The effect of swimming training on creatine ki nase (CK) isoenzyme compositions (cytoplasmic CK : CK-MM, -MB, -BB ; mitochondrial CK : m-CK) of coleus (SOL), extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and heart muscles were studied. Wistar strain male rats were trained by swimming at a water temperature of 38±2°C, loaded with a weight equal to 5% of their body weight attached to their tails, and made to swim 4-days per week from the age of 4 weeks old for 4, 6 and 8 weeks. CK isoenzyme compositions of SOL, EDL and heart were different from those of other muscles. The activities of CK-MB and m-CK of SOL, EDL and heart increased following exercise training. CK isoenzyme composition of skeletal muscle (SOL and EDL) tended to qualitatively resemble the heart with training. These results suggest that the training-induced metabolic change in skeletal muscle causes similar CK isoenzyme composition to the heart muscle, and ensure energy production for the continuous muscle contraction during endurance exercise. The possibility that the source of the increased serum CK-MB activity after exercise is from the skeletal muscle should be examined thoroughly when the high serum CK-MB activity is interpreted.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous malignant melanoma has a poor prognosis. The detrimental effect of incisional biopsies on the outcome of malignant melanoma has been debated. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the presence and type of biopsy on the prognosis of malignant melanoma. METHODS: The medical records of 109 malignant melanoma patients treated at Tokushima University Hospital from 1983 to 2007 were reviewed. After excluding 28 cases with stage 0 disease or incomplete data, 81 cases were analyzed in detail with respect to patient sex, age, tumor site, clinical stage at diagnosis, presence of ulceration or lymph node metastasis, and prognosis. The five-year survival and five-year disease-free survival rates of patients who underwent incisional or excisional biopsies were compared with those who did not undergo a biopsy. RESULTS: The male-to-female ratio was 1:1.19. The mean age was 61.3 years (range, 19-93 years). The most common site was a lower extremity, and the most common clinical stage was stage II. No significant differences in clinicopathological features, five-year survival rates, and five-year disease-free survival rates were observed among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: The presence and type of biopsy neither affected the metastatic rate nor the prognosis of malignant melanoma. The use of incisional biopsies is not encouraged because tumor thickness cannot be measured accurately. However, they may be helpful for confirming the diagnosis if an excisional biopsy cannot be performed.
Biopsy* ; Diagnosis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Lymph Nodes ; Medical Records ; Melanoma* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate* ; Ulcer

STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional study. PURPOSE: The study aimed to analyze mechanisms underlying chronic low back pain (CLBP) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 mapping of the intervertebral disc (IVD). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: MRI T2 mapping utilizes the T2 values for quantifying moisture content and collagen sequence breakdown. We previously used MRI T2 mapping for quantifying the extent of IVD degeneration (IVDD) and showed a correlation between the degeneration of the posterior annulus fibrosus (AF) and CLBP. METHODS: We enrolled 40 patients with CLBP (17 males, 23 females; mean age, 50.8±1.6 years; range, 22–60 years). IVDs were categorized as the anterior AF, nucleus pulposus (NP), and posterior AF, and T2 value for each disc was measured. T2 values, assessed using the Japanese neuropathic pain (NeP) screening questionnaire, of the NeP and nociceptive pain (NocP) groups were compared. RESULTS: T2 values of the NocP and NeP groups were 64.7±5.6 ms and 58.1±2.3 ms for the anterior AF; 67.0±4.6 ms and 59.6±2.1 ms for NP; and 70.7±4.6 ms and 51.0±1.2 ms for the posterior AF, respectively. T2 values for IVDD were significantly lower in the NeP group than those in the NocP group (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate a correlation between the degeneration of posterior AF and NeP. MRI T2 mapping may be beneficial for detecting NeP caused by IVDD and can help formulate targeted analgesic therapies.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Collagen ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Low Back Pain ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Neuralgia ; Nociceptive Pain

BACKGROUND: Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is a rare causative pathogen of brain abscess that is often found in immunocompromised patients. Although patients with supratentorial listerial abscesses showed a longer survival with surgical drainage, the standard therapy for patients with subtentorial lesions has not been established. CASE REPORT: We report herein a patient with supra- and subtentorial brain abscesses caused by L. monocytogenes infection. These abscesses did not respond to antibiotics, and his symptoms gradually worsened. Drainage was not indicated for subtentorial lesions, and the patient was additionally treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which dramatically reduced the volume of abscesses and improved the symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of drastic therapy for a patient with listerial brain abscesses involving combined antibiotics and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The findings suggest that hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a good option for treating patients with deep-seated listerial abscesses and for who surgical drainage is not indicated.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anti-Infective Agents* ; Brain Abscess* ; Drainage ; Humans ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation* ; Immunocompromised Host ; Listeria monocytogenes