[Can sleep urine calcium concentration corrected by osmolality as a screening test identify subjects with risk to develop osteoporosis?].

The reliability of overnight (sleep) urine (SU) and 2nd morning urine (2MU) were compared with that of 24-hour urine (24 U) for the evaluation of bone resorption markers. A total of 50 women were subjected to the study was were divided into two groups according to their lumbar bone mineral density, namely 25 females with normal BMD (mean age 47) and 25 women with low BMD (mean age 78). Calcium (Ca), collagen degradation products crosslaps (CTx), pyridinoline (Pyr) and deoxypyridinoline (D-Pyr) were measured in 24 U, SU and 2MU and corrected for urine volume with creatinine (Cr) and osmolality(Osm).

[Calcium decreases urinary oxalate].

The effects of calcium supplementation on urinary oxalate excretion was tested in 9 normal subjects, 4 males and 5 females between 23 and 49 years of age. In a crossover study 800 mg calcium was orally administered as active absorbable algal calcium (AAACa) (A) and calcium carbonate (B), and compared with non-calcium containing placebo (C). Calcium, oxalate, osmolality, creatinine and pH were measured in the first three morning urine samples and Ca/osmolality, Ca/osmolality/body weight, Ca/creatinine and oxalate/osmolality were calculated to correct for urine dilution.

[A case of NARP (neurogenic muscle weakness, ataxia, and retinitis pigmentosa) with a T-to-C point mutation at nt 8993 of mitochondrial DNA].

We report a case of NARP with a T-to-C point mutation at nt 8993 of mitochondrial DNA. A 37-year old man with mild mental retardation, retinitis pigmentosa, and clonic-tonic seizure was admitted to our hospital. The neurological examination revealed scanning speech, dystonic neck turning to the left side, and pyramidal tract signs.

Heated oyster shell with algal ingredient (AAACa) decreases urinary oxalate excretion.

In nine normal subjects, four men and five women between 23 and 49 years of age, 800mg calcium was orally administered as active absorbable algal calcium (AAA Ca) (A) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) (B), to compare with non-calcium-containing placebo (C) in a crossover design. Calcium, oxalate, osmolality, creatinine, and pH were measured in the first three morning urine samples and Ca/osmolality, Ca/osmolality/body weight, Ca/creatinine, and oxalate/ osmolality were calculated to correct for urine dilution. Ca x oxalate product was also calculated, and Ca oxalate crystal in the sediment was microscopically examined, semiquantitatively estimated as -, +, ++, or , and numerically expressed as 0, 1, 2, or 3, respectively.

Parathyroid hormone-activated volume-sensitive calcium influx pathways in mechanically loaded osteocytes.

This paper documents for the first time a volume-sensitive Ca(2+) influx pathway in osteocytes, which transmits loading-induced signals into bone formation. Stretch loading by swelling rat and chicken osteocytes in hypo-osmotic solution induced a rapid and progressive increase of cytosolic calcium concentration, [Ca(2+)](i). The influx of extracellular Ca(2+) explains the increased [Ca(2+)](i) that paralleled the increase in the mean cell volume.

Elongation of (CTG)n repeats in myotonic dystrophy protein kinase gene in tumors associated with myotonic dystrophy patients.

Length of (CTG)n triplet repeats in myotonic dystrophy protein kinase gene (DMPK) was estimated in tumors, normal tissues of the same organs, muscles, and leukocytes from three myotonic dystrophy (DM) patients and a non-DM patient. Using cDNA 25 as a probe, a Southern blot analysis of EcoRI- and BglI-digested DNA from these tissues demonstrated the longest expansion of the repeats in the tumors of DM patients. In all tissues from a non-DM patient, the repeat length was confirmed to be stable by PCR analysis.

Myotonic dystrophy associated with insulinoma.

We describe a 51-year-old man with myotonic dystrophy (MyD) associated with insulinoma. In addition to the typical symptoms of MyD, he showed hypoglycemic attacks after meals. The radiological examination and selective blood sampling revealed an insulinoma in the head of the pancreas.

[Effects of calcium supplementation using AAACa or milk on nocturnal bone resorption in young women].

In order to study the effect of calcium supplementation on bone resorption, a randomized controlled crossover study was carried out on eight healthy 18-19 year old female volunteers using either AAACa heated oyster shell with vacuum-heated seaweed or milk. Regimen A consisted of an oral dose of 200 mg calcium in the form of AAACa. B 200 ml milk after breakfast and supper and at bedtime, and C control with no calcium supplement.

[Correction of urinary calcium levels for urine osmotic pressure].

The usefulness of the urinary calcium/creatinine (Ca/Cr) ratio, the oldest marker of bone resorption, is limited because of the influence of sodium intake and urine volume. The urinary Ca/Cr ratio was therefore compared with urinary calcium corrected for the urine osmotic pressure (Ca/OSM). Significant correlations are found between the Ca/Cr ratio and both creatinine (r = -0.

Novel ipriflavone receptors coupled to calcium influx regulate osteoclast differentiation and function.

Ipriflavone (7-isopropoxyisoflavone) is an effective antiresorptive agent used to treat osteoporosis. However, the mechanism of its action on osteoclasts and their precursor cells is not well understood. To determine whether the mechanism involves direct effects on osteoclasts or their precursors, we examined the effects of ipriflavone on cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in osteoclasts and their precursors and measured specific binding of 3H-labeled ipriflavone.

Transmenopausal change of trabecular bone density and structural pattern assessed by peripheral quantitative computed tomography in Japanese women.

Trabecular bone pattern, related to connectivity, was analyzed along with a separate measurement of cortical and trabecular bone mineral density (BMD) at the distal radius by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) in 48 perimenopausal women, consisting of 25 premenopausal women aged 41 to 52 (mean 46.6 +/- 2.9 years) and 23 early postmenopausal women aged 46 to 59 (mean 53.

[An adult case of bronchodilation using stents for right aortic arch].

Airway obstruction due to oppression by the right aortic arch is relatively common in the newborn, but has never been reported in the adult. We reported an aged case of right main bronchial stenosis due to the oppression by the right aortic arch, performed successful bronchodilatation using the stent. A 92-year-old male complained of fever and productive cough and hospitalized with a diagnosis of pneumonia.

Ultrasound transmission as a sensitive indicator of bone change in Japanese women in the perimenopausal period.

Apparent velocity of ultrasound (AVU) through the patella was measured in 160 Japanese women without specific diseases affecting the skeletal system. AVU averaged 1955 +/- 64 m/s (mean +/- S.D.

Calcium supplementation in osteoporosis.

Although calcium is the most abundant inorganic constituent of the bone, indispensable for the maintenance of its physical strength, the role of calcium nutrition in the development of osteoporosis and the preventive and therapeutic significance of calcium supplementation in osteoporosis have been matters of intense controversy. The wide difference in the baseline nutritional intake of calcium among different groups and the variation in age of the patients studied may have been contributory factors. Emphasis has so far been placed on the rapid bone loss in the immediate postmenopausal period predominantly influenced by estrogen deficiency which has overshadowed the effect of calcium.

Comparison of osteoporosis and calcium intake between Japan and the United States.

The number of osteoporotic females in Japan with vertebral bone mineral density measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, defined as less than -3 SD of the peak bone mass, is approximately 10,000,000, corresponding to 8% of the whole population of Japan. While this value approximately corresponds to the prevalence of low bone mineral density in the United States, the incidence of hip fracture appears to be much less in Japan than in the United States, 50,000 per 125,000,000 per year compared with 250,000 for a population twice as large. This seems to be paradoxical because of the lower bone mineral density and lower calcium intake in Japan, with 400-500 mg/day mainly as soybean products, small fish with bones, and vegetables.

New actions of parathyroid hormone through its degradation.

Parathyroid hormone degradation is intimately connected with its action. By the action of the unique renal neutral cytosolic PTH ase, PTH is split into 1-34 and 35-84 fragments, and further into 35-70 and 71-84 fragments. Amino-terminal 1-34 peptide was found to participate in the autoregulation of PTH secretion, suppressing the intact PTH secretion both in vivo in humans and in vitro in the dispersed bovine parathyroid cells.