Neighbourhood relationships moderate the positive association between family caregiver burden and psychological distress in Japanese adults: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Family caregiver burden is associated with higher psychological distress. However, little is known about the impact of neighbourhood relationships on caregivers' psychological distress. We examined whether neighbourhood relationships of caregivers moderate the association between family caregiver burden and psychological distress. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. METHODS: We recruited 5321 Japanese adults who participated in the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study in the Okazaki area between 2013 and 2017. Participants completed self-reported questionnaires to measure psychological distress (Kessler 6: K6), subjective caregiver burden, and neighbourhood relationships. We performed a multivariable linear regression analysis in which caregiver burden was designated as an independent variable and the K6 score as a dependent variable, adjusting for demographics. The interaction term between caregiver burden and neighbourhood relationships was also included in the analysis. RESULTS: Data from a total of 5069 participants were included (mean age [standard deviation]: 63.1 years [10.3 years]; 2226 [43.9%] female). Caregiver burden was significantly and positively associated with psychological distress (compared with no burden, mild burden: ß = 0.24, P = 0.197; severe burden: ß = 0.60, P < 0.01; P for trend < 0.01). There was a significant negative interaction effect of caregiver burden × neighbourhood relationship on psychological distress (severe burden × good neighbourhood relationship: ß = -3.29, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: A higher caregiver burden was associated with higher psychological distress, and neighbourhood relationships moderated this association. Our findings suggest that good neighbourhood relationships can buffer caregiving-associated psychological distress.

High-resolution CT findings of primary lung cancer with cavitation: a comparison between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

AIM: To evaluate the high-resolution computed tomography (CT) findings of primary lung cancer with cavitation and compare the findings in adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The high-resolution CT findings of tumours with cavitation were retrospectively evaluated in 60 patients. Forty-seven of the lesions were diagnosed as adenocarcinomas; 13 were diagnosed as squamous cell carcinomas. The diameters of the tumour and cavity, the maximum thickness of the cavity wall, shape of the cavity wall, the number of cavities, and the presence of ground-glass opacity, bronchial obstruction, intratumoural bronchiectasis, emphysema, and honeycombing were evaluated. The mechanisms of cavity formation were examined according to the pathological features. RESULTS: The maximum thickness of the cavity wall was significantly greater in squamous cell carcinomas than in adenocarcinomas (p=0.002). Ground-glass opacity and intratumoural bronchiectasis were significantly more common in adenocarcinomas than in squamous cell carcinomas (p<0.001 and p=0.040, respectively). Regarding the pathological findings, intratumoural bronchiectasis with or without alveolar wall destruction contributed to a significant difference between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (p<0.001; odds ratio [OR], 20.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.87-107.10). CONCLUSION: The cavity wall tends to be thicker in squamous cell carcinomas than in adenocarcinomas. The presence of ground-glass opacity and intratumoural bronchiectasis is strongly suggestive of adenocarcinoma.

A genetic linkage map of the Syrian hamster and localization of cardiomyopathy locus on chromosome 9qa2.1-b1 using RLGS spot-mapping.

The Syrian cardiomyopathic hamster (BIO14.6) has an inherited form of progressive myocardial necrosis and congestive heart failure. Although widely studied as an animal model for human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, further genetic analysis has been limited by a scarcity of DNA markers. Until now, only six autosomal linkage groups have been described and the number of polymorphic loci was extremely limited. In this study, we applied the restriction landmark genome scanning (RLGS) spot-mapping method to construct a genetic map of the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) using 72 back-cross progeny. Although the polymorphic rate is very low (3-7%) between the strains, 531 polymorphic spots/loci were mapped, showing the power of this approach and reasonable applicability to other organisms lacking a well-defined genetic map. Further, the spot markers which flank the cardiomyopathy (cm) locus were cloned to determine the chromosomal location of cm by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis, resulting in the assignment of the locus to the centromeric region of hamster chromosome 9qa2.1-b1. Several candidate genes responsible for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in humans have been excluded.

Impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak on Activity and Exercise Levels among Older Patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to clarify the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak on the levels of activity among older patients with frailty or underlying diseases. A total of 175 patients (79.0±7.0 years) undergoing outpatient or home-based rehabilitation, stratified into groups, based on frailty status. The percentage of patients who went out at least once a week decreased after the outbreak from 91% to 87%, from 65% to 46%, and from 47% to 36% in the non-frail, frail, and nursing care requirement groups, respectively. The proportion of older patients participating in exercise during the outbreak was 75%, 51%, and 41% in the non-frail, frail, and nursing care requirement groups, respectively. The proportion of older patients participating in voluntary exercise after instruction was lowest in the frail group (35%). Older patients with frailty are susceptible to the negative effects of refraining from physical activity and require careful management.

A case of an infected abdominal aortic aneurysm caused by infectious spondylitis.

An 82-year-old female was admitted with a diagnosis of infectious spondylitis.The culturing of vertebral body biopsy specimens yielded a non-tuberculous acid-fast bacterium (Mycobacterium intracellulare). CT disclosed a saccular mass in the abdominal aorta in contact with the collapsed vertebral bodies (L2-3), and a diagnosis of infected abdominal aortic aneurysm was made. Axillofemoral bypass, resection of the infected abdominal aortic aneurysm, vertebrectomy (L2-3) and reconstruction with a fibular graft, and packing with the greater omentum were performed. An acid fast bacterium was detected from the thrombus in the aneurysm. The clinical course suggested that this patient developed an infected abdominal aortic aneurysm due to Mycobacterium intracellulare transmitted from infectious spondylitis.

Immunohistochemical characterization of cellular proliferation in small intestinal hyperplasia of rats with hepatic Strobilocercus fasciolaris infection.

Rats infected with the larvae of Taenia taeniaeformis harbour the intermediate stage of the parasite Strobilocercus fasciolaris within the liver. Affected animals also develop gastric and intestinal hyperplasia. The pathogenesis of the gastric hyperplasia has been extensively investigated, but few studies have addressed the nature of the intestinal changes. This study characterizes the proliferation of small intestinal epithelial cells by immunohistochemical labelling for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) uptake. At 6 weeks post-infection (wpi) there was an increase in villous length but crypt depth was normal. At 9 wpi there was evidence of epithelial hyperplasia, increased villous length and crypt depth, and expansion of zones of epithelial proliferation. Immunohistochemical labelling indicated that an increase in the number of proliferating cells produced a greater number of progeny cells. Intestinal hyperplasia during experimental infection with T. taeniaeformis larvae is likely to be related to the associated gastropathy, although the mechanisms underlying both changes remain undefined.

Accuracy of self-reported height, weight and waist circumference in a Japanese sample.

Objective: Inconsistent results have been found in prior studies investigating the accuracy of self-reported waist circumference, and no study has investigated the validity of self-reported waist circumference among Japanese individuals. This study used the diagnostic standard of metabolic syndrome to assess the accuracy of individual's self-reported height, weight and waist circumference in a Japanese sample. Methods: Study participants included 7,443 Japanese men and women aged 35-79 years. They participated in a cohort study's baseline survey between 2007 and 2011. Participants' height, weight and waist circumference were measured, and their body mass index was calculated. Self-reported values were collected through a questionnaire before the examination. Results: Strong correlations between measured and self-reported values for height, weight and body mass index were detected. The correlation was lowest for waist circumference (men, 0.87; women, 0.73). Men significantly overestimated their waist circumference (mean difference, 0.8 cm), whereas women significantly underestimated theirs (mean difference, 5.1 cm). The sensitivity of self-reported waist circumference using the cut-off value of metabolic syndrome was 0.83 for men and 0.57 for women. Conclusions: Due to systematic and random errors, the accuracy of self-reported waist circumference was low. Therefore, waist circumference should be measured without relying on self-reported values, particularly in the case of women.

Current control strategies targeting sources of echinococcosis in Japan.

The authors describe the current control strategies targeting definitive hosts of the most important zoonotic parasite in Japan, Echinococcus multilocularis. A dramatic increase in the prevalence of echinococcosis in foxes in Hokkaido (the second largest of Japan's islands), the invasion of wild foxes into urban areas, infection among pet and stray dogs, and the possibility of spreading the disease to the main island of Japan (Honshu)--all these pose significant threats to public health. Previous research findings and current strategies such as control measures against infections in wild foxes, suggest that it will be possible to eliminate echinococcosis in the future. The enforcement of a national reporting system for veterinarians, international collaboration, and the establishment of a Forum on Environment and Animals (FEA) give further reason to believe that success is possible. This is the first report of a multifaceted control strategy against echinococcosis in definitive hosts that includes collaborative efforts with local residents. This model might provide new ideas for Veterinary Services worldwide in their efforts to control other related zoonotic diseases.

The induced circular dichroism of proflavine intercalated to DNA. Dye-polymer exciton interactions.

The circular dichroism induced in the visible absorption band of proflavine cation isolatedly intercalated to DNA was investigated in terms of the dye-DNA base pair exciton interaction. The remarkable ionic strength dependence of the induced CD magnitude was in good accord with the CD magnitude calculated on the basis of the dye-polymer Frenkel exciton interaction model and under the extent of helix deformation required for intercalation. In particular the application of the internal and modified intercalation models coupled with the deep trap approximation implied that the preference of the modified intercalation due to electrostatic interaction between the acridine-nitrogen atom and the DNA phosphate group is combined with relatively high ionic strength compared with the internal intercalation.

Spin-orbit couplings in the DNA base pairs.

The radiative lifetimes of the phosphorescent states of the adenine.thymine (A.T) and guanine.cytosine (G.C) base pairs were calculated on the basis of the singlet-triplet transition probability induced by spin-orbit couplings. The calculated radiative lifetimes averaged over the triplet sublevels of spin state were in the order of G.C less than A.T and in good correlation with those of the composite bases. On the whole the results suggested an important role for thymine triplet having a relatively long lifetime during the course of the triplet localization in DNA, in agreement with the experimental observation that the concentration of triplet is remarkably enhanced with increase in A+T content.

Substrate specificity of microsomal 1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoinositol acyltransferase in rat submandibular gland for polyunsaturated long-chain acyl-CoAs.

Microsomal 1-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoinositol (1-acyl-GPI) acyltransferase in the rat submandibular gland showed the highest specific activities for eicosanoid-related polyunsaturated acyl-CoAs, such as arachidonoyl-, bishomo-gamma-linolenoyl- and 5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoyl-CoAs, with low Km values. High activities were also obtained with acyl-CoAs having long (more than 14 carbon atoms) and n - 6 unsaturated (more than 3 double bonds) acyl chains. This enzyme also utilized acyl-CoAs having trans-unsaturated or branched chains, but not short-chains, as substrates, although the activity levels for trans-unsaturated acyl-CoAs were lower than those for cis-unsaturated acyl-CoAs. Chronic administration of isoproterenol induced decreases of this enzyme activity and the content of arachidonic, bishomo-gamma-linolenic and 5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acids at the sn-2 position of phosphatidylinositol. These results suggest that enrichment of arachidonic acid in the sn-2 position of phosphatidylinositol is established by the high specificity and affinity of 1-acyl-GPI acyltransferase for arachidonoyl-CoA. On the other hand, the low level of bishomo-gamma-linolenic and 5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acids in the sn-2 position of phosphatidylinositol may be explained by their limited availability.

Microsomal diacylglycerol acyltransferase in rat parotid and submandibular glands: acylation of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycerol dispersed with phospholipids.

In order to investigate microsomal diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity, ethanol or several detergents have been used as a dispersing agent for water-insoluble substrates. However, ethanol acyltransferase interferes with the activity of this enzyme, and detergents inhibit it. We examined the properties of microsomal diacylglycerol acyltransferase in rat salivary glands without detergents or organic solvents. 1,2-Dioleoyl-sn-glycerol (1,2-diolein) was dispersed by sonication. The activity was measured as the formation rate of [14C]triglyceride using [1-14C]palmitoyl-CoA as an acyl-donor. The reaction was dependent on the microsomal protein and 1,2-diolein at least up to 145 micrograms/ml and 3.6 mM, respectively. The specific activities were 3.91 +/- 0.57 and 3.80 +/- 0.77 nmol/min per mg protein (SEM, n = 4) in the parotid and submandibular glands, respectively. They were 12- to 20-fold higher than the activities in liver, brain and spleen, and two orders of magnitude higher than that assayed with microsomal endogenous diacylglycerol. Adding tissue phospholipids to 1,2-diolein suspension reduced the concentration of 1,2-diolein required for the maximal velocity. A similar, but reduced, effect was induced by egg yolk phosphatidylcholine in place of the tissue phospholipids. The level of activity was recovered by adding another phospholipid class to the phosphatidylcholine. The results suggested that the physical condition of the substrate diacylglycerol affects diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity in rat salivary gland microsomes.

Five candidate genes for hamster cardiomyopathy did not map to the cardiomyopathy locus by FISH analysis.

The Syrian cardiomyopathic hamster (BIO14.6), that develops both muscular dystrophy and progressive cardiomyopathy, is widely used as an animal model of autosomal recessive cardiomyopathy mimicking human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and five genes have been proposed as strong candidates for the cause of cardiomyopathy. We recently mapped the cardiomyopathy locus of the hamster to the centromeric region of chromosome 9qa2.1-b1 by construction of a genetic linkage map of the Syrian hamster. Thus, we analyzed the loci of the five candidate genes, alpha tropomyosin, cardiac troponin T, adhalin, calpain 3 and cardiac myosin binding protein-C, by the FISH method, and found that these genes were mapped on the distal portion of chromosome 12qa5 and 4pa2 and the proximal portion of chromosomes 9qb7, 1qc1.1 and 1qb3, respectively. These results provide strong evidence that the five candidate genes previously proposed are not related to the hamster cardiomyopathy.

Changes in subcellular and zonal distribution of glucokinase in rat liver during postnatal development.

Subcellular and zonal distribution of glucokinase in rat liver during postnatal development was examined immunohistochemically. Before day 11 after birth, only some hepatocytes were immunostained, and a positive immunostaining was found in the cytoplasm but not in the nucleus. No zonal distribution of glucokinase was observed in livers of such pups. From day 15, at which time a dietary change from milk to laboratory chow begins to take place, glucokinase immunoreactivity increased; this increase was associated with increases in glucokinase activity and in glucokinase protein, and also the immunostaining was observed mainly in the nuclei. At day 21, the glucokinase immunoreactivity was found almost exclusively in the perivenous zone. At day 30, an intense immunostaining was seen both in the perivenous zone and in the periportal zone, being slightly predominant in the former. The present results indicate that dramatic changes in the distribution of glucokinase in developing rat liver may be related to dietary change.

Vaccination against Taenia taeniaeformis infection in rats using a recombinant protein and preliminary analysis of the induced antibody response.

Primary screening of a cDNA expression library of Taenia taeniaeformis oncospheres in lambda gt11 bacteriophage was carried out using rabbit anti-T, taeniaeformis oncosphere serum affinity-purified from oncosphere pellets. From approximately 1.6 x 10(5) plaques, 21 single clones that were positive with the affinity-purified antibodies were isolated. Sibling analysis revealed that 17 clones out of the 21 could be assigned to five different antigen families. Only family 1 was strongly recognized by a serum prepared in a rabbit against a partially purified host-protective oncosphere antigen fraction. The fragments of lambda DNA were inserted into a pGEX plasmid vector that encodes glutathione S-transferase (GST) of Schistosoma japonicum. Clones designated TtO-18, -49.53 (family 1), 46 (family 2), 15 (family 3), 40 (family 4) and 66 (family 5) were established as subclones in pGEX-1 plasmid vectors which produced GST fusion proteins. All GST fusion proteins were soluble and recognized by anti-GST and anti-TtO sera. Three vaccination experiments with these fusion proteins using specific-pathogen-free Wistar rats revealed that all three fusion proteins of family 1 were exclusively effective against T. taeniaeformis oncosphere challenge with approximately 95% and 91% reductions in cystic metacestode and total metacestode recoveries, respectively. Rats vaccinated with fusion proteins of family 1 produced antibodies which reacted with a 21-kDa oncosphere antigen component which appeared to be a major oncosphere stage-specific antigen.

Stereoselective action of (R*,R*)-(+/-)-methyl-4-[2-[2-hydroxy-2-(3-chlorophenyl)ethylamino] propyl]-phenoxyacetic acid (BRL37344) on beta-adrenoceptors and metabolic chiral inversion.

Stereoisomers of BRL37344 ((R*,R*)-(+/-)-methyl-4-[2-[2-hydroxy-2 -(3-chlorophenyl)ethylamino]propyl]-phenoxyacetic acid), a beta 3-adrenoceptor agonist, were synthesized and separated with good resolution by derivatization with 1-anthroyl cyanide prior to chiral HPLC. Agonist effects on rat right atria, guinea pig trachea, and rat brown adipocytes were due principally to the (RR) isomer, while other isomers (SS, RS, and SR) were much less potent or inactive. Since the racemate (RR +/- SS) was half as potent as the (RR) isomer in all specimens tested, the (SS) isomer does not appear to have antagonistic effects. When [14C](RR)BRL35135A ((R*,R*)-(+/-)-methyl-4-[2-[2-hydroxy-2-(3-chlorophenyl)ethylamino]propy l] -phenoxyacetate hydrobromide), the HBr salt of the methyl ester of BRL37344, was administered orally to male Wistar rats, both the (RR) and (SR) isomers of [14C]BRL37344 were detected in plasma, while only the (SS) isomer of [14C]BRL37344 was detected after [14C](SS)BRL35135A administration. These findings indicate that there is clear stereoselectivity in the effects of BRL37344 on beta-adrenoceptors, and that stereoselective chiral inversion from the RR isomer to the SR isomer occurs in rats.

Extraintestinal strobilar development of immature Echinococcus multilocularis in laboratory rodents following intratracheal inoculation of the protoscoleces.

Intratracheal inoculation of Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces was performed in prednisolone tertiary-butylacetate(PTBA)-treated and untreated golden hamsters and AKR/J mice. Repeated PTBA treatments prior to the day of inoculation prevented the influx of neutrophils against the cestode. More than 1 month after infection, living immature adult forms of E. multilocularis, showing some somatic prolongation, were recovered from the pulmonary alveolar space of PTBA-treated golden hamsters, in the absence of any cystic development.

Secondary Echinococcus multilocularis infection in severe combined immunodeficient (scid) mice: biphasic growth of the larval cyst mass.

E. multilocularis infection was suppressed in C.B-17 mice after intraperitoneal inoculation of protoscoleces, with larval cysts weighing no more than 1.0 g. In scid mice, which are genetically identical to C.B-17 except for a deficiency in functional lymphocytes, infection progressed and larval cysts reached a mass of 17.5 g at 15 weeks post-infection. The growth of the larval cyst mass in scid mice was similar to that in other susceptible mouse strains, with a biphasic pattern. Histological observations revealed giant cells and granulomatous inflammation in the C.B-17, but not in the scid mice. These results led to the conclusion that suppression of the growth of the larval cyst mass in the initial stage of infection in susceptible mice strains is caused by factors other than the host's lymphocytic immune response.

Intraspecific variation of isoenzymes in Taenia taeniaeformis.

The technique of isoenzyme electrophoresis was applied to Japanese wild populations of Taenia taeniaeformis (isolated from Norway rats) and three laboratory reared isolates (KRN isolated from a Malaysian Norway rat, BMM from a Belgian house mouse and ACR from a Japanese gray red-backed vole). The average heterozygosities of Japanese wild populations were fairly small and total genetic variability was 0.0499. The genetic make-up of T. taeniaeformis in Norway rats was rather uniform in the whole of Japan. In KRN isolate, each of all 10 loci examined possessed the allele which was predominant in Japanese wild populations. Similarly, each of 9 loci in BMM isolate possessed the same alleles, but one of 2 alleles at HK locus was different from that in the others. T. taeniaeformis parasitizing house mice and rats were considered to be genetically closely related to each other. In ACR isolate, 7 out of 10 loci possessed different alleles from those in the other populations. It was considered that ACR isolate was genetically distant and its phylogenetic origin in Japan should be different from worms parasitizing Norway rats.

Natural Echinococcus multilocularis infection in a Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus, in southern Hokkaido, Japan.

Forty-two rats, Rattus norvegicus, captured at a garbage dump in southern Hokkaido, Japan, were examined, and one was found to be infected with Echinococcus multilocularis. The lesions were found in the liver, lung, mesenteric lymph nodes, greater omentum and also free in the abdominal cavity. No necrosis was observed in any of the lesions, and inflammatory reactions were mild. Protoscoleces were observed in the large liver cysts. A homogenate of these cysts, when transplanted into the abdominal cavity of three Mongolian gerbils and a rat, yielded numerous fully developed protoscoleces at 4-7 months post-inoculation. Judging from this, it is postulated that the rat could become a natural intermediate host for E. multilocularis in this area.