Effects of scallop shell extract on scopolamine-induced memory impairment and MK801-induced locomotor activity

ObjectiveTo evaluate the neuroprotective effects of the organic components of scallop shells (scallop shell extract) on memory impairment and locomotor activity induced by scopolamine or 5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo (a,d) cyclohepten-5,10-imine (MK801).MethodsEffect of the scallop shell extract on memory impairment and locomotor activity was investigated using the Y-maze test, the Morris water maze test, and the open field test.ResultsScallop shell extract significantly reduced scopolamine-induced short-term memory impairment and partially reduced scopolamine-induced spatial memory impairment in the Morris water maze test. Scallop shell extract suppressed scopolamine-induced elevation of acetylcholine esterase activity in the cerebral cortex. Treatment with scallop shell extract reversed the increase in locomotor activity induced by scopolamine. Scallop shell extract also suppressed the increase in locomotor activity induced by MK801.ConclusionsOur results provide initial evidence that scallop shell extract reduces scopolamine-induced memory impairment and suppresses MK-801-induced hyperlocomotion

Characteristics of acute congestive heart failure with normal ejection fraction and less elevated B-type natriuretic peptide

Abstract Background Heterogeneity in B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, especially among individuals with acute heart failure with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (HFNEF), can cause confusion in interpreting results. We investigated the characteristics of cases of acute HFNEF with only modestly elevated BNP. Methods One hundred forty-two patients with acute or acute exacerbation of chronic HFNEF were divided into two groups by BNP level: BNP Results In the NB group, a history of open-heart surgery (OHS) was more frequent (71% vs. 22%, p Conclusion We found associations between acute HFNEF with less elevated BNP and a history of OHS. In a patient suspected of HFNEF, a history of OHS is considered diagnostic evidence of presence of diastolic heart failure when plasma levels of BNP are less elevated.</p

音楽媒体との接触に関する社会心理学的研究(Ⅱ)：音楽嗜好におよぼす独自性欲求の影響

Moroi & Itagaki (2013) examined long tail distribution model for consumer behavior proposed by Anderson(2006). The present study explored the relationships among music tastes and need for uniqueness (Snyder & Fromkin, 1977) in female undergraduates. The Purchase Experiences of Recent Japanese Popular Songs Scale developed by authors and Need for Uniqueness Scale (Miyashita, 1991) were administered to female undergraduates(N=311). Results of Spearman’s rank correlation analyses indicated that need for uniqueness facilitated downloading music files which were not popular. The effects of similarity motive(Byrne, 1971) were discussed.論

Medical Treatment of Echinococcus multilocularis and New Horizons for Drug Discovery: Characterization of Mitochondrial Complex II as a Potential Drug Target

As an efficient drug for alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is still not available, new chemotherapy targets are necessary. The mitochondrial respiratory chain may be a good drug candidate because parasite respiratory chains are quite different from those of mammalian hosts. For example, Ascaris suum possesses an NADH‐fumarate reductase system (fumarate respiration) that is highly adapted to anaerobic environments such as the small intestine. It is composed of mitochondrial complex I (NADH‐ubiquinone reductase), complex II (succinate‐ubiquinone reductase), and rhodoquinone. We previously demonstrated that fumarate respiration is also essential in E. multilocularis. Quinazoline, a complex I inhibitor, inhibited growth of E. multilocularis larvae in vitro. These results indicate that fumarate respiration could be a target for E. multilocularis therapy. In the current chapter, we focused on complex II, which is another component of this system, because quinazoline exhibited strong toxicity to mammalian mitochondria. We evaluated the molecular and biochemical characterization of E. multilocularis complex II as a potential drug target. In addition, we found that ascofuranone, a trypanosome cyanide‐insensitive alternative oxidase inhibitor, inhibited E. multilocularis complex II at the nanomolar order. Our findings demonstrate the potential development of targeted therapy against Echinococcus complex II

トクシマシ イシカイ ニオケル ザイタク イリョウ エノ トリクミ

Japan is heading toward a super-aging society at a rate unparalleled with other countries. The vast increase in demand for medical treatment and care will exceed existing social resources by 2025 when the baby boom generation becomes older than 75 years. There are concerns that this may lead to the collapse of acute medical care, break out refugee Home Medical Care, and the loss of end-of-life care facilities in various areas. Therefore, Japan is promoting the establishment of a comprehensive community care system designed to allow elderly individuals to live in their own community with dignity for as long as possible. The development of home medical care is being promoted as the core component of this system. The Tokushima City Medical Association has assessed the possible risks associated with this super-aging society that should emerge at a relatively early stage. Furthermore, the development of home medical care for the public to support community medical care is regarded as the best means of tackling future challenges. Therefore, we set up the Home Care Cooperation Committee in 2008 and have worked to develop home care in Tokushima City. The Tokushima City Medical Association participated in the Home Medical Care Cooperation Base Service of commissioned projects by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as one of 105 institutions in whole country in 2012. Since 2013, we have already been implementing this with Tokushima City administration as a subsidized institution under the three year’s Home Medical Care Cooperation Base Service which was performed by the Tokushima prefecture. This base of operations incorporates the following five mandatory directives : 1. identify solutions to multidisciplinary cooperation issues, 2. develop a multidisciplinary cooperation system and a 24-h response system, 3. raise awareness among residents, 4. educate personnel engaged in home medical care, and 5. set up a consultation service for home medical care. Because of community demands for projects to be implemented in a more area-wise appropriate manner, the Tokushima Home Care Cooperation Committee was newly established following general consensus within the association. This committee was composed of 14members not limited to individuals from medical associations ; individuals from the local government and various professions involved in home medical care were recruited and made decisions regarding operating policies. The current major challenge in Tokushima City is the lack of a means to disseminate proposed solutions for home medical care throughout the entire community. Therefore, we are promoting the establishment of multiple working groups on home medical care to tackle this challenge in the future. In addition, we intend to summarize the various challenges and their solutions that we identified during the course of our operations, draw up guidelines on home medical care based on the agreement of the local government and various professions and disseminate these guidelines throughout the community. We aim to effectively operate and from multiple levels a mutual support system between doctors who have long been working in medical associations, a multidisciplinary, conscientious cooperation system to support patients, a streamlined cooperation system for hospital admission and discharge, and a patient information sharing system utilizing ICT. These systems will be operated in parallel with our base operations. We also aim to promote the future improvement of environments in which as many family doctors as possible can examine their patients at home with ease until their patient’s final breath. This should enable us to provide high-quality home medical care equally and widely throughout the community. We hereby report the home medical care initiatives and future projects of the Tokushima City Medical Association centered on the Home Medical Care Cooperation Based Project

Calcium sparks enhance the tissue fluidity within epithelial layers and promote apical extrusion of transformed cells

In vertebrates, newly emerging transformed cells are often apically extruded from epithelial layers through cell competition with surrounding normal epithelial cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Here, using phospho-SILAC screening, we show that phosphorylation of AHNAK2 is elevated in normal cells neighboring RasV12 cells soon after the induction of RasV12 expression, which is mediated by calcium-dependent protein kinase C. In addition, transient upsurges of intracellular calcium, which we call calcium sparks, frequently occur in normal cells neighboring RasV12 cells, which are mediated by mechanosensitive calcium channel TRPC1 upon membrane stretching. Calcium sparks then enhance cell movements of both normal and RasV12 cells through phosphorylation of AHNAK2 and promote apical extrusion. Moreover, comparable calcium sparks positively regulate apical extrusion of RasV12-transformed cells in zebrafish larvae as well. Hence, calcium sparks play a crucial role in the elimination of transformed cells at the early phase of cell competition

Collagen adhesion gene is associated with blood stream infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Objectives: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes hospital- and community-acquired infections. It is not clear whether genetic characteristics of the bacteria contribute to disease pathogenesis in MRSA infection. We hypothesized that whole genome analysis of MRSA strains could reveal the key gene loci and/or the gene mutations that affect clinical manifestations of MRSA infection. Methods: Whole genome sequences (WGS) of MRSA of 154 strains were analyzed with respect to clinical manifestations and data. Further, we evaluated the association between clinical manifestations in MRSA infection and genomic information. Results: WGS revealed gene mutations that correlated with clinical manifestations of MRSA infection. Moreover, 12 mutations were selected as important mutations by Random Forest analysis. Cluster analysis revealed strains associated with a high frequency of bloodstream infection (BSI). Twenty seven out of 34 strains in this cluster caused BSI. These strains were all positive for collagen adhesion gene (cna) and have mutations in the locus, those were selected by Random Forest analysis. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that these gene mutations were the predictor for the incidence of BSI. Interestingly, mutant CNA protein showed lower attachment ability to collagen, suggesting that the mutant protein might contribute to the dissemination of bacteria. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the bacterial genotype affects the clinical characteristics of MRSA infection. (c) 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases