Assessment of the arachidonic acid content in foods commonly consumed in the American diet

Arachidonic acid (AA) is an extremely important fatty acid involved in cell regulation. When provided in the diet, it is cogently incorporated in membrane phospholipids and enhances eicosanoid biosynthesis in vivo and in vitro; however, controversy exists as to the levels of AA in food and in the diet. This study determined the amount of AA in cooked and raw portions of beef (rib eye), chicken (breast and thigh), eggs, pork (loin), turkey (breast), and tuna; it compared these results to values published in Agriculture Handbook No. 8 (HB-8). The cooked portions were prepared as described in HB-8. With the exception of chicken thigh and tuna, the levels of AA (w/w) in the selected foods analyzed were significantly higher, in general, than those values published in HB-8. The greatest differences were observed in beef (raw and cooked), turkey breast (raw and cooked), and pork (cooked) where AA levels were twice that of the values in HB-8. In contrast, the AA and n-3 fatty acid contents in tuna were almost half the HB-8 values. The present data indicate that HB-8 tends to underreport the amounts of AA in a number of foods commonly consumed in the American diet, and new initiatives should be considered to validate and update the current database for fatty acid composition of foods.     

Within- and between-dimensional processing in the auditory modality.

Participants made speeded target-nontarget responses to singly presented auditory stimuli in 2 tasks. In within-dimension conditions, participants listened for either of 2 target features taken from the same dimension; in between-dimensions conditions, the target features were taken from different dimensions. Judgments were based on the presence or absence of either target feature. Speech sounds, defined relative to sound identity and locale, were used in Experiment 1, whereas tones, comprising pitch and locale components, were used in Experiments 2 and 3. In all cases, participants performed better when the target features were taken from the same dimension than when they were taken from different dimensions. Data suggest that the auditory and visual systems exhibit the same higher level processing constraints. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Health practices and mortality in a rural Japanese population

Association of personal health practices with mortality from all causes was studied. In 1988, 4,318 residents aged 40 years and over in a rural town of Miyagi Prefecture, north-eastern part of Japan, completed a self-administered questionnaire including items on smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, sleeping patterns, and weight status. During the four year follow-up, 207 subjects had died. Relative risks (95 percent confidence intervals) of death from all causes adjusted for age, sex, and other confounding variables were 0.62 (0.39-0.98) for never smoking, 0.51 (0.34-0.78) for no or moderate alcohol consumption, 0.66 (0.42-1.04) for exercising physical activity, 0.78 (0.56-1.10) for 7-8 hours of sleep, and 0.75 (0.52-1.07) for not being underweight. Compared with performing only 0-1 of the five low-risk practices concerning the items mentioned above, relative risks (95 percent confidence intervals) of all-cause mortality for performing 3, or all 5 practices were, 0.49 (0.30-0.80) and 0.14 (0.03-0.61), respectively (trend p = 0.0001). The results remained unchanged even after excluding early death occurring within the first year of the follow-up, or excluding the subjects with past history of diseases. Further research is required to explore the combined effects of the practices on mortality for longer observational period.     

Development variations of the R. anastomoticus cum a. lacrimali in Japanese

This report describes the developmental variations of the R. anastomoticus cum a. lacrimali in 150 Japanese cadavers (300 orbits). The orbits were classified into seven types on the basis of the diameters, directions and anastomoses of the ophthalmic artery (OA), lacrimal artery (LA) and R. anastomoticus cum a. lacrimali (RAL). The definitions and frequencies of the seven types were as follows. 1) Normal type: The diameter of the RAL was smaller than that of the LA (240 orbits, 80.0%). 2) Thin type: The diameter of the RAL was comparable to or larger than that of the LA, but smaller than that of the OA (19 orbits, 6.3%). 3) Thick type: The diameter of the RAL was comparable to or larger than that of the OA (5 orbits, 1.7%). 4) OA type: The OA was absent or vestigial, and the blood of the orbital contents was supplied mainly by the RAL instead of the OA (1 orbit, 0.3%). 5) LA type: The LA arose from the RAL instead of the OA (23 orbits, 7.7%). 6) MMA type: The middle meningeal artery (MMA) was absent or vestigial, and the blood of the dura mater was supplied mainly by the RAL instead of the MMA (1 orbit, 0.3%). 7) Absent type: The RAL could not be found (12 orbits, 4.0%). The OA, MMA and LA types are established anomalies of the RAL that have been described anatomically and clinically. However, few studies have investigated the developmental variations of the RAL in detail. The results of this study suggest that the developmental variations of the RAL are more remarkable than reported previously.     

Pharmacokinetics and polymorphic oxidation of dextromethorphan in a Japanese population

The plasma concentration and cumulative urinary excretion over 34 h of dextromethorphan, free and conjugated dextrorphan, and 3-hydroxymorphinan were determined in seven healthy Japanese subjects after oral administration of 30 mg dextromethorphan hydrobromide. Conjugated metabolites were extensively present, whereas no detectable dextromethorphan or free metabolites were observed in the plasma of any subject. On average, 72% of the dose was excreted in urine within 34 h. This was detected mainly as conjugated metabolites with only slight traces of dextromethorphan and free metabolites. From the time-courses of the metabolic ratio (the ratio of urinary output of dextromethorphan to dextrorphan), the metabolic ratios seemed to become constant 7.5 h after oral administration. Phenotyping was performed using metabolic ratios in 75 unrelated healthy Japanese subjects (43 males and 32 females). The logarithmic metabolic ratio was bimodally distributed and one subject (1.3%) was identified as a poor metabolizer.     

Lack of association between the alpha-adducin locus and essential hypertension in the Japanese population

A neutral O-specific polysaccharide obtained from the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus penneri strain 26 was studied using sugar analysis and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including two-dimensional NMR techniques. The following structure of the trisaccharide repeating unit was established: -->6)-alpha-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->3)-alpha-L-QuipNAc-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Glcp NAc-(1--> where L-QuiNAc is 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-L-glucose (N-acetyl-L-quinovosamine). Cross-reactivity of the Proteus penneri 26 anti-O serum with other strains of P. penneri isolated in Poland and USA and one strain of P. vulgaris is discussed.     

Polymorphism and sequence variations of the HumCD4 pentameric microsatellite in an Italian population sample

A sample of 265 subjects from central Italy was analyzed at the HumCD4 locus by polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR). Phenotypes were identified by comparison with a sequenced ladder, after high-resolution horizontal polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) followed by silver staining. A set of representative alleles was sequenced by Taq-cycle-sequencing with dye terminator labeling and capillary gel electrophoresis strategies. Eight common alleles--5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12--and a rare larger 14, never before described in Caucasians, were found. Allele and genotype frequencies were similar to those described in former studies on Caucasians, with a prevalency of alleles number 5, 6, 10. Sequence analysis showed that the polymorphism is due to a pentameric TTTTC basic motif, tandemly repeated, and that from allele number 10 onwards the fourth repeat presents a T to C translation (CTTTC). Instead, allele number 9 may exist in two forms, because 75% of alleles examined in this study presented the CTTTC motif at the fourth position, while the remaining 25% had the basic repeat structure.     

Hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha gene and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in the Japanese population

Since natural proteins are the products of a long evolutionary process, the structural properties of present-day proteins should depend not only on physico-chemical constraints, but also on evolutionary constraints. Here we propose a model for protein evolution, in which membranes play a key role as a scaffold for supporting the gradual evolution from flexible polypeptides to well-folded proteins. We suggest that the folding process of present-day globular proteins is a relic of this putative evolutionary process. To test the hypothesis that membranes once acted as a cradle for the folding of globular proteins, extensive research on membrane proteins and the interactions of globular proteins with membranes will be required.     

Serum alpha 1-antichimotrypsin levels and cardiovascular risk factors in the Japanese elderly population

Four materials used in lining prosthetic sockets were compared for their potential usefulness in below-knee applications. Tests carried out included determinations of resistance to compression, resistance to flexural abrasion and coefficients (static and dynamic) of friction. These tests were designed, respectively, to assess changes occurring during end-use brought about by extensive application of compressive or shear force, and to predict the ability to retain contact with the body and socket. Of the four materials in the study (Bock-Lite, Pedilin, polyurethane and silicone), Bock-Lite and silicone had high compression resistance, Bock-Lite had good resistance to flexural abrasion, and polyurethane and silicone had high coefficients of frictional resistance. Thus, Bock-Lite will be the most durable of the four materials but, since it had the lowest frictional coefficient, it may slip in use. Conversely, silicone and polyurethane, which will be retained in position more easily, are easily torn or compressed, so are likely to need replacement more frequently.     

Association analysis of the SHC1 gene locus with longevity in the Japanese population

The SHC1 gene encodes a signaling and transforming protein that has been implicated in the aging process in worms and mammals. In this study we examined 230 Japanese centenarians and 180 healthy younger controls and looked at the SHC1 locus as a candidate region that may be associated with longevity. We identified 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within a 10-kb region encompassing the entire SHC1 gene from the DNA of 30 centenarians and 24 healthy younger controls. Five SNPs, including three nonsynonymous sites, lay within coding elements, six were located within introns, and one was in the 3' untranslated region. All of these SNPs were relatively rare, with a minor allele frequency of less than 5% in our subjects. A pairwise linkage disequilibrium analysis using the r2 statistic showed that two of the SNP pairs are in tight linkage disequilibrium at this locus. We investigated the possible association of SHC1 with longevity using association analyses with allelotypes and haplotypes but found that the SNPs identified in SHC1 had no impact on longevity for Japanese centenarians.     

Within- and between-modality associations in probed recall: A test of the separate-streams hypothesis.

Tested the separate-streams hypothesis that short-term processing of verbal information is functionally separated according to presentation modality. Lists of 10 digits were presented to 32 university students such that presentation modality (auditory or visual) changed after every 2nd digit. One digit was repeated at the end of each list as a recall probe. In 1 condition (next-item), Ss were instructed to recall the item that had immediately followed the probe in the original list regardless of presentation modality. In the 2nd condition (next item in the same modality), Ss were instructed to recall the item after the probe and in the same modality. The combination of instructions and positions of the probe and target within the list created 3 main conditions: (1) The probe immediately preceded the target item and was in the same presentation modality (same-mode probe). (2) The probe immediately preceded the target but was in a different presentation modality (different-mode probe). (3) The probe was in the same modality as the target but was separated from it by 2 items in the other modality (temporally distant probe). For both auditory and visual targets, highest recall was obtained with same-mode probes, next highest with temporally distant probes, and lowest with different-mode probes. The results support the hypothesis that auditory and visual information is processed separately in short-term verbal memory. (French abstract) (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of the type of beverage and meat consumed by alcoholics with alcoholic liver disease

We analyzed meat products and alcoholic beverage preference in patients with the three stages of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) compared with controls using diet history data. Daily consumption of total alcohol, types of alcoholic beverages, and types of meat and meat products in grams was obtained by dietary history taken from patients with biopsy proven stage of ALD. A strong association was found between the ALD subjects and total alcohol and beer consumption. There was a significant increase in the consumption of total pig products, pork, and offal in the ALD groups compared with controls. There was a significant positive correlation between beer consumption and pork in alcoholic hepatitis, total pork products in alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis and offal in alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. There was no correlation with the fatty liver stage of ALD. The strongest correlation was between beer and total pig products in the alcoholic hepatitis group. Wine consumption was negatively correlated with the consumption of pig products and beer in the alcoholic cirrhosis group. In conclusion, the association of total pig product consumption with cirrhosis mortality in various countries was validated by personal diet history data obtained from ALD patients in a tested clinical microcosm. The results suggest that this association may be modified by the type of alcoholic beverage that is preferentially consumed.     

Protein sizes and stoichiometry in the chaperone SecB--RBPTI complex estimated by ANS fluorescence

Two unrelated patients of Pakistani origin presented with primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) at 4 months and 3 years of age, respectively. While the younger patient failed to thrive and suffered from early renal failure, the older one showed a relatively benign history with urolithiasis as the main feature of the disease. In both patients the diagnosis was confirmed by assessment of alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase catalytic and immunoreactivity in liver biopsy specimens. The underlying genetic defect was found to be a combined deletion and insertion in exon 8 which alters the reading frame of the protein. The nucleotide change introduces a Stu1 restriction site which facilitated typing of additional family members. Both patients and a further affected brother were homozygous for this mutation, while their parents were heterozygous for it. This mutation is the first deletion/insertion identified in PH1. Although rare in our PH1 patient cohort (2.5% of alleles), the finding of 2 homozygous apparently unrelated individuals of the same ethnic origin suggests that it may prove worthwhile to screen other Asian patients for this mutation. These PH1 cases present further evidence that factors other than genotype contribute significantly to the clinical presentation and severity of PH1.     

Population pharmacokinetic analysis of mexiletine in adult arrhythmic patients in Japanese population

We analyzed mexiletine in Japanese patients using population pharmacokinetics. 139 serum concentration data, which were collected for therapeutic drug monitoring from 121 patients, were used for this analysis. We also investigated influence of age and gender on pharmacokinetics, and age was found to be an influential factor on clearance. The final pharmacokinetic parameters are, CL/F=0.580-0.00369 x AGE (l/h/kg) and Vd/F=6.63 (l/kg). These results should be useful for adjusting the dosage to a patient's age for the prevention of an adverse reaction caused by overexposure.