Decreased physical fitness in borderline glucose tolerance men

To investigate the primary changes in glucose intolerance, physical characteristics and daily-life activity (pattern) were compared in the normal glucose tolerance (NGT, n=7) and the borderline glucose tolerance (BGT, n=9) subjects based on the criteria adopted by the Committee on the Diagnosis of Diabetes mellitus of Japan Diabetes Society. The basal glucose and insulin concentrations in the BGT group (90.7±4.1mg/dl, 9.2±1.1 μU/ml) were slightly higher than that in the NGT group (82.0±3.2mg/dl, 6.7±1.0μU/ml), while the glucose response following an oral glucose load in the BGT group was quite different from that of the NGT group. The area under the curve (AUC) of plasma glucose level following an oral glucose load was significantly higher in the BGT group than that in the NGT group (p<0.05), while the AUC of plasma insulin level in the BGT group did not significantly differ from that in the NGT group (p>0.05). The maximal oxygen uptake was significantly lower in the BGT group than that in the NGT group (32.4±2.8 vs. 42.5±2.6ml/kg/min, p<0.05). Systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the BGT group (134±3mmHg) than that in the NGT group (122±4mmHg, p<0.05). However, body mass index, the percentage of body fat, and waist-to-hip ratio in the BGT group did not differ from those in the NGT group. These results thus suggested that decreased physical fitness may be the primary change which induces glucose intolerance.     

Partial Trisomy 22 with Dandy-Walker Malformation

Partial trisomy 22 usually occurs through a 3:1 meiotic segregation of the parental 11q;22q translocation carrier, which is the most common balanced translocation in man. Common neurologic findings are delayed psychomotor development and muscular hypotonia. There have been a few neuroradiologic and neuropathologic studies, which include ventricular dilatation, arrhinencephaly, and aplasia or hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis, corpus callosum and pons. We here add one patient with partial trisomy 22 who had, in addition to the usual features, Dandy-Walker malformation, which, to our knowledge, is a previously undescribed feature.     

Factors associated with serum high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) levels in a general population

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a nonhistone chromatin-associated protein, is implicated as a mediator of both infectious and non-infectious inflammatory conditions. Clinical research on this protein in humans just has begun; serum HMGB1 was reported to be elevated in a small number of critically ill patients suffering from sepsis. However, the kinetics, distribution and factors associated with circulating HMGB1 are unknown in a general population. In this study, we examined these issues in a large population of healthy subjects. Fasting blood samples were obtained from 626 subjects (237 males and 389 females). HMGB1 levels showed a skewed distribution with a mean of 1.65 ± 0.04 ng/ml. Multiple stepwise regression analyses found that white blood cell (WBC) counts (P = .016) and the soluble form of receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE; P < .001, inversely), which is also known to be a receptor for HMGB1, were independently associated with HMGB1 levels. We demonstrated for the first time that circulating HMGB1 levels were inversely associated with sRAGE levels in a general population. Because RAGE is involved in HMGB1 signaling, our present study suggests that sRAGE may capture and eliminate circulating HMGB1 in humans.     

Evaluation of long-term sequential changes in bone mass and strength following withdrawal of incadronate disodium (YM175) in ovariectomized rats

We evaluated the long-term effects of withdrawal of a newer third-generation bisphosphonate, incadronate disodium (YM175), on both cancellous and cortical bone mass and strength in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. One hundred and sixty female SD rats at 13 weeks of age were randomized into four groups: sham-operated, OVX, and low- and high- YM (0.01 or 0.1 mg/kg s.c., three times a week after OVX). After 4 weeks of treatment with vehicle or incadronate disodium, rats from each group (n = 8) were killed at 0 (baseline), 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the withdrawal of YM175. Histomorphometric studies of the proximal tibia revealed a dose-dependent decrease in OVX-induced bone turnover; cancellous bone volume was significantly higher in the YM groups compared with the OVX control group up to 6 months after withdrawal at low dose and up to 12 months after withdrawal at high dose. The low-dose group showed little effect on tibial diaphyseal cortical bone volume and width, while the high-dose group preserved both cortical parameters 12 months after withdrawal. Mechanical testing of femurs revealed that both metaphyseal and diaphyseal strengths were significantly higher at high dose compared with the OVX group until 12 months after withdrawal. These observations demonstrated that high-dose incadronate disodium preserved both cancellous and cortical bone mass and strength in OVX rats for 12 months after withdrawal of the agent. Received: July 7, 2000 / Accepted: October 3, 2000     

Correlation between cross-sectional shape of choroidal veins and choroidal thickness

Purpose  

To determine whether a significant correlation exists between the ratio of the vertical and horizontal diameters of the choroidal veins and the choroidal thickness in normal eyes.     

A case of triple negative recurrent breast cancer successfully treated with capecitabine+docetaxel combination chemotherapy

A 73-year-old woman underwent pectoralis-preserving mastectomy for left breast cancer (papillotubular carcinoma, f, T2, ly0, v0, N1 (21/21), T2N1M0 (Stage IIB), ER (-), PgR (-), HER2 (-)) in August 2004. It was called a triple negative breast cancer. She received systemic chemotherapy using AC followed by paclitaxel. In February 2006 (disease- free interval of one year and five months), skin and chest wall recurrences in the left breast were revealed. Systemic chemotherapy using capecitabine (1,800 mg/body/day) monotherapy resulted in PD after 4 courses. Subsequently, treatment with capecitabine+cyclophosphamide combination therapy resulted in PD after 6 courses. Since November 2006, treatment with capecitabine+docetaxel combination chemotherapy was initiated. Each course consisted of capecitabine at a dosage of 1,800 mg/body/day for 2 weeks and docetaxel at a dosage of 60 mg/body (day 8 only) followed by withdrawal for 1 week. After 3 courses, a marked response was seen, and a total of 6 courses were performed. No serious side effect was revealed, and a marked response has been maintained. It is suspected that capecitabine+docetaxel combination therapy is useful for a triple negative recurrent breast cancer which is refractory to systemic chemotherapy.     

Validation of the pepsinogen test method for gastric cancer screening using a follow-up study

Background  

Serum pepsinogen (PG) measurement has been used for gastric cancer screening since the 1990s. However, there are no reports comparing the screening validity of the PG test method with that of conventional X-ray examination directly in the same population, using a follow-up study.