Effect of Hot-Air Room Treatment on Peripheral Leucocytes in Guinea Pigs 1. Effect of Single 30 Min. Hot-Air Room Treatment on Leucocytes Count

Effect of hot-air room treatment on peripheral leucocytes was examined in guinea pigs by observing the numerical changes after the treatment. The results were as follows. 1. Number of totalleucocytes was decreased immediately after hot-air room treatment with a room temperature of 43℃, humidity of 75-87% and rapidly increased from 30 to 120 min after the treatment. Numerical changes of neutrophils showed a same tendency as that of total leucocytes. 2. Lymphocyte count was not changed or slightly decreased after the hot-air room treatment. 3. Number of basophils was decreased 30 min after the treatment and then increased, differing from that of eosinophils which showed a decreased tendency 120 min after the treatment. 4. Numbers of monocytes and Kurloff cells were slightly increased after the treatment

Nutrient intake, serum lipids and iron status of colligiate rugby players

BACKGROUND: There are two main playing positions in rugby (backs and forwards), which demonstrate different exercise patterns, roles, and physical characteristics. The purpose of this study was: 1) to collect baseline data on nutrient intake in order to advise the athletes about nutrition practices that might enhance performance, and 2) to compare serum lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins (apo), lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity, and iron status of forwards and backs. METHODS: The sporting group was divided into 18 forwards and 16 backs and were compared with 26 sedentary controls. Dietary information was obtained with a food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: There were significant differences among the three groups. The forwards had the highest body weight, body mass index, percentage of body fat (calculated by sum of four skinfold thicknesses), as well as the highest lean body mass, followed by the backs and the control group. The mean carbohydrate intake was marginal and protein intake was lower than the respective recommended targets in all three groups. The mean intakes of calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A, B(1), B(2), and C were lower than the respective Japanese recommended dietary allowances or adequate dietary intakes for the rugby players. The forwards had significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and HDL(2)-C than the backs and had significantly higher apo B and LCAT activity than the controls. The backs showed significantly higher HDL-C, HDL(3)-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apo A-I, and LCAT activity than the controls. Four forwards (22%), five backs (31%), and three controls (12%) had hemolysis. None of the rugby players had anemia or iron depletion. CONCLUSION: The findings of our study indicate that as the athletes increased their carbohydrate and protein intake, their performance and lean body mass increased. Further, to increase mineral and vitamin intakes, we recommended athletes increase their consumption of green and other vegetables, milk and dairy products, and fruits. The forwards showed more atherogenic lipid profiles than the backs, whereas the backs showed not only anti-atherogenic lipid profile, but also showed more atherogenic lipid profile relative to the control group. Additionally, our study showed none of the rugby players experienced anemia and/or iron depletion

Comparative analysis of the production of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) from macrophages exposed to high virulent and low virulent strains of Edwardsiella tarda.

We previously reported that high virulent strain (NUF251) of Edwardsiella tarda has an ability to prevent the production of reactive oxygen species by macrophages, and is even capable of surviving and multiplying within Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) peritoneal macrophages, whereas the low virulent strain (NUF194) has no such ability. In this study, we found that NUF251 and NUF194 induced NO and TNF-alpha production from Japanese flounder peritoneal macrophages, and NUF251 caused faster induction of NO release and much higher level of TNF-alpha production than NUF194. In addition, similar differences between two strains in terms of the induction of NO and TNF-alpha production were also observed in mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7 cells. Our results suggest that the potent ability to induce the production of NO and TNF-alpha from macrophages may be one of the factors responsible for the virulence of E. tarda

Upregulated Fcrl5 disrupts B cell anergy causes autoimmune disease

B cell anergy plays a critical role in maintaining self-tolerance by inhibiting autoreactive B cell activation to prevent autoimmune diseases. Here, we demonstrated that Fc receptor-like 5 (Fcrl5) upregulation contributes to autoimmune disease pathogenesis by disrupting B cell anergy. Fcrl5—a gene whose homologs are associated with human autoimmune diseases—is highly expressed in age/autoimmunity-associated B cells (ABCs), an autoreactive B cell subset. By generating B cell-specific Fcrl5 transgenic mice, we demonstrated that Fcrl5 overexpression in B cells caused systemic autoimmunity with age. Additionally, Fcrl5 upregulation in B cells exacerbated the systemic lupus erythematosus-like disease model. Furthermore, an increase in Fcrl5 expression broke B cell anergy and facilitated toll-like receptor signaling. Thus, Fcrl5 is a potential regulator of B cell-mediated autoimmunity by regulating B cell anergy. This study provides important insights into the role of Fcrl5 in breaking B cell anergy and its effect on the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases

Which muscle shows fasciculations by ultrasound in patients with ALS?

The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the relative frequencies of fasciculations assessed by sonography in a large number of muscles in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The patients diagnosed as having ALS were retrospectively assessed by muscle sonography. The frequencies of having fasciculations were compared among the 15 muscles and the subtypes according to the initially affected body region. Overall, approximately half of the muscles had fasciculations (48.8%), in the average of 11.4 muscles per patient. The frequency of fasciculations tended to be lower in the patients with longer disease durations upon testing. Biceps brachii had the highest frequency, followed by extensor digitorum communis, whereas sternocleidomastoid and rectus abdominis had the lowest frequencies. The frequencies of fasciculations were similar among the clinical subtypes. In conclusion, in patients with ALS, fasciculations were detected most frequently in proximal arm muscles by sonography, whereas truncal muscles had lower frequencies. Fasciculations tended to be less evident in the advanced disease stage, possibly reflecting muscle degeneration. Appropriate selection of muscles to observe fasciculations is important for diagnosis of ALS

Sonographic evaluation of cervical nerve roots in ALS and its clinical subtypes

Morphological assessment of peripheral nerves in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been available by sonography. Detection of possible axonal atrophy could be important in predicting progression. Research on correlation between sonographic findings and clinical presentation has been sparse. The aim of the study was to assess possible motor axon loss in patients with ALS by sonography and to correlate the imaging features with clinical subtypes. Patients with either definite or probable ALS and control subjects had sonographic evaluation of the cervical nerve roots (C5, C6, and C7). Each diameter and their sums were measured. The ALS patients were classified by their clinical onset and progression (arm-onset, leg-onset, bulbar, and flail-arm variant) and the sonographic features were compared. Overall, the cervical nerve roots were thinner in ALS than in the controls, but the diagnostic sensitivity was low. The patients with arm dysfunctions tended to show thinner nerve roots than those with normal or relatively preserved arm functions. The four ALS subtypes showed similar diameters of the nerve roots. There was no correlation between the disease duration and the diameters of the nerve roots. Sonography of the cervical nerve roots showed axonal atrophy in ALS and potentially reflects subtle arm dysfunctions

Blood Lipids and Lipoproteins in Soccer Players

本研究の目的は､関連した文献から1)ｻｯｶｰ選手の血清脂質およびﾘﾎﾟﾀﾝﾊﾟｸ質に関する横断的研究を食事や栄養素等摂取量､肥満､喫煙､ｱﾙｺｰﾙ摂取量､月経周期､競技ﾎﾟｼﾞｼｮﾝなどの潜在的な交絡因子を含めて検討し､2)90分間のｻｯｶｰ競技の血清脂質およびﾘﾎﾟﾀﾝﾊﾟｸ質に対する急性効果､3)競技者やﾚｸﾘｴｰｼｮﾝとして行っている者の定期的なｻｯｶｰﾄﾚｰﾆﾝｸﾞが血清脂質およびﾘﾎﾟﾀﾝﾊﾟｸ質に対する効果につい検討することである｡ｻｯｶｰ選手の血中脂質における最も一致した見解は､高比重ﾘﾎﾟﾀﾝﾊﾟｸｺﾚｽﾃﾛｰﾙ(HDL-C)が対照群よりも高値を示すことである｡血中脂質およびﾘﾎﾟﾀﾝﾊﾟｸ質における90分間のｻｯｶｰの試合の急性効果に関する研究では､特に血漿量の変化を補正する必要がある｡定期的なｻｯｶｰﾄﾚｰﾆﾝｸﾞを行えば､異なる年齢層において総ｺﾚｽﾃﾛｰﾙ､ﾄﾘｸﾞﾘｾﾘﾄﾞ､低比重ﾘﾎﾟﾀﾝﾊﾟｸｺﾚｽﾃﾛｰﾙ(LDL-C)を減少させ､HDL-C を増加させることができる｡訓練していない男女のﾚｸﾘｴｰｼｮﾝとしてのｻｯｶｰﾄﾚｰﾆﾝｸﾞにおける血中脂質への効果に関する最も一致した見解は､LDL-C および/または LDL-C/ HDL-C 比が低下することである｡ｻｯｶｰ選手における血中脂質およびﾘﾎﾟﾀﾝﾊﾟｸ質の変化は､ﾘﾎﾟﾀﾝﾊﾟｸ質ﾘﾊﾟｰｾﾞ､ﾚｼﾁﾝ:ｺﾚｽﾃﾛｰﾙｱｼﾙﾄﾗﾝｽﾌｪﾗｰｾﾞおよび肝性ﾘﾊﾟｰｾﾞの活性ﾚﾍﾞﾙの変化によるものである可能性が考えられる｡ｻｯｶｰ選手における今後の研究は､血中脂質およびﾘﾎﾟﾀﾝﾊﾟｸ質が変化するﾒｶﾆｽﾞﾑに向けられる必要がある｡これらの研究では特に知見が不足している女性や青年､若年成人に焦点を当てるべきである｡The purpose of this study was to review the related literature to examine: 1) cross-sectional studies on serum lipids and lipoproteins in soccer players in the context of the potentially confounding factors such as dietary and nutritional intakes, obesity, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, menstrual cycle, and playing positions in soccer, 2) acute effects of 90-min soccer match, and 3) effects of regular soccer training on lipid parameters in competitive and recreational soccer players. The most consistent observation regarding cross-sectional studies on lipid profile in soccer players is significantly higher high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) than the controls. Research on the acute effects of 90-min of soccer match on the blood lipids and lipoproteins needs further attention, particularly it should correct plasma volume shifts. Participation in regular soccer training could decrease total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and increase HDL-C in soccer players of different age groups. The most consistent observation regarding effects of recreational soccer training on lipid profile in both untrained men and women is significantly lowered LDL-C and / or LDL-C / HDL-C ratio. The changes in lipids and lipoproteins in soccer players could be caused by changes in activity levels of lipoprotein lipase, lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase, and hepatic lipase. Future research investigating blood lipids and lipoproteins in soccer players should direct research towards the underlying mechanisms for changes in blood lipids and lipoproteins. These studies should, in particular, focus on women, adolescents and young adults since there is a paucity of information in the literature in this area