Aim To investigate more efficient synthetic method of the nitrogen analogue 4 of salacinol (1) for searching new antidiabetic agents. Methods The synthesis of the key intermediate 2,4-O-isopropylidene-L-erythritol 1,3-cyclic sulfate (2a) was accomplished by modification of reports from Dglucose via seven steps in much more less expensive. Using this method, an efficient synthesis of 4 was carried out. The glycosidase inhibitory activity of 4 was tested for the intestinal α-glucosidase in vitro and compared with that of salacinol. Results A nitrogen analogue 4 of salacinol (1) was synthesized by the coupling reaction between the cyclic sulfate 2a and an azasugar 3b. Conclusion Substitution of the sulfur atom in 1 with a nitrogen reduced the activity considerably.

No abstract available.
Sarcoma, Myeloid* ; Skin*

Pitching motion is made up by three-dimensional whole body movement. Pelvic and trunk rotation movement is important for the prevention of throwing injuries. Throwing is not a simple rotation movement. Evaluation should reflect muscle strength, coordination, and pitching motion characteristics. We have devised throwing rotational assessment (TRA) similar to throwing as the new evaluation of total rotation angle required for throwing. The purpose of this study was to introduce the new method and to examine the characteristics of players with throwing disorders. The subjects were 76 high school baseball pitchers who participated in the medical check. Pain-induced tests were elbow hyperextension test and intra-articular shoulder impingement test. Pitchers who felt pain in either test were classified as disorder group. TRA evaluation was performed as follows. In the positions similar to the foot contact phase, rotation angles of the pelvis and trunk were measured. In the position similar to follow through phase, the distance between the middle finger and the second toe was measured. All tests were performed in the throwing and opposite direction. Twenty five pitchers were classified as disorder group. All TRA tests in healthy group were significantly higher in the throwing direction than in the opposite direction, but there was no significant difference in the disorder group. Disorder group had significantly lower average rotation angles of the pelvis and trunk in the throwing direction and rotation angle of trunk in the opposite direction than the healthy group. Restrictions on TRA reflecting the complex whole body rotation movement may be related to the throwing disorder. This evaluation is a simple method. It would be useful early detection of throwing disorder and systematic evaluation in medical check, as well as self-check in the sports field.

No abstract available.
Immunoglobulins* ; Interleukin-6* ; Sclerosis* ; Skin*

Abstract
Objective : In this study, we conducted a survey on both the use of supplements by customers and information provided by pharmacists, to clarify customer understanding. We also sought to ascertain the actual current state of information provided by pharmacists to customers, as well as investigating both how, and to what extent, pharmacists should be involved in customers 'use of supplements.
Methodology : During regular pharmacy visits, pharmacists used a questionnaire to interview 1,253 customers, in 14 community pharmacies, in Tokyo and Hokkaido, respectively. A different questionnaire, designed for pharmacists, was also given to 289 pharmacists who were either working in those same pharmacies, or who attended the Conference on Pharmaceutical Sciences in Hokkaido (2011, Sapporo).
Results : The results of the survey showed that approximately 50％ of consumers greatly desired the provision of safety and efficacy information about supplements by pharmacists. However, few pharmacists answered customers' questions satisfactorily (only 7.3％ of total responses).
 The results also indicated that only 30％ of pharmacists actively gathered information about supplements, despite the fact that 67.5％ of pharmacists were aware that they were expected to do so by customers, in their roles as primary information providers regarding such treatments. Furthermore, even those pharmacists who checked information regarding supplements depended mostly on information acquired from the Internet.
Conclusion : There is a large gap between customers' expectations for explanation of supplements and the reality of such explanations, and the information actually provided by pharmacists. In order to live up to their customers' expectations, pharmacists should foster both wider dissemination and better understanding of evidence-based information about supplements. Pharmacists should also provide integrated management of drugs and supplements for patients.

AIMTo investigate more efficient synthetic method of the nitrogen analogue 4 of salacinol (1) for searching new antidiabetic agents.

METHODSThe synthesis of the key intermediate 2, 4-O-isopropylidene-L-erythritol 1,3-cyclic sulfate (2a) was accomplished by modification of reports from D-glucose via seven steps in much more less expensive. Using this method, an efficient synthesis of 4 was carried out. The glycosidase inhibitory activity of 4 was tested for the intestinal alpha-glucosidase in vitro and compared with that of salacinol.

RESULTSA nitrogen analogue 4 of salacinol (1) was synthesized by the coupling reaction between the cyclic sulfate 2a and an azasugar 3b.

CONCLUSIONSubstitution of the sulfur atom in 1 with a nitrogen reduced the activity considerably.

Animals ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Molecular Structure ; Nitrogen Compounds ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Sugar Alcohols ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Sulfates ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; alpha-Glucosidases ; metabolism

Background: No consensus exists regarding which anthropometric measurements are related to bone mineral density (BMD), and this relationship may vary according to sex and age. A large Japanese cohort was analyzed to provide an understanding of the relationship between BMD and anthropometry while adjusting for known confounding factors. Methods: Our cohort included 10,827 participants who underwent multiple medical checkups including distal forearm BMD scans. Participants were stratified into four groups according to age (≥50 years or <50 years) and sex. The BMD values were adjusted for confounding factors, after which single and partial correlation analyses were performed. The prevalence of osteopenia was plotted for each weight index (weight or body mass index [BMI]) class. Results: Cross-sectional studies revealed that weight was more favorably correlated than BMI in the older group (R=0.278 and 0.212 in men and R=0.304 and 0.220 in women, respectively), whereas weight and BMI were weakly correlated in the younger age groups. The prevalence of osteopenia exhibited a negative linear relationship with weight among older women ≥50 years of age, and an accelerated increase was observed with decreasing weight in older men weighing <50 kg and younger women weighing <60 kg. When weight was replaced with BMI, the prevalence was low in most subgroups classified by weight. Conclusions Weight, rather than BMI, was the most important indicator of osteopenia but it might not be predictive of future bone loss.

Background/Aims: Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) requires the administration of intravenous (IV) fluorescein. This study aimed to determine the optimal dose of IV fluorescein for both upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract pCLE. Methods: Patients 20 to 79 years old with gastric high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or colorectal neoplasms (CRNs) were enrolled in the study. The dose de-escalation method was employed with five levels. The primary endpoint of the study was the determination of the optimal dose of IV fluorescein for pCLE of the GI tract. The reduced dose was determined based on off-line reviews by three endoscopists. An insufficient dose of fluorescein was defined as the dose of fluorescein with which the pCLE images were not deemed to be visible. If all three endoscopists determined that the tissue structure was visible, the doses were de-escalated. Results: A total of 12 patients with gastric HGD and 12 patients with CRNs were enrolled in the study. Doses were de-escalated to 0.5 mg/kg of fluorescein for both non-neoplastic duodenal and colorectal mucosa. All gastric HGD or CRNs were visible with pCLE with IV fluorescein at 0.5 mg/kg. Conclusions In the present study, pCLE with IV fluorescein 0.5 mg/kg was adequate to visualize the magnified structure of both the upper and lower GI tract.

Background/Aims: Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) requires the administration of intravenous (IV) fluorescein. This study aimed to determine the optimal dose of IV fluorescein for both upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract pCLE. Methods: Patients 20 to 79 years old with gastric high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or colorectal neoplasms (CRNs) were enrolled in the study. The dose de-escalation method was employed with five levels. The primary endpoint of the study was the determination of the optimal dose of IV fluorescein for pCLE of the GI tract. The reduced dose was determined based on off-line reviews by three endoscopists. An insufficient dose of fluorescein was defined as the dose of fluorescein with which the pCLE images were not deemed to be visible. If all three endoscopists determined that the tissue structure was visible, the doses were de-escalated. Results: A total of 12 patients with gastric HGD and 12 patients with CRNs were enrolled in the study. Doses were de-escalated to 0.5 mg/kg of fluorescein for both non-neoplastic duodenal and colorectal mucosa. All gastric HGD or CRNs were visible with pCLE with IV fluorescein at 0.5 mg/kg. Conclusions In the present study, pCLE with IV fluorescein 0.5 mg/kg was adequate to visualize the magnified structure of both the upper and lower GI tract.

Objective: Because patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) were forced to stay indoors during the state of emergency, resulting in stress and a lack of physical activity, concerns about their glycemic control were raised.Patients and Methods: The 165 patients’ glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were compared during the following periods: the 4 months that were selected as a representative condition 1 year before the COVID-19 pandemic (May 2018, March 2019, June 2019, and July 2019) and the latter 3 months as a 1-year follow-up during the COVID-19 pandemic (May 2019, March 2020, June 2020, and July 2020).Results: The patients’ HbA1c levels were 7.32 ± 1.23, 7.44 ± 1.20, 7.16 ± 1.06, 7.01 ± 1.05, 7.23 ± 1.06, 7.45 ± 1.18, 7.15 ± 10.7, and 7.11 ± 1.17 in May 2018, March 2019, June 2019, July 2019, May 2019, March 2020, June 2020, and July 2020, respectively (expressed as mean ± standard deviation).Conclusion: The analysis showed that HbA1c levels did not worsen during the self-restraint period.