Nucleic acid synthesis in the mouse liver during restitution after starvation

The synthesis of nuclieic acids in the liver and the lymphoid tissues of adult mice was studied during the restitution period after the 6-day starvation. The results obtained indicate that there occurs an unexpected rapid synthesis of DNA in the hepatic parenchymal cells during the restitution period without significant increase in the total amount of DNA in the liver. Most rapid DNA-synthesis in the liver appears to occur one day after refeeding. With respect to RNA in the liver as well as to both RNA and DNA in the lymphoid tissnes, on the other hand, there is a good parallelism between the rate of their synthesis and that of increase in their amounts, without apparent dissociation between both rates as seen in the liver DNA.</p

セイジンキ センテンセイ シンゾウビョウ ノ モンダイテン : シュウガク シュウショク ニンシン シュッサン

Congenital heart diseases comprise a wide spectrum heart disease with varying levels of severity. More complex condition, such as post Fontan patients with univentricular heart, requires lifelong follow up care by various kind of doctors, including pediatric cardiologist, obstetrician and gynecologist, internal medicine specialist, and cardiovascular surgeon. In addition to the medial problems, many patients with congenital heart disease are facing specific psychological, educational, and behavioral challenges and issues. The outcome of pregnancy is favorable in most women with congenital heart disease, provided class and systemic ventricular function are good. A recent survey highlighted endocarditis and pulmonary hypertension as the major risk factors for maternal death. Arrhythmia, most commonly atrial flutter, is an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality. Management may require cardiac catheterization, electrophysiological mapping with ablation, cardiac surgery, or a combination of these approaches. Acquired heard disease（coronary arterial disease and systemic hypertension）will occur with increasing frequency as the population ages. These acquired heart diseases can also cause worsening symptoms on the congenital heart disease. These problems may be solved by providing the organized cardiac units stuffed by properly trained specialists in various fields

Taurine in health and diseases: consistent evidence from experimental and epidemiological studies

Taurine (T) was first noted as beneficial for stroke and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) prevention in genetic rat models, stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). The preventive mechanisms of T were ascribed to sympathetic modulation for reducing blood pressure (BP) and anti-inflammatory action. Recent epidemiological surveys revealed the involvement of inflammatory mediators in the pathogenesis of stroke and also atherosclerosis for which T was proven to be effective experimentally. Arterio-lipidosis prone rats, a substrain of SHRSP selectively bred for higher reactive hypercholesterolemia, quickly develop not only arterial fat deposition but also fatty liver which could be attenuated by dietary T supplementation. CARDIAC (CVD and Alimentary Comparison) Study was a WHO-coordinated multi-center epidemiological survey on diets and CVD risks and mortalities in 61 populations. Twenty-four-hour urinary (24U) T was inversely related significantly with coronary heart disease mortality. Higher 24U-T excreters had significantly lower body mass index, systolic and diastolic BP, total cholesterol (T-Cho), and atherogenic index (AI: T-Cho/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol) than lower T excreters. T effects on CVD risks were intensified in individuals whose 24U-T and -magnesium (M) excretions were higher. Furthermore, higher Na excreters with higher heart rate whose BP were significantly higher than those with lower heart rate were divided into two groups by the mean of 24U-T, high and low T excreters. Since the former showed significantly lower BP than the latter, T may beneficially affect salt-sensitive BP rise. Included among the typical 61 populations, were Guiyang, China or St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada where in which the means of both 24U-T and -M were high or low, respectively. The former and the latter had low and high CVD risks, respectively. Australian Aboriginals living at the coastal area in Victoria were supposed to eat T- and M-rich bush and sea foods and be free from CVD 200 years ago, but they presently have nearly the highest CVD risks indicating that T- and/or M-containing seafood, vegetables, fruits, nuts, milk, etc, similar to prehistoric hunters’ and gatherers’ food should be good for CVD prevention. The preventive effects of T, good for health and longevity, first noted experimentally, were also proven epidemiologically in humans