Effects of swimming training in the hot spring pool on ventilatory function in bronchial asthma

Effect of free swimming training in the hot spring pool (30℃) on ventilatory function were observed in nine patients with intractable asthma by measuring FVC, FEV(1.0), PEFR, MMF, V(50), V(25). 1. Swimming in the hot spring pool for three months allowed the reduction of glucocorticoid used for their asthma attack. 2. Although FVC was not affected by swimming training, EEV(1.0), PEFR, MMF, V(50), V(25) which represent obstructive ventilatory function were gradually improved by swimming training. The results show that free swimming training in the hot springpool is clinically available in intractable asthma

Clinical effects of swimming training in a hot spring pool on bronchial asthma

Five severe bronchial asthma patients with glucocorticoid therapy have had free swimming training in the hot spring pool at Misasa Medical Branch. The clinical effect of the swimming training was evaluated after 3 months' training. 1. A slight increase in pulse rate and blood pressure was observed immediately after 30 minutes, swimming, although no significant increase in the two parameters was shown 30 min. after the training. 2. No significant fall in ventilatory function tests such as % FVC, FEV(1.0)%, V(50) and V(25) was demonstrated following the swimming training in a hot spring pool. The results suggest that the free swimming training in a hot spring pool does not induce bronchoconstriction. 3. Clinical efficacy of the swimming training on bronchial asthma was evaluated according to a treatment score, an attack score and an asthmatic score. These scores were decreased during the swimming training. The results obtained in this study showed that free swimming training in a hot spring pool is one of the most suitable therapies for severe bronchial asthma patients

Clinical problems of long-term steroid regimen for bronchial asthma, with reference to steroid-dependent cases

Adverse side effects of steroid therapy were investigated in 32 asthmatic patients. Thirty-two patients were classified into three groups according to steroid therapy for the past five years; group 1 has been treated with continuous steroid therapy, group 2 with occasional steroid therapy and group 3 without steroid therapy. The results were as follows. 1. Group 1 showed a low level of serum cortisol at 8-9 a. m. The serum concentration of cortisol in patients with daily steroid regimen was lower as compared to that in patients with alternateday steroid therapy. 2. The daily profile of serum cortisol was low in the steroid dependent asthmatic patients, and little increase of serum cortisol level after the administration of prednisolone was shown in group 1. 3. Serum IgG and IgM levels were significantly low in steroid dependent asthmatic patients. 4. The level of serum potassium was low in group 1

Space Demonstration of Two-Layer Pop-Up Origami Deployable Membrane Reflectarray Antenna by 3U CubeSat OrigamiSat-2

3U CubeSat OrigamiSat-2 demonstrates a 50-cm × 50-cm two-layer pop-up Origami deployable membrane reflectarray antenna in space. The membrane has small stowage volume and high gain even though it has low flatness because of a large enough antenna area to cover its un-flatness. C-band transmitter is equipped in the CubeSat and offers 20-Mbps amateur satellite communication. In 3U size, a 1-m length deployable gravity gradient mast and magnetic torquer are equipped to stabilize and control its attitude. A camera is attached to the satellite to measure the shape of the membrane antenna. OrigamiSat-2 was selected as the Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-4 by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and is going to be launched in 2024 by Epsilon Launch Vehicle

Stabilization by Fusion to the C-terminus of Hyperthermophile Sulfolobus tokodaii RNase HI: A Possibility of Protein Stabilization Tag

RNase HI from the hyperthermophile Sulfolobus tokodaii (Sto-RNase HI) is stabilized by its C-terminal residues. In this work, the stabilization effect of the Sto-RNase HI C-terminal residues was investigated in detail by thermodynamic measurements of the stability of variants lacking the disulfide bond (C58/145A), or the six C-terminal residues (ΔC6) and by structural analysis of ΔC6. The results showed that the C-terminal does not affect overall structure and stabilization is caused by local interactions of the C-terminal, suggesting that the C-terminal residues could be used as a “stabilization tag.” The Sto-RNase HI C-terminal residues (-IGCIILT) were introduced as a tag on three proteins. Each chimeric protein was more stable than its wild-type protein. These results suggested the possibility of a simple stabilization technique using a stabilization tag such as Sto-RNase HI C-terminal residues

Effect of Peripheral 5-HT on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Wether Sheep

In mice, peripheral 5-HT induces an increase in the plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin and bile acids, and a decrease in plasma triglyceride, NEFA and cholesterol concentrations. However, given the unique characteristics of the metabolism of ruminants relative to monogastric animals, the physiological role of peripheral 5-HT on glucose and lipid metabolism in sheep remains to be established. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of 5-HT on the circulating concentrations of metabolites and insulin using five 5-HT receptor (5HTR) antagonists in sheep. After fasting for 24 h, sheep were intravenously injected with 5-HT, following which-, plasma glucose, insulin, triglyceride and NEFA concentrations were significantly elevated. In contrast, 5-HT did not affect the plasma cholesterol concentration, and it induced a decrease in bile acid concentrations. Increases in plasma glucose and insulin concentrations induced by 5-HT were attenuated by pre-treatment with Methysergide, a 5HTR 1, 2 and 7 antagonist. Additionally, decreased plasma bile acid concentrations induced by 5-HT were blocked by pre-treatment with Ketanserin, a 5HTR 2A antagonist. However, none of the 5HTR antagonists inhibited the increase in plasma triglyceride and NEFA levels induced by 5-HT. On the other hand, mRNA expressions of 5HTR1D and 1E were observed in the liver, pancreas and skeletal muscle. These results suggest that there are a number of differences in the physiological functions of peripheral 5-HT with respect to lipid metabolism between mice and sheep, though its effect on glucose metabolism appears to be similar between these species

The kinetochore receptor for the cohesin loading complex

Summary The ring-shaped cohesin complex brings together distant DNA domains to maintain, express, and segregate the genome. Establishing specific chromosomal linkages depends on cohesin recruitment to defined loci. One such locus is the budding yeast centromere, which is a paradigm for targeted cohesin loading. The kinetochore, a multiprotein complex that connects centromeres to microtubules, drives the recruitment of high levels of cohesin to link sister chromatids together. We have exploited this system to determine the mechanism of specific cohesin recruitment. We show that phosphorylation of the Ctf19 kinetochore protein by a conserved kinase, DDK, provides a binding site for the Scc2/4 cohesin loading complex, thereby directing cohesin loading to centromeres. A similar mechanism targets cohesin to chromosomes in vertebrates. These findings represent a complete molecular description of targeted cohesin loading, a phenomenon with wide-ranging importance in chromosome segregation and, in multicellular organisms, transcription regulation