Comparison of the Effects of Flexion and Extension of the Thumb and Fingers on the Position and Cross-Sectional Area of the Median Nerve

Objective

To assess the separate effects of thumb and finger extension/flexion on median nerve position and cross-sectional area.

Methods

Ultrasonography was used to assess median nerve transverse position and cross-sectional area within the carpal tunnel at rest and its movement during volitional flexion of the individual digits of the hand. Both wrists of 165 normal subjects (11 men, 4 women, mean age, 28.6, range, 22 to 38) were studied.

Results

Thumb flexion resulted in transverse movement of the median nerve in radial direction (1.2±0.6 mm), whereas flexion of the fingers produced transverse movement in ulnar direction, which was most pronounced during flexion of the index and middle fingers (3.2±0.9 and 3.1±1.0 mm, respectively). Lesser but still statistically significant movements were noted with flexion of the ring finger (2.0±0.8 mm) and little finger (1.2±0.5 mm). Flexion of the thumb or individual fingers did not change median nerve cross-sectional area (8.5±1.1 mm²).

Conclusions

Volitional flexion of the thumb and individual fingers, particularly the index and middle fingers, produced significant transverse movement of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel but did not alter the cross-sectional area of the nerve. The importance of these findings on the understanding of the pathogenesis of the carpal tunnel syndrome and its treatment remains to be investigated.     

The Prevalence and Characteristics of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Vertigo

Objectives/Hypothesis

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a condition that increases the risk of coronary artery disease and cerebral infarction. We determined the prevalence of MetS in vertigo patients and clinically investigated the association between MetS and vertigo.

Study Design

Case-control study

Methods

The subjects were 333 patients, including 107 males and 226 females, who presented with vertigo as a primary symptom. MetS was diagnosed according to the International Diabetes Federation definition, which is based on waist circumference, blood serum levels, and blood pressure.

Results

MetS was detected in 53 (15.9%) of 333 vertigo patients, including 24 males (22.4%) and 29 females (12.8%); i.e., the frequency of MetS was significantly higher among the male patients than the female patients. The overall prevalence of MetS (15.9%) among vertigo patients did not differ from that observed among general adults in previous Japanese surveillance studies; however, MetS was significantly more common among the vertigo patients in males than general adult males. The prevalence of MetS was also examined in five types of vertigo, Concomitant MetS was noted in many males with vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) and isolated vertigo of unknown etiology.

Conclusion

It was suggested that MetS is involved in the development of vertigo in males. MetS might be a risk factor for vascular vertigo such as VBI in males. The high frequency of MetS among males with vertigo of unknown etiology suggested that the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome is involved in this type of isolated vertigo.     

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 (42.1%) was significantly higher than that of LAB resistant to dihydrostreptomycin or oxytetracycline from cheeses produced in Japan (16.7%; P = 0.04). Antimicrobial resistance genes were detected in Enterococcus faecalis (tetL, tetM, and ermB; tetL and ermB; tetM) E. faecium (tetM), Lactococcus lactis (tetS), Lactobacillus (Lb.), casei/paracasei (tetM or tetW), and Lb. rhamnosus (ermB) isolated from seven imported cheeses. Moreover, these E. faecalis isolates were able to transfer antimicrobial resistance gene(s). Although antimicrobial resistance genes were not detected in any LAB isolates from Japanese cheeses, Lb. casei/paracasei and Lb. coryniformis isolates from a Japanese farm‐made cheese were resistant to oxytetracycline (minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC], 32 µg/mL). Leuconostoc isolates from three Japanese farm‐made cheeses were also resistant to dihydrostreptomycin (MIC, 32 to > 512 µg/mL). In conclusion, the present study demonstrated contamination with antimicrobial‐resistant LAB in imported and Japanese farm‐made cheeses on the Japanese market, but not in Japanese commercial cheeses.     

Body size and temperature dependence of routine metabolic rate and critical oxygen concentration in larvae and juveniles of the round crucian carp Carassius auratus grandoculis Temminck & Schlegel 1846

Routine metabolic rate (RMR, mgO₂ g^?1 h^?1) and critical oxygen concentration (Pc, a hypoxia tolerance indicator, mgO₂ L^?1) were determined in larvae and juveniles of round crucian carp, Carassius auratus grandoculis Temminck & Schlegel 1846, by measuring oxygen consumption at 15°C, 20°C, and 30°C. In addition, the dependence of RMR and Pc on fish body weight (W, g) and temperature (T, °C) was examined to construct minimal mathematical models. RMR depended on W and showed smaller values in larger individuals. RMR was different among the three temperature conditions and showed higher values at higher temperatures. Pc was significantly related to W and was low in larger individuals; that is, larger individuals had a higher hypoxia tolerance. In contrast, Pc was independent of temperature, implying that seasonal temperature fluctuations do not cause seasonal disequilibrium of hypoxia tolerance in round crucian carp. The RMR and Pc models were RMR = 0.0674W^?0.193e^0.0562T and Pc = 1.35W^?0.107, respectively. The metabolic information clarified in this study is essential for habitat quality assessments and aquaculture management of this species.     

Multiple Induction of Dye-Linked Aromatic Alcohol Dehydrogenases by n-Propanol and rc-Butanol in Rhodopseudomonas acidophila M402

We visualized flavonol distribution in the abaxial epidermis of onion scales without chemical processes via detection of blue-light-induced green autofluorescence. Our visualizing results indicated an unequal intercellular distribution of flavonols among epidermal cells causing a patch distribution in the epidermis, and indicated that flavonol accumulation in ultraviolet irradiated-onion scales was in uniformity with epidermal cells, probably to compensate for their stress-hypersensitiveness.     

l-Serine Production Improved by Analogue-resistant Mutants of a Methanol-utilizing Bacterium

In the higher plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, histidine-to-aspartate (His-to-Asp) phosphorelay signal transduction systems play crucial roles in propagation of environmental stimuli, including plant hormones. This plant has 11 sensor His-kinases, 5 histidine-containing phosphotransfer (HPt) factors (AHPs), and 20 response regulators (ARRs). To gain new insight into the functions of these phosphorelay components, their intracellular localization was examined with use of GFP-fusion proteins, constructed for certain representatives of HPt factors (AHP2) and type-A and type-B ARRs (ARR6/ARR7 and ARR10, respectively). The results showed that AHP2 is mainly located in the cytoplasmic space, while both the types of ARRs have an ability to enter preferentially into the nuclei, if not exclusively. Together with the results from an in vitro phosphorelay assay with AHP2 and ARRs, these results are discussed, in terms of a geneal framework of the Arabidopsis His-to-Asp phosphorelay network.     

Purification and Crystallization of d-Arabinose (l-Fucose) Isomerase from Aerobacter aerogenes by Polyethylene Glycol

d-Arabinose(l-fucose) isomerase (d-arabinose ketol-isomerase, EC 5.3.1.3) was purified from the extracts of d-arabinose-grown cells of Aerobacter aerogenes, strain M-7 by the procedure of repeated fractional precipitation with polyethylene glycol 6000 and isolating the crystalline state. The crystalline enzyme was homogeneous in ultracentrifugal analysis and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Sedimentation constant obtained was 15.4s and the molecular weight was estimated as being approximately 2.5 × 10⁵ by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200.

Optimum pH for isomerization of d-arabinose and of l-fucose was identical at pH 9.3, and the Michaelis constants were 51 mm for l-fucose and 160 mm for d-arabinose. Both of these activities decreased at the same rate with thermal inactivation at 45 and 50°C. All four pentitols inhibited two pentose isomerase activities competitively with same Ki values: 1.3–1.5 mm for d-arabitol, 2.2–2.7 mm for ribitol, 2.9–3.2 mm for l-arabitol, and 10–10.5 mm for xylitol. It is confirmed that the single enzyme is responsible for the isomerization of d-arabinose and l-fucose.