Effect of exercise training on A-FABP, lipocalin-2 and RBP4 levels in obese women

OBJECTIVE

Lipocalin family proteins, including adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP), lipocalin-2 and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), have recently been identified as novel adipokines associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. We have evaluated the effect of exercise training on lipocalin family proteins and inflammatory markers.

STUDY SUBJECTS

Thirty obese Korean women and 15 age-matched nonobese control subjects were studied.

DESIGN

Concentrations of the lipocalin family proteins were compared between obese and nonobese women and were evaluated before and 3 months after an exercise programme consisting of aerobic exercise (45 min/session, 300 kcal/day) and muscle strength training (20 min/session, 100 kcal/day) five times a week.

RESULTS

Obese women exhibited higher A-FABP levels compared to nonobese women (21.4 +/- 6.4 microg/l vs. 13.6 +/- 4.4 microg/l, P < 0.001). However, neither lipocalin-2 nor RBP4 levels were significantly different between the two groups, although the difference in lipocalin-2 was marginally significant (P = 0.054). Circulating A-FABP levels were significantly associated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, triglyceride, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lipocalin-2 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels. After 3 months of the exercise training programme, serum A-FABP levels decreased significantly from 21.4 +/- 6.4 microg/l to 19.3 +/- 6.8 microg/l (P = 0.038), along with a reduction in weight, BMI, waist circumference, fasting glucose and total cholesterol levels. There was no significant change in the lipocalin-2 and RBP4 levels, although IL-6 levels increased after the exercise programme.

CONCLUSION

Exercise training with weight loss induced a significant reduction in circulating A-FABP levels in obese Korean women.

Use of a real time continuous glucose monitoring system as a motivational device for poorly controlled type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

The use of a real time continuous glucose monitoring system (RT-CGM) was studied as a behavior modification tool and the effectiveness of a RT-CGM in glucose control for patients with type 2 diabetes was determined.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective, open-label, randomized, controlled clinical trial in 65 patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (8.0</=HbA1c</=10%) over a 3-month period. The intervention group was monitored monthly with a RT-CGM (three days at a time for 3 months) and the control group continued self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) at least four times a week for 3 months.

RESULTS

The HbA1c of the RT-CGM group was significantly reduced after 12 weeks compared with the SMBG group (9.1+/-1.0% to 8.0+/-1.2% vs. 8.7+/-0.7% to 8.3+/-1.1%, respectively; P=0.004). In the RT-CGM group, there was a significant reduction in total daily calorie intake, weight, body mass index (BMI), and postprandial glucose level, and a significant increase in total exercise time per week after 3 months.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated that the RT-CGM was useful in modifying a patient's diet and exercise habits and could induce better glycemic control than SMBG for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Changes in total ghrelin within the somatotropic axis in severe burn patients: comparison of those with inhalation injury and those without inhalation injury

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this study were to clarify changes in total ghrelin within the somatotropic axis in severe burn subjects with or without inhalation injury as well as the responsiveness of GH, IGF-1, and IGFBP-3 to the different severity of burn injuries.

DESIGN

Twenty-three patients with severe burn injuries (>30% of 2nd degree burns or >10% of 3rd degree burns) were classified into 2 groups according to inhalation injury: group I with inhalation injury (n=9) and group II without inhalation injury (n=14). The evaluations of serum GH, IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and total ghrelin were done on post-burn injury days 3, 7, 14, 21, and 40. Cortisol levels were measured from 24-h urine collections on post-burn injury days 7 and 21.

RESULTS

In all subjects, the levels of GH fluctuated throughout the observation period whereas IGF-1 showed an initial decline with nadir on day 7 and a subsequent increase through day 40. The levels of IGFBP-3 and total ghrelin showed a progressive increase with nadir on day 3. Compared with the group II, the GH levels were increased in the group I on post-burn days 3, 7, and 14, of which day 7 showed statistical significance (p<0.05). The levels of IGF-1 (days 7 and 21; p<0.05) and IGFBP-3 (days 7, 14, 21, and 40; p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.05, p<0.05, respectively) were lower in the group I than in the group II throughout the study period. On post-burn injury days 3, 7, 14, and 21, total ghrelin levels were lower in the group I than in the group II with statistical significance on post-burn day 7 (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our present data show a concurrence of elevated GH levels and decreased IGF-I, IGFBP-3, and total ghrelin levels during the early burn injury period, in addition to more GH burst amplitude as well as greater falling of IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and total ghrelin levels proportional to the severity of burn injury. Further studies are needed to ascertain whether acyl- and desacyl-ghrelin instead of total ghrelin are completely independent of increased GH or other stress mediators, and whether GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) mainly stimulates the production and release of GH in acute critical conditions.

Prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults

We studied the prevalence and trend of obesity and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults aged at least 20 years using Korean National Health Examination and Nutrition Survey data from 1998 and 2001. The prevalence of body mass index (BMI) > or = 25 kg m(-2) among Korean adults in 2001 was 32.9% in men and 27.4% in women, and the number of Korean men with BMI > or = 25 kg m(-2) has increased markedly since 1998. A significant positive association between obesity and socioeconomic status was found in Korean men, whereas a significant negative association was identified in Korean women. The prevalence rates of waist circumference (WC) > or = 90 cm in men and WC > or = 85 cm in women were 23.4% and 23.1% in 2001 respectively. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Korean adults was 15-30% according to various criteria of metabolic syndrome. Future studies are needed to determine the changes in prevalence of obesity and contributing factors for obesity in Koreans.

Effect of PPAR-δ agonist on the expression of visfatin, adiponectin, and resistin in rat adipose tissue and 3T3-L1 adipocytes

It has been recently reported that activation of PPAR-delta, by specific agonists or genetic manipulation, alleviates dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance in animal models of obesity and type 2 diabetes. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the PPAR-delta agonist has a direct effect on adipokines in visceral adipose tissue of rats and in cultured adipocytes. We examined the expression of visfatin, adiponectin, and resistin mRNA in visceral adipose tissue of Wistar rats fed a high-fat diet and 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with PPAR-delta agonist (L-165041). Body weight and biochemical measurements were performed. Rats fed a high-fat diet showed a greater increase in body weight than those fed a standard diet (P<0.05), and treatment with L-165041 (10 mg/kg/day) significantly decreased weight gain (P<0.05). The concentration of total cholesterol was lower, and HDL cholesterol was higher in L-165041-treated rats (P<0.05). In the visceral adipose tissue of L-165041-treated rats, visfatin and adiponectin mRNA levels significantly increased compared to those of the untreated rats (P<0.05). However, the expression of resistin decreased in the L-165041-treated rats. Furthermore, in cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes, the level of visfatin and adiponectin mRNA was up-regulated in response to L-165041 treatment for nine days. By contrast, resistin mRNA levels were down-regulated by L-165041 treatment. The present study provides a novel evidence to suggest that the PPAR-delta agonist has regulatory effects on a variety of adipokines, and these effects might explain some of their metabolic function.

Kartagener syndrome

Kartagener syndrome (KS), an autosomal recessively inherited disease, is characterized by the triad of situs inversus, bronchiectasis and sinusitis. This disorder affects the activity of proteins important to the movement of cilia, especially in the respiratory tract and the spermatozoa, developing a series of systemic alterations, which can be diagnosed through radiographic examination. The aim of this paper is to describe a clinical case of this unusual pathology, including a brief literature review, emphasising the radiographic aspects of this pathology and stressing the importance of early diagnosis, which could be determined by an oral radiologist.

Primary peritoneal carcinoma: experience with cytoreductive surgery and combination chemotherapy

The objective of this study was to review the clinical outcome and prognosis of patients with primary peritoneal carcinoma (PPC) treated with cytoreductive surgery and combination chemotherapy. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 27 patients with histologically confirmed PPC, treated between March 1990 and February 2004 at Asan Medical Center, South Korea. The review included demographic data, pathologic findings, treatments, and outcomes. The mean age of the 27 patients was 57.5 +/- 7.2 years, and the rate of optimal cytoreduction was 70.4%. Seven patients had stage IIIB, 17 had stage IIIC, and 3 had stage IV; all patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. There were 4 patients with progressive disease, 5 partial responders, and 15 complete responders; the remaining 3 patients were nonevaluable. At the time of the review, 10 patients were alive without evidence of disease, 3 were alive with disease, and 14 had died from disease. The median overall survival time was 41 months, and the overall 5-year survival rate was 18.1%. Patients who had optimal cytoreduction had a longer median survival (42 months) than those who had suboptimal cytoreduction (10 months; P < 0.05). Combination chemotherapy after optimal cytoreductive surgery may be effective in the treatment of patients with PPC.

Immunohistochemical characterization of macrophage and dendritic cell subpopulations of the spleen, thymus, tongue and heart in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed rat

This study was undertaken to investigate the immunohistochemical characterization of different subpopulations of macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) of the spleen, thymus, tongue and heart in cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced immunosuppressed rat. After CY treatment, remarkably, ED1+, ED2+ and ED3+ macrophage subpopulations, in general exhibited signs of cellular activation such as an increase in number and size of cell, and an upregulation of the ED1, ED2 and ED3 reactive surface molecule expression in all the organs studied, except for some macrophage subpopulations including ED1+ macrophages in the non-lymphoid tissues. Subpopulations of DCs showed a differential sensitivity to CY. Lymphoid DCs were more sensitive to CY than non-lymphoid interstitial DCs. CY induced a conspicuous upregulation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression in the vascular endothelial cells, splenic marginal zone and thymic cortex. In this study, we demonstrated the in vivo effects of CY treatment on subpopulations of macrophages and DCs as well as on ICAM-1 expression in the rat spleen, thymus, tongue and heart. Moreover, our results shed more light on the activation effects of CY on certain subpopulations of macrophages, on the differential sensitivity of DCs to CY between the immature and mature ones, on the functional role of different subpopulations of macrophages, and on the significance of upregulated ICAM-1 expression in the splenic marginal zone and thymic cortex after CY treatment.

Changes in voltage-gated calcium channel alpha(1) gene expression in rat dorsal root ganglia following peripheral nerve injury

Although an increase in the excitability and ectopic spontaneous discharge (ESD) of primary sensory neurons can lead to abnormal burst activity, which is associated with neuropathic pain, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. To investigate the relationship between these electrical abnormalities in injured neurons and voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) gene expression, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to monitor the expression of the VGCC alpha(1) gene in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) following chronic constriction injury (CCI) and axotomy of the rat sciatic nerve. Electrophoresis of the RT-PCR products showed the presence of multiple types of VGCC alpha(1) transcripts with various levels of basal expression in lumbar 4, 5, and 6 DRGs. CCI decreased alpha(1C), alpha(1D), alpha(1H), and alpha(1I) mRNA expression at 7 days in the ipsilateral DRG, to approximately 34-50% of the contralateral side. The same transcripts were repressed 7 days after sciatic axotomy and their reduction levels proved similar to those of CCI. Considering that changes of the intracellular calcium concentration modify the maintenance of ESD in injured DRG, these results suggest that the downregulation of alpha(1C), alpha(1D), alpha(1H) and alpha(1I) subunit gene expression in the rat DRG following peripheral nerve injury may contribute to the production of ESD associated with damaged nerves.

Differentially expressed genes in rat dorsal root ganglia following peripheral nerve injury

Ordered differential display PCR was used to identify differentially expressed genes in rat dorsal root ganglia at 7 days following chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. Fourteen differentially displayed cDNA bands were isolated, cloned and verified by RT-PCR. The four mRNAs were increased, which included mRNAs encoding heat shock protein 27, fatty acid binding protein, apolipoprotein D and one novel gene. Six down-regulated clones were microtubule-associated protein 1B, protein tyrosine phosphatase alpha, Kv1.2 channel, myelin protein SR13, medium-sized neurofilament protein, and one novel gene. Our results show that many differentially regulated genes after CCI may play a role in nerve degeneration and/or regeneration and provide a molecular framework for understanding the peripheral mechanism underlying neuropathic pain.

Analysis of the in vivo dendritic cell response to the bacterial superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B in the mouse spleen

To investigate the in vivo effects of Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) on dendritic cells (DCs) in the spleen, a single dose of SEB (50 microg/kg) was administered to BALB/c mice by intraperitoneal injection. Afterwards, the mice were sacrificed at 2, 6 and 24 hr, 2, 4, 7 and 15 days, and the spleens were removed. The immunocytochemical characterization of the cells was carried out using various monoclonal antibodies in cryostat-cut sections. The distribution patterns of DCs and their major costimulatory molecules, CD80, CD86 and CD40 in the spleen were identified, and the evidence for maturation of DCs in vivo in response to SEB was obtained. It was found that systemic administration of SEB induced the migration of most of the immature, splenic DCs from the marginal zone to the periarterial lymphatic sheath within 6 hr. This movement paralleled a maturation process, as assessed by upregulation of CD40, CD80 and CD86 expression in the interdigitating dendritic cells (IDCs). The upregulation of costimulatory molecule expression was conspicuous only in DCs in contrast to other antigen-presenting cells (APCs) such as macrophages and B cells which did not show any significant alterations in their costimulatory molecule expression. We also demonstrated the temporal expression pattern of these costimulatory molecules on the activated DCs. The upregulation of costimulatory molecules on DCs reached a peak level 6 hr after SEB injection, while the increase in number of T cells expressing T cell receptor V138 reached a peak level on day 2 after SEB treatment. In conclusion, we demonstrated the in vivo DC response to SEB in the mouse spleen, especially a potent stimulative effect of SEB on DCs in vivo, a temporal distribution pattern of DCs as well as T cells including TCR Vbeta8+ T cells, and a differential expression pattern of costimulatory molecules on the activated DCs. The results of the present study indicate that DCs are the principal type of APCs which mediate T cell activation by SAg in vivo, and that each costimulatory molecule may have different role in the activation of DCs by SAg. Thus, it is plausible to speculate that DCs play a critical role in the T cell clonal expansion by SAgs and other SAg-induced immune responses in vivo.

Gene profile of replicative senescence is different from progeria or elderly donor

In vitro cellular senescence of human diploid fibroblast has been a good model for aging research, which shows similar phenotypes to in vivo aging. Gene expression profiling would provide an insight to understand the mechanism of senescence. Using cDNA microarray containing 384 known genes, we compared the expression profiles of three different types of aging models: replicative senescence, fibroblasts from progeria or from elderly donor. Although all of them showed senescence phenotypes, distinct sets of genes were altered in each group. Pairwise plots or cluster analysis of activation fold of gene expression revealed closer relationships between fibroblasts from progeria or from old individual, but not between replicative senescence fibroblasts and either models. Differential expression pattern of several genes were confirmed by RT-PCR. We suggest that the replicative senescence model might behave differently to other types of aging models due to the distinct gene expression.

Estrogen metabolism as a risk factor for head and neck cancer

OBJECTIVE

Estrogen metabolites have been associated in the pathogenesis of breast and cervical cancer; 16alpha-hydroxyestrone(16alpha-OHE1) demonstrated proliferative effects whereas 2-hydroxyestrone(2-OHE1) had antiproliferative effects. Our study's objective is to demonstrate that head and neck (H&N) cancer patients metabolize estrogen differently than healthy controls, which may constitute a risk factor for H&N cancer development.

STUDY DESIGN

Urinary metabolite levels of 2-OHE1 and 16alpha-OHE1 from 50 H&N cancer patients and 50 age- and sex-matched controls were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Absolute values and 2-/16alpha-OHE1 ratios were calculated. Conditional logistic regression for univariate and multivariate analysis with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used.

RESULTS

Thirty percent (15 of 50) from the case group had a low 2-/16alpha-OHE1 ratio compared with only 4% (2 of 50) in the control group (OR = 11.1; 1.4-91.5, 95% CI) (P < 0.05). When adjusted for tobacco, OR remained significant at 15.6 (1.1-212.5, 95% CI) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

H&N cancer patients are more likely to express abnormal estrogen metabolism than healthy controls; 2-/16alpha-OHE1 may serve as a potential biological marker of individuals at increased risk of H&N cancer.

Type A behavior and stroke: high tenseness dimension may be a risk factor for cerebral infarction

Although type A behavior (TAB) has been shown to be related to coronary heart disease, the relationship between TAB and stroke was rarely investigated. We studied TAB in stroke patients with the use of the questionnaire developed by Eysenck and Fulker that has 4 subdimensions: Tenseness, Ambition, Activity, and Unrepressed. The questionnaire was administered to 224 patients with acute stroke and 100 controls. The patients were further classified as having cerebral infarction (large vessel infarction and small vessel infarction), and intracerebral hemorrhage. We found that, among the 4 subdimensions, only the Tenseness score was significantly higher in patients with cerebral infarction but not in those with intracerebral hemorrhage compared to the controls. On subgroup analysis, Tenseness score was higher in patients with large vessel infarction but not in those with small vessel infarction than in those with intracerebral hemorrhage or controls. The association of high Tenseness score with cerebral infarction (and large vessel infarction) remained significant after multiple logistic analysis adjusting various risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cigarette smoking and habitual alcohol drinking. Our data suggest that a high Tenseness dimension of TAB may be an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke, probably associated with atherogenesis.

Capsaicin effects on brain-derived neurotrophic factor in rat dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord

The effects of capsaicin systemically administered in adult rats, with the major focus on the expression of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and its mRNA in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord, has been investigated by means of immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions. The percentage of BDNF-immunoreactive neurons in the L5 DRG was found to increase significantly 1 day after capsaicin injection. Subsequently, it decreased slowly returning to near normal levels 1 week later. Four weeks post-injection, a significant reduction to below normal levels was observed. The temporal pattern of BDNF mRNA expression in the DRG was similar to BDNF-immunoreactivity. In the spinal cord, 1 and 3 days post-injection, no changes in the expression of the BDNF-immunoreactive axonal fibers was noted. However, the expression had decreased significantly after 1 and 4 weeks. The mechanism by which capsaicin induces changes in expression of BDNF in DRG neurons and the functional significance of the rapid increase in BDNF levels in the DRG is discussed briefly.

Temporal and spatial regulation of expression of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor in the human endometrium: a possible role in blastocyst implantation

The function of the endometrium in the implantation of the blastocyst depends on the regulated, cyclical regeneration of endometrial tissue and the expression of a receptive phenotype in response to steroid hormones. Experiments using animal and models suggest that heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is important for endometrial receptivity, and that it may directly mediate blastocyst implantation We have investigated the expression of HB-EGF mRNA and protein in pregnant and nonpregnant human endometrium and placenta. Our data demonstrate that HB-EGF mRNA expression is low in the endometrium during the proliferative stage of the menstrual cycle and increases in the secretory stage, with highest expression immediately prior to the implantation window (day 19-21), after which levels decrease. Immunohistochemical detection of HB-EGF shows that it is present in the stroma of proliferative stage endometrium and that it is localized to the apical surface of the luminal epithelium of midsecretory stage endometrium. Levels of HB-EGF mRNA are low in pregnant endometrium and high in placental tissues at an early stage of development. Our data suggest that expression of human endometrial HB-EGF coincides with the expression of a receptive phenotype, and that H-EGF may have an important function in the implantation of the human blastocyst and early placental development.

Effect of aminoguanidine on lipid peroxidation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus is postulated to be associated with increased lipid peroxidation, which may contribute to vascular complications. One potential mechanism of the increased lipid peroxidation in diabetes is lipid-linked advanced glycosylation and oxidation. Aminoguanidine (AMGN), the prototype inhibitor of advanced glycosylation end product (AGE) formation, has been recently shown to prevent oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in vitro at a moderate concentration. It is unknown whether AMGN may act as an antioxidant against lipid peroxidation under hyperglycemia in vivo. To investigate the in vivo effect of AMGN on lipid peroxidation in diabetes, we administered AMGN (1 g/L in drinking water) or vitamin E (400 mg/d for 5 d/wk) to streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats for 9 weeks and measured plasma lipid hydroperoxides by ferrous oxidation with xylenol orange II (FOX method) and red blood cell (RBC) membrane malondialdehyde (MDA) and related aldehydes as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). Plasma lipid hydroperoxide was higher in STZ-induced diabetic rats versus control rats (mean +/- SD, 7.53 +/- 2.03 v 5.62 +/- 0.44 micromol/L, P < .05; n = 8 to 14). RBC membrane TBARS were also higher in STZ-induced diabetic rats than in control rats (2.67 +/- 0.46 v 1.81 +/- 0.19 nmol/mL, P < .05). Plasma lipid hydroperoxide was lower in AMGN-treated (6.23 +/- 0.59 micromol/L, P < .05) and vitamin E-treated (5.29 +/- 0.27 micromol/L, P < .05) diabetic rats than in untreated diabetic rats. RBC membrane TBARS were also lower in AMGN-treated (1.93 +/- 0.12 nmol/mL, P < .05) diabetic rats than in untreated diabetic rats. There was no significant difference in plasma glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels among diabetic groups. Although the mechanism(s) of action of AMGN on lipid peroxidation in vivo should be studied further, these results suggest that AMGN may have an additional beneficial effect as an antioxidant against lipid peroxidation in a prevention trial for diabetic vascular complications.

Molecular cloning and expression of a novel human cDNA related to the diazepam binding inhibitor

In order to isolate the unidentified autoantigens in autoimmune diabetes, a human pancreatic islet cDNA library was constructed and screened with the sera from the diabetic patients. From the library screening, one clone (DRS-1) that strongly reacted with the sera was isolated. Subsequent sequence analysis revealed that the clone was a novel cDNA related to the diazepam binding inhibitor. DRS-1 was expressed in most tissues including liver, lung, tonsil, and thymus, in addition to pancreatic islets. DRS-1 was in vitro translated and the recombinant DRS-1 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. The size of the in vitro translated or bacterially expressed DRS-1 protein was in agreement with the conceptually translated polypeptide of DRS-1 cDNA. Further studies are required to test whether or not DRS-1 is a new autoantigen in autoimmune diabetes.

Effects of radical scavengers and antioxidant on ischemic acute renal failure in rabbits

This study was undertaken to determine whether reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the pathogenesis of ischemic acute renal failure (IARF) in rabbits. Renal ischemia was induced by clamping bilateral renal arteries for 60 min. Animals were pretreated with combination of xanthine oxidase inhibitor (allopurinol), hydrogen peroxide scavenger (catalase), and hydroxyl radical scavenger (sodium benzoate). Serum creatinine level significantly increased 24 h after ischemia and remained higher to 72 h. Ischemia caused a reduction of GFR and an increase of FENa. Such changes were significantly attenuated by scavenger pretreatment. The uptake of p-aminohippurate in cortical slices and microsomal Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity were depressed in kidneys subjected to 72 h of reflow following ischemia, indicating impairment of tubular transport function, which were significantly attenuated by scavenger treatment. Renal blood flow 72 h after reflow was markedly reduced and it was restored by scavenger pretreatment. When animals were pretreated with a potent antioxidant DPPD, lipid peroxidation in cortex and medulla was significantly inhibited. However, ischemia-induced impairment of renal function was not attenuated by pretreatment of the antioxidant. These results suggest that radical scavengers may exert a protective effect against ischemia acute renal failure by other actions rather than ROS scavenging. Thus, the data do not support involvement of ROS in IARF in rabbits.

Correlation of the vector diffraction effect on the optical lithographic image of a binary mask with magnification of the projection system

We show quantitatively through a computer simulation the effect ofvector diffraction on the image in optical lithography. Thesimulation was made with a new program, and the variation ofdiffraction as the magnification was varied was calculated for variousnumerical apertures and degrees of defocus. The diffraction at themask improves the images of lines across the polarizing direction, andthe diffraction at the lens improves the images of the lines along thepolarizing direction. We investigated the difference between imagesof lines along and across the polarizing direction as the magnificationincreased. Our result shows that the effect of the lens is sodominant that the images of lines along the polarizing direction arealways better.

Differential effects of ambient blood glucose level and degree of obesity on basal serum C-peptide level and the C-peptide response to glucose and glucagon in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

We student basal, glucose- and glucagon-induced insulin secretion in non-insulin diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients in relation to body mass index (BMI) and fasting serum glucose (FBS) level. A total of 46 NIDDM patients and 22 control subjects with varying degrees of BMI and FBS were given 100 g of oral glucose and 1 mg of intravenous glucagon on separate days. C-peptide response to glucose, but not basal serum C-peptide and C-peptide response to glucagon, was significantly lower in NIDDM than in controls (P < 0.001). FBS was inversely correlated with C-peptide response to glucose in NIDDM patients (r = -0.67, P < 0.001), but not with basal C-peptide level and C-peptide response to glucagon. On the other hand, BMI was positively correlated with basal serum C-peptide level both in NIDDM (r = 0.60, P < 0.001) and in control subjects (r = 0.74, P < 0.001). In 15 poorly controlled NIDDM patients, the tests were repeated after insulin treatment for 10-14 days. C-peptide response to glucose significantly increase, but not to a level in control subjects, after glycemic control. Basal serum C-peptide level and the C-peptide response to glucagon decreased after glycemic control to significantly lower levels than those in the baseline and those in control subjects. These results suggest that beta cell secretory reserve is reduced in moderate to severe NIDDM patients.

Effect of tolrestat, an aldose reductase inhibitor, on neutrophil respiratory burst activity in diabetic patients

One hypothesis for the reduction in oxidative killing of neutrophils in diabetic patients is that increased polyol pathway activity during hyperglycemia reduces intracellular levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), resulting in the reduction of neutrophil superoxide production during the respiratory burst. To test this hypothesis, we assessed the effect of tolrestat, an aldose reductase inhibitor, on neutrophil respiratory burst activity (NRBA) in diabetic patients. We measured fasting plasma glucose (FPG), hemoglobin A1 (HbA1), and NRBA levels in 79 diabetic patients and 48 normal controls. NRBA was reassessed in 34 patients after 4 weeks of tolrestat or placebo treatment, in seven controls after 4 weeks of tolrestat treatment, and in seven patients after 4 weeks of blood glucose control. NRBA was determined by flow cytometry, which detected fluorescent 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCF) in neutrophils formed from 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) during phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-induced respiratory bursts. Diabetic patients showed lower NRBA than the normal controls (mean cellular fluorescence, 438 +/- 103 v 668 +/- 101, mean +/- SD, P < .001). NRBA in diabetic patients showed a negative correlation with HbA1 (r = -.336, P < .005). Tolrestat treatment for 4 weeks in 17 patients restored the reduced NRBA to an almost normal level (relative NRBA, 0.55 +/- 0.20 v 0.99 +/- 0.36, P < .05) despite the fact that FPG level did not change (11.8 +/- 2.8 v 11.4 +/- 2.8 mmol/L). NRBA of these patients after tolrestat treatment was not significantly different from that of seven control subjects treated with tolrestat for 4 weeks. In 17 placebo-treated patients, there were no significant changes in NRBA and FPG level. The vigorous blood glucose control for 4 weeks in seven patients (16.6 +/- 2.1 v 8.6 +/- 2.3 mmol/L) also restored the reduced NRBA to almost normal (relative NRBA, 0.55 +/- 0.21 v 0.90 +/- 0.30, P < .05). The result that the reduced NRBA in diabetic patients was restored to almost normal either by tolrestat treatment or by blood glucose control strongly supports the hypothesis of this study.

Augmented Ca2+ influx is involved in the mechanism of enhanced proliferation of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats

To investigate whether augmented calcium influx is involved in the mechanism of the enhanced proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in diabetes, we studied the association between proliferation and cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in cultured aortic VSMCs from spontaneously diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) and Wistar rats. Serum, angiotensin II and Bay K 8644, a voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel (VDC) agonist, stimulated the proliferation of VSMCs; the magnitude was greater in VSMCs from GK than Wistar rats. VDC blockers, verapamil and nicardipine, inhibited Bay K 8644-induced cell proliferation, and the difference in the proliferation of VSMCs between GK and Wistar rats disappeared. Angiotensin II-induced proliferation was only partially inhibited by VDC blockers, and enhanced proliferation of GK-VSMCs was still observed. Bay K 8644 and angiotensin II increased [Ca2+]i, and the increase was augmented in GK-VSMCs. Bay K 8644-induced [Ca2+]i increase was completely inhibited by pretreatment with verapamil or removal of extracellular Ca2+, suggesting that VDC is associated with this increase. Although angiotensin II-induced [Ca2+]i increase was not affected by verapamil, removal of extracellular Ca2+ slightly but significantly attenuated angiotensin II-induced [Ca2+]i increase, suggesting that VDC blocker-insensitive receptor-activated Ca2+ influx is involved. These results indicate that augmented Ca2+ influx via VDC and a receptor-activated pathway may be involved in the mechanism of the enhanced proliferation of VSMCs from GK rats.

In-vivo gene transfer to the uterine endometrium

Therapeutic interventions in reproductive biology have relied largely on steroids and antisteroids which act to regulate gene expression in target tissues. Whilst their use has transformed women's lives, few conceptual advances have been made in contraceptive technology, no means identified to improve human implantation and no new strategies developed for the treatment of benign gynaecology. A novel alternative is direct gene transfer to the organ of interest. As a first step to achieving this goal in the uterus, we used reporter gene constructs to transfect mouse endometrium in vivo and human endometrial epithelial cells in vitro. We injected DNA-liposome complexes into the uterine lumen of mice on day 2 of pseudopregnancy and detected reporter gene activity 2 days later. The liposomes used were a 3:1 (w/w) mixture of 2,3-dioleyloxy-N-[2(sperminecarboxamido) ethyl]-N-N-dimethyl-1-propanaminium trifluoroacetate and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine. Freshly isolated human endometrial epithelial cells were successfully transfected in vitro with similar DNA-liposome complexes. These data suggest that endometrial gene transfer may be effective in humans. This may lead to the development of new therapeutic agents, including contraceptives, for the improvement of women's health.