The relationship between sucrose intake in coffee or tea, and root or coronal caries in an elderly Japanese population.

OBJECTIVES: Few studies have examined the effect of sucrose intake in coffee or tea (SCT) on dental caries, especially root caries, in elderly people. The purpose of the present study was to examine the associations between SCT and the prevalence of root or coronal caries in community-dwelling elderly Japanese. METHODS: Participants were 370 elders aged 75 years from a larger cohort study of elders in Niigata City, Japan. Dietary habits during the preceding month were assessed with a validated brief self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ). The caries examination was conducted using mirror and ball-pointed periodontal probes under artificial light. Poisson regression analysis was performed to analyze the prevalence-rate ratios (PRRs) between SCT and the root or coronal caries. The number of root or coronal caries was selected as the dependent variable for the analysis. Then, SCT (tertiles labeled low, medium and high) and other 4 variables were selected as independent variables. RESULTS: The PRRs between the number of root caries lesions and SCT were signifi cantly higher in the second (medium intake, 1.38, p ⟨ 0.001) and third tertiles (high intake, 2.07, p ⟨ 0.001). Similar tendencies were seen for the number of coronal caries lesions (PRRs in the second and third tertiles 1.74 and 2.46, respectively, both p ⟨ 0.001). CONCLUSION: A significant positive relationship was observed between sucrose in coffee and tea and the number of coronal or root caries lesions in community-dwelling elderly Japanese.

Effect of ß-carotene supply during close-up dry period on the onset of first postpartum luteal activity in dairy cows.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of ß-carotene supply during the close-up dry period on the onset of first postpartum luteal activity in dairy cows. Twelve cows were supplied with 2000 mg of ß-carotene (20 g Rovimix(®) ß-Carotene containing 10% ß-carotene; DSM Nutrition Japan K.K., Tokyo, Japan) by oral administration daily from day 21 before expected calving date to parturition. Fourteen cows (control) did not receive ß-carotene supplementation. Blood samples were obtained on days 21, 14 and 7 before expected calving date and on days 1, 7, 14, 21 postpartum. When the plasma progesterone concentration exceeded 1 ng/ml by day 21 postpartum, luteal activity was assumed to have been initiated. The result showed that serum ß-carotene concentrations in the ß-carotene cows were higher than in the control cows during the experimental period (p < 0.01). The number of cows with the onset of luteal activity by day 21 postpartum was 9/12 in the ß-carotene cows and 4/14 in the control cows (p < 0.05). Retinol, certain metabolic parameters and metabolic hormones concentrations did not differ between ß-carotene and control cows. In addition, serum retinol concentration in ß-carotene cows without luteal activity was lower than in ß-carotene cows with luteal activity (p < 0.05), and serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase concentration in ß-carotene cows with luteal activity (p < 0.05) and control cows without luteal activity (p < 0.01) was higher than in control cows with luteal activity. In conclusion, ß-carotene supply during the close-up dry period may support the onset of luteal activity during early lactation in dairy cows.

Decreased absorption and retention rates of magnesium in the rats fed on spinach-supplemented diets: possible explanations.

We studied the bioavailability of magnesium (Mg) in spinach after boiling with distilled water, using Mg-deficient growing male rats. The rats were fed a semipurified diet (Mg:0.063 per cent (w/w)) for 3 days. then a Mg-deficient diet (Mg:0.001 per cent (w/w)) for 5 days. They were then divided randomly into 7 groups of 6 rats each, and fed the semipurified diet (Mg: 0.063, 0.045 or 0.027 per cent (w/w)), or the spinach-supplemented diet (10 per cent (w/w) dried and powdered spinach after boiling with distilled water for 3 min at 100 degrees C). The Mg content of the diets supplemented with spinach grown on chemical nutrients, and on manure from pigs, cattle and fowl, was 0.069, 0.051, 0.043 and 0.036 per cent (w/w), respectively. Water intake and volumes of urine and faeces were significantly greater in the rats fed the spinach-supplemented diets than in those fed the semipurified diets. Apparent absorption of Mg, and urinary and faecal excretions of Mg were directly related to Mg intake: no significant difference was observed amongst the groups. Both the ratios of Mg absorption and retention were significantly lower in the rats fed diets supplemented with spinach than in those fed semipurified diets. The plasma Mg level was directly related to Mg intake in the rats fed the semipurified diets and the spinach-supplemented diets. However, the plasma Mg level in the rats fed spinach grown organically on manure from fowl tended to be higher than in the other groups. From these results, it was concluded that bound Mg in spinach was effectively utilized by Mg-deficient rats, however, the absorption and retention rates of Mg in rats fed diets supplemented with spinach were decreased. Possible explanations were discussed.

Conformation of the primary binding loop folded through an intramolecular interaction contributes to the strong chymotrypsin inhibitory activity of the chymotrypsin inhibitor from Erythrina variegata seeds.

We previously demonstrated that amino acid residues Gln62 (P3), Phe63 (P2), Leu64 (P1), and Phe67 (P3') in the primary binding loop of Erythrina variegata chymotrypsin inhibitor (ECI), a member of the Kunitz inhibitor family, are involved in its strong inhibitory activity toward chymotrypsin [Iwanaga et al. (1998) J. Biochem. 124, 663-669]. To determine whether or not these four amino acid residues predominantly contribute to the strong inhibitory activity of ECI, they were simultaneously replaced by Ala. The results showed that a quadruple mutant, Q62A/F63A/L64A/F67A, retained considerable inhibitory activity (Ki, 5.6 x 10(-7) M), indicating that in addition to the side chains of these four amino acid residues, the backbone structure of the primary binding loop in ECI is essential for the inhibitory activity toward chymotrypsin. Two chimeric proteins, in which the primary binding loops of ECI and ETIa were exchanged: an isoinhibitor from E. variegata with lower chymotrypsin inhibitory activity, were constructed to determine whether the backbone structure of the primary binding loop of ECI was formed by the amino acid residues therein, or through an interaction between the primary binding loop and the residual structure designated as the "scaffold." A chimeric protein, ECI/ETIa, composed of the primary binding loop of ECI and the scaffold of ETIa showed weaker inhibitory activity (Ki, 1.3 x 10(-6) M) than ECI (Ki, 9.8 x 10(-8) M). In contrast, a chimera, ETIa/ECI, comprising the primary binding loop of ETIa and the scaffold of ECI inhibited chymotrypsin more strongly (Ki, 5.7 x 10(-7) M) than ETIa (Ki, 1.3 x 10(-6) M). These results indicate that the intramolecular interaction between the primary binding loop and the scaffold of ECI plays an important role in the strong inhibitory activity toward chymotrypsin. Furthermore, surface plasmon resonance analysis revealed that the side chains on the primary binding loop of ECI contribute to both an increase in the association rate constant (kon) and a decrease in the dissociation rate constant (koff) for the ECI-chymotrypsin interaction, whereas the backbone structure of the primary binding loop mainly contributes to a decrease in the dissociation rate constant.

Fatty acid composition and arachidonate metabolites in the livers of ethanol-treated rats fed an arachidonate-supplemented diet: effect of dietary fat.

The effects of 1% arachidonic acid ethyl ester (AA) administration on the liver prostanoid metabolites and on serum and liver lipids in 3 g/kg ethanol-administered rats fed 10% lard or corn oil were studied. The rats were divided into 6 groups: lard-sucrose (Lard-Suc); lard-ethanol without AA (Lard-Et); lard-ethanol with AA (Lard-EtAA); corn oil-sucrose (Corn-Suc); corn oil-ethanol without AA (Corn-Et); and corn oil-ethanol with AA (Corn-EtAA). Liver triglyceride increased in Corn-EtAA compared with Corn-Et. Arachidonic acid (20: 4n-6) levels in liver phospholipid were significantly decreased in Corn-Et, but elevated in Lard-Et. The levels of 20:4n-6 were significantly increased with AA administration in both ethanol groups. Liver 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) in Corn-Suc (24.7 +/- 5.1 pg/mg protein) was markedly higher than in Lard-Suc (4.5 +/- 1.2 pg/mg protein), and the 6-keto-PGF1 alpha lowered significantly with the addition of ethanol (9.3 +/- 0.9 pg/mg protein), but it increased with AA administration (21.6 +/- 4.9 pg/mg protein). In Lard-EtAA, a significant increase in 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was observed compared with Lard-Suc. The liver leukotriene B4 (LTB4) level in Lard-Suc was significantly lower than that of Corn-Suc. In the corn oil group, ethanol feeding was associated with a significant increase in liver LTB4. AA administration to Corn-Et suppressed the elevated LTB4. Serum thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) concentrations in the corn oil group were higher than in the lard group, and these concentrations were not altered by AA administration. From these results, we concluded that the administration of AA in rats treated with ethanol increased 20:4n-6 in liver phospholipid and liver PGI2 levels, irrespective of dietary fat, and may protect against alcoholic liver injury. AA with a diet rich in linoleic acid (18:2n-6), however, may increase fat in the alcoholic liver.

[A case report of Vp3 hepatocellular carcinoma responding to multidisciplinary treatment].

We report a 60-year-old man who had hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus in the main portal vein and left portal branch (VP3HCC). He was treated with transarterial chemo-embolization, surgical resection and intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy. He is now surviving without any sign of recurrence for 12 months after the initial therapy, even though the prognosis of VP3HCC is poor. This is a case in which the effect of multidisciplinary treatment was indicated.

Effect of arachidonate on lipid metabolism in ethanol-treated rats fed with lard.

Two groups of rats, ethanol-treated and sucrose-administered control rats, were fed diets with different AA content (0, 2 and 3% weight) for 14 days. Ethanol was administered by gavage at a single daily dose of 3 g/kg body weight. The ethanol-treated rats showed significantly higher levels (p < 0.01) of serum ALT activity. The dietary AA supplement lowered the serum ALT activity and liver triglyceride both in control and ethanol-treated rats. Significantly lower levels of 20:4n - 6 and 20:4n - 6/18:2n - 6 ratio and higher levels of 18:1n - 9 in both the serum and liver triglyceride were observed in the ethanol-treated rats. The AA-supplemented diet induced a marked increase of 20:4n - 6 and subsequent significant decrease of 18:2n - 6 both in the liver and serum phospholipid in control and ethanol-treated rats. 18:1n - 9 in the serum and liver triglyceride in both groups was also markedly decreased by AA supplement. No significant difference was observed in the liver 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) level between the ethanol-treated and control rats. In the ethanol-treated rats, the level of 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) was elevated in the rats fed the 3% AA-supplemented diet. Though the liver leukotriene B4 levels were increased by ethanol administration in all rats, these levels were not increased by dietary AA.

Mutagenicity tests of polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil 60 (HCO-60).

The genotoxicity of polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil 60 (HCO-60) was examined in reverse mutation test in bacteria, chromosome aberration test in vitro and micronucleus test in mice. The in vitro tests were done with and without metabolic activation using rat liver microsomal fraction. HCO-60 did induce neither reverse mutation in Salmonella typhimurium TA100, TA98, TA1535, and TA1537 and in Escherichia coli WP2uvrA, nor chromosome aberrations in Chinese hamster V79 cells. In addition, no increase in micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes was elicited in the bone marrow of BDF1 male and female mice. It is concluded that HCO-60 was not genotoxic in these in vitro and in vivo assays.

Parabolic flight experiments on physiological data acquisition and processing technologies using small jet aircraft (MU300).

The parabolic aircraft flight provides a short low gravity environment for approximately 20 seconds, which may not be sufficient for a research on the physiological phenomenon induced by actual weightlessness in space. However, the method is still useful to reveal essential and characteristic feature of physiological signs, and is available for testing hardware and also training of crew member during altered gravity. This paper reports the summary of parabolic flight experiments recently conducted as a NASDA program (1990-1992). The program is providing opportunities in low gravity research with small jet aircraft for researchers and agencies. The flight experiments in the life science area have been conducted mostly focused on a physiological changes and basic methodology which may be effective under the altered gravity condition. In this study, the following research team, NASDA, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Toyohashi University of Technology, Tokyo Metropolitan Hospital, Torey Research Center and JSUP were involved and coordinated for the research.

[Efficacy of transarterial immuno-embolization therapy (TIE) in operable patients with hepatocellular carcinoma].

The efficacy of transarterial immuno-embolization therapy (TIE) was examined in six operable patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We administered OK-432, fibrinogen (30 mg/ml) and thrombin (1 U/ml) through a catheter which was inserted into the tumor-feeding artery. In all patients with a high level of tumor markers (AFP and PIVKA-II), the level decreased promptly to less than the pretreatment level after TIE therapy. The therapy has not caused any serious side effects. No disturbance of the coagulation-fibrinolysis system due to TIE was observed in any patient. Histological examination of resected specimens following TIE showed massive infiltration of mononuclear cells around tumor cell nests, and lytic necrosis as well as coagulation necrosis of the main tumor and the intrahepatic metastases. Our results indicate that TIE may be an effective and promising modality for HCC patients.

Infusion of emulsified trieicosapentaenoyl-glycerol into rabbits--the effects on platelet aggregation, polymorphonuclear leukocyte adhesion, and fatty acid composition in plasma and platelet phospholipids.

Using 90%-pure free eicosapentaenoic acid, we synthesized 1,2,3-trieicosapentaenoyl-glycerol (EPA-TG) and manufactured an emulsion of EPA-TG with purified phosphatidylcholine from krill as an emulsifier. After two intravenous injections of the EPA-TG emulsion into rabbits, the EPA content in plasma and platelet phospholipids increased markedly. ADP- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation and polymorphonuclear leukocyte adhesion to glass beads were depressed significantly. No significant changes were observed in serum lipids and liver function. In control experiments which were performed in exactly the same manner except that soybean oil emulsion was used instead of the EPA-TG emulsion, there were almost no significant changes. Our results suggest that an EPA-TG emulsion is applicable to those patients who need both intravenous alimentation and preventive care of thrombosis, such as postoperative patients.

Changes of ejaculation due to suppression of noradrenaline biosynthesis by diethyldithiocarbamate in dogs: a supplemental report with reference to changes of posterior urethral pressure.

In the preceding paper (Kimura et al.-1979) it was reported that diethyldithiocarbamate suppresses ejaculation, although penile erection is maintained, and that the suppression is not mediated by the central nervous system but by the decrease of catecholamine contents in the organs relating to sperm transport. In this paper, changes of ejaculation following administration of diethyldithiocarbamate was studied with the posterior urethrogram; measurement of the posterior urethral pressure during hypogastric nerve stimulation. From the results obtained in this study the above results were confirmed. It was also confirmed that both seminal emission and ejaculation are under the influence of an alpha-adrenergic receptor mechanism. Also, a dopamine receptor mechanism was suspected to be present in the male accessory sexual glands.