The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relation between double product break point (DPBP) and pulse wave velocity (PWV).Two hundred three healthy Japanese females were studied (mean age; 53.5 +/- 11.7 years old). The DPBP was measured by continuous incremental exercise test with a bicycle ergometer (ML-3600, Fukuda Electronic Co. Ltd). The work rate at DPBP was converted into metabolic equivalents (METs@DPBP). The brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) was also measured. In addition, height, weight and mean blood pressure (mBP) were measured and physical activity condition in daily life (PA) was evaluated by questionnaire.The mean METs@DPBP was 5.0 +/- 0.7 METs. The mean baPWV was 1,373 +/- 254 cm/ sec. The relation between METs@DPBP and baPWV was investigated with the use of multiple linear regression models with adjustment for affecting factors of baPWV.In this study, it was identified that there was a significantly inverse relation between METs@DPBP and baPWV (p <0.01). This finding was independent from age, height, weight, mBP and PA. Thus, there was an inverse relation between sub-maximal aerobic capacity and arterial stiffness.

Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the electro-clinical characteristics of epilepsy and immunological markers in patients with epilepsy after infl uenza-associated encephalopathy/encephalitis (IAE). Methods: Eighteen patients with epilepsy after IAE (8 males, 10 females; mean age of onset 6.4±6.4 years) were studied. Antibodies to glutamate receptor (GluR) ε2 (NR2B) were examined by immunoblot and ELISA. Cytokines were measured by BioPlex. Results: Mean interval between IAE and epilepsy onset was 63.2 ± 95.0 days (mean ± SD). In 16 of 18 patients, complex partial seizures were observed. Most complex partial seizures were of short durations and showed few lateralizing signs. Interictal discharges were seen in the frontal area in 7 of 14 patients. Ictal EEG showed rapid propagation to bilateral hemispheres. Patients with higher cerebrospinal fl uid levels of anti-GluRε2 antibodies, higher cerebrospinal fl uid levels of IL-1β, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 and IFN-γ during chronic stage, had higher frequency of epileptic seizures. Conclusion: This study indicates that the frontal lobes are susceptible to rapid epileptogenesis after IAE, and that epileptic partial seizures after IAE had characteristics resembling generalized seizures. Presence of anti-GluRε2 antibodies and elevated IL-1β, TNFα, and IFN-γ in cerebrospinal fl uid may be associated with intractability of epileptic seizures.

Since the effect of the submaximal aerobic exercise on bone had been controversial, the aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of the bench step (BS), that seemed to deliver higher mechanical load on bone than any other aerobic exercises, on the total bone mineral content (BMC) and the bone metabolism of menopausal women. Sixteen menopausal women (65 ± 9 years old) as the exercise group (ExG) and 28 pre-menopausal women (43 ± 3 years old) as the control group (CG) were studied. ExG carried out BS training with the exercise intensity at lactate threshold (LT) for 21 weeks. In ExG, BMC was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at one year before the intervention (A year before), pre-intervention (Pre) and post-intervention (Post). Serum osteocalcin (OC) as the marker of bone formation and serum type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTx) as the marker of bone absorption at Pre, 11th week of the intervention and Post. In CG, BMC was measured annually without the intervention. In ExG, OC was not changed, but NTx was significantly decreased by intervention (p<0.05). The decreased amount of annual change in BMC between a year before and Pre (T1) was significantly higher compared to that between Pre and Post (T2) (p<0.01) and CG (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between T2 and CG. In conclusion, BS with LT could prevent decreasing BMC in menopausal women, and maintain the same level of BMC in pre-menopausal women by suppressing the bone absorption.

Worldwide, avian influenza H9N2 viruses of different lineages are the most widespread viruses in poultry. However, to date, cases in Russia have not been documented. In this study, we report the first detection of a G1-like H9N2 virus from poultry sampled at live-bird markets in Russia (Far East region) during the winter of 2018 (isolate A/chicken/Amur_Russia/17/2018). We assume there has been further circulation of the A/chicken/Amur_Russia/17/2018 H9N2 virus in the Russian Far East with possible distribution to other regions or countries in 2018–2019.
Animals ; Far East ; Genotype ; Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype ; Influenza in Birds ; Poultry ; Russia

Worldwide, avian influenza H9N2 viruses of different lineages are the most widespread viruses in poultry. However, to date, cases in Russia have not been documented. In this study, we report the first detection of a G1-like H9N2 virus from poultry sampled at live-bird markets in Russia (Far East region) during the winter of 2018 (isolate A/chicken/Amur_Russia/17/2018). We assume there has been further circulation of the A/chicken/Amur_Russia/17/2018 H9N2 virus in the Russian Far East with possible distribution to other regions or countries in 2018–2019.