Effect of trapidil on effector functions of monocytes related to atherosclerotic plaque

The infiltration and activation of inflammatory cells play an important role in the formation and stability of coronary atherosclerotic plaque in patients with acute coronary syndrome. In this study, we evaluated the effect of trapidil, an anti-platelet agent, on atheroma-related functions of human T cells and monocytes. Trapidil and anti-CD154 (CD40 ligand) antibody inhibited the increase of procoagulant activity in the mixed lymphocyte reaction; trapidil also suppressed the induction of tissue factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in the mixed lymphocyte reaction. Trapidil did not alter CD154 expression on isolated T cells, but it diminished CD40 expression on isolated monocytes and human monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells stimulated with interferon-gamma. Moreover, trapidil reduced MCP-1 production of isolated monocytes and THP-1 cells stimulated with interferon-gamma plus CD154-transfected cells. This effect was not seen with other tested anti-platelet agents and coronary vasodilators. In conclusion, trapidil directly acts on monocytes/macrophages to lower their susceptibility to CD154 on T cells.

Ophthalmological findings in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 are not correlated with neurological anticipation

BACKGROUND

Optic atrophy, attenuation of the oscillatory potentials (OPs) of the electroretinogram (ERG), and enlargement of corneal endothelial cells, have been reported in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1). These patients have a trinucleotide repeat expansion in the SCA1 gene and show neurological anticipation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the ophthalmological findings are correlated with the neurological disorders, and whether ophthalmological anticipation is present in patients with SCA1.

METHODS

The visual acuity, ERGs, and corneal endothelial cell density were examined in 14 patients whose DNA analysis revealed an expanded trinucleotide repeat in an allele of the SCA1 gene. The results of the tests were compared with the trinucleotide repeat number and the duration of the neuronal disease.

RESULTS

The neurological disorders in the patients showed anticipation. The negative correlation between the trinucleotide repeat number and the neurological disorder was statistically significant (P<0.0001). However, the correlations between trinucleotide repeat number and visual acuity, amplitude of OPs, and corneal endothelial cell density were not significant. Statistically significant correlations were found between the duration of the neuronal disease and the visual acuity, OPs, and corneal endothelial cell density (P<0.0001, P=0.0004, and P<0.0001, respectively). The ophthalmological disorders were prominent in patients who had neuronal disease for more than 10 years.

CONCLUSION

Unlike the neurological findings, the ophthalmological disorders in patients with SCA1 were not correlated with the trinucleotide repeat number of the SCA1 gene. The ophthalmological findings were most highly correlated with the duration of the neuronal disease.

Effects of a one-hour educational program on medical students' attitudes to mental illness

A new 1-h educational program was developed to change attitudes towards mental illness, and was conducted on 95 first-year medical students in order to investigate its effects on their attitudes towards mental illness, using a pre- and postquestionnaire study design. A similar study without the program was conducted on 94 first-year medical students as controls. After the program, more students replied that they would accept former patients on relatively close social distance items. Favorable attitudinal changes were observed in terms of 'psychiatric services', 'human rights of the mentally ill', 'patients' independence in social life', and 'cause and characteristics of mental illness'. In contrast, no significant change was observed in the control group. These results suggest that attitudes towards mental illness could be changed favorably by this program.

Elevated expression of interleukin-18 in the granulomatous lesions of muscular sarcoidosis

In an attempt to understand the role of interleukin-18 (IL-18) in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis, we examined the expression of IL-18 in normal muscle and in muscle biopsies from six patients with muscular sarcoidosis. Western blot analysis demonstrated that IL-18 was identified only in homogenates of granulomatous muscle tissues, but not in normal muscle tissue homogenates. By immunohistochemistry, strongly IL-18-positive cells were distributed predominantly at the boundary zone of the granulomas. They were recognized as activated macrophages by double staining with anti-CD68. Epithelioid cells showed only faint reactivity. Serum IL-18 levels of patients with sarcoidosis were significantly increased compared to those of healthy volunteers. Unlike protein expression, IL-18 mRNA expression was detected even in normal muscles. Our results coupled with those of previous investigations demonstrating activity of IL-18 in inducing interferon-gamma production suggest a significant role of IL-18 in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis.

Autologous peripheral stem-cell transplantation after intensive chemotherapy in a case of CD30 (Ki-1)-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma

Simultaneous treatment with peripheral blood stem-cell (PBSC) transplantation and intensive chemotherapy was evaluated in a case of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) with poor prognosis. A 59-year-old male diagnosed with a high-grade, anaplastic large-cell (Ki-1) NHL, involving fractures in the left hip, underwent computed tomography and gallium scintigram surveillance. The patient received chemotherapy with epirubicin hydrochloride, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisolone, and the fractured hip bone was repaired following the first course of chemotherapy. After the second and third courses of chemotherapy, PBSCs were harvested and cryopreserved. The patient then received a further course of chemotherapy and PBSC transplantation was conducted using infused cells consisting of 9.63 x 10(6)/kg CD34 cells and 2.24 x 10(5)/kg granulocyte macrophage colony-forming units. Recovery of platelet and white blood cell counts occurred 10 and 8 days, respectively, after PBSC infusion and the patient remains well.

[Causal inference in medicine--decision making]

In the field of occupational medicine, either when we consider some preventive plans or when we make decisions to compensate for occupational diseases, it has been necessary to discuss causality between work and disease. Furthermore, epidemiologic causality has recently been used in risk assessment in occupational and environmental settings. We have shown that the law of causality in medicine is recognized as probability and continuous variables. Such a law of causality has been recognized in the same way as probability in physics, too, and has been regarded as a model of science. Physicists and mathematicians had claimed the importance of probability in causal inference as well as the principle of uncertainty before it was discovered. We, then, explained Etiologic Fraction (EF), Attributable Proportion for the Exposed Population (APE), Probability of Causation (PC), and so on. The PC has been used to ascertain the conditional probability in an individual case of a disease having been caused by a particular prior exposure, by using the experience of exposed populations to determine the appropriate relative risk, and this has been used for compensation for exposed cases. Next the applicability of information from a population to individuals was presented. Third, we provided a brief historical aspect of epidemiology. The evolutions in Epidemiology have been very rapid, so we pointed out that, in Japan, we could observe many incommensurable phenomena in epidemiologists and physicians depending on the era which was studied by them. Fourth, we discussed judgement and political application based on epidemiologic evidence, using Yanagimoto's classification is also taken or not should be estimated and compared. We presented several examples of reasoning in judgements. Lastly, we discussed several tasks and assignments for the future of epidemiology.

Fibulin-2 expression marks transformed mesenchymal cells in developing cardiac valves, aortic arch vessels, and coronary vessels

Previous studies showed that extracellular matrix protein, fibulin-2, is expressed during epithelial-mesenchymal transformation in the endocardial cushion matrix during embryonic heart development. Our current study revealed that, in addition to the cardiac valvuloseptal formation, fibulin-2 is synthesized by the smooth muscle precursor cells of developing aortic arch vessels and the coronary endothelial cells that are originated from neural crest cells and epicardial cells, respectively. In the cardiac valves and the aortic arch vessels, fibulin-2 expression shows robust up-regulation when the transformed mesenchymal cells migrate into the existing extracellular matrix. In the epicardium, epicardial cells produce fibulin-2 upon their migration over the myocardial surface and its expression persists throughout coronary vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Fibulin-2 is produced by the endothelial cells of coronary arteries and veins but not by the capillary endothelial cells in the myocardium. Thus, fibulin-2 not only uniquely marks the transformed mesenchymal cells during mouse embryonic cardiovascular development, but also indicates vascular endothelial cells of coronary arteries and veins in postnatal life.

Regulation of gene expression by herbal medicines--a new paradigm of gene therapy for multifocal abnormalities of genes

Japanese herbal medicine has long been considered as only supplementary therapy to Western medicine. However, we discovered that an herbal mixture, Saiko-keishi-to-ka shakuyaku (SK, TJ-960), showed regulatory function of gene expression such as increased expression of seizure-related gene PTZ-17, proto-oncogene c-fos and heat shock protein HSP 72. These results provide a scientific basis for an important ancient concept and usage of herbal mixtures as a "therapy against diseases which will be suffered in the future". Our results also give an adequate provide break-throughs for therapy and even prevention of intractable epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, developmental disorders during pregnancy and the postnatal period, and also probably for prevention of metastasis or relapse of various cancers.

Interleukin-18 in human milk

We analyzed IL-18 levels of human milk. Colostrum contained significantly higher levels of IL-18 compared with early milk and mature milk. By stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, preterm delivery and pregnancy complications of mothers significantly correlated with high levels of IL-18 in human milk (p = 0.0007 and 0.0018, respectively). There was a significant correlation between the levels of IL-18 and soluble Fas ligand in colostrum (p = 0.0003). IL-18 was detected in actively secreting epithelial cells in lactating mammary gland by immunohistochemical staining. These results suggest that IL-18 in colostrum plays an important role in host defense of high-risk neonates.

Long-term implantation test and tumorigenicity of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel plates

Two types of flat plates made from a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel with a water content of 80 and 20 (PVA-H80, PVA-H20), 20 x 10 x 1 mm in size, were subcutaneously implanted into each of 50 young, male Wistar rats. As a control, a sham operation was done on another set of 50 rats (Sham Op group). The shape and transparency of the PVA hydrogel were unchanged for up to 24 months. Tumors arose in 14 rats from the PVA-H80 group. In the PVA-H20 group, tumors appeared in 15 rats. The average tumor latency was 598 +/- 109 days in the PVA-H80 and 637 +/- 94 days in the PVA-H20. There was no difference in tumor incidence between the PVA-H20 and PVA-H80 groups (p < 0.05). In the Sham Op group, no malignant tumors appeared. Histopathologically, the tumors induced by hydrogel plates were malignant tumors resembling fibrosarcoma or malignant fibrous histiocytoma. This indicates that PVA hydrogel implants also induce solid state carcinogenesis at a similarly high rate to medical grade hydrophobic material reported in a previous study.

Aortic aneurysm involving a right-sided arch complicating aortobronchopulmonary and aortoesophageal fistula

A 66-year-old man with hemoptysis, chest pain, fever, and hoarseness was admitted to our department. A right-sided aortic arch and three aneurysms in the proximal arch, distal arch, and descending aorta were confirmed by aortography and surgery. Fistula formations were discovered between the proximal arch aneurysm and the right upper lobe (aortobronchopulmonary fistula: ABF), and between the descending aorta and the esophagus (aortoesophageal fistula: AEF). Concomitant ABF and AEF are very rare. Aortopulmonary and/or aortoesophageal fistula complicated by a right-sided aortic arch have not been previously reported.

Purpura due to aspirin-induced platelet dysfunction aggravated by drinking alcohol

We report a rare case of prominent purpura induced by aspirin and enhanced by alcohol. A 44-year-old woman presented with a history of generalized purpura. She drank alcohol once or twice a week and regularly took an analgesic preparation, containing aspirin and acetaminophen, for alleviation of headaches. When purpura was evident the patient's liver function was within normal limits and her coagulation time was normal but her bleeding time was prolonged. Red blood cell, white blood cell and platelet counts were normal but a poor response to platelet agonists demonstrated platelet dysfunction. After stopping the analgesic and abstaining from alcohol for 5 days, platelet aggregation, in response to the agonists, returned to normal and purpura disappeared. When the patient took further doses of the analgesic preparation for 3 days for headache relief, but did not drink alcohol, platelet aggregation was again abnormal but purpura was only slight.

A therapeutic strategy for isolated plasmacytoma of bone

Two cases of solitary plasmacytoma of bone (SPB) were diagnosed. The first case was a 41-year-old woman, complaining of fatigue from her lumbar region to her legs. The second case was a 56-year-old man complaining of poor gait and severe lumbago with numbness in the toes of both feet. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the osteolytic lesion in the 12th thoracic bone in the first patient and around the 2nd, 3rd and 4th lumbar bones in the second patient. In both patients serum analysis revealed the monoclonal component of immunoglobulin G (IgG) protein with kappa-light chain, and considering this and other findings SPB was diagnosed. Both patients were first treated with irradiation around the involved bone and then with a course of chemotherapy. In the first patient the tumour region of the bone was surgically removed and replaced with a ceramic spacer. The symptoms of both patients were ameliorated, and the patients remained in good condition for around 3 years without conversion to multiple myeloma. In view of the overall effectiveness of treatments for SPB, our therapeutic strategy deserves careful evaluation.

Comparison of gene expression of cytokines mRNA in lungs of rats induced by intratracheal instillation and inhalation of mineral fibers

To investigate whether the results of intratracheal instillation studies on mineral fibers reflect the findings obtained by long-term inhalation data on mineral fibers, we have examined gene expression of cytokines and pathological features in lungs induced by intratracheal instillation and inhalation of mineral fibers. Male Wistar rats were given a single intratracheal instillation of 2 mg alumina silicate refractory fiber (RF1) or potassium octatitanate whisker (PT1), and were sacrificed 4 wk after the fiber instillation. Long-term inhalation studies were also performed. In these, animals were exposed to fiber aerosol of RF1 or PT1 for 5 days/wk for 1 yr, and sacrificed after 1 yr of inhalation. Expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) from lungs was observed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and TGF-beta1 mRNA in PT1-exposed lung was significantly higher than for those exposed to RF1 in both intratracheal instillation and inhalation studies. Pathological findings revealed that mild pulmonary fibrosis was seen in the lungs after intratracheal instillation and inhalation of PT1 but not RF1. Similarities were observed not only in gene expression of cytokines but in pathological features between both studies. These data suggested that the results of intratracheal instillation reflect the findings obtained from long-term inhalation data.

High density lipoprotein binding protein of eel (Anguilla japonica) liver with specificity of binding to apoAI as a ligand

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) binding protein (HBP) was isolated from the microsomal fraction of eel liver homogenate by affinity chromatography with a HDL-column. After SDS-PAGE and blotting, HBP on the PVDF membrane was detected by FITC-labeled HDL and apolipoprotein AI (apoAI) as a ligand. HBP in the microsomal fraction was most abundant among microsomal, mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions. The HBP isolated by a HDL-column consisted of at least three proteins with low molecular weights of 18.5, 14.5 and 13.5 kDa; the main component was 14.5 kDa. These proteins are not products of protease digestion, as the procedure was carried out in the presence of protease inhibitors including (p-aminophenyl) methansulfonyl fluoride, 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl fluoride, pepstatin A, E-64, bestatin, leupeptin, aprotinin and EDTA. The HBP specifically bound to FITC-apoAI and faintly bound or did not bind to FITC-apoAII. Furthermore, binding of HDL labeled with lipophilic fluorescence to isolated eel hepatocytes was inhibited by the antibody to apoAI, but not inhibited by the antibody to apolipoprotein AII (apoAII). These results strongly suggest that the HBP isolated from the microsomal fraction is present on the plasma membrane of eel liver and plays important roles for the lipid transport through the interaction with HDL.

Hyperamylasemia and subclinical pancreatitis after cardiac surgery

Hyperamylasemia after cardiac surgery is common but typically causes no clinical concern because it consists mainly of the salivary isoenzyme. In this study we evaluated the incidence, source, and time course of postoperative hyperamylasemia with special attention to the possibility of subclinical pancreatitis. In 88 patients prospectively tested for serum amylase and lipase concentrations, elastase 1 activity, and amylase isoenzyme characteristics, 57 (64%) showed hyperamylasemia during the early postoperative period. In most cases early hyperamylasemia was not of pancreatic origin, but two patients were diagnosed with subclinical pancreatitis. Among the last 23 patients, 5 of 10 patients with early hyperamylasemia exceeding 1000 IU/L showed late hyperamylasemia on the seventh postoperative day, when it represented mainly the pancreatic isoenzyme. Lipase concentrations and elastase 1 activities were elevated in these cases. Late hyperamylasemia following cardiac surgery may be of pancreatic origin and indicative of subclinical pancreatitis, even if early hyperamylasemia was of salivary origin.

Evaluation of 4-nonylphenols and 4-tert-octylphenol contamination of fish in rivers by laboratory accumulation and excretion experiments

Laboratory accumulation and excretion experiments of 4-nonylphenols (NP) and 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) were performed for killifish (Oryzias latipes). The bioconcentration factors (BCF, wet weight) in the whole fish were mean +/- SD of 167 +/- 23 (n = 4) for NP and 261 +/- 62 (n = 4) for OP. The biological half-lives in the whole fish were 9.9 h for NP and 7.7 h for OP. Parallel to the laboratory experiments, field survey on the chemicals contamination for water and ayu fish (Plecoglossus altivelis) from rivers flowing into Lake Biwa was performed. The contamination was not so high in agreement with the laboratory experimental data and the field BCF values (wet weight) in the ayu fish were 21 +/- 15 (n = 8) for NP and 297 +/- 194 (n = 3) for OP.

Reduction in the incidence of Helicobacter pylori-associated carcinoma in Japanese young adults

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is a major risk factor for gastric carcinogenesis. In Japan, the incidence of Hp infection in young adults has declined markedly. The purpose of this study was to clarify this trend in the incidence of Hp-associated gastric carcinoma (GCa) in young (under 30 years of age) Japanese patients. We enrolled 53 such patients who underwent surgical resection of GCa in one of 18 hospitals in the Hiroshima prefecture between 1976 and 1999. The patients were classified into groups based on three 8-year periods (1976-83, 1984-91, and 1992-1999) in which their cases occurred. We compared the numbers of patients and estimated the histology of carcinomas, grades of gastritis and Hp infection histologically. Of the 53 patients, 49 (92%) showed Hp infection. The frequency of GCa in young adults has decreased gradually (21, 18, and 14 patients in 1976-83, 1984-91 and 1992-99, respectively). The numbers of Hp-positive carcinomas decreased radically (21, 17 and 11 patients, respectively). This trend was associated with improvement in the degree of gastritis in non-neoplastic mucosa. Of the four Hp-negative patients, three had signet ring cell carcinoma. Moreover, the numbers of patients with non-signet ring cell carcinoma also decreased (18, 12 and 7 patients in each period, respectively). These results suggest that Hp-associated carcinoma has declined gradually in young Japanese.

[Enuresis as the initial manifestation of neuro-Behçet's disease. A case report]

A 20-year-old man noticed enuresis since the age of 18 years. He was also pointed out gait unsteadiness by his friends. Neurologic examination revealed spastic tetraparesis with mild cerebellar ataxia. The cerebrospinal fluid had mild pleocytosis containing neutrophils and brain magnetic resonance imaging showed mild pontocerebellar atrophy. Urodynamic study revealed uninhibited bladder and detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia. The diagnosis of neuro-Behçet's disease was made by the past history of recurrent genital and aphthous ulcers and positive HLA-B51. The frequency of enuresis was reduced by the oral administration of corticosteroid. We speculated the patient's enuresis was caused by the central nervous disinhibition at night together with uninhibited bladder.

Protection of mice from LPS-induced shock by CD14 antisense oligonucleotide

CD14 is a pattern recognition receptor on myeloid cells and plays a pivotal role in an innate immune system that is responsible for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria infection. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a cell wall component of Gram-negative bacteria, can induce production of a large quantity of proinflammatory cytokines into the circulation mediated by CD14-mediated macrophages and monocytes. These cytokines eventually cause septic shock. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that suppression of a CD14 function by a CD14 antibody led to an inhibition of the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-8. In the present study, we found that CD14 antisense oligonucleotide (ODN) can prevent lethal LPS shock in D-galactosamine-sensitized mice. This ODN inhibited CD14 expression in a mouse macrophage cell line, RAW264.7, and suppressed production of TNF-alpha in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, we designed a consensus antisense ODN that could hybridize human and mouse CD14 RNA, and we evaluated its efficacy. The consensus antisense ODN rescued mice primed with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) from the LPS-induced lethal shock. In this model, the CD14 antisense ODN down-regulated LPS-elicited CD14 expression in the liver, resulting in a decrease in LPS-induced TNF-alpha production. These findings suggest that the CD14 antisense ODN is distributed in the liver and efficiently suppresses LPS-induced TNF-alpha production by reducing CD14 expression on Kupffer cells. This CD14 antisense ODN may be useful for the development of a therapeutic agent against sepsis and septic shock.

Estimation of the dissociation constants for functional groups on modified and unmodified silica gel supports from the relationship between electroosmotic flow velocity and pH

Electroosmotic volume flow was directly observed in a simple instrument consisting of 1 cm long a home-made support, packed between two polyethylene frits in the polypropylene tube. Equations relating electroosmotic flow (EOF) velocity and pH for two functional groups on the surface of the solid materials were developed. With these equations, we can estimate the dissociation constants of two different kinds of functional groups on modified silica gel materials simultaneously. The dissociation constants of silanol groups, benzene sulfonic acid groups, and alkyl quaternary ammonium groups on the modified and unmodified silica gel supports were estimated. The estimated pK values of the silanol groups on the silica gel and modified silica gel surfaces are between 4.0 and 4.3. The estimated pK values of the benzene sulfonic acid groups and alkyl quaternary ammonium groups on the surface of the modified silica gel are 2.6 and 8.6, respectively.

Smoking and mental health: cross-sectional and cohort studies in an occupational setting in Japan

BACKGROUND

The relationship between smoking and mental health remains unclear.

METHODS

We carried out a cross-sectional study and a cohort study on the possible association of smoking and mental health in 782 workers. Using a questionnaire including the 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30) and items related to the smoking state, the association between smoking and mental health was evaluated separately in males and females. The subjects were classified into smokers and nonsmokers, and changes in the GHQ score during a 2-year follow-up period were evaluated. To control potential confounding factors, multiple regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The cross-sectional study showed no difference in the GHQ score between smokers and nonsmokers among males but a significantly higher GHQ score for smokers than nonsmokers among females. This difference among females was confirmed to be significant by multiple regression analysis. The 2-year cohort study showed a decrease in the GHQ score in each group and no reduction in the difference in the GHQ score between smokers and nonsmokers among females.

CONCLUSIONS

No difference was observed in mental health between smokers and nonsmokers in males. However, in females, smokers showed poorer mental health than nonsmokers, and this difference remained unchanged even after 2 years.

[A case of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to wild pigeons]

A 61-year-old woman was admitted to the Oita Medical University Hospital because of a nonproductive cough and exertional dyspnea. Interstitial changes had been seen on her chest radiograph 5 years previously, but no respiratory symptoms were identified at that time. On admission, chest radiography revealed linear and ground-glass opacities in the middle and lower lung fields. Computed tomography provided evidence of bronchiectasis and micro-honeycombing of the lungs, while lymphocyte and neutrophil counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were increased. Transbronchial lung biopsy demonstrated alveolitis and Masson's bodies. The patient was not a pigeon breeder, but she could have been exposed to pigeons at her workplace. Indeed, she had specific antibodies against pigeon serum and droppings, and her peripheral lymphocytes showed proliferation in response to pigeon serum. A positive provocation test involving inhalation of pigeon serum confirmed that she had chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by allergy to pigeons. This is a rare case of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis associated with wild pigeons, that progressed to pulmonary fibrosis. Antigen provocation testing proved to be of great value.

Orally administered delphinidin 3-rutinoside and cyanidin 3-rutinoside are directly absorbed in rats and humans and appear in the blood as the intact forms

Four components of black currant anthocyanins (BCA), delphinidin 3-O-beta-rutinoside (D3R), cyanidin 3-O-beta-rutinoside (C3R), delphinidin 3-O-beta-glucoside (D3G), and cyanidin 3-O-beta-glucoside (C3G), were found to be directly absorbed and distributed to the blood and excreted into urine as the glycosylated forms. In a rat study, following oral administration of purified D3R, C3R, and C3G (800 micromol/kg of body weight), the anthocyanins were detected in the plasma and the C(max) values were 580 +/- 410, 850 +/- 120, and 840 +/- 190 nmol/L, respectively, 0.5-2.0 h after administration. In a human study, when a mixture of BCA [6.24 micromol (3.58 mg) consisting of 2.75 micromol (1.68 mg) of D3R, 2.08 micromol (1.24 mg) of C3R, 1.04 micromol (0.488 mg) of D3G, and 0.37 micromol (0.165 mg) of C3G/kg of body weight)] was orally ingested by eight volunteers, D3R, C3R, D3G, and C3G were detected in the plasma and urine. The plasma C(max) values were 73.4 +/- 35.0, 46.3 +/- 22.5, 22.7 +/- 12.4, and 5.0 +/- 3.7 nmol/L, respectively, 1.25-1.75 h after intake, and the cumulative excretion of the four compounds in urine in the period 0-8 h after intake was 0.11 +/- 0.05% of the dose ingested. These results indicate that 3-O-beta-rutinosyl anthocyanins were directly absorbed and distributed to the blood.