神経切断後の筋肉と神経筋接合部の変化

A histochemical study was conducted on the anterior tibial muscle of rats after transection of the right sciatic nerve at the proximal third of the thigh. Fibrillation was most prominent at the 4th week after denervation and even at the 7th month tiny fibrillations were infrequently recognized. The denervated muscle reduced its wet weight rapidly for the first one nonth and thereafter the decrease was gradual. From the 3rd month onwards muscle weight loss reached the plateau where the denervated muscle weighed about 15 to 20% against the control. The decrease of S. D. H. activity in the red muscle fibers resulted in histochemical undifferentiation of muscle fiber types, particularly from the 2nd month onwards after denervation. Motor end-plates stained by Wachstein, Meisel and Falcon's method became less visible in the course of time up to the 2nd month after denervation, but thereafter their staining intensity increased gradually with the abnormal internal structure of the synaptic folds

Association of Circulating Follistatin-Like 1 Levels with Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Markers in Healthy Men.

OBJECTIVES:Follistatin-like 1 (Fstl1) is a circulating glycoprotein that plays a crucial role in cardiovascular diseases and inflammation-related disorders. We have shown that Fstl1 acts as an anti-inflammatory factor that protects against ischemic heart disease and chronic kidney disease. Here we examined whether plasma level of Fstl1 associates with markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in apparently healthy Japanese men. METHODS AND RESULTS:Plasma Fstl1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Circulating Fstl1 concentrations positively correlated with levels of fasting immune-reactive insulin (FIRI), high-sensitive CRP (hsCRP) and derivatives of reactive oxidative metabolites (dROMs), an indicator of oxidative stress. The levels of hsCRP positively associated with Fstl1, body mass index (BMI), triglyceride, FIRI and dROMs levels. dROMs levels positively associated with Fstl1, Hemoglobin A1c and hsCRP levels. Multiple regression analysis with confounding factors revealed that Fstl1 levels, together with BMI and FIRI, correlated with hsCRP and that Fstl1 levels correlated with dROMs. CONCLUSION:Our observations indicate that measurement of plasma Fstl1 levels can be valuable for assessment of pro-inflammatory and oxidative stress conditions

Recent Status of Procedures in a Single Nationwide Cosmetic Surgery Group

Background:. Recently, cosmetic surgery demand has increased due to the spread of promotional social media in Japan. However, understanding the overall landscape remains difficult due to many clinics with varied procedure options. To understand the current trends and status of cosmetic surgery in Japan, we analyzed large-scale data from a group of clinics throughout the country. Methods:. We analyzed data from 152,457 patients in our database. The periods from September 2018 to August 2021 and September 2021 to February 2023 were defined as the first and second periods, respectively, and the statuses of procedures were compared between the two. Results:. Eye procedures were the most common (23.6%), followed by face-lifts (19.5%) and dark circles under the eyes (10.4%). Between the first and second periods, the number of procedures in the second period (128,898 cases) was overwhelmingly higher than that in the first period (23,559 cases). Orbital fat removal for dark circles under the eyes significantly increased (OR 2.97, 95%CI 2.78–3.17); procedures in provincial cities significantly increased (Kinki/Chugoku/Shikoku: OR 2.21, 95%CI 2.08–2.36); and procedures for patients with occupations where appearance is considered important, such as nightlife businesses or being a celebrity, decreased (celebrity: OR 0.44, 95%CI 0.38–0.51, nightlife business: OR 0.58, 95%CI 0.53–0.62). Conclusions:. In Japan, cosmetic surgery has become increasingly common in recent years, and the trend has been changing over time. In the future, it will be important to organize and enhance our large-scale database to disseminate more accurate and useful information

Association of circulating C1q/TNF-related protein 1 levels with coronary artery disease in men.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Recent evidence demonstrates that dysregulation of fat-derived hormones, also known as adipokines, is linked with the pathogenesis of obesity-related disorders including coronary artery disease (CAD). Here, we investigated whether circulating level of an adipokine C1q/TNF-related protein (CTRP) 1 is associated with the prevalence of CAD. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive 76 male CAD patients were enrolled from inpatients that underwent coronary angiography. Sixty four healthy male subjects served as controls. Plasma CTRP1 concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CTRP1 levels were correlated positively with systolic blood pressure (BP) and triglyceride levels, and negatively with HDL cholesterol levels in all subjects. Plasma levels of CTRP1 were significantly higher in CAD patients than in control subjects (CAD: 443.3±18.6 ng/ml, control: 307.8±21.5 ng/ml, p<0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis with body mass index, systolic BP, glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, adiponectin and CTRP1 revealed that CTRP1 levels, together with systolic BP and HDL cholesterol, correlated with CAD. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate the close association of high CTRP1 levels with CAD prevalence, suggesting that CTRP1 represents a novel biomarker for CAD