Tracking handgrip strength in Kendo athletes from university to middle and older adulthood

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the current handgrip strength (HGS) of Kendo athletes with their HGS when they were in university (up to 50 years).

METHODS

Eighty male graduates who were Kendo club members during their university days performed anthropometric and HGS measurements, and these HGS were compared with those measured during their university days (mean age of 19.5 years old).

RESULTS

There was no evidence of a statistical difference in HGS between the current measurement and the measurement taken during university [-0.64 (-1.9, 0.67) kg, p = .336]. There was, however, evidence that the difference in HGS depended upon the current age of the individual (t = -6.43, p < .001). When probing the interaction, there were statistical differences between the ages of 24.6 and 38.2 years and between the ages of 47.4 and 69.9 years. Strength increased across time in the younger participants and decreased for those who were older. Between the ages of 38.9 and 46.1 years, there was no evidence of a statistical difference indicating a maintenance of strength.

CONCLUSION

The HGS of Kendo club graduates, which they acquired during their formative years, continued to increase even after they graduated from university and entered their 30s. However, their HGS decreased from age 50, even though they practiced Kendo.

Athletes in sporting events with upper-body gripping movements have greater handgrip strength than those in sporting events that prioritize the lower body

OBJECTIVE

Evidence suggests that acquiring a high level of handgrip strength early in life and maintaining that strength throughout life may be important for health. In addition, it is thought that sports activities performed during the developmental period are effective in improving handgrip strength, but it is unknown what types of sports are more effective. As a first step, we conducted a cross-sectional study to compare handgrip strength across different sports (upper-body gripping sports vs. lower body) in early adulthood.

METHODS

We used the Juntendo Fitness Plus Study data from 1973 to 2018 and selected two types of sporting events with matching physiques (soccer, baseball, and kendo) but different degrees of gripping. Data on 7344 male first-year sports university students included 1127 soccer, 297 Kendo, and 698 baseball players.

RESULTS

Those in the lower body-only (soccer) sports had -3.78 (95% CI: -4.27, -3.29) kg lower handgrip strength than those in the lower + upper (kendo and baseball). Comparing each individual sport found that each sport was different from each other with Kendo > Baseball > Soccer (between each sport, p < .001). In addition, the difference between sports has become greater across time.

CONCLUSIONS

In early adulthood, handgrip strength is greatest in those participating in sports with upper-body movements compared to those participating in sports that mainly involved lower-body movements. The three sports we selected are natural activities that do not directly train handgrip strength. Therefore, sport may be one potential method to improve low handgrip strength in children/adolescents during the developmental period.

Sports activities at a young age decrease hypertension risk-The J-Fit+ study

This study aimed to assess (1) blood pressure between young, current athletes, and non-athletes early in life; (2) hypertension prevalence between former athletes and the general population later in life; and (3) understand the mechanisms between exercise training and hypertension risks in the form of DNA methylation. Study 1: A total of 354 young male participants, including current athletes, underwent blood pressure assessment. Study 2: The prevalence of hypertension in 1269 male former athletes was compared with that in the Japanese general population. Current and former athletes were divided into three groups: endurance-, mixed-, and sprint/power-group. Study 3: We analyzed the effect of aerobic- or resistance-training on DNA methylation patterns using publicly available datasets to explore the possible underlying mechanisms. In young, current athletes, the mixed- and sprint/power-group exhibited higher systolic blood pressure, and all groups exhibited higher pulse pressure than non-athletes. In contrast, the prevalence of hypertension in former athletes was significantly lower in all groups than in the general population. Compared to endurance-group (reference), adjusted-hazard ratios for the incidence of hypertension among mixed- and sprint/power-group were 1.24 (0.87-1.84) and 1.50 (1.04-2.23), respectively. Moreover, aerobic- and resistance-training commonly modified over 3000 DNA methylation sites in skeletal muscle, and these were suggested to be associated with cardiovascular function-related pathways. These findings suggest that the high blood pressure induced by exercise training at a young age does not influence the development of future hypertension. Furthermore, previous exercise training experiences at a young age could decrease the risk of future hypertension.

Engagement in different sport disciplines during university years and risk of locomotive syndrome in older age: J-Fit+ Study

Background

Among former Olympic-level athletes, engagement in different sport disciplines has been associated with mortality risk in subsequent years. However, limited evidence is available on whether engagement in different sport disciplines at a young age is associated with locomotive syndrome (LS) risk later in life. This study examined the relationship between engagement in different sport disciplines during university years and LS risk in older age among former university athletes.

Methods

Participants were 274 middle-aged and 294 older men alumni who graduated from a school of physical education in Japan. LS risk was defined as answering “yes” to any of the Loco-check questions. Data on university sports club membership were collected using questionnaires. University clubs were classified into three groups of cardiovascular intensity (low, moderate, high), following the classification system of sport disciplines by the American College of Cardiology. This classification considers the static and dynamic components of an activity, which correspond to the estimated percent of maximal voluntary contraction reached and maximal oxygen uptake achieved, respectively. University clubs were grouped based on the risk of bodily collision (no, yes) and extent of physical contact (low, moderate, high). Relationships between engagement in different sport disciplines and LS risk were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models, and adjusted for age, height, weight, joint disease, habitual exercise, and smoking and drinking status.

Results

Adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals associated with the low, moderate, and high cardiovascular intensity sports were 1.00 (reference), 0.48 (0.22–1.06, P = 0.070), and 0.44 (0.20–0.97, P = 0.042) in older men, respectively; however, there was no significant association between these parameters among middle-aged men. Engagement in sports associated with physical contact and collision did not affect LS risk in either group.

Conclusions

Engagement in sports associated with high cardiovascular intensity during university years may reduce the risk of LS in later life. Encouraging young people to participate in such activities might help reduce LS prevalence among older populations.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12199-021-00958-w.

Association of physical fitness and motor ability at young age with locomotive syndrome risk in middle-aged and older men: J-Fit+ Study

Background

Physical fitness and motor ability are associated with the incidence of locomotive syndrome (LS) in older adults. The relationships between physical fitness and motor ability at a young age to LS risk in later life remain unclear. This study examined the association between physical fitness and motor ability among university students and their risk of LS in middle and old age.

Methods

The participants were 231 male alumni aged 48–65 years from the Department of Physical Education of a university in Japan. Physical fitness and motor ability test results during their fourth year at the university were used. Physical fitness tests included the side-step test, vertical jump test, back muscle, grip strength, trunk lift, standing trunk flexion, and step-test. Motor ability was tested using the 50-m and 1500-m run, running long jump, hand-ball throw, and pull-up test. LS risk was assessed using a seven-question standardized self-administered Loco-check questionnaire. Participants were divided into three groups (low, medium, and high) based on physical fitness and motor ability test results at young age, and LS risk was assessed at an older age across the three groups using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

From the 2017 follow-up survey, the median follow-up period was 37 years (interquartile range, 33–41), and LS risk was suspected for 31 (13.4%) participants. Better performance on the side-step test was associated with the reduced risk of LS (hazard ratio 0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.101–0.983, P = 0.047).

Conclusions

Good agility (side-step test) at a young age may reduce the future risk of LS among middle-aged and older men.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-021-02047-7.

Secular trends in the grip strength and body mass index of sport university students between 1973 and 2016: J-Fit＋study

Background/Objective

Sport university students are a unique population because they usually have a strong sport background since early childhood. In this study, we aimed to examine secular trends in grip strength of male, first-year sport university students in comparison with the general population between 1973 and 2016.

Methods

Existing data on the grip strength of 6,308 sport university students aged 18 years were examined. The data were obtained from the Juntendo Fitness Plus Study, a study of the Department of Physical Education/Health and Sports Science of Juntendo University. For reference, age- and sex-matched data (18 years old, male) on the grip strength were obtained from a national database.

Results

Compared with the general population, the sport university students had greater body mass index and stronger grip strength at all times.

Conclusions

The grip strength of sport university students significantly declined between the 1980s and 1990s, and it has plateaued since 2000, albeit at low levels. Compared with the peak performance of sport university students in 1984, the grip strength of students in 2016 was significantly lower by 8.1 kg. The downward trends were also confirmed in the general population during the same periods. In conclusion, the grip strength of sport university students has significantly declined over the last few decades.

A body mass index over 22 kg/m2 at college age is a risk factor for future diabetes in Japanese men

Background

There is a high incidence of type 2 diabetes in Asian adults, even those with a normal body mass index (BMI) (<25.0 kg/m²). For example, it has been shown that a slightly increased BMI (>23 kg/m²) at middle age is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes in Asians. In this historical cohort study, we investigated whether a slightly increased BMI at college age was also a risk factor for future diabetes in Japanese men.

Methods

Six hundred and sixty-one male alumni who graduated from a physical education school between 1971 and 1991 and who responded to follow-up investigation between 2007 and 2017 were included in this study. Participants were categorized into four categories: college BMI of <21.0 kg/m², 21.0–22.0 kg/m², 22.0–23.0 kg/m², and ≥23.0 kg/m², and the incidence and risk ratio of diabetes were compared between groups.

Results

The median follow-up period was 32 years (interquartile range, IQR: 27–36), which included 20,983 person-years of observation. Subjects were 22 (22–22) years old at college graduation, and 55 (50–59) years old at the final follow-up investigation. During the study period, 56 men developed diabetes; the prevalence rates for the lowest to highest BMI categories were 4.4%, 7.6%, 10.5%, and 11.3%, respectively, and their adjusted hazard ratios were 1.00 (reference), 1.77 (95% CI: 0.68–4.30), 2.42 (1.00–5.84), and 2.53 (1.06–6.07), respectively (p = 0.03 for trend).

Conclusion

Our data suggest that a BMI over 22.0 kg/m² at college age is a risk factor for diabetes later in life in Japanese men.

Slightly increased BMI at young age is a risk factor for future hypertension in Japanese men

Background

Hypertension is developed easily in Asian adults with normal body mass index (BMI) (~23 kg/m²), compared with other ethnicities with similar BMI. This study tested the hypothesis that slightly increased BMI at young age is a risk factor for future hypertension in Japanese men by historical cohort study.

Methods

The study participants were 636 male alumni of the physical education school. They had available data on their physical examination at college age and follow-up investigation between 2007 and 2011. The participants were categorized into six categories: BMI at college age of <20.0 kg/m², 20.0–21.0kg/m², 21.0–22.0kg/m², 22.0–23.0kg/m², 23.0–24.0kg/m², and ≥24.0kg/m², and the incidence of hypertension was compared.

Results

This study covered 27-year follow-up period (interquartile range: IQR: 23–31) which included 17,059 person-years of observation. Subjects were 22 (22–22) years old at graduated college, and 49 (45–53) years old at first follow-up investigation. During the period, 120 men developed hypertension. The prevalence rates of hypertension for lowest to highest BMI categories were 9.4%, 14.6%, 16.1%, 17.5%, 30.3%, and 29.3%, respectively (p<0.001 for trend), and their hazard ratios were 1.00 (reference), 1.80 (95%CI: 0.65–4.94), 2.17 (0.83–5.64), 2.29 (0.89–5.92), 3.60 (1.37–9.47) and 4.72 (1.78–12.48), respectively (p<0.001 for trend). This trend was similar after adjustment for age, year of graduation, smoking, current exercise status and current dietary intake.

Conclusion

Slightly increased BMI at young age is a risk factor for future hypertension in Japanese men.

X-ray STM: Nanoscale elemental analysis & Observation of atomic track

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) combined with brilliant X-rays from synchrotron radiation (SR) can provide various possibilities of original and important applications, such as the elemental analysis on solid surfaces at an atomic scale. The principle of the elemental analysis is based on the inner-shell excitation of an element-specific energy level "under STM observation". A key to obtain an atomic locality is to extract the element-specific modulation of the local tunneling current (not emission that can damage the spatial resolution), which is derived from the inner-shell excitation [1]. On this purpose, we developed a special SR-STM system and smart tip. To surmount a tiny core-excitation efficiency by hard X-rays, we focused two-dimensionally an incident beam having the highest photon density at the SPring-8.After successes in the elemental analyses by SR-STM [1,2] on a semiconductor hetero-interface (Ge on Si) and metal-semiconductor interface (Cu on Ge), we succeeded in obtaining the elemental contrast between Co nano-islands and Au substrate. The results on the metallic substrate suggest the generality of the method and give some important implications on the principle of contrast. For all cases of three samples, the spatial resolution of the analysis was estimated to be ∼1 nm or less, and it is worth noting that the measured surface domains had a deposition thickness of less than one atomic layer (Fig. 1, left and center).jmicro;63/suppl_1/i14-a/DFU045F1F1DFU045F1Fig. 1.(left) Topographic image and (center) beam-induced tip current image of Ge(111)-Cu (-2V, 0.2 nA). (right) X-ray- induced atomic motion tracks on Ge(111) that were newly imaged by the Xray-STM. On the other hand, we found that the "X-ray induced atomic motion" can be observed directly with atomic scale using the SR-STM system effectively under the incident photon density of ∼2 x10(15) photon/sec/mm(2) [3]. SR-STM visualized successfully the track of the atomic motion (Fig. 1, right), which enabled the further analysis on the mechanism of the atomic motion. It is worth comparing our results with past conventional thermal STM observations on the same surface [4], where the atomic motion was found to occur in the 2-dimensional domain. However, our results show the atomic track having a local chain distribution [3].The above mentioned results will allow us to investigate the chemical analysis and control of the local reaction with the spatial resolution of STM, giving hope of wide applications.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and the incidence of type 2 diabetes: a cohort study of Japanese male athletes

Background

In Japan, although the incidence of overweight (BMI ≥ 25) is still low compared with that in Europe and the United States, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has increased over the last 15 years,. In both Japanese and Caucasian populations it has been reported that a high level of cardiorespiratory fitness protects against the development of type 2 diabetes. However, there are no reports focused specifically on athletes that investigate whether high cardiorespiratory fitness at a young age can prevent disease later in life. We examined the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness at a young age and the development of type 2 diabetes in Japanese athletes using a cohort study.

Methods

The cardiorespiratory fitness of male alumni of the physical education department of Juntendo University, as measured by stored data of a 1,500-m endurance run in college (1971–1991) was compared with their incidence of type 2 diabetes as determined by follow-up questionnaires (2007–2009). This study used Cox’s proportional hazards models and adjusted for age, year of graduation, BMI, smoking, and sports club participation at college age.

Results

We collected data on cardiorespiratory fitness at college age and medical history survey data during 2007–2009 from 570 male alumni. The median follow-up period was 26 years (IQR: 23–29 years), and 22 men had developed type 2 diabetes. An inverse relationship was observed between incidence of type 2 diabetes and level of cardiorespiratory fitness at time of college after adjustment for age, year of graduation, BMI, smoking, and sports participation. The adjusted hazards ratio and 95% CI by category (low, medium, and high) were 1.00 (reference), 0.40 (0.14–1.13) and 0.26 (0.07–1.00) (p = 0.03 for trend).

Conclusions

A high level of cardiorespiratory fitness at a young age can help prevent type 2 diabetes later in life.

Fast microtomography using bright monochromatic x-rays

A fast microtomography system for high-resolution high-speed imaging has been developed using bright monochromatic x-rays at the BL29XU beamline of SPring-8. The shortest scan time for microtomography we attained was 0.25 s in 1.25 μm effective pixel size by combining the bright monochromatic x-rays, a fast rotating sample stage, and a high performance x-ray imaging detector. The feasibility of the tomography system was successfully demonstrated by visualization of rising bubbles in a viscous liquid, an interesting issue in multiphase flow physics. This system also provides a high spatial (a measurable feature size of 300 nm) or a very high temporal (9.8 μs) resolution in radiographs.

Post-training consumption of wheat gluten hydrolysate suppresses the delayed onset of muscle injury in soccer players

Wheat gluten hydrolysate (WGH) is reported to suppress the muscle injuries associated with exercise in long distance running and weight training. In the present study, we investigated the effects of WGH consumption on suppression of muscle injury after soccer training in a double-blind crossover study. Immediately after a mini soccer game, six soccer players consumed 18.0 g of WGH, and muscle injury was investigated using serum creatine kinase (CK) as an indicator. The results showed a significant increase in serum CK from immediately after exercise to 12 h after exercise stress (p<0.05) in the placebo group, while serum CK decreased during this same time period in the WGH group, and the difference between the two groups was significant. This suggests that WGH consumption suppresses delayed-onset muscle injury after exercise in soccer.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intra-uterine fetal death (IUFD) in mice is principally due to maternal cause but not fetal sensitivity to LPS

The present study deals with whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intra-uterine fetal death (IUFD) is related to LPS-susceptibility of either mother or fetus and how LPS or LPS-induced TNF causes IUFD. LPS-susceptible C3H/HeN or -hypo-susceptible C3H/HeJ pregnant mice and the mice mated reciprocally with these mice were used on days 14 to 16 of gestation for experiments. All of fetuses in pregnant C3H/HeN mice mated with either C3H/HeN males [HeN(HeN)] or C3H/HeJ males [HeN(HeJ)] were killed within 24 hr when injected intravenously (i.v.) with 50 or 100 microg of LPS. On the other hand, the majority of fetuses in C3H/HeJ females mated with either C3H/HeJ males [HeJ(HeJ)] or C3H/HeN males [HeJ(HeN)] survived when injected i.v. with even 400 microg of LPS. These findings indicate that LPS-induced IUFD depends on the maternal LPS-responsiveness. LPS injected into mothers could pass through placenta to fetuses, since an injection with 125I-labeled LPS or IgG into pregnant mice resulted in considerable levels of radioactivity in fetuses as well as placenta. Cultured peritoneal macrophages derived from F1 mice of HeJ(HeN) or HeN(HeJ) mice, produced nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in response to LPS, although the levels of NO and TNF were lower in comparison with those of C3H/HeN macrophage cultures, suggesting a possibility that the fetus as well as F1 cells might be responsible to LPS. LPS-induced IUFD was not blocked by treatment with anti-TNF antibody which inhibited LPS-induced TNF production in pregnant females, although an injection of recombinant TNFalpha instead of LPS could induce IUFD, suggesting that the cause of IUFD cannot be attributed to mother-derived TNF alone. The roles of LPS passed through placenta and LPS-induced mediators on IUFD were discussed.

Chemotactic activity for polymorphonuclear leukocytes: meconium versus meconium-stained amniotic fluid

PROBLEM

Our previous study indicated that meconium-stained amniotic fluid (turbid AF) possessed a potent chemotactic activity for leukocytes, which may be dependent on interleukin-8. It is not known, however, whether meconium itself possesses this chemotactic activity.

METHOD OF STUDY

Meconium samples were collected from mature neonates with and without turbid AF. A 5% meconium suspension in phosphate buffered saline was prepared and measured for its chemotactic activity for leukocytes using the blind well chamber technique. Concentrations of IL-8, TNFalpha and IL-1beta were also measured with ELISA.

RESULTS

The number of leukocytes that migrated to the meconium suspension (35 +/- 27) was comparable with that of the clear AF (31 +/- 37), but was significantly lower than that of the turbid AF (184 +/- 62, P < 0.0001). The meconium suspension contained much lower levels of IL-8, TNFalpha and IL-1beta than the turbid AF.

CONCLUSIONS

Meconium itself exhibits a lower chemotactic activity for polymorphonuclear leukocytes than turbid AF in vitro. The leukocyte chemotactic activity of turbid AF does not originate from meconium itself.

Relation between gestational thrombocytopenia and the syndrome of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP syndrome)

OBJECTIVE

To define the clinical features of gestational thrombocytopenia and to determine its relationship to the syndrome of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP syndrome).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study. We reviewed the records of 24 women with gestational thrombocytopenia among 637 nonpreeclamptic women who had serial determinations of the platelet count during pregnancy between 1992 and 1995. Gestational thrombocytopenia was defined as an antenatal gradual decline in the platelet count to <150 x 10(9)/l in nonpreeclamptic women. The control group consisted of 213 nonpreeclamptic women whose platelet counts were > or = 150 x 10(9)/l at -3 to 0 days from delivery and in whom the perinatal serum level of aspartate transaminase (AST) had been determined.

RESULTS

The platelet count decreased gradually, from 210+/-31 x 10(9)/l at < 13 weeks' gestation to 127+/-24 x 10(9)/l at -3 to 0 days from delivery, in the 24 women with gestational thrombocytopenia. The platelet count was 251+/-62 x 10(9)/l at -3 to 0 days from delivery in the 213 control women. The serum level of AST was elevated perinatally in 5 (21%) of 24 women with gestational thrombocytopenia compared with 6 (2.8%) of the 213 control subjects (p < 0.001). There had been 28 previous term or near-term pregnancies among 17 women with gestational thrombocytopenia, 14 of which were complicated by gestational thrombocytopenia or a decline in the platelet count by > 50 x 10(9)/l; 1 pregnancy was associated with the features typical of the HELLP syndrome.

CONCLUSION

Gestational thrombocytopenia may be a risk factor for the development of the HELLP syndrome and is likely to recur in subsequent pregnancies.

Onapristone (ZK299) blocks the suppressive effect of progesterone, but not that of dexamethasone, on inducible nitric oxide synthase gene expression and nitric oxide production in murine macrophages

Suppressive effects of progesterone on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein expression and nitric oxide (NO) production in murine peritoneal macrophages in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the inhibition of the suppressive activity of progesterone by onapristone (ZK299), a synthetic progesterone inhibitor, were studied. Progesterone suppressed dose-dependently LPS-induced NO production by macrophages, and scarcely detectable expression of iNOS was seen in the macrophages. ZK299 liberated the macrophages from the inhibitory effect of progesterone. Although dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, can potently suppress LPS-induced NO production by macrophages, ZK299 did not liberate the suppression by dexamethasone, suggesting that these two corticosteroids induce suppression through independent mechanisms. RT-PCR analysis showed that murine macrophages expressed no progesterone-receptor. These findings indicate that the inhibitory effect of progesterone occurs at least on the level of iNOS protein expression in the signaling pathway after the LPS-stimulus. Furthermore, our present data may suggest the existence of a yet unknown type of progesterone-receptor in murine macrophages, the binding to which is responsible for the inhibitory effect of progesterone, or that progesterone may act non-specifically on the macrophages without involvement of any receptor.

Isolated pericardial effusion and transient abnormal myelopoiesis in a fetus with Down's syndrome

Isolated pericardial effusion was detected in a fetus at 34 weeks of gestation. A male infant weighing 2,044 g was born by cesarean section because of a non-assuring fetal heart rate pattern at 35 weeks of gestation. Transient leukocytosis (36,100/microl) with 49% blast cells was seen in this neonate. The infant's karyotype was 47, XY + 21. The pericardial effusion disappeared after treatment with prednisolone at a dose of 2 mg/kg/day. Hypothyroidism was subsequently found. Thus, the subject patient with Down's syndrome developed isolated pericardial effusion, transient abnormal myelopoiesis (TAM), and hypothyroidism. Because more than 20% of the infants with TAM and Down's syndrome develop acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in early childhood, he is being closely observed.

Meconium-stained amniotic fluid exhibits chemotactic activity for polymorphonuclear leukocytes in vitro

We have studied whether meconium-stained, turbid amniotic fluid (turbid AF) obtained during term pregnancy possesses chemotactic activity for polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in the absence of clinically apparent infection. Eight samples of turbid AF were obtained from eight women who underwent a cesarean section (four emergency and four elective cesarean sections) in the absence of signs of clinical infection or fetal distress. Samples of clear AF obtained from nine women during an elective cesarean section served as a control. We used also a negative control (medium only) and a positive control containing 10 nM N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine. The control or turbid AF specimen was placed in the lower compartment of a blind well chamber, and the PMN suspension was placed in the upper compartment. Following incubation, the number of PMNs that had migrated and passed through the filter to the AF was counted. The number of control PMNs that migrated to the turbid AF (200+/-59) was comparable to that of the positive (162+/-24) but significantly exceeded that of the clear AF (17+/-11; P < 0.0001) and of the negative control (25+/-9; P < 0.0001). Checkerboard assay indicated that the turbid AF exhibited a dose-dependent chemotactic activity for PMNs. The turbid AF contained higher levels of TNFalpha, IL-1beta and IL-8 than the clear AF. The concentration of IL-8 in the AF was correlated positively with the chemotactic activity of the AF (r = 0.733, P = 0.0005). Anti-human IL-8 antibody added in the turbid AF dose-dependently abolished the chemotactic activity of the turbid AF. It is concluded that meconium-stained AF is a chemoattractant for PMNs and that cytokines such as an IL-8 may be involved in this phenomenon.

Refraction-enhanced x-ray imaging of mouse lung using synchrotron radiation source

The low divergent x-ray beam from the third-generation synchrotron radiation source such as SPring-8 enables us to observe refraction of x rays that is in the range of microradians. Under an experimental condition for which ray optics is a good approximation, we found that the refraction produces a high-contrast projection image of a mouse when it was recorded at 6.5 m behind the specimen. Especially, the lung is visualized far better than with the conventional imaging which utilizes absorption of x rays. This is a promising new technique for the diagnosis of diseases in the human lung with a low radiation dose.

Standard transport channels of X-ray beamlines at SPring-8

SPring-8 is constructing most of its beamlines using a combination of standardized components. The structures of the beamlines are also standardized according to the light-source characteristics. Specifications of components as well as the unified method of assembly and alignment are described.

Redistribution of phospholipid/Ca2+-dependent protein kinase in mast cells activated by various agonists

Three types of agonists; receptor-mediated concanavalin A), direct (phorbol ester), and membrane-perturbing (compound 48/80), elicit histamine secretion from rat peritoneal mast cells. We tested whether activation of the mast cells by these agents is accompanied by subcellular redistribution of protein kinase C. Phorbol ester treatment predictably caused a profound decrease of phospholipid/Ca2+-dependent histone kinase activity in the cytosol and a concomitant increase of [3H]PMA-binding capacity in the membrane fraction, in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Similar, but less marked effects were observed with stimulations by concanavalin A and compound 48/80. When mast cells labeled with [32P] and then stimulated with the agents, phosphorylation of a 50,000-Dalton protein was enhanced in the membrane fraction. These results suggest that protein kinase C may play a role in mast cell activation through phosphorylation of the membrane protein.

Novel flushing provoked by volatile anesthetics in Mastomys natalensis bearing a transplantable substrain of gastric carcinoid that predominantly secretes serotonin

A tumor substrain secreting a large amount of serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT); CAS: 50-67-9; 3-(2-amino-ethyl)indol-5-ol] and a minute amount of histamine (CAS: 51-45-6) has been isolated from the previously established strain of transplantable gastric carcinoid of Mastomys (Praomys) natalensis secreting both histamine and 5-HT. Mastomys bearing a large growing transplant and excreting a large amount of 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid [(5-HIAA) CAS: 54-16-0] were associated often with reddening of the nose, lower lip, auricles, hands, and feet. Soon after the animals were anesthetized by ether or other volatile anesthetics, the tinges of red of the above-mentioned exposed parts abruptly turned bright red and rapidly spread over the neck, upper chest, and epigastric area. The reddening was transient, lasting 1.5-5 minutes, thereby fulfilling the criteria of flushing. The severity of ether-provoked flushing in tumor-bearing Mastomys paralleled the urinary excretion levels of 5-HIAA. The ether-provoked flushing was prevented completely by sc injection of either ketanserin (150 micrograms) or somatostatin (20 micrograms). The same ether-provoked flushing as found in tumor-bearing Mastomys could be reproduced in normal ones by constant infusion of 20 mg 5-HT/kg/24 hours (i.e., doses comparable to those released from a transplanted tumor) through an osmotic minipump implanted subcutaneously.

[Histopathologic observation of anti-tumor effects of bleomycin and irradiation on cancers of the tongue]

Nine cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue were treated by either intramuscular or local injections of total 60 to 200 mg of Bleomycin (BLM), and 7 cases by total doses of 1,200 to 5,320 rads of irradiation, followed by surgical removal of primary neoplasm. The histologic examination of the biopsied and surgical specimens from each case was done focussing on the antitumor effect of both treatments. In the cases with keratinizing component more than 25% in the biopsy specimens, the earliest change due to BLM was vacuolar degeneration of proliferating cells either at the base of superficial cancer epithelia or at the periphery of invading cancer foci. When the proliferating cancer cells disappeared, an appearance of invading cancer foci resembled to that of ectopic islands of normal squamous epithelium. These foci of differentiated squamous cell carcinoma gradually underwent morphological change into the so-called cancer pearls. Finally, the cancer pearls degenerated, leaving foreign bodies consisting of concreted keratin. The stromal reaction was characterized by the formation of granulation tissues accompanying significant numbers of foreign body giant cells. In the cases of lingual carcinoma with poor squamous differentiation, these processes were indistinct. Instead, the proliferating anaplastic cancer cells were markedly reduced and the remaining cancer cells transformed into large bizarre cells, probably at degenerative stage. On the histologic level, irradiation showed essentially similar antitumor effect to BLM, except for the rapid formation of concreted keratin bodies accompanying more abundant foreign body giant cells and the presence of irregular granulation tissues at different stages. We concluded that both BLM and irradiation had a powerful antitumor action on squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. It is necessary, however, to establish an appropriate treatment modality through the more detailed histologic evaluation of a number of lingual cancer patients in consideration of the natural history of this neoplasm.