An epidemiologic analysis of parathyroidectomy in chronic dialysis patients. The Okinawa Dialysis Study Group.

Parathyroidectomy (PTX) is one of the treatments of choice for secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronic dialysis patients. Due to the large increase in long-term dialysis patients, hyperparathyroidism is becoming a common clinical problem. Several studies on PTX have reported various surgical procedures, but limited information is available on the incidence and risk factors of the surgery.

High-dose but not low-dose dexamethasone impairs glucose tolerance by inducing compensatory failure of pancreatic beta-cells in normal men.

The diabetogenic effects of glucocorticoids appear to be dose dependent. To determine the effects of different doses of dexamethasone on glucose metabolism, we performed frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance tests in 20 healthy young men. Glucose kinetics were analysed by the minimal model.

Effect of dietary fat type on beta-oxidation of brown adipose tissue and Na+ channel density of brain nerve membrane in rats.

Effect of dietary fat type on beta-oxidation of brown adipose tissue and Na+ channel density of brain nerve membrane was studied in rats. Rats were fed an experimental diet containing lard, high oleic safflower oil, safflower oil or linseed oil for 12 weeks. The activities of carnitine palmitoyltransferase and cytochrome oxidase in brown adipose tissue were significantly lower in rats fed the lard diet than in those fed the high-oleic safflower oil diet, safflower oil diet or linseed oil diet.

Effects of a single bout of exercise on glucose effectiveness.

The effects of a single bout of exercise on glucose effectiveness (SG) and insulin sensitivity (SI) in 22 sedentary subjects were estimated with a minimal model approach. The intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was performed 1) 11 h after an exercise bout on a cycle ergometer at the lactate threshold level (mild exercise) for 60 min, 2) 11 h after an exercise bout at the 4 mM lactate level (hard exercise) for 36 +/- 1 min, 3) 11 h after an exhaustive-exercise bout (exhaustive exercise) for 96 +/- 7 min, or 4) without any prior exercise (control). Only the exhaustive exercise increased the glucose disappearance constant (2.

Relationship between the acid-induced cough response and airway responsiveness and obstruction in children with asthma.

Background: In children with asthma little is known about the direct effect of the bronchoconstrictor and bronchodilator response on the cough threshold, or the relationship between bronchial responsiveness and the cough threshold. A study was undertaken to determine the effect of histamine-induced bronchoconstriction and salbutamol-induced bronchodilatation on the cough threshold in response to inhaled acetic acid, and to examine the relationship between the acetic acid cough threshold and bronchial hyperresponsiveness to histamine in children with asthma.

Methods: Nineteen children with asthma (16 boys) of mean (SE) age 10.

Increased risk of cardiovascular disease with erythropoietin in chronic dialysis patients.

Recombinant human erythropoietin is widely used in chronic dialysis patients. However, the long-term effect, especially on the incidence of cardiovascular disease, has not been critically evaluated. We observed the annual incidence of stroke and acute myocardial infarction from April 1988 through March 1993 in Okinawa, Japan.

Effects of short-term dietary change from high fat to high carbohydrate diets on the storage and utilization of glycogen and triacylglycerol in untrained rats.

The effects of short-term diet change from high fat (F) to high carbohydrate (C) (or vice versa) on the storage and utilization of glycogen and triacylglycerol (TG) in muscle and liver were studied in untrained rats. Rats were fed on an F or C diet for 28 days. For an additional 3 days, half of the rats in both F and C groups were fed the same diets as before (F-F and C-C) and the other half of the rats were switched to the counterpart diets (F-C and C-F).

Insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, and glucose effectiveness in obese subjects: a minimal model analysis.

The aim of the present study was to estimate insulin sensitivity (SI), insulin secretion, and glucose effectiveness in 14 obese subjects who were further divided into two groups: one with normal glucose tolerance and the other with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Glucose tolerance was determined by criteria of the World Health Organization. All subjects were Japanese.

Serum triiodothyronine concentration and Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity in liver and skeletal muscle are influenced by dietary fat type in rats.

It has been shown previously that dietary fat type influences body fat accumulation in rats. The effects of dietary fat type on serum thyroid hormone, activity of Na+,K(+)-ATPase and lipoprotein lipase were studied. Rats were fed an experimental diet containing lard, high oleic safflower oil, safflower oil or linseed oil for 12 wk.

Relationship between ultrasonically nebulized distilled water-induced bronchoconstriction and acetic acid-induced cough in asthmatic children.

Background: Although wheezing and cough are the most common complaints in asthmatic persons, the mechanisms of hyperresponsiveness to bronchoconstriction and cough are nevertheless still unclear.

Objective: To investigate the common mechanisms between them, we studied the relationship between ultrasonically nebulized distilled water (UNDW) inhalation challenge and acetic acid (AA) inhalation challenge. In addition, we evaluated the effect of inhaled furosemide on both provocation tests by means of a placebo-controlled study.

Effect of procaterol, a beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, on skin whealing response caused by inflammatory mediators in asthmatic children.

Background: Beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists have been shown to reduce allergen-induced skin whealing responses via inhibition of mediator release.

Objective: To study whether beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists have a direct action against inflammatory mediator-induced skin whealing responses.

Methods: We examined the effect of procaterol, a beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, on skin whealing responses to histamine, platelet-activating factor (PAF), substance P, or bradykinin in eight asthmatic children in a double-blind, randomized, cross-over study.

Sympathetic activity is lower in rats fed a beef tallow diet than in rats fed a safflower oil diet.

Effects of dietary fats consisting of different fatty acids on sympathetic activity and body fat accumulation were studied in rats. Rats were meal-fed an isoenergetic diet based on either beef tallow or safflower oil for 8 weeks. Carcass fat content was greater (P < .

Clinical and immunologic surveys of Hymenoptera hypersensitivity in Japanese forestry workers.

Background: The increased incidence of bee-sting allergy among beekeepers is well known, whereas Hymenoptera hypersensitivity among forestry workers, who are frequently stung by Hymenoptera, is not well understood.

Objective: To elucidate the nature of Hymenoptera hypersensitivity among forestry workers and analyze the mechanism involved in Hymenoptera-induced systemic reactions.

Methods: A questionnaire was administered and yellow jacket venom-specific IgE antibody titers measured in 323 forestry workers and 100 age-matched office workers with little occupational exposure to Hymenoptera stings as a control group.

Effects of endurance training on gene expression of insulin signal transduction pathway.

Alternative splicing of insulin receptor mRNA and gene expression of insulin receptor, IRS-1 and MAP kinase isoforms were examined in skeletal muscle of trained and sedentary rats. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained for 9 weeks on a treadmill: 30 m/min at 6 degrees incline, 90 min/day, 5 days/week. Endurance training increased insulin receptor mRNA level without change in alternative splicing of insulin receptor mRNA in skeletal muscle.

Diet-induced thermogenesis is lower in rats fed a lard diet than in those fed a high oleic acid safflower oil diet, a safflower oil diet or a linseed oil diet.

The objectives of the present study were to examine the effects of dietary fats differing in fatty acid composition on diet-induced thermogenesis, sympathetic activity in brown adipose tissue and body fat accumulation in rats. Rats were meal-fed for 12 wk an isoenergetic diet based on lard, high oleic acid safflower oil, safflower oil or linseed oil, and norepinephrine turnover rates in brown adipose tissue were then estimated. Whole-body oxygen consumption after the meal indicated that diet-induced thermogenesis was significantly lower in rats fed the lard diet than in those fed the other diets.

Ability of inhaled procaterol, a beta 2 adrenoceptor agonist, to attenuate eicosanoid-induced airflow obstruction and airway microvascular leakage.

Beta-2 adrenoceptor agonists are widely used as bronchodilators in the treatment of asthma mainly via inhalation. In the present study, we evaluated the ability of inhaled procaterol, a beta 2 adrenoceptor agonist, to reduce eicosanoid-induced airway microvascular leakage, and compared the ability with its inhibitory effect against bronchoconstriction. Tracheostomized guinea-pigs were given aerosolized procaterol (10 or 100 micrograms/ml) for 10 min under spontaneous breathing.

Effect of high-fat diet on the gene expression of pancreatic GLUT2 and glucokinase in rats.

To define the biochemical and molecular basis of high-fat diet to reduce insulin secretion, the present study examined the effect of high-fat diet on the gene expression of pancreatic GLUT2 and glucokinase. Rats were isoenergetically meal-fed a high-fat or a high-carbohydrate diet for 10 weeks. Plasma glucose concentration was higher, whereas insulin concentration was lower in the rats fed a high-fat diet than in the rats fed a high-carbohydrate diet.

Regulation by physical training of enzyme activity and gene expression of branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex in rat skeletal muscle.

We examined the effects of short-term (5 weeks) and long-term (12 weeks) physical training on actual and total activities, protein content and mRNA abundance of branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex in rat skeletal muscle. The actual and total activities were significantly increased approximately 60% and approximately 40%, respectively, by long-term training. No effects of short-term training on activities were observed.

Theophylline attenuates circulating vitamin B6 levels in children with asthma.

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of theophylline on circulating vitamin B6 levels in children with asthma. Twenty-six asthmatic children, including 20 patients who were treated with slow-release theophylline and 6 patients not receiving any type of theophylline preparation, were enrolled in this study. Steady state serum theophylline and vitamin B6 [pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) and pyridoxal (PL)] levels were evaluated in these patients.

Glucose effectiveness in two subtypes within impaired glucose tolerance. A minimal model analysis.

To clarify the event that is involved in the pathogenesis of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), we studied 15 individuals with IGT and 15 subjects with normal tolerance using the minimal model approach. Our IGT subjects were characterized by normal insulin secretory responses to oral glucose and mild impairments in insulin sensitivity (SI) and glucose effectiveness (SG) at basal and zero insulin. Next, we classified our IGT subjects into two subpopulations: one with normal insulin sensitivity (SI: 0.

Enzymatic and genetic adaptation of soleus muscle mitochondria to physical training in rats.

To evaluate the effects of physical training on mitochondrial gene expression and mitochondrial biogenesis in slow-twitch muscle, adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were trained for 3, 6, and 12 wk by running on a motor-driven treadmill (speed of 25 m/min and duration of 90 min/day, 5 days/wk), and the activities of citrate synthase, ubiquinol-cytochrome-c oxidoreductase, cytochrome oxidase, mitochondrial cytochrome b mRNA (by Northern blot analysis), and mitochondrial DNA (by slot-blot and Southern blot analyses) were measured in rat soleus muscle. A DNA probe for detection of mitochondrial mRNA and DNA was prepared from a 1,500-bp fragment of human mitochondrial DNA that included the coding region of the cytochrome b gene. Training for 3, 6, and 12 wk significantly increased the activities of citrate synthase (31, 28, and 47%, respectively), ubiquinol-cytochrome-c oxidoreductase (61, 63, and 77%, respectively), and cytochrome oxidase (25, 26, and 32%, respectively) in muscle.

Effect of inhaled amiloride on water-induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatic children.

To determine whether the inhaled diuretic, amiloride, can modify bronchoconstriction induced by ultrasonically nebulized distilled water (UNDW) in asthmatic children, a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was done. The UNDW inhalation challenge was performed in 12 asthmatic children (nine boys and three girls; mean age +/- SEM, 11.2 +/- 0.

Roxithromycin reduces the degree of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in children with asthma.

We evaluated the effects of a new semisynthetic macrolide antibiotic, roxithromycin, on the bronchial hyperresponsiveness to histamine in children with asthma. Twelve hospitalized asthmatic children, aged 11 to 15 years (mean age, 12.9 years), were enrolled in this study.