Dietary Restriction Ameliorates Diabetic Nephropathy through Anti-Inflammatory Effects and Regulation of the Autophagy via Restoration of Sirt1 in Diabetic Wistar Fatty (fa/fa) Rats: A Model of Type 2 Diabetes

Aim. Despite the beneficial effects of dietary restriction (DR) on lifespan, age-related diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, its effects on type 2 diabetic nephropathy remain unknown. This study examined the renoprotective effects of DR in Wistar fatty (fa/fa) rats (WFRs). Methods. WFRs were treated with DR (40% restriction) for 24 weeks. Urinary albumin excretion, creatinine clearance, renal histologies, acetylated-NF-κB (p65), Sirt1 protein expression, and p62/Sqstm 1 accumulation in the renal cortex, as well as electron microscopic observation of mitochondrial morphology and autophagosomes in proximal tubular cells were estimated. Results. DR ameliorated renal abnormalities including inflammation in WFRs. The decrease in Sirt1 levels, increase in acetylated-NF-κB, and impaired autophagy in WFRs were improved by DR. Conclusions. DR exerted anti-inflammatory effects and improved the dysregulation of autophagy through the restoration of Sirt1 in the kidneys of WFRs, which resulted in the amelioration of renal injuries in type 2 diabetes

Basal metabolic rate and body composition of elite Japanese male athletes

The estimated energy requirement is important for adequate nutritional management in athletes. The energy requirement can be estimated from the basal metabolic rate (BMR). However, there is little data regarding the BMR of Japanese athletes. This study measured the BMR and body composition of 81 elite Japanese male athletes in different sports categories : endurance (E), strength, power and sprint (S) and ball game (B). The factors influencing the BMR were also investigated. The BMR and body composition were measured by indirect calorimetry and an air-displacement plentysmograph device (the BOD POD), respectively. The BMR per lean body mass (LBM) differed significantly among the three groups. The BMR was significantly correlated with the body weight (BW) and LBM in all groups. A multiple-regression analysis showed that the LBM was the most powerful predictor in the E and S groups, whereas the BW was the most powerful predictor in the B group. The BW appears to become an important predictor as the BW of athletes increases. Additionally, height was the second explanatory variable in the S and B groups, thus suggesting that height needs to be considered for the BMR in these groups. Therefore, the BMR in elite athletes needs to be estimated according to their body composition

Measurement of Ionized Calcium as Supplementary Marker of Bone Metastasis in Breast Cancer

The serum concentrations of ionized calcium (iCa), corrected automatically for serum pH, were measured in 67 cases with breast cancer (16 positive cases and 51 negative cases for bone metastasis). The serum concentration of iCa in the cases of positive bone metastasis was significantly higher than that in the negative cases (p<0.005). As osteoclastic bone metastasis occurred frequently in breast cancer, the measurements of serum concentrations of iCa might be of help as a supplementary marker of the diagnosis of bone metastasis

A Newly Developed Instrument of Dual Photon Absorptiometry for Bone Mineral Analysis of the Lumbar Vertebra: Study in Control and Aged Females

In order to determine the quantitatively bone mass, dual photon absorptiometry instrument using a scintillation camera was newly developed, and its basic performance was described. Furthermore, with this instrument, bone mineral at 3rd lumbar vertebra was measured in 57 women (31 controls: age 29.9±6.4 yrs., and 16 seniles: age 67.7±6.6 yrs.). The aged females, compared with the young control females, showed significantly low the all parameters of bone mineral such as bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density and total BMC at 3rd lumbar vertebra. Thus, it was shown that assessment of bone mineral with this instrument provided a useful information in the diagnosis of osteoporosis

Scintigraphic Findings of Bone and Bone-Marrow and Determination of Bone Mineral Density Using Photon Absorptiometry in Osteopetrosis

On a 15-year-old girl with osteopetrosis, bone and bonemarrow scintigraphy were performed. Also, bone mineral density (BMD) with quantitative CT (QCT), single photon absorptiometry (SPA) and dual photon absorptiometry (DPA) were measured. On bone scintigraphy the diffusely increased skeletal uptake and relatively diminished renal uptake were noted. On the other hand, on bone marrow scintigraphy poor accumulation in central marrow and peripheral expansion were shown. BMD value by QCT and DPA (mainly trabecular bone) was markedly high, while BMD by SPA (mainly cortical bone) was within normal range. Thus, it was shown that bone and bone-marrow scintigraphy combined with BMD measurement by photon absorptiometry were useful and essential in evaluating the pathophysiology of osteosclerosis

Changes in serum antibody titers after vaccination for COVID-19 and evaluation of post-vaccination health conditions

　Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine has preventive effects and high immunogenicity, but the outcomes of vaccination have not been widely reported. The goal of this study was to examine serum antibody titers before and after vaccination and to evaluate post-vaccination health conditions.　Methods: The subjects were 2,304 medical workers (mean age 41 years) at Kawasaki Gakuen who agreed to participate in the study and underwent COVID-19 vaccination, beginning in March 2021. Serum IgG antibody titers for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were measured before the first vaccination and 4 weeks after the second vaccination. Health conditions were observed for 4 weeks after the second vaccination.　Results: The rates of seroconversion, seroprotection, and change in geometric mean antibody titer at 4 weeks after the second vaccination were 99.9%, 99.9%, and 2,685.5 (95% CI 587.8-5,319.2), respectively, suggesting high immunogenicity. After the first vaccination, pain, enlargement, and reddening occurred at the local injection site, and systemic side effects included fatigue, headache, physical pain, chill, nausea, and fever. After the second vaccination, the incidence of pain decreased, but those of other events increased. There were no serious side effects requiring hospitalization. In logistic regression analysis, sex, age, fever,chill, and lymph node enlargement after the second vaccination were associated with a change in antibody titer.　Conclusions: Serum antibody titers suggested high immunogenicity of the COVID-19 vaccine and a health condition survey confirmed the safety of the vaccine. Systemic side effects may serve as an index of immunization (acquisition of antibody) by the vaccine