Coffee and caffeine intake reduces risk of ulcerative colitis: a case-control study in Japan.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Although diet is one of the potential environmental factors affecting ulcerative colitis (UC), evidence is not sufficient to draw definitive conclusions. This Japanese case-control study examined the association between the consumption of coffee, other caffeine-containing beverages and food, and total caffeine and the risk of UC. METHODS: The study involved 384 UC cases and 665 control subjects. Intake of coffee, decaffeinated coffee, black tea, green tea, oolong tea, carbonated soft drinks, and chocolate snacks was measured with a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Adjustments were made for sex, age, pack-years of smoking, alcohol consumption, history of appendicitis, family history of UC, education level, body mass index, and intake of vitamin C, retinol, and total energy. RESULTS: Higher consumption of coffee and carbonated soft drinks was associated with a reduced risk of UC with a significant dose-response relationship (P for trend for coffee and carbonated soft drinks were <0.0001 and 0.01, respectively), whereas higher consumption of chocolate snacks was significantly associated with an increased risk of UC. No association was observed between consumption of decaffeinated coffee, black tea, green tea, or oolong tea and the risk of UC. Total caffeine intake was inversely associated with the risk of UC; the adjusted odds ratio between extreme quartiles was 0.44 (95% confidence interval: 0.29-0.67; P for trend <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that intake of coffee and caffeine is also associated with a reduced risk of UC in Japan where people consume relatively low quantities of coffee compared with Western countries.

Maternal B vitamin intake during pregnancy and childhood behavioral problems in Japan: The Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study.

Objectives: The current prebirth cohort study investigated the relationship between maternal B vitamin intake during pregnancy and behavioral problems in Japanese children aged 5 years. Methods: Subjects were 1199 mother-child pairs. Dietary intake was assessed using a diet history questionnaire. Emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity problems, peer problems, and low prosocial behavior were examined using the Japanese parent-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Adjustment was made for maternal age, gestation at baseline, region of residence, number of children, maternal and paternal education, household income, maternal depressive symptoms, alcohol intake, vitamin B complex supplement use, smoking during pregnancy, child's birth weight, child's sex, breastfeeding duration, and smoking in the household during the first year of life. Results: Maternal folate intake during pregnancy was independently inversely associated with childhood low prosocial behavior: the adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI], P for trend) between extreme quartiles was 0.55 (0.37-0.80, 0.0002). Maternal vitamin B6 intake during pregnancy was independently inversely related to childhood hyperactivity problems and low prosocial behavior: the adjusted ORs (95% CIs, P for trend) between extreme quartiles were 0.57 (0.34-0.94, 0.01) and 0.58 (0.40-0.85, 0.0009), respectively. Maternal vitamin B2 intake during pregnancy was independently inversely associated with childhood emotional problems: the adjusted OR (95% CI, P for trend) between extreme quartiles was 0.58 (0.33-0.99, 0.11). Conclusions: Maternal intake of folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B2 during pregnancy may be protective against childhood low prosocial behavior, hyperactivity problems and low prosocial behavior, and emotional problems, respectively.

Maternal fat intake during pregnancy and behavioral problems in 5-y-old Japanese children.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this cohort study was to investigate the relationship between maternal fat consumption during pregnancy and behavioral problems in 1199 Japanese children at age 5 y. METHODS: Dietary intake of mothers during pregnancy was assessed using a diet history questionnaire. Emotional, conduct, hyperactivity, and peer problems in children were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; the four scale scores were dichotomized, comparing children with borderline and abnormal scores to children with normal scores. Logistic regression analysis was applied to estimate adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for each behavioral problem according to the quartile of dietary factors under study, adjusting for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: Higher maternal intake of monounsaturated fatty acids, α-linolenic acid, ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and linoleic acid during pregnancy was independently associated with an increased risk for childhood emotional problems. The adjusted odds ratios between extreme quartiles (95% confidence intervals, Ptrend) were 1.85 (1.11 - 3.17, 0.04), 1.60 (0.99 - 2.60, 0.03), 2.06 (1.24 - 3.46, 0.002), and 2.09 (1.26 - 3.51, 0.002), respectively. No such positive associations were observed for the other outcomes. No relationships were found between maternal intake of total fat, saturated fatty acids, ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, or cholesterol, or the ratio of ω-3 to ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake during pregnancy and any of the outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal consumption of monounsaturated fatty acids, α-linolenic acid, ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and linoleic acid during pregnancy may increase the risk for childhood emotional problems.

Higher vitamin D intake during pregnancy is associated with reduced risk of dental caries in young Japanese children.

PURPOSE: The intrauterine environment, including maternal nutrition status, may affect the development, formation, and mineralization of children's teeth. We assessed the relationship between self-reported maternal dietary vitamin D intake during pregnancy and the risk of dental caries among young Japanese children. METHODS: This study is based on a prospective analysis of 1210 Japanese mother-child pairs. Information on maternal intake during pregnancy was collected using a validated diet history questionnaire. Data on oral examination at 36-46 months of age were obtained from the mothers, who transcribed the information from their maternal and child health handbooks to our self-administered questionnaire. Children were classified as having dental caries if one or more primary teeth had decayed or had been filled. RESULTS: Compared with the lowest quartile of maternal vitamin D intake during pregnancy, adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for quartiles 2, 3, and 4 were 1.06 (0.72-1.56), 0.53 (0.34-0.81), and 0.67 (0.44-1.02), respectively (P for trend = .01). When maternal vitamin D intake was treated as a continuous variable, the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 0.94 (0.89-0.995). CONCLUSIONS: Higher maternal vitamin D intake during pregnancy may be associated with a lower risk of dental caries in children.

Maternal total caffeine intake, mainly from Japanese and Chinese tea, during pregnancy was associated with risk of preterm birth: the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study.

The relation of maternal caffeine intake with birth outcomes is still inconclusive and has not been examined in Japan, where the sources of caffeine intake are different from those in Western countries. We hypothesized that maternal consumption of total caffeine and culture-specific major sources of caffeine would be associated with birth outcomes among Japanese pregnant. The study subjects were 858 Japanese women who delivered singleton infants. Maternal diet during pregnancy was assessed using a validated, self-administered diet history questionnaire. Birth outcomes considered were low birth weight (LBW; <2500 g), preterm birth (PTB; <37 weeks of gestation), and small for gestational age (SGA; <10th percentile). The main caffeine sources were Japanese and Chinese tea (73.5%), coffee (14.3%), black tea (6.6%), and soft drinks (3.5%). After controlling for confounders, maternal total caffeine intake during pregnancy was significantly associated with an increased risk of PTB (odds ratio per 100 mg/d caffeine increase, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.58; P for trend = .03). However, no evident relationships were observed between total caffeine intake and risk of LBW or SGA. As for caffeine sources, higher Japanese and Chinese tea consumption was associated with an increased risk of PTB (odds ratio per 1 cup/d increase, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.30; P for trend = .04), but not LBW or SGA. There were no associations between consumption of the other beverages examined and birth outcomes. In conclusion, this prospective birth cohort in Japan suggests that higher maternal total caffeine intake, mainly in the form of Japanese and Chinese tea, during pregnancy is associated with a greater risk of PTB.

Anti-inflammatory effects of green soybean extract irradiated with visible light.

We conducted a preliminary investigation of the effects of visible light irradiation on plant extracts, and we observed a strong suppressive effect on interleukin (IL) 2 expression with the inhibition of c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation in Jurkat cells by visible light irradiation to ethanol extract from green soybeans (LIEGS). This effect was produced only by extracts from green soybeans (Glycine max) and not other-color soybeans. LIEGS suppressed the lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-6, IL-12 and TNF-α expression levels in human monocyte THP-1 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. LIEGS was applied for 8 weeks to NC/Nga mice. LIEGS suppressed the development of atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions and reduced the dermatitis scores of the mice. The light irradiation changed the various types of small-molecule compounds in extracts. Visible light irradiation to daidzein with chlorophyll b induced a novel oxidative product of daidzein. This product suppressed IL-2 expression in Jurkat cells.

Double-blind placebo-controlled trial of hydroxytyrosol of Olea europaea on pain in gonarthrosis.

Hydroxytyrosol is mainly found in olive leaves after hydrolysis of oleuropein and has anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hydroxytyrosol for alleviating the pain in patients with gonarthrosis. We conducted a double-blind clinical trial in which hydroxytyrosol or placebo was administered to adult patients with gonarthrosis for 4 weeks. The group administered hydroxytyrosol showed significant improvement in the Japanese Orthopedic Association score (pain measurement index) and the visual analog scale score compared to the placebo group.

Dietary meat and fat intake and prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis in pregnant Japanese women: baseline data from the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study.

BACKGROUND: Dietary fat exerts numerous complex effects on proinflammatory and immunologic pathways. Several epidemiological studies have examined the relationships between intake of fatty acids and/or foods high in fat and allergic rhinitis, but have provided conflicting findings. The current cross-sectional study investigated such relationships in Japan. METHODS: Study subjects were 1745 pregnant women. The definition of rhinoconjunctivitis was based on criteria from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Information on dietary factors was collected using a validated self-administered diet history questionnaire. Adjustment was made for age; gestation; region of residence; number of older siblings; number of children; smoking; secondhand smoke exposure at home and at work; family history of asthma, atopic eczema, and allergic rhinitis; household income; education; and body mass index. RESULTS: The prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis in the past 12 months was 25.9%. Higher meat intake was significantly associated with an increased prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis: the adjusted odds ratio between extreme quartiles was 1.71 (95% confidence interval: 1.25-2.35, P for trend = 0.002). No measurable association was found between fish intake and rhinoconjunctivitis. Intake of total fat, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, and cholesterol and the ratio of n-3 to n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake were not evidently related to the prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis. CONCLUSIONS: The current results suggest that meat intake may be positively associated with the prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis in young adult Japanese women.

Polyunsaturated fatty acid intake and prevalence of eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis in Japanese children: the Ryukyus Child Health Study.

BACKGROUND: The recent increase in the prevalence of allergic disorders might be a consequence of increased intake of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and reduced intake of n-3 PUFAs. The current cross-sectional study examined the association between intake levels and the prevalence of eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis in Japanese children. METHODS: Subjects were 23,388 schoolchildren aged 6-15 years residing in Okinawa. The presence of eczema and/or rhinoconjunctivitis was determined according to the criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. A brief diet history questionnaire for children and adolescents was administered to acquire information on dietary factors. Adjustment was made for age, sex, residential municipality, number of siblings, smoking in the household, body mass index, paternal and maternal history of allergic diseases, and paternal and maternal educational level. RESULTS: The prevalences of eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis in the previous 12 months were 7.0% and 8.0%, respectively. Consumption of PUFAs, n-3 PUFAs, α-linolenic acid, n-6 PUFAs, and linoleic acid was positively associated with the prevalence of eczema: the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) between extreme quintiles (95% confidence intervals [CIs], P for trend) were 1.26 (1.07-1.48, 0.04), 1.31 (1.11-1.54, 0.009), 1.31 (1.12-1.55, 0.003), 1.26 (1.07-1.48, 0.01), and 1.27 (1.08-1.49, 0.01), respectively. Arachidonic acid intake was independently inversely related to eczema: the adjusted OR between extreme quintiles was 0.81 (0.69-0.95, 0.0008). Eczema was not associated with eicosapentaenoic or docosahexaenoic acid intake, or with the ratio of n-3 to n-6 PUFA intake. Only arachidonic acid intake was statistically significantly related to the prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis, showing a clear inverse linear trend: the adjusted OR between extreme quintiles was 0.86 (0.74-0.997, 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs, especially α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid, may be positively associated with eczema. Arachidonic acid intake may be inversely related to eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis.

Intake of Japanese and Chinese teas reduces risk of Parkinson's disease.

Studies that have addressed the association between the intake of coffee or caffeine and Parkinson's disease (PD) were conducted mainly in Western countries. Little is known about this relationship in an Asian population. Therefore, we performed an assessment of the association of the intake of coffee, other caffeine-containing beverages, and caffeine with the risk of PD in Japan. The study involved 249 PD cases and 368 control subjects. Information on dietary factors was obtained through a self-administered diet history questionnaire. Adjustment was made for sex, age, region of residence, educational level, pack-years of smoking, body mass index, the dietary glycemic index, and intake of cholesterol, vitamin E, ß-carotene, vitamin B(6,) alcohol, and iron. Intake of coffee, black tea, and Japanese and Chinese teas was significantly inversely associated with the risk of PD: the adjusted odds ratios in comparison of the highest with the lowest quartile were 0.52, 0.58, and 0.59, respectively (95% confidence intervals = 0.30-0.90, 0.35-0.97, and 0.35-0.995, respectively). A clear inverse dose-response relationship between total caffeine intake and PD risk was observed. We confirmed that the intake of coffee and caffeine reduced the risk of PD. Furthermore, this is the first study to show a significant inverse relationship between the intake of Japanese and Chinese teas and the risk of PD.

Dietary fat intake and risk of Parkinson's disease: a case-control study in Japan.

The present case-control study examined the relationship between dietary intake of individual fatty acids and the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) in Japan. Included were 249 cases within 6 years of onset of PD. Controls were 368 inpatients and outpatients without a neurodegenerative disease. Information on dietary factors was collected using a validated self-administered diet history questionnaire. Compared with arachidonic acid intake in the first quartile, consumption of that in the fourth quartile was significantly related to an increased risk of PD: the adjusted odds ratio between extreme quartiles was 2.09 (95% confidence interval: 1.21-3.64, P for trend=0.008). Cholesterol intake was also significantly positively associated with the risk of PD: the adjusted odds ratio between extreme quartiles was 1.78 (95% confidence interval: 1.04-3.05, P for trend=0.01). Consumption of total fat, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and linoleic acid and the ratio of n-3 to n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake were not associated with PD. Higher consumption of arachidonic acid and cholesterol may be related to an increased risk of PD.

Endocrinological evaluations of brief hand massages in palliative care.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Some patients with advanced cancer make use of complementary therapies for the reduction of anxiety and stress. These patients can suffer distressing end-of-life symptoms, which conventional treatments might not relieve satisfactorily. Although previous studies have suggested that complementary therapies could be useful for reducing distress in patients with cancer, it has remained unclear whether these benefits are applicable at the end-of-life stage. The current study examined to validate salivary chromogranin A (CgA) as a biomarker for relieving stress by hand massage in terminally ill patients. METHODS: The study group comprised 34 inpatients in palliative care units. Each of these patients received a 5-minute massage to the upper extremity. Before and after the massage, saliva samples were collected in order to measure the CgA levels. RESULTS: The brief hand massage appears to reduce levels of stress according to the salivary CgA (p < 0.05). In addition, we found statistically significant changes in patient satisfaction with hand massage. CONCLUSIONS: Salivary CgA could potentially be used as a biomarker to measure relieving stress by hand massage in a palliative-care setting.

Attitudes toward and current practice of complementary and alternative medicine in Japanese palliative care units.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) might enhance the quality of life of patients with cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the current practice of CAM in Japanese palliative care units. A 17-item questionnaire was mailed to all 150 certified palliative care units in Japan, 80% of which responded. In total, 75 institutions (64%) provided at least one modality of CAM. Only 33% of the palliative care units surveyed had any regulations about patient usage of CAM, and 42% rejected some types of CAM because they caused difficulties for other patients (34%), required medical procedures (26%), used fire (5%), or required outside practitioners (4%). In total, 92% of surveyed palliative care units had no regulation and actually provided CAM. The obstacles to the use of CAM included the availability of certified practitioners, costs, added responsibilities for staff members, and insufficient evidence of efficacy. We concluded that Japanese palliative care units generally had a positive attitude toward CAM, and were willing to provide this type of therapy to patients.

A patient with anti-aquaporin 4 antibody who presented with recurrent hypersomnia, reduced orexin (hypocretin) level, and symmetrical hypothalamic lesions.

Recent studies have demonstrated that hypothalamic lesions associated with brain tumor, head trauma, and encephalopathy can cause symptomatic hypersomnia with a reduced orexin (hypocretin) level in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Aquaporin 4 (AQP4), a member of the AQP superfamily, is strongly expressed in the hypothalamus in which orexin (hypocretin)-containing neurons are primarily concentrated. We report the case of a patient with a serum anti-AQP4 antibody who presented with recurrent hypersomnia, symmetrical hypothalamic lesions with long spinal cord lesions on MRI, and a reduced CSF orexin (hypocretin) level, all of which were improved simultaneously by steroid therapy. Further studies should be performed to determine the roles of anti-AQP4 antibody positivity in patients with hypersomnia associated with orexin (hypocretin) deficiency and hypothalamic lesions.

Relationship between dietary fat and fish intake and the prevalence of atopic eczema in pregnant Japanese females: baseline data from the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study.

Dietary factors may be important in the development of atopic eczema. It remains controversial whether n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake is preventive against allergic disorders and whether n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake increases the risk of allergic disorders. The current cross-sectional study examined the association between intake of fatty acids and foods high in fatty acids and the prevalence of atopic eczema. Study subjects were 1002 pregnant Japanese females. Current atopic eczema and atopic eczema after age 18 were defined as present if subjects had been treated with medications at some time in the previous 12 months and after reaching the age of 18, respectively. Information on dietary factors was collected using a validated self-administered diet history questionnaire. Docosahexaenoic acid intake was statistically significantly related to a decreased prevalence of atopic eczema after age 18 and current atopic eczema. Inverse dose-response relationships with regard to consumption of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid, and fish and the ratio of n-3 to n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids with atopic eczema were not observed although these dietary variables in the second tertile were inversely significantly associated with atopic eczema after age 18. Intake of total fat, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, cholesterol, meat, eggs, or dairy products was not related to either of the outcomes for atopic eczema. Docosahexaenoic acid intake may be associated with a reduced prevalence of atopic eczema in pregnant Japanese females.

Beverage consumption and the prevalence of tooth loss in pregnant Japanese women: the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study.

Recently, there has been growing interest in the impact of beverage consumption on dental health because changes have occurred in the types and quantities of beverage consumed. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between consumption frequencies of various beverages and the prevalence of tooth loss among young adult women. Study subjects were 1002 pregnant Japanese women. Tooth loss was defined as previous extraction of one or more teeth. Dietary habits were evaluated by a validated dietary history questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals of tooth loss. Adjustment was made for age, gestation, parity, cigarette smoking, passive smoking at home and at work, family income, education, changes in diet in the previous one month, season when data were collected and body mass index. Of the 1002 subjects, 256 women had lost one or more teeth. Coffee consumption was independently associated with an increased prevalence of tooth loss. When subjects were divided according to consumption of coffee with or without sugar, an increased prevalence of tooth loss was found only in subjects who consumed coffee without addition of sugar. Compared with the lowest consumption of green tea, the intermediate but not the highest consumption of green tea was associated with an increased prevalence of tooth loss. There was no measurable association of intake of milk, black tea, cola, or 100% fruit juice with the prevalence of tooth loss. The findings suggest that coffee consumption might be associated with an increased prevalence of tooth loss among young adult women.

Fish and fat intake and prevalence of allergic rhinitis in Japanese females: the Osaka Maternal and Child Health Study.

OBJECTIVE: It remains uncertain whether intake of fish or n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids is preventive against allergic disorders. This cross-sectional study investigated the association of intake of selected high-fat foods and specific types of fatty acids with the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in Japan where intake of fish is high. METHODS: Study subjects were 1002 Japanese pregnant females. Allergic rhinitis (including cedar pollinosis) was defined as present if subjects had received drug treatment at some point during the previous 12 months. Information on dietary factors was collected using a validated self-administered diet history questionnaire. Adjustment was made for age, gestation, parity, cigarette smoking, passive smoking at home and at work, indoor domestic pets, family history of asthma, atopic eczema, and allergic rhinitis, family income, education, mite antigen level in house dust, changes in diet in the previous month, season when data were collected, and body mass index. RESULTS: There was a tendency for an inverse dose-response association between fish intake and allergic rhinitis although the adjusted odds ratio for comparison of the highest with the lowest quartile was not statistically significant (p for trend = 0.09). Intake of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids was independently associated with a decreased prevalence of allergic rhinitis: the multivariate odds ratio for the highest quartile was 0.56 (95% confidence interval: 0.32-0.96, p for trend = 0.03). Intake of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the third quartile but not the second and fourth quartiles showed a tendency for an inverse association with the prevalence of allergic rhinitis. No measurable relationship was found between consumption of meat, eggs, dairy products, total fat, saturated, monounsaturated, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and cholesterol or the ratio of n-3 to n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and allergic rhinitis. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the intake of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids may be associated with a reduced prevalence of allergic rhinitis.

Antioxidants suppress plasma levels of lectinlike oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-ligands and reduce atherosclerosis in watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits.

Oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated the effects of antioxidants including probucol, vitamin E, and fluvastatin, an HMG-CoA (hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A) reductase inhibitor with antioxidative property, on plasma levels of oxidized LDL (OxLDL) during the progression of atherosclerosis in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits. OxLDL were measured as ligand for lectin-like OxLDL receptor-1 (LOX-1). LOX-1-ligand was higher in WHHL rabbits than in control rabbits as early as 2 months of age and was sustained throughout the experimental period. Supplementation of probucol (1%) and vitamin E (0.5%) to the diet reduced LOX-1-ligand but had little effect on total cholesterol (T-CHO). Fluvastatin (0.03%) significantly reduced both LOX-1-ligand and T-CHO. The extent of reduction in T-CHO was less prominent than in the case of LOX-1-ligand. All of the agents reduced the atherosclerotic lesion area and lipid contents of aortic arches. These parallel results indicate that oxidatively modified LDL elevated in the early stages of atherogenesis is of functional importance in the progression of the disease and can be suppressed by antioxidant treatment. Furthermore, fluvastatin may reduce the evolution of atherosclerosis, not only by lowering plasma cholesterol but also by reducing oxidative modification of LDL.

ZEC, a zinc finger protein with novel binding specificity and transcription regulatory activity.

A novel 114-kDa zinc finger protein, ZEC, has been found by cDNA cloning and characterized. ZEC was strongly expressed in the testis, liver and kidney, and also in embryonic stem cells. Epitope-tagged experiments indicated nuclear localization of ZEC. ZEC contained 18 C2H2 zinc fingers which were organized in two clusters. A ZEC binding DNA sequence, C/GA/TA/TGGTTGGTTGC, which we have designated the GT box, was identified by random oligonucleotide binding selection assay. The GT box did not contain binding sites for other previously characterized transcription factors and thus represented a potentially novel DNA target sequence. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that both clusters of zinc fingers bound to the same DNA sequence. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that the core sequence TTGGTT within the GT box was essential to ZEC binding, while DNA sequences outside of the core sequence enhanced this interaction. Furthermore, co-transfection assays demonstrated that ZEC could activate a reporter luciferase gene driven by this DNA sequence.

Retrospective study of preventive effect of maize on mortality from Parkinson's disease in Japan.

The findings of a negative association between past maize (Zea mays) production and current Parkinson's disease mortality by each prefecture in Japan tends to support the hypothesis that the nutritional condition that causes niacin deficiency might protect people from Parkinson's disease. Specifically, the negative association between both the area planted for dried corn in 1960, 1970 or 1977 and the area planted for sweet corn in 1960 and age-adjusted death rates for Parkinson's disease is ecological evidence supporting the hypothesis. Extending the analysis to other cultivated crops, even stronger negative associations of age-adjusted death rates for Parkinson's disease and cultivation of rice and soybeans were found, but associations were not significant for a large variety of vegetables. The findings for soybean and rice are attributed to the correspondence (co-linearity) of cultivation of these other two seed-crops with maize. Hence, further testing of the theory of niacin deprivation and prevention of Parkinson's disease finds some circumstantial support in the cultivation patterns of a grain of poor niacin and tryptophan availability.