G-language Genome Analysis Environment: a workbench for nucleotide sequence data mining

SUMMARY

G-language Genome Analysis Environment (G-language GAE) is an open source generic software package aimed for higher efficiency in bioinformatics analysis. G-language GAE has an interface as a set of Perl libraries for software development, and a graphical user interface for easy manipulation. Both Windows and Linux versions are available.

AVAILABILITY

From http://www.g-language.org/ under GNU General Public License. CD-ROMs are distributed freely in major conferences.

The characteristics of bone turnover in the second decade in relation to age and puberty development in healthy Japanese male and female subjects--Japanese Population-based Osteoporosis Study

BACKGROUND

There are few studies that clarify the characteristics of bone turnover in children and adolescents. Furthermore, little has been published on changes in urinary CrossLaps(TM) (CTx) in Japanese subjects.

AIM

To investigate biochemical markers of bone turnover in subjects, in relation to age and puberty development.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We measured serum bone specific alkaline phosphatase (B-Alp) and CTx in 1207 Japanese subjects aged 9-18 years. As an indicator of puberty development, the age that pubic hair appeared in males and menstruation started in females was obtained from questionnaires.

RESULTS

B-Alp and CTx/Cr (creatinine) had high values before and just after the indicators and was lower thereafter, reaching a plateau in both genders. There was no significant difference in these values in males 5-6 years, or 7 years and more after the appearance of pubic hair. B-Alp and CTx/Cr values 7 years and more after menarche were significantly lower than those 5-6 years after menarche, however the differences were relatively small.

CONCLUSIONS

Subjects in the second decade can be divided into three groups: 'before the appearance of pubic hair for males and menarche for females', 'up to and including 3-4 years after them' and '5-6 years and more after them'.

Effects of diltiazem on in vitro cardiovascular actions of crude venom obtained from Okinawan box-jellyfish (Habu-kurage), Chiropsalmus quadrigatus

The venom obtained from Okinawan box-jellyfish (Habu-kurage), Chiropsalmus quadrigatus, produced increases in contractions of isolated rat right atrial preparations in a concentration-dependent manner without changes in a spontaneous beating rate. These increases in contractions were significantly inhibited by diltiazem and did not show tachyphylaxis. The venom also produced increases in contractions of isolated rat aortic ring preparations (endothelium-intact) in a concentration-dependent fashion, which were reproducible with repeated application and were significantly inhibited by diltiazem or heating. These increases in vascular contractions were weakened in endothelium-denuded preparations, and almost abolished in a calcium-free medium. On the other hand, the venom at higher concentrations diminished contractions of both myocardial and vascular preparations and did not show reproducibility. These results suggest that the Habu-kurage venom is heat-labile and may increase contractions of cardiac muscle and aortic smooth muscle by increasing calcium influx into muscle cells, and that the venom at higher concentrations may produce dysfunction of muscle contractile systems due to calcium overload.

Serum osteoprotegerin/osteoclastogenesis-inhibitory factor during pregnancy and lactation and the relationship with calcium-regulating hormones and bone turnover markers

Pregnancy and lactation induce dynamic changes in maternal bone and calcium metabolism. A novel cytokine termed osteoprotegerin (OPG)/osteoclastogenesis-inhibitory factor (OCIF) was recently isolated; this cytokine inhibits osteoclast maturation. To define the effects of pregnancy and lactation on circulating OPG/OCIF in mothers, we studied the changes in the levels of OPG/ OCIF as well as those of calcium-regulating hormones and biochemical markers of bone turnover in the maternal circulation during pregnancy (at 8-11 weeks, at 22-30 weeks, at 35-36 weeks and immediately before delivery) and lactation (at 4 days and at 1 month postpartum). Serum intact parathyroid hormone levels did not change and were almost within the normal range in this period. In contrast, serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels increased with gestational age and were above the normal range during pregnancy. After delivery, they fell rapidly and significantly (P<0.01) to the normal range. The levels of serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, one of the markers of bone formation, increased with gestational age. After delivery, these levels were further increased at 1 month postpartum. The levels at 1 month postpartum were significantly higher than those at 8-11 and 22-30 weeks of pregnancy (P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively). The levels of serum C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen, one of the markers of bone resorption, did not change during pregnancy. After delivery, they rapidly and significantly (P<0.01) rose at 4 days postpartum, and had then fallen by 1 month postpartum. Circulating OPG/OCIF levels gradually increased with gestational age and significantly (P<0.01) increased immediately before delivery to 1.40+/-0.53 ng/ml (means+/-S.D.) compared with those in the non-pregnant, non-lactating controls (0.58+/-0.11 ng/ml). After delivery, they fell rapidly to 0.87+/-0.27 ng/ml at 4 days postpartum and had fallen further by 1 month postpartum. These results suggest that the fall in OPG/OCIF levels may be partially connected with the marked acceleration of bone resorption after delivery.

Age-specific values and cutoff levels for the diagnosis of osteoporosis in quantitative ultrasound measurements at the calcaneus with SAHARA in healthy Japanese women: Japanese population-based osteoporosis (JPOS) study

To establish the reference values of the quantitative ultrasound (QUS) indices in healthy Japanese women and to propose a diagnostic criterion for osteoporosis by means of the QUS indices, 659 healthy women aged 20-79 years recruited from a larger cohort study (JPOS study), were examined for bone mass measurements by QUS at the calcaneus (SAHARA, Hologic Inc., USA) and by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the spine, hip, and distal forearm. We presented 10-year age-specific mean values and T-scores of the QUS indices. The pattern of decrease in the T-score appeared to be linear in the QUS indices and total hip BMD but not in BMD at the spine. The T-score of the QUS of indices of the subjects in their 70s were significantly higher than that of BMD at the spine. The prevalence rates of osteoporosis in the subjects aged 50 and older diagnosed by QUS (8.7% for SOS, 10.7% for BUA) were similar to that diagnosed by total hip BMD (11.5%) and significantly lower than that by the spine BMD (36.1%) when the WHO criteria were applied. We performed receiver-operating characteristic analysis to set a cutoff level of the QUS indices for the diagnosis of osteoporosis to accurately identify the subjects diagnosed by either the spine or total hip BMD. The highest likelihood ratios for SOS and BUA were obtained at the cutoff levels of 1,517.7 m/sec (T-score: -1.58) with the sensitivity of 0.65 and the specificity of 0.65 and 59.5 dB/MHz (T-score: -1.52) with 0.66 and 0.69, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of QUS indices for osteoporosis was not superior to that of age. However, the QUS indices showed a significant contribution to forming the diagnosis of osteoporosis independently of age and body size in multivariate diagnostic models developed by the logistic regression analysis. Therefore, the cutoff values presented in this study may be used as a tentative criterion until the cutoff levels for the QUS indices are set according to the fracture risk.

Muscle plasma membrane changes in dystrophin gene exon 52 knockout mouse

Changes in muscle plasma membranes in mice lacking exon 52 of the dystrophin gene (mdx52 mouse) were studied using the freeze-fracture technique. The extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle plasma membrane of the mdx52 mouse at 8 weeks of age showed significantly increased caveola density (p < 0.05 by two-tailed t-test) and significantly decreased densities of intramembranous particles (IMPs), orthogonal arrays (OAs) and orthogonal array subunit particles (OASPs) (p < 0.05 by two-tailed t-test, p < 0.01 by Wilcoxon rank-sum test, p < 0.05 by two-tailed t-test, respectively) on the protoplasmic face when compared with those of control EDL muscles. These changes are more similar to those seen in DMD than those in the mdx mouse at the same age as reported previously. Thus, the gene abnormality in the different exon of the mouse dystrophin gene seems to induce somewhat different changes in the muscle plasma membrane.

The apical localization of SGLT1 glucose transporter is determined by the short amino acid sequence in its N-terminal domain

SGLT1, an isoform of Na+-dependent glucose cotransporters, is localized at the apical plasma membrane in the epithelial cells of the small intestine and the kidney, where it plays a pivotal role in the absorption and reabsorption of sugars, respectively. To search the domain responsible for the apical localization of SGLT1, we constructed an N-terminal deletion clone series of rat SGLT1 and analyzed the localization of the respective products in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. The products of N-terminal deletion clones up to the 19th amino acid were localized at the apical plasma membrane, whereas the products of N-terminal 20- and 23-amino-acid deletion clones were localized along the entire plasma membrane. Since single-amino-acid mutations of either D28N or D28G in the N-terminal domain give rise to glucose/galactose malabsorption disease, we examined the localization of these mutants. The products of D28N and D28G clones were localized in the cytoplasm, showing that the aspartic acid-28 may be essential for the delivery of SGLT1 to the plasma membrane. These results suggest that a short amino acid sequence of the N-terminal domain of SGLT1 plays important roles in plasma membrane targeting and specific apical localization of the protein.

Genetic evidence that antibacterial activity of lysozyme is independent of its catalytic function

A catalytically inactive mutant of hen egg white lysozyme was constructed by site-directed mutagenesis to elucidate the role of enzymatic activity on its antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. The catalytic residue aspartic acid at position 52 of lysozyme was substituted with serine (D52S-Lz) and the mutant cDNA was inserted into a yeast expression vector, pYES-2. Western blot analysis indicated that the mutation did not affect secretion of the D52S-Lz lysozyme into the medium of the expressing Saccharomyces cerevisiae, INVSC1. In addition, circular dichroism and fluorescence spectral analysis revealed no change in the structure of D52S-Lz compared to that of wild-type (Wt-Lz) lysozyme. The mutation (D52S) abolished the catalytic activity of lysozyme. Antimicrobial tests against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis revealed that the catalytically inactive D52S-Lz was as bactericidal as the Wt-Lz lysozyme. Heat treatment leading to enzyme inactivation had no effect on the bactericidal activity of either wild-type or the mutant D52S-Lz lysozyme. The binding affinity of D52S-Lz to the isolated peptidoglycan of S. aureus was unaffected. Our results provide the first demonstration of direct genetic evidence that the antimicrobial activity of lysozyme is operationally independent of its muramidase activity, and strongly suggest the antimicrobial action of lysozyme is due to structural factors.

Effect of 1-week treatment with erythropoietin on the vascular endothelial function in anaesthetized rabbits

Chronic administration of erythropoietin (EPO) is often associated with hypertension in animals and humans. The aim of this study was to estimate whether 1-week treatment with EPO can affect the vascular endothelial function. Rabbits were given with EPO (400 iu kg(-1) s.c.) or saline each other day for 1 week. Hypotensive responses to intravenously given acetylcholine (ACh), endothelium-independent nitric oxide donors (NOC7, nitroprusside and nitroglycerin) and prostaglandin I2 were tested before and after administration of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a specific nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, under pentobarbitone anaesthesia. Blood haemoglobin concentration in EPO group was significantly higher than that in control group, whereas baseline values of aortic pressure, heart rate and femoral vascular resistance were similar. The dose of ACh (172 ng kg(-1)) requiring for a 15 mmHg hypotension from the baseline in EPO group was apparently higher than that (55 ng kg(-1)) in control group. On the contrary, hypotensive responses to NOC7, nitroprusside, nitroglycerin and prostaglandin I2 were comparable between two groups. The extent of ACh-induced hypotension did not correlate with haemoglobin concentration. L-NAME significantly inhibited the ACh-induced vasodilating response in control group but did not in EPO group. In another set of rabbits, the same treatment with EPO also decreased vasodilating responses to carbachol, bradykinin and substance P besides ACh as compared with control group. These results indicate that 1-week treatment with EPO selectively attenuates depressor responses to endothelium-dependent vasodilators in anaesthetized rabbits, most likely due to inhibition of endothelial nitric oxide synthase.

Hypertonicity-induced expression of aquaporin 3 in MDCK cells

Aquaporins (AQPs) are water channel proteins that participate in water transport. In the principal cells of the kidney collecting duct, water reabsorption is mediated by the combined action of AQP2 in the apical membrane and both AQP3 and AQP4 in the basolateral membrane, and the expression of AQP2 and AQP3 is regulated by antidiuretic hormone and water restriction. The effect of hypertonicity on AQP3 expression in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells was investigated by exposing the cells to hypertonic medium containing raffinose or NaCl. Northern blot and immunoblot analyses revealed that the amounts of AQP3 mRNA and AQP3 protein, respectively, were markedly increased by exposure of cells to hypertonicity. These effects were maximal at 12 and 24 h, respectively. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy also demonstrated that the abundance of AQP3 protein was increased in cells incubated in hypertonic medium and that the protein was localized at the basolateral plasma membrane. These results indicate that the expression of AQP3 is upregulated by hypertonicity.

Intracellular and extracellular control of activin function by novel regulatory molecules

Activin signal transduction is regulated through multiple mechanisms. We have identified novel regulatory proteins that control activin functions either intracellularly or extracellularly. As intracellular molecules, PSD-95/Dlg/ZO-1 (PDZ) proteins that specifically associate with activin type II receptors (ActRIIs) were identified. We have named the molecules as activin receptor-interacting proteins (ARIPs). ARIP1 has two WW domains and five PDZ domains, associates not only with ActRIIs but also with Smads, and controls activin functions intracellularly in neuronal cells. Another ARIP we have found has only one PDZ domain, and is likely to be involved in intracellular trafficking and sorting of activin receptor complexes in the cell. As an extracellular regulatory protein, we have identified a novel follistatin-like protein, named follistatin-related gene (FLRG). Like follistatins, FLRG binds activins and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and controls their functions extracellularly. The mode of association of follistatin and FLRG with activins and their expression patterns are different, suggesting the distinct functions of follistatin and FLRG in vivo.

Follistatin-related protein (FSRP): a new member of the follistatin gene family

The identification and characterization of follistatin related protein (FSRP) suggests that the follistatin (FS) gene family may actually contain two sub-families. The first includes FS and FSRP by virtue of their high degree of structural homology and comparable activin-binding activity, while the second sub-family contains extracellular matrix proteins that possess one or more 10-cysteine FS domains, but do not bind activin or related TGF-beta family members. Characterization of FSRP indicates that it binds activin with similar affinity and selectivity as FS, but does not bind heparin. Furthermore, although FSRP inhibits activin-mediated gene transcription in heterologous assays, FSRP is much less active than FS in the rat pituitary bioassay. When overexpressed in transgenic mice, FSRP may lead to interruption of follicular development and fertility in females but appears to have only a modest effect on males. These results suggest that FSRP is a structural, but not necessarily a functional homologue of FS.

HTLV-I proviral load correlates with progression of motor disability in HAM/TSP: analysis of 239 HAM/TSP patients including 64 patients followed up for 10 years

To clarify clinical and laboratory findings that may be related to the pathomechanism of HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), we analyzed these findings in 239 patients with HAM/TSP, including 64 patients followed up for 10 years after their first examinations, with special interest in the HTLV-I proviral load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The proviral load in PBMCs did not differ in terms of modes of HTLV-I transmission. However, the proviral load in patients with age of disease onset greater than 65 years tended to be higher than those with a younger age of onset. In the 64 patients followed up for 10 years, the clinical symptoms deteriorated in 36 patients (56%), unchanged in 26 patients (41%), and improved in 2 patients (3%). HTLV-I proviral load also appeared to be related to the deterioration of motor disability in these patients. To our knowledge, the present study is the first longitudinal study concerning the relationship between the clinical course of HAM/TSP and HTLV-I proviral load. It is suggested that HTLV-I proviral load is related to the progression of motor disability and is an important factor to predict prognosis of patients with HAM/TSP.

Effects of leptin on secretion of LH and FSH from primary cultured female rat pituitary cells

BACKGROUND

Leptin, which is the product of the obese gene, is believed to play important roles in pubertal development and reproductive function in females. In a study using adult male rats, it was found that leptin stimulated secretion of gonadotropin from the pituitary in a dose-related manner. However, there has been no such study in female rats.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of leptin on the production of LH and FSH from the pituitary in female rats, using primary cultured pituitary cells.

METHODS

In this study, we determined body weight, serum leptin concentration and serum estradiol (E(2)) concentration in female Wistar rats at 3, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 11 weeks of age, and cultured pituitary cells from 6-week-old female Wistar rats with leptin (0--10(-7) mol/l) and GnRH (0 or 10(-8) mol/l). Then basal and GnRH-stimulated extra- and intracellular LH and FSH were assayed by RIA.

RESULTS

Serum leptin concentration increased with increases in body weight and E(2) concentration. The pubertal serum leptin concentration was about 10(-10) mol/l. At a lower or moderate concentration, leptin produced dose-related increases in both basal and GnRH-stimulated extra- and intracellular LH and FSH in pituitary cells. At a concentration of 10 mol/l, leptin significantly (P<0.05) stimulated both basal and GnRH-stimulated extra- and intracellular LH and FSH. However, at greater concentrations, these effects diminished.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicated that leptin induced pituitary cells to produce and secrete both LH and FSH, with or without GnRH. The concentration of leptin that induced the greatest production of gonadotropins by pituitary cells was 10(-10) mol/l, which was the same as the physiological pubertal concentration. Leptin may be involved in the onset of puberty. It is also conceivable that leptin may be a cause of ovulatory failure, not only in weight loss but also in weight gain.

Enhancement of natural killer cytotoxicity delayed murine carcinogenesis by a probiotic microorganism

Regulation of innate immunity may be an effective means of cancer control. Delaying cancer onset is regarded as an important mode of action in cancer prevention. We have been investigating the chemopreventive mechanisms of Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS), a probiotic strain. In this study, we evaluated the effect of LcS on tumor onset and the involvement of natural killer (NK) cells using a 3-methylcholanthrene-induced carcinogenesis model. C3H/HeN mice were divided into three groups, according to treatment: vehicle-treated, treated with vehicle only; control, 3-methylcholanthrene treated; LcS, 3-methylcholanthrene and LcS treated. 3-Methylcholanthrene was injected intradermally at 7 weeks of age. LcS was mixed into the diet (0.05%, w/w), which the mice were fed from the day of 3-methylcholanthrene injection onward. Tumor incidence was observed weekly. Profiles of splenic NK cells, in vitro cytotoxicity and the proportion, in the early stage of carcinogenesis were analyzed at 5 weeks after the injection. The tumor suppressive effect of LcS was also evaluated in a beige mouse model that is genetically deficient in NK cells. LcS delayed tumor onset and reduced tumor incidence in the results with C3H/HeN mice (P< 0.05). More specifically, tumor incidence in the control group was 33% at 6 weeks after the injection and 83% at 11 weeks as opposed to 0 and 42%, respectively, in the LcS group. NK cell cytotoxicity was significantly higher than in the control group, and the number of NK cells also increased in the LcS group of C3H/HeN mice. However, LcS failed to suppress tumorigenesis in the beige mouse. These findings suggest that enhancement of the cytotoxicity of NK cells by LcS delays tumor onset.

beta-Adrenoceptor blocking activities of nipradilol and its optical isomers in pig coronary artery

1. beta-Adrenoceptor blocking activities of nipradilol, its four optical isomers (RR, RS, SR, SS) and denitro nipradilol were evaluated using pig isolated coronary arteries. 2. (-)-Isoprenaline produced concentration-dependent relaxations of the arteries, which were antagonized by nipradilol, its four optical isomers or denitro nipradilol under KCl-induced contracture. 3. The order of pA2 values for beta-adrenoceptor blocking activities was SR > nipradilol > SS > or = denitro nipradilol > RR > RS. 4. The nitroxy group in nipradilol appears to enhance its beta-adrenoceptor blocking activity, because the beta-adrenoceptor blocking activity of nipradilol was more potent than that of denitro nipradilol. 5. Isomers that have the S configuration (SR, SS) at the 2' position (having a hydroxyl group) in the aryloxypropanolamine showed more potent beta-adrenoceptor blocking activity than isomers that have the R configuration (RR, RS). 6. Isomers that have the R configuration (SR, RR) at the 3 position (having a nitroxy group) in the benzopyran ring showed more potent beta-adrenoceptor blocking activity than those with the S configuration (SS, RS). 7. It is suggested that the difference in configuration of the chemical structure of nipradilol may result in variations of binding affinity for the beta-adrenoceptor.

Most apoptotic cells in mdx diaphragm muscle contain accumulated lipofuscin

An age-related pigment, lipofuscin (LF), which accumulates in postmitotic, long-lived cells, is formed by the oxidative degradation of cellular macromolecules by oxygen-derived free radicals. In the present study we show that LF is accumulated in some myofibres, myosatellite cells and interstitial cells in the diaphragm muscles of the X chromosome-linked muscular dystrophic (mdx) mice at the age of 10 weeks when repetitive cycles of de- and regeneration of myofibres occur. In contrast, LF is virtually absent in diaphragm muscles of age-matched C57BL/10 (C57) normal control mice. Therefore, mdx muscle is more susceptible to oxidative stress than normal muscle. We hypothesise that gene-regulated cell death (apoptosis) occurs in dystrophic muscle cells that accumulate LF as a consequence of either oxidative stress or injury. We found that 74-79% of apoptotic myosatellite cells, interstitial cells and myofibres in mdx diaphragm contain accumulated or dotted LF granules, but only 12-20% of non-apoptotic cells contain LF. Apoptotic cells are very rare in the diaphragm of age-matched C57 control mice. This suggests that the regeneration of mdx diaphragm muscle initiated from myosatellite cells is impaired by their apoptosis as the result of either oxidative stress or a product of oxidative injury.

Phenotypic variation in a large Japanese family with Miyoshi myopathy with nonsense mutation in exon 19 of dysferlin gene

Miyoshi myopathy, an autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy involving distal muscles, is caused by dysferlin mutations. We present clinical and genetic studies of two men and six women, aged 25-83 years, from a Japanese family with consanguineous marriages. Onset was between ages 17 and 59 years. Six of the patients had muscle involvement typical of Miyoshi myopathy, one initially had severe proximal muscle involvement, and one had scapuloperoneal-type muscle involvement. Three patients showed steppage gait. Genetic linkage analysis identified a maximum lod score of 3.34 (&theta;=0.00) at marker D2S292 in 2p13. Analysis of dysferlin revealed the mutation G2090T (Glu573Stop) in exon 19 in all affected patients. This is the largest Japanese family with Miyoshi myopathy showing intrafamilial phenotypic variation and sharing a common mutation in dysferlin.

Bone mineral density of the spine, hip and distal forearm in representative samples of the Japanese female population: Japanese Population-Based Osteoporosis (JPOS) Study

Low bone mineral density (BMD) is one of the most important elements for the diagnosis of osteoporosis and screening people with higher risk of fractures. To establish the criterion value of BMD for the diagnosis of osteoporosis and to estimate the prevalence rate of osteoporosis in Japanese women, we performed a Japanese population-based osteoporosis (JPOS) study. The subjects were 4550 women aged 15 through 79 years randomly selected from seven municipalities throughout Japan. The sample size was determined to ensure that the observed mean BMD would remain within 2.5% from the real value with a probability of 0.95 in each of the 5-year age groups. The study comprised bone mass measurements by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the spine (L2-4), hip and distal forearm, body size measurements and detailed interviews on medical and gynecologic history. After excluding those subjects with apparent or suggested abnormalities affecting bone mass from 3985 women (87.6%) who completed the study, 3465 women remained and served as the subjects. We present 5-year age-specific mean values of BMD and cut-off values for the diagnosis of osteoporosis according to World Health Organization (WHO) and the Japanese Society of Bone and Mineral Research (JSBMR) criteria. The cut-off levels at the spine and the distal radius proposed in this study were similar to those proposed by the JSBMR but the cut-off level at the femoral neck in this study was 4.7% higher than that of the JSBMR. The prevalence rates of osteoporosis according to WHO criteria in the present subjects aged 50 through 79 years were calculated as 38.0% at the spine, 11.6% at the femoral neck and 56.8% at the distal one-third site of the radius, and those in the Japanese female population of the same age were estimated to be 35.1%, 9.4% and 51.2%, respectively. A fivefold difference was observed among the prevalence rates at different skeletal sites, which suggests that the different definitions of osteoporosis should be established for the different skeletal sites. The prevalence rate diagnosed at the femoral neck seemed to be lower in the present study than those reported for Caucasians. This might account for a lower incidence rate of hip fracture in Japanese women.

Resting Ultrasonic Tissue Characterization and Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography for Prediction of Functional Recovery in Chronic Left Ventricular Ischemic Dysfunction

This study was designed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the percentage of resting systolic wall thickening (WT), dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE), resting cyclic variation of integrated backscatter (IBS-CV), and low-dose dobutamine stress IBS-CV (DSE-IB) for the prediction of regional function recovery (RFR) in patients with chronic left ventricular (LV) ischemic dysfunction. The study also evaluated whether or not global LV function affected the diagnostic accuracy. All studies were conducted before percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and RFR was assessed after PTCA (mean interval, 10 months) in 30 patients with chronic LV ischemic dysfunction. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the LV ejection fraction (LVEF): group A, LVEF<40%, n=14; group B, LVEF> or =40%, n=16. Of a total of 480 segments, 37 initially demonstrating akinetic wall motion before PTCA were analyzed. The wall motion of 24 of the 37 segments improved on visual analysis after PTCA. In the prediction of RFR, resting WT, DSE, resting IBS-CV and DSE-IB had sensitivities of 79%, 79%, 92% and 62%, and specificities of 54%, 84%, 83% and 69%, respectively. In particular, the resting IBS-CV in group A, as well as DSE, was an excellent predictor of RFR (sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 86%; vs sensitivity, 82%; specificity, 78%; respectively). Therefore, both resting IBS-CV and DSE are useful predictors for RFR in patients with chronic LV ischemic dysfunction.

HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM)/tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-like manifestations

To clarify the existence of HAM/TSP presenting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-like manifestations, we assayed HTLV-I proviral load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in 15 patients with anti-HTLV-I antibody in serum and ALS-like manifestations (upper motor neuron involvement in at least one region and lower motor neuron involvement in at least two limbs) by quantitative PCR, and compared the proviral load with that of 233 HAM/TSP patients and of 213 HTLV-I carriers. Five of 15 patients with ALS-like manifestations had proviral loads as high as those in the 233 patients with HAM/TSP. Anti-HTLV-I antibody in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was present in all of five patients. The proviral load in the remaining 10 patients was similar to that in HTLV-I carriers. Four of five patients with a high proviral load met the diagnostic criterion of HAM/TSP except for lower motor neuron involvement. These four patients showed high neopterin levels in CSF. On the basis of HTLV-I proviral load in PBMC and the clinical symptoms, our tentative conclusion is that these four patients are HAM/TSP presenting ALS-like manifestations.

Comparison of contractile responses relative to protein between isolated diabetic and non-diabetic rat aortae to KCl and alpha-adrenoceptor agonists in different extracellular calcium concentrations

The influence of extracellular Ca2+ concentration on contractile responses of aortae isolated from diabetic rats to KCl and alpha-adrenoceptor agonists was compared with that of non-diabetic rat aortae. Diabetic rats 6 weeks after administration of streptozotocin showed significantly lower body weight and higher plasma glucose concentration, but the protein content per each aortic ring preparation was not significantly different from that of non-diabetic preparation. Both diabetic and non-diabetic aortae showed concentration-dependent contractile responses to norepinephrine, which were concentration-dependently inhibited by prazosin. On the other hand, clonidine induced small contractions in both aortae, which tended to be more inhibited by prazosin than yohimbine. In non-diabetic aortae, the contractile responses to KCl, norepinephrine, methoxamine and clonidine were significantly greater with 2.5 mmol/l of extracellular Ca2+ than 1.25 mmol/l. In diabetic aortae, however, the contractile responses were not significantly influenced by changes in extracellular Ca2+ concentration. Additionally, the contractile responses to each agonist were markedly greater in non-diabetic aortae than diabetic ones. The present results indicate that the contractions of diabetic vasculature do not respond to changes in extracellular Ca2+ concentration, suggesting that there may be some impairment of Ca2+ related mechanisms.