Phosvitin, a phosphoprotein known as an iron-carrier in egg yolk, binds almost all the yolk iron. In this study, we investigated the effect of phosvitin on Fe(II)-catalyzed hydroxyl radical ( OH) formation from H 2 O 2 in the Fenton reaction system. Using electron spin resonance (ESR) with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) and deoxyribose degradation assays, we observed by both assays that phosvitin more effectively inhibited OH formation than iron-binding proteins such as ferritin and transferrin. The effectiveness of phosvitin was related to the iron concentration, indicating that phosvitin acts as an antioxidant by chelating iron ions. Phosvitin accelerates Fe(II) autoxidation and thus decreases the availability of Fe(II) for participation in the OH-generating Fenton reaction. Furthermore, using the plasmid DNA strand breakage assay, phosvitin protected DNA against oxidative damage induced by Fe(II) and H 2 O 2 . These results provide insight into the mechanism of protection of the developing embryo against iron-dependent oxidative damage in ovo.

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Cytochrome P450 BM-3 from Bacillus megaterium is a fatty acid hydroxylase exhibiting selectivity for long-chain substrates (12-20 carbons). Replacement of Phe87 in P450 BM-3 by Val (F87V) greatly increased its activity towards a variety of aromatic and phenolic compounds. The apparent initial reaction rates of F87V as to benzothiophene, indan, 2,6-dichlorophenol, and 2-(benzyloxy)phenol were 227, 204, 129, and 385 nmol min(-1) nmol(-1) P450, which are 220-, 66-, 99-, and 963-fold those of the wild type, respectively. These results indicate that Phe87 plays a critical role in the control of the substrate specificity of P450 BM-3. Furthermore, F87V catalyzed regioselective hydroxylation at the para position of various phenolic compounds. In particular, F87V showed high activity as to the hydroxylation of 2-(benzyloxy)phenol to 2-(benzyloxy)hydroquinone. With F87V as the catalyst, 0.71 mg ml(-1) 2-(benzyloxy)hydroquinone was produced from 1.0 mg ml(-1) 2-(benzyloxy)phenol in 4 h, with a molar yield of 66%.

Objective: The modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) is an inflammation-based measure of malnutrition that reflects a state of cachexia in cancer patients. We evaluated mGPS as an index to predict surgical site infection (SSI) incidence in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery. Subjects and Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 351 patients who underwent colon cancer resection. Factors correlated with the incidence of SSIs were identified by logistic analysis and stepwise selection.Results: SSIs were observed in 32 patients, with an incidence of 9.1%. Univariate logistic analysis revealed mGPS (Score 2), laparotomy, resection of other organs, colostomy, excessive blood loss (>423 mL), long duration of surgery (>279 minutes), pulmonary dysfunction, prognostic nutritional index (PNI) ! 40, neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR)(>4), and controlling nutritional status (CONUT) " 2 to be associated with an increased incidence of SSIs. Multivariate analysis with variables selected by the stepwise procedure also revealed mGPS (Score 2) (Odds ratio (OR)=3.55, 95% Confidence interval (CI) 1.30 9.56; p=0.01), colostomy (OR=6.56, 95%CI 1.60 31.38; p=0.01), excessive blood loss (OR=3.20, 95%CI1.23 8.42; p=0.02), and NLR (>4)(OR=3.24, 95%CI 1.31 8.17; p=0.01) to be independent risk factors.Conclusion: mGPS is an independent risk factor for SSIs. Our results suggest that cachexia before surgery in patients with colorectal cancer might predict the incidence of SSIs. (J Nippon Med Sch 2017; 84: 224 230)