Factors affecting variability in home blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes: post hoc analysis of a cross-sectional multicenter study.

Recent studies have shown that variability in home blood pressure has an important role in the progression of organ damage. The objective of this study was to investigate the factors that affect variability in home blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes. We assessed the relationship between home blood pressure variability, defined as coefficient of variation of mean of triplicate morning and evening blood pressure for 14 consecutive days, and various factors using univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses in 1114 patients with type 2 diabetes. Age (ß=0.149, P<0.001), female sex (ß=0.125, P=0.010), duration of diabetes mellitus (ß=0.103, P=0.005), heart rate (ß=0.136, P<0.001), current smoker (ß=0.118, P=0.005), white-coat hypertension (ß=0.136, P=0.002) and treatment with calcium channel blockers (ß=-0.094, P=0.024) were independently associated with coefficient of variation of morning systolic blood pressure. Our findings implicate that factors that might be intervened such as heart rate, smoking status, use of antihypertensive medication in addition to age, sex and duration of diabetes mellitus are associated with variability in home blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Impaired heme oxygenase-1 induction in the gastric antrum induces disruption of the interstitial cells of Cajal network in a rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Streptozotocin (STZ) is known to induce type I diabetes and the loss of the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). However, the regulation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression, which is reported to protect ICC, has not yet been elucidated in this model. The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations of HO-1 expression and clarify the mechanism of ICC loss in the stomach using the rat model of STZ-induced diabetes. METHODS: Streptozotocin (65 mg kg(-1) ) was intraperitoneally administered to 8-week-old female Wistar rats. Cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP), an HO-1 inducer, was administered subcutaneously once a week after the STZ injection. The expressions of HO-1 and the receptor tyrosine kinase c-Kit (a marker for ICC) proteins were investigated by western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining. KEY RESULTS: Expression of c-Kit, particularly in the gastric antrum, was significantly decreased at 8 weeks, not at 1 week, compared to those of the control group. Significantly increased induction of HO-1 expression, especially in the gastric corpus but not in the antrum, was observed in the STZ group at 8 weeks after the STZ injection relative to control. CoPP administration significantly up-regulated HO-1 expression in the STZ diabetic group and significantly restored the previously reduced ICC in the gastric antrum. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Up-regulation of HO-1 expression in the STZ diabetic model was limited to the gastric corpus and impaired up-regulation of HO-1 expression in the gastric antrum likely induced the disruption of the ICC network.

Andropausal symptoms in men with Type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: Serum androgen concentration is reported to be low in patients with Type 2 diabetes. There have been no studies comparing andropausal symptoms such as sleep disturbance, depression, erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms simultaneously between men with Type 2 diabetes and subjects without diabetes. METHODS: We compared andropausal symptom scores such as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Self-Rating Depression Scale, the International Index of Erectile Function and the International Prostate Symptom Score in 296 men with Type 2 diabetes and in 267 subjects without diabetes. Furthermore, we evaluated relationships of andropausal symptom scores to various anthropometric factors and compared andropausal symptom scores according to diabetic complications in men with Type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: Andropausal symptom scores such as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Self-Rating Depression Scale, the International Index of Erectile Function and the International Prostate Symptom Score were 4.2 ± 2.6 vs. 5.0 ± 3.3, P<0.01 by unpaired Student's t-test, 34.8 ± 8.2 vs. 38.4 ± 9.3, P<0.0001, 11.5 ± 6.4 vs. 9.9 ± 6.9, P<0.01 and 7.3 ± 6.7 vs. 9.0 ± 7.1, P<0.01 in subjects without diabetes and in patients with diabetes, respectively. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was higher in patients with neuropathy than without. The Self-Rating Depression Scale was higher in patients with advanced retinopathy. The International Index of Erectile Function was lower in patients with advanced retinopathy and nephropathy. The International Index of Erectile Function was lower and the International Prostate Symptom Score was higher in patients with cardiovascular disease than without. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrated that men with Type 2 diabetes have higher prevalence of andropausal symptoms, especially those with diabetic complications.

Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor genotypes in Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes.

We investigated killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genotypes in 92 patients with young-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus (YT1DM: < or =35 years old), 112 patients with adult-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus (AT1DM: >35 years old) and 240 control subjects. There were no differences in the frequency of KIR genotypes between controls and all the patients with T1DM or patients grouped according to age at onset of the disorder. However, when the subjects were classified into three groups according to combinations of the presence or absence of KIR3DS1/KIR3DL1 and its ligand human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-Bw4, or KIR2DL1 and its ligand HLA-C group 2, the genotype distribution was significantly different between the patients with AT1DM and controls [chi(2)= 5.993, 2 degrees of freedom (d.f.), P= 0.0500]. These data suggest that KIR polymorphisms may be associated with the age at onset of T1DM.

Congenitally acquired herpes zoster infection in a newborn.

We report a case of congenitally acquired herpes zoster infection in a newborn whose mother suffered from varicella in her eighth month of pregnancy. The newborn had vesicles with limited distribution on the left C7 region. Herpes zoster infection was clinically suspected and confirmed by the Tzanck test and a high titer of anti-varicella-zoster-virus immunoglobulin M (x1,280).

Overexpression of p53 protein associated with proliferative activity as evaluated by Ki-67 immunostaining in well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.

BACKGROUND: Overexpression of p53 protein has been demonstrated in a variety of human malignant tumors, and its role in oncogenesis and tumor progression is thought to be important. Recently, some reports have suggested that p53 overexpression might be an indicator of immaturity or proliferative activity of cells in cutaneous lesions. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to clarify the relationship between overexpression of p53 protein and the proliferative activity evaluated by Ki-67 immunostaining in well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin. METHODS: Sixteen cases of well-differentiated SCC were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for the expression of p53 protein and Ki-67 antigen. RESULTS: p53 protein was detected in 12 out of the 16 cases (75%). The percentage of p53-protein-positive tumor cells (DO-7 index) ranged from 0 to 80.4 (mean +/- SD = 33.8 +/- 29.7) and the percentage of Ki-67-antigen-positive tumor cells (MIB-1 index) from 23.4 to 65.1 (mean +/- SD = 42.3 +/- 15.8). Cases with higher DO-7 indices tended to show higher MIB-1 indices and the correlation was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of the p53 protein seems to be a useful indicator of proliferative activity in cutaneous SCC.

Avaliaçäo bioquímica do líquido cefalorraquidiano de cäes normais e de cäes jovens portadores de encefalite por cinomose / Biochemical evaluation of the cerebrospinal fluid from clinically normal dogs and from young dogs with distemper encephalitis

O presente experimento teve como objetivos estabelecer padröes de referência para constituintes do líquido cefalorraquidiano, determinar os valores de cloretos, creatina fosfoquinase e aspartato aminotransferase no soro sanguíneo e dosagem de glicose plasmática, na tentativa de verificar se existe correlaçäo entre essas variáveis no sangue e no líquor, de cäes normais e de cäes jovens portadores de encefalite por cinomose. Foram utilizados 40 animais, sendo 20 cäes normais e 20 cäes com cinomose. O exame bioquímico do líquor dos cäes normais permitiu o estabelecimento de valores para concentraçäo de glicose: 86,09 mais ou menos 17,76 mg/dl, níveis de cloretos: 117,36 mais ou menos 21,35 mEq/L, níveis de creatina fosfoquinase; 3,77 mais ou menos 1,72 UI/L e níveis de aspartato aminotransferase, 7,43 mais ou menos 4,61 UI/L. O exame bioquímico do líquor de cäes com cinomose permitiu o estabelecimento de valores para concentraçäo de glicose: 80,85 mais ou menos 14,82 mg/dl, níveis de cloretos: 118,67 mais ou menos 12,82 mEq/L, níveis de creatina fosfoquinase: 26,38 mais ou menso 29,27 UI/L e níveis de aspartato aminotransferase; 65,70 mais ou menos 23,72 UI/L. Os níveis de cloretos, creatina fosfoquinase e aspartato aminotransferase no soro, e glicose no plasma nos cäes normais e nos cäes com cinomose foram, respectivamente, 103,43 mais ou menos 16,00 e 103,43 mais ou menos 11,99 mEq/L, 95,75 mais ou menos 22,83 e 272,50 mais ou menos 140,95 UI/L, 23,77 mais ou menos 5,20 e 23,44 mais ou menos 4,81 UI/L, 119,12 mais ou menos 21,46 e 106,12 mais ou menos 17,73 mg/dl. Verificou-se uma correlaçäo positiva entre a concentraçäo de glicose liquórica e plasmática nos animais normais e nos animais com cinomose, e entre os níveis de CPK liquórica e sérica nos animais com cinomose. Näo foram constatadas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os dois grupos de animais com relaçäo aos níveis de cloretos do líquor e do soro. As amostras do líquor dos cäes com cinomose apresentaram valores mais elevados de CPK e AST do que as amostras dos cäes normais

Avaliaçäo física, citológica, conteúdo de proteínas e determinaçäo qualitativa de globulinas do líquor de cäes normais e cäes com encefalite por cinomose / Cerebrospinal fluid physical, cytologycal and biochemical evaluation from clinically normal and distemper encephalitis affected dogs

O presente experimento teve como objetivos estabelecer padröes de referência para constituintes do líquido cefalorraquidiano de cäes normais e de cäes jovens portadores de encefalite por cinomose. Foram utilizados 40 animais, sendo 20 cäes normais (de seis a 48 meses de idade) e 20 cäes com cinomose (até 18 meses de idade). Os exames físico, citológico e bioquímico do líquor dos cäes normais permitiram o estabelecimento de valores para densidade: 1007 mais ou menos 1,83, pH: 8,30 mais ou menos 0,34, contagem global de hemácias: 6,65 mais ou menos 5,27/ul, contagem global de leucócitos: 2,85 mais ou menos 1,63/ul e dosagem de proteínas: 38,70 mais ou menos 15,49 mg/dl. Os exames físico, citológico e bioquímico do líquor de cäes com cinomose permitiram o estabelecimento de valores para densidade: 1010 mais ou menos 1,50, pH: 8,35 mais ou menos 0,46, contagem global de hemácias: 8,55 mais ou menos 6,48/ul, contagem global de leucócitos: 99,05 mais ou menos 106,93/ul e dosagem de proteínas: 219,03 mais ou menos 81,08 mg/dl. O líquor apresentou-se límpido e incolor em todas as amostras dos cäes normais e na maioria das amostras de cäes com cinomose. Algumas amostras dos cäes com cinomose encontravam-se discretamente turvas e/ou xantocrômicas. O teste de Pandy foi negativo em todas as amostras de cäes normais e positivo, variando de duas a três cruzes, nos animais com cinomose. A contagem diferencial de células do líquor de cäes com cinomose revelou uma predominância (67 por cento a 97 por cento) de linfócitos em todas as amostras, presença de 2 por cento a 24 por cento de monócitos e 2 por cento a 20 por cento de plasmócitos. Em algumas amostras observaram-se macrófagos, neutrófilos segmentados e células ependimárias. Verificou-se uma correlaçäo positiva entre o número de plasmócitos, os níveis protéicos totais e a taxa de globulinas do líquor de cäes com cinomose

A case of herpes zoster associated with colitis.

A 58-year-old Japanese woman who had herpes zoster in association with colitis was successfully treated with intravenously administrated acyclovir. Vesicular lesions with red haloes ranged from the left side of her buttock to the left extremity, corresponding to the L4 to S2 dermatomes. Her colitis was considered to have been induced by varicella-zoster virus, based on the facts that the clinical courses were correlated and that the innervation of the affected site of the colon corresponded to an infected dermatome (S2).

Establishment and characterization of a novel human promonocytic cell line from peripheral blood of a patient with psoriasis.

Human monocyte/macrophage lineages have unique phagocytic and immune-regulatory functions. We established a promonocytic cell line from the peripheral blood of a patient with psoriasis vulgaris. The newly established cells, termed YAP cells, grew in a suspension culture. In Wright-Giemsa-stained preparations, YAP cells were round or polygonal in shape. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the cells had clear nuclei with well-defined nucleoli. There were frequent mitochondria, a relatively abundant endoplasmic reticulum profile, free ribosomes and an occasional Golgi apparatus. Cytochemical studies showed a positive reaction for alpha-naphthyl butyrate esterase, which was completely inhibited by sodium fluoride, a diffuse positive reaction for periodic acid-Schiff, and a negative result for alkaline phosphatase and peroxidase. A large population of YAP cells reacted with the CD4, CD11b, CD25 and CD33 surface markers, but not with CD2, CD3, CD8 or CD19. We also found that YAP cells produced considerable amounts of TNF alpha, which was detected in the culture supernatant when the cells were treated with 1 ng/ml 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Chromosome analyses showed that YAP cells contained a variety of marker chromosomes. It should be stressed that YAP cells were derived from a patient with a non-neoplastic disorder, whereas most monocytic cell lines previously reported are of malignant origin. This newly established cell line might be valuable for studying the pathogenesis of psoriasis, especially the role of monocytes/macrophages in the aetiology of the disease.

Satisfactory separation and MS-MS spectrometry of six surfactins isolated from Bacillus subtilis natto.

We optimized HPLC conditions for the first time to achieve satisfactory separation of six surfactins, two of which were novel, isolated from Bacillus subtilis natto. Peptide sequences were analyzed by sophisticated MS-MS analysis, performed with a pair of two surfactins with different fatty acid substitutions. Fragment peaks were divided into two series; one was a series of the ions which carried fatty acid, and thus were characterized by the fatty acid mass difference, and the other was a series of the ions which consisted of pure peptide and thus showed a superimposable pattern between a pair of surfactins.

Determinaçäo da concentraçäo hidrogeniônica (pH) e acidez total titulável do líquido ruminal de ovinos das raças Merino Australiano e Corriedale, criados em regime extensivo de pastagem / Determination of the pH and total titratable acidity of the rumen liquor from Australian Merino and Corriedale sheep, fed on pasture

Objetivou-se estabelecer padröes de normalidade para a concentraçäo hidrogeniônica (pH) e acidez total titulável do líquido ruminal de ovinos das raças Merino Australiano e Corriedale, criados em regime extensivo de pastagem em duas épocas do ano (inverno e veräo), no Município de Botucatu, Estado de Säo Paulo. No inverno foram utilizados 103 animais, sendo 50 ovelhas da raça Corriedale e 53 da raça Merino Australiano e, no veräo, 107 animais, sendo 52 ovelhas pertencentes à raça Corriedale e 55 à raça Merino Australiano. As amostras de suco de rúmen foram obtidas através de sonda esofágica. Os resultados obtidos para o pH e a acidez total titulável para os animais da raça Merino Australiano no inverno e no veräo foram, respectivamente, 6,69 mais ou menos 0,20 e 6,75 mais ou menos 0,23 e 26,27 mais ou menos 5,02 e 29,24 mais ou menos 6,24 unidades. Os resultados observados nessas provas para os ovinos da raça Corriedale, no inverno e no veräo foram, respectivamente 6,70 mais ou menos 0,21 e 6,84 mais ou menos 0,28 e 27,26 mais ou menos 4,82 e 30,40 mais ou menos 5,11 unidades

Influence of melatonin on reproductive behavior in male rats.

The influence of melatonin on reproductive behavior was examined by administering it to pinealectomized male rats for 30 consecutive days. After the 30-d administration of melatonin or vehicle, each male rat was introduced into a female rat's cage on the day of proestrus and allowed to mate overnight. All rats administered the vehicle and the pinealectomized rats copulated; five of the twelve melatonin (8.0 mg/kg)-treated rats did not copulate. These findings suggest that melatonin inhibits the reproductive behavior of male rats.