Fluid and Protein Secretion by the Submandibular Glands of Weanling Rats in Response to Cholinergic and Peptidergic Agonists at Various Doses

Fluid and protein secretion by the submandibular glands of 25-day-old rats were examined and compared in response to three cholinergic and four peptidergic sialogogues at various doses. All cholinergic and peptidergic agonists used were potent sialogogues for the submandibular glands of the weanling rats over the wide range of doses used. The cholinergic agonists, bethanechol and methacholine and the peptidergic agonists, substance P, substance P^Tyr8 and eledoisin-related peptide used intravenously, acted similarly to each other on the submandibular glands of the rats, late in the natural weaning period, but carbachol and physalaemin had slightly different effects. Of the peptidergic agonists, physalaemin was the most potent sialogogue among four tachykinins tested at the low dose. The types of protein secreted by the submandibular glands of the weanling rats in response to all sialogogues used here were typical of the β-type. These results indicate that all agonists used could mainly stimulate the acinar cells of the submandibular glands of the weanling rats which have already fully developed functionally at this time.     

Cyclosporine therapy affects aminotransferase activity but not hepatitis C virus RNA levels in chronic hepatitis C

Interferon (IFN) therapy is of proven efficacy in chronic hepatitis C, but it is not universally effective and is often limited by side effects. Cyclosporine A (CsA) is a potent immunosuppressant widely used in organ transplantation. We conducted a pilot study to determine whether CsA therapy could affect aminotransferase activity and hepatitis C virus RNA levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Cyclosporine A was administered to 10 patients (mean age of 59 years; male: female = 9:1) who did not respond to IFN therapy previously and who had elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values for at least 6 months. All patients were positive for HCV-RNA by RT-PCR with genotype 1b. Their mean duration of hepatitis was 15 years. Oral CsA was given for 3 months in a dose that was increased at 1 month intervals from 1.5–2.0 to 2.0–3.0 and 3.0–4.0 mg/kg per day. All patients completed the treatment schedule, although two patients developed mild non-symptomatic hypertension. Serum ALT levels gradually decreased in all but one patient. The mean percentage decrease was 59.5% at the end of therapy (from 153 ± 82 to 62 ± 48 IU/L; P < 0.02). The ALT levels fell to the normal range in five patients, although once therapy was discontinued the enzyme levels tended to return to pretreatment levels. Serum aspartate aminotransferase and g-glutamyl transpeptidase levels similarly decreased. The serum HCV-RNA titre, determined by competitive RT-PCR, did not change in any patient throughout the study period. There were no appreciable alterations in other laboratory tests, such as serum creatinine levels and lymphocyte subsets, except for an increase in serum alkaline phosphatase levels. These findings suggest that CsA, even in a relatively low dose, reduces serum aminotransferase levels without serious side effects in patients with chronic-hepatitis C, although an antiviral effect was not noted.     

Coronary risk factors in school children in relation to their family history of coronary heart disease and hyperlipidemia

A school-based study was implemented to assess the family history of coronary heart disease (CHD) and hyperlipidemia (HL) in relation to serum lipoprotein and apolipoprotein levels. One hundred and twenty-five elementary school students (aged9–10 years) and 297 junior high school students (aged12–13 years) participated. Family history was evaluated by the following scoring method: positive family history in a parent. 2 points: in a grandparent. 1 point: and onset of CHD before age 60, 1 additional point. Family history of HL was positive in 8.2% of elementary school students, and 4.2% in junior high school students. Family history of CHD was positive in 11.5% of elementary students, and 11.0% in junior students. Family history score (FHS) for HL was related to serum total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-T, apolipoprotein B (apoB) and lipoprotein (a) in elementary students, and to TC, LDLC, triglyceride and apoB in junior students. There was no relationship between FHS for CHD and serum lipoprotein or apolipoprotein levels in any student. The children with a positive FH of HL already demonstrated an atherogenic lipid profile while those with FH of CHD did not. which was probably because lipid profiles in children are more genetically mediated by a FH of HL than of CHD.     

Association between the five-factor model of personality and work engagement: a meta-analysis

The purposes of this meta-analysis were (1) to examine the associations between work engagement (WE) and the personality dimensions of five-factor model and (2) to determine how much variance in WE is explained by these five factors. We performed a database search for studies related to personality traits and WE, and 36 papers that reported correlation coefficients were selected for the meta-analysis. After correcting for publication bias using the trim-and-fill method, conscientiousness had the strongest association with WE (ρ=0.41), followed by extraversion and openness to experience (0.38), neuroticism (−0.36), and agreeableness (0.27). Moreover, 30% of the WE variance could be explained by the five-factor model (R²=0.33, 95%CI=0.26–0.49) according to a path analysis using the weighted average correlation for unreliability. This proportion was higher than that from a previous meta-analysis of job satisfaction and job performance and was lower than that of personality and WE. Thus, to enhance WE, it is necessary to evaluate both the personality and the psychosocial work environment in detail.     

Role of vagotony in sinus node dysfunction in children with symptomatic congenital long QT syndrome

The present study examined chronotropic dysfunction and the role of vagotony in congenital long QT syndrome, sinus node function and the effects of parasympathetic blockade. Six patients with congenital long QT syndrome were studied. The four males and two females, aged 1–15 years, had episodes of syncope and malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Congenital long QT syndrome was defined as a corrected QT interval greater than 0.45 s, T wave alternans and the age at diagnosis. The sinus heart rate measured from a 24 h electrocardiograph was abnormally low (< 50 min) in three patients (1, 4 and 5 years old) and did not increase sufficiently with the administration of atropine in five of the six patients with congenital long QT syndrome. From intracardiac electrophysiological studies, the corrected sinus node recovery time was prolonged in three patients and the total sinoatrial conduction time was prolonged in two patients. In most patients who had an abnormally long sinoatrial conduction time and corrected sinus node recovery time, these values returned to normal following atropine administration. In one patient, the corrected sinus node recovery time was prolonged paradoxically by atropine. Sinus node dysfunction in congenital long QT syndrome was affected by vagotony associated with a right sympathetic nerve system abnormality.     

Assessment of body composition measured by bioelectrical impedance in children

Bioelectorical impedance methods have been found to be a valid and reliable way of estimating per cent body fat (%BF) in adults. We applied them to healthy children and compared them with conventional anthropometry methods. One thousand two hundred and sixteen children participated in this study. Impedance and skinfold thickness were measured, and %BF was estimated using these values. Bodyweight and height were measured, and per cent obesity (%OB) and body mass index (BMI) were obtained. The values of %BF by the bioelectrical impedance method (%BFi) were 8.6 ± 4.0% in the junior male group, 14.2±2.8% in the junior female group, 7.9±4.7% in the senior male group and 16.1 ±2.9% in the senior female group. The % BFi correlated strongly with skinfold thickness, %OB and BMI. Thus %BFi correlated strongly with variables from conventional methods. It was concluded that it is a reliable way of assessing lipid storage in children.     

PREVALENCE OF RAYNAUD'S PHENOMENON AND SPECIFIC CLINICAL SIGNS RELATED TO PROGRESSIVE SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS IN THE GENERAL POPULATION OF JAPAN

Background. In order to evaluate the prevalence rates of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and specific clinical signs related to progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) in the general population of Japan, inquiries were made concerning RP in the hands and dermatologic examinations were also conducted. Methods. One thousand and sixty-three subjects (332 men and 731 women) over 30 years of age who underwent inhabitants' health examinations in 1990 were considered for this study. Results. The prevalence of RP was 3.0% in men and 3.4% in women. In 8 men and 17 women with RP who received the blood tests, the positive rates of antinuclear antibody (ANA) were 12.5% and 35.3% in men and women, respectively. The prevalence rates of all five specific clinical signs related to PSS, sclerodactyly, pitting scars of the fingers, brown pigmentation of the body, shortened frenulum of the tongue, and flexion contracture of fingers, were under 2% in men and 3% in women. In women with RP the prevalence rates of sclerodactyly, pitting scars of the fingertips, brown pigmentation of the body, and shortened frenulum of the tongue were 16.0, 4.0, 4.0, and 16.0%, respectively. These values were significantly higher than those of persons without RP. Conclusions. Because some persons with primary RP may become typical cases of PSS within several years, a follow-up study, particulary for women who have positive titers of ANA with RP, should be carried out to find out whether the persons suffer from PSS or not.     

Characteristics of obese children with low content of arachidonic acid in plasma lipids

BACKGROUND: Although there have been many studies on the relationship between obesity and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA), the results and their interpretation are controversial, especially in children. Arachidonic acid (AA), the product of n-6 LCPUFA, is reported to be related to insulin resistance. The purpose of the present paper was to investigate the LCPUFA profile in obese children and mechanisms that contribute to reduced AA content. METHOD: An age- and sex-matched control study was performed. The study subjects were 59 obese children (mean age, 11.8 years) and 53 healthy non-obese children (mean age, 12.5 years). The study parameters included anthropometric measurements, serum lipids, leptin and fatty acid composition in plasma. RESULTS: Plasma fatty acids in obese children had lower linoleic acid (P < 0.0001) and higher dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (P = 0.0004) than those in non-obese children. In all subjects combined, delta-6 desaturase (D6D) index (ratios of [C 18:3n-6+C 20:2n-6]/C 20:4n-6 or C 20:4n-6/C 18: 2n-6) correlated with leptin (P < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in AA content between obese and non-obese. However, the AA content was low (相似文献