Insect-induced daidzein, formononetin and their conjugates in soybean leaves.

In response to attack by bacterial pathogens, soybean (Gylcine max) leaves accumulate isoflavone aglucones, isoflavone glucosides, and glyceollins. In contrast to pathogens, the dynamics of related insect-inducible metabolites in soybean leaves remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the biochemical responses of soybean leaves to Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) herbivory and also S. litura gut contents, which contain oral secretion elicitors. Following S. litura herbivory, soybean leaves displayed an induced accumulation of the flavone and isoflavone aglycones 4',7-dihyroxyflavone, daidzein, and formononetin, and also the isoflavone glucoside daidzin. Interestingly, foliar application of S. litura oral secretions also elicited the accumulation of isoflavone aglycones (daidzein and formononetin), isoflavone 7-O-glucosides (daidzin, ononin), and isoflavone 7-O-(6'-O-malonyl-β-glucosides) (malonyldaidzin, malonylononin). Consistent with the up-regulation of the isoflavonoid biosynthetic pathway, folair phenylalanine levels also increased following oral secretion treatment. To establish that these metabolitic changes were the result of de novo biosynthesis, we demonstrated that labeled (13C9) phenylalanine was incorporated into the isoflavone aglucones. These results are consistent with the presence of soybean defense elicitors in S. litura oral secretions. We demonstrate that isoflavone aglycones and isoflavone conjugates are induced in soybean leaves, not only by pathogens as previously demonstrated, but also by foliar insect herbivory

Evaluation of fat-free mass by whole-body counter in Japanese healthy young adults

Whole-body counters (WBCs) are special instruments for measuring internal irradiation doses and are usually housed within or around nuclear facilities in the event of unexpected radiation emergencies. As a substantial proportion of total body potassium (TBK) is found in fat-free mass (FFM), FFM volume can be predicted from WBC-measured 40K. We screened TBK in Japanese healthy young adults using a WBC and found strong linear correlations between TBK and lean body mass (LBM) and body mass index (r = 0.97, P < 0.01 and r = 0.47, P < 0.01, respectively). Multiple linear regression analysis, following adjustments for sex, indicates that only LBM has a significant correlation with TBK (P < 0.01). These results strongly support the feasibility of using WBCs for estimating FF

Comparability of Weighed Dietary Records and a Self-Administered Diet History Questionnaire for Estimating Monetary Cost of Dietary Energy

An increasing number of studies have estimated monetary diet cost using various dietary assessment methods, based on databases on retail food prices, for investigating its association with dietary intake and health outcomes. However, information regarding the comparability of monetary diet cost across dietary assessment methods is absolutely lacking. This study compared monetary cost of dietary energy estimated from weighed dietary records (DRs) with that estimated from a self-administered diet history questionnaire (DHQ). The subjects were 92 Japanese women aged 31–69 years and 92 Japanese men aged 32–76 years. The DHQ (assessing diet during the preceding month) and 4-day DRs (one weekend day and three weekdays) were completed in each season over a 1-year period (DHQs1-4 and DRs1-4, respectively). An additional DHQ was completed at one year after completing DHQ1 (DHQ5). Monetary cost of dietary energy (Japanese yen/4184 kJ) was calculated using food intake information derived from each dietary assessment method, based on retail food prices. Pearson correlation between the mean of DRs1-4 and mean of DHQs1-4 was 0.64 for women and 0.69 for men. Pearson correlation between the mean of DRs1-4 and DHQ1 was 0.60 for women and 0.52 for men, while intraclass correlation between DHQ1 and DHQ5 was 0.64 for women and 0.51 for men. These data indicate reasonable comparability of monetary cost of dietary energy across DR and a DHQ as well as usefulness of a single administration of the DHQ for estimating monetary cost of dietary energy

Upper limb coordination differs among ages and between dominant and non-dominant hands utilizing digital trace test

Evaluation of motor coordination is carried out in the rehabilitation scene at the clinical site. However, most of the conventional evaluation methods are too subjective, or rather most are insufficiently elaborate to trace the target of diachronic change. Thus, we attempted evaluation of upper extremity motor coordination utilizing an originally developed ‘Digital trace method' on 65 persons of physically unimpaired status, ages 8 to 90. In this experiment, four types of measurement were tried for both the dominant and non-dominant hand for the large and small circle, and factors of age, sex and handedness were analyzed. As a result, the trace error of the dominant hand decreased significantly compared with that of the non-dominant hand. A change in the error value of the small circle was hardly observed in the dominant hand. However, it was admitted that the error value of the large circle was significantly smaller in the non-dominant hand. Observing this when separated by age, it was found that the error at trace testing indicated a drastic decrease from childhood period to adult age. In constant, it indicated a gradual increase from the thirties. From these observations, it was found that variations in motor coordination depend on age and thus have a bearing on the use status of the dominant hand and the non-dominant hand. Operability of the dominant hand and the supplement role of the non-dominant hand are considered to be affected by such conditions

Immunological Changes in Mesothelioma Patients and Their Experimental Detection

It is common knowledge that asbestos exposure causes asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma (MM) not only in people who have handled asbestos in the work environment, but also in residents living near factories that handle asbestos. These facts have been an enormous medical and social problem in Japan since the summer of 2005. We focused on the immunological effects of asbestos and silica on the human immune system. In this brief review, we present immunological changes in patients with MM and outline their experimental detection. For example, there is over-expression of bcl-2 in CD4+ peripheral T-cells, high plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß, and multiple over-representation of T cell receptor (TcR)-Vß in peripheral CD3+ T-cells found in MM patients. We also detail an experimental long-term exposure T-cell model. Analysis of the immunological effects of asbestos may help our understanding of the biological effects of asbestos

AMH Concentrations in Peritoneal Fluids of Women With and Without Endometriosis

Background: As its name indicates, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is primarily found as an inhibitor of the Mullerian duct in male fetus. On the other hand, AMH may act as a mediator of Mullerian duct-derived female tissue, such as endometrium in normal and pathological conditions. However, the role of AMH in the functional regulations of endometriosis is not well understood. It can be hypothesized that AMH in peritoneal fluids may affect the activity of peritoneal endometriosis. In this study, we investigated the levels of AMH in peritoneal fluids (PF) in women with and without endometriosis. Methods: PF were collected during laparoscopy from 90 women diagnosed as having advanced endometriosis (rASRM stage III, n = 30; stage IV, n = 60), and 32 women without endometriosis were served as control. Paired serum samples were also collected before the surgery. AMH in PF and serum were measured by ELISA. Individual clinical information was collected. AMH levels were compared according to the presence of endometriosis. The expression of AMHR2 in peritoneal endometriotic lesions obtained during laparoscopy was examined by immunohistochemistry. Results: AMH levels in PF were positively and significantly correlated with serum AMH levels in both women with and without endometriosis (R2 = 0.17, P < 0.0001; R2 = 0.30, P = 0.001, respectively). Serum AMH levels were inversely and significantly correlated with age in women with endometriosis (R2 = 0.092, P = 0.004) and in control women without statistical significance (R2 = 0.078, P = 0.12). AMH levels in PF were also inversely but not significantly correlated with age in women with and without endometriosis (R2 = 0.029, P = 0.11 and R2 = 0.027, P = 0.37, respectively). Mean age and serum AMH levels were not significantly different between two groups. On the other hand, AMH levels in PF were significantly lower in women with endometriosis compared to those of control women [2.15 ± 2.13 (mean ± SD) vs. 4.40 ± 4.77 ng/mL, P = 0.0001]. AMHR2 are localized at glandular epithelium and stromal cells in the ectopic endometrium of peritoneal endometriosis. Conclusions: Women with endometriosis may present lower PF AMH levels even if they retain serum levels similar to women without disease. As peritoneal endometriosis expresses a specific receptor for AMH, lower AMH levels in PF of women with advanced endometriosis may be involved in the pathophysiology of peritoneal endometriosis

Accumulation of fibrosis and altered perifollicular stromal differentiation in vitrified‐thawed human ovarian tissue xenografted to nude mice.

Purpose: Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and its auto-transplantation is promising technique in fertility preservation. Longevity of grafted tissue is limited though mechanism of follicle reduction is not fully understood. We evaluated histological alteration of vitrified-thawed ovarian tissue that grafted to nude mice. Materials and Methods: Human ovarian tissue was cryopreserved by vitrification. After thawing, they were grafted to mesentery of nude mice. Twelve weeks after transplantation, the implants were removed and histologically examined. The presence of follicles, the degree of fibrosis, and TUNEL staining in surrounding cortex were evaluated. The stromal expressions of alpha-smooth muscle actin (aSMA) were determined.Results: Normal ovarian cortex was decreased, and fibrotic area were significantly increased after grafting. The distributions of developmental stage of follicles shifted toward activation of follicular growth. Stromal TUNEL staining was increased in frozen/thawed tissue. The expression of aSMA were found in perifollicular stroma of growing follicles, which were decreased in grafted tissue associated with reduction of cortical stroma.Conclusions: Fibrosis, reduced cortical stroma, and activation of dormant follicleswere concomitantly observed in grafted ovarian cortex, which may relate to limited longevity. Perifollicular aSMA expression can be regarded as a marker of the competence of cortical stroma that regulate follicular development

Strategies of community health activities to improve the quality of inhabitants' life

ヘルスプロモーションの理念にそって，住民組織，行政，研究グループが協働して，住民の生活の質の向上をめざした地域保健活動の展開を計画した。まず，休眠状態にあった岡山県M町の健康づくり推進協議会（以下M町協議会と略す）を活性化するため，協議会の委員18人を対象に聴き取り調査を行い，次に，M町協議会でのディスカッションを深めた。1．M町協議会構成団体のうち住民組織は9組織で，このうち6組織は居住地域内の住民の推薦や輪番で代表を選出しており，他の3組織は任意であった。8組織の事務局は行政機関内にあり，活動経費の公費補助率は70％以上であった。2．委員の描く理想の町のイメージとして，福祉の充実した町で老後も安心できるという内容を含んだ回答が多かった。それを実現する為に，住民一人一人が自己管理意識を持つと同時に，協議会が支援的な活動を身近なところで展開することの必要性が挙げられた。3．M町協議会活動への委員の期待は大きく，協議会内での委員間の意思疎通も次第に深められた。事前に聴き取り調査を行ったこと等が効果的に影響したと考えられた。Along with the idea of health promotion, we planned the community health activities to improve the quality of inhabitants' life in cooperation with inhabitants, community organizations, local government and health professionals. In order to revitalize an inactive committee for health promotion of M town hearing surveys were conducted on the members of the committee. 1. Leaders of community organizations occupied 9 of 19 members of the committee. Leaders of 6 organizations out of 9 ones were decided by recommendation or rotation. Eight secretariats of those organizations were located in the governmental office. Seventy percent or more of activity costs of these organizations depends on assistance of local government. 2. Members of the committee imaged the town, which was healthy and filled with mind of welfare as an ideal town. They pointed out that it was required for the committee to perform support activities to realize an ideal town as well as for every inhabitant to have the consciousness of self-management. 3. Activities of the committee were much expected by members of the committee. Communications between members deepened gradually by repeating the meetings. Hearing survey on members also seemed to be much effective for those progress