Total energy expenditure of elite synchronized swimmers measured by the doubly labeled water method

To determine the daily energy requirement of elite synchronized swimmers during moderate-intensity training, the average daily energy expenditure measured by the doubly labeled water method, was calculated for nine female Japanese national team synchronized swimmers [four senior; mean (SD) 22.5 (1.0) years old, 52.2 (3.6) kg, and five junior; 17.6 (1.1) years old, 52.8 (2.3) kg]. Their total energy expenditure (TEE) was 11.5 (2.8) MJ · day⁻¹ [2738 (672) kcal · day⁻¹]. When compared with estimated energy requirements derived from “Recommended Dietary Allowances for the Japanese”, 12.1 (0.6) MJ · day⁻¹ [2897 (139) kcal · day⁻¹], there was no difference between mean actual and estimated energy requirements. However, there were considerable differences observed on an individual basis. Their energy intake, estimated from 7- day self-reported dietary records, was 8.9 (1.7) MJ · day⁻¹ [2128 (395) kcal · day⁻¹], which was significantly lower than their TEE (P < 0.05). Resting energy expenditure (REE), as determined by indirect calorimetry, was 5.2 (0.3) MJ · day⁻¹ [1247 (75) kcal · day⁻¹]. Their physical activity level (TEE/REE) was 2.18 (0.43). These results demonstrate that the TEE values of elite female synchronized swimmers are not dissimilar to those reported for athletes participating in other sports, especially competitive swimmers during moderate-intensity training. Accepted: 26 May 2000     

Cytogenetic studies of Hynobiidae (Urodela) XIX. Morphological variation of sex chromosomes pairing behavior of sex lampbrush chromosomes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hynobius quelpaertensis</Emphasis> (Mori) from Cheju Island,South Korea

Using Giemsa staining, C-banding and Ag-NOR staining techniques, we analyzed chromosomes in adult male and female Hynobius quelpaertensis and in embryos of this species in egg sacs collected from eight localities of Cheju Island, South Korea. Chromosome pair 21 was consistently homomorphic in male specimens, while it was heteromorphic in female specimens, suggesting the occurrence of ZZ/ZW sex chromosome constitution in this species. The W chromosome, being much larger than the Z chromosome, was of three morphologically distinct types: W^A, W^B and W^C. Lampbrush chromosomes examined in the oocytes of one female specimen having the W^A chromosome showed that the short arm of the W^A chromosome and the long arm of the Z chromosome paired closely and hence are genetically homologous. We also tried to analyze the structural relationship among the three types of W chromosomes based on their C-banding and Ag-NOR patterns.     

Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases in the sciatic nerves of rats with experimental autoimmune neuritis

To investigate whether the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is involved in autoimmune injury of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), the expression of phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) was analyzed in experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) in rats. Western blot analysis showed that the level of p-ERK was increased significantly in the sciatic nerves of rats on days 14 (p<0.05) and 24 (p<0.01) post-immunization, compared with controls, and its reaction declined at day 30 post-immunization. Immunohistochemistry showed that p-ERK protein was weakly expressed in Schwann cells and vascular endothelial cells in the sciatic nerves of CFA-immunized control rats. In EAN-affected sciatic nerves, p-ERK immunoreactivity was found mainly in ED1-positive macrophages on days 14 and 24 post-immunization. Moreover, on days 24 and 30 post-immunization, p-ERK immunoreactivity increased gradually in the Schwann cells of rat sciatic nerves with EAN. Based on these results, we postulated that the phosphorylation of ERK has an important role in the differentiation and survival of cells, including inflammatory cells and Schwann cells, in the rat sciatic nerve in EAN. Specifically, the activation of ERK in the recovery phase of EAN paralysis seems to be related in the survival of Schwann cells.     

A new pseudo-peptide of Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) with inhibitory effect on tumor metastasis and enzymatic degradation of extracellular matrix

A series of pseudo-peptide analogs of the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence of fibronectin have been synthe-sized, and their anti-metastatic effects in mice and inhibitory effects on tumor cell invasion in vitro have been examined. The partially modified retro pseudo-peptide of RGD, R_rev-COCH₂CO-D (FC-63), was more effective in inhibiting tumor metastasis than the original RGDS peptide. Replacement of the malonyl moiety of FC-63 with a carboxyethylene linkage (R_rev-COCH₂CH₂-D, FC-303 ) achieved more potent inhibition of lung metastasis of melanoma cells than FC-63. Among the analogs, FC-336, a p-xylylendiamine derivative having two FC-303 moieties, showed the most potent inhibitory effect on experimental lung metastasis produced by i.v. co-injection with B16-BL6 melanoma or colon 26 M3.1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Multiple administrations of FC-336 after tumor inoculation also showed efficient therapeutic potency against spontaneous lung metastasis of B16-BL6 melanoma in mice. Furthermore, FC-336 effectively inhibited the invasion, migration and adhesion of tumor cells in vitro, but its inhibitory effects were not more than those of RGDS peptide. Zymography analysis revealed that FC-336 inhibited the degradation of gelatin substrate by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) produced by tumor cells, while the RGDS peptide did not affect the enzymatic degradation. These findings indicate that the pseudo-peptides of the RGD sequence, possessing the inhibitory property of the degradation by MMPs differently from original RGD-containing peptides, may be advantageous and useful in preventing tumor metastasis. © Rapid Science 1998     

Two cases of paragangliomas of the cauda equina--case reports and review of the literature

Paragangliomas are tumors arising in the paraganglia and rarely occurring in the cauda equina. We report two cases of paraganglioma arising in this region. The tumors exhibited a typical "Zellballen" pattern, and immunohistochemical studies were positive for neuron-specific enolase, but negative for S-100 protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Electron microscopic studies confirmed electron-dense neurosecretory types of granules in the tumor cells. Only 23 cases of paragangliomas in this region have been previously reported. A brief review of the literature is included.     

Effects of metal-containing drugs taken simultaneously with clioquinol upon clinical features of SMON

In order to explore the effects of metals upon the subsequent onset of several clinical events in SMON, a retrospective cohort study was attempted. Study subjects were 216 "exposed" patients and 149 "unexposed" patients. "Exposure" was defined as the simultaneous ingestion of metal-containing drugs with clioquinol before the onset of neurological disorders. These two cohorts were identified from 531 patients among 832 patients, collected by the nationwide survey in 1975 and 1976. Effects provoked by ingestion of five metals (alminum, calcium, magnesium, copper and bismuth) were evaluated by relative risks with and without adjustment of the total amount of clioquinol ingested. Adjusted relative risks were estimated by maximum likelihood method. Significance of relative risk was determined by its 95% confidence interval. Following major findings emerged from the present analysis. (1) Simultaneous ingestion of Al-, Ca-, Mg-, Cu- or Bi-containing drugs with clioquinol significantly reduced the risk of developing motor disturbances. (2) Risk of developing visual disturbances were favorably modified by Al-containing drugs. (3) Clinical severity was significantly reduced by ingestion of Al-, Ca-, Mg- or Bi-containing drugs. (4) About 2-fold increase in risk of unfavorable clinical course was demonstrated by Al-containing drugs. (5) Onset of both green-fur on the tongue and relapse appeared unrelated to the metal-containing drugs ingested. (6) Combined ingestion of two kinds of metal-containing drugs with clioquinol appeared to yield more favorable effects than single ingestion of metal-containing drugs. (7) Al- or Bi-containing drugs demonstrated the strongest association with clinical features of SMON, followed by the drugs containing Mg or Ca. Cu-containing drugs had little association.