Sample records for osteoprotegerin total soluble

  1. The balance between soluble receptors regulating IL-6 trans-signaling is predictive for the RANKL/osteoprotegerin ratio in postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis.

    PubMed

    Oelzner, Peter; Franke, Sybille; Lehmann, Gabriele; Eidner, Thorsten; Hein, Gert; Wolf, Gunter

    2012-01-01

    The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between soluble components of the interleukin 6 (IL-6) system mediating and modifying IL-6 trans-signaling and the RANKL-RANK-osteoprotegerin system in postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The following parameters were investigated in 126 postmenopausal women with RA: IL-6, soluble IL-6-receptor (sIL-6R), soluble glycoprotein 130 (sgp130), sRANKL, osteoprotegerin (OPG), osteocalcin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein in sera, pyridinolin and desoxypyridinolin crosslinks in the morning urine. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar spine (BMD-LS) and at the femoral neck (BMD-FN). Predictors of RANKL/OPG ratio and BMD were evaluated by multiple linear regression analysis. The following determinants of the RANKL/OPG ratio were identified: sIL-6R/sgp130 ratio and daily glucocorticoid (GC) dose as positive determinants in the whole group (R (2) = 0.56; P = 0.001), sIL-6R/sgp130 ratio as the exclusive positive determinant in patients with GC therapy (R (2) = 0.48; P = 0.001) and sgp130 as negative determinant in patients without GC (R (2) = 0.42; P = 0.031). Sgp130 was highly significantly positively correlated with OPG in the whole group (P < 0.001) as well as in patients with (n = 70; P < 0.05) and without GC therapy (n = 56; P < 0.01). sIL-6R was the main negative predictor of BMD-LS (R (2) = 0.41; P = 0.019). High sIL-6R/sgp130 ratio and/or low sgp130 are associated with a high sRANKL/OPG ratio in sera of postmenopausal women with RA indicating the critical significance of IL-6 trans-signaling for an increase in the RANKL/OPG ratio and of bone resorption. Inhibition of IL-6 trans-signaling may be an effective bone-protecting principle in postmenopausal women with RA.

  2. The role of serum osteoprotegerine in metastatic prostate cancer - a case control study.

    PubMed

    Siampanopoulou, M; El, Mantani; Moustakas, G; Haritanti, A; Gotzamani-Psarrakou, A

    2016-01-01

    Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignant neoplastic diseases in men. Early control of the disease progression contributes significantly to survival rates and patients' quality of life. Osteoprotegerin is a dimeric glycoprotein, which affects bone metabolism and inhibits osteoclastogenesis. In the present study, we evaluated the expression of osteoprotegerin in the serum of prostate cancer patients with or without skeletal metastases. The expression of serum osteoprotegerin, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, has been studied in 82 patients with locally controlled prostate cancer, in 49 patients with metastatic bone disease and in a control group of 41 healthy males. At sampling time 65/131 of included patients were newly diagnosed, while 66/131 patients were already under hormonal therapy. All eligible prostate cancer patients had histologically confirmed malignancy. Serum total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was determined by an immunoradiometric assay. We investigated the expression of osteoprotegerin in hormone-dependent and hormone-refractory prostate cancer and its relation to disease progression. Among the 131 patients with prostate cancer, higher osteoprotegerin and PSA concentrations have been observed in metastatic bone patients' sera (p <0.001). ROC analysis between the metastatic and locally controlled prostate cancer patients has shown a statistically significant area curve (p <0.001) and a cut-off limit of 89.6 pg/ml. Moreover, 15.3 % of patients became hormone-resistant, with osteoprotegerin values significantly increased compared with hormone-sensitive prostate cancer patients (p <0.001). It seems that elevated levels of serum osteoprotegerin in patients with prostate cancer reflect the bone metastatic extent and may potentially be used in metastatic patients' follow-ups. Hippokratia 2016, 20(2): 133-138.

  3. Total and soluble oxalate content of some Indian spices.

    PubMed

    Ghosh Das, Sumana; Savage, G P

    2012-06-01

    Spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander and turmeric are used all over the world as flavouring and colouring ingredients in Indian foods. Previous studies have shown that spices contain variable amounts of total oxalates but there are few reports of soluble oxalate contents. In this study, the total, soluble and insoluble oxalate contents of ten different spices commonly used in Indian cuisine were measured. Total oxalate content ranged from 194 (nutmeg) to 4,014 (green cardamom) mg/100 g DM, while the soluble oxalate contents ranged from 41 (nutmeg) to 3,977 (green cardamom) mg/100 g DM. Overall, the percentage of soluble oxalate content of the spices ranged from 4.7 to 99.1% of the total oxalate content which suggests that some spices present no risk to people liable to kidney stone formation, while other spices can supply significant amounts of soluble oxalates and therefore should be used in moderation.

  4. Relation of Osteoprotegerin, Visfatin and Ghrelin to Metabolic Syndrome in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

    PubMed Central

    Ahmed, Manal Basyouni; Ismail, Maha Imam Ahmed; Meki, Abdel-Raheim M.

    2015-01-01

    Background It is now realized that insulin resistance plays a principal role in initiating the pathologic manifestations of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the possible role of osteoprotegerin, visfatin and ghrelin in the pathogenesis of MetS among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Design and methods Serum blood samples were obtained from 116 subjects (39 T2DM; 48 T2DM with MetS; 29 healthy controls). Glycemic status and lipid profile were assessed by enzymatic method. Osteoprotegerin, visfatin, ghrelin and insulin were measured by ELISA method. Results Osteoprotegerin and visfatin were significantly higher, while ghrelin was significantly lower in diabetic patients compared to healthy control group (p<0.05). Moreover, Osteoprotegerin and visfatin showed significant higher levels in T2DM patients with MetS than those without MetS (p<0.05). The best cut-off values for the investigated markers were determined by ROC curve. Osteoprotegerin (1.06 ng/mL), visfatin (32.27 ng/mL) and ghrelin (33.65 pg/mL) presented sensitivity of 76%, 92% and 39.1%; respectively and specificity of 41%, 69.2% and 62.9%; respectively, in predicting MetS among T2DM. Among the investigated parameters, Visfatin was the one which predicts MetS among diabetic patients [AUC=0.88, p<0.05]. Conclusion Osteoprotegerin, visfatin and ghrelin might be implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes. Moreover, osteoprotegerin and visfatin may have additional potential role in the development of the metabolic syndrome. Visfatin was superior among studied parameters in predicting MetS among T2DM. PMID:26309431

  5. Alendronate and raloxifene affect the osteoprotegerin/RANKL system in human osteoblast primary cultures from patients with osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.

    PubMed

    Giner, Mercè; Rios, Ma José; Montoya, Ma José; Vázquez, Ma Angeles; Miranda, Cristina; Pérez-Cano, Ramón

    2011-01-15

    The osteoprotegerin/RANKL system modulates bone remodelling. Alendronate and raloxifene are anti-resorptive drugs effective in osteoporotic disease. They reduce fracture risk, the activity of bone remodelling and increase bone mineral density. It is not known if they can exert a direct effect in osteoblasts via the osteoprotegerin/RANKL system. Our objective was to assess the effects of alendronate and raloxifene among osteoprotegerin production (ELISA), as well as osteoprotegerin and RANKL expression (RT-PCR), in primary cultures of human osteoblasts (hOB). We compared 17 osteoporotic patients with 16 patients affected by osteoarthritis in basal conditions and after incubation with alendronate (10(-6) M), raloxifene (10(-7) M) or 17-β estradiol (10(-7) M) for 24 h. The statistical analysis was determined by ANOVA. Osteoprotegerin protein secretion in hOB cultures was higher in patients with osteoporosis than osteoarthritis. Osteoprotegerin secretion levels remained unchanged after each treatment. The osteoporotic group was more sensitive to treatment. Both raloxifene (34%) and estradiol (37%) increased osteoprotegerin mRNA expression, and alendronate (118%) and raloxifene (61%) increased the mRNA expression of RANKL. The RANKL/osteoprotegerin mRNA ratio was higher in osteoporotic than osteoarthritic patients. In the osteoporotic group, the RANKL/osteoprotegerin mRNA ratio was significantly increased after treatment with alendronate (112%) and after treatment with raloxifene (60%). These results indicate a direct action of alendronate and raloxifene on hOB cultures from osteoporotic patients, and the cited drugs are able to modulate the osteoprotegerin/RANKL system. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. Osteoprotegerin concentration is associated with the presence and severity of peripheral arterial disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

    PubMed

    Demková, Katarína; Kozárová, Miriam; Malachovská, Zuzana; Javorský, Martin; Tkáč, Ivan

    2018-02-01

    Osteoprotegerin plays a role in the development of several bone diseases. In addition, osteoprotegerin may contribute to the development of vascular disease. Little is known about the association between serum osteoprotegerin levels and the presence or severity of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The aim of this study was to examine the association between serum osteoprotegerin levels and both the presence as well as the severity of lower extremity arterial disease in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The study included 165 consecutive patients with T2DM (57 % males, mean age 65.0 ± 0.7 years). PAD was diagnosed by measurement of the toe-brachial index (TBI). Serum osteoprotegerin was measured using ELISA. The mean osteoprotegerin level was significantly higher in patients with PAD in comparison to patients without PAD (18.2 ± 1.0 vs. 13.1 ± 2.0 pmol/L, p = 0.014). Significant univariate correlations between TBI and osteoprotegerin level (r = -0.308; p < 0.001), age, body mass index, and HDL cholesterol were observed. In the multivariate linear regression analysis, serum osteoprotegerin (β = -0.005; p = 0.020), higher age, and male gender were significant predictors of TBI. When 25(OH) vitamin D was introduced into the mentioned model, OPG was no longer a significant predictor of TBI and was replaced in the model with vitamin D (β = 0.009, p = 0.001). This finding suggests a role of OPG as a mediator of the effects of 25(OH) vitamin D. Serum osteoprotegerin level is significantly associated with both the presence and severity of PAD in patients with T2D. Osteoprotegerin might be a biomarker for the presence of atherosclerotic disease in patients with T2DM.

  7. (-)-Epigallocatechin gallate but not chlorogenic acid upregulates osteoprotegerin synthesis through regulation of bone morphogenetic protein-4 in osteoblasts.

    PubMed

    Fujita, Kazuhiko; Otsuka, Takanobu; Yamamoto, Naohiro; Kainuma, Shingo; Ohguchi, Reou; Kawabata, Tetsu; Sakai, Go; Kuroyanagi, Gen; Matsushima-Nishiwaki, Rie; Kozawa, Osamu; Tokuda, Haruhiko

    2017-07-01

    Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a primary phenolic component of coffee and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a primary flavonoid component of green tea, both of which have been documented to possess beneficial health properties. A previous study by the present authors demonstrated that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) may be associated with osteoprotegerin synthesis stimulated by bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. In the present study, the effects of CGA and EGCG on BMP-4-stimulated osteoprotegerin synthesis in MC3T3-E1 cells were investigated. It was observed that CGA had no effect on osteoprotegerin release stimulated by BMP-4, whereas EGCG significantly enhanced BMP-4-stimulated osteoprotegerin release (P=0.003). Levels of osteoprotegerin mRNA expression induced by BMP-4 were also significantly increased by EGCG (P=0.03). By contrast, EGCG had no significant effect on phosphorylation of Smad1 or p38 MAPK induced by BMP-4. In addition, EGCG had little effect on BMP-induced phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase; however rapamycin, as an inhibitor of p70 S6 kinase, significantly suppressed osteoprotegerin release (P=0.007). These data suggest that EGCG but not CGA may upregulate the synthesis of osteoprotegerin induced by BMP-4 in osteoblasts.

  8. (−)-Epigallocatechin gallate but not chlorogenic acid upregulates osteoprotegerin synthesis through regulation of bone morphogenetic protein-4 in osteoblasts

    PubMed Central

    Fujita, Kazuhiko; Otsuka, Takanobu; Yamamoto, Naohiro; Kainuma, Shingo; Ohguchi, Reou; Kawabata, Tetsu; Sakai, Go; Kuroyanagi, Gen; Matsushima-Nishiwaki, Rie; Kozawa, Osamu; Tokuda, Haruhiko

    2017-01-01

    Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a primary phenolic component of coffee and (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a primary flavonoid component of green tea, both of which have been documented to possess beneficial health properties. A previous study by the present authors demonstrated that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) may be associated with osteoprotegerin synthesis stimulated by bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. In the present study, the effects of CGA and EGCG on BMP-4-stimulated osteoprotegerin synthesis in MC3T3-E1 cells were investigated. It was observed that CGA had no effect on osteoprotegerin release stimulated by BMP-4, whereas EGCG significantly enhanced BMP-4-stimulated osteoprotegerin release (P=0.003). Levels of osteoprotegerin mRNA expression induced by BMP-4 were also significantly increased by EGCG (P=0.03). By contrast, EGCG had no significant effect on phosphorylation of Smad1 or p38 MAPK induced by BMP-4. In addition, EGCG had little effect on BMP-induced phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase; however rapamycin, as an inhibitor of p70 S6 kinase, significantly suppressed osteoprotegerin release (P=0.007). These data suggest that EGCG but not CGA may upregulate the synthesis of osteoprotegerin induced by BMP-4 in osteoblasts. PMID:28672948

  9. Predicting Soluble Nickel in Soils Using Soil Properties and Total Nickel.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Xiaoqing; Li, Jumei; Wei, Dongpu; Li, Bo; Ma, Yibing

    2015-01-01

    Soil soluble nickel (Ni) concentration is very important for determining soil Ni toxicity. In the present study, the relationships between soil properties, total and soluble Ni concentrations in soils were developed in a wide range of soils with different properties and climate characteristics. The multiple regressions showed that soil pH and total soil Ni concentrations were the most significant parameters in predicting soluble Ni concentrations with the adjusted determination coefficients (Radj2) values of 0.75 and 0.68 for soils spiked with soluble Ni salt and the spiked soils leached with artificial rainwater to mimic field conditions, respectively. However, when the soils were divided into three categories (pH < 7, 7-8 and > 8), they obtained better predictions with Radj2 values of 0.78-0.90 and 0.79-0.94 for leached and unleached soils, respectively. Meanwhile, the other soil properties, such as amorphous Fe and Al oxides and clay, were also found to be important for determining soluble Ni concentrations, indicating that they were also presented as active adsorbent surfaces. Additionally, the whole soil speciation including bulk soil properties and total soils Ni concentrations were analyzed by mechanistic speciation models WHAM VI and Visual MINTEQ3.0. It was found that WHAM VI provided the best predictions for the soils with pH < 7, was relatively reasonable for pH 7 to 8, and gave an overestimation for pH > 8. The Visual MINTEQ3.0 could provide better estimation for pH < 8 and meanwhile quite reasonable results for pH > 8. These results indicated the possibility and applicability of these models to predict soil soluble Ni concentration by soil properties.

  10. Circulating osteoprotegerin and soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand in polycystic ovary syndrome: relationships to insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction.

    PubMed

    Pepene, Carmen Emanuela; Ilie, Ioana Rada; Marian, Ioan; Duncea, Ileana

    2011-01-01

    There is plenty of evidence that osteoprotegerin (OPG) is linked to subclinical vascular damage and predicts cardiovascular disease in high-risk populations. Our aim is to investigate the relationships of OPG/free soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (sRANKL) to insulin resistance, brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), and the carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism, impaired glucose control, and endothelial injury. A cross-sectional, observational study. Hormonal and metabolic profiles, FMD, CIMT, serum OPG, and ampli-sRANKL were assessed in 64 young PCOS patients and 20 controls of similar age. Body composition was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. OPG was significantly lower in PCOS and related negatively to free testosterone and positively to estradiol (E(2)) levels. In multivariate analysis, OPG but not ampli-sRANKL correlated positively to fasting insulin, insulin sensitivity indices, and FMD. Neither OPG nor ampli-sRANKL was associated with CIMT. Significantly lower adjusted FMD values were demonstrated in women in the upper OPG quartile group (>2.65 pmol/l) compared with all other quartile groups together (P=0.012). In PCOS, multiple regression analysis retained E(2)/sex hormone-binding globulin ratio, fat mass, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance as independent predictors of OPG. In PCOS, circulating OPG is related to both endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance, independent of obesity and androgen excess, suggesting OPG as a useful biomarker of these effects. Further studies are needed to evaluate OPG in relation to cardiovascular events and cardiovascular mortality in PCOS.

  11. Predicting Soluble Nickel in Soils Using Soil Properties and Total Nickel

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Xiaoqing; Li, Jumei; Wei, Dongpu; Li, Bo; Ma, Yibing

    2015-01-01

    Soil soluble nickel (Ni) concentration is very important for determining soil Ni toxicity. In the present study, the relationships between soil properties, total and soluble Ni concentrations in soils were developed in a wide range of soils with different properties and climate characteristics. The multiple regressions showed that soil pH and total soil Ni concentrations were the most significant parameters in predicting soluble Ni concentrations with the adjusted determination coefficients (Radj 2) values of 0.75 and 0.68 for soils spiked with soluble Ni salt and the spiked soils leached with artificial rainwater to mimic field conditions, respectively. However, when the soils were divided into three categories (pH < 7, 7–8 and > 8), they obtained better predictions with Radj 2 values of 0.78–0.90 and 0.79–0.94 for leached and unleached soils, respectively. Meanwhile, the other soil properties, such as amorphous Fe and Al oxides and clay, were also found to be important for determining soluble Ni concentrations, indicating that they were also presented as active adsorbent surfaces. Additionally, the whole soil speciation including bulk soil properties and total soils Ni concentrations were analyzed by mechanistic speciation models WHAM VI and Visual MINTEQ3.0. It was found that WHAM VI provided the best predictions for the soils with pH < 7, was relatively reasonable for pH 7 to 8, and gave an overestimation for pH > 8. The Visual MINTEQ3.0 could provide better estimation for pH < 8 and meanwhile quite reasonable results for pH > 8. These results indicated the possibility and applicability of these models to predict soil soluble Ni concentration by soil properties. PMID:26217951

  12. [A meta-analysis on the association between genetic polymorphisms of osteoprotegerin and cardiovascular disease].

    PubMed

    Xin, J Y; Cong, H L

    2018-06-24

    Objective: To explore the association between genetic polymorphisms of rs2073617T/C (950T/C) and rs2073618G/C(1181G/C) in the osteoprotegerin gene and cardiovascular disease with meta-analysis. Methods: A computer-based search for the study of relationship between genetic polymorphisms of rs2073617T/C and rs2073618G/C in the osteoprotegerin gene and cardiovascular disease were performed in electronic databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI), China Biomedical Literature Database, Wanfang Database, Chinese Journal Full-text Database, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library, supplemented by manual search, from the beginning of library to February 28, 2017. The quality of the included studies were assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) scoring system. Data were analyzed using STATA 12.0 software. Results: Eleven clinical case-control studies that enrolled 2 115 patients with cardiovascular disease and 1 467 healthy subjects were included.The results indicated that osteoprotegerin gene polymorphisms of rs2073617T/C and rs2073618G/C might be closely associated with the susceptibility to cardiovascular disease(rs2073617T/C allele model: OR= 0.79, 95% CI 0.73-0.87, P= 0.001;rs2073618G/C M allele and W allele: OR= 0.83, 95% CI 0.74-0.92, P= 0.001). The osteoprotegerin gene polymorphisms of rs2073617T/C and rs2073618G/C were significantly related to the incidence of coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndrome(coronary artery disease allele model: OR= 0.83, 95% CI 0.75-0.92, P= 0.001; acute coronary syndrome allele model: OR= 0.73, 95% CI 0.62-0.85, P< 0.001). However, there was no significant correlation between the genetic polymorphisms of these two sites and the lesion vessel number of coronary artery (rs2073617T/C allele model: OR= 1.00, 95% CI 0.81-1.24, P= 0.985;rs2073618G/C allele model: OR= 0.98, 95% CI 0.80-1.21, P= 0.626). Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and polymerase chain reaction

  13. Relationship between circulating serum osteoprotegerin and total receptor activator of nuclear κ-B ligand levels, triglycerides, and coronary calcification in postmenopausal women.

    PubMed

    Poornima, Indu G; Mackey, Rachel H; Buhari, Alhaji M; Cauley, Jane A; Matthews, Karen A; Kuller, Lewis H

    2014-07-01

    This study evaluates the relationship of blood osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear κ-B ligand (RANKL) levels with coronary artery calcium (CAC) and cardiovascular risk factors in two studies of postmenopausal women. OPG, a marker of bone turnover, and its ligand, RANKL, may contribute to cardiovascular disease risk. We tested the hypothesis that serum OPG and RANKL levels were associated with CAC and cardiovascular disease risk factors among postmenopausal women in the Women On the Move through Activity and Nutrition Study (WOMAN Study; n = 86; mean [SD], age 58 [2.9] y) and replicated our findings in the Healthy Women Study (HWS; n = 205; mean [SD] age, 61 [2.3] y). Serum OPG, total RANKL, and CAC were measured at baseline and 48 months in the WOMAN Study and on the eighth postmenopausal visit in the HWS. In the WOMAN Study, higher OPG was associated with higher CAC, and higher total RANKL was associated with lower CAC and triglycerides. In the HWS, higher total RANKL was also associated with lower CAC and triglycerides. In logistic regression models adjusted for body mass index and triglycerides, the odds ratios (95% CIs) for CAC per unit increase in OPG were 1.78 (1.17-2.73) for the WOMAN Study and 1.02 (0.84-1.24) for the HWS, and the odds ratios (95% CIs) for CAC per unit increase in log total RANKL were 0.86 (0.64-1.17) for the WOMAN Study and 0.83 (0.72-0.96) for the HWS. The inverse association of total RANKL with CAC and triglycerides is a new finding and may have important implications given the increasing use of drugs that modify total RANKL and its receptor, receptor activator of nuclear κ-B.

  14. The Function of Naringin in Inducing Secretion of Osteoprotegerin and Inhibiting Formation of Osteoclasts

    PubMed Central

    Xu, Tong; Wang, Lu; Tao, You; Ji, Yan; Deng, Feng; Wu, Xiao-Hong

    2016-01-01

    Osteoporosis has become one of the most prevalent and costly diseases in the world. It is a metabolic disease characterized by reduction in bone mass due to an imbalance between bone formation and resorption. Osteoporosis causes fractures, prolongs bone healing, and impedes osseointegration of dental implants. Its pathological features include osteopenia, degradation of bone tissue microstructure, and increase of bone fragility. In traditional Chinese medicine, the herb Rhizoma Drynariae has been commonly used to treat osteoporosis and bone nonunion. However, the precise underlying mechanism is as yet unclear. Osteoprotegerin is a cytokine receptor shown to play an important role in osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Hence, activators and ligands of osteoprotegerin are promising drug targets and have been the focus of studies on the development of therapeutics against osteoporosis. In the current study, we found that naringin could synergistically enhance the action of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in promoting the secretion of osteoprotegerin by osteoblasts in vitro. In addition, naringin can also influence the generation of osteoclasts and subsequently bone loss during organ culture. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that natural compounds such as naringin have the potential to be used as alternative medicines for the prevention and treatment of osteolysis. PMID:26884798

  15. Relationship between insulin resistance, hs-CRP, and body fat and serum osteoprotegerin/RANKL in prediabetic patients.

    PubMed

    Bilgir, Oktay; Yavuz, Mehmet; Bilgir, Ferda; Akan, Ozden Y; Bayindir, Aslı G; Calan, Mehmet; Bozkaya, Giray; Yuksel, Arif

    2018-03-01

    Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPN) are soluble members of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily. Growing evidence suggest that there is link between inflammation, insulin resistance and OPG, soluble RANKL (sRANKL). We aimed to ascertain whether OPG and sRANKL levels are altered in prediabetic subjects and there is association between OPG/sRANKL and metabolic parameters. Forty prediabetic subjects and 40 age- and BMI-matched controls were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Circulating OPG, sRANKL were measured using ELISA. Anthropometric and metabolic parameters were also determined. Circulating sRANKL (97.74±17.67 vs. 55.00±11.19 pg/mL, P=0.010) and OPG (261.54±74.55 vs. 159.23±52.91 pg/mL, P=0.020) levels were found to be significantly higher in diabetic subjects compared with control subjects. There was a positive correlation between sRANKL and OPG. sRANKL also positively correlated with BMI, insulin resistance marker HOMA-IR, inflammatory marker hs-CRP. Logistic regression analyses revealed that the odds ratio was increased for prediabetes in subjects with having elevated sRANKL levels. Increased sRANKL and OPG levels were associated with prediabetic subjects. sRANKL and OPG may play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetes as well as metabolic disturbance.

  16. Total soluble solids from banana: evaluation and optimization of extraction parameters.

    PubMed

    Carvalho, Giovani B M; Silva, Daniel P; Santos, Júlio C; Izário Filho, Hélcio J; Vicente, António A; Teixeira, José A; Felipe, Maria das Graças A; Almeida e Silva, João B

    2009-05-01

    Banana, an important component in the diet of the global population, is one of the most consumed fruits in the world. This fruit is also very favorable to industry processes (e.g., fermented beverages) due to its rich content on soluble solids and minerals, with low acidity. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of factors such as banana weight and extraction time during a hot aqueous extraction process on the total soluble solids content of banana. The extract is to be used by the food and beverage industries. The experiments were performed with 105 mL of water, considering the moisture of the ripe banana (65%). Total sugar concentrations were obtained in a beer analyzer and the result expressed in degrees Plato (degrees P, which is the weight of the extract or the sugar equivalent in 100 g solution at 20 degrees C), aiming at facilitating the use of these results by the beverage industries. After previous studies of characterization of the fruit and of ripening performance, a 2(2) full-factorial star design was carried out, and a model was developed to describe the behavior of the dependent variable (total soluble solids) as a function of the factors (banana weight and extraction time), indicating as optimum conditions for extraction 38.5 g of banana at 39.7 min.

  17. Osteoprotegerin in bone metastases: mathematical solution to the puzzle.

    PubMed

    Ryser, Marc D; Qu, Yiding; Komarova, Svetlana V

    2012-01-01

    Bone is a common site for cancer metastasis. To create space for their growth, cancer cells stimulate bone resorbing osteoclasts. Cytokine RANKL is a key osteoclast activator, while osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a RANKL decoy receptor and an inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis. Consistently, systemic application of OPG decreases metastatic tumor burden in bone. However, OPG produced locally by cancer cells was shown to enhance osteolysis and tumor growth. We propose that OPG produced by cancer cells causes a local reduction in RANKL levels, inducing a steeper RANKL gradient away from the tumor and towards the bone tissue, resulting in faster resorption and tumor expansion. We tested this hypothesis using a mathematical model of nonlinear partial differential equations describing the spatial dynamics of OPG, RANKL, PTHrP, osteoclasts, tumor and bone mass. We demonstrate that at lower expression rates, tumor-derived OPG enhances the chemotactic RANKL gradient and osteolysis, whereas at higher expression rates OPG broadly inhibits RANKL and decreases osteolysis and tumor burden. Moreover, tumor expression of a soluble mediator inducing RANKL in the host tissue, such as PTHrP, is important for correct orientation of the RANKL gradient. A meta-analysis of OPG, RANKL and PTHrP expression in normal prostate, carcinoma and metastatic tissues demonstrated an increase in expression of OPG, but not RANKL, in metastatic prostate cancer, and positive correlation between OPG and PTHrP in metastatic prostate cancer. The proposed mechanism highlights the importance of the spatial distribution of receptors, decoys and ligands, and can be applied to other systems involving regulation of spatially anisotropic processes.

  18. Total, Soluble and Insoluble Oxalate Contents of Ripe Green and Golden Kiwifruit.

    PubMed

    Nguyễn, Hà Vũ Hồng; Savage, Geoffrey P

    2013-03-05

    Three bulk samples of two different cultivars of kiwifruit, green ( Actinidia deliciosa L . ) and golden ( Actinidia chinensis L . ) were bought ripe, ready to eat from a local market. The aim of the study was to determine the oxalate composition of each of the three fractions of kiwifruit, namely skin, pulp and seeds. The pulp consisted of 90.4% of the edible portion of the two cultivars while the skin and seeds made up a mean of 8.0% and 1.6% respectively. Total oxalate was extracted with 2.0 M HCL at 21 °C for 15 min and soluble oxalates extracted at 21 °C in water for 15 min from each fraction. The total and soluble oxalate compositions of each fraction were determined using ion exchange HPLC chromatography. The pulp of golden kiwifruit contained lower amounts of total oxalates (15.7 vs. 19.3 mg/100 g FW) and higher amounts of soluble oxalates (8.5 vs. 7.6 mg/100 g FW) when compared to the green cultivar. The skin of the green cultivar contained lower levels of insoluble oxalates (36.9 vs. 43.6 mg/100 g FW), while the seeds of the green cultivar contained higher levels of insoluble oxalates 106.7 vs. 84.7 mg/100 g FW.

  19. Measurement of Soluble and Total Hexavalent Chromium in the Ambient Airborne Particles in New Jersey

    PubMed Central

    Huang, Lihui; Yu, Chang Ho; Hopke, Philip K.; Lioy, Paul J.; Buckley, Brian T.; Shin, Jin Young; Fan, Zhihua (Tina)

    2015-01-01

    Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in ambient airborne particulate matter (PM) is a known pulmonary carcinogen and may have both soluble and insoluble forms. The sum of the two forms is defined as total Cr(VI). Currently, there were no methods suitable for large-scale monitoring of total Cr(VI) in ambient PM. This study developed a method to measure total Cr(VI) in ambient PM. This method includes PM collection using a Teflon filter, microwave extraction with 3% Na2CO3-2% NaOH at 95°C for 60 minutes, and Cr(VI) analysis by 1,5-diphenylcarbazide colorimetry at 540 nm. The recoveries of total Cr(VI) were 119.5 ± 10.4% and 106.3 ± 16.7% for the Cr(VI)-certified reference materials, SQC 012 and SRM 2700, respectively. Total Cr(VI) in the reference urban PM (NIST 1648a) was 26.0 ± 3.1 mg/kg (%CV = 11.9%) determined by this method. The method detection limit was 0.33 ng/m3. This method and the one previously developed to measure ambient Cr(VI), which is soluble in pH ~9.0 aqueous solution, were applied to measure Cr(VI) in ambient PM10 collected from three urban areas and one suburban area in New Jersey. The total Cr(VI) concentrations were 1.05–1.41 ng/m3 in the winter and 0.99–1.56 ng/m3 in the summer. The soluble Cr(VI) concentrations were 0.03–0.19 ng/m3 in the winter and 0.12–0.37 ng/m3 in the summer. The summer mean ratios of soluble to total Cr(VI) were 14.3–43.7%, significantly higher than 4.2–14.4% in the winter. The winter concentrations of soluble and total Cr(VI) in the suburban area were significantly lower than in the three urban areas. The results suggested that formation of Cr(VI) via atmospheric chemistry may contribute to the higher soluble Cr(VI) concentrations in the summer. PMID:26120324

  20. Effect of lifestyle interventions with or without metformin therapy on serum levels of osteoprotegerin and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand in patients with prediabetes.

    PubMed

    Arslan, Muyesser Sayki; Tutal, Esra; Sahin, Mustafa; Karakose, Melia; Ucan, Bekir; Ozturk, Gulfer; Cakal, Erman; Biyikli Gencturk, Zeynep; Ozbek, Mustafa; Delibasi, Tuncay

    2017-02-01

    Osteoprotegerin has been shown to be increased in cardiovascular disorders and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Prediabetes represents a high risk condition for diabetes and diabetic complications. Therefore, we aimed to find the relationship between prediabetes and osteoprotegerin with nuclear factor-B ligand, carotid intima media thickness, and metabolic markers. A total of 54 participants with prediabetes including impaired fasting glucose (n = 21), impaired glucose tolerance (n = 8), impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance (n = 25), and 60 healthy individuals as a control were admitted to the study. Metabolic and anthropometric parameters, insulin resistance variables, osteoprotegerin, and nuclear factor-B ligand markers, carotid intima media thickness were examined at baseline for all participants. To evaluate the effect of therapy we determined the same parameters after the end of the study. Measurements of waist circumference, body mass index, body fat percentage and levels of fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, triglyceride levels and hsCRP and carotid intima media thickness were significantly higher in patients with prediabetes (p < 0.05). We also found higher osteoprotegerin and lower nuclear factor-B ligand levels in patients than in controls however, the value was non-significant (p > 0.05). Patients with prediabetes were under lifestyle interventions with (group 1, n = 33) or without metformin (group 2, n = 21) therapy. Baseline anthropometric and metabolic characteristics were not found statistically different in group 1 and group 2. Mean follow up period of the patients were 7.9 ± 2.2 month (min-max: 6-12 months). After the follow up period we evaluated the same parameters and found significant differences between waist circumference, body mass index, body fat percentage, fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and

  1. Anticancer Efficacy of Apo2L/TRAIL Is Retained in the Presence of High and Biologically Active Concentrations of Osteoprotegerin In Vivo

    PubMed Central

    Zinonos, Irene; Labrinidis, Agatha; Lee, Michelle; Liapis, Vasilios; Hay, Shelley; Ponomarev, Vladimir; Diamond, Peter; Findlay, David M; Zannettino, Andrew CW; Evdokiou, Andreas

    2017-01-01

    Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a secreted member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily that binds to the ligand for receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANKL) and inhibits bone resorption. OPG can also bind and inhibit the activity of the TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (Apo2L/TRAIL), raising the possibility that the anticancer efficacy of soluble Apo2L/TRAIL may be abrogated in the bone microenvironment where OPG expression is high. In this study we used a murine model of breast cancer growth in bone to evaluate the efficacy of recombinant soluble Apo2L/TRAIL against intratibial tumors that were engineered to overexpress native full-length human OPG. In vitro, OPG-overexpressing breast cancer cells were protected from Apo2L/TRAIL-induced apoptosis, an effect that was reversed with the addition of soluble RANKL or neutralizing antibodies to OPG. In vivo, mice injected intratibially with cells containing the empty vector developed large osteolytic lesions. In contrast, OPG overexpression preserved the integrity of bone and prevented breast cancer–induced bone destruction. This effect was due primarily to the complete absence of osteoclasts in the tibias of mice inoculated with OPG-transfected cells, confirming the biologic activity of the transfected OPG in vivo. Despite the secretion of supraphysiologic levels of OPG, treatment with Apo2L/TRAIL resulted in strong growth inhibition of both empty vector and OPG-overexpressing intratibial tumors. While Apo2L/TRAIL-induced apoptosis may be abrogated in vitro by OPG overexpression, the in vivo anticancer efficacy of recombinant soluble Apo2L/TRAIL is retained in the bone microenvironment even in the presence of biologically active OPG at supraphysiologic concentrations. PMID:20818644

  2. Circulating levels of dickkopf-1, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin are higher in old compared with young men and women and positively associated with whole-body bone mineral density in older adults.

    PubMed

    Coulson, J; Bagley, L; Barnouin, Y; Bradburn, S; Butler-Browne, G; Gapeyeva, H; Hogrel, J-Y; Maden-Wilkinson, T; Maier, A B; Meskers, C; Murgatroyd, C; Narici, M; Pääsuke, M; Sassano, L; Sipilä, S; Al-Shanti, N; Stenroth, L; Jones, D A; McPhee, J S

    2017-09-01

    Bone mineral density declines with increasing older age. We examined the levels of circulating factors known to regulate bone metabolism in healthy young and older adults. The circulating levels of dickkopf-1, osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin were positively associated with whole-body bone mineral density (WBMD) in older adults, despite the average WBMD being lower and circulating dickkopf-1, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin being higher in old than young. This study aims to investigate the relationship between whole-body bone mineral density (WBMD) and levels of circulating factors with known roles in bone remodelling during 'healthy' ageing. WBMD and fasting plasma concentrations of dickkopf-1, fibroblast growth factor-23, osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin, osteopontin and sclerostin were measured in 272 older subjects (69 to 81 years; 52% female) and 171 younger subjects (18-30 years; 53% female). WBMD was lower in old than young. Circulating osteocalcin was lower in old compared with young, while dickkopf-1, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin were higher in old compared with young. These circulating factors were each positively associated with WBMD in the older adults and the relationships remained after adjustment for covariates (r values ranging from 0.174 to 0.254, all p < 0.01). In multivariate regression, the body mass index, circulating sclerostin and whole-body lean mass together accounted for 13.8% of the variation with WBMD in the older adults. In young adults, dickkopf-1 and body mass index together accounted for 7.7% of variation in WBMD. Circulating levels of dickkopf-1, osteocalcin, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin are positively associated with WBMD in community-dwelling older adults, despite the average WBMD being lower and circulating dickkopf-1, osteoprotegerin and sclerostin being higher in old than young.

  3. Changes in RANKL and osteoprotegerin expression after chronic exposure to indoor air pollution as a result of cooking with biomass fuel.

    PubMed

    Saha, Hirak; Mukherjee, Bidisha; Bindhani, Banani; Ray, Manas Ranjan

    2016-07-01

    The impact of indoor air pollution as a result of cooking with unprocessed biomass on membrane-bound and serum receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa ligand 1 (RANKL), its soluble decoy receptor osteoprotegerin (OPG) and osteoclast precursor CD14(+) CD16(+) monocytes was investigated. Seventy-four pre-menopausal women from eastern India using biomass and 65 control women who cooked with cleaner liquefied petroleum gas were enrolled. PM10 and PM2.5 levels in their indoor air were measured with real-time aerosol monitors. The levels of membrane-bound RANKL on leukocytes and percentage CD14(+) CD16(+) monocytes in the subjects' blood were assayed by flow cytometry. Soluble RANKL and OPG in serum were measured by ELISA. The results showed that PM10 and PM2.5 levels were significantly higher in the indoor air of biomass-using households. Compared with the control women, the levels of CD4(+) and CD19(+) lymphocytes and circulating granulocytes with elevated levels of membrane-bound RANKL were higher in biomass users. The serum levels of RANKL were increased by 41% whereas serum OPG was reduced by 22% among biomass users. The absolute number of CD14(+) CD16(+) monocytes was significantly increased in biomass users than the control women. After controlling for potential confounders, PM10 and PM2.5 levels were found to be positively associated with leukocyte and serum RANKL and CD14(+) CD16(+) monocyte levels, but negatively with serum OPG. From these results, we can conclude that chronic exposure to biomass smoke increased membrane-bound and soluble RANKL and circulating osteoclast precursors but decreased OPG, suggesting an increased risk of bone resorption and consequent osteoporosis in biomass-exposed women of a child-bearing age. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  4. 7 CFR 51.1178 - Maximum anhydrous citric acid permissible for corresponding total soluble solids.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 2 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Maximum anhydrous citric acid permissible for... Sinensis (l) Osbeck) § 51.1178 Maximum anhydrous citric acid permissible for corresponding total soluble solids. For determining the grade of juice, the maximum permissible anhydrous citric acid content in...

  5. 7 CFR 51.1178 - Maximum anhydrous citric acid permissible for corresponding total soluble solids.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 2 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Maximum anhydrous citric acid permissible for... Sinensis (l) Osbeck) § 51.1178 Maximum anhydrous citric acid permissible for corresponding total soluble solids. For determining the grade of juice, the maximum permissible anhydrous citric acid content in...

  6. Effect of fluoride and low versus high levels of dietary calcium on mRNA expression of osteoprotegerin and osteoprotegerin ligand in the bone of rats.

    PubMed

    Yu, Jun; Gao, Yanhui; Sun, Dianjun

    2013-06-01

    The ratio of osteoprotegerin ligand (OPGL) to osteoprotegerin (OPG) determines the delicate balance between bone resorption and synthesis. The main objective of the present study is to investigate the possible role of OPGL and OPG in the bone metabolism of rats exposed to fluoride and the protective or aggravating effect of calcium (Ca). In a 6-month study, 270 weanling male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 70 and 90 g were divided randomly into six groups of 45 rats in each group. Three groups (groups I, III, and V)served as controls and drank deionized water and were fed purified rodent diets containing either 1,000 mg Ca/kg (low Ca), 5,000 mg Ca/kg (normal Ca), or 20,000 mg Ca/kg (high Ca). The three experimental groups (groups II, IV, and VI) were given the same diets but they drank water containing 100 mg F ion/L (from NaF). Every 2 months 15 rats were randomly selected from each group and sacrificed for the study. The ratio of OPGL mRNA to OPG mRNA was significantly increased by the sixth month in the distal femur joints of the F-exposed rats. Serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity and serum calcitonin activity in the F-exposed groups was increased, although changes were not apparent in the serum alkaline phosphatase or Gla-containing proteins, especially in the low calcium and high calcium diet F-exposed groups. The results indicated that OPG and OPGL may play important roles in skeletal fluorosis, and that fluoride may enhance osteoclast formation and induce osteoclastic bone destruction. A high Ca diet did not play a protective role, but rather may aggravate the damage of fluoride.

  7. 7 CFR 51.1178 - Maximum anhydrous citric acid permissible for corresponding total soluble solids.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 2 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Maximum anhydrous citric acid permissible for... Common Sweet Oranges (citrus Sinensis (l) Osbeck) § 51.1178 Maximum anhydrous citric acid permissible for... following Table II together with the minimum ratio of total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid: Table...

  8. 7 CFR 51.1178 - Maximum anhydrous citric acid permissible for corresponding total soluble solids.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 2 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Maximum anhydrous citric acid permissible for... Common Sweet Oranges (citrus Sinensis (l) Osbeck) § 51.1178 Maximum anhydrous citric acid permissible for... following Table II together with the minimum ratio of total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid: Table...

  9. Soluble trace elements and total mercury in Arctic Alaskan snow

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Snyder-Conn, E.; Garbarino, J.R.; Hoffman, G.L.; Oelkers, A.

    1997-01-01

    Ultraclean field and laboratory procedures were used to examine trace element concentrations in northern Alaskan snow. Sixteen soluble trace elements and total mercury were determined in snow core samples representing the annual snowfall deposited during the 1993-94 season at two sites in the Prudhoe Bay oil field and nine sites in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (Arctic NWR). Results indicate there were two distinct point sources for trace elements in the Prudhoe Bay oil field - a source associated with oil and gas production and a source associated with municipal solid-waste incineration. Soluble trace element concentrations measured in snow from the Arctic NWR resembled concentrations of trace elements measured elsewhere in the Arctic using clean sample-collection and processing techniques and were consistent with deposition resulting from widespread arctic atmospheric contamination. With the exception of elements associated with sea salts, there were no orographic or east-west trends observed in the Arctic NWR data, nor were there any detectable influences from the Prudhoe Bay oil field, probably because of the predominant easterly and northeasterly winds on the North Slope of Alaska. However, regression analysis on latitude suggested significant south-to-north increases in selected trace element concentrations, many of which appear unrelated to the sea salt contribution.

  10. Effects of Minocycline on Urine Albumin, Interleukin-6, and Osteoprotegerin in Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Ying; Tong, Lili; Pak, Youngju; Andalibi, Ali; LaPage, Janine A.; Adler, Sharon G.

    2016-01-01

    Background We tested minocycline as an anti-proteinuric adjunct to renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) in diabetic nephropathy (DN) and measured urinary biomarkers to evaluate minocycline’s biological effects. Methods Design: Prospective, single center, randomized, placebo-controlled, intention-to-treat pilot trial. Inclusion. Type 2 diabetes/DN; Baseline creatinine clearance > 30 mL/min; proteinuria ≥ 1.0 g/day; Age ≥30 years; BP <150/95 mm Hg; intolerant of/at maximum RAASi dose. Protocol. 3-wk screening; Baseline randomization; Urine and blood measures at months 1, 2, 4, and Month 6 study completion. Urine interleukin-6 (IL-6) and osteoprotegerin were measured in a subset. Primary outcome. Natural log of urine protein/creatinine (ln U P:Cr) ratio at Month 6 vs Baseline. Results 30 patients completed the study. The 15% decline in U P: Cr in minocycline patients (6 month P:Cr ÷ Baseline P:Cr, 0.85 vs. 0.92) was not significant (p = 0.27). Creatinine clearance did not differ in the 2 groups. Urine IL-6:Cr (p = 0.03) and osteoprotegerin/Cr (p = 0.046) decrements were significant. Minocycline modified the relationship between urine IL-6 and proteinuria, suggesting a protective biological effect. Conclusions Although the decline in U P:Cr in minocycline patients was not statistically significant, the significant differences in urine IL-6 and osteoprotegerin suggest that minocycline may confer cytoprotection in patients with DN, providing a rationale for further study. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01779089 PMID:27019421

  11. Development of a factory/refinery method to measure total, soluble, and insoluble starch in sugar products

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    An easy, rapid, and inexpensive method was developed to measure total, soluble, and insoluble starch in products at the factory and refinery, using microwave-assisted neutralization chemistry. The method was optimized using the previously developed USDA Starch Research method as a reference. Optimal...

  12. Fermentation and complex enzyme hydrolysis for improving the total soluble phenolic contents, flavonoid aglycones contents and bio-activities of guava leaves tea.

    PubMed

    Wang, Lu; Luo, You; Wu, Yanan; Liu, Yan; Wu, Zhenqiang

    2018-10-30

    There are both soluble and insoluble-bound forms of phenolics in tea-leaf products. In order to increase total soluble phenolics contents, guava leaves tea (GLT) was first fermented with Monascus anka and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and then hydrolyzed with complex enzymes. The changes in phenolics profiles, antioxidant activities and inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase in processed GLT were investigated. Compared with the un-fermented GLT, fermentation and complex enzymatic processing (FE) significantly increased the total phenolics, total flavonoids, quercetin and kaempferol contents by 2.1, 2.0, 13.0 and 6.8 times, respectively. After the FE, a major proportion of phenolics existed in the soluble form. Quercetin was released in the highest amount among different phenolics. In addition, soluble phenolic extracts from GLT following FE exhibited a highest antioxidant activity and inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase. The paper suggested an improved method for processing GLT into high-value products rich in phenolics and flavonoids aglycones with enhanced health benefits. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Receptor activator NFkappaB-ligand and osteoprotegerin protein expression in human periapical cysts and granulomas.

    PubMed

    Menezes, Renato; Bramante, Clóvis Monteiro; da Silva Paiva, Katiúcia Batista; Letra, Ariadne; Carneiro, Everdan; Fernando Zambuzzi, Willian; Granjeiro, José Mauro

    2006-09-01

    The purpose of this study was to determine the expression of receptor activator of NFkappaB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) associated with bone destruction in periapical cysts and granulomas. Forty human dental chronic periapical lesions were collected after periapical surgery. The lesions collected were fixed in 10% buffered formalin and histologically processed. At least 2 sections of each specimen were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for microscopic diagnosis. After that, 10 human periapical granulomas and 10 cysts were selected for immunohistochemical analysis for RANKL, OPG, and CD68+. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils, macrophages, endothelial cells, and lymphocytes were stained for RANKL and OPG in both lesions. Epithelial cells were also stained for RANKL and OPG in periapical cysts. Quantitative analysis was conducted and the results were expressed as a ratio of the number of immunostained cells over the total number of cells in the field (n = 100). The ratio of RANKL+/total cells was higher than OPG+/total cells in periapical granulomas (0.553 +/- 0.153 and 0.483 +/- 0.189, respectively; P < .0012; paired t test) and in cysts (0.519 +/- 0.09 and 0.339 +/- 0.117, respectively; P < .0001; paired t test). The ratios of OPG+/total cells (P < .0001; paired t test) and RANKL+/total cells (P < .0322; paired t test) were greater in granulomas than in cysts. However, the ratio RANKL+/OPG+ in granulomas (1.336 +/- 0.723) and cysts (1.404 +/- 0.385) was not significantly different. The ratio of CD68+/total cells was significantly higher in granulomas (0.381 +/- 0.040) than in cysts (0.307 +/- 0.068) (P < .0001; unpaired t test with Welch correction). Taking into account the limitations of the experimental approach employed, our findings indicate the presence of RANKL and OPG in cysts and granulomas, strongly suggesting the involvement of these gene products in the development of periapical lesions.

  14. Simplified sample treatment for the determination of total concentrations and chemical fractionation forms of Ca, Fe, Mg and Mn in soluble coffees.

    PubMed

    Pohl, Pawel; Stelmach, Ewelina; Szymczycha-Madeja, Anna

    2014-11-15

    A simpler, and faster than wet digestion, sample treatment was proposed prior to determination of total concentrations for selected macro- (Ca, Mg) and microelements (Fe, Mn) in soluble coffees by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Samples were dissolved in water and acidified with HNO3. Precision was in the range 1-4% and accuracy was better than 2.5%. The method was used in analysis of 18 soluble coffees available on the Polish market. Chemical fractionation patterns for Ca, Fe, Mg and Mn in soluble coffees, as consumed, using a two-column solid-phase extraction method, determined Ca, Mg and Mn were present predominantly as cations (80-93% of total content). This suggests these elements are likely to be highly bioaccessible. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Association of the g.19074G>A genetic variant in the osteoprotegerin gene with bone mineral density in Chinese postmenopausal women.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Y D; Zhang, Z; Zhou, N F; Jia, W T; Cheng, X G; Wei, X J

    2014-08-28

    Primary osteoporosis is a common health problem in postmenopausal women. This study aimed to detect the association of the g.19074G>A genetic variant in the osteoprotegerin gene (OPG) with bone mineral density (BMD) and primary osteoporosis. The created restriction site-polymerase chain reaction method was used to investigate the g.19074G>A genetic variant. The BMD of the femoral neck hip, lumbar spine (L2-4), and total hip were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in 856 unrelated Chinese postmenopausal women. We found significant differences in the BMDs of the femoral neck hip, lumbar spine (L2-4), and total hip among different genotypes; individuals with the GG genotype had significantly higher BMDs than those with the GA and AA genotypes (P < 0.05). Our results indicated that the A allele was an increased risk factor for primary osteoporosis and the g.19074G>A genetic variant of the OPG gene was associated with BMD and primary osteoporosis in Chinese postmenopausal women.

  16. Vitamin D, osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (OPG/RANKL) and inflammation with alendronate treatment in HIV-infected patients with reduced bone mineral density.

    PubMed

    Natsag, J; Kendall, M A; Sellmeyer, D E; McComsey, G A; Brown, T T

    2016-03-01

    The aim of the study was to determine the effect of alendronate (ALN) on inflammatory markers and osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL), and to explore the associations of baseline systemic inflammation and vitamin D status on the bone mineral density (BMD) response to ALN. Eighty-two HIV-positive patients with lumbar spine T-score ≤ -1.5 were randomized to ALN 70 mg weekly or placebo for 48 weeks; all received calcium carbonate 500 mg/vitamin D3 200 IU twice daily. Serum C-telopeptide (CTx) and BMD were assessed at baseline and week 48. Stored plasma samples in 70 subjects were assayed for levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), OPG, RANKL, interleukin (IL)-6 and soluble receptors for tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α 1 and 2 (sTNFR 1 and 2). ALN increased BMD more than placebo at both the lumbar spine (difference ALN - placebo 2.64%; P = 0.011) and the total hip (difference 2.27%; P = 0.016). No within- or between-arm differences in OPG, RANKL or inflammatory markers were observed over 48 weeks. High baseline CTx and sTNFR2 were associated with a more robust BMD response to ALN over 48 weeks at the lumbar spine [difference 5.66%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.50, 7.82; P < 0.0001] and total hip (difference 4.99%; 95% CI 2.40, 7.57; P = 0.0002), respectively. Baseline 25(OH)D < 32 ng/mL was associated with larger increases in total hip BMD over 48 weeks, independent of ALN treatment (P = 0.014). Among HIV-positive patients, higher baseline bone resorption and TNF-α activity were associated with an increased BMD response to ALN. The greater BMD response in those with lower vitamin D reinforces the importance of vitamin D supplementation with bisphosphonate treatment. © 2015 British HIV Association.

  17. Effect of UV-B light on total soluble phenolic contents of various whole and fresh-cut specialty crops

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    BACKGROUND: The effect of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) light treatment on total soluble phenolic contents (TSP) of various whole and fresh-cut specialty crops was evaluated. Whole fruits (strawberries, blueberries, grapes), vegetables (cherry tomatoes, white sweet corn) and root crops (sweet potatoes, colo...

  18. [Determination of total, soluble and insoluble dietary fiber in foods by enzymatic-gravimetric method].

    PubMed

    Yang, X; Yang, Y; Zhou, R; Bian, L

    2001-11-01

    For studying the contents of dietary fiber in general foods and functional foods, a enzymatic-gravimetric method recommended by AOAC was established in our laboratory. The method for the determination of total, soluble and insoluble dietary fiber in foods and functional foods could be used for many other kind of foods. The relative standard deviations (RSD) of reproducibility between-run and within-run were 2.04%-7.85%, 3.42%-55.23% respectively. The repeatability of the methods was good, and the methods are suitable for many foods.

  19. A new technique for online measurement of total and water-soluble copper (Cu) in coarse particulate matter (PM).

    PubMed

    Wang, Dongbin; Shafer, Martin M; Schauer, James J; Sioutas, Constantinos

    2015-04-01

    This study presents a novel system for online, field measurement of copper (Cu) in ambient coarse (2.5-10 μm) particulate matter (PM). This new system utilizes two virtual impactors combined with a modified liquid impinger (BioSampler) to collect coarse PM directly as concentrated slurry samples. The total and water-soluble Cu concentrations are subsequently measured by a copper Ion Selective Electrode (ISE). Laboratory evaluation results indicated excellent collection efficiency (over 85%) for particles in the coarse PM size ranges. In the field evaluations, very good agreements for both total and water-soluble Cu concentrations were obtained between online ISE-based monitor measurements and those analyzed by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Moreover, the field tests indicated that the Cu monitor could achieve near-continuous operation for at least 6 consecutive days (a time resolution of 2-4 h) without obvious shortcomings. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Characterisation of osteoprotegerin autoantibodies in coeliac disease.

    PubMed

    Real, Ana; Gilbert, Nick; Hauser, Barbara; Kennedy, Nick; Shand, Alan; Gillett, Helen; Gillett, Peter; Goddard, Clive; Cebolla, Ángel; Sousa, Carolina; Fraser, William D; Satsangi, Jack; Ralston, Stuart H; Riches, Philip L

    2015-08-01

    Autoantibodies neutralising the effect of the bone regulatory cytokine osteoprotegerin (OPG) have been described in a patient with severe osteoporosis and coeliac disease. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and epitope specificity of autoantibodies to OPG in patients with coeliac disease, and correlate their presence with bone mineral density. A direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed and used to screen patients with coeliac disease for autoantibodies to OPG. Recombinant fragments of OPG were made to evaluate the epitope specificity and affinity of these antibodies. Phenotype information of the patients was obtained by case note review. Raised titres of antibodies to OPG were found in 7/71 (9.8 %) patients with coeliac disease, compared with 1/72 (1.4 %) non-coeliac osteoporosis clinic control patients (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that a polyclonal antibody response to OPG is raised in these patients capable of recognising different epitopes of OPG with varying affinity. The titre of OPG antibodies was associated with lower bone mineral density Z-score of the hip in coeliac patients on univariate (p < 0.05) and multivariate analysis including age, sex height and weight as covariates (p < 0.01). Polyclonal antibodies to OPG are more common in patients with coeliac disease and are independently associated with lower bone mineral density Z-scores of the hip. Further work is required to establish the clinical utility of testing for OPG antibodies.

  1. Clinical, instrumental, serological and histological findings suggest that hemophilia B may be less severe than hemophilia A.

    PubMed

    Melchiorre, Daniela; Linari, Silvia; Manetti, Mirko; Romano, Eloisa; Sofi, Francesco; Matucci-Cerinic, Marco; Carulli, Christian; Innocenti, Massimo; Ibba-Manneschi, Lidia; Castaman, Giancarlo

    2016-02-01

    Recent evidence suggests that patients with severe hemophilia B may have a less severe disease compared to severe hemophilia A. To investigate clinical, radiological, laboratory and histological differences in the arthropathy of severe hemophilia A and hemophilia B, 70 patients with hemophilia A and 35 with hemophilia B with at least one joint bleeding were consecutively enrolled. Joint bleedings (<10, 10-50, >50), regimen of treatment (prophylaxis/on demand), World Federation of Hemophilia, Pettersson and ultrasound scores, serum soluble RANK ligand and osteoprotegerin were assessed in all patients. RANK, RANK ligand and osteoprotegerin expression was evaluated in synovial tissue from 18 hemophilia A and 4 hemophilia B patients. The percentage of patients with either 10-50 or more than 50 hemarthrosis was greater in hemophilia A than in hemophilia B (P<0.001 and P=0.03, respectively), while that with less than 10 hemarthrosis was higher in hemophilia B (P<0.0001). World Federation of Hemophilia (36.6 vs. 20.2; P<0.0001) and ultrasound (10.9 vs. 4.3; P<0.0001) score mean values were significantly higher in hemophilia A patients. Serum osteoprotegerin and soluble RANK ligand were decreased in hemophilia A versus hemophilia B (P<0.0001 and P=0.006, respectively). Osteoprotegerin expression was markedly reduced in synovial tissue from hemophilia A patients. In conclusion, the reduced number of hemarthrosis, the lower World Federation of Hemophilia and ultrasound scores, and higher osteoprotegerin expression in serum and synovial tissue in hemophilia B suggest that hemophilia B is a less severe disease than hemophilia A. Osteoprotegerin reduction seems to play a pivotal role in the progression of arthropathy in hemophilia A. Copyright© Ferrata Storti Foundation.

  2. Flow injection chemiluminescence determination of the total phenolics levels in plant-derived beverages using soluble manganese(IV).

    PubMed

    Nalewajko-Sieliwoniuk, Edyta; Tarasewicz, Iwona; Kojło, Anatol

    2010-05-23

    This study established a flow injection (FI) methodology for the determination of the total phenolic content in plant-derived beverages based on soluble manganese(IV) chemiluminescence (CL) detection. It was found that mixing polyphenols with acidic soluble manganese(IV) in the presence of formaldehyde evoked chemiluminescence. Based on this finding, a new FI-CL method was developed for the estimation of the total content of phenolic compounds (expressed as milligrams of gallic acid equivalent per litre of drink) in a variety of wine, tea and fruit juice samples. The proposed method is sensitive with a detection limit of 0.02 ng mL(-1) (gallic acid), offers a wide linear dynamic range (0.5-400 ng mL(-1)) and high sample throughput (247 samples h(-1)). The relative standard deviation for 15 measurements was 3.8% for 2 ng mL(-1) and 0.45% for 10 ng mL(-1) of gallic acid. Analysis of 36 different samples showed that the results obtained by the proposed FI-CL method correlate highly with those obtained by spectrophotometric methods commonly used for the evaluation of the total phenolic/antioxidant level. However, the FI-CL method was found to be far simpler, more rapid and selective, with almost no interference from non-phenolic components of the samples examined. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. SERUM LEVELS OF FIBROBLAST GROWTH FACTOR-23, OSTEOPROTEGERIN, AND RECEPTOR ACTIVATOR OF NUCLEAR FACTOR KAPPA B LIGAND IN PATIENTS WITH PROLACTINOMA.

    PubMed

    Arslan, Muyesser Sayki; Sahin, Mustafa; Karakose, Melia; Tutal, Esra; Topaloglu, Oya; Ucan, Bekir; Demirci, Taner; Caliskan, Mustafa; Ozdemir, Seyda; Ozbek, Mustafa; Cakal, Erman

    2017-03-01

    The aim of this study to was to evaluate the effect of fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator nuclear κB ligand (RANKL), and vitamin D hormones on bone loss in patients with hyperprolactinemia due to pituitary prolactinoma. We recruited 46 premenopausal female patients with prolactinoma and age and sex-matched healthy controls (Group 3, n = 20) for this cross-sectional study. Prolactinoma patients were divided into 2 groups as patients newly diagnosed (Group 1, n = 26) and those under cabergoline treatment (Group 2, n = 20). Anthropometric and metabolic variables; hormonal profiles; and osteocalcin, deoxypyridinoline (DOP), and bone mineral density measurements were performed for all participants. FGF-23, OPG, and RANKL levels were analyzed in all groups. FGF-23, OPG, calcium, phosphorus, and parathormone levels were similar between all groups despite significantly higher levels in the control group in terms of vitamin D and RANKL levels than in patients. Bone loss was found more in Group 2, particularly observed in Z scores of femur and spinal bone (P<.05). Correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between FGF-23 and femur neck T score (r = -0.0433, P = .05) in patients with active prolactinoma. A positive correlation was also observed between parameters of DOP and OPG (r = 0.673, P = .02). In patients with remission there were a negative correlation between prolactin and luteinizing hormone (r = -600, P = .08). Additionally, a negative correlation was found between osteocalcin and osteoprotegerin in patients in remission (r = -0.73, P = .01). Our data indicated that FGF-23 and OPG levels do not play a critical role on the development of bone decrease in patients with hyperprolactinemia. However, further prospective studies in larger numbers of participants should be designed to clarify this issue. BFP = body fat percentage BMD = bone mineral density BMI = body mass index CV = coefficient of variation DOP

  4. Effects of thermal processing by nanofluids on vitamin C, total phenolics and total soluble solids of tomato juice.

    PubMed

    Jafari, S M; Jabari, S S; Dehnad, D; Shahidi, S A

    2017-03-01

    In this research, our main idea was to apply thermal processing by nanofluids instead of conventional pasteurization processes, to shorten duration of thermal procedure and improve nutritional contents of fruit juices. Three different variables of temperature (70, 80 and 90 °C), nanofluid concentration (0, 2 and 4%) and time (30, 60 and 90 s) were selected for thermal processing of tomato juices by a shell and tube heat exchanger. The results demonstrated that 4% nanofluid concentration, at 30 °C for 30 s could result in 66% vitamin C retention of fresh juice while it was about 56% for the minimum nanofluid concentration and maximum temperature and time. Higher nanoparticle concentrations made tomato juices that require lowered thermal durations, because of better heat transfer to the product, and total phenolic compounds dwindle less severely; In fact, after 30 s thermal processing at 70 °C with 0 and 4% nanoparticles, total phenolic compounds were maintained by 71.9 and 73.6%, respectively. The range of total soluble solids for processed tomato juices was 5.4-5.6, meaning that nanofluid thermal processing could preserve the natural condition of tomato juices successfully. Based on the indices considered, a nanofluid thermal processing with 4% nanoparticle concentration at the temperature of 70 °C for 30 s will result in the best nutritional contents of final tomato juices.

  5. Secondary formation of water-soluble organic acids and α-dicarbonyls and their contributions to total carbon and water-soluble organic carbon: Photochemical aging of organic aerosols in the Arctic spring

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kawamura, Kimitaka; Kasukabe, Hideki; Barrie, Leonard A.

    2010-11-01

    Water-soluble dicarboxylic acids (C2-C12), ketocarboxylic acids (C2-C6, C9), and α-dicarbonyls (glyoxal and methylglyoxal) were determined in the Arctic aerosols collected in winter to early summer, as well as aerosol total carbon (TC) and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC). Concentrations of TC and WSOC gradually decreased from late February to early June with a peak in spring, indicating a photochemical formation of water-soluble organic aerosols at a polar sunrise. We found that total (C2-C11) diacids (7-84 ng m-3) increased at polar sunrise by a factor of 4 and then decreased toward summer. Their contributions to TC (average 4.0%) peaked in early April and mid-May. The contribution of total diacids to WSOC was on average 7.1%. It gradually increased from February (5%) to a maximum in April (12.7%) with a second peak in mid-May (10.4%). Although oxalic acid (C2) is the dominant diacid until April, its predominance was replaced by succinic acid (C4) after polar sunrise. This may indicate that photochemical production of C2 was overwhelmed by its degradation when solar radiation was intensified and the atmospheric transport of its precursors from midlatitudes to the Arctic was ended in May. Interestingly, the contributions of azelaic (C9) and ω-oxobutanoic acids to WSOC increased in early summer possibly due to an enhanced emission of biogenic unsaturated fatty acids from the ocean followed by photochemical oxidation in the atmosphere. An enhanced contribution of diacids to TC and WSOC at polar sunrise may significantly alter the hygroscopic properties of organic aerosols in the Arctic.

  6. Osteoprotegerin reduces the development of pain behaviour and joint pathology in a model of osteoarthritis

    PubMed Central

    Sagar, Devi Rani; Ashraf, Sadaf; Xu, Luting; Burston, James J; Menhinick, Matthew R; Poulter, Caroline L; Bennett, Andrew J; Walsh, David A; Chapman, Victoria

    2014-01-01

    Background Increased subchondral bone turnover may contribute to pain in osteoarthritis (OA). Objectives To investigate the analgesic potential of a modified version of osteoprotegerin (osteoprotegerin-Fc (OPG-Fc)) in the monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) model of OA pain. Methods Male Sprague Dawley rats (140–260 g) were treated with either OPG-Fc (3 mg/kg, subcutaneously) or vehicle (phosphate-buffered saline) between days 1 and 27 (pre-emptive treatment) or days 21 and 27 (therapeutic treatment) after an intra-articular injection of MIA (1 mg/50 µl) or saline. A separate cohort of rats received the bisphosphonate zoledronate (100 µg/kg, subcutaneously) between days 1 and 25 post-MIA injection. Incapacitance testing and von Frey (1–15 g) hind paw withdrawal thresholds were used to assess pain behaviour. At the end of the study, rats were killed and the knee joints and spinal cord removed for analysis. Immunohistochemical studies using Iba-1 and GFAP quantified levels of activation of spinal microglia and astrocytes, respectively. Joint sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin or Safranin-O fast green and scored for matrix proteoglycan and overall joint morphology. The numbers of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclasts were quantified. N=10 rats/group. Results Pre-emptive treatment with OPG-Fc significantly attenuated the development of MIA-induced changes in weightbearing, but not allodynia. OPG-Fc decreased osteoclast number, inhibited the formation of osteophytes and improved structural pathology within the joint similarly to the decrease seen after pretreatment with the bisphosphonate, zoledronate. Therapeutic treatment with OPG-Fc decreased pain behaviour, but did not improve pathology in rats with established joint damage. Conclusions Our data suggest that early targeting of osteoclasts may reduce pain associated with OA. PMID:23723320

  7. Immunohistochemical detection of receptor activator nuclear κB ligand and osteoprotegerin in odontogenic cysts and tumors.

    PubMed

    de Matos, Felipe Rodrigues; de Moraes, Maiara; das Neves Silva, Emília Beatriz; Galvão, Hébel Cavalcanti; de Almeida Freitas, Roseana

    2013-11-01

    The aim of the present study was to compare the immunohistochemical detection of receptor activator nuclear κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in radicular cysts (RCs), dentigerous cysts (DCs), solid ameloblastomas (SAs), and keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KOTs). A total of 20 RCs, 20 DCs, 20 KOTs, 14 dental follicles (DFs), and 18 SAs were evaluated by immunohistochemistry using anti-RANKL and anti-OPG antibodies. The analysis was quantitative, and the number of positive cells was counted in 10 microscopic high-power fields (400×). The DFs, KOTs, and SAs showed higher expression of RANKL than did the RCs and DCs in the epithelium (P < .05). The epithelial expression of OPG was higher in the DFs, KOTs, RCs, and DCs than in the SAs (P < .05). The ratio of OPG less than RANKL was more frequent in SAs and OPG greater than RANKL in DCs (P < .05). Our results have shown differences in RANKL and OPG detection in the odontogenic cysts and tumors studied. The higher RANKL and lower OPG detection in SA could play a role in bone resorption, compatible with the tumor's biologic behavior. Copyright © 2013 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Circulating osteoprotegerin and sRANKL concentrations in the perinatal period at term. The impact of intrauterine growth restriction.

    PubMed

    Briana, Despina D; Boutsikou, Maria; Baka, Stavroula; Hassiakos, Demetrios; Gourgiotis, Demetrios; Malamitsi-Puchner, Ariadne

    2009-01-01

    Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) has been associated with low bone mass in infancy and increased risk for osteoporosis development in adult life. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) are main determinants of bone resorption. To investigate OPG and soluble RANKL (sRANKL) concentrations in maternal, fetal and neonatal serum of IUGR patients and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) pregnancies. Additionally, plasma intact parathormone (PTH) concentrations were evaluated. Circulating OPG, sRANKL and PTH concentrations were measured in 40 mothers and their singleton full-term fetuses-neonates (AGA: n = 20, and IUGR: n =20) on postnatal days 1 (N1) and 4 (N4). No significant differences in OPG, sRANKL or PTH concentrations were observed between AGA and IUGR groups. In both groups, maternal OPG concentrations were elevated compared with fetal, and N1 and N4 concentrations (p < or = 0.045 in all cases). N4 sRANKL concentrations were elevated compared with maternal, fetal and N1 ones (p < or = 0.01 in all cases). Fetal and N1 sRANKL concentrations correlated positively with PTH levels (r = 0.642, p = 0.024 and r = 0.584, p = 0.046, respectively). The lack of a difference in circulating OPG, sRANKL or PTH concentrations between IUGR cases and AGA controls suggests that the low bone mass of IUGR infants may not be related to higher bone resorption rates. The increased maternal, compared with fetal/neonatal, OPG concentrations may suggest their placental origin. The lower OPG and higher sRANKL concentrations in fetuses and neonates could represent high bone resorption rates. Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  9. In vivo osteoprotegerin gene therapy preventing bone loss induced by periodontitis.

    PubMed

    Tang, H; Mattheos, N; Yao, Y; Jia, Y; Ma, L; Gong, P

    2015-08-01

    The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of osteoprotegerin (OPG) gene therapy on alveolar bone resorption caused by experimental periodontitis in rats, thus forming a foundation for potential clinical applications of OPG gene therapy in the treatment of periodontitis and peri-implantitis. To study the effects of OPG on alveolar bone protection, an experimental periodontitis model was used by placing a bacterial plaque retentive silk ligature in the gingival sulcus around the maxillary second molar tooth, injection of Porphyromonas gingivalis and high carbohydrate diet. A total of 30 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups, with 10 rats in each group: group I (control) was treated with 10 μL normal saline injection; group II with 10 μL mock vector; and group III with 10 μL local OPG gene transfer by transfection with in vitro constructed pcDNA3.1-human OPG (pcDNA3.1-hOPG). A subperiosteal injection was done adjacent to the second molars on days 0, 7, 14 and 21. Four weeks later, all animals were killed and radiographic, histological and immunohistochemical examinations were performed. Statistical analysis included ANOVA and LSD-Bonferroni test. Group III (OPG gene therapy) had significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) integrated optical density of OPG, had significantly decreased alveolar bone resorption volume and active osteoclast number (p < 0.05) through descriptive histological examination when compared with the other two groups at week 4. Local recombinant OPG plasmid-mediated gene therapy suppresses osteoclastogenesis in vivo and inhibits alveolar bone height reduction caused by experimental periodontitis in rats. OPG gene therapy may be beneficial in preventing progressive periodontal bone loss. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  10. Functional and physiological properties of total, soluble, and insoluble dietary fibres derived from defatted rice bran.

    PubMed

    Daou, Cheickna; Zhang, Hui

    2014-12-01

    Enzymatic- gravimetric method was used to obtain three fractions of dietary from defatted rice bran. The functional and physiological properties such as viscosity, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and glucose dialysis retardation index (GDRI), cholesterol and bile salt adsorption capacity of the resultant fractions were evaluated. Insoluble dietary fibre (IDF) and soluble dietary fibre (SDF) when compared showed that SDF exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) higher viscosity (2.35 mPa.s), greater GDRI value (17.65 %) at 60 min and significantly lowered concentration of cholesterol at pH 7 (29.90 %, p < 0.05). However IDF showed the highest CEC and its adsorption capacity of bile salt was higher than SDF (18.20 % vs. 13.76 %; p < 0.05), while CEC and cholesterol absorption capacity of TDF were similar to SDF. These properties indicate that rice bran soluble, insoluble and total fibres are functional ingredients which can be added to various food products and dietetic, low-calorie high-fiber foods to enhance their nutraceutical properties and health benefits.

  11. Effects of dietary tannins on total and extractable nutrients from manure.

    PubMed

    Halvorson, J J; Kronberg, S L; Hagerman, A E

    2017-08-01

    The effects of condensed tannins on N dynamics in ruminants have been a topic of research for some time, but much less work has focused on their impacts on other nutrients in manure. A 4 × 4 Latin square trial was used to determine if intake of sericea lespedeza (; SL; a condensed tannin source), at 0, 10, 20, or 40% of the diet (as-fed basis), would affect concentrations of nutrients in manure and patterns of total excretion when offered with alfalfa (; ALF) to sheep. With SL additions, average daily manure production increased linearly ( ≤ 0.01), from 40 to 50% of the diet mass. The concentrations of total C, total N, soluble P, total and soluble Na, total and soluble S, total and soluble Mn, and total and soluble B in feces increased ( ≤ 0.05) while soluble N, total Ca, total and soluble Mg, soluble Zn, total and soluble Fe, total and soluble Cu decreased ( ≤ 0.02). Total P, total and soluble K, soluble Ca, and total Zn were less affected ( > 0.05). Comparing diets containing 0 to 40% SL, average daily outputs of total C, total N, soluble P, soluble K, total and soluble Na, and total Mn increased linearly ( ≤ 0.01) by 42.0, 71.2, 93.3, 45.2, 111, 148, and 52.4 percentage points, respectively. Total K, total and soluble S, soluble Mn, and total and soluble B increased quadratically ( ≤ 0.02) by 26.1, 52.3, 26.7, 147, 100, and 19.5 percentage points, respectively. Conversely, outputs of soluble Zn and total Fe decreased linearly ( ≤ 0.01), by -51.5 and -24.8 percentage points, while total Ca, total and soluble Mg, soluble Fe, and soluble Cu decreased quadratically ( ≤ 0.05) by -15.7, -12.3, -40.0, -89.9, and -60.3 percentage points, respectively. Outputs of soluble N, total P, soluble Ca, total Zn, and total Cu remained unchanged ( ≥ 0.14). Ratios of manure outputs to feed inputs for C, N, K, and B increased ( ≤ 0.02) but those for P and Mg were unchanged ( ≥ 0.10). Ratios of soluble to total manure outputs (S:O) increased ( ≤ 0.01) for P

  12. Raloxifene therapy interacts with serum osteoprotegerin in postmenopausal women.

    PubMed

    Messalli, Enrico M; Mainini, Giampaolo; Scaffa, Cono; Cafiero, Angela; Salzillo, Pier Luigi; Ragucci, Angelo; Cobellis, Luigi

    2007-01-20

    Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a protein expressed by osteoblasts that, linking the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB (RANK) ligand (RANKL), produced by osteoblasts, blocks the process of osteoclastic differentiation and modulates osteoclastic apoptosis. Raloxifene (RAL) stimulates the production of OPG from osteoblasts, as demonstrated in vitro, carring out their antiresorption activity, at least in part, as means of the OPG/RANK/RANKL system. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vivo if the RAL treatment of postmenopausal women was associated to changes in serum OPG; moreover, to evaluate the serum changes of bone turnover modulators interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-telopeptides of type-1 collagen (CrossLaps). A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study was designed. A group of consecutive healthy postmenopausal women (n=40) referred to II Menopause Centre of the Department of Gynaecology of Second University of Naples for climacteric syndrome was enrolled and divided in two groups: (n=20) postmenopausal women received for 6 months oral raloxifene (60 mg/day) versus (n=20) postmenopausal women received placebo tablets. Serum OPG levels in postmenopausal women after RAL treatment are statistically significant increased (P<0.001) versus baseline (P=0.007) versus placebo. These in vivo data demonstrate that RAL could improve osteoporosis, also through an increase of OPG production by osteoblasts.

  13. Estimated fluoride doses from toothpastes should be based on total soluble fluoride.

    PubMed

    Oliveira, Maria José L; Martins, Carolina C; Paiva, Saul M; Tenuta, Livia M A; Cury, Jaime A

    2013-11-01

    The fluoride dose ingested by young children may be overestimated if based on levels of total fluoride (TF) rather than levels of bioavailable fluoride (total soluble fluoride-TSF) in toothpaste. The aim of the present study was to compare doses of fluoride intake based on TF and TSF. Fluoride intake in 158 Brazilian children aged three and four years was determined after tooth brushing with their usual toothpaste (either family toothpaste (n = 80) or children's toothpaste (n = 78)). The estimated dose (mg F/day/Kg of body weight) of TF or TSF ingested was calculated from the chemical analysis of the toothpastes. Although the ingested dose of TF from the family toothpastes was higher than that from the children's toothpastes (0.074 ± 0.007 and 0.039 ± 0.003 mg F/day/Kg, respectively; p < 0.05), no difference between types of toothpaste was found regarding the ingested dose based on TSF (0.039 ± 0.005 and 0.039 ± 0.005 mg F/day/Kg, respectively; p > 0.05). The fluoride dose ingested by children from toothpastes may be overestimated if based on the TF of the product. This finding suggests that the ingested dose should be calculated based on TSF. Dose of TSF ingested by children is similar whether family or children's toothpaste is used.

  14. Estimated Fluoride Doses from Toothpastes Should be Based on Total Soluble Fluoride

    PubMed Central

    Oliveira, Maria José L.; Martins, Carolina C.; Paiva, Saul M.; Tenuta, Livia M. A.; Cury, Jaime A.

    2013-01-01

    The fluoride dose ingested by young children may be overestimated if based on levels of total fluoride (TF) rather than levels of bioavailable fluoride (total soluble fluoride—TSF) in toothpaste. The aim of the present study was to compare doses of fluoride intake based on TF and TSF. Fluoride intake in 158 Brazilian children aged three and four years was determined after tooth brushing with their usual toothpaste (either family toothpaste (n = 80) or children’s toothpaste (n = 78)). The estimated dose (mg F/day/Kg of body weight) of TF or TSF ingested was calculated from the chemical analysis of the toothpastes. Although the ingested dose of TF from the family toothpastes was higher than that from the children’s toothpastes (0.074 ± 0.007 and 0.039 ± 0.003 mg F/day/Kg, respectively; p < 0.05), no difference between types of toothpaste was found regarding the ingested dose based on TSF (0.039 ± 0.005 and 0.039 ± 0.005 mg F/day/Kg, respectively; p > 0.05). The fluoride dose ingested by children from toothpastes may be overestimated if based on the TF of the product. This finding suggests that the ingested dose should be calculated based on TSF. Dose of TSF ingested by children is similar whether family or children’s toothpaste is used. PMID:24189183

  15. Osteoprotegerin reduces the development of pain behaviour and joint pathology in a model of osteoarthritis.

    PubMed

    Sagar, Devi Rani; Ashraf, Sadaf; Xu, Luting; Burston, James J; Menhinick, Matthew R; Poulter, Caroline L; Bennett, Andrew J; Walsh, David A; Chapman, Victoria

    2014-08-01

    Increased subchondral bone turnover may contribute to pain in osteoarthritis (OA). To investigate the analgesic potential of a modified version of osteoprotegerin (osteoprotegerin-Fc (OPG-Fc)) in the monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) model of OA pain. Male Sprague Dawley rats (140-260 g) were treated with either OPG-Fc (3 mg/kg, subcutaneously) or vehicle (phosphate-buffered saline) between days 1 and 27 (pre-emptive treatment) or days 21 and 27 (therapeutic treatment) after an intra-articular injection of MIA (1 mg/50 µl) or saline. A separate cohort of rats received the bisphosphonate zoledronate (100 µg/kg, subcutaneously) between days 1 and 25 post-MIA injection. Incapacitance testing and von Frey (1-15 g) hind paw withdrawal thresholds were used to assess pain behaviour. At the end of the study, rats were killed and the knee joints and spinal cord removed for analysis. Immunohistochemical studies using Iba-1 and GFAP quantified levels of activation of spinal microglia and astrocytes, respectively. Joint sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin or Safranin-O fast green and scored for matrix proteoglycan and overall joint morphology. The numbers of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclasts were quantified. N=10 rats/group. Pre-emptive treatment with OPG-Fc significantly attenuated the development of MIA-induced changes in weightbearing, but not allodynia. OPG-Fc decreased osteoclast number, inhibited the formation of osteophytes and improved structural pathology within the joint similarly to the decrease seen after pretreatment with the bisphosphonate, zoledronate. Therapeutic treatment with OPG-Fc decreased pain behaviour, but did not improve pathology in rats with established joint damage. Our data suggest that early targeting of osteoclasts may reduce pain associated with OA. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

  16. Osteoprotegerin is associated with hip fracture incidence: the Tromso Study.

    PubMed

    Jørgensen, Lone; Hansen, John-Bjarne; Ahmed, Luai; Bjørnerem, Åshild; Emaus, Nina; Joakimsen, Ragnar; Mathiesen, Ellisiv; Størmer, Jan; Vik, Anders; Jacobsen, Bjarne K

    2012-08-01

    Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a cytokine essential for the regulation of bone resorption, but large longitudinal studies on its relationship to fracture risk in humans are lacking. In this population-based study of 2740 men and 2857 post-menopausal women, it was examined whether serum OPG was associated with hip fracture incidence. The participants were followed for 15 years. Baseline measurements included height, weight and serum OPG, and information about lifestyle, prevalent diseases and use of medication. Men with OPG in the highest quartile were 2.79-fold [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34-5.82] more likely to have a hip fracture during follow-up, compared with those with OPG in the lowest quartile (P-trend over OPG quartiles ≤ 0.001, after adjustments for age and other confounders). In women not using post-menopausal hormone therapy (HT), the risk of hip fracture was 1.64-fold higher (95% CI 0.94-2.86) in the highest quartile compared with the lowest OPG quartile (P-trend over OPG quartiles = 0.05). No relationship was found in post-menopausal women using HT (P-trend over OPG quartiles = 0.23). In men, OPG was positively associated with the incidence of hip fracture. In post-menopausal women not using HT a similar, but weaker, relationship was found.

  17. Osteoprotegerin expression in triple-negative breast cancer cells promotes metastasis.

    PubMed

    Weichhaus, Michael; Segaran, Prabu; Renaud, Ashleigh; Geerts, Dirk; Connelly, Linda

    2014-10-01

    Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a secreted member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily that has been well characterized as a negative regulator of bone remodeling. OPG is also expressed in human breast cancer tissues and cell lines. In vitro studies suggest that OPG exerts tumor-promoting effects by binding to TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL), thereby preventing induction of apoptosis. However, the in vivo effect of OPG expression by primary breast tumors has not been characterized. We knocked down OPG expression in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-436 human breast cancer cells using shRNA and siRNA to investigate impact on metastasis in the chick embryo model. We observed a reduction in metastasis with OPG knockdown cells. We found that lowering OPG expression did not alter sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis; however, the OPG knockdown cells had a reduced level of invasion. In association with this we observed reduced expression of the proteases Cathepsin D and Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 upon OPG knockdown, indicating that OPG may promote metastasis via modulation of protease expression and invasion. We conclude that OPG has a metastasis-promoting effect in breast cancer cells. © 2014 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  18. Oxygen-sensing PHDs regulate bone homeostasis through the modulation of osteoprotegerin

    PubMed Central

    Wu, Colleen; Rankin, Erinn B.; Castellini, Laura; Fernandez-Alcudia, Javier; LaGory, Edward L.; Andersen, Rebecca; Rhodes, Steven D.; Wilson, Tremika L.S.; Mohammad, Khalid S.; Castillo, Alesha B.; Guise, Theresa A.; Schipani, Ernestina

    2015-01-01

    The bone microenvironment is composed of niches that house cells across variable oxygen tensions. However, the contribution of oxygen gradients in regulating bone and blood homeostasis remains unknown. Here, we generated mice with either single or combined genetic inactivation of the critical oxygen-sensing prolyl hydroxylase (PHD) enzymes (PHD1–3) in osteoprogenitors. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) activation associated with Phd2 and Phd3 inactivation drove bone accumulation by modulating osteoblastic/osteoclastic cross-talk through the direct regulation of osteoprotegerin (OPG). In contrast, combined inactivation of Phd1, Phd2, and Phd3 resulted in extreme HIF signaling, leading to polycythemia and excessive bone accumulation by overstimulating angiogenic–osteogenic coupling. We also demonstrate that genetic ablation of Phd2 and Phd3 was sufficient to protect ovariectomized mice against bone loss without disrupting hematopoietic homeostasis. Importantly, we identify OPG as a HIF target gene capable of directing osteoblast-mediated osteoclastogenesis to regulate bone homeostasis. Here, we show that coordinated activation of specific PHD isoforms fine-tunes the osteoblastic response to hypoxia, thereby directing two important aspects of bone physiology: cross-talk between osteoblasts and osteoclasts and angiogenic–osteogenic coupling. PMID:25846796

  19. Two Consecutive Days of Crossfit Training Affects Pro and Anti-inflammatory Cytokines and Osteoprotegerin without Impairments in Muscle Power.

    PubMed

    Tibana, Ramires A; de Almeida, Leonardo M; Frade de Sousa, Nuno M; Nascimento, Dahan da Cunha; Neto, Ivo V de Sousa; de Almeida, Jeeser A; de Souza, Vinicius C; Lopes, Maria de Fátima T P L; Nobrega, Otávio de Tolêdo; Vieira, Denis C L; Navalta, James W; Prestes, Jonato

    2016-01-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two consecutive Crossfit® training sessions (24 h apart) designed to enhance work-capacity that involved both cardiovascular and muscular exercises on cytokines, muscle power, blood lactate and glucose. Nine male members of the CrossFit® community (age 26.7 ± 6.6 years; body mass 78.8 ± 13.2 kg; body fat 13.5 ± 6.2%; training experience 2.5 ± 1.2 years) completed two experimental protocols (24 h apart): (1) strength and power exercises, (2) gymnastic movements, and (3) metabolic conditioning as follows: 10 min of as many rounds as possible (AMRAP) of 30 double-unders and 15 power snatches (34 kg). The same sequence as repeated on session 2 with the following metabolic conditioning: 12 min AMRAP of: row 250 m and 25 target burpees. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, and osteoprotegerin were measured before, immediately post and 24 h after workout of the day (WOD) 1, immediately post, 24 and 48 h after WOD 2. Peak and mean power were obtained for each repetition (back squat with 50% of 1 repetition maximum) using a linear position transducer measured before, immediately post and 24 h after WOD 1, immediately post and 24 h after WOD 2. Blood lactate and glucose were measured pre and immediately post WOD 1 and 2. Although both sessions of exercise elicited an significant increase in blood lactate (1.20 ± 0.41 to 11.84 ± 1.34 vs. 0.94 ± 0.34 to 9.05 ± 2.56 mmol/l) and glucose concentration (81.59 ± 10.27 to 114.99 ± 12.52 vs. 69.47 ± 6.97 to 89.95 ± 19.26 mg/dL), WOD 1 induced a significantly greater increase than WOD 2 (p ≤ 0.05). The training sessions elicited significant changes (p ≤ 0.05) in IL-6, IL-10 and osteoprotegerin concentration over time. IL-6 displayed an increase immediately after training WOD 1 [197 ± 109%] (p = 0.009) and 2 [99 ± 58%] (p = 0.045). IL-10 displayed an increase immediately after only WOD 1 [44 ± 52%] (p = 0.046), and decreased 24 and 48 h following WOD 2 (~40%; p

  20. Two Consecutive Days of Crossfit Training Affects Pro and Anti-inflammatory Cytokines and Osteoprotegerin without Impairments in Muscle Power

    PubMed Central

    Tibana, Ramires A.; de Almeida, Leonardo M.; Frade de Sousa, Nuno M.; Nascimento, Dahan da Cunha; Neto, Ivo V. de Sousa; de Almeida, Jeeser A.; de Souza, Vinicius C.; Lopes, Maria de Fátima T. P. L.; Nobrega, Otávio de Tolêdo; Vieira, Denis C. L.; Navalta, James W.; Prestes, Jonato

    2016-01-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two consecutive Crossfit® training sessions (24 h apart) designed to enhance work-capacity that involved both cardiovascular and muscular exercises on cytokines, muscle power, blood lactate and glucose. Nine male members of the CrossFit® community (age 26.7 ± 6.6 years; body mass 78.8 ± 13.2 kg; body fat 13.5 ± 6.2%; training experience 2.5 ± 1.2 years) completed two experimental protocols (24 h apart): (1) strength and power exercises, (2) gymnastic movements, and (3) metabolic conditioning as follows: 10 min of as many rounds as possible (AMRAP) of 30 double-unders and 15 power snatches (34 kg). The same sequence as repeated on session 2 with the following metabolic conditioning: 12 min AMRAP of: row 250 m and 25 target burpees. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, and osteoprotegerin were measured before, immediately post and 24 h after workout of the day (WOD) 1, immediately post, 24 and 48 h after WOD 2. Peak and mean power were obtained for each repetition (back squat with 50% of 1 repetition maximum) using a linear position transducer measured before, immediately post and 24 h after WOD 1, immediately post and 24 h after WOD 2. Blood lactate and glucose were measured pre and immediately post WOD 1 and 2. Although both sessions of exercise elicited an significant increase in blood lactate (1.20 ± 0.41 to 11.84 ± 1.34 vs. 0.94 ± 0.34 to 9.05 ± 2.56 mmol/l) and glucose concentration (81.59 ± 10.27 to 114.99 ± 12.52 vs. 69.47 ± 6.97 to 89.95 ± 19.26 mg/dL), WOD 1 induced a significantly greater increase than WOD 2 (p ≤ 0.05). The training sessions elicited significant changes (p ≤ 0.05) in IL-6, IL-10 and osteoprotegerin concentration over time. IL-6 displayed an increase immediately after training WOD 1 [197 ± 109%] (p = 0.009) and 2 [99 ± 58%] (p = 0.045). IL-10 displayed an increase immediately after only WOD 1 [44 ± 52%] (p = 0.046), and decreased 24 and 48 h following WOD 2 (~40%; p

  1. Higher levels of s-RANKL and osteoprotegerin in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus may indicate increased osteoclast signaling and predisposition to lower bone mass: a multivariate cross-sectional analysis.

    PubMed

    Tsentidis, C; Gourgiotis, D; Kossiva, L; Doulgeraki, A; Marmarinos, A; Galli-Tsinopoulou, A; Karavanaki, K

    2016-04-01

    Simultaneous lower bone mineral density, metabolic bone markers, parathyroid hormone (PTH), magnesium, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), and higher levels of total soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (s-RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) are indicative of lower osteoblast and increased osteoclast signaling in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus, predisposing to adult osteopenia and osteoporosis. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a risk factor for reduced bone mass, disrupting several bone metabolic pathways. We aimed at identifying association patterns between bone metabolic markers, particularly OPG, s-RANKL, and bone mineral density (BMD) in T1DM children and adolescents, in order to study possible underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms of bone loss. We evaluated 40 children and adolescents with T1DM (mean ± SD age 13.04 ± 3.53 years, T1DM duration 5.15 ± 3.33 years) and 40 healthy age- and gender-matched controls (aged12.99 ± 3.3 years). OPG, s-RANKL, osteocalcin, C-telopeptide cross-links (CTX), IGF1, electrolytes, PTH, and total 25(OH)D were measured, and total body along with lumbar spine BMD were evaluated with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Multivariate regression and factor analysis were performed after classic inference. Patients had significantly lower BMD, with lower bone turnover markers, PTH, magnesium, and IGF1 than controls, indicating lower osteoblast signaling. Higher levels of total s-RANKL, OPG, and total ALP were observed in patients, with log(s-RANKL) and OPG correlation found only in controls, possibly indicating increased osteoclast signaling in patients. Coupling of bone resorption and formation was observed in both groups. Multivariate regression confirmed simultaneous lower bone turnover, IGF1, magnesium, and higher total s-RANKL, OPG, and ALP in patients, while factor analysis indicated possible activation of RANK/RANKL/OPG system in

  2. Long-term observation of water-soluble chemical components and acid-digested metals in the total suspended particles collected at Okinawa, Japan

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Handa, D.; Okada, K.; Kuroki, Y.; Nakama, Y.; Nakajima, H.; Somada, Y.; Ijyu, M.; Azechi, S.; Oshiro, Y.; Nakaema, F.; Miyagi, Y.; Arakaki, T.; Tanahara, A.

    2011-12-01

    The economic growth and population increase in recent Asia have been increasing air pollution. Emission rate of air pollutants from Asia, in particular oxides of nitrogen, surpassed those from North America and Europe and should continue to exceed them for decades. Okinawa Island is situated approximately 1500 km south of Tokyo, Japan, 2000 km southeast of Beijing, China, and 1000 km south of South Korea. Its location is ideal in observing East Asia's air quality because maritime air mass prevails during summer, while continental air mass dominates during fall, winter, and spring. The maritime air mass data can be seen as background clean air and can be compared with continental air masses which have been affected by anthropogenic activities. We collected total suspended particles (TSP) on quartz filters by using a high volume air sampler at the Cape Hedo Atmosphere and Aerosol Monitoring Station (CHAAMS), Okinawa, Japan during August 2005 and August 2010. Sampling duration was one week for each sample. We determined the concentrations of water-soluble anions, cations, water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and acid-digested metals in TSP samples using ion chromatography, atomic absorption spectrometry, total organic carbon analyzer and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), respectively. Seasonal variation of water-soluble chemical components and acid-digested metals showed that the concentrations were the lowest in summer, higher in fall and winter, and the highest in spring. When air mass came from Asian continent, the concentrations of water-soluble chemical components and acid-digested metals were much higher compared to the other directions, suggesting long-range transport of air pollutants from Asian continent. Also, when the air mass came from Asian continent (75-100% dominant), the mean concentrations of non-sea salt sulfate and nitrate increased ca. 1.8 times and ca. 3.7 times, respectively between 2005 and 2010, and the ratio of nitrate to

  3. Osteoprotegerin Promotes Cementoblastic Activity of Murine Cementoblast Cell Line in vitro.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Ying Ying; Zhao, Hua Xiang; Chen, Zhi Bin; Lin, Jiu Xiang; Liu, Yan

    2016-06-01

    To investigate the effect of osteoprotegerin (OPG) on the cementoblastic activity of a clonal population of immortalised murine cementoblasts (OCCM-30) in vitro. OCCM-30 cells were transiently transfected with the mouse OPG using the Avalanche transfection reagent. The ectopic expression of OPG was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The cell counting Kit-8 assay was used to investigate the effect of OPG on cell proliferation. The expression levels of cementoblastic-related mRNA and protein in the transfected OCCM-30 cells were detected using real-time PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. Satisfactory transfection efficiency was observed 48 h after transfection. The results of the cell proliferation assay indicated that the expansion rate of the OPG transfection group was greater than that of the control group at both 72 h and 96 h. The mRNA levels of osterix (Osx), protein kinase B (Akt1), cementum attachment protein (CAP) and osteopontin (Opn) were significantly upregulated (P < 0.05) in the OPG group. Protein levels of OPN, bone sialoprotein II (BSP II), osteocalcin (OC) and CAP, which are responsible for osteogenetic and cementoblastic activity, were significantly increased in the OPG-overexpressing group. Overexpression of OPG in OCCM-30 cells promotes cementoblastic activity.

  4. Iontophoresis significantly increases the trans-dentinal delivery of osteoprotegerin, alendronate, and calcitonin.

    PubMed

    Kitchens, James A; Schwartz, Scott A; Schindler, William G; Hargreaves, Kenneth M

    2007-10-01

    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the delivery of alendronate, calcitonin, and osteoprotegerin (OPG) through human dentin by both diffusion and iontophoresis for the potential treatment of invasive cervical resorption. Radiolabeled alendronate, calcitonin, and OPG were added to the top of a split chamber device that contained 1-mm thick dentin disks devoid of a smear layer. Transdentinal movement of medicaments by either random diffusion or application of an iontophoretic current was measured by analysis of gamma emission of effluent fractions. In addition, calcitonin delivery was evaluated at differing magnitudes of current (0-4 mA) by using the aforementioned chamber. Diffusion of all 3 medicaments was minimal. In contrast, the application of a 3-mA iontophoretic gradient significantly increased delivery for all 3 compounds at 10-, 20-, and 30-minute intervals. In addition, a linear increase in permeability was seen for calcitonin as milliamperes were increased from 0 to 4 (r = 0.947), with more than a 100-fold increase in delivery observed with iontophoresis. Delivery of the tested medicaments by using iontophoresis might prove to be a useful technique for treatment of invasive cervical resorption.

  5. Determination of insoluble, soluble, and total dietary fiber (CODEX definition) by enzymatic-gravimetric method and liquid chromatography: collaborative study.

    PubMed

    McCleary, Barry V; DeVries, Jonathan W; Rader, Jeanne I; Cohen, Gerald; Prosky, Leon; Mugford, David C; Okuma, Kazuhiro

    2012-01-01

    A method for the determination of insoluble (IDF), soluble (SDF), and total dietary fiber (TDF), as defined by the CODEX Alimentarius, was validated in foods. Based upon the principles of AOAC Official Methods 985.29, 991.43, 2001.03, and 2002.02, the method quantitates water-insoluble and water-soluble dietary fiber. This method extends the capabilities of the previously adopted AOAC Official Method 2009.01, Total Dietary Fiber in Foods, Enzymatic-Gravimetric-Liquid Chromatographic Method, applicable to plant material, foods, and food ingredients consistent with CODEX Definition 2009, including naturally occurring, isolated, modified, and synthetic polymers meeting that definition. The method was evaluated through an AOAC/AACC collaborative study. Twenty-two laboratories participated, with 19 laboratories returning valid assay data for 16 test portions (eight blind duplicates) consisting of samples with a range of traditional dietary fiber, resistant starch, and nondigestible oligosaccharides. The dietary fiber content of the eight test pairs ranged from 10.45 to 29.90%. Digestion of samples under the conditions of AOAC 2002.02 followed by the isolation, fractionation, and gravimetric procedures of AOAC 985.29 (and its extensions 991.42 and 993.19) and 991.43 results in quantitation of IDF and soluble dietary fiber that precipitates (SDFP). The filtrate from the quantitation of water-alcohol-insoluble dietary fiber is concentrated, deionized, concentrated again, and analyzed by LC to determine the SDF that remains soluble (SDFS), i.e., all dietary fiber polymers of degree of polymerization = 3 and higher, consisting primarily, but not exclusively, of oligosaccharides. SDF is calculated as the sum of SDFP and SDFS. TDF is calculated as the sum of IDF and SDF. The within-laboratory variability, repeatability SD (Sr), for IDF ranged from 0.13 to 0.71, and the between-laboratory variability, reproducibility SD (SR), for IDF ranged from 0.42 to 2.24. The within

  6. Effect of Osteoprotegerin and Dickkopf-Related Protein 1 on Radiological Progression in Tightly Controlled Rheumatoid Arthritis

    PubMed Central

    Martín, Irene; Loza, Estibaliz; Carmona, Loreto; Ivorra, José; Narváez, José Antonio; Hernández-Gañán, Javier; Alía, Pedro

    2016-01-01

    Objective To analyze the association between circulating osteoprotegerin (OPG) and Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK-1) and radiological progression in patients with tightly controlled rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Serum levels of OPG and DKK-1 were measured in 97 RA patients who were treated according to a treat-to-target strategy (T2T) aimed at remission (DAS28<2.6). Radiologic joint damage progression was assessed by changes in the total Sharp-van der Heijde score (SHS) on serial radiographs of the hands and feet. The independent association between these biomarker levels and the structural damage endpoint was examined using regression analysis Results The mean age of the 97 RA patients (68 women) at the time of the study was 54 ± 14 years, and the median disease duration was 1.6 ± 1.5 years. Most patients were seropositive for either RF or ACPA, and the large majority (76%) were in remission or had low disease activity. After a median follow-up time of 3.3 ± 1.5 years (range, 1–7.5 yrs.), the mean total SHS annual progression was 0.88 ± 2.20 units. Fifty-two percent of the patients had no progression (defined as a total SHS of zero). The mean serum OPG level did not change significantly over the study period (from 3.9 ± 1.8 to 4.07 ± 2.23 pmol/L), whereas the mean serum DKK-1 level decreased, although not significantly (from 29.9 ± 10.9 to 23.6 ± 18.8 pmol/L). In the multivariate analysis, the predictive factors increasing the likelihood of total SHS progression were age (OR per year = 1.10; p = 0.003) and a high mean C-reactive protein level over the study period (OR = 1.29; p = 0.005). Circulating OPG showed a protective effect reducing the likelihood of joint space narrowing by 60% (95% CI: 0.38–0.94) and the total SHS progression by 48% (95% CI: 0.28–0.83). The DKK-1 levels were not associated with radiological progression. Conclusion In patients with tightly controlled RA, serum OPG was inversely associated with progression of joint

  7. Corn or sorghum wet distiller's grains with solubles in combination with steam-flaked corn: Feedlot cattle performance, carcass characteristics, and apparent total tract digestibility

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Two studies were conducted to evaluate corn (CDG) and sorghum (SDG) wet distiller's grains with solubles on feedlot cattle performance, carcass characteristics, apparent total tract digestion of nutrients, and marker retention time. In Experiment 1, 224 steers were used in a randomized complete bloc...

  8. Solubility of aluminum in the presence of hydroxide, fluoride, and sulfate

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Roberson, Charles Elmer; Hem, John David

    1969-01-01

    The total concentration of aqueous dissolved species of aluminum that will be present in equilibrium with microcrystalline gibbsite at various levels of complexing ligand concentration are shown graphically. The graphs can be used to estimate aluminum solubility, at 25?C and 1 atmosphere total pressure, when the pH of the solution, its ionic strength, and the total sulfate and fluoride concentrations are known. The standard free energy of formation of cryolite calculated from solubility experiments is --745.4 ? 1.0 kcal per mole at 25?C. Diagrams are included showing the solubility of cryolite in terms of aluminum, fluoride, and sodium concentrations. The stability fields of cryolite and microcrystalline gibbsite and their solubilities also are shown on pH-[F] diagrams.

  9. Effects of osteoprotegerin/TNFRSF11B in two models of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

    PubMed

    Vorkapic, Emina; Kunath, Anne; Wågsäter, Dick

    2018-04-27

    Osteoprotegerin (OPG), additionally termed tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 11B, is produced by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and endothelial cells in the vasculature, and its release may be modulated by pro‑inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin‑1β and tumor necrosis factor‑α. The present study investigated the effects of treatment with low‑dose human recombinant OPG on abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) development in mice. Mice were treated with 1 µg human recombinant OPG four times (or vehicle) for 2 weeks prior to inducing AAA. A total of two different models for inducing AAA were used to investigate the hypothesis as to whether OPG is involved in key events of AAA development, using osmotic mini‑pumps with angiotensin II in apolipoprotein‑E (ApoE‑/‑) mice for 28 days or using periaortic application of CaCl2 on the aorta in C57Bl/6J mice for 14 days. OPG was continuously administered during the experimental period. Histological staining using Masson's trichrome, Verhoeff's van‑Gieson and picro‑sirius red, in addition to reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis of various markers, were used to analyze phenotypic alterations. Treatment with OPG had no inhibitory effect on AAA development in the angiotensin II model in ApoE‑/‑ mice, which developed suprarenal aneurysms, although it increased vessel wall thickness of the aorta and total collagen in C57Bl/6J mice using the CaCl2 model that induced infrarenal dilation of the aorta. Treatment with OPG did not inhibit aneurysm development and key events, including inflammation, extracellular matrix or VSMC remodeling, in aortas from OPG‑treated mice with periaortic treatment with CaCl2. The results indicated that mice treated with low levels of human recombinant OPG may have a more stable aneurysmal phenotype due to compensatory production of collagen and increased vessel wall thickness of the aorta, potentially protecting the

  10. Usefulness of high-density barium for detection of leaks after esophagogastrectomy, total gastrectomy, and total laryngectomy.

    PubMed

    Swanson, Jonathan O; Levine, Marc S; Redfern, Regina O; Rubesin, Stephen E

    2003-08-01

    The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of a high-density (250% weight/volume) barium compared with a water-soluble contrast agent for the detection of esophageal leaks in patients who had undergone esophagogastrectomy, total gastrectomy, or total laryngectomy. A search of our radiology database from 1998 to 2001 revealed 46 eligible radiographic studies performed using a water-soluble contrast agent alone or a water-soluble contrast agent followed by barium that showed leaks in patients who had undergone esophagogastrectomy, total gastrectomy, or total laryngectomy. The images were reviewed to determine the morphology of the leaks (i.e., blind-ending tracks, sealed-off collections, or free extravasation of contrast material). Medical records were also reviewed to determine whether detection of the leaks seen on the radiographic studies affected patient management. Of the 46 leaks seen on radiographic studies, 23 (50%) were detected with a water-soluble contrast agent and 23 (50%) were detected only with high-density barium. Of the 23 leaks visualized with water-soluble contrast media, six (26%) were characterized by blind-ending tracks, 14 (61%) by sealed-off collections, and three (13%) by free extravasation of contrast material into the mediastinum or neck. Of the 23 leaks visualized only with high-density barium, 19 (83%) were characterized by blind-ending tracks and four (17%) by sealed-off collections. Thus, leaks detected only on images obtained with high-density barium were significantly more likely to be characterized by blind-ending tracks than those detected on images obtained with a water-soluble contrast agent (p = 0.0007). Of the 33 patients with clinical follow-up, the findings seen on these imaging studies affected management in 12 (86%) of 14 patients with leaks depicted by water-soluble contrast media and in 10 (53%) of 19 with leaks depicted only by high-density barium. Our findings support the use of high-density barium as part

  11. Characterization of Gravity Regulated Osteoprotegerin Expression in Fish Models

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Renn, J.; Nourizadeh-Lillabadi, R.; Alestrom, P.; Seibt, D.; Goerlich, R.; Schartl, M.; Winkler, C.

    Human osteoprotegerin (opg) is a secreted protein of 401 amino acids that acts as a decoy receptor for RANKL (receptor activator of NFB ligand). Opg prevents binding of RANKL to its receptor, which is present on osteoclasts and their precursors. Thereby, opg blocks the formation, differentiation and activation of osteoclasts and stimulates apoptosis of mature osteoclasts. As a consequence, opg regulates the degree of bone resorption in order to keep a constant bone mass under normal gravity conditions. Recently, clinorotation experiments using mammalian cell cultures have shown that the opg gene is down-regulated in simulated microgravity at the transcriptional level (Kanematsu et al., Bone 30, 2002). We have identified opg genes in the fish models Medaka and zebrafish to study gravity regulation of opg expression in these models at the organismal level. In Medaka embryos, opg expression starts at stages when first skeletal elements are already detectable. Putative consensus binding sites for transcription factors were identified in the promoter region of the Medaka opg gene indicating possible evolutionary conservation of gene regulatory mechanisms between fish and mammals. To analyze, whether model fish species are suitable tools to study microgravity induced changes at the molecular level in vivo, we investigated regulation of fish opg genes as a consequence of altered gravity. For this, we performed centrifugation and clinorotation experiments, subjecting fish larvae to hypergravity and simulated microgravity, and analyzed expression profiles of skeletal genes by real-time PCR. Our data represent the first experiments using whole animal model organisms to study gravity induced alteration of skeletal factors at the molecular level. Acknowledgement: This work is supported by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) (50 WB 0152) and the European Space Agency (AO-LS-99-MAP-LSS-003).

  12. Human mesenchymal stem cells inhibit osteoclastogenesis through osteoprotegerin production.

    PubMed

    Oshita, Koichi; Yamaoka, Kunihiro; Udagawa, Nobuyuki; Fukuyo, Shunsuke; Sonomoto, Koshiro; Maeshima, Keisuke; Kurihara, Ryuji; Nakano, Kazuhisa; Saito, Kazuyoshi; Okada, Yosuke; Chiba, Kenji; Tanaka, Yoshiya

    2011-06-01

    Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been proposed to be a useful tool for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), not only because of their multipotency but also because of their immunosuppressive effect on lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and other proinflammatory cells. Since bone destruction caused by activated osteoclasts occurs in RA, we undertook the present study to investigate the effect of MSCs on osteoclast function and differentiation in order to evaluate their potential use in RA therapy. Human MSCs and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured under cell-cell contact-free conditions with osteoclast induction medium. Differentiation into osteoclast-like cells was determined by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining and expression of osteoclast differentiation markers. The number of osteoclast-like cells was decreased and expression of cathepsin K and nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NF-ATc1) was down-regulated by the addition of either MSCs or a conditioned medium obtained from MSCs. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) was constitutively produced by MSCs and inhibited osteoclastogenesis. However, osteoclast differentiation was not fully recovered upon treatment with either anti-OPG antibody or OPG small interfering RNA, suggesting that OPG had only a partial role in the inhibitory effect of MSCs. Moreover, bone-resorbing activity of osteoclast-like cells was partially recovered by addition of anti-OPG antibody into the conditioned medium. The present results indicate that human MSCs constitutively produce OPG, resulting in inhibition of osteoclastogenesis and expression of NF-ATc1 and cathepsin K in the absence of cell-cell contact. Therefore, we conclude that human MSCs exert a suppressive effect on osteoclastogenesis, which may be beneficial in inhibition of joint damage in RA. Copyright © 2011 by the American College of Rheumatology.

  13. Expression of osteoprotegerin and its ligands, RANKL and TRAIL, in rheumatoid arthritis

    PubMed Central

    Remuzgo-Martínez, Sara; Genre, Fernanda; López-Mejías, Raquel; Ubilla, Begoña; Mijares, Verónica; Pina, Trinitario; Corrales, Alfonso; Blanco, Ricardo; Martín, Javier; Llorca, Javier; González-Gay, Miguel A.

    2016-01-01

    Osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor-ΚB ligand (RANKL) and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) have been involved in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathophysiology. In this study, we assessed messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of these molecules by qPCR in peripheral blood from 26 patients with RA (12 of them with ischemic heart disease –IHD) and 10 healthy controls. Correlation coefficients between OPG, RANKL and TRAIL expression levels in RA patients and their clinical and demographic characteristics were also evaluated. Whereas OPG and OPG/TRAIL ratio expression were significantly increased in RA patients compared to controls (fold change = 1.79, p = 0.013 and 2.07, p = 0.030, respectively), RANKL/OPG ratio was significantly decreased (fold change = 0.50, p = 0.020). No significant differences were found between patients and controls in RANKL and TRAIL expression. Interestingly, TRAIL expression was significantly higher in RA patients with IHD compared to those without IHD (fold change = 1.46, p = 0.033). Moreover, biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) significantly decreased RANKL expression in RA patients (p = 0.016). Our study supports an important role of OPG and TRAIL in RA. Furthermore, it highlights an effect of biologic DMARDs in the modulation of RANKL. PMID:27403809

  14. Sequence variations in the osteoprotegerin gene promoter in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

    PubMed

    Arko, B; Prezelj, J; Komel, R; Kocijancic, A; Hudler, P; Marc, J

    2002-09-01

    Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a recently discovered member of the TNF receptor superfamily that acts as an important paracrine regulator of bone remodeling. OPG knockout mice develop severe osteoporosis, whereas administration of OPG can prevent ovariectomy-induced bone loss. These findings implicate a role for OPG in the development of osteoporosis. In the present study, we screened the OPG gene promoter for sequence variations and examined their association with bone mineral density (BMD) in 103 osteoporotic postmenopausal women. Single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis followed by DNA sequencing revealed a presence of four nucleotide substitutions: 209 G-->A, 245 T-->G, 889 C-->T, and 950 T-->C. The frequencies of genotypes were as follows: GG (89.3%), GA (10.7%) for 209 G-->A polymorphism; TT (89.3%), TG (10.7%) for 245 T-->G polymorphism; and TT (25.2%), TC (53.4%), CC (21.4%) for 950 T-->C polymorphism. Substitution 889 C-->T was found in only two patients. Statistically significant association of genotypes with BMD at the lumbar spine (P = 0.005) was observed for 209 G-->A and 245 T-->G polymorphisms. Haplotype GATG was associated with lower BMD as compared with GGTT haplotype. Our results suggest that 209 G-->A and 245 T-->G polymorphisms in the OPG gene promoter may contribute to the genetic regulation of BMD.

  15. Lipid Lowering with Soluble Dietary Fiber.

    PubMed

    Surampudi, Prasanth; Enkhmaa, Byambaa; Anuurad, Erdembileg; Berglund, Lars

    2016-12-01

    Consumption of dietary soluble fibers has been associated with health benefits such as reduced lipid levels, lower blood pressure, improved blood glucose control, weight loss, improved immune function, and reduced inflammation. Many of these health benefits relate to a reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease. In this paper, we have reviewed recent studies on the hypocholesterolemic effects of dietary soluble fibers as well as fiber-rich foods. Findings include the following: (a) consumption of water-soluble, viscous-forming fibers can reduce total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by about 5-10 %; (b) minimal changes of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or triglyceride levels were observed; (c) cholesterol-lowering properties of soluble fibers depend on their physical and chemical properties; and (d) medium to high molecular weight fibers are more effective in reducing lipid levels. Hypocholesterolemic benefits were also observed with some fiber-rich foods, such as whole oats, whole barley, legumes, peas, beans, flax seeds, apples, and citrus foods.

  16. Hansen solubility parameters for polyethylene glycols by inverse gas chromatography.

    PubMed

    Adamska, Katarzyna; Voelkel, Adam

    2006-11-03

    Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) has been applied to determine solubility parameter and its components for nonionic surfactants--polyethylene glycols (PEG) of different molecular weight. Flory-Huggins interaction parameter (chi) and solubility parameter (delta(2)) were calculated according to DiPaola-Baranyi and Guillet method from experimentally collected retention data for the series of carefully selected test solutes. The Hansen's three-dimensional solubility parameters concept was applied to determine components (delta(d), delta(p), delta(h)) of corrected solubility parameter (delta(T)). The molecular weight and temperature of measurement influence the solubility parameter data, estimated from the slope, intercept and total solubility parameter. The solubility parameters calculated from the intercept are lower than those calculated from the slope. Temperature and structural dependences of the entopic factor (chi(S)) are presented and discussed.

  17. Osteoprotegerin concentrations relate independently to established cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis.

    PubMed

    López-Mejias, Raquel; Ubilla, Begoña; Genre, Fernanda; Corrales, Alfonso; Hernández, José L; Ferraz-Amaro, Ivan; Tsang, Linda; Llorca, Javier; Blanco, Ricardo; González-Juanatey, Carlos; Gonzalez-Gay, Miguel A; Dessein, Patrick H

    2015-01-01

    We determined whether osteoprotegerin (OPG) concentrations are associated with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). OPG concentrations were measured by ELISA in 151 patients with RA (54 with CVD) and 62 age-matched control subjects without CVD. Established CVD was composed of documented ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral artery disease. In patients with RA, age, body mass index (BMI), rheumatoid factor (RF) positivity, anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody positivity, and joint erosion status were associated with OPG concentrations [partial R (p) = 0.175 (0.03), -0.277 (0.0009), 0.323 (< 0.0001), 0.217 (0.008), and 0.159 (0.05), respectively]. Median (interquartile range) OPG concentrations increased from 6.38 (3.46-9.31) to 7.07 (5.04-10.65) and 8.64 (6.00-11.52) ng/ml in controls and patients with RA who had CVD and those who did not, respectively (p = 0.0002). Upon adjustment for age, sex, traditional risk factors, and BMI in mixed regression models, OPG concentrations remained lower in controls compared to patients with RA without CVD (p = 0.05) and in the latter compared to those with CVD (p = 0.03); the association of OPG concentrations with CVD among patients with RA also persisted after additional adjustment for RF and anti-CCP antibody positivity, and erosion status (p = 0.04). OPG concentrations are associated with disease severity and CVD prevalence in patients with RA. Whether consideration of OPG concentrations can improve CVD risk stratification in RA merits future longitudinal investigation.

  18. Water-soluble dietary fibers and cardiovascular disease.

    PubMed

    Theuwissen, Elke; Mensink, Ronald P

    2008-05-23

    One well-established way to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) is to lower serum LDL cholesterol levels by reducing saturated fat intake. However, the importance of other dietary approaches, such as increasing the intake of water-soluble dietary fibers is increasingly recognized. Well-controlled intervention studies have now shown that four major water-soluble fiber types-beta-glucan, psyllium, pectin and guar gum-effectively lower serum LDL cholesterol concentrations, without affecting HDL cholesterol or triacylglycerol concentrations. It is estimated that for each additional gram of water-soluble fiber in the diet serum total and LDL cholesterol concentrations decrease by -0.028 mmol/L and -0.029 mmol/L, respectively. Despite large differences in molecular structure, no major differences existed between the different types of water-soluble fiber, suggesting a common underlying mechanism. In this respect, it is most likely that water-soluble fibers lower the (re)absorption of in particular bile acids. As a result hepatic conversion of cholesterol into bile acids increases, which will ultimately lead to increased LDL uptake by the liver. Additionally, epidemiological studies suggest that a diet high in water-soluble fiber is inversely associated with the risk of CVD. These findings underlie current dietary recommendations to increase water-soluble fiber intake.

  19. Effects of solid dispersion and self-emulsifying formulations on the solubility, dissolution, permeability and pharmacokinetics of isorhamnetin, quercetin and kaempferol in total flavones of Hippophae rhamnoides L.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Guoying; Duan, Jingze; Xie, Yan; Lin, Guobei; Luo, Huilin; Li, Guowen; Yuan, Xiurong

    2013-07-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of solid dispersions (SD) and self-emulsifying (SE) formulations on the solubility and absorption properties of active components in total flavones of Hippophae rhamnoides L. (TFH). The solubility, dissolution rate, permeability and pharmacokinetics of isorhamnetin, quercetin and kaempferol in TFH SD/SE formulations and TFH were compared. The results showed that the solubility and dissolution rate of isorhamnetin, quercetin and kaempferol in SD/SE formulations were significantly enhanced compared to those in TFH, however, their intestinal permeability was comparable. The bioavailability of isorhamnetin, quercetin and kaempferol in rats remarkably increased after oral administration of TFH SD formulations compared to TFH, but there was no significant increase after oral administration of TFH SE formulations. The results of this study indicated the SD formulations on the improvement of pharmacokinetic properties of isorhamnetin, quercetin and kaempferol in TFH were much better than those of SE formulations. The improvement of pharmacokinetic properties of isorhamnetin, quercetin and kaempferol in TFH by SD formulations was probably ascribed to the enhancement of the solubility and dissolution of the three components, but was not relevant to the intestinal permeability. Therefore, as for herb extracts containing multiple components, especially for their major components with poor water solubility, solid dispersion formulations might have the better potential to enhance their bioavailability.

  20. Total and water-soluble trace metal content of urban background PM 10, PM 2.5 and black smoke in Edinburgh, UK

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Heal, Mathew R.; Hibbs, Leon R.; Agius, Raymond M.; Beverland, Iain J.

    Toxicological studies have implicated trace metals in airborne particles as possible contributors to respiratory and/or cardiovascular inflammation. As part of an epidemiological study, co-located 24 h samples of PM 10, PM 2.5 and black smoke (BS) were collected for 1 year at an urban background site in Edinburgh, and each sample sequentially extracted with ultra-pure water, then concentrated HNO 3/HCl, and analysed for Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb. This yields a comprehensive data set for UK urban airborne trace metal. The median ( n>349) daily water-soluble metal concentration in PM 2.5 ranged from 0.05 ng m -3 for Ti to 5.1 ng m -3 for Pb; and in PM 10 from 0.18 ng m -3 for Ti to 11.7 ng m -3 for Fe. Median daily total (i.e. water+acid-extractable) metal concentration in PM 2.5 ranged from 0.3 ng m -3 for As to 27.6 ng m -3 for Fe; and in PM 10 from 0.37 ng m -3 for As to 183 ng m -3 for Fe. The PM 2.5:PM 10 ratio varied considerably with metal, from <17%, on average, for Ti and Fe, to >70% for V, As, Cd and Pb. The 11 trace metals constituted proportionally more of the PM 10-2.5 fraction than of the PM 2.5 fraction (0.9%). The proportion of water-soluble metal in each size-fraction varied considerably, from <10% water-soluble Fe and Ti in PM 10-2.5, to >50% water-soluble V, Zn, As and Cd in PM 2.5. Although Fe generally dominated the trace metal, water-soluble metal also contained significant Zn, Pb and Cu, and for all size and solubility fractions >90% of trace metal was comprised of Fe, Zn, Pb and Cu. Statistical analyses suggested three main sources: traffic; static combustion; and crustal. The association of metals with traffic (Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn) was consistent with traffic-induced non-exhaust "resuspension" rather than direct exhaust emission. Meteorology contributed to the wide variation in daily trace metal concentration. The proportion of trace metal in particles varied significantly with the air mass source and was highest on days for

  1. Serum osteoprotegerin levels and mammographic density among high-risk women.

    PubMed

    Moran, Olivia; Zaman, Tasnim; Eisen, Andrea; Demsky, Rochelle; Blackmore, Kristina; Knight, Julia A; Elser, Christine; Ginsburg, Ophira; Zbuk, Kevin; Yaffe, Martin; Narod, Steven A; Salmena, Leonardo; Kotsopoulos, Joanne

    2018-06-01

    Mammographic density is a risk factor for breast cancer but the mechanism behind this association is unclear. The receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK)/RANK ligand (RANKL) pathway has been implicated in the development of breast cancer. Given the role of RANK signaling in mammary epithelial cell proliferation, we hypothesized this pathway may also be associated with mammographic density. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a decoy receptor for RANKL, is known to inhibit RANK signaling. Thus, it is of interest to evaluate whether OPG levels modify breast cancer risk through mammographic density. We quantified serum OPG levels in 57 premenopausal and 43 postmenopausal women using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cumulus was used to measure percent density, dense area, and non-dense area for each mammographic image. Subjects were classified into high versus low OPG levels based on the median serum OPG level in the entire cohort (115.1 pg/mL). Multivariate models were used to assess the relationship between serum OPG levels and the measures of mammographic density. Serum OPG levels were not associated with mammographic density among premenopausal women (P ≥ 0.42). Among postmenopausal women, those with low serum OPG levels had higher mean percent mammographic density (20.9% vs. 13.7%; P = 0.04) and mean dense area (23.4 cm 2 vs. 15.2 cm 2 ; P = 0.02) compared to those with high serum OPG levels after covariate adjustment. These findings suggest that low OPG levels may be associated with high mammographic density, particularly in postmenopausal women. Targeting RANK signaling may represent a plausible, non-surgical prevention option for high-risk women with high mammographic density, especially those with low circulating OPG levels.

  2. A toxicity profile of osteoprotegerin in the cynomolgus monkey.

    PubMed

    Smith, Brenda B; Cosenza, Mary Ellen; Mancini, Audrey; Dunstan, Colin; Gregson, Richard; Martin, Steven W; Smith, Susan Y; Davis, Harold

    2003-01-01

    Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a novel secreted glycoprotein of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily that acts as an antiresorptive agent inhibiting osteoclast maturation. OPG acts by competitively inhibiting the association of the OPG ligand with the RANK receptor on osteoclasts and osteoclast precursors. This inhibition of osteoclasts can lead to excess accumulation of newly synthesized bone and cartilage in vivo. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential toxicity of a human recombinant form of OPG in the young cynomolgus monkey. OPG was administered by intravenous (i.v.) or subcutaneous (s.c.) injection three times per week for either 4 or 13 weeks. There were no deaths during the study, no clinical signs related to treatment, no effect on body weight, appetence, or ophthalmology. No toxicologically relevant changes in routine laboratory investigations, organ weights, or gross or histopathological findings were observed. Serum ionized calcium and phosphorus were decreased at all dose levels. Evaluations were performed to monitor biochemical markers of bone resorption (N-telopeptide [NTx], deoxypyridinoline [DPD]), bone formation (skeletal alkaline phosphatase [sALP], osteocalcin [OC]), parathyroid hormone [PTH], and bone density of the proximal tibia and distal radius in vivo. Dose-related decreases in NTx and/or DPD were observed at each dose level, with up to a 90% decrease in NTx noted for animals treated i.v. or s.c. at 15 mg/kg. Similar decreases were observed for sALP and OC. PTH was increased for animals treated at 5 and 15 mg/kg (i.v. or s.c.). Trabecular bone density was increased for the majority of males and females treated i.v. or s.c. at 15 mg/kg and males treated i.v. at 5 mg/kg. Microscopic examination of the sternebrae revealed corresponding increases in bone. Decreases in markers of bone turnover, and corresponding increases in bone density, were consistent with the pharmacological action of OPG as an osteoclast

  3. Characteristics of water-soluble ions before, during and after fog events

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, P.; Du, H.; Yang, C.; Yao, J.; Du, J.; Chen, J.

    2010-07-01

    Two atmospheric processes of rain-fog-haze and haze-fog-rain were observed on Feb.8th and Mar. 14th, 2010 in urban Shanghai. On-line characterization of water-soluble ions of aerosol was performed before, during and after two fog episodes by an instrument of Monitoring AeRosoles and GAses (MARGA). Fog water samples were also collected to study the chemical ion characteristics for identifying the property of fogs. After rain, total water-soluble ion concentration in PM2.5 increased by 71.9%. Afterwards, a fog formation was observed as a frontal fog. Six fog water samples were collected to measure concentration of water-soluble ions, whose total concentrations decreased from beginning to end of fog. At the end of fog, the total water-soluble ion concentration of aerosol was continually increased. Meanwhile with a sharp decline of RH down to 70% in two hours, and a haze episode was observed. The reverse process, haze-fog-rain process, was also investigated. After the haze episode, total water-soluble ions concentration of aerosol rarely increased, but fog appeared with sharp increase of RH. Concentration of water-soluble ions in the fog water sample was higher than mean concentration of samples in 2009. When the fog started to disperse, the ion concentration hardly changed. As water vapor continued to increase, rain was observed. The inorganic compositions of aerosol in both fog events were dominated by sulfate and ammonium. The in situ investigation clearly illustrated that fog water mainly influenced by continental sources was dirtier and contained more sediment comparing with fog water influenced by marine sources.

  4. [Expression of osteoprotegerin and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand in mandibular ramus osteotomy healing with administration of different doses of parathyroid hormone].

    PubMed

    An, N; Li, Y; Tang, Z L; Chen, X Y; Wang, D X; Gao, Q

    2018-06-09

    Objective: To investigate the effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on the bone healing of mandibular ramus osteotomy. Methods: The mandibular ramus osteotomy model was established in sixty rabbits and these rabbits were randomly divided into experimental group A, experimental group B and control group. In the experimental group A and experimental group B, the rabbits were given PTH (20 and 40 μg/kg respectively) every other day after operation. In the control group, 1 ml saline was given. The animals were sacrificed at 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks postoperatively. The new bone formation was observed by histology and cone bone CT. The expression of osteoprotegerin and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANKL) in the new bone was detected by real-time quantitative PCR. Results: The experimental groups has better osteogenesis and the bone mineral density than the control group in osteotomy area. The experimental group B showed the best osteogenesis.Osteoprotegerin mRNA expression in experimental group A (1.127±0.035, 1.742±0.049, 1.049±0.062, 1.063±0.036) was significantly higher than that in the control group in each period (0.965±0.082, 1.254±0.071, 0.793±0.061, 0.684±0.055) ( P= 0.010, P= 0.000, P= 0.001, P= 0.020), while group B (1.416±0.205, 2.648±0.168, 1.652±0.091, 1.712±0.070) was significantly higher than group A ( P= 0.000, P= 0.010, P= 0.023, P= 0.003). RANKL mRNA expression in control group (1.666±0.086, 1.058±0.105, 0.885±0.124, 0.972±0.136) was significantly higher than that of the group A (0.788±0.036, 0.585±0.017, 0.692±0.017, 0.527±0.051) ( P= 0.001, P= 0.006, P= 0.003, P= 0.028) in each period, while group A was significantly higher than group B(0.247±0.022, 0.240±0.034, 0.134±0.011, 0.103±0.050) ( P= 0.000, P= 0.001, P= 0.002, P= 0.012). Conclusions: PTH can upregulate the expression of osteoprotegerin and reduce expression of RANKL, thus promoting new bone formation. Intermittent administration of high

  5. Microscale Solubility Measurements of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization (MALDI) Matrices Using Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) Coupled with Partial Least Squares (PLS) Analysis.

    PubMed

    Gorre, Elsa; Owens, Kevin G

    2016-11-01

    In this work an attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) absorption based method is used to measure the solubility of two matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization (MALDI) matrices in a few pure solvents and mixtures of acetonitrile and water using low microliter amounts of solution. Results from a method that averages the values obtained from multiple calibration curves created by manual peak picking are compared to those predicted using a partial least squares (PLS) chemometrics approach. The PLS method provided solubility values that were in good agreement with the manual method with significantly greater ease of analysis. As a test, the solubility of adipic acid in acetone was measured using the two methods of analysis, and the values are in good agreement with solubility values reported in literature. The solubilities of the MALDI matrices α-cyano-4-hydroxy cinnamic acid (CHCA) and sinapinic acid (SA) were measured in a series of mixtures made from acetonitrile (ACN) and water; surprisingly, the results show a highly nonlinear trend. While both CHCA and SA show solubility values of less than 10 mg/mL in the pure solvents, the solubility value for SA increases to 56.3 mg/mL in a 75:25 v/v ACN:water mixture. This can have a significant effect on the matrix-to-analyte ratios in the MALDI experiment when sample protocols call for preparation of a saturated solution of the matrix in the chosen solvent system. © The Author(s) 2016.

  6. [Study on solubility of Chinese herbal compound by solubility parameter].

    PubMed

    Wu, Dezhi; Chen, Lihua; Wang, Sen; Zhu, Weifeng; Guan, Yongmei

    2010-02-01

    To demonstrate the solubility of Chinese herbal compound with solubility parameters. The solubility parameters of Liangfu effective components and Liangfu compound were determined by inverse gas chromatograph (IGC) and group contribution. Hansen ball was plotting by HSPiP, which could be used to investigate the solubility of Liangfu effective components and Liangfu compound in different solvents. And the results were verified by approximate solubility. Liangfu effective components and Liangfu compound could be dissolved in chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, octanol and ether, and were slightly soluble in glycerol, methanol, ethanol and propanediol, but could not be dissolved in water. They were all liposoluble, and the results were the same as the test results of the approximate solubility. The solubility of Chinese herbal compound can be expressed by solubility parameters, and it is accurate, convenient and visual.

  7. [Soluble and insoluble dietary fiber in cereals and legumes cultivated in Chile].

    PubMed

    Pak, N; Ayala, C; Vera, G; Pennacchiotti, I; Araya, H

    1990-03-01

    Insoluble, soluble and total dietary fiber (DF) were determined in 35 varieties of certified whole seeds (without processing) of cereals (rice, oat, rye, and wheat) and legumes (pea, cowpea, beans, chikpea, lentil and lupine). The enzymatic method of Asp, Johansson and Siljestrom was used, with modifications in relation to time of incubation with alpha amylase, filtration system and volumes of the filtrates. Results were expressed as g/100 g dry weight. Total DF for cereals showed a range from 10.1 (wheat var. Chasqui) to 22.2 (rice var Quella). Rye, var. Tetra Baer and oats var. Pony Baer presented the highest soluble fiber content (3.3 and 3.9, respectively). In legumes, total DF fluctuated between 12.7 (pea, var. yellow) and 36.6 (lupine, var. Multolupa). Bean, var. Pinto INIA and lupine var. Multolupa presented the highest soluble fiber values (5.8 for both). Based on the results of this research work, it might be concluded that great variation exists in regard to the amount of total soluble and insoluble DF in cereals and legumes, a fact which impedes generalization as to its content in each food item.

  8. Serum osteoprotegerin is increased and predicts survival in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension

    PubMed Central

    Condliffe, Robin; Pickworth, Josephine A.; Hopkinson, Kay; Walker, Sara J.; Hameed, Abdul G.; Suntharaligam, Jay; Soon, Elaine; Treacy, Carmen; Pepke-Zaba, Joanna; Francis, Sheila E.; Crossman, David C.; Newman, Christopher M. H.; Elliot, Charles A.; Morton, Allison C.; Morrell, Nicholas W.; Kiely, David G.; Lawrie, Allan

    2012-01-01

    We previously reported that osteoprotegerin (OPG) is regulated by pathways associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and is present at elevated levels within pulmonary vascular lesions and sera from patients with idiopathic PAH (IPAH). Since OPG is a naturally secreted protein, we investigated the relationship between serum OPG and disease severity and outcome in patients with IPAH and animal models. OPG mRNA expression was measured in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) from pulmonary arteries of patients with and without IPAH. Serum concentrations of OPG were measured in a retrospective and prospective group of patients. OPG levels were compared with phenotypic data and other putative PAH biomarkers. Prognostic significance was assessed and levels compared with healthy controls. Correlation of OPG and pulmonary vascular remodeling was also performed in rodent models of PAH. OPG mRNA was significantly increased 2-fold in PASMC isolated from explanted PAH lungs compared with control. Serum OPG concentrations were markedly elevated in IPAH compared with controls. In Cohort 1 OPG levels significantly correlated with mean right atrial pressure and cardiac index, while in Cohort 2 significant correlations existed between age-adjusted OPG levels and gas transfer. In both cohorts an OPG concentration above a ROC-derived threshold of 4728 pg/ml predicted poorer survival. In two rodent models, OPG correlated with the degree of pulmonary vascular remodeling. OPG levels are significantly elevated in patients with idiopathic PAH and are of prognostic significance. The role of OPG as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target merits further investigation. PMID:22558516

  9. The apparent solubility of aluminum (III) in Hanford high-level waste.

    PubMed

    Reynolds, Jacob G

    2012-01-01

    The solubility of aluminum in Hanford nuclear waste impacts on the processability of the waste by a number of proposed treatment options. For many years, Hanford staff has anecdotally noted that aluminum appears to be considerably more soluble in Hanford waste than the simpler electrolyte solutions used as analogues. There has been minimal scientific study to confirm these anecdotal observations, however. The present study determines the apparent solubility product for gibbsite in 50 tank samples. The ratio of hydroxide to aluminum in the liquid phase for the samples is calculated and plotted as a function of total sodium molarity. Total sodium molarity is used as a surrogate for ionic strength, because the relative ratios of mono-, di- and trivalent anions are not available for all of the samples. These results were compared to the simple NaOH-NaAl(OH)(4)-H(2)O system, and the NaOH-NaAl(OH)(4)-NaCl-H(2)O system data retrieved from the literature. The results show that gibbsite is apparently more soluble in the samples than in the simple systems whenever the sodium molarity is greater than 2M. This apparent enhanced solubility cannot be explained solely by differences in ionic strength. The change in solubility with ionic strength in simple systems is small compared to the difference between aluminum solubility in Hanford waste and the simple systems. The reason for the apparent enhanced solubility is unknown, but could include kinetic or thermodynamic factors that are not present in the simple electrolyte systems. Any kinetic explanation would have to explain why the samples are always supersaturated whenever the sodium molarity is above 2M. Real waste characterization data should not be used to validate thermodynamic solubility models until it can be confirmed that the apparent enhanced gibbsite solubility is a thermodynamic effect and not a kinetic effect.

  10. Water and acid soluble trace metals in atmospheric particles

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lindberg, S. E.; Harriss, R. C.

    1983-01-01

    Continental aerosols are collected above a deciduous forest in eastern Tennessee and subjected to selective extractions to determine the water-soluble and acid-leachable concentrations of Cd, Mn, Pb, and Zn. The combined contributions of these metals to the total aerosol mass is 0.5 percent, with approximately 70 percent of this attributable to Pb alone. A substantial fraction (approximately 50 percent or more) of the acid-leachable metals is soluble in distilled water. In general, this water-soluble fraction increases with decreasing particle size and with increasing frequency of atmospheric water vapor saturation during the sampling period. The pattern of relative solubilities (Zn being greater than Mn, which is approximately equal to Cd, which is greater than Pb) is found to be similar to the general order of the thermodynamic solubilities of the most probable salts of these elements in continental aerosols with mixed fossil fuel and soil sources.

  11. Solubility of polyvalent cations in fogwater at an urban site in Strasbourg (France)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Millet, M.; Wortham, H.; Mirabel, Ph.

    The concentrations in the soluble and total (soluble + insoluble) fractions of Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Zn, Al, Cd and Pb have been analysed by "inductively coupled plasma (ICP)" in 14 fog events collected in 1992 at an urban site in France (Strasbourg). For each fog event, two droplet size categories (2-6 μm and 5-8 μm) have been collected separately. For the analysis of the polyvalent cations in the soluble and total fractions, an analytical procedure using ICP and filtration on cellulose/PVC filters has been developed. The study of the solubility of some polyvalent cations has shown that two of the most important factors controlling the partitioning between the soluble and insoluble fraction are the nature of the particles and the pH of the fogwater. The influence of pH depended on the element. The solubility of Pb, Cd, Al, Fe, Mg, and Ca were pH dependent whereas, Zn and Mn solubility varied but no relationship with pH existed, ranging between 25 and 100% and 10 and 100%, respectively. On the other hand, Mg, Pb and Ca were predominantly present in the soluble phase, whereas Al was prevalent in the insoluble fraction. In the case of Cd and Fe., the presence in the soluble or insoluble phase depended largely on the fogwater pH.

  12. Determination of Solubility Parameters of Ibuprofen and Ibuprofen Lysinate.

    PubMed

    Kitak, Teja; Dumičić, Aleksandra; Planinšek, Odon; Šibanc, Rok; Srčič, Stanko

    2015-12-03

    In recent years there has been a growing interest in formulating solid dispersions, which purposes mainly include solubility enhancement, sustained drug release and taste masking. The most notable problem by these dispersions is drug-carrier (in)solubility. Here we focus on solubility parameters as a tool for predicting the solubility of a drug in certain carriers. Solubility parameters were determined in two different ways: solely by using calculation methods, and by experimental approaches. Six different calculation methods were applied in order to calculate the solubility parameters of the drug ibuprofen and several excipients. However, we were not able to do so in the case of ibuprofen lysinate, as calculation models for salts are still not defined. Therefore, the extended Hansen's approach and inverse gas chromatography (IGC) were used for evaluating of solubility parameters for ibuprofen lysinate. The obtained values of the total solubility parameter did not differ much between the two methods: by the extended Hansen's approach it was δt = 31.15 MPa(0.5) and with IGC it was δt = 35.17 MPa(0.5). However, the values of partial solubility parameters, i.e., δd, δp and δh, did differ from each other, what might be due to the complex behaviour of a salt in the presence of various solvents.

  13. High circulating osteoprotegerin levels are associated with non-zero blood groups.

    PubMed

    Nagy, Elod Erno; Varga-Fekete, Timea; Puskas, Attila; Kelemen, Piroska; Brassai, Zoltan; Szekeres-Csiki, Katalin; Gombos, Timea; Csanyi, Maria Csilla; Harsfalvi, Jolan

    2016-05-26

    Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and von Willebrand factor (VWF) form complex within endothelial cells and following secretion. The nature of blood group antigens strongly influences the levels of circulating VWF, but there is no available data concerning its ascendancy on OPG levels. We aimed to assess the relationship of AB0 blood groups with OPG, VWF levels (VWF: Ag) and collagen binding activity (VWF: CB) in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients. Functional and laboratory parameters of 105 PAD patients and 109 controls were examined. Results of OPG, VWF: Ag, VWF: CB (ELISA-s) were analysed by comparative statistics, together with clinical data. OPG levels were higher in patients than in controls (4.64 ng/mL vs. 3.68 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Among patients elevation was marked in the presence of critical limb ischemia (5.19 ng/mL vs. 4.20 ng/mL, p = 0.011). The OPG in patients correlated positively with VWF: Ag and VWF: CB (r = 0.26, p = 0.008; r = 0.33, p = 0.001) and negatively with ankle-brachial pressure index (r = -0.22, p = 0.023). Furthermore, OPG was significantly elevated in non-0 blood groups compared to 0-groups both in patients and controls (4.95 ng/mL vs. 3.90 ng/mL, p = 0.012 and 4.09 ng/mL vs. 3.40 ng/mL, p = 0.002). OPG levels are associated to blood group phenotypes and higher in non-0 individuals. Increased OPG levels in PAD characterize disease severity. The significant correlation between OPG and VWF:CB might have functional importance in an atherothrombosis-prone biological environment.

  14. Methods for determining soluble and insoluble Cr III and Cr VI compounds in welding fumes.

    PubMed

    Matczak, W; Chmielnicka, J

    1989-01-01

    An analytical procedure for simultaneous determination of soluble and insoluble Cr III and Cr VI compounds in welding fumes has been proposed. In the welding fume samples collected on a membrane filter, total chromium was determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Glass filters with collected samples were divided into two parts. In one part of the sample, soluble and insoluble chromium was determined by means of AAS. The separation of soluble chromium III and VI was carried out on diphenylcarbazide resin. In the second part of the sample total chromium VI was determined by means of the colorimetric method with s-diphenylcarbazide. The difference in the results of these determinations allowed the calculation of the content of total Cr III, Cr III insolub. and Cr VI insolub. The results of determining chromium compounds in welding fumes samples collected in the welder's breathing zone and in experimental chambers are also presented in this paper. The content of total chromium in the fumes determined by AAS (from a membrane filtr) and that calculated from the sum of soluble and insoluble chromium (from a glass filter) were concordant and within the limits of the admissible error for the method. Total chromium content in welding fume samples collected individually was found to range from 2.4-4.2%. The percentage of particular chromium compounds as compared to total chromium (100%) amounted: total Cr III--34%, total Cr VI--66%, soluble chromium--66% and in this Cr III--20% and Cr VI--43%, insoluble chromium--34% and in this: Cr III--14% and Cr VI--20%.

  15. Solubility and Solubility Product Determination of a Sparingly Soluble Salt: A First-Level Laboratory Experiment

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bonomo, Raffaele P.; Tabbi, Giovanni; Vagliasindi, Laura I.

    2012-01-01

    A simple experiment was devised to let students determine the solubility and solubility product, "K"[subscript sp], of calcium sulfate dihydrate in a first-level laboratory. The students experimentally work on an intriguing equilibrium law: the constancy of the product of the ion concentrations of a sparingly soluble salt. The determination of…

  16. Iron solubility related to particle sulfur content in source emission and ambient fine particles.

    PubMed

    Oakes, M; Ingall, E D; Lai, B; Shafer, M M; Hays, M D; Liu, Z G; Russell, A G; Weber, R J

    2012-06-19

    The chemical factors influencing iron solubility (soluble iron/total iron) were investigated in source emission (e.g., biomass burning, coal fly ash, mineral dust, and mobile exhaust) and ambient (Atlanta, GA) fine particles (PM2.5). Chemical properties (speciation and mixing state) of iron-containing particles were characterized using X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy and micro-X-ray fluorescence measurements. Bulk iron solubility (soluble iron/total iron) of the samples was quantified by leaching experiments. Major differences were observed in iron solubility in source emission samples, ranging from low solubility (<1%, mineral dust and coal fly ash) up to 75% (mobile exhaust and biomass burning emissions). Differences in iron solubility did not correspond to silicon content or Fe(II) content. However, source emission and ambient samples with high iron solubility corresponded to the sulfur content observed in single particles. A similar correspondence between bulk iron solubility and bulk sulfate content in a series of Atlanta PM2.5 fine particle samples (N = 358) further supported this trend. In addition, results of linear combination fitting experiments show the presence of iron sulfates in several high iron solubility source emission and ambient PM2.5 samples. These results suggest that the sulfate content (related to the presence of iron sulfates and/or acid-processing mechanisms by H(2)SO(4)) of iron-containing particles is an important proxy for iron solubility.

  17. Solubility Database

    National Institute of Standards and Technology Data Gateway

    SRD 106 IUPAC-NIST Solubility Database (Web, free access)   These solubilities are compiled from 18 volumes (Click here for List) of the International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry(IUPAC)-NIST Solubility Data Series. The database includes liquid-liquid, solid-liquid, and gas-liquid systems. Typical solvents and solutes include water, seawater, heavy water, inorganic compounds, and a variety of organic compounds such as hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons, alcohols, acids, esters and nitrogen compounds. There are over 67,500 solubility measurements and over 1800 references.

  18. The apparent solubility of aluminum (III) in Hanford high-level waste

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Reynolds, Jacob G.

    2012-12-01

    The solubility of aluminum in Hanford nuclear waste impacts on the process ability of the waste by a number of proposed treatment options. For many years, Hanford staff has anecdotally noted that aluminum appears to be considerably more soluble in Hanford waste than the simpler electrolyte solutions used as analogues. There has been minimal scientific study to confirm these anecdotal observations, however. The present study determines the apparent solubility product for gibbsite in 50 tank samples. The ratio of hydroxide to aluminum in the liquid phase for the samples is calculated and plotted as a function of total sodium molarity.more » Total sodium molarity is used as a surrogate for ionic strength, because the relative ratios of mono, di and trivalent anions are not available for all of the samples. These results were compared to the simple NaOH-NaAl(OH{sub 4})H{sub 2}O system, and the NaOH-NaAl(OH{sub 4})NaCl-H{sub 2}O system data retrieved from the literature. The results show that gibbsite is apparently more soluble in the samples than in the simple systems whenever the sodium molarity is greater than two. This apparent enhanced solubility cannot be explained solely by differences in ionic strength. The change in solubility with ionic strength in simple systems is small compared to the difference between aluminum solubility in Hanford waste and the simple systems. The reason for the apparent enhanced solubility is unknown, but could include. kinetic or thermodynamic factors that are not present in the simple electrolyte systems. Any kinetic explanation would have to explain why the samples are always supersaturated whenever the sodium molarity is above two. Real waste characterization data should not be used to validate thermodynamic solubility models until it can be confirmed that the apparent enhanced gibbsite solubility is a thermodynamic effect and not a kinetic effect.« less

  19. Comparative levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor, procalcitonin, osteoprotegerin, interleukin-8, hs-C reactive protein, D-dimer in febrile neutropenia, newly diagnosed cancer patients, and infectious fever.

    PubMed

    Bilgir, Oktay; Bilgir, Ferda; Kebapcilar, Levent; Bozkaya, Giray; Çalan, Mehmet; Kırbıyık, Halil; Avci, Meltem; Sari, İsmail; Yuksel, Arif; Isikyakar, Tolgay

    2012-02-01

    The purpose of this study is to determine the levels of procalcitonin (PCT), IL-8 (interleukin-8), MIF (macrophage migration inhibitory factor), osteoprotegerin (OPG), hs-CRP and D-dimer during fever above 38.3°C due to various causes. Blood samples taken from a total of consecutive 65 hospitalized patients during fever were prospectively tested for hsCRP, PCT, IL-8, OPG, MIF and D-dimer. Of these patients, there were 26 patients presenting with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia who had no infectious agents found; 23 patients, who had a malignancy with a febrile episode which was neither a microbiologically documented infection nor a chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, and 16 patients who did not have a malignancy and were considered to have a clinically and microbiologically documented infection. IL-8 and D-dimer levels were higher in patients with febrile neutropenia than in the other two groups. Although MIF and OPG were higher in patients with newly diagnosed cancers, there were no differences among the three groups regarding PCT and hs-CRP values. High serum IL-8 and D-dimer levels can be useful markers to identify hospitalized chemotherapy-induced neutropenia patients. MIF and OPG were found to be higher in patients with newly diagnosed cancer. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Expression of osteoprotegerin, RNAK and RANKL genes in femoral head avascular necrosis and related signaling pathway.

    PubMed

    Miao, Qingtang; Hao, Sibin; Li, Hongmei; Sun, Fang; Wang, Xueling

    2015-01-01

    Femoral head avascular necrosis (AVN) causes the damage of hip joint and related dysfunctions, thus consisting of a clinical challenge. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK) and its ligand (RANKL) all regulate the formation of bones via gene transcriptional regulation for the balance between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. This study thus investigated the expressional profiles of OPG, RANK and RANKL genes in AVN patients, and explored related molecular mediating pathways. Real-time qPCR was used to measure the gene expression of OPG, RANK and RANKL genes in AVN femoral head tissue samples from 42 patients, along with normal tissues. Western blotting analysis was performed to quantify protein levels of OPG and RANKL. There was a trend but not statistically significant elevation of mRNA levels of OPG in femoral head AVN tissues compared to normal tissues (P>0.05). The expression of RNAK and RNAKL, however, was significantly elevated in necrotic tissues (P<0.05). No significant difference in protein levels of OPG or RANKL between groups. The expression of OPG, RANK and RANKL genes exert a crucial role in the progression of AVN, suggesting their roles in mediating bone homeostasis and potential effects on bone destruction.

  1. Osteoprotegerin and β2-Agonists Mitigate Muscular Dystrophy in Slow- and Fast-Twitch Skeletal Muscles.

    PubMed

    Dufresne, Sébastien S; Boulanger-Piette, Antoine; Frenette, Jérôme

    2017-03-01

    Our recent work showed that daily injections of osteoprotegerin (OPG)-immunoglobulin fragment complex (OPG-Fc) completely restore the function of fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus muscles in dystrophic mdx mice, a murine model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. However, despite marked improvements, OPG-Fc was not as effective in preventing the loss of function of slow-twitch soleus and diaphragm muscles. Because β 2 -agonists enhance the function of slow- and fast-twitch dystrophic muscles and because their use is limited by their adverse effects on bone and cardiac tissues, we hypothesized that OPG-Fc, a bone and skeletal muscle protector, acts synergistically with β 2 -agonists and potentiates their positive effects on skeletal muscles. We observed that the content of β 2 -adrenergic receptors, which are mainly expressed in skeletal muscle, is significantly reduced in dystrophic muscles but is rescued by the injection of OPG-Fc. Most important, OPG-Fc combined with a low dose of formoterol, a member of a new generation of β 2 -agonists, histologically and functionally rescued slow-twitch dystrophic muscles. This combination of therapeutic agents, which have already been tested and approved for human use, may open up new therapeutic avenues for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and possibly other neuromuscular diseases. Copyright © 2017 American Society for Investigative Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. Cocrystal Transition Points: Role of Cocrystal Solubility, Drug Solubility, and Solubilizing Agents.

    PubMed

    Lipert, Maya P; Rodríguez-Hornedo, Naír

    2015-10-05

    In this manuscript we bring together concepts that are relevant to the solubilization and thermodynamic stability of cocrystals in the presence of drug solubilizing agents. Simple equations are derived that allow calculation of cocrystal solubilization and transition point solubility. Analysis of 10 cocrystals in 6 different solubilizing agents shows that cocrystal solubilization is quantitatively predicted from drug solubilization. Drug solubilizing agents such as surfactants and lipid-based media are also shown to induce cocrystal transition points, where drug and cocrystal solubilities are equal, and above which the cocrystal solubility advantage over drug is eliminated. We have discovered that cocrystal solubility at the transition point (S*) is independent of solubilizing agent, and can be predicted from knowledge of only the aqueous solubilities of drug and cocrystal. For 1:1 cocrystals, S* = (Scocrystal,aq)(2)/Sdrug,aq. S* is a key indicator of cocrystal thermodynamic stability and establishes the upper solubility limit below which cocrystal is more soluble than the constituent drug. These findings have important implications to tailor cocrystal solubility and stability in pharmaceutical formulations from commonly available drug solubility descriptors.

  3. Circulating osteoprotegerin is associated with chronic kidney disease in hypertensive patients.

    PubMed

    Bernardi, Stella; Toffoli, Barbara; Bossi, Fleur; Candido, Riccardo; Stenner, Elisabetta; Carretta, Renzo; Barbone, Fabio; Fabris, Bruno

    2017-07-06

    Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a glycoprotein that plays an important regulatory role in the skeletal, vascular, and immune system. It has been shown that OPG predicts chronic kidney disease (CKD) in diabetic patients. We hypothesized that OPG could be a risk marker of CKD development also in non-diabetic hypertensive patients. A case-control study was carried out to measure circulating OPG levels in 42 hypertensive patients with CKD and in 141 hypertensive patients without CKD. A potential relationship between OPG and the presence of CKD was investigated and a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was designed thereafter to identify a cut-off value of OPG that best explained the presence of CKD. Secondly, to evaluate whether OPG increase could affect the kidney, 18 C57BL/6J mice were randomized to be treated with saline or recombinant OPG every 3 weeks for 12 weeks. Circulating OPG levels were significantly higher in hypertensive patients with CKD, and there was a significant inverse association between OPG and renal function, that was independent from other variables. ROC analysis showed that OPG levels had a high statistically predictive value on CKD in hypertensive patients, which was greater than that of hypertension. The OPG best cut-off value associated with CKD was 1109.19 ng/L. In the experimental study, OPG delivery significantly increased the gene expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic mediators, as well as the glomerular nitrosylation of proteins. This study shows that OPG is associated with CKD in hypertensive patients, where it might have a higher predictive value than that of hypertension for CKD development. Secondly, we found that OPG delivery significantly increased the expression of molecular pathways involved in kidney damage. Further longitudinal studies are needed not only to evaluate whether OPG predicts CKD development but also to clarify whether OPG should be considered a risk factor for CKD.

  4. Students' mental models on the solubility and solubility product concept

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rahmi, Chusnur; Katmiati, Siti; Wiji, Mulyani, Sri

    2017-05-01

    This study aims to obtain some information regarding profile of students' mental models on the solubility and solubility product concept. A descriptive qualitative method was the method employed in the study. The participants of the study were students XI grade of a senior high school in Bandung. To collect the data, diagnostic test on mental model-prediction, observation, explanation (TDM-POE) instrument was employed in the study. The results of the study revealed that on the concept of precipitation formation of a reaction, 30% of students were not able to explain the precipitation formation of a reaction either in submicroscopic or symbolic level although the microscopic have been shown; 26% of students were able to explain the precipitation formation of a reaction based on the relation of Qsp and Ksp, but they were not able to explain the interaction of particles that involved in the reaction and to calculate Qsp; 26% of students were able to explain the precipitation formation of a reaction based on the relation of Qsp and Ksp, and determine the particles involved, but they did not have the knowledge about the interactions occured and were uncapable of calculating Qsp; and 18% of students were able to explain the precipitation formation of a reaction based on the relation of Qsp and Ksp, and determine the interactions of the particles involved in the reactions but they were not able to calculate Qsp. On the effect of adding common ions and decreasing pH towards the solubility concept, 96% of students were not able to explain the effect of adding common ions and decreasing pH towards the solubility either in submicroscopic or symbolic level although the microscopic have been shown; while 4% of students were only able to explain the effect of adding common ions towards the solubility based on the chemical equilibrium shifts and predict the effect of decreasing pH towards the solubility. However, they were not able to calculate the solubility before and after

  5. Nutritional composition and solubility of edible bird nest (Aerodramus fuchiphagus)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Halimi, Nurfatin Mohd; Kasim, Zalifah Mohd; Babji, Abdul Salam

    2014-09-01

    Edible bird nest (EBN) produced by certain swiftlet species mainly, Aerodromus fuciphagus. The objectives of this study were to determine and compare the proximate and amino acid composition of EBN obtained from two regions in Peninsular Malaysia (Pahang-A & Terengganu-B). The solubility of edible bird nest with varying pH, temperature and time was also investigated in this study. The results showed that, the EBN contained crude protein accounted to 58.55% (A) and 55.48% (B), carbohydrate at22.28% (A) & 25.79% (B), moisture content 15.90% (A) & 15.87% (B), fat, 0.67% (A) & and 0.29% (B) and ash contents 2.60% (A) & 2.57% (B) respectively. The major amino acids found in edible bird nest EBN were Glutamic acid (9.61%), Aspartic acid (6.34%), Lysine (5.44 %) and also Leucine (5.30%). The total solubility of EBN was also found to be increased when the temperature was increased increase with distilled water yielding the highest total solubility of EBN compared to others buffer (different pH) solutions.

  6. A miniature cell for gas solubility measurements in oils and bitumen.

    PubMed

    Foroughi, Hooman; Acosta, Edgar J; Kawaji, Masahiro

    2011-03-01

    A miniature cell has been designed and constructed to measure gas solubility in crude oils and bitumen. The cell was made of stainless steel with a total internal volume of 1.835 cc and only an oil sample of 0.4 cc was required for one set of measurements at different pressures. By using this small cell, the waiting time for reaching equilibrium was less than 10 min. The technique was validated by measuring CO(2) gas solubility in two bitumen samples. The results were compared and found to be in very good agreement with available data. The apparatus was also used to study the effect of ashphaltene on CO(2) solubility in bitumen. It was shown that ashphaltene had a negligible effect on CO(2) solubility in bitumen.

  7. Precipitation and Solubility of Calcium Hydrogenurate Hexahydrate

    PubMed Central

    Babić-Ivančić, V.; Füredi-Milhofer, H.; Brničević, N.; Marković, M.

    1992-01-01

    Solid phases formed in the quaternary system: uric acid—calcium hydroxide —hydrochloric acid—water aged for 2 months at 310 K were studied to determine conditions for calcium hydrogenurate hexahydrate, Ca(C5H3N4O)2 · 6H2O precipitation. The precipitates were identified by chemical and thermogravimetric analyses, x-ray powder diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. In the precipitation diagram the concentration region in which calcium hydrogenurate hexahydrate precipitated as a single solid phase was established. The solubility of calcium hydrogenurate hexahydrate was investigated in the pH range from 6.2 to 10.1 at different temperatures. The total soluble and ionic concentration of calcium (atomic absorption spectroscopy and Ca-selective electrode), total urate concentration (spectrophotometry), and pH were determined in equilibrated solutions. The data are presented in the form of tables and chemical potential diagrams. By using these data the thermodynamic solubility products of calcium hydrogenurate hexahydrate, Ks = a(Ca2+) · a2(C5H3N4O3−), were determined: pKs=10.12±0.07at288K,pKs=9.81±0.09at298K,pKs=9.28±0.04at310K,andpKs=9.01±0.03at318K.The formation of calcium hydrogenurate hexahydrate crystals in urinary tract of patients with pathologically high concentrations of calcium and urates (hypercalciuria and hyperuricosiuria) is possible. PMID:28053438

  8. Osteoprotegerin Polymorphisms in a Mexican Population with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Generalized Osteoporosis: A Preliminary Report

    PubMed Central

    Zavala-Cerna, Maria Guadalupe; Moran-Moguel, Maria Cristina; Cornejo-Toledo, Jesus Alejandro; Gonzalez-Montoya, Norma Guadalupe; Sanchez-Corona, Jose; Salazar-Paramo, Mario; Aguilar-Chavez, Erika Anita; Alcaraz-Lopez, Miriam Fabiola; Gonzalez-Sanchez, Alicia Guadalupe

    2015-01-01

    Bone disease in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex phenomenon where genetic risk factors have been partially evaluated. The system formed by receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB (RANK), receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), and osteoprotegerin (OPG): RANK/RANKL/OPG is a crucial molecular pathway for coupling between osteoblasts and osteoclasts, since OPG is able to inhibit osteoclast differentiation and activation. We aim to evaluate the association between SNPs C950T (rs2073617), C209T (rs3134069), T245G (rs3134070) in the TNFRSF11B (OPG) gene, and osteoporosis in RA. We included 81 women with RA and 52 healthy subjects in a cross-sectional study, genotyped them, and measured bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine and the femoral neck. Mean age in RA was 50 ± 12 with disease duration of 12 ± 8 years. According to BMD results, 23 (33.3%) were normal and 46 (66.7%) had osteopenia/osteoporosis. We found a higher prevalence of C allele for C950T SNP in RA. Polymorphisms C209T and T245G did not reach statistical significance in allele distribution. Further studies including patients from other regions of Latin America with a multicenter design to increase the sample size are required to confirm our findings and elucidate if C950T SNP could be associated with osteoporosis in RA. PMID:26065000

  9. Mesenchymal stem cells inhibit RANK-RANKL interactions between osteoclasts and Th17 cells via osteoprotegerin activity

    PubMed Central

    Cho, Kyung-Ah; Park, Minhwa; Kim, Yu-Hee; Ryu, Kyung-Ha; Woo, So-Youn

    2017-01-01

    Th17 cells play a critical role in several autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with systemic inflammation and comorbidities, such as PsA. PsA develops in nearly 70% of patients with psoriasis, and osteoclasts associated bone erosion is a hallmark of the disease. Thus far, the effect of Th17 cells on osteoclastogenesis via direct cell-to-cell interactions is less understood. In this study, we observed that Th17 cells directly promote osteoclast differentiation and maturation via expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κ β ligand (RANKL) in vitro. We investigated the impact of conditioned medium obtained from human palatine tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (T-CM) on the interactions between osteoclasts and Th17 cells. T-CM effectively blunted the RANK-RANKL interaction between the osteoclast precursor cell line RAW 264.7 and Th17 cells via osteoprotegerin (OPG) activity. The frequency of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive cells in the bone marrow of an imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis mouse model was decreased following T-CM injection. Therefore, our data provide novel insight into the therapeutic potential of tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cell-mediated therapy (via OPG production) for the treatment of pathophysiologic processes induced by osteoclasts under chronic inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis. PMID:29137353

  10. Changes in fat-soluble vitamin levels after gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

    PubMed

    Rino, Yasushi; Oshima, Takashi; Yoshikawa, Takaki

    2017-02-01

    Several authors have reported the relationship between gastric cancer risk and vitamins. However, there are few reports on fat-soluble vitamins after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Fat malabsorption and suppression of food intake after gastrectomy for gastric cancer have been previously documented. Because of fat malabsorption and suppression of food intake, a potential deficiency in fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, has been readily suggested. In about 20 % of patients, the serum vitamin E levels were decreased. Indeed, vitamin E deficiency is a common complication after gastrectomy. Continuous vitamin E deficiency could develop from neurological symptoms, i.e., peripheral neuropathy, limb or truncal ataxia. The total cholesterol level is associated with the vitamin E levels. However, the serum vitamin A levels were decreased in only 1.8 % of patients. In total gastrectomy cases, the serum vitamin A level may readily decrease. In contrast, 1,25(OH) 2 vitamin D deficiency, which is the most active vitamin D metabolite, is rare. Additionally, vitamin K deficiency after gastrectomy has not been reported thus far. Evidence that serum fat-soluble vitamin levels may decrease after gastrectomy for gastric cancer has not been established yet. Future research must explore fat-soluble vitamin deficiency after gastrectomy.

  11. H2O in rhyolitic glasses and melts: Measurement, speciation, solubility, and diffusion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Youxue

    1999-11-01

    Dissolved H2O in silicate melts and glasses plays a crucial role in volcanic eruptions on terrestrial planets and affects glass properties and magma evolution. In this paper, major progress on several aspects of the H2O-melt (or glass) system is reviewed, consistency among a variety of data is investigated, discrepancies are evaluated, and confusion is clarified. On the infrared measurement of total H2O and species concentrations, calibration for a variety of glasses has been carried out at room temperature. The measurements for H2O in rhyolitic glasses have undergone the most scrutiny, resulting in the realization that absorptivities for the near-infrared bands depend on total H2O content. Although the variation of the absorptivities does not seem to significantly affect the determination of total H2O, it does affect the determination of molecular H2O and OH species concentrations. Calibration of the infrared technique for H2O in rhyolitic glasses still needs much improvement, especially at high total H2O. Furthermore, it is now almost certain that the molar absorptivities also depend on the measurement temperature in in situ studies. Hence it will be necessary to carry out calibrations in situ at high temperatures. On H2O speciation, results from two experimental approaches, the quench technique and the in situ technique, are very different, leading to controversy in our understanding of true speciation. A solution is presented to reconcile this controversy. It is almost certain that the quench technique does not suffer from a quench problem, but interpretation of in situ results suffered from ignoring the dependence of the molar absorptivities on measurement temperature. Accurate calibration at high temperatures is necessary for the quantitative application of the in situ technique to H2O speciation in silicate melts and glasses. On H2O solubility in silicate melts, recent experimental work has significantly expanded the T-P range of solubility measurements, and

  12. Soluble vs. insoluble fiber

    MedlinePlus

    ... soluble and insoluble. Both are important for health, digestion, and preventing diseases. Soluble fiber attracts water and turns to gel during digestion. This slows digestion. Soluble fiber is found in ...

  13. Toward a Molecular Understanding of Protein Solubility: Increased Negative Surface Charge Correlates with Increased Solubility

    PubMed Central

    Kramer, Ryan M.; Shende, Varad R.; Motl, Nicole; Pace, C. Nick; Scholtz, J. Martin

    2012-01-01

    Protein solubility is a problem for many protein chemists, including structural biologists and developers of protein pharmaceuticals. Knowledge about how intrinsic factors influence solubility is limited due to the difficulty of obtaining quantitative solubility measurements. Solubility measurements in buffer alone are difficult to reproduce, because gels or supersaturated solutions often form, making it impossible to determine solubility values for many proteins. Protein precipitants can be used to obtain comparative solubility measurements and, in some cases, estimations of solubility in buffer alone. Protein precipitants fall into three broad classes: salts, long-chain polymers, and organic solvents. Here, we compare the use of representatives from two classes of precipitants, ammonium sulfate and polyethylene glycol 8000, by measuring the solubility of seven proteins. We find that increased negative surface charge correlates strongly with increased protein solubility and may be due to strong binding of water by the acidic amino acids. We also find that the solubility results obtained for the two different precipitants agree closely with each other, suggesting that the two precipitants probe similar properties that are relevant to solubility in buffer alone. PMID:22768947

  14. Solubility of iron from combustion source particles in acidic media linked to iron speciation.

    PubMed

    Fu, Hongbo; Lin, Jun; Shang, Guangfeng; Dong, Wenbo; Grassian, Vichi H; Carmichael, Gregory R; Li, Yan; Chen, Jianmin

    2012-10-16

    In this study, iron solubility from six combustion source particles was investigated in acidic media. For comparison, a Chinese loess (CL) dust was also included. The solubility experiments confirmed that iron solubility was highly variable and dependent on particle sources. Under dark and light conditions, the combustion source particles dissolved faster and to a greater extent relative to CL. Oil fly ash (FA) yielded the highest soluble iron as compared to the other samples. Total iron solubility fractions measured in the dark after 12 h ranged between 2.9 and 74.1% of the initial iron content for the combustion-derived particles (Oil FA > biomass burning particles (BP) > coal FA). Ferrous iron represented the dominant soluble form of Fe in the suspensions of straw BP and corn BP, while total dissolved Fe presented mainly as ferric iron in the cases of oil FA, coal FA, and CL. Mössbauer measurements and TEM analysis revealed that Fe in oil FA was commonly presented as nanosized Fe(3)O(4) aggregates and Fe/S-rich particles. Highly labile source of Fe in corn BP could be originated from amorphous Fe form mixed internally with K-rich particles. However, Fe in coal FA was dominated by the more insoluble forms of both Fe-bearing aluminosilicate glass and Fe oxides. The data presented herein showed that iron speciation varies by source and is an important factor controlling iron solubility from these anthropogenic emissions in acidic solutions, suggesting that the variability of iron solubility from combustion-derived particles is related to the inherent character and origin of the aerosols themselves. Such information can be useful in improving our understanding on iron solubility from combustion aerosols when they undergo acidic processing during atmospheric transport.

  15. Serum osteoprotegerin and renal function in the general population: the Tromsø Study.

    PubMed

    Vik, Anders; Brodin, Ellen E; Mathiesen, Ellisiv B; Brox, Jan; Jørgensen, Lone; Njølstad, Inger; Brækkan, Sigrid K; Hansen, John-Bjarne

    2017-02-01

    Serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) is elevated in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and increases with decreasing renal function. However, there are limited data regarding the association between OPG and renal function in the general population. The aim of the present study was to explore the relation between serum OPG and renal function in subjects recruited from the general population. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 6689 participants recruited from the general population in Tromsø, Norway. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equations. OPG was modelled both as a continuous and categorical variable. General linear models and linear regression with adjustment for possible confounders were used to study the association between OPG and eGFR. Analyses were stratified by the median age, as serum OPG and age displayed a significant interaction on eGFR. In participants ≤62.2 years with normal renal function (eGFR ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ) eGFR increased by 0.35 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (95% CI 0.13-0.56) per 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in serum OPG after multiple adjustment. In participants older than the median age with impaired renal function (eGFR <90 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ), eGFR decreased by 1.54 (95% CI -2.06 to -1.01) per 1 SD increase in serum OPG. OPG was associated with an increased eGFR in younger subjects with normal renal function and with a decreased eGFR in older subjects with reduced renal function. Our findings imply that the association between OPG and eGFR varies with age and renal function.

  16. Soluble Manganese(III) in the Marine Environment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Luther, G. W., III; Oldham, V.; Madison, A.; Tebo, B.; Jones, M.; Jensen, L.; Owings, S.; Mucci, A.; Sundby, B.

    2014-12-01

    Recent field studies have confirmed the presence of soluble manganese(III), which along with Mn(II) passes through a 0.2 μm filter, in suboxic marine waters. Here we applied a spectrophotometric method using a soluble porphyrin as a competitive ligand to calculate the concentrations and kinetics of Mn(II) and Mn(III) recovery. Data will be presented from the suboxic porewaters of the Saint Lawrence estuary, the suboxic and anoxic waters of the Chesapeake Bay and the oxygenated surface waters of a coastal waterway bordered by wetlands and salt marshes in Delaware. Soluble Mn(III) accounts for up to 100% of the dissolved Mn pool with concentrations ranging from the detection limit of 50 nM to 80 μM at the oxic/anoxic interface of the non-sulfidic porewaters from the hemipelagic sediments of the St. Lawrence Estuary. Data indicate weak-ligand complexation of Mn(III) formed from Mn(II) oxidation as well as reduction of MnO2. Complexation of Mn(III) in the anoxic waters of Chesapeake Bay appears stronger as the porphyrin could not outcompete the natural ligands binding Mn(III). Mn(III) complexes were reduced in the presence of hydroxylamine or hydrogen sulfide and detected as Mn(II). Soluble Mn(III) comprised up to 52 % of total dissolved Mn. Profiles over the course of a five day cruise showed that high Mn(III) concentrations (7.3 μM) were observed at low H2S (4.9 μM) whereas low Mn(III) (1.1 μM) was detected at high H2S (40 μM). The presence of Mn(III) in sulfidic waters indicated that it is kinetically stabilized in situ by strong ligands so reduction to Mn(II) was incomplete. One electron reductive dissolution of solid MnO2 particles formed at the oxic-anoxic interface appear to be the source of Mn(III). Lastly, soluble Mn(III) was detected in the oxygenated surface waters of a coastal waterway (salinity ranging from freshwater to 31) bordered by wetlands and salt marshes in Delaware. Soluble Mn(III) made up 0-49 % of the total dissolved Mn (maximum of 1.92

  17. The influence of water-soluble As(III) and As(V) on dehydrogenase activity in soils affected by mine tailings.

    PubMed

    Fernández, Pilar; Sommer, Irene; Cram, Silke; Rosas, Irma; Gutiérrez, Margarita

    2005-09-15

    Dehydrogenase activity (DHA) in soils contaminated by arsenic-bearing tailings was correlated with total arsenic and total water-soluble arsenic (As(III)+As(V)) to evaluate the impact of tailings dispersion on the oxidative capacity of soil microorganisms. Georeferenced surface soil samples (0-10 cm depth) were collected at different distances from a tailings dam. In the samples farthest from the dam, all water-soluble arsenic (avg. 0.6+/-0.1 mg kg(-1)) was As(V). The highest concentration of water-soluble As(III)+As(V) (>1.9 mg kg(-1)) was found where As(III) was present. DHA averaged 438.9+/-79.3 microg INTF g(-1) h(-1) at the greatest distance from the dam and decreased to 92.3+/-27.1 microg INTF g(-1) h(-1) with decreasing distance from the dam. Pearson correlation coefficient between DHA and samples containing water-soluble As(V) (r=-0.87) was greater than that between DHA and total water-soluble arsenic (r=-0.57). The correlation between DHA and soluble arsenic containing both As(V) and As(III) was not significant (r=0.24). In soils with detectable As(III) concentrations where wet conditions prevail (i.e., reducing conditions), there is an abiotic response in addition to a biotic one. The correlation between DHA and total water-soluble As(III)+ As(V) was higher (r=-0.79) when the abiotic response was excluded. Our study demonstrated the importance of distinguishing between total and available fraction and its species and the need to evaluate biological functions in addition to purely geochemical analyses. DHA bioassay combined with other microbial properties offers a good tool for evaluating soil microbial activity and status and is a suitable indicator of the oxidative capacity of soil microorganisms affected by tailings in an oxidizing environment; however, under reducing conditions, abiotic responses must also be studied.

  18. Fractional solubility of aerosol iron: Synthesis of a global-scale data set

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sholkovitz, Edward R.; Sedwick, Peter N.; Church, Thomas M.; Baker, Alexander R.; Powell, Claire F.

    2012-07-01

    Aerosol deposition provides a major input of the essential micronutrient iron to the open ocean. A critical parameter with respect to biological availability is the proportion of aerosol iron that enters the oceanic dissolved iron pool - the so-called fractional solubility of aerosol iron (%FeS). Here we present a global-scale compilation of total aerosol iron loading (FeT) and estimated %FeS values for ∼1100 samples collected over the open ocean, the coastal ocean, and some continental sites, including a new data set from the Atlantic Ocean. Despite the wide variety of methods that have been used to define 'soluble' aerosol iron, our global-scale compilation reveals a remarkably consistent trend in the fractional solubility of aerosol iron as a function of total aerosol iron loading, with the great bulk of the data defining an hyperbolic trend. The hyperbolic trends that we observe for both global- and regional-scale data are adequately described by a simple two-component mixing model, whereby the fractional solubility of iron in the bulk aerosol reflects the conservative mixing of 'lithogenic' mineral dust (high FeT and low %FeS) and non-lithogenic 'combustion' aerosols (low FeT and high %FeS). An increasing body of empirical and model-based evidence points to anthropogenic fuel combustion as the major source of these non-lithogenic 'combustion' aerosols, implying that human emissions are a major determinant of the fractional solubility of iron in marine aerosols. The robust global-scale relationship between %FeS and FeT provides a simple heuristic method for estimating aerosol iron solubility at the regional to global scale.

  19. Local application of osteoprotegerin-chitosan gel in critical-sized defects in a rabbit model

    PubMed Central

    2017-01-01

    Background Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is used for the systemic treatment of bone diseases, although it has many side effects. The aim of this study was to investigate a newly formulated OPG-chitosan gel for local application to repair bone defects. Recent studies have reported that immunodetection of osteopontin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OC) can be used to characterise osteogenesis and new bone formation. Methods The osteogenic potential of the OPG-chitosan gel was evaluated in rabbits. Critical-sized defects were created in the calvarial bone, which were either left unfilled (control; group I), or filled with chitosan gel (group II) or OPG-chitosan gel (group III), with rabbits sacrificed at 6 and 12 weeks. Bone samples from the surgical area were decalcified and treated with routine histological and immunohistochemical protocols using OC, OPN, and cathepsin K (osteoclast marker) antibodies. The toxicity of the OPG-chitosan gel was evaluated by biochemical assays (liver and kidney function tests). Results The mean bone growth in defects filled with the OPG-chitosan gel was significantly higher than those filled with the chitosan gel or the unfilled group (p < 0.05). At 6 and 12 weeks, the highest levels of OC and OPN markers were found in the OPG-chitosan gel group, followed by the chitosan gel group. The number of osteoclasts in the OPG-chitosan gel group was lower than the other groups. The results of the liver and kidney functional tests indicated no signs of harmful systemic effects of treatment. In conclusion, the OPG-chitosan gel has many characteristics that make it suitable for bone repair and regeneration, highlighting its potential benefits for tissue engineering applications. PMID:28674665

  20. Boric acid inhibits alveolar bone loss in rats by affecting RANKL and osteoprotegerin expression.

    PubMed

    Sağlam, M; Hatipoğlu, M; Köseoğlu, S; Esen, H H; Kelebek, S

    2014-08-01

    The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effects of systemic boric acid on the levels of expression of RANKL and osteoprotegerin (OPG) and on histopathologic and histometric changes in a rat periodontitis model. Twenty-four Wistar rats were divided into three groups of eight animals each: nonligated (NL); ligature only (LO); and ligature plus treatment with boric acid (BA) (3 mg/kg per day for 11 d). A 4/0 silk suture was placed in a subgingival position around the mandibular right first molars; after 11 d the rats were killed, and alveolar bone loss in the first molars was histometrically determined. Periodontal tissues were examined histopathologically to assess the differences among the study groups. RANKL and OPG were detected immunohistochemically. Alveolar bone loss was significantly higher in the LO group than in the BA and NL groups (p < 0.05). The number of inflammatory infiltrate and osteoclasts in the LO group was significantly higher than that in the NL and BA groups (p < 0.05). The numbers of osteoblasts in LO and BA groups were significantly higher compared with NL group (p < 0.05). There were significantly more RANKL-positive cells in the LO group than in the BA and NL groups (p < 0.05). There was a higher number of OPG-positive cells in the BA group than in the LO and NL groups (p < 0.05). The present study shows that systemic administration of boric acid may reduce alveolar bone loss by affecting the RANKL/OPG balance in periodontal disease in rats. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  1. Solubility parameters of hypromellose acetate succinate and plasticization in dry coating procedures.

    PubMed

    Klar, Fabian; Urbanetz, Nora Anne

    2016-10-01

    Solubility parameters of HPMCAS have not yet been investigated intensively. On this account, total and three-dimensional solubility parameters of HPMCAS were determined by using different experimental as well as computational methods. In addition, solubility properties of HPMCAS in a huge number of solvents were tested and a Teas plot for HPMCAS was created. The total solubility parameter of about 24 MPa(0.5) was confirmed by various procedures and compared with values of plasticizers. Twenty common pharmaceutical plasticizers were evaluated in terms of their suitability for supporting film formation of HPMCAS under dry coating conditions. Therefore, glass transition temperatures of mixtures of polymer and plasticizers were inspected and film formation of potential ones was further investigated in dry coating of pellets. Contact angles of plasticizers on HPMCAS were determined in order to give a hint of achievable coating efficiencies in dry coating, but none was found to spread on HPMCAS. A few common substances, e.g. dimethyl phthalate, glycerol monocaprylate, and polyethylene glycol 400, enabled plasticization of HPMCAS; however, only triethyl citrate and triacetin were found to be suitable for use in dry coating. Addition of acetylated monoglycerides to triacetin increased coating efficiency, which was likewise previously demonstrated for triethyl citrate.

  2. Determining total phenolic content and total antioxidant capacity of loquat cultivars grown in Hatay.

    PubMed

    Polat, A Aytekin; Calişkan, Oğuzhan; Serçe, Sedat; Saraçoğlu, Onur; Kaya, Cemal; Ozgen, Mustafa

    2010-01-01

    Several fruit characteristics of five loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.) cultivars/selections grown in Dörtyol, Hatay, Turkey were investigated in 2008. The cultivars/selections included 'Baduna 5', Güzelyurt 1, 'Hafif Cukurgöbek', 'Ottaviani,' and Type 1. The characteristics evaluated included fruit weight, width, length, seed number and weight, flesh/seed ratio, total soluble solids (TSS), pH, acidity, total phenolic (TP) content, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), determined by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The analyses were conducted by three replicates, with 30 fruits in each replicate. The results indicated that there were significant differences among the cultivars, for all the traits tested. For example, 'Hafif Cukurgöbek' and 'Ottaviani' had smaller fruits than others, although 'Hafif Cukurgöbek' had heavier seeds. The flesh/seed ratio was the highest in Type 1, while 'Hafif Cukurgöbek' had the highest pH and high soluble solids. 'Baduna 5' and 'Hafif Cukurgöbek' had the highest acidity. The TP ranged from 129 ('Baduna 5') to 578 ('Hafif Cukurgöbek') mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/kg fresh fruit (fw). 'Hafif Cukurgöbek' also had the highest FRAP mean (12.1 mmol Trolox Equivalent (TE)/kg fw). The results suggest that loquat cultivars have a variable range of TP content and a relatively high total antioxidant capacity, which is crucial for human health.

  3. Profiling Sugars in Tall Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass Extracts Assayed for Total Water- and Ethanol-Soluble Carbohydrates: Relationship of Chromatographic to Spectrophotometric Data

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and ethanol-soluble carbohydrates (ESC) of herbage are often quantified by spectrophotometric assays. To determine if quantifying individual sugars from chromatograms could yield results comparable to those obtained by the assays, WSC and ESC were extracted from fr...

  4. LUNG INJURY IS INDUCED BY INSOLUBLE AND TOTAL BUT NOT SOLUBLE PARTICULATE MATTER (PM) COLLECTED IN MEXICO CITY

    EPA Science Inventory

    Exposure to ambient air PM has been associated with adverse cardiopulmonary health effects; however, causative components have not been identified. The solubility of PM constituents and their bioavalability may influence their toxicity. Chemically characterized PM10 an...

  5. Analysis of effect of the solubility on gas exchange in nonhomogeneous lungs

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Colburn, W. E., Jr.; Evans, J. W.; West, J. B.

    1974-01-01

    A comparison is made of the gas exchange in nonhomogeneous lung models and in homogeneous lung models with the same total blood flow and ventilation. It is shown that the ratio of the rate of gas transfer of the inhomogeneous lung model over the rate of gas transfer of the homogeneous lung model as a function of gas solubility always has the qualitative features for gases with linear dissociation curves. This ratio is 1 for a gas with zero solubility and decreases to a single minimum. It subsequently rises to approach 1 as the solubility tends to infinity. The early portion of the graph of this function is convex, then after a single inflection point it is concave.

  6. Radionuclide solubility and speciation studies for the Yucca Mountain site characterization project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Nitsche, H.; Roberts, K.; Prussin, T.

    1992-12-01

    Yucca Mountain, Nevada, USA, is being investigated for its suitability as a potential site for a geologic nuclear waste repository. As part of the site characterization studies, actinide solubilities and speciations were studied at pH 6, 7, and 8.5 at 25{degrees}C in two different groundwaters from the vicinity of Yucca Mountain. The groundwaters differ substantially in total dissolved carbonate concentration, and to a lesser extent in ionic strength. In the waters with higher carbonate content, the solubilities of neptunium(V) decreased, whereas those americium(III) increased at 25{degrees}KC and decreased at 60{degrees}C. The solids formed were sodium neptunium carbonates and americium hydroxycarbonates.more » Plutonium solubilities did not significantly change with changing water composition because the solubility-controlling solids were mostly amorphous Pu(IV) polymers that contained only small amounts of carbonate.« less

  7. Radionuclide solubility and speciation studies for the Yucca Mountain site characterization project

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Nitsche, H.; Roberts, K.; Prussin, T.

    1993-12-31

    Yucca Mountain, Nevada, U.S.A., is being investigated for its suitability as a potential site for a geologic nuclear waste repository. As part of the site characterization studies, actinide solubilities and speciations were studied at pH 6, 7, and 8.5 at 25{degrees} and 60{degrees}C in two different groundwaters from the vicinity of Yucca Mountain. The groundwaters differ substantially in total dissolved carbonate concentration, and to a lesser extent in ionic strength. In the waters with higher carbonate content, the solubilities of neptunium(V) decreased, whereas those of americium (III) increased at 25{degrees}C and decreased at 60{degrees}C. The solids formed were sodium neptuniummore » carbonates and americium hydroxycarbonates. Plutonium solubilities did not significantly change with changing water composition because the solubility-controlling solids were mostly amorphous Pu(IV) polymers that contained only small amounts of carbonate.« less

  8. Effect of cyclodextrin complexation on the aqueous solubility and solubility/dose ratio of praziquantel.

    PubMed

    Maragos, Stratos; Archontaki, Helen; Macheras, Panos; Valsami, Georgia

    2009-01-01

    Praziquantel (PZQ), the primary drug of choice in the treatment of schistosomiasis, is a highly lipophilic drug that possesses high permeability and low aqueous solubility and is, therefore, classified as a Class II drug according to the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS). In this work, beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) were used in order to determine whether increasing the aqueous solubility of a drug by complexation with CDs, a BCS-Class II compound like PZQ could behave as BCS-Class I (highly soluble/highly permeable) drug. Phase solubility and the kneading and lyophilization techniques were used for inclusion complex preparation; solubility was determined by UV spectroscopy. The ability of the water soluble polymer polyvinylpyrolidone (PVP) to increase the complexation and solubilization efficiency of beta-CD and HP-beta-CD for PZQ was examined. Results showed significant improvement of PZQ solubility in the presence of both cyclodextrins but no additional effect in the presence of PVP. The solubility/dose ratios values of PZQ-cyclodextrin complexes calculated considering the low (150 mg) and the high dose (600 mg) of PZQ, used in practice, indicate that PZQ complexation with CDs may result in drug dosage forms that would behave as a BCS-Class I depending on the administered dose.

  9. Oral formulation strategies to improve solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs.

    PubMed

    Singh, Abhishek; Worku, Zelalem Ayenew; Van den Mooter, Guy

    2011-10-01

    In the past two decades, there has been a spiraling increase in the complexity and specificity of drug-receptor targets. It is possible to design drugs for these diverse targets with advances in combinatorial chemistry and high throughput screening. Unfortunately, but not entirely unexpectedly, these advances have been accompanied by an increase in the structural complexity and a decrease in the solubility of the active pharmaceutical ingredient. Therefore, the importance of formulation strategies to improve the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs is inevitable, thus making it crucial to understand and explore the recent trends. Drug delivery systems (DDS), such as solid dispersions, soluble complexes, self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS), nanocrystals and mesoporous inorganic carriers, are discussed briefly in this review, along with examples of marketed products. This article provides the reader with a concise overview of currently relevant formulation strategies and proposes anticipated future trends. Today, the pharmaceutical industry has at its disposal a series of reliable and scalable formulation strategies for poorly soluble drugs. However, due to a lack of understanding of the basic physical chemistry behind these strategies, formulation development is still driven by trial and error.

  10. Bioconcentration factors and lipid solubility

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Banerjee, S.; Baughman, G.L.

    1991-03-01

    The log-log relationship between bioconcentration and hydrophobicity breaks down for several medium and high molecular weight solutes that bioconcentrate either to a small extent or not at all. Much of the failure is attributed to the relatively low solubility of these compounds in lipid. Inclusion of a term in octanol solubility (in place of lipid solubility, which is generally unavailable) considerably improves the quality of the relationship (r = 0.95). It is speculated that the octanol solubility term compensates for the relatively low solubility of large compounds in lipid.

  11. The solubility-permeability interplay and its implications in formulation design and development for poorly soluble drugs.

    PubMed

    Dahan, Arik; Miller, Jonathan M

    2012-06-01

    While each of the two key parameters of oral drug absorption, the solubility and the permeability, has been comprehensively studied separately, the relationship and interplay between the two have been largely ignored. For instance, when formulating a low-solubility drug using various solubilization techniques: what are we doing to the apparent permeability when we increase the solubility? Permeability is equal to the drug's diffusion coefficient through the membrane times the membrane/aqueous partition coefficient divided by the membrane thickness. The direct correlation between the intestinal permeability and the membrane/aqueous partitioning, which in turn is dependent on the drug's apparent solubility in the GI milieu, suggests that the solubility and the permeability are closely associated, exhibiting a certain interplay between them, and the current view of treating the one irrespectively of the other may not be sufficient. In this paper, we describe the research that has been done thus far, and present new data, to shed light on this solubility-permeability interplay. It has been shown that decreased apparent permeability accompanies the solubility increase when using different solubilization methods. Overall, the weight of the evidence indicates that the solubility-permeability interplay cannot be ignored when using solubility-enabling formulations; looking solely at the solubility enhancement that the formulation enables may be misleading with regards to predicting the resulting absorption, and hence, the solubility-permeability interplay must be taken into account to strike the optimal solubility-permeability balance, in order to maximize the overall absorption.

  12. Imbalanced expression of RANKL and osteoprotegerin mRNA in pannus tissue of rheumatoid arthritis.

    PubMed

    Ainola, M; Mandelin, J; Liljeström, M; Konttinen, Y T; Salo, J

    2008-01-01

    To test if the pannus tissue is characterized by a high receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand to osteoprotegerin (RANKL:OPG) ratio, which could explain local osteoclastogenesis and formation of bony erosions. Messenger RNA and protein expressions of RANKL and OPG in rheumatoid and osteoarthritic tissue samples were measured using quantitative real-time RT-PCR and Western blot/densitometry. Pannus and synovitis fibroblasts explanted from tissue samples were cultured in vitro without and with TNF-alpha, IL-1Beta or IL-17 and analyzed quantitatively for RANKL expression. The ability of pannus fibroblasts to induce formation of multinuclear osteoclast-like cells from human monocytes, with macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) but without RANKL added, was tested. Histochemical staining was used to assess the eventual presence of RANKL and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase positive osteoclast-like cells at the pannus-bone interface. RANKL:OPG ratios of messenger RNA (p<0.05) and protein level were high in pannus (2.06+/-0.73 and 2.2+/-0.65) compared to rheumatoid (0.62+/-0.13 and 1.31+/-0.69) and osteoarthritis (0.62+/-0.32 and 0.52+/-0.16) synovial membranes. Resting and stimulated (p dependent on the cytokine used) pannus fibroblasts produced RANKL in excess (p=0.0005) and unstimulated pannus fibroblasts also effectively induced osteoclast-like cell formation from monocytes in vitro without any exogenous RANKL added. Compatible with these findings, multinuclear osteoclasts-like cells were frequent in the fibroblast- and macrophage-rich pannus tissue at the soft tissue-to-bone interface. The high RANKL:OPG ratio, together with close fibroblast-to-monocyte contacts in pannus tissue, probably favor local generation of bone resorbing osteoclasts at the site of erosion in rheumatoid arthritis.

  13. Protein solubility modeling

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Agena, S. M.; Pusey, M. L.; Bogle, I. D.

    1999-01-01

    A thermodynamic framework (UNIQUAC model with temperature dependent parameters) is applied to model the salt-induced protein crystallization equilibrium, i.e., protein solubility. The framework introduces a term for the solubility product describing protein transfer between the liquid and solid phase and a term for the solution behavior describing deviation from ideal solution. Protein solubility is modeled as a function of salt concentration and temperature for a four-component system consisting of a protein, pseudo solvent (water and buffer), cation, and anion (salt). Two different systems, lysozyme with sodium chloride and concanavalin A with ammonium sulfate, are investigated. Comparison of the modeled and experimental protein solubility data results in an average root mean square deviation of 5.8%, demonstrating that the model closely follows the experimental behavior. Model calculations and model parameters are reviewed to examine the model and protein crystallization process. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

  14. Characterization of water-soluble organic matter isolated from atmospheric fine aerosol

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kiss, Gyula; Varga, BáLint; Galambos, IstváN.; Ganszky, Ildikó

    2002-11-01

    Atmospheric fine aerosol (dp < 1.5 μm) was collected at a rural site in Hungary from January to September 2000. The total carbon concentration ranged from 5 to 13 μg m-3 and from 3 to 6 μg m-3 in the first three months and the rest of the sampling period, respectively. On average, water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) accounted for 66% of the total carbon concentration independent of the season. A variable fraction of the water-soluble organic constituents (38-72% of WSOC depending on the sample) was separated from inorganic ions and isolated in pure organic form by using solid phase extraction on a copolymer sorbent. This fraction was experimentally characterized by an organic matter to organic carbon mass ratio of 1.9, and this value did not change with the seasons. Furthermore, the average elemental composition (molar ratio) of C:H:N:O ≈ 24:34:1:14 of the isolated fraction indicated the predominance of oxygenated functional groups, and the low hydrogen to carbon ratio implied the presence of unsaturated or polyconjugated structures. These conclusions were confirmed by UV, fluorescence, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) studies. On the basis of theoretical considerations, the organic matter to organic carbon mass ratio was estimated to be 2.3 for the nonisolated water-soluble organic fraction, resulting in an overall ratio of 2.1 for the WSOC. In order to extend the scope of this estimation to the total organic carbon, which is usually required in mass closure calculations, the aqueous extraction was followed by sequential extraction with acetone and 0.01 M NaOH solution. As a result, a total organic matter to total organic carbon mass ratio of 1.9-2.0 was estimated, but largely on the basis of experimental data.

  15. Qrtzgeotherm: An ActiveX component for the quartz solubility geothermometer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Verma, Mahendra P.

    2008-12-01

    An ActiveX component, QrtzGeotherm, to calculate temperature and vapor fraction in a geothermal reservoir using quartz solubility geothermometry was written in Visual Basic 6.0. Four quartz solubility equations along the liquid-vapor saturation curve: (i) a quadratic equation of 1/ T and pressure, (ii) a linear equation relating log SiO 2 to the inverse of absolute temperature ( T), (iii) a polynomial of T including logarithmic terms and (iv) temperature as a polynomial of SiO 2 including logarithmic terms are programmed. The QrtzGeotherm has input parameters: (i) HRes—the reservoir enthalpy (kJ/kg), (ii) SiO2TD—silica concentration in total discharge (ppm), (iii) GeoEq—number of quartz solubility equation and (iv) TempGuess—a guess value of the reservoir temperature (°C). The reservoir enthalpy Hres is assumed to be the same as the total discharge enthalpy HR. The output parameters are (i) TempRes—reservoir temperature (°C) and (ii) VapRes—reservoir vapor fraction. The first step is to calculate the total discharge concentration of silica SiO2TD from the concentration of silica SiO2Col of separated water, sampled after N-separations of vapor and water. To use QrtzGeotherm in MS-Excel, three functions SiO2TD, GeoResTemp and GeoResVap for an N-stage separation of geothermal reservoir fluid are written in Visual Basic for Application (VBA). Similarly, a demonstration program, QrtzGeothrm, is written in Visual Basic 6.0.

  16. Impact of bleaching agents on water sorption and solubility of resin luting cements.

    PubMed

    Torabi Ardakani, Mahshid; Atashkar, Berivan; Bagheri, Rafat; Burrow, Michael F

    2017-08-01

    The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of distilled water and home and office bleaching agents on the sorption and solubility of resin luting cements. A total of 18 disc-shaped specimens were prepared from each of four resin cements: G-CEM LinkAce, Panavia F, Rely X Unicem, and seT. Specimens were cured according to the manufacturers' instructions and randomly divided into three groups of six, where they were treated with either an office or home bleaching agent or immersed in distilled water (control). Water sorption and solubility were measured by weighing the specimens before and after immersion and desiccation. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient, two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test. There was a significant, positive correlation between sorption and solubility. Two-way anova showed significant differences among all resin cements tested for either sorption or solubility. Water sorption and solubility of all cements were affected significantly by office bleaching, and even more by home bleaching agents. Sorption and solubility behavior of the studied cements were highly correlated and significantly affected by applying either office or home bleaching agents; seT showed the highest sorption and solubility, whereas Rely X Unicem revealed the lowest. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

  17. Head-To-Head Comparison of Different Solubility-Enabling Formulations of Etoposide and Their Consequent Solubility-Permeability Interplay.

    PubMed

    Beig, Avital; Miller, Jonathan M; Lindley, David; Carr, Robert A; Zocharski, Philip; Agbaria, Riad; Dahan, Arik

    2015-09-01

    The purpose of this study was to conduct a head-to-head comparison of different solubility-enabling formulations, and their consequent solubility-permeability interplay. The low-solubility anticancer drug etoposide was formulated in several strengths of four solubility-enabling formulations: hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, the cosolvent polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG-400), the surfactant sodium lauryl sulfate, and an amorphous solid dispersion formulation. The ability of these formulations to increase the solubility of etoposide was investigated, followed by permeability studies using the parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) and examination of the consequent solubility-permeability interplay. All formulations significantly increased etoposide's apparent solubility. The cyclodextrin-, surfactant-, and cosolvent-based formulations resulted in a concomitant decreased permeability that could be modeled directly from the proportional increase in the apparent solubility. On the contrary, etoposide permeability remained constant when using the ASD formulation, irrespective of the increased apparent solubility provided by the formulation. In conclusion, supersaturation resulting from the amorphous form overcomes the solubility-permeability tradeoff associated with other formulation techniques. Accounting for the solubility-permeability interplay may allow to develop better solubility-enabling formulations, thereby maximizing the overall absorption of lipophilic orally administered drugs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

  18. A soluble bone morphogenetic protein type IA receptor increases bone mass and bone strength

    PubMed Central

    Baud’huin, Marc; Solban, Nicolas; Cornwall-Brady, Milton; Sako, Dianne; Kawamoto, Yoshimi; Liharska, Katia; Lath, Darren; Bouxsein, Mary L.; Underwood, Kathryn W.; Ucran, Jeffrey; Kumar, Ravindra; Pobre, Eileen; Grinberg, Asya; Seehra, Jasbir; Canalis, Ernesto; Pearsall, R. Scott; Croucher, Peter I.

    2012-01-01

    Diseases such as osteoporosis are associated with reduced bone mass. Therapies to prevent bone loss exist, but there are few that stimulate bone formation and restore bone mass. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are members of the TGFβ superfamily, which act as pleiotropic regulators of skeletal organogenesis and bone homeostasis. Ablation of the BMPR1A receptor in osteoblasts increases bone mass, suggesting that inhibition of BMPR1A signaling may have therapeutic benefit. The aim of this study was to determine the skeletal effects of systemic administration of a soluble BMPR1A fusion protein (mBMPR1A–mFc) in vivo. mBMPR1A–mFc was shown to bind BMP2/4 specifically and with high affinity and prevent downstream signaling. mBMPR1A–mFc treatment of immature and mature mice increased bone mineral density, cortical thickness, trabecular bone volume, thickness and number, and decreased trabecular separation. The increase in bone mass was due to an early increase in osteoblast number and bone formation rate, mediated by a suppression of Dickkopf-1 expression. This was followed by a decrease in osteoclast number and eroded surface, which was associated with a decrease in receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) production, an increase in osteoprotegerin expression, and a decrease in serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP5b) concentration. mBMPR1A treatment also increased bone mass and strength in mice with bone loss due to estrogen deficiency. In conclusion, mBMPR1A–mFc stimulates osteoblastic bone formation and decreases bone resorption, which leads to an increase in bone mass, and offers a promising unique alternative for the treatment of bone-related disorders. PMID:22761317

  19. Osteoprotegerin autoantibodies do not predict low bone mineral density in middle-aged women.

    PubMed

    Vaziri-Sani, Fariba; Brundin, Charlotte; Agardh, Daniel

    2017-12-01

    Autoantibodies against osteoprotegerin (OPG) have been associated with osteoporosis. The aim was to develop an immunoassay for OPG autoantibodies and test their diagnostic usefulness of identifying women general population with low bone mineral density. Included were 698 women at mean age 55.1 years (range 50.4-60.6) randomly selected from the general population. Measurement of wrist bone mineral density (g/cm 2 ) was performed of the non-dominant wrist by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). A T-score < - 2.5 was defined as having a low bone mineral density. Measurements of OPG autoantibodies were carried by radiobinding assays. Cut-off levels for a positive value were determined from the deviation from normality in the distribution of 398 healthy blood donors representing the 99.7th percentile. Forty-five of the 698 (6.6%) women were IgG-OPG positive compared with 2 of 398 (0.5%) controls ( p  < 0.0001) and 35 of the 698 (5.0%) women had a T-score < - 2.5. There was no difference in bone mineral density between IgG-OPG positive (median 0.439 (range 0.315-0.547) g/cm 2 ) women and IgG-OPG negative (median 0.435 (range 0.176-0.652) g/cm 2 ) women ( p  = 0.3956). Furthermore, there was neither a correlation between IgG-OPG levels and bone mineral density (r s  = 0.1896; p  = 0.2068) nor T-score (r s  = 0.1889; p  = 0.2086). Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of IgG-OPG for low bone mineral density were 5.7% and 92.9%, and positive and negative predictive values were 7.4% and 90.8%, respectively. Elevated OPG autoantibody levels do not predict low bone mineral density in middle-aged women selected from the general population.

  20. Battle of the starches: Insoluble versus soluble at the refinery

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    A study using the USDA starch research method has been conducted to evaluate the effects of total, insoluble, and soluble starch on raw sugar filterability and viscosity in international carbonatation refineries. Raw sugar qualities, i.e., pol, color, % invert, ash, and dextran, were also studied in...

  1. Expression profile of osteoprotegerin, RANK and RANKL genes in the femoral head of patients with avascular necrosis.

    PubMed

    Samara, Stavroula; Dailiana, Zoe; Chassanidis, Christos; Koromila, Theodora; Papatheodorou, Loukia; Malizos, Konstantinos N; Kollia, Panagoula

    2014-02-01

    Femoral head avascular necrosis (AVN) is a recalcitrant disease of the hip that leads to joint destruction. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor kappa-B (RANK) and RANK ligand (RANKL) regulate the balance between osteoclasts-osteoblasts. The expression of these genes affects the maturation and function of osteoblasts-osteoclasts and bone remodeling. In this study, we investigated the molecular pathways leading to AVN by studying the expression profile of OPG, RANK and RANKL genes. Quantitative Real Time-PCR was performed for evaluation of OPG, RANK and RANKL expression. Analysis was based on parallel evaluation of mRNA and protein levels in normal/necrotic sites of 42 osteonecrotic femoral heads (FHs). OPG and RANKL protein levels were estimated by western blotting. The OPG mRNA levels were higher (insignificantly) in the necrotic than the normal site (p > 0.05). Although the expression of RANK and RANKL was significantly lower than OPG in both sites, RANK and RANKL mRNA levels were higher in the necrotic part than the normal (p < 0.05). Protein levels of OPG and RANKL showed no remarkable divergence. Our results indicate that differential expression mechanisms for OPG, RANK and RANKL that could play an important role in the progress of bone remodeling in the necrotic area, disturbing bone homeostasis. This finding may have an effect on the resulting bone destruction and the subsequent collapse of the hip joint. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  2. Dissolution and solubility behavior of fenofibrate in sodium lauryl sulfate solutions.

    PubMed

    Granero, Gladys E; Ramachandran, Chandrasekharan; Amidon, Gordon L

    2005-10-01

    The solubility of fenofibrate in pH 6.8 McIlvaine buffers containing varying concentrations of sodium lauryl sulfate was determined. The dissolution behavior of fenofibrate was also examined in the same solutions with rotating disk experiments. It was observed that the enhancement in intrinsic dissolution rate was approximately 500-fold and the enhancement in solubility was approximately 2000-fold in a pH 6.8 buffer containing 2% (w/v) sodium lauryl sulfate compared to that in buffer alone. The micellar solubilization equilibrium coefficient (k*) was estimated from the solubility data and found to be 30884+/-213 L/mol. The diffusivity for the free solute, 7.15x10(-6) cm2/s, was calculated using Schroeder's additive molal volume estimates and Hayduk-Laurie correlation. The diffusivity of the drug-loaded micelle, estimated from the experimental solubility and dissolution data and the calculated value for free solute diffusivity, was 0.86x10(-6) cm2/s. Thus, the much lower enhancement in dissolution of fenofibrate compared to its enhancement in solubility in surfactant solutions appears to be consistent with the contribution to the total transport due to enhanced micellar solubilization as well as a large decrease (approximately 8-fold) in the diffusivity of the drug-loaded micelle.

  3. Solubility behavior and biopharmaceutical classification of novel high-solubility ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin pharmaceutical derivatives.

    PubMed

    Breda, Susana A; Jimenez-Kairuz, Alvaro F; Manzo, Ruben H; Olivera, María E

    2009-04-17

    The hydrochlorides of the 1:3 aluminum:norfloxacin and aluminum:ciprofloxacin complexes were characterized according to the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) premises in comparison with their parent compounds. The pH-solubility profiles of the complexes were experimentally determined at 25 and 37 degrees C in the range of pH 1-8 and compared to that of uncomplexed norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin. Both complexes are clearly more soluble than the antibiotics themselves, even at the lowest solubility pHs. The increase in solubility was ascribed to the species controlling solubility, which were analyzed in the solid phases at equilibrium at selected pHs. Additionally, permeability was set as low, based on data reported in the scientific literature regarding oral bioavailability, intestinal and cell cultures permeabilities and also considering the influence of stoichiometric amounts of aluminum. The complexes fulfill the BCS criterion to be classified as class 3 compounds (high solubility/low permeability). Instead, the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) currently used in solid dosage forms, norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, proved to be BCS class 4 (low solubility/low permeability). The solubility improvement turns the complexes as potential biowaiver candidates from the scientific point of view and may be a good way for developing more dose-efficient formulations. An immediate release tablet showing very rapid dissolution was obtained. Its dissolution profile was compared to that of the commercial ciprofloxacin hydrochloride tablets allowing to dissolution of the complete dose at a critical pH such as 6.8.

  4. Decreased osteoprotegerin and increased bone turnover in young female patients with major depressive disorder and a lifetime history of anorexia nervosa.

    PubMed

    Kahl, Kai G; Rudolf, Sebastian; Dibbelt, Leif; Stoeckelhuber, Beate M; Gehl, Hans-Björn; Hohagen, Fritz; Schweiger, Ulrich

    2005-04-01

    Low bone mineral density (BMD) is a frequent, often persistent complication in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and anorexia nervosa (AN) that increases the risk of pathologic fractures. The pathogenetic process underlying osteopenia in MDD and AN is still unclear, although several factors, including a dysbalance of cytokines, are associated with loss of bone mass. Alterations in the serum levels of cytokines have been observed in patients with MDD, AN, and other psychiatric disorders. Therefore, we examined serum levels of cytokines, markers of bone turnover, and BMD in 13 patients with MDD and a lifetime history of AN. Bone turnover markers (osteocalcin and C-terminal degradation products of type I collagen) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in patients were significantly increased compared with those of the control group. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) in patients was significantly decreased. Eight of 13 patients (62%) displayed osteopenia at the lumbar spine. TNF-alpha correlated significantly with C-terminal degradation products of type I collagen, an osteoclastic marker, but significantly negatively with OPG. Our data suggest that TNF-alpha and OPG may play a role in the pathogenetic process underlying osteopenia in these patients.

  5. Solubility of KF and NaCl in water by molecular simulation.

    PubMed

    Sanz, E; Vega, C

    2007-01-07

    The solubility of two ionic salts, namely, KF and NaCl, in water has been calculated by Monte Carlo molecular simulation. Water has been modeled with the extended simple point charge model (SPC/E), ions with the Tosi-Fumi model and the interaction between water and ions with the Smith-Dang model. The chemical potential of the solute in the solution has been computed as the derivative of the total free energy with respect to the number of solute particles. The chemical potential of the solute in the solid phase has been calculated by thermodynamic integration to an Einstein crystal. The solubility of the salt has been calculated as the concentration at which the chemical potential of the salt in the solution becomes identical to that of the pure solid. The methodology used in this work has been tested by reproducing the results for the solubility of KF determined previously by Ferrario et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 117, 4947 (2002)]. For KF, it was found that the solubility of the model is only in qualitative agreement with experiment. The variation of the solubility with temperature for KF has also been studied. For NaCl, the potential model used predicts a solubility in good agreement with the experimental value. The same is true for the hydration chemical potential at infinite dilution. Given the practical importance of solutions of NaCl in water the model used in this work, whereas simple, can be of interest for future studies.

  6. Highly Acidic Ambient Particles, Soluble Metals, and Oxidative Potential: A Link between Sulfate and Aerosol Toxicity.

    PubMed

    Fang, Ting; Guo, Hongyu; Zeng, Linghan; Verma, Vishal; Nenes, Athanasios; Weber, Rodney J

    2017-03-07

    Soluble transition metals in particulate matter (PM) can generate reactive oxygen species in vivo by redox cycling, leading to oxidative stress and adverse health effects. Most metals, such as those from roadway traffic, are emitted in an insoluble form, but must be soluble for redox cycling. Here we present the mechanism of metals dissolution by highly acidic sulfate aerosol and the effect on particle oxidative potential (OP) through analysis of size distributions. Size-segregated ambient PM were collected from a road-side and representative urban site in Atlanta, GA. Elemental and organic carbon, ions, total and water-soluble metals, and water-soluble OP were measured. Particle pH was determined with a thermodynamic model using measured ionic species. Sulfate was spatially uniform and found mainly in the fine mode, whereas total metals and mineral dust cations were highest at the road-side site and in the coarse mode, resulting in a fine mode pH < 2 and near neutral coarse mode. Soluble metals and OP peaked at the intersection of these modes demonstrating that sulfate plays a key role in producing highly acidic fine aerosols capable of dissolving primary transition metals that contribute to aerosol OP. Sulfate-driven metals dissolution may account for sulfate-health associations reported in past studies.

  7. The influence of corticosteroid treatment on the OPG/RANK/RANKL pathway and osteocalcin in patients with pemphigus

    PubMed Central

    Woźniacka, Anna; Torzecka, Jolanta D.

    2014-01-01

    Introduction Pemphigus is a rare autoimmune blistering disease, which requires prolonged administration of corticosteroids at high doses. Although this therapy improves the health and lives of patients, it may have various side effects, for example osteoporosis. Aim To assess the concentration of osteoprotegerin (OPG), the soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-κβ ligand (sRANKL) and osteocalcin in patients with pemphigus. Material and methods The study comprised a group of 29 patients with pemphigus (17 women and 12 men) aged between 23 years and 75 years treated from 1994 to 2009 in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Lodz, as well as 24 healthy volunteers matched appropriately in terms of gender and age. Results In patients with pemphigus, the mean osteoprotegerin concentration was up to 16.46% higher than in the control group. The average RANKL concentration in serum of patients with pemphigus was 26.88% higher. However, the patient group demonstrated a significantly lower concentration of osteocalcin by up to 18.03%. Conclusions Under corticosteroid treatment, RANKL, which is released by osteoblasts, links with the RANK specific osteoclast receptor and stimulates osteoclastogenesis. This reaction can be blocked by osteoprotegerin, which is a competitive inhibitor to the same receptor site. A decreased osteoblast activity stimulates bone loss. The reduced level of osteocalcin, which is regarded as a marker for bone formation, and a simultaneously elevated RANK level reveal the promotion of osteoclast proliferation in patients treated with corticosteroids. PMID:25395923

  8. Determining total phenolic content and total antioxidant capacity of loquat cultivars grown in Hatay

    PubMed Central

    Polat, A. Aytekin; Çalişkan, Oğuzhan; Serçe, Sedat; Saraçoğlu, Onur; Kaya, Cemal; Özgen, Mustafa

    2010-01-01

    Several fruit characteristics of five loquat (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.) cultivars/selections grown in Dörtyol, Hatay, Turkey were investigated in 2008. The cultivars/selections included ‘Baduna 5’, Güzelyurt 1, ‘Hafif Çukurgöbek’, ‘Ottaviani,’ and Type 1. The characteristics evaluated included fruit weight, width, length, seed number and weight, flesh/seed ratio, total soluble solids (TSS), pH, acidity, total phenolic (TP) content, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), determined by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The analyses were conducted by three replicates, with 30 fruits in each replicate. The results indicated that there were significant differences among the cultivars, for all the traits tested. For example, ‘Hafif Çukurgöbek’ and ‘Ottaviani’ had smaller fruits than others, although ‘Hafif Çukurgöbek’ had heavier seeds. The flesh/seed ratio was the highest in Type 1, while ‘Hafif Çukurgöbek’ had the highest pH and high soluble solids. ‘Baduna 5’ and ‘Hafif Çukurgöbek’ had the highest acidity. The TP ranged from 129 (‘Baduna 5’) to 578 (‘Hafif Çukurgöbek’) mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/kg fresh fruit (fw). ‘Hafif Çukurgöbek’ also had the highest FRAP mean (12.1 mmol Trolox Equivalent (TE)/kg fw). The results suggest that loquat cultivars have a variable range of TP content and a relatively high total antioxidant capacity, which is crucial for human health. PMID:20548929

  9. Cyclodextrin-water soluble polymer ternary complexes enhance the solubility and dissolution behaviour of poorly soluble drugs. Case example: itraconazole.

    PubMed

    Taupitz, Thomas; Dressman, Jennifer B; Buchanan, Charles M; Klein, Sandra

    2013-04-01

    The aim of the present series of experiments was to improve the solubility and dissolution/precipitation behaviour of a poorly soluble, weakly basic drug, using itraconazole as a case example. Binary inclusion complexes of itraconazole with two commonly used cyclodextrin derivatives and a recently introduced cyclodextrin derivative were prepared. Their solubility and dissolution behaviour was compared with that of the pure drug and the marketed formulation Sporanox®. Ternary complexes were prepared by addition of Soluplus®, a new highly water soluble polymer, during the formation of the itraconazole/cyclodextrin complex. A solid dispersion made of itraconazole and Soluplus® was also studied as a control. Solid state analysis was performed for all formulations and for pure itraconazole using powder X-ray diffraction (pX-RD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Solubility tests indicated that with all formulation approaches, the aqueous solubility of itraconazole formed with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) or hydroxybutenyl-β-cyclodextrin (HBen-β-CD) and Soluplus® proved to be the most favourable formulation approaches. Whereas the marketed formulation and the pure drug showed very poor dissolution, both of these ternary inclusion complexes resulted in fast and extensive release of itraconazole in all test media. Using the results of the dissolution experiments, a newly developed physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) in silico model was applied to compare the in vivo behaviour of Sporanox® with the predicted performance of the most promising ternary complexes from the in vitro studies. The PBPK modelling predicted that the bioavailability of itraconazole is likely to be increased after oral administration of ternary complex formulations, especially when itraconazole is formulated as a ternary complex comprising HP-β-CD or HBen-β-CD and Soluplus®. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. Interleukin-6 and soluble interleukin-6 receptor suppress osteoclastic differentiation by inducing PGE(2) production in chondrocytes.

    PubMed

    Honda, Kazuhiro

    2011-03-01

    This study examined how interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6r) influence osteoclastic differentiation through the function of chondrocytes. Chondrocytes were cultured with or without IL-6 and/or sIL-6r in the presence or absence of NS398, a specific inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, for up to 28 days. Chondrocytes were also cultured with or without IL-6 and sIL-6r for 28 days, and the conditioned medium from cells cultured without IL-6 and sIL-6r was used to induce differentiation of RAW264.7 cells into osteoclast precursors. Osteoclastic differentiation was assessed by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. Expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), COX-2, and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) increased in cells exposed to IL-6 and sIL-6r, whereas expression of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and bone resorption-related enzymes decreased. NS398 blocked the stimulatory/suppressive effects of IL-6 and sIL-6r on the expression of OPG, RANKL, and M-CSF. Fewer TRAP-positive multinucleated cells were detected after treatment with conditioned medium from IL-6- and sIL-6r-treated chondrocytes than after treatment with conditioned medium from untreated chondrocytes. These results suggest that IL-6 and sIL-6r interfere with osteoclast function through the involvement of chondrocytes. Specifically, they appear to suppress the differentiation of osteoclast precursors into osteoclasts by inducing chondrocytic PGE(2) production, which, in turn, increases OPG secretion and decreases M-CSF secretion by chondrocytes.

  11. Airway exchange of highly soluble gases.

    PubMed

    Hlastala, Michael P; Powell, Frank L; Anderson, Joseph C

    2013-03-01

    Highly blood soluble gases exchange with the bronchial circulation in the airways. On inhalation, air absorbs highly soluble gases from the airway mucosa and equilibrates with the blood before reaching the alveoli. Highly soluble gas partial pressure is identical throughout all alveoli. At the end of exhalation the partial pressure of a highly soluble gas decreases from the alveolar level in the terminal bronchioles to the end-exhaled partial pressure at the mouth. A mathematical model simulated the airway exchange of four gases (methyl isobutyl ketone, acetone, ethanol, and propylene glycol monomethyl ether) that have high water and blood solubility. The impact of solubility on the relative distribution of airway exchange was studied. We conclude that an increase in water solubility shifts the distribution of gas exchange toward the mouth. Of the four gases studied, ethanol had the greatest decrease in partial pressure from the alveolus to the mouth at end exhalation. Single exhalation breath tests are inappropriate for estimating alveolar levels of highly soluble gases, particularly for ethanol.

  12. Airway exchange of highly soluble gases

    PubMed Central

    Powell, Frank L.; Anderson, Joseph C.

    2013-01-01

    Highly blood soluble gases exchange with the bronchial circulation in the airways. On inhalation, air absorbs highly soluble gases from the airway mucosa and equilibrates with the blood before reaching the alveoli. Highly soluble gas partial pressure is identical throughout all alveoli. At the end of exhalation the partial pressure of a highly soluble gas decreases from the alveolar level in the terminal bronchioles to the end-exhaled partial pressure at the mouth. A mathematical model simulated the airway exchange of four gases (methyl isobutyl ketone, acetone, ethanol, and propylene glycol monomethyl ether) that have high water and blood solubility. The impact of solubility on the relative distribution of airway exchange was studied. We conclude that an increase in water solubility shifts the distribution of gas exchange toward the mouth. Of the four gases studied, ethanol had the greatest decrease in partial pressure from the alveolus to the mouth at end exhalation. Single exhalation breath tests are inappropriate for estimating alveolar levels of highly soluble gases, particularly for ethanol. PMID:23305981

  13. Wax encapsulation of water-soluble compounds for application in foods.

    PubMed

    Mellema, M; Van Benthum, W A J; Boer, B; Von Harras, J; Visser, A

    2006-11-01

    Water-soluble ingredients have been successfully encapsulated in wax using two preparation techniques. The first technique ('solid preparation') leads to relatively large wax particles. The second technique ('liquid preparation') leads to relatively small wax particles immersed in vegetable oil. On the first technique: stable encapsulation of water-soluble colourants (dissolved at low concentration in water) has been achieved making use of beeswax and PGPR. The leakage from the capsules, for instance of size 2 mm, is about 30% after 16 weeks storage in water at room temperature. To form such capsules a minimum wax mass of 40% relative to the total mass is needed. High amounts of salt or acids at the inside water phase causes more leaking, probably because of the osmotic pressure difference. Osmotic matching of inner and outer phase can lead to a dramatic reduction in leakage. Fat capsules are less suitable to incorporate water soluble colourants. The reason for this could be a difference in crystal structure (fat is less ductile and more brittle). On the second technique: stable encapsulation of water-soluble colourants (encapsulated in solid wax particles) has been achieved making use of carnauba wax. The leakage from the capsules, for instance of size 250 mm, is about 40% after 1 weeks storage in water at room temperature.

  14. Students’ misconceptions on solubility equilibrium

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Setiowati, H.; Utomo, S. B.; Ashadi

    2018-05-01

    This study investigated the students’ misconceptions of the solubility equilibrium. The participants of the study consisted of 164 students who were in the science class of second year high school. Instrument used is two-tier diagnostic test consisting of 15 items. Responses were marked and coded into four categories: understanding, misconception, understand little without misconception, and not understanding. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 45 students according to their written responses which reflected different perspectives, to obtain a more elaborated source of data. Data collected from multiple methods were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Based on the data analysis showed that the students misconceptions in all areas in solubility equilibrium. They had more misconceptions such as in the relation of solubility and solubility product, common-ion effect and pH in solubility, and precipitation concept.

  15. Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand and osteoprotegerin levels in gingival crevicular fluid

    PubMed Central

    Sarlati, Fatemeh; Sattari, Mandana; Razzaghi, Shilan; Nasiri, Malihe

    2012-01-01

    Background: Osteoclastogenesis is coordinated by the interaction of three members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily: Osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL)/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK). The aim of this study was to investigate RANKL and OPG levels, and their relative ratio in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with chronic and aggressive periodontitis, as well as healthy controls. Materials and Methods: In this analytical study, GCF was obtained from healthy (n = 10), mild chronic periodontitis (n = 18), moderate chronic periodontitis (n = 18), severe chronic periodontitis (n = 20), and generalized aggressive periodontitis (n = 20) subjects. RANKL and OPG concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical tests used were Kruskal–Wallis test, Mann–Whitney U rank sum test, and Spearman's rank correlation analysis. The level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Mean RANKL concentration showed no statistically significant differences between groups (P = 0.58). There were also no significant differences between mean OPG concentration in the five groups (P = 0.0.56). Moreover, relative RANKL/OPG ratio did not reveal a significant difference between the three study group subjects: healthy, chronic periodontitis (mild, moderate, severe), and aggressive periodontitis (P = 0.41). There was statistically significant correlation between the concentration of sRANKL and Clinical Attachment Level (CAL) in moderate chronic periodontitis patients (R = 0.48, P = 0.04). There was also negative correlation between OPG concentration and CAL in moderate chronic periodontitis patients, although not significant (R = −0.13). Conclusion: RANKL was prominent in periodontitis sites, especially in moderate periodontitis patients, whereas OPG was not detectable in some diseased sites with bleeding on probing, supporting the role of these two molecules in

  16. Osteoprotegerin CGA Haplotype Protection against Cerebrovascular Complications in Anti-CCP Negative Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

    PubMed Central

    Castañeda, Santos; González-Juanatey, Carlos; Llorca, Javier; Corrales, Alfonso; Ubilla, Begoña; Miranda-Filloy, José A.; Pina, Trinitario; Gómez-Vaquero, Carmen; Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Luis; Fernández-Gutiérrez, Benjamín; Balsa, Alejandro; Pascual-Salcedo, Dora; López-Longo, Francisco J.; Carreira, Patricia; Blanco, Ricardo; González-Álvaro, Isidoro; Martín, Javier; González-Gay, Miguel A.

    2014-01-01

    Introduction Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease with high incidence of cardiovascular disease due to accelerated atherosclerosis. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) has been associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic disease in the general population. Several polymorphisms in the OPG gene with functional effects on cardiovascular disease in non-rheumatic individuals have been described. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the effect of three of these functional OPG polymorphisms on the risk of cardiovascular disease in a large and well-characterized cohort of Spanish patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods Three OPG gene variants (rs3134063, rs2073618 and rs3134069) were genotyped by TaqMan assays in 2027 Spanish patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody testing was positive in 997 of 1714 tested. Also, 18.3% of the whole series had experienced cardiovascular events, including 5.4% with cerebrovascular accidents. The relationship between OPG variants and cardiovascular events was assessed using Cox regression. Results No association between OPG gene variants and cardiovascular disease was observed in the whole group of rheumatoid arthritis patients or in anti-CCP positive patients. Nevertheless, a protective effect of CGA haplotype on the risk of cardiovascular disease in general, and specifically in the risk of cerebrovascular complications after adjusting for sex, age at disease diagnosis and traditional cardiovascular risk factors was disclosed in anti-CCP negative patients (HR = 0.54; 95%CI: 0.31–0.95; p = 0.032 and HR = 0.17; 95%CI: 0.04–0.78; p = 0.022, respectively). Conclusion Our results indicate a protective effect of the OPG CGA haplotype on cardiovascular risk, mainly due to a protective effect against cerebrovascular events in anti-CCP negative rheumatoid arthritis patients. PMID:25184828

  17. Osteoprotegerin in pregnant adolescents differs by race and is related to infant birth weight z-score

    PubMed Central

    Essley, B.; McNanley, T.; Cooper, B.; McIntyre, A.; Witter, F.; Harris, Z.; O’Brien, K.

    2014-01-01

    Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is involved in the regulation of bone turnover, but little is known about this protein during pregnancy or among neonates. We undertook a prospective longitudinal study to identify relationships between OPG, markers of bone turnover and birth outcomes in 155 pregnant adolescents (13–18 years) and their newborns. Maternal blood samples were collected at mid-gestation and at delivery. Cord blood was obtained at delivery. Serum OPG, estradiol and markers of bone formation (osteocalcin) and resorption (N-telopeptide) were assessed in all samples. Placental OPG expression was assessed in placental tissue obtained at delivery. Bone markers and OPG increased significantly from mid-gestation (26.0 ± 3.4 weeks) to delivery (39.3 ± 2.6 weeks). Neonatal OPG was significantly lower, but bone turnover markers were significantly higher than maternal values at mid-gestation and at parturition (P < 0.001). African-American adolescents had higher concentrations of OPG than Caucasian adolescents at mid-gestation (P = 0.01) and delivery (P = 0.04). Gestational age and estradiol were also predictors of maternal OPG at mid-gestation and delivery. OPG concentrations in cord blood were correlated with maternal OPG concentrations and were negatively associated with infant birth weight z-score (P = 0.02) and ponderal index (P = 0.02). In conclusion, maternal OPG concentrations increased across gestation and were significantly higher than neonatal OPG concentrations. Maternal and neonatal OPG concentrations were not associated with markers of bone turnover or placental OPG expression, but neonatal OPG was inversely associated with neonatal anthropometric measures. Additional research is needed to identify roles of OPG during pregnancy. PMID:25141264

  18. Chemical synthesis of water-soluble, chiral conducting-polymer complexes

    DOEpatents

    Wang, Hsing-Lin; McCarthy, Patrick A.; Yang, Sze Cheng

    2003-01-01

    The template-guided synthesis of water-soluble, chiral conducting polymer complexes is described. Synthesis of water-soluble polyaniline complexes is achieved by carefully controlling the experimental parameters such as; acid concentration, ionic strength, monomer/template ratio, total reagent concentration, and order of reagent addition. Chiral (helical) polyaniline complexes can be synthesized by addition of a chiral inducing agent (chiral acid) prior to polymerization, and the polyaniline helix can be controlled by the addition of the (+) or (-) form of the chiral acid. Moreover the quantity of chiral acid and the salt content has a significant impact on the degree of chirality in the final polymer complexes. The polyaniline and the template have been found to be mixed at the molecular level which results in chiral complexes that are robust through repeated doping and dedoping cycles.

  19. Carbollide solubility and chemical compatibility summary

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    McCabe, D.J.

    1993-08-17

    This report examines the value of the cobalt dicarbollide anion as an effective form of in-tank precipitation. The cobalt dicarbollide anion (CDC) has been investigated for the possible replacement of tetraphenyl borate anion (TPB) for precipitation of cesium in SRS High Level Waste (HLW). The solubility of the cesium CDC in 5 M salt solutions and the reactivity with caustic have been studied extensively. The solubility of CSCDC in a mixture of 4 M sodium nitrate and 1 m sodium hydroxide is {approximately}2 {times} 10{sup {minus}3} M at 40{degrees}C. Furthermore, the CDC decomposes in 1 M sodium hydroxide solution withmore » apparent first order kinetics with a half-life of 7.3 days at 60 {degrees}C and 94 days at 40{degrees}C. Tank temperatures are currently estimated to approach 60{degrees}C during the ITP filtration cycle. This solubility and rapid decomposition of the CDC under highly alkaline conditions and high temperature would require increasing the quantity of CDC and nonradioactive cesium which must be added, increasing the cost of production. Increasing the quantity of CDC would necessitate recovery of the material, probably using a solvent extraction system. Due to the large amount of nonradioactive cesium which must be added, the total amount of precipitate formed exceeds that for TPB precipitation. Also, formation of sodium and/or potassium precipitates compete with cesium salt precipitation in 5 M salt solutions at lower temperature (<30{degrees}C). Decomposition generates hydrogen, which may lead to process complications.« less

  20. The Solubility Parameters of Ionic Liquids

    PubMed Central

    Marciniak, Andrzej

    2010-01-01

    The Hildebrand’s solubility parameters have been calculated for 18 ionic liquids from the inverse gas chromatography measurements of the activity coefficients at infinite dilution. Retention data were used for the calculation. The solubility parameters are helpful for the prediction of the solubility in the binary solvent mixtures. From the solubility parameters, the standard enthalpies of vaporization of ionic liquids were estimated. PMID:20559495

  1. Expression levels of the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand and osteoprotegerin and the number of gram-negative bacteria in symptomatic and asymptomatic periapical lesions.

    PubMed

    Carneiro, E; Parolin, A B; Wichnieski, C; Rosa, E A R; Silva Neto, U X; Westphalen, V P D; Fariniuk, L F; Johann, A C B R

    2017-01-01

    The study aimed to verify the potential correlation between the detected amount of gram-negative bacteria and the radiographic sizes of the lesions in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic apical periodontitis. Furthermore, to evaluate whether the expression of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) and the RANKL/OPG ratio are differentially regulated in both groups. Twenty patients with periapical lesions were divided into two groups: symptomatic (SYM) n=10 and asymptomatic (ASYM) n=10. After periapical surgery, the lesions were collected and processed for histological examination, and immunohistochemistry. The percentage of RANKL- and OPG-immunopositive areas relative to the total area of the microscopic field was calculated. For gram staining, the number of gram-negative cells per microscopic field was assessed. The radiographs of each patient were processed and measured. The Student's t-test and the Pearson correlation coefficient were performed. The SYM group showed a significantly higher number of gram-negative cells (p=0.007) when compared to the ASYM group. A higher number of gram-negative bacteria occurred more frequently in larger periapical lesions and the SYM group (p=0.03). The expression for RANKL and OPG and the RANKL/OPG ratio were not significantly different between the groups. There was a significant positive correlation between the number of bacteria and OPG levels in the SYM group (p=0.01). The number of bacteria seems to influence the symptoms and the radiographic size of a periapical lesion. Gram-negative bacteria may play an important role in OPG activity in the SYM group. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Evidence of carcinogenicity in humans of water-soluble nickel salts

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Background Increased risks of nasal cancer and lung cancer in nickel refiners have been investigated scientifically and discussed since they were detected in the 1930s. Nickel compounds are considered to be the main cause of the cancer excess. Parts of the nickel producing industry and their consultants oppose the classification of water-soluble nickel salts as human carcinogens, and argue that the risk in exposed workers should be ascribed to other occupational exposures and smoking. Discussion Respiratory cancer risks in Welsh, Finnish, and Norwegian nickel refiners add to the evidence of carcinogenicity of water-soluble nickel. In Norwegian refiners, the first epidemiological study in 1973 identified high risks of lung cancer and nasal cancer among long-term electrolysis workers. Risk analyses based on exposure estimates developed in the 1980s supported the view that water-soluble nickel compounds were central in the development of cancer. Recently, new exposure estimates were worked out for the same cohort based on personal monitoring of total nickel and chemical determination of four forms of nickel. Additional data have been collected on life-time smoking habits, and on exposure to arsenic, asbestos, sulphuric acid mists, cobalt, and occupational lung carcinogens outside the refinery. After adjustment for these potential confounding exposures in case-control analyses, the risk pattern added to the evidence of an important role of water-soluble nickel compounds as causes of lung cancer. These Norwegian cancer studies rely on national Cancer Registry data, considered close to complete from 1953 onwards; and on National Population Register data continuously updated with mortality and emigration. Canadian mortality studies--perceived to offer the strongest support to the industry position not to recognise carcinogenicity of water-soluble nickel--appear to suffer from limitations in follow-up time, loss to follow-up, absence of risk analysis with individual

  3. Effect of pressure on ore mineral solubilities under hydrothermal conditions.

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Hemley, J.J.; Cygan, G.L.; d'Angelo, W. M.

    1986-01-01

    The combined solubilities of Fe, Zn and Pb sulphides were determined at elevated P and T in chloride solutions buffered in pH by a silicate assemblage of quartz monzonite composition plus added muscovite, and buffered in fS2 and fO2 by the assemblage pyrite-pyrrhotite-magnetite. Higher T and higher chloride concentration favour higher metal solubilities, but the P effect is opposite. At 500oC, 0.5 kbar and 1 M total chloride, Fe, Zn, Pb solubilities were 8500, 4300 and 8700 ppm, respectively, whereas at 1 kbar they were 4200, 2400 and 2600 ppm, and at 2 kbar, 1700, 800 and 1200 ppm. The P effect is of considerable importance to problems of ore-mineral transport; the metal could be carried over long distances on a decreasing P gradient so long as the T decreases were sufficient; this condition could be approximated by a near-adiabatic transport cooling path. Such a condition is probably common for hydrothermal processes involving fairly deep-seated sources of heat and mineral components.-L.C.H.

  4. Impact of biochar amendment on soil water soluble carbon in the context of extreme hydrological events.

    PubMed

    Wang, Daoyuan; Griffin, Deirdre E; Parikh, Sanjai J; Scow, Kate M

    2016-10-01

    Biochar amendments to soil have been promoted as a low cost carbon (C) sequestration strategy as well as a way to increase nutrient retention and remediate contaminants. If biochar is to become part of a long-term management strategy, it is important to consider its positive and negative impacts, and their trade-offs, on soil organic matter (SOM) and soluble C under different hydrological conditions such as prolonged drought or frequent wet-dry cycles. A 52-week incubation experiment measuring the influence of biochar on soil water soluble C under different soil moisture conditions (wet, dry, or wet-dry cycles) indicated that, in general, dry and wet-dry cycles increased water soluble C, and biochar addition further increased release of water soluble C from native SOM. Biochar amendment appeared to increase transformation of native SOM to water soluble C, based on specific ultraviolet absorption (SUVA) and C stable isotope composition; however, the increased amount of water soluble C from native SOM is less than 1% of total biochar C. The impacts of biochar on water soluble C need to be carefully considered when applying biochar to agricultural soil. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Filtrates & Residues: An Experiment on the Molar Solubility and Solubility Product of Barium Nitrate.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wruck, Betty; Reinstein, Jesse

    1989-01-01

    Provides a two hour experiment using direct gravimetric methods to determine solubility constants. Provides methodology and sample results. Discusses the effect of the common ion on the solubility constant. (MVL)

  6. Intrinsic solubility estimation and pH-solubility behavior of cosalane (NSC 658586), an extremely hydrophobic diprotic acid.

    PubMed

    Venkatesh, S; Li, J; Xu, Y; Vishnuvajjala, R; Anderson, B D

    1996-10-01

    The selection of cosalane (NSC 658586) by the National Cancer Institute for further development as a potential drug candidate for the treatment of AIDS led to the exploration of the solubility behavior of this extremely hydrophobic drug, which has an intrinsic solubility (S0 approaching 1 ng/ml. This study describes attempts to reliably measure the intrinsic solubility of cosalane and examine its pH-solubility behavior. S0 was estimated by 5 different strategies: (a) direct determination in an aqueous suspension: (b) facilitated dissolution; (c) estimation from the octanol/water partition coefficient and octanol solubility (d) application of an empirical equation based on melting point and partition coefficient; and (e) estimation from the hydrocarbon solubility and functional group contributions for transfer from hydrocarbon to water. S0 estimates using these five methods varied over a 5 x 107-fold range Method (a) yielded the highest values, two-orders of magnitude greater than those obtained by method (b) (facilitated dissolution. 1.4 +/- 0.5 ng/ml). Method (c) gave a value 20-fold higher while that from method (d) was in fair agreement with that from facilitated dissolution. Method (e) yielded a value several orders-of-magnitude lower than other methods. A molecular dynamics simulation suggests that folded conformations not accounted for by group contributions may reduce cosalane's effective hydrophobicity. Ionic equilibria calculations for this weak diprotic acid suggested a 100-fold increase in solubility per pH unit increase. The pH-solubility profile of cosalane at 25 degrees C agreed closely with theory. These studies highlight the difficulty in determining solubility of very poorly soluble compounds and the possible advantage of the facilitated dissolution method. The diprotic nature of cosalane enabled a solubility enhancement of > 107-fold by simple pH adjustment.

  7. Solubility Enhancement of a Poorly Water Soluble Drug by Forming Solid Dispersions using Mechanochemical Activation

    PubMed Central

    Rojas-Oviedo, I.; Retchkiman-Corona, B.; Quirino-Barreda, C. T.; Cárdenas, J.; Schabes-Retchkiman, P. S.

    2012-01-01

    Mechanochemical activation is a practical cogrinding operation used to obtain a solid dispersion of a poorly water soluble drug through changes in the solid state molecular aggregation of drug-carrier mixtures and the formation of noncovalent interactions (hydrogen bonds) between two crystalline solids such as a soluble carrier, lactose, and a poorly soluble drug, indomethacin, in order to improve its solubility and dissolution rate. Samples of indomethacin and a physical mixture with a weight ratio of 1:1 of indomethacin and lactose were ground using a high speed vibrating ball mill. Particle size was determined by electron microscopy, the reduction of crystallinity was determined by calorimetry and transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy was used to find evidence of any interactions between the drug and the carrier and the determination of apparent solubility allowed for the corroboration of changes in solubility. Before grinding, scanning electron microscopy showed the drug and lactose to have an average particle size of around 50 and 30 μm, respectively. After high speed grinding, indomethacin and the mixture had a reduced average particle size of around 5 and 2 μm, respectively, showing a morphological change. The ground mixture produced a solid dispersion that had a loss of crystallinity that reached 81% after 30 min of grinding while the drug solubility of indomethacin within the solid dispersion increased by 2.76 fold as compared to the pure drug. Drug activation due to hydrogen bonds between the carboxylic group of the drug and the hydroxyl group of lactose as well as the decrease in crystallinity of the solid dispersion and the reduction of the particle size led to a better water solubility of indomethacin. PMID:23798775

  8. Novel electrosprayed nanospherules for enhanced aqueous solubility and oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble fenofibrate.

    PubMed

    Yousaf, Abid Mehmood; Mustapha, Omer; Kim, Dong Wuk; Kim, Dong Shik; Kim, Kyeong Soo; Jin, Sung Giu; Yong, Chul Soon; Youn, Yu Seok; Oh, Yu-Kyoung; Kim, Jong Oh; Choi, Han-Gon

    2016-01-01

    The purpose of the present research was to develop a novel electrosprayed nanospherule providing the most optimized aqueous solubility and oral bioavailability for poorly water-soluble fenofibrate. Numerous fenofibrate-loaded electrosprayed nanospherules were prepared with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and Labrafil(®) M 2125 as carriers using the electrospray technique, and the effect of the carriers on drug solubility and solvation was assessed. The solid state characterization of an optimized formulation was conducted by scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analyses. Oral bioavailability in rats was also evaluated for the formulation of an optimized nanospherule in comparison with free drug and a conventional fenofibrate-loaded solid dispersion. All of the electrosprayed nanospherule formulations had remarkably enhanced aqueous solubility and dissolution compared with free drug. Moreover, Labrafil M 2125, a surfactant, had a positive influence on the solubility and dissolution of the drug in the electrosprayed nanospherule. Increases were observed as the PVP/drug ratio increased to 4:1, but higher ratios gave no significant increases. In particular, an electrosprayed nanospherule composed of fenofibrate, PVP, and Labrafil M 2125 at the weight ratio of 1:4:0.5 resulted in a particle size of <200 nm with the drug present in the amorphous state. It demonstrated the highest solubility (32.51±2.41 μg/mL), an excellent dissolution (~85% in 10 minutes), and an oral bioavailability ~2.5-fold better than that of the free drug. It showed similar oral bioavailability compared to the conventional solid dispersion. Electrosprayed nanospherules, which provide improved solubility and bioavailability, are promising drug delivery tools for oral administration of poorly water-soluble fenofibrate.

  9. Zoledronic acid increases the circulating soluble RANKL level in mice, with a further increase in lymphocyte-derived soluble RANKL in zoledronic acid- and glucocorticoid-treated mice stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

    PubMed

    Abe, Takahiro; Sato, Tsuyoshi; Kokabu, Shoichiro; Hori, Naoko; Shimamura, Yumiko; Sato, Tomoya; Yoda, Tetsuya

    2016-07-01

    The nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate (BP) zoledronic acid (ZA) is a potent antiresorptive drug used in conjunction with standard cancer therapy to treat osteolysis or hypercalcemia due to malignancy. However, it is unclear how ZA influences the circulating levels of bone remodeling factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ZA on the serum levels of soluble receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (sRANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG). The following four groups of C57BL/6 mice were used (five mice per group): (1) the placebo+phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group, in which placebo-treated mice were injected once weekly with PBS for 4weeks; (2) the placebo+ZA group, in which placebo-treated mice were injected once weekly with ZA for 4weeks; (3) the prednisolone (PSL)+PBS group, in which PSL-treated mice were injected once weekly with PBS for 4weeks; and (4) the PSL+ZA group, in which PSL-treated mice were injected once weekly with ZA for 4weeks. At the 3-week time point, all mice were subjected to oral inflammatory stimulation with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The sera of these mice were obtained every week and the levels of sRANKL and OPG were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. At the time of sacrifice, femurs were prepared for micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), histological, and histomorphometric analyses. Our data indicated that ZA administration remarkably reduced bone turnover and significantly increased the basal level of sRANKL. Interestingly, the PSL+ZA group showed a dramatically elevated sRANKL level after LPS stimulation. In contrast, the PSL+ZA group in nonobese diabetic mice with severe combined immunodeficiency disease (NOD-SCID mice), which are characterized by the absence of functional T- and B-lymphocytes, showed no increase in the sRANKL level. Our data suggest that, particularly with combination treatment of ZA and glucocorticoids, surviving lymphocytes might be the source of inflammation-induced sRANKL. Thus

  10. Solubility relationships of aluminum and iron minerals associated with acid mine drainage

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sullivan, Patrick J.; Yelton, Jennifer L.; Reddy, K. J.

    1988-06-01

    The ability to properly manage the oxidation of pyritic minerals and associated acid mine drainage is dependent upon understanding the chemistry of the disposal environment. One accepted disposal method is placing pyritic-containing materials in the groundwater environment. The objective of this study was to examine solubility relationships of Al and Fe minerals associated with pyritic waste disposed in a low leaching aerobic saturated environment. Two eastern oil shales were used in this oxidizing equilibration study, a New Albany Shale (unweathered, 4.6 percent pyrite), and a Chattanooga Shale (weathered, 1.5 percent pyrite). Oil shale samples were equilibrated with distilled-deionized water from 1 to 180 d with a 1∶1 solid-to-solution ratio. The suspensions were filtered and the clear filtrates were analyzed for total cations and anions. Ion activities were calculated from total concentrations. Below pH 6.0, depending upon SO{4/2-} activity, Al3+ solubility was controlled by AlOHSO4 (solid phase) for both shales. Initially, Al3+ solubility for the New Albany Shale showed equilibrium with amorphous Al(OH)3. The pH decreased with time, and Al3+ solubility approached equilibrium with AlOHSO4(s). Below pH 6.0, Fe3+ solubility appeared to be regulated by a basic iron sulfate solid phase with the stoichiometric composition of FeOHSO4(s). The results of this study indicate that below pH 6.0, Al3+ solubilities, are limited by basic Al and Fe sulfate solid phases (AlOHSO4(s) and FeHSO4(s)). The results from this study further indicate that the acidity in oil shale waters is produced from the hydrolysis of Al3+ and Fe3+ activities in solution. These results indicate a fundamental change in the stoichiometric equations used to predict acidity from iron sulfide oxidation. The results of this study also indicate that water quality predictions associated with acid mine drainage can be based on fundamental thermodynamic relationships. As a result, waste management decisions

  11. Soluble fiber dextrin and soluble corn fiber supplementation modify indices of health in cecum and colon of Sprague-Dawley rats.

    PubMed

    Knapp, Brenda K; Bauer, Laura L; Swanson, Kelly S; Tappenden, Kelly A; Fahey, George C; de Godoy, Maria R C

    2013-02-04

    The objective of this study was to evaluate health outcomes resulting from dietary supplementation of novel, low-digestible carbohydrates in the cecum and colon of Sprague-Dawley rats randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups for 21 days: 5% cellulose (Control), Pectin, soluble fiber dextrin (SFD), or soluble corn fiber (SCF). Rats fed Pectin had a higher average daily food intake, but no differences in final body weights or rates of weight gain among treatments were observed. No differences were observed in total short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) or branched-chain fatty acid (BCFA) concentrations in the cecum and colon of rats fed either SFD or SCF. The SFD and SCF treatments increased cecal propionate and decreased butyrate concentrations compared to Control or Pectin. Pectin resulted in increased BCFA in the cecum and colon. Supplementation of SFD and SCF had no effect on cecal microbial populations compared to Control. Consumption of SFD and SCF increased total and empty cecal weight but not colon weight. Gut histomorphology was positively affected by SFD and SCF. Increased crypt depth, goblet cell numbers, and acidic mucin were observed in both the cecum and colon of rats supplemented with SFD, SCF, and Pectin. These novel, low-digestible carbohydrates appear to be beneficial in modulating indices of hindgut morphology when supplemented in the diet of the rat.

  12. IUPAC-NIST Solubility Data Series 70. The Solubility of Gases in Glassy Polymers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Paterson, Russell; Yampol'Skii, Yuri P.; Fogg, Peter G. T.; Bokarev, Alexandre; Bondar, Valerii; Ilinich, Oleg; Shishatskii, Sergey

    1999-09-01

    Solubility of gases in polymers is an important property of polymeric materials relevant to many practical applications. Sorption of small molecules in polymers is a fundamental concern in such areas as food packaging, beverage storage, and polymer processing. However, by far the main interest in the solubility of gases in polymers, and especially in glassy polymers, is related to development of novel advanced materials for gas separation membranes. This is because the concentration gradient of a dissolved gas is the driving force of membrane processes. Development of these novel separation methods resulted in a rapid accumulation, in the recent literature, of thermodynamic data related to the solubility of gases in polymers at different temperatures and pressures. Polymers can be regarded as special cases of media intermediate between liquids and solids. As a consequence, modeling of gas sorption in polymers is very difficult and presents a permanent challenge to theoreticians and experimenters. The collection and critical evaluation of solubility data for various gas-polymer systems is relevant to both practical aspects of polymer applications and to fundamental studies of polymer behavior. This volume of the IUPAC-NIST Solubility Data Series summarizes the compilations and critical evaluations of the data on solubility of gases in glassy polymers. It is implied in this edition that "gases" are the components that are either permanent gases (supercitical fluids) or have saturated vapor pressure more than 1 atm at ambient conditions (298 K). The polymeric components of compilations and critical evaluations are primarily high molecular mass, amorphous, linear (noncross-linked) compounds that have the glass transition temperatures above ambient temperature. The data for each gas-polymer system have been evaluated, if the results of at least three independent and reliable studies have been reported. Where the data of sufficient accuracy and reliability are available

  13. Applications of Solubility Data

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tomkins, Reginald P. T.

    2008-01-01

    This article describes several applications of the use of solubility data. It is not meant to be exhaustive but rather to show that knowledge of solubility data is required in a variety of technical applications that assist in the design of chemical processes. (Contains 3 figures and 1 table.)

  14. Influence of total soluble salt concentration on growth and elemental concentration of winged bean seedlings, Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L. ) DC

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Csizinszky, A.A.

    Winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) (L.) DC) seedlings of the accession TPT-1, were grown in a greenhouse with graded, balanced total soluble salt (TSS) concentrations. After 45 days, plant height increased quadratically, with a maximum (149 cm) at 3000 ppm TSS. Seedlings were shortest at 1000 and 10,000 ppm TSS, 44.0 and 79.0 cm, respectively. Fresh weight of shoots increased quadratically with greatest weight, 29.03 g, at 5000 ppm TSS. Percent dry matter increased linearly with increasing TSS. Concentration of N, K and P increased quadratically with an increase in the TSS concentration in the growth medium. Concentration of Ca decreasedmore » quadratically with increasing TSS. Among the micronutrients, Fe and Mo concentration was quadratic, both elements were highest in the seedlings at 1000 and 10,000 ppm TSS rates. Concentrations of Mn and Zn increased linearly with increasing TSS. Winged bean seedlings at the 1000 to 3000 ppm TSS rates had spindly stems and a sparse, yellow foliage, typical for winged bean seedlings observed in the field during the first 4 to 5 weeks of growth. Seedlings at the 4000 and 5000 ppm TSS rates had sturdy stems and an abundant green foliage. At higher TSS concentrations, 5000 to 10,000 ppm TSS, seedlings had short intermodes and dark green foliage.« less

  15. Nutrient excretion, phosphorus characterization, and phosphorus solubility in excreta from broiler chicks fed diets containing graded levels of wheat distillers grains with solubles.

    PubMed

    Leytem, A B; Kwanyuen, P; Thacker, P

    2008-12-01

    Increased interest in ethanol production in North America has led to increased production of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), the majority of which are fed to livestock. To determine the impact of including wheat DDGS in broiler diets on nutrient excretion and P characterization and solubility, 125 one-day-old male broiler chicks were fed wheat- and soybean meal-based diets containing 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20% wheat DDGS. There were 5 replicate pens per treatment, with 5 birds per pen arranged in a randomized block design. Apparent retention of both N and P were determined by using the indicator method. Nutrients excreted per kilogram of DM intake were also calculated. Characterization of excreta P was determined by (31)P-solution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and water-soluble P (WSP) was determined by extraction of excreta with deionized water. The apparent retention of both N (P < 0.001) and P (P < 0.008) decreased linearly with increasing inclusion rates of DDGS from 0 to 20%. The nutrient output per kilogram of DM intake increased linearly with increased DDGS inclusion rate for N (P < 0.04), P (P < 0.0001), and WSP (P < 0.0003). As the inclusion rate of DDGS increased, the P concentration in excreta increased (P < 0.008), whereas excreta phytate P concentrations decreased (P < 0.01), which led to an increase in WSP and the fraction of total P that was soluble. Because the inclusion of DDGS in poultry diets increased N and P output, as well as the solubility of P excreted, care should be taken when including high levels of DDGS in poultry diets, because increases in N and P excretion are a concern from an environmental standpoint.

  16. Novel electrosprayed nanospherules for enhanced aqueous solubility and oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble fenofibrate

    PubMed Central

    Yousaf, Abid Mehmood; Mustapha, Omer; Kim, Dong Wuk; Kim, Dong Shik; Kim, Kyeong Soo; Jin, Sung Giu; Yong, Chul Soon; Youn, Yu Seok; Oh, Yu-Kyoung; Kim, Jong Oh; Choi, Han-Gon

    2016-01-01

    Purpose The purpose of the present research was to develop a novel electrosprayed nanospherule providing the most optimized aqueous solubility and oral bioavailability for poorly water-soluble fenofibrate. Methods Numerous fenofibrate-loaded electrosprayed nanospherules were prepared with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and Labrafil® M 2125 as carriers using the electrospray technique, and the effect of the carriers on drug solubility and solvation was assessed. The solid state characterization of an optimized formulation was conducted by scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analyses. Oral bioavailability in rats was also evaluated for the formulation of an optimized nanospherule in comparison with free drug and a conventional fenofibrate-loaded solid dispersion. Results All of the electrosprayed nanospherule formulations had remarkably enhanced aqueous solubility and dissolution compared with free drug. Moreover, Labrafil M 2125, a surfactant, had a positive influence on the solubility and dissolution of the drug in the electrosprayed nanospherule. Increases were observed as the PVP/drug ratio increased to 4:1, but higher ratios gave no significant increases. In particular, an electrosprayed nanospherule composed of fenofibrate, PVP, and Labrafil M 2125 at the weight ratio of 1:4:0.5 resulted in a particle size of <200 nm with the drug present in the amorphous state. It demonstrated the highest solubility (32.51±2.41 μg/mL), an excellent dissolution (~85% in 10 minutes), and an oral bioavailability ~2.5-fold better than that of the free drug. It showed similar oral bioavailability compared to the conventional solid dispersion. Conclusion Electrosprayed nanospherules, which provide improved solubility and bioavailability, are promising drug delivery tools for oral administration of poorly water-soluble fenofibrate. PMID:26834471

  17. Drug Solubility: Importance and Enhancement Techniques

    PubMed Central

    Savjani, Ketan T.; Gajjar, Anuradha K.; Savjani, Jignasa K.

    2012-01-01

    Solubility, the phenomenon of dissolution of solute in solvent to give a homogenous system, is one of the important parameters to achieve desired concentration of drug in systemic circulation for desired (anticipated) pharmacological response. Low aqueous solubility is the major problem encountered with formulation development of new chemical entities as well as for the generic development. More than 40% NCEs (new chemical entities) developed in pharmaceutical industry are practically insoluble in water. Solubility is a major challenge for formulation scientist. Any drug to be absorbed must be present in the form of solution at the site of absorption. Various techniques are used for the enhancement of the solubility of poorly soluble drugs which include physical and chemical modifications of drug and other methods like particle size reduction, crystal engineering, salt formation, solid dispersion, use of surfactant, complexation, and so forth. Selection of solubility improving method depends on drug property, site of absorption, and required dosage form characteristics. PMID:22830056

  18. The effect of leptin replacement on parathyroid hormone, RANKL-osteoprotegerin axis, and Wnt inhibitors in young women with hypothalamic amenorrhea.

    PubMed

    Foo, Joo-Pin; Polyzos, Stergios A; Anastasilakis, Athanasios D; Chou, Sharon; Mantzoros, Christos S

    2014-11-01

    Recombinant leptin (metreleptin) treatment restores bone mineral density in women with hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA), a condition characterized by hypoleptinemia, which has adverse impact on bone health. The objective of the study was to investigate how metreleptin exerts its positive effect on bone metabolism in humans. This was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. The study was conducted at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston, Massachusetts). Women (n = 18) with HA and hypoleptinemia for at least 6 months were randomized to receive either metreleptin or placebo for 36 weeks. Serum samples were obtained at baseline and 12, 24, and 36 weeks of treatment. Circulating levels of leptin, intact PTH (iPTH), receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), sclerostin, dickkopf-1, and fibroblast growth factor-23. Metreleptin administration significantly increased leptin levels throughout the treatment period (P = .001). iPTH decreased over the 36 weeks of treatment (P = .01). There was a trend toward a decrease in serum RANKL and increase in serum OPG in the metreleptin-treated group. The RANKL to OPG ratio was significantly decreased within the metreleptin (P = .04) but not the placebo group. Metreleptin had no effect on serum sclerostin, dickkopf-1, and fibroblast growth factor-23. Metreleptin treatment over 36 weeks decreases iPTH and RANKL to OPG ratio levels in hypoleptinemic women with HA.

  19. Effects of a hypocaloric diet on obesity biomarkers: prevention of low-grade inflammation since childhood.

    PubMed

    Amati, L; Marzulli, G; Martulli, M; Chiloiro, M; Jirillo, E

    2010-01-01

    Body mass index (BMI), serum cytokines and serum obesity markers were evaluated in 33 obese children before, during and after a hypocaloric diet. The cytometric bead array "human inflammatory kit" was used for the evaluation of serum interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. On the other hand, the following obesity biomarkers were evaluated by means of a flowcytomix-human obesity 9 plex kit: Soluble Isoform of CD40 Ligand; Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Leptin; Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein 1; Myeloperoxidase; Osteoprotegerin; Resistin and Soluble TNF-receptors. Actually, throughout the study modifications of BMI were negligible and, therefore, serum cytokines and obesity markers did not show any significant changes in comparison with baseline values. On the other hand, at the different time points considered the majority of obesity markers were higher than normal controls, thus indicating a low grade inflammation in childhood obesity. Therefore, attempts at reducing this inflammatory status in children which predisposes to the metabolic syndrome outcome are discussed.

  20. Physiological and morphological adaptations of herbaceous perennial legumes allow differential access to sources of varyingly soluble phosphate.

    PubMed

    Pang, Jiayin; Yang, Jiyun; Lambers, Hans; Tibbett, Mark; Siddique, Kadambot H M; Ryan, Megan H

    2015-08-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate the capacity of three perennial legume species to access sources of varyingly soluble phosphorus (P) and their associated morphological and physiological adaptations. Two Australian native legumes with pasture potential (Cullen australasicum and Kennedia prostrata) and Medicago sativa cv. SARDI 10 were grown in sand under two P levels (6 and 40 µg P g(-1) ) supplied as Ca(H2 PO4 )2 ·H2 O (Ca-P, highly soluble, used in many fertilizers) or as one of three sparingly soluble forms: Ca10 (OH)2 (PO4 )6 (apatite-P, found in relatively young soils; major constituent of rock phosphate), C6 H6 O24 P6 Na12 (inositol-P, the most common form of organic P in soil) and FePO4 (Fe-P, a poorly-available inorganic source of P). All species grew well with soluble P. When 6 µg P g(-1) was supplied as sparingly soluble P, plant dry weight (DW) and P uptake were very low for C. australasicum and M. sativa (0.1-0.4 g DW) with the exception of M. sativa supplied with apatite-P (1.5 g). In contrast, K. prostrata grew well with inositol-P (1.0 g) and Fe-P (0.7 g), and even better with apatite-P (1.7 g), similar to that with Ca-P (1.9 g). Phosphorus uptake at 6 µg P g(-1) was highly correlated with total root length, total rhizosphere carboxylate content and total rhizosphere acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) activity. These findings provide strong indications that there are opportunities to utilize local Australian legumes in low P pasture systems to access sparingly soluble soil P and increase perennial legume productivity, diversity and sustainability. © 2014 Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society.

  1. Solubility of pharmaceuticals: A comparison between SciPharma, a PC-SAFT-based approach, and NRTL-SAC

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bouillot, Baptiste; Spyriouni, Theodora; Teychené, Sébastien; Biscans, Béatrice

    2017-04-01

    The solubility of seven pharmaceutical compounds (paracetamol, benzoic acid, 4-aminobenzoic acid, salicylic acid, ibuprofen, naproxen and temazepam) in pure and mixed solvents as a function of temperature is calculated with SciPharma, a semi-empirical approach based on PC-SAFT, and the NRTL-SAC model. To conduct a fair comparison between the approaches, the parameters of the compounds were regressed against the same solubility data, chosen to account for hydrophilic, polar and hydrophobic interactions. Only these solubility data were used by both models for predicting solubility in other pure and mixed solvents for which experimental data were available for comparison. A total of 386 pure solvent data points were used for the comparison comprising one or more temperatures per solvent. SciPharma is found to be more accurate than NRTL-SAC on the pure solvent data used especially in the description of the temperature dependence. This is due to the appropriate parameterization of the pharmaceuticals and the temperature-dependent description of the activity coefficient in PC-SAFT. The solubility in mixed solvents is predicted satisfactorily with SciPharma. NRTL-SAC tends to overestimate the solubility in aqueous solutions of alcohols or shows invariable solubility with composition in other cases.

  2. Effect of composition of simulated intestinal media on the solubility of poorly soluble compounds investigated by design of experiments.

    PubMed

    Madsen, Cecilie Maria; Feng, Kung-I; Leithead, Andrew; Canfield, Nicole; Jørgensen, Søren Astrup; Müllertz, Anette; Rades, Thomas

    2018-01-01

    The composition of the human intestinal fluids varies both intra- and inter-individually. This will influence the solubility of orally administered drug compounds, and hence, the absorption and efficacy of compounds displaying solubility limited absorption. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) composition on the solubility of poorly soluble compounds. Using a Design of Experiments (DoE) approach, a set of 24 SIF was defined within the known compositions of human fasted state intestinal fluid. The SIF were composed of phospholipid, bile salt, and different pH, buffer capacities and osmolarities. On a small scale semi-robotic system, the solubility of 6 compounds (aprepitant, carvedilol, felodipine, fenofibrate, probucol, and zafirlukast) was determined in the 24 SIF. Compound specific models, describing key factors influencing the solubility of each compound, were identified. Although all models were different, the level of phospholipid and bile salt, the pH, and the interactions between these, had the biggest influences on solubility overall. Thus, a reduction of the DoE from five to three factors was possible (11-13 media), making DoE solubility studies feasible compared to single SIF solubility studies. Applying this DoE approach will lead to a better understanding of the impact of intestinal fluid composition on the solubility of a given drug compound. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. Solubility of carbamazepine co-crystals in ethanolic solution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ramle, Noor Ashila; Rahim, Syarifah Abd; Anuar, Nornizar; El-Hadad, Omar

    2017-08-01

    The study aimed to determine the solubility of carbamazepine (CBZ) co-crystals formed from co-crystal formers (CCFs) of nicotinamide (NIC), saccharin (SAC), succinic acid (SUC) and fumaric acid (FUM) at various temperatures (25-50°C). High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the solubility and the X-Ray Powder Diffraction was used to characterize the crystals. The solubility of CBZ-NIC and CBZ-FUM co-crystals were found to be higher than the solubility of the CBZ for the range of studied temperatures. However, opposite findings was obtained for CBZ-SUC co-crystal as its solubility is lower than the solubility of CBZ. Different trend was found for CBZ-SAC co-crystal in which for temperature lower than 40°C, the solubility of CBZ crystal is higher than the CBZ-SAC co-crystal. The solubility of CBZ-SAC co-crystal is higher than the solubility of CBZ at a temperature above 40°C. CBZ co-crystals with NIC and FUM have shown to increase the solubility of CBZ by solubility ratio of 1.95 and 1.24 respectively. However, the CBZ co-crystal with SAC was found to have similar solubility value as the CBZ.

  4. Dissolution behaviour of ferric pyrophosphate and its mixtures with soluble pyrophosphates: Potential strategy for increasing iron bioavailability.

    PubMed

    Tian, Tian; Blanco, Elena; Smoukov, Stoyan K; Velev, Orlin D; Velikov, Krassimir P

    2016-10-01

    Ferric pyrophosphate (FePP) is a widely used iron source in food fortification and in nutritional supplements, due to its white colour, that is very uncommon for insoluble Fe salts. Although its dissolution is an important determinant of Fe adsorption in human body, the solubility characteristics of FePP are complex and not well understood. This report is a study on the solubility of FePP as a function of pH and excess of pyrophosphate ions. FePP powder is sparingly soluble in the pH range of 3-6 but slightly soluble at pH<2 and pH>8. In the presence of pyrophosphate ions the solubility of FePP strongly increases at pH 5-8.5 due to formation a soluble complex between Fe(III) and pyrophosphate ions, which leads to an 8-10-fold increase in the total ionic iron concentration. This finding is beneficial for enhancing iron bioavailability, which important for the design of fortified food, beverages, and nutraceutical products. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Down-Regulation by Resveratrol of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor-Stimulated Osteoprotegerin Synthesis through Suppression of Akt in Osteoblasts

    PubMed Central

    Kuroyanagi, Gen; Otsuka, Takanobu; Yamamoto, Naohiro; Matsushima-Nishiwaki, Rie; Nakakami, Akira; Mizutani, Jun; Kozawa, Osamu; Tokuda, Haruhiko

    2014-01-01

    It is firmly established that resveratrol, a natural food compound abundantly found in grape skins and red wine, has beneficial properties for human health. In the present study, we investigated the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) on osteoprotegerin (OPG) synthesis in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells and whether resveratrol affects the OPG synthesis. FGF-2 stimulated both the OPG release and the expression of OPG mRNA. Resveratrol significantly suppressed the FGF-2-stimulated OPG release and the mRNA levels of OPG. SRT1720, an activator of SIRT1, reduced the FGF-2-induced OPG release and the OPG mRNA expression. PD98059, an inhibitor of upstream kinase activating p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, had little effect on the FGF-2-stimulated OPG release. On the other hand, SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase, SP600125, an inhibitor of stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK), and Akt inhibitor suppressed the OPG release induced by FGF-2. Resveratrol failed to affect the FGF-2-induced phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase, p38 MAP kinase or SAPK/JNK. The phosphorylation of Akt induced by FGF-2 was significantly suppressed by resveratrol or SRT1720. These findings strongly suggest that resveratrol down-regulates FGF-2-stimulated OPG synthesis through the suppression of the Akt pathway in osteoblasts and that the inhibitory effect of resveratrol is mediated at least in part by SIRT1 activation. PMID:25290095

  6. Novel homozygous mutations in the osteoprotegerin gene TNFRSF11B in two unrelated patients with juvenile Paget's disease.

    PubMed

    Naot, Dorit; Choi, Ally; Musson, David Shaun; Simsek Kiper, Pelin Özlem; Utine, Gulen Eda; Boduroglu, Koray; Peacock, Munro; DiMeglio, Linda A; Cundy, Tim

    2014-11-01

    Most patients with juvenile Paget's disease (JPD) are homozygous for mutations in the gene TNFRSF11B that result in deficiency of osteoprotegerin (OPG) - a key regulator of bone turnover. So far, about 10 different OPG mutations have been described. The current study presents two novel OPG mutations in JPD patients. Patient 1 was diagnosed at the age of 9months when he presented with inability to sit up, slow growth, marked bone pain and very high levels of serum alkaline phosphatase. Patient 2 presented a milder phenotype. He was initially diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta, and although he had numerous fractures and bone deformity, he was still independently mobile at the age of 19years, when a diagnosis of JPD was confirmed. Sequence analysis of DNA samples from the patients determined two novel homozygous mutations in TNFSRF11B. Patient 1 (severe phenotype) had a large (245-251kbp) homozygous deletion beginning in intron 1 that resulted in loss of 4 of the 5 exons of TNFSRF11B, including the whole ligand-binding domain. Patient 2 had a homozygous missense mutation resulting in a Thr>Pro change in exon 2 of TNFSRF11B that is predicted to disrupt the OPG ligand-binding domain. Taken in conjunction with other published cases, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that the most severe phenotypes in JPD are seen in patients with major gene deletions or mutations affecting cysteine residues in the ligand-binding domain. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. Atmospheric deposition of beryllium in Central Europe: comparison of soluble and insoluble fractions in rime and snow across a pollution gradient.

    PubMed

    Bohdalkova, Leona; Novak, Martin; Voldrichova, Petra; Prechova, Eva; Veselovsky, Frantisek; Erbanova, Lucie; Krachler, Michael; Komarek, Arnost; Mikova, Jitka

    2012-11-15

    Little is known about atmospheric input of beryllium (Be) into ecosystems, despite its highly toxic behavior. For three consecutive winters (2009-2011), we measured Be concentrations in horizontal deposition (rime) and vertical deposition (snow) at 10 remote mountain-top locations in the Czech Republic, Central Europe. Beryllium was determined both in filtered waters, and in HF digests of insoluble particles. Across the sites, soluble Be concentrations in rime were 7 times higher, compared to snow (6.1 vs. 0.9ng·L(-1)). Rime scavenged the pollution-rich lower segments of clouds. The lowest Be concentrations were detected in the soluble fraction of snow. Across the sites, 34% of total Be deposition occurred in the form of soluble (bioavailable) Be, the rest were insoluble particles. Beryllium fluxes decreased in the order: vertical dry deposition insoluble>vertical dry deposition soluble>horizontal deposition soluble>vertical wet deposition insoluble>vertical wet deposition soluble>horizontal deposition insoluble. The average contributions of these Be forms to total deposition were 56, 21, 8, 7, 5 and 3%, respectively. Sites in the northeast were more Be-polluted than the rest of the country with sources of pollution in industrial Silesia. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Association between serum soluble corin and hyperglycaemia: a cross-sectional study among Chinese adults

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Yan; Peng, Hao; Zhang, Qiu; Zhang, Peipei; Tian, Yunfan; Chao, Xiangqin; Zhang, Yonghong

    2015-01-01

    Objectives Decreased natriuretic peptides are risk factors for diabetes. As a physiological activator of natriuretic peptides, corin may play a role in glucose metabolism. Here, we aimed to test the hypothesis in a general population of China. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting A population study in Suzhou, China. Participants A total of 2498 participants aged above 30 years were included in the study. Outcome measures The association between serum soluble corin and hyperglycaemia was examined in men and women, using non-conditional logistic regression models, respectively. Results Serum soluble corin, in men and women, was significantly higher in participants with hyperglycaemia than in those without (all p<0.001). OR of hyperglycaemia positively and significantly increased with serum soluble corin quartiles, in men (p for trend <0.001) and in women (p for trend=0.050), even after multivariate adjustment. Participants with a serum soluble corin, in men (OR=1.66, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.23) and women (OR=1.27, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.61), over the median level, were more likely to have hyperglycaemia compared with the remaining participants, after controlling for confounding factors. Conclusions Hyperglycaemia was significantly and positively associated with increased serum soluble corin in men and women. Our findings suggest that serum soluble corin may be a risk factor or a biomarker of hyperglycaemia. PMID:26700277

  9. Water-soluble organic nitrogen in atmospheric fine particles (PM2.5) from northern California

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Qi; Anastasio, Cort; Jimenez-Cruz, Mike

    2002-06-01

    Recent studies have suggested that organic nitrogen (ON) is a ubiquitous and significant component of atmospheric dry and wet deposition, but very little is known about the concentrations and speciation of organic nitrogen in aerosol particles. In addition, while amino compounds also appear to be ubiquitous in atmospheric condensed phases, their contribution to organic nitrogen has not been previously quantified. To address these issues, we have characterized the water-soluble organic nitrogen and amino compounds in fine particles (PM2.5) collected in Davis, California, over a period of 1 year. Concentrations of water-soluble organic nitrogen (WSON) ranged from 3.1-57.8 nmol N m-3 air, peaking during winter and early spring, and typically accounted for ~20% of total nitrogen in Davis PM2.5. Assuming an average N-normalized molecular weight of 100 Da per N atom for WSON, particulate organic nitrogen had a median mass concentration of 1.6 μg m-3 air, and typically represented 18% of the total fine particle mass. The average mass of water-soluble ON in Davis PM2.5 was comparable to that of sulfate during the summer, but was significantly higher in winter. Total amino compounds (free plus combined forms) made up a significant portion of particulate organic nitrogen (median value equal to 23%), primarily due to the presence of combined amino compounds such as proteins and peptides. Total amino compounds had a median mass concentration of 290 ng m-3 air, and typically accounted for 3.3% of the total fine particle mass. These results indicate that organic nitrogen is a significant component of fine particles in northern California, and suggest that this group of compounds might play an important role in the ecological, radiative, and potential health effects of atmospheric fine particles in this region.

  10. APPLICATION OF VARIOUS POLYMERS AND POLYMERS BASED TECHNIQUES USED TO IMPROVE SOLUBILITY OF POORLY WATER SOLUBLE DRUGS: A REVIEW.

    PubMed

    Muhammad Sarfraz, Rai; Bashir, Sajid; Mahmood, Asif; Ahsan, Haseeb; Riaz, Humayun; Raza, Hina; Rashid, Zermina; Atif Raza, Syed; Asad Abrar, Muhammad; Abbas, Khawar; Yasmeen, Tahira

    2017-03-01

    Solubility is concerned with solute and solvent to form a homogenous mixture. If solubility of a drug is low, then usually it is difficult to achieve desired therapeutic level of drug. Most of the newly developed entities have solubility problems and encounter difficulty in dissolution. Basic aim of solubility enhancement is to achieve desired therapeutic'level of drug to produce required pharmacological response. Different techniques are being used to enhance the solubility of water insoluble drugs. These techniques include particle size reduction, spray drying, kneading method, solvent evaporation method, salt formation, microemulsions, co-solven- cy, hydrosols, prodrug approach, supercritical fluid process, hydrogel micro particles etc. Selection of solubility improving method depends on drug properties, site of absorption, and required dosage form characteristics. Variety of polymers are also used to enhance solubility of these drugs like polyethylene glycol 300, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, chitosan, β-cyclodextrins etc.

  11. Intestinal absorption of water-soluble vitamins in health and disease.

    PubMed

    Said, Hamid M

    2011-08-01

    Our knowledge of the mechanisms and regulation of intestinal absorption of water-soluble vitamins under normal physiological conditions, and of the factors/conditions that affect and interfere with theses processes has been significantly expanded in recent years as a result of the availability of a host of valuable molecular/cellular tools. Although structurally and functionally unrelated, the water-soluble vitamins share the feature of being essential for normal cellular functions, growth and development, and that their deficiency leads to a variety of clinical abnormalities that range from anaemia to growth retardation and neurological disorders. Humans cannot synthesize water-soluble vitamins (with the exception of some endogenous synthesis of niacin) and must obtain these micronutrients from exogenous sources. Thus body homoeostasis of these micronutrients depends on their normal absorption in the intestine. Interference with absorption, which occurs in a variety of conditions (e.g. congenital defects in the digestive or absorptive system, intestinal disease/resection, drug interaction and chronic alcohol use), leads to the development of deficiency (and sub-optimal status) and results in clinical abnormalities. It is well established now that intestinal absorption of the water-soluble vitamins ascorbate, biotin, folate, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, riboflavin and thiamin is via specific carrier-mediated processes. These processes are regulated by a variety of factors and conditions, and the regulation involves transcriptional and/or post-transcriptional mechanisms. Also well recognized now is the fact that the large intestine possesses specific and efficient uptake systems to absorb a number of water-soluble vitamins that are synthesized by the normal microflora. This source may contribute to total body vitamin nutrition, and especially towards the cellular nutrition and health of the local colonocytes. The present review aims to outline our current

  12. Intestinal absorption of water-soluble vitamins in health and disease

    PubMed Central

    Said, Hamid M.

    2014-01-01

    Our knowledge of the mechanisms and regulation of intestinal absorption of water-soluble vitamins under normal physiological conditions, and of the factors/conditions that affect and interfere with theses processes has been significantly expanded in recent years as a result of the availability of a host of valuable molecular/cellular tools. Although structurally and functionally unrelated, the water-soluble vitamins share the feature of being essential for normal cellular functions, growth and development, and that their deficiency leads to a variety of clinical abnormalities that range from anaemia to growth retardation and neurological disorders. Humans cannot synthesize water-soluble vitamins (with the exception of some endogenous synthesis of niacin) and must obtain these micronutrients from exogenous sources. Thus body homoeostasis of these micronutrients depends on their normal absorption in the intestine. Interference with absorption, which occurs in a variety of conditions (e.g. congenital defects in the digestive or absorptive system, intestinal disease/resection, drug interaction and chronic alcohol use), leads to the development of deficiency (and sub-optimal status) and results in clinical abnormalities. It is well established now that intestinal absorption of the water-soluble vitamins ascorbate, biotin, folate, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, riboflavin and thiamin is via specific carrier-mediated processes. These processes are regulated by a variety of factors and conditions, and the regulation involves transcriptional and/or post-transcriptional mechanisms. Also well recognized now is the fact that the large intestine possesses specific and efficient uptake systems to absorb a number of water-soluble vitamins that are synthesized by the normal microflora. This source may contribute to total body vitamin nutrition, and especially towards the cellular nutrition and health of the local colonocytes. The present review aims to outline our current

  13. The contribution of water soluble and water insoluble organic fractions to oxygen uptake rate during high rate composting.

    PubMed

    Giuliana, D'Imporzano; Fabrizio, Adani

    2007-02-01

    This study aims to establish the contribution of the water soluble and water insoluble organic fractions to total oxygen uptake rate during high rate composting process of a mixture of organic fraction of municipal solid waste and lignocellulosic material. This mixture was composted using a 20 l self-heating pilot scale composter for 250 h. The composter was fully equipped to record both the biomass-temperature and oxygen uptake rate. Representative compost samples were taken at 0, 70, 100, 110, 160, and 250 h from starting time. Compost samples were fractionated in water soluble and water insoluble fractions. The water soluble fraction was then fractionated in hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and neutral hydrophobic fractions. Each fraction was then studied using quantitative (total organic carbon) and qualitative analysis (diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy and biodegradability test). Oxygen uptake rates were high during the initial stages of the process due to rapid degradation of the soluble degradable organic fraction (hydrophilic plus hydrophobic fractions). Once this fraction was depleted, polymer hydrolysis accounted for most of the oxygen uptake rate. Finally, oxygen uptake rate could be modeled using a two term kinetic. The first term provides the oxygen uptake rate resulting from the microbial growth kinetic type on easily available, no-limiting substrate (soluble fraction), while the second term considers the oxygen uptake rate caused by the degradation of substrate produced by polymer hydrolysis.

  14. Solubilities of selected organic electronic materials in pressurized hot water and estimations of aqueous solubilities at 298.15 K.

    PubMed

    Karásek, Pavel; Hohnová, Barbora; Planeta, Josef; Št'avíková, Lenka; Roth, Michal

    2013-02-01

    Increasing production and disposal of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays for smartphones and tablets may have impact on the environment depending on the aqueous solubility of the pertinent chemicals. Here, aqueous solubilities are presented for several compounds, mostly aromatic amines, used as hole transport materials in the OLED displays. Solute selection includes 1,4-bis(diphenylamino)benzene, tetra-N-phenylbenzidine, 4,4'-bis(N-carbazolyl)-1,1'-biphenyl, 1,3,5-tris(diphenylamino)benzene, and 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene. The solubilities are those in pressurized hot water (PHW), i.e., measured at elevated temperature (up to 260 °C) and pressure. The semi-quantitative estimates of room-temperature solubilities of the solutes have been obtained from extrapolations of the solubilities in PHW. For the compounds studied, the estimated aqueous solubilities at room temperature do not exceed 2×10(-11) g of the solute per 1 kg of water. Aqueous solubilities of triphenylamine have also been measured and used to upgrade a recent group-contribution model of aqueous solubilities of organic nonelectrolytes with the parameters for the nitrogen atom in aromatic amines. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Preparation and value assignment of standard reference material 968e fat-soluble vitamins, carotenoids, and cholesterol in human serum.

    PubMed

    Thomas, Jeanice B; Duewer, David L; Mugenya, Isaac O; Phinney, Karen W; Sander, Lane C; Sharpless, Katherine E; Sniegoski, Lorna T; Tai, Susan S; Welch, Michael J; Yen, James H

    2012-01-01

    Standard Reference Material 968e Fat-Soluble Vitamins, Carotenoids, and Cholesterol in Human Serum provides certified values for total retinol, γ- and α-tocopherol, total lutein, total zeaxanthin, total β-cryptoxanthin, total β-carotene, 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3), and cholesterol. Reference and information values are also reported for nine additional compounds including total α-cryptoxanthin, trans- and total lycopene, total α-carotene, trans-β-carotene, and coenzyme Q(10). The certified values for the fat-soluble vitamins and carotenoids in SRM 968e were based on the agreement of results from the means of two liquid chromatographic methods used at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and from the median of results of an interlaboratory comparison exercise among institutions that participate in the NIST Micronutrients Measurement Quality Assurance Program. The assigned values for cholesterol and 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) in the SRM are the means of results obtained using the NIST reference method based upon gas chromatography-isotope dilution mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. SRM 968e is currently one of two available health-related NIST reference materials with concentration values assigned for selected fat-soluble vitamins, carotenoids, and cholesterol in human serum matrix. This SRM is used extensively by laboratories worldwide primarily to validate methods for determining these analytes in human serum and plasma and for assigning values to in-house control materials. The value assignment of the analytes in this SRM will help support measurement accuracy and traceability for laboratories performing health-related measurements in the clinical and nutritional communities.

  16. Seasonal changes in Fe species and soluble Fe concentration in the atmosphere in the Northwest Pacific region based on the analysis of aerosols collected in Tsukuba, Japan

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Takahashi, Y.; Furukawa, T.; Kanai, Y.; Uematsu, M.; Zheng, G.; Marcus, M. A.

    2013-08-01

    Atmospheric iron (Fe) can be a significant source of nutrition for phytoplankton inhabiting remote oceans, which in turn has a large influence on the Earth's climate. The bioavailability of Fe in aerosols depends mainly on the fraction of soluble Fe (= [FeSol]/[FeTotal], where [FeSol] and [FeTotal] are the atmospheric concentrations of soluble and total Fe, respectively). However, the numerous factors affecting the soluble Fe fraction have not been fully understood. In this study, the Fe species, chemical composition, and soluble Fe concentrations in aerosols collected in Tsukuba, Japan were investigated over a year (nine samples from December 2002 to October 2003) to identify the factors affecting the amount of soluble Fe supplied into the ocean. The soluble Fe concentration in aerosols is correlated with those of sulfate and oxalate originated from anthropogenic sources, suggesting that soluble Fe is mainly derived from anthropogenic sources. Moreover, the soluble Fe concentration is also correlated with the enrichment factors of vanadium and nickel emitted by fossil fuel combustion. These results suggest that the degree of Fe dissolution is influenced by the magnitude of anthropogenic activity, such as fossil fuel combustion. X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy was performed in order to identify the Fe species in aerosols. Fitting of XAFS spectra coupled with micro X-ray fluorescence analysis (μ-XRF) showed the main Fe species in aerosols in Tsukuba to be illite, ferrihydrite, hornblende, and Fe(III) sulfate. Moreover, the soluble Fe fraction in each sample measured by leaching experiments is closely correlated with the Fe(III) sulfate fraction determined by the XAFS spectrum fitting, suggesting that Fe(III) sulfate is the main soluble Fe in the ocean. Another possible factor that can control the amount of soluble Fe supplied into the ocean is the total Fe(III) concentration in the atmosphere, which was high in spring due to the high mineral

  17. Seasonal changes in Fe species and soluble Fe concentration in the atmosphere in the Northwest Pacific region based on the analysis of aerosols collected in Tsukuba, Japan

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Takahashi, Y.; Furukawa, T.; Kanai, Y.; Uematsu, M.; Zheng, G.; Marcus, M. A.

    2013-03-01

    Atmospheric iron (Fe) can be a significant source of nutrition for phytoplankton inhabiting remote oceans, which in turn has a large influence on the Earth's climate. The bioavailability of Fe in aerosols depends mainly on the fraction of soluble Fe (= [FeSol]/[FeTotal], where [FeSol] and [FeTotal] are the atmospheric concentrations of soluble and total Fe, respectively). However, the numerous factors affecting the soluble Fe fraction have not been fully understood. In this study, the Fe species, chemical composition, and soluble Fe concentrations in aerosols collected in Tsukuba, Japan were investigated over a year (nine samples from December 2002 to October 2003) to identify the factors affecting the amount of soluble Fe supplied into the ocean. The soluble Fe concentration in aerosols is correlated with those of sulfate and oxalate originated from anthropogenic sources, suggesting that soluble Fe is mainly derived from anthropogenic sources. Moreover, the soluble Fe concentration is also correlated with the enrichment factors of vanadium and nickel emitted by fossil fuel combustion. These results suggest that the degree of Fe dissolution is influenced by the magnitude of anthropogenic activity, such as fossil fuel combustion. X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy was performed in this study to identify the Fe species in aerosols. The fitting of XAFS spectra coupled with micro X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) determined the main Fe species in aerosols in Tsukuba to be illite, ferrihydrite, hornblende, and Fe(III) sulfate. Moreover, the soluble Fe fraction in each sample measured by leaching experiments is closely correlated with the Fe(III) sulfate fraction determined by the XAFS spectrum fitting, suggesting that Fe(III) sulfate is the main soluble Fe in the ocean. Another possible factor that can control the amount of soluble Fe supplied into the ocean is the total Fe(III) concentration in the atmosphere, which was high in spring due to the high

  18. Effect of Fermentation and Cooking on Soluble and Bound Phenolic Profiles of Finger Millet Sour Porridge.

    PubMed

    Gabaza, Molly; Shumoy, Habtu; Muchuweti, Maud; Vandamme, Peter; Raes, Katleen

    2016-10-12

    The aim of this study was to evaluate the soluble and bound phenolic content of finger millet and the impact of process induced changes on phenolic profiles of their sour porridge. Finger millet porridge and intermediate products were collected from four groups of households in the Hwedza communal area, Zimbabwe, after which soluble and bound phenolic compounds (PC) including condensed tannins (CT) were quantified. Bound PC and CT contributed 95% of the total PC and CT. The CT were only detected in the red varieties. Major individual PC identified were catechin occurring in the soluble fraction only, while ferulic, sinapic, and salicylic acid were mainly present in the bound fraction. Fermentation and cooking caused a more than 2-fold increase in soluble PC, CT, and individual PC. Improved traditional processing techniques optimized for improved bioavailability and health benefits of phenolics are highly relevant for the low income populations.

  19. A continuous analyzer for soluble anionic constituents and ammonium in atmospheric particulate matter.

    PubMed

    Al-Horr, Rida; Samanta, Gautam; Dasgupta, Purnendu K

    2003-12-15

    A new continuous soluble particle collector (PC) that does not use steam is described. Preceded by a denuder and interfaced with an ion chromatograph, this compact collector (3 in. o.d., approximately 5 in. total height) permits collection and continuous extraction of soluble components in atmospheric particulate matter. The PC is mounted atop a parallel plate wetted denuder for removal of soluble gases. The soluble gas denuded air enters the PC through an inlet. One version of the PC contained an integral cyclone-like inlet. For this device, penetration of particles as a function of size was characterized. In the simpler design, the sampled air enters the PC through a nozzle, and deionized water flows through a capillary tube placed close to the exit side of the nozzle by Venturi action or is forcibly pumped. Some growth of the aerosol occurs in the highly humid mist-chamber environment, but the dominant aerosol capture mechanism involves capture by the water film that forms on the hydrophobic PTFE membrane filter that constitutes the top of the PC and the airflow exit. Water drops coalesce on the filter and fall below into a purpose-machined cavity equipped with a liquid sensor. The water and the dissolved constituents are aspirated by a pump onto serial cation and anion preconcentrator columns. NH4+ captured by the cation preconcentrator is eluted with NaOH and is passed across an asymmetric membrane device. NH3 diffuses from the alkaline donor stream into a deionized water flowing countercurrent; the conductivity of the latter provides a measure of ammonium. The anions on the anion preconcentrator column are eluted and measured by a fully automated ion chromatography system. The total system thus provides automated semicontinuous measurement of soluble anions and ammonium. With a 15 min analytical cycle and a sampling rate of 5 L/min, the limit of detection (LOD) for ammonium is 8 ng/m3 and those for sulfate, nitrate, and oxalate are < or = 0.1 ng/m3. The

  20. [The expression and significance of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand and osteoprotegerin in periapical cyst and periapical granuloma].

    PubMed

    Zhang, Meihua; Yu, Yunzhi; Miao, Yu

    2012-08-01

    To investigate the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in periapical cyst and periapical granuloma by comparison with the expression in the normal periodontal tissue as control, and to identify their functional mechanism in the bone destruction of periapical cyst and granuloma. 20 periapical cyst tissues (cyst group), 20 periapical granuloma tissues (granuloma group), and 20 normal periodontal tissues (control group) were collected respectively. Immunohistochemical technology was performed to detect the expression of RANKL and OPG in above three groups. In cyst group, granuloma group and control group, the expression of RANKL were 75.00 +/- 7.54, 68.40 +/- 6.74 and 29.40 +/- 2.46, respectively. The expression of OPG were 38.10 +/- 7.09, 47.65 +/- 13.85 and 58.60 +/- 5.88, respectively. The differences among the three groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). RANKL and OPG in cysts group were negatively correlated (r=-0.56, P=0.01) and were not correlated with granuloma and control group (P>0.05). RANKL and OPG play roles in the bone absorption of periapical disease. In periapical disease, abnormal expression of RANKL and OPG are detected, RANKL significantly increase, OPG decrease, bone absorption accelerate and osteolytic lesion are observed. In periapical cyst, the bone absorption is more active compared with periapical granuloma.

  1. [Effects of snow cover on water soluble and organic solvent soluble components during foliar litter decomposition in an alpine forest].

    PubMed

    Xu, Li-Ya; Yang, Wan-Qin; Li, Han; Ni, Xiang-Yin; He, Jie; Wu, Fu-Zhong

    2014-11-01

    Seasonal snow cover may change the characteristics of freezing, leaching and freeze-thaw cycles in the scenario of climate change, and then play important roles in the dynamics of water soluble and organic solvent soluble components during foliar litter decomposition in the alpine forest. Therefore, a field litterbag experiment was conducted in an alpine forest in western Sichuan, China. The foliar litterbags of typical tree species (birch, cypress, larch and fir) and shrub species (willow and azalea) were placed on the forest floor under different snow cover thickness (deep snow, medium snow, thin snow and no snow). The litterbags were sampled at snow formation stage, snow cover stage and snow melting stage in winter. The results showed that the content of water soluble components from six foliar litters decreased at snow formation stage and snow melting stage, but increased at snow cover stage as litter decomposition proceeded in the winter. Besides the content of organic solvent soluble components from azalea foliar litter increased at snow cover stage, the content of organic solvent soluble components from the other five foliar litters kept a continue decreasing tendency in the winter. Compared with the content of organic solvent soluble components, the content of water soluble components was affected more strongly by snow cover thickness, especially at snow formation stage and snow cover stage. Compared with the thicker snow covers, the thin snow cover promoted the decrease of water soluble component contents from willow and azalea foliar litter and restrain the decrease of water soluble component content from cypress foliar litter. Few changes in the content of water soluble components from birch, fir and larch foliar litter were observed under the different thicknesses of snow cover. The results suggested that the effects of snow cover on the contents of water soluble and organic solvent soluble components during litter decomposition would be controlled by

  2. Association between serum soluble corin and hyperglycaemia: a cross-sectional study among Chinese adults.

    PubMed

    Liu, Yan; Peng, Hao; Zhang, Qiu; Zhang, Peipei; Tian, Yunfan; Chao, Xiangqin; Zhang, Yonghong

    2015-12-23

    Decreased natriuretic peptides are risk factors for diabetes. As a physiological activator of natriuretic peptides, corin may play a role in glucose metabolism. Here, we aimed to test the hypothesis in a general population of China. Cross-sectional study. A population study in Suzhou, China. A total of 2498 participants aged above 30 years were included in the study. The association between serum soluble corin and hyperglycaemia was examined in men and women, using non-conditional logistic regression models, respectively. Serum soluble corin, in men and women, was significantly higher in participants with hyperglycaemia than in those without (all p<0.001). OR of hyperglycaemia positively and significantly increased with serum soluble corin quartiles, in men (p for trend <0.001) and in women (p for trend=0.050), even after multivariate adjustment. Participants with a serum soluble corin, in men (OR=1.66, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.23) and women (OR=1.27, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.61), over the median level, were more likely to have hyperglycaemia compared with the remaining participants, after controlling for confounding factors. Hyperglycaemia was significantly and positively associated with increased serum soluble corin in men and women. Our findings suggest that serum soluble corin may be a risk factor or a biomarker of hyperglycaemia. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/

  3. Solubility of xenon in amino-acid solutions. II. Nine less-soluble amino acids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kennan, Richard P.; Himm, Jeffrey F.; Pollack, Gerald L.

    1988-05-01

    Ostwald solubility (L) of xenon gas, as the radioisotope 133Xe, has been measured as a function of solute concentration, at 25.0 °C, in aqueous solutions of nine amino acids. The amino-acid concentrations investigated covered much of their solubility ranges in water, viz., asparagine monohydrate (0-0.19 M), cysteine (0-1.16 M), glutamine (0-0.22 M), histidine (0-0.26 M), isoleucine (0-0.19 M), methionine (0-0.22 M), serine (0-0.38 M), threonine (0-1.4 M), and valine (0-0.34 M). We have previously reported solubility results for aqueous solutions of six other, generally more soluble, amino acids (alanine, arginine, glycine, hydroxyproline, lysine, and proline), of sucrose and sodium chloride. In general, L decreases approximately linearly with increasing solute concentration in these solutions. If we postulate that the observed decreases in gas solubility are due to hydration, the results under some assumptions can be used to calculate hydration numbers (H), i.e., the number of H2O molecules associated with each amino-acid solute molecule. The average values of hydration number (H¯) obtained at 25.0 °C are 15.3±1.5 for asparagine, 6.8±0.3 for cysteine, 11.5±1.1 for glutamine, 7.3±0.7 for histidine, 5.9±0.4 for isoleucine, 10.6±0.8 for methionine, 11.2±1.3 for serine, 7.7± 1.0 for threonine, and 6.6±0.6 for valine. We have also measured the temperature dependence of solubility L(T) from 5-40 °C for arginine, glycine, and proline, and obtained hydration numbers H¯(T) in this range. Between 25-40 °C, arginine has an H¯ near zero. This may be evidence for an attractive interaction between xenon and arginine molecules in aqueous solution.

  4. Control of total GFP expression by alterations to the 3′ region nucleotide sequence

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background Previously, we distinguished the Escherichia coli type II cytoplasmic membrane translocation pathways of Tat, Yid, and Sec for unfolded and folded soluble target proteins. The translocation of folded protein to the periplasm for soluble expression via the Tat pathway was controlled by an N-terminal hydrophilic leader sequence. In this study, we investigated the effect of the hydrophilic C-terminal end and its nucleotide sequence on total and soluble protein expression. Results The native hydrophilic C-terminal end of GFP was obtained by deleting the C-terminal peptide LeuGlu-6×His, derived from pET22b(+). The corresponding clones induced total and soluble GFP expression that was either slightly increased or dramatically reduced, apparently through reconstruction of the nucleotide sequence around the stop codon in the 3′ region. In the expression-induced clones, the hydrophilic C-terminus showed increased Tat pathway specificity for soluble expression. However, in the expression-reduced clone, after analyzing the role of the 5′ poly(A) coding sequence with a substituted synonymous codon, we proved that the longer 5′ poly(A) coding sequence interacted with the reconstructed 3′ region nucleotide sequence to create a new mRNA tertiary structure between the 5′ and 3′ regions, which resulted in reduced total GFP expression. Further, to recover the reduced expression by changing the 3′ nucleotide sequence, after replacing selected C-terminal 5′ codons and the stop codon in the ORF with synonymous codons, total GFP expression in most of the clones was recovered to the undeleted control level. The insertion of trinucleotides after the stop codon in the 3′-UTR recovered or reduced total GFP expression. RT-PCR revealed that the level of total protein expression was controlled by changes in translational or transcriptional regulation, which were induced or reduced by the substitution or insertion of 3′ region nucleotides. Conclusions We found

  5. The Effect of Leptin Replacement on Parathyroid Hormone, RANKL-Osteoprotegerin Axis, and Wnt Inhibitors in Young Women With Hypothalamic Amenorrhea

    PubMed Central

    Foo, Joo-Pin; Polyzos, Stergios A.; Anastasilakis, Athanasios D.; Chou, Sharon

    2014-01-01

    Context: Recombinant leptin (metreleptin) treatment restores bone mineral density in women with hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA), a condition characterized by hypoleptinemia, which has adverse impact on bone health. Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate how metreleptin exerts its positive effect on bone metabolism in humans. Design: This was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Setting: The study was conducted at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston, Massachusetts). Patients and Interventions: Women (n = 18) with HA and hypoleptinemia for at least 6 months were randomized to receive either metreleptin or placebo for 36 weeks. Serum samples were obtained at baseline and 12, 24, and 36 weeks of treatment. Main Outcome Measures: Circulating levels of leptin, intact PTH (iPTH), receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), sclerostin, dickkopf-1, and fibroblast growth factor-23. Results: Metreleptin administration significantly increased leptin levels throughout the treatment period (P = .001). iPTH decreased over the 36 weeks of treatment (P = .01). There was a trend toward a decrease in serum RANKL and increase in serum OPG in the metreleptin-treated group. The RANKL to OPG ratio was significantly decreased within the metreleptin (P = .04) but not the placebo group. Metreleptin had no effect on serum sclerostin, dickkopf-1, and fibroblast growth factor-23. Conclusions: Metreleptin treatment over 36 weeks decreases iPTH and RANKL to OPG ratio levels in hypoleptinemic women with HA. PMID:25148234

  6. Solubility from the Femtoscale to the Macroscale

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Pollock, David W.; Truong, Giovanna T.; Bonjour, Jessica L.; Frost, John A.

    2018-01-01

    Solubility is frequently introduced at the high school and introductory college levels through the symbolic domain using net ionic equations and solubility product constants. Students may become proficient with spectator ion cancellation and skilled with algorithmic mathematical applications of solubility without obtaining a deeper understanding…

  7. [Study on Chemical Constituents of Fat-soluble Extraction from Lepidium meyenii].

    PubMed

    Fan, Cai-hong; Ge, Fa-huan

    2015-02-01

    To study the chemical constituents of the fat-soluble extraction from Lepidium meyenii root. Different extraction methods were studied, including supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, circumfluence extraction and steam distillation. Chemical constituents of the fat-soluble extraction from Lepidium meyenii were analyzed by GC/MS. The number of compounds isolated by the above four methods were 38, 31, 14, 21 (specific gravity less than 1 in steam distillation) , and 25 (specific gravity greater than 1 in steam distillation), accounting for 85.79%, 81.18%, 62.08%, 98.36% (specific gravity less than 1 in steam distillation) and 81.54% (specific gravity greater than 1 in steam distillation) of each total peak area, respectively. This study lays a certain foundation for further study and development of functional factors in Lepidium meyenii root.

  8. Solubility advantage of amorphous pharmaceuticals: II. Application of quantitative thermodynamic relationships for prediction of solubility enhancement in structurally diverse insoluble pharmaceuticals.

    PubMed

    Murdande, Sharad B; Pikal, Michael J; Shanker, Ravi M; Bogner, Robin H

    2010-12-01

    To quantitatively assess the solubility advantage of amorphous forms of nine insoluble drugs with a wide range of physico-chemical properties utilizing a previously reported thermodynamic approach. Thermal properties of amorphous and crystalline forms of drugs were measured using modulated differential calorimetry. Equilibrium moisture sorption uptake by amorphous drugs was measured by a gravimetric moisture sorption analyzer, and ionization constants were determined from the pH-solubility profiles. Solubilities of crystalline and amorphous forms of drugs were measured in de-ionized water at 25°C. Polarized microscopy was used to provide qualitative information about the crystallization of amorphous drug in solution during solubility measurement. For three out the nine compounds, the estimated solubility based on thermodynamic considerations was within two-fold of the experimental measurement. For one compound, estimated solubility enhancement was lower than experimental value, likely due to extensive ionization in solution and hence its sensitivity to error in pKa measurement. For the remaining five compounds, estimated solubility was about 4- to 53-fold higher than experimental results. In all cases where the theoretical solubility estimates were significantly higher, it was observed that the amorphous drug crystallized rapidly during the experimental determination of solubility, thus preventing an accurate experimental assessment of solubility advantage. It has been demonstrated that the theoretical approach does provide an accurate estimate of the maximum solubility enhancement by an amorphous drug relative to its crystalline form for structurally diverse insoluble drugs when recrystallization during dissolution is minimal.

  9. Influence of sodium lauryl sulfate and tween 80 on carbamazepine-nicotinamide cocrystal solubility and dissolution behaviour.

    PubMed

    Li, Mingzhong; Qiao, Ning; Wang, Ke

    2013-10-11

    The influence of the surfactants of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and Tween 80 on carbamazepine-nicotinamide (CBZ-NIC) cocrystal solubility and dissolution behaviour has been studied in this work. The solubility of the CBZ-NIC cocrystal was determined by measuring the eutectic concentrations of the drug and the coformer. Evolution of the intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR) of the CBZ-NIC cocrystal was monitored by the UV imaging dissolution system during dissolution. Experimental results indicated that SLS and Tween 80 had little influence upon the solubility of the CBZ-NIC cocrystal but they had totally opposite effects on the IDR of the CBZ-NIC cocrystal during dissolution. SLS significantly increased the IDR of the CBZ-NIC cocrystal while Tween 80 decreased its IDR.

  10. Influence of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Tween 80 on Carbamazepine–Nicotinamide Cocrystal Solubility and Dissolution Behaviour

    PubMed Central

    Li, Mingzhong; Qiao, Ning; Wang, Ke

    2013-01-01

    The influence of the surfactants of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and Tween 80 on carbamazepine–nicotinamide (CBZ–NIC) cocrystal solubility and dissolution behaviour has been studied in this work. The solubility of the CBZ–NIC cocrystal was determined by measuring the eutectic concentrations of the drug and the coformer. Evolution of the intrinsic dissolution rate (IDR) of the CBZ–NIC cocrystal was monitored by the UV imaging dissolution system during dissolution. Experimental results indicated that SLS and Tween 80 had little influence upon the solubility of the CBZ–NIC cocrystal but they had totally opposite effects on the IDR of the CBZ–NIC cocrystal during dissolution. SLS significantly increased the IDR of the CBZ–NIC cocrystal while Tween 80 decreased its IDR. PMID:24300560

  11. Sibutramine characterization and solubility, a theoretical study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Aceves-Hernández, Juan M.; Nicolás Vázquez, Inés; Hinojosa-Torres, Jaime; Penieres Carrillo, Guillermo; Arroyo Razo, Gabriel; Miranda Ruvalcaba, René

    2013-04-01

    Solubility data from sibutramine (SBA) in a family of alcohols were obtained at different temperatures. Sibutramine was characterized by using thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction technique. Solubility data were obtained by the saturation method. The van't Hoff equation was used to obtain the theoretical solubility values and the ideal solvent activity coefficient. No polymorphic phenomena were found from the X-ray diffraction analysis, even though this compound is a racemic mixture of (+) and (-) enantiomers. Theoretical calculations showed that the polarisable continuum model was able to reproduce the solubility and stability of sibutramine molecule in gas phase, water and a family of alcohols at B3LYP/6-311++G (d,p) level of theory. Dielectric constant, dipolar moment and solubility in water values as physical parameters were used in those theoretical calculations for explaining that behavior. Experimental and theoretical results were compared and good agreement was obtained. Sibutramine solubility increased from methanol to 1-octanol in theoretical and experimental results.

  12. Osteoprotegerin inhibits bone resorption and prevents tumor development in a xenogenic model of Ewing's sarcoma by inhibiting RANKL

    PubMed Central

    Picarda, Gaëlle; Matous, Etienne; Amiaud, Jérôme; Charrier, Céline; Lamoureux, François; Heymann, Marie-Françoise; Tirode, Franck; Pitard, Bruno; Trichet, Valérie; Heymann, Dominique; Redini, Françoise

    2013-01-01

    Ewing's sarcoma (ES) associated with high osyeolytic lesions typically arises in the bones of children and adolescents. The development of multi-disciplinary therapy has increased current long-term survival rates to greater than 50% but only 20% for high risk group patients (relapse, metastases, etc.). Among new therapeutic approaches, osteoprotegerin (OPG), an anti-bone resorption molecule may represent a promising candidate to inhibit RANKL-mediated osteolytic component of ES and consequently to limit the tumor development. Xenogenic orthotopic models of Ewing's sarcoma were induced by intra-osseous injection of human TC-71 ES cells. OPG was administered in vivo by non-viral gene transfer using an amphiphilic non ionic block copolymer. ES bearing mice were assigned to controls (no treatment, synthetic vector alone or F68/empty pcDNA3.1 plasmid) and hOPG treated groups. A substantial but not significant inhibition of tumor development was observed in the hOPG group as compared to control groups. Marked bone lesions were revealed by micro-computed tomography analyses in control groups whereas a normal bone micro-architecture was preserved in the hOPG treated group. RANKL over-expressed in ES animal model was expressed by tumor cells rather than by host cells. However, TRAIL present in the tumor microenvironment may interfere with OPG effect on tumor development and bone remodeling via RANKL inhibition. In conclusion, the use of a xenogenic model of Ewing's sarcoma allowed discriminating between the tumor and host cells responsible for the elevation of RANKL production observed in this tumor and demonstrated the relevance of blocking RANKL by OPG as a promising therapy in ES. PMID:26909278

  13. Extended Hansen solubility approach: naphthalene in individual solvents.

    PubMed

    Martin, A; Wu, P L; Adjei, A; Beerbower, A; Prausnitz, J M

    1981-11-01

    A multiple regression method using Hansen partial solubility parameters, delta D, delta p, and delta H, was used to reproduce the solubilities of naphthalene in pure polar and nonpolar solvents and to predict its solubility in untested solvents. The method, called the extended Hansen approach, was compared with the extended Hildebrand solubility approach and the universal-functional-group-activity-coefficient (UNIFAC) method. The Hildebrand regular solution theory was also used to calculate naphthalene solubility. Naphthalene, an aromatic molecule having no side chains or functional groups, is "well-behaved', i.e., its solubility in active solvents known to interact with drug molecules is fairly regular. Because of its simplicity, naphthalene is a suitable solute with which to initiate the difficult study of solubility phenomena. The three methods tested (Hildebrand regular solution theory was introduced only for comparison of solubilities in regular solution) yielded similar results, reproducing naphthalene solubilities within approximately 30% of literature values. In some cases, however, the error was considerably greater. The UNIFAC calculation is superior in that it requires only the solute's heat of fusion, the melting point, and a knowledge of chemical structures of solute and solvent. The extended Hansen and extended Hildebrand methods need experimental solubility data on which to carry out regression analysis. The extended Hansen approach was the method of second choice because of its adaptability to solutes and solvents from various classes. Sample calculations are included to illustrate methods of predicting solubilities in untested solvents at various temperatures. The UNIFAC method was successful in this regard.

  14. Ideal gas solubilities and solubility selectivities in a binary mixture of room-temperature ionic liquids.

    PubMed

    Finotello, Alexia; Bara, Jason E; Narayan, Suguna; Camper, Dean; Noble, Richard D

    2008-02-28

    This study focuses on the solubility behaviors of CO2, CH4, and N2 gases in binary mixtures of imidazolium-based room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) using 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C2mim][Tf2N]) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C2mim][BF4]) at 40 degrees C and low pressures (approximately 1 atm). The mixtures tested were 0, 25, 50, 75, 90, 95, and 100 mol % [C2mim][BF4] in [C2mim][Tf2N]. Results show that regular solution theory (RST) can be used to describe the gas solubility and selectivity behaviors in RTIL mixtures using an average mixture solubility parameter or an average measured mixture molar volume. Interestingly, the solubility selectivity, defined as the ratio of gas mole fractions in the RTIL mixture, of CO2 with N2 or CH4 in pure [C2mim][BF4] can be enhanced by adding 5 mol % [C2mim][Tf2N].

  15. Pareto-optimal reversed-phase chromatography separation of three insulin variants with a solubility constraint.

    PubMed

    Arkell, Karolina; Knutson, Hans-Kristian; Frederiksen, Søren S; Breil, Martin P; Nilsson, Bernt

    2018-01-12

    With the shift of focus of the regulatory bodies, from fixed process conditions towards flexible ones based on process understanding, model-based optimization is becoming an important tool for process development within the biopharmaceutical industry. In this paper, a multi-objective optimization study of separation of three insulin variants by reversed-phase chromatography (RPC) is presented. The decision variables were the load factor, the concentrations of ethanol and KCl in the eluent, and the cut points for the product pooling. In addition to the purity constraints, a solubility constraint on the total insulin concentration was applied. The insulin solubility is a function of the ethanol concentration in the mobile phase, and the main aim was to investigate the effect of this constraint on the maximal productivity. Multi-objective optimization was performed with and without the solubility constraint, and visualized as Pareto fronts, showing the optimal combinations of the two objectives productivity and yield for each case. Comparison of the constrained and unconstrained Pareto fronts showed that the former diverges when the constraint becomes active, because the increase in productivity with decreasing yield is almost halted. Consequently, we suggest the operating point at which the total outlet concentration of insulin reaches the solubility limit as the most suitable one. According to the results from the constrained optimizations, the maximal productivity on the C 4 adsorbent (0.41 kg/(m 3  column h)) is less than half of that on the C 18 adsorbent (0.87 kg/(m 3  column h)). This is partly caused by the higher selectivity between the insulin variants on the C 18 adsorbent, but the main reason is the difference in how the solubility constraint affects the processes. Since the optimal ethanol concentration for elution on the C 18 adsorbent is higher than for the C 4 one, the insulin solubility is also higher, allowing a higher pool concentration

  16. Understanding Solubility through Excel Spreadsheets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brown, Pamela

    2001-02-01

    This article describes assignments related to the solubility of inorganic salts that can be given in an introductory general chemistry course. Le Châtelier's principle, solubility, unit conversion, and thermodynamics are tied together to calculate heats of solution by two methods: heats of formation and an application of the van't Hoff equation. These assignments address the need for math, graphing, and computer skills in the chemical technology program by developing skill in the use of Microsoft Excel to prepare spreadsheets and graphs and to perform linear and nonlinear curve-fitting. Background information on the value of understanding and predicting solubility is provided.

  17. Characterization of the Water-Soluble Fraction of Woody Biomass Pyrolysis Oils

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Stankovikj, Filip; McDonald, Armando G.; Helms, Gregory L.

    This paper reports a study of the chemical composition of the water soluble (WS) fraction obtained by cold water precipitation of two commercial wood pyrolysis oils (BTG and Amaron). The fraction studied accounts for between 50.3 and 51.3 wt. % of the oils. With the most common analytical techniques used today for the characterization of this fraction (KF titration, GC/MS, hydrolysable sugars and total carbohydrates), it is possible to quantify only between 45 and 50 wt. % of it. Our results confirm that most of the total carbohydrates (hydrolysable sugars and non-hydrolysable) are soluble in water. The ion chromatography hydrolysismore » method showed that between 11.6 and 17.3 wt. % of these oils were hydrolysable sugars. A small quantity of phenols detectable by GC/MS (between 2.5 and 3.9 wt. %) were identified. It is postulated that the unknown high molecular weight fraction (30-55 wt. %) is formed by highly dehydrated sugars rich in carbonyl groups and WS phenols. The overall content of carbonyl, carboxyl, hydroxyl and phenolic compounds in the WS fraction were quantified by titration, Folin-Ciocalteu, 31P-NMR and 1H-NMR. The WS fraction contains between 5.5 and 6.2 mmol/g of carbonyl groups, between 0.4 and 1.0 mmol/g of carboxylic acid groups, between 1.2 and 1.8 mmol/g phenolic -OH, and between 6.0 and 7.9 mmol/g of aliphatic alcohol groups. Translation into weight fractions of the WS was done by supposing surrogate structures for the water soluble phenols, carbonyl and carboxyl groups and we estimated the content of WS phenols (21-27 wt. %), carbonyl (5-14 wt.%), and carboxyl (0-4 wt.%). Together with the total carbohydrates (23-27 wt.%), this approach leads to > 90 wt. % of the WS material in the bio-oils being quantified. We speculate the larger portion of the difference between the total carbohydrates and hydrolysable sugars is the missing furanic fraction. Further refinement of the suggested methods and development of separation schemes to obtain and

  18. The effect of relative solubility on crystal purity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Givand, Jeffrey Christopher

    This study establishes the relationship between impurity incorporation in a crystal by lattice substitution and the solubility of that impurity in solution. The model system studied was L-isoleucine crystals contaminated by the isomorphic impurity L-leucine. Upon crystallization from aqueous solution by cooling, leucine is concentrated in the isoleucine unit cell through lattice substitution mechanisms. Attempts to reduce the degree of leucine incorporation via adjustments of the rate at which supersaturation is generated yielded marginal success. This work demonstrates that incorporation of leucine in the crystal can be considerably suppressed by reducing the solubility of product relative to the solubility of impurity. Changes to the relative solubility of the impurity were accomplished by the addition of various electrolytes and organic co-solvents to the aqueous amino acid solutions. The solubilities of the two amino acids were measured and compared to their solubilities in pure water. Changes in the ratio of pure-component solubilities were directly related to changes in crystal purity. This thermodynamic quantity of relative solubility was shown to be a key factor in determining impurity uptake by lattice substitution. In addition to the experimental observations, a fundamental thermodynamic link between relative solubility and crystal purity is established through this research. First, the amino acid solubility data as a function of temperature in all solvent mixtures were accurately correlated using a thermodynamic model. The parameters from this model were then adapted to a novel solid-solution thermodynamic model to express the crystal purity in terms of equilibrium solution impurity concentration. After the determination of one system specific parameter, the model is able to predict the crystal purity in a new solvent in which the pure-component solubilities are known. The ability of an electrolyte or co-solvent to improve crystal purity from a given

  19. Solubility of carbohydrates in heavy water.

    PubMed

    Cardoso, Marcus V C; Carvalho, Larissa V C; Sabadini, Edvaldo

    2012-05-15

    The solubility of several mono-(glucose and xylose), di-(sucrose and maltose), tri-(raffinose) and cyclic (α-cyclodextrin) saccharides in H(2)O and in D(2)O were measured over a range of temperatures. The solution enthalpies for the different carbohydrates in the two solvents were determined using the vant' Hoff equation and the values in D(2)O are presented here for the first time. Our findings indicate that the replacement of H(2)O by D(2)O remarkably decreases the solubilities of the less soluble carbohydrates, such as maltose, raffinose and α-cyclodextrin. On the other hand, the more soluble saccharides, glucose, xylose, and sucrose, are practically insensitive to the H/D replacement in water. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Solubility of aerosol trace elements: Sources and deposition fluxes in the Canary Region

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    López-García, Patricia; Gelado-Caballero, María Dolores; Collado-Sánchez, Cayetano; Hernández-Brito, José Joaquín

    2017-01-01

    African dust inputs have important effects on the climate and marine biogeochemistry of the subtropical North Atlantic Ocean. The impact of dust inputs on oceanic carbon uptake and climate is dependent on total dust deposition fluxes as well as the bioavailability of nutrients and metals in the dust. In this work, the solubility of trace metals (Fe, Al, Mn, Co and Cu) and ions (Ca, sulphate, nitrate and phosphate) has been estimated from the analysis of a long-time series of 109 samples collected over a 3-year period in the Canary Islands. Solubility is primarily a function of aerosol origin, with higher solubility values corresponding to aerosols with more anthropogenic influence. Using soluble fractions of trace elements measured in this work, atmospheric deposition fluxes of soluble metals and nutrients have been calculated. Inputs of dissolved nutrients (P, N and Fe) have been estimated for the mixed layer. Considering that P is the limiting factor when ratios of these elements are compared with phytoplankton requirements, an increase of 0.58 nM of P in the mixed layer (∼150 m depth) and in a year can be estimated, which can support an increase of 0.02 μg Chla L-1 y-1. These atmospheric inputs of trace metals and nutrients appear to be significant relative to the concentrations reported in this region, especially during the summer months when the water column is more stratified and deep-water nutrient inputs are reduced.

  1. Soluble Fibre Meal Challenge Reduces Airway Inflammation and Expression of GPR43 and GPR41 in Asthma.

    PubMed

    Halnes, Isabel; Baines, Katherine J; Berthon, Bronwyn S; MacDonald-Wicks, Lesley K; Gibson, Peter G; Wood, Lisa G

    2017-01-10

    Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are produced following the fermentation of soluble fibre by gut bacteria. In animal models, both dietary fibre and SCFAs have demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects via the activation of free fatty acid receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptor 41 and 43 (GPR41 and GPR43). This pilot study examined the acute effect of a single dose of soluble fibre on airway inflammation-including changes in gene expression of free fatty acid receptors-in asthma. Adults with stable asthma consumed a soluble fibre meal ( n = 17) containing 3.5 g inulin and probiotics, or a control meal ( n = 12) of simple carbohydrates. Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) was measured and induced sputum was collected at 0 and 4 h for differential cell counts, measurement of interleukin-8 (IL-8) protein concentration, and GPR41 and GPR43 gene expression. At 4 h after meal consumption, airway inflammation biomarkers, including sputum total cell count, neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes, sputum IL-8, and eNO significantly decreased compared to baseline in the soluble fibre group only. This corresponded with upregulated GPR41 and GPR43 sputum gene expression and improved lung function in the soluble fibre group alone. Soluble fibre has acute anti-inflammatory effects in asthmatic airways. Long-term effects of soluble fibre as an anti-inflammatory therapy in asthma warrants further investigation.

  2. Partially soluble organics as cloud condensation nuclei: Role of trace soluble and surface active species

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Broekhuizen, K.; Kumar, P. Pradeep; Abbatt, J. P. D.

    2004-01-01

    The ability of partially soluble organic species to act as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) has been studied. A Köhler model incorporating solute solubility and droplet surface tension describes the behavior of solid adipic and succinic acid particles, whereas solid azelaic acid activates much more efficiently that predicted. In addition, it was shown that trace levels of either sulfate or surface active species have a dramatic effect on the activation of adipic acid, a moderately soluble organic, as predicted by the full Köhler model. For internally mixed particles in the atmosphere, these effects will greatly enhance the role of organic aerosols as CCN.

  3. Soluble asialoglycoprotein receptors reflect the apoptosis of hepatocytes.

    PubMed

    Kakegawa, Tetsuji; Ise, Hirohiko; Sugihara, Nobuhiro; Nikaido, Toshio; Negishi, Naoki; Akaike, Toshihiro; Tanaka, Eiji

    2002-01-01

    Cell death is thought to take place through at least two distinct processes: apoptosis and necrosis. There is increasing evidence that dysregulation of the apoptotic program is involved in liver diseases. However, there is no method to simply evaluate apoptosis in the liver tissue at present. It has been reported that the expression of asialoglycoprotein receptors (AGPRs) increases with apoptosis, but there is no report until now that investigates the influence of soluble AGPRs on apoptosis of hepatocytes. Soluble AGPRs have been reported to be present in human serum under physiological conditions. In the present study, in order to investigate the correlation between apoptosis of hepatocytes and soluble AGPR, mouse soluble AGPRs were detected using SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis was conducted using anti-extracellular mouse hepatic lectin-1 (Ex-MHL-1) antiserum (polyclonal rabbit serum). The mouse soluble AGPRs were present in culture medium and mouse serum when hepatocytes were damaged. The soluble AGPRs increased proportionately, as the number of dead hepatocytes increased. In addition, soluble AGPRs existed more when apoptotic cell death was observed in in vitro and in vivo than when necrotic cell death was observed. The extracellular moiety of MHL-1 exists in the culture medium and mouse serum as a soluble AGPR, but the detailed mechanism of releasing soluble AGPR from hepatocytes has not been revealed yet. We described the first evidence for the relation between quantity of soluble AGPRs with two kinds of cell death: necrosis and apoptosis. Based on the results of our study, soluble AGPRs might become a new marker of apoptosis in the liver tissue and be useful for clinical diagnosis and treatment for liver diseases.

  4. Simultaneous Rapid Determination of the Solubility and Diffusion Coefficients of a Poorly Water-Soluble Drug Based on a Novel UV Imaging System.

    PubMed

    Lu, Yan; Li, Mingzhong

    2016-01-01

    The solubility and diffusion coefficient are two of the most important physicochemical properties of a drug compound. In practice, both have been measured separately, which is time consuming. This work utilizes a novel technique of UV imaging to determine the solubility and diffusion coefficients of poorly water-soluble drugs simultaneously. A 2-step optimal method is proposed to determine the solubility and diffusion coefficients of a poorly water-soluble pharmaceutical substance based on the Fick's second law of diffusion and UV imaging measurements. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can be used to determine the solubility and diffusion coefficients of a drug with reasonable accuracy, indicating that UV imaging may provide a new opportunity to accurately measure the solubility and diffusion coefficients of a poorly water-soluble drug simultaneously and rapidly. Copyright © 2016 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Trade-off between soluble protein production and nutritional storage in Bromeliaceae

    PubMed Central

    Gonçalves, Ana Zangirolame; Mercier, Helenice; Oliveira, Rafael Silva; Romero, Gustavo Quevedo

    2016-01-01

    Background and Aims Bromeliads are able to occupy some of the most nutrient-poor environments especially because they possess absorptive leaf trichomes, leaves organized in rosettes, distinct photosynthetic pathways [C3, Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) or facultative C3–CAM], and may present an epiphytic habit. The more derived features related to these traits are described for the Tillandsioideae subfamily. In this context, the aims of this study were to evaluate how terrestrial predators contribute to the nutrition and performance of bromeliad species, subfamilies and ecophysiological types, whether these species differ in their ecophysiological traits and whether the physiological outcomes are consistent among subfamilies and types (e.g. presence/absence of tank, soil/tank/atmosphere source of nutrients, trichomes/roots access to nutrients). Methods Isotopic (15N-enriched predator faeces) and physiological methods (analyses of plant protein, amino acids, growth, leaf mass per area and total N incorporated) in greenhouse experiments were used to investigate the ecophysiological contrasts between Tillandsioideae and Bromelioideae, and among ecophysiological types when a predatory anuran contributes to their nutrition. Key Results It was observed that Bromelioideae had higher concentrations of soluble protein and only one species grew more (Ananas bracteatus), while Tillandsioideae showed higher concentrations of total amino acids, asparagine and did not grow. The ecophysiological types that showed similar protein contents also had similar growth. Additionally, an ordination analysis showed that the subfamilies and ecophysiological types were discrepant considering the results of the total nitrogen incorporated from predators, soluble protein and asparagine concentrations, relative growth rate and leaf mass per area. Conclusions Bromeliad subfamilies showed a trade-off between two strategies: Tillandsioideae stored nitrogen into amino acids possibly for

  6. Trade-off between soluble protein production and nutritional storage in Bromeliaceae.

    PubMed

    Gonçalves, Ana Zangirolame; Mercier, Helenice; Oliveira, Rafael Silva; Romero, Gustavo Quevedo

    2016-11-01

    Bromeliads are able to occupy some of the most nutrient-poor environments especially because they possess absorptive leaf trichomes, leaves organized in rosettes, distinct photosynthetic pathways [C 3 , Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) or facultative C 3 -CAM], and may present an epiphytic habit. The more derived features related to these traits are described for the Tillandsioideae subfamily. In this context, the aims of this study were to evaluate how terrestrial predators contribute to the nutrition and performance of bromeliad species, subfamilies and ecophysiological types, whether these species differ in their ecophysiological traits and whether the physiological outcomes are consistent among subfamilies and types (e.g. presence/absence of tank, soil/tank/atmosphere source of nutrients, trichomes/roots access to nutrients). Isotopic ( 15 N-enriched predator faeces) and physiological methods (analyses of plant protein, amino acids, growth, leaf mass per area and total N incorporated) in greenhouse experiments were used to investigate the ecophysiological contrasts between Tillandsioideae and Bromelioideae, and among ecophysiological types when a predatory anuran contributes to their nutrition. It was observed that Bromelioideae had higher concentrations of soluble protein and only one species grew more (Ananas bracteatus), while Tillandsioideae showed higher concentrations of total amino acids, asparagine and did not grow. The ecophysiological types that showed similar protein contents also had similar growth. Additionally, an ordination analysis showed that the subfamilies and ecophysiological types were discrepant considering the results of the total nitrogen incorporated from predators, soluble protein and asparagine concentrations, relative growth rate and leaf mass per area. Bromeliad subfamilies showed a trade-off between two strategies: Tillandsioideae stored nitrogen into amino acids possibly for transamination reactions during nutritional stress and

  7. Aqueous solubility of Cr(VI) compounds in ferrochrome bag filter dust and the implications thereof

    DOE PAGES

    Du Preez, S. P.; Beukes, J. P.; Van Dalen, W. P. J.; ...

    2017-04-21

    The production of ferrochrome (FeCr) is a reducing process. However, it is impossible to completely exclude oxygen from all of the high-temperature production process steps, which may lead to unintentional formation of small amounts of Cr(VI). The majority of Cr(VI) is associated with particles found in the off-gas of the high-temperature processes, which are cleaned by means of venturi scrubbers or bag filter dust (BFD) systems. BFD contains the highest concentration of Cr(VI) of all FeCr wastes. In this study, the solubility of Cr(VI) present in BFD was determined by evaluating four different BFD samples. The results indicate that themore » currently applied Cr(VI) treatment strategies of the FeCr producer (with process water pH ≤ 9) only effectively extract and treat the water-soluble Cr(VI) compounds, which merely represented approximately 31% of the total Cr(VI) present in the BFD samples evaluated. Extended extraction time, within the afore-mentioned pH range, proved futile in extracting sparingly-soluble and water-insoluble Cr(VI) species, which represented approximately 34% and 35% of the total Cr(VI), respectively. Due to the deficiencies of the current treatment strategies, it is highly likely that sparingly water-soluble Cr(VI) compounds will leach from waste storage facilities (e.g. slimes dams) over time. Therefore, it is critical that improved Cr(VI) treatment strategies be formulated, which should be an important future perspective for FeCr producers and researchers alike.« less

  8. Soluble 1:1 complexes and insoluble 3:2 complexes - Understanding the phase-solubility diagram of hydrocortisone and γ-cyclodextrin.

    PubMed

    Schönbeck, Christian; Madsen, Tobias L; Peters, Günther H; Holm, René; Loftsson, Thorsteinn

    2017-10-15

    The molecular mechanisms underlying the drug-solubilizing properties of γ-cyclodextrin were explored using hydrocortisone as a model drug. The B S -type phase-solubility diagram of hydrocortisone with γ-cyclodextrin was thoroughly characterized by measuring the concentrations of hydrocortisone and γ-cyclodextrin in solution and the solid phase. The drug-solubilizer interaction was also studied by isothermal titration calorimetry from which a precise value of the 1:1 binding constant (K 11 =4.01mM -1 at 20°C) was obtained. The formation of water-soluble 1:1 complexes is responsible for the initial increase in hydrocortisone solubility while the precipitation of entities with a 3:2 ratio of γ-cyclodextrin:hydrocortisone is responsible for the plateau and the ensuing strong decrease in solubility once all solid hydrocortisone is used up. The complete phase-solubility diagram is well accounted for by a model employing the 1:1 binding constant and the solubility product of the precipitating 3:2 entity (K 32 S =5.51 mM 5 ). For such systems, a small surplus of γ-cyclodextrin above the optimum concentration may result in a significant decrease in drug solubility, and the implications for drug formulations are briefly discussed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. The circulating concentration and ratio of total and high molecular weight adiponectin in post-menopausal women with and without osteoporosis and its association with body mass index and biochemical markers of bone metabolism.

    PubMed

    Sodi, R; Hazell, M J; Durham, B H; Rees, C; Ranganath, L R; Fraser, W D

    2009-09-01

    There is increasing evidence suggesting that adiponectin plays a role in the regulation of bone metabolism. This was a cross-sectional study of 34 post-menopausal women with and 37 without osteoporosis. All subjects had body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), total-, high molecular weight (HMW)-adiponectin and their ratio, osteoprotegerin (OPG), a marker of bone resorption (betaCTX) and formation (P1NP) measured. We observed a positive correlation between BMI and BMD (r=0.44, p<0.001). When normalised for BMI, total-, HMW-adiponectin concentrations and HMW/total-adiponectin ratio were significantly lower in obese compared to lean subjects but there was no difference between those with or without osteoporosis. There were significant negative correlations between HMW/total-adiponectin ratio and BMI (r=-0.27, p=0.030) and with OPG (r=-0.44, p<0.001). Our data suggests that there is no significant difference in the circulating concentration of fasting early morning total- or HMW-adiponectin in post-menopausal women with or without osteoporosis. The correlation between HMW/total-adiponectin ratio and OPG may indicate that adiponectin could influence bone metabolism by altering osteoblast production of OPG thereby affecting osteoclasts mediated bone resorption.

  10. Effect of hydrotalcite-like compounds on the aqueous solubility of some poorly water-soluble drugs.

    PubMed

    Ambrogi, Valeria; Fardella, Giuseppe; Grandolini, Giuliano; Nocchetti, Morena; Perioli, Luana

    2003-07-01

    A new approach of improving drug dissolution properties is described. This method exploits the property of a carrier owing to the hydrotalcite-type anionic clays (HTlc). HTlc is an inorganic layered solid that lodges anionic compounds among its layers. As HTlc dissolves at acidic pH values (pH < 4), the anions intercalated among the layers are promptly released in the medium. In this article some nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs were chosen as models of poorly water-soluble drugs. They were intercalated in HTlc and solubility measurements in acidic medium were performed. A remarkable improvement of drug solubility was observed especially in the case of indomethacin. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association

  11. Solubility of lysozyme in the presence of aqueous chloride salts: common-ion effect and its role on solubility and crystal thermodynamics.

    PubMed

    Annunziata, Onofrio; Payne, Andrew; Wang, Ying

    2008-10-08

    Understanding protein solubility is important for a rational design of the conditions of protein crystallization. We report measurements of lysozyme solubility in aqueous solutions as a function of NaCl, KCl, and NH4Cl concentrations at 25 degrees C and pH 4.5. Our solubility results are directly compared to preferential-interaction coefficients of these ternary solutions determined in the same experimental conditions by ternary diffusion. This comparison has provided new important insight on the dependence of protein solubility on salt concentration. We remark that the dependence of the preferential-interaction coefficient as a function of salt concentration is substantially shaped by the common-ion effect. This effect plays a crucial role also on the observed behavior of lysozyme solubility. We find that the dependence of solubility on salt type and concentration strongly correlates with the corresponding dependence of the preferential-interaction coefficient. Examination of both preferential-interaction coefficients and second virial coefficients has allowed us to demonstrate that the solubility dependence on salt concentration is substantially affected by the corresponding change of protein chemical potential in the crystalline phase. We propose a simple model for the crystalline phase based on salt partitioning between solution and the hydrated protein crystal. A novel solubility equation is reported that quantitatively explains the observed experimental dependence of protein solubility on salt concentration.

  12. Evaluation of the Role of Cisplatin-conjugated-soluble Gelatin Sponge: Feasibility Study in a Swine Model

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ikoma, Akira; Kawai, Nobuyuki; Sato, Morio, E-mail: morisato@wakayama-med.ac.jp

    2013-08-01

    PurposeTo evaluate the safety and the delivery function of cisplatin-conjugated-soluble gelatin sponge in a swine model.MethodsFifteen healthy young swine were assigned into three groups: transarterial cisplatin infusion group, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with cisplatin-conjugated 120-min soluble gelatin sponge (TACE-120) group, and TACE with cisplatin-conjugated 360-min soluble gelatin sponge (TACE-360) group. A total volume of 0.8 mL/kg cisplatin in each group and 8 mg/kg soluble gelatin sponge in TACE-120 and TACE-360 groups were injected from the left hepatic artery in small increments for 10 min. Common hepatic angiography and whole-blood sampling via the left hepatic vein were conducted to explore recanalization immediatelymore » after the procedure and again at 10, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 300, 360, and 420 min later. The area under the plasma concentration curve (AUC) of non-protein-bound platinum was compared among the three groups. Each liver was removed and cut into 10-cm-thick sections for calculating liver-damaged volume ratio.ResultsSequential angiography depicted gradual recanalization of the occluded hepatic artery and total recanalization at 120 and 360 min after embolization in the TACE-120 and TACE-360 groups, respectively. Of the three groups, AUC{sub 0-30}, AUC{sub 30-120}, and AUC{sub 120-420} were significantly highest in the transarterial cisplatin infusion group (p < 0.001), the TACE-120 group (p < 0.001), and the TACE-360 group (p < 0.001), respectively. The liver-damaged volume ratio in the TACE-360 group was small (8.20 %) but significantly higher than that in the TACE-120 group (2.67 %, p = 0.014).ConclusionCisplatin-conjugated soluble gelatin sponge functions as a cisplatin carrier and is associated with tolerable liver damage.« less

  13. How Soluble GARP Enhances TGFβ Activation.

    PubMed

    Fridrich, Sven; Hahn, Susanne A; Linzmaier, Marion; Felten, Matthias; Zwarg, Jenny; Lennerz, Volker; Tuettenberg, Andrea; Stöcker, Walter

    2016-01-01

    GARP (glycoprotein A repetitions predominant) is a cell surface receptor on regulatory T-lymphocytes, platelets, hepatic stellate cells and certain cancer cells. Its described function is the binding and accommodation of latent TGFβ (transforming growth factor), before the activation and release of the mature cytokine. For regulatory T cells it was shown that a knockdown of GARP or a treatment with blocking antibodies dramatically decreases their immune suppressive capacity. This confirms a fundamental role of GARP in the basic function of regulatory T cells. Prerequisites postulated for physiological GARP function include membrane anchorage of GARP, disulfide bridges between the propeptide of TGFβ and GARP and connection of this propeptide to αvβ6 or αvβ8 integrins of target cells during mechanical TGFβ release. Other studies indicate the existence of soluble GARP complexes and a functionality of soluble GARP alone. In order to clarify the underlying molecular mechanism, we expressed and purified recombinant TGFβ and a soluble variant of GARP. Surprisingly, soluble GARP and TGFβ formed stable non-covalent complexes in addition to disulfide-coupled complexes, depending on the redox conditions of the microenvironment. We also show that soluble GARP alone and the two variants of complexes mediate different levels of TGFβ activity. TGFβ activation is enhanced by the non-covalent GARP-TGFβ complex already at low (nanomolar) concentrations, at which GARP alone does not show any effect. This supports the idea of soluble GARP acting as immune modulator in vivo.

  14. Experimental determination of carbon solubility in Fe-Ni-S melts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Zhou; Hastings, Patrick; Von der Handt, Anette; Hirschmann, Marc M.

    2018-03-01

    To investigate the effect of metal/sulfide and Ni/Fe ratio on the C storage capacity of sulfide melts, we determine carbon solubility in Fe-Ni-S melts with various (Fe + Ni)/S and Ni/Fe via graphite-saturated high-pressure experiments from 2-7 GPa and 1200-1600 °C. Consistent with previous results, C solubility is high (4-6 wt.%) in metal-rich sulfide melts and diminishes with increasing S content. Melts with near M/S = 1 (XS > 0.4) have <0.5 wt.% C in equilibrium with graphite. C solubility is diminished modestly with increased Ni/Fe ratio, but the effect is most pronounced for S-poor melts, and becomes negligible in near-monosulfide compositions. Immiscibility between S-rich and C-rich melts is observed in Ni-poor compositions, but above ∼18 wt.% Ni there is complete miscibility. Because mantle sulfide compositions are expected to have high Ni concentrations, sulfide-carbide immiscibility is unlikely in natural mantle melts. An empirical parameterization of C solubility in Ni-Fe-S melts as a function of S and Ni contents allows estimation of the C storage capacity of sulfide in the mantle. Importantly, as the metal/sulfide (M/S) ratio of the melt increases, C storage increases both because C solubility increases and because the mass fraction of melt is enhanced by addition of metal from surrounding silicates. Under comparatively oxidized conditions where melts are near M/S = 1, as prevails at <250 km depth, bulk C storage is <3 ppm. In the deeper, more reduced mantle where M/S increases, up to 200 ppm C in typical mantle with 200 ± 100 ppm S can be stored in Fe-Ni-S melts. Thus, metal-rich sulfide melts are the principal host of carbon in the deep upper mantle and below. Residual carbon is present either as diamond or, if conditions are highly reduced and total C concentrations are low, solid alloy.

  15. New recommendations for measuring collagen solubility.

    PubMed

    Latorre, María E; Lifschitz, Adrian L; Purslow, Peter P

    2016-08-01

    The heat-solubility of intramuscular collagen is usually conducted in 1/4 Ringer's solution at pH7.4, despite this ionic strength and pH being inappropriate for post-rigor meat. The current work studied the percentage of soluble collagen and hydrothermal isometric tension characteristics of perimysial strips on bovine semitendinosus muscles in either 1/4 Ringer's solution, distilled water, PBS, or a solution of the same salt concentration as 1/4 Ringer's but at pH5.6. Values of % soluble collagen were lower at pH7.4 than 5.6. Increasing ionic strength reduced % soluble collagen. The maximum perimysial isometric tension was independent of the bathing medium, but the percent relaxation was higher at pH7.4 than at pH5.6, and increased with ionic strength of the media. It is recommended that future measurements of collagen solubility and tests on connective tissue components of post-rigor meat should be carried out in a solution of concentrations NaCl and KCl equivalent to those in 1/4 Ringer's, but at pH5.6, a pH relevant to post-rigor meat. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. Tough, soluble, aromatic, thermoplastic copolyimides

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bryant, Robert G. (Inventor)

    1994-01-01

    Tough, soluble, aromatic, thermoplastic copolyimides were prepared by reacting 4,4'-oxydiphthalic anhydride, 3,4,3',4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and 3,4'-oxydianiline. These copolyimides were found to be soluble in common amide solvents such as acetamide, Nmethylpyrrolidinone, and dimethylformamide allowing them to be applied as the fully imidized copolymer and to be used to prepare a wide range of articles.

  17. Active intestinal drug absorption and the solubility-permeability interplay.

    PubMed

    Porat, Daniel; Dahan, Arik

    2018-02-15

    The solubility-permeability interplay deals with the question: what is the concomitant effect on the drug's apparent permeability when increasing the apparent solubility with a solubility-enabling formulation? The solubility and the permeability are closely related, exhibit certain interplay between them, and ongoing research throughout the past decade shows that treating the one irrespectively of the other may be insufficient. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the current knowledge on the solubility-permeability interplay when using solubility-enabling formulations for oral lipophilic drugs, highlighting active permeability aspects. A solubility-enabling formulation may affect the permeability in opposite directions; the passive permeability may decrease as a result of the apparent solubility increase, according to the solubility-permeability tradeoff, but at the same time, certain components of the formulation may inhibit/saturate efflux transporters (when relevant), resulting in significant apparent permeability increase. In these cases, excipients with both solubilizing and e.g. P-gp inhibitory properties may lead to concomitant increase of both the solubility and the permeability. Intelligent development of such formulation will account for the simultaneous effects of the excipients' nature/concentrations on the two arms composing the overall permeability: the passive and the active arms. Overall, thorough mechanistic understanding of the various factors involved in the solubility-permeability interplay may allow developing better solubility-enabling formulations, thereby exploiting the advantages analyzed in this article, offering oral delivery solution even for BCS class IV drugs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. Isolation of a Soluble Component of Plasmodium berghei Which Induces Immunity in Rats

    PubMed Central

    Grothaus, G. D.; Kreier, J. P.

    1980-01-01

    Soluble material was obtained from sonically freed plasmodiae by three procedures. Two procedures, cryo-impacting and freeze-thawing, were evaluated for their ability to disrupt the parasites and release soluble material. The soluble materials obtained by these procedures were compared to materials washed from the surfaces of sonically freed parasites. Between 35 and 40% of the total parasite protein was solubilized by freeze-thawing or cryo-impacting. One cycle of freeze-thawing released nearly as much protein as could be released by this method, and additional cycles of freeze-thawing had little additional effect. Cryo-impacting solubilized only a small amount of protein in addition to that which was released by the cycle of freeze-thawing inherent in the procedure. Reductions in the packed cell volume of the material remaining after freeze-thawing or cryo-impacting indicate that the insoluble fragments are broken into smaller pieces as treatment is extended. Electron microscopy of 30-s cryo-impacted and three-times freeze-thawed parasites revealed membrane fragments similar in appearance. Patterns obtained by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the soluble material from freeze-thawed and cryo-impacted parasites were also similar, and approximately 13 protein bands were demonstrated. The material washed from the surfaces of the free parasites, on the other hand, resolved into only two to four major bands on the gel columns. In immunization studies, the soluble and insoluble fractions obtained by freeze-thawing or cryo-impacting and the material washed from the surfaces of the parasites all stimulated a protective immune response. On the basis of the amount of protein required to stimulate roughly comparable immunity, the soluble fraction obtained by freeze-thawing or cryo-impacting free parasites was about twice as potent an immunogen as was the insoluble fraction. The material obtained by gentle washing of the freed parasites was approximately 20 times as

  19. Estimating the Aqueous Solubility of Pharmaceutical Hydrates.

    PubMed

    Franklin, Stephen J; Younis, Usir S; Myrdal, Paul B

    2016-06-01

    Estimation of crystalline solute solubility is well documented throughout the literature. However, the anhydrous crystal form is typically considered with these models, which is not always the most stable crystal form in water. In this study, an equation which predicts the aqueous solubility of a hydrate is presented. This research attempts to extend the utility of the ideal solubility equation by incorporating desolvation energetics of the hydrated crystal. Similar to the ideal solubility equation, which accounts for the energetics of melting, this model approximates the energy of dehydration to the entropy of vaporization for water. Aqueous solubilities, dehydration and melting temperatures, and log P values were collected experimentally and from the literature. The data set includes different hydrate types and a range of log P values. Three models are evaluated, the most accurate model approximates the entropy of dehydration (ΔSd) by the entropy of vaporization (ΔSvap) for water, and utilizes onset dehydration and melting temperatures in combination with log P. With this model, the average absolute error for the prediction of solubility of 14 compounds was 0.32 log units. Copyright © 2016 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  20. Estimating the Aqueous Solubility of Pharmaceutical Hydrates

    PubMed Central

    Franklin, Stephen J.; Younis, Usir S.; Myrdal, Paul B.

    2016-01-01

    Estimation of crystalline solute solubility is well documented throughout the literature. However, the anhydrous crystal form is typically considered with these models, which is not always the most stable crystal form in water. In this study an equation which predicts the aqueous solubility of a hydrate is presented. This research attempts to extend the utility of the ideal solubility equation by incorporating desolvation energetics of the hydrated crystal. Similar to the ideal solubility equation, which accounts for the energetics of melting, this model approximates the energy of dehydration to the entropy of vaporization for water. Aqueous solubilities, dehydration and melting temperatures, and log P values were collected experimentally and from the literature. The data set includes different hydrate types and a range of log P values. Three models are evaluated, the most accurate model approximates the entropy of dehydration (ΔSd) by the entropy of vaporization (ΔSvap) for water, and utilizes onset dehydration and melting temperatures in combination with log P. With this model, the average absolute error for the prediction of solubility of 14 compounds was 0.32 log units. PMID:27238488

  1. Role of osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand axis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

    PubMed

    Pacifico, Lucia; Andreoli, Gian Marco; D'Avanzo, Miriam; De Mitri, Delia; Pierimarchi, Pasquale

    2018-05-21

    Concomitantly with the increase in the prevalences of overweight/obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has worldwide become the main cause of chronic liver disease in both adults and children. Patients with fatty liver display features of metabolic syndrome (MetS), like insulin resistance (IR), glucose intolerance, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Recently, epidemiological studies have linked obesity, MetS, and NAFLD to decreased bone mineral density and osteoporosis, highlighting an intricate interplay among bone, adipose tissue, and liver. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), an important symbol of the receptor activator of nuclear factor-B ligand/receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B/OPG system activation, typically considered for its role in bone metabolism, may also play critical roles in the initiation and perpetuation of obesity-related comorbidities. Clinical data have indicated that OPG concentrations are associated with hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, vascular calcification, endothelial dysfunction, and severity of liver damage in chronic hepatitis C. Nonetheless, the relationship between circulating OPG and IR as a key feature of MetS as well as between OPG and NAFLD remains uncertain. Thus, the aims of the present review are to provide the existent knowledge on these associations and to discuss briefly the underlying mechanisms linking OPG and NAFLD.

  2. Solubility of guaifenesin in the presence of common pharmaceutical additives.

    PubMed

    Mani, Narasimhan; Jun, H W; Beach, J Warren; Nerurkar, Jayanti

    2003-01-01

    The aqueous solubility of guaifenesin, a highly water-soluble drug, in the presence of salts, sugars, and cosolvents was determined at 25 degrees C and 40 degrees C. The solubility of drug at both temperatures was reduced with increasing concentrations of salts and sugars. The extent of reduction in drug solubility was dependent on the type of salts and sugars used. The salting-out coefficient of additives was calculated by plotting log-linear solubility profiles of the drug against the concentrations of the additives. The solubility of guaifenesin, a neutral compound, was found to be higher at lower pH values, which could be due to hydrogen-bonding effects. At 25 degrees C, glycerin, PEG 300, and propylene glycol increased the solubility of drug at low solvent concentrations while the solubility was reduced at high concentrations. At 40 degrees C, the solubility of drug was reduced at all concentrations of cosolvents. The thermodynamic events accompanying the solubility process were discussed to explain the solubility phenomena observed in the presence of additives. The reduced aqueous solubility of guaifenesin in the presence of additives greatly improved the entrapment of drug into controlled-release wax microspheres.

  3. Inverse gas chromatographic determination of solubility parameters of excipients.

    PubMed

    Adamska, Katarzyna; Voelkel, Adam

    2005-11-04

    The principle aim of this work was an application of inverse gas chromatography (IGC) for the estimation of solubility parameter for pharmaceutical excipients. The retention data of number of test solutes were used to calculate Flory-Huggins interaction parameter (chi1,2infinity) and than solubility parameter (delta2), corrected solubility parameter (deltaT) and its components (deltad, deltap, deltah) by using different procedures. The influence of different values of test solutes solubility parameter (delta1) over calculated values was estimated. The solubility parameter values obtained for all excipients from the slope, from Guillet and co-workers' procedure are higher than that obtained from components according Voelkel and Janas procedure. It was found that solubility parameter's value of the test solutes influences, but not significantly, values of solubility parameter of excipients.

  4. Aqueous solubility, effects of salts on aqueous solubility, and partitioning behavior of hexafluorobenzene: experimental results and COSMO-RS predictions.

    PubMed

    Schröder, Bernd; Freire, Mara G; Varanda, Fatima R; Marrucho, Isabel M; Santos, Luís M N B F; Coutinho, João A P

    2011-07-01

    The aqueous solubility of hexafluorobenzene has been determined, at 298.15K, using a shake-flask method with a spectrophotometric quantification technique. Furthermore, the solubility of hexafluorobenzene in saline aqueous solutions, at distinct salt concentrations, has been measured. Both salting-in and salting-out effects were observed and found to be dependent on the nature of the cationic/anionic composition of the salt. COSMO-RS, the Conductor-like Screening Model for Real Solvents, has been used to predict the corresponding aqueous solubilities at conditions similar to those used experimentally. The prediction results showed that the COSMO-RS approach is suitable for the prediction of salting-in/-out effects. The salting-in/-out phenomena have been rationalized with the support of COSMO-RS σ-profiles. The prediction potential of COSMO-RS regarding aqueous solubilities and octanol-water partition coefficients has been compared with typically used QSPR-based methods. Up to now, the absence of accurate solubility data for hexafluorobenzene hampered the calculation of the respective partition coefficients. Combining available accurate vapor pressure data with the experimentally determined water solubility, a novel air-water partition coefficient has been derived. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Solubility of gases and liquids in glassy polymers.

    PubMed

    De Angelis, Maria Grazia; Sarti, Giulio C

    2011-01-01

    This review discusses a macroscopic thermodynamic procedure to calculate the solubility of gases, vapors, and liquids in glassy polymers that is based on the general procedure provided by the nonequilibrium thermodynamics for glassy polymers (NET-GP) method. Several examples are presented using various nonequilibrium (NE) models including lattice fluid (NELF), statistical associating fluid theory (NE-SAFT), and perturbed hard sphere chain (NE-PHSC). Particular applications illustrate the calculation of infinite-dilution solubility coefficients in different glassy polymers and the prediction of solubility isotherms for different gases and vapors in pure polymers as well as in polymer blends. The determination of model parameters is discussed, and the predictive abilities of the models are illustrated. Attention is also given to the solubility of gas mixtures and solubility isotherms in nanocomposite mixed matrices. The fractional free volume determined from solubility data can be used to correlate solute diffusivities in mixed matrices.

  6. [Effect of Epimedium extract on osteoprotegerin and RANKL mRNA expressions in glucocorticoid-induced femoral head necrosis in rats].

    PubMed

    Wang, Jian-zhong; Gao, Hong-yan; Wang, Kun-zheng; Zhou, Rong-xing; Li, Xiao-dong; Guo, Jun; Lv, Hui-cheng

    2011-10-01

    To investigate the effect of glucocorticoid on the expression levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) mRNAs in rat femoral head and the antagonistic effect of Epimedium, and explore the mechanism of Epimedium in preventing glucocorticoid-induced femoral head necrosis. Forty-eight adult SD rats were randomized into glucocorticoid group, Epimedium group and control group. In the former two groups, the rats received intramuscular injection of 12.5 mg prednisolone twice a week, and in Epimedium group, additional 1 ml/100 g aqueous Epimedium extract (equivalent to 0.1 g/ml of the crude drug) was administered intragastrically once daily. The control group received only intramuscular saline injection. After 4 weeks of treatment, osteonecrosis of the left femoral head was detected by HE staining, and the right femoral head was sampled for detection of OPG and RANKL mRNA expressions using real-time quantitative PCR. In glucocorticoid, Epimedium and control groups, the mortality rate of the rats was 12.5% (2/16), 6.25% (1/16), 0 (0/16), and femoral head necrosis occurred at a rate of 71.43% (10/14), 26.67% (4/15), and 0 (0/16), respectively. In glucocorticoid group, the expression level of OPG mRNA was significantly lower, RANKL expression significantly higher, and OPG/RANKL ratio significantly lower than those in Epimedium and control groups (P<0.05). OPG, RANKL and their ratios showed no significant differences between Epimedium group and the control group. Epimedium can prevent glucocorticoid-induced femoral head necrosis probably by antagonizing glucocorticiod-induced abnormal expressions of OPG and RANKL mRNA.

  7. Learning about Solubility

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Salinas, Dino G.; Reyes, Juan G.

    2015-01-01

    Qualitative questions are proposed to assess the understanding of solubility and some of its applications. To improve those results, a simple quantitative problem on the precipitation of proteins is proposed.

  8. Tough, Soluble, Aromatic, Thermoplastic Copolyimides

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bryant, Robert G. (Inventor)

    1998-01-01

    Tough, soluble, aromatic, thermoplastic copolyimides were prepared by reacting 4,4'-oxydiphthalic anhydride, 3,4,3',4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and 3,4'-oxydianiline. These copolyimides were found to be soluble in common amide solvents such as N,N'-dimethyl acetamide, N-methylpyrrolidinone, and dimethylformamide allowing them to be applied as the fully imidized copolymer and to be used to prepare a wide range of articles.

  9. Enhancement of periodontal tissue regeneration by transplantation of osteoprotegerin-engineered periodontal ligament stem cells.

    PubMed

    Su, Fang; Liu, Shi-Sen; Ma, Jun-Li; Wang, Dong-Sheng; E, Ling-Ling; Liu, Hong-Chen

    2015-03-12

    The objective of the present study was to evaluate the capacity of a tissue-engineered complex of human osteoprotegerin (hOPG)-transfected periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) seeding on beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) to regenerate alveolar bone defects in New Zealand rabbits. PDLSCs were isolated from rabbit periodontal ligament tissues and expanded in vitro to enrich PDLSC numbers, and their proliferative activities and differentiation capability were evaluated under specific induction conditions. Lentiviral vector containing hOPG and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was constructed by using Gateway technology and transfected into rabbit PDLSCs. The expression of hOPG was determined with quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. The PDLSCs with or without engineered hOPG were seeded on β-TCP scaffolds prior to transplantation. Morphological characterization of cells and materials was done by scanning electron microscope. Twenty rabbits with alveolar bone defects were randomly allocated into four groups and transplanted with β-TCP, PDLSCs/β-TCP, and hOPG-transfected PDLSCs/β-TCP or were left untreated as a control. Animals were sacrificed 12 weeks after operation for histological observation and histomorphometric analysis. PDLSCs expressed STRO-1 and vementin and favored osteogenesis and adipogenesis in conditioned media. Expressions of hOPG were significantly upregulated after transfection of the lentiviral vector into PDLSCs. PDLSCs attached and spread well on β-TCP, and there was no significant difference in growth of PDLSCs on β-TCP between the hOPG transfection group and the non-transfection group. The histological observation and histomorphometric analysis showed that the hOPG-transfected PDLSCs/β-TCP complex exhibited an earlier mineralization and more bone formation inside the scaffold than control, β-TCP, and PDLSCs/β-TCP complexes. Implantation of hOPG-transfected PDLSCs

  10. Inhibition of osteoclast bone resorption activity through osteoprotegerin-induced damage of the sealing zone.

    PubMed

    Song, Ruilong; Gu, Jianhong; Liu, Xuezhong; Zhu, Jiaqiao; Wang, Qichao; Gao, Qian; Zhang, Jiaming; Cheng, Laiyang; Tong, Xishuai; Qi, Xinyi; Yuan, Yan; Liu, Zongping

    2014-09-01

    Bone remodeling is dependent on the dynamic equilibrium between osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and osteoblast-mediated osteogenesis. The sealing zone is an osteoclast-specific cytoskeletal structure, the integrity of which is critical for osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. To date, studies have focused mainly on the osteoprotegerin (OPG)‑induced inhibition of osteoclast differentiation through the OPG/receptor activator of the nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL)/RANK system, which affects the bone resorption of osteoclasts. However, the effects of OPG on the sealing zone have not been reported to date. In this study, the formation of the sealing zone was observed by Hoffman modulation contrast (HMC) microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The effects of OPG on the existing sealing zone and osteoclast-mediated bone resorption activity, as well as the regulatory role of genes involved in the formation of the sealing zone were examined by immunofluorescence staining, HMC microscopy, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), western blot analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The sealing zone was formed on day 5, with belt-like protuberances at the cell edge and scattered distribution of cell nuclei, but no filopodia. The sealing zone was intact in the untreated control group. However, defects in the sealing zone were observed in the OPG-treated group (20 ng/ml) and the structure was absent in the groups treated with 40 and 80 ng/ml OPG. The podosomes showed a scattered or clustered distribution between the basal surface of the osteoclasts and the well surface. Furthermore, resorption lacunae were not detected in the 20 ng/ml OPG-treated group, indicating the loss of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption activity. Treatment with OPG resulted in a significant decrease in the expression of Arhgef8/Net1 and DOCK5 Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RhoGEFs), 10 of 18 RhoGTPases (RhoA, RhoB, cdc42v1, cdc42v2

  11. The thermal Z-isomerization-induced change in solubility and physical properties of (all-E)-lycopene.

    PubMed

    Murakami, Kazuya; Honda, Masaki; Takemura, Ryota; Fukaya, Tetsuya; Kubota, Mitsuhiro; Wahyudiono; Kanda, Hideki; Goto, Motonobu

    2017-09-16

    The effect of Z-isomerization of (all-E)-lycopene on its solubility in organic solvents and physical properties was investigated. Lycopene samples containing different Z-isomer contents (23.8%, 46.9%, and 75.6% of total lycopene) were prepared from high-purity (all-E)-lycopene by thermal Z-isomerization in dichloromethane (CH 2 Cl 2 ). As the Z-isomer content increased, the relative solubility of lycopene significantly improved. Although (all-E)-lycopene barely dissolved in ethanol (0.6 mg/L), the solubilities of lycopene containing 23.8%, 46.9%, and 75.6% Z-isomers were 484.5, 914.7, and 2401.7 mg/L, respectively. Furthermore, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses clearly indicated that (all-E)-lycopene was present in the crystal state, while Z-isomers of lycopene were present in amorphous states. A number of studies have suggested that Z-isomers of lycopene are better absorbed in the human body than the all-E-isomer. This may be due to the change in solubility and physical properties of lycopene by the Z-isomerization. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  12. Neutralization of soluble, synaptotoxic amyloid β species by antibodies is epitope specific.

    PubMed

    Zago, Wagner; Buttini, Manuel; Comery, Thomas A; Nishioka, Christopher; Gardai, Shyra J; Seubert, Peter; Games, Dora; Bard, Frédérique; Schenk, Dale; Kinney, Gene G

    2012-02-22

    Several anti-amyloid β (Aβ) antibodies are under evaluation for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Clinical studies using the N-terminal-directed anti-Aβ antibody bapineuzumab have demonstrated reduced brain PET-Pittsburg-B signals, suggesting the reduction of Aβ plaques, and reduced levels of total and phosphorylated tau protein in the CSF of treated AD patients. Preclinical studies using 3D6 (the murine form of bapineuzumab) have demonstrated resolution of Aβ plaque and vascular burdens, neuritic dystrophy, and preservation of synaptic density in the transgenic APP mouse models. In contrast, few studies have evaluated the direct interaction of this antibody with synaptotoxic soluble Aβ species. In the current report, we demonstrated that 3D6 binds to soluble, synaptotoxic assemblies of Aβ(1-42) and prevents multiple downstream functional consequences in rat hippocampal neurons including changes in glutamate AMPA receptor trafficking, AD-type tau phosphorylation, and loss of dendritic spines. In vivo, we further demonstrated that 3D6 prevents synaptic loss and acutely reverses the behavioral deficit in the contextual fear conditioning task in transgenic mouse models of AD, two endpoints thought to be linked to synaptotoxic soluble Aβ moieties. Importantly C-terminal anti-Aβ antibodies were ineffective on these endpoints. These results, taken with prior studies, suggest that N-terminal anti-Aβ antibodies effectively interact with both soluble and insoluble forms of Aβ and therefore appear particularly well suited for testing the Aβ hypothesis of AD.

  13. Feeding fat from distillers dried grains with solubles to dairy heifers: I. Effects on growth performance and total tract digestibility of nutrients

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The objective of this study was to determine if increased dietary fat from dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) in diets of growing heifers affected dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), growth performance, and nutrient digestibility. Thirty-three Holstein heifers (133 ± 18 d ol...

  14. Dual Activity of Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin and Water-Soluble Carriers on the Solubility of Carvedilol.

    PubMed

    Zoghbi, Abdelmoumin; Geng, Tianjiao; Wang, Bo

    2017-11-01

    Carvedilol (CAR) is a non-selective α and β blocker categorized as class II drug with low water solubility. Several recent studies have investigated ways to overcome this problem. The aim of the present study was to combine two of these methods: the inclusion complex using hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) with solid dispersion using two carriers: Poloxamer 188 (PLX) and Polyvinylpyrrolidone K-30 (PVP) to enhance the solubility, bioavailability, and the stability of CAR. Kneading method was used to prepare CAR-HPβCD inclusion complex (KD). The action of different carriers separately and in combination on Carvedilol solubility was investigated in three series. CAR-carrier and KD-carrier solid dispersions were prepared by solvent evaporation method. In vitro dissolution test was conducted in three different media: double-distilled water (DDW), simulative gastric fluid (SGF), and PBS pH 6.8 (PBS). The interactions between CAR, HPβCD, and different carriers were explored by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and differential scanning colorimetry (DSC). The results showed higher solubility of CAR in KD-PVP solid dispersions up to 70, 25, and 22 fold compared to pure CAR in DDW, SGF, and PBS, respectively. DSC and XRD analyses indicated an improved degree of transformation of CAR in KD-PVP solid dispersion from crystalline to amorphous state. This study provides a new successful combination of two polymers with the dual action of HPβCD and PLX/PVP on water solubility and bioavailability of CAR.

  15. Quantitative exposure matrix for asphalt fume, total particulate matter, and respirable crystalline silica among roofing and asphalt manufacturing workers.

    PubMed

    Fayerweather, William E; Trumbore, David C; Johnson, Kathleen A; Niebo, Ronald W; Maxim, L Daniel

    2011-09-01

    This paper summarizes available data on worker exposures to asphalt fume (soluble fraction), total particulate matter, and respirable crystalline silica (quartz) [hereinafter RCS] over a 30-year period in Owens Corning's asphalt production and roofing manufacturing plants. For the period 1977 through 2006, the air-monitoring database contains more than 1,400 personal samples for asphalt fume (soluble fraction), 2,400 personal samples for total particulate, and 1,300 personal samples for RCS. Unique process-job categories were identified for the asphalt production and roofing shingle manufacturing plants. Quantitative exposures were tabulated by agent, process-job, and calendar period to form an exposure matrix for use in subsequent epidemiologic studies of the respiratory health of these workers. Analysis of time trends in exposure data shows substantial and statistically significant exposure reductions for asphalt fume (soluble fraction), total particulate matter, and respirable crystalline silica at Owens Corning plants. Cumulative distribution plots for the most recent sampling period (2001-2006) show that 95% of the asphalt fume (soluble fraction) measurements were less than 0.25 mg/m3; 95% of the total particulate measurements were less than 2.2 mg/m3; and 95% of the RCS measurements were less than 0.05 mg/m3. Several recommendations are offered to improve the design of future monitoring efforts.

  16. Using MD simulations to calculate how solvents modulate solubility

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Shuai; Cao, Shannon; Hoang, Kevin; Young, Kayla L.; Paluch, Andrew S.; Mobley, David L.

    2016-01-01

    Here, our interest is in predicting solubility in general, and we focus particularly on predicting how the solubility of particular solutes is modulated by the solvent environment. Solubility in general is extremely important, both for theoretical reasons – it provides an important probe of the balance between solute-solute and solute-solvent interactions – and for more practical reasons, such as how to control the solubility of a given solute via modulation of its environment, as in process chemistry and separations. Here, we study how the change of solvent affects the solubility of a given compound. That is, we calculate relative solubilities. We use MD simulations to calculate relative solubility and compare our calculated values with experiment as well as with results from several other methods, SMD and UNIFAC, the latter of which is commonly used in chemical engineering design. We find that straightforward solubility calculations based on molecular simulations using a general small-molecule force field outperform SMD and UNIFAC both in terms of accuracy and coverage of the relevant chemical space. PMID:26878198

  17. Total and Free Fluoride Concentration in Various Brands of Toothpaste Marketed in India

    PubMed Central

    Siddanna, Sunitha

    2015-01-01

    Background For fluoridated toothpaste to be effective in controlling dental caries, an adequate concentration of soluble fluoride must be available in the oral cavity. Aim To determine the total and free fluoride concentration in various brands of toothpaste marketed in India. Materials and Methods Three samples of 12 different toothpastes were purchased from supermarkets in Mysore city, Karnataka, India. Toothpastes were analysed in duplicate using a fluoride ion-specific electrode. The concentration of total fluoride (TF) and total soluble fluoride (TSF) were determined. Results Measured TF was consistent with that declared by the manufacturer in five products. Four toothpastes showed lower TF and two higher TF than declared. Most toothpastes exhibited TSF concentrations similar to the TF content except four samples that displayed considerably lower TSF than TF. Conclusion The measurement of total and free fluoride concentrations of toothpastes available in India showed inhomogenities. Therefore there is a need for stringent regulatory control measures for the determination of fluoride content in toothpastes in developing country like India. PMID:26557607

  18. The Comparison of Sorption and Solubility Behavior of Four Different Resin Luting Cements in Different Storage Media.

    PubMed

    Giti, Rashin; Vojdani, Mahroo; Abduo, Jaafar; Bagheri, Rafat

    2016-06-01

    Structural integrity and dimensional stability are the key factors that determine the clinical success and durability of luting cements in the oral cavity. Sorption and solubility of self-adhesive resin luting cements in food-simulating solutions has not been studied sufficiently. This study aimed to compare the sorption and solubility of 2 conventional and 2 self-adhesive resin-based luting cements immersed in four different storage media. A total of 32 disc-shaped specimens were prepared from each of four resin luting cements; seT (SDI), Panavia F (Kuraray), Clearfil SA Cement (Kuraray), and Choice 2 (Bisco). Eight specimens of each material were immersed in all tested solutions including n-heptane 97%, distilled water, apple juice, or Listerine mouth wash. Sorption and solubility were measured by weighing the specimens before and after immersion and desiccation. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 18, using two-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test with p≤ 0.05 set as the level of significance. There was a statistically significant interaction between the materials and solutions. The effect of media on the sorption and solubility was material-dependent. While seT showed the highest values of the sorption in almost all solutions, Choice 2 showed the least values of sorption and solubility. Immersion in apple juice caused more sorption than other solutions (p≤ 0.05). The sorption and solubility behavior of the studied cements were significantly affected by their composition and the storage media. The more hydrophobic materials with higher filler content like Choice 2 resin cement showed the least sorption and solubility. Due to their lower sorption and solubility, these types of resin-based luting cements are recommended to be used clinically.

  19. Novel high/low solubility classification methods for new molecular entities.

    PubMed

    Dave, Rutwij A; Morris, Marilyn E

    2016-09-10

    This research describes a rapid solubility classification approach that could be used in the discovery and development of new molecular entities. Compounds (N=635) were divided into two groups based on information available in the literature: high solubility (BDDCS/BCS 1/3) and low solubility (BDDCS/BCS 2/4). We established decision rules for determining solubility classes using measured log solubility in molar units (MLogSM) or measured solubility (MSol) in mg/ml units. ROC curve analysis was applied to determine statistically significant threshold values of MSol and MLogSM. Results indicated that NMEs with MLogSM>-3.05 or MSol>0.30mg/mL will have ≥85% probability of being highly soluble and new molecular entities with MLogSM≤-3.05 or MSol≤0.30mg/mL will have ≥85% probability of being poorly soluble. When comparing solubility classification using the threshold values of MLogSM or MSol with BDDCS, we were able to correctly classify 85% of compounds. We also evaluated solubility classification of an independent set of 108 orally administered drugs using MSol (0.3mg/mL) and our method correctly classified 81% and 95% of compounds into high and low solubility classes, respectively. The high/low solubility classification using MLogSM or MSol is novel and independent of traditionally used dose number criteria. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Supply of Soluble Iron from Combustion and Dust Sources to the Ocean

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ito, A.

    2012-12-01

    Bioavailable iron (Fe) from atmospheric particle is an essential nutrient for phytoplankton. Global models have been used to deduce atmospheric iron supply to the ocean, but uncertainty in the deposition flux remains large, which can influence the air-sea fluxes of carbon dioxide and thus radiative forcing significantly. Here, a global chemical transport model is used to investigate the effect of aerosol emissions from ship plumes on iron solubility in particles from the combustion and dust sources. The emission data sets for combustion-generated aerosols such as those from biomass and fossil fuel burnings are taken from the emission inventory. The iron from combustion sources such as biomass and fossil fuels burning is readily released into solutions in aerosols assuming constant iron solubility (i.e., the mass fraction of dissolved to total iron). In contrast, the emissions of dust are calculated on-line, based on the surface wind speed and soil wetness from the GMAO assimilated meteorological fields. Further, the iron solubility dynamically changes from that in the originally emitted dust aerosols (which is 0.45%) due to reactions with acidic species. The model results reveal that the oil combustion from shipping mainly contributes to high iron solubility at low mass concentration observed over the high latitude North Atlantic Ocean. The model results suggest that the combustion source from ships contributes to a significant deposition of soluble iron to the high latitude oceans in the Northern Hemisphere. Due to continuing growth in global shipping and no regulations regarding particles emissions, the input of bioavailable iron from ship plumes is likely to increase in a future warmer climate when oceanic primary production may be more dependent on the nutrient input from atmospheric aerosols.

  1. Method of increasing biodegradation of sparingly soluble vapors

    DOEpatents

    Cherry, Robert S.

    2000-01-01

    A method for increasing biodegradation of sparingly soluble volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a bioreactor is disclosed. The method comprises dissolving in the aqueous phase of the bioreactor a water soluble, nontoxic, non-biodegradable polymer having a molecular weight of at least 500 and operable for decreasing the distribution coefficient of the VOCs. Polyoxyalkylene alkanols are preferred polymers. A method of increasing the growth rate of VOC-degrading microorganisms in the bioreactor and a method of increasing the solubility of sparingly soluble VOCs in aqueous solution are also disclosed.

  2. Selection of solubility parameters for characterization of pharmaceutical excipients.

    PubMed

    Adamska, Katarzyna; Voelkel, Adam; Héberger, Károly

    2007-11-09

    The solubility parameter (delta(2)), corrected solubility parameter (delta(T)) and its components (delta(d), delta(p), delta(h)) were determined for series of pharmaceutical excipients by using inverse gas chromatography (IGC). Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied for the selection of the solubility parameters which assure the complete characterization of examined materials. Application of PCA suggests that complete description of examined materials is achieved with four solubility parameters, i.e. delta(2) and Hansen solubility parameters (delta(d), delta(p), delta(h)). Selection of the excipients through PCA of their solubility parameters data can be used for prediction of their behavior in a multi-component system, e.g. for selection of the best materials to form stable pharmaceutical liquid mixtures or stable coating formulation.

  3. Effects of heat and high-pressure treatments on the solubility and immunoreactivity of almond proteins.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Yan; Zhang, Jieqiong; Sheng, Wei; Wang, Shuo; Fu, Tong-Jen

    2016-05-15

    The effects of dry and moist heat, autoclave sterilization and high-pressure treatment on the biochemical characteristics and immunological properties of almond proteins were investigated. Changes in the solubility and immunoreactivity of almond proteins extracted from treated almond flour were evaluated using a total protein assay, indirect competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IC-ELISA), and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Almond proteins were stable during dry-heat treatment at temperatures below 250°C. Dry heat at 400°C, boiling, autoclave sterilization and high-pressure treatment in the presence of water at ⩾ 500 MPa greatly reduced the solubility and immunoreactivity of almond proteins. SDS-PAGE revealed that the protein profiles of almond flour samples treated under these conditions also changed significantly. The synergistic effects of heat, pressure and the presence of water contributed to significant changes in solubility and immunoreactivity of almond proteins. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. Multiplexed quantitation of protein expression and phosphorylation based on functionalized soluble nanopolymers

    PubMed Central

    Pan, Li; Iliuk, Anton; Yu, Shuai; Geahlen, Robert L.; Tao, W. Andy

    2012-01-01

    We report here for the first time the multiplexed quantitation of phosphorylation and protein expression based on a functionalized soluble nanopolymer. The soluble nanopolymer, pIMAGO, is functionalized with Ti (IV) ions for chelating phosphoproteins in high specificity, and with infrared fluorescent tags for direct, multiplexed assays. The nanopolymer allows for direct competition for epitopes on proteins of interest, thus facilitating simultaneous detection of phosphorylation by pIMAGO and total protein amount by protein antibody in the same well of microplates. The new strategy has a great potential to measure cell signaling events by clearly distinguishing actual phosphorylation signals from protein expression changes, thus providing a powerful tool to accurately profile cellular signal transduction in healthy and disease cells. We anticipate broad applications of this new strategy in monitoring cellular signaling pathways and discovering new signaling events. PMID:23088311

  5. Canine intestinal contents vs. simulated media for the assessment of solubility of two weak bases in the human small intestinal contents.

    PubMed

    Kalantzi, Lida; Persson, Eva; Polentarutti, Britta; Abrahamsson, Bertil; Goumas, Konstantinos; Dressman, Jennifer B; Reppas, Christos

    2006-06-01

    This study was conducted to assess the relative usefulness of canine intestinal contents and simulated media in the prediction of solubility of two weak bases (dipyridamole and ketoconazole) in fasted and fed human intestinal aspirates that were collected under conditions simulating those in bioavailability/bioequivalence studies. After administration of 250 mL of water or 500 mL of Ensure plus [both containing 10 mg/mL polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 as nonabsorbable marker], intestinal aspirates were collected from the fourth part of the duodenum of 12 healthy adults and from the mid-jejunum of four Labradors. Pooled samples were analyzed for PEG, pH, buffer capacity, osmolality, surface tension, pepsin, total carbohydrates, total protein content, bile salts, phospholipids, and neutral lipids. The shake-flask method was used to measure the solubility of dipyridamole and ketoconazole in pooled human and canine intestinal contents and in fasted-state-simulating intestinal fluid (FaSSIF) and fed-state-simulating intestinal fluid (FeSSIF) containing various bile salts and pH-buffering agents. For both compounds, solubility in canine contents may be predictive of human intralumenal solubility in the fasting state but not in the fed state. The poor agreement of results in canine and human aspirates can be attributed to the higher bile salt content in canine bile. Solubility in FaSSIF containing a mixture of bile salts from crude bile predicted satisfactorily the intralumenal solubility of both drugs in the fasted state in humans. Solubility in FeSSIF, regardless of the identity of bile salts or of the buffering species, deviated from intralumenal values in the fed human aspirates by up to 40%. This was attributed to the lack of lipolytic products in FeSSIF, the higher bile salt content of FeSSIF, and the lower pH of FeSSIF. FaSSIF containing a mixture of bile salts from crude bile, and FeSSIF containing lipolytic products and, perhaps, having lower bile salt content but

  6. Relationship Between Fat-Soluble Vitamin Supplementation and Blood Concentrations in Adolescent and Adult Patients With Cystic Fibrosis.

    PubMed

    Siwamogsatham, Oranan; Dong, Wei; Binongo, Jose N; Chowdhury, Ritam; Alvarez, Jessica A; Feinman, Shawna J; Enders, Jessica; Tangpricha, Vin

    2014-08-01

    Background: Pancreatic insufficiency is common in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and leads to malabsorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Multivitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are routinely prescribed to patients with CF to prevent vitamin deficiencies. Our objective was to examine the relationship between fat-soluble vitamin supplements and their impact on blood concentrations. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of patients with CF who were treated at Emory Clinic and Emory University Hospital during 2008-2012. The amount of fat-soluble vitamin supplementation, serum markers of fat-soluble vitamin concentrations, CF transmembrane conductance regulator genotype, and other demographic information were recorded from electronic medical records. Mixed-effects models were used to investigate the trends over time of fat-soluble vitamin supplements and serum vitamin concentrations. Results: In total, 177 charts were eligible. Mean (SD) age was 26.1 (10.2) years. Ninety-two percent of patients had pancreatic insufficiency and 52% had the homozygous ΔF508 mutation. Recorded fat-soluble vitamin supplementation increased in the past 5 years (P < .001 for all). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D increased slightly (3% increase; P < .01); however, there were no changes in the blood concentrations of vitamins A, E, and K (P = .26-.96). Conclusions: Despite a near doubling of recorded fat-soluble vitamin supplementation over the past 5 years, there was no parallel increase in blood concentrations of these vitamins. Potential reasons include suboptimal dosages, low adherence, or ongoing issues with malabsorption. © 2014 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.

  7. Solubility and crystallization of xylose isomerase from Streptomyces rubiginosus

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vuolanto, Antti; Uotila, Sinikka; Leisola, Matti; Visuri, Kalevi

    2003-10-01

    We have studied the crystallization and crystal solubility of xylose isomerase (XI) from Streptomyces rubiginosus. In this paper, we show a rational approach for developing a large-scale crystallization process for XI. Firstly, we measured the crystal solubility in salt solutions with respect to salt concentration, temperature and pH. In ammonium sulfate the solubility of XI decreased logarithmically when increasing the salt concentration. Surprisingly, the XI crystals had a solubility minimum at low concentration of magnesium sulfate. The solubility of XI in 0.17 M magnesium sulfate was less than 0.5 g l -1. The solubility of XI increased logarithmically when increasing the temperature. We also found a solubility minimum around pH 7. This is far from the isoelectric point of XI (pH 3.95). Secondly, based on the solubility study, we developed a large-scale crystallization process for XI. In a simple and economical cooling crystallization of XI from 0.17 M magnesium sulfate solution, the recovery of crystalline active enzyme was over 95%. Moreover, we developed a process for production of uniform crystals and produced homogenous crystals with average crystal sizes between 12 and 360 μm.

  8. Enhancing the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs using supercritical antisolvent (SAS) process.

    PubMed

    Abuzar, Sharif Md; Hyun, Sang-Min; Kim, Jun-Hee; Park, Hee Jun; Kim, Min-Soo; Park, Jeong-Sook; Hwang, Sung-Joo

    2018-03-01

    Poor water solubility and poor bioavailability are problems with many pharmaceuticals. Increasing surface area by micronization is an effective strategy to overcome these problems, but conventional techniques often utilize solvents and harsh processing, which restricts their use. Newer, green technologies, such as supercritical fluid (SCF)-assisted particle formation, can produce solvent-free products under relatively mild conditions, offering many advantages over conventional methods. The antisolvent properties of the SCFs used for microparticle and nanoparticle formation have generated great interest in recent years, because the kinetics of the precipitation process and morphologies of the particles can be accurately controlled. The characteristics of the supercritical antisolvent (SAS) technique make it an ideal tool for enhancing the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. This review article focuses on SCFs and their properties, as well as the fundamentals of overcoming poorly water-soluble drug properties by micronization, crystal morphology control, and formation of composite solid dispersion nanoparticles with polymers and/or surfactants. This article also presents an overview of the main aspects of the SAS-assisted particle precipitation process, its mechanism, and parameters, as well as our own experiences, recent advances, and trends in development. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Impact of Dendrimers on Solubility of Hydrophobic Drug Molecules

    PubMed Central

    Choudhary, Sonam; Gupta, Lokesh; Rani, Sarita; Dave, Kaushalkumar; Gupta, Umesh

    2017-01-01

    Adequate aqueous solubility has been one of the desired properties while selecting drug molecules and other bio-actives for product development. Often solubility of a drug determines its pharmaceutical and therapeutic performance. Majority of newly synthesized drug molecules fail or are rejected during the early phases of drug discovery and development due to their limited solubility. Sufficient permeability, aqueous solubility and physicochemical stability of the drug are important for achieving adequate bioavailability and therapeutic outcome. A number of different approaches including co-solvency, micellar solubilization, micronization, pH adjustment, chemical modification, and solid dispersion have been explored toward improving the solubility of various poorly aqueous-soluble drugs. Dendrimers, a new class of polymers, possess great potential for drug solubility improvement, by virtue of their unique properties. These hyper-branched, mono-dispersed molecules have the distinct ability to bind the drug molecules on periphery as well as to encapsulate these molecules within the dendritic structure. There are numerous reported studies which have successfully used dendrimers to enhance the solubilization of poorly soluble drugs. These promising outcomes have encouraged the researchers to design, synthesize, and evaluate various dendritic polymers for their use in drug delivery and product development. This review will discuss the aspects and role of dendrimers in the solubility enhancement of poorly soluble drugs. The review will also highlight the important and relevant properties of dendrimers which contribute toward drug solubilization. Finally, hydrophobic drugs which have been explored for dendrimer assisted solubilization, and the current marketing status of dendrimers will be discussed. PMID:28559844

  10. [Status of the water-soluble component of the antioxidant defense system in the conditions of 520-day isolation].

    PubMed

    Morukov, B V; Popov, I N; Levin, G; Markin, A A; Zhuravleva, O A; Kuzichkin, D S

    2013-01-01

    In the 520-d chamber experiment within the international project Mars-500 blood samples of 6 male test-subjects of 28 to 39 years of age were analyzed for water-soluble antioxidants: total bilirubin and uric acid; in addition, total antioxidant capacity of blood plasma was determined. Maximal values of these parameters were associated with the most stressful periods of the experiment, i.e. adaptation to the life in isolation and confinement, simulation of the egress onto Martian surface, and change of the diet. On attainment of the homeostatic equilibrium the parameters stabilized on levels slightly lower relative to baseline (pre-isolation) values. Therefore, dynamics of the water-soluble antioxidants reflected adequately the homeostatic reactions to and compensation by organism of the effects of the 520-day life in isolation and confinement.

  11. Development of a research method to measure insoluble and soluble starch in sugarcane factory and refinery products

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    A rapid, quantitative research method using microwave-assisted probe ultrasonication was developed to facilitate the determination of total insoluble, and soluble starch in various sugar factory and refinery products. Several variables that affect starch solubilization were evaluated: 1) conductiv...

  12. Plasma glucose and insulin responses after consumption of breakfasts with different sources of soluble fiber in type 2 diabetes patients: a randomized crossover clinical trial.

    PubMed

    de Carvalho, Cláudia M; de Paula, Tatiana P; Viana, Luciana V; Machado, Vitória Mt; de Almeida, Jussara C; Azevedo, Mirela J

    2017-11-01

    Background: The amount and quality of carbohydrates are important determinants of plasma glucose after meals. Regarding fiber content, it is unclear whether the intake of soluble fibers from foods or supplements has an equally beneficial effect on lowering postprandial glucose. Objective: The aim of our study was to compare the acute effect of soluble fiber intake from foods or supplements after a common meal on postprandial plasma glucose and plasma insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Design: A randomized crossover clinical trial was conducted in patients with T2D. Patients consumed isocaloric breakfasts (mean ± SD: 369.8 ± 9.4 kcal) with high amounts of fiber from diet food sources (total fiber: 9.7 g; soluble fiber: 5.4 g), high amounts of soluble fiber from guar gum supplement (total fiber: 9.1 g; soluble fiber: 5.4 g), and normal amounts of fiber (total fiber: 2.4 g; soluble fiber: 0.8 g). Primary outcomes were postprandial plasma glucose and insulin (0-180 min). Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA and post hoc Bonferroni test. Results: A total of 19 patients [aged 65.8 ± 7.3 y; median (IQR), 10 (5-9) y of T2D duration; glycated hemoglobin 7.0% ± 0.8%; body mass index (in kg/m 2 ) 28.2 ± 2.9] completed 57 meal tests. After breakfast, the incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for plasma glucose [mg/dL · min; mean (95% CI)] did not differ between high fiber from diet (HFD) [7861 (6257, 9465)] and high fiber from supplement (HFS) [7847 (5605, 10,090)] ( P = 1.00) and both were lower than usual fiber (UF) [9527 (7549, 11,504)] ( P = 0.014 and P = 0.037, respectively). iAUCs [μIU/mL · min; mean (95% CI)] did not differ ( P = 0.877): HFD [3781 (2513, 5050)], HFS [4006 (2711, 5302), and UF [4315 (3027, 5603)]. Conclusions: Higher fiber intake was associated with lower postprandial glucose at breakfast, and the intake of soluble fiber from food and supplement had a similar effect in patients with T2D. This trial was registered at

  13. The amorphous solid dispersion of the poorly soluble ABT-102 forms nano/microparticulate structures in aqueous medium: impact on solubility.

    PubMed

    Frank, Kerstin J; Westedt, Ulrich; Rosenblatt, Karin M; Hölig, Peter; Rosenberg, Jörg; Mägerlein, Markus; Fricker, Gert; Brandl, Martin

    2012-01-01

    Amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) are a promising formulation approach for poorly soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), because they ideally enhance both dissolution rate and solubility. However, the mechanism behind this is not understood in detail. In the present study, we investigated the supramolecular and the nano/microparticulate structures that emerge spontaneously upon dispersion of an ASD in aqueous medium and elucidated their influence on solubility. The ASD, prepared by hot melt extrusion, contained the poorly soluble ABT-102 (solubility in buffer, 0.05 μg/mL), a hydrophilic polymer, and three surfactants. The apparent solubility of ABT-102 from the ASD-formulation was enhanced up to 200 times in comparison to crystalline ABT-102. At the same time, the molecular solubility, as assessed by inverse equilibrium dialysis, was enhanced two times. Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation in combination with a multiangle light-scattering detector, an ultraviolet detector, and a refractometer enabled us to separate and identify the various supramolecular assemblies that were present in the aqueous dispersions of the API-free ASD (placebo) and of binary/ternary blends of the ingredients. Thus, the supramolecular assemblies with a molar mass between 20,000 and 90,000 could be assigned to the polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate 64, while two other kinds of assemblies were assigned to different surfactant assemblies (micelles). The amount of ABT-102 remaining associated with each of the assemblies upon fractionation was quantified offline with high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet-visible. The polymeric and the micellar fraction contributed to the substantial increase in apparent solubility of ABT-102. Furthermore, a microparticulate fraction was isolated by centrifugation and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray scattering, and infrared spectroscopy. The microparticles were found to be amorphous and to contain two of the

  14. pH-metric solubility. 2: correlation between the acid-base titration and the saturation shake-flask solubility-pH methods.

    PubMed

    Avdeef, A; Berger, C M; Brownell, C

    2000-01-01

    The objective of this study was to compare the results of a normal saturation shake-flask method to a new potentiometric acid-base titration method for determining the intrinsic solubility and the solubility-pH profiles of ionizable molecules, and to report the solubility constants determined by the latter technique. The solubility-pH profiles of twelve generic drugs (atenolol, diclofenac.Na, famotidine, flurbiprofen, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, labetolol.HCl, naproxen, phenytoin, and propranolol.HCl), with solubilities spanning over six orders of magnitude, were determined both by the new pH-metric method and by a traditional approach (24 hr shaking of saturated solutions, followed by filtration, then HPLC assaying with UV detection). The 212 separate saturation shake-flask solubility measurements and those derived from 65 potentiometric titrations agreed well. The analysis produced the correlation equation: log(1/S)titration = -0.063(+/- 0.032) + 1.025(+/- 0.011) log(1/S)shake-flask, s = 0.20, r2 = 0.978. The potentiometrically-derived intrinsic solubilities of the drugs were: atenolol 13.5 mg/mL, diclofenac.Na 0.82 microg/mL, famotidine 1.1 mg/ mL, flurbiprofen 10.6 microg/mL, furosemide 5.9 microg/mL, hydrochlorothiazide 0.70 mg/mL, ibuprofen 49 microg/mL, ketoprofen 118 microg/mL, labetolol.HCl 128 microg/mL, naproxen 14 microg/mL, phenytoin 19 microg/mL, and propranolol.HCl 70 microg/mL. The new potentiometric method was shown to be reliable for determining the solubility-pH profiles of uncharged ionizable drug substances. Its speed compared to conventional equilibrium measurements, its sound theoretical basis, its ability to generate the full solubility-pH profile from a single titration, and its dynamic range (currently estimated to be seven orders of magnitude) make the new pH-metric method an attractive addition to traditional approaches used by preformulation and development scientists. It may be useful even to discovery

  15. A systematic evaluation of solubility enhancing excipients to enable the generation of permeability data for poorly soluble compounds in Caco-2 model.

    PubMed

    Shah, Devang; Paruchury, Sundeep; Matta, Muralikrishna; Chowan, Gajendra; Subramanian, Murali; Saxena, Ajay; Soars, Matthew G; Herbst, John; Haskell, Roy; Marathe, Punit; Mandlekar, Sandhya

    2014-01-01

    The study presented here identified and utilized a panel of solubility enhancing excipients to enable the generation of flux data in the Human colon carcinoma (Caco-2) system for compounds with poor solubility. Solubility enhancing excipients Dimethyl acetamide (DMA) 1 % v/v, polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400 1% v/v, povidone 1% w/v, poloxamer 188 2.5% w/v and bovine serum albumin (BSA) 4% w/v did not compromise Caco-2 monolayer integrity as assessed by trans-epithelial resistance measurement (TEER) and Lucifer yellow (LY) permeation. Further, these excipients did not affect P-glycoprotein (P-gp) mediated bidirectional transport of digoxin, permeabilities of high (propranolol) or low permeability (atenolol) compounds, and were found to be inert to Breast cancer resistant protein (BCRP) mediated transport of cladribine. This approach was validated further using poorly soluble tool compounds, atazanavir (poloxamer 188 2.5% w/v) and cyclosporine A (BSA 4% w/v) and also applied to new chemical entity (NCE) BMS-A in BSA 4% w/v, for which Caco-2 data could not be generated using the traditional methodology due to poor solubility (<1 µM) in conventional Hanks balanced salt solution (HBSS). Poloxamer 188 2.5% w/v increased solubility of atazanavir by >8 fold whereas BSA 4% w/v increased the solubility of cyclosporine A and BMS-A by >2-4 fold thereby enabling permeability as well as efflux liability estimation in the Caco-2 model with reasonable recovery values. To conclude, addition of excipients such as poloxamer 188 2.5% w/v and BSA 4% w/v to HBSS leads to a significant improvement in the solubility of the poorly soluble compounds resulting in enhanced recoveries without modulating transporter-mediated efflux, expanding the applicability of Caco-2 assays to poorly soluble compounds.

  16. Soluble dust as source of nutrients to the oceans and the role of humans

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tsigaridis, K.; Kanakidou, M.; Myriokefalitakis, S.; Nikolaou, P.; Daskalakis, N.; Theodosi, C.; Nenes, A.; Mihalopoulos, N.

    2014-12-01

    Atmospheric deposition of trace constituents, both of natural and anthropogenic origin, can act as a nutrient source into the open ocean and affect marine ecosystem functioning and subsequently the exchange of CO2 between the atmosphere and the global ocean. Dust is known as a major source of nutrients (Fe and P) into the atmosphere, but only a fraction of these nutrients is released in soluble form that can be assimilated by the ecosystems. Dust is also known to enhance N deposition by interacting with anthropogenic pollutants and neutralisation of part of the acidity of the atmosphere by crustal alkaline species. The link between the soluble iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) atmospheric deposition and atmospheric acidity, as well as anthropogenic sources, is investigated. The global atmospheric Fe, P and N cycle are parameterized in the global 3-D chemical transport model TM4-ECPL. Both primary emissions of total and soluble Fe and P associated with dust and combustion processes are taken into account, as well as inorganic and organic N emissions. The impact of atmospheric acidity on nutrient solubility is parameterised based on experimental findings. The model results are evaluated by comparison with available observations. The impact of air-quality changes on soluble nutrient deposition is studied by performing sensitivity simulations using preindustrial, present and future emission scenarios. The response of the chemical composition of nutrient-containing aerosols to environmental changes is demonstrated and quantified. This work has been supported by ARISTEIA - PANOPLY grant co-financed by European Union (ESF) and Greek national funds NSRF.

  17. Investigation of soluble salts on Kentucky bridges

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2003-01-01

    Several state highway agencies are looking at ways to increase the durability of their bridge maintenance painting projects and are using/investigating various chemical neutralizers/soluble salt removers to preclude problems caused by soluble salts. ...

  18. Development of an analytical method to measure insoluble and soluble starch in sugarcane and sweet sorghum products

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    A rapid, quantitative research method using microwave-assisted probe ultrasonication was developed to facilitate the determination of total insoluble, and soluble starch in various sugar crop products. Several variables that affect starch solubilization were evaluated, 1) conductive boiling time, 2...

  19. [Characteristics of aerosol water-soluble inorganic ions in three types air-pollution incidents of Nanjing City].

    PubMed

    Zhang, Qiu-Chen; Zhu, Bin; Su, Ji-Feng; Wang, Hong-Lei

    2012-06-01

    In order to compare aerosol water-soluble inorganic species in different air-pollution periods, samples of PM10, PM2.1, PM1.1 and the main water-soluble ions (NH4+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Na+, K+, NO2(-), F(-), NO3(-), Cl(-), SO4(2-)) were measured, which were from 3 air-pollution incidents (continued pollution in October 16-30 of 2009, sandstorm pollution in April 27-30 of 2010, and crop burning pollution in June 14 of 2010. The results show that aerosol pollution of 3 periods is serious. The lowest PM2.1/PM10 is only 0.27, which is from sandstorm pollution period, while the largest is 0. 7 from crop burning pollution period. In continued pollution periods, NO3(-) and SO4(2-) are the dominant ions, and the total anions account for an average of 18.62%, 32.92% and 33.53% of PM10, PM2.1 and PM1.1. Total water-soluble ions only account for 13.36%, 23.72% and 28.54% of PM10, PM2.1 and PM1.1 due to the insoluble species is increased in sandstorm pollution period. The mass concentration of Ca2+ in sandstorm pollution period is higher than the other two pollution periods, and which is mainly in coarse particles with diameter larger than 1 microm. All the ten water-soluble ions are much higher in crop burning pollution especially K+ which is the tracer from crop burning. The peak mass concentrations of NO3(-), SO4(2-) and NH4+ are in 0.43-0.65 microm.

  20. Solubility advantage of amorphous pharmaceuticals: I. A thermodynamic analysis.

    PubMed

    Murdande, Sharad B; Pikal, Michael J; Shanker, Ravi M; Bogner, Robin H

    2010-03-01

    In recent years there has been growing interest in advancing amorphous pharmaceuticals as an approach for achieving adequate solubility. Due to difficulties in the experimental measurement of solubility, a reliable estimate of the solubility enhancement ratio of an amorphous form of a drug relative to its crystalline counterpart would be highly useful. We have developed a rigorous thermodynamic approach to estimate enhancement in solubility that can be achieved by conversion of a crystalline form to the amorphous form. We rigorously treat the three factors that contribute to differences in solubility between amorphous and crystalline forms. First, we calculate the free energy difference between amorphous and crystalline forms from thermal properties measured by modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC). Secondly, since an amorphous solute can absorb significant amounts of water, which reduces its activity and solubility, a correction is made using water sorption isotherm data and the Gibbs-Duhem equation. Next, a correction is made for differences in the degree of ionization due to differences in solubilities of the two forms. Utilizing this approach the theoretically estimated solubility enhancement ratio of 7.0 for indomethacin (amorphous/gamma-crystal) was found to be in close agreement with the experimentally determined ratio of 4.9. 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association

  1. Cloud condensation nuclei activation of limited solubility organic aerosol

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huff Hartz, Kara E.; Tischuk, Joshua E.; Chan, Man Nin; Chan, Chak K.; Donahue, Neil M.; Pandis, Spyros N.

    The cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activation of 19 organic species with water solubilities ( Csat) ranging from 10 -4 to 10 2 g solute 100 g -1 H 2O was measured. The organic particles were generated by nebulization of an aqueous or an alcohol solution. Use of alcohols as solvents enables the measurement of low solubility, non-volatile organic CCN activity and reduces the likelihood of residual water in the aerosol. The activation diameter of organic species with very low solubility in water ( Csat<0.3 g 100 g -1 H 2O) is in agreement with Köhler theory using the bulk solubility (limited solubility case) of the organic in water. Many species, including 2-acetylbenzoic acid, aspartic acid, azelaic acid, glutamic acid, homophthalic acid, phthalic acid, cis-pinonic acid, and salicylic acid are highly CCN active in spite of their low solubility (0.3 g 100 g -1 H 2O< Csat<1 g 100 g -1 H 2O), and activate almost as if completely water soluble. The CCN activity of most species is reduced, if the particles are produced using non-aqueous solvents. The existence of the particles in a metastable state at low RH can explain the observed enhancement in CCN activity beyond the levels suggested by their solubility.

  2. Soluble metals in residual oil fly ash alter innate and adaptive pulmonary immune responses to bacterial infection in rats

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Roberts, Jenny R.; Young, Shih-Houng; Castranova, Vincent

    2007-06-15

    The soluble metals of the pollutant, residual oil fly ash (ROFA), have been shown to alter pulmonary bacterial clearance in rats. The goal of this study was to determine the potential effects on both the innate and adaptive lung immune responses after bacterial infection in rats pre-exposed to the soluble metals in ROFA. Sprague-Dawley rats were intratracheally dosed (i.t.) at day 0 with ROFA (R-Total) (1.0 mg/100 g body weight), the soluble fraction of ROFA (R-Soluble), the soluble sample subject to a chelator (R-Chelex), or phosphate-buffered saline (Saline). On day 3, rats were administered an i.t. dose of 5 xmore » 10{sup 4} Listeria monocytogenes. On days 6, 8, and 10, bacterial pulmonary clearance was monitored and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed on days 3 (pre-infection), 6, 8, and 10. A concentrated first fraction of lavage fluid was retained for analysis of lactate dehydrogenase and albumin to assess lung injury. BAL cell number, phenotype, and production of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS) were assessed, and a variety of cytokines were measured in the BAL fluid. Rats pre-treated with R-Soluble showed elevated lung injury/cytotoxicity and increased cellular influx into the lungs. R-Soluble-treatment also altered ROS, RNS, and cytokine levels, and caused a degree of macrophage and T cell inhibition. These effects of R-Soluble result in increased pulmonary bacterial burden after infection. The results suggest that soluble metals in ROFA increase lung injury and inflammation, and alter both innate and adaptive pulmonary immune responses.« less

  3. Solubilities of nitrogen and noble gases in basalt melt

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Miyazaki, A.; Hiyagon, H.; Sugiura, N.

    1994-01-01

    Nitrogen and noble gases are important tracers in geochemistry and chosmochemistry. Compared to noble gases, however, physicochemical properties of nitrogen, such as solubility in melt or melt/silicate partition, are not well known. Solubility of nitrogen in basalt melt depends on redox condition of the atmosphere. For example, solubility of nitrogen in E chondrite melt under reducing conditions is as high as 2 mol percent at 1500 C, suggesting that nitrogen is chemically dissolved in silicate melts, i.e., being dissolved as free anions or replacing oxygen sites in silicate network. However, the solubility and the dissolution mechanism of nitrogen under oxidizing conditions are not well investigated. To obtain nitrogen solubility in silicate melts under various redox conditions and to understand its mechanism, we are conducting experiments by using (15)N(15)N-labeled nitrogen gas. This makes it easy to distinguish dissolved nitrogen from later contamination of atmospheric nitrogen, and hence enables us to measure the nitrogen solubility accurately. As a preliminary experiment, we have measured solubility of nitrogen in basalt melt under the atmospheric oxygen pressure.

  4. Uranium (VI) solubility in carbonate-free ERDA-6 brine

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lucchini, Jean-francois; Khaing, Hnin; Reed, Donald T

    2010-01-01

    When present, uranium is usually an element of importance in a nuclear waste repository. In the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), uranium is the most prevalent actinide component by mass, with about 647 metric tons to be placed in the repository. Therefore, the chemistry of uranium, and especially its solubility in the WIPP conditions, needs to be well determined. Long-term experiments were performed to measure the solubility of uranium (VI) in carbonate-free ERDA-6 brine, a simulated WIPP brine, at pC{sub H+} values between 8 and 12.5. These data, obtained from the over-saturation approach, were the first repository-relevant data for themore » VI actinide oxidation state. The solubility trends observed pointed towards low uranium solubility in WIPP brines and a lack of amphotericity. At the expected pC{sub H+} in the WIPP ({approx} 9.5), measured uranium solubility approached 10{sup -7} M. The objective of these experiments was to establish a baseline solubility to further investigate the effects of carbonate complexation on uranium solubility in WIPP brines.« less

  5. Combined Measurement of 6 Fat-Soluble Vitamins and 26 Water-Soluble Functional Vitamin Markers and Amino Acids in 50 μL of Serum or Plasma by High-Throughput Mass Spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Midttun, Øivind; McCann, Adrian; Aarseth, Ove; Krokeide, Marit; Kvalheim, Gry; Meyer, Klaus; Ueland, Per M

    2016-11-01

    Targeted metabolic profiling characterized by complementary platforms, multiplexing and low volume consumption are increasingly used for studies using biobank material. Using liquid-liquid extraction, we developed a sample workup suitable for quantification of 6 fat- and 26 water-soluble biomarkers. 50 μL of serum/plasma was mixed with dithioerythritol, ethanol, and isooctane/chloroform. The organic layer was used for analysis of the fat-soluble vitamins all-trans retinol (A), 25-hydroxyvitamin D2, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, α-tocopherol (E), γ-tocopherol (E), and phylloquinone (K1) by LC-MS/MS. The remaining aqueous fraction was mixed with ethanol, water, pyridine, and methylchloroformate (in toluene) to derivatize the water-soluble biomarkers. The resulting toluene layer was used for GC-MS/MS analysis of alanine, α-ketoglutarate, asparagine, aspartic acid, cystathionine, total cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, histidine, total homocysteine, isoleucine, kynurenine, leucine, lysine, methionine, methylmalonic acid, ornithine, phenylalanine, proline, sarcosine, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, and valine. Isotope-labeled internal standards were used for all analytes. Chromatographic run times for the LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS were 4.5 and 11 min, respectively. The limits of detection (LOD) for the low-concentration analytes (25-hydroxyvitamin D2, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, and phylloquinone) were 25, 17, and 0.33 nM, respectively, while all other analytes demonstrated sensitivity significantly lower than endogenous concentrations. Recoveries ranged from 85.5-109.9% and within- and between-day coefficients of variance (CVs) were 0.7-9.4% and 1.1-17.5%, respectively. This low-volume, high-throughput multianalyte assay is currently in use in our laboratory for quantification of 32 serum/plasma biomarkers in epidemiological studies.

  6. Gastrointestinal effects associated with soluble and insoluble copper in drinking water.

    PubMed Central

    Pizarro, F; Olivares, M; Araya, M; Gidi, V; Uauy, R

    2001-01-01

    The aim of this study was to determine whether total copper or soluble copper concentration is associated with gastrointestinal signs and symptoms. Forty-five healthy adult women (18-55 years of age), living in Santiago, Chile, ingested tap water with 5 mg/L of copper containing different ratios of soluble copper (copper sulfate) and insoluble copper (copper oxide) over a 9-week period. Three randomized sequences of the different copper ratios (0:5, 1:4, 2:3, 3:2, and 5:0 mg/L) were followed. Subjects recorded their water consumption and gastrointestinal symptoms daily on a special form. Mean water consumption was similar among groups. Serum copper levels, ceruloplasmin, and activities of liver enzymes were within normal limits. No differences were detected between the means of biochemical parameters at the beginning and at the end of the study. Twenty subjects presented gastrointestinal disturbances at least once during the study, 9 suffered diarrhea (with or without abdominal pain and vomiting), and the other 11 subjects reported abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting. No differences were found in incidence of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea regardless of the ratio of copper sulfate to copper oxide. In conclusion, both copper sulfate (a soluble compound) and copper oxide (an insoluble compound) have comparable effects on the induction of gastrointestinal manifestations, implying that similar levels of ionic copper were present in the stomach. PMID:11673125

  7. Protein kinase-A-dependent osteoprotegerin production on interleukin-1 stimulation in human gingival fibroblasts is distinct from periodontal ligament fibroblasts

    PubMed Central

    Hormdee, D; Nagasawa, T; Kiji, M; Yashiro, R; Kobayashi, H; Koshy, G; Noguchi, K; Nitta, H; Ishikawa, I

    2005-01-01

    Periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease, is characterized by increased expression of interleukin (IL)-1 and other inflammatory mediators resulting in extensive osteoclast formation and bone loss. Expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) and its decoy receptor, osteoprotegerin (OPG), by osteoblasts is important to regulate osteoclast differentiation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the regulatory effects of IL-1 on RANKL and OPG production by mesenchymal fibroblasts in periodontal tissue. Human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) and periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDL) were stimulated with IL-1α with or without protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX), protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitors, protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) inhibitor. In some experiments, the cultured cells were directly stimulated with either PKA or PKC activators. In HGF, IL-1α-stimulated OPG mRNA expression was high and could be reduced by CHX. PKA inhibitor completely abrogated IL-1α-induced OPG mRNA expression and OPG production. Endogenous PGE2 further enhanced IL-1α-induced OPG production in HGF. In PDL, RANKL mRNA expression was greatly augmented by IL-1α. IL-1α induced OPG mRNA expression and protein production. PKC inhibitor partially reduced IL-1α-induced OPG production and PKC activator enhanced OPG production in PDL. The IL-1α-stimulated OPG mRNA expression in HGF was greater than PDL. These results provide new evidence for the possible osteoclastogenesis-inhibitory function of HGF through PKA activity pathway. PDL utilized PKC for OPG production. Thus, we emphasize that HGF and PDL have different characteristics of host defence mechanism against inflammatory process. PMID:16297161

  8. Micelles from lipid derivatives of water-soluble polymers as delivery systems for poorly soluble drugs.

    PubMed

    Lukyanov, Anatoly N; Torchilin, Vladimir P

    2004-05-07

    Polymeric micelles have a whole set of unique characteristics, which make them very promising drug carriers, in particular, for poorly soluble drugs. Our review article focuses on micelles prepared from conjugates of water-soluble polymers, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), with phospholipids or long-chain fatty acids. The preparation of micelles from certain polymer-lipid conjugates and the loading of these micelles with various poorly soluble anticancer agents are discussed. The data on the characterization of micellar preparations in terms of their morphology, stability, longevity in circulation, and ability to spontaneously accumulate in experimental tumors via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect are presented. The review also considers the preparation of targeted immunomicelles with specific antibodies attached to their surface. Available in vivo results on the efficiency of anticancer drugs incorporated into plain micelles and immunomicelles in animal models are also discussed.

  9. Effects of rice bran fiber on heat-induced gel prepared with pork salt-soluble meat proteins in model system.

    PubMed

    Choi, Yun-Sang; Choi, Ji-Hun; Han, Doo-Jeong; Kim, Hack-Youn; Lee, Mi-Ai; Kim, Hyun-Wook; Jeong, Jong-Youn; Kim, Cheon-Jei

    2011-05-01

    The technological effects of rice bran fiber on pork salt-soluble meat proteins in a model system were investigated. Rice bran fiber at levels of 0% (control), 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% was added at the same time as salt-soluble meat protein to maintain similar moisture levels in all samples. Samples with increasing amounts of added rice bran fiber had higher pH, yellowness, sarcoplasmic and total protein solubilities. The moisture content, myofibrillar protein solubility and water holding capacity were the highest in the treatments containing with 1% rice bran fiber. However, the lightness and redness, textural properties decreased with increasing rice bran fiber levels. SDS gel electrophoresis did not reveal any changes in proteins regardless different rice bran fiber levels. The apparent viscosity indicated that improvements in water holding capacity and decreased texture due to added rice bran fiber. Copyright © 2010 The American Meat Science Association. All rights reserved.

  10. Use of Polyvinyl Alcohol as a Solubility-Enhancing Polymer for Poorly Water Soluble Drug Delivery (Part 1).

    PubMed

    Brough, Chris; Miller, Dave A; Keen, Justin M; Kucera, Shawn A; Lubda, Dieter; Williams, Robert O

    2016-02-01

    Polyvinyl alcohol (PVAL) has not been investigated in a binary formulation as a concentration-enhancing polymer owing to its high melting point/high viscosity and poor organic solubility. Due to the unique attributes of the KinetiSol® dispersing (KSD) technology, PVAL has been enabled for this application and it is the aim of this paper to investigate various grades for improvement of the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients. Solid amorphous dispersions were created with the model drug, itraconazole (ITZ), at a selected drug loading of 20%. Polymer grades were chosen with variation in molecular weight and degree of hydroxylation to determine the effects on performance. Differential scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffraction, polarized light microscopy, size exclusion chromatography, and dissolution testing were used to characterize the amorphous dispersions. An in vivo pharmacokinetic study in rats was also conducted to compare the selected formulation to current market formulations of ITZ. The 4-88 grade of PVAL was determined to be effective at enhancing solubility and bioavailability of itraconazole.

  11. GADOLINIUM OXALATE SOLUBILITY MEASUREMENTS IN NITRIC ACID SOLUTIONS

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Pierce, R. A.

    2012-03-12

    HB-Line will begin processing Pu solutions during FY2012 that will involve the recovery of Pu using oxalate precipitation and filtration. After the precipitation and filtration processes, the filtrate solution will be transferred from HB-Line to H-Canyon. The presence of excess oxalate and unfiltered Pu oxalate solids in these solutions create a criticality safety issue if they are sent to H-Canyon without controls in H-Canyon. One approach involves H-Canyon receiving the filtrate solution into a tank that is poisoned with soluble gadolinium (Gd). Decomposition of the oxalate will occur within a subsequent H-Canyon vessel. The receipt of excess oxalate into themore » H-Canyon receipt tanks has the potential to precipitate a portion of the Gd poison in the receipt tanks. Because the amount of Gd in solution determines the maximum amount of Pu solids that H-Canyon can receive, H-Canyon Engineering requested that SRNL determine the solubility of Gd in aqueous solutions of 4-10 M nitric acid (HNO{sub 3}), 4-12 g/L Gd, and 0.15-0.25 M oxalic acid (H{sub 2}C{sub 2}O{sub 4}) at 25 °C. The target soluble Gd concentration is 6 g/L. The data indicate that the target can be achieved above 6 M HNO{sub 3} and below 0.25 M H{sub 2}C{sub 2}O{sub 4}. At 25 °C, for 6 M HNO{sub 3}, 11 g/L and 7 g/L Gd are soluble in 0.15 M and 0.25 M H{sub 2}C{sub 2}O{sub 4}, respectively. In 4 M HNO{sub 3}, the Gd solubility drops significantly to 2.5 g/L and 0.8 g/L in 0.15 M and 0.25 M H{sub 2}C{sub 2}O{sub 4}, respectively. The solubility of Gd at 8-10 M HNO{sub 3} exceeds the solubility at 6 M HNO{sub 3}. The data for 4 M HNO{sub 3} showed good agreement with data in the literature. To achieve a target of 6 g/L soluble Gd in solution in the presence of 0.15-0.25 M oxalate, the HNO{sub 3} concentration must be maintained at or above 6 M HNO{sub 3}. The solubility of Gd in 4 M HNO{sub 3} with 0.15 M oxalate at 10 °C is about 1.5 g/L. For 6 M HNO{sub 3} with 0.15 M oxalate, the solubility of

  12. Solubility enhancement of miconazole nitrate: binary and ternary mixture approach.

    PubMed

    Rai, Vineet Kumar; Dwivedi, Harinath; Yadav, Narayan Prasad; Chanotiya, Chandan Singh; Saraf, Shubhini A

    2014-08-01

    Enhancement of aqueous solubility of very slightly soluble Miconazole Nitrate (MN) is required to widen its application from topical formulation to oral/mucoadhesive formulations. Aim of the present investigation was to enhance the aqueous solubility of MN using binary and ternary mixture approach. Binary mixtures such as solvent deposition, inclusion complexation and solid dispersion were adopted to enhance solubility using different polymers like lactose, beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and polyethylene-glycol 6000 (PEG 6000), respectively. Batches of binary mixtures with highest solubility enhancement potentials were further mixed to form ternary mixture by a simple kneading method. Drug polymer interaction and mixture morphology was studied using the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the scanning electron microscopy, respectively along with their saturation solubility studies and drug release. An excellent solubility enhancement, i.e. up to 72 folds and 316 folds of MN was seen by binary and ternary mixture, respectively. Up to 99.5% drug was released in 2 h from the mixtures of MN and polymers. RESULTS revealed that solubility enhancement by binary mixtures is achieved due to surface modification and by increasing wettability of MN. Tremendous increase in solubility of MN by ternary mixture could possibly be due to blending of water soluble polymers, i.e. lactose and PEG 6000 with β-CD which was found to enhance the solubilizing nature of β-CD. Owing to the excellent solubility enhancement potential of ternary mixtures in enhancing MN solubility from 110.4 μg/ml to 57640.0 μg/ml, ternary mixture approach could prove to be promising in the development of oral/mucoadhesive formulations.

  13. Hydrothermal ore-forming processes in the light of studies in rock- buffered systems: I. Iron-copper-zinc-lead sulfide solubility relations

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Hemley, J.J.; Cygan, G.L.; Fein, J.B.; Robinson, G.R.; d'Angelo, W. M.

    1992-01-01

    Experimental studies, using cold-seal and extraction vessel techniques, were conducted on Fe, Pb, Zn, and Cu sulfide solubilities in chloride soultions at temperatures from 300?? to 700??C and pressures from 0.5 to 2 kbars. The solutions were buffered in pH by quartz monzonite and the pure potassium feldspar-muscovite-quartz assemblage and in fS2-fO2 largely by the assemblage pyrite-pyrrhotite-magnetite. Solubilities increase with increasing temperature and total chloride, and decrease with increasing pressure. The effect of increasing chloride concentration on solubility reflects primarily a shift to lower pH via the silicate buffer reactions. Similarity in behaviour with respect to the temperature and pressure of Fe, Zn, and Pb sulfide solubilities points to similarity in chloride speciation, and the neutral species appear to be dominant in the high-temperature region. -from Authors

  14. Structural hot spots for the solubility of globular proteins

    PubMed Central

    Ganesan, Ashok; Siekierska, Aleksandra; Beerten, Jacinte; Brams, Marijke; Van Durme, Joost; De Baets, Greet; Van der Kant, Rob; Gallardo, Rodrigo; Ramakers, Meine; Langenberg, Tobias; Wilkinson, Hannah; De Smet, Frederik; Ulens, Chris; Rousseau, Frederic; Schymkowitz, Joost

    2016-01-01

    Natural selection shapes protein solubility to physiological requirements and recombinant applications that require higher protein concentrations are often problematic. This raises the question whether the solubility of natural protein sequences can be improved. We here show an anti-correlation between the number of aggregation prone regions (APRs) in a protein sequence and its solubility, suggesting that mutational suppression of APRs provides a simple strategy to increase protein solubility. We show that mutations at specific positions within a protein structure can act as APR suppressors without affecting protein stability. These hot spots for protein solubility are both structure and sequence dependent but can be computationally predicted. We demonstrate this by reducing the aggregation of human α-galactosidase and protective antigen of Bacillus anthracis through mutation. Our results indicate that many proteins possess hot spots allowing to adapt protein solubility independently of structure and function. PMID:26905391

  15. Methods development for total organic carbon accountability

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Benson, Brian L.; Kilgore, Melvin V., Jr.

    1991-01-01

    This report describes the efforts completed during the contract period beginning November 1, 1990 and ending April 30, 1991. Samples of product hygiene and potable water from WRT 3A were supplied by NASA/MSFC prior to contract award on July 24, 1990. Humidity condensate samples were supplied on August 3, 1990. During the course of this contract chemical analyses were performed on these samples to qualitatively determine specific components comprising, the measured organic carbon concentration. In addition, these samples and known standard solutions were used to identify and develop methodology useful to future comprehensive characterization of similar samples. Standard analyses including pH, conductivity, and total organic carbon (TOC) were conducted. Colorimetric and enzyme linked assays for total protein, bile acid, B-hydroxybutyric acid, methylene blue active substances (MBAS), urea nitrogen, ammonia, and glucose were also performed. Gas chromatographic procedures for non-volatile fatty acids and EPA priority pollutants were also performed. Liquid chromatography was used to screen for non-volatile, water soluble compounds not amenable to GC techniques. Methods development efforts were initiated to separate and quantitate certain chemical classes not classically analyzed in water and wastewater samples. These included carbohydrates, organic acids, and amino acids. Finally, efforts were initiated to identify useful concentration techniques to enhance detection limits and recovery of non-volatile, water soluble compounds.

  16. Combined Effects of Supersaturation Rates and Doses on the Kinetic-Solubility Profiles of Amorphous Solid Dispersions Based on Water-Insoluble Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) Hydrogels.

    PubMed

    Schver, Giovanna C R M; Lee, Ping I

    2018-05-07

    Under nonsink dissolution conditions, the kinetic-solubility profiles of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) based on soluble carriers typically exhibit so-called "spring-and-parachute" concentration-time behaviors. However, the kinetic-solubility profiles of ASDs based on insoluble carriers (including hydrogels) are known to show sustained supersaturation during nonsink dissolution through a matrix-regulated diffusion mechanism by which the supersaturation of the drug is built up gradually and sustained over an extended period without any dissolved polymers acting as crystallization inhibitors. Despite previous findings demonstrating the interplay between supersaturation rates and total doses on the kinetic-solubility profiles of soluble amorphous systems (including ASDs based on dissolution-regulated releases from soluble polymer carriers), the combined effects of supersaturation rates and doses on the kinetic-solubility profiles of ASDs based on diffusion-regulated releases from water-insoluble carriers have not been investigated previously. Thus, the objective of this study is to examine the impacts of total doses and supersaturation-generation rates on the resulting kinetic-solubility profiles of ASDs based on insoluble hydrogel carriers. We employed a previously established ASD-carrier system based on water-insoluble-cross-linked-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)-hydrogel beads and two poorly water soluble model drugs: the weakly acidic indomethacin (IND) and the weakly basic posaconazole (PCZ). Our results show clearly for the first time that by using the smallest-particle-size fraction and a high dose (i.e., above the critical dose), it is indeed possible to significantly shorten the duration of sustained supersaturation in the kinetic-solubility profile of an ASD based on a water-insoluble hydrogel carrier, such that it resembles the spring-and-parachute dissolution profiles normally associated with ASDs based on soluble carriers. This generates

  17. Analysis of chemical concepts as the basic of virtual laboratory development and process science skills in solubility and solubility product subject

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Syafrina, R.; Rohman, I.; Yuliani, G.

    2018-05-01

    This study aims to analyze the concept characteristics of solubility and solubility products that will serve as the basis for the development of virtual laboratory and students' science process skills. Characteristics of the analyzed concepts include concept definitions, concept attributes, and types of concepts. The concept analysis method uses concept analysis according to Herron. The results of the concept analysis show that there are twelve chemical concepts that become the prerequisite concept before studying the solubility and solubility and five core concepts that students must understand in the solubility and Solubility product. As many as 58.3% of the definitions of the concepts contained in high school textbooks support students' science process skills, the rest of the definition of the concept is memorized. Concept attributes that meet three levels of chemical representation and can be poured into a virtual laboratory have a percentage of 66.6%. Type of concept, 83.3% is a concept based on principle; and 16.6% concepts that state the process. Meanwhile, the science process skills that can be developed based on concept analysis are the ability to observe, calculate, measure, predict, interpret, hypothesize, apply, classify, and inference.

  18. Nickel, soluble salts

    Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)

    Nickel , soluble salts ; CASRN Various Human health assessment information on a chemical substance is included in the IRIS database only after a comprehensive review of toxicity data , as outlined in the IRIS assessment development process . Sections I ( Health Hazard Assessments for Noncarcinogenic

  19. Uranium, soluble salts

    Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)

    Uranium , soluble salts ; no CASRN Human health assessment information on a chemical substance is included in the IRIS database only after a comprehensive review of toxicity data , as outlined in the IRIS assessment development process . Sections I ( Health Hazard Assessments for Noncarcinogenic Eff

  20. Calculation of Drug Solubilities by Pharmacy Students.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Cates, Lindley A.

    1981-01-01

    A method of estimating the solubilities of drugs in water is reported that is based on a principle applied in quantitative structure-activity relationships. This procedure involves correlation of partition coefficient values using the octanol/water system and aqueous solubility. (Author/MLW)

  1. Determination of water-soluble vitamins using a colorimetric microbial viability assay based on the reduction of water-soluble tetrazolium salts.

    PubMed

    Tsukatani, Tadayuki; Suenaga, Hikaru; Ishiyama, Munetaka; Ezoe, Takatoshi; Matsumoto, Kiyoshi

    2011-07-15

    A method for the determination of water-soluble vitamins using a colorimetric microbial viability assay based on the reduction of the tetrazolium salt {2-(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, monosodium salt (WST-8)} via 2-methyl-1,4-napthoquinone (NQ) was developed. Measurement conditions were optimized for the microbiological determination of water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin B(6), biotin, folic acid, niacin, and pantothenic acid, using microorganisms that have a water-soluble vitamin requirement. A linear relationship between absorbance and water-soluble vitamin concentration was obtained. The proposed method was applied to determine the concentration of vitamin B(6) in various foodstuffs. There was good agreement between vitamin B(6) concentrations determined after 24h using the WST-8 colorimetric method and those obtained after 48h using a conventional method. The results suggest that the WST-8 colorimetric assay is a useful method for the rapid determination of water-soluble vitamins in a 96-well microtiter plate. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. What aspect of dietary modification in broilers controls litter water-soluble phosphorus: dietary phosphorus, phytase, or calcium?

    PubMed

    Leytem, A B; Plumstead, P W; Maguire, R O; Kwanyuen, P; Brake, J

    2007-01-01

    Environmental concerns about phosphorus (P) losses from animal agriculture have led to interest in dietary strategies to reduce the concentration and solubility of P in manures and litters. To address the effects of dietary available phosphorus (AvP), calcium (Ca), and phytase on P excretion in broilers, 18 dietary treatments were applied in a randomized complete block design to each of four replicate pens of 28 broilers from 18 to 42 d of age. Treatments consisted of three levels of AvP (3.5, 3.0, and 2.5 g kg(-1)) combined with three levels of Ca (8.0, 6.9, and 5.7 g kg(-1)) and two levels of phytase (0 and 600 phytase units [FTU]). Phytase was added at the expense of 1.0 g kg(-1) P from dicalcium phosphate. Fresh litter was collected from pens when the broilers were 41 d of age and analyzed for total P, soluble P, and phytate P as well as P composition by (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Results indicated that the inclusion of phytase at the expense of inorganic P or reductions in AvP decreased litter total P by 28 to 43%. Litter water-soluble P (WSP) decreased by up to 73% with an increasing dietary Ca/AvP ratio, irrespective of phytase addition. The ratio of WSP/total P in litter decreased as the dietary Ca/AvP ratio increased and was greater in the phytase-amended diets. This study indicated that while feeding reduced AvP diets with phytase decreased litter total P, the ratio of Ca/AvP in the diet was primarily responsible for effects on WSP. This is important from an environmental perspective as the amount of WSP in litter could be related to potential for off-site P losses following land application of litter.

  3. Surface shear inviscidity of soluble surfactants

    PubMed Central

    Zell, Zachary A.; Nowbahar, Arash; Mansard, Vincent; Leal, L. Gary; Deshmukh, Suraj S.; Mecca, Jodi M.; Tucker, Christopher J.; Squires, Todd M.

    2014-01-01

    Foam and emulsion stability has long been believed to correlate with the surface shear viscosity of the surfactant used to stabilize them. Many subtleties arise in interpreting surface shear viscosity measurements, however, and correlations do not necessarily indicate causation. Using a sensitive technique designed to excite purely surface shear deformations, we make the most sensitive and precise measurements to date of the surface shear viscosity of a variety of soluble surfactants, focusing on SDS in particular. Our measurements reveal the surface shear viscosity of SDS to be below the sensitivity limit of our technique, giving an upper bound of order 0.01 μN·s/m. This conflicts directly with almost all previous studies, which reported values up to 103–104 times higher. Multiple control and complementary measurements confirm this result, including direct visualization of monolayer deformation, for SDS and a wide variety of soluble polymeric, ionic, and nonionic surfactants of high- and low-foaming character. No soluble, small-molecule surfactant was found to have a measurable surface shear viscosity, which seriously undermines most support for any correlation between foam stability and surface shear rheology of soluble surfactants. PMID:24563383

  4. A holistic high-throughput screening framework for biofuel feedstock assessment that characterises variations in soluble sugars and cell wall composition in Sorghum bicolor

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background A major hindrance to the development of high yielding biofuel feedstocks is the ability to rapidly assess large populations for fermentable sugar yields. Whilst recent advances have outlined methods for the rapid assessment of biomass saccharification efficiency, none take into account the total biomass, or the soluble sugar fraction of the plant. Here we present a holistic high-throughput methodology for assessing sweet Sorghum bicolor feedstocks at 10 days post-anthesis for total fermentable sugar yields including stalk biomass, soluble sugar concentrations, and cell wall saccharification efficiency. Results A mathematical method for assessing whole S. bicolor stalks using the fourth internode from the base of the plant proved to be an effective high-throughput strategy for assessing stalk biomass, soluble sugar concentrations, and cell wall composition and allowed calculation of total stalk fermentable sugars. A high-throughput method for measuring soluble sucrose, glucose, and fructose using partial least squares (PLS) modelling of juice Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra was developed. The PLS prediction was shown to be highly accurate with each sugar attaining a coefficient of determination (R 2 ) of 0.99 with a root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP) of 11.93, 5.52, and 3.23 mM for sucrose, glucose, and fructose, respectively, which constitutes an error of <4% in each case. The sugar PLS model correlated well with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and brix measures. Similarly, a high-throughput method for predicting enzymatic cell wall digestibility using PLS modelling of FTIR spectra obtained from S. bicolor bagasse was developed. The PLS prediction was shown to be accurate with an R 2 of 0.94 and RMSEP of 0.64 μg.mgDW-1.h-1. Conclusions This methodology has been demonstrated as an efficient and effective way to screen large biofuel feedstock populations for biomass, soluble sugar concentrations, and cell wall

  5. Osteoprotegerin, RANKL, ADMA, and Fetuin-A serum levels in children with type I diabetes mellitus.

    PubMed

    Chrysis, Dionisios; Efthymiadou, Alexandra; Mermigka, Alexandra; Kritikou, Dimitra; Spiliotis, Bessie E

    2017-06-01

    Patients with type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM) have increased incidence of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Although these complications are unusual in children with T1DM, prevention, and early intervention could decrease morbidity and mortality. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and Fetuin-A have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk (CVR). Increased OPG and ADMA, and decreased or increased Fetuin-A serum levels have been associated with increased CVR. Because patients with T1DM have higher CVR we investigated OPG, ADMA, and Fetuin-A, in children with T1DM. We determined the serum levels of OPG, receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), ADMA, and Fetuin-A by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 56 children with T1DM aged 12.1 ± 3.4 yr and in 46 normal control children, (C) aged 11.3 ± 3.0 yr. Serum OPG levels were significantly increased in patients with T1DM (3.352 ± 0.73 pmol/L) compared with C (2.75 ± 0.67 pmol/L, p < 0.0001) but RANKL did not change. ADMA was significantly decreased in T1DM compared with C (0.68 ± 0.13 µmol/L versus 0.82 ± 0.18 µmol/L, p < 0.0001). Fetuin-A was similar in T1DM (0.551 ± 0.13 g/L) and C (0.540 ± 0.11 g/L) subjects. OPG was positively associated with glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (p < 0.001) and negatively associated with BMI (p < 0.01). ADMA and Fetuin-A were not associated with A1c and ADMA was only negatively associated with age (p < 0.05). OPG is increased, ADMA is decreased, but RANKL and Fetuin-A are unchanged in T1DM children. Whereas increased OPG has been firmly related to increased CVR, more studies, especially longitudinal studies, are needed to delineate the role and clinical significance of decreased ADMA and if Fetuin-A has any role in T1DM. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  6. Respiratory carcinogenicity assessment of soluble nickel compounds.

    PubMed Central

    Oller, Adriana R

    2002-01-01

    The many chemical forms of nickel differ in physicochemical properties and biological effects. Health assessments for each main category of nickel species are needed. The carcinogenicity assessment of water-soluble nickel compounds has proven particularly difficult. Epidemiologic evidence indicates an association between inhalation exposures to nickel refinery dust containing soluble nickel compounds and increased risk of respiratory cancers. However, the nature of this association is unclear because of limitations of the exposure data, inconsistent results across cohorts, and the presence of mixed exposures to water-insoluble nickel compounds and other confounders that are known or suspected carcinogens. Moreover, well-conducted animal inhalation studies, where exposures were solely to soluble nickel, failed to demonstrate a carcinogenic potential. Similar negative results were seen in animal oral studies. A model exists that relates respiratory carcinogenic potential to the bioavailability of nickel ion at nuclear sites within respiratory target cells. This model helps reconcile human, animal, and mechanistic data for soluble nickel compounds. For inhalation exposures, the predicted lack of bioavailability of nickel ion at target sites suggests that water-soluble nickel compounds, by themselves, will not be complete human carcinogens. However, if inhaled at concentrations high enough to induce chronic lung inflammation, these compounds may enhance carcinogenic risks associated with inhalation exposure to other substances. Overall, the weight of evidence indicates that inhalation exposure to soluble nickel alone will not cause cancer; moreover, if exposures are kept below levels that cause chronic respiratory toxicity, any possible tumor-enhancing effects (particularly in smokers) would be avoided. PMID:12426143

  7. Extraction of soluble substances from organic solid municipal waste to increase methane production.

    PubMed

    Campuzano, Rosalinda; González-Martínez, Simón

    2015-02-01

    This work deals with the analysis of the methane production from Mexico City's urban organic wastes after separating soluble from suspended substances. Water was used to extract soluble substances under three different water to waste ratios and after three extraction procedures. Methane production was measured at 35 °C during 21 days using a commercial methane potential testing device. Results indicate that volatile solids extraction increases with dilution rate to a maximum of 40% at 20 °C and to 43% at 93 °C. The extracts methane production increases with the dilution rate as a result of enhanced dissolved solids extraction. The combined (extract and bagasse) methane production reached, in 6 days, 66% of the total methane produced in 21 days. The highest methane production rates were measured during the first six days. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Fluorine (soluble fluoride)

    Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)

    Fluorine ( soluble fluoride ) ; CASRN 7782 - 41 - 4 Human health assessment information on a chemical substance is included in the IRIS database only after a comprehensive review of toxicity data , as outlined in the IRIS assessment development process . Sections I ( Health Hazard Assessments for No

  9. In vitro dynamic solubility test: influence of various parameters.

    PubMed Central

    Thélohan, S; de Meringo, A

    1994-01-01

    This article discusses the dissolution of mineral fibers in simulated physiological fluids (SPF), and the parameters that affect the solubility measurement in a dynamic test where an SPF runs through a cell containing fibers (Scholze and Conradt test). Solutions simulate either the extracellular fluid (pH 7.6) or the intracellular fluid (pH 4.5). The fibers have various chemical compositions and are either continuously drawn or processed as wool. The fiber solubility is determined by the amount of SiO2 (and occasionally other ions) released in the solution. Results are stated as percentage of the initial silica content released or as dissolution rate v in nm/day. The reproducibility of the test is higher with the less soluble fibers (10% solubility), than with highly soluble fibers (20% solubility). The influence of test parameters, including SPF, test duration, and surface area/volume (SA/V), has been studied. The pH and the inorganic buffer salts have a major influence: industrial glasswool composition is soluble at pH 7.6 but not at pH 4.5. The opposite is true for rock- (basalt) wool composition. For slightly soluble fibers, the dissolution rate v remains constant with time, whereas for highly soluble fibers, the dissolution rate decreases rapidly. The dissolution rates believed to occur are v1, initial dissolution rate, and v2, dissolution rate of the residual fibers. The SA of fibers varies with the mass of the fibers tested, or with the fiber diameter at equal mass. Volume, V, is the chosen flow rate. An increase in the SA/V ratio leads to a decrease in the dissolution rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID:7882964

  10. In vitro dynamic solubility test: influence of various parameters.

    PubMed

    Thélohan, S; de Meringo, A

    1994-10-01

    This article discusses the dissolution of mineral fibers in simulated physiological fluids (SPF), and the parameters that affect the solubility measurement in a dynamic test where an SPF runs through a cell containing fibers (Scholze and Conradt test). Solutions simulate either the extracellular fluid (pH 7.6) or the intracellular fluid (pH 4.5). The fibers have various chemical compositions and are either continuously drawn or processed as wool. The fiber solubility is determined by the amount of SiO2 (and occasionally other ions) released in the solution. Results are stated as percentage of the initial silica content released or as dissolution rate v in nm/day. The reproducibility of the test is higher with the less soluble fibers (10% solubility), than with highly soluble fibers (20% solubility). The influence of test parameters, including SPF, test duration, and surface area/volume (SA/V), has been studied. The pH and the inorganic buffer salts have a major influence: industrial glasswool composition is soluble at pH 7.6 but not at pH 4.5. The opposite is true for rock- (basalt) wool composition. For slightly soluble fibers, the dissolution rate v remains constant with time, whereas for highly soluble fibers, the dissolution rate decreases rapidly. The dissolution rates believed to occur are v1, initial dissolution rate, and v2, dissolution rate of the residual fibers. The SA of fibers varies with the mass of the fibers tested, or with the fiber diameter at equal mass. Volume, V, is the chosen flow rate. An increase in the SA/V ratio leads to a decrease in the dissolution rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

  11. Rapid Growth and Apparent Total Nitrogen Increases in Rice and Corn Plants following Applications of Triacontanol 1

    PubMed Central

    Knowles, N. Richard; Ries, Stanley K.

    1981-01-01

    Triacontanol (TRIA) increased fresh and dry weight and total reducible nitrogen (total N) of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings within 40 minutes. Increases in total N in the supernatants from homogenates of corn (Zea mays L.) and rice leaves treated with TRIA for one minute before grinding occurred within 30 and 80 minutes, respectively. The source for the increase was investigated utilizing atmospheric substitution and enrichment and depletion studies with 15N. The increase in total N in seedlings was shown to be independent of method of N analysis and the presence of nitrate in the plants. Automated Kjeldahl determinations showing apparent increases in N composition due to TRIA were shown to be correlated with hand Kjeldahl, elemental analysis, and chemiluminescent analysis in three independent laboratories. TRIA did not alter the nitrate uptake or endogenous levels of nitrate in corn and rice seedlings. Enrichment experiments revealed that the total N increases in rice seedlings, in vivo, and in supernatants of corn leaf homogenates, in vitro, are not due to atmospheric N2. TRIA increased the soluble N pools of the plants, specifically the free amino acid and soluble protein fractions. No differences in depletion or enrichment of 15N incorporated into soluble and insoluble N fractions of rice seedlings could be detected on an atom per cent 15N basis. The apparent short-term total N increases cannot be explained by current knowledge of major N assimilation pathways. TRIA may stimulate a change in the chemical composition of the seedlings, resulting in interference with standard methods of N analysis. PMID:16662092

  12. Feeding fat from distillers dried grains with solubles to dairy heifers: I. Effects on growth performance and total-tract digestibility of nutrients.

    PubMed

    Anderson, J L; Kalscheur, K F; Garcia, A D; Schingoethe, D J

    2015-08-01

    The objective of this study was to determine if increased dietary fat from dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) in diets of growing heifers affected dry matter intake, average daily gain (ADG), growth performance, and nutrient digestibility. Thirty-three Holstein heifers (133±18 d old) were used in a 24-wk randomized complete block design. Treatments were (1) control (CON) containing ground corn and soybean products, (2) low-fat (LFDG) containing low-fat, high-protein DDGS and ground corn, and (3) high-fat (HFDG) with traditional DDGS. All diets contained 39.8% grass hay, 24.8% corn silage, and 1.5% vitamins and minerals. The HFDG diet was formulated to contain 4.8% fat compared with 2.8% in the CON and LFDG diets, which were greater in nonfibrous carbohydrate. Diets had a net energy gain of 1.0Mcal/kg of dry matter and were limit-fed at 2.45% of body weight. Heifers were weighed every 2wk and rations were adjusted accordingly. Heart girth, hip and wither heights, body length, and body condition score were recorded every 2wk. Total-tract digestion of nutrients was evaluated during wk16 using fecal grab sampling and an external marker. No treatments by time interactions were found. Dry matter intakes, body weights, ADG, and gain-to-feed ratio were similar among treatments; however, ADG averaged 0.96kg/d among treatments, which is greater than recommended. All body frame measurements and body condition scores were similar among treatments. Total-tract digestibilities of dry matter and organic matter were not different among treatments. However, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber digestibility were increased in the HFDG diet compared with the CON and LFDG diets. These results demonstrate that using DDGS or low-fat DDGS with corn in growing heifer rations can maintain performance. Utilizing the fat in DDGS as a dietary energy source in replacement of starch from corn did not influence growth performance or negatively affect nutrient digestion. Copyright

  13. Preparation of monoclonal antibody bank against whole water-soluble proteins from rapid-growing bamboo shoots.

    PubMed

    Wu, Yu-Jen; Chen, Han-Min; Wu, Tai-Tse; Wu, Jiann-Shing; Chu, Rea-Min; Juang, Rong-Huay

    2006-11-01

    An antibody bank against the whole proteins in a proteome is a useful tool for biological research. Using the standard cell fusion method, and a modified screening protocol, we produced an mAb bank against the total water-soluble proteins extracted from the rapid-growing green bamboo shoots. An improved two-stage strategy was employed to enrich those poor immunogenic or lower expressed proteins. Totally, we obtained a bank of 192 mAb which were identified as distinctive to each other by 2-DE and immunostaining.

  14. 21 CFR 520.1044c - Gentamicin sulfate soluble powder.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 6 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Gentamicin sulfate soluble powder. 520.1044c... Gentamicin sulfate soluble powder. (a) Specifications. Each gram of gentamicin sulfate soluble powder contains gentamicin sulfate equivalent to 16.7, 66.7, or 333.3 milligrams of gentamicin. (b) Sponsor. See...

  15. 21 CFR 520.1044c - Gentamicin sulfate soluble powder.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 6 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Gentamicin sulfate soluble powder. 520.1044c... Gentamicin sulfate soluble powder. (a) Specifications. Each gram of gentamicin sulfate soluble powder contains gentamicin sulfate equivalent to 16.7, 66.7, or 333.3 milligrams of gentamicin. (b) Sponsor. See...

  16. The solubility of metals in Pb17Li liquid alloy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Borgstedt, H. U.; Feuerstein, H.

    1992-09-01

    The solubility data of iron in the eutectic alloy Pb17Li which were evaluated from corrosion tests in a turbulent flow of the molten alloy are discussed in the frame of solubilities of the transition metals in liquid lead. It is shown that the solubility of iron in the alloy is close to that in lead. This is also the fact for several other alloying elements of steels.A comparison of all known data shows that they are in agreement with generally shown trends for the solubility of the transition metals in low melting metals. These trends indicate comparably high solubilities of nickel and manganese in the liquid metals, lower saturation concentrations of vanadium, chromium, iron, and cobalt, and extremely low solubility of molybdenum.

  17. Routine Use of Contrast Swallow After Total Gastrectomy and Esophagectomy: Is it Justified?

    PubMed

    El-Sourani, Nader; Bruns, Helge; Troja, Achim; Raab, Hans-Rudolf; Antolovic, Dalibor

    2017-01-01

    After gastrectomy or esophagectomy, esophagogastrostomy and esophagojejunostomy are commonly used for reconstruction. Water-soluble contrast swallow is often used as a routine screening to exclude anastomotic leakage during the first postoperative week. In this retrospective study, the sensitivity and specificity of oral water-soluble contrast swallow for the detection of anastomotic leakage and its clinical symptoms were analysed. Records of 104 consecutive total gastrectomies and distal esophagectomies were analysed. In all cases, upper gastrointestinal contrast swallow with the use of a water-soluble contrast agent was performed on the 5 th postoperative day. Extravasation of the contrast agent was defined as anastomotic leakage. When anastomotic insufficiency was suspected but no extravasation was present, a computed tomography (CT) scan and upper endoscopy were performed. Oral contrast swallow detected 7 anastomotic leaks. Based on CT-scans and upper endoscopy, the true number of anastomotic leakage was 15. The findings of the oral contrast swallow were falsely positive in 4 and falsely negative in 12 patients, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the oral contrast swallow was 20% and 96%, respectively. Routine radiological contrast swallow following total gastrectomy or distal esophagectomy cannot be recommended. When symptoms of anastomotic leakage are present, a CT-scan and endoscopy are currently the methods of choice.

  18. Three new hydrochlorothiazide cocrystals: Structural analyses and solubility studies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ranjan, Subham; Devarapalli, Ramesh; Kundu, Sudeshna; Vangala, Venu R.; Ghosh, Animesh; Reddy, C. Malla

    2017-04-01

    Hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) is a diuretic BCS class IV drug with poor aqueous solubility and low permeability leading to poor oral absorption. The present work explores the cocrystallization technique to enhance the aqueous solubility of HCT. Three new cocrystals of HCT with water soluble coformers phenazine (PHEN), 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) and picolinamide (PICA) were prepared successfully by solution crystallization method and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), fourier transform -infraredspectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Structural characterization revealed that the cocrystals with PHEN, DMAP and PICA exists in P21/n, P21/c and P21/n space groups, respectively. The improved solubility of HCT-DMAP (4 fold) and HCT-PHEN (1.4 fold) cocrystals whereas decreased solubility of HCT-PICA (0.5 fold) as compared to the free drug were determined after 4 h in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, at 25 °C by using shaking flask method. HCT-DMAP showed a significant increase in solubility than all previously reported cocrystals of HCT suggest the role of a coformer. The study demonstrates that the selection of coformer could have pronounced impact on the physicochemical properties of HCT and cocrystallization can be a promising approach to improve aqueous solubility of drugs.

  19. Solubility of NaCl in water by molecular simulation revisited.

    PubMed

    Aragones, J L; Sanz, E; Vega, C

    2012-06-28

    In this paper, the solubility of NaCl in water is evaluated by using computer simulations for three different force fields. The condition of chemical equilibrium (i.e., equal chemical potential of the salt in the solid and in the solution) is obtained at room temperature and pressure to determine the solubility of the salt. We used the same methodology that was described in our previous work [E. Sanz and C. Vega, J. Chem. Phys. 126, 014507 (2007)] although several modifications were introduced to improve the accuracy of the calculations. It is found that the predictions of the solubility are quite sensitive to the details of the force field used. Certain force fields underestimate the experimental solubility of NaCl in water by a factor of four, whereas the predictions of other force fields are within 20% of the experimental value. Direct coexistence molecular dynamic simulations were also performed to determine the solubility of the salt. Reasonable agreement was found between the solubility obtained from free energy calculations and that obtained from direct coexistence simulations. This work shows that the evaluation of the solubility of salts in water can now be performed in computer simulations. The solubility depends on the ion-ion, ion-water, and water-water interactions. For this reason, the prediction of the solubility can be quite useful in future work to develop force fields for ions in water.

  20. Dietary fiber content influences soluble carbohydrate levels in ruminal fluids.

    PubMed

    Pinder, R S; Patterson, J A; O'Bryan, C A; Crandall, P G; Ricke, S C

    2012-01-01

    The soluble carbohydrate concentration of ruminal fluid, as affected by dietary forage content (DFC) and/or ruminally undegradable intake protein content (UIPC), was determined. Four ruminally cannulated steers, in a 4 × 4 Latin square design, were offered diets containing high (75 % of DM) or low (25 % of DM) DFC and high (6 % of DM) or low (5 % of DM) UIPC, in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Zinc-treated SBM was the primary UIP source. Soluble hexose concentration (145.1 μM) in ruminal fluid (RF) of steers fed low DFC diets exhibited a higher trend (P = 0.08) than that (124.5 μM) of steers fed high DFC diets. UIPC did not modulate (P = 0.54) ruminal soluble hexose concentrations. Regardless of diet, soluble hexose concentration declined immediately after feeding and did not rise until 3 h after feeding (P < 0.0001). Cellobiose (≈90 %) and glucose (≈10 %) were the major soluble hexoses present in RF. Maltose was not detected. Soluble glucose concentration (13.0 μM) was not modified by either UIPC (P = 0.40) nor DFC (P = 0.61). However, a DFC by post-prandial time interaction was detected (P = 0.02). Pentose concentrations were greater (P = 0.02) in RF of steers fed high DFC (100.2 μM) than steers fed low DFC (177.0 μM). UIPC did not influence (P = 0.35) soluble pentose concentration. The identity of soluble pentoses in ruminal fluid could not be determined. However, unsubstituted xylose and arabinose were excluded. These data indicate that: (i) soluble carbohydrate concentrations remain in ruminal fluid during digestion and fermentation; (ii) slight diurnal changes began after feeding; (iii) DFC influences the soluble carbohydrate concentration in RF; and (iv) UIPC of these diets does not affect the soluble carbohydrate concentration of RF.

  1. Uncertainties in the measurements of water-soluble organic nitrogen in the aerosol

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Matsumoto, Kiyoshi; Yamato, Koki

    2016-11-01

    In order to evaluate the positive and negative artifacts in the measurements of the water-soluble organic nitrogen (WSON) in the aerosols by filter sampling, comparative experiments between the filter sampling and denuder-filter sampling were conducted during both the warm and cold seasons. The results suggest that the traditional filter sampling underestimates the concentrations of the particulate WSON due to its volatilization loss, but this effect on the ratio of the WSON to the water-soluble total nitrogen (WSTN) was small probably because inorganic nitrogen species were also lost during the filter sampling. Approximately 32.5% of the WSON in the PM2.5 was estimated to be lost during the filter sampling. The denuder-filter sampling also demonstrated the existence of the WSON in the gas phase with approximately quarter concentrations of the WSON in the PM2.5. On the other hand, the filter sampling would overestimate the gaseous WSON concentration due to the loss of the WSON from the aerosol collection filter.

  2. Determination of excipient based solubility increases using the CheqSol method.

    PubMed

    Etherson, Kelly; Halbert, Gavin; Elliott, Moira

    2014-04-25

    Aqueous solubility is an essential characteristic assessed during drug development to determine a compound's drug-likeness since solubility plays an important pharmaceutical role. However, nearly half of the drug candidates discovered today display poor water solubility; therefore methods have to be applied to increase solubility. Solubility determination using the CheqSol method is a novel rapid solubility screening technique for ionisable compounds. The aim of this study is to determine if the CheqSol method can be employed to determine solubility increases of four test drugs (ibuprofen, gliclazide, atenolol and propranolol) induced by non-ionising excipients such as hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and poloxamers 407 and 188. CheqSol assays were performed for the drugs alone or in combination with varying solubiliser concentrations. The measured intrinsic solubility of all four drugs increased with all the excipients tested in an excipient concentration dependent manner providing results consistent with previous literature. The results demonstrate that it may be possible to use this method to determine the solubility increases induced by non-ionic solubilising excipients with results that are comparable to standard equilibrium based solubility techniques. Since the technique is automated and requires only small drug quantities it may serve as a useful solubility or formulation screening tool providing more detailed physicochemical information than multiwell plate or similar visual systems. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  3. The Hildebrand solubility parameters of ionic liquids-part 2.

    PubMed

    Marciniak, Andrzej

    2011-01-01

    The Hildebrand solubility parameters have been calculated for eight ionic liquids. Retention data from the inverse gas chromatography measurements of the activity coefficients at infinite dilution were used for the calculation. From the solubility parameters, the enthalpies of vaporization of ionic liquids were estimated. Results are compared with solubility parameters estimated by different methods.

  4. Increased expression of cytokines, soluble cytokine receptors, soluble apoptosis ligand and apoptosis in dengue.

    PubMed

    Arias, Julia; Valero, Nereida; Mosquera, Jesús; Montiel, Milagros; Reyes, Eduardo; Larreal, Yraima; Alvarez-Mon, Melchor

    2014-03-01

    Several studies have been performed to determine biomarkers that define the risk factors to developing severe forms of dengue. In this study, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1, IL-17, soluble interleukin-1 receptor like 1 protein (sST2), soluble TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (sTRAIL), IL-12 and soluble receptors for TNF (sTNF-RI and sTNF-RII) were determined by ELISA in dengue patients and monocyte/macrophage cultures. Dengue was classified as dengue without warning symptoms (DNWS), with warning symptoms (DWWS) and severe dengue (SD). High values of IL-6, sTNFRI, sTNFRII and sST2 were observed in DWWS and/or SD and IL-12 and sTRAIL in DNWS. TNF-α and IL-17 were increased not associated to the disease severity. High production of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-12, IL-17, sST2 and sTRAIL and apoptosis expression were observed in dengue monocyte/macrophage cultures. This study shows that beneficial or deleterious biomarkers can be present in dengue regardless the disease severity and that monocytes may be in part the source of studied molecules. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. AOAC SMPR 2015.009: Estimation of total phenolic content using Folin-C Assay

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    This AOAC Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPR) is for estimation of total soluble phenolic content in dietary supplement raw materials and finished products using the Folin-C assay for comparison within same matrices. SMPRs describe the minimum recommended performance characteristics to b...

  6. The solubility of hen egg-white lysozyme

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Howard, Sandra B.; Twigg, Pamela J.; Baird, James K.; Meehan, Edward J.

    1988-01-01

    The equilibrium solubility of chicken egg-white lysozyme in the presence of crystalline solid state was determined as a function of NaCl concentration, pH, and temperature. The solubility curves obtained represent a region of the lysozyme phase diagram. This diagram makes it possible to determine the supersaturation of a given set of conditions or to achieve identical supersaturations by different combinations of parameters. The temperature dependence of the solubility permits the evaluation of Delta-H of crystallization. The data indicate a negative heat of crystallization for the tetragonal crystal form but a positive heat of crystallization for the high-temperature orthorhombic form.

  7. Effect of gallium nitrate on the expression of osteoprotegerin and receptor activator of nuclear factor‑κB ligand in osteoblasts in vivo and in vitro.

    PubMed

    Li, Jingwu; Wang, Guang-Bin; Feng, Xue; Zhang, Jing; Fu, Qin

    2016-01-01

    Osteoporosis is characterized by the progressive loss of bone mass and the micro‑architectural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased risk of fracture. Gallium has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of several diverse disorders that are characterized by accelerated bone loss. Osteoblasts orchestrate bone degradation by expressing the receptor activator of NF‑κB ligand (RANKL), however they additionally protect the skeleton by secreting osteoprotegerin (OPG). Therefore, the relative concentration of RANKL and OPG in bone is a key determinant of bone mass and strength. The current study demonstrated that gallium nitrate (GaN) is able to counteract bone loss in an experimental model of established osteoporosis. Ovariectomized (OVX) rats exhibited significantly increased bone mineral density following GaN treatment for 4 and 8 weeks by 19.3 and 37.3%, respectively (P<0.05). The bone volume of the OVX + GaN group was increased by 40.9% (P<0.05) compared with the OVX group. In addition, the current study demonstrated that GaN stimulates the synthesis of OPG however has no effect on the expression of RANKL in osteoblasts, as demonstrated by RT‑qPCR, western blotting and ELISA, resulting in an increase in the OPG/RANKL ratio and a reduction in osteoclast differentiation in vivo and in vitro.

  8. Effect of gallium nitrate on the expression of osteoprotegerin and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand in osteoblasts in vivo and in vitro

    PubMed Central

    LI, JINGWU; WANG, GUANG-BIN; FENG, XUE; ZHANG, JING; FU, QIN

    2016-01-01

    Osteoporosis is characterized by the progressive loss of bone mass and the micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased risk of fracture. Gallium has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of several diverse disorders that are characterized by accelerated bone loss. Osteoblasts orchestrate bone degradation by expressing the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), however they additionally protect the skeleton by secreting osteoprotegerin (OPG). Therefore, the relative concentration of RANKL and OPG in bone is a key determinant of bone mass and strength. The current study demonstrated that gallium nitrate (GaN) is able to counteract bone loss in an experimental model of established osteoporosis. Ovariectomized (OVX) rats exhibited significantly increased bone mineral density following GaN treatment for 4 and 8 weeks by 19.3 and 37.3%, respectively (P<0.05). The bone volume of the OVX + GaN group was increased by 40.9% (P<0.05) compared with the OVX group. In addition, the current study demonstrated that GaN stimulates the synthesis of OPG however has no effect on the expression of RANKL in osteoblasts, as demonstrated by RT-qPCR, western blotting and ELISA, resulting in an increase in the OPG/RANKL ratio and a reduction in osteoclast differentiation in vivo and in vitro. PMID:26647856

  9. Solubility enhancement of a bisnaphthalimide tumoricidal agent, DMP 840, through complexation.

    PubMed

    Raghavan, K S; Nemeth, G A; Gray, D B; Hussain, M A

    1996-10-01

    The purpose of this research was to enhance the aqueous solubility of DMP 840 by complexation with water-soluble and nontoxic agents, and to understand the nature of the interactions involved in complex formation using nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). The solubility of DMP 840 in water, saline, acetate buffers, and cosolvent mixtures was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the effect of nicotinamide and pyridoxine concentrations on the solubility of DMP 840 was examined by the phase solubility method. 1H-NMR spectra were acquired in deuterated acetate buffer at 400 MHz on a Varian Unity-400 spectrometer. The aqueous solubility of DMP 840 was sensitive to the presence of chloride and acetate anions in solution, and did not improve in the presence of cosolvents. The use of the nontoxic and water-soluble complex-forming agents nicotinamide and pyridoxine, however, resulted in a linear increase in the aqueous solubility of DMP 840 with both ligands. The solubilization appears to be due to formation of 1:1 complexes between DMP 840 and the bioorganic ligands. The complexation constants were 15.57 M-1 for the DMP 840:nicotinamide complex and 13.36 M-1 for the DMP 840:pyridoxine complex. The NMR results indicate that the interaction is a result of vertical or plane-to-plane stacking and the complexation constants were in agreement with that obtained by phase solubility. The results suggest that the aqueous solubility of a poorly water soluble drug substance such as DMP 840 can be significantly enhanced by its complexation with water-soluble and nontoxic agents.

  10. A Colorful Solubility Exercise for Organic Chemistry

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Shugrue, Christopher R.; Mentzen, Hans H., II; Linton, Brian R.

    2015-01-01

    A discovery chemistry laboratory has been developed for the introductory organic chemistry student to investigate the concepts of polarity, miscibility, solubility, and density. The simple procedure takes advantage of the solubility of two colored dyes in a series of solvents or solvent mixtures, and the diffusion of colors can be easily…

  11. The Hildebrand Solubility Parameters of Ionic Liquids—Part 2

    PubMed Central

    Marciniak, Andrzej

    2011-01-01

    The Hildebrand solubility parameters have been calculated for eight ionic liquids. Retention data from the inverse gas chromatography measurements of the activity coefficients at infinite dilution were used for the calculation. From the solubility parameters, the enthalpies of vaporization of ionic liquids were estimated. Results are compared with solubility parameters estimated by different methods. PMID:21747694

  12. Structural characterization of alkali-soluble polysaccharides from Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer

    PubMed Central

    Ji, Li; Jie, Zhenjing; Ying, Xin; Yue, Qi; Zhou, Yifa

    2018-01-01

    Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (ginseng) has been widely used as a herb and functional food in the world. Polysaccharides are the main active components of ginseng. In this paper, the polysaccharides were sequentially extracted by 50 mM Na2CO3, 1 M KOH and 4 M KOH from ginseng roots treated sequentially with hot water, α-amylase and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid extraction. Na2CO3-soluble ginseng polysaccharide (NGP) was fractionated into one neutral and three acidic fractions by anion exchange and gel permeation chromatography. Fourier transform infrared, NMR and methylation analysis indicated acidic fractions in NGP were highly branched rhamnogalacturonan-I domains, with  → 4)-α-GalpA-(1 → 2)-α-Rhap-(1 → disaccharide repeating units as backbone and β-1,4-galactan, α-1,5/1,3,5-arabinan and type II arabinogalactan as side chains. 1-KGP (1 M KOH-soluble ginseng polysaccharide) and 4-KGP (4 M KOH-soluble ginseng polysaccharide) were mainly composed of hemicellulose besides starch-like polysaccharides and minor pectin. Antibody detection, enzymic hydrolysis, high performance anion exchange chromatography and methylation analysis demonstrated xylan was the major component in 1-KGP, while xyloglucan was predominant in 4-KGP. Comparing the polysaccharides obtained by different solvent extractions, we have a comprehensive understanding about total ginseng polysaccharides. PMID:29657770

  13. Elevated Circulating Osteoprotegerin and Renal Dysfunction Predict 15-Year Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality: A Prospective Study of Elderly Women

    PubMed Central

    Zhu, Kun; Lim, Ee M.; Bollerslev, Jens; Prince, Richard L.

    2015-01-01

    Background Data on the predictive role of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) for cardiovascular (CVD) and all-cause mortality risk have been presented by our group and others. We now present data on the interactions between OPG with stage I to III chronic kidney disease (CKD) for all-cause and CVD mortality. Methods and Results The setting was a 15-year study of 1,292 women over 70 years of age initially randomized to a 5-year controlled trial of 1.2 g of calcium daily. Serum OPG and creatinine levels with complete mortality records obtained from the Western Australian Data Linkage System were available. Interactions were detected between OPG levels and eGFR for both CVD and all-cause mortality (P < 0.05). Compared to participants with eGFR ≥60ml/min/1.73m2 and low OPG, participants with eGFR of <60ml/min/1.73m2 and elevated OPG had a 61% and 75% increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality respectively (multivariate-adjusted HR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.27-2.05; P < 0.001 and HR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.22-2.55; P = 0.003). This relationship with mortality was independent of decline in renal function (P<0.05). Specific causes of death in individuals with elevated OPG and stage III CKD highlighted an excess of coronary heart disease, renal failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease deaths (P < 0.05). Conclusion The association between elevated OPG levels with CVD and all-cause mortality was more evident in elderly women with poorer renal function. Assessment of OPG in the context of renal function may be important in studies investigating its relationship with all-cause and CVD mortality. PMID:26222774

  14. Soluble Molecularly Imprinted Nanorods for Homogeneous Molecular Recognition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liang, Rongning; Wang, Tiantian; Zhang, Huan; Yao, Ruiqing; Qin, Wei

    2018-03-01

    Nowadays, it is still difficult for molecularly imprinted polymer (MIPs) to achieve homogeneous recognition since they cannot be easily dissolved in organic or aqueous phase. To address this issue, soluble molecularly imprinted nanorods have been synthesized by using soluble polyaniline doped with a functionalized organic protonic acid as the polymer matrix. By employing 1-naphthoic acid as a model, the proposed imprinted nanorods exhibit an excellent solubility and good homogeneous recognition ability. The imprinting factor for the soluble imprinted nanoroads is 6.8. The equilibrium dissociation constant and the apparent maximum number of the proposed imprinted nanorods are 248.5 μM and 22.1 μmol/g, respectively. We believe that such imprinted nanorods may provide an appealing substitute for natural receptors in homogeneous recognition related fields.

  15. Fraction of a dose absorbed estimation for structurally diverse low solubility compounds.

    PubMed

    Sugano, Kiyohiko

    2011-02-28

    The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prediction accuracy of the fully mechanistic gastrointestinal unified theoretical (GUT) framework for in vivo oral absorption of low solubility drugs. Solubility in biorelevant media, molecular weight, logP(oct), pK(a), Caco-2 permeability, dose and particle size were used as the input parameters. To neglect the effect of the low stomach pH on dissolution of a drug, the fraction of a dose absorbed (Fa%) of undissociable and free acids were used. In addition, Fa% of free base drugs with the high pH stomach was also included to increase the number of model drugs. In total twenty nine structurally diverse compounds were used as the model drugs. Fa% data at several doses and particle sizes in humans and dogs were collated from the literature (total 110 Fa% data). In approximately 80% cases, the prediction error was within 2 fold, suggesting that the GUT framework has practical predictability for drug discovery, but not for drug development. The GUT framework appropriately captured the dose and particle size dependency of Fa% as the particle drifting effect was taken into account. It should be noted that the present validation results cannot be applied for salt form cases and other special formulations such as solid dispersions and emulsion formulations. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. Solubility Enhancement of Raloxifene Using Inclusion Complexes and Cogrinding Method

    PubMed Central

    Patil, Payal H.; Belgamwar, Veena S.; Patil, Pratibha R.; Surana, Sanjay J.

    2013-01-01

    The objective of the present work was to enhance the solubility and dissolution of practically water-insoluble drug raloxifene HCl (RLX), for the same two approaches that were used. In the first approach, drug was kneaded with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD), and in the second one drug was cogrinded with modified guar gum (MGG). The drug-cyclodextrin complex and drug-MGG cogrind mixtures were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction studies, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The solubility and dissolution study reveals that solubility and dissolution rate of RLX remarkably increased in both methods. It was concluded that the prepared inclusion complex showed a remarkable increase in solubility and dissolution of poorly water-soluble drug raloxifene. In the cogrinding mixture, a natural modified gum is used as a surfactant and enhances the solubility and dissolution of RLX without requiring addition of organic solvent or high temperature for its preparation; thus, process is less cumbersome and cost effective. But when both methods were compared; HPβCD complexation method showed significant enhancement of drug solubility. PMID:26555984

  17. Atmospheric water-soluble organic nitrogen (WSON) in the eastern Mediterranean: origin and ramifications regarding marine productivity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nehir, Münevver; Koçak, Mustafa

    2018-03-01

    Aerosol and rain sampling in two size fractions was carried out at a rural site located on the coast of the eastern Mediterranean, Erdemli, Turkey (36°33'54'' N, 34°15'18'' E). A total of 674 aerosol samples in two size fractions (337 coarse, 337 fine) and 23 rain samples were collected between March 2014 and April 2015. Samples were analyzed for NO3-, NH4+ and ancillary water-soluble ions using ion chromatography and water-soluble total nitrogen (WSTN) by applying a high-temperature combustion method. The mean aerosol water-soluble organic nitrogen (WSON) was 23.8 ± 16.3 nmol N m-3, reaching a maximum of 79 nmol N m-3, with about 66 % being associated with coarse particles. The volume weighted mean (VWM) concentration of WSON in rain was 21.5 µmol N L-1. The WSON contributed 37 and 29 % to the WSTN in aerosol and rainwater, respectively. Aerosol WSON concentrations exhibited large temporal variation, mainly due to meteorology and the origin of air mass flow. The highest mean aerosol WSON concentration was observed in the summer and was attributed to the absence of rain and resuspension of cultivated soil in the region. The mean concentration of WSON during dust events (38.2 ± 17.5 nmol N m-3) was 1.3 times higher than that of non-dust events (29.4 ± 13.9 nmol N m-3). Source apportionment analysis demonstrated that WSON was originated from agricultural activities (43 %), secondary aerosol (20 %), nitrate (22 %), crustal material (10 %) and sea salt (5 %). The dry and wet depositions of WSON were equivalent and amounted to 36 % of the total atmospheric WSTN flux.

  18. Soluble HLA-G: Are They Clinically Relevant?

    PubMed Central

    Pistoia, Vito; Morandi, Fabio; Wang, Xinhui; Ferrone, Soldano

    2007-01-01

    HLA-G is a non-classical HLA-class Ib molecule with multiple immunoregulatory properties. Its main function in physiological conditions is to abrogate maternal NK cell activity against foetal tissue and to establish immune tolerance at maternal-foetal interface. HLA-G is expressed not only as a membrane bound molecule on the surface of cells, but also as a soluble moiety in body fluids. The major isoforms of HLA-G present in serum are soluble HLA-G1 and HLA-G5 which are generated by shedding or proteolytic cleavage of the membrane bound isoform and by secretion of a soluble isoform, respectively. Here we review the data about soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) serum levels in different pathological conditions, including immune-mediated disorders, transplantation, and malignancies. In particular, we focus on sHLA-G expression and function in human neuroblastoma, a pediatric tumor, with special emphasis on a novel potential immuno escape mechanism utilized by NB to instruct monocytes to produce and release sHLA-G. Finally, the potential clinical relevance of sHLA-G serum levels is discussed. PMID:17825579

  19. Golden rule for buttressing vulnerable soluble proteins.

    PubMed

    Fernández, Ariel; Berry, R Stephen

    2010-05-07

    Local weaknesses in the structure of soluble proteins have received little attention. The structure may be inherently weak at sites where hydration of the protein backbone is locally hampered by formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond which in turn is not fully stabilized through burial within a hydrophobic environment. The result is insufficient compensation for the thermodynamic cost of dehydrating the backbone polar groups. This work shows that these structural deficiencies, the unburied backbone hydrogen bonds, are compensated in natural proteins by disulfide bonds that are needed to maintain the structural integrity. Examination of all PDB-reported soluble structures reveals that, after suitable normalization, the number of disulfide bonds, X, correlates tightly with the number of unburied backbone hydrogen bonds, Y, beyond the baseline level Y = 20, revealing a simple balance relation: Y = 5X + 20. This equation introduces a 1:5 ratio associated with the buttressing of soluble proteins with structural deficiencies. The results are justified on thermodynamic grounds and have implications for biomolecular engineering as they introduce two constants of universal applicability determining the architecture of soluble proteins.

  20. Estimation of intragastric solubility of drugs: in what medium?

    PubMed

    Vertzoni, Maria; Pastelli, Eleni; Psachoulias, Dimitris; Kalantzi, Lida; Reppas, Christos

    2007-05-01

    To measure the solubility of four drugs in human gastric aspirates, canine gastric aspirates (CGF) and simulated gastric fluids in order to propose a medium for estimating intragastric drug solubility relevant to a bioavailability study in the fasted state. Intragastric environment after administration of water to healthy fasted adults and to healthy fasted dogs (this study) was initially characterized. Solubilities were then measured with the shake-flask method in gastric fluid aspirated after the administration of water to healthy fasted adults and to healthy fasted dogs, in various simulated gastric fluids, i.e. SGF(SLS), SGF(Triton), FaSSGF, FaSSGF(NaCl), and in various HCl solutions with pH values ranging from 1.2 to 2.9. In all cases, FaSSGF performed better than canine aspirates, SGF(SLS), SGF(Triton), or FaSSGF(NaCl) in predicting solubility in HGF. However, its superiority over HCl pH 1.6 was not clear. For ketoconazole, dipyridamole, miconazole, and felodipine deviations of solubility data in FaSSGF from solubility data in HGF were non-significant, 34, -39 and 252%, respectively, whereas the corresponding deviations of data in HCl pH 1.6 from data in HGF were non-significant, 24, 70, and 130%, respectively. Combining data in FaSSGF and HCl pH 1.6 is comparatively the most efficient way to get an estimate of drug solubility in the fasting gastric contents during a bioavailability study. However, accurate estimation of intragastric solubility is limited by the changing environment during intragastric residence of solid particles and the degree of simulation of intragastric composition.

  1. The Effects of Acetate Buffer Concentration on Lysozyme Solubility

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Forsythe, Elizabeth L.; Pusey, Marc L.

    1996-01-01

    The micro-solubility column technique was employed to systematically investigate the effects of buffer concentration on tetragonal lysozyme solubility. While keeping the NaCl concentrations constant at 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% and 7%, and the pH at 4.0, we have studied the solubility of tetragonal lysozyme over an acetate buffer concentration range of 0.01M to 0.5M as a function of temperature. The lysozyme solubility decreased with increasing acetate concentration from 0.01M to 0.1M. This decrease may simply be due to the net increase in solvent ionic strength. Increasing the acetate concentration beyond 0.1M resulted in an increase in the lysozyme solubility, which reached a peak at - 0.3M acetate concentration. This increase was believed to be due to the increased binding of acetate to the anionic binding sites of lysozyme, preventing their occupation by chloride. In keeping with the previously observed reversal of the Hoffmeister series for effectiveness of anions in crystallizing lysozyme, acetate would be a less effective precipitant than chloride. Further increasing the acetate concentration beyond 0.3M resulted in a subsequent gradual decrease in the lysozyme solubility at all NaCl concentrations.

  2. Water-Soluble Polyphosphazenes and Their Hydrogels

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1994-05-18

    side groups, such as -OH, -COONa, -NH2, -NHCH3, -SO3", or -C=O, or amphiphilic units such as -OCH2CH20-, etc. High concentrations of hydrophilic side...soluble polymers since it allows a high degree of utilization of molecular design and either extensive or subtle structural manipulation. The third...advantages for development as water-soluble polymers or hydrogels. The backbone is hydrophilic, the chain structure has a high 3 degree of flexibility, and

  3. water-soluble fluorocarbon coating

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nanelli, P.

    1979-01-01

    Water-soluble fluorocarbon proves durable nonpolluting coating for variety of substrates. Coatings can be used on metals, masonry, textiles, paper, and glass, and have superior hardness and flexibility, strong resistance to chemicals fire, and weather.

  4. Enhancing the Solubility and Oral Bioavailability of Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs Using Monoolein Cubosomes.

    PubMed

    Ali, Md Ashraf; Kataoka, Noriko; Ranneh, Abdul-Hackam; Iwao, Yasunori; Noguchi, Shuji; Oka, Toshihiko; Itai, Shigeru

    2017-01-01

    Monoolein cubosomes containing either spironolactone (SPI) or nifedipine (NI) were prepared using a high-pressure homogenization technique and characterized in terms of their solubility and oral bioavailability. The mean particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, solubility and encapsulation efficiency (EE) values of the SPI- and NI-loaded cubosomes were determined to be 90.4 nm, 0.187, -13.4 mV, 163 µg/mL and 90.2%, and 91.3 nm, 0.168, -12.8 mV, 189 µg/mL and 93.0%, respectively, which were almost identical to those of the blank cubosome. Small-angle X-ray scattering analyses confirmed that the SPI-loaded, NI-loaded and blank cubosomes existed in the cubic space group Im3̄m. The lattice parameters of the SPI- and NI-loaded cubosomes were 147.6 and 151.6 Å, respectively, making them almost identical to that of blank cubosome (151.0 Å). The in vitro release profiles of the SPI- and NI-loaded cubosomes showed that they released less than 5% of the drugs into various media over 12-48 h, indicating that most of the drug remained encapsulated within the cubic phase of their lipid bilayer. Furthermore, the in vivo pharmacokinetic results suggested that these cubosomes led to a considerable increase in the systemic oral bioavailability of the drugs compared with pure dispersions of the same materials. Notably, the stability results indicated that the mean particle size and PDI values of these cubosomes were stable for at least 4 weeks. Taken together, these results demonstrate that monoolein cubosomes represent promising drug carriers for enhancing the solubility and oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs.

  5. [Expression and Preliminary Research on the Soluble Domain of EV-D68 3A Protein].

    PubMed

    Li, Ting; Kong, Jia; Yu, Xiao-fang; Han, Xue

    2015-11-01

    To understand the structure of the soluble region of Enterovirus 68 3A protein, we construct a prokaryotic expression vector expressing the soluble region of EV-D68 3A protein, and identify the forms of expression product after purification. The EV-D68 3A(1-61) gene was amplified by PCR and then cloned into the expression vector pET-28a-His-SUMO. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 induced by IPTG to express the fusion protein His-SUMO-3A(1-61). The recombinant protein was purified by Ni-NTA Agarose and cleaved by ULP Protease to remove His-SUMO tag. After that, the target protein 3A(1-61) was purified by a series of purification methods such as Ni-NTA, anion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromato- graphy. Chemical cross-linking reaction assay was taken to determine the multiple polymerization state of the 3A soluble region. A prokaryotic expression vector pET28a-His-SUMO-3A(1-61) expressing the solution region of EV-D68 3A was successfully constructed and plenty of highly pure target proteins were obtained by multiple purification steps . The total protein amount was about 5 mg obtained from 1L Escherichia coli BL21 with purity > 95%. At the same time, those results determined the homomultimer form of soluble 3A construct. These data demonstrated that the expression and purification system of the soluble region of 3A were successfully set up and provide some basic konwledge for the research about 3A crystal structure and the development of antiviral drugs targeted at 3A to block viral replication.

  6. Inorganic, organic and macromolecular components of fine aerosol in different areas of Europe in relation to their water solubility

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zappoli, S.; Andracchio, A.; Fuzzi, S.; Facchini, M. C.; Gelencsér, A.; Kiss, G.; Krivácsy, Z.; Molnár, Á.; Mészáros, E.; Hansson, H.-C.; Rosman, K.; Zebühr, Y.

    A chemical mass balance of fine aerosol (<1.5 μm AED) collected at three European sites was performed with reference to the water solubility of the different aerosol classes of components. The sampling sites are characterised by different pollution conditions and aerosol loading in the air. Aspvreten is a background site in central Sweden, K-puszta is a rural site in the Great Hungarian Plain and San Pietro Capofiume is located in the polluted Po Valley, northern Italy. The average fine aerosol mass concentration was 5.9 μg m -3 at the background site Aspvreten, 24 μg m -3 at the rural K-puszta and 38 μg m -3 at the polluted site San Pietro Capofiume. However, a similarly high soluble fraction of the aerosol (65-75%) was measured at the three sites, while the percentage of water soluble organic species with respect to the total soluble mass was much higher at the background site (ca. 50%) than at the other two sites (ca. 25%). A very high fraction (over 70%) of organic compounds in the aerosol consisted of polar species. The presence of water soluble macromolecular compounds was revealed in the samples from K-puszta and San Pietro Capofiume. At both sites these species accounted for between ca. 20-50% of the water soluble organic fraction. The origin of the compounds was tentatively attributed to biomass combustion.

  7. Water-soluble organic carbon, dicarboxylic acids, ketoacids, and α-dicarbonyls in the tropical Indian aerosols

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pavuluri, Chandra Mouli; Kawamura, Kimitaka; Swaminathan, T.

    2010-06-01

    Tropical aerosol (PM10) samples (n = 49) collected from southeast coast of India were studied for water-soluble dicarboxylic acids (C2-C12), ketocarboxylic acids (C2-C9), and α-dicarbonyls (glyoxal and methylglyoxal), together with analyses of total carbon (TC) and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC). Their distributions were characterized by a predominance of oxalic acid followed by terephthalic (t-Ph), malonic, and succinic acids. Total concentrations of diacids (227-1030 ng m-3), ketoacids (16-105 ng m-3), and dicarbonyls (4-23 ng m-3) are comparative to those from other Asian megacities such as Tokyo and Hong Kong. t-Ph acid was found as the second most abundant diacid in the Chennai aerosols. This feature has not been reported previously in atmospheric aerosols. t-Ph acid is most likely derived from the field burning of plastics. Water-soluble diacids were found to contribute 0.4%-3% of TC and 4%-11% of WSOC. Based on molecular distributions and backward air mass trajectories, we found that diacids and related compounds in coastal South Indian aerosols are influenced by South Asian and Indian Ocean monsoons. Organic aerosols are also suggested to be significantly transported long distances from North India and the Middle East in early winter and from Southeast Asia in late winter, but some originate from photochemical reactions over the Bay of Bengal. In contrast, the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and South Indian continent are suggested as major source regions in summer. We also found daytime maxima of most diacids, except for C9 and t-Ph acids, which showed nighttime maxima in summer. Emissions from marine and terrestrial plants, combined with land/sea breezes and in situ photochemical oxidation, are suggested especially in summer as an important factor that controls the composition of water-soluble organic aerosols over the southeast coast of India. Regional emissions from anthropogenic sources are also important in megacity Chennai, but their influence is

  8. Tetragonal Chicken Egg White Lysozyme Solubility in Sodium Chloride Solutions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Forsythe, Elizabeth L.; Judge, Russell A.; Pusey, Marc L.

    1998-01-01

    The solubility of chicken egg white lysozyme, crystallized in the tetragonal form was measured in sodium chloride solutions from 1.6 to 30.7 C, using a miniature column solubility apparatus. Sodium chloride solution concentrations ranged from 1 to 7% (w/v). The solutions were buffered with 0.1 M sodium acetate buffer with the solubility being measured at pH values in 0.2 pH unit increments in the range pH 4.0 to 5.4, with data also included at pH 4.5. Lysozyme solubility was found to increase with increases in temperature and decreasing salt concentration. Solution pH has a varied and unpredictable effect on solubility.

  9. Enhancement of carvedilol solubility by solid dispersion technique using cyclodextrins, water soluble polymers and hydroxyl acid.

    PubMed

    Yuvaraja, K; Khanam, Jasmina

    2014-08-05

    Aim of the present work is to enhance aqueous solubility of carvedilol (CV) by solid dispersion technique using wide variety of carriers such as: β-cyclodextrin (βCD), hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD), tartaric acid (TA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone K-30 (PVP K-30) and poloxamer-407 (PLX-407). Various products of 'CV-solid dispersion' had been studied extensively in various pH conditions to check enhancement of solubility and dissolution characteristics of carvedilol. Any physical change upon interaction between CV and carriers was confirmed by instrumental analysis: XRD, DSC, FTIR and SEM. Negative change of Gibb's free energy and complexation constants (Kc, 75-240M(-1), for cyclodextrins and 1111-20,365M(-1), for PVP K-30 and PLX-407) were the evidence of stable nature of the binding between CV and carriers. 'Solubility enhancement factor' of ionized-CV was found high enough (340 times) with HPβCD in presence of TA. TA increases the binding efficiency of cyclodextrin and changing the pH of microenvironment in dissolution medium. In addition, ionization process was used to increase the apparent intrinsic solubility of drug. In vitro, dissolution time of CV was remarkably reduced in the solid dispersion system compared to that of pure drug. This may be attributed to increased wettability, dispersing ability and transformation of crystalline state of drug to amorphous one. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. Soluble Antigen Fluorescent-Antibody Technique

    PubMed Central

    Toussaint, Andre J.; Anderson, Robert I.

    1965-01-01

    An indirect fluorescent-antibody (FA) procedure employing soluble antigen fixed onto an artificial matrix was developed, and a mechanical means for reading of test results was devised. The method employs two small cellulose acetate paper discs for each test. One disc contains soluble antigen diluted in 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA); the other contains only 1% BSA and serves as a control. After testing by the indirect FA procedure, the results of the tests are read on a fluorometer fitted with a paper chromatogram door. The instrument is set at zero with the control disc as a blank, and the specific fluorescence of the antigen disc is determined. Findings obtained with homologous and heterologous antisera indicated that the method yields excellent results. The soluble antigen fluorescent-antibody technique has definite advantages over the conventional indirect FA procedures. (i) The investigator may objectively select the antigen to be employed. (ii) It is possible to obtain objective mechanical reading of test results rather than the highly subjective readings required by conventional methods. (iii) The system compensates for any nonspecific fluorescence contributed either by the serum (e.g., drugs) or by free fluorescein in the conjugated antiserum. Images Fig. 1 PMID:14339261

  11. Solubility and dissolution improvement of ketoprofen by emulsification ionic gelation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rachmaniar, Revika; Tristiyanti, Deby; Hamdani, Syarif; Afifah

    2018-02-01

    Ketoprofen or [2-(3-benzoylphenyl) propionic acid] is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) and an analgesic which has high permeability and low solubility. The purpose of this work was to improve the solubility and dissolution of poorly water-soluble ketoprofen prepared by emulsification ionic gelation method and utilizing polymer (chitosan) and cross linker (tripolyphosphate, TPP) for particles formulation. The results show that increasing pH value of TPP, higher solubility and dissolution of as-prepared ketoprofen-chitosan was obtained. The solubility in water of ketoprofen-chitosan with pH 6 for TPP increased 2.71-fold compared to untreated ketoprofen. While the dissolution of ketoprofen-chitosan with pH 6 of TPP in simulated gastric fluid without enzyme (0.1 N HCl), pH 4.5 buffer and simulated intestinal fluid without enzyme (phosphate buffer pH 6.8) was increased 1.9-fold, 1.6-fold and 1.2-fold compared to untreated ketoprofen for dissolution time of 30 minutes, respectively. It could be concluded that chitosan and TPP in the emulsification ionic gelation method for ketoprofen preparation effectively increases solubility and dissolution of poorly water-soluble ketoprofen.

  12. Hydrodistillation-adsorption method for the isolation of water-soluble, non-soluble and high volatile compounds from plant materials.

    PubMed

    Mastelić, J; Jerković, I; Blazević, I; Radonić, A; Krstulović, L

    2008-08-15

    Proposed method of hydrodistillation-adsorption (HDA) on activated carbon and hydrodistillation (HD) with solvent trap were compared for the isolation of water-soluble, non-soluble and high volatile compounds, such as acids, monoterpenes, isothiocyanates and others from carob (Certonia siliqua L.), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and rocket (Eruca sativa L.). Isolated volatiles were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The main advantages of HDA method over ubiquitous HD method were higher yields of volatile compounds and their simultaneous separation in three fractions that enabled more detail analyses. This method is particularly suitable for the isolation and analysis of the plant volatiles with high amounts of water-soluble compounds. In distinction from previously published adsorption of remaining volatile compounds from distillation water on activated carbon, this method offers simultaneous hydrodistillation and adsorption in the same apparatus.

  13. The time-dependent health and biochemical effects in rats exposed to stainless steel welding dust and its soluble form.

    PubMed

    Halatek, Tadeusz; Stanislawska, Magdalena; Kaminska, Irena; Cieslak, Malgorzata; Swiercz, Radoslaw; Wasowicz, Wojciech

    2017-02-23

    Welding processes that generate fumes containing toxic metals, such as hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni), have been implicated in lung injury, inflammation, and lung tumor promotion in animal models. The principal objective of this study was to determine the dynamics of toxic effects of inhalation exposure to morphologically rated welding dust from stainless steel welding and its soluble form in TSE System with a dynamic airflow. We assessed the pulmonary toxicity of welding dust in Wistar rats exposed to 60.0 mg/m 3 of respirable-size welding dust (mean diameter 1.17 µm) for 2 weeks (6 h/day, 5 days/week); the aerosols were generated in the nose-only exposure chambers (NOEC). An additional aim included the study of the effect of betaine supplementation on oxidative deterioration in rat lung during 2 weeks of exposure to welding dust or water-soluble dust form. The animals were divided into eight groups (n = 8 per group): control, dust, betaine, betaine + dust, soluble-form dust, soluble-form dust + betaine, saline and saline + betaine groups. Rats were euthanized 1 or 2 weeks after the last exposure for assessment of pulmonary toxicity. Differential cell counts, total protein concentrations and cellular enzyme (lactate dehydrogenase-LDH) activities were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and corticosterone and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) concentrations were assessed in serum. The increase in polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes in BAL fluid (a cytological index of inflammatory responses of the lung) is believed to reflect pulmonary toxicity of heavy metals. Biomarkers of toxicity assessed in bronchoalveolar fluids indicate that the level of the toxic effect depends mainly on the solubility of studied metal compounds; biomarkers that showed treatment effects included: total cell, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, total protein concentrations, and cellular enzyme (lactate dehydrogenase) activity

  14. Soluble Amyloid-beta Aggregates from Human Alzheimer’s Disease Brains

    PubMed Central

    Esparza, Thomas J.; Wildburger, Norelle C.; Jiang, Hao; Gangolli, Mihika; Cairns, Nigel J.; Bateman, Randall J.; Brody, David L.

    2016-01-01

    Soluble amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregates likely contribute substantially to the dementia that characterizes Alzheimer’s disease. However, despite intensive study of in vitro preparations and animal models, little is known about the characteristics of soluble Aβ aggregates in the human Alzheimer’s disease brain. Here we present a new method for extracting soluble Aβ aggregates from human brains, separating them from insoluble aggregates and Aβ monomers using differential ultracentrifugation, and purifying them >6000 fold by dual antibody immunoprecipitation. The method resulted in <40% loss of starting material, no detectible ex vivo aggregation of monomeric Aβ, and no apparent ex vivo alterations in soluble aggregate sizes. By immunoelectron microscopy, soluble Aβ aggregates typically appear as clusters of 10–20 nanometer diameter ovoid structures with 2-3 amino-terminal Aβ antibody binding sites, distinct from previously characterized structures. This approach may facilitate investigation into the characteristics of native soluble Aβ aggregates, and deepen our understanding of Alzheimer’s dementia. PMID:27917876

  15. Solubilities of crystalline drugs in polymers: an improved analytical method and comparison of solubilities of indomethacin and nifedipine in PVP, PVP/VA, and PVAc.

    PubMed

    Sun, Ye; Tao, Jing; Zhang, Geoff G Z; Yu, Lian

    2010-09-01

    A previous method for measuring solubilities of crystalline drugs in polymers has been improved to enable longer equilibration and used to survey the solubilities of indomethacin (IMC) and nifedipine (NIF) in two homo-polymers [polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc)] and their co-polymer (PVP/VA). These data are important for understanding the stability of amorphous drug-polymer dispersions, a strategy actively explored for delivering poorly soluble drugs. Measuring solubilities in polymers is difficult because their high viscosities impede the attainment of solubility equilibrium. In this method, a drug-polymer mixture prepared by cryo-milling is annealed at different temperatures and analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry to determine whether undissolved crystals remain and thus the upper and lower bounds of the equilibrium solution temperature. The new annealing method yielded results consistent with those obtained with the previous scanning method at relatively high temperatures, but revised slightly the previous results at lower temperatures. It also lowered the temperature of measurement closer to the glass transition temperature. For D-mannitol and IMC dissolving in PVP, the polymer's molecular weight has little effect on the weight-based solubility. For IMC and NIF, the dissolving powers of the polymers follow the order PVP > PVP/VA > PVAc. In each polymer studied, NIF is less soluble than IMC. The activities of IMC and NIF dissolved in various polymers are reasonably well fitted to the Flory-Huggins model, yielding the relevant drug-polymer interaction parameters. The new annealing method yields more accurate data than the previous scanning method when solubility equilibrium is slow to achieve. In practice, these two methods can be combined for efficiency. The measured solubilities are not readily anticipated, which underscores the importance of accurate experimental data for developing predictive models.

  16. Characterisation, solubility and intrinsic dissolution behaviour of benzamide: dibenzyl sulfoxide cocrystal.

    PubMed

    Grossjohann, Christine; Eccles, Kevin S; Maguire, Anita R; Lawrence, Simon E; Tajber, Lidia; Corrigan, Owen I; Healy, Anne Marie

    2012-01-17

    This study examined the 1:1 cocrystal benzamide:dibenzyl sulfoxide, comprising the poorly water soluble dibenzyl sulfoxide (DBSO) and the more soluble benzamide (BA), to establish if this cocrystal shows advantages in terms of solubility and dissolution in comparison to its pure components and to a physical mixture. Solubility studies were performed by measuring DBSO solubility as a function of BA concentration, and a ternary phase diagram was constructed. Dissolution was examined through intrinsic dissolution studies. Solid-state characterisation was carried out by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDX), infra-red spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and thermal analysis. DBSO solubility was increased by means of complexation with BA. For the cocrystal, the solubility of both components was decreased in comparison to pure components. The cocrystal was identified as metastable and incongruently saturating. Dissolution studies revealed that dissolution of DBSO from the cocrystal was not enhanced in comparison to the pure compound or a physical mix, while BA release was retarded and followed square root of time kinetics. At the disk surface a layer of DBSO was found. The extent of complexation in solution can change the stability of the complex substantially. Incongruent solubility and dissolution behaviour of a cocrystal can result in no enhancement in the dissolution of the less soluble component and retardation of release of the more soluble component. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. Quantification of Lycopene, β-Carotene, and Total Soluble Solids in Intact Red-Flesh Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Using On-Line Near-Infrared Spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Tamburini, Elena; Costa, Stefania; Rugiero, Irene; Pedrini, Paola; Marchetti, Maria Gabriella

    2017-04-11

    A great interest has recently been focused on lycopene and β-carotene, because of their antioxidant action in the organism. Red-flesh watermelon is one of the main sources of lycopene as the most abundant carotenoid. The use of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in post-harvesting has permitted us to rapidly quantify lycopene, β-carotene, and total soluble solids (TSS) on single intact fruits. Watermelons, harvested in 2013-2015, were submitted to near-infrared (NIR) radiation while being transported along a conveyor belt system, stationary and in movement, and at different positions on the belt. Eight hundred spectra from 100 samples were collected as calibration set in the 900-1700 nm interval. Calibration models were performed using partial least squares (PLS) regression on pre-treated spectra (derivatives and SNV) in the ranges 2.65-151.75 mg/kg (lycopene), 0.19-9.39 mg/kg (β-carotene), and 5.3%-13.7% (TSS). External validation was carried out with 35 new samples and on 35 spectra. The PLS models for intact watermelon could predict lycopene with R² = 0.877 and SECV = 15.68 mg/kg, β-carotene with R² = 0.822 and SECV = 0.81 mg/kg, and TSS with R² = 0.836 and SECV = 0.8%. External validation has confirmed predictive ability with R² = 0.805 and RMSEP = 16.19 mg/kg for lycopene, R2 = 0.737 and RMSEP = 0.96 mg/kg for β-carotene, and R² = 0.707 and RMSEP = 1.4% for TSS. The results allow for the market valorization of fruits.

  18. Increased soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 plasma levels and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 during antiretroviral therapy interruption and retention of elevated soluble vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 levels following resumption of antiretroviral therapy.

    PubMed

    Papasavvas, Emmanouil; Azzoni, Livio; Pistilli, Maxwell; Hancock, Aidan; Reynolds, Griffin; Gallo, Cecile; Ondercin, Joe; Kostman, Jay R; Mounzer, Karam; Shull, Jane; Montaner, Luis J

    2008-06-19

    We investigated the effect of short viremic episodes on soluble markers associated with endothelial stress and cardiovascular disease risk in chronically HIV-1-infected patients followed during continuous antiretroviral therapy, antiretroviral therapy interruption and antiretroviral therapy resumption. We assessed changes in plasma levels of von Willebrand factor, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, as well as T-cell activation (CD8+/CD38+, CD8+/HLA-DR+ and CD3+/CD95+) by flow cytometry, in 36 chronically HIV-1-infected patients participating in a randomized study. Patients were divided into the following three groups: a, on continuous antiretroviral therapy; b, on a 6-week antiretroviral therapy interruption; or c, on antiretroviral therapy interruption extended to the achievement of viral set point. Although all measurements remained stable over a 40-week follow-up on antiretroviral therapy, plasma levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (P < 0.0001) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (P = 0.003) increased during treatment interruption in correlation with viral rebound and T-cell activation. No significant changes in von Willebrand factor were observed in any of the groups. After resuming antiretroviral therapy, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 levels remained elevated even after achievement of viral suppression to less than 50 copies/ml. The prompt rise in plasma soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 upon viral rebound suggests an acute increase in endothelial stress upon treatment interruption, which may persists after viral resuppression of virus. Thus, viral replication during short-term treatment interruption may increase the overall cardiovascular risk during and beyond treatment interruption.

  19. Ikaite solubility in seawater-derived brines at 1 atm and sub-zero temperatures to 265 K

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Papadimitriou, Stathys; Kennedy, Hilary; Kennedy, Paul; Thomas, David N.

    2013-05-01

    The concentration-based (stoichiometric) equilibrium solubility product of ikaite (CaCO3·6H2O) in seawater and cryogenic seawater-derived brines was determined at 1 atm total pressure over the temperature range from -1.1 to -7.5 °C and the salinity range from 34 to 124 in temperature-salinity pairs representative of sea ice brines. The solubility measurements were obtained in solutions that were undersaturated and supersaturated with respect to ikaite by equilibration with CO2/N2 gas mixtures of known pCO2 (20-400 μatm). The solutions were then equilibrated with synthetic ikaite (seed) for up to 3 months in a closed system. Arrival of the solid-solution system at a long-term chemical equilibrium was indicated by attainment of constant chemical solution composition with respect to total dissolved calcium, total dissolved inorganic carbon, and total alkalinity. Using these measurements, the stoichiometric equilibrium solubility product of ikaite (Ksp,ikaite∗=[Ca][CO32-], in molkgsolution-2) was determined, with the carbonate ion concentration computed from the measured total alkalinity and total dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations. The computed carbonate ion concentration and, by extension, the Ksp,ikaite∗ are both contingent on solving the system of equations that describe the parameters of the CO2 system in seawater by extrapolation to the experimental salinity and temperature conditions. The results show that the pKsp,ikaite∗=-logKsp,ikaite∗ in seawater of salinity 34 at -1.1 °C was 5.362 ± 0.004 and that the pKsp,ikaite∗ in sea ice at the freezing point of brines of salinity greater than 34 can be described as a function of temperature (T, in K) by the equation, pKsp,ikaite∗=-15489.09608+623443.70216T-1+2355.14596lnT, in the temperature range of 265.15 K < T < 271.15 K (-8 °C < t < -2 °C). Brines of low pCO2 (20 μatm) yielded a much slower (>1 month) approach to chemical equilibrium when incubated without seeding ikaite crystals. Simple

  20. Concentration, solubility and deposition flux of atmospheric particulate nutrients over the Yellow Sea

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shi, Jin-Hui; Zhang, Jing; Gao, Hui-Wang; Tan, Sai-Chun; Yao, Xiao-Hong; Ren, Jing-Ling

    2013-12-01

    Satellite images showed that two large dust storms swept over the Yellow Sea from 31 Mach to 1 April 2007; both were accompanied by precipitation. Three to four days after the dust episodes, blooms occurred in the Yellow Sea. As an important and potential controlling factor of the bloom, nutrients in the total suspended particle (TSP) and size-segregated particle samples during the cruise campaign were measured and their atmospheric deposition fluxes of nutrients are reported in this paper. Concentrations of total P and TIN (NH4+, NO2- and NO3-) in TSP varied from 0.01 to 1.05 μg m-3, and from 1.21 to 22.28 μg m-3, with the maximum occurring concurrently with the dust storm events. In addition, the measured solubility of Fe in these particles varied from 1.0 to 20.1%, while it ranged from 0.8 to 15% for Al. The total deposition fluxes of Asian dust as well as the contained nutrients were estimated on the basis of an episodic increment of the measured concentration of dissolved Al in the surface ocean during the dust events. The estimated fluxes of atmospheric deposition of soluble Fe, P and inorganic nitrogen over the Yellow Sea during the dust episodes were 42.5±10.9, 10.3±2.6 and 772.0±198.0 mg m-2, respectively. The estimated fluxes of nutrients via dry atmospheric deposition accounted for only ~2% of the total fluxes. The deposition fluxes of particulate Fe and P during the two dust storm events associated with precipitation were about 500-1000 times of that daily averaged flux during non-dust days, indicating the importance of the episodic inputs to the annual budget of these metals deposited into the ocean.

  1. A novel expression vector for the improved solubility of recombinant scorpion venom in Escherichia coli

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Han, Tianqing; Ming, Hongyan; Deng, Lili

    Recombinant scorpion anti-excitation peptide (rANEP) has previously been expressed using the pET32a system and purified via affinity chromatography. However, rANEP is expressed in BL21(DE3) cells as an inclusion body, and the affinity tag can not be removed. To overcome this problem, we used a variety of protein, DsbA, MBP, TrxA, intein, and affinity tags in fusion and co-expression to achieve soluble and functional rANEP without any affinity tag. In the pCIT-ANEP expression vector, the highest soluble expression level was approximately 90% of the total cellular proteins in E. coli, and the rANEP was cleaved by the intein protein and subsequently purifiedmore » to obtain rANEP, which had the same activity as the natural ANEP. The purity of rANEP obtained using this method was over 95%, with a quantity of 5.1 mg from of purified rANEP from 1 L of culture. This method could expand the application of the soluble expression of disulfide-rich peptides in E. coli.« less

  2. Influence of Physiological Gastrointestinal Surfactant Ratio on the Equilibrium Solubility of BCS Class II Drugs Investigated Using a Four Component Mixture Design

    PubMed Central

    2017-01-01

    The absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs is influenced by the luminal gastrointestinal fluid content and composition, which control solubility. Simulated intestinal fluids have been introduced into dissolution testing including endogenous amphiphiles and digested lipids at physiological levels; however, in vivo individual variation exists in the concentrations of these components, which will alter drug absorption through an effect on solubility. The use of a factorial design of experiment and varying media by introducing different levels of bile, lecithin, and digested lipids has been previously reported, but here we investigate the solubility variation of poorly soluble drugs through more complex biorelevant amphiphile interactions. A four-component mixture design was conducted to understand the solubilization capacity and interactions of bile salt, lecithin, oleate, and monoglyceride with a constant total concentration (11.7 mM) but varying molar ratios. The equilibrium solubility of seven low solubility acidic (zafirlukast), basic (aprepitant, carvedilol), and neutral (fenofibrate, felodipine, griseofulvin, and spironolactone) drugs was investigated. Solubility results are comparable with literature values and also our own previously published design of experiment studies. Results indicate that solubilization is not a sum accumulation of individual amphiphile concentrations, but a drug specific effect through interactions of mixed amphiphile compositions with the drug. This is probably due to a combined interaction of drug characteristics; for example, lipophilicity, molecular shape, and ionization with amphiphile components, which can generate specific drug–micelle affinities. The proportion of each component can have a remarkable influence on solubility with, in some cases, the highest and lowest points close to each other. A single-point solubility measurement in a fixed composition simulated media or human intestinal fluid sample will therefore provide

  3. Solubility of ocular therapeutic agents in self-emulsifying oils. I. Self-emulsifying oils for ocular drug delivery: solubility of indomethacin, aciclovir and hydrocortisone.

    PubMed

    Czajkowska-Kośnik, Anna; Sznitowska, Małgorzata

    2009-01-01

    Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) were prepared by dissolving Cremophor EL, Tween 20, Tween 80 and Span 80 (1% or 5%) in oils (Miglyol 812 or castor oil). Solubilities of three ophthalmic drugs, namely aciclovir, hydrocortisone and indomethacin were determined in these systems. In addition, the effect of a small amount of water (0.5% and 2%) on solubilization properties of the systems was estimated. Of the three substances, indomethacin showed the best solubility in Miglyol while aciclovir was practically insoluble in this oil. The surfactants usually increased drug solubility in the oily phase. Only Tween 20 was found to decrease the solubility of aciclovir and hydrocortisone in Miglyol. Addition of a small amount of water to the oil/surfactant system increased solubility of hydrocortisone, but not of indomethacin. The results of the current study may be utilized to design a suitable composition of SEDDS and allow continuation of research on this type of drug carriers.

  4. Chemical Characteristics of Water-Soluble Ions in Particulate Matter in Three Metropolitan Areas in the North China Plain

    PubMed Central

    Dao, Xu; Wang, Zhen; Lv, Yibing; Teng, Enjiang; Zhang, Linlin; Wang, Chao

    2014-01-01

    PM2.5 and PM10 samples were collected simultaneously in each season in Beijing, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang to identify the characteristics of water-soluble ion compositions in the North China Plain. The water-soluble ions displayed significant seasonal variation. The dominant ions were NO3 −, SO4 2−, NH4 + and Cl−, accounting for more than 90% and 86% to the mass of total water-soluble ions in PM2.5 and PM10, respectively. The anion/cation ratio indicated that the ion acidity of each city varied both between sites and seasonally. Over 50% of the ion species were enriched in small particles ≤1 µm in diameter. The [NO3 −]/[SO4 2−] ratio indicated that vehicles accounted for the majority of the particulate pollution in Beijing. Shijiazhuang, a city highly reliant on coal combustion, had a higher SO4 2− concentration. PMID:25437210

  5. Stereochemistry Balances Cell Permeability and Solubility in the Naturally Derived Phepropeptin Cyclic Peptides.

    PubMed

    Schwochert, Joshua; Lao, Yongtong; Pye, Cameron R; Naylor, Matthew R; Desai, Prashant V; Gonzalez Valcarcel, Isabel C; Barrett, Jaclyn A; Sawada, Geri; Blanco, Maria-Jesus; Lokey, R Scott

    2016-08-11

    Cyclic peptide (CP) natural products provide useful model systems for mapping "beyond-Rule-of-5" (bRo5) space. We identified the phepropeptins as natural product CPs with potential cell permeability. Synthesis of the phepropeptins and epimeric analogues revealed much more rapid cellular permeability for the natural stereochemical pattern. Despite being more cell permeable, the natural compounds exhibited similar aqueous solubility as the corresponding epimers, a phenomenon explained by solvent-dependent conformational flexibility among the natural compounds. When analyzing the polarity of the solution structures we found that neither the number of hydrogen bonds nor the total polar surface area accurately represents the solvation energies of the high and low dielectric conformations. This work adds to a growing number of natural CPs whose solvent-dependent conformational behavior allows for a balance between aqueous solubility and cell permeability, highlighting structural flexibility as an important consideration in the design of molecules in bRo5 chemical space.

  6. Water-soluble phosphorus in fresh broiler litter is dependent upon phosphorus concentration fed but not on fungal phytase supplementation.

    PubMed

    Applegate, T J; Joern, B C; Nussbaum-Wagler, D L; Angel, R

    2003-06-01

    This experiment determined the effects of different phosphorus (P) feeding programs on total and water-soluble P excretion by broilers. Ross 308, male broilers were fed an industry (IND) diet (0.48, 0.35, 0.31, and 0.30% nonphytate P; NPP), an industry diet with reduced NPP and supplemental phytase [IND + PT; 600 phytase units (FTU)/kg; 0.36, 0.26, 0.20, and 0.19% NPP], a diet to more closely meet the birds' NPP requirements in which NPP was reduced further with supplemental phytase (REQ + P; 600 FTU/kg; 0.36, 0.26, 0.19, and 0.09% NPP), or a diet with low-phytate(lpa 1-1) corn with supplemental phytase (LPA + P; 600 FTU/kg; 0.37, 0.29, 0.19, 0.19% NPP). These diets were fed from hatch to 17 d, 17 to 31 d, 31 to 42 d, and 42 to 49 d of age, respectively. Fungal phytase was analyzed prior to diet formulation. Diets were fed to six replicate pens of 39 birds per pen. Litter samples were collected at 49 d of age and frozen prior to analyses. Diet did not significantly affect broiler performance (average BW at 49 d = 3.03 kg), tibia, or toe ash throughout the study (P > 0.05). Litter from broilers fed the IND diet was significantly higher (P < or = 0.05) in total and water-soluble P (1.11 and 0.22% of DM, respectively) compared with litter from broilers fed IND + PT (0.84 and 0.14% of DM, respectively), REQ + P (0.78 and 0.11% of DM, respectively), or LPA + PT (0.64 and 0.12% of DM, respectively). Litter total and water-soluble P were not significantly different among broilers fed IND + PT, REQ + PT, or LPA + PT. In conclusion, phytase supplementation did not affect the solubility of P in the litter regardless of P feeding program.

  7. Experimental determination of lead carbonate solubility at high ionic strengths: A Pitzer model description

    DOE PAGES

    Xiong, Yongliang

    2015-05-06

    In this article, solubility measurements of lead carbonate, PbCO 3(cr), cerussite, as a function of total ionic strengths are conducted in the mixtures of NaCl and NaHCO 3 up to I = 1.2 mol•kg –1 and in the mixtures of NaHCO 3 and Na 2CO 3 up to I = 5.2 mol•kg –1, at room temperature (22.5 ± 0.5 °C). The solubility constant (log K sp) for cerussite, PbCO 3(cr) = Pb 2+ + CO 3 2- was determined as –13.76 ± 0.15 (2σ) with a set of Pitzer parameters describing the specific interactions of PbCO 3(aq), Pb(CO 3) 2more » 2-, and Pb(CO 3)Cl – with the bulk-supporting electrolytes, based on the Pitzer model. The model developed in this work can reproduce the experimental results including model-independent solubility values from the literature over a wide range of ionic strengths with satisfactory accuracy. The model is expected to find applications in numerous fields, including the accurate description of chemical behavior of lead in geological repositories, the modeling of formation of oxidized Pb–Zn ore deposits, and the environmental remediation of lead contamination.« less

  8. Factors controlling the solubility of trace metals in atmospheric aerosols over the Eastern Mediterranean

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nikolaou, Panagiota; Mihalopoulos, Nikolaos; Kanakidou, Maria

    2015-04-01

    Atmospheric input of aerosols is recognized, as an important source of nutrients, for the oceans. The chemical interactions between aerosols and varying composition of air masses lead to different coating of their surfaces with sulfate, nitrate and organic compounds, increasing their solubility and their role as a carrier of nutrients and pollutants in ecosystems. Recent works have highlighted that atmospheric inputs of nutrients and trace metals can considerably influence the marine ecosystem functioning at semi-enclosed or enclosed water bodies such as the eastern Mediterranean. The current work aims to determine the sources and the factors controlling the variability of nutrients in the eastern Mediterranean. Special focus has been given on trace elements solubility, considered either as key nutrients for phytoplankton growth such as iron (Fe), phosphorus (P) or inhibitors such as copper (Cu). This has been accomplished by analyzing size segregated aerosol samples collected at the background site of Finokalia in Crete for an entire year. Phosphorus concentrations indicate important increases in air masses influenced both by anthropogenic activities in the northeast European countries and by dust outbreaks. The last is confirmed by the correlation observed between total P and dust concentrations and by the air mass backward trajectories computed by running the NOAA Hysplit Model (Hybrid Single - Particle Langrangian Integrated Trajectory (http://www.arl.noaa.gov/ready/hysplit4.html). Overall 73% of total P has been found to be associated with anthropogenic sources. The solubility of P and Fe has been found to be closely related to the acidity (pH) and dust amount in aerosols. The aerosol pH was predicted using thermodynamic modeling (ISORROPIA-II), meteorological observations (RH, T), and gas/particle observations. More specifically P and Fe solubility appears to be inversely related to the crustal elements levels, while it increases in acidic environment. The

  9. Predicting the equilibrium solubility of solid polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dibenzothiophene using a combination of MOSCED plus molecular simulation or electronic structure calculations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Phifer, Jeremy R.; Cox, Courtney E.; da Silva, Larissa Ferreira; Nogueira, Gabriel Gonçalves; Barbosa, Ana Karolyne Pereira; Ley, Ryan T.; Bozada, Samantha M.; O'Loughlin, Elizabeth J.; Paluch, Andrew S.

    2017-06-01

    Methods to predict the equilibrium solubility of non-electrolyte solids are important for the design of novel separation processes. Here we demonstrate how conventional molecular simulation free energy calculations or electronic structure calculations in a continuum solvent, here SMD or SM8, can be used to predict parameters for the MOdified Separation of Cohesive Energy Density (MOSCED) method. The method is applied to the solutes naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, pyrene and dibenzothiophene, compounds of interested to the petroleum industry and for environmental remediation. Adopting the melting point temperature and enthalpy of fusion of these compounds from experiment, we are able to predict equilibrium solubilities. Comparing to a total of 422 non-aqueous and 193 aqueous experimental solubilities, we find the proposed method is able to well correlate the data. The use of MOSCED is additionally advantageous as it is a solubility parameter-based method useful for intuitive solvent selection and formulation.

  10. Relationship between A163G osteoprotegerin gene polymorphism and other osteoporosis parameters in Roma and non-Roma postmenopausal women in eastern Slovakia.

    PubMed

    Mydlárová Blaščáková, Marta; Blaščáková, Ľudmila; Poráčová, Janka; Mydlár, Jozef; Vašková, Janka; Bernasovská, Jarmila; Boroňová, Iveta; Petrejčíková, Eva; Bernasovský, Ivan

    2017-09-01

    The study was focused on evaluating the possible correlation between biochemical, anthropometric, and genetic indicators of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. The frequency of genotypes and differences in measured parameters were evaluated within two ethnically different groups of women in Slovakia. The study included 310 postmenopausal women divided into non-Roma and Roma groups. Based on results of densitometry, they were divided into control groups and women with osteoporosis and osteopenia. In all women, a genetic analysis of polymorphism of osteoprotegerin gene promotor region (A163G) was provided along with measurement of indicators of bone tissue metabolism. There is a particularly low incidence of osteoporosis in Roma women. We found a correlation between bone mineral density (BMD), body mass index, and waist and hip circumference in women with osteoporosis and in Roma women with osteopenia. The frequency of the AG genotype was higher in non-Roma women with osteoporosis, but reached only 10.7% in Roma women with osteopenia. While the presence of the G allele in the non-Roma population was accompanied by higher BMD and markers of osteoformation, it was accompanied by significantly higher concentrations of parathyroid hormone in the Roma population. The presence of the AG genotype has a different effect on bone metabolism in two ethnically diverse populations of women in Slovakia. In the general population, the presence of the G allele exhibited protective effects consistent with other studies, but in Roma population this appears to be the allele A. However, this requires a further study for confirmation and more detailed characterization of the differences between populations that have this work indicated. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  11. Water-Soluble Vitamin E-Tocopheryl Phosphate.

    PubMed

    Zingg, Jean-Marc

    The hydrophobicity of vitamin E poses transport and metabolic challenges to regulate its bioavailability and to prevent its accumulation in lipid-rich tissues such as adipose tissue, brain, and liver. Water-soluble precursors of vitamin E (α-tocopherol, αT), such as its esters with acetate (αTA), succinate (αTS), or phosphate (αTP), have increased solubility in water and stability against reaction with free radicals, but they are rapidly converted during their uptake into the lipid-soluble vitamin E. Therefore, the bioavailability of these precursors as intact molecules is low; nevertheless, at least for αTS and αTP, the recent research has revealed unique regulatory effects on signal transduction and gene expression and the modulation of cellular events ranging from proliferation, survival/apoptosis, lipid uptake and metabolism, phagocytosis, long term potentiation, cell migration, telomere maintenance, and angiogenesis. Moreover, water-soluble derivatives of vitamin E including some based on αTP are increasingly used as components of nanocarriers for enhanced and targeted delivery of drugs and other molecules (vitamins, including αT and αTP itself, vitamin D3, carnosine, caffeine, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), insulin) and cofactors such as coenzyme Q10. In this review, the chemical characteristics, transport, metabolic pathways, and molecular mechanisms of action of αTP in cells and tissues are summarized and put into perspective with its possible role in the prevention of a number of diseases. © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  12. Biofiltration of Volatile Pollutants: Solubility Effects

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Davison, Brian H.; Barton, John W.

    2001-06-15

    This project investigates and collects fundamental partitioning data for a variety of sparingly soluble subsurface contaminants (e.g., TCE, etc.) between vapor, aqueous phase, and matrices containing substantial quantities of biomass and biomass components. Due to the difficulty of obtaining these measurements, environmental models have generally used solubility constants of chemicals in pure water or, in a few rare cases, simple linear models. Our prior EMSP work has shown that the presence of biological material can increase effective solubilities by an order of magnitude for sparingly soluble organics; therefore, the previous simple approaches are not valid and are extremely poor predictorsmore » of actual bio-influenced partitioning. It is likely that environmental contaminants will partition in a similar manner into high-biomass phases (e.g. biobarriers and plants) or humic soils. Biological material in the subsurface can include lipids, fatty acids, humic materials, as well a s the lumped and difficult to estimate 'biomass'. Our measurements include partition into these biological materials to allow better estimation. Fundamental data collected will be used in mathematical models predicting transport and sorption in subsurface environments, with the impacts on bioremediation being evaluated based on this new information. Our 2-D Win95/98 software program, Biofilter 1.0, developed as a part of our prior EMSP efforts for describing biofiltration processes with consideration given to both kinetic and mass transfer factors, will be extended to incorporate and use this information.« less

  13. Biofiltration of Volatile Pollutants: Solubility Effects

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Davison, Brian H.; Barton, John W.

    2002-06-15

    This project investigates and collects fundamental partitioning data for a variety of sparingly soluble subsurface contaminants (e.g., TCE, etc.) between vapor, aqueous phase, and matrices containing substantial quantities of biomass and biomass components. Due to the difficulty of obtaining these measurements, environmental models have generally used solubility constants of chemicals in pure water or, in a few rare cases, simple linear models. Our prior EMSP work has shown that the presence of biological material can increase effective solubilities by an order of magnitude for sparingly soluble organics; therefore, the previous simple approaches are not valid and are extremely poor predictorsmore » of actual bio-influenced partitioning. It is likely that environmental contaminants will partition in a similar manner into high-biomass phases (e.g. biobarriers and plants) or humic soils. Biological material in the subsurface can include lipids, fatty acids, humic materials, as well as the lumped and difficult-to-estimate 'biomass'. Our measurements include partition into these biological materials to allow better estimation. Fundamental data collected will be used in mathematical models predicting transport and sorption in subsurface environments, with the impacts on bioremediation being evaluated based on this new information. Our 2-D Win95/98/XP software program, Biofilter 1.0, developed as a part of our prior EMSP efforts for describing biofiltration processes with consideration given to both kinetic and mass transfer factors, is being extended to incorporate and use this information.« less

  14. Tough soluble aromatic thermoplastic copolyimides

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bryant, Robert G. (Inventor)

    2000-01-01

    Tough, soluble, aromatic, thermoplastic copolyimides were prepared by reacting 4,4'-oxydiphthalic anhydride, 3,4,3',4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and 3,4'-oxydianiline. Alternatively, these copolyimides may be prepared by reacting 4,4'-oxydiphthalic anhydride with 3,4,3',4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and 3,4'-oxydiisocyanate. Also, the copolyimide may be prepared by reacting the corresponding tetra acid and ester precursors of 4,4'-oxydiphthalic anhydride and 3,4,3',4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride with 3,4'-oxydianiline. These copolyimides were found to be soluble in common amide solvents such as N,N'-dimethyl acetamide, N-methylpyrrolidinone, and dimethylformamide allowing them to be applied as the fully imidized copolymer and to be used to prepare a wide range of articles.

  15. AW-101 entrained solids - Solubility versus temperature

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    GJ Lumetta; RC Lettau; GF Piepel

    This report describes the results of a test conducted by Battelle to assess the solubility of the solids entrained in the diluted AW-101 low-activity waste (LAW) sample. BNFL requested Battelle to dilute the AW-1-1 sample using de-ionized water to mimic expected plant operating conditions. BNFL further requested Battelle to assess the solubility of the solids present in the diluted AW-101 sample versus temperature conditions of 30, 40, and 50 C. BNFL requested these tests to assess the composition of the LAW supernatant and solids versus expected plant-operating conditions. The work was conducted according to test plan BNFL-TP-29953-7, Rev. 0, Determinationmore » of the Solubility of LAW Entrained Solids. The test went according to plan, with no deviations from the test plan.« less

  16. Resveratrol cocrystals with enhanced solubility and tabletability.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Zhengzheng; Li, Wanying; Sun, Wei-Jhe; Lu, Tongbu; Tong, Henry H Y; Sun, Changquan Calvin; Zheng, Ying

    2016-07-25

    Two new 1:1 cocrystals of resveratrol (RES) with 4-aminobenzamide (RES-4ABZ) and isoniazid (RES-ISN) were synthesized by liquid assisted grinding (LAG) and rapid solvent removal (RSR) methods using ethanol as solvent. Their physiochemical properties were characterized using PXRD, DSC, solid state and solution NMR, FT-IR, and HPLC. Pharmaceutically relevant properties, including tabletability, solubility, intrinsic dissolution rate, and hygroscopicity, were evaluated. Temperature-composition phase diagram for RES-ISN cocrystal system was constructed from DSC data. Both cocrystals show higher solubility than resveratrol over a broad range of pH. They are phase stable and non-hygroscopic even under high humidity conditions. Importantly, both cocrystals exhibit improved solubility and tabletability compared with RES, which make them more suitable candidates for tablet formulation development. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. The indoor-outdoor characteristics of water-soluble ion in PM2.5 in Tianjin wintertime.

    PubMed

    Wang, Baoqing; Niu, Honghong; Liu, Bowei; Hu, Xinxin; Ren, Zihui

    2018-05-15

    The indoor and outdoor PM 2.5 mass concentration, water-soluble ion by filter sampler was analyzed on December 3-21, 2015 during wintertime in Tianjin, China. The results indicate that high humidity conditions result in the accumulation of atmospheric pollutants and reduce atmosphere visibility. The I/O ratio for PM 2.5 concentration in dormitory and lab are less than 1 in haze days. Indoor PM 2.5 concentration increases rapidly with outdoor PM 2.5 concentration increasing in haze days. The filtration factors of the dormitory and lab indicate nearly half of the outdoor PM 2.5 enters indoor environment. The human activities in dormitory could cause more the formation of PM 2.5 than those in lab. The concentration of SO 4 2- is the highest ion in water-soluble ion for outdoor PM 2.5 . The SO 4 2- , NO 3 - , NH 4 + , and Cl - are generated mainly by outdoor sources; however, the Na + , Ca 2+ , and Mg 2+ are generated mainly by indoor sources. The NH 4 NO 3 , (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , and NH 4 Cl accounts for 20.2~41.8%, 32.0~51.4%, and 6.4~10.6% of the total water-soluble ion in different indoor-outdoor environment. The total secondary aerosols including NH 4 NO 3 , (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , and NH 4 Cl in PM 2.5 are 28.3, 42.1, 28.2, 31.0, and 33.9% in outdoor environment for haze days, outdoor environment for non-haze days, dormitory for haze days, dormitory for non-haze days, and lab for haze days, respectively.

  18. Core-shell nanofibers of curcumin/cyclodextrin inclusion complex and polylactic acid: Enhanced water solubility and slow release of curcumin.

    PubMed

    Aytac, Zeynep; Uyar, Tamer

    2017-02-25

    Core-shell nanofibers were designed via electrospinning using inclusion complex (IC) of model hydrophobic drug (curcumin, CUR) with cyclodextrin (CD) in the core and polymer (polylactic acid, PLA) in the shell (cCUR/HPβCD-IC-sPLA-NF). CD-IC of CUR and HPβCD was formed at 1:2 molar ratio. The successful formation of core-shell nanofibers was revealed by TEM and CLSM images. cCUR/HPβCD-IC-sPLA-NF released CUR slowly but much more in total than PLA-CUR-NF at pH 1 and pH 7.4 due to the restriction of CUR in the core of nanofibers and solubility improvement shown in phase solubility diagram, respectively. Improved antioxidant activity of cCUR/HPβCD-IC-sPLA-NF in methanol:water (1:1) is related with the solubility enhancement achieved in water based system. The slow reaction of cCUR/HPβCD-IC-sPLA-NF in methanol is associated with the shell inhibiting the quick release of CUR. On the other hand, cCUR/HPβCD-IC-sPLA-NF exhibited slightly higher rate of antioxidant activity than PLA-CUR-NF in methanol:water (1:1) owing to the enhanced solubility. To conclude, slow release of CUR was achieved by core-shell nanofiber structure and inclusion complexation of CUR with HPβCD provides high solubility. Briefly, electrospinning of core-shell nanofibers with CD-IC core could offer slow release of drugs as well as solubility enhancement for hydrophobic drugs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. A Lab Experiment to Introduce Gas/Liquid Solubility

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fonsecaa, I. M. A.; Almeida, J. P. B.; Fachada, H. C.

    2008-01-01

    A simplified version of a volumetric apparatus for gas/liquid solubility measurements is proposed. The procedure familiarizes undergraduate students with the experimental study of the solubility of a gas in a liquid and contributes to the understanding of this important phase equilibrium concept. The experimental results report the determination…

  20. Consumption of a dietary portfolio of cholesterol lowering foods improves blood lipids without affecting concentrations of fat soluble compounds.

    PubMed

    Ramprasath, Vanu R; Jenkins, David J A; Lamarche, Benoit; Kendall, Cyril W C; Faulkner, Dorothea; Cermakova, Luba; Couture, Patrick; Ireland, Chris; Abdulnour, Shahad; Patel, Darshna; Bashyam, Balachandran; Srichaikul, Korbua; de Souza, Russell J; Vidgen, Edward; Josse, Robert G; Leiter, Lawrence A; Connelly, Philip W; Frohlich, Jiri; Jones, Peter J H

    2014-10-18

    Consumption of a cholesterol lowering dietary portfolio including plant sterols (PS), viscous fibre, soy proteins and nuts for 6 months improves blood lipid profile. Plant sterols reduce blood cholesterol by inhibiting intestinal cholesterol absorption and concerns have been raised whether PS consumption reduces fat soluble vitamin absorption. The objective was to determine effects of consumption of a cholesterol lowering dietary portfolio on circulating concentrations of PS and fat soluble vitamins. Using a parallel design study, 351 hyperlipidemic participants from 4 centres across Canada were randomized to 1 of 3 groups. Participants followed dietary advice with control or portfolio diet. Participants on routine and intensive portfolio involved 2 and 7 clinic visits, respectively, over 6 months. No changes in plasma concentrations of α and γ tocopherol, lutein, lycopene and retinol, but decreased β-carotene concentrations were observed with intensive (week 12: p = 0.045; week 24: p = 0.039) and routine (week 12: p = 0.031; week 24: p = 0.078) portfolio groups compared to control. However, cholesterol adjusted β-carotene and fat soluble compound concentrations were not different compared to control. Plasma PS concentrations were increased with intensive (campesterol:p = 0.012; β-sitosterol:p = 0.035) and routine (campesterol: p = 0.034; β-sitosterol: p = 0.080) portfolio groups compared to control. Plasma cholesterol-adjusted campesterol and β-sitosterol concentrations were negatively correlated (p < 0.001) with total and LDL-C levels. Results demonstrate that consuming a portfolio diet reduces serum total and LDL-C levels while increasing PS values, without altering fat soluble compounds concentrations. The extent of increments of PS with the current study are not deleterious and also maintaining optimum levels of fat soluble vitamins are of paramount necessity to maintain overall metabolism and health. Results indicate

  1. Twenty-four-hour urinary water-soluble vitamin levels correlate with their intakes in free-living Japanese schoolchildren.

    PubMed

    Tsuji, Tomiko; Fukuwatari, Tsutomu; Sasaki, Satoshi; Shibata, Katsumi

    2011-02-01

    To examine the association between 24 h urinary water-soluble vitamin levels and their intakes in free-living Japanese schoolchildren. All foods consumed for four consecutive days were recorded accurately by a weighed food record. A single 24 h urine sample was collected on the fourth day, and the urinary levels of water-soluble vitamins were measured. An elementary school in Inazawa City, Japan. A total of 114 healthy, free-living, Japanese elementary-school children aged 10-12 years. The urinary level of each water-soluble vitamin was correlated positively to its mean intake in the past 2-4 d (vitamin B1: r = 0·42, P < 0·001; vitamin B2: r = 0·43, P < 0·001; vitamin B6: r = 0·49, P < 0·001; niacin: r = 0·32, P < 0·001; niacin equivalents: r = 0·32, P < 0·001; pantothenic acid: r = 0·32, P < 0·001; folic acid: r = 0·27, P < 0·01; vitamin C: r = 0·39, P < 0.001), except for vitamin B12 (r = 0·10, P = NS). Estimated mean intakes of water-soluble vitamins calculated using urinary levels and recovery rates were 97-102 % of their 3 d mean intake, except for vitamin B12 (79 %). The results show that urinary levels of water-soluble vitamins, except for vitamin B12, reflected their recent intakes in free-living Japanese schoolchildren and could be used as a potential biomarker to estimate mean vitamin intake.

  2. Impact of pH and Total Soluble Solids on Enzyme Inactivation Kinetics during High Pressure Processing of Mango (Mangifera indica) Pulp.

    PubMed

    Kaushik, Neelima; Nadella, Tejaswi; Rao, P Srinivasa

    2015-11-01

    This study was undertaken with an aim to enhance the enzyme inactivation during high pressure processing (HPP) with pH and total soluble solids (TSS) as additional hurdles. Impact of mango pulp pH (3.5, 4.0, 4.5) and TSS (15, 20, 25 °Brix) variations on the inactivation of pectin methylesterase (PME), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and peroxidase (POD) enzymes were studied during HPP at 400 to 600 MPa pressure (P), 40 to 70 °C temperature (T), and 6- to 20-min pressure-hold time (t). The enzyme inactivation (%) was modeled using second order polynomial equations with a good fit that revealed that all the enzymes were significantly affected by HPP. Response surface and contour models predicted the kinetic behavior of mango pulp enzymes adequately as indicated by the small error between predicted and experimental data. The predicted kinetics indicated that for a fixed P and T, higher pulse pressure effect and increased isobaric inactivation rates were possible at lower levels of pH and TSS. In contrast, at a fixed pH or TSS level, an increase in P or T led to enhanced inactivation rates, irrespective of the type of enzyme. PPO and POD were found to have similar barosensitivity, whereas PME was found to be most resistant to HPP. Furthermore, simultaneous variation in pH and TSS levels of mango pulp resulted in higher enzyme inactivation at lower pH and TSS during HPP, where the effect of pH was found to be predominant than TSS within the experimental domain. Exploration of additional hurdles such as pH, TSS, and temperature for enzyme inactivation during high pressure processing of fruits is useful from industrial point of view, as these parameters play key role in preservation process design. © 2015 Institute of Food Technologists®

  3. Semiconductor material and method for enhancing solubility of a dopant therein

    DOEpatents

    Sadigh, Babak; Lenosky, Thomas J.; Rubia, Tomas Diaz; Giles, Martin; Caturla, Maria-Jose; Ozolins, Vidvuds; Asta, Mark; Theiss, Silva; Foad, Majeed; Quong, Andrew

    2003-09-09

    A method for enhancing the equilibrium solubility of boron and indium in silicon. The method involves first-principles quantum mechanical calculations to determine the temperature dependence of the equilibrium solubility of two important p-type dopants in silicon, namely boron and indium, under various strain conditions. The equilibrium thermodynamic solubility of size-mismatched impurities, such as boron and indium in silicon, can be raised significantly if the silicon substrate is strained appropriately. For example, for boron, a 1% compressive strain raises the equilibrium solubility by 100% at 1100.degree. C.; and for indium, a 1% tensile strain at 1100.degree. C., corresponds to an enhancement of the solubility by 200%.

  4. Method for enhancing the solubility of boron and indium in silicon

    DOEpatents

    Sadigh, Babak; Lenosky, Thomas J.; Diaz de la Rubia, Tomas; Giles, Martin; Caturla, Maria-Jose; Ozolins, Vidvuds; Asta, Mark; Theiss, Silva; Foad, Majeed; Quong, Andrew

    2002-01-01

    A method for enhancing the equilibrium solubility of boron and indium in silicon. The method involves first-principles quantum mechanical calculations to determine the temperature dependence of the equilibrium solubility of two important p-type dopants in silicon, namely boron and indium, under various strain conditions. The equilibrium thermodynamic solubility of size-mismatched impurities, such as boron and indium in silicon, can be raised significantly if the silicon substrate is strained appropriately. For example, for boron, a 1% compressive strain raises the equilibrium solubility by 100% at 1100.degree. C.; and for indium, a 1% tensile strain at 1100.degree. C., corresponds to an enhancement of the solubility by 200%.

  5. Poly(aspartic acid) with adjustable pH-dependent solubility.

    PubMed

    Németh, Csaba; Gyarmati, Benjámin; Abdullin, Timur; László, Krisztina; Szilágyi, András

    2017-02-01

    Poly(aspartic acid) (PASP) derivatives with adjustable pH-dependent solubility were synthesized and characterized to establish the relationship between their structure and solubility in order to predict their applicability as a basic material for enteric coatings. Polysuccinimide, the precursor of PASP, was modified with short chain alkylamines, and the residual succinimide rings were subsequently opened to prepare the corresponding PASP derivatives. Study of the effect of the type and concentration of the side groups on the pH-dependent solubility of PASP showed that solubility can be adjusted by proper selection of the chemical structure. The Henderson-Hasselbalch (HH) and the extended HH equations were used to describe the pH-dependent solubility of the polymers quantitatively. The estimate provided by the HH equation is poor, but an accurate description of the pH-dependent solubility can be found with the extended HH equation. The dissolution rate of a polymer film prepared from a selected PASP derivative was determined by fluorescence marking. The film dissolved rapidly when the pH was increased above its pK a . Cellular viability tests show that PASP derivatives are non-toxic to a human cell line. These polymers are thus of great interest as starting materials for enteric coatings. Poly(amino acid) type biocompatible polymers were synthesized for future use as pharmaceutical film coatings. To this end, we tailored the pH-dependent solubility of poly(aspartic acid) (PASP). It was found that both the solubility and the pK a values of the modified PASP depended strongly on composition. Fluorescent marking was used to characterize the dissolution of a chosen PASP derivative. In acidic media only a negligible amount of the polymer dissolved, but dissolution was very fast and complete at the pH values that prevail in the small intestine. As a consequence, enteric coatings based on such PASP derivatives may be used for drug delivery in the gastrointestinal tract

  6. Solubility of non-polar gases in electrolyte solutions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Walker, R. L., Jr.

    1970-01-01

    Solubility theory describes the effects of both concentration and temperature on solute activity coefficients. It predicts the salting-out effect and the decrease in solubility of non-polar gases with increased electrolyte concentration, and can be used to calculate heats of solution, entropies, and partial molal volumes of dissolved gases

  7. 21 CFR 520.44 - Acetazolamide sodium soluble powder.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 6 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Acetazolamide sodium soluble powder. 520.44... Acetazolamide sodium soluble powder. (a) Specifications. The drug is in a powder form containing acetazolamide sodium, USP equivalent to 25 percent acetazolamide activity. (b) Sponsor. See No. 053501 in § 510.600(c...

  8. 21 CFR 520.44 - Acetazolamide sodium soluble powder.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 6 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Acetazolamide sodium soluble powder. 520.44... Acetazolamide sodium soluble powder. (a) Specifications. The drug is in a powder form containing acetazolamide sodium, USP equivalent to 25 percent acetazolamide activity. (b) Sponsor. See No. 053501 in § 510.600(c...

  9. 21 CFR 520.44 - Acetazolamide sodium soluble powder.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 6 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Acetazolamide sodium soluble powder. 520.44... Acetazolamide sodium soluble powder. (a) Specifications. The drug is in a powder form containing acetazolamide sodium, USP equivalent to 25 percent acetazolamide activity. (b) Sponsor. See No. 053501 in § 510.600(c...

  10. Solubility of small-chain carboxylic acids in supercritical carbon dioxide

    DOE PAGES

    Sparks, Darrell L.; Estevez, L. Antonio; Hernandez, Rafael; ...

    2010-07-08

    The solubility of heptanoic acid and octanoic acid in supercritical carbon dioxide has been determined at temperatures of (313.15, 323.15, and 333.15) K over a pressure range of (8.5 to 30.0) MPa, depending upon the solute. The solubility of heptanoic acid ranged from a solute concentration of (0.08 ± 0.03) kg • m -3 (T = 323.15 K, p = 8.5 MPa) to (147 ± 0.2) kg • m -3 (T = 323.15 K, p = 20.0 MPa). The lowest octanoic acid solubility obtained was a solute concentration of (0.40 ± 0.1) kg • m -3 (T = 333.15 K,more » p = 10.0 MPa), while the highest solute concentration was (151 ± 2) kg • m -3 (T = 333.15 K, p = 26.7 MPa). In addition, solubility experiments were performed for nonanoic acid in supercritical carbon dioxide at 323.15 K and pressures of (10.0 to 30.0) MPa to add to the solubility data previously published by the authors. In general, carboxylic acid solubility increased with increasing solvent density. The results also showed that the solubility of the solutes decreased with increasing molar mass at constant supercritical-fluid density. Additionally, the efficacy of Chrastil's equation and other density-based models was evaluated for each fatty acid.« less

  11. Solubility of Plutonium (IV) Oxalate During Americium/Curium Pretreatment

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rudisill, T.S.

    1999-08-11

    Approximately 15,000 L of solution containing isotopes of americium and curium (Am/Cm) will undergo stabilization by vitrification at the Savannah River Site (SRS). Prior to vitrification, an in-tank pretreatment will be used to remove metal impurities from the solution using an oxalate precipitation process. Material balance calculations for this process, based on solubility data in pure nitric acid, predict approximately 80 percent of the plutonium in the solution will be lost to waste. Due to the uncertainty associated with the plutonium losses during processing, solubility experiments were performed to measure the recovery of plutonium during pretreatment and a subsequent precipitationmore » process to prepare a slurry feed for a batch melter. A good estimate of the plutonium content of the glass is required for planning the shipment of the vitrified Am/Cm product to Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).The plutonium solubility in the oxalate precipitation supernate during pretreatment was 10 mg/mL at 35 degrees C. In two subsequent washes with a 0.25M oxalic acid/0.5M nitric acid solution, the solubility dropped to less than 5 mg/mL. During the precipitation and washing steps, lanthanide fission products in the solution were mostly insoluble. Uranium, and alkali, alkaline earth, and transition metal impurities were soluble as expected. An elemental material balance for plutonium showed that greater than 94 percent of the plutonium was recovered in the dissolved precipitate. The recovery of the lanthanide elements was generally 94 percent or higher except for the more soluble lanthanum. The recovery of soluble metal impurities from the precipitate slurry ranged from 15 to 22 percent. Theoretically, 16 percent of the soluble oxalates should have been present in the dissolved slurry based on the dilution effects and volumes of supernate and wash solutions removed. A trace level material balance showed greater than 97 percent recovery of americium-241 (from the

  12. Water-soluble low-molecular-weight organic acids in automorphic loamy soils of the tundra and taiga zones

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shamrikova, E. V.; Gruzdev, I. V.; Punegov, V. V.; Khabibullina, F. M.; Kubik, O. S.

    2013-06-01

    The formation features of water-soluble low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) in a zonal series of automorphic soils on loose silicate rocks from the middle taiga to the southern tundra (typical podzolic, gley-podzolic, and surface-gley tundra soils) were first revealed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry and gas-liquid chromatography. The content of LMWOAs varies within the range of 1-14 mg/dm3, which corresponds to 1-5% of the total carbon of the water-soluble soil organic matter. It has been shown that a subzonal feature of gley-podzolic soils in the northern taiga is the high content of LMWOAs, including primarily the strongest aliphatic hydroxyl acids. Possible mechanisms of their formation and accumulation in soils have been considered.

  13. Determination of soluble sugar profile in rice.

    PubMed

    Hu, Xianqiao; Fang, Changyun; Lu, Lin; Hu, Zhanqiang; Shao, Yafang; Zhu, Zhiwei

    2017-07-15

    Soluble sugars in rice are the main components affecting sweetness taste of rice. In this paper, an accurate, precise and rapid method for simultaneous determination of multi soluble sugars in rice by using ion chromatography equipped with pulsed amperometric detector was presented. Pretreatment and parameters of ion chromatography and pulsed amperometric detector were optimized. Regression coefficients (R) of 0.9998, 1.0000, 0.9979, 0.9998 and 0.9998 were obtained for glucose, fructose, sucrose, raffinose and maltose, respectively. The recovery ranges of five sugars were 92.9-112.0% for milled rice matrix. Repeatability and reproducibility of the method were 0.8-9.7% and 1.9-7.6%, respectively. Method LODs of 3.1-34.6μgg -1 were obtained for soluble sugars in milled rice matrix. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Spectroscopic and solubility characteristics of oxidized soots

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Chughtai, A.R.; Jassim, J.A.; Peterson, J.H.

    1991-01-01

    Spectroscopic and solubility studies of reaction products of soot (black carbon) with O{sub 3}, NO{sub 2}/N{sub 2}O{sub 4}, and SO{sub 2} have revealed a relationship between reactivity and product solubility and structure. A remarkably high solubility of ozonated n-hexane soot has its origin in the formation of anhydride and lactone surface structures and their subsequent hydrolysis to carboxylic acid species. Calculations indicate that the rate of surface carboxylation of 0.1-{mu}m diameter spheroidal soot particles, in the presence of 50 ppbv ozone at ambient temperature, is such that solubilization may occur within a 30-minute time frame. Measurements on ambient air aerosolmore » samples in metropolitan Denver are consistent with these observations and demonstrate the high reactivity of soot with ozone even at very low levels in natural systems.« less

  15. Polymeric Micelles and Alternative Nanonized Delivery Vehicles for Poorly Soluble Drugs

    PubMed Central

    Lu, Ying; Park, Kinam

    2013-01-01

    Poorly soluble drugs often encounter low bioavailability and erratic absorption patterns in the clinical setting. Due to the rising number of compounds having solubility issues, finding ways to enhance the solubility of drugs is one of the major challenges in the pharmaceutical industry today. Polymeric micelles, which form upon self-assembly of amphiphilic macromolecules, can act as solubilizing agents for delivery of poorly soluble drugs. This manuscript examines the fundamentals of polymeric micelles through reviews of representative literature and demonstrates possible applications through recent examples of clinical trial developments. In particular, the potential of polymeric micelles for delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs, especially in the areas of oral delivery and in cancer therapy, is discussed. Key considerations in utilizing polymeric micelles’ advantages and overcoming potential disadvantages have been highlighted. Lastly, other possible strategies related to particle size reduction for enhancing solubilization of poorly water-soluble drugs are introduced. PMID:22944304

  16. Fruit quality, anthocyanin and total phenolic contents, and antioxidant activities of 45 blueberry cultivars grown in Suwon, Korea.

    PubMed

    Kim, Jin Gook; Kim, Hong Lim; Kim, Su Jin; Park, Kyo-Sun

    2013-09-01

    Blueberry fruits from 45 commercial cultivars (39 northern highbush and 6 half highbush blueberry) grown in Suwon, Korea were analyzed for fruit size, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, total anthocyanin content, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity. Fruit characteristics varied widely among the 45 blueberry cultivars. Fruit weight ranged from 0.9 to 3.6 g, soluble solids content from 8.3 to 14.3 °Brix, and titratable acidity from 0.8% to 3.6%. Antioxidant activity ranged from 0.7 to 2.1 mg of quercetin equivalents per gram of fresh berries in different blueberry cultivars. Among the 45 blueberry cultivars, high amounts of anthocyanins and polyphenols, and high antioxidant activity were observed in 'Elliott', 'Rubel', 'Rancocas', and 'Friendship'.

  17. Fruit quality, anthocyanin and total phenolic contents, and antioxidant activities of 45 blueberry cultivars grown in Suwon, Korea

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Jin Gook; Kim, Hong Lim; Kim, Su Jin; Park, Kyo-Sun

    2013-01-01

    Blueberry fruits from 45 commercial cultivars (39 northern highbush and 6 half highbush blueberry) grown in Suwon, Korea were analyzed for fruit size, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, total anthocyanin content, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity. Fruit characteristics varied widely among the 45 blueberry cultivars. Fruit weight ranged from 0.9 to 3.6 g, soluble solids content from 8.3 to 14.3 °Brix, and titratable acidity from 0.8% to 3.6%. Antioxidant activity ranged from 0.7 to 2.1 mg of quercetin equivalents per gram of fresh berries in different blueberry cultivars. Among the 45 blueberry cultivars, high amounts of anthocyanins and polyphenols, and high antioxidant activity were observed in ‘Elliott’, ‘Rubel’, ‘Rancocas’, and ‘Friendship’. PMID:24009199

  18. Increased serum soluble corin in dyslipidemia: A cross-sectional study.

    PubMed

    Wang, Xiaolei; Chen, Shi; Zhang, Qiu; Liu, Yan; Liu, Lu; Li, Huiling; Peng, Hao

    2015-10-23

    Natriuretic peptides have been associated with dyslipidemia. As a physiological activator of natriuretic peptides, corin might also be associated with dyslipidemia. However, this association has not yet been studied in Chinese populations. Serum soluble corin and blood lipid profiles were determined for 2496 participants aged above 30y. A logistic regression model was applied to evaluate the association between serum soluble corin and dyslipidemia. Serum soluble corin was significantly increased in participants with dyslipidemia in both men (P<0.001) and women (P<0.001). After controlling for the confounding factors, OR of dyslipidemia positively increased with increasing levels of serum soluble corin in men (P for trend=0.011) and women (P for trend=0.043). Participants with a high corin level were more likely to have dyslipidemia than those with a low corin level in men (OR, 95% CI: 1.45, 1.07-1.97) and women (OR, 95% CI: 1.33, 1.04-1.70). Serum soluble corin was significantly and positively associated with dyslipidemia. Our findings suggested that serum soluble corin may be a marker or risk factor for dyslipidemia. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. Solubility and precipitation of nicotinic acid in supercritical carbon dioxide.

    PubMed

    Rehman, M; Shekunov, B Y; York, P; Colthorpe, P

    2001-10-01

    Solubilities of a model compound (nicotinic acid) in pure supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO(2)) and SC-CO(2) modified with methanol have been measured in the pressure range of 80-200 bar and between temperatures of 35 and 90 degrees C. On-line ultraviolet detection enabled a simple and relatively fast measurement of very low levels of solubility (10(-7) mol fraction) with good accuracy in pure and modified SC-CO(2). The solute solubility in both pure SC-CO(2) and SC-CO(2) modified with methanol increased with pressure at all investigated temperatures. A retrograde solubility behavior was observed in that, at pressures below 120 bar, a solubility decrease on temperature increase occurred. Solubility data were used to calculate supersaturation values and to define optimum operating conditions to obtain crystalline particles 1-5 microm in diameter using the solution-enhanced dispersion by supercritical fluids (SEDS) process, thereby demonstrating the feasibility of a one-step production process for particulate pharmaceuticals suitable for respiratory drug delivery. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 90:1570-1582, 2001

  20. Metal Oxide Solubility and Molten Salt Corrosion.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1982-03-29

    METAL OXIDE SOLUBILITY AND MOLTEN SALT CORROSION .(U) MAR 82 K H STERN UNCLASSI E DL R L-4772NL EL .2. MICROCOPY RESOLUTION TEST CHART NATIONAL BURALU...21 l 7 3 ..... l DTIC NSPECT I" ’I cCPY INSECE( METAL OXIDE SOLUBILITY AND MOLTEN SALT CORROSION I. INTRODUCTION Molten ...discussed in terms of its importance to the understanding of molten salt corrosion . II. PROTECTIVE COATINGS Since most structural metals and alloys are

  1. Enhanced neuroinvasion by smaller, soluble prions.

    PubMed

    Bett, Cyrus; Lawrence, Jessica; Kurt, Timothy D; Orru, Christina; Aguilar-Calvo, Patricia; Kincaid, Anthony E; Surewicz, Witold K; Caughey, Byron; Wu, Chengbiao; Sigurdson, Christina J

    2017-04-21

    Infectious prion aggregates can propagate from extraneural sites into the brain with remarkable efficiency, likely transported via peripheral nerves. Yet not all prions spread into the brain, and the physical properties of a prion that is capable of transit within neurons remain unclear. We hypothesized that small, diffusible aggregates spread into the CNS via peripheral nerves. Here we used a structurally diverse panel of prion strains to analyze how the prion conformation impacts transit into the brain. Two prion strains form fibrils visible ultrastructurally in the brain in situ, whereas three strains form diffuse, subfibrillar prion deposits and no visible fibrils. The subfibrillar strains had significantly higher levels of soluble prion aggregates than the fibrillar strains. Primary neurons internalized both the subfibrillar and fibril-forming prion strains by macropinocytosis, and both strain types were transported from the axon terminal to the cell body in vitro. However in mice, only the predominantly soluble, subfibrillar prions, and not the fibrillar prions, were efficiently transported from the tongue to the brain. Sonicating a fibrillar prion strain increased the solubility and enabled prions to spread into the brain in mice, as evident by a 40% increase in the attack rate, indicating that an increase in smaller particles enhances prion neuroinvasion. Our data suggest that the small, highly soluble prion particles have a higher capacity for transport via nerves. These findings help explain how prions that predominantly assemble into subfibrillar states can more effectively traverse into and out of the CNS, and suggest that promoting fibril assembly may slow the neuron-to-neuron spread of protein aggregates.

  2. Immunolocalization of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in Meckel's cartilage compared with developing endochondral bones in mice

    PubMed Central

    Sakakura, Yasunori; Tsuruga, Eichi; Irie, Kazuharu; Hosokawa, Yoichiro; Nakamura, Hiroaki; Yajima, Toshiniko

    2005-01-01

    We examined the immunolocalization of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in areas of resorption caused by osteoclasts/chondroclasts on embryonic days 14–16 (E14–16) in Meckel's cartilage, and compared the results with those in endochondral bones in mice. Intense RANKL and OPG immunoreactivity was detected in the chondrocytes in Meckel's cartilage. On E15, when the incisor teeth were closest to the middle portion of Meckel's cartilage, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive cells appeared on the lateral side of the cartilage. Furthermore, the dental follicle showed moderate immunoreactivity for RANKL and OPG, whereas osteoblasts derived from perichondral cells were immunonegative for RANKL and OPG in that area. On E16, cartilage resorption by TRAP-positive cells had progressed at the differential position, and intensely immunoreactive products of RANKL were overlapped on and found to exist next to TRAP-positive cells in the resorption area. In developing metatarsal tissue, OPG immunoreactivity was intense in periosteal osteoblasts, whereas RANKL was only faintly seen in some of the periosteal cells. In epiphyseal chondrocytes of the developing femur, RANKL immunoreactivity was moderate, and OPG scarcely detected. These results indicate a peculiarity of RANKL and OPG immunolocalization in resorption of Meckel's cartilage. Growth of the incisor teeth may be involved in the time- and position-specific resorption of Meckel's cartilage through local regulation of the RANKL/OPG system in dental follicular cells and periosteal osteoblasts, whereas RANKL and OPG in chondrocytes seem to contribute to resorption through regulation of the chondroclast function. PMID:16191162

  3. Closed System Step Etching of CI chondrite Ivuna reveals primordial noble gases in the HF-solubles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Riebe, My E. I.; Busemann, Henner; Wieler, Rainer; Maden, Colin

    2017-05-01

    We analyzed all the noble gases in HF-soluble phases in the CI chondrite Ivuna by in-vacuum gas release using the "Closed System Step Etching" (CSSE) technique, which allows for direct noble gas measurements of acid-soluble phases. The main motivation was to investigate if there are primordial noble gases in HF-soluble phases in Ivuna, something that has not been done before in CI chondrites, as most primordial noble gases are known to reside in HF-resistant phases. The first steps under mild etching released He, Ne, and Ar with solar-like elemental and isotopic compositions, confirming that Ivuna contains implanted solar wind (SW) noble gases acquired in the parent body regolith. The SW component released in some etch steps was elementally unfractionated. This is unusual as trapped SW noble gases are elementally fractionated in most meteoritic material. In the intermediate etch steps under slightly harsher etching, cosmogenic noble gases were more prominent than SW noble gases. The HF-soluble portion of Ivuna contained primordial Ne and Xe, that was most visible in the last etch steps after all cosmogenic and most SW gases had been released. The primordial Ne and Xe in the HF-solubles have isotopic and elemental ratios readily explained as a mixture of the two most abundant primordial noble gas components in Ivuna bulk samples: HL and Q. Only small fractions of the total HL and Q in Ivuna were released during CSSE analysis; ∼3% of 20NeHL and ∼4% of 132XeQ. HL is known to reside in nanodiamond-rich separates and Q-gases are most likely carried by a carbonaceous phase known as phase Q. Q-gases were likely released from an HF-soluble portion of phase Q. However, nanodiamonds might not be the source of the HL-gases released upon etching, since nanodiamond-rich separates are very HF-resistant and the less tightly bound nanodiamond component P3 was not detected.

  4. Molecular Simulation of Gas Solubility in Nitrile Butadiene Rubber.

    PubMed

    Khawaja, M; Sutton, A P; Mostofi, A A

    2017-01-12

    Molecular simulation is used to compute the solubility of small gases in nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) with a Widom particle-insertion technique biased by local free volume. The convergence of the method is examined as a function of the number of snapshots upon which the insertions are performed and the number of insertions per snapshot and is compared to the convergence of the unbiased Widom insertion technique. The effect of varying the definition of local free volume is also investigated. The acrylonitrile content of the polymer is altered to examine its influence on the solubility of helium, CO 2 , and H 2 O, and the solubilities of polar gases are found to be enhanced relative to those of nonpolar gases, in qualitative agreement with experiment. To probe this phenomenon further, the solubilities are decomposed into contributions from the neighborhoods of different atoms, using a Voronoi cell construction, and a strong bias is found for CO 2 and H 2 O in particular to be situated near nitrogen sites in the elastomer. Temperature is shown to suppress the solubility of CO 2 and H 2 O but to increase that of helium. Increasing pressure is found to suppress the solubility of all gases but at different rates, according to a balance between their molecular sizes and electrostatic interactions with the polymer. These results are relevant to the use of NBR seals at elevated temperatures and pressures, such as in oil and gas wells.

  5. Copper Solubility and Speciation in Mineral-Buffered Fluids at Crust to Upper Mantle Conditions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hack, A. C.; Mavrogenes, J. A.; Berry, A. J.

    2003-12-01

    Fluid inclusions, synthesised in a piston-cylinder apparatus, were used to trap representative high P-T fluid samples under mineral-buffered conditions in the systems Cu2O-MgO-SiO2-HCl-H2O and Cu-K2O-Al2O3-SiO2-Fe3O4-Fe2O3-HCl-H2O at up to 850° C and 1.7 GPa, and as a function of salinity to 11 mol/kg Cl. Copper solubility and speciation were obtained by analysing individual fluid inclusions by excimer laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and Cu K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. Quenched capsule fluids were also analysed. At 710° C copper-cuprite-talc-quartz solubility in aqueous fluid containing 1 mol/kg Cl increases with P to at least 1.7 GPa. Conspicuously, with increasing P (> ˜ 0.5 GPa) talc solubility increases and molal Cu concentrations exceed those of Cl. Isothermal Cu solubility appears to mimic the solubility isopleths in the SiO2-H2O system. Solubility trends suggest that the stability field of copper(I) hydroxide complexes (e.g. Cu(OH)aq) expands to higher salinities such that H2O may become an effective ligand at high-P. At constant P (e.g. 0.35 GPa) solubility decreases with increasing T (i.e. > 525° C). High-T Cu K-edge XANES spectra of single homogenised synthetic fluid inclusions indicate that highly coordinated chlorocopper(I) complexes (e.g. Cu:Cl, 1:3 to 4) predominate at high salinity, whereas lower-order linear Cu-Cl coordination predominates at lower salinities, in fluids buffered by quartz-talc-copper-cuprite. This is consistent with the interpretation of the solubility data. At equivalent salinity, T and P conditions, spectra for fluids buffered by native copper-orthoclase-sillimanite-quartz-magnetite-hematite show no evidence for higher-order chlorocopper(I) complexes. Preliminary extended X-ray absorption fine structure data for these latter inclusions indicate that [CuCl2]- predominates. The stability of higher-order complexes is

  6. Aerosol and snow transfer processes: An investigation on the behavior of water-soluble organic compounds and ionic species.

    PubMed

    Barbaro, Elena; Zangrando, Roberta; Padoan, Sara; Karroca, Ornela; Toscano, Giuseppa; Cairns, Warren R L; Barbante, Carlo; Gambaro, Andrea

    2017-09-01

    The concentrations of water-soluble compounds (ions, carboxylic acids, amino acids, sugars, phenolic compounds) in aerosol and snow have been determined at the coastal Italian base "Mario Zucchelli" (Antarctica) during the 2014-2015 austral summer. The main aim of this research was to investigate the air-snow transfer processes of a number of classes of chemical compounds and investigate their potential as tracers for specific sources. The composition and particle size distribution of Antarctic aerosol was measured, and water-soluble compounds accounted for 66% of the PM 10 total mass concentration. The major ions Na + , Mg 2+ , Cl - and SO 4 2- made up 99% of the total water soluble compound concentration indicating that sea spray input was the main source of aerosol. These ionic species were found mainly in the coarse fraction of the aerosol resulting in enhanced deposition, as reflected by the snow composition. Biogenic sources were identified using chemical markers such as carboxylic acids, amino acids, sugars and phenolic compounds. This study describes the first characterization of amino acids and sugar concentrations in surface snow. High concentrations of amino acids were found after a snowfall event, their presence is probably due to the degradation of biological material scavenged during the snow event. Alcohol sugars increased in concentration after the snow event, suggesting a deposition of primary biological particles, such as airborne fungal spores. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Solubility behavior of lamivudine crystal forms in recrystallization solvents.

    PubMed

    Jozwiakowski, M J; Nguyen, N A; Sisco, J M; Spancake, C W

    1996-02-01

    Lamivudine can be obtained as acicular crystals (form I, 0.2 hydrate) from water or methanol and as bipyramidal crystals (form II, nonsolvated) from many nonaqueous solvents. Form II is thermodynamically favored in the solid state (higher melting point and greater density than form I) at ambient relative humidities. Solubility measurements on both forms versus solvent and temperature was used to determine whether entropy or enthalpy was the driving force for solubility. Solution calorimetry data indicated that form I is favored (less soluble) in all solvents studied on the basis of enthalpy alone. In higher alcohols and other organic solvents, form I has a larger entropy of solution than form II, which compensates for the enthalpic factors and results in physical stability for form II in these systems. The metastable crystal form solubility at 25 degrees C was estimated to be 1.2-2.3 times as high as the equilibrium solubility of the stable form, depending on the temperature, solvent, and crystal form. Binary solvent studies showed that > 18-20% water must be present in ethanol to convert the excess solid to form I at equilibrium.

  8. A comparison of fat-soluble antioxidants in wild and farm-reared chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar).

    PubMed

    Karadas, Filiz; Møller, Anders Pape; Karageçili, Mehmet Reşit

    2017-06-01

    This study assessed differences in antioxidant (carotenoid, retinol, retinol-ester, vitamin E and coenzyme Q 10 ) composition of egg yolk and tissue in chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar) newly hatched from eggs of birds maintained in captivity on commercial maize-soybean based diets and birds from the wild whose diet was obtained from the natural environment. All eggs were incubated in a commercial hatchery. Day-old chicks from both groups were sacrificed and dissected for antioxidant analysis. Fat soluble antioxidant concentrations of egg yolk and tissues were determined by HPLC. Total carotenoids, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and total vitamin E concentration of wild egg yolks were significantly higher compared to yolks from farm-reared birds (p<0.05). However, gamma tocopherol, and coenzyme Q 10 were not significantly different in the yolks of either wild or farmed birds (p>0.05). The concentration of total carotenoids in all tissues of wild chukar one-day old partridges was significantly higher than in farmed one-day old chukar partridge tissues (p<0.05). Alpha tocopherol, free-retinol, retinol-esters and total vitamin A were significantly higher in most tissues of wild chukar when compared to farmed chicks (p<0.05). Coenzyme Q 10 concentrations of heart, kidney and brain tissues of farm-reared chukar day old chicks were significantly higher than tissues from wild birds, although leg and breast tissues of wild chicks were significantly higher than in farmed birds (p<0.05). These findings suggest that maternal access to antioxidants in the diet of farmed chukar partridges could positively influence fat soluble antioxidant concentrations in the egg yolk and tissues of day old chicks. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. The solubility of gold in silicate melts: First results

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Borisov, A.; Palme, H.; Spettel, B.

    1993-01-01

    The effects of oxygen fugacity and temperature on the solubility of Au in silicate melts were determined. Pd-Au alloys were equilibrated with silicate of anorthite-diopside eutectic composition at different T-fO2 conditions. The behavior of Au was found to be similar to that of Pd reported recently. Au solubilities for alloys with 30 to 40 at. percent Au decrease at 1400 C from 12 ppm in air to 160 ppb at a log fO2 = -8.7. The slope of the log(Me-solubility) vs. log(fO2) curve is close to 1/4 for Au and the simultaneously determined Pd suggesting a formal valence of Au and Pd of 1+. Near the IW buffer Pd and Au solubilities become even less dependent on fO2 perhaps reflecting the presence of some metallic Au and Pd.

  10. The Evaluation of Water Sorption/Solubility on Various Acrylic Resins

    PubMed Central

    Tuna, Suleyman Hakan; Keyf, Filiz; Gumus, Hasan Onder; Uzun, Cengiz

    2008-01-01

    Objectives The absorption of water by acrylic resins is a phenomenon of considerable importance since it is accompanied by dimensional changes, a further undesirable effect of absorbed water in acrylic resins to reduce the tensile strength of the material. Solubility is also an important property because it represents the mass of soluble materials from the polymers. Methods Ten acrylic resin-based materials were evaluated: two heat cure acrylic resins (De Trey QC-20, Meliodent Heat Cure) and eight self cure acrylic resins (Meliodent Cold, Akrileks, Akribel, Akribel Transparent, Vertex Trayplast, Formatray, Dentalon Plus, Palavit G). To evaluate water sorption and water solubility, thirty square-shaped specimens (20×20×1.5 mm) were fabricated from the wax specimens. One way ANOVA test, Tukey test and Pearson correlation coefficient performed for data. Results Water sorption mean values varied from 11.33±0.33 to 30.46±0.55 μg/mm3. Water solubility mean values varied from −0.05±0.23 to 3.69±0.12 μg/mm3. There was statistically significant difference between mean values of the materials (P<.05). There was no linear correlation between sorption and solubility values. Conclusions The results of the water sorption and water solubility values of both self-cured and heat-cured acrylic resins were in accordance with the ISO specification. No correlation found between water sorption and water solubility values. PMID:19212546

  11. Total Count of Salmonella typhimurium Coupled on Water Soluble CdSe Quantum Dots by Fluorescence Detection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Feliciano Crespo, Raquel; Perales Perez, Oscar Juan; Ramirez, C.

    2018-05-01

    Health diseases due to the ingestion of water or food contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms are a main health problem around the world. The traditional methods for detecting foodborne pathogens are time-consuming (on the order of days). The development of methods that can help to detect and identify foodborne pathogens with high sensitivity and specificity have been proposed to overcome the limitations of traditional methods. Accordingly, this research is focused on the development of an experimental protocol for a high-sensitivity detection and quantification of bacterial pathogens with reduced detection times. This will lead to the development of a portable and low-cost technology with the opportunity to make onsite detection of pathogenic species. The proposed approach has modified the route reported in the literature; the method proposed is expected to be sensitive enough to detect a low limit of 102 CFU/mL counts of bacteria. The fluorescence-based method was tested in presence of Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 14020) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). CdSe water-soluble quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized in aqueous phase in presence of thioglycolic acid (TGA) as a capping agent. As-synthesized QDs were characterized by x-ray diffraction, near infrared and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-Vis and photoluminescence techniques. Results of the CdSe/TGA-bacteria coupling and the determination of the corresponding quantification profiles (calibration curves) will be presented and discussed.

  12. Studies on dissolution enhancement and mathematical modeling of drug release of a poorly water-soluble drug using water-soluble carriers.

    PubMed

    Ahuja, Naveen; Katare, Om Prakash; Singh, Bhupinder

    2007-01-01

    Role of various water-soluble carriers was studied for dissolution enhancement of a poorly soluble model drug, rofecoxib, using solid dispersion approach. Diverse carriers viz. polyethylene glycols (PEG 4000 and 6000), polyglycolized fatty acid ester (Gelucire 44/14), polyvinylpyrollidone K25 (PVP), poloxamers (Lutrol F127 and F68), polyols (mannitol, sorbitol), organic acid (citric acid) and hydrotropes (urea, nicotinamide) were investigated for the purpose. Phase-solubility studies revealed AL type of curves for each carrier, indicating linear increase in drug solubility with carrier concentration. The sign and magnitude of the thermodynamic parameter, Gibbs free energy of transfer, indicated spontaneity of solubilization process. All the solid dispersions showed dissolution improvement vis-à-vis pure drug to varying degrees, with citric acid, PVP and poloxamers as the most promising carriers. Mathematical modeling of in vitro dissolution data indicated the best fitting with Korsemeyer-Peppas model and the drug release kinetics primarily as Fickian diffusion. Solid state characterization of the drug-poloxamer binary system using XRD, FTIR, DSC and SEM techniques revealed distinct loss of drug crystallinity in the formulation, ostensibly accounting for enhancement in dissolution rate.

  13. Mercury-binding proteins in the slipper limpet, Crepidula fornicata, exposed to increased soluble mercury

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Harrison, F.L.; Watness, K.; Nelson, D.A.

    1987-03-01

    Crepidula fornicata were held in a flow-through bioassay system and exposed to sand-filtered seawater to which no soluble mercury (control) was added or to which either 5, 25, or 50 {mu}g l{sup {minus}1} soluble Hg was added. At specific intervals during the 16-week experiment, a group of limpets was removed from each tank; one subgroup was exposed for 48 h to high concentrations of Hg, and another was analyzed for Hg-binding proteins by gel-permeation chromatography and spectrometry. Mortality from exposure to Hg in the 48-Hg acute toxicity tests was related to concentrations of Hg experienced both during the long-term exposuremore » period and the 48-h exposure period. Chronic exposure to low levels of Hg resulted in increased amounts of total Hg in the whole body and in the low-molecular-weight Hg-binding proteins. No evidence was found for increased tolerance of Hg with preexposure.« less

  14. Update in pediatrics: focus on fat-soluble vitamins.

    PubMed

    Sathe, Meghana N; Patel, Ashish S

    2010-08-01

    This article provides an update on fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) in the healthy pediatric population and in children with chronic disease states that commonly cause deficiencies, specifically cystic fibrosis and cholestatic liver disease. For each fat-soluble vitamin, the biological function, nutrition availability, absorption, deficiency, toxic states, and monitoring parameters are defined.

  15. Soluble phosphate fertilizer production using acid effluent from metallurgical industry.

    PubMed

    Mattiello, Edson M; Resende Filho, Itamar D P; Barreto, Matheus S; Soares, Aline R; Silva, Ivo R da; Vergütz, Leonardus; Melo, Leônidas C A; Soares, Emanuelle M B

    2016-01-15

    Preventive and effective waste management requires cleaner production strategies and technologies for recycling and reuse. Metallurgical industries produce a great amount of acid effluent that must be discarded in a responsible manner, protecting the environment. The focus of this study was to examine the use of this effluent to increase reactivity of some phosphate rocks, thus enabling soluble phosphate fertilizer production. The effluent was diluted in deionized water with the following concentrations 0; 12.5; 25; 50; 75% (v v(-1)), which were added to four natural phosphate rocks: Araxá, Patos, Bayovar and Catalão and then left to react for 1 h and 24 h. There was an increase in water (PW), neutral ammonium citrate (PNAC) and citric acid (PCA) soluble phosphorus fractions. Such increases were dependent of rock type while the reaction time had no significant effect (p < 0.05) on the chemical and mineralogical phosphate characteristics. Phosphate fertilizers with low toxic metal concentrations and a high level of micronutrients were produced compared to the original natural rocks. The minimum amount of total P2O5, PNAC and PW, required for national legislation for phosphate partially acidulated fertilizer, were met when using Catalão and the effluent at the concentration of 55% (v v(-1)). Fertilizer similar to partially acidulated phosphate was obtained when Bayovar with effluent at 37.5% (v v(-1)) was used. Even though fertilizers obtained from Araxá and Patos did not contain the minimum levels of total P2O5 required by legislation, they can be used as a nutrient source and for acid effluent recycling and reuse. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. Corn or sorghum wet distillers grains with solubles in combination with steam-flaked corn: feedlot cattle performance, carcass characteristics, and apparent total tract digestibility.

    PubMed

    May, M L; DeClerck, J C; Quinn, M J; DiLorenzo, N; Leibovich, J; Smith, D R; Hales, K E; Galyean, M L

    2010-07-01

    Two studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of corn (CDG) and sorghum (SDG) wet distillers grains with solubles on feedlot cattle performance, carcass characteristics, and apparent total tract digestion of nutrients. In Exp. 1, 224 steers were used in a randomized complete block design (initial BW 391.1 +/- 9.51 kg) and fed steam-flaked corn (SFC)-based diets consisting of (DM basis) 0% distillers grains (CON), 15% SDG, 30% SDG, 15% CDG, 30% CDG, 15% of a 50:50 blend of SDG and CDG, and 30% of a 50:50 blend of CDG and SDG. Decreased carcass-adjusted final BW and HCW (P < or = 0.05) were noted as the inclusion amount of distillers grains increased in the diet. Body weight gain efficiency did not differ among the CDG, 50:50 SDG and CDG blend, and CON treatments, but G:F was numerically less with either amount of SDG than for CON, and decreased (P < or = 0.05) as distillers grains were increased from 15 to 30%. Cattle fed CON had greater carcass yield grades than those fed the distillers grain diets (P < or = 0.05). In Exp. 2, crossbred beef steers (n = 36; initial BW 567.3 +/- 53.1 kg) were used in a generalized randomized block design and fed SFC-based diets with 0% distillers grains (CON) and 15% (DM basis) CDG or SDG. Digestibility was determined with a pulse dose of Cr(2)O(3). Feeding steers 15% CDG or SDG increased intakes of CP and NDF (P < or = 0.05), but intakes of DM, OM, and starch did not differ among treatments (P >o r = 0.07). Apparent total tract digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, NDF, and starch (P > or = 0.25) did not differ among the 3 treatments. Fecal pH averaged over all sampling times was not affected by treatment, nor were average fecal pH values for prefeeding samples (0, 24, 48, and 72 h after the pulse dose) or for samples taken after feeding (12, 36, and 60 h after the pulse dose; P > or = 0.11). Results suggest that with 15% distillers grains in the DM, G:F was similar for cattle fed the CDG, 50:50 SDG and CDG blend, and CON diets

  17. Correlation of Helium Solubility in Liquid Nitrogen

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    VanDresar, Neil T.; Zimmerli, Gregory A.

    2012-01-01

    A correlation has been developed for the equilibrium mole fraction of soluble gaseous helium in liquid nitrogen as a function of temperature and pressure. Experimental solubility data was compiled and provided by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Data from six sources was used to develop a correlation within the range of 0.5 to 9.9 MPa and 72.0 to 119.6 K. The relative standard deviation of the correlation is 6.9 percent.

  18. Supercritical fluid particle design for poorly water-soluble drugs (review).

    PubMed

    Sun, Yongda

    2014-01-01

    Supercritical fluid particle design (SCF PD) offers a number of routes to improve solubility and dissolution rate for enhancing the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs, which can be adopted through an in-depth knowledge of SCF PD processes and the molecular properties of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and drug delivery system (DDS). Combining with research experiences in our laboratory, this review focuses on the most recent development of different routes (nano-micron particles, polymorphic particles, composite particles and bio-drug particles) to improve solubility and dissolution rate of poorly water-soluble drugs, covering the fundamental concept of SCF and the principle of SCF PD processes which are typically used to control particle size, shape, morphology and particle form and hence enable notable improvement in the dissolution rate of the poorly water-soluble drugs. The progress of the industrialization of SCF PD processes in pharmaceutical manufacturing environment with scaled-up plant under current good manufacturing process (GMP) specification is also considered in this review.

  19. Gas solubility in dilute solutions: A novel molecular thermodynamic perspective

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chialvo, Ariel A.

    2018-05-01

    We present an explicit molecular-based interpretation of the thermodynamic phase equilibrium underlying gas solubility in liquids, through rigorous links between the microstructure of the dilute systems and the relevant macroscopic quantities that characterize their solution thermodynamics. We apply the formal analysis to unravel and highlight the molecular-level nature of the approximations behind the widely used Krichevsky-Kasarnovsky [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 57, 2168 (1935)] and Krichevsky-Ilinskaya [Acta Physicochim. 20, 327 (1945)] equations for the modeling of gas solubility. Then, we implement a general molecular-based approach to gas solubility and illustrate it by studying Lennard-Jones binary systems whose microstructure and thermodynamic properties were consistently generated via integral equation calculations. Furthermore, guided by the molecular-based analysis, we propose a novel macroscopic modeling approach to gas solubility, emphasize some usually overlook modeling subtleties, and identify novel interdependences among relevant solubility quantities that can be used as either handy modeling constraints or tools for consistency tests.

  20. Gas solubility in dilute solutions: A novel molecular thermodynamic perspective.

    PubMed

    Chialvo, Ariel A

    2018-05-07

    We present an explicit molecular-based interpretation of the thermodynamic phase equilibrium underlying gas solubility in liquids, through rigorous links between the microstructure of the dilute systems and the relevant macroscopic quantities that characterize their solution thermodynamics. We apply the formal analysis to unravel and highlight the molecular-level nature of the approximations behind the widely used Krichevsky-Kasarnovsky [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 57, 2168 (1935)] and Krichevsky-Ilinskaya [Acta Physicochim. 20, 327 (1945)] equations for the modeling of gas solubility. Then, we implement a general molecular-based approach to gas solubility and illustrate it by studying Lennard-Jones binary systems whose microstructure and thermodynamic properties were consistently generated via integral equation calculations. Furthermore, guided by the molecular-based analysis, we propose a novel macroscopic modeling approach to gas solubility, emphasize some usually overlook modeling subtleties, and identify novel interdependences among relevant solubility quantities that can be used as either handy modeling constraints or tools for consistency tests.

  1. The solubility parameter for biomedical polymers-Application of inverse gas chromatography.

    PubMed

    Adamska, K; Voelkel, A; Berlińska, A

    2016-08-05

    The solubility parameter seems to be a useful tool for thermodynamic characterisation of different materials. The solubility parameter concept can be used to predict sufficient miscibility or solubility between a solvent and a polymer, as well as components of co-polymer matrix in composite biomaterials. The values of solubility parameter were determined for polycaprolactone (PCL), polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) by using different procedures and experimental data, collected by means of inverse gas chromatography. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. Illustrating the Concept of Sparingly Soluble Salts Using Various Copper Compounds: A Classroom Demonstration

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    O'Sullivan, Daniel W.; Crouch, Collier C.

    2009-01-01

    Many students in general and advanced chemistry courses have difficulty understanding differences in solubility by inspecting changing values of the solubility product constants for sparingly soluble salts. In this demonstration, the concepts involved in understanding the solubility of sparingly soluble salts are illustrated visually. Utilizing…

  3. Thermodynamic Solubility Profile of Carbamazepine-Cinnamic Acid Cocrystal at Different pH.

    PubMed

    Keramatnia, Fatemeh; Shayanfar, Ali; Jouyban, Abolghasem

    2015-08-01

    Pharmaceutical cocrystal formation is a direct way to dramatically influence physicochemical properties of drug substances, especially their solubility and dissolution rate. Because of their instability in the solution, thermodynamic solubility of cocrystals could not be determined in the common way like other compounds; therefore, the thermodynamic solubility is calculated through concentration of their components in the eutectic point. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of an ionizable coformer in cocrystal with a nonionizable drug at different pH. Carbamazepine (CBZ), a nonionizable drug with cinnamic acid (CIN), which is an acidic coformer, was selected to prepare CBZ-CIN cocrystal and its thermodynamic solubility was studied in pH range 2-7. Instead of HPLC that is a costly and time-consuming method, a chemometric-based approach, net analyte signal standard addition method, was selected for simultaneous determination of CBZ and CIN in solution. The result showed that, as pH increases, CIN ionization leads to change in CBZ-CIN cocrystal solubility and stability in solution. In addition, the results of this study indicated that there is no significant difference between intrinsic solubility of CBZ and cocrystal despite the higher ideal solubility of cocrystal. This verifies that ideal solubility is not good parameter to predict cocrystal solubility. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.

  4. Gaseous and particulate water-soluble organic and inorganic nitrogen in rural air in southern Scotland

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    González Benítez, Juan M.; Cape, J. Neil; Heal, Mathew R.

    2010-04-01

    Simultaneous daily measurements of water-soluble organic nitrogen (WSON), ammonium and nitrate were made between July and November 2008 at a rural location in south-east Scotland, using a 'Cofer' nebulizing sampler for the gas phase and collection on an open-face PTFE membrane for the particle phase. Average concentrations of NH 3 were 82 ± 17 nmol N m -3 (error is s.d. of triplicate samples), while oxidised N concentrations in the gas phase (from trapping NO 2 and HNO 3) were smaller, at 2.6 ± 2.2 nmol N m -3, and gas-phase WSON concentrations were 18 ± 11 nmol N m -3. The estimated collection efficiency of the nebulizing samplers for the gas phase was 88 (±8) % for NH 3, 37 (±16) % for NO 2 and 57 (±7) % for WSON; reported average concentrations have not been corrected for sampling efficiency. Concentrations in the particle phase were smaller, except for nitrate, at 21 ± 9, 10 ± 6 and 8 ± 9 nmol N m -3, respectively. The absence of correlation in either phase between WSON and either (NH 3 + NH 4+) or NO 3- concentrations suggests atmospheric WSON has diverse sources. During wet days, concentrations of gas and particle-phase inorganic N were lower than on dry days, whereas the converse was true for WSON. These data represent the first reports of simultaneous measurements of gas and particle phase water-soluble nitrogen compounds in rural air on a daily basis, and show that WSON occurs in both phases, contributing 20-25% of the total water-soluble nitrogen in air, in good agreement with earlier data on the contribution of WSON to total dissolved N in rainfall in the UK.

  5. Oral absorbable fat-soluble vitamin formulation in pediatric patients with cholestasis.

    PubMed

    Shen, Yu-Mei; Wu, Jia-Feng; Hsu, Hong-Yuan; Ni, Yen-Hsuan; Chang, Mei-Hwei; Liu, Yu-Wen; Lai, Hong-Shiee; Hsu, Wen-Ming; Weng, Hui-Ling; Chen, Huey-Ling

    2012-11-01

    Fat-soluble vitamin (FSV) deficiencies are common complications in pediatric patients with chronic cholestasis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the status of FSV deficiencies in patients under present practice and to test the effect of an oral, absorbable, fat-soluble vitamin formulation (OAFSV) in these patients. We recruited a total of 23 pediatric patients receiving conventional FSV supplementation in a single medical center, with diagnosis of biliary atresia (10), progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (9), Alagille syndrome (2), and other conditions (2). Ten patients switched to OAFSV and continued for 3 months. Plasma levels of vitamins A, D, and E and an international normalized ratio (INR) for prothrombin time (PT), a surrogate marker for vitamin K deficiency, were measured. The proportion of patients with FSV A, D, E, and K deficiencies under conventional supplementation was 73.9%, 81.8%, 91.3%, and 20.0%, respectively. In patients with total bilirubin levels ≥3.0  mg/dL, the proportion of at least 1 FSV deficiency was 100%; and the deficiency rates of vitamin A, D, E, and K were 78.6%, 100.0%, 100.0% and 21.4%, respectively. Of the 10 patients receiving standard daily dose of OAFSV for 3 months, no adverse events or overdose effects were found. The rates of vitamin A, D, and E deficiency in the patients receiving OAFSV decreased from 80.0%, 100%, and 100%, respectively, to 70.0%, 60.0%, and 60.0% after 3 months of oral supplementation. High rates of FSV deficiency were found in pediatric patients with chronic cholestasis under present follow-up. OAFSV supplementation is safe and potentially effective in pediatric patients with cholestasis.

  6. Fractional iron solubility of aerosol particles enhanced by biomass burning and ship emission in Shanghai, East China.

    PubMed

    Fu, H B; Shang, G F; Lin, J; Hu, Y J; Hu, Q Q; Guo, L; Zhang, Y C; Chen, J M

    2014-05-15

    In terms of understanding Fe mobilization from aerosol particles in East China, the PM2.5 particles were collected in spring at Shanghai. Combined with the backtrajectory analysis, the PM2.5/PM10 and Ca/Al ratios, a serious dust-storm episode (DSE) during the sampling was identified. The single-particle analysis showed that the major iron-bearing class is the aluminosilicate dust during DSE, while the Fe-bearing aerosols are dominated by coal fly ash, followed by a minority of iron oxides during the non-dust storm days (NDS). Chemical analyses of samples showed that the fractional Fe solubility (%FeS) is much higher during NDS than that during DSE, and a strong inverse relationship of R(2)=0.967 between %FeS and total atmospheric iron loading were found, suggested that total Fe (FeT) is not controlling soluble Fe (FeS) during the sampling. Furthermore, no relationship between FeS and any of acidic species was established, suggesting that acidic process on aerosol surfaces are not involved in the trend of iron solubility. It was thus proposed that the source-dependent composition of aerosol particles is a primary determinant for %FeS. Specially, the Al/Fe ratio is poorly correlated (R(2)=0.113) with %FeS, while the apparent relationship between %FeS and the calculated KBB(+)/Fe ratio (R(2)=0.888) and the V/Fe ratio (R(2)=0.736) were observed, reflecting that %FeS could be controlled by both biomass burning and oil ash from ship emission, rather than mineral particles and coal fly ash, although the latter two are the main contributors to the atmospheric Fe loading during the sampling. Such information can be useful improving our understanding on iron solubility on East China, which may further correlate with iron bioavailability to the ocean, as well as human health effects associated with exposure to fine Fe-rich particles in densely populated metropolis in China. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  7. Polymorphism rs2073618 of the osteoprotegerin gene as a potential marker of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in Caucasians with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

    PubMed

    Pleskovič, Aleš; Ramuš, Sara Mankoč; Pražnikar, Zala Jenko; Šantl Letonja, Marija; Cokan Vujkovac, Andreja; Gazdikova, Katarina; Caprnda, Martin; Gaspar, Ludovit; Kruzliak, Peter; Petrovič, Daniel

    2017-08-01

    The OPG/RANKL/RANK (osteoprotegerin/receptor-activator of nuclear factor κB ligand/receptor-activator of nuclear factor κB) axis has been recently linked to the development of atherosclerosis and plaque destabilization. We have investigated whether polymorphism rs2073618 of the OPG gene is associated with subclinical markers of carotid atherosclerosis in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). 595 subjects with T2DM were enrolled in the cross-sectional study. Subclinical markers of carotid atherosclerosis (carotid intima media thickness, plaque thickness, and plaques presence) were assessed with ultrasound at the time of recruitment. Genotyping for rs2073618 (a missense variant located in exon I of the OPG gene) was performed, and OPG serum levels were determined by ELISA. Compared to the GG genotype, the CC genotype of the rs2073618 polymorphism had a significantly increased risk for the presence of carotid plaque (OR = 2.54, 95 % CI = 1.22-5.28, p = 0.01). No statistically significant difference could be detected (p = 0.68) upon comparing median values of serum OPG levels among studied genotype groups in subjects with T2DM. Multivariable linear regression analyses in T2DM subjects demonstrated that GC and CC genotypes (p = 0.03 and p = 0.003), together with statin therapy (p = 0.009), were independent predictors of the number of carotid segments with plaques. Despite the fact that OPG rs2073618 genotypes failed to predict the serum OPG levels as there was no statistical difference among compared genotypes, our results demonstrate that the rs2073618 polymorphism could be a possible genetic marker for the prediction of increased risk for carotid plaque burden as a measure of advanced subclinical atherosclerosis in T2DM subjects.

  8. Comparison of Benchtop Fourier-Transform (FT) and Portable Grating Scanning Spectrometers for Determination of Total Soluble Solid Contents in Single Grape Berry (Vitis vinifera L.) and Calibration Transfer.

    PubMed

    Xiao, Hui; Sun, Ke; Sun, Ye; Wei, Kangli; Tu, Kang; Pan, Leiqing

    2017-11-22

    Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was applied for the determination of total soluble solid contents (SSC) of single Ruby Seedless grape berries using both benchtop Fourier transform (VECTOR 22/N) and portable grating scanning (SupNIR-1500) spectrometers in this study. The results showed that the best SSC prediction was obtained by VECTOR 22/N in the range of 12,000 to 4000 cm -1 (833-2500 nm) for Ruby Seedless with determination coefficient of prediction (R p ²) of 0.918, root mean squares error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.758% based on least squares support vector machine (LS-SVM). Calibration transfer was conducted on the same spectral range of two instruments (1000-1800 nm) based on the LS-SVM model. By conducting Kennard-Stone (KS) to divide sample sets, selecting the optimal number of standardization samples and applying Passing-Bablok regression to choose the optimal instrument as the master instrument, a modified calibration transfer method between two spectrometers was developed. When 45 samples were selected for the standardization set, the linear interpolation-piecewise direct standardization (linear interpolation-PDS) performed well for calibration transfer with R p ² of 0.857 and RMSEP of 1.099% in the spectral region of 1000-1800 nm. And it was proved that re-calculating the standardization samples into master model could improve the performance of calibration transfer in this study. This work indicated that NIR could be used as a rapid and non-destructive method for SSC prediction, and provided a feasibility to solve the transfer difficulty between totally different NIR spectrometers.

  9. Heat-induced alterations in cashew allergen solubility and IgE binding.

    PubMed

    Mattison, Christopher P; Bren-Mattison, Yvette; Vant-Hull, Barry; Vargas, Aurora M; Wasserman, Richard L; Grimm, Casey C

    2016-01-01

    Cashew nuts are an increasingly common cause of food allergy. We compare the soluble protein profile of cashew nuts following heating. SDS-PAGE indicate that heating can alter the solubility of cashew nut proteins. The 11S legumin, Ana o 2, dominates the soluble protein content in ready to eat and mildly heated cashew nuts. However, we found that in dark-roasted cashew nuts, the soluble protein profile shifts and the 2S albumin Ana o 3 composes up to 40% of the soluble protein. Analysis of trypsin-treated extracts by LC/MS/MS indicate changes in the relative number and intensity of peptides. The relative cumulative intensity of the 5 most commonly observed Ana o 1 and 2 peptides are altered by heating, while those of the 5 most commonly observed Ana o 3 peptides remaine relatively constant. ELISA experiments indicate that there is a decrease in rabbit IgG and human serum IgE binding to soluble cashew proteins following heating. Our findings indicate that heating can alter the solubility of cashew allergens, resulting in altered IgE binding. Our results support the use of both Ana o 2 and Ana o 3 as potential cashew allergen diagnostic targets.

  10. "JCE" Classroom Activity #105. A Sticky Situation: Chewing Gum and Solubility

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Montes-Gonzalez, Ingrid; Cintron-Maldonado, Jose A.; Perez-Medina, Ilia E.; Montes-Berrios, Veronica; Roman-Lopez, Saurie N.

    2010-01-01

    In this Activity, students perform several solubility tests using common food items such as chocolate, chewing gum, water, sugar, and oil. From their observations during the Activity, students will initially classify the substances tested as soluble or insoluble. They will then use their understanding of the chemistry of solubility to classify the…

  11. Facilitating protein solubility by use of peptide extensions

    DOEpatents

    Freimuth, Paul I; Zhang, Yian-Biao; Howitt, Jason

    2013-09-17

    Expression vectors for expression of a protein or polypeptide of interest as a fusion product composed of the protein or polypeptide of interest fused at one terminus to a solubility enhancing peptide extension are provided. Sequences encoding the peptide extensions are provided. The invention further comprises antibodies which bind specifically to one or more of the solubility enhancing peptide extensions.

  12. Bioinspired co-crystals of Imatinib providing enhanced kinetic solubility.

    PubMed

    Reggane, Maude; Wiest, Johannes; Saedtler, Marco; Harlacher, Cornelius; Gutmann, Marcus; Zottnick, Sven H; Piechon, Philippe; Dix, Ina; Müller-Buschbaum, Klaus; Holzgrabe, Ulrike; Meinel, Lorenz; Galli, Bruno

    2018-05-04

    Realizing the full potential of co-crystals enhanced kinetic solubility demands a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of dissolution, phase conversion, nucleation and crystal growth, and of the complex interplay between the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), the coformer and co-existing forms in aqueous media. One blueprint provided by nature to keep poorly water-soluble bases in solution is the complexation with phenolic acids. Consequently, we followed a bioinspired strategy for the engineering of co-crystals of a poorly water-soluble molecule - Imatinib - with a phenolic acid, syringic acid (SYA). The dynamics of dissolution and solution-mediated phase transformations were monitored by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, providing mechanistic insights into the 60 fold-increased long lasting concentrations achieved by the syringate co-crystals as compared to Imatinib base and Imatinib mesylate. This lasting effect was linked to SYA's ability to delay the formation and nucleation of Imatinib hydrate - the thermodynamically stable form in aqueous media - through a metastable association of SYA with Imatinib in solution. Results from permeability studies evidenced that SYA did not impact Imatinib's permeability across membranes while suggesting improved bioavailability through higher kinetic solubility at the biological barriers. These results reflect that some degree of hydrophobicity of the coformer might be key to extend the kinetic solubility of co-crystals with hydrophobic APIs. Understanding how kinetic supersaturation can be shaped by the selection of an interactive coformer may help achieving the needed performance of new forms of poorly water-soluble, slowly dissolving APIs. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  13. Solubility of glucose isomerase in ammonium sulphate solutions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chayen, N.; Akins, J.; Campbell-Smith, S.; Blow, D. M.

    1988-07-01

    In order to quantify protein crystallization techniques, a method for measuring protein solubility in high salt concentration has been developed. It is based on a sensitive protein concentration assay, using binding to Coomassie blue dye. The protein concentration in a supernatant from which glucose isomerase is crystallising has been studied as a function of time. Equilibrium is established in 3-5 weeks, and the protein concentration remaining in solution is defined as the solubility of the protein. The solubility of glucose isomerase has been determined as a function of ammonium sulphate concentration; its variation with pH in 1.50M ammonium sulphate has also been studied. A remarkable dependence on pH over the range of 5.5 to 6.5 has been observed.

  14. Antibacterial Activity of Emulsified Pomelo (Citrus grandis Osbeck) Peel Oil and Water-Soluble Chitosan on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

    PubMed

    Chen, Guan-Wen; Lin, Yu-Hsin; Lin, Chia-Hua; Jen, Hsiao-Chin

    2018-04-06

    This study utilized pomelo steam distillation to isolate pomelo peel essential oil. The constituents were then analyzed through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the antibacterial activity of the essential oil emulsions at different homogenizer speed conditions and concentrations of water-soluble chitosan (degree of acetylation, DA = 54.8%) against S. aureus and E. coli was examined. Analysis of the essential oil composition identified a total of 33 compounds with the main constituent, limonene accounting for 87.5% (940.07 mg/g) of the total. The pomelo peel oil was emulsified through homogenization at 24,000 rpm, resulting in a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for E. coli that was 1.9 times lower than that of the essential oil without homogenization. In addition, a mixture of 0.4% essential oil emulsion and 0.03% water-soluble chitosan had the strongest synergetic antibacterial effect on S. aureus and E. coli at pH 7.4. In comparison with chitosan alone, the MIC value of this mixture was significantly 2.4 and 2.5 times lower. Hence, this study suggests using a mixture of emulsified pomelo peel oil and water-soluble chitosan to develop a novel natural food preservative, and that the processability of food, as well as the economic value of the byproducts of the Taiwan Matou pomelo and chitosan, could be increased.

  15. A Pdx-1-Regulated Soluble Factor Activates Rat and Human Islet Cell Proliferation

    PubMed Central

    Hayes, Heather L.; Zhang, Lu; Becker, Thomas C.; Haldeman, Jonathan M.; Stephens, Samuel B.; Arlotto, Michelle; Moss, Larry G.; Newgard, Christopher B.

    2016-01-01

    The homeodomain transcription factor Pdx-1 has important roles in pancreas and islet development as well as in β-cell function and survival. We previously reported that Pdx-1 overexpression stimulates islet cell proliferation, but the mechanism remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that overexpression of Pdx-1 triggers proliferation largely by a non-cell-autonomous mechanism mediated by soluble factors. Consistent with this idea, overexpression of Pdx-1 under the control of a β-cell-specific promoter (rat insulin promoter [RIP]) stimulates proliferation of both α and β cells, and overexpression of Pdx-1 in islets separated by a Transwell membrane from islets lacking Pdx-1 overexpression activates proliferation in the untreated islets. Microarray and gene ontology (GO) analysis identified inhibin beta-B (Inhbb), an activin subunit and member of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily, as a Pdx-1-responsive gene. Overexpression of Inhbb or addition of activin B stimulates rat islet cell and β-cell proliferation, and the activin receptors RIIA and RIIB are required for the full proliferative effects of Pdx-1 in rat islets. In human islets, Inhbb overexpression stimulates total islet cell proliferation and potentiates Pdx-1-stimulated proliferation of total islet cells and β cells. In sum, this study identifies a mechanism by which Pdx-1 induces a soluble factor that is sufficient to stimulate both rat and human islet cell proliferation. PMID:27620967

  16. Method for enhancing the solubility of dopants in silicon

    DOEpatents

    Sadigh, Babak; Lenosky, Thomas J.; De La Rubia, Tomas Diaz

    2003-09-30

    A method for enhancing the equilibrium solid solubility of dopants in silicon, germanium and silicon-germanium alloys. The method involves subjecting silicon-based substrate to biaxial or compression strain. It has been determined that boron solubility was largely enhanced (more than 100%) by a compressive bi-axial strain, based on a size-mismatch theory since the boron atoms are smaller than the silicon atoms. It has been found that the large enhancement or mixing properties of dopants in silicon and germanium substrates is primarily governed by their, and to second order by their size-mismatch with the substrate. Further, it has been determined that the dopant solubility enhancement with strain is most effective when the charge and the size-mismatch of the impurity favor the same type of strain. Thus, the solid solubility of small p-type (e.g., boron) as well as large n-type (e.g., arsenic) dopants can be raised most dramatically by appropriate bi-axial (compressive) strain, and that solubility of a large p-type dopant (e.g, indium) in silicon will be raised due to size-mismatch with silicon, which favors tensile strain, while its negative charge prefers compressive strain, and thus the two effects counteract each other.

  17. Towards improved solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs: cryogenic co-grinding of piroxicam with carrier polymers.

    PubMed

    Penkina, Anna; Semjonov, Kristian; Hakola, Maija; Vuorinen, Sirpa; Repo, Timo; Yliruusi, Jouko; Aruväli, Jaan; Kogermann, Karin; Veski, Peep; Heinämäki, Jyrki

    2016-01-01

    Amorphous solid dispersions (SDs) open up exciting opportunities in formulating poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). In the present study, novel catalytic pretreated softwood cellulose (CPSC) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were investigated as carrier polymers for preparing and stabilizing cryogenic co-ground SDs of poorly water-soluble piroxicam (PRX). CPSC was isolated from pine wood (Pinus sylvestris). Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used for characterizing the solid-state changes and drug-polymer interactions. High-resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to analyze the particle size and surface morphology of starting materials and final cryogenic co-ground SDs. In addition, the molecular aspects of drug-polymer interactions and stabilization mechanisms are presented. The results showed that the carrier polymer influenced both the degree of amorphization of PRX and stabilization against crystallization. The cryogenic co-ground SDs prepared from PVP showed an enhanced dissolution rate of PRX, while the corresponding SDs prepared from CPSC exhibited a clear sustained release behavior. In conclusion, cryogenic co-grinding provides a versatile method for preparing amorphous SDs of poorly water-soluble APIs. The solid-state stability and dissolution behavior of such co-ground SDs are to a great extent dependent on the carrier polymer used.

  18. On the solubility of gallium nitride in supercritical ammonia-sodium solutions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Griffiths, Steven; Pimputkar, Siddha; Speck, James S.; Nakamura, Shuji

    2016-12-01

    Due to the disparity between observed gallium nitride (GaN) growth under conditions for which literature reports normal solubility, GaN solubility in supercritical NH3-Na containing solutions was re-evaluated. Isothermal gravimetric experiments on polycrystalline GaN were performed in the temperature range (T =415-650 °C) for which retrograde growth of GaN routinely occurs (P ≈ 200 MPa, molar NH3:Na fill ratio =20:1). Two previously-unreported error contributions to the gravimetric determination of GaN solubility were identified: Ga-alloying of exposed Ni-containing components, and the presence of a dense, Ga-absorbing Na-rich, second phase under these conditions. Due to the inability to measure Ga-alloying of the exposed autoclave wall for each experiment, considerable scatter was introduced in the refined GaN solubility curve. No clear dependence of GaN solubility on temperature was resolvable, while most solubility values were determined to be within a band of 0.03-0.10 mol% GaN, normalized by fill NH3.

  19. Direct growth of high crystallinity graphene from water-soluble polymer powders

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Qiao; Zhong, Yujia; Huang, Meirong; Zhao, Guoke; Zhen, Zhen; Zhu, Hongwei

    2018-07-01

    The use of solid-state carbon sources is effective to produce graphene by safe and low-cost chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. Water-soluble polymers are generally environmentally friendly and have great potential on large-scale green production of graphene. Here, we systematically study the growth of graphene from water-soluble polymers on copper foils. Two different conversion ways are adopted to investigate the growth mechanism of graphene from water-soluble polymers. We find that the metal-binding functional group hydroxyl strongly influences the vaporization of water-soluble polymers on Cu foils, which hinders the formation of graphene films by rapid thermal treatment. In direct CVD process using water-soluble polymer powders as precursors, oxygenated functional groups in polymers can enhance the crystallinity of as-grown graphene in contrast to solid hydrocarbons without containing oxygen (e.g. polyethylene). Large and continuous graphene films of high quality are synthesized from polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene glycol. Nitrogen doping in graphene can be easily realized by using nitrogen-containing water-soluble polymers (e.g. polyvinyl pyrrolidone).

  20. Buckminsterfullerene's (C60) octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow) and aqueous solubility.

    PubMed

    Jafvert, Chad T; Kulkarni, Pradnya P

    2008-08-15

    To assess the risk and fate of fullerene C60 in the environment, its water solubility and partition coefficients in various systems are useful. In this study, the log Kow of C60 was measured to be 6.67, and the toluene-water partition coefficient was measured at log Ktw = 8.44. From these values and the respective solubilities of C60 in water-saturated octanol and water-saturated toluene, C60's aqueous solubility was calculated at 7.96 ng/L(1.11 x 10(-11) M) for the organic solvent-saturated aqueous phase. Additionally, the solubility of C60 was measured in mixtures of ethanol-water and tetrahydrofuran-water and modeled with Wohl's equation to confirm the accuracy of the calculated solubility value. Results of a generator column experiment strongly support the hypothesis that clusters form at aqueous concentrations below or near this calculated solubility. The Kow value is compared to those of other hydrophobic organic compounds, and bioconcentration factors for C60 were estimated on the basis of Kow.

  1. Gaseous Sulfate Solubility in Glass: Experimental Method

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bliss, Mary

    2013-11-30

    Sulfate solubility in glass is a key parameter in many commercial glasses and nuclear waste glasses. This report summarizes key publications specific to sulfate solubility experimental methods and the underlying physical chemistry calculations. The published methods and experimental data are used to verify the calculations in this report and are expanded to a range of current technical interest. The calculations and experimental methods described in this report will guide several experiments on sulfate solubility and saturation for the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant Enhanced Waste Glass Models effort. There are several tables of sulfate gas equilibrium values at high temperature tomore » guide experimental gas mixing and to achieve desired SO3 levels. This report also describes the necessary equipment and best practices to perform sulfate saturation experiments for molten glasses. Results and findings will be published when experimental work is finished and this report is validated from the data obtained.« less

  2. Solubility limits in quaternary SnTe-based alloys [Metastability and solubility limits in quaternary SnTe-based alloys guided by combinatorial sputtering

    DOE PAGES

    Siol, Sebastian; Holder, Aaron; Ortiz, Brenden R.; ...

    2017-05-09

    Here, the controlled decomposition of metastable alloys is an attractive route to form nanostructured thermoelectric materials with reduced thermal conductivity. The ternary SnTe–MnTe and SnTe–SnSe heterostructural alloys have been demonstrated as promising materials for thermoelectric applications. In this work, the quaternary Sn 1–yMnyTe 1–xSe x phase space serves as a relevant model system to explore how a combination of computational and combinatorial-growth methods can be used to study equilibrium and non-equilibrium solubility limits. Results from first principle calculations indicate low equilibrium solubility for x,y < 0.05 that are in good agreement with results obtained from bulk equilibrium synthesis experiments andmore » predict significantly higher spinodal limits. An experimental screening using sputtered combinatorial thin film sample libraries showed a remarkable increase in non-equilibrium solubility for x,y > 0.2. These theoretical and experimental results were used to guide the bulk synthesis of metastable alloys. The ability to reproduce the non-equilibrium solubility levels in bulk materials indicates that such theoretical calculations and combinatorial growth can inform bulk synthetic routes. Further, the large difference between equilibrium and non-equilibrium solubility limits in Sn 1–yMn yTe 1–xSe x indicates these metastable alloys are attractive in terms of nano-precipitate formation for potential thermoelectric applications.« less

  3. Stage specific effects of soluble copper and copper oxide nanoparticles during sea urchin embryo development and their relation to intracellular copper uptake.

    PubMed

    Torres-Duarte, Cristina; Ramos-Torres, Karla M; Rahimoff, René; Cherr, Gary N

    2017-08-01

    The effects of exposure to either soluble copper (copper sulfate) or copper oxide nanoparticles (nano-CuO) during specific early developmental stages of sea urchin embryos were analyzed. Soluble copper caused significant malformations in embryos (skeletal malformations, delayed development or gut malformations) when present at any given stage, while cleavage stage was the most sensitive to nano-CuO exposure causing skeletal malformations and decreased total antioxidant capacity. The stage specificity was linked to higher endocytic activity during the first hours of development that leads to higher accumulation of copper in specific cells critical for development. Results indicate that nano-CuO results in higher accumulation of copper inside of embryos and this intracellular copper is more persistent as compared to soluble copper. The possible implications later in development are discussed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Aqueous solubility of calcium L-lactate, calcium D-gluconate, and calcium D-lactobionate: importance of complex formation for solubility increase by hydroxycarboxylate mixtures.

    PubMed

    Vavrusova, Martina; Munk, Merete Bøgelund; Skibsted, Leif H

    2013-08-28

    Among the calcium hydroxycarboxylates important for cheese quality, D-lactobionate [Ksp = (7.0 ± 0.3) × 10(-3) mol(3) L(-3)] and L-lactate [Ksp = (5.8 ± 0.2) × 10(-3) mol(3) L(-3)] were found more soluble than D-gluconate [Ksp = (7.1 ± 0.2) × 10(-4) mol(3) L(-3)], as indicated by the solubility products determined electrochemically for aqueous 1.0 M NaCl at 25.0 °C. Still, solubility of calcium L-lactate increases by 45% in the presence of 0.50 M sodium D-gluconate and by 37% in the presence of 0.50 M sodium D-lactobionate, while solubility of calcium D-gluconate increases by 66 and 85% in the presence of 0.50 M sodium L-lactate and 0.50 M sodium D-lactobionate, respectively, as determined by complexometric titration. Sodium L-lactate and sodium D-gluconate have only little influence on solubility of calcium D-lactobionate. The increased solubility is described quantitatively by calcium binding to D-gluconate (K1 = 14 ± 3 mol(-1) L) in 1.0 M NaCl at 25 °C, D-lactobionate (K1 = 11 ± 2 mol(-1) L), and L-lactate (K1 = 8 ± 2 mol(-1) L), as indicated by the association constants determined electrochemically. In mixed hydroxycarboxylate solutions, calcium binding is quantitatively described by the geometric mean of the individual association constants for both aqueous 1.0 and 0.20 M NaCl, indicating a 1:1 stoichiometry for complex formation.

  5. Data representing two separate LC-MS methods for detection and quantification of water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins in tears and blood serum.

    PubMed

    Khaksari, Maryam; Mazzoleni, Lynn R; Ruan, Chunhai; Kennedy, Robert T; Minerick, Adrienne R

    2017-04-01

    Two separate liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS) methods were developed for determination and quantification of water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins in human tear and blood serum samples. The water-soluble vitamin method was originally developed to detect vitamins B 1 , B 2 , B 3 (nicotinamide), B 5 , B 6 (pyridoxine), B 7 , B 9 and B 12 while the fat-soluble vitamin method detected vitamins A, D 3 , 25(OH)D 3, E and K 1 . These methods were then validated with tear and blood serum samples. In this data in brief article, we provide details on the two LC-MS methods development, methods sensitivity, as well as precision and accuracy for determination of vitamins in human tears and blood serum. These methods were then used to determine the vitamin concentrations in infant and parent samples under a clinical study which were reported in "Determination of Water-Soluble and Fat-Soluble Vitamins in Tears and Blood Serum of Infants and Parents by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry DOI:10.1016/j.exer.2016.12.007 [1]". This article provides more details on comparison of vitamin concentrations in the samples with the ranges reported in the literature along with the medically accepted normal ranges. The details on concentrations below the limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) are also discussed. Vitamin concentrations were also compared and cross-correlated with clinical data and nutritional information. Significant differences and strongly correlated data were reported in [1]. This article provides comprehensive details on the data with slight differences or slight correlations.

  6. Detection of colloidal silver chloride near solubility limit

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Putri, K. Y.; Adawiah, R.

    2018-03-01

    Detection of nanoparticles in solution has been made possible by several means; one of them is laser-induced breakdown detection (LIBD). LIBD is able to distinguish colloids of various sizes and concentrations. This technique has been used in several solubility studies. In this study, the formation of colloids in a mixed system of silver nitrate and sodium chloride was observed by acoustic LIBD. Silver chloride has low solubility limit, therefore LIBD measurement is appropriate. Silver and chloride solutions with equal concentrations, set at below and above the solubility of silver chloride as the expected solid product, were mixed and the resulting colloids were observed. The result of LIBD measurement showed that larger particles were present as more silver and chloride introduced. However, once the concentrations exceeded the solubility limit of silver chloride, the detected particle size seemed to be decreasing, hence suggested the occurrence of coprecipitation process. This phenomenon indicated that the ability of LIBD to detect even small changes in colloid amounts might be a useful tool in study on formation and stability of colloids, i.e. to confirm whether nanoparticles synthesis has been successfully performed and whether the system is stable or not.

  7. Water-soluble vitamins.

    PubMed

    Konings, Erik J M

    2006-01-01

    Simultaneous Determination of Vitamins.--Klejdus et al. described a simultaneous determination of 10 water- and 10 fat-soluble vitamins in pharmaceutical preparations by liquid chromatography-diode-array detection (LC-DAD). A combined isocratic and linear gradient allowed separation of vitamins in 3 distinct groups: polar, low-polar, and nonpolar. The method was applied to pharmaceutical preparations, fortified powdered drinks, and food samples, for which results were in good agreement with values claimed. Heudi et al. described a separation of 9 water-soluble vitamins by LC-UV. The method was applied for the quantification of vitamins in polyvitaminated premixes used for the fortification of infant nutrition products. The repeatability of the method was evaluated at different concentration levels and coefficients of variation were <6.5%. The concentrations of vitamins found in premixes with the method were comparable to the values declared. A disadvantage of the methods mentioned above is that sample composition has to be known in advance. According to European legislation, for example, foods might be fortified with riboflavin phosphate or thiamin phosphate, vitamers which are not included in the simultaneous separations described. Vitamin B2.--Viñas et al. elaborated an LC analysis of riboflavin vitamers in foods. Vitamin B2 can be found in nature as the free riboflavin, but in most biological materials it occurs predominantly in the form of 2 coenzymes, flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin-adenine dinucleotide (FAD). Several methods usually involve the conversion of these coenzymes into free riboflavin before quantification of total riboflavin. According to the authors, there is growing interest to know flavin composition of foods. The described method separates the individual vitamers isocratically. Accuracy of the method is tested with 2 certified reference materials (CRMs). Vitamin B5.-Methods for the determination of vitamin B5 in foods are limited

  8. Caffeine: a potential complexing agent for solubility and dissolution enhancement of celecoxib.

    PubMed

    Shakeel, Faiyaz; Faisal, Mohammed S

    2010-01-01

    Complexation of caffeine with the drug celecoxib was used to enhance its solubility as well as in vitro dissolution in the present investigation. Caffeine was extracted from tea leaves using the sublimation method. A molecular complex (1:1) of caffeine-celecoxib was prepared using the solubility method. The solubility of celecoxib in distilled water and the caffeine complex was determined using a HPLC method at a wavelength of 250 nm. Dissolution studies of pure celecoxib, a marketed capsule (Celebrex), and the complex were performed using USP dissolution apparatus I for pure celecoxib and the complex and apparatus II for the capsule in distilled water. The highest solubility (48.32 mg/mL) as well as percent dissolution (90.54%) of celecoxib was obtained with the caffeine-celecoxib complex. The results for solubility and dissolution were highly significant as compared to pure celecoxib and the marketed capsule (p < 0.01). These results suggest that caffeine is a promising complexing agent for solubility as well as dissolution enhancement of the poorly soluble drug celecoxib.

  9. Proton Pump Inhibitors Decrease Soluble fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase-1 and Soluble Endoglin Secretion, Decrease Hypertension, and Rescue Endothelial Dysfunction.

    PubMed

    Onda, Kenji; Tong, Stephen; Beard, Sally; Binder, Natalie; Muto, Masanaga; Senadheera, Sevvandi N; Parry, Laura; Dilworth, Mark; Renshall, Lewis; Brownfoot, Fiona; Hastie, Roxanne; Tuohey, Laura; Palmer, Kirsten; Hirano, Toshihiko; Ikawa, Masahito; Kaitu'u-Lino, Tu'uhevaha; Hannan, Natalie J

    2017-03-01

    Preeclampsia is a severe complication of pregnancy. Antiangiogenic factors soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and soluble endoglin are secreted in excess from the placenta, causing hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, and multiorgan injury. Oxidative stress and vascular inflammation exacerbate the endothelial injury. A drug that can block these pathophysiological steps would be an attractive treatment option. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are safe in pregnancy where they are prescribed for gastric reflux. We performed functional studies on primary human tissues and animal models to examine the effects of PPIs on sFlt-1 and soluble endoglin secretion, vessel dilatation, blood pressure, and endothelial dysfunction. PPIs decreased sFlt-1 and soluble endoglin secretion from trophoblast, placental explants from preeclamptic pregnancies, and endothelial cells. They also mitigated tumor necrosis factor-α-induced endothelial dysfunction: PPIs blocked endothelial vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression, leukocyte adhesion to endothelium, and disruption of endothelial tube formation. PPIs decreased endothelin-1 secretion and enhanced endothelial cell migration. Interestingly, the PPI esomeprazole vasodilated maternal blood vessels from normal pregnancies and cases of preterm preeclampsia, but its vasodilatory effects were lost when the vessels were denuded of their endothelium. Esomeprazole decreased blood pressure in a transgenic mouse model where human sFlt-1 was overexpressed in placenta. PPIs upregulated endogenous antioxidant defenses and decreased cytokine secretion from placental tissue and endothelial cells. We have found that PPIs decrease sFlt-1 and soluble endoglin secretion and endothelial dysfunction, dilate blood vessels, decrease blood pressure, and have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They have therapeutic potential for preeclampsia and other diseases where endothelial dysfunction is involved. © 2017 American Heart Association

  10. The solubility of rare gases in fused silica: A numerical evaluation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guillot, Bertrand; Guissani, Yves

    1996-07-01

    The solubility of rare gases in a simulated model of fused silica is evaluated by the test particle method. It is shown that the order of magnitude of the rare gas solubility in liquid silica is mainly governed by the entropy of cavity formation and only marginally by the solvation energy of the solute in the melt. Hence, the hierarchy of solubilities is dictated by the size of the noble gases: The smaller the atom the higher the solubility. Moreover, the solubility exhibits only a moderate temperature dependence at fixed density. In silica glass the same solubility hierarchy is found (in agreement with the experimental data) although the energetic contribution to the absorption process may become significant, particularly when the temperature decreases. These results in silica are in strong contrast with those obtained in liquid water where the energetic contribution to the rare gas solubility is large enough to overcompensate the entropic loss of cavity formation, the net result being that light noble gases (e.g., He) are less soluble than heavier ones (e.g., Xe). These contrasting behaviors are explained by pointing out that the liquid phase occurs in very different temperature ranges for these two systems (SiO2 and H2O) while the rare gas-solvent interaction energy is essentially of the same order of magnitude. Finally, the structure of silica around helium and neon atoms is found to be interstitial (cristobalitelike) while in the case of heavier rare gases, the structure of cavities is more reminiscent of the polyhedral arrangement encountered with clathrasils.

  11. Clinical and Biological Predictors of Plasma Levels of Soluble RAGE in Critically Ill Patients: Secondary Analysis of a Prospective Multicenter Observational Study.

    PubMed

    Pranal, Thibaut; Pereira, Bruno; Berthelin, Pauline; Roszyk, Laurence; Godet, Thomas; Chabanne, Russell; Eisenmann, Nathanael; Lautrette, Alexandre; Belville, Corinne; Blondonnet, Raiko; Cayot, Sophie; Gillart, Thierry; Skrzypczak, Yvan; Souweine, Bertrand; Bouvier, Damien; Blanchon, Loic; Sapin, Vincent; Constantin, Jean-Michel; Jabaudon, Matthieu

    2018-01-01

    Although soluble forms of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) have been recently proposed as biomarkers in multiple acute or chronic diseases, few studies evaluated the influence of usual clinical and biological parameters, or of patient characteristics and comorbidities, on circulating levels of soluble RAGE in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. To determine, among clinical and biological parameters that are usually recorded upon ICU admission, which variables, if any, could be associated with plasma levels of soluble RAGE. Data for this ancillary study were prospectively obtained from adult patients with at least one ARDS risk factor upon ICU admission enrolled in a large multicenter observational study. At ICU admission, plasma levels of total soluble RAGE (sRAGE) and endogenous secretory (es)RAGE were measured by duplicate ELISA and baseline patient characteristics, comorbidities, and usual clinical and biological indices were recorded. After univariate analyses, significant variables were used in multivariate, multidimensional analyses. 294 patients were included in this ancillary study, among whom 62% were admitted for medical reasons, including septic shock (11%), coma (11%), and pneumonia (6%). Although some variables were associated with plasma levels of RAGE soluble forms in univariate analysis, multidimensional analyses showed no significant association between admission parameters and baseline plasma sRAGE or esRAGE. We found no obvious association between circulating levels of soluble RAGE and clinical and biological indices that are usually recorded upon ICU admission. This trial is registered with NCT02070536.

  12. A Semiconductor Material And Method For Enhancing Solubility Of A Dopant Therein

    DOEpatents

    Sadigh, Babak; Lenosky, Thomas J.; Diaz de la Rubia, Tomas; Giles, Martin; Caturla, Maria-Jose; Ozolins, Vidvuds; Asta, Mark; Theiss, Silva; Foad, Majeed; Quong, Andrew

    2005-03-29

    A method for enhancing the equilibrium solubility of boron ad indium in silicon. The method involves first-principles quantum mechanical calculations to determine the temperature dependence of the equilibrium solubility of two important p-type dopants in silicon, namely boron and indium, under various strain conditions. The equilibrium thermodynamic solubility of size-mismatched impurities, such as boron and indium in silicon, can be raised significantly if the silicon substrate is strained appropriately. For example, for boron, a 1% compressive strain raises the equilibrium solubility by 100% at 1100.degree. C.; and for indium, a 1% tensile strain at 1100.degree. C., corresponds to an enhancement of the solubility by 200%.

  13. Iron (III) hydrolysis and solubility at 25 degrees C.

    PubMed

    Stefánsson, Andri

    2007-09-01

    UV-vis spectrophotometric measurements, potentiometric titrations, and solubility measurements were performed to evaluate the hydrolysis constants for aqueous Fe(III) and the solubility of 2-line ferrihydrite over a wide concentration range (0-3 M NaClO4 and p[H+] 1.54-11.23). From these measurements, Fe3+ was found to hydrolyze to form FeOH2+, Fe2(OH)24+, Fe(OH)2+, Fe(OH)3(0), and Fe(OH)4-. The hydrolysis and solubility constants of these species were determined together with their dependence on ionic strength. The iron (III) hydrolysis constants at infinity dilution were (logbeta(1,1) to logbeta(1,4) and logbeta(2,2))-2.19 +/- 0.02, -5.76 +/- 0.06, -14.30 +/- 0.32, -21.71 +/- 0.24, and -2.92 +/- 0.02, respectively. The solubility product for 2-line ferrihydrite was (logK(s,0)) +3.50 +/- 0.20. The results have been compared with literature values.

  14. Solubility correlation of anthraquinone derivatives in supercritical carbon dioxide

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Alwi, Ratna Surya; Tamura, Kazuhiro; Tanaka, Tatsuro; Shimizu, Keisuke

    2017-05-01

    In this work, solubilites of anthraquinone dyestuffs in supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO2) were correlated by semiempirical models, expressed in terms of CO2 density. All solubility data used, experimentally measured by us, and were described in details elsewhere; namely, 1,4-diaminoanthraquinone and 1,4-bis(ethylamino)anthraquinone [J. Chem. Thermo-dyn. 74, 119-125 (2014)]; 1-amino-4-hydroxyanthraquinone and 1-hydroxy-4-nitroanthraquionone [Dyes Pigm.113, 351-356 (2015)]; 1,4-diamino-2,3-dichloroanthraquinone and 1,8-dihydroxy-4,5-dinitroanthraquinone [J. Chem. Eng. Data 60, 3046-3052 (2015)], and 1-aminoanthraquinone and 1-nitroanthraquinone [J. Chem. Thermodyn. 104, 162-168 (2017)]. It was found that 1-aminoanthraquinone shows the highest solubility at 383,15 K and pressure of 25 MPa, and the solubility of anthraquinone derivatives in sc-CO2 changed by the substituent groups. Satisfactory agreement between the experimental data used and calculated solubilities of the anthraquinone derivatives was obtained.

  15. Redox-dependent solubility of technetium in low activity waste glass

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Soderquist, Chuck Z.; Schweiger, Michael J.; Kim, Dong-Sang; Lukens, Wayne W.; McCloy, John S.

    2014-06-01

    The solubility of technetium was measured in a Hanford low activity waste (LAW) glass simulant, to investigate the extent that technetium solubility controls the incorporation of technetium into LAW glass. A series of LAW glass samples, spiked with 500-6000 ppm of Tc as potassium pertechnetate, were melted at 1000 °C in sealed fused quartz ampoules. Technetium solubility was determined in the quenched bulk glass to be 2000-2800 ppm, with slightly reducing conditions due to choice of milling media resulting in reductant contamination and higher solubility. The chemical form of technetium obtained by X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy is mainly isolated, octahedrally-coordinated Tc(IV), with a minority of Tc(VII) in some glasses and TcO2 in two glasses. The concentration and speciation of technetium depends on glass redox and amount of technetium added. Salts formed at the top of higher technetium loaded glasses during the melt. The results of this study show that technetium solubility should not be a factor in technetium retention during melting of Hanford LAW glass.

  16. Nanonization strategies for poorly water-soluble drugs.

    PubMed

    Chen, Huabing; Khemtong, Chalermchai; Yang, Xiangliang; Chang, Xueling; Gao, Jinming

    2011-04-01

    Poor water solubility for many drugs and drug candidates remains a major obstacle to their development and clinical application. Conventional formulations to improve solubility suffer from low bioavailability and poor pharmacokinetics, with some carriers rendering systemic toxicities (e.g. Cremophor(®) EL). In this review, several major nanonization techniques that seek to overcome these limitations for drug solubilization are presented. Strategies including drug nanocrystals, nanoemulsions and polymeric micelles are reviewed. Finally, perspectives on existing challenges and future opportunities are highlighted. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  17. Solubility of Aragonite in Subduction Water-Rich Fluids

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Daniel, I.; Facq, S.; Petitgirard, S.; Cardon, H.; Sverjensky, D. A.

    2017-12-01

    Carbonate dissolution in subduction zone fluids is critical to the carbon budget in subduction zones. Depending on the solubility of carbonate minerals in aqueous fluids, the subducting lithosphere may be either strongly depleted and the mantle metasomatized if the solubility is high, as recently suggested by natural samples or transport carbon deeper into the Earth's mantle if the solubility is low enough [1, 2]. Dissolution of carbonate minerals strongly depends on pressure and temperature as well as on the chemistry of the fluid, leading to a highly variable speciation of aqueous carbon. Thanks to recent advances in theoretical aqueous geochemistry [3, 4], combined experimental and theoretical efforts now allow the investigation of speciation and solubility of carbonate minerals in aqueous fluids at PT conditions higher than previously feasible [4, 5]. In this study, we present new in situ X-ray fluorescence measurements of aragonite dissolution up to 5 GPa and 500°C and the subsequent thermodynamic model of aragonite solubility in aqueous fluids thanks to the Deep Earth Water model. The amount of dissolved aragonite in the fluid was calculated from challenging and unprecedented measurements of the Ca fluorescence K-lines at low-energy. Experiments were performed at the ESRF, beamline ID27 using a dedicated design of an externally-heated diamond anvil cell and an incident high-flux and highly focused monochromatic X-Ray beam at 20 keV. The results show a spectacularly high solubility of aragonite at HP-HT in water, further enhanced in presence of NaCl and silica in the solution. [1] Frezzotti, M. L. et al. (2011) doi:10.1038/ngeo1246. [2] Ague, J. J. and Nicolescu, S. (2014) doi:10.1038/ngeo2143. [3] Pan, D. et al. (2013) doi: 10.1073/pnas.1221581110. [4] Sverjensky, D. A et al. (2014) doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2013.12.019. [5] Facq, S. et al. (2014) doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2014.01.030.

  18. Protein profiling of water and alkali soluble cottonseed protein isolates.

    PubMed

    He, Zhongqi; Zhang, Dunhua; Cao, Heping

    2018-06-18

    Currently, there is only limited knowledge on the protein types and structures of the cottonseed proteins. In this work, water-soluble cottonseed proteins (CSPw) and alkali-soluble cottonseed proteins (CSPa) were sequentially extracted from defatted cottonseed meal. Proteins of the two fractions were separated by 4-20% gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE); There were 7 and 12 polypeptide bands on SDS-PAGE of CSPa and CSPw, respectively. These individual bands were then excised from the gel and subjected to mass spectrometric analysis. There were total 70 polypeptides identified from the proteins of the two cottonseed preparations, with molecular weights ranging from 10 to 381 kDa. While many proteins or their fragments were found in multiple bands, 18 proteins appeared only in one SDS-PAGE band (6 in CSPa, 12 in CSPw). Putative functions of these proteins include storage, transcription/translation, synthesis, energy metabolism, antimicrobial activity, and embryogenesis. Among the most abundant are legumin A (58 kDa), legumin B (59 kDa), vicilin C72 (70 kDa), vicilin GC72-A (71 kDa), and vicilin-like antimicrobial peptides (62 kDa). This work enriched the fundamental knowledge on cottonseed protein composition, and would help in better understanding of the functional and physicochemical properties of cottonseed protein and for enhancing its biotechnological utilization.

  19. Theoretical Analysis of Drug Dissolution: I. Solubility and Intrinsic Dissolution Rate.

    PubMed

    Shekunov, Boris; Montgomery, Eda Ross

    2016-09-01

    The first-principles approach presented in this work combines surface kinetics and convective diffusion modeling applied to compounds with pH-dependent solubility and in different dissolution media. This analysis is based on experimental data available for approximately 100 compounds of pharmaceutical interest. Overall, there is a linear relationship between the drug solubility and intrinsic dissolution rate expressed through the total kinetic coefficient of dissolution and dimensionless numbers defining the mass transfer regime. The contribution of surface kinetics appears to be significant constituting on average ∼20% resistance to the dissolution flux in the compendial rotating disk apparatus at 100 rpm. The surface kinetics contribution becomes more dominant under conditions of fast laminar or turbulent flows or in cases when the surface kinetic coefficient may decrease as a function of solution composition or pH. Limitations of the well-known convective diffusion equation for rotating disk by Levich are examined using direct computational modeling with simultaneous dissociation and acid-base reactions in which intrinsic dissolution rate is strongly dependent on pH profile and solution ionic strength. It is shown that concept of diffusion boundary layer does not strictly apply for reacting/interacting species and that thin-film diffusion models cannot be used quantitatively in general case. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  20. Leaching behavior of water-soluble carbohydrates from almond hulls

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Over 58% of the dry matter content of the hulls from the commercial almond (Prunus dulcis (Miller) D.A. Webb) is soluble in warm water (50-70°C) extraction. The water-soluble extractables include useful amounts of fermentable sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose), sugar alcohols (inositol and sorbito...

  1. Alendronate (ALN) combined with Osteoprotegerin (OPG) significantly improves mechanical properties of long bone than the single use of ALN or OPG in the ovariectomized rats

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Alendronate (ALN) is the most common form of bisphosphonates used for the treatment of osteoporosis. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) has also been shown to reduce osteoporotic changes in both humans and experimental animals after systemic administration. The aim of this current study was to test if the anti-resorption effects of ALN may be enhanced when used in combination with OPG. Objectives To investigate the effects of ALN, OPG or combined on bone mass and bone mechanical properties in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Methods OVX rats were treated with ALN, OPG-Fc, or OPG-Fc and ALN. Biochemical markers, trabecular bone mass, biomechanics, histomorphometry and RANKL expression in the bone tissues were examined following the treatments. Results The treatment of ALN, OPG-Fc and ALN+OPG-Fc all prevented bone loss in the OVX-rats, there was no statistical difference among the three treatment groups in terms of vertebrae BMD, mineralizing surfaces, mineral apposition rate, BFR/BS. The ALN+OPG-Fc treatment group had significantly increased the mechanical strength of lumber vertebral bodies and femoral shafts when compared to the ALN and OPG-Fc treatment groups. The RANKL protein expression in the vertebral bones was significantly decreased in the ALN and ALN+OPG-Fc treatment groups, suggesting the combined use of OPG-Fc and ALN might have amplified inhibition of bone resorption through inhibiting RANKL-dependent osteoclastogenesis. Conclusion The combined use of OPG-Fc and ALN may be a new treatment strategy for reversing bone loss and restoring bone quality in osteoprotic disorders. PMID:21752290

  2. Promotion of Homogeneous Ice Nucleation by Soluble Molecules.

    PubMed

    Mochizuki, Kenji; Qiu, Yuqing; Molinero, Valeria

    2017-11-29

    Atmospheric aerosols nucleate ice in clouds, strongly impacting precipitation and climate. The prevailing consensus is that ice nucleation is promoted heterogeneously by the surface of ice nucleating particles in the aerosols. However, recent experiments indicate that water-soluble molecules, such as polysaccharides of pollen and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), increase the ice freezing temperature. This poses the question of how do flexible soluble molecules promote the formation of water crystals, as they do not expose a well-defined surface to ice. Here we use molecular simulations to demonstrate that PVA promotes ice nucleation through a homogeneous mechanism: PVA increases the nucleation rate by destabilizing water in the solution. This work demonstrates a novel paradigm for understanding ice nucleation by soluble molecules and provides a new handle to design additives that promote crystallization.

  3. Thermodynamic Approach to Boron Nitride Nanotube Solubility and Dispersion

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tiano, A. L.; Gibbons, L.; Tsui, M.; Applin, S. I.; Silva, R.; Park, C.; Fay, C. C.

    2016-01-01

    Inadequate dispersion of nanomaterials is a critical issue that significantly limits the potential properties of nanocomposites and when overcome, will enable further enhancement of material properties. The most common methods used to improve dispersion include surface functionalization, surfactants, polymer wrapping, and sonication. Although these approaches have proven effective, they often achieve dispersion by altering the surface or structure of the nanomaterial and ultimately, their intrinsic properties. Co-solvents are commonly utilized in the polymer, paint, and art conservation industries to selectively dissolve materials. These co-solvents are utilized based on thermodynamic interaction parameters and are chosen so that the original materials are not affected. The same concept was applied to enhance the dispersion of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) to facilitate the fabrication of BNNT nanocomposites. Of the solvents tested, dimethylacetamide (DMAc) exhibited the most stable, uniform dispersion of BNNTs, followed by N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), acetone, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Utilizing the known Hansen solubility parameters of these solvents in comparison to the BNNT dispersion state, a region of good solubility was proposed. This solubility region was used to identify co-solvent systems that led to improved BNNT dispersion in poor solvents such as toluene, hexane, and ethanol. Incorporating the data from the co-solvent studies further refined the proposed solubility region. From this region, the Hansen solubility parameters for BNNTs are thought to lie at the midpoint of the solubility sphere: 16.8, 10.7, and 9.0 MPa(exp 1/2) for delta d, delta p, and delta h, respectively, with a calculated Hildebrand parameter of 21.8 MPa)exp 1/2).

  4. Thermodynamic approach to boron nitride nanotube solubility and dispersion.

    PubMed

    Tiano, A L; Gibbons, L; Tsui, M; Applin, S I; Silva, R; Park, C; Fay, C C

    2016-02-21

    Inadequate dispersion of nanomaterials is a critical issue that significantly limits the potential properties of nanocomposites and when overcome, will enable further enhancement of material properties. The most common methods used to improve dispersion include surface functionalization, surfactants, polymer wrapping, and sonication. Although these approaches have proven effective, they often achieve dispersion by altering the surface or structure of the nanomaterial and ultimately, their intrinsic properties. Co-solvents are commonly utilized in the polymer, paint, and art conservation industries to selectively dissolve materials. These co-solvents are utilized based on thermodynamic interaction parameters and are chosen so that the original materials are not affected. The same concept was applied to enhance the dispersion of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) to facilitate the fabrication of BNNT nanocomposites. Of the solvents tested, dimethylacetamide (DMAc) exhibited the most stable, uniform dispersion of BNNTs, followed by N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), acetone, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). Utilizing the known Hansen solubility parameters of these solvents in comparison to the BNNT dispersion state, a region of good solubility was proposed. This solubility region was used to identify co-solvent systems that led to improved BNNT dispersion in poor solvents such as toluene, hexane, and ethanol. Incorporating the data from the co-solvent studies further refined the proposed solubility region. From this region, the Hansen solubility parameters for BNNTs are thought to lie at the midpoint of the solubility sphere: 16.8, 10.7, and 9.0 MPa(1/2) for δd, δp, and δh, respectively, with a calculated Hildebrand parameter of 21.8 MPa(1/2).

  5. Water sorption and solubility of polyamide denture base materials

    PubMed Central

    Nguyen, Long G.; Kopperud, Hilde M.; Øilo, Marit

    2017-01-01

    Abstract Purpose: Some patients experience adverse reactions to poly(methyl methacrylate)-based (PMMA) dentures. Polyamide (PA) as an alternative to PMMA has, however, not been well documented with regard to water sorption and water solubility. The aim of this in vitro study was to measure water sorption and water solubility of two PA materials compared with PMMA, and to evaluate the major components released from the PA materials and the effect on hardness of the materials. Methods: Ten discs (40.0 mm diameter, 2.0 mm thick) of each material (PA: Valplast and Breflex; PMMA: SR Ivocap HIP) were prepared according to manufacturers’ recommendations. The specimens were tested for water sorption and water solubility, according to a modification of ISO 20795-1:2008. Released substances were analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results: There were statistically significant differences among the materials regarding water sorption, water solubility and time to water saturation. Breflex had the highest water sorption (30.4 μg/mm3), followed by PMMA-material (25.8 μg/mm3) and Valplast (13.6 μg/mm3). Both PA materials had statistically significant lower water solubility than the PMMA. Both PA had a net increase in weight. Analysis by GC/MS identified release of the compound 12-aminododecanolactam from the material Valplast. No release was found from the Breflex material. Conclusions: The PA denture materials show differences in water sorption and solubility, but within the limits of the standard requirements. The PA showed a net increase in weight after long-term water sorption. The clinical implications of the findings are not elucidated. PMID:28642931

  6. Water sorption and solubility of polyamide denture base materials.

    PubMed

    Nguyen, Long G; Kopperud, Hilde M; Øilo, Marit

    2017-01-01

    Purpose: Some patients experience adverse reactions to poly(methyl methacrylate)-based (PMMA) dentures. Polyamide (PA) as an alternative to PMMA has, however, not been well documented with regard to water sorption and water solubility. The aim of this in vitro study was to measure water sorption and water solubility of two PA materials compared with PMMA, and to evaluate the major components released from the PA materials and the effect on hardness of the materials. Methods: Ten discs (40.0 mm diameter, 2.0 mm thick) of each material (PA: Valplast and Breflex; PMMA: SR Ivocap HIP) were prepared according to manufacturers' recommendations. The specimens were tested for water sorption and water solubility, according to a modification of ISO 20795-1:2008. Released substances were analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results: There were statistically significant differences among the materials regarding water sorption, water solubility and time to water saturation. Breflex had the highest water sorption (30.4 μg/mm 3 ), followed by PMMA-material (25.8 μg/mm 3 ) and Valplast (13.6 μg/mm 3 ). Both PA materials had statistically significant lower water solubility than the PMMA. Both PA had a net increase in weight. Analysis by GC/MS identified release of the compound 12-aminododecanolactam from the material Valplast. No release was found from the Breflex material. Conclusions: The PA denture materials show differences in water sorption and solubility, but within the limits of the standard requirements. The PA showed a net increase in weight after long-term water sorption. The clinical implications of the findings are not elucidated.

  7. The relationship between dissolved humic acids and soluble iron in estuaries

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Fox, L. E.

    1984-01-01

    Dissolved humic acid and soluble iron appear to be chemically unassociated in estuaries despite their coincident removal. This conclusion is supported by differences in the aggregation kinetics of soluble iron and dissolved humic acid, the inability of extracted humic acid to stabilize laboratory preparations of ferric hydroxide, and decreasing ratios of humic acid carbon to soluble iron along the axes of some estuaries.

  8. Solubility of Naproxen in Polyethylene Glycol 200 + Water Mixtures at Various Temperatures

    PubMed Central

    Panahi-Azar, Vahid; Soltanpour, Shahla; Martinez, Fleming; Jouyban, Abolghasem

    2015-01-01

    The solubility of naproxen in binary mixtures of polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG 200) + water at the temperature range from 298.0 K to 318.0 K were reported. The combinations of Jouyban-Acree model + van’t Hoff and Jouyban-Acree model + partial solubility parameters were used to predict the solubility of naproxen in PEG 200 + water mixtures at different temperatures. Combination of Jouyban-Acree model with van’t Hoff equation can be used to predict solubility in PEG 200 + water with only four solubility data in mono-solvents. The obtained solubility calculation errors vary from ~ 17 % up to 35 % depend on the number of required input data. Non-linear enthalpy-entropy compensation was found for naproxen in the investigated solvent system and the Jouyban−Acree model provides reasonably accurate mathematical descriptions of the thermodynamic data of naproxen in the investigated binary solvent systems. PMID:26664370

  9. The solubility of noble gases in crude oil at 25-100°C

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Kharaka, Yousif K.; Specht, Daniel J.

    1988-01-01

    The solubility of the noble gases He, Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe was measured in two typical crude oils at temperatures of 25–100°C. The oil samples were obtained from the Elk Hills oil field located in southern San Joaquin Valley, California. The experimental procedure consisted of placing a known amount of gas with a known volume of crude oil in a stainless steel hydrothermal pressure vessel. The vessel was housed inside an oven and the entire unit rotates providing continuous mixing. The amount of gas dissolved in oil at a measured temperature and partial pressure of gas was used to calculate the solubility constants for these gases. Results show that the solubility of He and Ne in both oils is approximately the same; solubility then increases with atomic mass, with the solubility of Xe at 25°C being two orders of magnitude higher than that of He. The gas solubilities are somewhat higher in the lower density (higher API gravity) oil. The solubility of Ar is approximately constant in the range of temperatures of this study. The solubilities of He and Ne increase, but those of Kr and Xe decrease with increasing temperatures. Solubilities of noble gases in crude oil are significantly higher than their solubilities in water. For example, the solubilities of He and Xe at 25°C in the light oil of this study are, respectively, 3 and 24 times higher than their solubilities in pure water, and they are 15 and 300 times higher than in a brine with a salinity of 350,000 mg/l dissolved solids. These large and variable differences in the solubilities of noble gases in oil and water indicate that, in sedimentary basins with oil, these gases must be partitioned between oil, water and natural gas before they are used to deduce the origin and residence time of these fluids.

  10. Influence of solid state fermentation by Trichoderma spp. on solubility, phenolic content, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of commercial turmeric.

    PubMed

    Mohamed, Saleh A; Saleh, Rashad M; Kabli, Saleh A; Al-Garni, Saleh M

    2016-05-01

    The influence of solid state fermentation (SSF) by Trichoderma spp. on the solubility, total phenolic content, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of turmeric was determined and compared with unfermented turmeric. The solubility of turmeric was monitored by increase in its phenolic content. The total phenolic content of turmeric extracted by 80% methanol and water after SSF by six species of Trichoderma spp. increased significantly from 2.5 to 11.3-23.3 and from 0.5 to 13.5-20.4 GAE/g DW, respectively. The antioxidant activities of fermented turmeric were enhanced using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric ion-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. The antibacterial activity of fermented turmeric against human-pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, Entreococcus faecalis, Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosae showed a broad spectrum inhibitory effect. In conclusion, the results indicated the potentials of using fermented turmeric as natural antioxidant and antimicrobial material for food applications.

  11. Determination of water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins in tears and blood serum of infants and parents by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Khaksari, Maryam; Mazzoleni, Lynn R; Ruan, Chunhai; Kennedy, Robert T; Minerick, Adrienne R

    2017-02-01

    Tears serve as a viable diagnostic fluid with advantages including less invasive sample to collect and less complex to prepare for analysis. Several water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins were detected and quantified in human tears and compared with blood serum levels. Samples from 15 family pairs, each pair consisting of a four-month-old infant and one parent were analyzed; vitamin concentrations were compared between tears and blood serum for individual subjects, between infants and parents, and against self-reported dietary intakes. Water-soluble vitamins B 1 , B 2 , B 3 (nicotinamide), B 5 , B 9 and fat-soluble vitamin E (α-tocopherol) were routinely detected in tears and blood serum while fat-soluble vitamin A (retinol) was detected only in blood serum. Water-soluble vitamin concentrations measured in tears and blood serum of single subjects were comparable, while higher concentrations were measured in infants compared to their parents. Fat-soluble vitamin E concentrations were lower in tears than blood serum with no significant difference between infants and parents. Serum vitamin A concentrations were higher in parents than infants. Population trends were compiled and quantified using a cross correlation factor. Strong positive correlations were found between tear and blood serum concentrations of vitamin E from infants and parents and vitamin B 3 concentrations from parents, while slight positive correlations were detected for infants B 3 and parents B 1 and B 2 concentrations. Correlations between infants and parents were found for the concentrations of B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , and E in tears, and the concentrations of B 2, A, and E in blood serum. Stronger vitamin concentration correlations were found between infants and parents for the breast-fed infants, while no significant difference was observed between breast-fed and bottle-fed infants. This work is the first to demonstrate simultaneous vitamin A, B, and E detection and to quantify correlations between

  12. Trade-offs between enzyme fitness and solubility illuminated by deep mutational scanning

    PubMed Central

    Bacik, John-Paul; Wrenbeck, Emily E.; Michalczyk, Ryszard; Whitehead, Timothy A.

    2017-01-01

    Proteins are marginally stable, and an understanding of the sequence determinants for improved protein solubility is highly desired. For enzymes, it is well known that many mutations that increase protein solubility decrease catalytic activity. These competing effects frustrate efforts to design and engineer stable, active enzymes without laborious high-throughput activity screens. To address the trade-off between enzyme solubility and activity, we performed deep mutational scanning using two different screens/selections that purport to gauge protein solubility for two full-length enzymes. We assayed a TEM-1 beta-lactamase variant and levoglucosan kinase (LGK) using yeast surface display (YSD) screening and a twin-arginine translocation pathway selection. We then compared these scans with published experimental fitness landscapes. Results from the YSD screen could explain 37% of the variance in the fitness landscapes for one enzyme. Five percent to 10% of all single missense mutations improve solubility, matching theoretical predictions of global protein stability. For a given solubility-enhancing mutation, the probability that it would retain wild-type fitness was correlated with evolutionary conservation and distance to active site, and anticorrelated with contact number. Hybrid classification models were developed that could predict solubility-enhancing mutations that maintain wild-type fitness with an accuracy of 90%. The downside of using such classification models is the removal of rare mutations that improve both fitness and solubility. To reveal the biophysical basis of enhanced protein solubility and function, we determined the crystallographic structure of one such LGK mutant. Beyond fundamental insights into trade-offs between stability and activity, these results have potential biotechnological applications. PMID:28196882

  13. Somatostatin receptor subtype-4 agonist NNC 26-9100 mitigates the effect of soluble Aβ(42) oligomers via a metalloproteinase-dependent mechanism.

    PubMed

    Sandoval, Karin E; Farr, Susan A; Banks, William A; Crider, Albert M; Morley, John E; Witt, Ken A

    2013-07-03

    Soluble amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) oligomers have been hypothesized to be primary mediators of Alzheimer's disease progression. In this regard, reduction of soluble Aβ-oligomers levels within the brain may provide a viable means in which to treat the disease. Somatostatin receptor subtype-4 (SSTR4) agonists have been proposed to reduce Aβ levels in the brain via enhancement of enzymatic degradation. Herein we evaluated the effect of selective SSTR4 agonist NNC 26-9100 on the changes in learning and soluble Aβ42 oligomer brain content with and without co-administration of the M13-metalloproteinase family enzyme-inhibitor phosphoramidon, using the senescence-accelerated mouse prone-8 (SAMP8) model. NNC 26-9100 treatment (0.2 µg i.c.v. in 2 µL) improved learning, which was blocked by phosphoramidon (1 and 10mM, respectively). NNC 26-9100 decreased total soluble Aβ42, an effect which was blocked by phosphoramidon (10mM). Extracellular, intracellular, and membrane fractions were then isolated from cortical tissue and assessed for soluble oligomer alterations. NNC 26-9100 decreased the Aβ42 trimeric (12 kDa) form within the extracellular and intracellular fractions, and produced a band-split effect of the Aβ42 hexameric (25 kDa) form within the extracellular fraction. These effects were also blocked by phosphoramdon (1 and 10mM, respectively). Subsequent evaluation of NNC 26-9100 in APPswe Tg2576 transgenic mice showed a similar learning improvement and corresponding reduction in soluble Aβ42 oligomers within extracellular, intracellular, and membrane fractions. These data support the hypothesis that NNC 26-9100 reduces soluble Aβ42 oligomers and enhances learning through a phosphoramidon-sensitive metalloproteinase-dependent mechanism. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. Comparative Study of Different Methods for the Prediction of Drug-Polymer Solubility.

    PubMed

    Knopp, Matthias Manne; Tajber, Lidia; Tian, Yiwei; Olesen, Niels Erik; Jones, David S; Kozyra, Agnieszka; Löbmann, Korbinian; Paluch, Krzysztof; Brennan, Claire Marie; Holm, René; Healy, Anne Marie; Andrews, Gavin P; Rades, Thomas

    2015-09-08

    In this study, a comparison of different methods to predict drug-polymer solubility was carried out on binary systems consisting of five model drugs (paracetamol, chloramphenicol, celecoxib, indomethacin, and felodipine) and polyvinylpyrrolidone/vinyl acetate copolymers (PVP/VA) of different monomer weight ratios. The drug-polymer solubility at 25 °C was predicted using the Flory-Huggins model, from data obtained at elevated temperature using thermal analysis methods based on the recrystallization of a supersaturated amorphous solid dispersion and two variations of the melting point depression method. These predictions were compared with the solubility in the low molecular weight liquid analogues of the PVP/VA copolymer (N-vinylpyrrolidone and vinyl acetate). The predicted solubilities at 25 °C varied considerably depending on the method used. However, the three thermal analysis methods ranked the predicted solubilities in the same order, except for the felodipine-PVP system. Furthermore, the magnitude of the predicted solubilities from the recrystallization method and melting point depression method correlated well with the estimates based on the solubility in the liquid analogues, which suggests that this method can be used as an initial screening tool if a liquid analogue is available. The learnings of this important comparative study provided general guidance for the selection of the most suitable method(s) for the screening of drug-polymer solubility.

  15. Solubility of (+/-)-ibuprofen and S (+)-ibuprofen in the presence of cosolvents and cyclodextrins.

    PubMed

    Nerurkar, Jayanti; Beach, J W; Park, M O; Jun, H W

    2005-01-01

    Aqueous solubility is an important parameter for the development of liquid formulations and in the determination of bioavailability of oral dosage forms. Ibuprofen (IB), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is a chiral molecule and is currently used clinically as a racemate (racIB). However, the S form of ibuprofen or S(+)-ibuprofen (SIB) is the biologically active isomer and is primarily responsible for the antiinflammatory activity. Phase solubility studies were carried out to compare the saturation solubilities of racIB and SIB in the presence of common pharmaceutical solvents such as glycerol, sorbitol solution, propylene glycol (PG), and polyethylene glycol (PEG 300) over the range of 20% to 80% v/v in aqueous based systems. The solubilities of the two compounds were also compared in the presence of cyclodextrins such as beta cyclodextrin (CD), hydroxypropyl beta cyclodextrin (HPCD), and beta cyclodextrin sulfobutyl ether sodium salt (CDSB) over the range of 5% to 25% w/v. Solubility determinations were carried at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C. Cosolvents exponentially increased the solubility of both SIB and racIB, especially in the presence of PG and PEG 300. Glycerol was not very effective in increasing the aqueous solubilities of both compounds, whereas sorbitol solution had a minimal effect on their solubility. PG and PEG 300 increased the solubility of SIB by 400-fold and 1500-fold, respectively, whereas the rise in solubility for racIB was 193-fold and 700-fold, respectively, at 25 degrees C for the highest concentration of the cosolvents used (80% v/v). Of the two compounds studied, higher equilibrium solubilities were observed for SIB as compared with racIB. The derivatized cyclodextrins increased the aqueous solubility of racIB and SIB in a concentration-dependent manner giving AL type of phase diagrams. The phase solubility diagrams indicated the formation of soluble inclusion complexes between the drugs and HPCD and CDSB, which was of 1

  16. Theory for solubility in static systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gusev, Andrei A.; Suter, Ulrich W.

    1991-06-01

    A theory for the solubility of small particles in static structures has been developed. The distribution function of the solute in a frozen solid has been derived in analytical form for the quantum and the quasiclassical cases. The solubility at infinitesimal gas pressure (Henry's constant) as well as the pressure dependence of the solute concentration at elevated pressures has been found from the statistical equilibrium between the solute in the static matrix and the ideal-gas phase. The distribution function of a solute containing different particles has been evaluated in closed form. An application of the theory to the sorption of methane in the computed structures of glassy polycarbonate has resulted in a satisfactory agreement with experimental data.

  17. New in situ Aerosol Spectral Optical Measurements over 300-700 nm, Extinction and Total Absorption, Paired with Absorption from Water- and Methanol-soluble Aerosol Extracts

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jordan, C. E.; Stauffer, R. M.; Lamb, B.; Novak, M. G.; Mannino, A.; Hudgins, C.; Thornhill, K. L., II; Crosbie, E.; Winstead, E.; Anderson, B.; Martin, R.; Shook, M.; Ziemba, L. D.; Beyersdorf, A. J.; Corr, C.

    2017-12-01

    A new in situ spectral aerosol extinction instrument (custom built, SpEx) built to cover the 300-700 nm range at 1 nm spectral resolution and temporal resolution of 4 minutes was deployed on the top deck ( 10 m above the water surface) of the R/V Onnuri during the KORUS-OC research cruise around South Korea in spring 2016. This new instrument was one component of a suite of in situ aerosol optical measurements that included 3-visible-wavelength scattering (Airphoton IN101 Nephelometer, at 450, 532, & 632 nm) and absorption (Brechtel Tricolor Absorption Photometer Model 2901, at 467, 528, & 652 nm) with sub-minute temporal resolution; two sets of filters (Teflon and glass fiber, both collected over 3 hour daytime and 12 hour overnight intervals) to provide aerosol absorption spectra over the same wavelength range as SpEx. The glass fiber filters were placed in the center of an integrating sphere (Labsphere DRA-CA-30) attached to a dual beam spectrophotometer (Cary 100 Bio UV-Visible Spectrophotometer) to measure total aerosol absorption spectra via an established method used by the ocean color community to obtain absorption spectra from particles suspended in sea water. Adapting this methodology for atmospheric aerosol measurements provides a new avenue to obtain spectral total aerosol absorption, particularly useful for expanding in situ measurement capabilities into the UV range. The Teflon filters were cut in half with one half extracted in deionized water and the other half extracted in methanol. The solutions were filtered and injected into a liquid waveguide capillary cell (World Precision Instruments LWCC-3100, 100 cm pathlength) to measure the absorption spectra for each solution. In addition, the water extracts were measured via ion chromatography (Dionex ICS-3000 Ion Chromatography System) to obtain water-soluble inorganic ion concentrations, as well as via aerosol mass spectrometry (Aerodyne Research, Inc. HR-ToF High Resolution Aerosol Mass Spectrometer

  18. Synthesis, Characterization and Reactivity of a Hexane-Soluble Silver Salt

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Stockland, Robert A. Jr.; Wilson, Brian D.; Goodman, Caton C.; Giese, Barret J.; Shrimp, Frederick L., II

    2007-01-01

    The connectivity of a hexane-soluble silver salt is established by using NMR spectroscopy to describe the synthesis, characterization and reactivity of the salt. The results found hexane-soluble silver to be an effective transfer agent.

  19. Long-term observation of water-soluble chemical components in the bulk atmospheric aerosols collected at Okinawa, Japan

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Handa, Daishi; Somada, Yuka; Ijyu, Moriaki; Azechi, Sotaro; Nakaema, Fumiya; Arakaki, Takemitsu; Tanahara, Akira

    2010-05-01

    The economic development and population growth in recent Asia spread air pollution. Emission rate of air pollutants from Asia, in particular oxides of nitrogen, surpassed those from North America and Europe and should continue to exceed them for decades. The study of the long-range transported air pollution from Asian continent has gained a special attention in Japan because of increase in photochemical oxidants in relatively remote islands. Okinawa Island is situated approximately 1500 km south of Tokyo, Japan, 2000 km southeast of Beijing, China, and 1000 km south of South Korea. Its location in Asia is well suited for studying long-range transport of air pollutants in East Asia because maritime air mass prevails during summer, while continental air mass dominates during fall, winter, and spring. The maritime air mass data can be seen as background and can be compared with continental air masses which have been affected by anthropogenic activities. Bulk aerosol samples were collected on quartz filters by using a high volume air sampler. Sampling duration was one week for each sample. We determined the concentrations of water-soluble anions, cations and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the bulk aerosols collected at the Cape Hedo Atmosphere and Aerosol Monitoring Station (CHAAMS) using ion chromatography, atomic absorption spectrometry, and total organic carbon analyzer, respectively. We will report water-soluble chemical components data of anions, cations and DOC in bulk atmospheric aerosols collected at CHAAMS during August, 2005 to April, 2010. Seasonal variation of water-soluble chemical components showed that the concentrations were relatively low in summer, higher in fall and winter, and the highest in spring. When air mass came from Asian Continent, the concentrations of water-soluble chemical components were much higher compared to the other directions. In addition, we calculated background concentration of water-soluble chemical components at Okinawa

  20. Some physicochemical aspects of water-soluble mineral flotation.

    PubMed

    Wu, Zhijian; Wang, Xuming; Liu, Haining; Zhang, Huifang; Miller, Jan D

    2016-09-01

    Some physicochemical aspects of water-soluble mineral flotation including hydration phenomena, associations and interactions between collectors, air bubbles, and water-soluble mineral particles are presented. Flotation carried out in saturated salt solutions, and a wide range of collector concentrations for effective flotation of different salts are two basic aspects of water-soluble mineral flotation. Hydration of salt ions, mineral particle surfaces, collector molecules or ions, and collector aggregates play an important role in water-soluble mineral flotation. The adsorption of collectors onto bubble surfaces is suggested to be the precondition for the association of mineral particles with bubbles. The association of collectors with water-soluble minerals is a complicated process, which may include the adsorption of collector molecules or ions onto such surfaces, and/or the attachment of collector precipitates or crystals onto the mineral surfaces. The interactions between the collectors and the minerals include electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and specific interactions, with electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions being the common mechanisms. For the association of ionic collectors with minerals with an opposite charge, electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions could have a synergistic effect, with the hydrophobic interactions between the hydrophobic groups of the previously associated collectors and the hydrophobic groups of oncoming collectors being an important attractive force. Association between solid particles and air bubbles is the key to froth flotation, which is affected by hydrophobicity of the mineral particle surfaces, surface charges of mineral particles and bubbles, mineral particle size and shape, temperature, bubble size, etc. The use of a collector together with a frother and the use of mixed surfactants as collectors are suggested to improve flotation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Tungsten Speciation and Solubility in Munitions-Impacted Soils.

    PubMed

    Bostick, Benjamín C; Sun, Jing; Landis, Joshua D; Clausen, Jay L

    2018-02-06

    Considerable questions persist regarding tungsten geochemistry in natural systems, including which forms of tungsten are found in soils and how adsorption regulates dissolved tungsten concentrations. In this study, we examine tungsten speciation and solubility in a series of soils at firing ranges in which tungsten rounds were used. The metallic, mineral, and adsorbed forms of tungsten were characterized using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray microprobe, and desorption isotherms for tungsten in these soils were used to characterize its solid-solution partitioning behavior. Data revealed the complete and rapid oxidation of tungsten metal to hexavalent tungsten(VI) and the prevalence of adsorbed polymeric tungstates in the soils rather than discrete mineral phases. These polymeric complexes were only weakly retained in the soils, and porewaters in equilibrium with contaminated soils had 850 mg L -1 tungsten, considerably in excess of predicted solubility. We attribute the high solubility and limited adsorption of tungsten to the formation of polyoxometalates such as W 12 SiO 40 4- , an α-Keggin cluster, in soil solutions. Although more research is needed to confirm which of such polyoxometalates are present in soils, their formation may not only increase the solubility of tungsten but also facilitate its transport and influence its toxicity.

  2. Serum irisin and myostatin levels after 2 weeks of high-altitude climbing.

    PubMed

    Śliwicka, Ewa; Cisoń, Tomasz; Kasprzak, Zbigniew; Nowak, Alicja; Pilaczyńska-Szcześniak, Łucja

    2017-01-01

    Exposure to high-altitude hypoxia causes physiological and metabolic adaptive changes by disturbing homeostasis. Hypoxia-related changes in skeletal muscle affect the closely interconnected energy and regeneration processes. The balance between protein synthesis and degradation in the skeletal muscle is regulated by several molecules such as myostatin, cytokines, vitamin D, and irisin. This study investigates changes in irisin and myostatin levels in male climbers after a 2-week high-altitude expedition, and their association with 25(OH)D and indices of inflammatory processes. The study was performed in 8 men aged between 23 and 31 years, who participated in a 2-week climbing expedition in the Alps. The measurements of body composition and serum concentrations of irisin, myostatin, 25(OH)D, interleukin-6, myoglobin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, osteoprotegerin, and high-sensitivity soluble receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (sRANKL) were performed before and after expedition. A 2-week exposure to hypobaric hypoxia caused significant decrease in body mass, body mass index (BMI), free fat mass and irisin, 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels. On the other hand, significant increase in the levels of myoglobin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and osteoprotegerin were noted. The observed correlations of irisin with 25(OH)D levels, as well as myostatin levels with inflammatory markers and the OPG/RANKL ratio indicate that these myokines may be involved in the energy-related processes and skeletal muscle regeneration in response to 2-week exposure to hypobaric hypoxia.

  3. Acetone Enhances the Direct Analysis of Total Condensed Tannins in Forage Legumes by the Butanol-HCl Assay

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Depending on concentration, condensed tannins (CT) in forages have no effect, enhance, or impede protein utilization and performance of ruminants. Defining optimal forage CT levels has been elusive, partly because current methods for estimating total soluble plus insoluble CT are laborious or inaccu...

  4. Water sorption and solubility of different calcium hydroxide cements.

    PubMed

    Francisconi, Luciana Fávaro; de Freitas, Anderson Pinheiro; Scaffa, Polliana Mendes Candia; Mondelli, Rafael Francisco Lia; Francisconi, Paulo Afonso Silveira

    2009-01-01

    Calcium hydroxide cements have been largely used in deep cavities due to their abilities to stimulate dentin formation. However, their resistance can be relatively low and their solubility relatively high, in many instances. This study evaluated water sorption and solubility of different calcium hydroxide cements, in order to show alterations that may reduce their effectiveness. Five discs (20 mm in diameter and 1.5 mm thick) of three different materials (Biocal, Dycal and Hidro C) were prepared with the aid of a ring-shaped metallic matrix. After being stored at 37 degrees C for 24 h, the discs were weighed on a precision weight scale, dehydrated and weighed again. Immediately after weighing, discs were stored for a week in 50 mL of distilled water at 37 degrees C and, then, weighed again, dehydrated and submitted to a new weighing. The loss of soluble material and its water sorption was obtained from the difference between the initial and the final dry mass of each disc, after 1 week of immersion in water. Data were analyzed for significant differences by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (p<0.05). Mean water sorption values (g) +/- standard deviation and percentage (%), for each evaluated cement, were: Biocal (0.006 +/- 0.001 / 2.15); Dycal (0.016 +/- 0.004 / 5.49); and Hidro C (0.025 +/- 0.003 / 8.27). Mean solubility values (g) +/- standard deviation and percentage (%), for each evaluated cement, were: Biocal (0.002 +/- 0.001 / 0.72); Dycal (0.013 +/- 0.004 / 4.21); and Hidro C (0.023 +/- 0.004 / 7.65). Biocal absorbed less water and was less soluble than the other evaluated cements; Hidro C exhibited the highest water sorption and solubility values; and there were significant differences among all evaluated experimental groups.

  5. Difference and alteration in pharmacokinetic and metabolic characteristics of low-solubility natural medicines.

    PubMed

    Yan, Shenglei; Liu, Yuying; Feng, Jianfang; Zhao, Hua; Yu, Zhongshu; Zhao, Jing; Li, Yao; Zhang, Jingqing

    2018-05-01

    Drug metabolism plays vital roles in the absorption and pharmacological activity of poorly soluble natural medicines. It is important to choose suitable delivery systems to increase the bioavailability and bioactivity of natural medicines with low solubility by regulating their metabolism and pharmacokinetics. This review investigates recent developments about the metabolic and pharmacokinetic behavior of poorly soluble natural medicines and their delivery systems. Delivery systems, dosage, administration route and drug-drug interactions alter the metabolic pathway, and bioavailability of low-solubility natural medicines to different degrees. Influencing factors such as formulation, dosage, and administration route are discussed. The metabolic reactions, metabolic enzymes, metabolites and pharmacokinetic behaviors of low-solubility natural medicines, and their delivery systems are systematically reviewed. There are various metabolic situations in the case of low-solubility natural medicines. CYP3A4 and CYP2C are the most common metabolic enzymes, and hydroxylation is the most common metabolic reaction of low solubility natural medicines. The stereo isomeric configuration can have a large influence on metabolism. This review will be useful for physicians and pharmacists to guide more accurate treatment with low-solubility natural medicines by increasing drug efficacies and protecting patients from toxic side effects.

  6. Random forest models to predict aqueous solubility.

    PubMed

    Palmer, David S; O'Boyle, Noel M; Glen, Robert C; Mitchell, John B O

    2007-01-01

    Random Forest regression (RF), Partial-Least-Squares (PLS) regression, Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) were used to develop QSPR models for the prediction of aqueous solubility, based on experimental data for 988 organic molecules. The Random Forest regression model predicted aqueous solubility more accurately than those created by PLS, SVM, and ANN and offered methods for automatic descriptor selection, an assessment of descriptor importance, and an in-parallel measure of predictive ability, all of which serve to recommend its use. The prediction of log molar solubility for an external test set of 330 molecules that are solid at 25 degrees C gave an r2 = 0.89 and RMSE = 0.69 log S units. For a standard data set selected from the literature, the model performed well with respect to other documented methods. Finally, the diversity of the training and test sets are compared to the chemical space occupied by molecules in the MDL drug data report, on the basis of molecular descriptors selected by the regression analysis.

  7. Enhancement of soluble CD28 levels in the serum of Graves' disease.

    PubMed

    Sun, Zhongwen; Yi, Lixian; Tao, Hong; Huang, Jingfang; Jin, Zhenghong; Xiao, Yang; Feng, Caiyun; Sun, Jing

    2014-01-01

    Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland mediated by T cells. CD28, a member of costimulatory molecules, plays a pivotal role in regulating T-cell responses. Plasma-soluble CD28 is one form of CD28 in peripheral blood. To investigate the concentrations of soluble CD28 in patients with Graves' disease, we used a sensitive dual monoclonal antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the soluble form of CD28. Our results suggested that mean concentrations of soluble CD28 in plasma of patients with Graves' disease were 1.79 ±1.52 ng/ml, and levels of soluble CD28 in healthy subjects were only 0.83 ±1.35 ng/ml. Concentrations of soluble CD28 detected in patients with Graves' disease were significantly higher than those of healthy subjects (p < 0.01). Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between the concentrations of soluble CD28 in plasma and levels of FT3 (r = 0.663), FT4 (r = 0.624) and TRAb (r = 0.728) in serum, but a negative correlation was found between sCD28 levels and TSH (r = -0.726). Through in vitro experiments we observed that engagement of soluble CD28 protein and B7-1/B7-2 molecules expressed on dendritic cells could exert the secretion of cytokine IL-6, which may promote the production of autoantibody and aggravate Graves' disease. Therefore, aberrant elevation of plasma-soluble CD28 in patients with Graves' disease may reflect the dysregulation of immune system, and may serve as a useful biomarker in Graves' disease diagnosis.

  8. Two novel heat-soluble protein families abundantly expressed in an anhydrobiotic tardigrade.

    PubMed

    Yamaguchi, Ayami; Tanaka, Sae; Yamaguchi, Shiho; Kuwahara, Hirokazu; Takamura, Chizuko; Imajoh-Ohmi, Shinobu; Horikawa, Daiki D; Toyoda, Atsushi; Katayama, Toshiaki; Arakawa, Kazuharu; Fujiyama, Asao; Kubo, Takeo; Kunieda, Takekazu

    2012-01-01

    Tardigrades are able to tolerate almost complete dehydration by reversibly switching to an ametabolic state. This ability is called anhydrobiosis. In the anhydrobiotic state, tardigrades can withstand various extreme environments including space, but their molecular basis remains largely unknown. Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are heat-soluble proteins and can prevent protein-aggregation in dehydrated conditions in other anhydrobiotic organisms, but their relevance to tardigrade anhydrobiosis is not clarified. In this study, we focused on the heat-soluble property characteristic of LEA proteins and conducted heat-soluble proteomics using an anhydrobiotic tardigrade. Our heat-soluble proteomics identified five abundant heat-soluble proteins. All of them showed no sequence similarity with LEA proteins and formed two novel protein families with distinct subcellular localizations. We named them Cytoplasmic Abundant Heat Soluble (CAHS) and Secretory Abundant Heat Soluble (SAHS) protein families, according to their localization. Both protein families were conserved among tardigrades, but not found in other phyla. Although CAHS protein was intrinsically unstructured and SAHS protein was rich in β-structure in the hydrated condition, proteins in both families changed their conformation to an α-helical structure in water-deficient conditions as LEA proteins do. Two conserved repeats of 19-mer motifs in CAHS proteins were capable to form amphiphilic stripes in α-helices, suggesting their roles as molecular shield in water-deficient condition, though charge distribution pattern in α-helices were different between CAHS and LEA proteins. Tardigrades might have evolved novel protein families with a heat-soluble property and this study revealed a novel repertoire of major heat-soluble proteins in these anhydrobiotic animals.

  9. A molecular study of gas solubility in nitrile rubber

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Khawaja, Musab; Mostofi, Arash; Sutton, Adrian

    2015-03-01

    One of the most important uses of elastomers in the oil industry is for seals to encase and protect sensitive monitoring equipment from contamination by gases and liquids at the high pressures and temperatures in the well. Failure of such seals sometimes occurs on decompression when they are returned to the surface. The conditions in the well lead to gases being absorbed by Nitrile rubber (NBR) seals. NBR exhibits a strong permselectivity towards CO2 compared to other gases; something attributed experimentally to the enhanced solubility of CO2. In this study an explanation is sought at the molecular level for this phenomenon. A series of molecular mechanics calculations are performed to compute solubilities of different gases in NBR. The effect of acrylonitrile content on their solubilities is studied for the first time by simulation, and we discuss the important issue of convergence with respect to the sampling of different elastomer configurations. It is observed that the presence of cyano groups has a marked impact on the solubility of CO2 and an explanation is offered.

  10. Soluble adhesion molecules in human cancers: sources and fates.

    PubMed

    van Kilsdonk, Jeroen W J; van Kempen, Léon C L T; van Muijen, Goos N P; Ruiter, Dirk J; Swart, Guido W M

    2010-06-01

    Adhesion molecules endow tumor cells with the necessary cell-cell contacts and cell-matrix interactions. As such, adhesion molecules are involved in cell signalling, proliferation and tumor growth. Rearrangements in the adhesion repertoire allow tumor cells to migrate, invade and form metastases. Besides these membrane-bound adhesion molecules several soluble adhesion molecules are detected in the supernatant of tumor cell lines and patient body fluids. Truncated soluble adhesion molecules can be generated by several conventional mechanisms, including alternative splicing of mRNA transcripts, chromosomal translocation, and extracellular proteolytic ectodomain shedding. Secretion of vesicles (ectosomes and exosomes) is an alternative mechanism mediating the release of full-length adhesion molecules. Soluble adhesion molecules function as modulators of cell adhesion, induce proteolytic activity and facilitate cell signalling. Additionally, adhesion molecules present on secreted vesicles might be involved in the vesicle-target cell interaction. Based on currently available data, released soluble adhesion molecules contribute to cancer progression and therefore should not be regarded as unrelated and non-functional side products of tumor progression. 2010 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  11. Growth-differentiation factor 15 and osteoprotegerin in acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock: a biomarker substudy of the IABP-SHOCK II-trial.

    PubMed

    Fuernau, Georg; Poenisch, Christian; Eitel, Ingo; de Waha, Suzanne; Desch, Steffen; Schuler, Gerhard; Adams, Volker; Werdan, Karl; Zeymer, Uwe; Thiele, Holger

    2014-08-01

    This study investigates the role of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and growth-differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) as predictors of outcome in cardiogenic shock (CS) complicating acute myocardial infarction. The novel biomarkers OPG and GDF-15 have shown prognostic impact in various cardiovascular diseases including myocardial infarction. In acute myocardial infarction complicated by CS, the diagnostic and prognostic impact of these biomarkers has not been investigated yet. OPG and GDF-15 may have additional prognostic impact on early prognosis assessment, being potentially useful for decision-making in CS. In the randomized Intra-aortic Balloon Pump in cardiogenic Shock II (IABP-SHOCK II)-trial, 600 patients with CS complicating acute myocardial infarction undergoing early revascularization were assigned to therapy with or without IABP. Within a pre-defined substudy, blood samples were collected from 190 patients during PCI. GDF-15 and OPG serum levels were measured with standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Patients with GDF-15 and OPG levels greater than the median showed higher rates of death at 30 days by χ(2) testing (OPG, 51% vs. 32%, P = 0.01; GDF-15, 52% vs. 31%, P = 0.005) and log rank testing [GDF-15, hazard ratio (HR) 1.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21-2.94; P = 0.005; OPG, HR 1.74, 95% CI 1.11-2.71; P = 0.01]. Both markers were significantly predictive of 30-day mortality in univariable logistic regression analysis. In a multivariable logistic stepwise regression model, GDF-15, TIMI (Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction) flow grade <3 after PCI, age, LVEF, and serum lactate remained significant predictors of 30-day mortality. GDF-15 on admission is a significant independent predictor of short-term mortality in infarct-related CS. Trail registration: NCT00491036. © 2014 The Authors. European Journal of Heart Failure © 2014 European Society of Cardiology.

  12. Water-soluble part of the aerosol in the dust storm season—evidence of the mixing between mineral and pollution aerosols

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Ying; Zhuang, Guoshun; Sun, Yele; An, Zhisheng

    Six dust episodes were observed in Beijing in 2002. Both TSP (Total Suspended Particulate, particle size smaller than 100 μm) and PM 2.5 (particle size smaller than 2.5 μm) aerosol samples in these episodes were collected and their characteristics of water-soluble part were elaborated in demonstrating the mixing of mineral aerosol with pollution aerosol in the long-range transport of Asia aerosols with various sources and different paths. The dust storm peaked on 20 March, in which the highest concentrations of TSP and PM 2.5 were 10.9 and 1.4 mg m -3, respectively. The mass fraction of water-soluble part generally decreased with the increase of dust intensity. SO 42- contributed 38-70% to the total anions and Ca 2+ contributed 37-80% to the total cations, indicating that SO 42- and Ca 2+ were the most abundant anion and cation, respectively. The major ions of the water-soluble parts could be classified into three groups, i.e., the crust ions (Ca 2+, Na +, and Mg 2+), the pollution-crust ions (SO 42-, Cl -, and K +), and the pollution ions (NO 3-, NH 4+, NO 2-, and F -). Crust ions and pollution ions were the main ion fractions in super dust and non-dust days, respectively, whereas the pollution-crust ions were the main ion fractions in both dust days of various dust intensity and non-dust days, which demonstrated clearly that the mixing between mineral and pollution aerosols was ubiquitous during the dust seasons (even in the super dust storm days) although it was more obvious in those normal and weak dust episodes. The main chemical species of the water-soluble part of the aerosols were CaCO 3 in the super dust storm, CaSO 4 in the normal and the weak dust events, and NH 4NO 3 in the non-dust event days. The secondary transformation of sulfate and nitrate occurred on dust particles both during and after dust days provided the strong evidence of the mixing between mineral and pollution aerosols during the long-range transport of dust.

  13. PM2.5 soluble brown-carbon measured in contrasting urban and rural environments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Weber, R.; Zhang, X.

    2011-12-01

    An instrument was developed to continuously measure the light absorption spectra and carbon mass of soluble PM2.5 components by coupling a particle-into-liquid sampler (PILS), UV-VIS (200-800nm) spectrophotometer with long-path absorption cell and total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer. The analytical system has also been used to measure brown carbon in aqueous extracts from integrated filters. Measurements have been conducted at a number of locations, including urban sites in Los Angeles, Atlanta and smaller urban and rural locations in the southeastern US. At all locations a characteristic brown carbon absorption spectra was observed, where soluble chromophores produce an increasing absorption with decreasing wavelength, starting from mid-visible and extending into the near UV. Incomplete combustion from biomass and fossil fuel burning and secondary processes have been identified as sources of soluble brown carbon. During summer when biomass burning impacts were minimal, mass absorption efficiencies calculated relative to ambient particle water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) were highest in Los Angeles and correlated with the daily production of secondary organic aerosol. Nitro-aromatics were identified as a component of the brown carbon. In contrast, the Atlanta secondary aerosol was significantly less light-absorbing, and unlike Los Angeles the diurnal trend in brown carbon largely tracked primary sources. Absorption Angstrom exponents varied between 3 and 7 with fresh Los Angeles secondary organic aerosol associated with smaller exponents, indicting greater absorption into the visible spectrum. The southeastern US regional/rural brown carbon was the least absorbing per WSOC mass in the UV and with largest Angstrom exponents (7) the least absorbing at higher wavelengths. A correlation between the regional brown carbon and fine particle oxalate suggested an aqueous phase heterogeneous source for these chromophores. Compared to pure black carbon, brown carbon was

  14. Biomimetic approaches to control soluble concentration gradients in biomaterials.

    PubMed

    Nguyen, Eric H; Schwartz, Michael P; Murphy, William L

    2011-04-08

    Soluble concentration gradients play a critical role in controlling tissue formation during embryonic development. The importance of soluble signaling in biology has motivated engineers to design systems that allow precise and quantitative manipulation of gradient formation in vitro. Engineering techniques have increasingly moved to the third dimension in order to provide more physiologically relevant models to study the biological role of gradient formation and to guide strategies for controlling new tissue formation for therapeutic applications. This review provides an overview of efforts to design biomimetic strategies for soluble gradient formation, with a focus on microfluidic techniques and biomaterials approaches for moving gradient generation to the third dimension. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  15. Poliovirus Mutants Resistant to Neutralization with Soluble Cell Receptors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kaplan, Gerardo; Peters, David; Racaniello, Vincent R.

    1990-12-01

    Poliovirus mutants resistant to neutralization with soluble cellular receptor were isolated. Replication of soluble receptor-resistant (srr) mutants was blocked by a monoclonal antibody directed against the HeLa cell receptor for poliovirus, indicating that the mutants use this receptor to enter cells. The srr mutants showed reduced binding to HeLa cells and cell membranes. However, the reduced binding phenotype did not have a major impact on viral replication, as judged by plaque size and one-step growth curves. These results suggest that the use of soluble receptors as antiviral agents could lead to the selection of neutralization-resistant mutants that are able to bind cell surface receptors, replicate, and cause disease.

  16. Water-soluble polymers for recovery of metal ions from aqueous streams

    DOEpatents

    Smith, Barbara F.; Robison, Thomas W.

    1998-01-01

    A process of selectively separating a target metal contained in an aqueous solution by contacting the aqueous solution containing a target metal with an aqueous solution including a water-soluble polymer capable of binding with the target metal for sufficient time whereby a water-soluble polymer-target metal complex is formed, and, separating the solution including the water-soluble polymer-target metal complex from the solution is disclosed.

  17. Physicochemical properties/descriptors governing the solubility and partitioning of chemicals in water-solvent-gas systems. Part 2. Solubility in 1-octanol.

    PubMed

    Raevsky, O A; Perlovich, G L; Schaper, K-J

    2007-01-01

    On the basis of octanol solubility data (log S(o)) for 218 structurally diverse solid chemicals it was shown that the exclusive consideration of melting points did not provide satisfactory results in the quantitative prediction of this parameter (s = 0.92). The application of HYBOT physicochemical descriptors separately (s = 0.94) and together with melting points (s = 0.70) in the framework of a common regression model also was not successful, although contributions of volume-related and H-bond terms to solubility in octanol were identified. It was proposed that the main reason for such behaviour was the different crystal lattice interaction of different classes of chemicals. Successful calculations of the solubility in octanol of chemicals of interest were performed on the basis of the experimental solubility of structurally/physicochemically/numerically similar nearest neighbours with consideration of their difference in physicochemical parameters (molecular polarisability, H-bond acceptor and donor factors (s = 0.66)) and of these descriptors together with melting point differences (s = 0.38). Good results were obtained for all compounds having nearest neighbours with sufficient similarity, expressed by Tanimoto indexes, and by distances in the scaled 3D descriptor space. Obviously the success of this approach depends on the size of the database.

  18. Experimental Constraints on He, Ne, and Ar Solubility in Serpentinite

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Krantz, J. A.; Parman, S. W.; Kelley, S. P.; Smye, A.; Jackson, C.; Cooper, R. F.

    2015-12-01

    Experiments have been performed to constrain the solubility of He, Ne, and Ar in natural samples of antigorite from three locations. Geochemical analyses of exhumed subduction zone material [1] and well gases [2] indicate that noble gases are recycled from the surface of the earth into the mantle. The mechanism by which uncharged atoms can be bound to a mineral and subsequently recycled remains unclear, but recent experimental work suggests that ring structures in silicate minerals are ideal sites for noble gases [3]. Serpentine contains such ring structures and is abundant in subducting slabs, providing significant potential for control of the recycling of noble gases. Experiments were performed in a cold seal pressure vessel at 350°C using a mix of equal parts He, Ne, and Ar as the pressure media (Brown University, USA). Pressures varied from 0.15 to 1.13 kbar total pressure and durations varied from 20 to 188 hours. Samples were analyzed by UV laser ablation, noble gas mass spectrometry (Open University, UK). He and Ne reached equilibrium during the experiments and both exhibit Henrian behavior. Data from the cleanest sample reduces the error by approximately an order of magnitude over previous work [3] and confirms that He is significantly more soluble (HCHe=6.05x10-10 mol/g/bar) than Ne (HCNe=5.12x10-12 mol/g/bar) in antigorite. Preliminary data from the cleanest sample suggests that Ar is more soluble than both He and Ne (HCAr=1.94x10-10 mol/g/bar). This provides a mechanism for fractionation of noble gases during recycling. 1. Kendrick, M.A., Scambelluri, M., Honda, M., Phillips, D., Nature Geoscience, 4, 807-812, 2011 2. Holland, G., and Ballentine, C.J., Nature, 441, 186-191, 2006 3. Jackson, C.R.M., Parman, S.W., Kelley, S.P., Cooper, R.F., GCA, 159, 1-15, 2015

  19. Solubility of nitrogen in marine mammal blubber depends on its lipid composition.

    PubMed

    Koopman, Heather N; Westgate, Andrew J

    2012-11-01

    Understanding the solubility of nitrogen gas in tissues is a crucial aspect of diving physiology, especially for air-breathing tetrapods. Adipose tissue is of particular interest because of the high solubility of nitrogen in lipids. Surprisingly, nothing is known about nitrogen solubility in the blubber of any marine mammal. We tested the hypothesis that N(2) solubility is dependent on the lipid composition of blubber; most blubber is composed of triacylglycerols, but some toothed whales deposit large amounts of waxes in blubber instead. The solubility of N(2) in the blubber of 13 toothed whale species ranged from 0.062 to 0.107 ml N(2) ml(-1) oil. Blubber with high wax ester content had higher N(2) solubility, observed in the beaked (Ziphiidae) and small sperm (Kogiidae) whales, animals that routinely make long, deep dives. We also measured nitrogen solubility in the specialized cranial acoustic fat bodies associated with echolocation in a Risso's dolphin; values (0.087 ml N(2) ml(-1) oil) were 16% higher here than in its blubber (0.074 ml N(2) ml(-1) oil). As the acoustic fats of all Odontocetes contain waxes, even if the blubber does not, these tissues may experience greater interaction with N(2). These data have implications for our understanding and future modeling of diving physiology in Odontocetes, as our empirically derived values for nitrogen solubility in toothed whale adipose were up to 40% higher than the numbers traditionally assumed in marine mammal diving models.

  20. Chemical constituents: water-soluble vitamins, free amino acids and sugar profile from Ganoderma adspersum.

    PubMed

    Kıvrak, İbrahim

    2015-01-01

    Ganoderma adspersum presents a rigid fruiting body owing to chitin content and having a small quantity of water or moisture. The utility of bioactive constituent of the mushroom can only be available by extraction for human usage. In this study, carbohydrate, water-soluble vitamin compositions and amino acid contents were determined in G. adspersum mushroom. The composition in individual sugars was determined by HPLC-RID, mannitol (13.04 g/100 g) and trehalose (10.27 g/100 g) being the most abundant sugars. The examination of water-soluble vitamins and free amino acid composition was determined by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Essential amino acid constituted 67.79% of total amino acid, which is well worth the attention with regard to researchers and consumers. In addition, G. adspersum, which is also significantly rich in B group vitamins and vitamin C, can provide a wide range of notable applications in the pharmaceutics, cosmetics, food and dietary supplement industries. G. adspersum revealed its value for pharmacy and nutrition fields.