Prophylactic effects of isomaltodextrin in a Balb/c mouse model of egg allergy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential effects of isomaltodextrin (IMD), a dietary saccharide polymer derived from enzymatically produced from starch, on the ability to alter immune response (IR) bias to hen egg ovalbumin (Ova) induced allergic inflammation in mice. Groups of Balb/c mice were pre-treated with various doses of IMD in drinking water (1.0, 2.5, and 5.0% w/v) for 6 weeks and subsequently sensitized to the Ova together with continuous administration of IMD. To evaluate changes in immune response bias, immunoglobulin isotype-associated antibody activity, concentrations of type 1 and 2 cytokines and the percentage of T-regulatory cells (T-regs) in blood were measured. Clinical signs of allergy were assessed after oral challenge with Ova. Treatment with IMD did not significantly alter the frequency of clinical signs, however there was a trend in the overall reduction of clinical signs. Effect on IR bias was observed in the treatment groups as reflected by reduction in a type 1-biased phenotype as evident by decrease in isotype-specific IgE, IgG and increase in IL-12 cytokine production and a high proportion of Tregs. This study revealed that IMD could be a useful prophylactic candidate for alteration of allergic IR bias in mice and an immunestimulator for reducing egg induced allergic reactions

Promotion of IL-4- and IL-5-dependent differentiation of anti-μ-primed B cells by ascorbic acid 2-glucoside

The stable ascorbic acid derivative 2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid (AA-2G) was used to investigate the role of ascorbic acid (AA) in B cell differentiation in vitro. AA-2G is stable in a solution unlike AA but is hydrolyzed by cellular alpha-glucosidase to release AA. Mouse spleen B cells were primed for 2 days with an anti-mu antibody in the presence of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 and then washed and recultured with AA-2G in the presence of IL-4 and IL-5. AA-2G, but not AA, dose-dependently increased IgM production, the greatest enhancement being 150% at concentrations of more than 0.5 mM. In the absence of IL-4 and IL-5, primed B cells produced a negligible amount of IgM, and AA-2G had no effect. AA-2G-induced IgM production in the presence of IL-4 and IL-5 was inhibited by the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor castanospermine. Intracellular AA content, depleted during the priming period, increased by adding AA-2G at the start of reculture. Treatment of B cells with AA-2G resulted in an increase in the number of IgM-secreting cells, CD138-positive cells and CD45R/B220-negative cells. The number of viable cells in untreated cultures decreased gradually, but the decrease was significantly attenuated by AA-2G, resulting in about 70% more viable cells in AA-2G-treated cultures. AA-2G caused a slight but reproducible enhancement of DNA synthesis and a slight decrease in the number of cells with a sub-G1 DNA content. These results demonstrated that AA released from AA-2G enhanced cytokine-dependent IgM production in anti-mu-primed B cells and suggest that its effect is caused through promoting the differentiation of B cells to plasma cells and attenuating the gradual decrease in the number of viable cells

非対称の体を持つ近底層カラヌス目カイアシ類の1新種Paramisophria platysomaの記載及びその皮殻器官, 行動, 天然餌料

A new hyperbenthic calanoid copepod, Paramisophria platysoma collected from the littoral and sublittoral zones on the Pacific coast of Japan is described. The new species has a remarkably asymmetrical body with the left lateral side compressed. However, a SEM examination revealed that the integumental organs of the female cephalothorax are nearly symmetrically distributed. Three different patterns of behavior of living copepods were observed using a VHS tape recorder sytem: (1) usual, continuous swimming with the compressed left lateral side parallel to the bottom, using antennae 2, mandibular palps and maxillae 1; (2) fast "jumping" possibly with flaps of swimming legs; and (3) resting with the left lateral side just on the bottom. The gut content analysis of adult females showed that they fed carnivorously on benthic harpacticoid nauplii and copepodids. Their asymmetrical bodies, peculiar swimming behavior and feeding habit dependent on benthic organisms seem to be adaptations to a hyperbenthic life in shallow waters

Prophylactic effects of isomaltodextrin in a Balb/c mouse model of egg allergy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential effects of isomaltodextrin (IMD), a dietary saccharide polymer derived from enzymatically produced from starch, on the ability to alter immune response (IR) bias to hen egg ovalbumin (Ova) induced allergic inflammation in mice. Groups of Balb/c mice were pre-treated with various doses of IMD in drinking water (1.0, 2.5, and 5.0% w/v) for 6 weeks and subsequently sensitized to the Ova together with continuous administration of IMD. To evaluate changes in immune response bias, immunoglobulin isotype-associated antibody activity, concentrations of type 1 and 2 cytokines and the percentage of T-regulatory cells (T-regs) in blood were measured. Clinical signs of allergy were assessed after oral challenge with Ova. Treatment with IMD did not significantly alter the frequency of clinical signs, however there was a trend in the overall reduction of clinical signs. Effect on IR bias was observed in the treatment groups as reflected by reduction in a type 1-biased phenotype as evident by decrease in isotype-specific IgE, IgG and increase in IL-12 cytokine production and a high proportion of Tregs. This study revealed that IMD could be a useful prophylactic candidate for alteration of allergic IR bias in mice and an immunestimulator for reducing egg induced allergic reactions

First-person Video Analysis for Evaluating Skill Level in the Humanitude Tender-Care Technique

優しさを伝える介護技術の習熟度をAIで評価する手法を開発 --画像認識で熟練者と初心者の違いを見つける--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2019-07-11.In this paper, we describe a wearable first-person video (FPV) analysis system for evaluating the skill levels of caregivers. This is a part of our project that aims to quantize and analyze the tender-care technique known as Humanitude by using wearable sensing and AI technology devices. Using our system, caregivers can evaluate and elevate their care levels by themselves. From the FPVs of care sessions taken by wearable cameras worn by caregivers, we obtained the 3D facial distance, pose and eye-contact states between caregivers and receivers by using facial landmark detection and deep neural network (DNN)-based eye contact detection. We applied statistical analysis to these features and developed algorithms that provide scores for tender-care skill. In experiments, we first evaluated the performance of our DNN-based eye contact detection by using eye contact datasets prepared from YouTube videos and FPVs that assume conversational scenes. We then performed skill evaluations by using Humanitude training scenes involving three novice caregivers, two Humanitude experts and seven middle-level students. The results showed that our eye contact detection outperformed existing methods and that our skill evaluations can estimate the care skill levels

Factors Associated with Selection of Denture Adhesive Type: A Cross-Sectional Survey

The type of denture adhesive, cream or home-liner, chosen by regular denture adhesive users and oral conditions contributing to this selection require elucidation. The factors associated with denture adhesive selection were investigated through a face-to-face survey on oral and denture conditions. Age, sex, oral moisture, masticatory performance, retention and stability of the removable denture, ridge shape, mucosal thickness, and duration of denture use were examined in cream and home-liner-type denture adhesive users who did not regularly visit a dentist. Univariate analysis and multivariate analyses were performed. There were 38 and 40 cream-type and home-liner-type adhesive users, respectively. The type of denture adhesive was significantly associated with the oral moisture value, retention, ridge shape, mucosal thickness, and duration of denture use in univariate analyses. The residual ridge conditions with large factor loadings for ridge shape and mucosal thickness and duration of denture use were significantly related to the denture adhesive selection in multivariate logistic analysis. The residual ridge conditions and duration of denture use were significant factors in the selection of cream- and home-liner-type denture adhesives. These results can provide appropriate guidance based on the adhesives patients without dental supervision are more likely to choose