Effects of a rollator on fall prevention in Community-Dwelling people with Parkinson's Disease: A prospective cohort study.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a rollator on the prevention of falls in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) during outdoor walks.

Method: This study examined 30 community-dwelling patients with PD. Factors associated with falls were classified into clinical patient background, physical function, and psychophysiological function factors.

Biological effects of carbon ion beams with various LETs on budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

It has been established that irradiation with higher linear energy transfer (LET) increases lethality and mutagenicity more than that with lower LET. However, the characteristics specific to carbon ion beam have not yet been elucidated. Yeast cells were irradiated with carbon ions with an LET of 13 or 50keV/μm, and cell survival and mutation frequency were analyzed.

Clustered DNA damage on subcellular level: effect of scavengers.

Clustered DNA damages are induced by ionizing radiation, particularly of high linear energy transfer (LET). Compared to isolated DNA damage sites, their biological effects can be more severe. We investigated a clustered DNA damage induced by high LET radiation (C 290 MeV u(-1) and Fe 500 MeV u(-1)) in pBR322 plasmid DNA.

Increased serum GP88 (Progranulin) concentrations in rheumatoid arthritis.

GP88 (Progranulin; PGRN) is a secreted glycosylated protein with important functions in several processes, including immune response and cancer growth. Recent reports have shown that PGRN is a therapeutic target for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) because of its capability to bind with tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR). However, the serum PGRN level in RA patients has not been investigated.

Effects of various phytochemicals on indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 activity: galanal is a novel, competitive inhibitor of the enzyme.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) 1, that catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step in the degradation of L-tryptophan, has an important immunomodulatory function. The activity of IDO1 increases in various inflammatory diseases, including tumors, autoimmune diseases, and different kinds of inflammation. We evaluated the suppressive effect of plant extracts or phytochemicals on IDO1 induction and activity; sixteen kinds of plants extracts and fourteen kinds of phytochemicals were examined.

[Significance and utilization of "RECHS" (Resource Center for Health Science) focusing on the importance of human bio-resources].

The Resource Center for Health Science (RECHS) has initiated a project based on the development and utilization of Bio-Resources/Database (BR/DB), comprising personal health records(PHR), such as health/medical records of the health of individuals, physically consolidated with bio-resources, e.g. serum, urine etc.

Fundamental study of the radiation monitoring system based on evaluation of DNA lesions.

The biological dosemeter that measures biological responses to ionising radiation is useful for radiation protection. This paper presents the development and characterisation of a gamma ray irradiation dosimetry system based on real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) methodology. Real-time PCR is used to amplify and simultaneously quantify a targeted DNA molecule.

RAMA stain: a fast, sensitive and less protein-modifying CBB R250 stain.

SDS-PAGE and CBB staining are two of the most popular methods used for protein analysis. Although many reports that describe such staining methods have been published, these conventional protocols require several hours or days for staining and de-staining. In this study we describe a recently developed, fast and sensitive CBB staining method that utilizes the staining solution of RAMA that consists of the low-cost reagents: CBB R250, acetic acid, methanol and ammonium sulfate, and the destaining solution of water.

Specificity of mutations induced by carbon ions in budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

To investigate the nature of mutations induced by accelerated ions in eukaryotic cells, the effects of carbon-ion irradiation were compared with those of gamma-ray irradiation in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The mutational effect and specificity of carbon-ion beams were studied in the URA3 gene of the yeast. Our experiments showed that the carbon ions generated more than 10 times the number of mutations induced by gamma-rays, and that the types of base changes induced by carbon ions include transversions (68.

[Maternal mortality on the family members' perspective].

Maternal mortality is one of the health and social development indicators for countries. It is a tragedy for the family, as the death of a mother deprives the child of breastfeeding and maternal contact and also due to the fact that women maintain family unity. This study is aimed at understanding the meaning of death for the family members of women who have died.

The effects of external cues on ankle control during gait initiation in Parkinson's disease.

The present study investigated the effects of external cues on motor control of the ankle joint during gait initiation in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and in age-matched healthy subjects. The soleus H-reflexes were recorded during self-generated and cue-triggered gait initiation. The tibialis anterior muscle burst during cue-triggered gait initiation was found to be significantly larger than that during self-generated gait initiation in both groups.

Establishment of a mass-production system for NADP using bacterial inorganic polyphosphate/ATP-NAD kinase.

The inorganic polyphosphate/ATP-dependent NAD kinase (Ppnk) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was applied to the mass-production of NADP from NAD and inorganic polyphosphate (metaphosphate). When Ppnk purified from recombinant Escherichia coli cells overexpressing the M. tuberculosis Ppnk was used, 30 mM (27 g/l) NADP was produced from 50 mM NAD and 100 mg/ml metaphosphate at 37 degrees C and pH 7.

Characterization and molecular cloning of a novel enzyme, inorganic polyphosphate/ATP-glucomannokinase, of Arthrobacter sp. strain KM.

A bacterium exhibiting activities of several inorganic polyphosphate [poly(P)]- and ATP-dependent kinases, including glucokinase, NAD kinase, mannokinase, and fructokinase, was isolated, determined to belong to the genus Arthrobacter, and designated Arthrobacter sp. strain KM. Among the kinases, a novel enzyme responsible for the poly(P)- and ATP-dependent mannokinase activities was purified 2,200-fold to homogeneity from a cell extract of the bacterium.

Secretory production of recombinant human C-reactive protein in Escherichia coli, capable of binding with phosphorylcholine, and its characterization.

Recombinant human CRP (rhCRP) was secreted into culture supernatant of Escherichia coli by co-expressing kil gene that has a function to secrete colicin E1 outside the cell. Highly purified 5 g rhCRP was produced from 180 L culture supernatant by affinity chromatography. The purified rhCRP was indistinguishable from the native one with respect to Ca(2+)-dependent binding ability to phosphorylcholine, electrophoretic behavior, N-terminal amino acid analysis, and immunochemical properties.

[Production of recombinant human CRP and its application on clinical testing].

Recently, changes in the serum CRP level 1/10 the concentration range ordinarily used as a marker of acute inflammation has received attention in relation to cardiovascular injury at the AACC/CDC joint forum at Atlanta held on March 13, 2001. We have succeeded in the development of recombinant human CRP(rCRP) by inserting the cloned CRP gene into expression vector pTRP, followed by transformation of E. coli.

A new stroke marker as detected by serum phosphoglycerate mutase B-type isozyme.

The diagnostic significance of phosphoglycerate mutase (PGM) B-type isozyme activity capable of being inducible under hypoxia at the gene level as a serum marker for cerebral stroke was investigated. The normal level (mean +/- 2 SD) in human serum was determined to be 38 +/- 18 units/L. Within 2 h after the onset of cerebral stroke (n = 65), B-type isozyme activity was elevated to 68 +/- 36 units/L, and retained to be higher level until 1-3 days.

Extension of A beta2M amyloid fibrils with recombinant human beta2-microglobulin.

In order to elucidate the pathogenesis of A beta2M amyloidosis, we established an experimental system to study the mechanism of amyloid fibril formation or degradation in vitro. We compared the kinetics of A beta2M amyloid fibril (fA beta2M) extension with native beta2microglobulin (n-beta2M) purified from the urine of a patient suffering from renal insufficiency, with that with recombinant beta2M (r-beta2M) in vitro. n-Beta2M and r-beta2M were incubated with fA beta2M purified from synovial tissues excised from A beta2M amyloidosis patients.

Production of recombinant human creatine kinase (r-hCK) isozymes by tandem repeat expression of M and B genes and characterization of r-hCK-MB.

Background: Serum creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) is widely used as a marker of myocardial injury. We prepared recombinant human CK (r-hCK) MB isoenzyme and examined its potential for use as a control material for assay of CK-MB in serum.

Methods: cDNAs encoding CK-M and CK-B subunits were inserted into the same plasmid vector, followed by transformation of Escherichia coli.

Human erythrocyte bisphosphoglycerate mutase: inactivation by glycation in vivo and in vitro.

2,3-Bisphosphoglycerate mutase (BPGM) [EC 5.4.2.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-7 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 in human prostate.

Purpose: Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), one of the extracellular matrix-degrading metalloproteinases, plays an important role in carcinoma invasion and metastasis. Tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), one of the inhibitors of MMP-7, regulates extracellular matrix turnover.

Materials And Methods: Gene expression levels of MMP-7 and TIMP-1 were examined in 20 prostate carcinomas after hormonal therapy and 12 benign prostate hyperplasias (BPH) by Northern blot analysis.

Efficiency of safety measures applied to a manual knapsack sprayer for paraquat application to maize (Zea mays L.).

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the safety of mixer/loaders and applicators of paraquat to maize crop by knapsack sprayers and to determine the efficacy of safety measures applied to the sprayers. Potential dermal exposure (PDE) was evaluated in 22 worker body parts. The Cu2+ cation of a copper-based fungicide was used as tracer in the spray solution.

Expression of matrilysin in vascular endothelial cells adjacent to matrilysin-producing tumors.

Matrilysin is believed to play important roles in tumor progression and metastasis. In the present study, we analyzed matrilysin-producing cells in various human cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Tumor cells in colorectal carcinomas, pancreatic carcinomas, transitional-cell carcinomas of the kidney and small-cell lung carcinomas were frequently positive for matrilysin.

Cloning and sequencing of the gene encoding the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase from an acidophilic red alga, Cyanidium caldarium.

A cDNA containing an open reading frame encoding the putative plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase in an acidophilic red alga, Cyanidium caldarium, was cloned and sequenced by means of PCR and Southern hybridization based on homologous sequences of P-type ATPases found in other organisms. The cloned cDNA is 3300 bp in length, containing a 2865 bp open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 955 amino acids which has a predicted molecular mass of 105,371. The deduced amino acid sequence was found to be more homologous to those of P-type H(+)-ATPases from higher plants than that from the green alga Dunaliella bioculata.

Modulation of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (matrilysin) secretion in coculture of human colon carcinoma cells with fibroblasts from orthotopic and ectopic organs.

Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) is a member of the family of matrix-degrading metalloproteinases that are believed to contribute to the complex process of cancer invasion and metastasis. The secretion level of MMP-7 as assayed by immunoblot analysis was low but distinct in the culture medium of a human colon carcinoma cell line, WIDr, whereas none of the fibroblasts secreted the detectable level of MMP-7. The coculture of WiDr with various human fibroblasts from orthotopic (colon) and ectopic (thyroid, brain, lung, and skin) organs significantly stimulated the secretion of MMP-7 compared with the cultures of individual cells.