Suppressive Effect of Wild Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces paradoxus Strains on Ige Production by Mouse Spleen Cells

The genus Saccharomyces includes industrial yeasts that are used for bread and alcoholic beverage production. Saccharomyces strains isolated from natural resources, referred to as “wild” yeasts, are used for making products with strain-specific flavors that are different from those of the “domesticated” industrial yeasts. The physiological effects of wild yeast are poorly understood. In this study, we isolated 2 Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (S02 − 03) and 5 Saccharomyces paradoxus strains (P01 − 02, S01, S04 − 05) from natural resources in the Kiso area and investigated the effect of these fungal strains on IgE production by mouse spleen cells. Culturing spleen cells with heat-killed yeasts resulted in elevated IFN-γ and IL-12 levels followed by significant reduction in IgE levels. The S03 and P01 strains induced IL-12 p40 and IL-10 expression in RAW264 cells. Thus, wild strains of S. cerevisiae and S. paradoxus regulate macrophage cytokine production to improve the Th1/Th2 immune balance and suppress IgE production.ArticleFOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH. 19(6):1019-1027 (2013)journal articl

Inhibitory Effect of a Hot-Water Extract of Leaves of Japanese Big-Leaf Magnolia ( Magnolia obovata

The leaf of Japanese big-leaf magnolia (Magnolia obovata Thunb.) has long been used as a natural packaging material for traditional foods in Japan. However, many of the physiological functions of the leaves against oral infection and resultant illness remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a hot-water extract of the leaves of Magnolia obovata on diarrhea induced by rotavirus (RV), a major cause of acute diarrhea. RV strain SA11 was mixed with the M. obovata leaf extract and inoculated orally to neonatal BALB/c mouse pups. Simultaneous inoculation of SA11 with the extract significantly decreased the incidence of diarrhea. In addition, the extract significantly inhibited cytopathic effects and mRNA expression of viral proteins in SA11-infected MA104 cells. Two flavonoid glycosides, quercitrin and rutin, were strongly suggested to be major anti-RV agents in the extract by serial solvent extraction and reversed-phase HPLC-ESI-MS analysis. Our results suggest that the hot-water extract of M. obovata leaves can be used as a medicine or food additive to prevent and ameliorate RV-induced diarrhea in individuals that may have difficulty in benefitting from the RV vaccines

The combination of polymorphisms within interferon-γ receptor 1 and receptor 2 associated with the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus

AbstractGenetic factors seem to play a significant role in susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We previously described the amino acid polymorphism (Val14Met) within the IFN-γ receptor 1 (IFN-γR1), and that the frequency of the Met14 allele in SLE patients was significantly higher than that of the healthy control population [Tanaka et al. (1999) Immunogenetics 49, 266–271]. We also found an amino acid polymorphism (Gln64Arg) within IFN-γ receptor 2 (IFN-γR2). Since the IFN-γ receptor is a complex consisting of IFN-γR1 and IFN-γR2, we searched for the particular combination of two kinds of amino acid polymorphisms found within the IFN-γ receptor which plays a prominent role in susceptibility to SLE. The greatest risk of the development of SLE was detected in the individuals who had the combination of IFNGR1 Met14/Val14 genotype and IFNGR2 Gln64/Gln64 genotype

特別養護老人ホームにおける介護職の看取りに対する態度に影響尾及ぼす要因 : 日本における縦断研究

Aim: The aim of the present study was to clarify that the effects of accumulated experience in end-of-life care and communication skill on the attitudes of care workers’ toward end-of-life care. Methods: A study implemented 2012 to 2014. Two hundred and fifty-three questionnaires were returned (40.2%), and 170 were fully completed by care workers in special nursing homes. We sorted the responses into two groups by experience level: the experienced end-of-life care (EE) group and the inexperience end-of-life care (IE) group. Responses were also sorted by communication skill level: a high score communication (HSC) group and a low score communication (LSC) group. A two-way repeated measure analysis of variance was used for the statistical analysis. Results: The EE group was more likely to be younger (P = .04), to have a longer duration of employment (P < .001), and to have participated in an EOL care seminar in their facility (P = .02) than the IE group. Attitudes toward end-of-life care were significantly different between the EE and IE groups (df = 2, F = 3.35, P < .05). Attitudes toward end-of-life care were not significantly different when comparing the HSC and LSC groups (df = 2, F = 0.17, P = .85). The communication skill between the HSC and LSC groups differed significantly at 2012, 2013, and 2014. Conclusions: The accumulation of end-of-life care experience prompted a positive change in attitudes toward end-of-life care. Meanwhile, communication skill had no significant effect to change attitudes toward end-of-life care

Factors influencing attitudes toward end-of-life care by care workers at special nursing homes for the elderly A Cross-sectional study in Japan

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to clarify factors influencing care workers\u27 attitudes toward end-of-life (EOL) care characteristics at special nursing homes (SNHs). Methods: A questionnaire was initially sent to 630 care workers at 19 SNHs in October 2012. Written informed consent was obtained from 253 of these workers (40.2%), who then completed and returned the questionnaires. Participants were asked to reply to questions covering demographic data, work environment, depression status, experiences/education concerning EOL, communication skills, and attitudes toward EOL care. The Japanese version of the Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying Scale, Form B (FATCOD-B-J) assessment instrument was used in the analysis of the data received. Using the median value of the FATCOD-B-J score, 130 subjects were allocated to the high score (HS) group (FATCOD-B-J?23) and 123 to the low score (LS) group (FATCOD-B-J<23). In the LS group, the odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of participants exhibiting relatively negative attitudes toward EOL care were calculated and adjusted for potential confounding factors using multivariate logistic regression model analysis. Results: Length of employment in the facilities of between 5 and 9 years (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.16-0.87) as well as over 10 years (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16-0.96) was significantly associated with a decreased risk of placement in the LS group. Furthermore, moderate (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.24-0.80) as well as high (OR 0.35, 95%CI 0.17-0.75) communication skills in accepting other opinions, were significantly associated with decreased risk of placement in the LS group. Conclusions: After adjustments for potential confounding variables, results indicated that extended experience as a care worker and higher communication skills in accepting other opinions were significantly associated with a reduced risk of negative attitudes toward EOL care

Cdh23 and Prepulse Inhibition

We previously identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) for prepulse inhibition (PPI), an endophenotype of schizophrenia, on mouse chromosome 10 and reported Fabp7 as a candidate gene from an analysis of F2 mice from inbred strains with high (C57BL/6N; B6) and low (C3H/HeN; C3H) PPI levels. Here, we reanalyzed the previously reported QTLs with increased marker density. The highest logarithm of odds score (26.66) peaked at a synonymous coding and splice-site variant, c.753G>A (rs257098870), in the Cdh23 gene on chromosome 10; the c.753G (C3H) allele showed a PPI-lowering effect. Bayesian multiple QTL mapping also supported the same variant with a posterior probability of 1. Thus, we engineered the c.753G (C3H) allele into the B6 genetic background, which led to dampened PPI. We also revealed an e-QTL (expression QTL) effect imparted by the c.753G>A variant for the Cdh23 expression in the brain. In a human study, a homologous variant (c.753G>A; rs769896655) in CDH23 showed a nominally significant enrichment in individuals with schizophrenia. We also identified multiple potentially deleterious CDH23 variants in individuals with schizophrenia. Collectively, the present study reveals a PPI-regulating Cdh23 variant and a possible contribution of CDH23 to schizophrenia susceptibility

HIV prevention through extended education encompassing students, parents, and teachers in Japan

ObjectivesWe developed an extended HIV prevention program for students, parents, and school teachers, and then evaluated its effectiveness.MethodsThe participants were 490 students, aged 13–14 years, attending four public junior high schools in Saga Prefecture, Japan. They were divided into two groups: control and intervention. All the students received group education by health professionals. In the control group, students received only two group education sessions given by health professionals. In the intervention group, there were three intervention components: parent education, teacher education, and student individual counseling by health professionals. Before and 3 months after the intervention, participants underwent evaluation of their frequency of communication about AIDS with parents or teachers, their knowledge of HIV/AIDS, and attitudes to sexual intercourse, self-esteem, and high-risk behavior.ResultsA total of 135 students (80 boys and 55 girls) from the intervention group and 236 students (115 boys and 121 girls) from the control group participated in the evaluation 3 months after intervention. Adolescents in the intervention group showed more positive changes than those in the control group from baseline to follow-up. Intervention had a significant impact on the frequency of communication about AIDS with teachers (p = 0.027) and HIV/AIDS knowledge among females (p = 0.023), and intervention also had a significant impact on refusal of sexual activity by males (p = 0.045).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that effective prevention of HIV might be achieved by an expanded education program for students and teachers such as that described, and individual counseling that takes into consideration the sexual differences of Japanese adolescents.Regular Articl

Serum neurofilament dynamics predicts neurodegeneration and clinical progression in presymptomatic Alzheimer's disease

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a promising fluid biomarker of disease progression for various cerebral proteopathies. Here we leverage the unique characteristics of the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network and ultrasensitive immunoassay technology to demonstrate that NfL levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (n = 187) and serum (n = 405) are correlated with one another and are elevated at the presymptomatic stages of familial Alzheimer's disease. Longitudinal, within-person analysis of serum NfL dynamics (n = 196) confirmed this elevation and further revealed that the rate of change of serum NfL could discriminate mutation carriers from non-mutation carriers almost a decade earlier than cross-sectional absolute NfL levels (that is, 16.2 versus 6.8 years before the estimated symptom onset). Serum NfL rate of change peaked in participants converting from the presymptomatic to the symptomatic stage and was associated with cortical thinning assessed by magnetic resonance imaging, but less so with amyloid-β deposition or glucose metabolism (assessed by positron emission tomography). Serum NfL was predictive for both the rate of cortical thinning and cognitive changes assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination and Logical Memory test. Thus, NfL dynamics in serum predict disease progression and brain neurodegeneration at the early presymptomatic stages of familial Alzheimer's disease, which supports its potential utility as a clinically useful biomarker

Revista complutense de educación

Resumen basado en el de la publicaciónSe lleva a cabo una revisión general del procedimiento cloze, procedimiento que es ampliamente conocido y utilizado como instrumento de evaluación de la lectura en los países de habla inglesa pero que apenas es conocido y empleado en España. Dicha revisión hace referencia tanto a los aspectos metodológicos relacionados con dicho procedimiento como a los distintos usos para los que puede emplearse en el campo de la evaluación de la lectura.ES

Single nucleotide polymorphism-based genome-wide linkage analysis in Japanese atopic dermatitis families

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Atopic dermatitis develops as a result of complex interactions between several genetic and environmental factors. To date, 4 genome-wide linkage studies of atopic dermatitis have been performed in Caucasian populations, however, similar studies have not been done in Asian populations. The aim of this study was to identify chromosome regions linked to atopic dermatitis in a Japanese population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used a high-density, single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping assay, the Illumina BeadArray Linkage Mapping Panel (version 4) comprising 5,861 single nucleotide polymorphisms, to perform a genome-wide linkage analysis of 77 Japanese families with 111 affected sib-pairs with atopic dermatitis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found suggestive evidence for linkage with 15q21 (LOD = 2.01, NPL = 2.87, <it>P </it>= .0012) and weak linkage to 1q24 (LOD = 1.26, NPL = 2.44, <it>P </it>= .008).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We report the first genome-wide linkage study of atopic dermatitis in an Asian population, and novel loci on chromosomes 15q21 and 1q24 linked to atopic dermatitis. Identification of novel causative genes for atopic dermatitis will advance our understanding of the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis.</p