First report of serotype 23B Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from an adult patient with invasive infection in Japan.

Serotype 23B Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from a 67-year-old Japanese patient with meningitis. This isolate was susceptible to penicillin G, while genotyped as gPISP with a mutation in a penicillin-binding motif in PBP2b. The 23B isolate was assigned to ST11996 that is related to CC439, a dominant group among serotype 23B.

A 2-year follow-up study on muscle size and dynamic strength in teenage tennis players.

Growth trends in the cross-sectional area of the quadriceps femoris (CSA(QF)) and its dynamic strength in 12 teenage tennis players (six boys and six girls), aged from 10.7 to 13.2 years at the onset of the study, were investigated through a 2-year follow-up survey. CSA(QF) values at the three levels (proximal, mid, and distal to the knee joint) and dynamic torques during knee extensions at three pre-set velocities (1.05, 3.14, and 5.24 rad/s) were determined year by year, i.e., three times (T1, T2, and T3), using magnetic resonance imaging and an isokinetic dynamometer, respectively. In both genders, the CSA(QF) values at the three levels tended to increase across the measurement times, with greater gains in the boys than in the girls at the levels mid and distal to the knee joint. Among these changes, only the CSA(QF) at the level proximal to the knee joint significantly increased regardless of changes in both skeletal age and body height. The ratios of torque to the sum of CSA(QF) at the three levels (T/CSA) at 3.14 and 5.24 rad/s for the boys and at 5.24 rad/s for the girls were significantly higher in T2 and T3 than T1. Further, the relative increases in torque and T/CSA values at 3.14 and 5.24 rad/s were greater in the boys than the girls. The findings presented here indicate that young tennis players who are in the earlier stage of adolescence increase the CSA of the QF muscle beyond normally expected growth change at the level proximal to the knee joint and show a predominant development in torque generation capability during high-velocity knee extensions, with a greater gain in boys compared with girls.

Relationship between muscle strength in various isokinetic movements and kick performance among soccer players.

AIM: The present study was carried out to examine relationships between muscular strength and ball velocity with respect to 3 different approach angles and focussing on both the kicking leg and the supporting leg among soccer players of different skill levels. METHODS: Fourteen university soccer players were divided into 2 groups (superior group, average group), and kicked the ball with maximal effort towards a target 15 m away. The angles of approach to the stationary ball varied in 3 directions (free, 1.57, 2.36 rad to the kick direction). Mean ball velocity and the success rate of striking the target with the ball were measured. Maximal isokinetic and concentric muscular strength was measured in terms of motions of the knee Ext/Flex, hip Ext/Flex and hip Abd/Add using an isokinetic dynamometer. RESULTS: The mean ball velocity at free and 1.57 rad approach angles related significantly with hip Add but not with knee Ext strength for the kicking leg. In contrast, the ball velocity at an approach angle of 2.36 rad significantly correlated with knee Ext and hip Flex of the kicking leg. Although ball velocity at the free and the 1.57 rad approach angles showed no relation to strength of the supporting leg, the ball velocity at the 2.36 rad approach angle showed a significant relationship with knee Flex, hip Ext and hip Abd strength of the supporting leg. Furthermore, the superior group had more strength variables related to performance than the average group. CONCLUSIONS: Different approach angles would alter the requirement on muscle strength potential of both kicking and supporting leg during kicking. Especially an angled approach to the kick direction could require greater hip extension and abduction strength on the supporting leg for a higher capability for stabilizing body balance. Besides, skill level may alter the importance of muscle strength requirement to kick performance.

Natural occurrence of myofiber cytoplasmic enlargement accompanied by decrease in myonuclear number.

It has been shown that changes in the nuclear number in myofibers are synchronized with myofiber size. Therefore, under some conditions, the myonuclear number is thought to be a determinant factor of myofiber size. However, we have clearly shown that denervation-induced fiber atrophy occurs without any decrease in myonuclear number, indicating that the myonuclear number is not always an important determinant factor of myofiber size. However, this was an event found under experimental conditions. In the present study, we examined the morphological features of single myofibers under normal conditions throughout the lifespan of normal mice. We discovered that the C/N ratio (cell volume/nucleus) greatly increases during the growth period and clearly decreases during the aging period. From 5 weeks to 6 months old, the myofibers undergo fiber hypertrophy accompanied by a decrease in myonuclear number. In muscle at 18 months, we found no correlation between myonuclear number and fiber cross-sectional area. These results suggest that, even under normal physiological conditions, the myonuclear number is not always a determinant factor of the myofiber size.

No decrease in myonuclear number after long-term denervation in mature mice.

Age-related but not artificially induced muscle fiber atrophy has been shown to occur without any decrease in myonuclear number, although these results remain controversial. The present study was carried out to clarify whether age difference affects the degree of decrease in myonuclear number occurring with denervation-induced fiber atrophy. After denervation of 3-wk-old (young) and 4-mo-old (mature) mice, single myofibers were isolated from the plantaris muscles by alkali maceration, and their fiber cross-sectional area (CSA), myonuclear number, and cytoplasm-to-myonucleus (C/N) ratios were analyzed. Fiber CSA in both young and mature mice decreased with denervation. Myonuclear number decreased in young mice 5 and 10 days after denervation but was unchanged in mature mice 10 and 120 days after denervation. C/N ratio decreased in mature mice but was unchanged in denervated young mice. These results suggest that age differences affect the degree of decrease of myonuclear number with denervation and that fiber cytoplasmic atrophy may occur without decrease in myonuclear number.

Dietary obesity-resistance and muscle oxidative enzyme activities of the fast-twitch fibre dominant rat.

OBJECTIVES: To clarify whether the muscle fibre composition and/or muscle oxidative enzyme activity are related to dietary body weight gain and abdominal fat accumulation. METHODS: Genetically fast-twitch fibre dominant rats (FFDR) and control rats (CR) were divided into low-fat (20% of energy from fat) or high-fat (60% of energy from fat) diet groups: CR with a low-fat diet (CL); CR with a high-fat diet (CH); FFDR with a low-fat diet (FL); and FFDR with a high-fat diet (FH). After 6 weeks of following such diets, the body weight gain, abdominal fat content, food intake, muscle fibre composition and oxidative enzyme activities were estimated. RESULTS: The total body weight gain in CH was from 18 to 62% higher than in the other groups (P<0.05) and percentage abdominal fat in CH was also from 26 to 61% higher than in the other groups (P<0.05), while the energy intake did not differ among the groups. The percentage of type IIX fibres of M. gastrocnemius in FL (33.4%) and FH (36.3%) were higher than in CL (16.8%) and CH (19.8%; P<0.05), and the type IIA fibres of M. soleus in FL (14.1%) and FH (11.8%) were higher than in CL (2.0%) and CH (3.5%; P<0.05). The citrate synthase (CS) activity of of M. plantaris in FL and FH were higher than CL (46 and 54%, respectively, P<0.05). beta-Hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase (HAD) activity in FL and FH were higher than in CL (21 and 31%, respectively, P<0.05) and that in FH was higher than CH (23%, P<0.05). On the other hand, the enzyme activities of M. gastrocnemius and soleus were identical among the groups. CONCLUSION: The FFDR was more obesity-resistant than the CR after a high-fat diet. These results suggest that the muscle oxidative capacity rather than muscle fibre composition is a possible determinant of obesity.

Relationship between mitochondrial DNA polymorphism and the individual differences in aerobic performance.

This study focused on the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) as the genetic factor most likely to bring about the individual difference in endurance capacity or its trainability. Platelets contain mtDNA but no nuclear DNA, whereas rho(0)-HeLa cells have nuclear DNA but no mtDNA. The oxidative capacity of mitochondria in the cultured cells, which were fused rho(0)-HeLa cell with platelets obtained from individual subjects (the so-called "cybrids"), reflects the individual mtDNA polymorphism in the gene-coding region. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the oxidative capacity of cybrids and the individual difference in endurance capacity, or its trainability. Forty-one sedentary young males took part in an 8-week endurance training program. They were determined by using their VO(2 max) as an index of endurance capacity on an ergocycle before and after the endurance training program. The relations between VO(2 max) before endurance training or the change of it by endurance training and the oxidative capacity of cybrids were investigated. There was no relation between them, and two groups were drawn from all subjects, based on one standard division of their initial VO(2 max): the higher pre-VO(2 max) group (n = 6) and the lower pre-VO(2 max) group (n = 5) (51.8 +/- 3.5 ml/min/kg vs. 33.3 +/- 3.8 ml/min/kg, p < 0.01). No significant difference was found between the O(2) consumption of the cybrids in the higher initial VO(2 max) group and that in the lower initial VO(2 max) group (16.3 +/- 4.9 vs. 15.9 +/- 2.0 nmol O(2)/min/10(7) cells, NS). Furthermore, neither the cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity nor the complex I + III activity of cybrids showed a significant difference between the two groups. The oxidative capacity of cybrids between the high trainability group (n = 6) (Delta VO(2 max) 12.1 +/- 1.6 ml/min/kg) and the low trainability group (n = 9) (Delta VO(2 max) 2.3 +/- 0.5 ml/min/kg) was also similar. Thus the mtDNA polymorphism is very unlikely to relate to the individual difference in endurance capacity or its trainability in young sedentary healthy subjects.

Endurance training under 2500-m hypoxia does not increase myoglobin content in human skeletal muscle.

The present study was carried out to determine whether myoglobin (Mb) concentration ([Mb]) in human skeletal muscle is influenced by 8 weeks of endurance training under normal conditions, and under hypoxic conditions equivalent to an altitude of 2500 m. Fourteen healthy but sedentary male adults who did not participate in any regular exercise program took part in this study. They were divided into two groups according to the training regime to which they were submitted: the N group, who exercised under normobaric conditions, and the H group, who exercised under hypobaric conditions. All subjects performed an incremental cycling exercise at sea level to evaluate their maximal O2 uptake (VO2max) before and after the 8-week endurance training course period. Muscle tissue samples were obtained by needle biopsy from the vastus lateralis muscle for histochemical and biochemical analysis. Training induced an increase in VO2max in both the N and H groups (P < 0.05), although there was no significant difference in these changes between groups. The 8-week training had no effect on [Mb] in either group. Muscle fiber composition was also unaffected by the training course. In contrast, citrate synthase activity in both groups increased by [mean (SD)] 28.2 (33.3)% (N: P < 0.01) and 32.0 (18.2)% (H: P < 0.05) after training, and the number of capillaries (capillary:fiber ratio) increased by 47.7 (33.8)% (N: P < 0.01) and 32.3 (20.6)% (H: P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in these parameters between the N and H groups. These results suggest that significant improvement of aerobic potential as a result of endurance training are not accompanied by increases in [Mb] in human skeletal muscle. In addition, a lower absolute workload may not be sufficient to stimulate Mb synthesis in humans, even where endurance training is carried out under hypoxia.

Muscle function in 164 men and women aged 20--84 yr.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of aging in men and women on muscle functional properties, i.e., muscle force and force per unit of cross-sectional area (force/CSA). METHODS: A total of 164 volunteers participated in this study and were divided into five groups according to their chronological age as follows: 20s (20--39 yr old), 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s (70--84 yr old). Isokinetic (0, 60, 180, and 300 degrees.s(-1)) knee extensor and flexor peak torque, and CSA of the quadriceps femoris (QF) muscle of the mid-thigh were measured. RESULTS: Peak torque during knee extension and flexion was inversely related to age in both men and women. This was the case irrespective of the speed of contraction in both genders (men: r = -0.797 to -0.756, all P < 0.001, women: r = -0.639 to -0.530, all P < 0.001). A significant correlation was observed between CSA of QF and peak torque during isometric knee extension in men (r = 0.827, P < 0.001) and women (r = 0.657, P < 0.001). During isometric contraction, the force/CSA exhibited a significant decrease with increasing age in men (r = -0.518, P < 0.001) but not in women (r = -0.207, NS). CONCLUSION: These results thus suggest that muscle strength losses would be mainly due to a decline in muscle mass in both genders, whereas age-related decline in muscle function in men may also be the result of neural factors, such as muscle recruitment and/or specific tension.

Extraction of sodium and potassium picrates with 15-(2,5-dioxahexyl)-15-methyl-16-crown-5 (lariat 16C5) into various organic solvents. Elucidation of fundamental equilibria which determine the extraction ability for Na(+) and K(+) and the selectivity.

To quantitatively elucidate the effects of the side chains and diluents on the extraction selectivity for sodium and potassium picrates of 15-(2,5-dioxahexyl)-15-methyl-16-crown-5 (L16C5) from the viewpoint of equilibrium, the constants for the overall extraction (K(ex)), the partition for various diluents of low dielectric constants (K(D,MLA)), and the aqueous ion-pair formation (K(MLA)) of L16C5-sodium and -potassium picrate 1:1:1 complexes were determined at 25 degrees C; the distribution constants of L16C5 were also measured at 25 degrees C. The log K(MLA) values for Na(+) and K(+) are 2.74+/-0.29 and 1.70+/-0.36, respectively. In going from 16-crown-5 (16C5) to L16C5, the side chains decrease the K(MLA) value, but do not increase the difference in K(MLA) between Na(+) and K(+). The distribution behavior of L16C5 and its 1:1:1 complexes with the alkali metal picrates closely obeys regular solution theory, except for chloroform. Molar volumes and solubility parameters of L16C5 and the 1:1:1 complexes were determined. The magnitude of K(ex) is mainly governed by the K(M(L16C5)A) value. For every diluent, L16C5 shows Na(+) extraction selectivity over K(+). The Na(+) extraction selectivity of L16C5 is determined completely by K(M(L16C5)A). The extraction ability and selectivity for sodium and potassium picrates by L16C5 are compared with those of 16C5 on the basis of the fundamental equilibrium constants.

New cycloartane triterpenoids from Passiflora edulis.

Three cycloartane triterpenes, cyclopassifloic acids E (1), F (2), and G (3), and their saponins, cyclopassiflosides VII (4), VIII (5), IX (6), X (7), and XI (8), were isolated from the leaf and stem parts of Passiflora edulis. The structures of 1-8 were elucidated on the basis of extensive NMR experiments and by chemical methods.

Four cycloartane triterpenoids and six related saponins from Passiflora edulis.

Four cycloartane triterpenes, cyclopassifloic acids A (1), B (2), C (3), and D (4), and six related saponins, cyclopassiflosides I (5), II (6), III (7), IV (8), V (9), and VI (10), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Passiflora edulis, and their structures were elucidated on the base of extensive NMR experiments and chemical methods. Cyclopassifloic acids A-D were assigned as 22(R), 24(S)-1alpha,3beta,22,24,31-pentahydroxy-24-methylcycloartan -28-oic acid; 24(S)-1alpha,3beta,24, 31-tetrahydroxy-24-methylcycloartan-28-oic acid; 20(S),24(S)-1alpha, 3beta,21,24,31-pentahydroxy-24-methylcycloartan-28-oic acid; and 22(R)-1alpha,3beta,22-trihydroxy-24-oxocycloartan-28-oic acid, respectively. Cyclopassiflosides I-VI, in turn, were established as the 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosides of cyclopassifloic acids A-D. Finally, cyclopassiflosides III and V were demonstrated as the 28, 31-bis-O-beta-D-glucopyranosides of cyclopassifloic acids B and C, respectively. Also obtained in this investigation were the known compounds passiflorin (11) and passifloric acid (12).

Non-weight-bearing condition arrests the morphological and metabolic changes of rat soleus motoneurons during postnatal growth.

Effects of non-weight-bearing (NWB) on morphological and metabolic properties of motoneurons innervating the soleus muscle, a postural muscle, were studied in young growing rats. The soma size and the activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), a mitochondrial enzyme, were examined after hindlimb suspension. The hindlimb suspension began at 21 day of age and lasted for 3 week. The results were compared with 21- and 42-day-old controls. The soleus motoneurons were identified by using a fluorescent retrograde tracer, nuclear yellow. The histochemical SDH activity of soleus motoneurons was not modified during the postnatal growth and after the NWB condition. However, postnatal increases in the soma size and the total SDH activity (SDH activityxsoma size) were arrested by the NWB condition. The results indicate that the weight support activity imposed on soleus motor units would be important to postnatal increases in the soma size and the total SDH activity (i.e. mitochondria) of soleus motoneurons.

Changes in capillary luminal diameter in rat soleus muscle after hind-limb suspension.

This study examined the time course change of the capillary luminal diameter and the number of capillaries in the rat soleus muscle during hind-limb suspension. Male Wistar rats were divided into 1 and 3 weeks of hind-limb suspension (HS) groups (HS-1 and HS-3). The HS groups were compared with age-matched control groups. All morphometric parameters with respect to capillary and muscle fibre cross-sectional area were determined in perfusion-fixed soleus muscles. After 1 and 3 weeks of hind-limb suspension, the mean muscle fibre cross-sectional area was significantly decreased in HS-1 (-32.0%) and HS-3 (-59.3%) compared with age-matched control groups. Despite a lower capillary-to-fibre ratio (HS-1, -19.3%; HS-3, -21.2%), the capillary density was unchanged in HS-1 and significantly increased in HS-3 compared with age-matched control groups. The mean capillary luminal diameter was significantly smaller in HS-1 (-19.9%) and HS-3 (-21.9%) than in the age-matched control groups. The capillary-to-fibre perimeter ratio which indicates the capillary surface area available for gas exchange between blood and tissue did not significantly differ between control groups and HS groups. In conclusion, the morphometrical adaptations in rat soleus with the suspension involved changes in both the capillary luminal diameter and number of capillaries, and the change in capillary surface area was proportional to the degree of muscle atrophy in HS groups.

SDH activity and cell size of tibialis anterior motoneurons and muscle fibers in SAMP6.

Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activities and cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of tibialis anterior motoneurons and muscle fibers were determined in 20-, 40-, and 60-week-old male senescence-accelerated mice (SAMP6), and compared with those in age-matched accelerated-senescence resistant mice (SAMR1). The mean CSA of motoneurons in SAMP6 decreased at 60 weeks, primarily due to a selective loss of large (>400 microm2) motoneurons. The mean SDH activity of motoneurons with CSAs between 100 and 400 microm2 decreased in SAMP6, but not SAMR1, at 60 weeks. The mean muscle fiber SDH activities and CSAs in SAMP6 decreased at 60 weeks. There were no differences in the mean SDH activity or CSA of motoneurons or muscle fibers among 20-, 40-, and 60-week-old SAMR1. These results demonstrate that mice which have been shown to have a variety of accelerated-senescent features also have an earlier onset of age-related changes in motoneurons and the muscle fibers that they innervate when compared with age-matched accelerated-senescence resistant mice.

The use of magnetic resonance images to investigate the influence of recruitment on the relationship between torque and cross-sectional area in human muscle.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of recruitment on the relationship between peak torque and physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA) in human muscle. A group of 11 healthy men participated in this study. Isokinetic knee extension torques at seven (0, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 degrees x s(-1)) velocities were determined. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to calculate PCSA of right quadriceps femoris (QF) muscle. Exercise-induced contrast shifts in spin-spin relaxation time (T2)-weighted MRI were taken at rest and immediately after repetitive knee-extension exercise and T2 of QF were calculated. The MRI pixels with T2 values more than 1 SD greater than the means at rest were considered to represent QF muscle that had contracted. The area of activated PCSA within the total in QF was expressed as percentage activated PCSA and used as an index of muscle recruitment. The PCSA correlated with peak torque at 0 degree x s(-1) (r = 0.615, P<0.05); in contrast, activated PCSA correlated with peak torque at 120 degrees x s(-1) (r = 0.603, P<0.05) and 180 degrees x s(-1) (r = 0.606, P<0.05). Additionally, there was a significant difference in correlation coefficients between the activated PCSA-peak torque relationship and the PCSA-torque relationship (P<0.05). These results suggested that muscle recruitment affects the PCSA-torque relationship.

Equilibrium studies on complexation in water and solvent extraction of zinc(II) and cadmium(II) with benzo-18-crown-6.

The formation constants (K(ML)) in water of 1:1 complexes of benzo-18-crown-6 (B18C6) and 18-crown-6 (18C6) with Zn(2+) and Cd(2+), the sizes of which are much smaller than the ligand cavities, were determined at 25 degrees C by conductometry. Compared with Cd(2+), the crown ethers form more stable complexes with Zn(2+) although the size of Zn(2+) is less suited for the cavities. B18C6 forms a more stable complex with each metal ion than 18C6. Moreover, the extraction equilibria of these metal ions (M(2+)) with B18C6 (L) for the benzene/water system in the presence of picric acid (HA) were investigated at 25 degrees C. The association between L and HA in benzene was examined for evaluating the intrinsic extraction equilibria of M(2+) with B18C6. The extracted species were found to be MLA(2) and ML(2)A(2), and the overall extraction constants (K(ex,1) and K(ex,2), respectively) were obtained. The values of K(ex,1) for these metal ions are almost the same, but the K(ex,2) is larger for Zn(2+) than for Cd(2+). The extraction selectivity was interpreted quantitatively by the constituent equilibrium constants, i.e. K(ML), the ion-pair extraction constant of ML(2+) with A(-), and the adduct formation constant of MLA(2) with L in benzene.