Ontogenetic metamorphosis and extreme sexual dimorphism in lumpsuckers: Eumicrotremus asperrimus, Cyclopteropsis bergi and Cyclopteropsis lindbergi, may be synonymous

Cyclopterids were hatched from egg batches that were laid in two empty buccinid snail shells collected from a depth of 340 m in the Sea of Japan. Larvae were reared to identify species and to describe the morphological changes associated with metamorphosis. The fin rays of all fins were mostly complete and the pelvic fins were modified to form suckers, or adhesive discs, at the time of hatching. Juveniles immediately attached themselves to the bottom and there was no planktonic stage. The body surface was smooth with no spines or bony tubercles. At 4 months after hatching, the fine spines present on the head and trunk of juveniles transformed into bony tubercles. At 7 months after hatching, fishes became sexually dimorphic including the position and development patterns of bony tubercles. Importantly, these sexually dimorphic changes in morphology corresponded closely with descriptions of different species. Specifically, females could be classified as Eumicrotremus asperrimus, and young and fully developed males as Cyclopteropsis bergi and Cyclopteropsis lindbergi, respectively. These observations resolved a previously ambiguous hypothesis regarding the taxonomy of these cyclopterid taxa. Cyclopteropsis bergi and C. lindbergi may be synonyms of E. asperrimus.

Effects of emulsifying components in the continuous phase of cream on the stability of fat globules and the physical properties of whipped cream

The emulsifying components in cream are very important in controlling the physical characteristics of whipped cream. The effects of those components on the stability of fat globules and the physical characteristics of whipped cream were investigated. A low-molecular-weight emulsifier, and protein ingredients such as sodium caseinate and a casein partial hydrolysate (casein peptides), were used as emulsifying components in this investigation. The viscosity of deaerated whipped cream (called the serum viscosity) was measured to evaluate the degree of fat-globule aggregation. Furthermore, the shape-retention ability, which is the degree of reduction in the firmness of whipped cream between immediately after whipping and after 1d of refrigeration, was explored. The addition of the low-molecular-weight emulsifier in the continuous phase of dairy cream, which does not contain added low-molecular-weight emulsifiers, increased the stability of the fat globules and reduced the shape-retention ability of the whipped cream. The addition of protein ingredients (sodium caseinate and casein peptides) to the continuous phase of dairy cream had little effect. However, the addition of casein peptide in the continuous phase of dairy cream together with the low-molecular-weight emulsifier reduced the effect of the low-molecular-weight emulsifier on the stabilization of fat globules and the shape-retention ability of the whipped cream. The addition of casein peptide did not recover the serum viscosity; thus, other mechanisms might underlie this phenomenon.

Clinical efficacy of simultaneous splenectomy in liver transplant recipients with hepatitis C virus

BACKGROUND

Interferon (IFN) therapy is a well-established antiviral treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) - infected patients. However, susceptibility to thrombocytopenia is a major obstacle in its initiation or continuation, particularly in patients with HCV who underwent liver transplantation (LT). We previously showed that the coexistence of splenomegaly and thrombocytopenia could result in persistent thrombocytopenia after LT. Here we retrospectively evaluated the validity of this criterion for simultaneous splenectomy in recipients with HCV.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Subjects included 36 recipients with HCV who received LT between January 2006 and February 2012 at Hiroshima University. We analyzed the spleen volume, body surface area, platelet (PLT) count, and rate of completion or continuation with IFN therapy in these recipients.

RESULT

Of these recipients, 30 did not require simultaneous splenectomy according to the criterion, and 24 actually did not receive simultaneous splenectomy. In this group, 21 (87.5%) started IFN therapy. Fifteen (71.4%) of these recipients completed or continued IFN therapy, whereas 13 (61.9%) achieved either a sustained virological response (SVR) or an end-of-treatment response. The PLT count increased to >100,000/mm(3) 1 month after LT in 16 (66.7%) recipients from this group.

CONCLUSION

Our criterion detected the PLT count outcome after LT in recipients with HCV and achieved a better SVR result after IFN therapy.

334 FACTORS AFFECTING HEMATOPOIETIC ENGRAFTMENT OF MONKEY EMBRYONIC STEM CELLS IN SHEEP FETUSES

Previously, we generated monkey/sheep haematopoietic chimeras by in utero transplantation (IUT) of monkey embryonic stem (ES); however, the factors that control how the ES cells successfully engraft and differentiate into haematopoietic tissue in sheep fetuses remain uncertain. Here, we examined factors that might influence donor cells and recipient sheep and affect successful ES cell engraftment. We transplanted either undifferentiated monkey ES cells or ES-derived cells at an early haematopoietic differentiation stage into sheep fetuses. The latter cells were allowed to differentiate by culturing on OP9 cell layers for 6 days. Cells were transplanted into the liver or subcutaneous tissue of recipient sheep fetuses at 43 to 50 or 51 to 67 days of gestation (full term = 147 days) using ultrasound to identify the site for transplantation. After birth, monkey haematopoietic engraftment in the bone marrow was analysed in 40 lambs using colony-PCR with cells grown in methylcellulose in the presence of defined cytokines; teratoma formation was analysed by biopsy and immunohistochemistry. We found that haematopoietic engraftment was only observed when ES-derived cells at the early differentiation stage were transplanted into fetal livers at 51 to 67 days of gestation (6/9). However, teratoma formation with mature monkey tissue structures was only observed following transplantation of undifferentiated ES cells into fetal subcutaneous tissues at 43 to 50 days of gestation (4/6), but that was not observed when both types of cells were transplanted into the liver (0/18) or at 51 to 67 days of gestation (0/24). These results demonstrate that the differentiation status of the donor cells, the transplantation site, and the age of the fetus at transplantation are important factors in engraftment and differentiation into haematopoietic tissue or teratoma formation in sheep fetuses.

Defective neutrophil recruitment in leukocyte adhesion deficiency type I disease causes local IL-17-driven inflammatory bone loss

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency type I (LAD-I), a disease syndrome associated with frequent microbial infections, is caused by mutations on the CD18 subunit of β₂ integrins. LAD-I is invariably associated with severe periodontal bone loss, which historically has been attributed to the lack of neutrophil surveillance of the periodontal infection. We provide an alternative mechanism by showing that the cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17) plays a major role in the oral pathology of LAD-I. Defective neutrophil recruitment in LAD-I patients or in LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18)-deficient mice--which exhibit the LAD-I periodontal phenotype--was associated with excessive production of predominantly T cell-derived IL-17 in the periodontal tissue, although innate lymphoid cells also contributed to pathological IL-17 elevation in the LFA-1-deficient mice. Local treatment with antibodies to IL-17 or IL-23 in LFA-1-deficient mice not only blocked inflammatory periodontal bone loss but also caused a reduction in the total bacterial burden, suggesting that the IL-17-driven pathogenesis of LAD-I periodontitis leads to dysbiosis. Therefore, our findings support an IL-17-targeted therapy for periodontitis in LAD-I patients.

Miniature quartz crystal-resonator-based thermogravimetric detector

In this work, a new design for a microheater combined with a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) array for thermogravimetric analysis is presented. Each QCM consists of two electrodes to excite thickness-shear-mode vibrations and one microheater to increase the temperature on the crystal backside. In addition, all the electrode pads are patterned on the crystal backside, making the design of the QCM compact and user-friendly. Finally, the proposed QCM array was employed to separate ethanol from methanol. This was successfully achieved via thermal desorption spectra calculated by differentiating the frequency changes.

Muscle damage after low-intensity eccentric contractions with blood flow restriction

Discrepancies exist whether blood flow restriction (BFR) exacerbates exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). This study compared low-intensity eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors with and without BFR for changes in indirect markers of muscle damage. Nine untrained young men (18-26 y) performed low-intensity (30% 1RM) eccentric contractions (2-s) of the elbow flexors with one arm assigned to BFR and the other arm without BFR. EIMD markers of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) torque, range of motion (ROM), upper arm circumference, muscle thickness and muscle soreness were measured before, immediately after, 1, 2, 3, and 4 days after exercise. Electromyography (EMG) amplitude of the biceps brachii and brachioradialis were recorded during exercise. EMG amplitude was not significantly different between arms and did not significantly change from set 1 to set 4 for the biceps brachii but increased for the brachioradialis (p ≤ 0.05, 12.0% to 14.5%) when the conditions were combined. No significant differences in the changes in any variables were found between arms. MVC torque decreased 7% immediately post-exercise (p ≤ 0.05), but no significant changes in ROM, circumference, muscle thickness and muscle soreness were found. These results show that BFR does not affect EIMD by low-intensity eccentric contractions.

Comparison of multiple parameters obtained on 3T pulsed arterial spin-labeling, diffusion tensor imaging, and MRS and the Ki-67 labeling index in evaluating glioma grading

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Pulsed arterial spin-labeling, DTI, and MR spectroscopy provide useful data for tumor evaluation. We evaluated multiple parameters by using these pulse sequences and the Ki-67 labeling index in newly diagnosed supratentorial gliomas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All 32 patients, with grade II (3 each of diffuse astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, and oligoastrocytoma), grade III (3 anaplastic astrocytomas, 4 anaplastic oligodendrogliomas, and 1 anaplastic oligoastrocytoma), and grade IV (14 glioblastomas and 1 glioblastoma with an oligodendroglioma component) cases underwent pulsed arterial spin-labeling, DTI, and MR spectroscopy studies by using 3T MR imaging. The following variables were used to compare the tumors: relative cerebral blood flow, fractional anisotropy; ADC tumor/normal ratios; and the Cho/Cr, NAA/Cho, NAA/Cr, and lactate/Cr ratios. A logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analysis were used to assess parameters with a high sensitivity and specificity to identify the threshold values for separate grading. We compared the Ki-67 index with various MR imaging parameters in tumor specimens.

RESULTS

Significant correlations were observed between the Ki-67 index and the mean, maximum, and minimum ADC, Cho/Cr, and lactate/Cr ratios. The receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the combination of the minimum ADC and Cho/Cr ratios could differentiate low-grade and high-grade gliomas, with a sensitivity and specificity of 87.0% and 88.9%, respectively. The mean and maximum relative cerebral blood flow ratios were used to classify glioblastomas from other-grade astrocytomas, with a sensitivity and specificity of 92.9% and 83.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that pulsed arterial spin-labeling, DTI, and MR spectroscopy are useful for predicting glioma grade. Additionally, the parameters obtained on DTI and MR spectroscopy closely correlated with the proliferative potential of gliomas.

Regulation of osteoclast homeostasis and inflammatory bone loss by MFG-E8

The glycoprotein milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor factor 8 (MFG-E8) is expressed in several tissues and mediates diverse homeostatic functions. However, whether it plays a role in bone homeostasis has not been established. In this study, we show for the first time, to our knowledge, that osteoclasts express and are regulated by MFG-E8. Bone marrow-derived osteoclast precursors from MFG-E8-deficient (Mfge8(-/-)) mice underwent increased receptor activator of NF-κB ligand-induced osteoclastogenesis, leading to enhanced resorption pit formation compared with wild-type controls. Consistently, exogenously added MFG-E8 inhibited receptor activator of NF-κB ligand-induced osteoclastogenesis from mouse or human osteoclast precursors. Upon induction of experimental periodontitis, an oral inflammatory disease characterized by loss of bone support of the dentition, Mfge8(-/-) mice exhibited higher numbers of osteoclasts and more bone loss than did wild-type controls. Accordingly, local microinjection of anti-MFG-E8 mAb exacerbated periodontal bone loss in wild-type mice. Conversely, microinjection of MFG-E8 inhibited bone loss in experimental mouse periodontitis. In comparison with wild-type controls, Mfge8(-/-) mice also experienced >60% more naturally occurring chronic periodontal bone loss. In conclusion, MFG-E8 is a novel homeostatic regulator of osteoclasts that could be exploited therapeutically to treat periodontitis and perhaps other immunological disorders associated with inflammatory bone loss.

Porphyromonas gingivalis manipulates complement and TLR signaling to uncouple bacterial clearance from inflammation and promote dysbiosis

Certain low-abundance bacterial species, such as the periodontitis-associated oral bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis, can subvert host immunity to remodel a normally symbiotic microbiota into a dysbiotic, disease-provoking state. However, such pathogens also exploit inflammation to thrive in dysbiotic conditions. How these bacteria evade immunity while maintaining inflammation is unclear. As previously reported, P. gingivalis remodels the oral microbiota into a dysbiotic state by exploiting complement. Now we show that in neutrophils P. gingivalis disarms a host-protective TLR2-MyD88 pathway via proteasomal degradation of MyD88, whereas it activates an alternate TLR2-Mal-PI3K pathway. This alternate TLR2-Mal-PI3K pathway blocks phagocytosis, provides "bystander" protection to otherwise susceptible bacteria, and promotes dysbiotic inflammation in vivo. This mechanism to disengage bacterial clearance from inflammation required an intimate crosstalk between TLR2 and the complement receptor C5aR and can contribute to the persistence of microbial communities that drive dysbiotic diseases.

Genetic and intervention studies implicating complement C3 as a major target for the treatment of periodontitis

Chronic periodontitis is induced by a dysbiotic microbiota and leads to inflammatory destruction of tooth-supporting connective tissue and bone. The third component of complement, C3, is a point of convergence of distinct complement activation mechanisms, but its involvement in periodontitis was not previously addressed. We investigated this question using two animal species models, namely, C3-deficient or wild-type mice and nonhuman primates (NHPs) locally treated with a potent C3 inhibitor (the compstatin analog Cp40) or an inactive peptide control. In mice, C3 was required for maximal periodontal inflammation and bone loss, and for the sustenance of the dysbiotic microbiota. The effect of C3 on the microbiota was therefore different from that reported for the C5a receptor, which is required for the initial induction of dysbiosis. C3-dependent bone loss was demonstrated in distinct models, including Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced periodontitis, ligature-induced periodontitis, and aging-associated periodontitis. Importantly, local treatment of NHPs with Cp40 inhibited ligature-induced periodontal inflammation and bone loss, which correlated with lower gingival crevicular fluid levels of proinflammatory mediators (e.g., IL-17 and RANKL) and decreased osteoclastogenesis in bone biopsy specimens, as compared with control treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first time, for any disease, that complement inhibition in NHPs was shown to inhibit inflammatory processes that lead to osteoclastogenesis and bone loss. These data strongly support the feasibility of C3-targeted intervention for the treatment of human periodontitis.

The clinical and pathological significance of nitric oxide synthase in human pituitary adenomas: a comparison with MIB-1

The purpose of the present study was to define the clinical and pathological significance of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in human pituitary adenomas, and to compare these values with those of the MIB-1 labeling index (LI) using an immunohistochemical method. Tissue specimens from 82 cases of surgically-treated pituitary adenomas were immunostained for hormone production for the MIB-1 LI and for the three NOS isoenzymes and five normal pituitary glands were immunostained for the three NOS isoenzymes as a control. The correlation between the clinical variables (age, functional status, tumor size, Hardy's grading, cavernous and/or sphenoid invasiveness, and progression) and mean MIB-1 LI, or between the same clinical variables and NOS immunoreactivity (IR) were analyzed. There was a statistically significant difference in the MIB-1 LI between macroadenomas and microadenomas, and between invasive adenomas and noninvasive adenomas. On the other hand, there was a statistically significant difference in the inducible NOS (iNOS) IR between invasive adenomas and noninvasive adenomas. Furthermore, the iNOS IR had a significant correlation with the MIB-1 LI. Invasive adenomas have a higher iNOS IR, and this correlated with the MIB-1 LI. These findings may be due to the function of iNOS, which plays an important role in tissue injury and repair.

Effects of walking combined with restricted leg blood flow on mTOR and MAPK signalling in young men

Walking combined with blood flow reduction (BFR-walk) elicits muscle hypertrophy. However, the skeletal muscle intracellular signalling behind this response is currently unknown.

AIM

To investigate the effects of BFR-walk on mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathways in young men.

METHODS

Six young men performed 20 min of treadmill walking at 55% of their predetermined maximum oxygen uptake. A pressure cuff belt was applied to the most proximal thigh of only one leg (BFR-Leg, external compression was 240 mmHg), whereas the other leg (CON-Leg) was without BFR during walking. Muscle biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis of the CON-Leg before exercise and in both legs 3 h after exercise.

RESULTS

Erk1/2 phosphorylation levels were significantly (P < 0.05) increased after exercise in both legs; however, only the BFR-Leg saw an increased phosphorylation of p38. For mTOR signalling, there were no changes in Akt, mTOR or S6K1 phosphorylation levels before or after walking. However, eEF2 phosphorylation level was significantly (P < 0.05) lower for the BFR-Leg 3 h after walking compared with CON-Leg.

CONCLUSION

BFR-walk exercise may activate some intracellular signalling cascades that are associated with muscle hypertrophy in young men.

Does blood flow restriction result in skeletal muscle damage? A critical review of available evidence

Blood flow restriction (BFR) alone or in combination with exercise has been shown to result in muscle hypertrophy and strength gain across a variety of populations. Although there are numerous studies in the literature showing beneficial muscular effects following the application of BFR, questions have been raised over whether BFR may lead to or even increase the incidence of muscle damage. The purpose of this review is to examine the proposed mechanisms behind muscle damage and critically review the available BFR literature. The available evidence does not support the hypothesis that BFR in combination with low-intensity exercise increases the incidence of muscle damage. Instead, the available literature suggests that minimal to no muscle damage is occurring with this type of exercise. This conclusion is drawn from the following observations: (a) no prolonged decrements in muscle function; (b) no prolonged muscle swelling; (c) muscle soreness ratings similar to a submaximal low load control; and (d) no elevation in blood biomarkers of muscle damage.

Blood flow restriction pressure recommendations: the hormesis hypothesis

Blood flow restriction (BFR) alone or in combination with exercise has been shown to result in favorable effects on skeletal muscle form and function. The pressure applied should be high enough to occlude venous return from the muscle but low enough to maintain arterial inflow into the muscle. The optimal pressure for beneficial effects on skeletal muscle are currently unknown; however, preliminary data from our laboratory suggests that there may be a point where greater pressure may not augment the response (e.g. metabolic accumulation, cell swelling) but may actually result in decrements (e.g. muscle activation). This led us to wonder if BFR elicits somewhat of a hormesis effect. The purpose of this manuscript is to discuss whether pressure may be modulated to maximize skeletal muscle adaptation with resistance training in combination with BFR. Furthermore, the potential safety issues that could arise from increasing pressure too high are also briefly reviewed. We hypothesize that with BFR there is likely a moderate (∼ 50% estimated arterial occlusion pressure) pressure that maximizes the anabolic response to skeletal muscle without producing the potential negative consequences of higher pressures. Thus, BFR may follow the hormesis theory to some degree, in that a low/moderate dose of BFR produces beneficial effects while higher pressures (at or near arterial occlusion) may decrease the benefits of exercise and increase the health risk. This hypothesis requires long term studies investigating chronic training adaptations to differential pressures. In addition, how differences in load interact with differences in pressure should also be investigated.

Endogenous memory CD8 T cells directly mediate cardiac allograft rejection

Differences in levels of environmentally induced memory T cells that cross-react with donor MHC molecules are postulated to account for the efficacy of allograft tolerance-inducing strategies in rodents versus their failure in nonhuman primates and human transplant patients. Strategies to study the impact of donor-reactive memory T cells on allografts in rodents have relied on the pretransplant induction of memory T cells cross-reactive with donor allogeneic MHC molecules through recipient viral infection, priming directly with donor antigen or adoptive transfer of donor antigen primed memory T cells. Each approach accelerates allograft rejection and confers resistance to tolerance induction, but also biases the T cell repertoire to strong donor reactivity. The ability of endogenous memory T cells within unprimed mice to directly reject an allograft is unknown. Here, we show a direct association between increased duration of cold ischemic allograft storage and numbers and enhanced functions of early graft infiltrating endogenous CD8 memory T cells. These T cells directly mediate rejection of allografts subjected to prolonged ischemia and this rejection is resistant to costimulatory blockade. These findings recapitulate the clinically significant impact of endogenous memory T cells with donor reactivity in a mouse transplant model in the absence of prior recipient priming.

Randomized clinical trial of the effect of perioperative synbiotics versus no synbiotics on bacterial translocation after oesophagectomy

BACKGROUND

The impact of perioperative synbiotics on bacterial translocation and subsequent bacteraemia after oesophagectomy is unclear. This study investigated the effect of perioperative synbiotic administration on the incidence of bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and the occurrence of postoperative bacteraemia.

METHODS

Patients with oesophageal cancer were randomized to receive perioperative synbiotics or no synbiotics (control group). MLNs were harvested from the jejunal mesentery before dissection (MLN-1) and after the restoration of digestive tract continuity (MLN-2). Blood and faeces samples were taken before and after operation. Microorganisms in each sample were detected using a bacterium-specific ribosomal RNA-targeted reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) method.

RESULTS

Some 42 patients were included. There was a significant difference between the two groups in detection levels of microorganisms in the MLN-1 samples. Microorganisms were more frequently detected in MLN-2 samples in the control group than in the synbiotics group (10 of 18 versus 3 of 18; P = 0·035). In addition, bacteraemia detected using RT-qPCR 1 day after surgery was more prevalent in the control group than in the synbiotics group (12 of 21 versus 4 of 21; P = 0·025). Neutrophil counts on postoperative days 1, 2 and 7 after surgery were all significantly higher in the control group than in the synbiotics group.

CONCLUSION

Perioperative use of synbiotics reduces the incidence of bacteria in the MLNs and blood. These beneficial effects probably contribute to a reduction in the inflammatory response after oesophagectomy.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

ID 000003262 (University Hospital Medical Information Network, http://www.umin.ac.jp).

T-cell receptor ζ mRNA with an alternatively spliced 3' untranslated region is generated predominantly in the peripheral blood T cells of systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Abstract  To investigate the mechanism of the downregulation of T-cell receptor ζ chain (TCRζ) expression in the peripheral blood T cells (PBTs) of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, we analyzed the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of TCRζ mRNA, because the 3'UTR in mRNA is responsible for posttranscriptional regulation. Use of the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to amplify the 917 bp TCRζ 3'UTR cDNA demonstrated that the short variant cDNA (355 bp), expressed as an alternatively spliced 3'UTR with 562-bp deletion, was predominated in the PBTs of 11 of 14 SLE patients, whereas mainly the wild-form cDNA (917 bp) was detected in the PBTs of seven negative controls (two systemic sclerosis patients, five normal controls) and in two T-cell line hybridomas. Semiquantitative PCR also revealed the predominant expression of the TCRζ mRNA with alternatively spliced 3'UTR (TCRζ mRNA/as-3'UTR), and a decreased expression of TCRζ mRNA with the wild form 3'UTR (TCRζ mRNA/w-3'UTR) in SLE T cells. However, there was no difference in the expression of the open reading frame (ORF) TCRζ mRNA between the negative controls and SLE patients. The TCRζ protein expression level according to Western blot analysis correlated well with that of TCRζ mRNA/w-3'UTR (r= 0.931) and reversibly with TCRζ mRNA/as-3'UTR (r=-0.614), but not with ORF TCRζ mRNA (r=-0.296). It can be concluded that the reduced expression of TCRζ mRNA/w-3'UTR and the predominant expression of TCRζ mRNA/as-3'UTR lead to downregulation of the TCRζ protein in SLE T cells.

Development of a new measurement system to detect selectively volatile organic compounds derived from the human body

A new concept expired gas measurement system used double cold-trap method was developed. The system could detect selectively volatile organic compound (VOC) derived from the human body. The gas chromatography (GC) profiles of healthy volunteer's expired gas collected by our system were analyzed. As a result, 60 VOCs were detected from the healthy volunteer's expired gas. We examined 14 VOCs among them further, which could be converted to the concentration from the GC profiles. The concentration of almost VOCs decreased when the subjects inspired purified air compared with the atmosphere. On the other hand, isoprene was almost the same. It was strongly suggested that these VOCs were derived from the human body because the concentration of these VOCs in the atmosphere were nearly zero. Expired gas of two sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) patients were analyzed as preliminary study. As a result of the study, the concentration of some VOCs contained in the expired gas of the SAS patients showed higher value than a healthy controls.

Relationship between lifting performance and skeletal muscle mass in elite powerlifters

AIM

Aim of the study was to examine the relationship between whole body skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and powerlifting performance in elite powerlifters.

METHODS

Twenty elite male powerlifters, including 4 world champions, volunteered. Muscle thickness (MTH) and subcutaneous fat thickness (FTH) were measured by ultrasound at 9 sites on the anterior and posterior aspects of the body. FTH was used to estimate body fat and fat-free mass and SMM was estimated from ultrasound-derived prediction equations. Best lifting performance in the squat (SQ), bench press (BP), and dead lift (DL) was recorded from competition performance.

RESULTS

Significant strong correlations (P<0.01) were observed between absolute and relative (divided by height) SMM and performance of the SQ (r=0.93 and r=0.94, respectively), BP (r=0.88 and r=0.87), and DL (r=0.84 and r=0.85). Relative lifting performance to SMM for squat (SQ/SMM ratio) and bench press (BP/SMM ratio) were constant throughout a wide range of weight classes (56kg-145kg) and there were no significant correlation between the SMM and those performances (r=0.21 for SQ and r=0.12 for BP). However, the DL/SMM ratio was negatively correlated to DL performance (r=-0.47, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

SMM is a good predictor of powerlifting performance throughout all weight classes.

Commensal bacteria-dependent select expression of CXCL2 contributes to periodontal tissue homeostasis

The oral and intestinal host tissues both carry a heavy microbial burden. Although commensal bacteria contribute to healthy intestinal tissue structure and function, their contribution to oral health is poorly understood. A crucial component of periodontal health is the recruitment of neutrophils to periodontal tissue. To elucidate this process, gingival tissues of specific-pathogen-free and germ-free wild-type mice and CXCR2KO and MyD88KO mice were examined for quantitative analysis of neutrophils and CXCR2 chemoattractants (CXCL1, CXCL2). We show that the recruitment of neutrophils to the gingival tissue does not require commensal bacterial colonization but is entirely dependent on CXCR2 expression. Strikingly, however, commensal bacteria selectively upregulate the expression of CXCL2, but not CXCL1, in a MyD88-dependent way that correlates with increased neutrophil recruitment as compared with germ-free conditions. This is the first evidence that the selective use of chemokine receptor ligands contributes to neutrophil homing to healthy periodontal tissue.