Masashi Matsuzaka

Change in the capability of reactive oxygen species production by neutrophils following weight reduction in female judoists

Objective: Athletes undergoing weight reduction are recognised as being more prone to infection. Few studies exist for athletes on the weight reduction-mediated changes in neutrophil function and related activities such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) production capability, phagocytic activity (PA) and serum opsonic activity (SOA). Methods: 16 Japanese female university judoists were examined in the early morning of the first day (pre-values) and the last day (post-values) of a 20-day pre-competition training period. Of the 16 subjects, 8 needed to reduce weight (WR group) and the other 8 did not (control group). The parameters assessed were the neutrophil count, serum immunoglobulins and complements, myogenic enzymes, ROS production capability, PA and SOA. Results: Comparing the post-values with the pre-values, ROS production significantly increased in both groups (p<0.01 for both). PA significantly decreased in the WR group (p<0.05); it also decreased in the control group but the decrease was not significant. SOA significantly increased in the control group (p<0.05), but showed no significant change in the WR group. Conclusions: The changes in the WR group were probably a direct consequence of the weight-reduction regimen coupled with the exercise regimen, suggesting that neutrophil parameters (ROS production, PA and SOA) had tended to deviate from their typical compensatory changes to maintain immune system homoeostasis.

Knee osteoarthritis, knee joint pain and aging in relation to increasing serum hyaluronan level in the Japanese population

OBJECTIVE To investigate relationship between serum hyaluronan (HA) level and the presence and severity of radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) as well as degree of knee pain in Japanese population. DESIGN A total of 616 volunteers participated in this study. Based on the Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade, participants were radiographically classified into three groups: Normal (K-L grade 0 or 1), Moderate (grade 2) and Severe (grade 3 or 4). The degree of knee pain was quantified by visual analogue scale (VAS) and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Pain. Serum HA levels were compared among the Normal, Moderate and Severe groups, and the relationship between serum HA level and the severity of knee OA was analyzed after age, sex and body mass index (BMI) were adjusted. In addition, the correlation between serum HA level and the degree of knee pain was analyzed in each group. RESULTS Regarding relationship between serum HA level and the severity of radiographic knee OA, serum HA levels of the Moderate and Severe groups were significantly higher than in the Normal group (P<0.001). Furthermore, serum HA level correlated with the severity of radiographic knee OA (r=0.289, P<0.001) after adjusting for age, sex and BMI. Serum HA level correlated with VAS of knee pain and/or KOOS Pain in the Normal and Moderate groups. CONCLUSION Serum HA level has the potential to be useful for the diagnosis of the presence and severity of knee OA.

Association between concentration of trace elements in serum and bronchial asthma among Japanese general population.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS A number of previous studies had revealed the association between trace elements in serum and bronchial asthma. However, only a few researches had focused on serum concentration of trace elements in a general population. In this study, an association between trace elements in serum and bronchial asthma was investigated in a general population. METHODS Subjects were 1025 volunteers (385 males and 640 females between ages 19 and 82 years old) who had participated in the Iwaki Health Promotion Project 2005. Bronchial asthma was diagnosed based on the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II according to the self-questionnaires on health conditions of subjects. The serum concentrations of certain trace elements (manganese, copper, zinc, selenium and iron) were measured and compared. Also, an association between serum trace elements level and neutrophil-related functions (oxidative burst activity, phagocytic activity, serum opsonic activity) were determined. RESULTS In males, no significant differences were seen in any serum trace elements concentrations. In females, serum zinc level was significantly higher in bronchial asthma group than in control. A positive correlation was seen between serum concentration of zinc and serum opsonic activity in both genders. CONCLUSIONS In female asthmatics, increase of oxidative stress was suggested to be caused by superoxide dismutase pathway (elimination system of reactive oxygen species) rather than serum opsonic activity (production system of reactive oxygen species from neutrophils) pathway, as the zinc concentration in bronchial asthma group was higher than that in control.

ABC screening for gastric cancer is not applicable in a Japanese population with high prevalence of atrophic gastritis.

A combination of the detection of serum anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody and measurement of the level of serum pepsinogens (PG)s, known as the ABC method, has been used in screening for gastric cancer. The ABC method has been shown to be useful in urban and/or younger populations. The aim of this study was to assess whether this method is applicable for an agricultural population with a high incidence of gastric cancer. In all, 1048 healthy adults (401 men and 647 women) who participated in a mass survey in April 2005 were examined. Their serum samples were tested to determine the prevalence of anti-H. pylori antibody, and the levels of PG I and PG II were also measured to assess the presence of atrophic gastritis. Of the elderly subjects born before 1940, 59.4% were classified into groups C and D, with a high risk for gastric cancer, and only 22.7% were classified into group A, with the lowest risk. Of the middle-aged subjects born in the 1940s and the 1950s, 66.5% were classified into groups B–D. If the ABC method is performed in the mass screening for gastric cancer in this population, a large number of subjects will be identified for further examinations. The applicability of the ABC method should be evaluated before use in the screening for gastric cancer, particularly in an aging population with a high prevalence of H. pylori infection and atrophic gastritis.

Effects of intense exercise on the physiological and mental condition of female university judoists during a training camp

Abstract To clarify the physical and mental fatigue caused by intense exercise and the relationship between the two types of fatigue, we examined changes in anthropometric and biochemical variables, neutrophil function, and the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire in 13 female university judoists attending a one-week training camp. Blood glucose, total cholesterol, haemoglobin, leukocyte count, IgG, and phagocytic activity all decreased after the training camp compared with baseline (P ≤ 0.046). Aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, and neutrophil oxidative burst activity increased after the training camp (P ≤ 0.007). Of the POMS scores, that for Fatigue increased after the training camp (P = 0.041) and that for Vigour decreased (P = 0.042). The changes in several POMS scores correlated with the changes in blood biochemical variables. In particular, the change in Total mood disturbance was negatively associated with changes in myogenic enzymes (P ≤ 0.032). Our results suggest that intense exercise during training camps for female judoists leads to the appearance and accumulation of mental and physical fatigue, which are related to each other.

Comparison of a stool antigen test and serology for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in mass survey.

Background: Serum antibody to Helicobacter pylori is tested in mass screening for gastric cancer along with the level of serum pepsinogens (PG) I and II. Recently, stool antigen tests have been developed as a new non‐invasive test. We examined H. pylori infection by both serology and stool antigen test in a mass survey and compared the results to estimate applicability of stool antigen test for mass survey.

Effects of long-term training on neutrophil function in male university judoists

Objectives: To clarify the effects of high-intensity and high-frequency long-term/chronic training on neutrophil function and serum levels of myogenic enzymes in male university judoists. Methods: The subjects were 24 male judoists who had stopped judo training for 6 months and then restarted their training. The following parameters were examined before and after a 2 h unified exercise loading (UEL) at the beginning of the restarted quotidian training (pre-training) and at 2 months, 4 months and 6 months thereafter: myogenic enzymes, neutrophil and leucocyte counts, and neutrophil phagocytic activity (PA) and oxidative burst activity as a measure of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production capability. Results: Myogenic enzymes that were measured after UEL at all four points significantly increased except for creatine kinase at the 2-month point (p<0.01 in each) and neutrophil counts significantly increased after UEL at the pre-training, 2-month and 4-month points (p<0.01 in each), but these changes became smaller from the 2-month point. PA significantly decreased after UEL at the pre-training and 2-month points (p<0.01 in each), but no change was seen at the 4-month and 6-month points. On the other hand, no change in ROS production per cell after UEL was seen at the pre-training point, but it significantly increased after UEL at the 2-month, 4-month and 6-month points (p<0.01 in each). Conclusion: The changing rate of the levels of UEL-mediated myogenic enzymes, neutrophil mobilisation and neutrophil function was seen to decrease at the 2-month, 4-month and 6-month assessments, compared with the pre-training point: these may comprise at least some of the long-term training effects.

Coping behaviors in relation to depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among middle-aged workers in Japan

BACKGROUND In Japan, the annual number of deaths by suicide markedly increased in 1998 and leveled off at approximately 30,000 per year thereafter. The coping behaviors used to deal with stress may have implications for the prevention of depression and suicidal ideation. This study examined coping behaviors in relation to depression and suicidal ideation. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, a total of 6762 workers (40-60 years of age; 4119 males and 2643 females) completed both the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D) and a questionnaire measuring suicidal ideation. A cut-off score of 19 was used to define probable depression for the CES-D. Stress-coping behaviors were surveyed via an inventory of 14 items that reflected of actual behaviors covering problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidant strategies. RESULTS In relation to depression, logistic regression analyses revealed that in both genders, the highest odds ratios (OR) for avoidant coping strategy and the lowest OR was associated with a problem-focused strategy after adjusting for covariates. After making the same adjustments, logistic regression analyses revealed that in both genders, the highest OR were for emotional distraction coping strategies in relation to suicidal ideation. LIMITATIONS The cross-sectional nature of this study does not allow for causal assumptions regarding the sequential nature of the relationship between coping behaviors and the onset of depressive symptoms or suicidal ideation. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that coping behaviors may affect both depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Furthermore, gender differences in coping behaviors among middle-aged workers were identified. Additional studies are needed to examine the relationships among coping behaviors, depression and suicidal ideation using a longitudinal design.

The effects of a two-hour judo training session on the neutrophil immune functions in university judoists

The present study examined the effects of judo training on neutrophil and related functions. We measured and studied changes in the neutrophil and its related functions in 22 male university judoists immediately before (Pre values) and immediately after (Post values) a 2 h training session: reactive oxygen species (ROS) production capability, phagocytic activities (PA) and serum opsonic activity (SOA). Neutrophil count in whole blood, myogenic enzymes (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase), immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA and IgM) and complements (C3 and C4) in serum were also measured. The Post values of the neutrophil count, myogenic enzymes and IgG increased significantly compared with the Pre values. ROS production capability and SOA also significantly increased following training, although PA showed a slight decrease (but not statistically significant). Taking the findings of our previous studies into consideration, three major neutrophil or related functions, namely ROS production capability, PA and SOA, might compensate for each other to maintain the overall integrity of the neutrophil immune function, in that ROS and SOA increased to compensate for the slight decrease in PA, or PA slightly decreased to compensate for the increase in ROA and SOA after exercise.

Comparison of ankle-brachial pressure index and pulse wave velocity as markers of cognitive function in a community-dwelling population

BackgroundVascular factors have been implicated in the development of cognitive decline and dementia. The purpose of this study is to determine the association of the Ankle Brachial pressure Index (ABI) and brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (ba-PWV) to cognitive impairment in a community-dwelling population.MethodsThe ABI and ba-PWV were measured using the volume-plethymographic apparatus in 388 subjects aged 60 years old and over. The Mini-Mental State Examination was also employed to measure global cognitive status. The effectiveness of the ABI and ba-PWV as putative markers of cognitive impairment were determined by using a multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting for confounding factors.ResultsSubjects with poor cognition were significantly older and less well educated than those with normal cognition. According to the multiple logistic regression analysis, the lowest ABI tertile was found to be a significant independent risk factor (OR = 3.19, 95% CI = 1.30 to 7.82) of the cognitive impairment, whereas the highest brachial-ankle PWV tertile was not.ConclusionsA low ABI was an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older populations, whereas a high ba-PWV may not be. Further research will be required to analyze ABI and PWV with greater accuracy.