Capacity of endogenous sex steroids to predict bone loss in Japanese men: 10-year follow-up of the Taiji Cohort Study.

This prospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the capacity of endogenous sex steroids to predict male osteoporosis (OP) among community-dwelling inhabitants. Among 1,028 male residents aged 40-79 years, 50 men belonging to each age stratum (200 in total) were randomly selected from a resident registration list. In the years 1993, 1996, 2000, and 2003, bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and proximal femur was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

A local application of recombinant human fibroblast growth factor 2 for tibial shaft fractures: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) is a potent mitogen for mesenchymal cells, and a local application of recombinant human FGF-2 (rhFGF-2) in a gelatin hydrogel has been reported to accelerate bone union in our animal studies and preparatory dose-escalation trial on patients with surgical osteotomy. We have performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which patients with fresh tibial shaft fractures of transverse or short oblique type were randomly assigned to three groups receiving a single injection of the gelatin hydrogel containing either placebo or 0.8 mg (low-dosage group) or 2.

Reproducibility of measurements of thumb abduction.

The reproducibilities of various measurements of thumb abduction were compared. Two independent observers measured the thumb abduction in 30 volunteers by the following four methods: distance between the thumb tip and the flexion crease of the index finger proximal interphalangeal joint; distance between the flexion crease of the thumb interphalangeal joint and the proximal palmar crease; angle between the thumb and index metacarpals; and angle between the thumb and index proximal phalanx. Measurements were repeated in three weeks and their reproducibility was assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Predictors of residual symptoms in lower extremities after decompression surgery on lumbar spinal stenosis.

Leg pain/numbness and gait disturbance, two major symptoms in the lower extremities of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), are generally expected to be alleviated by decompression surgery. However, the paucity of information available to patients before surgery about specific predictors has resulted in some of them being dissatisfied with the surgical outcome when the major symptoms remain after the procedure. This prospective, observational study sought to identify the predictors of the outcome of a decompression surgery: modified fenestration with restorative spinoplasty.

Simple and conveniently accessible bi-fluorescence-labeled substrates for amylases.

Synthesis of bi-fluorescence-labeled maltooligosaccharides for amylase assay was accomplished. Preliminary biological evaluation of both bi-fluorescence-labeled maltohexasaccharide and maltose using alpha-amylase was carried out, and the hexaosyl derivative showed unique variation on the basis of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET).

Synthesis and magnetic properties of orthogonally linked phenothiazine cation radical dimer and tetramer.

A 3,3'-orthogonally linked phenothiazine cation radical dimer with methyl substituents at the 2, 2', 4, and 4' positions was synthesized. The dimer was isolated as a stable product which exists in a triplet state due to a torsion angle of ca. 80 degrees between the two phenothiazine units.

Development of a method for the determination of gamma-aminobutyric acid in foodstuffs.

A method for the determination of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in foodstuffs has been developed by combination of its dinitrophenylation and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using norleucine as an internal standard. GABA was converted to its stable derivative with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and the derivative was extracted with ether. After evaporation of the extract, the residue was dissolved in 0.

Syntheses and biological evaluations of carbosilane dendrimers uniformly functionalized with sialyl alpha(2-->3) lactose moieties as inhibitors for human influenza viruses.

A series of carbosilane dendrimers uniformly functionalized with sialyl lactose moieties (Neu5Ac alpha2-->3Gal beta1-->4Glc) was systematically synthesized, and biological evaluations for anti-influenza virus activity using the glycodendrimers were performed. The results suggested that the glycodendrimers had unique biological activities depending on the form of their core frame, and Dumbbell(1)6-amide type glycodendrimer 7 showed particularly strong inhibitory activities against human influenza viruses [A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) and A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2)]. The results suggested that the structure-activity relationship (SAR) on the glycolibrary against various influenza viruses was observed, and dumbbell-shaped dendrimers as supporting carbohydrate moieties were found to be the most suitable core scaffolds in this study.

Prevalence of knee osteoarthritis, lumbar spondylosis, and osteoporosis in Japanese men and women: the research on osteoarthritis/osteoporosis against disability study.

Musculoskeletal diseases, especially osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis (OP), impair activities of daily life (ADL) and quality of life (QOL) in the elderly. Although preventive strategies for these diseases are urgently required in an aging society, epidemiological data on these diseases are scant. To clarify the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis (KOA), lumbar spondylosis (LS), and osteoporosis (OP) in Japan, and estimate the number of people with these diseases, we started a large-scale population-based cohort study entitled research on osteoarthritis/osteoporosis against disability (ROAD) in 2005.

Association of occupational activity with radiographic knee osteoarthritis and lumbar spondylosis in elderly patients of population-based cohorts: a large-scale population-based study.

Objective: To investigate the risk of radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) and lumbar spondylosis associated with occupational activity in elderly Japanese subjects using the large-scale population-based cohort of the Research on Osteoarthritis Against Disability (ROAD) study.

Methods: From the baseline survey of the ROAD study, 1,471 participants age > or =50 years (531 men and 940 women) living in mountainous and seacoast communities were analyzed. Information collected included a lifetime occupational history and details of specific work place physical activities.

Sleep apnea in rheumatoid arthritis patients with occipitocervical lesions: the prevalence and associated radiographic features.

Since sleep apnea is a risk factor for high mortality of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, this study examined the prevalence in RA patients with occipitocervical lesions, and the associated radiographic features. Twenty-nine RA patients requiring surgery for progressive myelopathy due to occipitocervical lesions (3 males, 26 females, average age 65 years) were preoperatively evaluated. Twenty-three (79%) had sleep apnea defined as apnea-hypopnea index >5 events per hour measured by a portable monitoring device, and all of them were classified as the obstructive type.

Atorvastatin induces associated reductions in platelet P-selectin, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and interleukin-6 in patients with coronary artery diseases.

The development and progression of atherosclerosis comprises various processes, such as endothelial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, thrombus formation, and lipid profile modification. Statins are 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors that have pleiotropic effects in addition to cholesterol-lowering properties. However, the mechanisms of these effects are not completely understood.

Sialyl alpha(2-->3) lactose clusters using carbosilane dendrimer core scaffolds as influenza hemagglutinin blockers.

An efficient synthesis of a series of carbosilane dendrimers uniformly functionalized with sialyl alpha(2-->3) lactose (Neu5Acalpha(2-->3)Galbeta(1-->4)Glcbeta1-->) moieties was accomplished. The results of a preliminary study on biological responses against influenza virus hemagglutinin, using the sialyl lactose clusters showed unique biological activities on the basis of the structure-activity relationship according to the carbosilane scaffolds.

Diet and lifestyle associated with increased bone mineral density: cross-sectional study of Japanese elderly women at an osteoporosis outpatient clinic.

Background: Several studies have already demonstrated that lifestyle characteristics, such as physical activity, smoking, and alcohol intake, are associated with bone mineral density (BMD). Coffee intake was shown to be negatively associated with BMD, whereas tea drinking was reported to be associated with increased BMD. A review of the literature, however, revealed that few studies have described the association between BMD and lifestyle, including characteristic Japanese foods such as fish, natto, and Japanese green tea.

Differential diagnosis of gallbladder diseases with contrast-enhanced harmonic gray scale ultrasonography.

Objectives: We evaluated the usefulness of contrast-enhanced harmonic gray scale ultrasonographic findings for differential diagnosis of gallbladder diseases.

Methods: We evaluated contrast-enhanced harmonic gray scale ultrasonographic images from 33 patients with 35 polypoid gallbladder disease lesions larger than 10 mm in diameter, consisting of 12 biliary sludge lesions, 8 cholesterol polyps, 1 inflammatory polyp, 2 adenomas, and 12 carcinomas. After a galactosepalmitic acid contrast agent was injected, lesions were scanned by contrast-enhanced harmonic gray scale ultrasonography in 2 phases: early vascular and late vascular.

Successful initial ablation therapy contributes to survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To evaluate the outcome predictors of percutaneous ablation therapy in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), especially to identify whether the initial treatment response contributes to the survival of the patients.

Methods: The study cohort included 153 patients with single (102) and two or three (51) HCC nodules 5 cm or less in maximum diameter. As an initial treatment, 110 patients received radiofrequency ablation and 43 patients received percutaneous ethanol injection.

Use of accumulation images obtained by arterial-phase contrast-enhanced harmonic grayscale ultrasonography to evaluate tumor vessels in focal nodular hyperplasia and other hepatic tumors.

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of accumulation images obtained by arterial-phase contrast-enhanced harmonic grayscale ultrasonography for examining tumor vessels in focal nodular hyperplasia and other hepatic lesions.

Methods: After injecting a galactose-palmitic acid contrast agent, we used conventional contrast-enhanced harmonic grayscale ultrasonography to scan 8 focal nodular hyperplasia lesions, 21 hepatocellular carcinomas, 2 cholangiocellular carcinomas, 12 hepatic metastases, 17 hemangiomas, and 2 angiomyolipomas. We then accumulated and superimposed consecutive conventional images (accumulation images) and compared them with corresponding conventional images to evaluate serial images of hepatic tumor vessels.

Decreased activities of daily living and associations with bone loss among aged residents in a rural Japanese community: the Miyama Study.

The present study aimed to clarify frequencies of decreased activities of daily living (ADL) and associations with rate of bone loss among inhabitants more than 60 years old in Miyama, a rural community in Japan. A cohort of 1543 inhabitants aged 40-79 years was established according to Miyama resident registrations in 1989. Men (n = 50) and women (n = 50) from each of two age strata between 60 and 79 years (N = 200) were selected from this cohort, and bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and proximal femur was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 1990 (initial survey) and again in 1993, 1997, and 2000.

Prognostic factors for patients with spinal metastases from lung cancer.

Study Design: We conducted a retrospective study to identify prognostic factors of patients with spinal metastases from lung cancer.

Objective: To provide clinical data with strong association to the prognosis and to propose criteria determining indication of operation for spinal metastases.

Summary Of Background Data: To make a proper selection of patients for whom surgery is indicated, forecasting short-time survival after spinal metastases is very important.

Risk factors for knee osteoarthritis in Japanese men: a case-control study.

Risk of knee osteoarthritis (OA) was assessed in a population-based case-control study of Japanese men. The study covered three health districts in Wakayama and Osaka prefectures, Japan. Subjects were male individuals >or=45 years old diagnosed radiographically with knee OA, and who did not display any established causes of secondary OA.

Incidence and prognostic factors of Japanese breast cancer patients with bone metastasis.

Background: Few previous studies have analyzed the incidence of bone metastases in a defined population of Japanese breast cancer patients and their prognosis after chemotherapy.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study. We investigated 695 patients who underwent surgery for breast cancer.

[Osteoporosis and nutrition: trends of calcium intake and bone mineral densities].

To predict the future incidence and prevalence of osteoporosis in Japan, bone mineral densities (BMDs) in the same age ranges, but attained by different birth cohorts in 1990 or in 2000, were compared. In men, the mean value of BMD at the lumbar spine in the birth cohort of 1930-1939, when they reached the age stratum 60-69, was significantly higher than that of the older cohort born in 1920-1929 when in the same age stratum (p<0.05).