strength on the cough capacity in the patients with a cervical SCI. SETTING: SCI unit, Yonsei Rehabilitation Hospital, Seoul, Korea. METHODS: The vital capacity (VC), maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) were measured. Moreover, the unassisted peak cough flow (PCF) and assisted PCF under three conditions were evaluated. RESULTS: All three assisted cough methods showed a significantly higher value than the unassisted method (P < 0.001). The VC correlated with the voluntary cough capacity and the MIP (R = 0.749) correlated more significantly with the VC than the MEP (R = 0.438) (P < 0.01). The MIP showed a higher correlation with both the unassisted PCF and all three assisted PCFs than the MEP (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The management of the inspiratory muscle strength should be considered in the pulmonary rehabilitation at cervical SCI patients.     

Clinical benefit of low molecular weight heparin for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor

The efficacy of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) with low dose unfractionated heparin (UFH) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with or without glycoprotein (Gp) IIb/IIIa inhibitor compared to UFH with or without Gp IIb/IIIa inhibitor has not been elucidated. Between October 2005 and July 2007, 2,535 patients with ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing PCI in the Korean Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (KAMIR) were assigned to either of two groups: a group with Gp IIb/IIIa inhibitor (n=476) or a group without Gp IIb/IIIa inhibitor (n=2,059). These groups were further subdivided according to the use of LMWH with low dose UFH (n=219) or UFH alone (n=257). The primary end points were cardiac death or myocardial infarction during the 30 days after the registration. The primary end point occurred in 4.1% (9/219) of patients managed with LMWH during PCI and Gp IIb/IIIa inhibitor and 10.8% (28/257) of patients managed with UFH and Gp IIb/IIIa inhibitor (odds ratio [OR], 0.290; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.132-0.634; P=0.006). Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) with major bleeding was observed in LMHW and UFH with Gp IIb/IIIa inhibitor (1/219 [0.5%] vs 1/257 [0.4%], P=1.00). For patients with STEMI managed with a primary PCI and Gp IIb/IIIa inhibitor, LMWH is more beneficial than UFH.