The effects of gonadal steroid manipulation on the expression of Kiss1 mRNA in rat arcuate nucleus during postnatal development

Kisspeptins, encoded by Kiss1 gene, play pivotal roles in the regulation of reproduction. Recently, several studies reported a sex difference in Kiss1 expression in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) during the neonatal period. In this study, we investigated the effect of gonadal steroid manipulation on the sex difference in Kiss1 expression in ARC of rats. At neonatal and prepubertal stages, females had a greater number of Kiss1 neurons than the males. Gonadectomy at those stages resulted in significant increases in the Kiss1 neuron number and the sex differences disappeared. We also confirmed the expression of estrogen receptor ?? in kisspeptin neurons in neonates. Altogether, our results indicate that ARC Kiss1 expression is negatively regulated by gonadal steroids from early postnatal stages, and that the sex difference in ARC Kiss1 expression is attributed to the difference in circulating gonadal steroid levels. We also found that neonatal estrogenization inhibits Kiss1 expression and impairs negative feedback system.     

Visual Recognition of the Elderly Concerning Risks of Falling or Stumbling Indoors in the Home: —Comparison of Visual Attention Points Among Elderly,Middle Aged and Young Individuals—

Objective: The objective of this study was to verify the recognition of dangers and obstacles within a house in the elderly when walking based on analyses of gaze point fixation.Materials and Methods: The rate of recognizing indoor dangers was compared among 30 elderly, 14 middle-aged and 11 young individuals using the Eye Mark Recorder.Results: 1) All of the elderly, middle-aged and young individuals showed a high recognition rate of 100% or near 100% when ascending outdoor steps but a low rate of recognizing obstacles placed on the steps. They showed a recognition rate of about 60% when descending steps from residential premises to the street. The rate of recognizing middle steps in the elderly was significantly lower than that in younger and middle-aged individuals. Regarding recognition indoors, when ascending stairs, all of the elderly, middle-aged and young individuals showed a high recognition rate of nearly 100%. When descending stairs, they showed a recognition rate of 70-90%. However, although the recognition rate in the elderly was lower than in younger and middle-aged individuals, no significant difference was observed. 2) When moving indoors, all of the elderly, middle-aged and young individuals showed a recognition rate of 70%-80%. The recognition rate was high regarding obstacles such as floors, televisions and chests of drawers but low for obstacles in the bathroom and steps on the path. The rate of recognizing steps of doorsills forming the division between a Japanese-style room and corridor as well as obstacles in a Japanese-style room was low, and the rate in the elderly was low, being 40% or less.Conclusion: The rate of recognizing steps of doorsills as well as obstacles in a Japanese-style room was lower in the elderly in comparison with middle-aged or young individuals.     

Candesartan cilexetil in the management of blood pressure for acute and recurrent stroke in Japan: the Challenge-Stroke study

The Challenge-Stroke study was conducted in Japanese patients initiated on candesartan cilexetil therapy within 3 months of suffering a stroke to investigate the clinical use of candesartan and its efficacy/safety in this therapeutic setting. A total of 869 patients formed the safety analysis set. In total, 79.6% of patients with brain hemorrhage (BH) and 60.2% with brain infarction (BI) began candesartan before post-stroke day 3 and 7, respectively. Baseline average blood pressure (BP) was 152.0/83.2 mmHg in the BH group and 165.2/89.8 mmHg in the BI group; this was reduced to 125.8/75.4 mmHg and 136.3/78.1 mmHg, respectively, at 1 year. The incidence of adverse drug reactions was 6.7 and 8.0%, respectively. There were 12 recurrent strokes in the BH group and 11 in the BI group after 1 year. The risk of recurrent stroke was significantly higher for BH patients with a final systolic BP ≥150 mmHg than for those with a final systolic BP <130 mmHg (hazard ratio: 6.807; p = 0.004). Aggressive antihypertensive therapy is currently employed in Japanese patients with acute stroke. Candesartan was safe and effective for BP control in acute stroke patients. Strict BP management may be useful for secondary prevention of stroke after BH.     

New application of the gluteal-fold flap for the treatment of anorectal stricture

Purpose

Total intersphincteric resection (total ISR) is a surgical option for patients with advanced cancer of the lower rectum. However, anorectal stricture can develop after total ISR, which stretches from the anus to the lower rectum. Conventional anoplasty for anal stricture is often ineffective for them because the areas of stricture are long and the most proximal points of the strictures are too far for advancement flaps or rotation flaps to reach. We have developed a new surgical treatment method using a gluteal-fold flap (GFF) for anal stricture after total ISR.

Methods

From April 2004 through June 2007, hemilateral GFFs were transferred to treat anorectal strictures after total ISR in three patients at the National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan. Postoperative results and anal function were evaluated.

Results

In all three patients, GFFs were successfully transferred, and good dilation of the anorectal stenosis was achieved. Postoperative anal function was satisfactory.

Conclusion

The GFF has a rich vascular supply and can be simply and reliably transferred. We believe that GFF transfer is an excellent option for treating anorectal strictures after total ISR.     

Association between the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) polymorphism and the personality traits of healthy Japanese participants

Background

Dopamine neurotransmitter systems have been associated with reward-related and novelty-seeking personality traits. We investigated the possible relationship between the personality traits measured by the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) and the TaqI A and − 141C Ins/Del polymorphisms in the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2).

Methods

The sample consisted of 1084 healthy Japanese medical students and medical staff (age = 29.0 ± 9.7 years), each of whom completed the TCI. Their genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood and genotyped using the TaqMan allele-specific assay method. The associations between gene polymorphisms and the scores for TCI were statistically analyzed by one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusting age. Males and females were analyzed separately. Epstatis was assesses using two-way ANCOVA between the DRD2 and ANKK1 genes.

Results

Men with the Ins/Del genotype of the − 141C Ins/Del polymorphism had significantly higher self-directedness scores than those with the Ins/Ins genotype (p = 0.021). None of the TCI scores differed among women with regard to the three genotype groups of the − 141C Ins/Del polymorphism. The DRD2/ANKK1 Taq1 A polymorphism did not affect any TCI factor for either men or women. An epistatic analysis did not reveal main effects of the two genes with regard to TCI scores, but an ANKK1 × DRD2 interaction significantly predicted TCI scores.

Conclusion

These findings suggest the possibility that the − 141C Ins/Del polymorphism and the DRD2/ANKK1 Taq1 A polymorphism are not strongly linked to personality traits directly, but influences them under the interaction between the DRD2 and ANKK1 genes.