Usefulness and limitation of phylogenetic analysis for hepatitis C virus core region: application to isolates from Egyptian and Yemeni patients

Summary We report here the nucleotide sequences of the core region of HCV isolates from Egyptian and Yemeni patients and the method for classifying these HCV isolates by phylogenetic analysis. Sequence comparison suggested that the genotypes of these isolates were the same. Preliminary phylogenetic analysis of the HCV core region indicated that the genotypes of both isolates were 1c. However, an additional phylogenetic tree of the HCV core region constructed using a greater number of HCV isolates than that used in the preliminary analysis and on the basis of alignment of nucleotide sequences in an appropriate length indicated that the genotypes of these isolates were 4 and not 1c. For a more detailed analysis, the nucleotide sequences of the HCV E1 region as well as the core region for the same Yemeni patient were determined. A phylogenetic tree of the E1 region confirmed that the genotype of the HCV isolate from the Yemeni patient was 4. These data indicate that even when classifying HCV isolates using phylogenetic analysis, the misclassification would occur if care is not taken regarding the number and sequence lengths of the isolates included in the analysis.     

Effects of home-based combined resistance training and walking on metabolic profiles in elderly Japanese

Background: To evaluate the effects of home‐based combined resistance training and walking on metabolic profiles in elderly Japanese subjects. Methods: Two hundred and forty‐four elderly Japanese participants were divided into two groups (184 training group and 60 controls). Each exercise training session consisted of one set of 10 repetitions of 11 different resistance exercises, and the training lasted 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were obtained for measurements of serum levels of total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), triglycerides, hemoglobin A_1c, insulin and plasma glucose, before and after the training period. We estimated insulin resistance using the homeostasis model assessment. Five subjects further underwent a two‐step hyperinsulinemic‐euglycemic clamp to evaluate insulin action directly before and after the training. Results: Training resulted in a significant increase in HDL‐C (60 ± 1–62 ± 1 mg/dL, mean ± SE, P < 0.01) and a significant decrease in triglycerides (115 ± 5–106 ± 4 mg/dL, P < 0.05), while no significant changes were observed for total cholesterol, plasma glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment or hemoglobin A_1c. Glucose infusion rates during the hyperinsulinemic‐euglycemic clamp increased by 30% (P < 0.05) at the 40 mU/m² per min infusion rate, from 5.4 ± 0.9 to 7.0 ± 1.1 mg/kg per min and by 15% (P < 0.01) at the 400 mU/m² per min infusion rate, from 9.4 ± 1.0 to 10.8 ± 1.2 mg/kg per min. In the control group, no significant changes were noted except for a significant decrease in HDL‐C. Conclusions: Our home‐based exercise program for elderly is safe and effective for improving metabolic profiles.     

Effects of aerobic and resistance exercise training on insulin action in the elderly

Background:   Aging is associated with a declining glucose tolerance, which is primarily caused by peripheral insulin resistance, and with a decline in physical activity. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of aerobic and resistance exercise training on insulin action in the elderly.
Methods:   Fourteen healthy male subjects (age: 65–73 years) were enrolled and divided into two exercise groups: resistance training (RT) or a combined aerobic and resistance training (CT). Subjects participated in each training program three times a week for 12 weeks. Before and after the training program, insulin action was determined using the euglycemic clamp technique at insulin infusion rates of 40 (low) or 400 (high) mU/m² per min. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
Results:   Percent fat decreased significantly in both groups. Fat-free mass (FFM) tended to increase in the RT group ( P  = 0.054), but not in the CT group. In the CT group, the glucose infusion rate (GIR) increased 16.6% ( P  < 0.05) at the low insulin infusion rate and 21.7% ( P  < 0.01) at the high rate. In the RT group, GIR tended to increase at the low insulin infusion rate, but was not statistically significant ( P  = 0.052) and increased 9.9% ( P  < 0.05) at the high rate. When calculated per FFM, the increased insulin action persisted in the CT group ( P  < 0.01), but not in the RT group.
Conclusion:   The combination of aerobic and resistance training is more effective for improving the decreased insulin action in the elderly than resistance training alone.     

Neurogenic regulation of basal tone of coronary artery with mild atherosclerosis in humans: observation using two-dimensional intravascular ultrasound

The purpose of this study was to assess the role of the autonomic nervous system in the regulation of basal coronary artery tone in normal and atherosclerotic plaque segments by using intravascular ultrasound in humans. In each of 21 patients, a short-axis image at one site of coronary artery was imaged by means of a 3.2F, 30-MHz intravascular ultrasound before and after intracoronary administration of 2 mg isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN). The authors identified the perimeters of the vessel wall segments with normal or atherosclerotic plaque on ultrasound images and evaluated the basal tone in each segment as a percent increase in each perimeter produced by ISDN. Using heart rate variability analysis for 512 seconds recorded immediately before ISDN administration, they evaluated cardiac sympathetic and vagal activities at rest as the integrated power of fast Fourier transform (FFT) spectrum for the low-frequency (LF: 0.04 to 0.15 Hz), and high-frequency (HF: 0.15 to 0.4 Hz) components, respectively. Of 29 segments examined by ultrasound, 16 were normal and 13 were atherosclerotic plaque. In all 29 segments, ISDN produced an increase in the perimeter of the vessel wall. At the normal 16 segments, the increase in perimeter by ISDN exhibited a significant correlation to the power of HF (r = 0.749, p = 0.0008) but no significant correlation to LF. At 13 plaque segments, however, no significant correlation between the response to ISDN and autonomic nerve activity was observed. In conclusion, the basal tone of normal coronary arterial wall segment is closely related to parasympathetic nerve, whereas the relation is impaired in mild atherosclerotic segments.     

Sensitive detection of myocardial contraction abnormality in chronic hemodialysis patients by ultrasonic tissue characterization with integrated backscatter

Since acoustic properties of the myocardium are sensitive to the myocardial structure and the contractile conditions of myocyte, the authors evaluated cardiac dysfunction based on the integrated ultrasonic backscatter in 18 hemodialysis (HD) patients (duration: 102 +/- 84 months, mean age: 57.6 +/- 9.7 years) and 11 age-matched normals. The cyclic variation of integrated backscatter (CV-IB) at interventricular septum (IVS) and left ventricular posterior wall (PW) was measured and compared with percent fractional shortening (%FS) and percent wall thickening (%Th). The CV-IB of HD patients was smaller than that of control subjects (IVS: 6.2 +/- 1.1 dB vs 8.2 +/- 1.1 dB, p = 0.0003 and PW: 8.4 +/- 2.2 vs 10.3 +/- 1.3, p= 0.025). No significant difference was observed in %FS and %Th between HD patients and control subjects. In HD, the ratio of velocities of early diastolic inflow (E) to late atrial inflow was decreased (0.7 +/- 0.2 vs 1.1 +/- 0.7, p = 0.049) and deceleration time of E was prolonged significantly (200 +/- 28 msec vs 159 +/- 30 msec, p = 0.0082). In the absence of overt cardiac systolic dysfunction, myocardial damage indicated as a decrease in CV-IB and diastolic dysfunction identified on transmitral velocity waveform were detected, which may reflect from the myocardial fibrosis. As a mechanism, pressure overload, hyperparathyroidism, and anemia were neglected, and the other humoral factors may contribute to the myocardial damage in chronic renal failure.     

A prospective study of body size and colon cancer mortality in Japan: The JACC Study

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether body size measurements are risk factors for colon cancer death among the Japanese. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: A nationwide prospective study, the Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) Study from 1988 to 1999. The present analysis included 43 171 men and 58 775 women aged 40-79 y who respond to a questionnaire on current weight and height, weight around 20 y of age, and other lifestyle factors. Body mass index (BMI) at baseline and 20 y of age (B-BMI and 20-BMI, respectively) were calculated. RESULTS: We identified 127 deaths from colon cancer during the follow-up of 424 698 person-years among men and 122 deaths during the follow-up of 591 787 person-years among women. After adjustments for the lifestyle factors known to modify the risk of colon cancer, weight at baseline showed a significant positive association in women, while no such association was seen in men. There was also a significant trend of increasing risk with the increase in B-BMI among women. Women with B-BMI >/=28 kg/m(2) had a relative risk (RR) of 3.41 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.44-8.06) compared with those with BMI of 20-<22 kg/m(2). 20-BMI also presented the same trend of increasing risk as B-BMI. Women with 20-BMI of <22 and B-BMI of >26 kg/m(2), that is, excessive BMI gain, had a high RR of 3.41 (95% CI 1.29-9.02) compared with those with 20-BMI of <22 and B-BMI of <22 kg/m(2). There were no corresponding trends of colon cancer risk for B-BMI, 20-BMI, or BMI change among men. CONCLUSIONS: These study data suggest that obesity and excessive weight gain are associated with the risk of colon cancer death in Japanese women but no such relationship was found in Japanese men.     

IN VIVO TRAFFICKING OF LONG-CIRCULATING LIPOSOMES IN TUMOUR-BEARING MICE DETERMINED BY POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY

Various kinds of long-circulating liposome, such as ganglioside GM1-, polyethyleneglycol- (PEG-), and glucuronide-modified liposomes, have been developed for passive targeting of liposomal drugs to tumours. To evaluate the in vivo behaviour of such long-circulating liposomes, we investigated the liposomal trafficking, especially early trafficking just after injection of liposomes, by a non-invasive method using positron emission tomography (PET). Liposomes composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and modifier, namely, GM1, distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE)–PEG or palmityl-D -glucuronide (PGlcUA), were labelled with [2-¹⁸F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D -glucose ([2-¹⁸F]FDG), and administered to mice bearing Meth A sarcoma after having been sized to 100 nm. A PET scan was started immediately after injection of liposomes and continued for 120 min. PET images and time–activity curves indicated that PEG liposomes and PGlcUA liposomes were efficiently accumulated in tumour tissues time dependently from immediately after injection. In contrast, GM1 liposomes accumulated less in the tumour as was also the case for control liposomes that contained dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) instead of a modifier. Long-circulating liposomes including GM1 liposomes, however, remained in the blood circulation and avoided liver trapping compared with control DPPG liposomes. These data suggest that PGlcUA and PEG liposomes start to accumulate in the tumour just after injection, whereas GM1 liposomes may accumulate in the tumour after a longer period of circulation.     

Gastric and Colo-rectal Cancer Mortality in Viet Nam in the Years 2005-2006

Background: The International Collaborative Epidemiological Study of Host and Environmental Factors for Stomach and Colorectal Cancers in Southeast Asian Countries (SEACs) has been conducted in Viet Nam from 2003 to 2008 on a case-control basis. For further effective primary prevention, we examined gastric and colorectal cancer mortality nationwide in eight regions of Viet Nam in 2005-06. Methods: Both demographic data and lists of all deaths in 2005-06 were obtained from all 10,769 commune health stations in Viet Nam. Five indicators included name, age, sex, date of death and cause of death was collected for each case. We selected only communes having the list of deaths with clear cause for each case and crude mortality rate for all causes from 300-600/100,000 as published by the Ministry of Health for a reasonable accuracy and completeness. Obtained data for all causes, all cancers, stomach and colorectal cancer deaths as well as demographic information were processed using Excel software and exported to STATA 8.0 for estimation of world age-standardized cancer mortality rates per 100,000. Results: Data were available for 1,246 gastric cases, (819 male and 427 female) with age-standardized mortality rates from 12.7 to 31.3 per 100,000 in males and from 5.9 to 10.3 per 100,000 in females in the 8 regions of the country. For colorectal cancers, 542 cases (268 male and 274 female) gave mortality rates from 4.0 to 11.3 per 100,000 in males and from 3.0 to 7.8 per 100,000 in females. Discussion: Stomach cancer mortality in males in the region of North East in the North Viet Nam (2005-06) was higher than that in Japan (2002) (31.3 versus 28.7 per 100,000) while colorectal cancer in Viet Nam was lower. While prevalence of Hp infection in Viet Nam was from 70-75% in both males and females, the stomach cancer rate in males was significantly higher than in females, 31.3 versus 6.8 per 100,000, suggesting an influence of other environmental risk factors. Whether protective factors are operating against colorectal cancer in Viet Nam now needs to be explored.     

Elevated risk of tuberculosis by occupation with special reference to health care workers

We conducted a study to evaluate tuberculosis (TB) risk in Japan by work performed, either paid or unpaid. We collated information on sex, age, employment category, occupation, and family history from 1120 registration cards of new TB cases at two wards in Nagoya City over seven years (1989-1995). We used census data and data from the Survey of Physicians, Dentists and Pharmacists conducted in 1990 to estimate the population at risk by employment category and occupation. Elevated TB incidence rates were observed for female nurses (SIR: 3.81; 95% CI: 1.97-6.65), clinical laboratory technicians (SIR: 25.00; 6.81-63.99), and males without a paid job (SIR: 1.35; 1.20-1.53). A work environment conducive to transmission may have increased the TB risk in female nurses and clinical laboratory technicians. Male jobless people and institutionalized elderly residents may have enhanced the TB risk for males without a paid job.