Biomedical subjects

Masaru Nishimura

Publications and source records attributed to Masaru Nishimura.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

High-performance polymer-based monolithic capillary column.

In this report, we introduce a new entry of high-performance polymer-based monolithic capillary column for mainly small molecules. This capillary column was prepared using a newly introduced epoxy monomer with diamines. Simply heat-induced polycondensation in an appropriate porogenic solvent afforded a really homogeneous co-continuous monolithic structure having submicrometer-size skeletons with micrometer-size through-pores. We were also able to prepare chiral monolithic columns using a chiral epoxy monomer as well as a chiral diamine. A 21.5-cm-long, 100-mum-i.d. column afforded up to 40 000 theoretical plate numbers (N) for alkylbenzenes in 60% aqueous acetonitrile as a reversed-phase-mode stationary phase. Due to a quite low column pressure drop, a 150-cm-long column was prepared. This long column afforded up to 200 000 plates for alkylbenzenes with only a 4-MPa column pressure drop. In contrast, in 100% acetonitrile, this column has "HILIC" property to show up to 60 000 plates for methanol with a 17.5-cm-long column. In this mode, we were able to separate nucleic acids. In addition, we have prepared a chiral column with both of the chiral epoxy monomers and an amine. This column was able to chirally discriminate a racemic alcohol in a reversed-phase mode.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

A new immunomodulatory function of low-viscous konjac glucomannan with a small particle size: its oral intake suppresses spontaneously occurring dermatitis in NC/Nga mice.

BACKGROUND: Konjac glucomannan (GM) is a well-known dietary fiber with various beneficial functions: the higher viscosity displayed the stronger potency. However, the high-viscous GM powders, ordinary konjac powder and highly purified GM were mostly unsuitable for the application to various food industries. Our aims are to develop new physiological functions of low-viscous GM powder, pulverized GM or re-granulated fine GM, using a murine model of atopic dermatitis. METHODS: Male 4-week-old NC/Nga mice were fed for 8 weeks on diets containing 5% of two high-viscous and two low-viscous GM powders, respectively. RESULTS: Striking suppression against the aggravation of dermatitis, the increase in scratching behaviors, and the rise in IgE levels was recognized only in mice fed on the pulverized GM diet, but not in mice fed on the other GM diets or a control diet. Eczema prevention in the fine GM-fed mice was accompanied by a significant decrease in their plasma IFN-gamma levels, a positive regulatory cytokine for atopic skin inflammation. CONCLUSION: Only the pulverized GM possessed the ability to suppress the development of dermatitis in NC/Nga mice. This is the new immunomodulatory function of low-viscous GM with a small particle size.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2004

The ability of konjac-glucomannan to suppress spontaneously occurring dermatitis in NC/Nga mice depends upon the particle size.

Konjac glucomannan (GM) is a well-known dietary fiber with various beneficial functions, which the higher viscous GM is proposed to have the stronger potencies. Application of highly viscous GM to various food industries is limited for the sake of long elapsed time required to solubilize the GM. Thus, the exploration into any physiological function of low-viscous GM remained undone for a long time. Male 4-week-old NC/Nga mice, a model of atopic dermatitis (AD), were fed for 8 weeks on diets containing 5% each of a high-viscous GM powder, ordinary konjac or highly purified GM, and a low-viscous GM powder, pulverized GM or re-granulated fine GM. Striking suppression to the aggravation of dermatitis and the increases in scratching behaviors and IgE levels was significantly observed only in mice fed on the pulverized GM diet, but not in mice fed on the other GM diets or a control diet. We concluded that the low-viscous GM possesses a novel immunoregulatory function and the intensity of the function depends upon the particle size rather than the viscosity.

Animals↗