Ozone microbubble treatment at various water temperatures for the removal of residual pesticides with negligible effects on the physical properties of lettuce and cherry tomatoes

In this study, the effects of ozone microbubbles (OMCB) treatment at various water temperatures on the removal of residual fenitrothion (FT) pesticides and on the physical properties of lettuce and cherry tomatoes was examined. The residual FT percentage in lettuce and cherry tomatoes was shown decreased by using higher water temperatures, particularly at 30 °C, resulting in a decrease within the range of 32% to 52%, after the 20-min treatment. In addition, bubbling OMCB treatment did not alter the color and pulling strength of lettuce and cherry tomatoes. These results indicate that bubbling OMCB treatment at 30 °C is a highly effective method for the removal of FT residues in lettuce and cherry tomatoes, with relatively little effect on crop quality.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

The bubbling OMCB has a potential of reducing the FT reduces on vegetables with no adverse effect on the sensory quality of vegetables.

Rationale, study design, baseline characteristics and blood pressure at 16 weeks in the HONEST Study

On the basis of the studies that investigated the relationship between baseline clinic blood pressure (CBP) or home blood pressure (HBP) values and cardiovascular (CV) events, HBP has been reported to have a stronger prognostic ability. However, few studies have compared the prognostic ability of on-treatment CBP and HBP. The relationship between on-treatment HBP, measured twice in the morning and twice at bedtime, and CV events was investigated in over 20 000 patients in the HONEST (Home blood pressure measurement with Olmesartan Naive patients to Establish Standard Target blood pressure) Study, a prospective, 2-year observational study of treatment with an angiotensin receptor blocker, olmesartan (OLM), in OLM-naive hypertensive patients. This report summarizes the study protocol, the baseline characteristics of the patients and CBP and HBP at 16 weeks. A total of 22 373 patients were registered across Japan; baseline data from 22 162 patients were collected. Baseline HBP (mean±s.d.) in the morning (the first measurement) was 151.6±16.4/87.1±11.8 mm Hg and at bedtime was 144.3±16.8/82.8±11.9 mm Hg, whereas CBP was 153.6±19.0/87.1±13.4 mm Hg. At 16 weeks, morning HBP was 135.0±13.7/78.8±9.9 mm Hg and bedtime HBP was 129.7±13.8/74.7±10.1 mm Hg, whereas CBP was 135.6±15.4/77.6±10.9 mm Hg. The follow-up period for each patient ends on 30 September 2012. The HONEST Study is expected to provide evidence showing the relationship between baseline and on-treatment CBP and HBP levels (both first and second measurements) and CV events.

Effects of olmesartan on renal and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes with overt nephropathy: a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled study

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

The renal and cardiovascular protective effects of angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) remain controversial in type 2 diabetic patients treated with a contemporary regimen including an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI).

METHODS

We examined the effects of olmesartan, an ARB, on primary composite outcome of doubling of serum creatinine, endstage renal disease and death in type 2 diabetic patients with overt nephropathy. Secondary outcome included composite cardiovascular outcomes, changes in renal function and proteinuria. Randomisation and allocation to trial group were carried out by a central computer system. Participants, caregivers, the people carrying out examinations and people assessing the outcomes were blinded to group assignment.

RESULTS

Five hundred and seventy-seven (377 Japanese, 200 Chinese) patients treated with antihypertensive therapy (73.5% [n = 424] received concomitant ACEI), were given either once-daily olmesartan (10-40 mg) (n = 288) or placebo (n = 289) over 3.2 ± 0.6 years (mean±SD). In the olmesartan group, 116 developed the primary outcome (41.1%) compared with 129 (45.4%) in the placebo group (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.75, 1.24; p = 0.791). Olmesartan significantly decreased blood pressure, proteinuria and rate of change of reciprocal serum creatinine. Cardiovascular death was higher in the olmesartan group than the placebo group (ten vs three cases), whereas major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death plus non-fatal stroke and myocardial infarction) and all-cause death were similar between the two groups (major adverse cardiovascular events 18 vs 21 cases, all-cause deaths; 19 vs 20 cases). Hyperkalaemia was more frequent in the olmesartan group than the placebo group (9.2% vs 5.3%).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Olmesartan was well tolerated but did not improve renal outcome on top of ACEI.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00141453.

Removal of residual pesticides in vegetables using ozone microbubbles

The removal of fenitrothion (FT) pesticide residues from vegetables by immersion in ozone-microbubbled solution was demonstrated. FT-treated lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and strawberries were immersed in ozone-microbubbled, ozone-millibubbled, and dechlorinated water. After that the percentage of residual FT in the vegetables was determined. Residual FT was efficiently removed from lettuce by immersing it in ozone-microbubbled solution containing more than 1.0 ppm dissolved ozone, or continuously generated ozone-microbubbled solution containing 2.0 ppm dissolved ozone. Similarly, for cherry tomatoes and strawberries, the continuously generated ozone-microbubbled solution containing 2.0 ppm dissolved ozone was highly effective. These results showed that ozone microbubbles effectively removed residual pesticides not only from leafy vegetables but also from fruity vegetables.

Prevention of excessive collagen accumulation by human intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in a murine model of bleomycin-induced scleroderma

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by fibrotic changes in skin and other organs involving excessive collagen deposition. Here we investigated the effect of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) on fibrosis in a murine model of bleomycin (BLM)-induced scleroderma. Scleroderma was induced in C3H/He J mice by subcutaneous BLM injections daily for 35 days. The collagen content in skin samples from the BLM-injected group (6·30 ± 0·11 mg/g tissue) was significantly higher than the PBS group (5·80 ± 0·10 mg/g tissue), and corresponded with dermal thickening at the injection site. In contrast, mice treated with IVIG for 5 consecutive days after initiating BLM injection showed lesser collagen content significantly (IVIG group, 5·61 ± 0·09 mg/g tissue; BLM vs. IVIG). In order to investigate the cellular and protein characteristics in the early stage of the model, the skin samples were obtained 7 days after the onset of experiment. Macrophage infiltration to the dermis, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1)-positive cells, and increased TGF-β1 mRNA expression were also observed in the BLM group. IVIG inhibited these early fibrogenic changes; MCP-1 expression was significantly lesser for the IVIG group (1·52 ± 0·19 pg/mg tissue) than for the BLM group (2·49 ± 0·26 pg/mg tissue). In contrast, TGF-β1 mRNA expression was significantly inhibited by IVIG. These results suggest that IVIG treatment may inhibit macrophage recruitment to fibrotic sites by down regulating MCP-1 and TGF-β production, and thus could be a potential drug for managing fibrotic disorders such as SSc.

The use of olmesartan medoxomil as monotherapy or in combination with other antihypertensive agents in elderly hypertensive patients in Japan

The efficacy and safety of the angiotensin receptor blocker olmesartan medoxomil (OLM) was assessed in 550 elderly Japanese hypertensive patients who were followed for 24 weeks in daily clinical practice. Patients were given OLM alone or in combination with other antihypertensive drugs at the discretion of the investigators. After 24 weeks of treatment, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) significantly decreased from baseline (P<.0001). When patients were classified as either young-old (65-74 years) or older-old (75 years and older), with either isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) or systolic-diastolic hypertension (SDH), the reduction of diastolic BP in ISH patients was significantly smaller than that in SDH patients (5.0 vs 15.2 mm Hg; P<.0001), indicating that OLM did not cause excessive reduction of diastolic BP in ISH patients. Treatment was well tolerated in all groups. In conclusion, the medication was safe and effective in reducing BP levels in ISH patients aged 75 years and older, as well as in other elderly hypertensive patients.

Heart rate variability during high-intensity field exercise in female distance runners

The purposes of this study were to demonstrate the transition of heart rate variability (HRV) during trials in the field and to examine the relationship between peak frequency of high-frequency band (HF) and stride frequency. Ten healthy long-distance college female runners (age 19-21 years) performed a 3000 m realistic time trial. The time-series power spectrum analysis by maximum entropy method was used to evaluate cardiac autonomic nervous activity during the race. Cross-correlation coefficients were calculated to estimate the degree of linear co-ordination between the central peak frequency of HF and stride frequency. Just after starting, the decrease in HF (0.15-1.00 Hz) and a transient increase of low-frequency band (LF)/HF were found. After that, the HF remained at a low level and LF/HF decreased sharply. These findings suggested that the parasympathetic activity was suppressed and sympathetic activity increased just after starting, and the sympathetic activity reached the saturated level according to continuation of high-intensity exercise. In spite of the significant decrease of HRV during trials, peak frequency of HF could be differentiated clearly. The cross-correlation coefficient of peak frequency of HF and stride frequency was from 0.703 to 0.868. This finding indicated that exercise rhythm reflected HRV during high-intensity running in the field.

Differences in the relationship between lipid CHD risk factors and body composition in Caucasians and Japanese

OBJECTIVES

To examine differences in the relationship between fat distribution and lipid coronary risk factors in Caucasian and Japanese population and further to determine whether the cut-points for body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) proposed by WHO and NHLBI are applicable to Japanese population as a predictor of a lipid risk factor abnormality or not.

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Subjects were 895 participants of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging in the US (BLSA) and 1705 participants of the Longitudinal Study of Aging by the National Institutes for Longevity Science in Japan (NILS-LSA). Subjects were divided into four demographic groups as younger (age<65 y) men and women, and older (age> or =65 y) men and women. Blood total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol and anthropometry were measured. Regression coefficients of BMI and WC on risk factors, sensitivity and specificity of the BMI and WC cut-points for blood lipid abnormality, and mean values of blood lipids at BMI or WC cut-points were computed in both populations.

RESULTS

Height, weight, WC and BMI were significantly greater in the BLSA than those in the NILS-LSA subjects. Total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol were significantly greater in the NILS-LSA than in the BLSA subjects. Sensitivities of BMI and WC cut-points were much lower in the NILS-LSA than in the BLSA subjects. Specificities of BMI and WC cut-points were higher in the NILS-LSA than in the BLSA subjects. Mean values of triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol at BMI=25 were significantly greater in the NILS-LSA than in the BLSA subjects. At the WC cut-point (94 cm for men, 80 cm for women), mean values of all lipids were significantly greater in the NILS-LSA than in the BLSA subjects with the exception of triglycerides in younger women.

CONCLUSIONS

The Japanese subjects have smaller BMI and WC, worse total and LDL-cholesterol levels and better HDL-cholesterol levels compared to Caucasians. Sensitivities of BMI and WC for predicting lipid risk factor abnormality are much lower in Japanese. The cut-points for BMI and WC proposed by WHO and NHLBI may be too high for predicting an abnormality in triglycerides, total and LDL-cholesterol in Japanese. For detecting an abnormal HDL-cholesterol level, the BMI and WC cut-points may not be as beneficial for the Japanese population as for Caucasians.

Cytokine and antibody production during the course of resolution in Plasmodium yoelii 17XL-infected BALB/c mice treated with febrifugine and isofebrifugine mixture from leaves of Hydrangea macrophylla var. Otaksa

Cytokine and antibody production was investigated during the course of resolution of primary infection in Plasmodium yoelii 17XL-infected BALB/c mice treated with a mixture of febrifugine and isofebrifugine. The infected mice in an untreated control group showed a progressively increasing parasitemia, leading to mouse death. In contrast, infected mice given the mixture orally showed low parasitemia levels during administration. Following a transient increase in parasitemia in the bloodstream of the treated mice, no parasites could be detected by microscopic examination. Analysis of cytokines in plasma showed that the plasma IFN-gamma levels elevated significantly within the first week of infection in both groups. Furthermore, on day 20 the plasma IFN-gamma and IL-4 levels elevated significantly in the treated mice and the production of both cytokines was sustained until at least day 40. The production of both cytokines in the treated mice was coincident with a decrease in parasitemia. The production of parasite-specific antibodies in the course of P. yoelii 17XL infection was also monitored. In the drug-treated mice, the titers of parasite-specific IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3 elevated significantly from day 20; and the production of parasite-specific antibodies was coincident with a decrease in parasite numbers in the bloodstream.

Muscle performance after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

We measured muscle strength in 36 patients after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with autogenous bone-patellar tendon-bone graft. Quadriceps and hamstring isokinetic strength was assessed during concentric contraction at 60 and 180 degrees /s and was measured at 1, 6, 12 and 24 months postoperatively. At 24 months quadriceps muscle strength had recovered to approximately 90% of the level of the uninvolved side, both at 60 and 180 degrees /s. In contrast, hamstring muscle strength had already recovered to approximately 90% at 6 months. Age, gender, activity level, and anterior tibial laxity did not affect the muscle performance. However, the recovery of muscle strength was delayed in patients with anterior knee pain.

Ozonolysis mechanism of lignin model compounds and microbial treatment of organic acids produced

Treatment methods comprising ozonolysis and microbial treatment of lignin discharged from the pulp manufacture industries were investigated by using a sulfite pulp wastewater and a lignin model compound, i.e. sodium lignosulfonate. Dynamic behaviors for the formations of intermediate derivatives such as muconic acid, maleic acid, and oxalic acid produced from the ozonolysis of sulfite pulp wastewater were observed from data of UV absorption at 280 nm by a spectrophotometer and at 210 nm by high performance liquid chromatography. The microorganisms that were isolated by the enrichment culture method were used to degrade the organic acids such as oxalic acid and acetic acid. Time courses of biological degradation of these organic acids indicated diauxic growth, which was found in a culture with mixed substrates. In the treatment of sodium lignosulfonate, the ozonolysis and microbial treatment using activated sludge converted sodium lignosulfonate into carbon dioxide and water almost completely.

A study of volumetric visualization and quantitative evaluation of bone trabeculae in helical CT

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of quantitative evaluation of bone trabeculae by helical CT.

METHODS

Ten specimens of human cadaver mandibular condyles were examined using both micro-CT and helical CT, and volume rendered three-dimensional (3D) images were obtained from the CT data. Micro-CT was used as the reference standard. From the micro-CT data images, bone trabeculae in each condyle were extracted by image processing and their volumes were calculated automatically. From the helical CT data images, the cortical bone was manually removed and bone trabeculae in each condyle were extracted using opacity curve and colour mapping thresholds. The optimal cut-off CT value that resulted in a similar volume of bone trabeculae obtained from helical CT and micro-CT data was investigated.

RESULTS

The optimal cut-off CT value to assess the volume of bone trabeculae accurately on 3D images obtained with helical CT data was found to be 200 Hounsfield units.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that quantitative evaluation of bone trabeculae using helical CT might be a valid and useful method.