Systemic and Eosinophilic Lesions in Rats with Spontaneous Eosinophilia (mes Rats)

The mes rat is from an inbred mutant colony of rats with spontaneous eosinophilia. In order to investigate the pathogenesis of the mes rat, the histopathology and hematology for 76 mes rats were examined at several weeks of age. Tissue eosinophilia developed at 8 weeks of age when the blood eosinophil was 500 cells per microliter or more. Subsequently, eosinophilia progressed with age, and splenic eosinophilopoiesis and erythropoiesis appeared simultaneously. Many inflammatory lesions were induced after 10 weeks of age when the blood eosinophils became 1,000 cells per microliter or more. Gastroenteritis and mesenteric lymphadenitis were seen in 44 of 47 (94%) and 31 of 47 (66%) rats, respectively, after 10 weeks of age. Aortitis that deteriorated with age was found in 19 of 39 (49%) rats after 12 weeks of age. Hepatic fibrosis was found in four rats that exhibited severe eosinophilia and anemia. These results are comparable to the features of a hypereosinophilic syndrome in humans and other animals.

Haematological data for Matsumoto Eosinophilic Shinshu rats as determined by an automated haematology analyser

The Matsumoto Eosinophilic Shinshu (MES) rat originated from an inbred mutant colony of rats with spontaneous eosinophilia. As part of an investigation of the pathogenesis of the MES rat, we examined the haematology data for 106 males and 88 females and age-associated changes using an automated haematology analyser, flow cytometric analysis and morphological examination. The data at 10 weeks of age showed the MES rats had higher counts for eosinophils and neutrophils, slightly higher counts for lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, and large unstained cells (LUCs), and slightly lower values for the erythrocytic parameters when compared with Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. In data for MES rats aged 8 to 20 weeks, eosinophil counts increased with age up to 20 weeks together with some increased neutrophil counts. After 11 weeks of age, counts for lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, and LUCs in the MES rats were also slightly increased. In female MES rats, flow cytometric analysis showed increased counts for pan-T+ cells, but blasts, abnormal granulocytes and lymphocytes were not detected morphologically. The MES rat characterized by the haematological findings could be a useful animal model for studies of hypereosinophilia.

Gender differences in the occurrence of nonfatalagricultural injuries among farmers in Fukuoka, Japan

Background: The lack of information regarding nonfatal agricultural injuries has been recognized as an obstacle for effective injury prevention. The aim of this study was to describe gender differences in the pattern of nonfatal agricultural injuries between the years 2008 and 2009.

Methods: Farmers’ compensation injury claims were utilized to determine the mechanisms involved (machinery, non-machinery, and traffic), types of accident, sources of injury, kinds of injury, body parts affected place of injury, work being performed at the time of injury, and length of hospitalization. Agricultural injuries were identified using the International Classification of External Causes of Injury (ICECI). The Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software was used for all statistical analyses. Study variables were compared using the Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test.

Results: A total of 2,729 (1,921 males) farmers’ compensation injury claims were analyzed. There were approximately 9 times as many nonfatal agricultural machinery injuries in males compared with females. The most common machinery injuries were cuts resulting from a rotary blade (31%) for males and injuries caused by being struck by a machine (24%) for females in the 65–89 years of age group. The male:female ratio of non-machinery injuries averaged 2:1 (actual numbers of 1,293 and 676, respectively), but the percentage was higher for females (83.7%) than males (67.3%). For both males and females in the 65–89 years of age group, the main source of non-machinery injuries was slopes, the main type of accident was falling/slipping, the leading kind of injury was fracture, and the main work being performed was harvesting. Female farmers had a greater risk of prolonged hospitalization (more than 30 days) compared with males (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Gender is an important factor to consider in the interpretation of nonfatal agricultural injuries. A greater number of males had machinery injuries than females; however, a higher percentage of females had non-machinery injuries than males. Further research will be needed to understand the role of differential job tasks within agriculture in explaining the difference in risk.

Reasons for smoking cessation attempts among Japanese male smokers vary by nicotine dependence level: a cross-sectional study after the 2010 tobacco tax increase

OBJECTIVES

To examine the association between smoking cessation attempts during the previous 12 months, motivators to quit smoking and nicotine dependence levels among current male smokers after Japan's massive 2010 tobacco tax increase.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

A self-reported questionnaire about smoking habits, nicotine dependence levels and factors identified as motivators to quit smoking was administered to 9378 employees working at a company located in Fukuoka Prefecture in Japan (as of 1 October 2011).

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 2251 male current smokers 20-69 years old.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Nicotine dependence level assessed by Fagerström Test for Cigarette Dependence (FTCD), smoking cessation attempts during the previous 12 months and motivators for smoking cessation.

RESULTS

The proportion of current smokers who had attempted to quit smoking within the previous 12 months was 40.6%. Nicotine dependence level of current smokers was negatively associated with cessation attempts during the previous 12 months. Motivators for smoking cessation differed by nicotine dependence levels. 'The rise in cigarette prices since October 2010' as a smoking cessation motivator increased significantly at the medium nicotine dependence level (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.90); however, this association was not statistically significant for individuals with high nicotine dependence (OR 1.24, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.92). 'Feeling unhealthy' was significantly negatively associated for medium (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.65) and high (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.71) nicotine dependence levels. Trend associations assessed by assigning ordinal numbers to total FTCD score for those two motivators were statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy of smoking cessation strategies can be improved by considering the target group's nicotine dependence level. For smokers with medium and high nicotine dependence levels, more effective strategies aimed at encouraging smoking cessation, such as policy interventions including increasing tobacco taxes, are needed.

Assessment of medical expenditures for sepsis:differentiating between cases with and without ruled-out diagnoses

Setting public health priorities requires precise estimation of the burden of disease, including disease-specific medical expenditure. Information on multiple and ruled-out diagnoses on health insurance claims (HICs) has been ignored in traditional analyses of disease-specific medical expenditures in Japan. This study reviewed 448 inpatients with at least one diagnosis of sepsis on their HICs, who were insured by corporate health insurance organizations making claims on services provided from April 2006 to March 2007 in Japan. Subjects in whom sepsis-related diagnoses were specified as "ruled-out" were compared with subjects in whom sepsis-related diagnoses were classified as "not-ruled-out" (i.e., subjects in whom sepsis was considered possibly or likely present). Direct medical expenditure, length of stay (LOS), cost per day, cost of antibiotics, and proportion of administered cephalosporin and carbapenems were significantly higher in subjects classified as not-rule-out. When using health insurance claims in Japan, the statistics of medical expenditures and LOS are influenced by procedures performed to rule out a diagnosis, as well as those performed to treat a confirmed diagnosis of sepsis.

Antihypertensive effect of nuatigenin-3-O-β-chacotriose from Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam. (Solanaceae) (ñuatî pytâ) in experimentally hypertensive (ARH+DOCA) rats under chronic administration

The aim of the study is to assess the hypotensive properties of the hydro-ethanolic crude root extract (CRE), the n-butanol fraction (F(BtOH)) and nuatigenin-3-O-β-chacotriose, from Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam., in adrenal regeneration hypertension+deoxycorticosterone acetate (ARH+DOCA) rats, following a chronic administration. The roots of S. sisymbriifolium Lam. (Solanaceae) were extracted by reflux with ethanol-water 7:3 and the active extract was fractionated by bioassay-guided liquid-liquid separation. Nuatigenin-3-O-β-chacotriose (B(3-1)) was identified as the main hypotensive compound from the crude drug by spectroscopic methods. Immature Wistar rats of both sexes were submitted to both surgery and deoxycorticosterone acetate treatment to obtain adrenal regeneration hypertensive rats (ARH+DOCA). Different groups of experimentally induced hypertensive rats were randomly allotted and received during 16 weeks a daily oral administration of 1% saline solution (0.1 mL/100g body weigh), 100.0 mg/kg of CRE, 10.0, 30.0 and 50.0 mg/kg of F(BtOH), and 1.0 mg/kg of B(3-1), respectively. In addition, two groups of ARH+DOCA rats were randomly assigned to receive either B(3-1) (1.0 mg/kg/day) or 1% of saline solution (0.1 mL/100g body weight/day) for 7 weeks and then a cross over procedure was performed in order to complete the 16th-week treatment. After 16 weeks of oral administration of crude root extract (CRE), butanolic fraction (F(BtOH)) and nuatigenin-3-O-β-chacotriose (B(3-1)) a significant reduction of blood pressure value was induced in hypertensive animals (ARH+DOCA) in comparison to the control group receiving 1% saline solution, at the end of experiment. Administration of B(3-1) (1.0 mg/kg/day p.o.) to ARH+DOCA rats provoked a significant reduction of blood pressure, observed gradually from 5th week (p<0.05) to the end of the 16th week period of treatment (p<0.01). Moreover, in a cross over design it was observed that the reduction of blood pressure to normotensive condition is associated to B(3-1). The latest demonstrated that the blood pressure-lowering effect, in clearly hypertensive animals, is reversible and depend upon administration of nuatigenin-3-O-β-chacotriose (B(3-1)). Our results demonstrated that daily oral administration of CRE, F(BtOH) and nuatigenin-3-O-β-chacotriose from S. sisymbriifolium for a 16-week period exhibits an antihypertensive effect in experimentally hypertensive (ARH+DOCA) rats.

Design of species-specific oligonucleotide probes for the detection of Bacteroides and Parabacteroides by fluorescence in situ hybridization and their application to the analysis of mouse caecal Bacteroides-Parabacteroides microbiota

AIMS

To develop species-specific monitoring techniques for rapid detection of Bacteroides and Parabacteroides inhabiting the mouse intestine by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The specificity of oligonucleotide probes was evaluated by fluorescence whole-cell hybridization. Oligonucleotide probes specific for each species hybridized only with the target bacteria. Using these probes, caecal Bacteroides-Parabacteroides microbiota of conventional mice and specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice from three different breeders were analysed. It was shown that Bacteroides acidifaciens Group-1, Group-2 and Group-3 were dominant in conventional mice and SPF mice from two out of three breeders. Bacteroides vulgatus and Parabacteroides distasonis were detected in one of these two SPF breeding colonies in addition to Bact. acidifaciens. SPF mice of the remaining breeder harboured characteristic Bacteroides-Parabacteroides microbiota, consisting of Bacteroides sp. ASF519 and Bacteroides caccae.

CONCLUSIONS

Bacteroides acidifaciens is the dominant and most typical species in the mouse Bacteroides-Parabacteroides microbiota. The Group-3 was identified as a novel group and revealed to occupy a major niche together with Bact. acidifaciens Group-1 and Group-2.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The species-specific probe set developed in this study was the efficient tool for rapid detection of target bacterial groups inhabiting the mouse intestine. The results of this study provide important new information on the mouse Bacteroides-Parabacteroides community.

Inverse correlation between adiponectin and the risk of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged Japanese male workers

Despite a close association between adiponectin and both hypertension and type 2 diabetes, the relationship between adiponectin and metabolic syndrome has not yet been well-investigated. To examine and evaluate the association between serum adiponectin levels and metabolic syndrome based on Japanese diagnostic criteria, we analyzed adiponectin and anthropometric parameters in 869 male employees aged 40-59 who belonged to a health insurance society in Fukuoka Prefecture and who underwent annual health check-ups from August 2006 to July 2007. Two hundred and thirty-two of the 869 subjects (26.7%) were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. The serum adiponectin levels were significantly higher in the non-metabolic syndrome group. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, the subjects in the top quartile of serum adiponectin (adjusted odds ratio:0.36;95% confidence interval:0.21-0.63) and the second (adjusted odds ratio:0.51;95% confidence interval:0.31-0.84) quartile had a significantly decreased risk for metabolic syndrome in comparison to the bottom quartile. The dose-response relationship between serum adiponectin levels and metabolic syndrome was significant (p for trend 0.0001) after adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking status, and drinking status. The current findings suggest that hypoadiponectinemia is inversely correlated with the risk of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged Japanese male workers.

Is heat shock protein 60 associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus?

AIMS

HSP60 plays a protective role against heat, oxidative injury and ultraviolet. Recently, animal and clinical studies have suggested that HSP60 plays a role in various diseases. However, few epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between HSP60 levels and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Therefore, an epidemiological study was conducted to examine the association of HSP60 with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

This study included 83 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and 161 controls that were recruited from male employees who received annual health check-ups between 2005 and 2007. The serum HSP60 levels were measured using the ELISA method.

RESULTS

Because the HSP60 levels were not detectable (<3.125 ng/mL) in 48.0% of the study subjects, HSP60 levels were divided into two categories (detectable or undetectable). A logistic regression analysis showed that the subjects in the undetectable had a 2.03 times higher risk of diabetes mellitus than those in the detectable after adjustment for age, BMI and rate of hypertension medication.

CONCLUSIONS

This study was the first epidemiological study to demonstrate an association between type 2 diabetes mellitus and HSP60, thus suggesting that HSP60 may play an important role in the type 2 diabetes mellitus pathology.

16S rRNA gene sequence-based analysis of clostridia related to conversion of germfree mice to the normal state

AIMS

To determine phylogenetic groups of clostridia inhabiting the mouse intestine that are essential for normalization of germfree (GF) mice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using both the culture method and cloning, clostridia inhabiting the mouse intestine were isolated, and phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences was carried out. As a result, the isolates were found to have novel sequences, and no isolate was determined to be identical to previously known identified clostridia. Although the taxonomy of mouse intestinal clostridia was complex, many of them belonged to Clostridium clusters XIVa and IV in conventional (CV) and limited flora mice and ex-germfree mice administered chloroform-treated CV mouse faeces. The clostridia that belonged to cluster XIVa were most often present and showed the highest diversity.

CONCLUSIONS

Clostridia belonging clusters XIVa and IV are dominant in the mouse intestine as in other gut ecosystems. The novel groups in these clusters are essential for normalization of GF mice.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The results of this study can be applied in the strict control of mouse intestinal microbiota and will provide important information for normalization of GF mice and also for research on microbiology of the mouse intestine.

Hyperleptinemia is associated with hypertension in Japanese males

Leptin is a hormone which is predominantly secreted by adipose tissue. Recent studies have shown that leptin increases arterial blood pressure. Although data from available animal studies clearly indicate an association between leptin and hypertension, results of human studies have been less definitive. We conducted a case-control study to examine the association between serum leptin levels and hypertension in 111 hypertensive subjects and 222 male controls, using conditional logistic regression analyses. Mean serum leptin levels were found to be marginally higher in the case subjects than in the control subjects (3.3 ng/ml versus 3.0 ng/ml), however, conditional logistic regression analysis revealed that subjects in the highest quartile had a significantly increased risk of hypertension compared with those in the lowest quartile, even after adjusting for drinking status and diabetes mellitus (adjusted OR, 2.11;95% CI, 1.01-4.39). Our findings suggest that leptin plays an important role in the development of hypertension.

Adiponectin levels associated with the development of hypertension: a prospective study

Adiponectin is a recently discovered protein that seems to be exclusively secreted by adipocytes and is the most abundant adipose tissue-derived protein. While some recent studies have demonstrated an association between adiponectin levels and hypertension, these studies were cross-sectional in design, and the results have been inconsistent. Therefore we performed a prospective study to elucidate the role of adiponectin in the development of hypertension. The results of this study showed that serum adiponectin levels were significantly lower in hypertensive subjects than in normotensive subjects. Moreover, in logistic regression analysis, the subjects in the lowest quartile had a 3.72-fold higher risk than those in the highest quartile. Even after adjusting for potential confounding factors, this association was found to be significant. Low serum adiponectin levels were found to be independently associated with a higher risk for the development of hypertension. Our results therefore suggest that hypoadiponectinemia is a novel predictor of hypertension.

Effects of ketamine on voltage-dependent calcium currents and membrane potentials in single bullfrog atrial cells

PURPOSE

This study was undertaken to assess the effect of ketamine on L-type calcium channel current (I(Ca)) and membrane action potential in the bullfrog single atrial myocyte.

METHODS

Bullfrog single atrial myocytes were prepared by enzymatic dispersion. Whole-cell voltage-clamp technique and current clamp technique were used to monitor I(Ca), membrane resting potential, and action potential.

RESULTS

Ketamine (10(-5)-10(-3) M) showed dose-dependent inhibition of I(Ca) in a reversible manner. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of ketamine on I(Ca) was estimated to be 0.92 x 10(-5) M. Use-dependent block of I(Ca) was not observed. The resting membrane potential was depolarized at a high concentration (10(-4) M) of ketamine. Reduction of the plateau phase and prolonged duration of the action potential were observed in the presence of a high concentration of ketamine (10(-4) M).

CONCLUSION

Ketamine has an inhibitory effect on I(Ca) in the bullfrog single atrial myocyte, and a high dose (10(-4) M) of ketamine prolonges the duration of the action potential. The mechanism of inhibition of I(Ca) seems to be a direct effect on the L-type calcium channel, not like an open channel blocker.

A yeast DNA microarray for the evaluation of toxicity in environmental water containing burned ash

Numerous studies on the hazard assessment and epidemiological health responses to burned ash have been reported. However, there is little information on the potential toxicity of unknown chemical complexes in burned ash. For an overall evaluation of the multiple toxicities of burned ash, a DNA microarray was used in this study, as a new attempt to assess these toxicities. Using the global gene expression on yeast DNA chip to reflect the changes in mRNA levels, our study discovered a lot of evidences for the action of cell homeostasis and stress response etc., against the toxic effects on yeast cells. On the genes of 5,117 open reading frames (ORFs), as valid spots in a microarray, 997 were up-regulated, 1,259 were down-regulated and 2,861 remained unchanged. A detailed analysis of the microarray revealed the genes that were dynamically correlated to the function of the subcellular localization, energy/metabolism, various stress responses/cell homeostasis and detoxification. Significantly, the toxicities, caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), metals and the other xenobiotics, were indicated in burned ash. Also, the possibility of mutagenicity of the burned ash was suggested on the basis of the DNA repair related genes.

Application of artificial neural network modelling to identify severely ill patients whose aminoglycoside concentrations are likely to fall below therapeutic concentrations

OBJECTIVE

Identification of ICU patients whose concentrations are likely to fall below therapeutic concentrations using artificial neural network (ANN) modelling and individual patient physiologic data.

METHOD

Data on indicators of disease severity and some physiologic data were collected from 89 ICU patients who received arbekacin (ABK) and 61 who received amikacin (AMK). Three-layer ANN modelling and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to predict the plasma concentrations of the aminoglycosides (ABK and AMK) in the severely ill patients.

RESULTS

Predictive performance analysis showed that the sensitivity and specificity of ANN modelling was superior to multivariate logistic regression analysis. For accurate modelling, a predictable range should be inferred from the data structure before the analysis. Restriction of the predictable region, based on the data structure, increased predictive performance.

CONCLUSION

ANN analysis was superior to multivariate logistic regression analysis in predicting which patients would have plasma concentrations lower than the minimum therapeutic concentration. To improve predictive performance, the predictable range should be inferred from the data structure before prediction. When applying ANN modelling in clinical settings, the predictive performance and predictable region should be investigated in detail to avoid the risk of harm to severely ill patients.

Massive cell death of cerebellar granule neurons accompanied with caspase-3-like protease activation and subsequent motor discoordination after intracerebroventricular injection of vincristine in mice

Vincristine, a microtubule-depolymerizing agent, is known to induce neuronal cell damage. Biochemical, histological and behavioral alterations were investigated after intracerebroventricular injection of vincristine in mice. Intracerebroventricular injection of vincristine caused caspase-3-like protease activation followed by nucleosomal release in the cerebellum. Histological examinations showed that vincristine-induced damage was relatively specific to granule cells in the cerebellum, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling-positive cells were observed among these cells. Chromatin condensation, one of the criteria for apoptosis, was seen on electron microscopy. Behavioral changes, namely head movements, pivoting and backward walking, were observed in parallel with the increase of caspase-3-like protease activity and nucleosomal release. Furthermore, motor function tests (bulb balance test and rotating rod test) showed deficits of motor coordination ability. These observations suggest that intracerebroventricular vincristine causes massive apoptosis of cerebellar granule cells accompanied with caspase-3-like protease activation, leading to motor dysfunction, in this model. These vincristine-treated mice should be a useful in vivo model for examination of neuronal apoptosis, which might be involved in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases.

[Effects of cytotoxin-associated gene a (CagA) antibodies with Helicobacter pylori infection and lifestyle on chronic atrophic gastritis]

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a population-based study to examine differences in risk of developing chronic atrophic gastritis in association with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, with and without the presence of cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) antibodies, as well as to determine associations with the lifestyle factors.

METHOD

Seventy hundred and thirty eight residents (295 men and 443 women) aged 30-64 living in a village in the southern part of Fukuoka Prefecture had an annual health checkup, and all participated in our study. We obtained information on their lifestyle with informed consent and measured the levels of serum pepsinogen I (PGI) and pepsinogen II (PGII), H. pylori and CagA antibodies. Chronic atrophic gastritis was defined as both PGI < 70 micrograms/l and PGI/PGII < 3.0.

RESULTS

The odds ratios for development of chronic atrophic gastritis were 4.26 (95% CI, 2.22-8.17) for CagA-positive H. pylori infection and 3.87 (95% CI, 1.95-7.68) for CagA-negative H. pylori infection in males, and 4.92 (95% CI, 3.06-7.92) and 3.02 (95% CI, 1.69-5.41) respectively for females, as compared with H. pylori-negative subjects. Regarding the relationship between chronic atrophic gastritis and lifestyle factors, high consumption of green tea was found to be negatively associated with risk, particularly with CagA-positive H. pylori infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that a CagA-positive H. pylori infection is associated with an elevated risk for developing chronic atrophic gastritis as compared with Cag-negative H. pylori infection.

The relationship of social norms to use of services and caregiver burden in Japan

PURPOSE

To develop an improved measure of "sekentei" (a social-psychological process that restricts behaviors that do not conform to social norms such as family caregiving) among family caregivers in Japan, and to describe the relationships among sekentei and caregiver's actual use of services, a reluctance to use services, and care burden.

DESIGN

Descriptive correlational study. Family caregivers (N = 260) of impaired elders responded to a structured questionnaire.

METHODS

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to assess the construct validity of the sekentei scale for caregivers (SSC). With the SSC, the relationships among main variables were verified.

FINDINGS

The SSC showed satisfactory reliability and validity. Sekentei was significantly correlated with care burden, but not to actual use or reluctance to use services.

CONCLUSIONS

Sekentei is an important factor related to caregiver burden in Japan. Further research might include the extent to which sekentei is a factor in care burden in other cultures.

Effects of low body mass index and smoking on all-cause mortality among middle-aged and elderly Japanese

To investigate effects of low body mass index (BMI) and smoking on all-cause mortality among middle-aged and elderly Japanese, we conducted a community-based prospective study. A mail survey was conducted in 1987-1990 in four towns, western Japan. A cohort of 7,301 Japanese men and 8,825 Japanese women was followed up from the date of the mail survey to 1995 in three of the towns and 1998 in the fourth town. We investigated the effect of BMI and smoking on all-cause mortality by using Cox's proportional hazards model. The relationship between BMI and all-cause mortality was a reverse J-shape with minimal mortality in 24 < or = BMI < 26 in men and a U-shape with minimal mortality in 22 < or = BMI < 24 in women, after adjusting for age and smoking. The lowest BMI category (BM < 20) had the highest all-cause mortality in men and also in women. Taking only never-smokers, the highest risk for all-cause mortality was observed in the lowest BMI category for men and for women. This does not seem to be explained by smoking and pre-existing diseases. More attention should be paid to persons with low BMI.

Bioassay of cadmium using a DNA microarray: genome-wide expression patterns of Saccharomyces cerevisiae response to cadmium

DNA microarray technology enables genome-wide detection of cell response at the transcriptional level. We are planning to make bioassay systems that can detect environmental chemicals to screen for potential bioreactive agents. To develop a DNA microarray for our purposes, the changes in gene expression underlying the yeast stress response to cadmium were analyzed by a microarray of total mRNA. Cadmium is a potent cell poison known to cause oxidative stress by changing intracellular glutathione levels. We report here that not only the glutathione synthesis gene (GSH1) but also almost all transcripts of the enzymes involved in the sulfur amino acid metabolism, especially MET14 and MET17, were greatly induced after exposure to cadmium. While several common stress-responsive genes, such as HSP26, GRE1, HSP12, and DDR48, were up-regulated more than almost fourfold by cadmium, there were also 42 other genes up-regulated more than fourfold. Based on these results, we concluded that DNA microarrays are very useful instruments for creating new bioassay systems and finding genetic promoters of stress indicators.

Quantitative analysis of crystalline pharmaceuticals in powders and tablets by a pattern-fitting procedure using X-ray powder diffraction data

A pattern-fitting procedure for quantitative analysis of crystalline pharmaceuticals in solid dosage forms using X-ray powder diffraction data is described. This method is based on a procedure for pattern-fitting in crystal structure refinement, and observed X-ray scattering intensities were fitted to analytical expressions including some fitting parameters, i.e. scale factor, peak positions, peak widths and degree of preferred orientation of the crystallites. All fitting parameters were optimized by the non-linear least-squares procedure. Then the weight fraction of each component was determined from the optimized scale factors. In the present study, well-crystallized binary systems, zinc oxide-zinc sulfide (ZnO-ZnS) and salicylic acid-benzoic acid (SA-BA), were used as the samples. In analysis of the ZnO-ZnS system, the weight fraction of ZnO or ZnS could be determined quantitatively in the range of 5-95% in the case of both powders and tablets. In analysis of the SA-BA systems, the weight fraction of SA or BA could be determined quantitatively in the range of 20-80% in the case of both powders and tablets. Quantitative analysis applying this pattern-fitting procedure showed better reproducibility than other X-ray methods based on the linear or integral intensities of particular diffraction peaks. Analysis using this pattern-fitting procedure also has the advantage that the preferred orientation of the crystallites in solid dosage forms can be also determined in the course of quantitative analysis.

Activation of human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) subtypes by pioglitazone

Pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione (TZD) derivative, is an antidiabetic agent that improves hyperglycaemia and hyperlipidaemia in obese and diabetic animals via a reduction in hepatic and peripheral insulin resistance. The TZDs including pioglitazone have been identified as high affinity ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma. The selectivity of pioglitazone for the human PPAR subtypes has not been reported, thus, we investigated the effect of pioglitazone on the human PPAR subtypes. Transient transactivation assay showed that pioglitazone is a selective hPPARgamma1 activator and a weak hPPARalpha activator. Binding assay indicated that the transactivation of hPPARgamma1 or hPPARalpha by pioglitazone is due to direct binding of pioglitazone to each subtype. Furthermore, pioglitazone significantly increased the apoA-I secretion from the human hepatoma cell line HepG2.

Viability of liver slices exhibiting absorption, metabolism, and elimination of substrates in culture medium

In an attempt to improve liver slice culture for in vitro tests of newly developed drugs, we found that a relatively thick 2-mm slice was much more viable, long-lived, and metabolically functional than the conventionally used 300-microm-thick slices. Results revealed that some ionic and nonionic compounds (Na(125)I, [(14)C]Ala, and [(14)C]Xyl) dissolved in culture medium were absorbed into the slices, reaching from the cut edges deep into the inner part, in only a short period. Moreover, the slices could be observed for 24 h after incubation so that a normal histological image could be obtained. Each semi-microautoradiographic image was also clearly positive not only at the margin but also in the inner part of each slice. Furthermore, we determined the specific functioning of each donated liver for each substrate added, in uptake, metabolism, and excretion.

[Treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease]

After the advent of levodopa, treatment of Parkinson's disease has changed and the activity of daily life of patients has been remarkably improved; whereas, many patients experience various problems such as wearing-off, dyskinesia, dystonia, neuropsychiatric problems, and dysautonomia. Especially, wearing-off and dyskinesia emerge with the change of absorptional pattern of levodopa and could be solved by regulating the timing and the dose of it. Recently, some new drugs for Parkinson's disease have been available and we physician have a wide choice of them. It is important to make a careful choice of and manipulate of doses of drugs after understanding daily life of each patient enough.

Changes of secondary structure detected by laser Raman spectroscopy in model peptides of human alphaA-crystallin due to substitution of D-aspartyl residues for L-aspartyl residues

PURPOSE

We have found that two aspartyl (Asp-151 and Asp-58) residues of alphaA-crystallin are inverted and isomerized to the biologically uncommon D-beta-Asp residues during aging. In order to elucidate the correlation between the formation of the D-beta-Asp isomer and the environment surrounding the Asp in the protein, we performed a Raman spectroscopic study using two synthetic peptides: T6 peptide containing Asp-58, and T18 peptide, containing Asp-151, which correspond to the tryptic peptides of human alphaA-crystallin.

METHODS

Both T6 (Thr-Val-Leu-Asp(58)-Ser-Gly-Ile-Ser-Glu-Val-Arg) and T18 (Ile-Gln-Thr-Gly-Leu-Asp(151)-ala-thr-his-ala-Glu-Arg) peptides were synthesized with four optical isomers which have L-alpha-, D-alpha, L-beta and D-beta-aspartyl residues. These peptides were subjected to Raman measurement.

RESULTS

The Raman spectrum of the L-alpha-Asp T18 peptide measured as dry powder revealed that the secondary structure of this peptide is mainly anti-parallel beta-sheet. The main structure of the D-beta-Asp T18 peptide when in dry powder form was altered to an alpha-helix and/or random structure. The main structure of L-alpha-Asp T18 peptide when measured in aqueous solution also converted to an alpha-helix and/or random structure. The conversion of L-alpha-to D-beta-Asp in T6 peptides when in dry powder form revealed no alteration of secondary beta-sheeted structure.

CONCLUSION

Raman spectroscopy clearly revealed a large conformational change in the secondary structure of T18 peptide caused by substitution of normal L-alpha-Asp to biologically uncommon Asp-isomers. This result indicates that the inversion of an amino acid in a protein greatly affects the secondary structure of the protein.

Comparison of mortality between respondents and non-respondents in a mail survey

We conducted a population-based mail survey and prospectively compared mortality between respondents and non-respondents. Age-adjusted mortality rates for all causes were higher among non-respondents than among respondents in both sexes. Age-adjusted rate ratios were 1.50 for males and 1.33 for females. Non-respondents also had, in both sexes, higher mortality for three leading causes of death, namely, cancer, heart diseases and stroke than respondents. In particular, the difference between the two groups was much greater for cardiovascular disease than for cancer. Our results suggested that prospective studies using data from respondents to mail surveys in Japan would have underestimated the mortality for cardiovascular disease.

Physicochemical properties of amorphous precipitates of cimetidine-indomethacin binary system

We have found that the binary system, consisting of a precipitate of cimetidine and naproxen, became amorphous due to intermolecular interaction. In order to clarify the interaction between cimetidine and other drugs, the physicochemical properties of binary systems consisting of cimetidine and drugs, phenacetin, salicylamide or indomethacin, were investigated. X-ray powder diffraction patterns and thermal analysis findings for the precipitates indicated that the cimetidine-indomethacin system has an amorphous structure, whereas the cimetidine-phenacetin and cimetidine-salicylamide systems do not. Fourier-transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy findings suggested that there is an intermolecular interaction between a proton in the imidazole ring of cimetidine and the C=O in the COOH of indomethacin. Since an interaction by the hydrogen bond between cimetidine and indomethacin would prevent three-dimensional arrangements of the molecules, the precipitate would be amorphous. In the cimetidine-indomethacin system, decarboxylation of indomethacin occurred below the melting temperature, indicating that the chemical stability decreased upon precipitation. Cimetidine was found to interact with drugs with a carboxyl group. The interaction would be applicable to make the amorphous system of the drugs and increase the solubility of the drugs.

Hypotensive action of Nangapiry, a Paraguayan natural medicine, in rodents

Hypotensive action mechanism of a cation exchange resin adsorbate (IR-120A) separated from a Paraguayan Natural Medicine, Nangapiry, was investigated. Blood pressures of normal and pithed rats and contractions of isolated thoracic aorta and atria of mice were measured. The blood pressure on normal rats was reduced by an intravenous injection of IR-120A (5 mg/kg). The hypotensive effect on the pithed rat appeared more lasting than that on normal rats by IR-120A. The IR-120A (100 microg-3 mg/ml) concentration-dependently depressed prostaglandin (PG) F2alpha (10 microM)- or KCl (40 mM)-induced aortic contractions and electrically-evoked contraction of left atria, and at a lesser extent spontaneous beating rate of right atria. The 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for the PGF2alpha- and KCl-induced aortic contractions were 713 and 828 microg/ml, respectively, and the IC50 values for the muscle contraction and the beating rate were 1.04 and >3 mg/ml, respectively. These results suggest that the hypotensive action of IR-120A are peripherally elicited by the dilatation of artery and the depression of heart contraction, but not the reduction of heart rate.

Localization of biologically uncommon D-beta-aspartate-containing alphaA-crystallin in human eye lens

PURPOSE

Previous studies demonstrated that the Asp-151 residue of alphaA-crystallin from human eye lens is stereoinverted to the biologically uncommon D-isomer and isomerized to the beta-aspartyl residue (isoaspartate) with age. To detect the locality of the D-beta-Asp-containing peptide in aged human lens, we prepared a highly specific antibody against peptide Gly-Leu-D-beta-Asp-Ala-Thr which corresponds to positions 149-153 of human alphaA-crystallin using peptide Gly-Leu-D-beta-Asp-Ala-Thr-Gly-Leu-D-beta-Asp-Ala-Thr-Gly-Leu-D-beta- Asp-Ala-Thr (designated peptide 3R) as an immunogen.

METHODS

Peptide 3R was synthesized with F-moc (9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl) solid phase chemistry and then the peptide was immunized in rabbits to generate antibody against peptide 3R. The antibody in rabbit serum was purified by affinity chromatography using peptide 3R and bovine alphaA-crystallin as ligands. The specificity and titer of antibody were checked by ELISA assay. We synthesized four kinds of peptide T18 (IQTGLDATHAER; corresponding to the amino acid sequences 146-157 in human alphaA-crystallin) in which Asp-151 residues were normal L-alpha-Asp, abnormal D-alpha-Asp, L-beta-Asp, and D-beta-Asp, respectively. The specificity of antibody was confirmed by ELISA using these peptides and utilized in immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

The antibody we prepared crossreacted specifically to D-beta-Asp-151-containing alphaA-crystallin. Immunohistochemical staining of human lens with the antibody demonstrated that D-beta-Asp-151-containing alphaA-crystallin was predominantly localized in the core of aged human lens.

CONCLUSIONS

The peptide 3R antibody clearly recognized the presence of racemized and isomerized Asp-151 in both protein solution and lens tissue obtained from aged human lens.

Analysis of mean disintegration time and mean dissolution time by moment analysis using microcalorimetric curves

The mean disintegration time (MDGT; mean time required for disintegration of tablets) and mean dissolution time (MDST; mean time required for drug dissolution) of water-soluble drugs from solid dosage forms were determined by moment analysis using microcalorimetric curves. Microcalorimetric curves for heat of dilution and for heat of dissolution of the drug were prepared, and the zeroth and first moments of the calorimetric curves were then calculated. The difference between the first moments of the curves for powder dissolution and tablet dissolution was taken to be the MDGT. The difference between the first moment of the curve for heat of dilution and that of the curve for heat of dissolution was taken to be the MDST. Nicotinic acid and D-mannitol were used as model drugs. The dissolution rate was determined by the conventional beaker method and also by the deconvolution method. The dissolution process could be traced well by moment analysis, as well as by the other methods employed. Moment analysis has some advantages: (a) both the MDGT and the MDST can be determined simultaneously; (b) it is applicable to many drugs that are soluble with heat evolution without the need for quantitative analysis of the drug.

a-glucosidase Inhibitors From Paraguayan Natural Medicine, Ñangapiry, The Leaves Of Eugenia Uniflora

The water-soluble extract from a Paraguayan natural medicine, Nangapiry, the leaves of Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae), which has been used as an antidiabetic agent, was found to show inhibitory activities on the increase of plasma glucose level in the sucrose tolerance test (STT) conducted with mice. The portion adsorbed on a cation exchange resin was also found to inhibit a-glucosidases. From the active portion, two new active compounds named uniflorines A ( 1 ) and B ( 2 ) and known (+)-(3a, 4a, 5ß)-1-methylpiperidine-3, 4, 5-triol ( 3 ) were isolated. The structures of uniflorines A and B were determined as (-)-(1S, 2R, 6S, 7R, 8R, 8aR)-1,2,6,7,8-pentahydroxyindolizidine and (+)-(1S, 2R, 5R, 7R, 8S, 8aS)-1,2,5,7,8-pentahydroxyindolizidine by spectral means, respectively.

Effect of polaprezinc on healing of acetic acid-induced stomatitis in hamsters

PURPOSE

The purpose of this work was to investigate the potential effectiveness of polaprezinc in the treatment of stomatitis. Its effect on oral mucous membrane lesions was studied focusing on acetic acid-induced stomatitis in an animal model.

METHOD

Stomatitis was induced in hamsters by local injection of 30 microL of 10% acetic acid solution into both cheek pouches. Change of the size of the acetic acid-induced white lesion caused by polaprezinc injection was compared with that of control (water injection). The process of healing of damaged membrane was also investigated histopathologically. Selective adhesion of polaprezinc on mucous membrane was studied using color development by complexation between zinc and dithizone.

RESULTS

On day 4 after acetic acid injection, round white lesions were observed in the central area of both pouches. Observation on days 7, 10, and 14 showed that the size of the lesions decreased with time. Comparison with the control group of animals, in which healing took place naturally, showed that daily administration of polaprezinc (10 mg/kg) applied to the cheek pouches significantly promoted healing of the lesion from day 7 onward. Histopathological investigation of the mucous membrane in the cheek pouches 7 days after the induction of stomatitis by acetic acid injection showed thickening, and cell damage was evident. In the group of animals treated with polaprezinc, the thickening of the mucous membrane was less than that in animals of the group receiving no treatment and regeneration of damaged tissue was observed after 6 days of polaprezinc treatment.

CONCLUSION

Polaprezinc is an effective treatment in this animal model of acetic acid-induced stomatitis. This suggests that the drug may be useful in promoting healing of stomatitis in the clinical setting. Extrapolating these to humans suggests that the drug has healing effect to severe stomatitis induced by anticancer drug therapy.

Improving effects of the extracts from Eugenia uniflora on hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia in mice

EtOH (70%) extracts from the leaves of Eugenia uniflora were separated into six fractions with different polarity and molecular size, i.e. NP-1-NP-6. In an oral glucose tolerance test, NP-1 and 4 inhibited the increase in plasma glucose level. However, in an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, such an inhibitory effect was not seen. Thus, the effects of NP-1 and 4 were apparently due to the inhibition of glucose absorption from the intestine. In a sucrose tolerance test, all fractions inhibited the increase in plasma glucose level. In an oral corn oil tolerance test, NP-3 and 4 showed an inhibitory effect on the increase in plasma triglycerides level. On the other hand, NP-3, 4, 5 and 6 inhibited maltase and sucrase activities and all fractions except for NP-1 showed an inhibitory effect on lipase activity dose-dependently. The inhibition of the increase in plasma glucose level by NP-3, 4, 5 and 6 in the oral sucrose tolerance test and the inhibition of the increase in plasma triglycerides by NP-3 and 4 in the oral corn oil tolerance test were apparently due to the inhibition of the decomposition of carbohydrates and fats in the intestine, respectively.

Formation of four isomers at the asp-151 residue of aged human alphaA-crystallin by natural aging

Although proteins are generally composed entirely of l-amino acids, we have previously shown that Asp-151 in alphaA-crystallin from aged human lens is converted to the biologically uncommon d-isomer to a high degree. The formation of d-isomer was not simple racemization, but stereoinvertion. The reaction was also accompanied with isomerization to form beta-Asp (isoaspartate) residue simultaneously; therefore, four isomers of Asp-151, normal l-alpha-Asp and biologically uncommon l-beta-Asp, d-alpha-Asp, and d-beta-Asp, are formed in alphaA-crystallins. In the present study, we measured the ratio of the four isomers of Asp-151 in alphaA-crystallins obtained from total lens proteins of human lenses of newborn and 30-, 60-, and 80-year-olds. The isomers increased with age, and the total amount of three isomers was more than that of normal l-alpha-Asp in the alphaA-crystallin of the human lenses of the 80-year-olds. These drastic changes started at birth, with about 45% of normal l-alpha-Asp lost by 30 years. These modifications of the Asp residue likely affect the three-dimensional packing array of the lens proteins.

Effect of plasma alpha1-acid glycoprotein concentration on the accumulation of lidocaine metabolites during continuous epidural anesthesia in infants and children

OBJECTIVE

Alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) is an acute-phase protein that is responsible for binding basic drugs such as lidocaine (LDC). The effect of AAG on the duration of LDC during continuous epidural anesthesia in infants and young children was investigated.

PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS

Plasma levels of LDC and its active metabolites, monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX) and glycinexylidide (GX), were monitored in 20 infants and children, 5 months to 6 years of age, who received continuous epidural infusion of 2.5 mg kg(-1) LDC hourly during abdominal or thoracic surgeries.

RESULTS

Plasma LDC concentrations were constant after the first hour of injection. In contrast, the concentrations of MEGX and GX increased continuously during epidural infusion in all patients. The plasma AAG concentration correlated significantly (r = 0.814, p<0.001) with the steady-state LDC level. In addition, significant inverse correlation was observed between the plasma AAG concentration and the accumulation rate of MEGX (r = 0.742, p = 0.002). The plasma AAG concentration and the accumulation rate of GX correlated weakly (r = 0.474, p = 0.035). There was no correlation between the age of the patient and the plasma AAG concentrations (r = 0.295, p = 0.206).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the plasma AAG concentration is a valuable index in preventing the toxicity caused by accumulation of MEGX during continuous epidural anesthesia of LDC.

D-amino acid formation induced by a chiral field within a human lens protein during aging

We have previously shown that Asp-151 in alphaA-crystallin from aged human lens are converted to the biologically uncommon D-isomer to a high degree, showing that the formation of D-isomer was not simple racemization, but stereoinvertion. This suggests that alphaA-crystallin has a chiral reaction field which promotes the inversion of L-Asp to D-Asp residues in the native higher order structure of alphaA-crystallin itself. Here, we show that when the aged human alphaA-crystallin, enriched at Asp-151 with the D-isomer (D/L ratio of 5.7), was unfolded by heating at 70 degrees C or 6 M urea, the D-Asp-151 in the unfolded alphaA-crystallin was rapidly racemized (D/L ratio of 2.17 to 1.21). This presumably reflects a relaxation of the chiral field that was initially inducing the stereoinversion from the natural L-isomer to the D-isomer.

Decatromicins A and B, new antibiotics produced by Actinomadura sp. MK73-NF4. I. Taxonomy, isolation, physico-chemical properties and biological activities

New antibiotics designated decatromicins A and B were isolated from the culture broth of Actinomadura sp. MK73-NF4. They were purified by butyl acetate extraction, silica gel column chromatography, silica gel TLC and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Decatromicins A and B inhibited growth of Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Effects of propofol on contractile response and electrophysiological properties in single guinea-pig ventricular myocyte

Effects of propofol on contractile response, action potential, resting membrane potential and L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel current were examined in guinea-pig single cardiac myocyte. Propofol (10(-4) M) inhibited contractile response induced by electrical stimulation (83.6% of control, n = 5), but did not change the resting membrane potential. On the other hand, propofol reduced the overshoot of action potential (10(-4) M), and shortened the duration of action potential (10(-5) and 10(-4) M). Whole-cell voltage clamp experiment showed inhibition of L-type calcium channel current (ICa, 10(-5) M: 90.8+/-1.39, 10(-4) M: 83.4+/-1.53% of control, n = 5). In addition, propofol showed use-dependent block of ICa. It is concluded that negative inotropic effect of propofol is caused by suppression of action potential, and that inhibition of ICa plays a role in shortening of the duration of action potential.

[Orthostatic transient unresponsiveness in an elderly patient with severe cerebral arteriosclerosis under antihypertensive medication]

An 80-year-old man who had was administered antihypertensive medication showed repeated transient unresponsiveness during standing and/or walking. Neurological examination showed no focal neurological signs except mild dementia. Head-up tilting examination induced unresponsiveness and a decrease of systolic blood pressure from 111 mmHg to 86 mmHg. This unresponsiveness disappeared 3 minutes later when the blood pressure recovered to 102/64 mmHg. Cerebral angiography demonstrated occlusion in the right internal carotid artery and the right vertebral artery. Severe stenosis was observed at the left internal carotid artery and the left vertebral artery. Discontinuance of the antihypertensive medication reduced the frequency of orthostatic transient unresponsiveness. Elastic stockings in the lower extremities completely prevented the attack; head-up tilting did not induce hypotension with elastic stockings. The transient unresponsiveness in the present case was probably correlated to hemodynamic failure under the condition of severe cerebral arteriosclerosis.

[Serum leptin level among non-obese students: relationship to body fat, blood pressure, serum lipids, physical activity, and eating habits]

Leptin, a product of the ob gene, is thought to play a key role in the regulation of adiposity. However, it is unclear in humans as to whether or not leptin influences the blood pressure, serum lipids, physical activity level, or eating behavior in relation to obesity. Recent reports have indicated both gender-based differences in the leptin levels and a correlation of the percentage of body fat with leptin levels has been observed among obese subjects. As far as we know, these relationships among non-obese young adults have yet to be studied. Therefore, the serum leptin concentrations among 107 non-obese students (72 males and 35 females) were measured by a radioimmunoassay(RIA). Fasting leptin levels ranging between 1.2 and 23.4 ng/mL were observed in all subjects, and the levels among females were 2.6 times higher than in males (7.64 vs 2.95 ng/mL; p < 0.001). A close correlation was observed regarding the log-transformed leptin levels with the percentage of body fat as determined by the bioelectrical impedance analysis method(r = 0.734, p < 0.001 in males and r = 0.579, p < 0.001 in females). In conclusion, these data thus suggest the serum leptin levels among non-obese students show significant gender-based differences while, in addition, the leptin levels also correlate positively with the percentage of body fat. However, it remains unclear as to whether or not the leptin levels are independently related to the blood pressure, serum lipids, physical activity level (sports activity and leisure-time activity), and eating behavior (eating breakfast, mid-day snacking and nighttime snacking).