Effects of aerobic exercise conditioning at intensities corresponding to lactate threshold in the elderly

Summary In this study we attempted to determine the effects of exercise training at the intensity corresponding to lactate threshold (Th_la ^–) on various health-related variables in sedentary but apparently healthy elderly subjects. Six men and five women volunteers [mean age 68.9 (SD 3.4) years] performed supervised endurance-type training on stationary cycle ergometers for 30 min and recreational activities for 30 min, 3 days a week for 12 weeks. Four men and four women served as the control group [68.8 (SD 4.4) years]. As a result of the training programme, statistically significant increases in maximal oxygen consumption (10%), oxygen consumption at Th_la ^–(18%), distance covered in 12-min walk, side step, and leg extensor power were found in the training group, while no changes occurred in the control group. The changes in serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations from the pre- to post-training period were statistically significant. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol remained unchanged, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol tended to decrease following the training programme. These data would indicate that exercise training at the intensity corresponding to Th_la ^–may have favourable effects on overall physical fitness and some serum lipid variables in older individuals.     

Local effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide on human sweat-gland function

Physiological significance of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), a putative co-transmitter of the cholinergic neuron innervating sweat glands, was investigated by its local effect on drug-induced sweating. VIP, methacholine chloride (MCH), or VIP plus MCH dissolved in 0.1 ml of 0.9% NaCl solution to a specified concentration was injected intradermally at the center of a forearm test area of 15 cm2 and the sweat rate was recorded continuously by capacitance hygrometry. In a cool environment (Ta, 23 degrees C), VIP failed to cause sweat secretion, but increased the rate of MCH-induced sweating, most markedly at a concentration of 10(-5) g/ml, where the rise in local skin temperature was the greatest. On an area anesthetized by nerve block in a hot environment (Ta, 35 degrees C), the effect was less obvious and less consistent, indicating that the sweat-facilitatory effect of VIP is reduced under the condition of passive cutaneous vasodilation. It may be postulated that VIP plays a role in securing ample oxygen supply to functioning sweat glands, especially with a relatively high cutaneous vasoconstrictor tone.     

Topographical gradient in expression of R2D5 antigen in superior olivary nuclei and hippocampal dentate gyrus of the cat.

An immunohistochemical analysis of the cat central nervous system revealed that a monoclonal antibody which recognizes a soluble cytosolic protein, R2D5, bound two regions in a prominent spatial gradient. In the medial and lateral superior olivary nuclei of the brainstem, R2D5 immunoreactivity appeared as a gradient across a population of topographically ordered principal neurons. The spatial gradient corresponded to the tonotopic organization in the superior olivary nuclei: i.e., R2D5 immunoreactivity tended to occur more frequently and intensely in low-frequency neurons than in high-frequency neurons. Granule cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus also had a pronounced spatial gradient in R2D5 immunoreactivity expression, and this gradient corresponded to the septotemporal axis of the hippocampus. Granule cells of the temporal (ventral) portions of the hippocampus were labeled intensely with R2D5 antibody, while those located in progressively more septal (dorsal) portions had gradually less immunoreactivity. These results suggest that in both the superior olivary nuclei and the hippocampal dentate gyrus, neurons differ in intrinsic properties by their position along specific axes. They suggest also that the hippocampus has an intrinsic functional organization related to the spatial gradient along its septotemporal axis.     

Balloon cell nevus of the soft palate: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study

An ultrastructural analysis of oral balloon cell nevus of intramucosal type complemented with an immunohistochemical study was performed for the first time. The lesion was composed of large balloon cells with an admixture of small nevus cells and melanophages at the periphery. Balloon cells showed cytoplasmic accumulation of vacuoles of varying sizes and the presence of microgranular and vacuolated melanosomes were found. Residual cytoplasm contained no identifiable organelles. A spectrum of transitional forms between balloon cells and conventional nevus cells with microvacuoles was readily observed. Both cells exhibited intense immunoreactivity to multiple melanocytic markers. Ballooning phenomenon was not evident in melanophages containing a large amount of melanosome complex. It can be inferred, from the present and previous observations, that progressive vacuolization of melanosomes in nevomelanocytes may be responsible for the formation of peculiar ballooning appearance, suggesting an aberrant melanogenesis.     

Studies of bovine enterovirus structure by ultraviolet resonance Raman spectroscopy

The structural comparison of bovine enterovirus MZ468 strain before and after the heat treatment was studied by ultraviolet resonance Raman (UVRR) spectra excited at both 235 and 251 nm. The difference between full, heated full and purified empty particles, which were expected as an in vitro model of uncoating, were demonstrated. At 235 nm excitation, the Raman bands of the capsid protein dominated in all the UVRR spectra. The UVRR spectra of the empty particles exhibited non-homogenious broadening for tryptophan W3 band and W7 Fermi doublet bands, which were characteristics of hydrophobic environment, when compared with those of the full particles. The results indicates that some Trp indole rings of the full particles were packaged inside the viral capsids and not strained by virion assembly. On the other hand, the Raman bands assigned to guanine residues of the single stranded-RNA genome were enhanced strongly in the 251-nm excited UVRR spectrum. The spectral differences between the packaged (full particles) and the unpackaged virions (heated full particles) indicates that some guanine residues had strong hydrogen bonds in the full particles.     

Lymphocyte subpopulations and T-cell subsets in human oral cancer tissues: immunohistologic analysis by monoclonal antibodies

A series of T-cell-specific monoclonal antibodies (Leu-1, Leu-2a, and Leu-3a) and B-cell-specific monoclonal antibody (HLB-1) were used to detect the localization and intensity of infiltration of lymphocyte subpopulations and T-cell subsets in frozen sections of 17 patients with the oral cancer. The vast majority of the lymphocyte infiltrates in the oral cancer tissues were reactive with Leu-1. In contrast, B cells were detectable with HLB-1 in only 2 of 17 cases. Leu-2a-positive cells were dominant in four cases, whereas Leu-3a positive cells were dominant in only three cases. In seven cases, both cells infiltrated to the same degree. Leu-2a positive cells tended to be dominant in the cases with earlier clinical stages.     

Suppressor activity in the supernatant of T cell clones derived from chimeric mouse spleen cells

The supernatant from cultures of T cell clones derived from (BALB/c----C3H/He) chimeras suppresses BALB/c anti-C3H/He or BALB/c anti-C57BL/6 MLRs. When we studied the alloantigen specificity of the suppressor activity in culture supernatant, we observed three types of the suppressor activity (i.e., the suppressor activity against BALB/c anti-C3H/He MLR, against BALB/c anti-C57BL/6 MLR, and against both MLRs) on day 3 after stimulation of the T cell clones with 20% crude IL2 and feeder cells. Since the alloantigen specificity fluctuated somewhat with time, we considered that a time-course study was needed to determine it correctly. We thought it unlikely that any IFN-gamma or PGE2 in the culture supernatant of the T cell clones would have mediated the suppression. Our results suggest that alloantigen specific and non-specific suppressor T cells exist in bone marrow chimeras. The former appears to play an important role in inducing and maintaining transplantation tolerance, while the latter seems to have a rather harmful effect upon chimeras.     

Protective effects of a water-soluble extract from cultured medium of Ganoderma lucidum (Rei-shi) mycelia and Agaricus blazei murill against X-irradiation in B6C3F1 mice: Increased small intestinal crypt survival and prolongation of average time to animal death

Radioprotective effects of a water-soluble extracts from cultured medium of Ganoderma lucidum (Rei-shi) mycelia (designed as MAK) and Agaricus blazei (Agaricus) against the shortening of survival time or the injury of crypt by X-irradiation were investigated in male B6C3F1 mice. MAK and Agaricus at three different doses were mixed into basal diet into biscuits at 5, 2.5 and 1.25% and administered from 1 week before irradiation. MAK (5% group) significantly prolonged animal survival as compared with basal diet group (control group) after 7 Gy of X-ray irradiation at a dose rate of 2 Gy min(-1). At doses of 8, 10 and 12 Gy X-irradiation at a dose rate of 4 Gy min(-1) MAK (5% group) significantly increased crypt survival as compared to other groups. These results suggest that MAK can act as a radioprotective agent.     

Altered synthesis of interferon-γ and expression of interferon-γ receptor by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with IgA nephropathy and non-IgA proliferative glomerulonephritis

Previously we reported disease-specific interaction between interferon- (IFN-) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), suggesting the existence of unusual T cell behavior in this disease. In the present study, we investigated characteristic synthesis of interferon- (IFN-) and expression of IFN- receptor (IFN-R) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with IgAN and other chronic proliferative glomerulonephritis (PGN). Heparinized peripheral blood samples were obtained from 38 patients with chronic mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (CGN; including 24 with IgA nephropathy) and 20 healthy controls. PBMC were isolated by gradient centrifugation and fragments were cultured in Iscove's modified Dulbecco's medium (IMDM) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) for 72 hr. IFN- concentrations in supernatants were evaluated by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Other parts of PBMC pellets were reacted with anti-human IFN-R monoclonal antibody and FITC-labeled anti-mouse second antibody for analysis of IFN-R expression on these cells by FACScan. The remaining PBMC were fractionated into CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells, B cells, NK, cells and macrophages using the MACS cell sorting system. The isolated cells were evaluated for IFN- or IFN-R mRNA expression by the semiquantitative RT-PCR method.In vitro IFN- synthesis was enhanced in patients with CGN, and NK cells were revealed to be responsible for such enhancement. On the other hand, the expression of IFN-R on macrophages was suppressed in CGN patients. These results suggest that impairment of regulation of the IFN- system might be involved in the development of CGN.     

Functional analysis of PTPN11/SHP-2 mutants identified in Noonan syndrome and childhood leukemia

Noonan syndrome (NS) is characterized by short stature, characteristic facial features, and heart defects. Recently, missense mutations of PTPN11, the gene encoding protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) SHP-2, were identified in patients with NS. Further, somatic mutations in PTPN11 were detected in childhood leukemia. Recent studies showed that the phosphatase activities of five mutations identified in NS and juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) were increased. However, the functional properties of the other mutations remain unidentified. In this study, in order to clarify the differences between the mutations identified in NS and leukemia, we examined the phosphatase activity of 14 mutants of SHP-2. We identified nine mutations, including a novel F71I mutation, in 16 of 41 NS patients and two mutations, including a novel G503V mutation, in three of 29 patients with leukemia. Immune complex phosphatase assays of individual mutants transfected in COS7 cells showed that ten mutants identified in NS and four mutants in leukemia showed 1.4-fold to 12.7-fold increased activation compared with wild-type SHP-2. These results suggest that the pathogenesis of NS and leukemia is associated with enhanced phosphatase activity of mutant SHP-2. A comparison of the phosphatase activity in each mutant and a review of previously reported cases showed that high phosphatase activity observed in mutations at codons 61, 71, 72, and 76 was significantly associated with leukemogenesis.