Characteristics and course of bone mineral densities among fast bone losers in a rural Japanese community: the Miyama Study

The aim of this study was to clarify and compare the temporal course of bone mineral density (BMD) between fast bone losers and normal residents in Miyama Village, a rural Japanese community. BMD was measured over a 10-year period in a cohort study in Miyama Village, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, to provide information on rate of bone loss in the mature and elderly population. Subjects (n=400) were selected by sex and age stratum from the full list of residents born in 1910–1949, with 50 men and 50 women in each age decade. Baseline BMD of the lumbar spine and proximal femur was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in 1990, 1993, 1997 and 2000. In the cohort, 171 men and 189 women completed the follow-up survey performed in 1993. After calculating the rate of bone loss between 1990 and 1993, the greatest tertile from the distribution of bone loss was categorized as fast bone losers, with the remainder considered as normal subjects. Changes in BMD were compared between normal subjects and fast bone losers over the 10-year period. Mean rate of change for BMD at both lumbar spine and femoral neck in fast bone losers recovered to levels similar to those in normal subjects over 7 years of observation. By contrast, BMD at the lumbar spine and femoral neck decreased steeply over the 10-year period in both groups, and mean BMD for fast bone losers was significantly lower than that of normal subjects (P<0.05). These differences were apparent only at the lumbar spine in both men and women, even after adjusting for age. These results indicate that fast bone loss is a transient phenomenon rather than a fixed status, although individuals who have been categorized as fast bone losers at some stage continue to display low BMD in the lumbar spine.     

Dissection of fission yeast microtubule associating protein p93Dis1: regions implicated in regulated localization and microtubule interaction

Background : Fission yeast microtubule associating protein (MAP) p93^Dis1 functions for sister chromatid separation: dis1 mutants fail to separate chromosomes, while the spindle elongates but without cyclin destruction. p93^Dis1 localizes along microtubules in interphase cytoplasm, but shifts to the spindle pole body (SPB) and spindle microtubules upon the entry into mitosis. In this study, regions of p93^Dis1 were dissected to examine their role.
Results : Nitrocellulose filter blotting shows that recombinant Dis1 binds to bovine brain microtubules in vitro . A basic central region rich in S, T and P is essential for this association. However, the whole p93^Dis1 with N- and C-termini containing a conserved repeat motif and heptad repeats, respectively, is necessary for normal microtubule association in vivo . The N-truncated region also binds to microtubules but only to the portions near the SPBs. Overproduction phenotypes indicate that p93^Dis1 greatly affects spindle formation and cell morphogenesis. The central region is essential but, by itself, not sufficient for generating such effects.
Conclusions : We propose that p93^Dis1 consists of three regions which carry distinct properties for localization: the N-region for cell cycle dependent localization, the central region for direct microtubule association, and the C-region for SPB and nuclear localization. The essential role of p93^Dis1 is carried out in the C-region, while the N-region acts as a regulator.     

MOLECULAR GENETICS OF THE SA GENE

1. We have recently identified a candidate gene for rat genetic hypertension, termed S_a, by identifying an mRN A species that shows markedly higher expression in the kidneys of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) than in those of Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). 2. Subsequent genetic co-segregation analyses by ourselves and others indicated that the S_a gene locus did indeed influence blood pressure. Moreover, in a preliminary association study, we found an association of a polymorphism of the human S_a gene with essential hypertension. 3. Further studies to identify functions of the Sa gene products are required before reaching a definite conclusion.     

A novel murine model of pharyngeal candidiasis with local symptoms characteristic of pharyngeal thrush produced by using an inhaled corticosteroid.

We established a novel murine model of pharyngeal candidiasis maintaining stable yeast population and local symptoms characteristic of pharyngeal thrush. The persistent Candida-infection was prolonged by inhalation of beclomethasone dipropionate corticosteroid. The severity of infection lesions was evaluated by determining viable cell number of Candia albicans and scores representing symptomatic curd-like white patch on pharyngeal tissue. The utility of this model was shown by the disappearance of lesions and fungal cells after treatment with fluconazole (FLCZ). The model would be useful for evaluating new chemotherapeutic or immunotherapeutic approaches against pharyngeal candidiasis, as well as in pathological studies.     

Effect of substituting allogenic blood transfusion with autologous blood transfusion on outcomes after radical oesophagectomy for cancer.

BACKGROUND: The oncologic benefit of avoiding allogenic blood transfusion in oesophageal cancer resection has not been studied. METHODS: The medical records of 68 patients (Auto group) who underwent a potentially curative oesophageal cancer resection without allogenic blood transfusion from 1996 to 1999 receiving 800 g of autologous blood donated preoperatively, and 97 patients (Allo group) who underwent the same operation with allogenic blood transfusion from 1990 to 1995 were compared. RESULTS: There were no differences in age, gender, stage of disease, number of retrieved nodes, or perioperative hemoglobin concentration between the two groups. The survival of the 45 patients with nodal involvement in the Auto group was better than that of the 59 patients in the Allo group (p=0.0435), and the survival of the 35 patients with T3 or T4 lesions in the Auto group was better than that of the 61 patients in the Allo group (p=0.0408). According to logistic regression analysis, allogenic blood transfusion correlated with tumour recurrence in patients with either nodal involvement or a T3-4 lesion. The natural killer cell activity remained higher in the Auto group than in the Allo group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Avoidance of allogenic blood transfusion favorably effected the survival of patients with oesophageal cancer at risk for recurrence.     

Hepatic infarction with portal thrombosis

A case of hepatic infarction with portal thrombosis is reported. A 63-year-old woman with liver cirrhosis and esophageal varices was admitted for treatment of the esophagel varices. Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) and endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) were performed. Two months later, she experienced right hypochondralgia and right flank pain. Serum transaminase levels were suddenly elevated, and computed tomography scans of the liver showed multiple small nodular lesions. Her condition worsened, and she died of hepatic failure. Autopsy revealed splenic and portal vein thrombosis, multiple hepatic infarction, and evidence of chronic pancreatitis. We believe that liver cirrhosis and chronic pancreatitis were the main risk factors for the portal thrombosis, and the treatment for esophageal varices appeared to have triggered the thrombosis. The hepatic infarction was caused by the portal thrombosis.     

Dual microcatheter and guidewire snare technique for retrieval of intravascular foreign body: technical note

A transjugular snare technique was used to retrieve a stretched, residual mechanical detachable coil which extended from the cavernous sinus to the femoral vein, obliterating the transpetrosal route for further embolisation. The coil was snared by a microguidewire. Our new technique is described in this paper. Received: 19 April 1995 Accepted: 31 July 1995