Correlation of Heat Shock Protein Expression to Gender Difference in Development of Stress-Induced Gastric Mucosal Injury in Rats

Recent studies have indicated that heat shock proteins (HSPs), which function as molecular chaperones, play important roles in cellular responses to stress-related events. However, the gender difference in the expression of HSP in the gastric mucosa remains unclear. In order to understand the mechanism of gender difference in the prevalence or severity of gastric mucosal lesions, the expression level of HSP and the correlation of estrogen to HSP induction in the gastric mucosa were evaluated in this study. The basal expression levels of HSP60 and HSP90 in the gastric mucosa were significantly higher in females than those in males. The gastric ulcer index was significantly higher in male rats compared to female rats observed after 12 h water immersion stress exposure. At this time point, the expression levels of HSP60 and HSP90 in the gastric mucosa were significantly higher in females than those in males. An estrogen-treatment significantly induced the expression of HSP60, HSP70 and HSP90 in the gastric mucosa. Inversely, an ovariectomy dramatically reduced the expression of HSP60, HSP70 and HSP90 in the gastric mucosa. Our results suggested that estrogen might play an important role in gastric mucosal protection with the induction of gastric mucosal HSPs

A Proposal for New Algorithm that Defines Gait-Induced Acceleration and Gait Cycle in Daily Parkinsonian Gait Disorders

We developed a new device, the portable gait rhythmogram (PGR), to record up to 70 hrs of movement-induced accelerations. Acceleration values induced by various movements, averaged every 10 min, showed gamma distribution, and the mean value of this distribution was used as an index of the amount of overall movements. Furthermore, the PGR algorithm can specify gait-induced accelerations using the pattern-matching method. Analysis of the relationship between gait-induced accelerations and gait cycle duration makes it possible to quantify Parkinson’s disease (PD)-specific pathophysiological mechanisms underlying gait disorders. Patients with PD showed the following disease-specific patterns: (1) reduced amount of overall movements and (2) low amplitude of gait-induced accelerations in the early stages of the disease, which was compensated by fast stepping. Loss of compensation was associated with slow stepping gait, (3) narrow range of gait-induced acceleration amplitude and gait cycle duration, suggesting monotony, and (4) evident motor fluctuations during the day by tracing changes in the above two parameters. Prominent motor fluctuation was associated with frequent switching between slow stepping mode and active mode. These findings suggest that monitoring various movement- and gait-induced accelerations allows the detection of specific changes in PD. We conclude that continuous long-term monitoring of these parameters can provide accurate quantitative assessment of parkinsonian clinical motor signs

Association of paraoxonase 1 gene polymorphism with Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries in japanese type 2 diabetic patients

Purpose: We investigated the association between paraoxonase 1 (PON1)-192 genotypes and intimamedia thickness (IMT) of carotid arteries in diabetic patients. Methods: One hundred and fifty-five Japanese type 2 diabetic patients aged from 40 to 79 years were enrolled in this study. Genotypes of the patients were determined using the PCR-RFLP method. The IMT of carotid arteries of the subjects was measured by ultrasound imaging. Results: The PON1 genotypes frequencies were as follows: 18QQ (0.116), 70QR (0.452) and 67RR (0.432). IMT values of the RR group were significantly greater (1.08±0.41 mm, n=67) than those of the Q group, which consisted of patients carrying one or two Q alleles (0.95±0.27 mm, n=88, P=0.023). There were no significant difference in the clinical characteristics between the two groups. Conclusion: The results indicate that the PON1-192RR genotype is associated with intima media thickening of the carotid arteries in diabetic patients