This work is aimed to provide a systematic design procedure to determine the process configuration, the relative position of the reactive zone, and separation sections. Instead of investigating real chemical systems, ideal chemical reaction systems with different relative volatility rankings will be studied. This provides a gradual transition as the reaction and separation properties change. The reaction considered is a reversible reaction, A + B ⇔︁ C + D, and this constitutes a quaternary system with 24 (4) possible relative volatility arrangements. These 24 systems can further be grouped into six categories according to the ranking of relative volatilities of reactants and products. The likely process configurations will be explored and design will be optimized based on the total annual cost (TAC). The results clearly indicate that the relative volatility rankings play a dominant role in the reactive distillation configuration and the TAC varies by a factor of ∼7 as we move from the most favorable case (reactants are intermediate keys) to the least favorable relative volatility ranking (products are intermediate keys). Finally, heuristics are given to correlate the relative volatility ranking to the TAC. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007

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The diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is mainly symptom-based, and the etiology is still unclear. Here, we evaluated the pathological changes in the brain of a mouse model of CFS and studied the effects of Kampo medicine. A mouse model of CFS was established through six repeated injections of Brucella abortus (BA) every two weeks for a period of 12 weeks. Neuroinflammation was measured by estimating interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and oxidative stress by nitrotyrosine (3-NT) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) 6 weeks after the last injection. Hippocampal neurogenesis was evaluated through K i-67, doublecortin (DCX), and 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assays. The effects of Kampo medicines (Hochuekkito (TJ-41) and Hachimijiogan (TJ-7)) on neuroinflammation during CFS were studied. The wheel-running activity of mice was decreased by about 50% compared to baseline at 6 weeks after the last BA injection. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, 3-NT, and 4-HNE were increased in both the cortex and the hippocampus of CFS mice at 6 weeks after the last BA injection. Hippocampal neurogenesis was unchanged in CFS mice. Treatment with TJ-41 and TJ-7 reduced the expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ in the hippocampus but not in the cortex. The results of the present study indicate that neuroinflammation and oxidative stress play important roles in the pathogenesis of CFS. The data further suggest that treatment with TJ-41 and TJ-7 could help reduce the inflammation associated with CFS in the hippocampus, but failed to improve the symptoms in CFS mice.

Objective This study investigated associations between three indices of obesity-the body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR)-and the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods The employees of a company in Japan (1,725 men, 1,186 women; aged 35-55 years) had BMI, WC, and WHtR measured in health examinations. The incidence of CKD was determined at annual medical examinations over a six-year period. The hazard ratios for CKD were calculated using proportional hazard models, and the χ 2 statistic was used to compare the strengths of the associations. Results The mean BMI (kg/m 2), WC (cm), and WHtR were 23.6, 84.3, and 0.49 for men and 22.3, 79.7, and 0.50 for women, respectively. The incidence of CKD (/1,000 person-years) was 18.1 for men and 8.4 for women. In men, positive linear associations were observed between the BMI, WC, and WHtR and the risk of CKD, even after adjusting for the presence of metabolic abnormalities (p for trend <0.001, 0.012, and 0.023, respectively). In women, a linear association was observed only between the WHtR and CKD, not the BMI or WC (p for trend =0.042, 0.057, and 0.186). The χ 2 statistics were the highest for the BMI in both men and women. Conclusion The BMI, WC, and WHtR were linearly associated with the risk of CKD independently of metabolic abnormalities in men, while the associations were weaker or not significant in women. The BMI was the most strongly associated with the incidence of CKD in both men and women.

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy and adverse events of systemic combined chemotherapy with low dose of 5-fluorouracil (250 mg/m2, 5 days), cisplatin (10 mg/m2, 5 days), and interferon-alpha (2.5 million units, three times weekly) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) underlying liver cirrhosis. Six patients who had advanced HCC with tumor thrombi in the main portal trunk were enrolled in this study. Partial response was achieved in 2, stable disease in 1, and disease progressed in 3. Objective responses were achieved in 2 (33%), however, marked decreases of alpha-fetoprotein protein and protein-induced vitamin K antagonist or absence (PIVKAII) levels were also seen in one patient (stable disease). Four patients showed hematologic or renal toxicity, which were well tolerated and managed. Our systemic combined chemotherapy resulted in favorable response and was well tolerated in those with advanced HCC underlying liver cirrhosis, complicated by leukocytopenia and thromobocytopenia.