Comparative trial of the effects of continuous locomotion training provided at pharmacies: a pilot study

Background

While the world’s population is growing older, healthy life expectancy is not increasing. The Japanese Orthopedic Association proposed the concept of ‘locomotive syndrome,’ manifested as a decline in mobility functions, and introduced a short test battery for assessing the risk of this syndrome. The test battery includes the ‘stand-up test,’ ‘two-step test,’ and ‘25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale’ (25-question GLFS). The purpose of locomotion training is to improve and sustain standing and gait functions. However, the place where locomotion training can be provided and followed up has not been decided upon. Therefore, a study was conducted to explore the effect of locomotive syndrome improvement by continuous locomotion training provided at community pharmacies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pharmacists’ instructions and follow-up on the compliance and effectiveness of locomotion training.

Methods

The inclusion criteria were 1) age ≥ 65 years and 2) decline in mobility functions. Guidance on how to perform locomotion training was provided by a pharmacist at the pharmacy. The participants performed locomotion training at home. They were tested and instructed at the pharmacy once a month for 3 months. The main outcome measures were test battery results and the percentage of number of days participants who were able to do the training at home.

Results

Eleven participants were analysed. The minimum implementation percentage was 78%. Improvements were observed in 25-question GLFS, muscle strength, and standing time on one leg. Three participants no longer showed a noticeable decline in mobility function.

Conclusion

Continuous locomotion training provided at pharmacies could contribute to locomotive syndrome prevention.

Trial registration

This study was registered with the University hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR; identification No. UMIN000027963. Registered 28 June 2017).

Thoroughly mesoporous TiO2 nanotubes prepared by a foaming agent-assisted electrospun template for photocatalytic applications

A thoroughly mesoporous long TiO₂ nanotube with intact morphology was firstly prepared using a foaming agent-assisted electrospun template method for photocatalytic applications.

Antileukemia multifunctionality of CD4(+) T cells genetically engineered by HLA class I-restricted and WT1-specific T-cell receptor gene transfer

To develop gene-modified T-cell-based antileukemia adoptive immunotherapy, concomitant administration of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells that have been gene modified using identical HLA class I-restricted leukemia antigen-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) gene transfer has not yet been fully investigated. Here, using CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells that had been gene modified with a retroviral vector expressing HLA-A*24:02-restricted and Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1)-specific TCR-α/β genes and siRNAs for endogenous TCRs (WT1-siTCR/CD4(+) T cells and WT1-siTCR/CD8(+) T cells), we examined the utility of this strategy. WT1-siTCR/CD4(+) T cells sufficiently recognized leukemia cells in an HLA class I-restricted manner and provided target-specific Th1 help for WT1-siTCR/CD8(+) T cells. By using a xenografted mouse model, we found that WT1-siTCR/CD4(+) T cells migrated to leukemia sites and subsequently attracted WT1-siTCR/CD8(+) T cells via chemotaxis. Therapy-oriented experiments revealed effective enhancement of leukemia suppression mediated by concomitant administration of WT1-siTCR/CD4(+) T cells and WT1-siTCR/CD8(+) T cells. Importantly, this augmented efficacy in the presence of WT1-siTCR/CD4(+) T cells was correlated with longer survival and enhanced formation of memory T cells by WT1-siTCR/CD8(+) T cells. Collectively, our experimental findings strongly suggest that this strategy would be clinically advantageous for the treatment of human leukemia.

Tunable terahertz emission from the intrinsic Josephson junctions in acute isosceles triangular Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈+δ mesas

In order to determine if the mesa geometry might affect the properties of the coherent terahertz (THz) radiation emitted from the intrinsic Josephson junctions in mesas constructed from single crystals of the high-temperature superconductor, Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O₈+δ, we studied triangular mesas. For equilateral triangular mesas, the observed emission was found to be limited to the single mesa TM(1,0) mode. However, tunable radiation over the range from 0.495 to 0.934 THz was found to arise from an acute isosceles triangular mesa. This 47% tunability is the widest yet observed from the outer current-voltage characteristic branch of such mesas of any geometry. Although the radiation at a few of the frequencies in the tunable range appear to have been enhanced by cavity resonances, most frequencies are far from such resonance frequencies, and can only be attributed to the ac-Josephson effect.

Negative Geotactic Behavior of Paramecium Caudatum is Completely Described by the Mechanism of Buoyancy-Oriented Upward Swimming

This paper presents evidence that the negative geotactic behavior of Paramecium caudatum takes place by the mechanism of buoyancy-oriented upward swimming. Photographs of swimming pathways of the organisms were completely described by two dynamic equations for the translational motion of the center of gravity of the organism's body and for the rotational motion of the organism's body about its center of gravity, where the rotational torque is induced by a slight difference in position between the center of gravity and the center of buoyancy. It now seems unlikely that complicated mechanisms such as the statocyst mechanism and the gravity-propulsion mechanism, which have been proposed by many investigators, need be considered for other protozoa since preliminary observation and analysis of other ciliates such as Paramecium multimicronucleatum, Paramecium tetraurelia, and Tetrahymena pyriformis also strongly suggested that their negative geotaxis is due to buoyancy-oriented upward swimming.

Functional difference of receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase zeta/beta isoforms in neurogenesis of hippocampal neurons

Receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase zeta/beta (RPTPzeta) is a transmembrane chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) and has been shown to play crucial roles in controlling axonal growth and neuronal migration. The RPTPzeta has two transmembranous isoforms, shorter receptor form of RPTPzeta (sRPTPzeta) and full-length receptor form of RPTPzeta (fRPTPzeta), but no studies have been reported about functional difference of these two isoforms. In the present study, therefore, we examined whether or not two RPTPzeta isoforms have different role in controlling dendritic morphology and synaptic number in cultured hippocampal neurons using the quantitative morphometrical analysis. Confocal microscopic observation showed that the immunoreactivity of RPTPzeta was observed throughout cells such as axons, growth cones, and dendrites at the early stages of neuronal culture, while it was seen predominantly on dendrites at the late stages. Western blotting analysis revealed that fRPTPzeta was mainly expressed at the early stages of culture and both RPTPzeta isoforms were expressed at late stages of culture. The overexpression of sRPTPzeta in hippocampal neurons increased the dendritic arborization without altering the average length of dendritic branches, whereas that of fRPTPzeta decreased the dendritic arborization and increased the average length of dendritic branches. The RNA interference of fRPTPzeta expression increased the dendritic arborization without altering the average length of dendritic branches. The overexpression of fRPTPzeta decreased the density of hippocampal dendritic synapses, but that of sRPTPzeta had no effects. Pleiotrophin, a ligand for RPTPzeta to interfere the phosphatase activity, increased the density of hippocampal dendritic synapses. Thus, the present study demonstrates that two transmembranous RPTPzeta isoforms have different functions for regulating dendritogenesis and synaptogenesis.

Soluble interleukin-2 receptor retains prognostic value in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma receiving rituximab plus CHOP (RCHOP) therapy

BACKGROUND

Soluble interleukin-2 receptor (SIL-2R) is known to be a prognostic parameter in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) receiving cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP) therapy. However, its prognostic value has not been well known since the introduction of rituximab.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the prognostic impact of SIL-2R in 228 DLBCL patients, comparing 141 rituximab-combined CHOP (RCHOP)-treated patients with 87 CHOP-treated patients as a historical control.

RESULTS

Patients with high serum SIL-2R showed significantly poorer event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) than patients with low SIL-2R in both the RCHOP group (2-year EFS, 66% versus 92%, P<0.001; OS, 82% versus 95%, P=0.005) and the CHOP group (2-year EFS, 40% versus 82%; OS, 61% versus 90%, both P<0.001). Multivariate analysis including the five parameters of International Prognostic Index (IPI) and two-categorized IPI revealed that SIL-2R was an independent prognostic factor for EFS and OS in the RCHOP group as well as in the CHOP group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that SIL-2R retains its prognostic value in the rituximab era. The prognostic value of SIL-2R in DLBCL patients receiving rituximab-combined chemotherapy should be reassessed on a larger scale and by long-term follow-up.

CD5 expression is potentially predictive of poor outcome among biomarkers in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma receiving rituximab plus CHOP therapy

BACKGROUND

Several biomarkers indicating poor prognosis have been reassessed in patients receiving rituximab combination chemotherapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, few studies have investigated outcome in relation to a combination of these biomarkers. In addition, no large-scale studies have reassessed the outcome of patients with CD5-positive DLBCL treated with rituximab.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study and investigated the predictive value of three biomarkers -- BCL2, germinal center (GC) phenotype and CD5 -- in 121 DLBCL patients treated with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone.

RESULTS

CD5-positive patients showed significantly poorer event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) than CD5-negative patients (2-year EFS, 18% versus 73%, P < 0.001; 2-year OS, 45% versus 91%, P = 0.001). However, no significant difference in outcome according to BCL2 or GC phenotype was observed. Multivariate analysis revealed that CD5 expression was a significant prognostic factor for EFS [hazard ratio 14.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.7-43.2] and OS (hazard ratio 20.3, 95% CI 3.6-114.4).

CONCLUSIONS

CD5 expression was the only significant prognostic factor among the biomarkers examined in this study. Further studies with larger numbers are warranted to confirm the prognostic significance of CD5 expression for patients with DLBCL receiving rituximab-containing chemotherapy.

The average number of distinct sites visited by a one-dimensional random walker and its application to isotope exchange in polypeptides

The average number of distinct sites visited by a random walker moving with arbitrary transition probability on a one-dimensional lattice is calculated. Asymptotic forms of this quantity for both asymmetric and symmetric random walks are determined, and an exact solution for the latter case is also given for any number of steps. The average number of sites visited is then analyzed for intermediate numbers of steps by introducing an exponent. This approach is applied to explain the results of isotope exchange experiments in polypeptides, and applications of asymmetric random walks to other biological problems are briefly discussed.

Effect of zaprinast on nitric oxide levels in serum and aortic tissue

Nitric oxide (NO), which is synthesized from the guanidino nitrogen of l-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS), plays an important role in many physiological and pathological processes. Most of the effects of NO are mediated by cyclic guanosine 3'5 monophosphate (cGMP), which is synthesized by soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and degraded by phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Although the NO/cGMP pathway has been extensively studied, remarkably little is known about the regulation of NO release. Furthermore, controversial studies have indicated that intervention of the sGC/cGMP pathway modulates the release of NO. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that drugs that affect the sGC/cGMP pathway may modulate NO release and, if so, is there a correlation between NO levels and blood pressure effect? To this end, we investigated the effects of the PDE 5 inhibitor zaprinast on mean arterial pressure (MAP), nitrite/nitrate levels and cGMP in normotensive male Sprague Dawley rats. The results of the current study indicated that zaprinast dose-dependently increased plasma cGMP levels at 18, 24 and 36 mg/kg and decreased MAP at 24 and 36 mg/kg. However, zaprinast at 18, 24 and 36 mg/kg did not affect NO levels either in serum or aortic tissue. We have concluded that the PDE 5 inhibitor zaprinast has no regulatory effect on NO release in serum and aortic tissue, and NO was not involved in the hypotensive effect of zaprinast.

Modality of postural movement in men and women with both arms flexed during standing

We investigated postural movement associated with bilateral arm flexion in response to a light signal during standing in 179 healthy men and women to assess whether individual and sex differences arc evident in the postural movement pattern. The following results were obtained. (a) A correlation of -.87 was noted between movement angles of the foot-leg and leg-trunk. (b) Individual differences in movement angle were approximately twice as large in the hip joint as in the ankle and knee joints, and the movement angle of the leg trunk showed approximately half the number of extension as flexion movements. (c) The postural movement pattern was categorized on the basis of the movement angle of the foot leg and leg trunk into the following three patterns: hip flexion, backward leaning, and hip extension. The percentages of subjects showing these patterns were 59.2%, 33.5%, and 7.3%, respectively. (d) The inclination angle reflecting the righting response showed a gradual increase in size in the order of trunk, head, and neck. However, the righting response was not controlled precisely enough to enable subjects to maintain the inclination angle in a quiet standing posture. (e) We identified a significant sex difference in the relative frequency of subjects in the postural movement pattern.

Establishment of specific pathogen-free (SPF) rat colonies using gnotobiotic techniques

Gnotobiotic Wistar rats were produced using gnotobiotic techniques, which were established in the production of a SPF mouse colony, in order to establish a barrier-sustained colony. One strain of Escherichia coli, 28 strains of Bacteriodaceae (B-strains), three strains of Lactobacillus (L-strains) and a chloroform-treated fecal suspension (CHF, Clostridium mixture) were prepared from conventional Wistar rats as the microflora source. Two groups of limited-flora rats, E. coli plus B-strains and E. coli plus CHF, were produced. After confirmation that Clostridium difficile was not detected in the CHF-inoculated rats, two groups of limited-flora rats were transferred to an isolator and housed together in a cage. These rats were then orally inoculated with L-strains. The gnotobiotic rats showed colonization resistance to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the number of E. coli in the feces was 10(5) to 10(6)/g. The gnotobiotic rats were transferred to a barrier room as a source of intestinal flora for SPF colonies. In the SPF rats, basic cecal flora was mainly composed of Bacteroidaceae, clostridia, fusiform-shaped bacteria and lactobacilli, and did not change over a long period. Their flora became similar to that of conventional rats.

Establishment of specific pathogen-free guinea-pig colonies using limited-flora guinea-pigs associated with conventional guinea-pig flora, and monitoring of their cecal flora

Six groups of limited flora (LF) Hartley guinea-pigs were produced by inoculation of hysterectomy-derived GF guinea-pigs with various combinations of cecal bacteria of conventional (CV) guinea-pigs to determine the effective bacterial cocktails for the establishment of a specific pathogen free (SPF) colony. Bifidobacterium magnum (Bif) isolated from CV guinea-pigs was used for pretreatment. The mortality of LF guinea-pigs inoculated with only Bif was 75%, and that of those inoculated with Bif plus chloroform-treated cecal suspension (CHF) or Bif plus CHF plus 32 isolates from CV guinea-pigs was 40 to 66.7%. These three groups were in an unhealthy condition with mucoid enteritis-like diarrhea. However, the mortality of LF guinea-pigs inoculated with the anaerobic growth on EG plates injected with 10(-5) dilution of cecal contents (CF) or inoculated with Bif plus CF was 6.3 and 15%, respectively. These latter two groups of LF guinea-pigs were transferred to separate barrier rooms and some of the LF guinea-pigs were maintained in isolators as a source of intestinal flora for SPF guinea-pigs. The composition of cecal flora of LF guinea-pigs was stable for a long time, and bacteroidaceae and peptococcaceae were maintained as predominant components. The basic composition of the cecal flora of SPF guinea-pigs originated from LF guinea-pigs, which consists mainly of the anaerobic bacteria, was not changed over a long period, and the flora composition became similar to that in CV guinea-pigs. Guinea-pig-specific pathogens from the SPF colonies were not detected during experiments.

[Clinical training and home therapy in our clinic]

Since 1986, we have practiced clinical training. In this training, the physician trainee acts as the head of our clinic, managing programs including the medical teams for outpatient clinics and home therapy. Our home therapy started in 1975 and successive resident trainees have held conferences, cooperation between hospitals and clinics between clinics, and also held home patient and family parties. In our clinical training, therefore, the resident can effectively gain generalized clinical abilities.

Upregulation of retinal vascular endothelial growth factor mRNAs in spontaneously diabetic rats without ophthalmoscopic retinopathy. A possible participation of advanced glycation end products in the development of the early phase of diabetic retinopathy

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has recently been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. However, its involvement in the development of the early phase of diabetic retinopathy is not fully understood. In this study we investigated the retinal VEGF mRNA level in spontaneously diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats, a model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes, without overt retinopathy, using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. The retinal VEGF mRNA level was 2.2 times higher (p < 0.0005) in OLETF rats than in control rats at the age of 60 weeks. Moreover, their retinal mRNA level was positively correlated with serum concentration of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) but not to serum glucose concentration. Furthermore, the peak latency of the oscillatory potentials in the electroretinogram, one of the most sensitive markers for the early phase of diabetic retinopathy, was significantly prolonged in OLETF rats (p < 0.05), being also correlated with the serum AGE concentration. The results thus suggest that AGEs, which are formed acceleratedly in diabetic conditions, are involved in the development of the early phase of diabetic retinopathy probably through the induction of retinal VEGF mRNAs.

Chemical modification of amino acid residues in glycerinated Vorticella stalk and Ca(2+)-induced contractility

The glycerinated stalk of the peritrich ciliate Vorticella, was treated with various reagents to chemically modify the amino acid residues. The influences of these modifcations on spasmoneme contractility were investigated. First, it was confirmed that the spasmoneme contraction is not inhibited by alteration of SH groups. It was also demonstrated that chemical modification of methionine and tryptophan residues abolishes spasmoneme contractility. The reagents used for chemical modification were N-bromosuccinimide (NBS), chloramine T, and 2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl bromide (HNBB), which abolished spasmoneme contractility at concentrations of 40-50 microM, 200-300 microM, and 4 mM, respectively. These results suggest that, along with Ca2+ binding proteins, there are other as yet to be identified proteins involved in contractility.

[A comparison between three methods to investigate falls among the elderly living in the community]

PURPOSE

Interview survey is the often selected method to investigate falls among the elderly. However, the reliability of data obtained by that method has not be confirmed. The aim of this study is to clarify the number of intervals of recollection that should be specified to ensure accurate data when we investigate falls by using interview surveys among the elderly.

METHODS

We carried out a total health survey among the elderly in Shigenobu town, and reported about the frequency of falls and its relating factors. Sex, age, walking ability over a distance of 1 km and hospitalization experience for past 1 year were related to falls significantly. In this study, we set 3 groups matching for the above factors in addition to history of falls during the preceding a year, and for one year we asked about falls every month for the first group (116 participants), every 3 months for the second group (116 participants) respectively. The third group (118 participants) was asked once at the end of this study. These three groups totaled 350 persons who were participants of physical fitness measurements that we carried out in Shigenobu town. The existence of falls was investigated by mail, and the nonrespondents were questioned by direct telephone calls.

RESULTS

For reasons such as death, moving out, hospitalization and answer denial, persons whose answer was not obtained were excluded from the analysis. Finally, 87.1% in the 1st group, and 89.7% in the 2nd group and 96.6% in the 3rd group were analyzed. Statistically significant difference for the above factors related to falls did not exist among the 3 groups. Annual incidence for falls tended to be more frequent in the 1st group that in the 3rd group (20.5% in the 1st group, 15.9% in the 2nd group and 6.4% in the 3rd group) in males. In females, such a difference was not observed. (26.3% in the 1st group, 18.3% in the 2nd group and 20.9% in the 3rd group).

CONCLUSIONS

There were no significant differences for the factors related to falls in 3 groups, therefore, the groups had almost similar backgrounds. In men, the difference of annual reported incidence between the 1st group and the 3rd group may be due to differences in the method of recollection.

Metabolic abnormalities caused by 3-acetylpyridine in the cerebral motor regions of rats: partial recovery by thyrotropin-releasing hormone

Although 3-acetylpyridine (3-AP) induces several motor disturbances and it degenerates the olivocerebellar pathway, abnormalities caused by 3-AP in cerebral motor regions remain to be elucidated. Here we investigated the metabolic changes caused by 3-AP (75 mg/kg, i.p.) on local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) in various brain regions. The effects of anti-ataxic agents, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and its mimetic agent taltirelin hydrate (1 mg/kg, i.p.), on the 3-AP-induced change in LCGU were also investigated. The LCGU in the nuclei of the basal ganglia, thalamus, limbic structures and brainstem of 3-AP-treated rats was significantly lower than that of naive animals. However 3-AP increased the LCGU of the cerebellar nuclei. TRH restored depressed LCGU in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area. TRH tended to restore the lowered LCGU in several nuclei of 3-AP-treated rats. Moreover, taltirelin further increased the LCGU in the cerebellar nuclei. These results suggest that the motor disturbance of the 3-AP-treated rats may be due to not only degeneration of the olivocerebellar pathway but also dysfunction of the several areas that play a role in motor coordination. Moreover, the anti-ataxic action by TRH could result from metabolic restoration of the multiple motor-coordination-related areas.

Morphologically extracted trabecular skeleton superimposed upon digital radiograph structure

The purpose of this study was to employ a morphological filter to digital X-ray images to extract the morphology of trabecular structures in a clearly understandable visual format. This study compares the trabecular skeleton extracted by a morphological filter to the original digital radiographic image by superimposing the images. A morphological filter (a combination of a single structuring element and a skeleton operation) based on a mathematical morphology theory was used to extract the skeletal pattern of trabecular bone from a digital X-ray image of a human femoral neck. Subset images with different operation numbers (n = 1, n = 2) were obtained, and then each image was superimposed on the original digital radiographic image using the superimpose function of a workstation. The extracted trabecular skeleton pattern was fairly consistent with the trabecular structure seen on the digital image according to the opinion of seven dentomaxillofacial radiologists. In their opinion, the majority of the structural elements were reproduced on the extracted skeleton. However, accurate skeleton elements were not extracted in the region of dense trabecular structure. The morphological filter was able to extract a large portion of the bone trabecular structure as a binary skeletal pattern image from trabecular bone on digital X-ray image, but more work is needed to improve the assessment of dense trabeculae.

A retrospective study of ocular toxocariasis in Japan: correlation with antibody prevalence and ophthalmological findings of patients with uveitis

To classify the clinical characteristic of ocular toxocariasis in Japan, the prevalence of antibodies to Toxocara antigens was examined in patients with uveitis of unknown aetiology. From 1982 to 1993, serum specimens of 383 cases and intraocular fluid samples of 22 cases were serologically screened for Toxocara infection with five immunodiagnostic tests. Fifty-five sera and 11 intravitreous fluid samples were estimated to have significantly high antibody levels against larval excretory-secretory (ES) antigens of T. canis. Eight cases were positive in both serum and vitreous fluid, and three were positive only in the vitreous fluid. Among the 58 antibody positive samples, 20 cases were omitted due to a lack of detailed description of ocular findings. The remaining 38 cases are described in this study. Of these 38 cases, 34 (89%) were older than 20 years of age. Ocular lesions were located in the posterior fundus in 11 cases, in the peripheral fundus in 18 cases, and in both areas in seven cases. Of the eight cases in which papillary oedema or redness was observed, chorioretinal lesions were also present in seven of them. Tractional retinal detachment was present in five cases. These observations suggest that ocular toxocariasis in Japan has a different clinical profile compared with those in the other countries, and indicate a need for revised classification of ocular toxocariasis.

Starting position of movement and perception of angle of trunk flexion while standing with eyes closed

The present study attempted to investigate the effect of position on the perception of angle of trunk flexion while standing. For this purpose, the range effect was factored out by setting the constant target angle at 10 degrees, with varied starting positions of trunk flexion. We found that subjects underestimated angle of trunk flexion when the starting position was close to a quiet standing posture, overestimated when close to maximum trunk flexion, and correctly perceived it when at the middle position. Less perceptual distortion was observed at the positions close to maximum trunk flexion in the present study than in our previous one, in which various target angles of trunk flexion were reproduced from a quiet standing posture. The reduced distortion in the present study was believed to have resulted from factoring out the range effect. The flexion angle of the hip joint changed in tandem with that of the trunk, while very little movement was observed in the ankle, knee, and neck joints. Judging from the changing pattern of hip-joint angle, the muscle activity of the erector spinae and biceps femoris increased gradually to 90 degrees trunk flexion. In contrast, the actual increment of muscle activity reached zero or a minimum value at the middle angles as the angle of trunk flexion increased. It was assumed that the abrupt change in kinesthetic information associated with muscle activity exerted a great influence on the perception of trunk flexion.

Perceptibility of body position in anteroposterior direction while standing with eyes closed

The perception of body position in the anteroposterior direction was investigated by evaluating the reproducibility of the position from a quiet standing posture to forward or backward leaning posture with eyes closed. The subjects were 10 healthy male undergraduates, aged 20 to 28 years. The standing position was represented by the pressure center of the foot, which was shown by the relative distance (%) from the heel to the length of the foot. The reference positions of the pressure center of the foot were set at 10% increments from 20 to 80% of the length of the foot. The subjects attempted to reproduce each reference position 10 times, and the absolute and constant errors of the reproduced position were analyzed. The absolute errors at reference positions of 30 to 60% were distinctly larger than those at the other reference positions. This indicated that the perception of standing positions from 30 to 60% was less accurate. The constant errors at the reference positions of 40 to 60% were significantly positive, which meant that the reproduced position was located farther forward than the reference position.

Production of ex-germfree rabbits for establishment of specific pathogen-free (SPF) colonies

Nine groups of ex-germfree (GF) rabbits were produced by inoculation of hysterectomy-derived GF rabbits with various combinations of cecal bacteria isolated from conventional (CV) rabbits in order to establish a barrier-sustained colony. Six strains of Bacteroides and two strains of Streptococcus isolated from CV rabbits (2 to 3 weeks old) were used for pretreatment. The mortality of ex-GF rabbits inoculated with the anaerobic growth (CF) on EG or SM10 plates inoculated with a 10(-5) dilution of cecal contents was 71.4 to 94.4% when given without pretreatment. All ex-GF rabbits pretreated with Bacteroides alone survived, but the mortality of ex-GF rabbits inoculated with Bacteroides plus Streptococcus strains as pretreatment was 20 and 45.4%. The mortality of ex-GF rabbits inoculated with only Bacteroides was 43%. All ex-GF rabbits inoculated with Bacteroides plus anaerobic growth (CF), cecal suspension of ex-GF mice which had been inoculated with cecal suspensions of CV rabbits (MF) or chloroform-treated cecal suspension (CHF) survived, but CHF inoculated ex-GF rabbits were in an unhealthy condition with slight diarrhoea. These data indicate that inoculation with Bacteroides strains as pretreatment plus CF or MF was required to convert GF rabbits to the normal state.

Establishment of specific pathogen-free rabbit colonies with limited-flora rabbits associated with conventional rabbit flora, and monitoring of their cecal flora

In the present study we attempted to establish specific-pathogen-free (SPF) rabbit breeding colonies with two groups of limited-flora (LF) rabbits, both ex-germfree rabbits, and their offspring. Two groups of LF rabbits associated with cecal flora of conventional (CV) rabbits produced in a previous study [Exp. Animals, submitted], were transferred to individual barrier rooms and some of the LF rabbits were accommodated in isolators to maintain the basic flora for SPF rabbits. The composition of the cecal flora of LF rabbits was stable for a long period; bacteroides remained predominant and clostridia dominant. From the SPF rabbits, different types of bacteria, e.g., enterobacteriaceae and streptococci, which could not be isolated in the isolator were detected at a low population level at an early stage in the establishment of the SPF colonies, but the basic composition of the cecal flora was mainly bacteroidaceae and clostridia and did not change over a long period, and the floral composition became similar to that of CV rabbits. The fertility and weaning rates of the SPF rabbits were satisfactory for a SPF rabbit colony. In addition, these SPF colonies were free of more than one year rabbit-specific pathogens.

Diversity of thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptors in the pituitary and discrete brain regions of rats

In order to analyze the receptor properties of central nervous system (CNS)-stimulant thyrotropin-releasing hormone (L-pyroglutamyl-L-histidyl-L-prolinamide, TRH), we evaluated the binding of TRH and its analog taltirelin hydrate ((-)-N-[(S)-hexahydro-1-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-pyrimidinylcarbonyl]-L- histidyl-L-prolinamide tetrahydrate; taltirelin, TA-0910) in rat anterior pituitary and several brain regions. There was a specific binding of [3H]methyl TRH (MeTRH) in the anterior pituitary, hypothalamus, brain stem, cerebral cortex and cerebellum with Kd values of 1.0-1.6 nM. The inhibition of [3H]MeTRH binding by TRH and taltirelin was monophasic in the anterior pituitary, hypothalamus and brain stem with Ki values of 6.3-8.0 nM and 145.5-170.4 nM for TRH and taltirelin, respectively. In contrast, the biphasic inhibition was revealed in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum. The Ki values for TRH and taltirelin were 4.1-4.3 nM and 67.8-73.4 nM for the high affinity binding site and 3.6-4.2 microM and 82.3-197.5 microM for the low affinity binding site, respectively. Addition of 100 microM GTP or its analog 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate (Gpp[NH]p) affected neither the biphasic inhibition by TRH nor that by taltirelin. Thus the results suggest the presence of distinct high and low affinity TRH receptors in the CNS in contrast to the pituitary.

Rubber-like elasticity and volume changes in the isolated spasmoneme of giant Zoothamnium sp. under Ca2+-induced contraction

Using glycerinated spasmoneme of giant Zoothamnium sp., the physical properties of spasmoneme before and after Ca2+-induced contraction (pCa 4.5) were investigated. The volume change of spasmoneme contraction was measured under zero tension. The length and diameter decreased by about 50% of their initial value as a result of contraction, which means that contraction is nearly isotropic. Thus the volume of spasmoneme decreased drastically by 86% of its original value. The swollen ratio of extended and contracted spasmoneme were 0.07 and 0.37, respectively. Tension-extension relationships of extended and contracted spasmonemes were measured. By applying the theory of rubber elasticity, the number of segments of a chain in originally extended spasmoneme was only 3.3, i.e., the chain was almost a straight one. On the other hand, the number of segments of a chain in contracted spasmoneme was more than 100, i.e., the chain was essentially a random one. Furthermore, the total number of chains in single spasmoneme was the same in extended and contracted spasmoneme. This means that the interchain cross-links of chains were not influenced by addition or removal of Ca2+. Moreover, the molecular weight of a chain is estimated to be at most about 50 kd. By considering all these results, it is concluded that the contractile mechanism of spasmoneme originates in the intramolecular folding and unfolding induced by Ca2+ binding and detaching.

The optical activity of lysozyme crystals

The components of the gyration tensor of the enzyme lysozyme were measured by using the HAUP method: g11 = -0.90 x 10(-5) and g33 = 1.05 x 10(-5) at 303.4 K and a wavelength of 4880 A. The optical rotatory powers along the a and c axes in the same conditions were calculated: rho a = -21.3 and rho c = -24.8 degrees cm-1. The optically active property of lysozyme is strange in that, although it contains a considerable quantity of alpha-helices (about 30%), the rotatory powers are unexpectedly small in magnitude, one order of magnitude less than those of quartz and with very large anisotropy. A conceptual consideration of this phenomenon is given. In order to assess the difference between the structures in both crystalline and solution states, the chirality index r was calculated to be 0.16. This value indicates that the structural change of lysozyme from the solution into the crystalline state is expressed by an increase of 19% in optical activity. From the NMR results [Smith et al. (1993), J. Mol. Biol. 229, 930-944], it is anticipated that the r value reflects the increased constraint in atomic motion in the side chains of exposed amino acid residues in the crystalline state.

Increased expression of 3-hydroxyanthranilate 3,4-dioxygenase gene in brain of epilepsy-prone El mice

The El mouse is an established animal model for human epilepsy. We previously reported that the level of quinolinic acid (QUIN), an excitotoxin, was high in the brain of epilepsy-prone El mice and that the increased production of QUIN was secondary to an increased activity of 3-hydroxyanthranilate 3,4-dioxygenase (3-HAO, EC 1.13.11. 6) in the brains of these mice. In this study, we cloned and sequenced the cDNA for 3-HAO and showed that its expression in the brain of El mice was higher than that of control ddY mice. These results suggest that a genetic defect leading to derepression of the 3-HAO gene expression in the brain may be involved in the pathogenesis for the epileptic diseases of El mice.

Delayed onset of hemolytic anemia in CBA-Pk-1slc/Pk-1slc mice with a point mutation of the gene encoding red blood cell type pyruvate kinase

The Pk-1slc gene encodes a mutant red blood cell (RBC) type pyruvate kinase (PK), and adult CBA-Pk-1slc/Pk-1slc mice show a severe nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia. However, the number of RBCs and the proportion of reticulocytes were comparable between neonatal CBA-Pk-1slc/Pk-1slc mice and control -+/+ mice. Since the age-dependent increase of RBCs was much greater in CBA-+/+ mice than in CBA-Pk-1slc/Pk-1slc mice, significant anemia was observed in the latter mice on day 14 after birth. The increase of RBCs in CBA-+/+ mice was due to the prolongation of their survival time. The half life of RBCs increased in CBA-+/+ mice with ages, but it decreased in CBA-Pk-1slc/Pk-1slc mice. The relatively longer half life of RBCs in neonatal CBA-Pk-1slc/Pk-1slc mice appeared to be due to the delayed switching from M2-type PK that are expressed by undifferentiated erythroid precursor cells to RBC-type PK that are expressed by mature RBCs.

High-speed video cinematographic demonstration of stalk and zooid contraction of Vorticella convallaria

Stalk contraction and zooid contraction of living Vorticella convallaria were studied by high-speed video cinematography. Contraction was monitored at a speed of 9000 frames per second to study the contractile process in detail. Complete stalk contraction required approximately 9 ms. The maximal contraction velocity, 8.8 cm/s, was observed 2 ms after the start of contraction. We found that a twist appeared in the zooid during contraction. As this twist unwound, the zooid began to rotate like a right-handed screw. The subsequent stalk contraction steps, the behavior of which was similar to that of a damped harmonic oscillator, were analyzed by means of the equation of motion. From the beginning of stalk contraction, the Hookean force constant increased, and reached an upper limit of 2.23 x 10(-4) N/m 2-3 ms after the start of contraction. Thus, within 2 ms, the contraction signal spread to the entire stalk, allowing the stalk to generate the full force of contraction. The tension of an extended stalk was estimated to be 5.58 x 10(-8) N from the Hookean force constant of a stalk. This value coincides with that of the isometric tension of a glycerol-treated V. convallaria, confirming that the contractile system of V. convallaria is well preserved despite glycerol treatment.

Possible therapeutic effect of T-794, a novel reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase-A, on post-stroke emotional disturbances, assessed in animal models of depression

Emotional disturbances, such as lack of motivation or depression, are common after stroke. The drugs mainly used to treat these syndromes in Japan are the cerebral metabolic enhancers whose biochemical and pharmacological profiles are similar to those of antidepressant drugs. In order to examine the possible therapeutic effect of T-794 [(5R)-3-(6-(cyclopropylmethoxy) 2-naphthalenyl)-5-(methoxymethyl) 2-oxazolidone], a new reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase (MAO) type A, on those emotional disturbances, its antidepressant activity was compared with those of major cerebral metabolic enhancers in rodents with or without treatment of cerebral ischemia. Oral administration of T-794 potently prevented reserpine-induced ptosis (ED50 = 4.41 mg/kg), akinesia (ED50 = 3.29 mg/kg), and hypothermia (minimum effective dose = 3 mg/kg) in mice. It was at least 3.7, 13.0, and 3.3 times more potent than cerebral metabolic enhancers tested (indeloxazine, bifemelane, amantadine and idebenone) in antagonism of the ptosis, the akinesia, and the hypothermia, respectively. Effect of T-794 was also examined in the behavioral despair test in rats subjected to forebrain ischemia. The ischemia was induced by a combination of bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (15 min) and systemic hypotension (sodium nitroprusside 5 mg/kg, s.c). From 13 d after the surgery, drugs were orally administered twice daily 7 times, and following the last administration rats were assessed for their behavior. T-794 reduced the duration of immobility in the behavioral despair test at 30 mg/kg without affecting spontaneous motor activity, whereas indeloxazine showed no significant effect. Antidepressant-like activity of T-794 was suggested in rodents with as well as those without cerebral ischemia. The results suggest that T-794 may make an important contribution to the treatment of emotional disturbances following stroke.

Cortisol response to exercise and post-exercise suppression of blood lymphocyte subset counts

This study examined a temporal relationship between exercise-induced changes in blood cortisol levels and circulating leukocyte and lymphocyte subset counts during and after exercise. Twenty-one young male, sedentary subjects [mean age, 20.8 +/- 2.4 (SD) yr; mean VO2max, 48.0 +/- 7.9 (SD) ml/kg/min] underwent a cycle ergometer exercise for 60 min at 60% VO2max. Peripheral blood samples, collected every 30 min during exercise and at 30, 60 min, 2.5 and 6 h of recovery, were used for the determination of serum cortisol and plasma catecholamines; lymphocyte subsets were analyzed by flow-cytometry. Based on the analysis of serum cortisol levels in response to exercise, the subjects can be identified as two groups: cortisol-responder (n = 13) and non-responder (n = 8) groups. Other than the cortisol response, the two groups showed no significant differences in terms of age, physical build, aerobic fitness, maximal heart rate, and pre-exercise blood leukocyte and lymphocyte subset counts. The two groups also did not differ significantly in their relative work rate and catecholamine response to the exercise. Both cortisol responder and non-responder groups displayed a granulocytosis, lymphocytosis and monocytosis during exercise, and a further granulocytosis after exercise. Changes in lymphocyte count and distribution during recovery, however, differed significantly between the two groups. In the circulation of the cortisol non-responder group, total lymphocyte counts returned to the baseline level shortly after exercise, whereas a significant lymphopenia occurred at 2.5 h of recovery in the cortisol responder group: the CD4+ cells showed the greatest decrease in cell count, followed by the CD8+ cells. In both groups, the CD16+ cell-counts tended to decline below the pre-exercise values at 30 and 60 min of recovery and returned to the baseline values by 2.5 h of recovery. The CD19+ cell-count was not suppressed in both groups after exercise. These results suggest that exercise-induced secretion of blood cortisol may contribute to post-exercise suppression of the helper- and cytotoxic-T cell counts, but does not seem to be involved in post-exercise changes in the NK-cell and B-cell counts as well as in post-exercise granulocytosis.

Microsomal ethanol oxidizing system activity by human hepatic cytochrome P450s

To assess the contribution of cytochrome P450 (P450) to the microsomal ethanol oxidation system (MEOS) in humans, we examined ethanol oxidization activity in human hepatic microsomes and multiple forms of human hepatic P450s expressed in B-lymphoblastoid cells. Acetaldehyde produced by the MEOS was converted into a fluorescent derivate with cyclohexane-1,3-dione and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography using a fluorescence detector. The ethanol oxidation activity of seven forms of human P450s was investigated. P450s 2E1 and 1A2 formed acetaldehyde at high rates. In immunoinhibition studies, anti-P450 2E1 antibody inhibited the ethanol oxidation activity of human hepatic microsomes by 54%, and anti-P450 1A2 antibody inhibited ethanol oxidation activity by 21%. 7,8-Benzoflavone, an inhibitor of P450 1A forms, also inhibited this activity by 38%. The correlation of ethanol oxidation activity with the levels of immunoreactive P450 2E1 in individual human microsomes was highly significant (r = 0.91, P < .001), and the correlation of ethanol oxidation activity with the levels of P450 1A2 was also highly significant (r = 0.87, P < .001). The Km values of P450s 2E1 and 1A2 for ethanol oxidation were 16.5 and 23.6 mM, respectively. These results indicated that P450 2E1 was a major contributor to the MEOS in humans; however, P450 1A2 was considered to play an important role in the MEOS.

Genomic structure and transcription of a murine odorant receptor gene: differential initiation of transcription in the olfactory and testicular cells

We have characterized genomic structure and transcription of a murine odorant receptor (OR) gene, MOR23. This gene has two distinct transcriptional initiation regions, which are differentially utilized in the olfactory and testicular cells. We have found that the MOR23 gene has an intron within the 5'-untranslated region upstream of the coding sequence. In olfactory cells, transcription of the gene is initiated in the region upstream of this intron, while in testicular cells, transcription starts within the intron. Differential initiation of transcription is discussed in the context of tissue-specific expression of the OR genes.

Force development of dynamic and static contractions in children and adults

There are still unclarified points remaining in regard to the characteristics of force development in children who are immature in their basic activities in daily living. Moreover, there are morphological, histological, and biochemical differences between immature and mature muscles. In the present study, dynamic elbow flexion and static contractions which were performed by elbow flexors with maximum effort were examined by force-velocity and force-time relationships and electromyograms (EMG) in six-year-old children and in adults. In dynamic contractions with various loads, the force-velocity relationship for children was (P + 5.65) (v + 1.48) = 19.51, and (P + 14.65) (v + 2.26) = 96.21 for adults. The maximum power in children and adults was 22.8 watts and 160.8 watts, respectively. The contraction delay in children was greater than that in adults for every relative load. In static contractions, the maximum rate of force development for children was significantly lower than that for adults at each pre-tension. With an increase in pre-tension, the adult rate showed a tendency to decrease, whereas the rate for children showed no change. The electromechanical delay observed in children was significantly greater than that in adults. For dynamic and static contractions, the contractile speed in children was lower than that in adults.

Effect of vitamin E deficiency on inhibition of liver regeneration by long-term administration of alcohol

The effects of vitamin E (VE) deficiency on liver regeneration suppressed by long-term administration of alcohol were studied. Male rats were divided into two groups: the alcohol group and the control group. In addition, each group was subdivided into two groups according to the presence or not of VE. Altogether, four groups were provided: a group maintained on the VE-deficient alcohol diet (group EA), a group maintained on the VE-deficient control diet (group EC), a group maintained on the ordinary alcohol diet (group A), and a group maintained on the ordinary control diet (group C). After pair-feeding for 6 weeks, partial hepatectomy was performed to determine the omithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity, polyamine levels, lipid peroxide levels, and DNA synthesis, DNA synthesis at 24 hr after partial hepatectomy was suppressed significantly in the alcohol administration group, regardless of the presence or not of VE DNA synthesis at 48 hr after partial hepatectomy tended to show low values in group EA, compared with group A. As for the hepatic ODC activity, group EA showed the lowest value at 4 hr after partial hepatectomy. Of polyamines, the putrescine level in group EA at 4 hr after partial hepatectomy was significantly low, compared with the other three groups. The levels of spermidine and spermine decreased by long-term administration of alcohol, but the effect of VE deficiency was not found. The lipid peroxide level increased significantly in the VE-deficient diet administration group, but the effect of alcohol administration was not found. These results suggested that the decrease in putrescine after ODC suppression by VE deficiency in addition to the decrease in spermidine and spermine caused by long-term alcohol administration were concerned with suppression of DNA synthesis later.