Low Molecular Weight Group Research Articles

Characteristics and efficacy of fish-derived gelatin microparticles as an embolic agent in a rabbit renal model: regulation of the degradation period by molecular weight.

To evaluate the embolic effect of fish-derived gelatin microparticles (GMPs) and compare the degradation periods and biocompatibilities of different molecular weight (MW) GMPs in a rabbit model. GMPs were designed to degrade within 21 days (high MW GMP, 15-30 kDa) and 2 days (low MW GMP, 5-15 kDa) in vivo. Renal arteries of 24 rabbits were embolized using both high and low MW GMPs (155-350 µm). Rabbits were sacrificed either immediately after embolization, or after follow-up (F/U) angiogram on days 2 and 21 of embolization, respectively (4 rabbits in each of the 6 subgroups). Pathological changes of recanalized vessels were evaluated using the Banff classification. For the in vitro study, each type of GMP was mixed with normal saline and morphological changes were compared for 14 days. Fish-derived GMPs showed effective embolization. On 2-day F/U angiography, occluded vessels were more recanalized to the peripheral branches in low MW group. On day 21, a parenchymal perfusion defect recovered to a greater extent in low MW group than that in high MW group. Mean Banff scores for intimal arteritis on 2-day F/U and interstitial fibrosis on 21-day F/U were higher in high MW group (1.75 ± 0.58 vs. 0.19 ± 0.4 and 2.56 ± 0.63 vs. 0.88 ± 0.89; P < .001). On in vitro assessment, low MW GMP lost the spherical shape and degraded, and was invisible on microscopy on day 6, whereas high MW GMP was only partially degraded after 2 weeks. Fish-derived GMPs showed effective embolization in a rabbit model. Low MW GMPs degraded within 2 days with a low inflammatory response.

Airway Inflammatory Responses Following Exposure to Occupational Agents

Airway inflammatory responses to specific inhalation challenges (SICs) with low-molecular-weight (LMW) and high-molecular-weight (HMW) agents have not been studied thoroughly. We assessed the changes in airway inflammatory cells following SIC in sensitized workers, and looked at the influence of various factors on the pattern of inflammatory responses to SIC. Induced sputum analysis was performed in workers sensitized to LMW (n = 41) or HMW agents (n = 41) after a control day and after a positive SIC. Cell counts were compared with lung function and various clinical parameters. In the LMW group, eosinophils were increased following late asthmatic responses (median [interquartile range], 0.02 [0.04] × 10(6) cells/g vs 0.30 [0.80] × 10(6) cells/g and 1.0% [3.5] vs 8.9% [8.0], P < .05), as were neutrophil numbers (0.8 [1.3] × 10(6) cells/g vs 2.3 [5.4] × 10(6) cells/g, P = .04). In the HMW group, eosinophil percentages increased both after early (1.0% [2.2] vs 5.5% [14.5], P = .003) and dual asthmatic responses (4.5% [3.7] vs 15.0% [13.7], P = .02). In the LMW group, the increases in neutrophils were higher in current smokers than in ex-smokers or nonsmokers. The length of exposure to the agent, tobacco use, and baseline percentage of eosinophils were independent predictors of the change in eosinophils, whereas age and baseline neutrophil percentage were predictors of the change in neutrophils. This study confirms that eosinophils and neutrophils are increased after SIC, whatever the causal agent. The type of agent is not predictive of the inflammatory response to SIC. Smoking is associated with a more neutrophilic response after SIC with an LMW agent.

Effect of Polymer Molecular Weight on the Bone Biological Activity of Biodegradable Polymer/Calcium Phosphate Cement Composites

Previous studies demonstrated that the addition of biodegradable polymer microparticles to calcium phosphate (CaP) cement improves the cement's degradative behavior without affecting its handling characteristics, especially its injectability and moldability. We investigated the influence of molecular weight of polymeric microparticles included in CaP cement on implant degradation and bone formation in critical-sized defects. Forty rats received cranial defects filled with formulations of CaP cement and poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles. Microparticles consisted of 100% high- (HMW) or low-molecular-weight (LMW) PLGA or mixtures of these (25%, 50%, or 75%). Implantation time was 12 weeks. Porosity measurements showed that the 100% HMW group was significantly less porous than the other groups. Histology and histomorphometry revealed significantly greater implant degradation in the 100% LMW group. Defect bridging was mainly seen in the 75% and 100% LMW groups, with the highest amount of bone in the 100% LMW formulation. These results suggest that LMW PLGA microparticles are associated with better bone formation than HMW PLGA, which is most likely explained by the greater degradation of LMW PLGA microparticles. In conclusion, CaP cement composites with high percentages of LMW PLGA microparticles show good bone transductive behavior, with complete defect bridging. The 100% LMW group turned out to be the best formulation.

The effects of concentrated barley β-glucan on blood lipids in a population of hypercholesterolaemic men and women

Barley, like oats, is a rich source of the soluble fibre beta-glucan, which has been shown to significantly lower LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C). However, barley foods have been less widely studied. Therefore, we evaluated the LDL-C-lowering effect of a concentrated barley beta-glucan (BBG) extract as a vehicle to deliver this potential health benefit of barley. In a 10-week blinded controlled study, subjects were randomized to one of four treatment groups or control. Treatment groups included either high molecular weight (HMW) or low molecular weight (LMW) BBG at both 3 and 5 g doses. Treatment was delivered twice per day with meals in the form of two functional food products: a ready-to-eat cereal and a reduced-calorie fruit juice beverage. Levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), and TAG were determined at baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment. The study group comprised 155 subjects. All treatments were well tolerated and after 6 weeks of treatment the mean LDL-C levels fell by 15 % in the 5 g HMW group, 13 % in the 5 g LMW group and 9 % in both the 3 g/d groups, versus baseline. Similar results were observed for total cholesterol. HDL-C levels were unchanged by treatment. Concentrated BBG significantly improves LDL-C and total cholesterol among moderately dyslipidaemic subjects. Food products containing concentrated BBG should be considered an effective option for improving blood lipids.

Antioxidant properties and protein compositions of porcine haemoglobin hydrolysates

Porcine haemoglobin hydrolysates were prepared through hydrolysis by Alcalase followed by Flavourzyme, and their protein compositions were analyzed using Sephadex G-50 gel filtration chromatography. The antioxidant activities, including reducing power, ferrous ion chelating ability, and DPPH radical scavenging activity, of the hydrolysates were evaluated. The results showed that the hydrolysates of haemoglobin exhibited low reducing powers, but high ferrous ion chelating abilities and DPPH radical scavenging activities. The hydrolysate, obtained through hydrolysis by 2% Alcalase for 4 h and followed by 1% Flavourzyme for 6 h, had the highest ferrous ion chelating ability of 63.54% at a concentration of 5.0 mg/mL. The hydrolysate, obtained through hydrolysis by 2% Alcalase for 4 hrs, had the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity of 41.94% at a concentration of 5.0 mg/mL. According to the results of protein composition analysis, we divided the hydrolysates into three groups, including high molecular weight (MW) group (Group I), medium MW group (Group II), and low MW group (Group III). The reducing power and ferrous ion chelating ability of the hydrolysates were significantly and positively correlated to the relative amount of Group I, and negatively correlated to the relative amount of Group III. This study revealed that the antioxidant activities of porcine haemoglobin hydrolysates were dependent on their protein compositions. The high MW protein fraction (Group I) was responsible for the high reducing power and ferrous ion chelating ability of the hydrolysate.

Size distributions of water-soluble organic carbon in ambient aerosols and its size-resolved thermal characteristics

Abstract Aerosol mass size distributions of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) were studied at a coastal site in Hong Kong. Eleven sets of 72-h samples were collected using an eight-stage impactor sampler over three seasons in 2000–2001. Regardless of air mass origins being mainly marine or continental, WSOC exhibited bimodal size distributions with a dominant fine mode and a minor coarse mode in the size range of >0.43 μm. The two modes had a mass mean aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of 0.7±0.1 and 4.0±0.3 μm, respectively. The fine WSOC accounted for the major proportion of the total WSOC, ranging from two-thirds to four-fifths. The WSOC mixtures were resolved into 3–5 peaks under controlled progressive heating and combustion conditions. A positive matrix factorization analysis deconvoluted the WSOC mixtures into three component groups of different thermal behaviors. The three groups of WSOC species were postulated to be low, medium, and high molecular weight (MW) polar compounds on the basis of their thermal evolution features. On average, they accounted for 21%, 39%, and 40% of fine WSOC ( 2.1 μm) was largely made of the low MW polar compound group. The low MW group had a bimodal distribution with a dominant coarse mode, likely associated with sea salt aerosols. The medium and the high MW groups had a single mode distribution in the droplet mode, both with an average MMAD of 0.7±0.1 μm. Their droplet mode presence indicated that they were associated with cloud-processed particles. There is evidence to suggest that the high MW group was likely secondary in origin, formed during cloud processing.

Dose Finding Study of a Low Molecular Weight Heparin, Innohep, in Haemodialysis

A pilot investigation was performed with Innohep, a low molecular weight (LMWH) preparation (peak maximum molecular mass 3,000-6,000), to determine possible dose regimens for patients undergoing regular maintenance haemodialysis for chronic renal failure. Results from this study suggested that suppression of macroscopic clot formation and fibrinopeptide A (FPA), a marker of fibrin formation, could be achieved following bolus injections rather than bolus injections and an infusion. On the basis of these preliminary findings, a randomised crossover study was performed in eight patients undergoing regular maintenance haemodialysis for 5-7 h to determine the effective antithrombotic dose of this LMWH. Single i.v. bolus doses of 1,250 AFXa u, 2,500 AFXa u and 5,000 AFXa u (n = 7-8) were compared to an UFH regime of 5,000 iu + 1,500 iu/h. Excessive clot formation in the dialyser bubble trap, necessitating additional UFH to enable completion of a prolonged (up to 7 h) dialysis, was observed in all patients on the 1,250 AFXa u dose (mean duration of dialysis prior to UFH, 3 h) but in a single patient only receiving the other LMWH doses. A dose-related response in the AFXa activity, measured by chromogenic substrate (CS) assay was seen in the three LMWH groups, with levels declining significantly (p less than 0.05) from 1-7 h. This contrasted with the constant levels maintained during dialysis with UFH. FPA levels were significantly elevated after 2 h following the 1,250 AFXa u bolus and after 4 h following the 2,500 AFXa u bolus. There was no significant difference in FPA levels between the 5,000 AFXa u bolus and UFH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)