Effects of microphone mounting location and gender on accuracy in speech recognition using a throat microphone

Speech recognition using air-conduction microphones is less accurate under high noise conditions and when the volume of the speaker's voice is relatively low. In this study, the effect of mounting location of throat microphones (which are less susceptible to ambient noise) on recognition accuracy was experimentally investigated. The results confirmed that mounting position and speaker gender affected recognition accuracy, regardless of any other factor or speech recognition system. In addition, relatively lower recognition accuracy was observed in the upper part of the neck near the mandibular angle for both males and females.

Evaluation of eustachian tube function using a portable device

The present paper investigates a portable eustachian-tube-function testing device by sonotubometry based on pure-tone sound transmission via the eustachian tube (ET). The measured results obtained by the proposed method were validated through comparison with the existing testing technique based on broadband sound inspection. The measurement results for the ET opening time (T_open) and the sound pressure difference in the ear canal between open and closed ETs (ΔL) obtained using pure-tone sounds with tonal frequency components of 7.0 and 9.5 kHz generally agreed with the results obtained by the existing technique with broadband testing sound.

Comparative study of dulaglutide single-use pen Ateos versus insulin degludec FlexTouch on learning and mock administration time in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus - a post-hoc analysis

Aims: Clinical data have shown that patients with diabetes require shorter training time to use Ateos versus FlexTouch. Using data acquired from a previous study, self-administration procedures that necessitated more time and repetition during mock injection were evaluated.Methods: In this open-label task- and interview-based crossover study, 48 self-injection naïve participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were randomized to 1 of 2 sequences to perform a mock injection of Ateos and FlexTouch into a rubber pad after receiving training. Time needed to conduct mock injection steps (preparation, pre-injection set-up, injection, clean-up), and the number and time needed for repeated steps due to procedural errors, were measured as post-hoc analyses.Results: Mean time for preparation, injection, and clean-up was shorter for Ateos (13, 15, 9 s) versus FlexTouch (96, 53, 36 s). Overall time for administration including repeated steps was 75 s for Ateos and 288 s for FlexTouch. Nine participants repeated procedures due to errors when using Ateos (preparation: 6; pre-injection set-up: 2; injection: 1), and 7 participants when using FlexTouch (preparation: 2; pre-injection set-up: 2; injection: 5). There was 1 repeat per person for Ateos injections versus multiple repeats for FlexTouch injections.Conclusions:Post-hoc analysis demonstrates the time needed for overall administration was shorter for Ateos than FlexTouch, and time for each procedure was shorter or similar for Ateos versus FlexTouch. Ateos was easy for participants with T2DM to learn with fewer repeated steps due to procedural errors, and easy for healthcare professionals to introduce to their patients.

Health-related QOL of elderly patients with pulmonary M. avium complex disease in a university hospital

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the clinical characteristics and health-related quality of life (HQOL) of elderly patients with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (pMAC) disease.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate HQOL using the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and to investigate the predictors of HQOL changes among elderly patients with pMAC disease.

METHODS

This prospective cohort registry was conducted at Keio University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, between May 2012 and July 2015 and included 84 patients with pMAC disease aged 75 years who had completed the HQOL questionnaire and 48 patients with pMAC disease who had been followed up and completed the HQOL questionnaire in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, respectively.

RESULTS

In cross-sectional analyses, elderly patients with pMAC disease had significantly lower role-physical, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional and role/social component scores than the general Japanese elderly population. Analysis of covariance revealed that patients with cavitary lesions had significantly worse physical functioning and SGRQ scores (P < 0.05). Longitudinal analysis showed that under-treatment, short duration of disease and positive sputum smear at baseline were predictors of worse HQOL at 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly patients with pMAC disease have reduced HQOL. Further large studies on HQOL are required to refine the use of this parameter in the treatment of these patients.

Diabetes Care Providers' Manual for Disaster Diabetes Care

To ensure that experiences and lessons learned from the unprecedented 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake are used to improve future disaster planning, the Japan Diabetes Society (JDS) launched the "Research and Survey Committee for Establishing Disaster Diabetes Care Systems Based on Relevant Findings from the Great East Japan Earthquake" under the supervision of the Chairman of the JDS. The Committee conducted a questionnaire survey among patients with diabetes, physicians, disaster medical assistance teams (DMATs), nurses, pharmacists, and nutritionists in disaster areas about the events they saw happening, the situations they found difficult to handle, and the needs that they felt required to be met during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. A total of 3,481 completed questionnaires were received. Based on these and other experiences and lessons reported following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the 2004 Niigata-Chuetsu Earthquakes, the current "Manual for Disaster Diabetes Care" has been developed by the members of the Committee and other invited authors from relevant specialties. To our knowledge, the current Manual is the world's first to focus on emergency diabetes care, with this digest English version translated from the Japanese original. It is sincerely hoped that patients with diabetes and healthcare providers around the world will find this manual helpful in promoting disaster preparedness and implementing disaster relief.

First report of hepatobiliary Mycobacterium avium infection developing obstructive jaundice in a patient with neutralizing anti-interferon-gamma autoantibodies

This study describes a patient who experienced hepatobiliary Mycobacterium avium infection associated with neutralizing anti–interferon gamma (IFN-γ) autoantibodies during treatment for disseminated M. avium disease. Hepatobiliary M. avium infection should be considered in jaundiced patients with neutralizing anti–IFN-γ autoantibodies, including those receiving antimycobacterial therapy for disseminated M. avium disease.

Effects of the calcineurin inhibitors cyclosporine and tacrolimus on bone metabolism in rats

Immunosuppressive therapy is considered as one of the factors inducing to the onset of osteoporosis after organ transplantation. Chronic immunosuppressive therapy after transplantation is required for organ transplant patients, and it is important to prevent the occurrence of osteoporotic fractures to maintain the quality of life in patients. In this study, we examined the effects of cyclosporine and tacrolimus on bone metabolism in rats. Five-week-old male Wistar rats were treated orally with 15 mg/kg cyclosporine or 1.5 mg/kg tacrolimus daily for 4 weeks. Each of cyclosporine and tacrolimus significantly reduced the bone strength of the femoral mid-diaphysis and bone mineral density of the tibia and femur. Bone histomorphometry showed that the administration of both drugs resulted in a decrease in bone volume, number and thickness of trabeculae, and an increase in trabecular separation. Bone formation parameters such as osteoid volume, osteoblast surface, mineralizing surface, mineral apposition rate, and bone formation rate significantly increased in the cyclosporine-treated group. Bone resorption parameters such as eroded surface, osteoclast surface, and osteoclast number significantly increased in both the cyclosporine- and the tacrolimus- treated groups. These results showed that cyclosporine increases both bone formation and bone resorption, leading to a high-turnover bone loss, and that tacrolimus increases bone resorption without affecting bone formation, leading to bone loss.

Comparative usability study of the dulaglutide single-use pen versus the insulin degludec FlexTouch® among self-injection-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Japan

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed training time with the dulaglutide single-use pen (SUP) and the insulin degludec disposable prefilled pen (FlexTouch^®) in self-injection-naïve patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Japan.

METHODS

This multi-center, open-label, comparative, crossover study measured training time with the dulaglutide SUP vs FlexTouch^®. Participants learned how to use both devices in a randomly assigned order. Healthcare providers (HCP) conducted the training. The primary end-point was the time required to train self-injection-naïve T2DM participants to self-inject correctly using each device. Secondary end-points included performance measures, such as success and error rates, patient perceptions related to ease-of-use, and factors associated with training time and performance.

RESULTS

Overall, 48 participants were randomized and completed the study. The mean training time to achieve correct administration was significantly shorter with the dulaglutide SUP vs FlexTouch^® (7.4 min vs 19.7 min, p < .001). The proportions of participants who successfully completed the mock injection without error were similar for both devices. Ninety-two percent (44/48) of participants reported that the dulaglutide SUP was easier to use than FlexTouch^®.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, participants required a shorter training time to achieve correct administration with the dulaglutide SUP, and had a higher preference for the dulaglutide SUP, when compared to FlexTouch^®. These data suggest that the dulaglutide SUP is easy-to-use, which may decrease the burden on HCPs to train diabetic patients how to administer injection therapy and reduce patient injection hurdles, such as needle fear.

Prediction of low-frequency structure-borne sound in concrete structures using the finite-difference time-domain method

Due to limitations of computers, prediction of structure-borne sound remains difficult for large-scale problems. Herein a prediction method for low-frequency structure-borne sound transmissions on concrete structures using the finite-difference time-domain scheme is proposed. The target structure is modeled as a composition of multiple plate elements to reduce the dimensions of the simulated vibration field from three-dimensional discretization by solid elements to two-dimensional discretization. This scheme reduces both the calculation time and the amount of required memory. To validate the proposed method, the vibration characteristics using the numerical results of the proposed scheme are compared to those measured for a two-level concrete structure. Comparison of the measured and simulated results suggests that the proposed method can be used to simulate real-scale structures.

Comparison of clinically relevant technical attributes of five insulin injection pens

BACKGROUND

Insulin injection pens are the predominant devices for insulin delivery in Europe and Japan because of their ease of use and convenience. This study compared clinically relevant technical attributes of durable insulin pens that are important to people with diabetes, specifically functions relating to cartridge-fitting, dose-setting, and dose-delivery on NovoPen® 4, ClikStar®, HumaPen Luxura®, Itango®, and Biosulin® Pen.

METHODS

Frequency components and duration of audible clicks on dose setting and injection were measured using audio equipment when setting and delivering 20 IU of insulin. To assess cartridge-fitting torque, each pen was attached to a torque gauge via the attached needle, and torque was measured with each 180° turn as the cartridge was screwed into the body of the pen. Rotary torque of the dose-setting dial was measured when setting the dose to the maximum dose unit of the pen. Injection force was measured when delivering 20 IU at 5 mm/s in a vertical position and at a tilt of 14.7° from vertical.

RESULTS

Audible clicks on dose-setting and dose-delivery were most distinguishable on NovoPen 4, while NovoPen 4 and ClikStar had generally lower cartridge-fitting torque and injection (both vertical and angled) force values.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the results showed that durable insulin pens such as NovoPen 4 have useful features related to assembly, dose-setting, and injection, which may facilitate ease of use for diabetes patients, particularly elderly patients and those with visual and/or manual dexterity impairments.

Enhanced CEA production associated with aspirin in a culture of CW-2 cells on some polymeric films

Human colorectal adenocarcinoma tumor (CW2) cells were cultivated in RPMI 1640 media containing 0-7.5 mM aspirin and 10% fetal bovine serum for the production of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). By adding aspirin to the media, the production of CEA per cell increased by up to one hundred fold compared to cultivation in normal media containing no aspirin, even though the total cell concentration decreased with the increase in aspirin in the media. The production of CEA was also investigated for CW2 cells cultured on silk fibroin, poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) and poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate)/poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer films prepared by the Langmuir-Blodgett and casting methods. The highest production of CEA per cell was observed for the CW2 cells on poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) and its diblock copolymer films prepared by the Langmuir-Blodgett method in the medium containing 5 mM aspirin after 168 hr of inoculation. This originates from the fact that the cell density on the films in the medium containing 5 mM aspirin was the lowest under these conditions. It is suggested that CW2 cells produce CEA more effectively when the cell growth is suppressed by addition of toxic chemicals such as aspirin or by culture on unfavorable films for cell growth.

Production of interferon-beta in a culture of fibroblast cells on some polymeric films

Normal human skin (NB1-RGB) cells were cultured in the presenceof polyinosinic and polycytidylic acids, diethylaminoethyldextran, cycloheximide and actinomycin D, which induced humaninterferon-beta. The simplest induction method, that requiredonly polyinosinic and polycytidylic acids and diethylaminoethyldextran was found to give the highest production ofinterferon-beta by the cells. The cell growth and productionof interferon-beta were investigated for NB1-RGB cellscultured on silk fibroin, poly(gamma-methyl-L-glutamate),poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) and collagen films prepared bythe Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) and casting methods. The cell densityof NB1-RGB cells cultured on the LB films was found to be higherthan that on the cast films made of the same polymer. Thisindicates that not only the chemical structure of the polymersused for the preparation of the films but the preparationmethods of the films, i.e., casting and LB methods, are also astrong factor affecting the cell growth. The production ofinterferon-beta per unit number of cells was found to behigher on the cast films than that on the LB films made of thesame polymer. This is explained by the fact that the optimalsuppressed growth of NB1-RGB cells on the cast films leads tothe enhanced production of interferon-beta on the cast filmscompared to those on the LB films prepared by the same polymer.

A case of thyroid-type papillary carcinoma derived from ovarian mature cystic teratoma, resected by laparoscopic surgery

Follicular variant thyroid-type papillary carcinoma (FVTPC) arising from thyroid tissue in mature cystic teratoma of the left ovary is extremely rare, and it is not easy to diagnose preoperatively. However, with reports of an early postoperative death, we must prudently select the strategy for this lesion. A 50-year-old woman had a uterine fibroid with hypermenorrhea and a left ovarian tumor measuring approximately 8 cm diameter. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone level was within the normal limit. A laparoscopic hysterectomy and left salpingo-oophorectomy were performed. During surgery, there were no signs of invasion or metastasis, and there was no spillage in the abdomen. On histopathological examination of the left ovary, we diagnosed FVTPC arising from thyroid tissue in mature cystic teratoma of the left ovary. FVTPC in ovarian struma is a rare malignant transformation. We must be aware of the possibility of such a rare malignant disease when treating teratoma laparoscopically.

A comparison of the handling and accuracy of syringe and vial versus prefilled insulin pen (FlexPen)

BACKGROUND

To determine the preferable method for self-injecting insulin, we compared the handling, safety, and dose accuracy of a conventional disposable syringe and vial with FlexPen (Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark), a prefilled pen.

METHODS

Insulin therapy-naive healthcare professionals (HCPs) (n = 30), unfamiliar with insulin delivery, injected 10 U of insulin into a sponge pad using either a syringe and vial or the FlexPen, both with 30-gauge 8-mm needles, on day 1. The following day, they used the alternative method. They evaluated the handling of the two methods on device-specific questionnaires and compared overall preference on a third questionnaire. To evaluate dose accuracy, 30 insulin therapy-experienced HCPs and 20 insulin therapy-naive HCPs were asked to deliver 10 U of insulin using each method, and the amount discharged was weighed.

RESULTS

FlexPen was rated easier to use and overall more preferable than the syringe and vial by insulin therapy-naive HCPs (P < 0.001). The pen device was more accurate than the syringe and vial when used by experienced HCPs (mean +/- SD dose delivered, 9.91 +/- 0.11 U vs. 9.82 +/- 0.25 U, respectively; P < 0.001) and by insulin therapy-naive HCPs (9.91 +/- 0.12 U vs. 9.74 +/- 0.85 U; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Insulin therapy-naive HCPs found FlexPen easier to handle and preferable to use compared to a conventional syringe and vial. Both insulin therapy-experienced and -naive HCPs were able to deliver insulin significantly more accurately with the FlexPen than with a syringe and vial (P < 0.001).

Comparison of intuitiveness, ease of use, and preference in two insulin pens

BACKGROUND

The intuitiveness, instruction time, and handling of the Levemir (insulin detemir) FlexPen and the Lantus OptiClik pen (with insulin glargine) were investigated.

METHODS

This randomized open-label crossover study involved two groups of insulin-device-naive Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes [mean (SD) age 61.9 +/- 12.3 years, 57% male]. Patients were evaluated on the ease-of-use of each insulin pen without instruction [intuitiveness group (n = 32)], or with instruction [instruction time group (n = 29)]. Patient preferences for the respective devices were assessed by questionnaire.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

FlexPen required significantly less instruction time (p < .001) and was objectively more intuitive to use (p < .001) than OptiClik. Nevertheless, few patients in the intuitiveness group felt confident injecting either pen prior to instruction (FlexPen, 31%; OptiClik, 16%). No patients in the instruction time group found FlexPen difficult to learn, whereas 45% of patients found OptiClik difficult or very difficult to learn. FlexPen was rated simpler to use (77% versus 12%; p < .001), easier to inject (67% versus 13%; p < .001), and more convenient (71% versus 12%; p < .001) compared with OptiClik. More patients would trust FlexPen to deliver insulin injections (p < .01) and would prefer to use FlexPen compared with OptiClik (82% versus 13%; p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

FlexPen was faster to teach, simpler to use, and more trusted by patients compared with OptiClik. Mean injection time was significantly shorter for FlexPen than OptiClik, with or without instruction. This study highlights not only how easy it is for patients to learn to use FlexPen, but also how easily health care providers can teach patients to use it.

[Pharmacokinetic monitoring of 5-fluorouracil may improve the clinical benefit with an individualized regimen-a case report]

Serum levels of 5-fluorouracil(5-FU)were measured in a patient receiving pharmacokinetic modulation chemotherapy( PMC), with 5-FU, as well as a combination of oxaliplatin and infusional 5-FU plus leucovorin(FOLFOX). A 77- year-old man presented with unresectable multiple hepatic metastases after abdominoperineal resection of rectal / carcinoma, and was successfully treated by PMC. The patient initially received infusional 5-FU at 750 mg/m(2) once a week, and showed a partial response. Serum 5-FU levels were higher at night, and the peak concentration of 5-FU was / 398 ng/mL. After 13 months of PMC, second-line chemotherapy with FOLFOX was initiated because new liver metastases had appeared. After 4 cycles of FOLFOX4, progression was observed, and the concentration profile of 5-FU / was measured. The area under the concentration vs. time curve(AUC ngxh/mL)was smaller with FOLFOX4 than with PMC, so the FOLFOX6 regimen was tried instead. The AUC increased and disease progression was suppressed. This case shows that individual adjustment of the dose and regimen based on pharmacokinetic monitoring can increase the clinical benefit of fluorouracil.

Insulin delivery with FlexPen: dose accuracy, patient preference and adherence

The introduction of insulin pens has helped improve adherence in Type 1 or 2 diabetes, and reduce inaccurate dosing, fear of injection, and social embarrassment associated with vial and syringe. This report presents the published evidence base for the accuracy, patient preference and economic evaluation of one prefilled pen, FlexPen (Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) and discusses recent changes to the design of this pen. Primary research publications that included the study of FlexPen were identified from various sources. Several studies have shown that FlexPen delivers high, medium and low doses of insulin significantly more accurately than vial and syringe, SoloStar (sanofi-aventis, Paris, France) or OptiClik (sanofi-aventis, Paris, France). Patients have also found FlexPen easier to use than vial and syringe. A Next Generation FlexPen has been developed, which maintains the demonstrated accuracy of FlexPen and is accompanied by a reduced injection force for simpler and more comfortable use, and clear colour scheme for insulin type to avoid medication errors.

[Team-based medical care can improve tailor made chemotherapy for colorectal cancer]

We report that team-based medical care has an important role in tailor made chemotherapy for colorectal cancer. We organized a chemotherapy support team to facilitate the early detection of toxicity and to get hold of therapeutic needs in individual patients. We also measured the circadian variation of 5-fluorouracil plasma concentrations to permit tailor dosed chemotherapy. To date, the chemotherapy support team has managed the performance of pharmacokinetic modulating chemotherapy in 30 patients with unresectable or recurrent colorectal cancer. The median survival time was 19 months after the first-line chemotherapy and 14 months after the second-line treatment. Our results suggest that team-based medical care is practically useful for tailor made chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer.

Patient acceptance and issues of education of two durable insulin pen devices

BACKGROUND

Insulin pen devices offer patients a more convenient, accurate, and discreet mode of insulin delivery than traditional syringes and vials. This open-label, randomized, comparative crossover study assessed patient preference for two reusable pens: NovoPen 4 (Novo Nordisk A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark) and OptiClik (Sanofi-Aventis, Bridgewater NJ).

METHODS

Thirty-five diabetes patients with no previous experience of pen devices (mean age 56.7 years; range 17-80 years; 57% male) used both pens to deliver a 10 unit saline dose into an injection cushion. Half received guidance according to official instruction manuals, and half were given no instructions. Learning times were also measured. Participants completed a detailed questionnaire to determine their preferences.

RESULTS

Overall, 32 of 35 participants preferred NovoPen 4 compared with two of 35 for OptiClik (91.4% vs. 5.7% respectively, P<0.001), and one had no preference. NovoPen 4 was significantly favored over OptiClik in almost all questionnaire criteria, including safety (P<0.001), size of pen (P<0.001), appearance (P<0.001), and ease of use (P<0.001). The majority of patients were able to use NovoPen 4 without guidance (94.4%) compared with just over half for for OptiClik (55.6%, P<0.01). Learning time was also significantly faster for NovoPen 4 (62.6 s) than for OptiClik (95.8 s) (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients learned how to use both pens quickly (under 2 min), but NovoPen 4 was preferred by participants over OptiClik. Patient acceptance of a pen device may support insulin initiation, particularly in type 2 diabetes.

Dosing accuracy of two insulin pre-filled pens

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to determine the dose accuracy of two commonly available insulin pre-filled pens for use in diabetes - FlexPen (Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) (FP) and SoloStar (Sanofi-Aventis, Paris, France) (SS).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Dosing accuracy was tested at 5 U, 10 U and 30 U doses - three previously unused pens of both pre-filled pens were used for each dose. At the 5 U dose each pen was tested 42 times, at the 10 U dose each pen was tested 25 times and at the 30 U dose each pen was tested 9 times. The pre-filled pens were used strictly according to manufacturers' instructions and measurements were made on a sensitive balance and corrected for the specific density of the insulin formulations used. Specified limits were based on ISO standards (+/-1 U for the 5 U and 10 U doses and +/-1.5 U for the 30 U dose).

RESULTS

FP was more accurate for injecting 5 U, 10 U and 30 U doses (absolute mean 4.95 +/- 0.19 U, 9.61 +/- 0.27 U and 29.70 +/- 0.34 U, respectively) than SS (absolute mean 4.86 +/- 0.39 U, 9.27 +/- 0.52 U and 28.73 +/- 0.47 U, respectively). No doses were outside specified limits for 5 U and 30 U with FP and 1.3% of doses were outside these limits at the 10 U dose. For SS; 1.6%, 29.3% and 33.3% of doses were below the pre-specified threshold for the 5 U, 10 U and 30 U doses, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This non-blinded comparison indicates that FP is a more accurate insulin pre-filled pen than SS at three different insulin doses. In this single-user study, FP delivered consistent and accurate doses of insulin but SS had a high frequency of under dosing. No assessment was made of user variability in this study.

Protective effects of MnM2Py4P and Mn-salen against small bowel ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats using an in vivo and an ex vivo electron paramagnetic resonance technique with a spin probe

BACKGROUND

Reperfusion of ischemic tissues results in the formation of toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide anion, hydroxyl radicals, hydroperoxide, and peroxynitrite. ROS are potent oxidizing agents, capable of damaging cellular membranes by lipid peroxidation. In the present study, we applied an in vivo electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)/spin probe and an ex vivo EPR technique to provide direct evidence of ROS following experimentally induced small bowel ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We used a rat model of small bowel I/R injury to explore the possibility that MnM2Py4P or Mn-salen can prevent the accumulation of ROS species following experimentally induced I/R injury. We examined the ability of MnM2Py4P and Mn-salen to scavenge radicals in living Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats using an in vivo and an ex vivo EPR technique with a spin probe.

RESULTS

The CP decay rates in the MnM2Py4P- and Mn-salen-treated rats were significantly higher than those in the untreated rats and almost equal to those in sham group rats. There were no significant differences between the MnM2Py4P-treated group and the Mn-salen-treated group. Superoxide scavenging activities (SSA) in the MnM2Py4P- and EUK-8-treated group were higher than those in the untreated group and almost equal to the sham group.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggested that the protective effects of MnM2Py4P and Mn-salen against small bowel IR injury were mediated by the inhibition of O2, H2O2, and NO production.