Simple-measured leg muscle strength and the prevalence of diabetes among Japanese males: a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Kameda health study.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between leg muscle strength, measured by a very simple one-leg stand-up test, and the prevalence of diabetes among Japanese males to raise awareness of diabetes prevention. [Participants and Methods] This cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 1,800 Japanese males (median [interquartile range] age, 61 [56-67] years) who completed health examinations and a one-leg stand-up test. The prevalence of diabetes was defined if any of the following conditions applied: 1) fasting blood glucose level more than 126 mg/dl, 2) two-hour blood glucose level more than 200 mg/dl (75-g oral glucose tolerance test), 3) HbA1c more than 6.5%, 4) diagnosed with diabetes by a physician, and/or 5) treated for diabetes. [Results] There were 490 participants with diabetes, and 517 participants were unable to complete the sit-to-stand task. When males, who could stand up, were used as a reference, the odds ratio for the prevalence of diabetes was significantly higher among those who were unable to stand up on neither leg than those who successfully stood up on both right and left legs after adjustment for covariates. [Conclusion] Low leg muscle strength, as measured by the one-leg stand-up test, was associated with a higher prevalence of diabetes among Japanese males. Because of its simplicity, this test could be useful detecting individuals who are at increased risk of developing diabetes.

Stand-up test overestimates the decline of locomotor function in taller people: a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Kameda Health Study.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to identify which physical attribute could influence each outcome in the Stand-up test and the Two-step test and the degree of their involvement. [Participants and Methods] The participants were 2,476 people (1,674 males and 802 females), who underwent a two-day health checkup and were requested to take the Locomotive Syndrome Risk Test (Locomo Test). Participants were divided into groups under the Locomo level based on the result of Locomo Test by gender. Furthermore, the relationship between each physical attributes (quartile) based on the result of Locomo Test and the Locomo level was evaluated. [Results] According to the relationship between each physical attributes and Locomo level 1 in the Stand-up test, height showed a positive relationship and the multivariable adjusted odds ratio significantly increased with taller height in both genders. Body weight and BMI showed a negative relationship, although rather weak positive relationship, it was identified in waist circumference. On the other hand, there was no clear correlation between each physical attribute and Locomo level 1 in the Two-step test. [Conclusion] The findings indicate The Stand-up test would overestimate the decline of locomotor function in taller people and would underestimate it in shorter individuals.

Phase behavior of a binary mixture of 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycerol and 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoyl-sn-glycerol in n-dodecane solution.

The phase behavior of a binary mixture of triacylglycerol (TAG), POP (1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycerol), and OPO (1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoyl-sn-glycerol) in an organic solvent, n-dodecane, was examined by DSC and synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction (SR-XRD). In our previous study on POP-OPO mixtures in neat liquid, the formation of molecular compound (MC) crystals of POP/OPO = 50/50 was observed (Minato et al. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 1997, 74, 1213-1220). The purpose of the present study was to determine whether MC is formed in the POP-OPO mixture system in diluted solution when n-dodecane (C(12)) is added to the mixture as a solvent. Two solution systems having weight concentration ratios of POP and OPO to n-dodecane ((POP+OPO):C(12)) of 50:50 (50% solution) and 20:80 (20% solution) were prepared. We found that MC formed at a ratio of POP/OPO = 50/50 in both 50% solution and 20% solution in the stable and metastable states. Differences between the neat liquid and solution systems appeared in two results. In the first, the melting temperatures of MC crystals were lowered from 32.0 degrees C (neat liquid) to 20.4 degrees C (50% solution) and 18.0 degrees C (20% solution). In the second, the beta polymorph of the MC was always observed in the two solutions under the conditions examined in the present study, whereas alpha and beta polymorphs were observed in the neat liquid. These differences were caused by thermodynamic solvent effects. However, we conclude that aliphatic chain-chain interactions through palmitic and oleic acid moieties forming the MC of POP-OPO having a double chain length structure are not disturbed by solute-solvent interactions.

Modulation of Alp4 function in Schizosaccharomyces pombe induces novel phenotypes that imply distinct functions for nuclear and cytoplasmic gamma-tubulin complexes.

The gamma-tubulin complex acts as a nucleation unit for microtubule assembly. It remains unknown, however, how spatial and temporal regulation of the complex activity affects microtubule-mediated cellular processes. Alp4 is one of the essential components of the S. pombe gamma-tubulin complex. We show here that overproduction of a carboxy-terminal form of Alp4 (Alp4C) and its derivatives tagged to a nuclear localization signal or to a nuclear export signal affect localization of gamma-tubulin complexes and induces novel phenotypes that reflect distinct functions of nuclear and cytoplasmic gamma-tubulin complexes. Nuclear Alp4C induces a Wee1-dependent G2 delay, reduces the levels of the gamma-tubulin complex at the spindle pole body, and results in defects in mitotic progression including spindle assembly, cytoplasmic microtubule disassembly, and chromosome segregation. In contrast, cytoplasmic Alp4C induces oscillatory nuclear movement and affects levels of cell polarity markers, Bud6 and Tip1, at the cell ends. These results demonstrate that regulation of nuclear gamma-tubulin complex activity is essential for cell cycle progression through the G2/M boundary and M phase, whereas regulation of cytoplasmic gamma-tubulin complex activity is important for nuclear positioning and cell polarity control during interphase.

The carboxy-terminus of Alp4 alters microtubule dynamics to induce oscillatory nuclear movement led by the spindle pole body in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Alp4 is an essential component of the S. pombe gamma-tubulin complex. Overproduction of the carboxy-terminus of Alp4 induces oscillatory nuclear movement led by the spindle pole body (SPB). The movement is not dependent on cytoplasmic dynein dhc1, or kinesin-related proteins pkl1 and klp2. Rates of SPB movement correlate with elongation rates of microtubules (MTs) extending backwards from the moving SPB (backward-extending MTs), showing that pushing forces exerted by backward-extending MTs move the nucleus via the SPB. These backward-extending MTs are more stable than those of control cells and, thus, are able to push the SPB further towards the cell end, inducing nuclear oscillation with larger amplitudes than in control cells. SPB movement is biased towards the new end of the cell where levels of the CLIP170 homolog Tip1 increase, suggesting that the movement is related to MT-mediated cell polarity control. These results demonstrate that the carboxy-terminus of Alp4 alters MT dynamics and induces nuclear oscillation by modulating a nuclear positioning mechanism based on the balance of MT pushing forces, and suggest that regulation of gamma-tubulin complex activity is important for controlling MT dynamics and nuclear positioning.