The Eating Disorder Inventory-2 in Japanese clinical and non-clinical samples: psychometric properties and cross-cultural implications.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the usefulness of and cross-cultural differences in the Japanese version of the eating disorder inventory-2 (EDI-2). METHOD: A Japanese version of the EDI-2 was administered to a consecutive series (1995-2001) of 91 Japanese eating disordered inpatients and 119 matched non-clinical controls. Scores were compared with each other and with those of Canadian data previously reported. Internal consistencies were also examined. RESULTS: All subscales (except Ascetism) reached sufficient internal consistencies. The patients' mean scores were significantly higher than controls on most subscales. Restricting anorexics (AN-R) scored higher than controls on body dissatisfaction (BD) and Social Insecurity (SI) subscales. Purging bulimics (BN-P) scored higher than controls on most subscales, except for maturity fears (MF) and SI subscales. Scores of binge-eating/purging type anorexics (AN-B/P) were higher than controls on all subscales. AN-B/P and BN-P scored higher than AN-R on bulimia (B) subscale. Comparison with Canadian subjects showed that Japanese control subjects scored significantly higher on the MF, ineffectiveness (I), impulse regulation (IR), SI subscales, and lower on the perfectionism (P) subscale. DISCUSSION: The EDI-2 is useful and reliable in understanding Japanese clinical and non-clinical samples. High MF and low P subscales in our samples confirm previous findings in Chinese samples suggesting meaningful cultural differences in the emphasis placed on family bonds and individual accomplishments. In addition, high I, IR, and SI scores in Japanese non-clinical samples may reflect recent problems in Japanese culture.

[A case of combined paraneoplastic neurological syndrome, with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome manifesting as severe respiratory failure, and anti-Hu syndrome].

A 63-year-old man complained of rapidly progressive respiratory failure, requiring a control respiration. He subsequently, presented with muscle weakness involving the neck and all the extremities, superimposed by painful paresthesia. He was proven to carry small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Neurophysiological examinations revealed the waxing phenomenon at 30 Hz repetitive motor nerve stimulation. Positive serum autoantibodies were detected to voltage-gated calcium channel and Hu proteins. He received diagnosis of combined Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) and anti-Hu syndrome. The initial chemotherapy for SCC alleviated his respiratory and neurological symptoms. But he developed multiple cranial palsies and fatal respiratory distress two months later. There is only a few reports about LEMS complicated by respiratory failure as an initial presentation. Various clinical manifestations including respiratory failure at the onset could be best explained by the combination of LEMS and anti-Hu syndrome in this case.

Triterpene phytoalexins from strawberry fruit.

Strawberry cv. Houkouwase is resistant to infection by Colletotrichum fragariae. The formation of antifungal compounds was observed in unripe fruit which had been wounded and inoculated with conidia of C. musae. Three antifungal compounds were isolated and identified as euscaphic acid, tormentic acid and myrianthic acid. Myrianthic acid inhibited the growth of C. musae at 3 microg, and euscaphic and tormentic acids showed inhibitory effects at 100 microg. A quantitative analysis of their contents showed that the triterpenes increased in wounded fruit, and in wounded and inoculated fruit, but not in non-treated fruit. These findings indicate that unripe fruit of Houkouwase produced the triterpenes as phytoalexins. The triterpene phytoalexins seem to be involved in the resistance of strawberry to the fungus.

[A case of acute transverse myelopathy and bilateral optic neuritis associated with anticardiolipin antibodies, lupus anticoagulant and perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies].

A 69-year-old woman developed paraplegia and hypesthesia on upper extremities and below T4 level. Examination of cerebrospinal fluid showed increased protein levels and pleocytosis. MRI of the cervical spinal cord revealed syrinx formation from C3 to upper thoracic cord. A diagnosis of acute transverse myelitis was made. A high dose of corticosteroid including pulse therapy did not improve her symptoms and signs of myelopathy, but the syrinx could not be found thereafter. One year later, she developed severe visual loss due to bilateral optic neuritis which was improved spontaneously. The clinical course and MRI findings were similar to those of the optic-spinal form of multiple sclerosis (MS). The presence of anticardiolipin antibodies, lupus anticoagulant and perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, however, strongly suggested that vasculitic and/or ischemic mechanisms induced by these autoantibodies might play a role on the development of the disease. We conclude that our case should be distinguished from MS.

Is there manual asymmetry in movement preparation?

Manual asymmetry in response preparation was investigated in simple and complex movements by using simple reaction-time tasks. The simple movement consisted of lifting the index finger, while in the complex one subjects reversed direction of movement to hit a switch after reaching for and grasping a tennis ball. Analysis showed that performance with either the right or the left hand was equivalent, with longer latencies for reacting on the complex task in comparison to the simple one. These findings indicate similar capabilities of the right and the left cerebral hemispheres to prepare the motor system for action independently of the spatial requirements of movement.

Glycoprotein derived from the hot water extract of mint plant, Perilla frutescens britton.

Glycoprotein showing inhibitory activity against mast cell degranulation and hyaluronidase activity was purified from the hot water extract of mint plant (Perilla frutescens Britton). The purified inhibitor gave a single band detected with Coomassie brilliant blue staining and periodic acid-Schiff staining on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis. The molecular mass was estimated to be 6.0 kDa on SDS-PAGE. The inhibitor did not become inactivated when boiled for 30 min or digested with trypsin, V8 protease, or proteinase K but was inactivated by NaIO(4) oxidation. The inhibitor prevented mast cell degranulation and hyaluronidase activity (IC(50) = 0.42 mg/mL) in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitor also inhibited the protein kinase C activity. It is possible to purify and characterize a glycoprotein with putative pharmacological properties from mint plants.

Inhibitory effect of alginic acids on hyaluronidase and on histamine release from mast cells.

The effects of various types of alginic acid consisting of L-guluronic acids (G) and D-mannuronic acids (M) on hyaluronidase and mast cell degranulation were examined. Alginic acid with an M/G ratio of 1.0 exhibited the strongest inhibition of both activities, the higher molecular weight alginic acids of 150 to 370 kDa being preferable in both cases. Esterification of the carboxyl residue enhanced the latter activity.

Molecular cloning of a new erythropoiesis-stimulating activity (ESA36) from Streptomyces thermoviolaceus and expression in Escherichia coli.

Previous studies have shown that an Actinomycetes strain produces a novel protein with a molecular weight of 87,000 which stimulated the growth of murine erythroid progenitors in vitro, and we purified the protein. In this study, we have isolated and sequenced a clone encoding a polypeptide which had the equivalent activity. The clone contained an open reading frame of 334 amino acids. The activity was confirmed by the expression in E. coli as a fusion protein with glutathion S-transferase (GST). Based on the differences of molecular weight and N-terminal amino acid sequences, this protein was considered to be different from that previously reported and was named "ESA36".

[Hard palate shape in the Japanese and Indian children on moiré topography with lateral movement of a grating].

In the present study, the hard palate of Japanese and Indian children was investigated. These children lived in different geographical areas and have different cranial characteristics, pronunciation and eating habits. Fifty-one Japanese children (26 boys and 25 girls, 3 years of age) and 66 Indian school children (31 boys and 35 girls, 5-7 years of age). The maxillary negative cast models were observed and three-dimensional measurements were taken of the hard palate with moiré Topography. The following results were obtained. 1. The palatal width and length in Japanese children was larger than the Indian children, but not in palatal height. The palatal height was significantly larger in the Indian children than in the Japanese children. 2. Observation of the moiré fringes on the deepest palate by moiré Topography shows that the Japanese children and Indian girls have a higher incidence of Crosswise type than Lengthwise type. The Indian boys have a slightly higher incidence of Lengthwise type than Crosswise type. The girls have a higher incidence of the Butterfly and Separate types than the boys. 3. The anteroposterior location on the deepest palate by moiré Topography: the Japanese children have significantly higher incidences of anterior location than the Indian children. Changes of anteroposterior location between the ages of 5 and 7 in the Indian children: the prevalence of posterior location appears to increase with age. 4. The hard palate shapes of the Japanese children appear to be broad and shallow, but those of the Indian children appear to be narrow and deep. This difference appears to be more remarkable in the boys. The shape and size of the hard palate appears to be due to genetic differences, in addition to the weather conditions, pronunciation and eating habits.

Purification of erythropoiesis-stimulating activity (ESA) from one Actinomycetes strain.

An Actinomycetes strain was found to produce a protein which stimulated the growth of murine erythroid progenitors in vitro. The protein was purified to homogeneity and was named Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Activity (ESA). ESA was an acidic glycoprotein with a molecular weight around 80,000. When mouse bone marrow cells were cultured in methylcellulose medium containing physiological concentrations of erythropoietin (0.048 units/ml), addition of ESA stimulated the growth of colony forming unit-erythroid (CFU-E) up to three-fold a in dose dependent manner. ESA was not active on the other hematopoietic progenitors.