Occupational factors, smoking habits and tobacco withdrawal symptoms among male Japanese employees

The aim of the study is to know the effects of occupational factors and smoking habits on tobacco withdrawal symptoms among male Japanese employees. A total of 2,862 male employees in a company in Japan completed questionnaires concerning tobacco withdrawal symptoms, occupational factors (occupation, shift work, work stress) and smoking habits. Data from 1,443 male ever-quitters were analyzed. Among male ever-quitters, 67% had ever experienced tobacco withdrawal symptoms. Significantly higher age-adjusted rates of tobacco withdrawal symptoms were found in those who experienced frequent exhaustion after work, current smokers, those who smoked 20 or more cigarettes per day, smoked for 20 years or longer and tried to quit smoking twice or more (p < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that younger age, technical/clerical occupation, exhaustion after work, number of cigarettes smoked per day, duration of smoking, currently smoking and number of trials to quit smoking, were significantly associated with tobacco withdrawal symptoms (p < 0.05). It is suggested that younger age, technical/clerical occupation, exhaustion after work, number of cigarettes smoked and duration of smoking are risk factors of tobacco withdrawal symptoms in male Japanese employees.

Leptin stimulates insulin secretion and synthesis in HIT-T 15 cells

Leptin, an ob gene product, corrects hyperinsulinemia in ob/ob mice. The leptin receptor may exist in pancreatic islets. The present studies were undertaken to determine the direct effect of 1-100 ng/ml recombinant leptin on insulin secretion and synthesis in HIT-T 15 cells by using static culture system. The addition of recombinant leptin significantly increased insulin secretion for 20 min at the highest concentration (100 ng/ml). The addition of recombinant leptin dose-dependently increased insulin secretion for 24 h in the 7 mM glucose-containing F-12 K medium. The incubation with recombinant leptin for 24 h increased preproinsulin mRNA expression, assessed with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. It was furthermore demonstrated that HIT-T 15 cells possessed the specific binding site for [125I]-labeled leptin. The present study demonstrated the existence of the leptin-specific binding sites that mediate its stimulatory effect on insulin secretion and synthesis in HIT-T 15 cells.

Technical advances in prenatal diagnosis of tyrosinase-negative oculocutaneous albinism

Technical advances in the prenatal diagnosis of tyrosinase-negative oculocutaneous albinism, the most severe subtype of this disease, are reviewed. Ultrastructural examination of hair bulb melanocytes in fetal skin during the second trimester of pregnancy was the first successful method for the prenatal diagnosis of oculocutaneous albinism. Subsequent introduction of the electron microscopic DOPA reaction test in fetal skin provided safer, more practical, and reliable information for diagnosing tyrosinase-negative oculocutaneous albinism prenatally. The recent elucidation of the specific gene mutation of tyrosinase in the affected individuals now allows the DNA-based prenatal diagnosis of tyrosinase-negative oculocutaneous albinism in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Use of La3+ to distinguish activity of the plasmalemmal Ca2+ pump from Na+/Ca2+ exchange in arterial myocytes

La3+ was tested for its ability to distinguish external Na+ (Nao)-independent Ca2+ efflux via the plasma membrane (PM) Ca2+ pump from Nao-dependent Ca2+ efflux via Na+/Ca2+ exchange. Fura-2 loaded cultured rat aortic myocytes were used with digital imaging to measure the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) and to monitor La3+ entry. At a La3+ concentration ([La3+]o) of 0.25 mM, but not at lower concentrations, La3+ entered the cells; 0.01 mM verapamil blocked this entry. Transient increases in [Ca2+]cyt were evoked by unloading the sarcoplasmic reticulum with cyclopiazonic acid (CPA)+caffeine (CAF) in Na,Ca-free medium (to inhibit Ca2+ extrusion via Na+/Ca2+ exchange and Ca2+ influx). La3+ (0.03-0.25 mM with verapamil) augmented the Ca2+ transients and slowed Nao-independent [Ca2+]cyt recovery in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 approximately 0.01 mM La3+). This La(3+)-sensitive recovery was apparently mediated by the PM Ca2+ pump. The effects of La3+ were reversible: [Ca2+]cyt returned promptly toward base line when La3+ was washed out in Na,Ca-free medium containing CPA + CAF. Reintroduction of extracellular Na+ during [Ca2+]cyt recovery ([La3+]o = 0.06-0.25 mM) significantly speeded recovery, indicating that the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger was not inhibited by [La3+]o < or = 0.25 mM. The La(3+)-sensitive (Nao-independent) and Nao-dependent [Ca2+]cyt recovery rates were comparable. In Na(+)-loaded cells, < or = 0.25 mM La3+ also did not affect Na+/Ca2+ exchange mediated Ca2+ influx. In medium containing Na+ and Ca2+, 0.125 mM La3+ abolished the serotonin (5-HT) evoked plateau responses that resulted from Ca2+ entry via Ca2+ channels. In Na,Ca-free medium, but not Ca-free medium, however, La3+ converted 5-HT evoked Ca2+ transients into sustained responses. We conclude that low [La3+]o (0.06-0.25 mM) inhibits the PM Ca2+ pump, but spares Na+/Ca2+ exchanger mediated Ca2+ influx and efflux in arterial myocytes.

Fat and fiber intakes in relation to serum estrogen concentration in premenopausal Japanese women

It has been implied that fat and fiber intakes influence breast cancer risk. The effects of these dietary factors may be mediated by hormonal changes. We evaluated the relationships between fat or fiber intake and serum concentration of estradiol (E2) or sex hormone-binding globulin in premenopausal women. In 1994 blood samples were collected from each of 50 premenopausal healthy Japanese women on Days 11 and 22 of the menstrual cycle. Nutrient intakes were assessed by food frequency questionnaire in which the subjects were asked about their diets during one year before the study. Each nutrient intake was categorized into tertile after adjustment for total energy. Linear regression models, including age and cycle length as covariates, were utilized to evaluate the association between the nutrient intakes and the hormone concentrations. A statistically significant trend was observed between increasing fat intake and increasing E2 on Day 11 of the cycle (p = 0.05). The positive trend for increasing sex hormone-binding globulin on Day 22 with fat intake was of borderline significance (p = 0.06). There was a statistically significant inverse trend for E2 on Day 11 of the cycle with fiber intake (p = 0.05). It was suggested that fat as well as fiber intake should affect the hormone status.

Induction of aberrant crypt foci in C57BL/6N mice by 2-amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (A alphaC) and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx)

The inductions of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) by two carcinogenic heterocyclic amines (HCAs), 2-amino-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole (A alphaC) and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), were studied in the large intestine of C57BL/6N mice. Seven-week-old mice were fed a diet supplemented with 500 or 800 ppm of A alphaC, or 400 or 600 ppm of MeIQx for 7 weeks, followed by a basal diet for another 7 weeks. A alphaC at 800 ppm induced 8.0 +/- 1.9 and 7.8 +/- 2.5 ACF in female and male mice, respectively. MeIQx at 600 ppm induced 2.8 +/- 1.8 and 1.6 +/- 0.8 ACF in females and males, respectively. At lower concentrations of A alphaC and MeIQx, many fewer ACF were induced. No ACF were induced in the control group. The size of ACF (number of aberrant crypts/ACF) in all experimental groups was between 1.0 and 1.5. More than half the A alphaC-induced ACF were located in the region about 20-40% of the distance from the ileocecal portion to the anus. Although both of these HCAs were reported to induce tumors in the liver and other organs, but not in the large intestine, of CDF1 mice, these findings suggest that both these HCAs, and especially A alphaC, induce large intestinal tumors in C57BL/6N mice.

Preserved musical abilities following right temporal lobectomy

It has been widely accepted that the right temporal lobe plays a major role in the processing of music. One of the main lines of evidence was derived from Milner's study, published in 1962, which reported that right temporal lobectomy led to a decline in patient scores on four of the six subtests (Tonal Memory, Timbre, Loudness, and Time subtests) of the Seashore Measures of Musical Talents. That finding had led some surgeons and patients to hesitate in choosing right temporal lobectomy as a treatment for intractable epilepsy. The authors examined performance on the Seashore Measures before and after operations in 20 patients with right temporal lobectomy and nine patients with left temporal lobectomy. No disturbances in the Seashore Measures were detected after temporal lobectomy on either side. The extent of these temporal lobectomies was smaller than that of the temporal lobectomies in Milner's study, as measured along the sylvian fissure (1.5-4 cm; mean 2.7 cm, standard deviation (SD) 0.92 cm) and the base of the temporal lobe (3.5-5.5 cm; mean 4.7 cm, SD 0.63 cm). These findings indicate that the region resected on right temporal lobectomy in the present study is not essential for basic musical processing.

Cornified cell envelope proteins and keratins are normally distributed in harlequin ichthyosis

Long-term survivors of harlequin ichthyosis (HI) have raised a controversy over the differences between HI and lamellar ichthyosis (LI). Abnormal lamellar granules and the failure of conversion from profilaggrin to filaggrin have been reported in HI. On the other hand, malformation of the cornified cell envelope as a result of mutation of keratinocyte transglutaminase has been found in LI. In the present study, we analyzed the distribution of keratins, filaggrin/profilaggrin and cornified cell envelope proteins in the epidermis in HI. We studied a newborn Japanese male with typical clinical features of HI. Electron microscopic observation of a skin biopsy specimen taken from the trunk revealed the presence of lipid inclusions within the cornified cells, the absence of lamellar granules in the granular layer keratinocytes, and a lack of extracellular lamellar structures between the first cornified cell and the granular cell. Immunohistochemical labeling showed a normal distribution of keratins (keratins 1, 5, 10, and 14), filaggrin/profilaggrin and cornified cell envelope proteins (involucrin, small proline-rich proteins, and loricrin) in the epidermis of lesional skin. The present observations of the patient's skin verified that keratins and cornified cell envelope proteins are normally expressed in HI, thus demonstrating a different pathogenesis between HI and LI.

Difference in the three-dimensional structure of the sinusoids between hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhotic liver

The purpose of the present study was to estimate the difference in three-dimensional (3-D) structure of sinusoids between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhotic liver, by the use of topology. Ten surgically resected lesions of HCC and 10 lesions of liver cirrhosis (LC) were used. Computer-aided reconstruction models of HCC sinusoids and LC sinusoids were developed from 20 4 microns thick serial tissue sections from each specimen. A topological invariant, called the first Betti number p1, was used to estimate the complexity degree of the 3-D sinusoidal structure. The mean p1 of the sinusoidal network in the examined tissue, 200 x 200 x 80 microns3 in size, was 46.5 +/- 33.0 in 10 HCC and 84.9 +/- 19.1 in 10 cirrhotic livers. There was a statistically significant difference between the two values (P < 0.01), while there was no significant difference in the sinusoidal volume of the same size tissue between the HCC and the cirrhotic liver. It was found, therefore, that the sinusoidal network of HCC was more sparsely and coarsely knit in 3-D space than that of the cirrhotic liver.

Effects of carbon dioxides and/or relative humidity on the growth and the transpiration of several plants

In order to estimate the effects of "global warming" on plants, the effects of carbon dioxide concentration (500 ppm or 1000 ppm CO2) and/or relative humidity (37% or 79% RH) on the growth and the transpiration of several C3 plants and a C4 plant (corn) were investigated by using artificially-lighted growth cabinets. The dry weight growths of all species, especially C3 plants, were accelerated by an elevated concentration of CO2, but were reduced, especially tomato and eggplant, by lowering RH. The leaf area growths of tomato and eggplant were accelerated by a high CO2, while those of all species were reduced by a low RH. A high CO2 increased net assimilation rates (NARs) more than relative growth rates (RGRs) of all species. It decreased leaf area ratio (LAR) due to a decrease in specific leaf area (SLA). A low RH decreased RGRs of all plants. while it affected NARs or LARs of some species. The partitioning of dry matter was insignificantly affected by CO2 or RH. Effects of CO2 on the transpiration rate were not observed clearly with C3 species, though a high CO2 decreased the transpiration of corn obviously. A low RH increased the transpiration rates of all species. From these results, the water use efficiencies of many plants, especially corn were kept at a high level by a high CO2 with a high RH condition. The interactive effects between CO2 and RH on the growth and the transpiration were insignificantly observed in these plants.

Generalized system for plant growth analysis using infrared LED

A computer vision system was developed to analyze plant growth. The developed system has a great advantage that various shapes of plant can be applied without any modification of software. The system consisted mainly of CCD camera, image capture board, computer, infrared LED and mirror system, and was easily set up. The infrared LED was hooked onto the plant part which was the location to be measured. Images, containing both the plant and the LED, with the different angle were simultaneously obtained using the mirror system, digitized and stored into a magneto optical diskette at a fixed interval. The centroid value of the LED was computed from the stored images and determined as the LED location. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the newly developed system by analyzing the elongation rate of Verbena bonariensis L. The results were compared to that obtained by the former non-contact analyzing system and it was found that the new system was applicable to plant growth analysis. This approach can not be substituted for the non-contact analyzing system formerly developed because it is contact type. However, this system can be applied to various plants without any modification in software, and has a potential for a wide use.

Long-term 1-carnitine treatment prolongs the survival in rats with adriamycin-induced heart failure

BACKGROUND

The most serious consequence of heart failure is the shortened life expectancy, which may be associated with myocardial energy starvation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Eight-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats received 6 intraperitoneal injections of adriamycin (group A: total dose; 15 mg/kg body weight) or vehicle (group C) over 2 weeks. Rats then received either 272 mg/kg daily of oral 1-carnitine (A-LC and C-LC groups) or saline (A-S and C-S groups) for 6 weeks. The cumulative mortality rate in the A-LC group was significantly lower than in the A-S group (13 vs 42%, P = .028). Myocardial levels of high-energy phosphate compounds (ATP and creatine phosphate) and fatty acid metabolites (free carnitine, short-chain and long-chain acylcarnitine, and long-chain acyl CoA) in the left ventricle were measured the day after the last dose of drug or vehicle was administered. ATP was decreased by 73%, creatine phosphate by 61%, free carnitine by 52%, short-chain acylcarnitine by 48%, and long-chain acylcarnitine by 56% in the A-S group compared to the C-S group. Long-chain CoA was increased by 168% in the A-S group. Levels of myocardial high-energy phosphate compounds and fatty acid metabolites were near normal in adriamycin- and 1-carnitine-treated rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Preservation of the myocardial level of carnitine by 1-carnitine treatment prolonged survival of rats with adriamycin-induced failure by improving the myocardial metabolism of fatty acids.

Choice of response scale for health measurement: comparison of 4, 5, and 7-point scales and visual analog scale

To compare the feasibility of response scales with different numbers of steps for measuring health status, we assessed the ease of completing 4, 5, and 7-point scales and a visual analog scale. Four forms of the questionnaire, each of which consisted of the same ten questions about health status, but with a different type of scale among the four above mentioned, were given to 48 patients with a variety of conditions and diagnoses. The forms were attached together and the order in which they were presented was systematically varied considering permutations of forms. Respondents were asked to complete the forms following the order of the sheets. The 5-point scale form was most commonly chosen as the easiest to complete, and item omission was least frequent with this form. Similar high- reliability results in terms of Cronbach's alpha were achieved for each of the four forms. An additional survey among 153 patients confirmed the results of the first survey. The selection of the easiest scale to complete varied by sex (men preferred the 7-point scale), but was not affected by the conditions or diagnoses of the patients. The study suggests that the 5-point scale is most useful for measuring health status.

Evaluation of early graft function by hepatic venous hemoglobin oxygen saturation following orthotopic liver transplantation in the rat

This study was designed to evaluate the use of hepatic venous oxygen saturation (Shvo2) as a predictor of early graft function after liver transplantation. We examined the levels of Shvo2 and serum ALT after transplantation using the isogeneic rat orthotopic liver transplant model. Shvo2 levels 2 hr after reperfusion in the 6-hr cold ischemia (nonviable allograft) group were significantly lower than those in the 1-hr and 3-hr cold ischemia (viable allograft) groups. However, there was no significant difference in ALT levels among these groups. These results suggest that decreased hepatic blood flow due to microcirculatory disturbances may occur in the nonviable allograft even in the early phase of reperfusion and may be responsible for ischemic damage to parenchymal cells. Therefore, Shvo2 could provide a simple index of the initial graft status and be useful for a rapid etiological diagnosis of early postoperative graft dysfunction and for estimating the graft outcome after liver transplantation.

Molecular identification and characterization of cytosolic isoforms of glutamine synthetase in maize roots

In maize, a small multigene family encodes the cytosolic isoforms of glutamine synthetase (GS), and five cDNAs, designated pGS1a, pGS1b, pGS1c, pGS1d, and pGS1e, have been cloned (Sakakibara, H., Kawabata, S., Takahashi, H., Hase, T., and Sugiyama, T. (1992) Plant Cell Physiol. 33, 49-58; Li, M., Villemur, R., Hussey, P. J., Silflow, C. D., Gantt, J. S., and Snustad, D. P. (1993) Plant Mol. Biol. 23, 401-407). This report describes the identification and enzymatic characterization of the cytosolic isoforms of GS in maize roots, namely GS1 and GSr. The purified isoforms, as well as recombinant enzymes that had been overexpressed in Escherichia coli, were analyzed by capillary liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, and GS1 and GSr were identified as the products of the GS1a/GS1b and GS1c/GS1d genes, respectively. Upon the addition of ammonia to the culture medium, significant amounts of GSr accumulated and a preferential increase in GS synthetase activity, as compared to GS transferase activity, was found in the root extract. Assays with the purified recombinant enzymes confirmed that the specific biosynthetic and synthetase activities of GSr were 1.6-fold higher than those of GS1. Marked differences in stability were also found between the two isoforms: GSr was more sensitive to heat than GS1 and octameric aggregates of the subunits of GSr were easily dissociated to monomers than those of GS1 at low concentrations of Mn2+ and Mg2+ ions. These characteristics of the ammonia-induced isoform of GS seem to be physiologically important for the primary assimilation of external ammonia by roots.

Doppler estimation of pulmonary artery end-diastolic pressure using contrast enhancement of pulmonary regurgitant signals

Pulmonary artery (PA) end-diastolic pressure is used as an estimate of PA wedge pressure. We evaluated contrast enhanced pulmonary regurgitant signals in the assessment of PA end-diastolic pressure in 24 patients in a critical care unit. Right atrial pressure was estimated by the percent decrease of the inferior vena caval diameter with inspiration. Weak or absent pulmonary regurgitant signals were enhanced by sonicated albumin (Albunex) in 23 patients (96%). The Doppler-determined PA end-diastolic pressure (the sum of the pulmonary regurgitant pressure gradient at end-diastole and the right atrial pressure) was significantly correlated with the catheter-determined PA end-diastolic pressure (y = 0.85x + 1.72, r = 0.93). Compared with invasive hemodynamic monitoring, the contrast-enhanced Doppler technique using Albunex is effective for measuring PA end-diastolic pressure, even in critically ill patients.

Effect of high sucrose feeding on fat accumulation in the male Wistar rat

High sucrose intake is generally thought to be a risk factor for obesity and insulin resistance. We examined the effects of feeding sucrose on fat accumulation and insulin release in male rats. Six-week-old male Wistar rats were maintained on a high sucrose diet for 4 or 12 weeks. Control rats were fed a diet based on starch. No significant difference in daily caloric intake or weight gain existed between the two dietary groups. There was no difference between the two dietary groups in the gain of abdominal subcutaneous fat (SC) at 4-week. In contrast, rats fed the high sucrose diet had significantly more mesenteric fat (MES) than controls (p < 0.01). At 12 weeks, rats fed the high sucrose diet had significantly more SC and MES than controls (SC: p < 0.05, MES: p < 0.01). Basal immunoreactive insulin (IRI) concentrations in the portal vein (PV) of rats fed the high sucrose diet was significantly higher compared to those of controls (4 wk: p < 0.05, 12 wk: p < 0.05). No difference between the two dietary groups in basal IRI concentrations in the inferior vena cava (IVC) existed at 4 weeks; whereas at 12 weeks, the basal IRI concentrations in the IVC in rats fed the high sucrose diet were significantly higher than in controls (p < 0.05). The mesenteric and subcutaneous fat accumulations were closely related to hyperinsulinemia in the portal vein and inferior vena cava, respectively. Twelve weeks of high sucrose feeding caused accumulation of abdominal adipose tissue with marked hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia. Our study is the first to demonstrate that abdominal fat induced by high sucrose intake in male rats is accompanied by an abnormal metabolic state similar to an insulin-resistant state.

Asymptomatic pulmonary hypertension complicated with antiphospholipid syndrome case

A 48-year-old woman with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) developed pulmonary hypertension without any thromboembolic episode. Multiple pulmonary perfusion defects suggestive of pulmonary thrombosis or in situ thrombosis were observed. Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the right femoral vein without symptoms was also detected by contrast venography. Asymptomatic pulmonary hypertension complicated with a hypercoagulable state such as in this case suggests that not only recurrent asymptomatic pulmonary thrombosis, but also in situ thrombosis in pulmonary vessels are possible and important factors in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension.

Prevention of cerebral vasospasm by calcitonin gene-related peptide slow-release tablet after subarachnoid hemorrhage in monkeys

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this work was to investigate the efficacy of a calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) slow-release tablet (CGRP tablet) for the prevention of cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

METHODS

Experimental SAH was produced in 10 cynomolgus monkeys by placing a clot around the internal carotid artery bifurcation (Day 0). In five animals, CGRP tablets (1200 micrograms of CGRP) were then placed in the cerebrospinal fluid space (CGRP group). In two animals, placebo tablets were similarly placed (placebo group). The remaining three animals were treated with no tablets after SAH (SAH group). A series of angiographic analyses were performed, before SAH and on Days 7 and 14, to examine changes in the diameters of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery, middle cerebral artery, and anterior cerebral artery. The CGRP concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid taken before each angiogram was also determined.

RESULTS

In the SAH and placebo groups, cerebral vasospasm developed on Day 7 (54.8% of the pre-SAH value at the internal carotid artery, 62.3% at the middle cerebral artery, 51.3% at the anterior cerebral artery, and 56.1% as an average of the three arteries). In the CGRP group, vasospasm was significantly ameliorated at the middle cerebral artery, at the anterior cerebral artery, and on average (81.7, 81.1, and 75.7%, P < 0.05, 0.03, and 0.02, respectively). The CGRP concentration was positive only on Day 7 for the CGRP group (6.5 nmol/L).

CONCLUSION

The CGRP tablet prevented cerebral vasospasm after SAH and may have significant potential for the treatment of patients with SAH.