SummaryThe bioavailability of acetate in various vinegar supplements, e.g. as capsules and drinks, remains unclear. Thus, we conducted a cross-over clinical study in 30 healthy subjects. After an overnight fast, subjects received each test sample in a randomised sequence: 9 vinegar capsules (containing 750 mg acetic acid in total) with 150 mL of water, 100 mL of vinegar drink (containing 750 mg acetic acid), and 150 mL of water as reference. Blood samples were collected before (defined as 0 min), at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 and 180 min after each test sample intake. In the vinegar drink group, serum acetate concentration increased immediately after intake, peaked at 15 min and returned to baseline at 90 min. That in the vinegar capsule group rose slowly, peaked at 30 min and returned to baseline at 120 min. The peak values in both groups exceeded 200 mol/L, the physiologically active concentration confirmed by in vitro experiment. In the reference group, levels remained constant throughout the 180-min period.

ABSTRACT. A comparison between a bovine jugular vein treated with a hydrophilic polyepoxy compound cross-linker (Denacol), and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EPTFE), an artificial material, as a patch graft for the reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract under extracorporeal circulation in dogs, as if they had pulmonic stenosis, was made. Hemodynamic and histological examinations were conducted two weeks after the transplantation. Hemodynamic problems were not observed in either the Denacol or EPTFE groups. Macroscopically, organization of new tissue on the graft surface was more marked in the EPTFE group than in the Denacol group, and newly-formed tissue was seen surrounding the border of the graft and burying it in the EPTFE group. In the Denacol group, microscopic findings revealed the presence of inflammatory cells and fibroblasts, and an invasion of the graft by collagen fibers and elastic fibers. In the EPTFE group, there was minimal cellular infiltration of the graft and a thick layer consisting of collagen fibers and fibroblasts was observed around the graft. These results indicated that two weeks after transplantation the graft was better assimilated and organized with blood vasculature in the patch graft in the Denacol group than in the EPTFE group. KEY WORDS: canine, Denacol EX-313, EPTFE, patch graft, pulmonic stenosis.The occurrence of right ventricular outflow tract stenosis, one of the congenital cardiovascular abnormalities seen in dogs, is generally accompanied by various disorders such as pulmonic stenosis and tetralogy of Fallot. Correction of the condition commonly involves reconstruction of the narrow segment using various materials [3,13,14,18,19,22]. However, only limited studies have been conducted regarding the use of these materials for transplantation [7,9].The present study investigated the hemodynamic and histological effects of using the hydrophilic polyepoxy compound cross-linker (Denacol)-treated graft and the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EPTFE) graft as transplantation materials for the reconstruction of right ventricular outflow tract stenosis with pulmonic stenosis under extracorporeal circulation in dogs. The evaluations were conducted two weeks postoperatively. MATERIALS AND METHODS Animals:Ten clinically healthy beagle dogs were examined physiologically and randomly distributed into two groups: An EPTFE group, (average weight 10.86 ± 0.55 kg, n=5) and a Denacol group, (average weight 10.69 ± 0.53 kg, n=5) with two males and three females in each group. The dogs were vaccinated with a mixed vaccine and were negative for microfilaria and Brucella organisms. General hematological examination, blood chemical examination, plain thoracic radiography, electrocardiography, and phonocardiography revealed no abnormal findings. Preparation of the Denacol graft:The jugular veins of apparently healthy cattle were collected from a slaughter house. After trimming, they were placed in 1% protamine solution and cross-linked with 4% Denacol (Denacol R EX-313, Nagase Chem...

ABSTRACT. A Denacol EX-313 (Denacol)-treated bovine venous graft and an ultrafine polyester fiber (UFPF) graft were transplanted as patch graft into the right ventricular outflow tract under extracorporeal circulation in six dogs each experimentally. Hemodynamics in right heart and histological findings around the graft were compared between both groups over a period of one year after grafting. Pressure measurements and angiocardiography were performed through a cardiac catheter. Right ventricular pressure, pulmonary artery pessure, and right ventricle to pulmonary artery gradient were within normal limits in both groups at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 months or more after grafting. No difference were seen between the values for the Denacol and the UFPF group. Histologically, the medial surface at the site of grafting was covered with vascular endothelial cells at one month after grafting in both groups. The density of the vascular endothelial cells increased with time after grafting, showing no clear difference between the two groups. Subendothelial layers comprised of collagen fibers, elastic fibers, and inflammatory cells decreased with time in both groups, but there was less cell infiltration in the Denacol group than in the UFPF group at all time points after grafting. In addition, the central cut thickness value of the graft tended to be thinner in the Denacol group than in the UFPF group at all observation time points after grafting. In the Denacol group, very slight metaplasia of cartilage was noted in a portion of the graft margin at six months or more after grafting, but no other abnormalities were observed. These results suggest that the Denacol-treated bovine venous graft has better grafting characteristics than the UFPF graft with easier intra-operative handlings and less tissue reactions after grafting. KEY WORDS: canine, Denacol EX-313, patch graft, pulmonic stenosis, ultrafine polyester fiber.