Factors influencing the use of over-the-counter drugs and health foods/supplements.

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and health foods/supplements are used as means of self-medication with the aim of preventing diseases and maintaining health. No reports have yet addressed the relationship between healthcare systems and self-medication. Here, we carried out a retrospective survey to identify healthcare system factors affecting OTC drug and health food/supplement usage. Patients hospitalized at Gifu Municipal Hospital between October 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015 were given a survey. The items surveyed were age, gender, disease, alcohol intake/smoking status, insurance classification, and medical pharmaceuticals, OTC drugs, and health foods/supplements used immediately before hospitalization. We performed multiple logistic regression analysis using OTC drugs and health foods/supplements as dependent variables with patient attributes, medical insurance, etc. as independent variables. A total of 5,965 patients were analyzed. OTC users comprised 2.6 % (156 people) of the total. The use of OTC drugs was significantly higher for females and alcohol consumers than in other categories. In contrast, the use of OTC drugs was significantly lower for participants in public expense/medical subsidy programs. Health foods/supplements were used by 4.0 % of all subjects (240 people); their use was significantly higher among females and users of medical pharmaceuticals. On the other hand, the use of health foods/supplements was significantly lower for smokers, users of the latter-stage elderly healthcare system, and users of public expense/medical subsidy programs.

Dietary lipid-dependent regulation of de novo lipogenesis and lipid partitioning by ketogenic essential amino acids in mice.

BACKGROUND: We have previously reported that dietary ketogenic amino acids (KAAs) modulate hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) and prevent hepatic steatosis in mice. However, the dependence of the metabolic phenotypes generated by KAA on the type of dietary lipid source remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of KAA combined with different dietary lipid sources on hepatic DNL and tissue lipid partitioning in mice. DESIGN: We compared three different KAA-supplemented diets, in which a portion of the dietary protein was replaced by five major essential amino acids (Leu, Ile, Val, Lys and Thr) in high-fat diets based on palm oil (PO), high-oleic safflower oil (FO) or soy oil (SO). To compare the effects of these diets in C57B6 mice, the differential regulation of DNL and dietary lipid partitioning due to KAA was assessed using stable isotopic flux analysis. RESULTS: The different dietary oils showed strikingly different patterns of lipid partitioning and accumulation in tissues. High-PO diets increased both hepatic and adipose triglycerides (TG), whereas high-FO and high-SO diets increased hepatic and adipose TG, respectively. Stable isotopic flux analysis revealed high rates of hepatic DNL in high-PO and high-FO diets, whereas it was reduced in the high-SO diet. KAA supplementation in high-PO and high-FO diets reduced hepatic TG by reducing the DNL of palmitate and the accumulation of dietary oleate. However, KAA supplementation in the high-SO diet failed to reduce hepatic DNL and TG. Interestingly, KAA reduced SO-induced accumulation of hepatic linoleate and enhanced SO-induced accumulation of dietary oleate. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the reduction of hepatic TG by KAA is dependent on dietary lipid sources and occurs through the modulation of DNL and altered partitioning of dietary lipids. The current results provide further insight into the underlying mechanisms of hepatic lipid reduction by amino acids.

Autologous blood donation with recombinant human erythropoietin for abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery.

We evaluated the efficacy of autologous blood donation using recombinant human erythropoietin for elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery regarding postoperative recovery. Twenty-five AAA patients who completed surgery without receiving a homologous blood transfusion were divided into two groups, consisting of a control group (n = 12) who did not bank any autologous blood, and a donation group (n = 13) who did bank more than 800 ml of autologous blood with the use of erythropoietin. The hematocrit (Ht) level of the control group decreased from 41.1% +/- 1.2% before the operation to 36.2% +/- 0.9% just afterwards (P > 0.01). In the donation group, however, the Ht did not change significantly during either the donation period or the perioperative period. The postoperative period before oral food intake and natural defecation were both significantly shorter in the donation group than in the control group. The first day of mobilization was also earlier in the donation group. In conclusion, autologous blood donation using erythropoietin for AAA surgery is therefore considered to promote the early recovery of patients.

[New protocol for memory-related potential].

A new P300 testing protocol for evaluating memory function is proposed. Four stimuli (S1, S2, S3 and S4) are presented to the subject at 1.5 sec intervals and the subject is instructed to judge whether S4 was the same (80%) or not (20%) as S1, as well as whether S3 was the same (80%) or not (20%) as S2. The S2-S3 comparison acts as an attention shifting mechanism, and by inserting this comparison between S1 and S4, the subject must memorized S1 at the memory site in the brain until S4 is presented. This protocol was performed using both auditory and visual stimulations with 24 college students (age range: 19-28 years old) and a patient (23 years old) with bilateral medial temporal lobe lesions caused by limbic encephalitis. The P300 brain potentials after S3 and S4 were compared. The Wechsler memory scale-revised (WMS-R) test was also assessed in all subjects. The latency of P300 after S4 had a significantly (p < 0.01) longer than that after S3. The latency of P300 after S4 in the patient, who showed the severe auditory as well as the mild visual memory impairment, was longer than the mean + 2 SD in the normal subjects for auditory stimuli, but not for visual stimuli, whereas the latency of P300 after S3 in the patient was longer than the mean + 2 SD in the normal subjects only for visual stimuli. The brain potential after S4 might be more reflective of a degree of memory disorder as compared with that after S3. Furthermore, the latency of P300 after S4 showed a more significant correlation with some WMS-R scores (verbal memory, general memory and verbal delay) than the latency of P300 after S3. These results suggest that measuring the P300 latency after attention shifting in the new protocol is useful for the evaluation of memory functions.

Angiogenesis inhibitor, TNP-470, suppresses growth of peritoneal disseminating foci.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Angiogenesis is critical not only for growth of primary tumors but also for cells established at distant organs. We investigated the effects of angiogenesis inhibitor, TNP-470, on the establishment and growth of intraperitoneally inoculated human gastric cancer cell line, MKN-45, and survival of nude mice with this tumor. METHODOLOGY: Human gastric cancer cell line, MKN-45, were injected into the peritoneal cavity of an ICR nude mouse and a model of peritoneal dissemination was developed. TNP-470 was injected subcutaneously every other day from day 1 until sacrifice or death. The effects of TNP-470 on MKN-45 cells were also examined in vitro. RESULTS: Although the number of disseminated foci was not significantly different, the maximum size was significantly smaller in a TNP-treated group than those of a control. Survival time was significantly longer in a TNP-treated group. TNP-470 demonstrated no growth inhibition of MKN45 cells in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Those results suggested that anti-angiogenic agent, TNP-470, might be effective in treating peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer by inhibiting growth of the seeded tumor cells on the peritoneum.

Cochlear microphonics recordable at the non-shielded bedside using a new tubal transducer.

A new tubal transducer (NC-3) for measuring cochlear microphonics (CM) in extratympanic electrocochleography (ECochG) was developed by improving the common hearing aid earphone. Using a human forearm as a dummy ear, the artifact contamination generated from the NC-3 tubal transducer was tested and the possibility of measuring the CM at a non-shielded bedside was studied. An HN-5 electrode was fixed to a subject's forearm, and a sound stimulus of 90 dBnHL was delivered through the tube of the NC-3. When the earphone of the transducer was placed at a right-angle to the electrode on either a vertical or horizontal plane and the electrode was placed in direct contact with the tip of the tube, contamination from electromagnetic induction and CM-like mechanical vibration were prevented. Using the HN-5 electrode and NC-3, extratympanic ECochG-CM was recorded from normal-hearing subjects in both a shielded soundproof room and a non-shielded ordinary, quiet room. No differences were found between CMs measured in the two rooms. These results suggest that the NC-3 overcomes the shortcomings of a loudspeaker system and allows CM to be recorded accurately at non-shielded bedsides.

[Preliminary screening for antiviral AIDS drugs. VIII. Report for fiscal year 1995].

Preliminary screening of antiviral AIDS drugs has been carried out using three different in vitro assay systems. Among 96 samples of different origin tested, two were shown to inhibit the growth of HIV in vitro. One of the positive samples (plant origin) has hopeful signs, as the ranges of effective doses are wider than those of most of positive samples which had been found by us.

Experimental study on necrotizing sialometaplasia of the palate in rats. Role of local anesthetic injections.

The effect of local anesthetic injections in the palate of rats was studied by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry with antibody to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The results of this study suggest that local anesthetic injections could be one of the causes of necrotizing sialometaplasia.

[Preliminary screening for antiviral AIDS drugs. VI. Report for fiscal year 1993].

Preliminary screening of antiviral AIDS drugs has been carried out using three different in vitro assay systems. Among 138 samples tested, two were found to inhibit the growth of HIV in vitro. Neither of the positive samples has hopeful signs, as the ranges of effective doses of the samples are very narrow.

[Preliminary screening for antiviral AIDS drugs. VII. Report for fiscal year 1994].

Preliminary screening of antiviral AIDS drugs has been carried out using three different in vitro assay systems. Among 246 samples of different origin tested, six were shown to inhibit the growth of HIV in vitro. Two of the positive samples have hopeful signs, as the ranges of effective doses are wider than those of most of positive samples which had been found by us.

[Cochlear microphonic potential (CM) recordable at non-shielded bedside--with reference to the development of a new earphone (NC-3)].

By making several improvements in current hearing aid earphones, a new earphone (NC-3) for CM measurement in electrocochleography (ECochG) has been developed. A silicone tube with a 1.5mm inside diameter, 175mm in length, was attached to the acoustic hole side of the earphone. The earphone proper was shielded with aluminum foil and one end of the foil was connected to a low noise cable. Human forearm was used as a dummy ear and the electrode HN-5 was fixed thereon, and a sound stimulus of 90dBnHL was delivered by the earphone (NC-3). No measurable artifacts, such as electromagnetic conductions and the CM-like mechanical vibrations generated by the acoustic output system, were recorded. By placing the earphone (NC-3) from a right-angle to a diagonal direction toward the electrode circuit, electromagnetic conduction contamination was prevented. With an extratympanic procedure using the electrode HN-5, ECochG-CM was recorded from normal hearing subjects in both a shielded sound-proof room and a non-shielded ordinary but quiet room. Short tone bursts at 1 and 4kHz were employed as acoustic stimuli and delivered by the earphone (NC-3). In the non-shielded quiet room, no electromagnetic conduction contamination or mechanical vibration was observed and there were no differences in CM responses between the two rooms. These results suggest that this earphone (NC-3), making CM recordings possible at the ordinary bedside without shielding, may contribute significantly to the subsequent spread of ECochG-CM measurement, by compensating for the disadvantages of a loudspeaker.

[Effects of stimulus rate on the ABR of acoustic tumor patients].

The effect of stimulus rate on the ABR of acoustic tumor (AT) patients was studied. We delivered 90 dB nHL click stimuli to 23 AT patients at stimulus rates of 9.5 Hz, 20 Hz, 40 Hz and 90 Hz, and recorded the ABR at each rate. Normal hearing subjects (42 ears) and sensorineural hearing loss patients (30 ears) were also studied for normative data. The following two parameters were examined: the interpeak latency difference between wave I and wave V (IPL I-V) at each stimulus rate, and the increase in IPL I-V (delta IPL I-V) when the stimulus rate was increased from 9.5 Hz. The values of both parameters were statistically larger in AT patients at all stimulus rates than in the normal and sensorineural hearing loss groups. When the upper normal limit of both parameters was defined as the mean plus 2SD of the normal hearing group, 4 of the 5 AT patients with a normal ABR at 9.5 Hz, had abnormal IPL I-V or abnormal delta IPL I-V at 90 Hz. These results suggest that recording ABR at high stimulus rates is effective in detecting acoustic tumors in patients with a normal ABR.

Endotoxin stimulates interleukin-6 production in intestinal epithelial cells. A synergistic effect with prostaglandin E2.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that endotoxin stimulates the release of interleukin-6 (IL-6) from intestinal epithelial cells and that this effect of endotoxin is regulated by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). DESIGN: A rat intestinal crypt cell line, IEC-6, was cultured in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), 0.1 to 1.0 microgram/mL, and/or PGE2, 1 mumol/L. In other experiments, indomethacin, 20 mumol/L, was added to LPS-treated cells to block the effects of prostaglandins. Control wells contained medium alone. Levels of IL-6 were determined by the B9 murine hybridoma bioassay. Polymerase chain reaction was performed on RNA from control and LPS-treated cells to examine IL-6 message. RESULTS: Lipopolysaccharide and PGE2 induced IL-6 release from IEC-6 cells in a dose- and time-dependent fashion, and the substances interacted synergistically. Addition of indomethacin blunted the effect of endotoxin on IL-6 production, consistent with a stimulatory role of PGE2. Polymerase chain reaction demonstrated increased IL-6 messenger RNA in endotoxin-treated cells. CONCLUSIONS: Endotoxin and PGE2 stimulate IL-6 production in IEC-6 cells and interact synergistically. The endotoxin-stimulated IL-6 release may be regulated at the transcriptional level.

[Preliminary screening for antiviral AIDS drugs. IV. Report on fiscal year 1992].

Preliminary screening of antiviral AIDS drugs has been carried out using three different in vitro assay systems. Among 191 samples tested, seven were found to inhibit the growth of HIV in vitro. Four of seven have hopeful signs, as the ranges of effective doses of the samples are wide.