Japanese sleep disturbance and fatigue disability weights in evaluating the effects of increasing temperatures on health by a life cycle approach

Purpose

This study aimed to establish a set of disability weights (DWs) for sleep problems and fatigue which could be applied in composite health outcome measures in order to quantify the burden of symptoms and economically evaluate the effects of increasing temperatures on a life cycle approach.

Methods

The conditions were evaluated by a two-step questionnaire study. In the first step, specialists determined the DW for each condition. The second step was identical to the first, except that the determinations were made by primary care physicians. Both groups of medical practitioners used an interpolation method consisting of a comprehensive set of 31 disease-specific DWs.

Results and discussion

Mean DWs for sleep disturbance were 0.101 for environmental sleep disturbance, 0.069 for mild sleep disturbance, and 0.086 for moderate sleep disturbance. Mean DWs for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) were 0.099 for a diagnosis of CFS, 0.164 for mild handicap, 0.281 for moderate handicap, and 0.459 for severe handicap. Mean DWs assigned by primary care physicians for sleep disturbance were 0.114 for environmental sleep disturbance, 0.140 for mild sleep disturbance, and 0.126 for severe sleep disturbance. Those for CFS were 0.154 for a diagnosis, 0.099 for mild handicap, 0.147 for moderate handicap, and 0.226 for severe handicap.

Conclusions

Using the present valuation protocol, it appeared feasible to establish the burden of symptoms as attributable to increasing temperatures. The results can be applied in composite health outcome measures for public health research, environmental research, and economic evaluations.     

A Micro-method for the Measurement of Gel Properties of Soybean 11S Globulin

We examined the primary structure of α-amylase produced by Bacillus subtilis var. amylosacchariticus by isolation and characterization of CNBr fragments of the enzyme. By solubilization and precipitation in a buffer, the fragments were first fractionated into two. The soluble fraction was fractionated by Bio-Gel P-30, and three fragments were obtained. The insoluble fraction was fractionated by SP-Sephadex C-25 and further purified by Bio-Gels, and five fragments were isolated. Amino acid sequences near the N- and C-terminus were determined with the eight CNBr fragments. By matching the sequences with those of methionine-containing tryptic peptides, alignment of the eight CNBr fragments was determined.     

Determination of S-Methylmethionine,Vitamin U,in Various Teas

S-Methylmethionine (MMS, an anti-ulcer factor, Vitamin u) was determined in the extracts of various kinds of teas, such as green teas, black teas and oolong teas, using an amino acid analyzer for physiological-fluid analysis or for rapid analysis. MMS in the column eluates was confirmed to be dimethyl sulfide by a gas-chromatographic method with a flame photometric detector. The quantity of MMS obtained from the various green teas depended on the quality and the freshness, i.e.fresh, high-quality gyokuro, 15.7 to 24.5 mg%; fresh sen-cha, 7.0 to 10.3 mg%; and the other green teas 1 to 6mg%. Oolong tea and black tea did not contain MMS.

The extraction conditions for and the heat-stability of MMS were also discussed.     

Glycogen Synthetase from Pullularia pullulans

3,4-Di-O-acetyl-2,6-dideoxy-2-(2′,4′-dinitroanilino)-6-phthalimido-α-d-glucopyranosyl bromide (I) was prepared in a good yield from glucosamine hydrochloride. A modified Königs-Knorr condensation of this bromide with a 2-deoxysteptamine derivative afforded a neamine derivative (IX) and its diastereomer (X). These compounds, (IX) and (X), were identified by PMR spectroscopy after conversion into the corresponding N-acetyl derivatives, (XI) and (XII).     

The Isolation and Physico-chemical Properties of Crystalline Quinolinate Phosphoribosyltransferase from Hog Liver

Quinolinate phosphoribosyltransferase (an intermediary enzyme in the de novo NAD biosynthetic pathway) was purified from hog liver and its crystallization from a mammal was successful for the first time. This crystalline enzyme preparation was certified to be homogeneous by ultracentrifugal analysis and polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis. Its molecular weight was 173,000 using the gel filtration method, and 172,000 using sedimentation velocity analysis. The subunit molecular weight was estimated at 33,500 with SDS polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis. Several physico-chemical parameters were also determined.     

2-(Benzothiazol-2-yl)-phenyl-β-d-galactopyranoside derivatives as fluorescent pigment dyeing substrates and their application for the assay of β-d-galactosidase activities

2-(Benzothiazol-2-yl)-phenyl-β-d-galactopyranoside derivatives were synthesized as novel artificial fluorescent pigment dyeing substrates for β-d-galactosidase. The substrates, which exhibited non-fluorescence or weak fluorescence in solution phase, were smoothly hydrolyzed by β-d-galactosidase from Aspergillus oryzae and yielded a water-insoluble strong fluorescent pigment. The difference of fluorescent intensity exhibited a linear relationship with the amount of enzyme.     

Utilization of transposable element mPing as a novel genetic tool for modification of the stress response in rice

Transposable elements (TEs) are DNA fragments that have the ability to move from one chromosomal location to another. The insertion of TEs into gene-rich regions often affects changes in the expression of neighboring genes. Miniature Ping (mPing) is an active miniature inverted-repeat TE discovered in the rice genome. It has been found to show exceptionally active transposition in a few japonica rice varieties, including Gimbozu, where mPing insertion rendered adjacent genes stress-inducible. In the Gimbozu population, it is highly possible that several genes with modified expression profiles are segregating due to the de novo mPing insertions. In our study, we utilized a screening system for detecting de novo mPing insertions in the upstream region of target genes and evaluated the effect of mPing on the stress response of the target genes. Screening for 17 targeted genes revealed five genes with the mPing insertion in their promoters. In most cases, the alteration of gene expression was observed under stress conditions, and there was no change in the expression levels of those five genes under normal conditions. These results indicate that the mPing insertion can be used as a genetic tool to modify an expression pattern of a target gene under stress conditions without changing the expression profiles of those under natural conditions.     

Haploinsufficient and predominant expression of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1)-related genes, MLL, p27 and p18 in endocrine organs

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is a rare autosomal dominantly inherited syndrome characterized by parathyroid, gastro-entero-pancreatic and anterior pituitary tumors. Although the tissue selectivity of tumors in specific endocrine organs is the very essence of MEN1, the mechanisms underlying the tissue-selectivity of tumors remain unknown. The product of the Men1 gene, menin, and mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) have been found to cooperatively regulate p27^Kip1/CDKN1B (p27) and p18^Ink4C/CDKN2C (p18) genes. However, there are no reports on the tissue distribution of these MEN1-related genes. We investigated the expression of these genes in the endocrine and non-endocrine organs of wild-type, Men1 knockout and MLL knockout mice. Men1 mRNA was expressed at a similar level in endocrine and non-endocrine organs. However, MLL, p27 and p18 mRNAs were predominantly expressed in the endocrine organs. Notably, p27 and MLL mRNAs were expressed in the pituitary gland at levels approximately 12- and 17-fold higher than those in the liver. The heterozygotes of Men1 knockout mice the levels of MLL, p27 and p18 mRNAs did not differ from those in the wild-type mice. In contrast, heterozygotes of MLL knockout mice showed significant reductions in p27 mRNA as well as protein levels in the pituitary and p27 and p18 in the pancreatic islets, but not in the liver. This study demonstrated for the first time the predominant expression MEN1-related genes, particularly MLL and p27, in the endocrine organs, and a tissue-specific haploinsuffiency of MLL, but not menin, may lead to a decrease in levels of p27 and p18 mRNAs in endocrine organs. These findings may provide basic information for understanding the mechanisms of tissue selectivity of the tumorigenesis in patients with MEN1.     

Haploinsufficient and predominant expression of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1)-related genes, MLL, p27Kip1 and p18Ink4C in endocrine organs

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is a rare autosomal dominantly inherited syndrome characterized by parathyroid, gastro-entero-pancreatic and anterior pituitary tumors. Although the tissue selectivity of tumors in specific endocrine organs is the very essence of MEN1, the mechanisms underlying the tissue-selectivity of tumors remain unknown. The product of the Men1 gene, menin, and mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) have been found to cooperatively regulate p27(Kip1)/CDKN1B (p27) and p18(Ink4C)/CDKN2C (p18) genes. However, there are no reports on the tissue distribution of these MEN1-related genes. We investigated the expression of these genes in the endocrine and non-endocrine organs of wild-type, Men1 knockout and MLL knockout mice. Men1 mRNA was expressed at a similar level in endocrine and non-endocrine organs. However, MLL, p27 and p18 mRNAs were predominantly expressed in the endocrine organs. Notably, p27 and MLL mRNAs were expressed in the pituitary gland at levels approximately 12- and 17-fold higher than those in the liver. The heterozygotes of Men1 knockout mice the levels of MLL, p27 and p18 mRNAs did not differ from those in the wild-type mice. In contrast, heterozygotes of MLL knockout mice showed significant reductions in p27 mRNA as well as protein levels in the pituitary and p27 and p18 in the pancreatic islets, but not in the liver. This study demonstrated for the first time the predominant expression MEN1-related genes, particularly MLL and p27, in the endocrine organs, and a tissue-specific haploinsuffiency of MLL, but not menin, may lead to a decrease in levels of p27 and p18 mRNAs in endocrine organs. These findings may provide basic information for understanding the mechanisms of tissue selectivity of the tumorigenesis in patients with MEN1.