Evaluation of a pregnancy programme to enhance older primiparas' physical and mental health and marital relationships after childbirth: A non-randomized clinical trial.

Aim: This study evaluated a pregnancy programme designed by us to stabilize older primiparas' physical and mental health and strengthen their marital relationships.

Design: A non-randomized controlled trial study of two groups; an intervention and control group.

Methods: Ultimately the scores of 15 participants assigned to an intervention group and 15 assigned to a control group were analysed.

Feelings of older Japanese primiparous couples and satisfaction of older primiparous wives with their husbands' support during pregnancy: Focus on the perceptions of pregnant couples.

Aim: This study was to explore the feelings of older primiparous wives and husbands and satisfaction of older primiparous wives with their husbands' support during pregnancy.

Design: This study is a qualitative research design based on the characteristics of clarifying the recognition of older primiparous couples.

Methods: Participants were eight older Japanese primiparous couples.

Distribution of antimicrobial-resistant lactic acid bacteria in natural cheese in Japan.

To determine and compare the extent of contamination caused by antimicrobial-resistant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in imported and domestic natural cheeses on the Japanese market, LAB were isolated using deMan, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar and MRS agar supplemented with six antimicrobials. From 38 imported and 24 Japanese cheeses, 409 LAB isolates were obtained and their antimicrobial resistance was tested. The percentage of LAB resistant to dihydrostreptomycin, erythromycin, and/or oxytetracycline isolated from imported cheeses (42.

In vivo and in vitro footprinting of nucleosomes and transcriptional activators using an infrared-fluorescence DNA sequencer.

The analysis of nucleosome positions and transcription factor binding in chromatin is a central issue for understanding the mechanisms of gene expression in eukaryotes. Here, we have developed a footprinting technique, using multi-cycle primer extension with an infrared-fluorescence DNA sequencer, to analyze chromatin structure in isolated yeast nuclei and transcriptional activator binding in living yeast cells. Using this technique, the binding of the yeast activators Hap1 and Hap2/3/4/5 to their cognate sites was detectable as hypersensitive sites by in vivo UV-photofootprinting, and the locations of nucleosomes in yeast minichromosomes were determined by micrococcal nuclease mapping.

A nucleosome positioned by alpha2/Mcm1 prevents Hap1 activator binding in vivo.

Nucleosome positioning has been proposed as a mechanism of transcriptional repression. Here, we examined whether nucleosome positioning affects activator binding in living yeast cells. We introduced the cognate Hap1 binding site (UAS1) at a location 24-43 bp, 29-48 bp, or 61-80 bp interior to the edge of a nucleosome positioned by alpha2/Mcm1 in yeast minichromosomes.

Arachidonic acid-activated Na+-dependent Mg2+ efflux in rat renal epithelial cells.

Arachidonic acid (AA), a metabolite of membrane phospholipids, and its metabolites are increased in Mg2+ deficiency. We examined whether the extracellular Mg2+ concentration affects AA production and whether AA regulates a putative Na+-dependent Mg2+ efflux pathway in renal epithelial NRK-52E cells. We used the cells cultured in 5 mM Mg2+-containing medium for 2 days because they enable us to detect Na+-stimulated Mg2+ efflux that was not observed in normal culture medium.

A glass capillary microelectrode based on capillarity and its application to the detection of L-glutamate release from mouse brain slices.

A new glass capillary microelectrode for L-glutamate is described using pulled glass capillaries (tip size, approximately 12.5 microm) with a very small volume (approximately 2 microl) of inner solution containing glutamate oxidase (GluOx) and ascorbate oxidase. The operation of the electrode is based on capillary action that samples L-glutamate into the inner solution.

Up-regulation of Na+-dependent Mg2+ transport by nitric oxide and cyclic GMP pathway in renal epithelial cells.

A putative, Na(+)-dependent Mg(2+) transport pathway controls the intracellular free Mg(2+) concentration ([Mg(2+)](i)) in various mammalian cells. The characteristics of this Mg(2+) transport pathway have not been clarified. Herein, we examined the regulatory mechanism of Na(+)-dependent Mg(2+) efflux in renal epithelial NRK-52E cells.

Japanese familial hypercholesterolaemia with a 327insC mutation in the LDL receptor gene.

Mutations in the LDL receptor (LDLR) cause familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) in an autosomal dominant manner. The condition frequently progresses to coronary atherosclerosis. We describe a patient with FH, but without ischaemic heart disease, who had a novel frameshift mutation (327insC) in exon 4 of the LDLR gene.