Heart rate elevation precedes the development of metabolic syndrome in Japanese men: a prospective study.

This observational study of Japanese men without metabolic syndrome (MetS) (age: 41+/-8 years) was conducted to clarify whether or not heart rate elevation precedes the development of full-blown MetS. MetS was defined based on two modifications of the criteria of the Japanese Expert Committee on the Diagnosis and Classification of Metabolic Syndrome. Premetabolic syndrome subjects were defined as those having one component of MetS with increased body mass index (BMI). Among the subjects without MetS (n=1,859 when the BMI criterion was >or=25 and n=2,020 when the BMI criterion was >or=27.5), the incidence of progression to full-blown MetS by the time of the second examination at the end of the 3-year study period was higher in the subjects with premetabolic syndrome than in those without it. The receiver-operator characteristic curve analysis and binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds ratio (OR) of a heart rate >or=69 beats/min at the first examination for progression to full-blown MetS by the time of the second examination was significant in subjects with premetabolic syndrome (BMI>or=25: OR=3.64 [1.22-10.88]; BMI>or=27.5: OR=3.67 [1.28-10.55]; p<0.05). Thus, heart rate elevation appears to precede the development of full-blown MetS in subjects with premetabolic syndrome. Heart rate seems to be a simple and useful marker for predicting the progression to full-blown MetS of middle-aged Japanese men with premetabolic syndrome.     

Validity of a newly developed ultraminiature cordless EMG measurement system.

To verify validity of a newly developed ultraminiature EMG measurement system (BMS), the ability of BMS to record masseteric EMG was compared with that of a conventional polygraph system (PG) in the daytime. Effective distance between the transmitter unit and receiver unit of BMS was also examined. Subjects were 12 healthy volunteers. During tapping, maximum clenching, and gum chewing of all subjects, distinct bursts were observed in EMG recorded by BMS as well as PG. RMS values of maximum clenching measured by BMS and PG showed a linear and significant correlation, and there was no significant difference between the data of BMS and PG. When distance between the transmitter unit and receiver unit of BMS was 100 cm or less, no artifact signal was observed. Having obtained these findings suggesting ability for precise measurement in the daytime, we are planning to use BMS in home sleep studies in the next step.     

Collagen abnormalities in the spinal cord from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

During the last 10 years, we have demonstrated morphological and biochemical abnormalities of skin extracellular matrices in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, currently little is known concerning collagen of the spinal cord in ALS. We measured the amount of collagen and characterized collagen at light and electron microscopic levels in posterior funiculus, posterior half of lateral funiculus and anterior horn of cervical enlargement of the spinal cord obtained from ten patients with ALS, 11 patients with other neurologic diseases (control group A), and ten patients without neurologic ones (control group B). In posterior half of lateral funiculus and anterior horn, (1) by light microscopy, there was no significant difference in vessel wall area between ALS patients and control groups A and B; (2) ultrastructurally, collagen bundles were more fragmented and widely separated, and the fibrils were randomly oriented in the perivascular space of capillaries in ALS patients, which were not observed in any areas of control groups or in posterior funiculus of ALS patients; and (3) the collagen contents in ALS were significantly lower (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively) than those in control groups A and B. Fragmented and widely separated collagen bundles in the interstitial tissue surrounding capillaries and markedly decreased amount of collagen in posterior half of lateral funiculus and in anterior horn of ALS could be related to the degeneration of the upper and lower motor neurons in the spinal cord in ALS, that is, selective neuronal vulnerability in ALS.     

Expression of S-100 protein in intercalated duct cells of bovine pancreas

Although Mutoh et al. have found intercalated ducts in the pancreatic islets of avians, including the chicken, moorhen (Gallinula chloorpus), and Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica), and even demonstrated the functions of intercalated duct cells in pancreatic islets, to our knowledge, there have been only a few reports on the relationship between intercalated ducts and islets in mammalia. Accordingly, in this study, we investigated whether intercalated ducts are morphologically related to the islets of cattle, by using S-100 protein as a ductal cell marker for immunocytochemistry and examining the ultrastructure of intercalated ducts and islets electron-microscopically. The results revealed intercalated ducts that reacted positively for S-100 protein within and near islets, with approximately 12% of the islets having intercalated ducts in the vicinity and approximately 1.5% containing intercalated ducts within them. Ultrastructurally, intercalated ducts were also seem to be closely related to the islets. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that a close relationship exists between intercalated ducts and islets.     

Peroxyl radical scavenging capability of fish sauces measured by the chemiluminescence method

Oxygen-related free radicals have been suggested as a cause of aging and various diseases, for example, various cancers and rheumatoid arthritis. A radical scavenger as an antioxidant has been sought in foods. Fish sauces are traditional Asian fermented seasonings. Using the luminol chemiluminescence method, the peroxyl radical scavenging capability of fish sauces was examined. From the IC50 values, many fish sauces have been shown to have a strong scavenging capability as well as soy sauces. A scavenging mechanism is also proposed.