The inclusion complex formation of α-cyclodextrin(α-CD) with various alcohols has been studied by means of titration calorimetry. The titration curve was analyzed successfully by the formation of a 1:1 hostguest complex, and the thermodynamic parameters were determined. The entropies of reaction are estimated from the statistical thermodynamics of molecules. However, the estimated values are found to deviate by an order of magnitude from the experimental ones. To resolve such a discrepancy, α-CD in solution is assumed to include a definite number(n) of water molecules which are replaced by a guest molecule with the progress of reaction. The entropies thus estimated depend extensively on the value of n, and a value of n is determined for each alcohol so that it reproduces just the experimental entropy. The resulting n values are nearly constant for various alcohols studied and are within a reasonable range expected from the data reported in crystal, supporting the model of interpretation.

Ejaculates from 10 mature fertile large white Yorkshire boars were used to examine the correlation between immunoreactive relaxin levels in seminal plasma and sperm motility characteristics. Seminal plasma levels of immunoreactive relaxin were measured by a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA). Motility characteristics were assessed using a CellSoft computer-assisted digital image analysis system. The mean +/- SD level of immunoreactive relaxin in seminal plasma was 2.61 +/- 0.62 ng/mL. When the correlation between seminal plasma levels of immunoreactive relaxin and parameters of sperm movement was examined, it was found that relaxin levels were significantly correlated with the percentage of motile spermatozoa (r=0.687, p < 0.05), curvilinear velocity (r=0.745, p < 0.05), straight line velocity (r=0.651, p < 0.05), mean amplitude of lateral head displacement (mean ALH) (r=0.844, p < 0.01) and the maximum amplitude of lateral head displacement (max ALH) (r=0.830, p < 0.01), but not with linearity, beat-cross frequency, or percentage of circular cells. Among these parameters, seminal plasma levels of immunoreactive relaxin showed the strongest correlation with the ALH parameter related to fertilizing ability. These results indicate that immunoreactive relaxin in boar semen may be necessary not only for normal sperm motility but also for normal fertility, suggesting that determination of the profile of immunoreactive relaxin in ejaculates may have value as a potential marker for predicting sperm fertilizing ability of boars.

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Objective The number of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) procedures for early gastric cancers among patients 75 years of age or older has been increasing. We herein examined both the outcomes and complications of ESD in elderly patients. Methods We investigated the effects of underlying diseases, lesion characteristics, treatment outcomes and complications during and in the postoperative periods of ESD among elderly patients 75 years of age or older versus non-elderly patients less than 75 years of age. Patients A total of 318 early gastric cancers in consecutive 307 patients, all of whom underwent ESD for gastric cancer, were included in this study. Results The number of patients with hypertension and ischemic heart disease was significantly higher in the elderly group than in the non-elderly group. The proportion of lesions with an absolute indication, extended indication or no indication was not significantly different between the groups. During the ESD procedure, the use of atropine sulfate for bradycardia was significantly more frequent in the elderly group. No significant differences were observed between the groups in terms of the treatment for hypertension, oxygen administration or incidence of perforation. In addition, there were no significant differences with respect to oxygen administration, postoperative bleeding or the occurrence of fever and/or pneumonia after the ESD procedure. Conclusion Although bradycardia was more frequently observed in the elderly patients during ESD in this study, ESD was performed safely and managed appropriately, with infrequent postoperative complications. ESD appears to be effective, even in elderly patients.

Objective CYP2C19 metabolic activity influences the efficacy of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapies comprising PPIs. Rabeprazole (RPZ) and esomeprazole (EPZ) are PPIs not extensively metabolized by CYP2C19. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether or not first-line triple therapies using RPZ or EPZ are equally effective in Japanese patients with different CYP2C19 genotypes. Methods Two-hundred patients infected with H. pylori were randomized to receive one of the following regimens: amoxicillin (750 mg), clarithromycin (200 mg), and either esomeprazole (20 mg) (EAC group) or rabeprazole (10 mg) (RAC group), twice a day for one week. The CYP2C19 polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction and the serum level of pepsinogens was measured. Results The eradication rates of the EAC and RAC regimens were 79.8% (95% confidential interval: 71.7-89.0%) and 74.7% (66.0-83.4%), respectively, in a per protocol (PP) analysis (p=0.488). The eradication rates of the EAC and RAC regimens were not significantly different between patients with the homo EM genotype (p=0.999) or hetero IM or PM genotypes (p=0.286). A lower PG I/II ratio was associated with lower eradication rates (p=0.025). Conclusion Although the eradication rate was less than 80%, the EAC and RAC regimens were equally effective in each CYP2C19 genotype group. The PG I/II ratio was associated with the results of EAC and RAC therapy in this series of patients.