Dynamics of depressive states among university students in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic: an interrupted time series analysis

BACKGROUND

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was reported to have increased depression among university students which was associated with impairments in their campus lives. This study examined changes in depressive states among Japanese university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A secondary data analysis from a factorial randomized controlled trial involving smartphone-based cognitive-behavioral therapy was performed. Six cohorts (N = 1626) underwent an 8-week intervention during the spring or autumn of 2019-2021, with a 9-month follow-up. We evaluated participants' depressive states weekly using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) during the intervention, with monthly evaluations thereafter. The follow-up periods included Japan's four states of emergency (SOEs) to control COVID-19. Hypothesizing that SOEs caused a sudden worsening of depressive states, Study 1 compared the cohorts' PHQ-9 scores, and Study 2 employed time series analysis with a mixed-effects model to estimate identified changes in PHQ-9 scores.

RESULTS

Although no changes in depressive states were observed in relation to the SOEs, Study 1 identified sudden increases in PHQ-9 scores at the 28-week evaluation point, which corresponded to the beginning of the new academic year for the three autumn cohorts. In contrast, the three spring cohorts did not exhibit similar changes. Study 2 showed that, for all three autumn cohorts (n = 522), the 0.60-point change was significant (95% CI 0.42-0.78; p < .001) at 28 weeks; that is, when their timeline was interrupted.

CONCLUSIONS

While the results do not indicate any notable impact of the SOEs, they highlight the influence of the new academic year on university students' mental health during COVID-19. Trial registration UMIN, CTR-000031307. Registered on February 14, 2018.

POS0875 LATENT TRAJECTORY MODELING OF PULMONARY ARTERY PRESSURE IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS: A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

Background

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by systemic vasculopathy and fibrosis. Pulmonary hypertension (PH), defined as elevated pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), is one of the leading causes of death of SSc1. In recent years, various therapies have been developed to target each of the pathogenesis of SSc – autoimmunity, vasculopathy, and fibrosis. Accordingly, treatment strategies based on risk stratification for PH progression are aspired; however, prediction of changes in PAP in diverse patients with SSc has not been established2.

Objectives

To visualize the patterns of PAP elevation in SSc and to identify the clinical characteristics of each trajectory, by applying latent trajectory modeling for PAP measured repeatedly by echocardiography.

Methods

This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study conducted at four referral hospitals in Kyoto, Japan. Patients with SSc who visited the study site between April 2008 and March 2021 and had at least three echocardiographic measurements of systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP) were included in this study. Follow-up concluded in March 2021. A group-based trajectory model3 was applied to the change in sPAP over time, and individual patients were classified into distinct subgroups that followed similar trajectories. The number and shape of the trajectories were estimated based on adequacy, goodness of fit, parsimony, and interpretability of the model. Clinical plausibility was assessed by comparing PH-free survival, i.e., time to either PH or death, for each trajectory. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed for baseline clinical characteristics associated with trajectory assignment.

Results

A total of 236 patients with a total of 1097 sPAP measurements were included. We identified five trajectories following the quadratic function as “rapid progression (n=9, 3.8%)”, “early elevation (n=30, 12.7%)”, “mid elevation (n=54, 22.9%)”, “late elevation (n=24, 10.2%)”, and “low stable (n=119, 50.4%)”. Each trajectory, in this order, showed earlier elevation of sPAP and shorter PH-free survival (Figure 1). In the multinomial logistic regression (with the “low stable” as reference), cardiac involvement was associated with the “rapid progression” (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 28.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.21–259.5), diffuse cutaneous SSc was associated with the “early elevation” (OR 4.08, 95% CI 1.27–13.1), anti-centromere antibody positive was associated with the “mid elevation” (OR 4.50, 95% CI 1.11–18.2), and older age of onset was associated with the above three trajectories.

Conclusion

The pattern of changes in pulmonary artery pressure over time in SSc can be classified into five distinct trajectories. Each trajectory differed in baseline clinical characteristics and outcomes.

References

[1]Pokeerbux MR, et al. Survival and prognosis factors in systemic sclerosis: data of a French multicenter cohort, systematic review, and meta-analysis of the literature. Arthritis Res Ther. 2019;21(1):86.

[2]Denton CP, et al. Systemic sclerosis. Lancet. 2017;390(10103):1685-1699.

[3]Nagin DS, et al. Group-based trajectory modeling in clinical research. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2010;6:109-38.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine: Brussels, Belgium. 15-18 March 2016

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.].

A new method for identifying rigid link models of lower limbs

A new method for identifying rigid link models of human lower limbs has been proposed in this paper. The method was motivated by necessity of simulating human body movements for rehabilitation or for design of assistive devices. The method is based on combination of random search and least squares estimation techniques. Simulation and experimental results are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Evaluation of left atrial function by the functional volume change curve derived from Doppler flow spectra

The objective of this study was to clarify the left atrial (LA) reservoir and booster pump function in patients with left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction. To determine LA reservoir and booster pump function, a new algorithm to determine LA functional volume change curve (FVC) was developed from Doppler flow spectra of pulmonary venous flow and LV inflow by transthoracic echocardiography in 110 patients. Patients were classified into normal (N), and abnormal (AB) and pseudonormal (PN) groups on the basis of their Doppler flow patterns. From the indices of FVC, atrial reservoir volume (ARV), passive emptying volume (PEV) and active emptying volume (AEV) were obtained. ARV/stroke volume (SV) was increased in the AB group, but decreased in the PN group compared with N (N, 0.61+/-0.09; AB, 0.73+/-0.10; PN, 0.52+/-0.13, p<0.05). PEV/SV was significantly decreased in AB, but increased in PN compared with N (N, 0.27+/-0.07; AB, 0.19+/-0.07; PN, 0.31+/-0.18, p<0.05). AEV/SV was significantly increased in AB, but decreased in PN compared with N (N, 0.41+/-0.08; AB, 0.56+/-0.10; PN, 0.26+/-0.19, p<0.05). Thus, in patients with an abnormal relaxation pattern, the LA reservoir and booster pump function are augmented, but in patients with a pseudonormal pattern, both LA reservoir and booster pump function are deteriorated, suggesting a vulnerability to pulmonary congestion.

Stereopsis-processing regions in the human parieto-occipital cortex

We performed fMRI on the human parieto-occipital cortex in order to identify the neural processing regions of stereopsis. Visual stimulation for stereopsis was performed with a random-dot stereogram displayed in the image guides of a new binocular visual stimulation device that we developed. Interestingly, regions from the dorsal portion of the occipital lobe to the superior parietal lobule were activated by binocular disparity, while the inferior parietal lobule was not activated. Moreover, these regions were shown as dominant in the right hemisphere. Functional brain mapping revealed that the processing regions of stereopsis were dorsally located in parieto-occipital cortex, and that the superior parietal lobule is an important region for neural processing of human stereopsis.

Effect of low-intensity warfarin therapy on left atrial thrombus resolution in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: a transesophageal echocardiographic study

The presence of left atrial thrombus (LAT) is associated with an increased risk of embolic stroke. However, it has yet to be established definitively whether low-intensity warfarin therapy (INR: 1.5-2.0) can prevent LAT formation in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). The present study analyzed the clinical and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) features of 123 such patients to identify risk factors for LAT formation and the efficacy of prophylactic low-intensity warfarin therapy. Left atrial thrombi were found in 35 patients (28%) in whom systemic hypertension (49% vs 23%; p<0.01) and ischemic heart disease (17% vs 3%; p<0.01) were more frequent. Left ventricular ejection fraction (54+/-14% vs 60+/-11%; p<0.05), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (51+/-7 mm vs 48+/-5 mm; p<0.05), spontaneous echo contrast (2.2+/-0.7 vs 1.4+/-0.9; p<0.01), left atrial diameter (50+/-6 mm vs 43+/-7 mm; p<0.01), left atrial appendage blood velocity (22.3+/-8.7 cm/s vs 37.2+/-21.5 cm/s; p<0.01) and the incidence of left ventricular hypertrophy (37% vs 15%; p<0.01) were also significantly different between the groups. Fourteen patients received continuous warfarin therapy (target INR: 1.5-2.0) and on the follow-up TEE study the left atrial thrombus resolved in 10 (71%). There were no thromboembolic events or major hemorrhagic complications in these patients, so it was concluded that low-intensity warfarin therapy is efficacious in treating LAT formation in patients with NVAF.

Eosinophil counts and plasma fibrinogen in patients with vasospastic angina pectoris

Epidemiologic studies have suggested a relation between white blood cell (WBC) counts and the incidence of coronary heart disease. However, the relation between vasospastic angina pectoris (VAP) and WBC counts remains to be elucidated. To clarify the relation between differential and WBC counts in VAP, we compared the hematologic values, blood chemical values, plasma fibrinogen levels, C-reactive protein levels, and coronary risk factors in patients with spontaneous attacks of VAP (n = 39) with those in patients with stable effort angina pectoris (EAP, n = 35) and in control subjects (n = 19). Patients with VAP were further divided into mild VAP (n = 22) and severe VAP groups (n = 17). There were no differences in the coronary risk factors, body temperature, total WBC counts, and C-reactive protein levels among the control, EAP, mild VAP, and severe VAP groups, except that the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the EAP group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p <0.01). In contrast, the eosinophil counts were significantly higher in the severe VAP group than in the other 3 groups (p <0.01). Plasma fibrinogen levels were also significantly higher in the severe VAP group than in the other 3 groups (p <0.05). The follow-up study for differential and WBC counts in patients with VAP (n = 23) demonstrated that, after medical therapy, the eosinophil counts were significantly decreased to the some level as those in the control group (p <0.0001). Thus, the eosinophil counts and plasma fibrinogen levels could predict the severity of VAP. Furthermore, a follow-up study in patients with VAP suggests that coronary vasospasm could result in an increase in eosinophil counts.

[Diagnosis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for blowout fracture--three advantages of MRI]

INTRODUCTION

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) gives a much more detailed picture of the soft tissue than computerized tomography (CT). In blowout fracture cases, it is very easy to observe the incarcerated orbital tissue.

SUBJECTS

We performed MRI in 19 blowout fracture cases.

RESULTS

After evaluating the images, we found three advantages of MRI. The first is that even small herniation of the orbital contents can easily be detected because the orbital fatty tissue contrasts well around the other tissues in MRI. The second is that the incarcerated tissues can be clearly differentiated because a clear contrast between the orbital fatty tissue and the extraocular muscle can be seen in MRI. The third is that the running images of the incarcerated muscle belly can be observed because any necessary directional slies can be taken in MRI.

CONCLUSION

These advantages are very important in the diagnosis of blowout fractures. MRI should be employed in blowout fracture cases in addition to CT.

Importance of left anterior descending coronary artery curvature in determining cross-sectional plaque distribution assessed by intravascular ultrasound

We assessed the relation between the circumferential distribution of coronary atherosclerotic plaques and the structure of the epicardial coronary arteries in patients with coronary artery disease using intravascular ultrasound in vivo. Coronary atherosclerosis preferentially formed at the inner arc of the curved coronary vessels, and greater vessel curvatures were associated with greater distributions of atherosclerotic lesions along the inner coronary artery wall.

Pre-clinical Cushing's syndrome with body weight loss and normal circadian rhythm of blood pressure

A 68-year-old woman was referred for evaluation of an incidentally discovered left adrenal mass. Her chief complaint was body weight loss. She showed no symptoms or signs suggestive of Cushing's syndrome. The circadian rhythm of blood pressure was also normal. Hormonal assessment revealed an abnormal diurnal variation in serum cortisol levels, suppressed baseline plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone, and nonsuppression of serum and urinary cortisol with the dexamethasone suppression test. Adrenal scintigraphy with (131)I-6-beta-iodomethyl-norcholesterol showed uptake on the left adrenal and inhibition of the contralateral adrenal gland. She was diagnosed as pre-clinical Cushing's syndrome. Due to the lack of clinical symptoms and the risks of surgery, we emphasize the importance of careful assessment of the cortisol metabolism and scintigraphic scanning under dexamethasone suppression to avoid post-surgical Addisonian crisis.

A case of acute eosinophilic pneumonia. Evidence for hypersensitivity-like pulmonary reaction

We examined an 86-year-old man with acute respiratory failure. A chest roentgenogram showed diffuse reticular shadows. Transbronchial biopsy revealed thickening of the alveolar septa accompanied by moderate eosinophil infiltration. After admission to the hospital, the patient's symptoms immediately improved without any medication. Clinical course and pathologic findings suggested acute eosinophilic pneumonia caused by a hypersensitivity reaction.

Iodine-123-MIBG imaging in pheochromocytoma with cardiomyopathy and pulmonary edema

We encountered a patient with pheochromocytoma associated with a catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy that developed recurrently bilateral and unilateral pulmonary edema. The diagnosis of pheochromocytoma was made by elevated plasma catecholamine levels and the intense tumor [123I]MIBG uptake and was confirmed at the time of surgery. The patient showed reduced myocardial [123I]MIBG uptake with left ventricular dysfunction, and endomyocardial biopsy findings were consistent with the diagnosis of catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy. After tumor resection, plasma levels of catecholamine were normalized, and pulmonary edema never recurred, although cardiac dysfunction did not show an improvement on echocardiography. Myocardial and lung [123I]MIBG uptake increased when compared to uptake levels on preoperative scans, but myocardial uptake was still below normal. These findings indicated that over-secreted catecholamines influenced both the heart and lungs. Pheochromocytoma can induce cardiac and lung injuries, and [123I]MIBG scanning may contribute not only to tumor characterization but also to assessing and monitoring the influence of catecholamines on the heart and lungs.

Limitations of intravascular ultrasound for the evaluation of coronary luminal area--comparison with quantitative angiography

To evaluate the accuracy of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) for the measurement of coronary luminal area, we compared IVUS with quantitative coronary angiography (QCA). We studied 46 segments in 21 patients who underwent coronary intervention. In each lesion, coronary luminal areas were evaluated by both IVUS and QCA. To quantitate the differences between the two modalities, we calculated a difference index (magnitude of intraluminal area by IVUS -intraluminal area by QCA/intraluminal area by IVUS). We also calculated an eccentricity index (the thinnest thickness of plaque divided by the width of the opposite plaque) using IVUS. All samples were classified into 2 groups according to the lumen diameter by QCA. In Group I (lumen diameter > or = 3.0 mm), we found a close correlation between the intraluminal areas obtained by the two modalities (r = 0.95, p < 0.001). In Group II (lumen diameter < 3.0 mm), we found a lower correlation between the intraluminal areas obtained by the two techniques (r = 0.61, p < 0.005), and the intraluminal area by IVUS was significantly larger than that from QCA (p < 0.001). Furthermore, there was an inverse correlation between the eccentricity index and the difference index in Group II (r = 0.83, p < 0.001). These findings indicate that the differences between ultrasonic and angiographic measurements the coronary luminal area were greater in coronary arteries with a narrow lumen due to plaque eccentricity.

Is exercise training effective in preventing diabetes mellitus in the Otsuka-Long-Evans-Tokushima fatty rat, a model of spontaneous non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus?

We determined whether exercise training is effective in preventing the development of diabetes mellitus in a model rat (Otsuka-Long-Evans-Tokushima Fatty [OLETF]) with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Thirty male OLETF rats aged 5 weeks were assigned to one of the following three groups: trained rats placed individually in an exercise wheel (EW) cage, EW-control rats housed in the same cages equipped with a fixed rotatory wheel, and sedentary rats maintained two or three to a conventional cage. Eight male diabetes-resistant Long-Evans rats were used as nondiabetic controls. At 24 weeks of age, the trained, EW-control, sedentary, and nondiabetic control rats weighed an average of 445, 559, 621 and 513 g and had abdominal fat deposits of 16, 55, 67, and 23 g, respectively. The mean amount of exercise of trained rats was 5,243 m/d. At 24 weeks of age, the cumulative incidences of diabetes mellitus in sedentary and EW-control rats were 78% and 50%, respectively, while neither trained nor nondiabetic control rats became diabetic. Fasting and 120-minute plasma immunoreactive insulin (IRI) levels after oral glucose administration were significantly lower in the trained group than in the other groups. In vivo insulin-stimulated glucose uptake as measured with a euglycemic clamp was reduced 37% in sedentary rats and increased 35% in trained rats compared with that in nondiabetic control rats. Morphological studies on the pancreas of sedentary and EW-control rats showed enlarged multilobulated fibrotic islets, whereas sections of islets from trained rats appeared normal but slightly enlarged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cyclophosphamide-induced diabetes in Long-Evans Tokushima Lean rats: influence of ovariectomy on the development of diabetes

We studied the effect of treatment with cyclophosphamide (CY) on the incidence of diabetes in Long-Evans Tokushima Lean (LETL) rats, a newly established strain of spontaneously type I diabetic rats. The overall incidence of diabetes among 356 LETL rats treated with CY was 25.6%, which was significantly higher than the 10.5% among 857 untreated LETL rats at 27 weeks of age, and there was no significant sex difference. The incidence of CY-induced diabetes in adult (> 16 weeks of age) female LETL rats was 7.7% (10/130), which was significantly lower than that in other CY-treated groups of LETL rats. No diabetes mellitus was induced by administration of CY to 23 diabetes-resistant LETO rats. There were no significant differences in the degrees of hyperglycemia or hyperketonemia in spontaneously and CY-induced diabetic LETL rats, but the plasma glycated albumin level of CY-induced diabetic rats (10.3% +/- 2.1%) was significantly higher than that of spontaneously diabetic rats (8.2% +/- 1.3%), suggesting that plasma glucose levels increased more rapidly in the latter. More than half of the diabetic rats showed type C or D morphological changes of the islets, ie, atrophic change with little mononuclear cell infiltration or almost complete loss of the islets. However, distributions of various types of morphological changes in the islets were not significantly different in the two groups. Ovariectomy (OVX) significantly increased the incidence of CY-induced diabetes in adult female rats from 7.7% to 20.8%. The number of CD8+ cells was significantly increased in noncastrated adult female LETL rats and decreased to the level of other groups after OVX.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Correlation between residual beta-cell function and age at onset of spontaneous diabetes in Long Evans Tokushima lean rats

We studied the natural course of disease in spontaneously diabetic rats, Long Evans Tokushima Lean (LETL) rats, to determine whether it showed similar pathogenetic heterogeneity to that of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) with regard to the relationships between age at onset, rapidity of disease progress, and degree of beta-cell function at the time of its manifestation. Type 1 diabetes developed in 35 rats (6.3%) between 40 and 140 days of age. Eight rats that became diabetic at age 69 days or less were more severely ketotic at the time of first detection of glycosuria and showed more rapid deterioration than seven rats that became diabetic later after birth (mean plasma 3-hydroxybutyrate levels, 4,707 +/- 1,215 pmol/L v 1,390 +/- 859 pmol/L; mean +/- SEM, P < .01). The mean plasma levels and pancreatic content of immunoreactive insulin (IRI) of the early onset rats, 47 +/- 13 pmol/L and 19 +/- 12 pmol/g tissue weight, were significantly lower (P < .01) than the corresponding values of the late-onset rats, 262 +/- 52 pmol/L and 348 +/- 87 pmol/g tissue weight, respectively. Both values were markedly lower than the mean values of 25 nondiabetic LETL rats, 976 +/- 122 pmol/L and 3,488 +/- 628 pmol/g tissue weight. Plasma immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) levels were significantly increased in the diabetic groups (early onset, 57 +/- 13 pmol/L; late-onset, 51 +/- 12 pmol/L; nondiabetic, 18 +/- 1 pmol/L; P < .01). These changes in pancreatic hormone levels of the early onset and late-onset rats were compatible with the histological features of their pancreatic islets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

N-2 acetylation of 2'-deoxyguanosine by coffee mutagens, methylglyoxal and hydrogen peroxide

Coffee shows direct-acting mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and most of this mutagenicity is due to the synergistic effects of methylglyoxal and hydrogen peroxide. The modifications of deoxyribonucleosides by methylglyoxal plus hydrogen peroxide were studied in vitro. When 2'-deoxyguanosine (6.25 mumole) was treated with methylglyoxal (125 mumole) and hydrogen peroxide (125 mumole) in 5 ml of 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) at 37 degrees C for 3 h, N2-acetyl-2'-deoxyguanosine was formed with a yield of 1.1%. Its formation increased time-dependently. By contrast, no appreciable modification of other deoxynucleosides was detected after their incubation with methylglyoxal and hydrogen peroxide under similar conditions. N2-Acetyl-2'-deoxyguanosine was also formed during incubation of 2'-deoxyguanosine with instant coffee.

Presence of thrombosis-inducing activity in plasma from patients with lung cancer

Thrombosis-inducing activity (TIA) was detected in the peripheral blood of some patients with advanced lung cancer. When plasma from the patients was given intravenously to mice or to guinea pigs, the animals became immobile within 2 min and died at 3 to 30 min after the injection. Multiple thrombosis was found in the lungs and was considered to be the cause of the death. Thrombosis was not formed and the mice survived when heparin was given intravenously 5 min before the injection of the plasma. This TIA was present in plasma from 13 of 42 patients with lung cancer. On the contrary, only two of 32 with chronic lung diseases and two of 31 healthy control subjects had this activity in the plasma. The coagulation system in the 13 patients was considered to be chronically activated, as revealed by elevation of plasma fibrinogen levels, fibrin degradation product levels, and/or peripheral platelet counts. The TIA shared characteristics with tissue factor in that it was heat labile, nondialyzable through a dialysis membrane with a 10,000 molecular weight exclusion limit, sensitive to phospholipase C treatment, precipitated by 50% ammonium sulfate, and bound to concanavalin-A Sepharose.

Effect of exercise training on insulin and glucagon release from perfused rat pancreas

The effect of physical training on insulin and glucagon release in perfused rat pancreas was examined in the spontaneously exercised group running in a wheel cage an average of 1.4 km/day for 3 weeks and in the sedentary control group kept in the cage whose rotatory wheel was fixed on purpose. Pancreatic immunoreactive insulin (IRI) responses to glucose and arginine were reduced by 28% and 47.8% respectively in trained rats compared with untrained rats, while IRI content of the pancreas was similar in these two groups. The demonstrated decrease in insulin secretion of the beta-cell of the trained rats, in response to the glucose and arginine stimulations, may be functional in nature. On the other hand, neither pancreatic glucagon immunoreactivity (GI) response to glucose and arginine nor GI content of the pancreas was modified by exercise training. These results demonstrate that exercise training reduces IRI responses to glucose as well as to arginine stimulations, but does not modify any secretory response of pancreatic GI.

A new diet-exercise therapy in our obese-child clinic

Because a large percentage of childhood obesity may persist into adulthood and cause a hotbed of so-called seijin-byoh (adult diseases), its treatment should also be considered from the viewpoint of seijin-byoh prophylaxis. Most obese children, however, are awkward in their movements, in spite of binge eating or bulimia, and unable to carry out any severe exercise-diet therapy. For such subjects, we have designed a new practicable procedure, and obtained excellent results for the last five years. The main principle of our procedure is that the control of caloric intake is relaxed as much as possible after due consideration of a child's growth in height: no restriction for mild, 10-15% of the requirement for moderate, and 20-25% for severe obese children, respectively. The ratio of protein/energy is established at a higher level than usual, while that of fat/energy at a lower level. For exercise, walking is the most easy and important exercise and the proper speeds for individuals are converted from the same amount of movement determined at the 1st increase point of serum lactate values, where the proportion of movement-energy originating from body fat reaches the highest percentage at about 75%. Our new procedure is supported also by the fact that the reduction in body weight combines with the improvement in measurement values of fatty metabolites without any change in values of proteins.

Campylobacter enteritis in childhood

Bacteriological examinations of faecal samples, obtained from 321 infants and children with acute enteritis, were carried out in the pediatric clinic of the University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan from January 1983 to December 1985. Campylobacter jejuni were isolated in 48 infants and children (15%), while Salmonella species in 6 (1.9%), and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in 11 (3.4%). Of 48 infants and children with Campylobacter enteritis (C. enteritis), 20 cases (42%) were under 2 years old, 17 (35%) from 2 to 6 years old, 8 (17%) from 7 to 12 years old, and 3 (6%) above 13 years old, suggesting the higher incidence in the younger infants and children. There were 30 males and 18 females, male:female ratio of 5:3. No seasonal variations in the frequency of C. enteritis were noticed. Major symptoms were diarrhea (94%), fever (50%), bleeding in stools (44%), abdominal pain (31%), and vomiting (10%). All strains of C. jejuni were highly sensitive to gentamicin, amikacin, kanamycin, erythromycin, josamycin, and chloramphenicol. We also report two typically mild cases of C. enteritis, a newborn infant with monosymptomatic bleeding in stools and diarrhea, and another 11-month-old, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome infant with asymptomatic bloody stools.

Stimulation of cholesterol metabolism in pyridoxine-deficient rats

The effect of pyridoxine deficiency on cholesterol catabolism was studied in rats. The concentrations of bile lipid components were higher in pyridoxine-deficient rats than in controls. A decreased ratio of taurine to glycine conjugates was observed in the deficient rats. No change in the neutral sterol content, but an increase in the bile acid content of the feces was observed in the deficient rats. Increased cholesterol catabolism in pyridoxine-deficient rats was also shown by the shorter half-life of the [14C] cholesterol injected into these animals.

Effect of pyridoxine deficiency on cholesterogenesis in rats fed different levels of protein

Hepatic cholesterol contents in rats fed a 70% or 20% casein diet with or without pyridoxine was determined. In the case of the 70% casein group, pyridoxine-deficient rats showed a higher content than the control. The increment was mainly due to the accumulation of an ester form of the cholesterol. On the other hand, pyridoxine-deficient rats in the 20% casein group showed a slightly lower content. The cholesterol content in liver microsomal fractions was lower in the 20% casein pyridoxine-deficient group and serum cholesterol level was lower in the 70%-casein pyridoxine-deficient group than those in respective control groups. Incorporation of [14C]acetate into cholesterol was studied using liver slices, and significant stimulation was observed in pyridoxine-deficient rat fed a 20% or 70% casein diet. There was no difference in intestinal cholesterogenesis between the control and the deficient groups.

Factors affecting liver lipid content in pyridoxing-deficient rats. I. Dietary protein levels

Effects of choline fortification and various dietary protein levels on liver lipid content in pyridoxine-deficient rats were studied. Choline fortification did not prevent the accumulation of liver lipids in pyridoxine-deficient rats. Considerable accumulation of liver lipids was observed in the 70% casein pyridoxine-deprived group. Reducing the protein level in the diet decreased the extent of lipid accumulation. A highly negative correlation was found between liver lipid content and liver GPT activity, indicating that the fatty infiltration of the liver may be intimately related to the pyridoxine deficiency state. The time course of fatty liver induction upon feeding of a 70% casein pyridoxine-deficient diet was also studied. The liver lipid content increased gradually and reached the highest value by the third week with a concomitant decrease in food intake. Effect of change of dietary compositions on fatty liver caused by 70% casein pyridoxine-free diet was examined. Feeding of a 70% casein pyridoxine-supplemented diet or a 20% casein pyridoxine-free diet caused decreases in the liver lipids.