Deposits on soft contact lenses of high water content were investigated morphologically and chemically and compared with those on conventional soft contact lenses of poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate). The material of the lenses examined in this investigation was the crosslinked copolymer of methyl methacrylate and N-vinylpyrrolidone with a water content higher than 70%. Morphologically, the deposits on the lenses with high water content were found to have no characteristics distinguishable from those on conventional lenses. By the electron microscopic observation of the cross section of a lens that had become opaque, it was confirmed that the deposit was on the lens surface and that no deposit was within the lens. Some spots on the lenses were recognized as colonies of microorganisms, but the majority of the spots had no involvement by microorganisms. Surface analysis with Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) confirmed that the main component of the filmy deposit was protein. Protein was detected in most of the deposits. The amino acid compositions of the proteins were found to be close to that of lysozyme. From the elemental analysis of several spots, silicon, aluminum, iron, and some other elements were detected. The structural analysis of some spots by a laser Raman microprobe (MOLE) revealed the existence of lipids. In several cases, the deposits were found to have grown around a defect of the lens surface. A mechanism for the formation of deposits is suggested.
Dipeptides have attracted much attention as post-amino acids with physical properties and functions different from those of amino acids. However, a given dipeptide cannot be distinguished by mass spectrometry from its structural isomer with an opposite amino acid binding order unless these isomers are separated before introduction, which complicates the comprehensive analysis of dipeptides. Herein, a novel analytical platform for dipeptide analysis by capillary electrophoresis tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry is developed. This method is used to quantitate 335 dipeptides and achieves excellent separation of structural isomers with opposite binding orders, high correlation coefficients, and low instrumental detection limits (0.088–83.1 nM). Moreover, acceptable recoveries (70–135%) are observed for most tested dipeptides in chicken liver samples spiked both before and after preparation. The developed method is also applied to the quantitation of dipeptides in the livers of mice fed different diets to detect 236 dipeptides, and the shift from a normal diet to a high-fat diet is shown to increase/decrease (p < 0.05, fold-change < 0.5) the contents of 0/29 dipeptides, respectively. The developed method is expected to facilitate the search for new dipeptide applications such as novel functional components of foods and biomarkers of diseases.
Population aging has recently been an important issue as the number of elderly people is growing worldwide every year, and the extension of social security costs is financially costly. The increase in the number of elderly people with cognitive decline is a serious problem related to the aging of populations. Therefore, it is necessary to consider not only physical care but also cognitive patterns in the future care of older adults. Since food contains a variety of bioactive substances, dietary patterns may help improve age-related cognitive decline. However, the relationship between cognitive function and individual food components remains ambiguous as no clear efficacy or mechanism has been confirmed. Against this background, this review summarizes previous reports on the biological process of cognitive decline in the elderly and the relationship between individual compounds in foods and cognitive function, as well as the role of individual components of food in cognitive function, in the following order: lipids, carotenoids, vitamins, phenolic compounds, amino acids, peptides, and proteins. Based on the research presented in this review, a proper diet that preserves cognitive function has the potential to improve age-related cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Hopefully, this review will help to trigger the development of new foods and technologies that improve aging and cognitive functions and extend the healthy life span.
Two distyryl-BODIPY-based NIR red-shifting ratiometric fluorescent probes are reported: KBHR-1 for pH and KBAHgR-1 for Ag(+) and Hg(2+). KBHR-1 showed a red-shifting ratiometric response to pH in the NIR region. The identical fluorophore core structure applied to KBAHgR-1 with a different recognition moiety resulted in a ratiometric response to Ag(+) and Hg(2+) in the NIR region.
SynopsisA series of polymers with wide ranges of water absorptivity were prepared and utilized as matrices for the controlled release of drugs. The drugs were introduced into the matrices by use of an appropriate organic solvent. Release rates of erythromycin and erythromycin estolate from hydrogel were analyzed kinetically and found to conform to Higuchi's equation, that is, Mt = A(~D~C,CO)~'~, where Mt is the accumulated amount of released drug at time t, A is the surface area, D is the diffusion coefficient, C, is the solubility of drug in the hydrogel matrix, and Co is the initial drug content of the preparation in the swollen state. The relationship between the water content of hydrogel and the diffusion coefficient of erythromycin in hydrogel is expressed by the equation D = 3.03 X W3.03 (cmz/sec), where W is the water content (%). The release rate of drug can be controlled quantitatively by adjustment of the water content of the hydrogel matrix. A guide to the design for the preparation is suggested.
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