Preventive effect of fermented brown rice and rice bran on spontaneous type 1 diabetes in NOD female mice

Consumption of brown rice and rice bran fermented with Aspergillus oryzae (FBRA) suppresses spontaneously occurring diabetes in female NOD mouse. While control diet-fed mice showed glucosuria and hyperglycemia at around 20 week of age and the ratio reached to 57% at 30 weeks of age, the ratio did not increase in the 0.5% FBRA-containing diet-fed group. The FBRA-fed group at 30 weeks of age kept higher ratio of intact islets and showed significantly lower insulitis score compared to the control diet group, with dose-dependency from 0.25% to 0.5% dietary concentration of FBRA. The percentage of diabetic mice was significantly lower at 24 weeks of age as compared to the control group (p = 0.01, log rank test). These results indicate that the suppressive effects of dietary administration of 0.5% FBRA in delaying the spontaneous onset of diabetes in NOD mice is probably achieved by maintaining the number of intact islets

Reducing stress and stereotypic behaviors in captive female pygmy slow lorises (Nycticebus pygmeaus)

Improving captive conditions of pygmy slow lorises (Nekaris and Nijman have recently suggested that the pygmy slow loris should be called the pygmy loris and is distinctive enough to warrant a new genus, Xanthonycticebu) (Nycticebus pygmeaus) poses many challenges because detailed aspects of their lives in the wild are incomplete. This hinders efforts to replicate sustainable environments for them. To improve their well-being in captivity, eight rescued female pygmy slow lorises at the Japan Monkey Center (JMC) were socially housed in two types of groups following their solitary housing: two pairs and one group of four individuals. They spent much of their time in affiliative behaviors, as well as sharing sleeping sites after placement in a social group. The purpose of my study was to examine whether social housing helped in reducing stress by comparing fecal glucocorticoids and stereotypic behaviors when housed alone and when with conspecifics. Overall, the levels of fecal glucocorticoids were significantly lower when socially housed than when kept alone. One individual exhibited stereotypic behavior when housed alone, but this behavior disappeared after social housing. These findings support recent evidence that pygmy slow lorises are social animals and will benefit from group housing in captivity. We conclude that social housing of pygmy slow lorises improves their well-being by reducing stress levels, and that their group housing in captivity can provide dividends for the conservation of this endangered nocturnal primate because lorises intended for release should find it easier to adapt to natural conditions

A Análise da Manifestação do Consciente Coletivo em uma Equipe de Tutores

Este artigo propõe analisar a manifestação do consciente individual e coletivo por meio da descrição da relação do indivíduo e o grupo em uma equipe de tutores do curso de graduação em Administração a Distância da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina através da convergência das teorias de Newmann e Senge. Desta forma foi conduzida uma pesquisa qualitativa, descritiva, documental, bibliográfica, teórico-empírica e estudo de caso. Os resultados da análise demonstraram que existe a dominância sobre os objetivos pessoais inconscientes com uma grande influência do grupo no ego, que ainda existe fortemente como fonte impulsionadora. Portanto, pode-se concluir que apesar do inconsciente ser bastante desconhecido e seus conteúdos terem grande influência na caminhada do homem, ele percebe que neste caminho sua dependência atrapalha o grupo e que cada vez mais seu auto- conhecimento tornar-se mais claro, assim poderá contribuir de forma verdadeira para com a sociedade que vive

Continuing mind for primary care medicine as total family care mailing list (TFC-ML) group

There were historically two great doctors for primary care (PC) medicine in Japan. They are Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara and Dr. Yoshikazu Tasaka. Tasaka was always active in medical treatment, organizational management, postgraduate education, and information dissemination using the Internet, and started Total Family Care Mailing List (TFC-ML) in 1998. TFC-ML included medical information with his comments every day for long. Even after his death in 2007, TFC-ML activity has been continued by many voluntary PC physicians. His TFC mind has been transmitted to future PC physicians. His inspiration may often come to TFC members for better total family care

Effects of fermented brown rice on the intestinal environments in healthy adult

Purpose : The aim of this study is to investigate the prebiotic effects of brown rice fermented by Aspergillus oryzae (FBRA) on the intestinal environment in vitro and in healthy adults. Methods : Fresh fecal slurries from six healthy adults were incubated with FBRA to confirm prebiotic potentials of FBRA. Another thirty-six healthy adults were randomly allocated to 2 groups for the clinical study. Subjects consumed 21.0 g/day of either FBRA or control food for 2 weeks, followed by a 12-week intermission and then 2-week ingestion vice versa. Main outcome measures were bifidobacterial numbers and organic acid concentration in feces. Sub outcome measures were fecal microbiota, fecal environments and bowel function. Results : Incubation of fecal slurries with FBRA in vitro resulted in increased organic acids with individual-specific patterns. Bifidobacterial numbers were increased during incubation. In the clinical study, all participants safely completed this study. FBRA had little effect on fecal number of bifidobacteria, concentrations of organic acids or putrefactive metabolites, fecal pH, or fecal microbiota. Conclusion : FBRA has the potentials as a prebiotic, however, we could not detect its effects on the intestinal environment in vivo. The results in a clinical study indicated that FBRA could be safely used for healthy adults

Radiation-induced bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) syndrome in breast cancer patients is associated with age

BackgroundRadiation-induced bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) syndrome is a rarely observed phenomenon characterized by infiltration of the lungs outside of the radiation field, differentiating it from radiation pneumonitis (RP).The risk factors for radiation-induced BOOP (RT-BOOP) remain unclear and controversial. We retrospectively analyzed the incidence and risk factors for RT-BOOP associated with radiation therapy (RT) after breast conserving surgery (BCS) and post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT).Methods and materialsWe analyzed 1,176 breast cancer patients treated with RT after BCS or PMRT between March 2005 and September2008 at the cancer institute hospital of the Japanese foundation for cancer research. Chest radiographs were routinely obtained every three to six months for at least 12 months after surgery, as well as when the patients experienced respiratory symptoms or fever.ResultsRT-BOOP syndrome was diagnosed in 16patients (1.4%), including12BCS patients (1.3%) and four PMRT patients (1.8%). An older age (≥52 years old) was significantly associated with the incidence of RT-BOOP syndrome in a univariate analysis (p =0.023). The type of treatment (BCS or PMRT) and irradiated lung volume at 20 Gy (V20) were not significantly associated with the incidence of RT-BOOP syndrome in the entire patient cohort. In the multivariate analysis, age and smoking were the significant factor associated with RT-induced BOOP syndrome (p =0.044 and 0.049, respectively).ConclusionsRT-BOOP syndrome was a rarity, and the incidence for BCT cases was similar to that for PMRT cases. The irradiated lung volume was not significantly associated with RT-BOOP syndrome. An older age can predict the incidence of RT-BOOP syndrome.Keywords: Breast Cancer; Postoperative radiotherapy; Radiation-induced bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia syndrome; Breast-conserving therapy; Post-mastectomy radiation therap

NCRT with S-1 plus irinotecan for LALRC

Background and purpose: Preoperative 5-fluorouracil-based chemoradiotherapy is a standard treatment for locally advanced lower rectal cancer (LALRC). We performed a phase I study to develop a new regimen combining irinotecan and S-1. Materials and methods: Patients with LALRC (T3-4, N0-2) were studied. The radiation dose was 45 Gy in 25 fractions. S-1 (80 mg/m2/day) was administered on days 1–5, 8–12, 22–26, and 29–33. Irinotecan was administered on days 1, 8, 22, and 29. The dose of irinotecan was initially 60 mg/m2 (level 1). Surgery was performed 6–10 weeks after the chemoradiotherapy. Results: Twenty patients were enrolled, of whom 18 patients were analyzed. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) did not occur in the first 3 patients treated with irinotecan at 80 mg/m2 (level 2), but developed in 3 of the 6 patients who received irinotecan at 90 mg/m2 (level 3). Then DLT occurred in 3 other patients at level 2. At level 2 or 3, DLT comprised neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and diarrhea. Level 2 was designated as the maximum tolerated dose, and level 1 as a recommended dose (RD). The pathological complete response rate was 28%, and the down-staging rate was 56%. Conclusions: Our results suggested that the RD of irinotecan when combined with preoperative S-1 and pelvic radiation was 60 mg/m2