Effects of safflower seed extract on arterial stiffness

Safflower seed extract (SSE) contains characteristic polyphenols and serotonin derivatives (N-( p-coumaroyl) serotonin and N-feruloylserotonin), which are reported to inhibit oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), formation of atherosclerotic plaques, and improve arterial stiffness as assessed by pulse wave analysis in animal models. The effects of long-term supplementation with SSE on arterial stiffness in human subjects were evaluated. This doubleblind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 77 males (35–65 years) and 15 postmenopausal females (55–65 years) with high-normal blood pressure or mild hypertension who were not undergoing treatment. Subjects received SSE (70 mg/day as serotonin derivatives) or placebo for 12 weeks, and pulse wave measurements, ie, second derivative of photoplethysmogram (SDPTG), augmentation index, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were conducted at baseline, and at weeks 4, 8, and 12. Vascular age estimated by SDPTG aging index improved in the SSE-supplemented group when compared with the placebo group at four (P = 0.0368) and 12 weeks (P = 0.0927). The trend of augmentation index reduction (P = 0.072 versus baseline) was observed in the SSE-supplemented group, but reduction of baPWV by SSE supplementation was not observed. The SSE-supplemented group also showed a trend towards a lower malondialdehyde-modified-LDL autoantibody titer at 12 weeks from baseline. These results suggest long-term ingestion of SSE in humans could help to improve arterial stiffness

Hand posture affects brain-function measures associated with listening to speech.

A major difficulty in studies of the brain, from the molecular to large-scale network level, is ensuring the accuracy and reliability of results, since repeatability has been a problem in studies utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (f-MRI) near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and positron-emission tomography (PET). More generally, an effort to replicate psychological studies has shown that the original results were unambiguously reobtained only 39% of the time. It has been suggested that researchers must undertake studies to identify factors that reduce reliability and conduct more carefully controlled studies to improve reliability. In our previous work, we examined whether changes in hand/arm posture can have a confounding effect on task-related brain activity. Here we show a solution to enhance reproducibility in a NIRS study in a hearing task. The results showed that crossed posture can lead to different results than parallel posture with respect to asymmetric functional connectivity, especially during non-resting state. Even when the only task is listening to speech stimuli, participants should be asked to place their hands on a surface and feet on the floor and keep the same stable posture to increase reproducibility of results. To achieve accurate reliability and reproductively of results, stable hand posture through the experiment is important

Hand posture affects brain-function measures associated with listening to speech.

A major difficulty in studies of the brain, from the molecular to large-scale network level, is ensuring the accuracy and reliability of results, since repeatability has been a problem in studies utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (f-MRI) near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and positron-emission tomography (PET). More generally, an effort to replicate psychological studies has shown that the original results were unambiguously reobtained only 39% of the time. It has been suggested that researchers must undertake studies to identify factors that reduce reliability and conduct more carefully controlled studies to improve reliability. In our previous work, we examined whether changes in hand/arm posture can have a confounding effect on task-related brain activity. Here we show a solution to enhance reproducibility in a NIRS study in a hearing task. The results showed that crossed posture can lead to different results than parallel posture with respect to asymmetric functional connectivity, especially during non-resting state. Even when the only task is listening to speech stimuli, participants should be asked to place their hands on a surface and feet on the floor and keep the same stable posture to increase reproducibility of results. To achieve accurate reliability and reproductively of results, stable hand posture through the experiment is important

No Significant Differences Were Observed in the Amounts of DNA Strand Breaks Produced by Copper between Male and Female Liver Cells of Long-Evans Cinnamon（LEC) Strain Rats

肝炎を自然発症するLECラットの肝細胞に蓄積する銅による酸化損傷と考えられるDNA単鎖切断の量をコメット法で検出した。LECラットの肝臓では4週齢でコントロールとして用いたWKAHの30倍の銅が蓄積していた。4週齢から15週齢では雄、雌ともに週齢に依存して肝臓の銅の蓄積量は増加したが、WKAHラットでは週齢による増加は認められなかった。LECラットの肝臓でのDNA単鎖切断の量は10週齢から15週齢まで週齢に依存して急激に増加した。肝炎発症は雌が雄に比べて頻度が高いことが報告されているが、肝細胞における雌のDNA単鎖切断の量は雄に比べて大きな違いは認められなかった

Hepatic iron Accumulation Is Not Directly Associated with Induction of DNA Strand Breaks in the Liver Cells of Long-Evans Cinnamon（LEC) Rats

肝炎を自然発症するLECラットにおいてDNA単鎖切断に及ぼす銅の蓄積の影響を調べた。LECラットの肝臓において銅と鉄は4週齢から15週齢に蓄積した。低鉄食で飼育したラットでは鉄の蓄積は認められなかったが、銅の蓄積は普通食のラットと同様量認められた。肝細胞のDNA単鎖切断の量はcomet法を用いて検出した。テールが認められた細胞の頻度とテールの長さの平均値を求めたところ、低鉄食を与えたLECラットの肝細胞と普通食を与えたLECラットの間にほとんど違いは認められなかった。これらの結果からLECラットの肝細胞におけるDNA損傷の誘発には鉄の蓄積は関与していないことが示唆された

P112 Influence of Cuff Blood Pressure Accuracy on Identification of Isolated Systolic Hypertension

Abstract Introduction Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) is the most common form of hypertension in older people. However, accurate identification of ISH may be hindered because cuff blood pressure (BP) underestimates systolic BP (SBP) and overestimates diastolic BP (DBP). This study aimed to determine the influence of cuff BP accuracy on the identification of ISH. Methods Cuff BP and invasive aortic BP were measured simultaneous (or near-simultaneously) in 1737 subjects (63 ± 12 years, 68% male) during coronary angiography. Data was derived from 32 studies, using 20 different cuff BP devices, from the Invasive Blood Pressure Consortium (INSPECT). ISH was defined as ≥140/<90 mmHg according to cuff BP and invasive aortic BP. Results According to cuff BP, 25% of subjects (n = 430) had ISH, however, 37% (n = 648) were identified with ISH from invasive aortic BP. There was 77% concordance between cuff and invasive BP for identifying ISH. Among the 23% (n = 408) of subjects misclassified by cuff BP, 38% (n = 155) of misclassification was from SBP underestimation (mean: −16.6, 95% CI: −18.9 to −13.9 mmHg), whereas 35% (n = 143) was from DBP overestimation (15.6, 11.9 to 19.0 mmHg) and 20% (n = 83) from SBP overestimation (17.6, 14.4 to 20.5 mmHg). Subjects misclassified were on average 2.7 years older and had greater body mass index (0.8 kg/m2) than those correctly classified. Conclusion Approximately one quarter of older subjects have ISH misclassified, mostly because of underestimation of cuff SBP and overestimation of cuff DBP. This demonstrates a need to improve the accuracy of cuff BP methods for greater precision in identifying ISH