Relationship between the housing coldness/warmth evaluation by CASBEE Housing Health Checklist and psychological distress based on TMM Community-Based Cohort Study: a cross-sectional analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have reported the relationship between housing environment and health, although due to cost and effort, it was difficult to conduct housing condition surveys on a large scale. The CASBEE Housing Health Checklist (the Checklist) made it possible to easily evaluate the housing condition from the resident's perspective. This study examined the relationship between housing coldness/warmth evaluation using the Checklist and psychological distress in a large-scale general Japanese population. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: We analysed data from 29,380 people aged ≥20 years who lived in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. As an assessment of housing coldness/warmth, we used the Checklist. We classified participants' total scores on the Checklist related to coldness/warmth into quartiles. The Kessler 6 scale was used as an indicator of psychological distress. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Adjusted OR and P-values for linear trends were calculated using the quartiles of the Checklists' score. RESULTS: Among participants in Q1 (i.e., poorer subjective house condition), the percentage of people with psychological distress was high. Compared to the highest quartile, Q1 showed poorer evaluation of housing coldness/warmth, and higher OR for psychological distress. The OR (95% CI) of psychological distress for Q3, Q2, and Q1 compared with Q4 were 1.93 (1.74-2.14), 2.82 (2.55-3.12), and 5.78 (5.25-6.35), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Housing coldness/warmth evaluation was significantly related to psychological distress. This finding suggests that maintaining a comfortable thermal environment at home could be important for residents' mental health.

Effects of leg resistance training on arterial function in older men.

BACKGROUND: Little information is available on the effect of strength training on vascular function, particularly in older people. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of resistance training on arterial stiffness and endothelial function in older adults. METHOD: Eleven healthy men (mean (SEM) age 64 (1) years) performed 12 weeks of resistance training involving knee flexion and extension (three sets a day, two days a week). RESULTS: Resistance training increased maximal muscle power by 16% (p<0.0001). Arterial stiffness as assessed by aortic pulse wave velocity did not change with resistance training. Plasma concentration of nitric oxide (NO), measured as its stable end product (nitrite/nitrate), had increased (p<0.05) after resistance training (61.2 (10.4) v 39.6 (3.2) micromol/l). There was no change in plasma concentration of endothelin-1. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that short term resistance training may increase NO production without stiffening central arteries in healthy older men.

Effects of music during exercise on RPE, heart rate and the autonomic nervous system.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the influence of music on RPE during sub-maximal exercise and on the autonomic nervous system before and after sub-maximal exercise. METHODS: Heart rate (HR), HR variability (HRV) and rates of physical fatigue (RPE) during exercise at 60% and at 40% VO2max with and without music were measured. The exercise protocol consisted of a 30-min seated rest (control) period followed by a 30-min submaximal cycling exercise and a 35-min recovery period. Autonomic-nervous activity was measured before and after exercise. During exercise, RPE was recorded every 3 min and HR was recorded for every minute. RESULTS: Although RPE did not differ during exercise at 60% VO2max, this value was lower during exercise at 40% VO2max in the presence, than in the absence of a favorite piece music (P < 0.05). HR, HFA and LFA/HFA of HRV significantly differed with exercise intensity in the absence (P < 0.05), but not in the presence of music. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that music evokes a ''distraction effect'' during low intensity exercise, but might not influence the autonomic nervous system. Therefore, when jogging or walking at comparatively low exercise intensity, listening to a favorite piece of music might decrease the influence of stress caused by fatigue, thus increasing the ''comfort'' level of performing the exercise.

Osteoclastogenic activity during mandibular distraction osteogenesis.

Mandibular distraction osteogenesis is a well-developed clinical modality for the treatment of craniofacial deformities and dental arch discrepancies, in combination with orthodontic treatment. However, in our previous study, orthodontic tooth movement into the distraction gap caused severe root resorption. The present study aimed to clarify the osteoclastogenic activity of cells in the distraction gap. We hypothesized that the gene expression of osteoclastogenic- and osteoclast-supporting molecules in osteoblasts and stromal cells would increase at distraction sites during the consolidation period. An animal model experiment involving rabbits was designed for mandibular distraction osteogenesis and subjected to in situ hybridization analysis. The number of osteoclasts was larger in the distraction gap during the early consolidation period than in normal controls, due to an increase of gene expression for osteoclastogenic cytokines in osteoblasts. It was concluded that osteoclastogenic and osteoclastic activities are stimulated at distraction sites during the early consolidation period.

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity: an index of central arterial stiffness?

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a promising technique to assess arterial stiffness conveniently. However, it is not known whether baPWV is associated with well-established indices of central arterial stiffness. We determined the relation of baPWV with aortic (carotid-femoral) PWV, leg (femoral-ankle) PWV, and carotid augmentation index (AI) by using both cross-sectional and interventional approaches. First, we studied 409 healthy adults aged 18-76 years. baPWV correlated significantly with aortic PWV (r = 0.76), leg PWV (r = 0.76), and carotid AI (r = 0.52). A stepwise regression analysis revealed that aortic PWV was the primary independent correlate of baPWV, explaining 58% of the total variance in baPWV. Additional 23% of the variance was explained by leg PWV. Second, 13 sedentary healthy men were studied before and after a 16-week moderate aerobic exercise intervention (brisk walking to jogging; 30-45 min/day; 4-5 days/week). Reductions in aortic PWV observed with the exercise intervention were significantly and positively associated with the corresponding changes in baPWV (r = 0.74). A stepwise regression analysis revealed that changes in aortic PWV were the only independent correlate of changes in baPWV (beta = 0.74), explaining 55% of the total variance. These results suggest that baPWV may provide qualitatively similar information to those derived from central arterial stiffness although some portions of baPWV may be determined by peripheral arterial stiffness.

Regulation of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 by nitric oxide under hypoxic conditions.

Nitric oxide (NO) is believed to play an important, but as yet undefined, role in regulating hypoxia inducible gene expression. Recently, we have reported evidence suggesting that the human insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) gene is directly regulated by hypoxia through the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 pathway. The goal of the current study was to investigate NO regulation of hypoxic induction of IGFBP-1 gene expression using HepG2 cells, a model system of hepatic gene expression. We report that a NO generator, sodium nitroprusside, significantly diminishes hypoxic activation of IGFBP-1 protein and messenger ribonucleic acid expression. Furthermore, these effects are independent of guanylate cyclase/ cGMP signaling, as two different inhibitors, LY 83583, a specific inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, and KT 5823, a protein kinase G inhibitor, had no effect on IGFBP-1 induction by hypoxia. Hypoxic induction of a reporter gene containing four tandemly ligated hypoxia response elements was completely blocked by sodium nitroprusside, but not by 8-bromo-cGMP, an analog ofcGMP. These results suggest that NO blocks hypoxic induction of IGFBP-1 by a guanylate cyclase/ cGMP-independent pathway, possibly at the level of oxygen sensing. The impaired hypoxia regulation of IGFBP-1 by nitric oxide may play a key role in the hyperinduction of IGFBP-1 observed in pathophysiological conditions such as fetal hypoxia and preeclampsia where dysregulation of NO has been observed.

Regulation of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 by hypoxia and 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate is additive in HepG2 cells.

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1) is important in regulating minute-to-minute IGF bioavailability in the circulation and is primarily an inhibitor of IGF action systemically and in most cellular systems. Understanding regulation of IGFBP-1 is, thus, important in understanding regulation of IGF actions. The IGFBP-1 promoter contains a cAMP response element, and cAMP stimulates IGFBP-1 gene expression at the transcriptional level. Recently, we have found three consensus sequences for the hypoxia response element in intron 1 of the IGFBP-1 gene. Herein, we have investigated the effects of hypoxia and a cAMP analog, 8-bromoadenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP), on IGFBP-1 expression in HepG2 cells, a model system for IGFBP-1 gene regulation. HepG2 cells were exposed to normoxia (20% pO2) or hypoxia (2% pO2) for 24 h in the absence or presence of 8-Br-cAMP (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mM). Western ligand blotting revealed IGFBP-1 as the predominant IGFBP in HepG2-conditioned media, which increased in a dose-dependent manner after incubation with 8-Br-cAMP in normoxia and hypoxia (3-fold and 7-fold at 1 mM, respectively). Under hypoxic, compared with normoxic, conditions, IGFBP-1 protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels increased approximately 10-fold and 20-fold, respectively. In normoxia, 8-Br-cAMP stimulated IGFBP-1 protein and mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner (7-fold and 10-fold at 1 mM). Hypoxia and 8-Br-cAMP showed additive stimulatory effects on IGFBP-1 protein and mRNA levels (35-fold and 50-fold at 1 mM) that were time and dose dependent. Primary transcripts of IGFBP-1 mRNA were increased concordantly with IGFBP-1 mRNA. The half-life of the IGFBP-1 mRNA was markedly increased (approximately 6-fold) by hypoxia, and cAMP minimally enhanced this effect. These results demonstrate that hypoxia and compounds that increase intracellular cAMP additively regulate IGFBP-1 gene expression by transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms. Regulation of IGFBP-1 mRNA and protein by cAMP and hypoxia may be important for understanding the physiologic and pathophysiologic roles of IGFBP-1.

Expression of organic anion transporting polypeptide E (OATP-E) in human placenta.

PURPOSE: To examine the expression of multifunctional Na(+)-independent organic anion transporting polypeptide, termed OATP-E, involved in the transport of thyroid hormone in human placenta. METHODS: Western blot analysis was performed using a specific antibody against OATP-E in human placenta to confirm the expression of OATP-E at the protein level. Immunohistochemistry was also performed using the specific antibody against OATP-E on frozen sections of human placenta. RESULTS: By Western blot analysis, a single band for OATP-E was observed in human placenta. Immunohistochemistry revealed that OATP-E was predominantly expressed at the apical surface of the syncytiotrophoblasts in placenta. CONCLUSION: These results reveal that OATP-E is expressed in human placenta, suggesting a functional role for the transplacental transfer of thyroid hormone.

Subcellular localization of myosin I in A10 smooth muscle cell.

We isolated and identified a 110-kDa myosin I from porcine aorta media smooth muscle [Y. Hasegawa et al. (1996) J. Biochem. 120, 971-976]. Partial peptide sequences of the 110-kDa myosin I fragments were homologous to amino acid sequences deduced from myosin Ibeta of bovine brain and adrenal gland. We investigated biochemically the distribution of the 110-kDa myosin I by cell fractionation methods. About 10% of myosin I present in whole cells could be extracted by treatment with 0.02% saponin, which does not liberate organelles, indicating that at least 10% of myosin I present in A10 cells is associated with neither organelles nor cytoskeleton. After treatment of A10 cells with 0.5% Triton X-100, the insoluble cytoskeleton contained 45% of myosin I present in whole cells. Treatment with MgATP extracted most of myosin I from the cytoskeleton, indicating that the distribution of myosin I is maintained by binding of the myosin I head to an actin filament. On the other hand, when the cell homogenate was fractionated on sucrose density step gradients, about 80% of myosin I was associated with membranes of various densities. An attempt to dissociate the myosin I from the membranes in the presence of MgATP was not successful. These results show that about 80% of total myosin I is associated directly with membranes, not through F-actin. The amounts of myosin I associated with membranes or cytoskeleton provide evidence that myosin I in A10 cells is associated in part with only membrane and in part with both cytoskeleton and membranes. Our results lead to conclusion that myosin I exist in several states: membrane-and-cytoskeleton-associated, membrane-associated, and membrane-and-cytoskeleton-free. These states may be in dynamic equilibrium, allowing myosin I to respond to the cellular requirements.

Increased secretion of hepatocyte growth factor by eutopic endometrial stromal cells in women with endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the secretion of hepatocyte growth factor by eutopic endometrial stromal cells in vitro. DESIGN: Eutopic endometrial stromal cells were isolated and the culture supernatants were collected after 48 hours of incubation. The secretion of hepatocyte growth factor was analyzed by ELISA. SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Tohoku University Hospital. PATIENT(S): Specimens of endometrium in the proliferative phase were excised from 11 patients who were undergoing laparoscopy for infertility. Six of the patients had endometriosis and five did not. None of the patients had received hormonal treatment before surgery. RESULT(S): Hepatocyte growth factor secretion was found to be increased significantly in cultured endometrial stromal cells from the infertile patients with endometriosis compared with those without endometriosis. CONCLUSION(S): The secretion of hepatocyte growth factor was up-regulated in eutopic endometrial stromal cells from patients with endometriosis. An increase in hepatocyte growth factor production may be characteristic of endometriosis and may be involved in the pathophysiology of this disease.

Effects of exercise training of 8 weeks and detraining on plasma levels of endothelium-derived factors, endothelin-1 and nitric oxide, in healthy young humans.

Vascular endothelial cells produce nitric oxide (NO), which is a potent vasodilator substance and has been proposed as having antiatherosclerotic property. Vascular endothelial cells also produce endothelin-1 (ET-1), which is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide and has potent proliferating activity on vascular smooth muscle cells. Therefore, ET-1 has been implicated in the progression of atheromatous vascular disease. Because exercise training has been reported to produce an alteration in the function of vascular endothelial cells in animals, we hypothesized that exercise training influences the production of NO and ET-1 in humans. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether chronic exercise could influence the plasma levels of NO (measured as the stable end product of NO, i.e., nitrite/nitrate [NOx]) and ET-1 in humans. Eight healthy young subjects (20.3 +/- 0.5 yr old) participated in the study and exercised by cycling on a leg ergometer (70% VO2max for 1 hour, 3-4 days/week) for 8 weeks. Venous plasma concentrations of NOx and ET-1 were measured before and after (immediately before the end of 8-week exercise training) the exercise training, and also after the 4th and 8th week after the cessation of training. The VO2max significantly increased after exercise training. After the exercise training, the plasma concentration of NOx significantly increased (30.69 +/- 3.20 vs. 48.64 +/- 8.16 micromol/L, p < 0.05), and the plasma concentration of ET-1 significantly decreased (1.65 +/- 0.14 vs. 1.23 +/- 0.12 pg/mL, p < 0.05). The increase in NOx level and the decrease in ET-1 level lasted to the 4th week after the cessation of exercise training and these levels (levels of NOx and ET-1) returned to the basal levels (the levels before the exercise training) in the 8th week after the cessation of exercise training. There was a significant negative correlation between plasma NOx concentration and plasma ET-1 concentration. The present study suggests that chronic exercise causes an increase in production of NO and a decrease in production of ET-1 in humans, which may produce beneficial effects (i.e., vasodilative and antiatherosclerotic) on the cardiovascular system.

Age-related decline of cerebral oxygen metabolism in normal population detected with positron emission tomography.

Using positron emission tomography (PET), cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) were measured in 32 healthy volunteers aged from 27 to 67 years. In bilateral putamen, left supratemporal, left infrafrontal and left parietal cortices, CMRO2 showed a significant decline during aging. The age-related decline of CBF was seen only at the left superior temporal cortex. The mean CMRO2 was significantly lower in the elder group (over 51 years old) than in the younger group (under 50 years old), whereas no significant difference in mean CBF between the two groups. The poor correlation of CBF to the age could be explained partly by the fact that CBF is easily influenced by the physiological, psychological and/or environmental factors. The age-related changes of CMRO2 were more marked in the association cortices of the left hemisphere than in that of the right hemisphere.

Lithium affects the reactivities of GalNAcalpha1-3GalNAc-lipid and fibrinopeptide A in mice.

The relationship between lithium and the reactivities of GalNAcalpha1-3GalNAc-lipid and fibrinopeptide A were investigated in mice. Lithium strongly decreased glycolipid reactivity and slightly increased peptide reactivity in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These substances showed antidepressive behavioral effects in mice via different neurological activities. This many suggest a mechanism of two different clinical effects of lithium: one of which is a strong antimanic effect and one of which is a weak antidepressive effect.

Behavioral effect of herbal glycoside in the forced swimming test.

We investigated the behavioral effects of Chinese herbal medicines in the forced swimming test. One of these medicines, Kami-shoyo-san, induced an antidepressive climbing behavior in mice. An effective substance detected to be an O-linked glycoside with the sugar chain structure GalNAc alpha 1-3GalNAc was separated. The behavioral effect was dose-dependently decreased by the dopamine 2 antagonist sulpiride, but not by the dopamine 1 antagonist SCH-233960. Investigated Chinese herbal medicines, including Kami-shoyo-san, have been used for human depression. These facts suggest that glycoside is one of the antidepressant-like substances of Chinese herbal medicines.

The influences of molar intrusion on the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle and root using the skeletal anchorage system in dogs.

The skeletal anchorage system (SAS) was developed as intraoral rigid anchors for open-bite correction by intrusion of molars. Since the application of SAS is a new modality in orthodontic treatment, the influences of radical molar intrusion on the root and the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle were unknown. The purpose of this research is to verify the effect of molar intrusion on the neurovascular bundle, the level of osseointegration of bone screws, and root resorption. The results of this study showed mandibular molars were intruded 3.4 mm on the average over 7 months in dogs. The miniplates were well stabilized with osseointegrated bone screws and the peri-implant soft tissues showed slight inflammatory changes. Neither nerves nor blood vessels were damaged. Root resorption was observed but was repaired with new cementum. We concluded that the SAS utilizing transmucosal titanium miniplates as an immovable orthodontic anchorage could provide a new modality for molar intrusions without serious iatrogenic problems.

Facial growth of skeletal Class III malocclusion and the effects, limitations, and long-term dentofacial adaptations to chincap therapy.

This article outlines the authors' research findings on the craniofacial growth of untreated skeletal Class III malocclusion, as well as the short-term and long-term effects of chincap orthopedic force for controlling Class III mandibular growth. Skeletal Class III malocclusion is believed to be the result of excessive growth of the mandible with respect to the maxilla and/or cranial base. The results of the authors' longitudinal studies show similar maxillary and mandibular incremental growth change during prepubertal, pubertal, and postpubertal periods when compared with Class I subjects. Therefore, it seems reasonable to assume that the skeletal framework of the Class III malocclusion must have been established before the prepubertal growth period. As for treatment with chincap appliances, the study on short-term and long-term effects indicate that, on average, the skeletal profile is greatly improved during the initial stages of chincap therapy. However, such changes are rarely maintained during pubertal growth period. Treatment with chincap appliances seldom alters the inherited prognathic characteristics of skeletal Class III profiles after completion of growth.

Lack of changes in carotid artery compliance with systemic nitric oxide synthase inhibition.

Proximal large elastic arteries (ascending aorta and carotid artery) have an important role in buffering the pulsatile pressure generated from the left ventricle, which forwards continuous peripheral blood flow and protects the brain microcirculation from end-organ damage. Although compliance of distal conduit arteries (extremities' arteries) is attenuated by the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition, it is yet unknown whether compliance of proximal elastic arteries changes by the systemic NOS inhibition. To address this question, we measured central artery compliance in 17 young adults (26±1 years) who underwent intravenous infusions of N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) or saline (placebo) on separate days. Following the systemic NOS inhibition, the mean arterial pressure (MAP), total peripheral resistance and aortic augmentation index were significantly increased. However, carotid artery compliance was not affected significantly (from 0.10±0.01 to 0.11±0.01 mm2) per mmHg) and the ß-stiffness index (an index of arterial compliance adjusted for the distending pressure) tended to decrease (from 6.63±0.35 to 6.06±0.42 a.u., P=0.07). These parameters were not altered with saline infusion. Changes in the ß-stiffness index tended to correlate negatively with the corresponding changes in MAP (r = -0.31, P=0.07). These results suggest that carotid artery compliance remains unchanged during the systemic NOS inhibition in spite of systemic vasoconstriction.

Association between ankle blood pressure and central arterial wave reflection.

There is an increasing recognition that central aortic pressure is more relevant than brachial measure for the prediction and pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. Central pressure is influenced by the phenomenon of arterial wave reflections returning from the peripheral vasculature, which can be quantified by augmentation index. Accordingly, the primary aim of this study was to determine the association between central augmentation index and arterial blood pressures (BPs), recorded in both the upper and lower limbs. A total of 833 apparently healthy adults of varying ages were studied. All of the BP (brachial and ankle, systolic, mean, diastolic and pulse) measurements were significantly associated with carotid augmentation index. Among them, ankle mean arterial pressure was the strongest correlate of carotid augmentation index (r=0.51, P<0.0001). This relation remained highly significant even after the influence of potential confounders was accounted for by the partial correlation analyses. Stepwise regression analyses revealed that ankle mean arterial pressure was the strongest independent predictor of carotid augmentation index. Ankle BP is strongly associated with the augmentation of central BP, and this relation is independent of other BP measures (brachial BP).