Interaction of tamarind seed xyloglucan (TSX) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was investigated. TSX alone showed the rheological behaviors of dilute and semidilute solution types in the temperature range from 10 to 50 degrees C and the concentration range from 1 to 10%. Addition of a small amount of EGCG changed the rheological properties of TSX solutions to induce a thermoreversible gelation. The sol-gel transition was detected as a crossover of the storage and loss shear moduli at a certain temperature in thermal scanning rheological measurements and an endo- and exo- thermic peaks in curves obtained by differential scanning calorimetry on heating and cooling. High storage modulus of the gels at all experimental frequencies also indicated the formation of a network structure. Increase in the gel strength and the enthalpy of the transition with increasing EGCG concentration at fixed TSX concentration suggested that EGCG was directly involved in the network formation through association with TSX. The TSX gel was obtained by addition of appropriate amount of EGCG. Addition of an excessive amount of EGCG induced precipitation.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A juvenile case of overlap syndrome of systemic lupus erythematosus and polymyositis, later accompanied by systemic sclerosis with the development of anti-Scl 70 and anti-Ku antibodies.

We describe a 16-year-old girl with an overlap syndrome consisting of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) from the age of 7 and polymyositis (PM) from the age of 10, later accompanied by systemic sclerosis (SSc) from the age of 15. She was diagnosed as having SLE with exudative malar erythema, photosensitivity, and discoid rashes with positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-DNA antibody titers. The diagnosis of PM was also made in accordance with findings of a high titer of muscle enzymes and a muscle biopsy specimen demonstrating marked degeneration of the muscle fibers and perivascular infiltration of mononuclear cells. She developed Raynaud's phenomenon and pitting ulcers on her fingers with positive anti-Scl 70 and anti-Ku antibodies, leading to a diagnosis of SSc. The patient was treated with prednisolone. To our knowledge this is the youngest case of SLE-PM overlap syndrome later accompanied by SSc.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A novel treatment for refractory primary biliary cirrhosis?

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Bezafibrate is naturally used for hyperlipidemia worldwide. In 1992 Day et al reported that the value of ALP and gamma-GTP in hyperlipidemia declined after administering bezafibrate orally. We conducted a study to investigate whether or not ALP and gamma-GTP in primary biliary cirrhosis which is characterized by the elevation of these enzymes improved after taking bezafibrate. METHODOLOGY: We administered bezafibrate additionally for 6 months to 13 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (refractory PBC) whose liver enzymes (ALP or gamma-GTP) did not remain within normal range out of 21 patients treated by monotherapy of ursodeoxycholic acid for 18 months. RESULTS: At 2, 4, and 6 months, gamma-GTP level significantly decreased compared with that prior to the initiation of bezafibrate. At 4 and 6 months, ALP level significantly decreased compared with that prior to the initiation. At 2, 4 and 6 months, ALT level significantly decreased compared with that prior to the initiation. The value of IgG and IgM was also reduced significantly 6 months after the initiation. CONCLUSIONS: If the effectiveness of bezafibrate for primary biliary cirrhosis is confirmed histologically and by a randomized trial, a combination therapy of bezafibrate and ursodeoxycholic acid appear to be the medical treatment of choice for primary biliary cirrhosis in the future.

Aged↗