Suppression of cell cycle progression by Jun dimerization protein (JDP2) involves down-regulation of cyclin A2

We report here a novel role for Jun dimerization protein-2 (JDP2) as a regulator of the progression of normal cells through the cell cycle. To determine the role of JDP2 in vivo, we generated Jdp2 knock-out (Jdp2KO) mice by targeting exon 1 to disrupt the site of initiation of transcription. The healing of wounded skin of Jdp2KO mice proceeded more rapidly than that of control mice and more proliferating cells were found at wound margins. Fibroblasts derived from embryos of Jdp2KO mice proliferated more rapidly and formed more colonies than wild-type fibroblasts. JDP2 was recruited to the promoter of the gene for cyclin A2 (ccna2) at a previously unidentified AP-1 site. Cells lacking Jdp2 had elevated levels of cyclin A2 mRNA. Moreover, reintroduction of JDP2 resulted in repression of transcription of ccna2 and of cell cycle progression. Thus, transcription of the gene for cyclin A2 appears to be a direct target of JDP2 in the suppression of cell proliferation

Relevance between Alzheimer’s disease patients and normal subjects using go/no-go tasks and Alzheimer assessment scores

It is a well-known fact that Alzheimer increases with aging. Early detection of Alzheimer has emerged as an important, because it can prevent of further deterioration of the disease. However, early detection is not always easy because of the lack of good methods to identify the early stage of Alzheimer. The screening tests of Alzheimer used around the world. These tests are relatively time-consuming, difficult and distressing for Alzheimer patients. We consider whether go/no-go task can become the screening test of the Alzheimer patient in future. This study compared results of the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the go/no-go task for between Alzheimer disease patients and normal subjects. The average reaction time and number of total error of go/no-go task that Alzheimer patients were significantly higher than among the normal subjects. About correlation with MMSE and the go/no-go task, 6 items of MMSE had correlations of 4 or more test results concerning response time, forgets and mistakes of go/no-go tasks. These characteristics suggest that there is a possibility that go/no-go tasks could be applied as a measuring method when screening for early signs of Alzheimer.ArticleJournal of Child and Adolescent Behaviour.2(4):162(2014)journal articl

THE EFFECT OF HEALTH EDUCATION AS NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL THERAPY ON PHYSICAL FITNESS, BLOOD CHEMISTRY AND BRAIN FUNCTION AMONG SENIOR CITIZEN IN BOTH RURAL AND URBAN AREAS OF BALI, INDONESIA

Objective: The population of senior citizens has increased and needs more care for the quality of life. Health education is a non-pharmacological therapy to improve physical fitness, blood chemistry and brain function. This research was performed to evaluate the effect of health education on the physical fitness, blood chemistry and brain function of senior citizens in rural and urban Bali. Methods: A total of 60 people aged 67.9±1.2 y were recruited from Tabanan, Indonesia, and 72 people aged 67.3±0.6 y were recruited from Denpasar, Indonesia. The health education program lasted 8 mo, used Japanese-style healthcare modified for the Balinese culture, and measured physical fitness, blood chemistry, and brain function before and after the educational period. Results: The average number of steps in Tabanan was 4247.2±98.9, and those in Denpasar were 4336.1±102.4. The weight and waist circumference were not significantly different between the Tabanan and Denpasar samples. The physical fitness of senior citizens in Tabanan and Denpasar improved significantly. Blood chemistry in the Tabanan sample was not significantly different after the program. In Denpasar, High-Density Lipoprotein and Low-Density Lipoprotein significantly improved. Brain function was significantly improved after the program. Conclusion: Health education using Japanese-style healthcare programs based on Balinese culture as non-pharmacological therapy has beneficial effects on physical fitness, blood chemistry and brain function in senior citizens in both urban and rural areas in Bali, Indonesia. It is suggested that senior citizens should continue our health education program to maintain their health

Comparing the effectiveness of health program in Thailand and Japan

Objective: This study aimed to establish appropriate health education in Thailand to compare the health education of Thailand and Japan.Method: Participants in Salaya, Thailand, totalled of 24 people aged 69.1 ± 6.6 years, whereas participants in Minowa, Japan totalled 46 people aged 62.7 ± 4.7 years. Implementing the health program lasted 6 months in Salaya and 10 months in Minowa. We measured the energy expenditure using a pedometer and implementing Go/No-Go task for the brain function test and physical fitness tests in the before and after this period.Results: The results of Salaya showed the average walking steps were 4,012. As for Minowa, the average walking steps were 8,644. In Minowa, the Go/No-Go task number of error responses significantly decreased after the program, although Salaya was not significantly different. As for Salaya, the results for grip strength and sit ups significantly decreased after the program, whereas 6-minute walk significantly improved. In Minowa, the results of the handgrip strength, sit ups, sit-and-reach flexibility, 10-meter obstacle walk, and the 6-minute walk significantly improved after the program. The handgrip strength and sit ups of Minowa showed a significant difference from those of Salaya.Conclusion: By doing the 90-minute strength and weight training once a week in Minowa the participants may have encouraged one another to a superior number of walking steps, and better rest results on the Go/No-Go task and the physical fitness tests compared with those of SalayaArticleJournal of Nursing & Care.4(5):298(2015)journal articl

Comparison of cortical activation during subtraction in mental calculation and with a calculator

Several studies have shown that various types of cognitive processing exist and exert different effects on brain activity. However, when a subject performs the same task, whether the task involves processing or not, such as in mental calculation or with a calculator, the different influences on the brain remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the influence of cortical activation when performing mental calculation and using a calculator have different effects on the brain. Fifteen healthy, right-handed participants (mean age, 26.3 ± 8.5 years; 12 men, 27.7 ± 9.0 years; 3 women, 20.6 ± 1.1 years) were recruited as subjects. We measured oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) levels while subjects performed subtraction tasks by mental calculation or using a calculator (3 min each). Measurements were made at the frontal lobe and temporal lobe. In both lobes, oxy-Hb level was significantly increased during mental calculation. Locations showing significantly increased oxy-Hb in mental calculation were the prefrontal cortex in the frontal lobe and supramarginal gyrus in the temporal lobe. These results suggest that the brain responds differently to tasks in mental calculation and using a calculator. We hypothesized that using the electronic calculator needs fewer neural networks than performing mental calculation. In recent years, thanks to the development of machines, many tasks have been automated, making our lives easier and more convenient. Our results may provide one example that the developments of modern technology influence brain function.ArticleBiochemistry & Analytical Biochemistry.4(3):185(2015)journal articl

Difference between two Japanese health promotion programes on measures of health and wellness

We implemented and compared two 10-month health education programs in Minowa town and Matsumoto city, Nagano prefecture, Japan. The Matsumoto city cohort underwent a program of monthly classroom activities (CA group), whereas the Minowa town cohort were not only subjected to classroom activities but also performed 90-min strength and weight training once a week and were termed the classroom/training (CT) group. We measured anthropometric, blood pressure, physical fitness, blood chemistry, and brain function variables. All participants were provided pedometers and were encouraged to walk. Monthly seminars included education regarding yoga, exercise, blood pressure, nutrition, and other health-related topics. In total, 92 healthy participants were included in the CA group [age, 66.5 ± 5.4 years (mean ± standard error of mean); 30 males and 62 females] and 46 healthy participants were included in the CT group (mean age 62.7 ± 4.7 years; 22 males and 24 females). We observed significant differences between the average number of steps walked in the CA (7241.7 ± 113.6) and CT (8686.7 ± 167.2) groups. Both the groups both showed significant improvements in anthropometric, blood pressure, physical fitness, blood chemistry, and brain function tests; however, the CT group showed markedly greater improvement after the health education program than before participation. In conclusion, the CT program had added benefits over the CA program because of the higher average amount of walking (approximately 1,400 steps) and the inclusion of a weekly weight-training activity.ArticleINNOVATIVE JOURNAL OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCE.5(4):170-181(2015)journal articl

Effect of a two-year health program on brain function, physical fitness and blood chemistry

Background: Protocols for carrying out health programs for aged adults have not been clearly presented. Thus, the aim of this study is to examine the effects from the first year to the second year of the Matsumoto health promotion program and to make use of the results in future health promotion for elderly people.Method: The city of Matsumoto offered local residents a two-year health program which includethe use of a pedometer, anthropometry, blood pressure, go/no-go brain function, a physical fitness test and a blood chemistry test. Eighty-six elderly people age 65.9 ± 5.9 years participated in the program. All the participants were given pedometers and a target of 7,000 to 8,000 steps per day was set based on the weight-bearing index. During the first year, the participants did their walking exercise and attended a series of monthly seminars. Then the second year, the participants continued their walking exercise, attended series of monthly seminars and began a 2 hour weight training once a week.Result: The result from the pedometer in the first year showed that the average daily walking step was 6552.9 ± 474.2. The second year, the average daily walking steps was 7170.4 ± 547.9. The results from first year to second year showed significant improvement; the number of incorrect response in the go/no-go tasks (before: 5.3 times ± 0.4, after: 2.9 times ± 0.2, pConclusion: These results from the two-year program suggests that the increase in walking and the 2 hour weight training may reflect the influence of wearing a pedometer, and improved anthropometry, blood pressure, brain function, physical fitness and blood chemistry. However, the girth of the abdomen, handgrip strength and blood chemistry did not show significant improvement. Thus we must think about enlightenment program that wouldinclude muscular strength training and nutrition.ArticleJournal of Community Medicine & Health Education.5(3):349(2015)journal articl