Dendritic retraction, but not atrophy, is consistent in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-comparison between Onuf’s neurons and other sacral motor neurons-

BACKGROUND: Fundamental cytological changes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were looked for by comparing relatively preserved Onuf’s nucleus (ON) and severely affected neighboring motor neuron groups (dorsolateral alpha motoneurons (DL) and other anterior horn neurons (OAH)). The second sacral segments from 11 ALS patients and 5 controls were initially quadruple-labeled for phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP43), and p62 with DAPI to identify TDP43-related changes. After digital recording of these fluorescence data encompassing the entire specimen at a high resolution, the same sections were stained with Klüver-Barrera method to obtain their exact bright-field counterparts. This novel approach facilitated exact identification of ON. Furthermore, this cell to cell comparison enabled to correlate quantitative indices of the neuronal cell bodies: perimeter, area and circularity index (CI) i.e. the ratio of (perimeter/2π) divided by the square root of (area/π), which decreases with dendritic retraction, overall number of neurons and inclusions. RESULTS: In addition to known preservation of ON neuron number relative to DL and OAH, size reduction of ON neurons was not significant even in the advanced stage. Significant size reduction in DL was counteracted in the presence of TDP43-positive inclusions. Early increase of neuronal size in OAH was further enhanced by the presence of TDP43-positive inclusions. Even with these heterogeneous cytopathological changes, a decrease in CI was consistent in all groups at an early phase and was correlated with neuronal loss. CONCLUSIONS: Among variable cytological changes of ALS, a decrease in CI is a consistent early feature shared between non-atrophic ON neurons and other anterior horn neurons with either decreased (DL) or even increased (OAH) size and profounder neuronal loss. This decrease in CI, representative of dendritic retraction, is fundamental to ALS pathogenesis, not necessarily linked to cell size and pathological inclusions

ジアシルグリセロール含有食用油による揚げ物調理について

Deep-frying oil properties of diacylglycerol-rich cooking oil (DG oil) were examined so as to assess the extent of thermal oxidative stability. The results obtained were compared with those of triacylglycerol-rich cooking oil (TG oil). Dehydration and oil absorption of food materials using DG oil were lower than those of TG oil. Color difference (⊿E value)of both oils increased with the number of uses, but ⊿E value of DG oil was higher than that of TG oil. Moisture content of "koromo" using DG oil was higher than that of TG oil. Carbonyl, p-anisidin and acid values of both oils increased with the number of uses. The immediate evaluation of fried foods after frying using both oils were better than those of 120 minutes\u27 later ones. The present findings indicate that the thermal oxidation of DG oil during deep-frying is basically the same as that of TG oil. DG oil can be used for deep-frying oil in the same way as TG oil

におい識別装置及びGC/MSによる腐敗臭豚腸の簡易判定について

In this study, we examined the simplified method for estimating the quality of porcine bowels with Fragrance Analyzer（ FF-1） and GC/MS. In the experiment with FF-1, we examined for skatole as the ingredient of excrement smell. The samples used were porcine bowels with good quality from the United States, Japan and Mexico in this study. It was difficult to estimate the quality of all samples with FF-1. In GC/MS analysis, skatole and hexanal were detected in all samples. The clear differences were not seen among GC/MS chromatograms of all samples. It is possible to use the FF-1 to estimating the quality of porcine bowels by the combination with GC/MS analysis identifying the unpleasant odor except for skatole as the standard for quality estimation

マンガに描かれる女性の体形と日本人若年女性のボディイメージ

日本のマンガの持つ内容の広さ、豊かさ、洗練性および画像表現の自由度は、読む者のボディイメージに強い影響を与える可能性がある。マンガにおける若年女性の体形の描かれ方に関して、ジャンル別(男性向け一女性向け、成人向け-子供向け)の体形の特徴、物語上の役割や人物の性格が体形に及ぼす影響、作者の性別と作品のジャンルの関係について検討した。描かれた身体像は、現代日本の若年女性の標準体形と比較して、若年女子短期大学生らの視点から評価した。男性向けのマンガではやや細いウェストと大きなヒップを持った若年女性が描かれているのに対して、女性向けのマンガではウェスト・ヒップ共に細い若年女性が描かれていた。作品中の若年女性の役割や性格と体形の関係では、女性誌において女性性や母性がいずれも細い身体像と結びつき、また依存性が太いウェストと結びついていた。男性向けのマンガを男性が画いている一方、女性向けのマンガは女性が画いていた。これらの結果から、マンガにおいては非現実的な「やせ理想像」が、女性読者を対象として、女性マンガ家により作られていることが示された

Anticholinergics boost the pathological process of neurodegeneration with increased inflammation in a tauopathy mouse model

AbstractAnticholinergics, and drugs with anticholinergic properties, are widely and frequently prescribed, especially to the elderly. It is well known that these drugs decrease cognitive function and increase the risk of dementia. Although the mechanism of anticholinergic drug-induced cognitive impairment has been assumed to be functionally reduced acetylcholine (ACh) neurotransmission, some data have indicated that anticholinergics might enhance the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we investigated the pathological effects of anticholinergics on neurodegeneration. We chronically administered two anticholinergics, trihexyphenidyl (TP) and propiverine (PP) (the latter with less central anticholinergic action), to neurodegenerative tauopathy model mice 2 to 10months old. Furthermore, because the ACh nervous system regulates both central and peripheral inflammation, we administered TP or PP to PS19 mice in which we had artificially induced inflammation by lipopolysaccharide injection. Tau pathology, synaptic loss, and neurodegeneration in the hippocampal region, as well as tau insolubility and phosphorylation, were markedly increased in TP-treated mice and mildly increased in PP-treated mice. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis revealed microglial proliferation and activation. Moreover, anticholinergics increased interleukin-1β expression in both the spleen and brain of the tauopathy model mice intraperitoneally injected with lipopolysaccharide to induce systemic inflammation. Interestingly, these alterations were more strongly observed in TP-treated mice than in PP-treated mice, consistent with the level of central anticholinergic action. Anticholinergic drugs not only impair cognitive function by decreased ACh neurotransmission, but also accelerate neurodegeneration by suppressing an ACh-dependent anti-inflammatory system. Anticholinergics should be less readily prescribed to reduce the risk of dementia

ニッケイ ショウシャ ニ ヨル ベイコク シリョウ コクモツ・ユリョウ シュシ ジギョウ ヲ メグル センリャク ノ ドウコウ

本論では，米国におけるとうもろこし・大豆の現地調達から輸入までを担う日系商社の企業行動と経営戦略の展開を，2010年以降の米国における穀物流通業の構造変動とともに考察した。分析方法は，入手可能な媒体における日系商社の米国穀物事業に関する情報（プレスリリースや新聞・雑誌記事など）から各社の動向を整理するとともに，その情報を元に各社の担当者に聞き取り調査を行う方式をとった。また，生産者の事情・意向を確認するために，とうもろこし・大豆生産者でアイオワ州立大学エクステンション職員にインタビューを実施した。その結果，1）各社とも，米国内陸部の集荷網を拡充しており，長期的関係の構築，生産地の情報収集，コスト削減，Non-GMO対応，といったメリットがあること，2）穀物集荷業の構造再編が進む中で日系のシェアが伸長していること，3）生産者が農場内貯蔵施設を拡充し，集荷業者に対する交渉力が向上していること，4）中国が米国内陸の集荷網に進出する可能性は低いが，価格上昇圧力につながる可能性があること，などが明らかになった。一方，穀物メジャーと日系商社の戦略を比較すると，穀物メジャーは世界的に事業を展開し，加工部門から利益を獲得しているのに対し，日系商社は日本の国内市場での穀物販売に依存している。そして，日本における少子高齢化に伴うマーケット縮小に加え，日本の港湾・飼料業界の再編の行方も不安材料となるため，1）資材や加工分野の拡大，2）日本以外での収益性のある販売の確立が，日系商社による穀物ビジネスの今後の課題となると結論づけた。This study examines the actual behaviors and the strategy operation of Japanese trading companies, focusing on corn and soybeans, from their sourcing to importation into Japan, and the structural change in the grain distribution business in the 2010s. The method consisted in collecting the information related to Japanese trading companies’ grain business in the USA from any media and conducting interview surveys with the companies. Additionally, to identify the concerns of US grain producers, a grain producer who is also working at Iowa State University Extension was interviewed. The results showed that first, each company has expanded the grain sourcing network, recognizing the advantage of long-term relationships, gathering information, reducing costs, and meeting non-genetically modified organism (GMO) demands. Second, Japanese companies have gained their share in the grain distribution in the USA under the structural change of the distribution industry. Third, grain producers have developed on-farm storage capacities and increased their bargaining power against elevator companies. Fourth, although the prospects for Chinese companies to enter the US local grain business are scarce, their upward pricing pressure is reasonable. In comparison with Japanese trading companies, “ABCDs” are conducting business globally and receiving large benefits from the “processing” segment. Conversely, Japanese trading companies rely on the sales of grains on the domestic market. The study concludes that future restructuring of port and feed industries in Japan and a shrinking domestic market due to an aging society will be causes of concern and that developing “input” and “processing” segments and building the platform for overseas profitable marketing will be the challenges