Cytotoxic impacts on the tumorigenesis and transplantability of ovarian teratoma in lt/sv mouse

The incidence and transplantability of ovarian teratoma in LT/Sv mice were examined following cisplatin treatment at the age of 16 days, and compared to those in the control group. Cisplatin had not affected the emergence of egg cleavage, which simultaneously appeared in the mouse ovaries in both groups. Although 7 teratomas, occasionally transplantable, developed in the control mice aged over 30 days, only 2 tumors occurred in cisplatin-treated mice at the age of 120 days and they were not transplantable. The results suggest that cisplatin might influence the tumorigenic process after egg cleavage, or transplantability of teratoma.     

Iodine-123-MIBG scintigraphy in neuroblastoma; relationship between the intensity of uptake and tumor characteristics

Iodine-123-MIBG (123I-MIBG) scintigraphy were performed for 23 patients with neuroblastoma at diagnosis. The intensity of MIBG activity in the primary tumor was evaluated visually (grade 3; intense uptake-grade 0; no definite uptake), and its relationship to the size, degree of tumor spread, urinary catecholamine metabolites (VMA, HVA), and histological types were investigated. The results of 123I-MIBG uptake grade were as follows: grade 3; 44% (10/23), grade 2; 30% (7/23), grade 1; 17% (4/23), grade 0; 9% (2/23). The grade was not associated with the tumor size, or the degree of tumor extension to the distant lesion, either. The more catecholamine metabolites were excreted in the urine, the tumor tended to have more intense uptake. The tumors of neuroblastoma rosette fibrillary type, and ganglioneuroblastoma poorly differentiated type had more intense uptake than neuroblastoma round cell type and ganglioneuroblastoma well differentiated type. The case of ganglioneuroma did not have definite MIBG uptake. The intensity of MIBG uptake is not relevant to the pathological grade of neuroblastoma, but considering the electromicroscopical features of neuroblastoma reported previously, it is thought to reflect the histological type.     

Effect of aged garlic extract (AGE) on hyperglycemia induced by immobilization stress in mice]

The effect of aged garlic extract (AGE) on stress induced hyperglycemia was investigated using the immobilization stress model in mice. After the exposure to immobilization stress for 16 hr per day for 2 consecutive days, the adrenal glands of the mice hypertrophied, and their serum glucose level and corticosterone secretion became elevated, but insulin secretion did not change. These results suggest that the elevation of serum glucose was probably due to the stimulation of the pituitary-adrenocortical axis by the stress. Pretreatment of AGE (5 and 10 ml/kg, p.o.) significantly prevented adrenal hypertrophy, hyperglycemia and elevation of corticosterone, but did not alter serum insulin level. The efficacy of AGE was the same as that of diazepam (5 mg/kg, p.o.). From these results, it is suggested that AGE may prevent stress-induced hyperglycemia, which is the risk of suffering from diabetes mellitus and its progression.     

Effect of 3 mg melatonin on jet lag syndrome in an 8-h eastward flight

In order to assess the effect of melatonin on jet lag a field study was undertaken. The process of re-entrainment of circadian melatonin rhythm was investigated in six subjects. Except during 24-h blood sampling, the subjects were exposed to natural zeitgeber (time giver) outdoors and given 3 mg melatonin at 23:00 h. The subjects were exposed to bright sunlight from 3000 to 12000 lx. All of them showed orthodromic re-entrainment with taking melatonin, while two out of the six did not show orthodromic re-entrainment without taking melatonin. Melatonin accelerated the rate of the re-entrainment of the circadian melatonin rhythm. Melatonin was useful to jet travel from Tokyo to Los Angeles.     

An infant case of bilateral small kidneys with both proximal and distal tubular dysfunction

Abstract A male infant with bilateral small kidneys associated with both proximal and distal tubular dysfunction, who showed chronic renal failure soon after birth, is reported. He was also noted to have both proximal and distal type of renal tubular acidosis. The small kidneys were thought to be due to renal hypodysplasia associated with bilateral severe vesicoureteral reflux, by radiological findings. An alkalization therapy with chemo-prophylaxis seemed to be of benefit in slowing the progression of renal failure in this case.     

Guidelines for treatment of ulcerative colitis in children

This paper introduces the guidelines for treatment of ulcerative colitis in children, created by the working group of the Japanese Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (Chair: Yuichiro Yamashiro) and the Japanese Society for Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) (Chair: Akio Kobayashi). The ideas of the working group, with regard to the fundamental differences in medical treatment between children and adults, included: (1) for children, intensive medical treatment including appropriate systemic management is important during the acute phase of illness. (2) Treatment with steroids, which can cause growth disturbances, should not be continued for long periods of time. (3) Pulsed steroid therapy, selective removal of blood cells, and intravenous infusion of cyclosporin should be included in the therapeutic option for severe and fluminant cases.     

Men and reproductive health in rural Pakistan: the case for increased male participation.

OBJECTIVES: In Pakistan, the role of men has always been considered to dominate in the decision-making process pertaining to women's fertility and birth spacing. This study was done to explore men's knowledge, perceptions and behavior on various reproductive health issues. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 180 married adult males in 12 rural districts of Pakistan in 2000. The study was qualitative, utilizing tools such as in-depth and key-informant interviews. RESULTS: The findings pointed out gaps in knowledge and misconceptions among men on a range of reproductive health issues and stress the need for health education. The findings suggest that strategies such as couple counseling, door-to-door campaigns by village-based male family planning workers and small group meetings could be effective. This study indicates a pressing need for incorporating effective intervention strategies, both at the community and the clinic level, backed with efficient counseling, motivation, and provision of services with appropriate education of males in rural areas. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that investment into promotion of healthy fertility control practices among men will be effective in the near future, as they are interested in acquiring new knowledge and are willing to become partners.     

A Hot Water Extract of Curcuma longa L. Improves Fasting Serum Glucose Levels in Participants with Low-Grade Inflammation: Reanalysis of Data from Two Randomized,Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled Trials

The dietary spice Curcuma longa L. (C. longa), also known as turmeric, has various biological effects. A hot water extract of C. longa was shown to have anti-inflammatory activities in preclinical and clinical studies. Chronic low-grade inflammation is associated with the disruption of glucose homeostasis, but the effect of C. longa extract on glucose metabolism in humans is poorly understood. Therefore, we investigated the effect of C. longa extracts on serum glucose levels in the presence of low-grade inflammation. We reanalyzed our published data from two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in overweight participants aged 50 to 69 years and performed a stratified analysis using the inflammatory marker high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). In both studies, participants took a test food with a hot water extract of C. longa (C. longa extract group, n = 45 per study) or without C. longa extract (placebo group, n = 45 per study) daily for 12 weeks, and we measured the levels of serum hsCRP and fasting serum glucose. The mean baseline hsCRP value was used to stratify participants into two subgroups: a low-hsCRP subgroup (baseline mean hsCRP < 0.098 mg/dL) and a high-hsCRP subgroup (baseline mean hsCRP ≥ 0.098 mg/dL). In the low-hsCRP subgroup, we found no significant difference in fasting serum glucose levels between the two groups in either study, but in the high-hsCRP subgroup, the C. longa extract group had significantly lower levels of serum hsCRP (p < 0.05) and fasting serum glucose (p < 0.05) than the placebo group in both studies. In conclusion, a hot water extract of C. longa may help to improve systemic glucose metabolism in people with chronic low-grade inflammation.     

Relative low muscle mass and muscle strength is associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes

This cross-sectional study investigated the association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) with sarcopenia defined by absolute low muscle mass (aLMM) and absolute low muscle strength (aLMS), or sarcopenia defined by relative low muscle mass (rLMM) and relative low muscle strength (rLMS). The cut-off values for men and women were as follows: aLMM, appendicular muscle mass in kg/height‍² was <7.0 kg/m‍² and <5.7 kg/m‍²; rLMM, appendicular muscle mass/body weight ×100 was <28.64% and <24.12%; aLMS, handgrip strength was <28 kg and <18 kg; and rLMS, handgrip strength/body weight ×100 was 51.26% and 35.38%. Among 207 men and 164 women, 41.5% men and 57.3% women had MetS, 14.0% men and 6.1% women had sarcopenia as defined by aLMM and aLMS, and 14.0% men and 22.0% women had sarcopenia defined by rLMM and rLMS. Compared with non-sarcopenia, adjusted OR of sarcopenia defined by aLMM and aLMS for the prevalence of MetS was 0.79 (95% CI 0.38–1.67), whereas that of sarcopenia defined by rLMM and rLMS for the prevalence of MetS was 20.6 (95% CI 7.81–54.3). Sarcopenia defined by rLMM and rLMS was associated with the risk of prevalence of MetS, whereas sarcopenia defined by aLMM and aLMS was not.