ABSTRACT
In consecutive 50 diabetic patients hospitalized for medical education, without subjective symptoms of autonomic neuropathy (DM group), performed treadmill walking stress test and thermography, for clarify the feature of the pattern typical of diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Thermal images were collected, before, immediately after, 3, 6, 12 minutes after walking. The mean temperature of toes fell more than 1 degree C than that of baseline level and returned within 0.5 degrees C of baseline level within 6 minutes (N type) in 66% of 30 normal subjects (C group) and 24% of DM group. In 10% of C and 24% of DM, the temperature fell but not returned within 0.5 degrees C of baseline level in 6 minutes (D type). In 17% of C and 38% of DM, the temperature changed within 0.5 degrees C (F type), or rose more than 0.5 degrees C after exercise (U type) in 7% in C and 14% in DM groups. Pts D, F group, have more complications (HbA1c, nephropathy, retinopathy or somatic neuropathy), but not so in C, U type. We concluded D, F types were the typical thermographic features of the toes of pts with diabetic autonomic neuropathy.
Subject(s)
Diabetic Neuropathies/diagnosis , Exercise Test , Thermography , Toes/physiopathology , Walking/physiology , Aged , Diabetic Foot/prevention & control , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Education as Topic , Skin Temperature , Toes/blood supply , Toes/innervationABSTRACT
We investigated the effects of catecholamine on flower-induction in P. nil (cv. Violet). GC-SIM analysis identified dopamine for the first time in P. nil seedlings. Dopamine levels in the cotyledons did not show a significant change during the inducing dark treatment. The dopamine content of cotyledons exposed to various durations of darkness were 0.1-0.2 nmol/g fresh weight. The same content was found when cotyledons were exposed to continuous light.
Subject(s)
Asteraceae/physiology , Catecholamines/metabolism , Cotyledon/physiology , Photoperiod , Asteraceae/chemistry , Asteraceae/radiation effects , Cotyledon/chemistry , Darkness , Dopamine/metabolism , Epinephrine/metabolism , Light , Norepinephrine/metabolismABSTRACT
Alpha-ketol linolenic acid [KODA, 9,10-ketol-octadecadienoic acid, that is 9-hydroxy-10-oxo-12(Z),15(Z)-octadecadienoic acid] is a signal compound found in Lemna paucicostata after exposure to stress, such as drought, heat or osmotic stress. KODA reacts with catecholamines to generate products that strongly induce flowering, although KODA itself is inactive [Yokoyama et al. (2000) Plant Cell Physiol. 41: 110; Yamaguchi et al. (2001) Plant Cell Physiol. 42: 1201]. We examined the role of KODA in the flower-induction process of Pharbitis nil (violet). KODA was identified for the first time in seedlings of P. nil grown under a flower-inductive condition (16-h dark exposure), by means of LC-SIM and LC-MS/MS. In addition, the changes in endogenous KODA levels (evaluated after esterification of KODA with 9-anthryldiazomethane) during the flower-inductive phase in short day-induced cotyledons were closely related to flower induction. The KODA concentration sharply increased in seedlings during the last 2 h of a 16-h dark period, while the KODA level showed no significant elevation under continuous light. The increase of KODA level occurred in cotyledonal blades, but not in other parts (petiole, hypocotyls and shoot tip). When the 16-h dark period was interrupted with a 10-min light exposure at the 8th h, flower induction was blocked and KODA level also failed to increase. The degree of elevation of KODA concentration in response to 16-h dark exposure was the highest when the cotyledons had just unfolded, and gradually decreased in seedlings grown under continuous light for longer periods, reaching the basal level at the 3rd day after unfolding. Flower-inducing ability also decreased in a similar manner. These results suggest that KODA may be involved in flower induction in P. nil.
