Identification and evaluation of antioxidants in Japanese parsley

Two cultivars of Japanese parsley were harvested in different seasons; their antioxidant capacities were evaluated by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) methods, and the contents of hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants were compared. Japanese parsley possessed potent antioxidant capacities both in hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts when evaluated by ORAC methods. LC/MS/MS analyses revealed that chlorogenic acid and four kinds of quercetin glycosides were major antioxidants in the hydrophilic extract. Lutein was the main contributor to the antioxidant capacity of the lipophilic extract. Antioxidant capacities of the hydrophilic extracts of both cultivars tended to be higher in winter because of the increase in the contents of chlorogenic acid and quercetin glycosides. An obvious trend in the lipophilic antioxidant capacities or lutein contents was not observed irrespective of the cultivar.     

CROSSOVER COMPARISON BETWEEN THE DEPRESSOR EFFECTS OF LOW AND HIGH WORK-RATE EXERCISE IN MILD HYPERTENSION

1. The relationship between work-rate and the antihypertensive effect of exercise in hypertensives, and the mechanism of that effect, were investigated by a crossover clinical trial. 2. Ten mild hypertensives were randomly divided into two groups. One group performed low work-rate exercise (LWE) on a cycle ergometer for 10 weeks (blood lactate threshold; ～50% of maximum oxygen consumption [V?_O2max]). After a 10 week interval without exercise training, these subjects were then switched to a high work-rate exercise (HWE) regimen (4 mmol/ L of blood lactate; ～75% of V?_O2max) for another 10 weeks. In the other group, the order of exercise training was reversed. Since two patients withdrew from the protocol during HWE periods, statistical analysis was performed on the data from the remaining eight patients. There were no order effects observed in any of the data from the two groups. 3. During both LWE and HWE, resting blood pressure (BP) fell significantly after the initiation of exercise therapy (P<0.05). Furthermore, the overall effects of 10 weeks of LWE and HWE on BP were not significantly different. 4. The work-rate at the lactate threshold, which reflects physical fitness, had increased significantly by 16 W (P<0.01) after the LWE period and by 11 W (P<0.01) after the HWE. 5. During the LWE period, changes in haemodynamic and humoral variables were not significant, except for a reduction in plasma norepinephrine at week 10 (P<0.05). In the HWE period, changes in haemodynamic and humoral variables were not significant. 6. Based on these findings, LWE is recommended for mild hypertensives because of its safety.     

Regeneration of the hamstring tendons after harvesting for arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a histological study in 11 patients

The purpose of our study is to evaluate whether the hamstring tendons can regrow after harvesting for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and whether the regenerate tissue can be histologically characterized as tendinous. Eleven of the patients (eight female and three male; mean age, 23 years; range 17–37 years) consented to participate in this study. One year after the ACL reconstruction, surgical biopsy was done. Regeneration of the tendon was detected macroscopically in 9 of the 11 patients. Histologically and immunohistochemically, the regenerated tendons closely resembled normal ones. The results of this study show the hamstring tendons can regenerate after harvesting for the ACL reconstruction.     

Measures of Explained Variation for a Regression Model Used in Survival Analysis

This paper describes a measure of explained variation (MEV) of survival times for a given regression model used in survival analysis. It quantifies the predictive power of a set of prognostic factors in the model, and therefore provides useful information for more precise prediction of patient prognosis, and for designing randomized clinical trials with the capability of determining treatment effects. The MEV defined in this article is asymptotically derived from the squared product-moment correlation; it can be interpreted as an adaptation of the multiple correlation coefficient for the normal linear model to the survival time regression model. Monte-Carlo simulations are performed to investigate the statistical behavior of the proposed MEV. The MEV is applied to estimate the predictive power of several sets of prognostic factors for gastric cancer in Japan using data from a large clinical trial.     

Action of Isoflurane on the Substantia Gelatinosa Neurons of the Adult Rat Spinal Cord

Background: Although isoflurane, a volatile anesthetic, can block the motor response to noxious stimulation (immobility and analgesia) and suppress autonomic responsiveness, how it exerts these effects at the neuronal level in the spinal cord is not fully understood.

Methods: The effects of a clinically relevant concentration (1 rat minimum alveolar concentration [MAC]) of isoflurane on electrically evoked and spontaneous excitatory/inhibitory transmission and on the response to exogenous administration of the [gamma]-aminobutyric acid type A receptor agonist muscimol were examined in lamina II neurons of adult rat spinal cord slices using the whole cell patch clamp technique. The effect of isoflurane on the action potential-generating membrane property was also examined.

Results: Bath-applied isoflurane (1.5%, 1 rat MAC) diminished dorsal root-evoked polysynaptic but not monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic currents. Glutamatergic miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents were also unaffected by isoflurane. In contrast, isoflurane prolonged the decay phase of evoked and miniature [gamma]-aminobutyric acid type A receptor-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents and increased the amplitude of the muscimol-induced current. Isoflurane had little effect on action potential discharge activity.     

A case of recurrent gastric cancer successfully treated with a combination of cisplatin and carmofur

A 51-year-old man with recurrent gastric cancer was treated by combined administration of Cisplatin and Carmofur. The target sites were the abdominal lymph nodes and the area of invasion to the stomach. Cisplatin (50 mg/body/day) was given for 3 days, while Carmofur (400-800 mg/body/day) was administered daily in 1 course. After 1 course of administration, the target tumor was reduced in size and the therapy was continued. A complete response was confirmed by upper gastrointestinal roentgenography, endoscopy and echography after 8 courses of Cisplatin administration. The patient has survived for 2 years 6 months in a state of CR. This case suggests that a combination therapy of Cisplatin and Fluoropyrimidine derivatives might be effective for gastric cancer.