The influence of season and air temperature on water intake by food groups in a sample of free-living Japanese adults.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To examine the influence of season and climate (air temperature and humidity) on water intake by the food group in a sample of free-living Japanese adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Four-nonconsecutive-day, semi-weighed dietary records were collected from each of the four seasons in a single 12-month period (16 days in total). The influence of season and climate on individual water intake by the food group was analyzed using a mixed linear model. Participants were 242 healthy adults (121 women aged 30-69 years and 121 men aged 30-76 years) from four areas in Japan. RESULTS: For women and men together, the mean total water intake was 2230 g/day (highest in summer: 2331 g/day; lowest in winter: 2134 g/day). Fifty-one percent of water was derived from foods and the rest from beverages. In a mixed linear model adjusted for sex, age and body mass index, intake of water from foods decreased by 3.1 g/day and that from beverages increased by 8.4 g/day, with an increase in the mean outdoor air temperature on the survey day of 1 °C (both P < 0.0001). The influence of humidity was nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to previous findings in Western countries, half of water intake in Japanese adults was derived from foods. Water intake from beverages was positively associated with air temperature, whereas that from foods was inversely associated with air temperature.

The modulation of large airway smooth muscle phenotype and effects of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition in the repeatedly allergen-challenged rat.

Allergen challenges induce airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and increased airway smooth muscle (ASM) mass in the sensitized rat. Whether the remodeled ASM changes its phenotype is uncertain. We examined, in sensitized Brown Norway rats, the effects of multiple ovalbumin (Ova) challenges on ASM remodeling and phenotype and the role of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in these processes. Rats were sensitized with Ova and challenged three times at 5-day intervals with phosphate-buffered saline or Ova and pretreated with the EGFR inhibitor AG-1478 (5 mg/kg) or its vehicle dimethyl sulfoxide. Ova challenges increased ASM mass in all-sized airways and in large airway mRNA expression of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (sm-MHC), assessed by laser capture. Myosin light chain kinase and the fast myosin isoform SM-B mRNA expressions were not affected. Ova induced AHR to methacholine, and, based on the constant-phase model, this was largely attributable to the small airways and lung derecruitment at 48 h that recovered by 1 wk. The EGFR ligands amphiregulin and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) were increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid at 48 h after Ova exposure. AG-1478 inhibited AHR and prevented ASM growth. Epithelial gene expression of EGFR, HB-EGF, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, Gro-α, and transforming growth factor-ß was unaffected by Ova challenges. We conclude that EGFR drives remodeling of ASM, which results from repeated Ova challenge. Furthermore, the latter results in excessive small airway and, to a lesser degree, large airway narrowing to methacholine, and large airway gene expression of contractile protein is conserved.

Microstructures and rheological properties of tilapia fish-scale collagen hydrogels with aligned fibrils fabricated under magnetic fields.

Tilapia fish-scale type I atelocollagen hydrogels with aligned fibril structures were fabricated under a strong magnetic field of 6 or 12 T using two different methods. In the first method, a solution of acid-soluble collagen was neutralized with phosphate buffer saline and maintained in the magnetic field at 28°C for 3h. Under these conditions fibrogenesis occurs, and a hydrogel is formed. The hydrogel was subsequently crosslinked with ethyl-dimethylcarbodiimide (EDC). In the second method, the hydrogels were formed as described above, but in the absence of an applied magnetic field. Only after being crosslinked with EDC were these gels exposed to the magnetic field (28°C for 3h). Both methods led to alignment of the collagen fibrils perpendicular to the magnetic direction, the extent of which depended on the duration of magnetic treatment. Even after EDC treatment, collagen fibrils can align, indicating that crosslinking has taken place within fibrils. Both sorts of aligned hydrogels exhibited similar rheological properties with higher storage and loss moduli than were observed with unoriented gels. The hydrogels treated at 6 T had the best rheological properties. The decrease in tangent angle phase delta indicated that the ratio of elasticity to viscosity was greater in the crosslinked than in the non-crosslinked hydrogels. Atomic force microscopy images showed that magnetic treatment had no effect on the nanostructure of collagen fibrils. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements indicated that collagen hydrogels with and without magnetic treatment had the same denaturation temperature, 48°C, while EDC crosslinking increased the denaturation temperature to 62°C.

Angiographic and clinical results after endovascular treatment for middle cerebral artery berry aneurysms.

Sixty-five middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms in 59 patients treated by endovascular treatment (EVT) without the remodelling technique were analyzed. For ruptured aneurysms, the patients in bad condition are predominant and those with Fisher group four is 47.8% and with Hunt and Hess grade (HHG) IV or V are 43.5%. The clinical result is that 58.7% is in mRS 0-3, 21.7% in 4-5 and 19.6% in death. Contrary, 92.3% of the patients in HHG I-III resulted in mRS 0-3. Re-rupture was observed in two cases (4.4%). For all the aneurysms, thromboembolic complications were observed in 12.3% and those were predominant in the aneurysms greater than 10mm in diameter (p<0.05). Hemorrhagic ones occurred in 6.2% which were predominant in the aneurysms less than 10mm in diameter. No mortality was observed by the accidents. In follow-up angiography, Raymond classification was employed and Complete Obliteration or Dog Ear was observed in 24 of 43 cases (55.8%). Recanalization occurred in 10.5% of the cases with complete or almost complete obliterated aneurysms. These results suggested that EVT for the ruptured MCA aneurysms with good grade or the unruptured ones is feasible. Strict follow-up is important like the other aneurysms.

Characterization of lipoxygenase-1 null mutants in barley.

This study describes the discovery and characterization of lipoxygenase-1 (LOX-1) null mutants in barley. Six lines did not exhibit any significant LOX activity in the silenced seed extract. Immunological analysis showed that these lines lacked the authentic LOX-1 protein. Genetic analysis of the F2 population revealed that this trait was governed by a single recessive gene located at the LoxA locus on chromosome 4H. The six LOX-1 null mutants shared similar features and the same unique polymorphism in a structural gene region, implying that these mutants might be derived from the same ancestral origin.

Magnetically controlled convection in a diamagnetic fluid.

We present visualization and measurement of the convection of water under a high magnetic field applied vertically to the fluid. The convection was either suppressed or enhanced depending on the direction of the magnetic force. The magnetic field effect was evaluated quantitatively by measuring the onset of convection, and discussed in terms of the Rayleigh number which includes the magnetic term. The results clearly show that the convection in a diamagnetic fluid such as water can be controlled using a common 10 T class magnet.

A mouse model of the atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome by repeated application of a crude extract of house-dust mite Dermatophagoides farinae.

BACKGROUND: We cultured Dermatophagoides farinae (Df), one of the most common mites in house dust and the most important allergen among natural allergens. With this material, we attempted to produce an animal model of the atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS). METHODS: We cultured Df mites in high density and prepared a crude extract of Df (DfE) together with the culture medium. We applied the extract to the back skin of NC/Nga and BALB/c mice three times per week for 8 weeks. RESULTS: In the NC/Nga group, dryness or scaling appeared on the skin, and scratching behavior increased at the second week in the DfE-treated group. Skin erosion and hemorrhage occurred at the fourth week. The epidermis thickened and deepened into the upper dermis, in which mast cells were highly accumulated, corresponding with the skin lesion of AEDS patients. Specific IgE and IgG to DfE and total IgE were elevated in the sera. Mice treated with an extract of mite culture medium did not develop skin lesions. In the BALB/c group, mice developed specific IgE and IgG to DfE, however, no typical skin lesions appeared. Mast cells in the upper dermis did not increase. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated painting of Dermatophagoides extract produced IgE-associated AEDS-like lesions on the skin of NC mice.

In vitro/in vivo scaling of alprazolam metabolism by CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 in humans.

We attempted to predict the in vivo metabolic clearance of alprazolam from in vitro metabolic studies using human liver microsomes and human CYP recombinants. Good correlations were observed between the intrinsic clearance (CL(int)) for 4-hydroxylation and CYP3A4 content and between the CL(int) for alpha-hydroxylation and CYP3A5 content in ten human liver microsomal samples. Using the recombinant CYP isoforms expressed in insect cells, the CL(int) for CYP3A4 was about 2-fold higher than the CL(int) for CYP3A5 in the case of 4-hydroxylation. However, the CL(int) for CYP3A5 was about 3-fold higher than the CL(int) for CYP3A4 in the case of alpha-hydroxylation. The metabolic rates for 4- and alpha-hydroxylation increased as the added amount of cytochrome b(5) increased, and their maximum values were 3- to 4-fold higher than those without cytochrome b(5). The values of CL(int), in vivo predicted from in vitro studies using human liver microsomes and CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 recombinants were within 2.5 times of the observed value calculated from literature data. The average CL(int) value (sum of 4- and alpha-hydroxylation) obtained using three human liver microsomal samples was 4-fold higher than that obtained using three small intestinal microsomal samples from the same donors, indicating the minor contribution of intestinal metabolism to alprazolam disposition. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of alprazolam is reported to increase following co-administration of ketoconazole and the magnitude of the increase predicted from the in vitro K(i) values and reported pharmacokinetic parameters of ketoconazole was 2.30-2.45, which is close to the value observed in vivo (3.19). A quantitative prediction of the AUC increase by cimetidine was also successful (1.73-1.79 vs 1.58-1.64), considering the active transport of cimetidine into the liver. In conclusion, we have succeeded in carrying out an in vitro/in vivo scaling of alprazolam metabolism using human liver microsomes and human CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 recombinants.

Nitric oxide increases matrix metalloproteinase-1 production in human uterine cervical fibroblast cells.

Since uterine cervical ripening is an active biochemical process similar in part to an inflammatory reaction, nitric oxide (NO) has been proposed as a key mediator of this event. However, the mechanism by which NO modulates human cervical ripening has not been fully elucidated. In the present study we investigated the presence of NO synthases in human uterine cervix by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Furthermore, we examined the presence of NO-mediated regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) production in cultured human uterine cervical fibroblast cells using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Northern blot analysis. Endothelial and inducible NO synthases were detected in the form of mRNA and protein expression in pregnant uterine cervix. Interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) increased the expression of inducible NO synthase mRNA in cultured human uterine cervical fibroblast cells. IL-1alpha also increased MMP-1 secretion from the cultured cervical fibroblast cells. This IL-1alpha-augmented MMP-1 secretion was partially but significantly blocked by an NO synthase inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. On the other hand, NO donors increased MMP-1 production in the cultured cervical fibroblast cells. These findings together suggest that NO contributes to the process of cervical ripening via enhancement of MMP-1 production, and that IL-1alpha increases MMP-1 secretion from cervical fibroblasts at least in part via NO synthesis.

[Anterior cerebral artery dissecting aneurysm associated with fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD): a case report].

We have recently encountered a rare case of anterior cerebral artery dissecting aneurysm, presenting cerebral infarction and subarachnoid hemorrhage, associated with fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). A 50-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with complaints of headache and hemiparesis. A right carotid angiogram obtained 9 hours after the onset revealed stenosis and slight dilatation in the A1 portion of the anterior cerebral artery. At 12 hours after the onset, the patient fell into a coma. CT scan showed diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage. An angiogram had revealed aneurysmal dilatation and double lumen in the A1 portion, but, 34 days after the onset, angiogram showed growth of the aneurysm in the A1 portion and stenosis in the A2 and A3 portions. At 38 days after the onset, the trapping of the dilated aneurysm to prevent rerupture was performed. Pathological diagnosis was concluded to be FMD. We concluded that FMD caused stenosis as well as the formation and rupture of the dissecting aneurysm in the anterior cerebral artery.

Dynamics of structure and energy of horse carboxymyoglobin after photodissociation of carbon monoxide.

The energetics and structural volume changes after photodissociation of carboxymyoglobin are quantitatively investigated by laser-induced transient grating (TG) and photoacoustic calorimetric techniques. Various origins of the TG signal are distinguished: the phase grating signals due to temperature change, due to absorption spectrum change, and due to volume change. We found a new kinetics of approximately 700 ns (at room temperature), which was not observed by the flash photolysis technique. This kinetics should be attributed to the intermediate between the geminate pair and the fully dissociated state. The enthalpy of an intermediate species is determined to be 61 +/- 10 kJ/mol, which is smaller than the expected Fe-CO bond energy. The volume of MbCO slightly contracts (5 +/- 3 cm(3)/mol) during this process. CO is fully released from the protein by an exponential kinetics from 25 to -2 degrees C. During this escaping process, the volume expands by 14.7 +/- 2 cm(3)/mol at room temperature and 14 +/- 10 kJ/mol is released, which should represent the protein relaxation and the solvation of the CO (the enthalpy of this final state is 47 +/- 10 kJ/mol). A potential barrier between the intermediate and the fully dissociated state is DeltaH(*) = 41.3 kJ/mol and DeltaS(*) = 13.6 J mol(-1) K(-1). The TG experiment under a high wavenumber reveals that the volume expansion depends on the temperature from 25 to -2 degrees C. The volume changes and the energies of the intermediate species are discussed.

Morphology, fluorescence properties, and their photothermal changes of poly(substituted thiophene) films revealed by near-field fluorescence microspectroscopy.

The morphology and fluorescence spectrum of poly(3-[2-(N-dodecylcarbamoyloxy)ethyl]thiophene-2,5-diyl) film were examined with spatial resolution of 100 nm using near-field fluorescence microspectroscopy. Fluorescence spectra observed at protruding domains were blue-shifted compared with flat areas, and further blue-shift was observed there more appreciably by long-time irradiation via a near-field scanning optical microscope probe. It is considered that the polymer chains at the protruding domains take disordered conformations, in which conjugated lengths are shorter and further disordering can be induced more easily by irradiation compared with those in the flat areas.

Superoxide inhibits neuronal nitric oxide synthase influences on afferent arterioles in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

This study was designed to determine the influence of increased superoxide anion in neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-dependent regulation of afferent arterioles in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Afferent arteriolar diameters of male Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and SHR were assessed in vitro with the blood-perfused juxtamedullary nephron technique and averaged 21.6+/-1.6 (n=6) and 18.8+/-1.2 (n=7) micrometer, respectively. The superoxide dismutase mimetic Tempol (1, 10, and 100 micromol/L) did not influence afferent arterioles of WKY but significantly increased afferent arteriolar diameters of SHR by 20.6+/-5.5%, 25.2+/-5.4%, and 23.3+/-4.9%, respectively. In WKY (n=6), the nNOS inhibitor S-methyl-L-thiocitrulline (L-SMTC; 10 micromol/L) and the NOS inhibitor N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA; 100 micromol/L) significantly decreased afferent arteriolar diameters (19.6+/-1.6 micrometer) by 11.9+/-3.1% and 21.0+/-3.9%, respectively. In SHR (n=7), L-SMTC did not influence afferent arteriolar diameters (21.0+/-1.5 micrometer), but L-NNA exerted an afferent arteriolar constriction (14.8+/-3.2%) that was similar to the response observed in WKY. Experiments were also performed in the presence of 100 micromol/L Tempol. In afferent arterioles of WKY (n=6), Tempol treatment did not modulate the basal diameters (21.5+/-1.2 micrometer) or the constrictor response to L-SMTC (10.6+/-2.1%) or L-NNA (19.3+/-3.3%). In SHR (n=8), Tempol significantly increased afferent arteriolar diameters by 22.5+/-4.3% and enhanced afferent arteriolar constrictor responses to L-SMTC (18.4+/-2.7%) and L-NNA (31.9+/-2.6%). However, the nitric oxide donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (10 micromol/L), which similarly increased afferent arteriolar diameters (17.2+/-2.3%, n=6), did not affect afferent arteriolar responses to L-SMTC (1.5+/-2.7%) or L-NNA (18.6+/-2.3%). These suggest that superoxide anion inhibits the control of afferent arteriolar diameters by nNOS in SHR.

Intracranial electroencephalographic changes in deep anesthesia.

OBJECTIVE: It is well known that electroencephalograms (EEGs) show electrical silence in deep anesthesia as well as brain death. This is the first report on intracranial EEG changes in deep anesthesia. METHODS: We developed a new direct brain monitoring system capable of recording intracranial EEGs. This study included 13 patients with head trauma or cerebrovascular accident under deep anesthesia. RESULTS: The intracranial EEGs showed different patterns of wave activity in depth compared with the cortical surface. In 3 of the cases, the scalp EEG showed a flat tracing at 2.0-2.5% of isoflurane. In two of the cases, the intracranial EEGs showed electrical silence when the scalp EEG was flat. Decreasing the concentration of isoflurane to 1.5%, the intracranial EEG showed single paroxysmal appearance of 'revival' theta waves on the electrocorticogram (ECoG) or electroventriculogram (EVG). The intracranial 'revival' wave was followed by high-voltage burst-waves. In another case, at 2.0-2.5% of isoflurane, the amplitude of the waves was greatest on the EVG. CONCLUSION: There is wave activity difference in the brain depth, which the scalp EEG is unable to show. Intracranial EEGs are able to show the first signs of revival after a nearly flat tracing in deep anesthesia.

The physiological basis of conduction slowing in ALS patients homozygous for the D90A CuZn-SOD mutation.

Familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with the autosomal-recessively inherited D90A CuZn-superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) mutation is characterized by a stereotypic slowly progressive, distinctive phenotype and very slow central motor conduction. To determine the basis of this slowing, we assessed corticomotoneuronal function using peristimulus time histograms (PSTHs) in 8 ALS patients homozygous for the D90A CuZn-SOD mutation. The results were compared with findings in 10 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), in which slowing of central motor conduction is common, and 11 healthy subjects. PSTHs were constructed from 3-7 different, voluntarily recruited motor units recorded in each patient from the extensor digitorum communis muscle (EDC). In D90A and MS patients, the stimulus threshold, onset latency, number of excess bins, duration, amplitude, and synchrony of the primary peak differed significantly from controls (P < 0.0004). The mean onset latency of the primary peak in D90A patients was 35.3 ms, compared to 23.6 ms for MS patients and 19.3 ms for normal subjects (P < 0.0001). In the D90A patients, the onset latencies of the primary peak had a bimodal distribution, whereas in MS the distribution showed a continuum. Loss of synchrony was similar in D90A and MS patients, but the threshold, number of excess bins, and duration differed significantly (P < 0.0057), which suggests that either axonal loss or demyelination can result in delayed and desynchronized primary peaks. We propose that conduction slowing in the D90A homozygotes results from selective loss of fast-conducting large pyramidal cells with preservation of slow-conducting mono- or polysynaptic corticomotoneuronal connections.

A case of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica diagnosed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy upon removal of an aspirated crown.

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a relatively rare benign disease, around 300 and 130 cases have been reported in English and Japanese literature, respectively. Most of the cases have been diagnosed incidentally at autopsy. Due to the widespread use of fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB), the number of cases diagnosed upon examination is increasing. Here, we report a case of a 72 year-old man with a history of crown aspiration, who was diagnosed as TO upon removal of a foreign body using FOB. The diagnosis of TO and the removal of an aspirated crown by FOB are discussed.

Complex fasciculations and their origin in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Kennedy's disease.

Complex fasciculations are common in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Combined fasciculations, defined as a complex fasciculation consisting of two or more components that occur independently but also in combination with another component, also occur in ALS. To test the hypothesis that combined fasciculations originate at the supraspinal level, we analyzed 2681 fasciculation potentials from 17 patients with definite or probable ALS by the El Escorial criteria. Results were compared with 304 fasciculation potentials recorded from 6 patients with Kennedy's disease, in which the upper motoneurons are spared. The mean firing frequency of the fasciculations was 24.4 +/- 25.6 per minute in ALS, significantly higher than the 2.9 +/- 3.4 per minute found in Kennedy's disease (P < 0.0001). In ALS, the mean combination ratio (the number of times that a combined fasciculation occurred divided by the total number of fasciculations) was 4.6 +/- 8.3% (range 0-33). Fourteen of 17 ALS patients had combined fasciculations, but only one combined fasciculation was found in a patient with Kennedy's disease. Combined fasciculations are distinctive in ALS, and we hypothesize that they are triggered by a supraspinal mechanism reflecting dysfunction of descending motor pathways.

The split hand in ALS has a cortical basis.

Loss of highly fractionated movement involving the thumb and index finger is an early characteristic of hand dysfunction in many ALS patients. These movements are largely subserved by the 'thenar complex' including the first dorsal interosseus muscle (FDI), whereas the 'hypothenar complex', innervated by the same myotome, has less ability to fractionate and is relatively spared. This suggests that in ALS, hand dysfunction and wasting is related to corticomotoneuronal representation and input. To determine whether corticomotoneuronal input to the thenar spinal pool is preferentially impaired compared to the hypothenar spinal pool in ALS, we studied 18 ALS patients and 11 normal subjects. Compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) of the thenar and hypothenar complexes were evoked by peripheral nerve stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation. In healthy control subjects the cortical/peripheral (MEP/CMAP) ratios were significantly larger for the thenar complex suggesting a stronger corticomotoneuronal input to this muscle complex (P<0.005). This was not the case in ALS patients. Comparing the ratios between control subjects and patients revealed a significant reduction for the thenar complex (P<0.02) in ALS patients but not for the hypothenar complex. We conclude that corticomotoneuronal input to the thenar complex is preferentially affected in ALS and that corticomotoneuronal disease may be the prime determinant of hand dysfunction and wasting.

Temporal dispersion of cortically evoked single motor unit potentials in ALS.

Peristimulus time histograms (PSTHs) can be used to investigate corticomotoneuronal dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The most characteristic change is temporal dispersion of the primary peak. We recorded PSTHs in the extensor digitorum communis with voluntary motor units activation (standard PSTHs) or at rest (non-activated PSTHs). Standard PSTHs were recorded in 29 motor units of 12 healthy control subjects and 12 sporadic ALS patients. Double primary peaks were seen in three motor units of two healthy control subjects and 10 motor units from five ALS patients. The number of subpeaks was up to three in most of the normal motor units as well as in the earlier component of double primary peaks. The subpeaks were smaller and less discernible in the later component of double primary peaks. Non-activated PSTHs of ALS patients demonstrated similar decomposition of subpeaks in the motor units with significantly increased variability of latency. Similar findings in the standard PSTHs and non-activated PSTHs suggest that the abnormalities seen in ALS are independent of the membrane potential of the spinal motoneuron and therefore supraspinal in origin. The decomposed additional later component may indicate activation of slow conducting corticospinal tracts.