Effects of hydrogen-rich water on abnormalities in a SHR.Cg-Leprcp/NDmcr rat - a metabolic syndrome rat model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hydrogen (H₂), a potent free radical scavenger, selectively reduces the hydroxyl radical, which is the most cytotoxic of the reactive oxygen species (ROS). An increase in oxygen free radicals induces oxidative stress, which is known to be involved in the development of metabolic syndrome. Therefore, we investigated whether hydrogen-rich water (HRW) affects metabolic abnormalities in the metabolic syndrome rat model, SHR.Cg-<it>Lepr^cp</it>/NDmcr (SHR-cp).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Male SHR-cp rats (5 weeks old) were divided into 2 groups: an HRW group was given oral HRW for 16 weeks, and a control group was given distilled water. At the end of the experiment, each rat was placed in a metabolic cage for 24 h, fasted for 12 h, and anesthetized; the blood and kidneys were then collected.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sixteen weeks after HRW administration, the water intake and urine flow measured in the metabolic cages were significantly higher in the HRW group than in the control group. The urinary ratio of albumin to creatinine was significantly lower and creatinine clearance was higher in the HRW group than in the control group. After the 12-h fast, plasma urea nitrogen and creatinine in the HRW group were significantly lower than in the control group. The plasma total antioxidant capacity was significantly higher in the HRW group than in the control group. The glomerulosclerosis score for the HRW group was significantly lower than in the control group, and a significantly positive correlation was observed between this score and plasma urea nitrogen levels.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present findings suggest that HRW conferred significant benefits against abnormalities in the metabolic syndrome model rats, at least by preventing and ameliorating glomerulosclerosis and creatinine clearance.</p

Capsaicin partially mimics heat in mouse fibroblast cells in vitro

Capsaicin activates transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), a cation channel in the transient receptor potential family, resulting in the transient entry of Ca2+ and Mg2+ and a warm sensation. However, the effects of capsaicin on cells have not fully elucidated in fibroblasts. In this study, we investigated whether capsaicin could induce signal transduction in mouse fibroblast cells and compared the effect with that of heat-induced signal transduction. The activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) ERK and p38 MAPK, expression levels of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and HSP90, actin assembly, and cell proliferation were analyzed in NIH3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. A 15-min stimulation with capsaicin (∼100 μM) phosphorylated ERK and p38 MAPK and induced actin assembly. A 2-day stimulation with capsaicin increased the level of HSP70, but not HSP90, and the 2-day stimulation with capsaicin (∼100 μM) did not affect cell proliferation. A 15-min exposure to moderate heat (39.5 °C) phosphorylated both ERK and p38 MAPK and induced actin assembly to similar degrees as stimulation with capsaicin. A 2-day exposure to moderate heat increased the levels of both HSP70 and HSP90 and prevented cell proliferation. However, the 2-day stimulation with capsaicin (100 μM) failed to prevent heat shock-induced cell death. Thus, our results suggest that the effects of capsaicin on fibroblast cells partially differ from those of heat. Notably, the 2-day stimulation with capsaicin was not sufficient to develop heat tolerance in fibroblast cells. © 2016 Springer-Verlag Berlin HeidelbergEmbargo Period 12 month

Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Enhance Neuronal Differentiation in Cultured Rat Neural Stem Cells

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can induce neurogenesis and recovery from brain diseases. However, the exact mechanisms of the bene�cial effects of PUFAs have not been conclusively described. We recently reported that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) induced neuronal differentiation by decreasing Hes1 expression and increasing p27 kip1 expression, which causes cell cycle arrest in neural stem cells (NSCs). In the present study, we examined the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (AA) on differentiation, expression of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors (Hes1, Hes6, and NeuroD), and the cell cycle of cultured NSCs. EPA also increased mRNA levels of Hes1, an inhibitor of neuronal differentiation, Hes6, an inhibitor of Hes1, NeuroD, and Map2 mRNA and Tuj-1-positive cells (a neuronal marker), indicating that EPA induced neuronal differentiation. EPA increased the mRNA levels of p21 cip1 and p27 kip1 , a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, which indicated that EPA induced cell cycle arrest. Treatment with AA decreased Hes1 mRNA but did not affect NeuroD and Map2 mRNA levels. Furthermore, AA did not affect the number of Tuj-1-positive cells or cell cycle progression. ese results indicated that EPA could be involved in neuronal differentiation by mechanisms alternative to those of DHA, whereas AA did not affect neuronal differentiation in NSCs

Theobromine up-regulates cerebral brain-derived neurotrophic factor and facilitates motor learning in mice

Theobromine, which is a caffeine derivative, is the primary methylxanthine produced by Theobroma cacao. Theobromine works as a phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor to increase intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). cAMP activates the cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB), which is involved in a large variety of brain processes, including the induction of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF supports cell survival and neuronal functions, including learning and memory. Thus, cAMP/CREB/BDNF pathways play an important role in learning and memory. Here, we investigated whether orally administered theobromine could act as a PDE inhibitor centrally and affect cAMP/CREB/BDNF pathways and learning behavior in mice. The mice were divided into two groups. The control group (CN) was fed a normal diet, whereas the theobromine group (TB) was fed a diet supplemented with 0.05% theobromine for 30 days. We measured the levels of theobromine, phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (p-VASP), phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB), and BDNF in the brain. p-VASP was used as an index of cAMP increases. Moreover, we analyzed the performance of the mice on a three-lever motor learning task. Theobromine was detectable in the brains of TB mice. The brain levels of p-VASP, p-CREB, and BDNF were higher in the TB mice compared with those in the CN mice. In addition, the TB mice performed better on the three-lever task than the CN mice did. These results strongly suggested that orally administered theobromine acted as a PDE inhibitor in the brain, and it augmented the cAMP/CREB/BDNF pathways and motor learning in mice. © 2016 Elsevier Inc.Embargo Period 12 month

地域在住一般高齢者の転倒恐怖感と体力測定との関連

高齢者の転倒恐怖感と体力測定との関係を明らかにするために、A県の3地区（海岸地域、中山間地域、離島地域）で調査を行った。その結果、87名のうち37名が転倒恐怖感を持っていた。年齢、収縮期血圧、拡張期血圧、身長、体重、ウエストでは転倒恐怖感のある群とない群との間には違いは認められなかった。ファンクショナルリーチ、Timed Up & Go Test、10m障害物歩行では、両群に有意な差が認められた。これらの結果から、高齢者の転倒恐怖感を軽減させるためにバランス能力や移動能力を向上させることの有効性が示唆された

地域在住高齢者のメタボリック症候群の実態 : 島根県の３地域における検討

地域在住一般高齢者269名（平均年齢72.3歳）を対象にメタボリック症候群の実態を漁村、中山間、離島の地域差の面から検討した。離島では腹部肥満の割合が高く、メタボリック症候群と診断された対象者は、漁村地域17.2％、中山間地域15.8％、離島地域24.3％と、離島地域に多く認められた。さらに、男女別で検討したところ、男性のメタボリック症候群の頻度が高く、特に離島地域は他2地域よりも男性のメタボリック症候群の頻度が高かった。離島地域男性では特にメタボリック症候群の頻度が高く、生活習慣病対策の保健活動において、メタボリック症候群の概念を導入した保健指導プログラムが必要と考えられる

地域在住高齢者の趣味の有無と認知機能の関連

高齢者の趣味の有無が認知機能と関連しているとの報告が多くなされている。今回、地域在住一般高齢者272名（平均年齢72.3歳）を対象に趣味の有無と認知機能の関連を検討した。趣味を有する群（186名）と無趣味群（86名）では、主観的幸福感、抑うつ程度、 日常生活動作には有意差は見られなかったが、認知機能においては、趣味を有する群では無趣味群に比して有意に高値であった。また、趣味を有する群では、無趣味群に比して、物事に好奇心があり、社交的な性格であった。認知症予防において、趣味を持つことを積極的に勧めることは重要と思われる

地域在住高齢者の認知機能とビタミンEの関連

抗酸化ビタミンの１つであるビタミンEと認知機能の関連について検討した。対象は地域在住一般高齢者254名（73.1±5.2歳、男性101名、女性153名）で、認知機能はミニメンタルテスト（MMSE）で測定し、また、MMSE特典の1年間の変化により、改善群（MMSEにて2-6ポイント増加）24名（平均年齢72.9歳）、不変群（1ポイント以内）45名（73.5歳）、悪化群（2-6ポイント減少）25名（73.9歳）の3群に分け検討した。年齢、主観的幸福感、抑うつ程度、日常生活動作と血漿ビタミンE値の間には相関はみられなかったが、MMSEとビタミンE値とは弱いながらも正相関が認められた（p=0.046）。MMSE改善群、不変群、悪化群の血漿ビタミンE値は、それぞれ10.5±2.5μg/mL、11.1±4.3μg/mL、10.5±3.9μg/mLと各群間には有意差は認められなかった。ビタミンEは認知機能の程度とは関連している可能性があるが、認知機能低下の進行とは関連が見られなかった

Influence of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Intake on Kidney Functions of Rats with Chronic Renal Failure

Arachidonic acid (ARA), an omega-6 (&omega;-6) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), is involved in the development and maintenance of renal functions, whereas docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 (&omega;-3) PUFA that has anti-inflammatory effects and attenuates nephropathy. However, their effects on the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) remain unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of feeding ARA, DHA, and ARA and DHA-containing diets on rats with 5/6 nephrectomized kidneys. Urine and feces were collected every 4 weeks, and the kidneys were collected at 16 weeks after surgery. Urinary albumin (U-ALB) excretion increased gradually with nephrectomy, but the U-ALB excretion was attenuated by feeding the rats with an ARA + DHA-containing diet. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the kidneys were lower in the ARA + DHA group than in the other groups. At 4 weeks after surgery, the lipid peroxide (LPO) levels in the plasma of the ARA + DHA groups decreased significantly after surgery compared to the control CKD group, but this did not happen at 16 weeks post-surgery. There was a significant negative correlation between LPO levels in the plasma at 4 weeks and creatinine clearance, and a positive correlation with urinary albumin levels. These results suggest that the combination of ARA and DHA inhibit the progress of early stage CKD