Cholesterol Thermodynamic Activity, Quasielastic Light Scattering, and Polarizing Microscopy Studies in Aqueous Taurocholate-Lecithin Solutions Supersaturated with Cholesterol

Mass Transport Properties of Progesterone and Estradiol in Model Microemulsion Formulations

“…The silicon rubber uptake method (15,16) was employed in the determination of thermodynamic activity (A T ) of each steroid in the microemulsion formulations and in deionized water. Briefly, a series of steroid solutions were prepared with tracer levels of 3 H-labeled solute.…”

Admirand WH, Small DM. The physicochemical basis of cholesterol gallstone formation in man [J Clin Invest 1968;47:1043–1052]

“…Vesicles were subsequently shown to be present in human bile, and improved methods were developed for separating the vesicular and micellar phases [27]. William Higuchi and his colleagues developed a method for measuring the thermodynamic activity of cholesterol in bile [28] and showed that if the cholesterol thermodynamic activity exceeded its activity at saturation, vesicle formation was induced [29]. Some workers found that bile also contained lamellae consisting mostly of phospholipid and cholesterol [30].…”

Gallstone formation analysis using the particle appearance, the particle binding to calcium ions, and the cholesterol nucleation with time in supersaturated taurocholate–lecithin–calcium ion solutions

“…[1][2][3] Notably, in addition to the hypomotility of gallbladder, the early cholesterol (Ch) nucleation, and the fast following nucleation rate in the supersaturated bile are the important reasons for Ch gallstone formation. [4][5][6][7][8] For Ch gallstone patients, administration of chenodiol would reduce biliary secretion of Ch through unsaturated bile and Ch gallstone dissolution. [8][9][10][11] Nevertheless, the secretion rate of human bile after the chenodiol treatment exhibited a significant increase in the conjugated chenodeoxycholates and a slight increase in lecithin (L).…”

“…[16][17][18] An in vitro study further showed that, in supersaturated bile without vesicles or impurities at a CSI of 1.6, the nucleation of Ch was delayed up tõ 50 days. [5,6] Moreover, in unsaturated bile (i.e., CSI < 1), the vesicles might form and aggregate but the nucleation of Ch would not occur. [19] A strong evidence displayed that the bile with a high BS to L ratio (~5.1) and a CSI of 2.0 contained a minimal number of vesicles but the early and fast nucleation happened.…”

“…[19] A strong evidence displayed that the bile with a high BS to L ratio (~5.1) and a CSI of 2.0 contained a minimal number of vesicles but the early and fast nucleation happened. [4,5,6,7,20] Moreover, high Ch to L ratio vesicles formed in the high ratio bile for the fast nucleation, [13,14,20] due to an increase in their rigidity, were less prone to aggregation and fusion. [21] In contrast, more vesicles formed in a low BS to L ratio (~2.0) and the same CSI (~2.0) bile should exhibit a high likelihood of vesicle aggregation and the early nucleation; however, a long delay (>35 days) of Ch nucleation was observed, related to the low Ch to L ratio vesicle formation.…”