Association of Dietary Variety and Appetite with Sleep Quality in Urban-Dwelling Older Japanese Adults

OBJECTIVES

Although it has been shown that specific foods and nutrients are associated with sleep quality, few studies have examined the association of dietary variety and appetite with sleep quality in older adults.

DESIGN AND SETTING

A cross-sectional study was conducted that examined the association of dietary variety and appetite with sleep quality in Japanese adults aged ≥70 years who resided in the metropolitan area of Tokyo, Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

Data were collected in two steps: a mailed interview survey and an on-site survey. Those who responded to the surveys and met the inclusion criteria were included.

MEASUREMENTS

Dietary variety, appetite, and sleep quality were assessed using a Dietary Variety Score (DVS), Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (CNAQ) score, and sleep efficiency, respectively. The sleep efficiency is the ratio of sleep duration to total time in bed (retiring time-awakening time). We defined the individuals with a sleep efficiency less than 75% as having poor sleep quality.

RESULTS

Mean DVS and CNAQ score were 3.8 and 29.6 points, respectively. The rate of individuals with poor sleep quality was 11.7%. In the fully adjusted model, the odds ratios (OR) for low sleep efficiency in the middle and highest group categories of the DVS were 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54-1.29) and 0.50 (95% CI, 0.28-0.90), respectively, in reference to the lowest group category (p for trend = 0.023). The OR for low sleep efficiency in the middle and highest group categories of the CNAQ score were 0.73 (95% CI, 0.47-1.14) and 0.54 (95% CI, 0.30-0.96), respectively, in reference to the lowest group category (p for trend = 0.031).

CONCLUSIONS

The higher DVS and CNAQ scores were significantly associated with higher sleep efficiency. Thus, dietary variety and good appetite might help maintain good sleep quality in urban-dwelling older Japanese adults.

P6159The efficacy of heart rate reduction with bisoprolol transdermal patch prior to coronary computed tomography angiography

Background

Oral or intravenous beta-blockers have commonly been used to control the heart rate (HR) prior to coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). However, the administration after arrival at the hospital was time-consuming, and could not achieve the target heart rate in several cases. Moreover, the efficacy of transdermal beta blockers in HR control for patients who underwent CCTA have not been fully reported.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to clarify the usefulness of the bisoprolol patch prior to the arrival at the hospital in HR control for patients who underwent CCTA.

Methods

A total of 282 consecutive patients (160 male, age 64±12 years) who underwent CCTA were included in this study. The bisoprolol transdermal patch (8mg) was administered before arrival at the hospital in 191 patients (beta group), and no additional medication was administered in 91 patients (control group). Intravenous landiolol hydrochloride was administered when HR remained over 65 bpm on arrival at the hospital. The HR on arrival, during and after CCTA was evaluated.

Results

The baseline HR was significantly higher in the beta group (80±15 vs. 72±15, P<0.0001). However, the achievement rate of HR ≤65 bpm on arrival was significantly higher in the beta group (56.5% vs. 44.0%, P=0.047). Thus, additional treatment with intravenous landiolol hydrochloride was administered to 43.5% of the patients in the beta group and 56.0% of those in the control group. There were no significant differences in the HR during and after CCTA between the 2 groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that the use of bisoprolol transdermal patch (OR, 3.54; 95% CI 1.67–7.51, P=0.001) and the baseline HR (OR, 0.91; 95% CI 0.89–0.94, P<0.0001) were significant predictors of the achievement rate of HR ≤65 bpm on arrival. There were no serious adverse effects throughout CCTA in all patients.

Conclusions

The administration of bisoprolol transdermal patch before arrival at the hospital was useful for HR control and reduced the rate of additional intravenous treatment in patients who underwent CCTA.

Sleep-disordered breathing and disorders of glucose metabolism

AIMS

The authors identified the risk of disorders of glucose metabolism (DGM) for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB).

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study in 536 men aged 33-84 years. Patients with diabetes medication were excluded for the analysis and DGM were diagnosed by fasting plasma glucose≥100mg/dl and/or 2h plasma glucose ≥140mg/dl.

RESULTS

The prevalence of DGM in subjects with and without severe SDB, which was judged by an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 30, were 64.9% and 53.3%, which showed no significant difference. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) of the logarithmic-transformed AHI and that of C-reactive protein for DGM were 1.3 (0.87-2.0) and 2.3 (1.5-3.6), respectively. When the subjects were categorized by the severity of SDB, the ORs (95% CIs) of subjects with mild, moderate and severe SDB against subjects without SDB were 2.9 (1.8-4.6), 1.2 (0.72-2.1) and 1.5 (0.8-3.0), respectively.

CONCLUSION

A significant association was observed between mild SDB and the presence of DGM in male subjects of this study.

Serotonin rebalances cortical tuning and behavior linked to autism symptoms in 15q11-13 CNV mice

Serotonin is a critical modulator of cortical function, and its metabolism is defective in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) brain. How serotonin metabolism regulates cortical physiology and contributes to the pathological and behavioral symptoms of ASD remains unknown. We show that normal serotonin levels are essential for the maintenance of neocortical excitation/inhibition balance, correct sensory stimulus tuning, and social behavior. Conversely, low serotonin levels in 15q dup mice (a model for ASD with the human 15q11-13 duplication) result in impairment of the same phenotypes. Restoration of normal serotonin levels in 15q dup mice revealed the reversibility of a subset of ASD-related symptoms in the adult. These findings suggest that serotonin may have therapeutic potential for discrete ASD symptoms.

Dangerous Mixture of Household Detergents in an Old-style Toilet: a Case Report with Simulation Experiments of the Working Environment and Warning of Potential Hazard Relevant to the General Environment

A housewife cleaned toilet porcelain connected directly to a sewage storage tank with a mixture of cleaning agents; sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) solutions. She complained of insomnia on the night after cleaning and suffered from severe metabolic acidosis with extremely low blood pH, PCO2 and bicarbonate values. She recovered from the acidosis after bicarbonate transfusion, plasmapheresis and plasma exchange. Permanent blindness ensued, however, from the third day after the event. These clinical symptoms suggested that the toxic substances responsible were chloramine and methyl chloride. Their generation was confirmed by in-vitro experiments, mixing NaOCl, HCl and pooled urine from normal people. In the simulation, the methyl chloride level far exceeded (100 000 ppm) the maximal allowable concentration recommended (ca 400 ppm) by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Chloramine's toxic actions were confirmed using purified enzyme assay, and the inhibition of carbonic anhydrase and aldehyde dehydrogenase and the enhancement of superoxide dismutase activity were confirmed in neutral pH. The patient's clinical symptoms suggested that insomnia and permanent blindness seemed to be partly ascribable to chronic repetitive exposure to methyl chloride; catching a cold, drug intake and alcohol intake, in addition, precipitated the patient's visual loss. The possibility of this kind of intoxication with such a mixture of agents may lie latent in any situation where sewage or garbage are exposed to the open air.

Association of Occlusal Force with Cognition in Independent Older Japanese People

Recent longitudinal studies have shown the influence of multiple tooth loss on cognitive impairment, and earlier studies suggested that periodontal disease was related to cognitive decline. Tooth loss is associated with reduced masticatory function, which may affect stimulation of the central nervous system and dietary intake. Although some studies have reported a relationship between chewing ability and cognitive function, no studies have examined this area in terms of objective oral function. The aim of this study was to examine the association of occlusal force with cognitive decline in the preclinical stage among older people with higher-level functional capacity. This cross-sectional study for community-dwelling older people living in urban and rural areas in Japan examined 994 persons in the 70-y group (age range, 69–71 y) and 968 persons in the 80-y group (age range, 79–81 y). Retention of higher-level competence was defined according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence. Cognitive function was measured with the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-J). Oral status and function were assessed by the number of remaining teeth, periodontal pocket depth, and maximal occlusal force. Associations between the MoCA-J score and occlusal force were examined by bivariate and multivariate analysis. Approximately one-half of the participants retained higher-level functional capacity and were included in the analysis. Multiple regression analysis showed that occlusal force was significantly related to cognitive function after controlling for possible predictors including age, sex, socioeconomic status, medical condition, and handgrip strength. The number of remaining teeth and periodontal pocket depth were not significantly associated with cognitive function. Among community-dwelling older people with retained competence, maximal occlusal force was positively associated with their cognitive function. These results suggest that oral function might be a predictor for preclinical cognitive decline.

Knowledge Transfer Statement: Multiple regression analysis showed that occlusal force was significantly related to cognition after controlling for possible predictors including handgrip strength as an indicator of general muscle strength, suggesting the independence of oral function. The number of remaining teeth did not have this association. The majority of older people have lost teeth and have received prosthodontic treatment, and their occlusal force is determined not only by the number of remaining teeth but also by prosthetic rehabilitation. These results can be used by clinicians focusing on prevention of tooth loss among the entire population, as well as to encourage partially edentulous and fully edentulous patients to restore their oral function with prostheses in order to eliminate a possible risk factor for cognitive impairment.

Biological markers, lifestyles and metabolic syndrome in workers

OBJECTIVE

The association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and biological inflammatory or anti-coagulant markers were clarified in combination with lifestyle factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The target subjects were 5102 working men without metabolic diseases, aged 30-60 years old. The authors measured the serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), uric acid and plasma fibrinogen as potential key biomarkers of MetS.

RESULTS

Mean values of uric acid, log-transformed serum CRP and plasma fibrinogen increased significantly as the number of components of MetS increased after adjustment for age. Multivariate analysis revealed significant associations between the presence of MetS and age, habitual exercise, not current smoking, the log-transformed value of serum CRP and serum uric acid, with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.03 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-1.04; p<0.001), 0.77 (95% CI: 0.65-0.90; p<0.01), 0.82 (95% CI: 0.70-0.96; p<0.05), 3.2 (95% CI: 2.6-3.9; p<0.001) and 1.5 (95% CI: 1.4-1.6; p<0.001), respectively for the presence of MetS.

CONCLUSION

Elevated serum level of CRP, uric acid, not habitual exercise and current smoking were associated with MetS in this cross-sectional study.

Substrate specificity of human granzyme 3: analyses of the P3-P2-P1 triplet using fluorescence resonance energy transfer substrate libraries

Granzyme 3 (Gr3) is known as a tryptase-type member of the granzyme family and exists in the granules of immunocompetent cells. Granule proteases including granzymes, are transported into the cytoplasm of tumor cells or virus-infected cells by perforin function, degrade cytoplasmic or nuclear proteins and subsequently cause the death of the target cells. Recently, although several substrates of Gr3 in vivo have been reported, these hydrolyzed sites were unclear or lacked consistency. Our previous study investigated the optimal amino acid triplet (P3-P2-P1) as a substrate for Gr3 using a limited combination of amino acids at the P2 and P3 positions. In the present study, new fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) substrate libraries to screen P2 and P3 positions were synthesized, respectively. Using these substrate libraries, the optimal amino acid triplet was shown to be Tyr-Phe-Arg as a substrate for human Gr3. Moreover, kinetic analyses also showed that the synthetic substrate FRETS-YFR had the lowest Km value for human Gr3. A substantial number of membrane proteins possessed the triplet Tyr-Phe-Arg and some of them might be in vivo substrates for Gr3. The results might also be a great help for preparing specific inhibitors to manipulate Gr3 activity both in vitro and in vivo.

Effect of smoking prevention education using improved tobacco smoke collection method

OBJECTIVE

To verify the effect of smoking prevention education for nursing students using the improved tobacco smoke collection method.

METHODS

The improved tobacco smoke collection method allows mainstream smoke and sidestream smoke from a cigarette to be separately extracted using a closed system. After collection, we performed gas measurement using a gas detection tube and the Schiff reagent method. We provided a lecture incorporating the experimental method for an experimental group (42 students), but only the lecture without the method for a control group (43 students). We surveyed the changes in The Kano Test for Social Dependence (KTSND) scores before and after the lecture and one month later.

RESULTS

In the experimental group, the total scores of the KTSND were 10.2 ± 5.0 (mean ± standard deviation) before the lecture, 5.8 ± 4.1 after the lecture, and 6.9 ± 4.8 one month later. On the other hand, the scores were 10.7 ± 5.7, 7.5 ± 5.8, and 9.7 ± 5.5 in the control group before, after, and one month after the lecture, respectively. It is considered that the students understood "smoking is harmful to health" since this gas analysis method can be used to check for harmful gases visually.

CONCLUSION

Result of this study suggest that this experimental method is useful for educating nursing students on the harmful effects of smoking.

Contribution of fetal ANXA5 gene promoter polymorphisms to the onset of pre-eclampsia

OBJECTIVE

A common haplotype M2 consisting of minor SNP alleles located in the ANXA5 gene promoter region has been described as a risk factor for various obstetric complications such as recurrent pregnancy loss, pre-eclampsia and pregnancy-related thrombophilic disorder. However, the question of whether it is the maternal or fetal genotype that contributes to the onset of these disorders remains to be resolved.

METHODS

We analyzed ANXA5 gene variants in the blood and placental tissues from pre-eclampsia patients and normotensive controls. ANXA5 expression was examined by qRT-PCR, Western blotting and immunostaining. Results were compared between M2 and non-M2 carriers.

RESULTS

The M2 haplotype was found to be significantly frequent in placentas from pre-eclamptic patients relative to the controls (25.5% versus 10%, P = 0.044), In contrast, no significant differences were observed in maternal blood (13.0% versus 11.3%, P = 0.597). The placental expression of ANXA5 mRNA was found to be lower in M2 carriers. When examined by Western blot and immunostaining, the ANXA5 protein levels were found to be affected more by the placental than the maternal genotype. Histological examination of the placentas from the pre-eclamptic patients demonstrated that a placental M2 haplotype correlated more closely than maternal M2 with the severity of perivillous fibrin deposition.

CONCLUSIONS

Although preliminary, these results suggest that hypomorphic M2 alleles in the in placental ANXA5 promoter, whether transmitted maternally or paternally, might be an essential determinant of an increased risk of pre-eclampsia via local thrombophilia at the feto-maternal interface.

Corticosterone facilitates fluoxetine-induced neuronal plasticity in the hippocampus

The hippocampal dentate gyrus has been implicated in a neuronal basis of antidepressant action. We have recently shown a distinct form of neuronal plasticity induced by the serotonergic antidepressant fluoxetine, that is, a reversal of maturation of the dentate granule cells in adult mice. This “dematuration” is induced in a large population of dentate neurons and maintained for at least one month after withdrawal of fluoxetine, suggesting long-lasting strong influence of dematuration on brain functioning. However, reliable induction of dematuration required doses of fluoxetine higher than suggested optimal doses for mice (10 to 18 mg/kg/day), which casts doubt on the clinical relevance of this effect. Since our previous studies were performed in naive mice, in the present study, we reexamined effects of fluoxetine using mice treated with chronic corticosterone that model neuroendocrine pathophysiology associated with depression. In corticosterone-treated mice, fluoxetine at 10 mg/kg/day downregulated expression of mature granule cell markers and attenuated strong frequency facilitation at the synapse formed by the granule cell axon mossy fiber, suggesting the induction of granule cell dematuration. In addition, fluoxetine caused marked enhancement of dopaminergic modulation at the mossy fiber synapse. In vehicle-treated mice, however, fluoxetine at this dose had no significant effects. The plasma level of fluoxetine was comparable to that in patients taking chronic fluoxetine, and corticosterone did not affect it. These results indicate that corticosterone facilitates fluoxetine-induced plastic changes in the dentate granule cells. Our finding may provide insight into neuronal mechanisms underlying enhanced responsiveness to antidepressant medication in certain pathological conditions.

Effects of subchronic inhalation exposure to ethyl tertiary butyl ether on splenocytes in mice

Ethyl tertiary-butyl ether (ETBE) is a motor fuel oxygenate used in reformulated gasoline. The current use of ETBE in gasoline or petrol is modest but increasing. To investigate the effects of ETBE on splenocytes, mice were exposed to 0 (control), 500 ppm, 1750 ppm, or 5000 ppm of ETBE by inhalation for 6 h/day for 5 days/wk over a 6- or 13-week period. Splenocytes were harvested from the control and exposed mice, and the following cell phenotypes were quantified by flow cytometry: (1) B cells (PerCP-Cy5.5-CD45R/B220), (2) T cells (PerCP-Cy5-CD3e), (3) T cell subsets (FITC-CD4 and PE-CD8a), (4) natural killer (NK) cells (PE-NK1.1), and (5) macrophages (FITC-CD11b). Body weight and the weight of the spleen were also examined. ETBE-exposure did not affect the weight of the spleen or body weight, while it transiently increased the number of RBC and the Hb concentration. The numbers of splenic CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells, the percentage of CD4+ T cells and the CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio in the ETBE-exposed groups were significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner. However, ETBE exposure did not affect the numbers of splenic NK cells, B cells, or macrophages or the total number of splenocytes. The above findings indicate that ETBE selectively affects the number of splenic T cells in mice.

DIFFERENCES IN RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS BETWEEN SCAPHOID FRACTURE PATTERNS

Scaphoid fracture patterns can be divided into volar and dorsal type using three-dimensional computed tomography. Ninety-nine patients underwent this examination plus radiography to determine how often fracture pattern was identifiable by radiography including proximal fragment ratio (PFR) measurement. Oblique radiographs obtained at 45° of pronation demonstrated a volar displacement in 28 of 37 volar type fractures in three-dimensional computed tomography (76%), while as oblique view with 45° of supination could identify the dorsal type in ten of 18 (56%). PFR showed a significant difference, with means of 0.59 for volar type and 0.43 for dorsal type. Using oblique views in the two rotational directions together with the PFR, the two fracture patterns could be differentiated in 35 of 43 fractures (81%). No differences were evident between the two fracture patterns with respect to prevalence of dorsal intercalated segment instability deformity.

Serum insulin is significantly related to components of the metabolic syndrome in Japanese working women

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to examine the association between serum insulin levels and components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in working women.

METHODS

The target subjects were 141 working women. Serum triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, uric acid, plasma insulin and plasma glucose were measured in addition to waist circumference and blood pressure.

RESULTS

MetS was diagnosed based on the modified criteria of the International Diabetes Federation, and was present in 7.1% (10/141) of the study subjects. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that some components of MetS were significantly associated with log-transformed values of the serum insulin. The standardized regression coefficient for the waist circumference, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and age were 0.238, -0.333, 0.309 and -0.156, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

A statistically significant relationship existed between the components of MetS and the serum insulin levels in working women.

The effect of sleep restriction and psychological load on the diurnal metabolic changes in tryptamine-related compounds in human urine

OBJECTIVE

The effect of a severely stressful situation (sleep restriction and psychological load) on the diurnal changes in novel tryptamine-related compounds (hydroxydiacetyltryptamine, sulphatoxymelatonin, and dihydromelatonin) was evaluated in human subjects for 16 days.

METHODS

The subjects were allowed to sleep for 5 h on days three through 12 and for 8 h on the other days. On days three through 12, the subjects were asked to perform a psychological task. The first two and the last 4 days were viewed as control days. A performance test was administered to evaluate the extent of the subjects' fatigue. Total urine was sampled by collecting it into bottles three times a day [(1) during the sleeping period, (2) in the morning, and (3) in the afternoon]. Seven tryptamine-related compounds in urine were assayed using HPLC-fluorometry.

RESULTS

The urine melatonin level was high at night and low during the day. In contrast, urinary levels of hydroxydiacetyltryptamine and sulphatoxydiacetyltryptamine were low at night and high during the day. Dihydromelatonin was undetectable in urine during the sleeping period. Sleep restriction and psychological load did not affect diurnal changes in urinary melatonin, hydroxydiacetyltryptamine, sulphatoxydiacetyltryptamine, or N-acetylserotonin levels. The concentrations of hydroxymelatonin and sulphatoxymelatonin in urine did not show diurnal changes and decreased gradually during the experimental days. A principal component analysis confirmed the diurnal changes and suggested two novel metabolic pathways: (1) N-acetylserotonin to sulphtoxydiacetyltryptamine via hydroxydiacetyltryptamine, and (2) melatonin to dihydromelatonin.

CONCLUSION

Severely stressful situations did not affect diurnal changes in melatonin, hydroxydiacetyltryptamine, sulphatoxydiacetyltryptamine, or N-acetylserotonin levels in urine.

Relationship among lifestyles, aging and psychological wellbeing using the General Health Questionnaire 12-items in Japanese working men

INTRODUCTION. The relationship among lifestyle, aging and psychological wellbeing was evaluated in Japanese working men. METHODS. Self-administered questionnaire on six lifestyle factors and the General Health Questionnaire 12-item version (GHQ12) were administered to 3306 male workers. Health practice index (HPI) was calculated as a desirable lifestyle score by summing up each binary lifestyle score (0, 1), ranging from 0 to 6. To check validity of the study outcome, the authors repeated twice with 1 year interval. HPI was categorised into three groups by the score of 0-2, 3-4 and 5-6. RESULTS. The number of subjects categorised by HPI was 532, 1967 and 807, respectively. The mean value of GHQ12 significantly decreased as the HPI increased by adjusting age. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to predict GHQ12 by six lifestyle scores, and age, sleep, night snacking and exercise were significantly related to GHQ12. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted and age in 50s, two-shift work, sleep, night snacking and exercise were significantly associated with GHQ12. CONCLUSION. Although cause-effect relationship cannot make clear, some of desirable health practices and aging were closely related to psychological wellbeing judged by GHQ12.

The constitutional t(11;22): implications for a novel mechanism responsible for gross chromosomal rearrangements

The constitutional t(11;22)(q23;q11) is the most common recurrent non-Robertsonian translocation in humans. The breakpoint sequences of both chromosomes are characterized by several hundred base pairs of palindromic AT-rich repeats (PATRRs). Similar PATRRs have also been identified at the breakpoints of other nonrecurrent translocations, suggesting that PATRR-mediated chromosomal translocation represents one of the universal pathways for gross chromosomal rearrangement in the human genome. We propose that PATRRs have the potential to form cruciform structures through intrastrand-base pairing in single-stranded DNA, creating a source of genomic instability and leading to translocations. Indeed, de novo examples of the t(11;22) are detected at a high frequency in sperm from normal healthy males. This review synthesizes recent data illustrating a novel paradigm for an apparent spermatogenesis-specific translocation mechanism. This observation has important implications pertaining to the predominantly paternal origin of de novo gross chromosomal rearrangements in humans.

Optimal cut-off levels of body mass index and waist circumference in relation to each component of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the number of MetS component

AIMS

There is an ethnic difference of obesity index to diagnose metabolic syndrome. The authors explored the optimal cut-off levels for body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in relation to each component of metabolic syndrome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to determine the optimal cut-off levels for each component of metabolic syndrome. This study included 4572 workers aged 42.5±9.9 years.

RESULTS

The optimal BMI cut-off values for diabetes mellitus, hypertension or dyslipidemia varied from 23.0 to 24.3 kg/m(2). As for WC, the optimal cut-off values varied from 83.0 to 83.7 cm. The optimal BMI cut-off values relating with one to three components of metabolic syndrome varied from 23.2 to 25.3 kg/m(2). As for WC, the optimal cut-off values varied from 83.0 to 85.0 cm. Pair-wise comparison of ROC curves showed that WC has an advantage in relation to metabolic syndrome and its components compared with BMI. By logistic regression analysis, odds ratios of obesity indices for hypertension, dyslipidemia or the number of metabolic component were all significantly increased. As for diabetes mellitus, odds ratios of BMI ≥25 and WC ≥85 significantly increased, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Japanese criteria of obesity in metabolic syndrome in man may be appropriate for diabetes mellitus. Ethnic difference in criteria of obesity in Asian metabolic syndrome exists, and mutual comparisons in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome have a difficulty to conduct.

Increase in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among workers according to age

INTRODUCTION

Statistical information regarding the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among a wide age range of workers is insufficient.

METHODS

A total of 4278 men between the ages of 20 and 59 years participated in the study. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) III criteria.

RESULTS

Overall, the prevalences of metabolic syndrome according to the IDF and NCEPIII criteria were 13.6% and 14.8%, respectively. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to the IDF (NCEPIII) criteria among workers in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s were 4.8% (6.1%), 9.9% (12.2%), 18.4% (21.6%) and 25.8% (34.0%), respectively. A plot of the prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to the NCEPIII criteria versus age had a steep gradient and increased sharply for men in their 50s. In contrast, a plot of the prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to the IDF criteria versus age increased in a linear manner.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased among workers according to age, but the increasing trend and the absolute prevalence of metabolic syndrome differed according to the two sets of diagnostic criteria used in this study.

A cross-sectional study on the shift work and metabolic syndrome in Japanese male workers

INTRODUCTION

Shift work has been reported to be associated with an increase in the metabolic syndrome (MetS). To clarify the association between the type of shift work and the risk of MetS, a cross-sectional field survey was conducted after adjusting for age and lifestyle factors.

METHODS

The subjects were 3007 Japanese males, aged 34-64 years old, who were employees (1700 day and 1307 shift workers) of a car-manufacturing company. The standard Japanese criteria for the diagnosis of MetS was used. Age, smoking habit, drinking habit, sleeping habit and exercise habit were used as the independent variables.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MetS in the day workers, two-shift workers, and three-shift workers were 13.8% (234/1700), 10.7% (120/1125) and 17.6% (32/182), respectively. There was a significant difference in the prevalence between the two-shift workers and the day workers. Estimation of the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of age, two-shift work and habitual exercise for MetS were 1.03 (1.01-1.04), 0.77 (0.61-0.98) and 0.64 (0.51-0.81), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Two-shift work was associated with lower risk of MetS, which is not in accordance with past reports. This finding should therefore be re-analysed, including investigation of the job content in each group.

Analysis of VH gene rearrangement and somatic hypermutation in Sjogren's syndrome and IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis

IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis is currently considered as an autoimmune disease distinct from Sjogren's syndrome (SS) and responds extremely well to steroid therapy. To further elucidate the characteristics of IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis, we analysed VH fragments of IgH genes and their somatic hypermutation in SS (n = 3) and IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis (n = 3), using sialolithiasis (n = 3) as a non-autoimmune control. DNA was extracted from the affected inflammatory lesions. After PCR amplification of rearranged IgH genes, at least 50 clones per case (more than 500 clones in total) were sequenced for VH fragments. Monoclonal IgH rearrangement was not detected in any cases examined. When compared with sialolithiasis, there was no VH family or VH fragment specific to SS or IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis. However, rates of unmutated VH fragments in SS (30%) and IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis (39%) were higher than that in sialolithiasis (14%) with statistical significance (P = 0.0005 and P < 0.0001, respectively). This finding suggests that some autoantibodies encoded by germline or less mutated VH genes may fail to be eliminated and could play a role in the development of SS and IgG4-related sclerosing sialadenitis.

Effect of oral exposure to fenitrothion and 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol on splenic cell populations and histopathological alterations in spleen in Wistar rats

Fenitrothion (FNT) is used throughout the world as an insecticide in agriculture. To investigate the effect of FNT on the splenocytes and the underlying mechanism, FNT and its main metabolite, 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (MNP), were administered orally to Wistar rats in daily doses of 0, 5 and 10 mg/kg, 4-5 days/week for 9 weeks. Splenocytes were harvested from control and exposed rats, and the following cell phenotypes were quantified by flow cytometry: (1) B cells (PE-CD45RA), (2) T cells (FITC-CD3), (3) T cell subsets (PE-CD4 and PerCPCD8), (4) natural killer (NK) cells (FITC-CD161a), (5) macrophages (FITC-CD11b), and (6) granulocyte (PE-granulocyte). Body weight, weight of the spleen, and histopathological alterations of spleens were also examined. The percentage of splenic CD8+ T cells and the ratio of CD8/CD4 in the group receiving 10 mg/kg FNT, and the percentages of splenic CD3+ and CD8+ T cells in the group receiving 10 mg/kg MNP were significantly decreased compared with those in the controls. FNT exposure also significantly decreased the weight of the spleen and body weight. In addition, apoptotic lymphocytes in spleen were observed in FNT-exposed rats under transmission electron microscope. However, FNT and MNP exposures did not affect splenic NK cells, B cells, macrophages, and granulocytes. The above findings indicate that FNT and MNP may selectively affect splenic T cells in rats.

Recombinant human progranzyme 3 expressed in Escherichia coli for analysis of its activation mechanism

Gr3 is reported to play an important role in defense against viral infection. Although it is known that Gr3 is synthesized as a proenzyme and activated in the cytotoxic granules of NK cells and CTL, the activation mechanism is not clearly understood. In an attempt to analyze the activation mechanism of human Gr3, a recombinant pro-Gr3 was expressed in the periplasm of E. coli and purified to homogeneity. On SDS-PAGE the recombinant pro-Gr3 showed a slightly higher molecular weight than the enzymatically active Gr3, because the former possesses a small propeptide at its N-terminal. The recombinant pro-Gr3 was enzymatically inactive. It could be activated by treatment with cathepsin C, which concomitantly decreased the molecular weight to that of active Gr3. The proteolytic reaction of cathepsin C did not continue after one dipeptide had been removed, indicating that the recombinant pro-Gr3 had the native conformation without any refolding process. The recombinant pro-Gr3 would be a valuable tool for analyzing the activation mechanism and exploring other activating enzymes besides cathepsin C.