The effect of matured date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit extract on mite- induced allergic symptoms in NC/Nga mice

The effect of a hot water extract of matured date palm tree fruit on allergic responses was investigated in NC/Nga mice. The allergic score was significantly reduced in the mice fed a date palm tree fruit extract-added diet than the fruit extract-free diet. The levels of serum antigen-specific immunoglobulin E and spleen interleukin (IL)-4+CD4+ cells were significantly lowered in the mice fed the fruit extract-added diet. Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) and IL-2-inducible T cell kinase (Itk) mRNA expressions in spleen cells were significantly lowered in the mice fed the fruit extract-added diet. Moreover, chlorogenic acid and pelargonin decreased these mRNA expressions in C3H/HeN mouse spleen cell cultures. These results suggest that the date palm tree fruit extract may reduce allergic symptoms in mice via a decrease in the number of type 2 helper T (Th2) cells, and a suppression of the expression of kinases involved in mast cell degranulation and Th2 cell differentiation.ArticleFOOD AND AGRICULTURAL IMMUNOLOGY. 25(1):49-60 (2014)journal articl

Anti-Allergic Properties of a Matured Fruit Extract of the Date Palm Tree (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in Mite-Sensitized Mice

The effects of oral ingestion of a hot water extract of matured fruit of the date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on allergic responses were investigated in mite-sensitized mice. Sneezing and nose rubbing events in mice given a date extract-added diet were significantly lower than in those given an extract-free (control) diet. The serum total and mite antigen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E levels, and the number of spleen interleukin-4(+)CD4(+), IgE(+)B220(+) and Fc epsilon RI alpha(+)CD117(+) cells was significantly lower in mice given the date extract- added diet than in those given the control diet. Chlorogenic acid, pelargonin and ferulic acid significantly reduced the number of IgE(+)B220(+) cells, while chlorogenic acid and pelargonin significantly decreased the number of Fc epsilon RI alpha(+)CD117(+) cells in mouse spleen cell cultures. These results suggest that some polyphenols in the date may reduce mite-induced allergic symptoms in mice via a decrease in the number of IgE-producing plasma cells and high-affinity IgE receptor-expressing mast cells.ArticleJOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE AND VITAMINOLOGY. 58(4):272-277 (2012)journal articl

Anti-allergic Properties of a Fruit Extract of Prune (Prunus domestica L.), in Mite-sensitized BALB/c Mice

The effects of oral ingestion of a hot water extract of prune (Prunus domestica L.) fruit on allergic responses were investigated in mite-sensitized BALB/c mice. The number of sneezing events in mice given the extract-added diet was significantly lower than in mice given the extract-free diet. Serum mite allergen-specific immunoglobulin E levels were significantly lower in mice given the extract-added diet than in mice given the extract-free diet. In contrast, the ratio of splenic IFN-gamma(+)CD4(+) cells/IL-4(+)CD4(+) cells was higher in mice given the extract-added diet. Expression levels of Stat6, Btk and Stim1 mRNAs in spleen cells of mice given the extract-added diet were significantly lower than in mice given the extract-free diet. These results suggest that the prune extract may reduce type I allergic symptoms in mice via the adjustment of type 1 helper T cell/type 2 helper T cell balance and the suppression of mast cell degranulation.ArticleFOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH. 18(5):755-760 (2012)journal articl

Fermented Soybean Powder with Rice Mold in the Absence of Salt Stimulates the Cellular Immune System and Suppresses the Humoral Immune Response in Mice

The immunomodulatory effect of fermented non-salty soybean powder (NSBP) was investigated in C3H/HeN mice. The number of splenic CD11b(+), CD49b(+), and interferon (IFN)-gamma(+)CD4(+) cells increased significantly, while that of interleukin (IL)-4(+)CD4(+) and CD19(+) cells decreased significantly in cultures containing NSBP. Similarly, in the spleen and Peyer's patches of mice fed a diet containing NSBP, the number of IL-12(+)CD11b(+), CD49b(+), and IFN-gamma(+)CD4(+) cells increased noticeably, whereas the number of splenic IL-4(+)CD4(+) and CD19b(+) cells was lower compared to mice fed an NSBP-free diet. Superoxide production by peritoneal macrophages was significantly higher in mice fed an NSBP-containing diet. Both intestinal total IgA and serum total IgG levels declined in mice fed the NSBP-containing diet. Microarray analysis of mRNAs extracted from Peyer's patch cells of mice fed the NSBP-containing diet indicated an increase in the expression of several genes related to cellular immune responses, while the expression of genes related to immunoglobulin production decreased. These results indicate that NSBP stimulates the cellular immune response, but suppresses the acquired humoral immune response in C3H/HeN mice.ArticleJOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE AND VITAMINOLOGY. 59(6):564-569 (2013)journal articl

Flexible Mono-tread Mobile Track (FMT) - A New Mobile Mechanism Using One Track and Vertebral Structure -

Non

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Has a Negative Impact on Quality of Life Compared with Other Comorbidities: An Epidemiological Cross-Sectional Study of 1862 Community-Dwelling Individuals

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is common in the elderly. However, there have been few reports on its impact on quality of life (QoL) in community-dwelling individuals. The purpose of this study was to clarify how symptomatic LSS affects QoL at the community level. A total of 1862 people (697 males and 1165 females, most subjects were between 40 and 85 y.o.) agreed to participate and were interviewed. The presence of symptomatic LSS was assessed by a specially designed questionnaire. The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was also administered. In addition, the presence of comorbid conditions that affect QoL, such as osteoarthritis of the knee and hip, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, or respiratory disease, was also analyzed. The prevalence of symptomatic LSS gradually increased with age. Furthermore, the presence of symptomatic LSS had a strong negative effect on all 8 physical and mental domains and the physical component summary (PCS) (OR: 1.547–2.544) but not the mental component summary (MCS). In comparison with comorbid conditions, LSS had a much stronger negative impact on health-related QoL (HR-QoL). The current study confirmed that the presence of symptomatic LSS might have a strong negative influence on HR-QoL in the community setting

Comparison of student self-assessment and teacher assessment of medical interview performance during bedside learning

Accurate and efficient self-assessment is a critical skill for medical students to develop as part of their professional development. Along with clinical training reform at Fukushima Medical University, rubric-based student self-assessment and teacher assessment of students' performance using our proposed assessment tool, which includes several aspects of clinical skills and abilities, was initiated to improve the clinical clerkship process. To investigate how students identified their weaknesses and strengths, we analyzed the results of 119 fourth-year medical students' self-assessment and corresponding teacher assessment. Our study revealed substantial consistency between student self-assessment and teacher assessment, despite some overestimation and underestimation in student self-assessments. Students who incorrectly assess themselves require a variety of feedback to increase their self-efficacy and self-confidence, as well as to identify their weaknesses

Association of kyphotic posture with loss of independence and mortality in a community-based prospective cohort study: the Locomotive Syndrome and Health Outcomes in Aizu Cohort Study (LOHAS)

[Objectives] This study aimed to investigate the association between kyphotic posture and future loss of independence (LOI) and mortality in community-dwelling older adults. [Design] Prospective cohort study. [Setting] Two Japanese municipalities. [Participants] We enrolled 2193 independent community-dwelling older adults aged≥65 years at the time of their baseline health check-up in 2008. Kyphotic posture was evaluated using the wall-occiput test (WOT) and classified into three categories: non-kyphotic, mild (>0 and ≤4 cm) and severe (>4 cm). [Primary and secondary outcome measures] The primary outcome was mortality and the secondary outcomes were LOI (new long-term care insurance certification levels 1–5) and a composite of LOI and mortality. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the adjusted HRs (aHRs). [Results] Of the 2193 subjects enrolled, 1621 were included in the primary analysis. Among these, 272 (17%) and 202 (12%) were diagnosed with mild and severe kyphotic postures, respectively. The median follow-up time was 5.8 years. Compared with the non-kyphotic group, the aHRs for mortality were 1.17 (95% CI 0.70 to 1.96) and 1.99 (95% CI 1.20 to 3.30) in the mild and severe kyphotic posture groups, respectively. In the secondary analysis, a consistent association was observed for LOI (mild: aHR 1.70, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.55; severe: aHR 2.08, 95% CI 1.39 to 3.10) and the LOI-mortality composite (mild: aHR 1.27, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.79; severe: aHR 1.83, 95% CI 1.31 to 2.56). [Conclusion] Kyphotic posture was associated with LOI and mortality in community-dwelling older adults. Identifying the population with kyphotic posture using the WOT might help improve community health

Rebamipide, a mucoprotective drug, inhibits NSAIDs-induced gastric mucosal injury: possible involvement of the downregulation of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase

Prostaglandin E2 plays an important role in the maintenance of gastric mucosal integrity. The level of biologically active prostaglandin E2 in the tissue is regulated by the balanced expression of its synthetic enzymes, such as cyclooxygenase, and its catabolic enzyme, 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase. We examined the effect of rebamipide, a mucoprotective drug, on prostaglandin E2 production and metabolism in the gastric tissue and its effect on indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal injury in mice. Rebamipide suppressed indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal injury. Suppressive effect of rebamipide on indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal injury was also observed in cyclooxygenase-2-knockout mice. The mice that were treated with rebamipide showed a 2-fold increase in cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA expression in the gastric tissue, whereas 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase mRNA expression markedly decreased as compared to vehicle-treated control mice. Rebamipide did not affect the expression of cyclooxygenase-1 in the gastric tissue. Rebamipide did not increase prostaglandin E2 production in the gastric tissue; however, it induced a 1.4-fold increase in the concentration of prostaglandin E2 in the gastric tissue as compared to vehicle-treated control mice. These results suggest that the suppressive effect of rebamipide on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-induced gastric mucosal injury can be attributed to reduced 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase expression, which increases the prostaglandin E2 concentration in the gastric tissue