IL5RA polymorphisms, smoking and eczema in Japanese women: the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study

The present case-control study examined the relationship between IL5RA SNPs and eczema in young adult Japanese women. Cases and control subjects were selected from pregnant women who participated in the baseline survey of the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study, which is an ongoing prebirth cohort study. Cases comprised 188 women with eczema in the previous 12 months as defined according to the criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), regardless of the presence of a doctor's diagnosis of atopic eczema. Control subjects comprised 1130 women without eczema as defined according to the ISAAC criteria who also had not been diagnosed with atopic eczema by a doctor. Compared with the AA genotype of IL5RA SNP rs17881144, the AT genotype, but not the TT genotype, was significantly associated with a decreased risk of eczema. The ATTAGA haplotype and the GTAGCA haplotype of rs17882210, rs3804797, rs334809, rs9831572, rs6771148 and rs17881144 were significantly associated with an increased risk of eczema. In contrast, the GCTGCA haplotype was significantly related to a decreased risk of eczema. Multiplicative interactions between IL5RA SNPs rs334809 and rs17881144 and smoking with respect to eczema were marginally significant (P = 0.07 and 0.07, respectively). This is the first study to show significant associations between IL5RA SNP rs17881144, the ATTAGA haplotype, the GTAGCA haplotype, and the GCTGCA haplotype and eczema. Smoking may modify the relationships between SNPs rs334809 and rs17881144 and eczema.

IL3 rs40401 polymorphism and interaction with smoking in risk of asthma in Japanese women: the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health study

Three previous genetic association studies conducted in Korea and China investigated the relationship between IL3 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs40401 and asthma, but their results were inconsistent. We examined this relationship and the possibility of an interaction between IL3 SNP rs40401 and smoking in young adult Japanese women. Included were 89 women who met the criteria of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) for asthma. Control subjects were 700 women without asthma according to the ECRHS criteria who had not been diagnosed with asthma and/or allergic rhinitis by a doctor and/or who had not met the criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood for rhinoconjunctivitis. A significant positive association was found between SNP rs40401 and the risk of asthma, with the TT genotype as the reference under the additive model: the adjusted odds ratio was 1.39 (95% CI: 1.004-1.93). The positive association was not statistically significant in any other genetic model. Compared with subjects with the TT or TC genotype of SNP rs40401 who had never smoked, those with the CC genotype who had ever smoked had a significantly increased risk of asthma: the adjusted OR was 2.67 (95% CI: 1.23-5.79); the additive interaction, but not the multiplicative interaction, was significant. This study suggests that IL3 SNP rs40401 is significantly associated with the risk of asthma in young adult Japanese women and reveals that the combination of ever smoking and having the CC genotype of IL3 SNP rs40401 is significantly positively associated with asthma.

Intake of dairy products and calcium and prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy in Japan: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between the intake of dairy products and calcium and the prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study (KOMCHS).

SAMPLE

A cohort of 1745 pregnant Japanese women.

METHODS

Dietary intake during the preceding month was assessed using a self-administered diet history questionnaire. Scores of 16 or higher on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale denoted depressive symptoms. Adjustment was made for age, gestation, region of residence, number of children, family structure, history of depression, family history of depression, smoking, secondhand smoke exposure at home and at work, job type, household income, education, and body mass index. In our analyses regarding dairy products in general, adjustment was also made for fish intake; in our analysis regarding calcium, adjustment was also made for the intake of saturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid plus docosahexaenoic acid, and vitamin D.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

RESULTS

Higher intake levels of yogurt and calcium were independently related to a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy: the adjusted odds ratios between extreme quartiles were 0.69 (95% CI 0.48-0.99, P for trend = 0.03) and 0.59 (95% CI 0.40-0.88, P for trend = 0.006), respectively. No relationships were observed between the intake of all dairy products, milk, or cheese and depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS

The current results suggest that a higher intake of yogurt and calcium may be associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms during pregnancy.

Influence of losartan intake on the circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion in humans

It has been reported that losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, alters the circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion and significantly reduces melatonin production. However, this finding has been confirmed at the animal experiment level only, and there are no reports of studies in humans. Therefore, we performed this study to confirm the reproducibility of the aforementioned findings of animal experiments in humans. Ten male subjects who were in good general health and free from any medical condition were recruited for this study. After a preliminary observation period of 7 days, the subjects received oral losartan treatment, 50 mg daily for 7 days. Blood samplings for measurement of the plasma melatonin concentrations were performed on day 7 of the preliminary observation period and day 7 of the losartan treatment period. The circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion after the 7-day treatment with losartan showed no significant difference from that recorded before the losartan administration. The significant decrease of the home blood pressure was observed on the afternoons. The blood samples showed significant decrease of the serum sodium and uric acid levels, along with a significant increase of the serum potassium level. The pharmacological actions of losartan at the ordinarily used clinical dose level were confirmed in humans, however, no significant inhibitory effect of the drug on melatonin secretion could be confirmed. These results are expected to be useful for guiding the proper use of angiotensin II receptor blockers.

Human parvovirus B19 infection mimicking systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract Although several recent reports have discussed the similarities between human parvovirus B19 (HPV-B19) infection and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the relationship between these conditions has not been established owing to the small number of patients investigated. In 1998-1999, an outbreak of Erythema infectiosum occurred close to our hospital, enabling us to investigate the clinical, hematological, and serological findings, including serum complement and antinuclear antibodies (ANA), in 22 patients with acute HPV-B19 infection. The principal symptoms included rash (86.3%), edema (59%), arthralgia (45.4%) and fever (31.8%). Lymphadenopathy was seen in three of the 22 cases. The laboratory findings showed high incidences of leukopenia (50%), hypocomplementemia (95%), and ANA (64.7%). At the time of disease onset, patients with acute HPV-B19 infection presented with features which were similar to those of SLE. The possibility of HPV-B19 infection should therefore be considered in patients presenting with SLE-like features.

VDR gene polymorphisms, interaction with smoking and risk of periodontal disease in Japanese women: the Kyushu Okinawa maternal and child health study

Epidemiological evidence on the relationship between vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms and periodontal disease is inconsistent. We investigated associations between four VDR single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) including rs731236 (TaqI), rs7975232 (ApaI), rs1544410 (BsmI) and rs2228570 (FokI), and the risk of periodontal disease among young Japanese women. Cases included 131 women who had at least one tooth with a probing depth of 3.5 mm or deeper. Controls included 1019 women without periodontal disease. Adjustment was made for age, region of residence, education, toothbrushing frequency and use of an interdental brush. Compared with the AA genotype of SNP rs731236, the GG genotype had a significantly increased risk of periodontal disease: the adjusted OR was 3.68 (95% confidence interval: 1.06-12.78). There were no significant relationships between SNPs rs7975232, rs1544410 or rs2228570 and periodontal disease. None of the haplotypes were significantly related to periodontal disease. Compared with subjects with the AA or AG genotype of SNP rs731236 who had never smoked, those with the GG genotype who had ever smoked had a significantly increased risk of periodontal disease; nevertheless, neither multiplicative nor additive interaction was significant. The additive interaction between SNP rs7975232 and smoking was significant, although the multiplicative interaction was not statistically significant. No multiplicative or additive interactions were observed between the other SNPs and smoking. Our results indicated that VDR SNP rs731236 might be associated with periodontal disease. In addition, we present new evidence for a biological interaction between VDR SNP rs7975232 and smoking that affects periodontal disease.

Case-control study of eczema in relation to IL4Rα genetic polymorphisms in Japanese women: The Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study

Epidemiological research on the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL4Rα gene and eczema is sparse. We investigated the associations between IL4Rα SNPs rs1805011, rs1805015 and rs1801275 and risk of eczema in young adult Japanese women. Included were 188 women who met the criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) for eczema. Controls were 635 women without eczema according to the ISAAC criteria who also had not been diagnosed with asthma, atopic eczema and/or allergic rhinitis by a doctor. Adjustment was made for age, region of residence, number of children, smoking and education. Under the additive model, SNP rs1805011 was significantly related to eczema: the adjusted OR was 0.55 (95% CI: 0.31-0.99). SNP rs1805015 was significantly associated with eczema in the additive and dominant models: the adjusted ORs were 0.55 (95% CI: 0.30-0.98) and 0.55 (95% CI: 0.30-0.997), respectively. There was no significant association between SNP rs1801275 and eczema. None of the haplotypes were significantly related to eczema. Significant associations between SNPs rs1805011 and rs1805015 and eczema were reported in women who had never smoked, but not in those who had ever smoked; the multiplicative interactions, however, were not significant. This is the first study to demonstrate significant associations between IL4Rα SNPs rs1805011 and rs1805015 and eczema. We do not find evidence for interactions affecting eczema between IL4Rα SNPs and smoking.

Biochemical features of a catalytic antibody light chain, 22F6, prepared from human lymphocytes

Human antibody light chains belonging to subgroup II of germ line genes were amplified by a seminested PCR technique using B-lymphocytes taken from a human adult infected with influenza virus. Each gene of the human light chains was transferred into the Escherichia coli system. The recovered light chain was highly purified using a two-step purification system. Light chain 22F6 showed interesting catalytic features. The light chain cleaved a peptide bond of synthetic peptidyl-4-methyl-coumaryl-7-amide (MCA) substrates, such as QAR-MCA and EAR-MCA, indicating amidase activity. It also hydrolyzed a phosphodiester bond of both DNA and RNA. From the analysis of amino acid sequences and molecular modeling, the 22F6 light chain possesses two kinds of active sites as amidase and nuclease in close distances. The 22F6 catalytic light chain could suppress the infection of influenza virus type A (H1N1) of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells in an in vitro assay. In addition, the catalytic light chain clearly inhibited the infection of the influenza virus of BALB/c mice via nasal administration in an in vivo assay. In the experiment, the titer in the serum of the mice coinfected with the 22F6 light chain and H1N1 virus became considerably lowered compared with that of 22F6-non-coinfected mice. Note that the catalytic light chain was prepared from human peripheral lymphocyte and plays an important role in preventing infection by influenza virus. Considering the fact that the human light chain did not show any acute toxicity for mice, our procedure developed in this study must be unique and noteworthy for developing new drugs.

Active and passive smoking and prevalence of periodontal disease in young Japanese women

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Studies reporting on the association between smoking and periodontal disease have mostly focused on active smoking. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between active smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke at home and at work and the prevalence of periodontal disease among young Japanese women.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study subjects were 1167 postpartum women with a mean age of 31.5 years. Information on smoking and potential confounding factors was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. Partial-mouth recording was used to determine probing pocket depth at six sites per tooth for six teeth in the mouth. Periodontal disease was defined as positive if a woman had at least one tooth with a probing pocket depth of 3.5 mm or deeper. Adjustment was made for age, region of residence, household income, education, toothbrushing frequency and use of an interdental brush.

RESULTS

Compared with never smoking, ever smoking was independently positively associated with the prevalence of periodontal disease: the adjusted odds ratio was 1.56 (95% confidence interval: 1.02-2.36). There was a marginally significant positive dose-response relationship between pack-years of smoking and the prevalence of periodontal disease (p for linear trend = 0.08). No material associations were observed between second-hand smoke exposure at home or at work and periodontal disease.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that active smoking, but not passive smoking, might be associated with an increased prevalence of periodontal disease among young women in Japan.

Relationship between polymorphisms in IL4 and asthma in Japanese women: the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study

BACKGROUND

Interleukin (IL) 4 plays a critical role in immune responses by acting as a growth factor for type 2 helper T cells and inducing immunoglobulin (Ig) class switching to IgE. Epidemiological evidence of the relationship between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL4 and asthma is inconsistent.

OBJECTIVES

We examined the association between the IL4 SNPs rs2243250, rs2070874, rs2227284, and rs2243290 and asthma in young adult Japanese women.

METHODS

The study population comprised 89 women who met the criteria of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) for asthma. The control group comprised 1281 nonasthmatic women (ECRHS criteria) who had not been diagnosed with asthma by a physician. Adjustment was made for age, region of residence, presence of older siblings, smoking, and education.

RESULTS

Compared with the AA genotype of rs2243290, the AC genotype, but not the CC genotype, was significantly associated with a reduced risk of asthma: the adjusted odds ratio for the AC genotype was 0.62 (95% CI, 0.39-0.996). No evident relationships were found between rs2243250, rs2070874, or rs2227284 and asthma. None of the haplotypes were significantly associated with asthma. No significant interactions were found between the 4 SNPs under study and smoking with respect to the risk of asthma.

CONCLUSIONS

Ours is the first study in a non-Western population to show that the IL4 SNP rs2243290 was significantly associated with the risk of asthma. Smoking did not significantly modify the gene-disease associations under study.

Examination of factors that delay the elution of acetaminophen from over-the-counter drugs

The information on the stability of medications is important to secure their quality. There is, however, little information about the stability of medications which assume to be kept by patients and customers. We previously showed that a delay in drug release occurs in some over-the-counter (OTC) drugs following storage in a high temperature, high humidity environment. In this study we prepared model tablet formulations containing an active ingredient and excipients to investigate the cause of this delayed release. The results reveal that delayed release occurs in preparations compounded with acetaminophen (AA) as the active ingredient and erythritol (ET) and crospovidone (CP) as excipients. In addition, ET deliquesces in a high humidity environment, then incorporates other particles during room temperature storage to form an aggregate. SEM observations and micropore distribution measurements conducted on OTC tablets that exhibit delayed release revealed that the number of intraparticle pores decreased after storage under high temperature, high humidity conditions. Thus, the delayed release by these pharmaceutical product formulations may be due to a change in the micropore structure both on the surface and within the particles, thereby decreasing the solvent infiltration pathways leading to the interior of the preparation.

Dairy food, calcium and vitamin D intake and prevalence of allergic disorders in pregnant Japanese women

SETTING

Epidemiological evidence for the associations between intake of dairy products, calcium and vitamin D and allergic disorders has been inconsistent.

OBJECTIVES

To examine such associations in Japan.

DESIGN

This cross-sectional study enrolled 1745 pregnant women. The definitions of wheeze and asthma were based on European Community Respiratory Health Survey criteria, whereas those of eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis were based on International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood criteria. Information on dietary factors was collected using a validated self-administered diet history questionnaire.

RESULTS

Intake of total dairy products, milk, yoghurt, cheese and calcium was not related to the prevalence of wheeze, asthma, eczema or rhinoconjunctivitis. After adjustment for potential confounders, vitamin D intake was found to be independently positively associated with the prevalence of asthma: the adjusted ORs for asthma in the first, second, third and fourth quartiles were respectively 1.00 (reference), 1.26 (95%CI 0.65-2.50), 2.08 (95%CI 1.13-3.94), and 1.82 (95%CI 0.97-3.51, P for trend = 0.03). There were no relationships between vitamin D consumption and the prevalence of wheeze, eczema or rhinoconjunctivitis.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that vitamin D intake may be positively related to the prevalence of asthma in young adult Japanese women.

ADAM33 polymorphisms, smoking and asthma in Japanese women: the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study

SETTING

Multiple A disintegrin and metalloprotease 33 (ADAM33) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been shown to be associated with asthma, but results have been inconsistent.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the association between ADAM33 SNPs rs2787094, rs628977, rs2280089, rs2280090, rs2280091, rs2853209, rs528557 and rs612709 and asthma in young adult Japanese women, and to perform haplotype analyses and assess interactions between SNPs and smoking.

DESIGN

A total of 89 cases who met the criteria of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) for asthma were included in the study. Control subjects were 1281 women without asthma, as per ECRHS criteria, who had not been diagnosed with asthma by a doctor. Adjustment was made for age, region of residence, presence of older siblings, smoking and education.

RESULTS

Under a co-dominant model, the AA genotype of the rs612709 SNP was significantly positively associated with asthma compared with the GG genotype: the adjusted OR was 4.27 (95%CI 1.49-12.25). A significant positive relationship was found between the CCGGAAGA haplotype and asthma. Interactions between SNPs rs628977 and rs528557 and smoking were marginally significant (P = 0.09 and 0.095, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

ADAM33 SNP rs612709 and the CCGGAAGA haplotype may be associated with asthma. Smoking may modify the associations between SNPs rs628977 and rs528557 and asthma.

Highly efficient method of preparing human catalytic antibody light chains and their biological characteristics

The ultimate goal of catalytic antibody research is to develop new patient therapies that use the advantages offered by human catalytic antibodies. The establishment of a high-throughput method for obtaining valuable candidate catalytic antibodies must be accelerated to achieve this objective. In this study, based on our concept that we can find antibody light chains with a high probability of success if they include a serine protease-like catalytic triad composed of Ser, His, and Asp on a variable region of the antibody structure, we amplified and cloned DNAs encoding human antibody light chains from germline genes of subgroup II by seminested PCR using two primer sets designed for this purpose. Seven DNA fragments encoding light chains in 17 clones were derived from germline gene A18b, 6 DNA fragments from A3/A19, 2 DNA fragments from A17, and a clone DNA fragment from A5 and O11/O1. All light chains expressed in Escherichia coli and highly purified under nondenaturing conditions exhibited amidolytic activity against synthetic peptides. Some of the light chains exhibited unique features that suppressed the infectious activity of the rabies virus. Furthermore, the survival rate of mice in which a lethal level of the rabies virus was coinoculated directly into the brain with light chain 18 was significantly improved. In the case of humans, these results demonstrate that high-throughput selection of light chains possessing catalytic functions and specificity for a target molecule can be attained from a light-chain DNA library amplified from germline genes belonging to subgroup II.

Morphological varieties of the Purkinje fiber network in mammalian hearts, as revealed by light and electron microscopy

Purkinje fibers in mammalian hearts are known to comprise the following three groups depending on their structure: group I found commonly in ungulates, group II in humans, monkeys and dogs, and group III in rodents. The aim of the present study was to document precisely the cytoarchitecture of a network of Purkinje fibers in different species by light and electron microscopy. Light microscopy of silver impregnated tissues revealed the reticular fibers ensheathing individual Purkinje strands consisting of 2-8 cells in both the ungulates (i.e., sheep and goats) and cetaceans (whales and dolphins) while they encircled each Purkinje cell in the primates (humans and monkeys), carnivores (dogs and seals), and rodents (rats). Scanning electron microscopy of NaOH digested tissues showed the ungrates (group I) to have a Purkinje fiber network composed of Purkinje strands; the cells in the strands were oval and made side-to-side and/or end-to-end connections. The Purkinje fiber network in the primates and carnivores (group II) was delicate and complicated; the Purkinje cells were usually cylindrical and connected end-to-end, the exception being their polygonal or stellate shapes at the bifurcations. Purkinje cells in the rodents (group III) resembled ventricular cardiac myocytes in cytoarchitecture. Morphologically, whales and seals respectively belonged to Purkinje cells of group I and group II. These findings indicate that the structural variety of the Purkinje fiber network may reflect the conducting function and be related to the phylogeny of the mammalian species.

A cubic-anvil high-pressure device for pulsed neutron powder diffraction

A compact cubic-anvil high-pressure device was developed for in situ neutron powder diffraction studies. In this device, a cubic shaped pressure medium is compressed by six anvils, and neutron beams pass through gaps between the anvils. The first high-pressure experiment using this device was conducted at J-PARC and clearly showed the neutron diffraction patterns of Pb. Combining the cubic-anvil high-pressure device with a pulsed neutron source will prove to be a useful tool for neutron diffraction experiments.

Pathologic and immunologic profiles of a limited form of neuromyelitis optica with myelitis

BACKGROUND

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a demyelinating syndrome characterized by myelitis and optic neuritis. Detection of anti-NMO immunoglobulin G antibody that binds to aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channels allows the diagnosis of a limited form of NMO in the early stage with myelitis, but not optic neuritis. However, the detailed clinicopathologic features and long-term course of this limited form remain elusive.

METHODS

We investigated 8 patients with the limited form of NMO with myelitis in comparison with 9 patients with the definite form.

RESULT

All patients with limited and definite form showed uniform relapsing-remitting courses, with no secondary progressive courses. Pathologic findings of biopsy specimens from the limited form were identical to those of autopsy from the definite form, demonstrating extremely active demyelination of plaques, extensive loss of AQP4 immunoreactivity in plaques, and diffuse infiltration by macrophages containing myelin basic proteins with thickened hyalinized blood vessels. Moreover, the definite form at the nadir of relapses displayed significantly higher amounts of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6 in CSF than the limited form and multiple sclerosis.

CONCLUSION

This consistency of pathologic findings and uniformity of courses indicates that aquaporin 4-specific autoantibodies as the initiator of the neuromyelitis optica (NMO) lesion consistently play an important common role in the pathogenicity through the entire course, consisting of both limited and definite forms, and NMO continuously displays homogeneity of pathogenic effector immune mechanisms through terminal stages, whereas multiple sclerosis should be recognized as the heterogeneous 2-stage disease that could switch from inflammatory to degenerative phase. This report is a significant description comparing the pathologic and immunologic data of limited NMO with those of definite NMO.

Effect of sulfonylureas on switching to insulin therapy (twice-daily biphasic insulin aspart 30): comparison of twice-daily biphasic insulin aspart 30 with or without glimepiride in type 2 diabetic patients poorly controlled with sub-maximal glimepiride

AIM

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of continuation or discontinuation of glimepiride upon starting insulin therapy in type 2 diabetic patients poorly controlled with sub-maximal glimepiride.

METHODS

This 48-week, randomized, observational, parallel-group study consisted of a 24-week screening period and a 24-week intervention period. During the screening period, we unified the sulfonylureas to glimepiride at 3mg/day for 8 weeks, and started biphasic insulin aspart 30 (Asp30Mix) once-daily injections for 16 weeks. At the start of the intervention period, we stepped up once- to twice-daily insulin injection and randomized the 26 patients into either continuation of glimepiride group (CONT, n=14) or discontinuation of glimepiride group (DISCON, n=12). The Asp30Mix dose-adjustment algorithm was used in both groups. HbA1C, plasma glucose, insulin daily dose, body weight, and number of hypoglycaemic episodes were evaluated.

RESULTS

At the end of the study, HbA1C improved in CONT more than in DISCON (P<0.01), and daily dose of Asp30Mix was less in CONT than DISCON (P<0.05). Body weight and the numbers of hypoglycaemic episodes were similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Continuing glimepiride (sulfonylureas) allows a better glycaemic control with less insulin daily dose compared with discontinuing glimepride.

Dose-dependent requirement of patched homologue 1 in mouse pancreatic beta cell mass

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Ectopic activation of hedgehog (HH) signalling in pancreas induces various abnormal morphogenetic events in the pancreas. This study analysed the dose-dependent requirement of patched homologue 1 (PTCH1), a negative regulator of HH signalling on pancreatic development.

METHODS

We used a recessive spontaneous mutant mouse denoted as mes which carries a mutated Ptch1 resulting in deletion of the most carboxy-terminal cytoplasmic domain of the PTCH1 protein. In this study, we analysed pancreatic morphology in Ptch1 ( +/+ ), Ptch1 ( +/mes ), Ptch1 (+/-), Ptch1 ( mes/me ) (s) and Ptch1 (-/mes ) mouse embryos, as well as the islet mass in adult Ptch1 (+/+), Ptch1 (+/mes ) and Ptch1 (+/-) mice.

RESULTS

Until embryonic day (E) 12.5, no obvious abnormality of pancreas was observed in any of the Ptch1 mutants. The levels of PDX1 and glucagon were also not evidently different among the mice genotypes studied. Thereafter, morphological abnormalities appeared in the Ptch1 mutant mice. The beta, alpha and exocrine cell masses decreased at E18.5 in parallel with increased HH signalling, with beta cell mass showing the highest sensitivity to HH signalling with a significant decrease even in Ptch1 (+/mes ) mice. Adult Ptch1 (+/-) mice also showed a significant decrease in beta cell mass compared with wild-type mice.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Our findings indicate that the carboxy-terminal domain of Ptch1 is essential for pancreatic development. In addition, the loss of Ptch1 function decreases both the endocrine and exocrine cell mass in a dose-dependent manner, with beta cells particularly sensitive to changes in HH signalling.

Fatty acid intake and asthma symptoms in Japanese children: the Ryukyus Child Health Study

BACKGROUND

It has been hypothesized that increased consumption of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and decreased consumption of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have contributed to the recent increased prevalence of asthma.

OBJECTIVES

The present cross-sectional study examined the association of intake of specific types of fatty acids with the prevalence of asthma symptoms using data from the Ryukyus Child Health Study.

METHODS

Study subjects were 25,033 schoolchildren aged 6-15 years in Okinawa, Japan. Symptoms of wheeze and asthma were defined according to diagnostic criteria from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Information on dietary factors was collected using a self-administered brief diet history questionnaire for children. Adjustment was made for age, sex, number of siblings, smoking in the household, body mass index, paternal and maternal history of allergic diseases, and paternal and maternal educational level.

RESULTS

Intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids, n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and linoleic acid (18:2 n-6) was independently associated with an increased prevalence of wheeze--the multivariate odds ratios for the highest quintile were 1.19 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.35), 1.17 (95% CI, 1.03-1.34), 1.19 (95% CI, 1.04-1.35), and 1.20 (95% CI, 1.06-1.37), respectively. There was no measurable relationship of consumption of alpha-linolenic (18:3 n-3), eicosapentaenoic (20:5 n-3), docosahexaenoic (22:6 n-3) or arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6) or the ratio of n-3 to n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids with the prevalence of wheeze. Consumption of total fat, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol were not evidently related to wheeze. No material dose-response association was found between the intake of any of the types of fatty acids considered and the prevalence of asthma.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that consumption of both n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic acid, may be associated with an increased prevalence of wheeze.