Effect of change in body mass index on morbidity in non-obese university graduates.

To establish the actual serial changes in body weight in Japanese people and to elucidate the influence of changes in BMI on morbidity, we conducted a historical cohort study of university graduates from 1955 to 1990 using questionnaires and BMI data. The subjects of this study were 3,675 university graduates aged 26-62 years in whom BMI was determined at the time of enrollment in the university (Pre-BMI), 5 to 40 years earlier. Morbidity (one or more system diseases or obesity-related system diseases) was analyzed according to current age, sex, current BMI, deltaBMI (difference between current BMI and pre-BMI), and various lifestyle variables. The proportion of overweight subjects at enrollment to university was higher in recent male students compared to old students, but not in female graduates, and the BMI in both genders increased progressively after graduation, especially in recent male graduates. Pre-BMI correlated negatively and significantly with deltaBMI. The percentages of obese (BMI > or = 30 kg/m2) males and females were 1.6% and 0.5%, respectively, and high morbidity was observed in 56.1% and 42.2% of males and females, respectively. Stepwise regression analysis showed that in subjects with normal BMI at enrollment, prospective morbidity was dependent on ABMI in addition to age. Our results indicate that in subjects with normal body weight, prospective morbidity is determined by increment of ABMI, and suggest that maintenance of BMI at the late adolescence level is an important factor in preventing future disease.</p

Clinical significance of the binding-activity of polymerized human albumin to the HB virus receptor in relation to evolution of the HBeAg/anti-HBe system in sera from symptom-free carriers and patients

The binding activity of polymerized human serum albumin to the receptor on hepatitis B virus (HBV-pAR activity) was examined in relation to the evolution of the HBeAg/anti-HBe system in sera from symptom-free carriers and patients by the use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The sera of 80 HBsAg-positive symptom-free students (18～20 years old) and of 2 patients with severe chronic active hepatitis (CAH 2B) followed up for 3 years were used. The students were divided into 2 groups: 3 cases of horizontal infection (group 1) and 77 cases of maternal infection (group 2). The students of group 1 initially showed positive HBeAg and high HBV-pAR activity, but showed positive anti-HBe and low HBV-pAR activity after a typical course of acute hepatitis. In group 2, 35 (45.5%) of the 77 students showed initially positive HBeAg, and all except one student had hgih HBV-pAR activity. Ten of the 34 students with both positive HBeAg and high HBV-pAR activity had abnormal S-GPT levels in the 3-year follow-up period. Six of the 10 students became symptom-free with negative HBeAg and low HBV-pAR activity, and two students showed positive anti-HBe. Four students developed middle HBV-pAR activity and had persistent abnormal S-GPT levels. Twenty-four (68.6%) of the 35 students with positive HBeAg did not undergo serocon-version. One student with positive HBeAg and low HBV-pAR activity became symptom-free with negative HBeAg and negative anti-HBe without abnormal S-GPT levels. The two HBsAg, HBeAg-positive patients with CAH 2B had an acute exacerbation, and showed high HBV-pAR activity 1~2 months before the exacerbation. One of them became symptom-free with negative HBeAg and low HBV-pAR activity, but the other became symptom-free with positive HBeAg and low HBV-pAR activity after the exacerbation. The results indicate that HBV-pAR activity might be a more useful marker for determining the prognosis of HBsAg-positive students than HBeAg/anti-HBe

Genetic parameters and quantitative trait loci analysis associated with body size and timing at metamorphosis into glass eels in captive-bred Japanese eels (Anguilla japonica).

The Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) is among the most important aquaculture fish species in Eastern Asia. The present study aimed to identify the genetic parameters underlying body size and the timing at metamorphosis from leptocephali to glass eels in captive-bred Japanese eels, with the intent to foster sustainable development. Larvae from a partly factorial cross (14 sires × 11 dams) were reared until the point of metamorphosis into glass eels. In these organisms, we observed moderate heritability and mild genetic correlations among traits related to body size (h2 = 0.16-0.33) and timing at metamorphosis (h2 = 0.36-0.41). In an F1 full-sib family, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping for these traits identified one significant (genome-wide P < 0.05) and five suggestive QTLs (chromosome-wide P < 0.05). These results suggest that in the Japanese eel, metamorphic traits exhibit a polygenic genetic structure comprising many QTLs with small effects. In addition, we updated the genetic linkage map for the Japanese eel and integrated it with our newly constructed de novo genome assembly. The information and tools generated from this study will contribute to the development of freshwater eel genetics and genomics