Search

AIM Given the scarcity of relevant reports, this study aimed to elucidate whether pregnancy can be prolonged by maintaining the amniotic fluid volume with continuous transabdominal amnioinfusion (TA) for patients with mid-trimester preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and oligoamnios. METHODS We retrospectively examined patients who were managed during hospitalization at our department after developing PPROM between week 22 day 0 and week 25 day 6 of gestation and subsequent oligoamnios (amniotic fluid index [AFI]

A simple and sensitive liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometric (LC-ESI-MS) method for the simultaneous quantification of representative 17-ketosteroid sulfates, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), androsterone sulfate and epiandrosterone sulfate, in human saliva has been developed and validated. The saliva was deproteinized with acetonitrile, purified using a solid-phase extraction cartridge and subjected to LC-MS. Deuterium-labeled DHEAS was used as the internal standard and quantification was based on the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode of each deprotonated molecule. This method allowed the reproducible and accurate quantification of the salivary sulfates using a 100-microl sample; the intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were below 6.8 and 6.3%, respectively, and the % accuracy values were quantitative for all the sulfates. The limits of quantitation for all the sulfates were 100 pg/ml. No significant matrix effect or change in the measured value by freeze/thaw repetitions was observed. The developed method was applied to clinical studies, and produced satisfactory results.

An inadequate calcium intake among Japanese youth has been commonly observed and it has been asso­ciated with lower bone mineral density (BMD).1,2 Moreover, the increasing prevalence of unhealthy dieting practices is seen among young women in most industrialized countries. In fact, more frequent dieting has been associated with lower BMD in Japanese young women.1 The increasing prevalence of unhealthful dieting practices may also adversely affect dairy food consumption.

Recently, the functions of vitamin D have been identified to prevent fractures and falls;the functions may be associated with improvement in muscular strength by high vitamin D intake. The higher vitamin D intake is considered to need to keep muscular volume and decrease risks of falls and fractures in elderly people. Moreover, it was suggested that intake of dietary vitamin D and calcium seemed to be benefit to increasing of muscle volume during weight loss in young women. Since many elderly people tend to have weight loss and be deficient in vitamin D, more intake of fish which is rich in vitamin D and taking sun exposure, are recommend for their bone health and maintenance of muscular volume.

Mycoplasmas were isolated from oral or nasal cavities of two lions, a Muscovy duck, a falcated teal, and three Indian white-backed vultures among zoo-animals comprising 19 mammals, six reptiles and 17 birds examined. The isolates from the lion were biochemically identical to those of M. felis but serologically different from them. No strains from the Indian white-backed vultures reacted with any antisera against the reference mycoplasma strains from birds.