The present study was designed to provide more extensive information on the effects of chronic in vivo β-adrenergic stimulation as produced in two different fashions, one through exercise training and the other through the chronic administration of isoproterenol, on the characteristics of β-adrenergic receptors (β-AR) in rat adipocyte membranes.
1. The chronic administration of isoproterenol (2.5 mg/kg BW sc, daily for 21 days; IPR-treatment) significantly reduced lipolysis induced by noradrenaline in isolated adipocytes. However, exercise training (8 weeks of treadmill running) significantly increased the lipolytic response of adipocytes to noradrenaline.
2. IPR-treatment significantly decreased the percentage of the high affinity state (%R_H) and increased the dissociation constants of the high affinity state (K_H) of β-AR in computer modeling of (-) -noradrenaline competition curves. However, exercise training significantly increased %R_H.
In conclusion, IPR-treatment reduced the lipolytic response of adipocytes to noradrenaline, at least partially, which resulted in the decreased formation of the high affinity state of β-AR. Exercise training may enhance the lipolytic ability of adipocytes to catecholamines through facilitating the formation of the high affinity state of β-AR.

The present study was designed to provide more extensive information on the effects of chronic in vivo β-adrenergic stimulation as produced in two different fashions, one through exercise training and the other through the chronic administration of isoproterenol, on the characteristics of β-adrenergic receptors (β-AR) in rat adipocyte membranes.
1. The chronic administration of isoproterenol (2.5 mg/kg BW sc, daily for 21 days; IPR-treatment) significantly reduced lipolysis induced by noradrenaline in isolated adipocytes. However, exercise training (8 weeks of treadmill running) significantly increased the lipolytic response of adipocytes to noradrenaline.
2. IPR-treatment significantly decreased the percentage of the high affinity state (%R_H) and increased the dissociation constants of the high affinity state (K_H) of β-AR in computer modeling of (-) -noradrenaline competition curves. However, exercise training significantly increased %R_H.
In conclusion, IPR-treatment reduced the lipolytic response of adipocytes to noradrenaline, at least partially, which resulted in the decreased formation of the high affinity state of β-AR. Exercise training may enhance the lipolytic ability of adipocytes to catecholamines through facilitating the formation of the high affinity state of β-AR.

The effectiveness of the Kampo medicine shakuyakukanzoto extract for patients with muscle cramp is well known, but recently side effects related to pseudoaldosteronism have also been reported. To avoid this issue, Kampo medicines without Glycyrrhizae Radix are needed for treatment of muscle cramp. We investigated the therapeutic effect of shimotsuto extract, which has traditionally been used to treat anemia, in 26 patients (mean age : 70.7 ± 12.1 years) with muscle cramp. Improvement of the symptom was noted in 18 patients (69%), with no change in 8 patients (31%). The abdominal muscle tension of the former patients was significantly lower than the latter. Here, the cases of four representative patients in whom muscle cramp was improved by shimotsuto are described. The response rate to shimotsuto was similar to that of shakuyakukanzoto. Our results suggest that shimotsuto extract is a suitable alternative to shakuyakukanzoto for treatment of muscle cramp in older non-robust type patients not in need of emergency care.

PURPOSE: Recently, the clinical application of the forced oscillation technique (FOT) has progressed with the spread of commercially available FOT devices, including the impulse oscillation system and MostGraph. We investigated the usefulness of color 3D imaging of respiratory impedance in asthma using MostGraph. METHODS: Whole-breath and within-breath respiratory system resistance (Rrs) and reactance (Xrs) were measured in 78 patients with asthma. Color 3D images were classified into three patterns: the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-like pattern (high values of Rrs and Xrs with a marked respiratory cycle and frequency dependence), the asthma pattern (moderately high Rrs over the entire frequency and a respiratory cycle with slight Xrs changes), and a normal-like pattern (low Rrs and Xrs with few within-breath changes). The classification was performed by three researchers, who were unaware of the clinical information, and the clinical characteristics were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: Color 3D imaging provided a COPD-like pattern in 25 patients, an asthma pattern in 39 patients, and a normal-like pattern in 14 patients. Patients with the COPD-like pattern were predominantly female with a higher body mass index, lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC), and higher Rrs and Xrs values (whole-breath and within-breath variation). Those with the normal pattern had higher FEV1 and FVC, and a lower single-breath nitrogen washout slope. There were no differences in asthma control or exhaled nitric oxide levels among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that color 3D imaging of respiratory impedance may show asthma phenotypes.
Asthma ; Body Mass Index ; Electric Impedance ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitrogen ; Phenotype ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Respiratory System ; Vital Capacity

Background/Aims: 5-Aminosalicylic acid (ASA) causes intolerance reactions in some patients. This study was performed to examine the prognosis of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 5-ASA intolerance, and to evaluate the potential interaction between 5-ASA intolerance and the intestinal microbiota. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with UC who visited participating hospitals. The primary endpoint was to compare the incidence of hospitalization within 12 months between the 5-ASA intolerance group and the 5-ASA tolerance group. The secondary endpoint was to compare the risk of adverse clinical outcomes after the start of biologics between the 2 groups. We also assessed the correlation between 5-ASA intolerance and microbial change in an independently recruited cohort of patients with UC. Results: Of 793 patients, 59 (7.4%) were assigned to the 5-ASA intolerance group and 734 (92.5%) were assigned to the 5-ASA tolerance group. The admission rate and incidence of corticosteroid use were significantly higher in the intolerance than tolerance group (P< 0.001). In 108 patients undergoing treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor biologics, 5-ASA intolerance increased the incidence of additional induction therapy after starting biologics (P< 0.001). The 5-ASA intolerance group had a greater abundance of bacteria in the genera Faecalibacterium, Streptococcus, and Clostridium than the 5-ASA tolerance group (P< 0.05). Conclusions In patients with UC, 5-ASA intolerance is associated with a risk of adverse clinical outcomes and dysbiosis. Bacterial therapeutic optimization of 5-ASA administration may be important for improving the prognosis of patients with UC.