In order to evaluate age-related hand coordination, quantitative analysis of ability to track moving targets by the use of ECG machine was carried out on healthy aged subjects containing 36 males and 34 females, whose age ranged from 66 to 91 with the mean of 78.2 years. Then, the above data were compared with simultaneously obtained aging score (by AMAKO), one leg standing time with eyes closed (standing time), dementia rating (D. R.) score and ability to keep short term memory (memory score) obtained from HASEGAWA's D. R. scale. The results were as follows, 1) Ablity to track the moving targets was significantly decreased with aging. 2) With aging, aging score increased and standing time shortened significantly, while D. R. score tended to decline. 3) There was no significant correlation between ability to track moving targets and D. R. score. 4) Ability to track moving targets was significantly correlated with not only memory score but standing time.

View full abstract

A solid phase enzyme immuno assay for prostatic acid phosphatase has been assessed. Acid phosphatase isoenzymes in the human plasma have been reported with the variety for various substrates. The commercial development of radio immuno assay (RIA) specific for prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) has been renewed clinical interest in the usefulness of this enzyme. The results of the solid phase enzyme immuno assay and RIA for 67 cases concurrently tested patients samples were compared by simple linear regression. The slope of the line was 0.73, the Y-intersept 0.03μg/L and the coefficient of correlation was 0.78 indicating a not so good degree of correlation between two methods. An upper limit of normal subjects in the aged is set at 2IU/L. There is very low incidence of raised level in the healthy aged and chronic disease or cancers other than these of prostate and patients with well-controled prostatic cancer have levels less than 4IU/L showing little variation about their own mean. Prostatic acid phosphatase can increase exponentially with a doubling time for 1-3 months, however, its concentration in the plasma with prostatic cancer correlated well with clinical stages as follows, Stage A and B; 1.61IU/L±0.3, Stage C; 7.6IU/L±10.2, Stage D; 8.8 IU/L±11.2. Although prostate specific acid phosphatase is not a cancer specific enzyme and leukocytic acid phosphatases cross-reacted with prostatic acid phosphatase immunologically, its measurement may be of considerable value in monitoring prostatic disease. The sensitivity, specificity in the lower range and predictive value by solid phase enzyme immuno assay were better than others on the prostatic cancer.

View full abstract

In the present study, the effects of elementary diet for long term on serum lipids, serum apolipoproteins, blood polyunsaturated fatty acids and blood coagulation-fibrinolysis system were studied in 22 patients with cerebrovascular disturbance and et al. The period of administration of ED-AC was 22 months in avarage and doses of ED-AC were 1200cal/day in each patients. Following results were obtained. 1) The levels of total Cholesterol (TC) and HDL-cholesterol (HDLC) were significantly lower in Nasal Feeding (NF) group than control group. However, the levels of triglyceride (TRG) and β-Lipoprotein (β-Lp) were shown no significant between NF group and control. 2) The levels of serum apolipoproteins AI, AII, B and E were significantly lower in the NF group than those of control. There were no significant difference in the levels of Apo CII and CIII between NF group and control. 3) AI/B ratio and AI+AII/B ratio were significantly lower in NF group than control, but there were no significant difference in AI+AII/B ratio between NF group and control. 4) The levels of Eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA), Docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) and Linolenic acids in NF group were markedly lower than control, it reached 1/10 to 1/25 as much as the levels of control. Arachidonic acid (AA) were also significantly lower in NF group than control, but the levels of AA in NF group were not so lower as EPA, DHA and Linoleic acids. There were no significant difference in the levels of Linolenic acids between NF group and control. 5) EPA/AA ratio and EPA+DHA/AA ratio were also significantly lower in the NF group than control. 6) The levels of Fibrinogen (Fbg) were significantly higher in NF group than control, but antigen concentrations of Antithrombin-III, plasminogen (PLg) and protein-C (PC) were significantly lower in NF group than those of control. The activities of AT-III, PLg and α2-plasmin inhibitor (α2-PI) were also significantly lower in NF group. Theses observation suggested that the patients treated under long term elementary diet were in the state of hypercoagulability with serum apolipoproteins abnormalities. And these state may contributed to the progression of arteriosclerosis.

View full abstract

In order to evaluate the role of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on the pathogenesis of osteoporosis in the aged female, we have investigated the relationship between serum level of PTH and radial mineral content (RMC) in 224 elderly female aged over 60 years old. In accordance with their serum levels of PTH, the subjects were divided into three groups; Group 1 whose serum PTH levels were less than 0.16ng/ml, Group 2 whose serum PTH levels were ranged from 0.16 to 0.55ng/ml, Group 3 whose serum PTH levels were more than 0.55ng/ml. Mean age, serum Ca, P, Al-P and BUN levels were not significantly different in the three groups. No significant differences in mean values of daily urinary Ca and P excretion were also found. However, the mean value of urinary hydroxyproline excretion in Group 1 and 3 were significantly higher than that in Group 2. The mean serum levels of 25-OHD in Group 1(17.8±1.7ng/ml) and 3(17.5±1.2ng/ml) were significantly lower than that in group 2(22.0±1.0ng/ml). The mean serum levels of 1, 25 (OH)₂D in Group 1(21.8±4.5pg/ml) was significantly lower than that in Group 2(36.4±1.8 pg/ml). The values of RMC in Group 1 and 3(0.40±0.01 and 0.38±0.01g/cm², respectively) were significantly lower than that in Group 2(0.44±0.01g/cm²). Moreover, the incidences of vertebral fracture(s) in Group 1 and 3(35.0% and 38.5%, respectively) were also significantly higher than that in Group 1 (16.7%). In conclusion, either high and low circulating PTH level might be cosidered as a risk factor for the development of osteoporosis in the aged females. The role of PTH on the pathogenesis of osteoporosis in the aged female was different in osteoporotic patients with high circulating levels of PTH and those with low PTH levels.

View full abstract