Differences in waveforms of cerebral evoked potentials among healthy subjects, schizophrenics, manic-depressives and epileptics.

The differences in the waveform of Cerebral EP (Evoked Potential)s; SEP, VEP and AEP, among healthy subjects, schizophrenics, manic-depressives and epileptics were investigated. In 585 subjects of both sexes comprising these diagnostic groups, 6 channels of EPs, each 2 channels for each sensory modality, were recorded simultaneously/parallelly from each subject, without assigning a mental task. Then, waveforms of the g-m (group mean) EPs of each diagnostic group were superimposed for inspection. Peak latencies and inter-peak amplitudes of individual EPs were statistically tested among (ANCOVA) and between (Scheffe's multiple comparison test) these diagnostic groups for each channel (modality), and for each sex. The waveforms of g-m EPs of each diagnostic group differed from each other. The differences of latencies and inter-peak amplitudes among these diagnostic groups attained to the significant level (P<0.05), with more significant differences between healthy subjects and each of these pathological diagnostic groups than between each of these pathological diagnostic groups, for each sex. Thus the differences in the waveform of EPs among these diagnostic groups were confirmed even taking the effect of medication on EPs into consideration. These results might suggest the existence of a waveform for individual EPs specific to each of these diagnostic groups, for each sex.

Gender differences in association of plasma adiponectin with obesity reflect resultant insulin resistance in non-diabetic Japanese patients with schizophrenia.

Adipose tissues poorly produce adiponectin in the population with increased body fat mass and diabetes mellitus. It was investigated whether hypoadiponectinemia is associated with obesity and insulin resistance in patients with chronically medicated schizophrenia. A cross-sectional study was designed for 73 non-diabetic Japanese patients with schizophrenia. The patients aged <70 years with body mass index (BMI) > or =18.5 were selected. Anthropometrics and blood parameters including fat-derived cytokines were measured, and then the BMI and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. The variables were compared between the non-obesity (BMI, 18.5-24.9) and obesity (> or = 25.0) groups, and between genders. Plasma adiponectin negatively correlated with BMI (r = -0.554, P < 0.0003) and HOMA-IR (r = -0.380, P = 0.007) in men, but not in women. The obesity group in men, as compared with the non-obesity group, showed significantly lower plasma adiponectin (P = 0.008) and higher HOMA-IR (P < 0.05), but not in women. Plasma leptin showed a significant positive correlation with BMI (r = 0.604, P < 0.0001 in men; r = 0.763, P < 0.0001 in women) and HOMA-IR (r = 0.618, P < 0.0001 in men; r = 0.679, P < 0.0001 in women). The mean plasma leptin in the obesity group was significantly higher than that in the non-obesity group (P < 0.01 in men; P < 0.01 in women). In contrast to plasma leptin, plasma adiponectin showed gender difference in relation to BMI and HOMA-IR.

No association of the Trp 64 Arg mutation of the beta3-adrenergic receptor gene with obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension in Japanese patients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to address the question of whether the beta3-adrenergic receptor gene mutation (Trp 64 Arg) is associated with metabolic disease in Japanese patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 89 participants were grouped into three genotypes. The 64 Arg allelic frequency in patients with or without metabolic disease was analyzed. Anthropometrics variables and biochemical parameters were compared among the genotypes. RESULTS: The 64Arg allele, which had a frequency of 0.22, was not associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemias, or hypertension. No significant differences among the genotypes were found in current age, age at diagnosis with schizophrenia, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, plasma glucose, plasma insulin, triglycerides, free fatty acids. Patients with the 64 Arg allele had greater 24-h excretion of norepinephrine than those lacking the variant (p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: The 64 Arg allelic mutation is not associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, lipid metabolism dysfunction, or hypertension in Japanese patients with schizophrenia.

Prostaglandin E2 activates Src signaling in lung adenocarcinoma cell via EP3.

Accumulating evidence suggests that overproduction of prostaglandin (PG) E2 attributable to induction of cyclooxygenase-2 plays an important role in the development of lung adenocarcinoma. Recently, we have reported that a PGE2 receptor, EP3 is involved in appearance of malignant phenotype of a lung adenocarcinoma cell (A549 cell). In line with our previous study, here we investigated if Src signaling could be involved in PGE2-stimulated growth of A549 cells via EP3. PGE2-dependent cell growth in A549 cell positively related to the activation of Src. A specific antagonist against EP3 abrogated the cell growth and Src activation in the cells stimulated with PGE2. Also, the inhibition of Src activity suppressed its downstream signaling related to cell growth as well as the cell growth in the cells treated with PGE2. These results indicate that PGE2-dependent activation of Src signaling via EP3 plays an important role in growth of A549 cells.

Real-time measurement of frozen gait in patient with parkinsonism using a sensor-controlled walker.

Patients with Parkinson's disease develop gait disturbances. Although the use of walkers is very effective for maintaining locomotive ability, patients who have symptoms such as frozen gait (FG) and festinating gait may fall even with a walker equipped with a brake as they cannot use the brake well in an emergency and fail to follow the accelerating walker. None of the studies on walking aids to date have addressed real-time detection of FG or the use of this information for the control of the walking aid, monitoring of the state of improvement in the ambulatory function, or evaluation of the effect of the use of a walker. In this study, we evaluated whether the state called FG, a characteristic symptom of Parkinson's disease, can be detected by the use of a sensor-controlled walker with heel-to-toe pressure sensors. The following two measurements were carried out in one male healthy and a one male patient with stage 3 Parkinson's disease by the Hoehn-Yahr scale showing mild muscle rigidity, hypokinesia, and FG. In the healthy subject, the heel-to-toe pressure showed smooth heel-to-toe shifts during the standing phase. In the patient with Parkinson's disease, the heel-to-toe response time was about 2.4 times longer than in the healthy subject at the beginning of walking, and FG could be recorded as the difficulty in lifting the foot by the toes. Also, when FG was observed during walking, the pressure waves recorded by the same sensors showed two peaks occurring at short interval, indicating double landings.

A walking support/evaluation machine for patients with parkinsonism.

Various walk supporting systems have been devised and developed. However, they have not been designed for supporting or evaluating the gait of parkinsonian patients, and not much consideration has been given to gait disturbances of parkinsonian patients. In this study: (a) We prepared a tentative model of walk supporting and monitoring system in consideration of typical symptoms of parkinsonism. (b) We conducted gait rehabilitation in a parkinsonian patient using the walk supporting and monitoring system and confirmed (i) the occurrence of frozen gait during walking, (ii) brachybasia, (iii) the absence of anterior tilting of the posture, pulsion symptom, and festination, and (iv) occurrence of hesitation to start walking. Therefore, typical symptoms of parkinsonism can be detected by the use of this system. (c) The medical staff can evaluate the state of recovery of patients on the basis of the data obtained from this system and use them for purposes such as guidance of rehabilitation.

Investigation of QOL of hospice patients by using EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaire.

This study was designed to investigate the quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients being cared for in a hospice, in the expectation that the results would serve as useful basic materials for improving the care of such patients. The subjects were 24 patients who had been diagnosed as having cancer and were hospitalized in the hospice wing of a hospital. The study was carried out as a crossing investigation using the Japanese version of the EORTC-QLQ-C30 Ver.3 questionnaire prepared by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer. The results of the survey showed that it was important to be prepared to prevent or treat diarrhea at the time of bowel movement and confirmed the need for care aimed at reducing fatigue. In addition, the emotional functioning and financial problems of the patients showed strong correlations with the QOL, revealing the need for psychological and financial support of cancer patients in hospices.

Ansiedad-Estado en la Esquizofrenia

Objetivo: Se trata de evaluar el estado de ansiedad, en pacientes esquizofrénicos mediante el Inventario de Estado-Rasgo de Ansiedad de Spielberger. Material: Los sujetos, que forman parte del estudio son un total de 101 pacientes ingresados y diagnosticados mediante el DSM-IV de esquizofrenia. Resultados: 1) No se han encontrado diferencias significativas, con respecto a la media total de entre los pacientes esquizofrénicos y la población normal con respecto al sexo.2) La media total de la puntuación del rasgo de ansiedad, fue significativamente más alta en los pacientes esquizofrénicos que en la población sana, en el caso de los hombres pero no así en la mujeres. 3) En los pacientes del sexo masculino se encontró una correlación positiva entre la puntuación total del estado de ansiedad y la puntuación de los síntomas positivos, a diferencia de lo que sucede en las mujeres. 4) En los varones con esquizofrenia existe una correlación positiva significativa, entre la puntuación total de rasgo de ansiedad y las puntuaciones de los síntomas positivos, lo cual no se observó en las mujeres con esquizofrenia. Conclusiones: El resultado de este estudio demuestra que las mujeres diagnosticadas de esquizofrenia, se muestran biológicamente insensibles al estrés, comparado con los varones (AU)

Study of life satisfaction and quality of life of patients receiving home oxygen therapy.

An investigation was conducted by mail using a questionnaire regarding the life satisfaction and quality of life (QOL) of patients receiving home oxygen therapy (HOT) to evaluate their support. QOL was evaluated according to 4 scales: (1) activities, (2) state of health and quality of living, (3) physical symptoms, and (4) economic state. The answers of 90 patients (recovery rate: 60%) who responded to the investigation were analyzed, and the following points were clarified. 1. Most of the subjects visited the hospital regularly, and about half the subjects (50.6%) had been treated by hospitalization during the 3 years prior to the investigation. 2. A large majority of the subjects (77.4%) answered they were satisfied with life. 3. Life satisfaction was closely related to the patients' roles and hobbies, and their activities in their communities and families. 4. The quality of living and the state of health were closely related to mental activity. 5. The economic state was closely related to all items of life satisfaction, quality of living, and state of health. From these results, expansion of the range of activities of patients receiving HOT and providing an economic basis for their living as well as preventing exacerbation of the disease are considered to be important for improving their life satisfaction.

Effect of acerola cherry extract on cell proliferation and activation of ras signal pathway at the promotion stage of lung tumorigenesis in mice.

The present study was undertaken to estimate the effect of acerola cherry extract (ACE) pretreatment on cell proliferation and the activation of Ras signal pathway at a promotion stage of lung tumorigenesis in mice treated with 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). Pretreatment with ACE (dose, 70mg/kg body weight and 700 mg/kg body weight) inhibited increases in the levels of proliferating nuclear cell antigen and ornithine decarboxylase at the promotion stage. This treatment of ACE also suppressed the activation of Ras signal pathway at the same stage. These results suggest that ACE regulates abnormal cell growth at the promotion stage of lung tumorigenesis in mice treated with NNK as a result of suppression of the initiation stage.

Neither gynecomastia nor galactorrhea is a common side effect of neuroleptics in male patients.

OBJECTIVE: Gynecomastia is known to be a side effect of neuroleptics. The authors investigated the prevalence of gynecomastia and galactorrhea in a group of regularly neuroleptic-treated male patients. METHODS: Gynecomastia was defined as a palpable, discrete button of firm subareolar tissue measuring at least 2 cm in diameter. The subjects were 100 male patients who were taking neuroleptic treatment regularly. Each patient gave informed consent for the research involved in this study. RESULTS: (1) Palpable gynecomastia was present in 2% of the patient group, but not at all in the normal group. (2) Galactorrhea was not present in either patient or normal group. (3) The mean level of the serum prolactin in the group of patients without gynecomastia (n = 53) was significantly higher than that in the normal group (n = 35), but there was no significant difference in blood luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone (T), estradiol (E(2)) or T/E(2) ratio between the groups. (4) The mean level of the T/E(2) ratio in the patients with gynecomastia tended to be higher than that in the group of patients without gynecomastia. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, these results seem to indicate that (i) gynecomastia is not common in the Japanese population, and (ii) in male patients neither palpable gynecomastia nor galactorrhea is a common side effect of neuroleptics. To clarify the relation between gynecomastia and neuroleptic treatment, large prospective studies are required.