Mirtazapine exerts astrocyte-mediated dopaminergic neuroprotection

Mirtazapine, a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA), is known to activate serotonin (5-HT) 1A receptor. Our recent study demonstrated that stimulation of astrocytic 5-HT1A receptors promoted astrocyte proliferation and upregulated antioxidative property in astrocytes to protect dopaminergic neurons against oxidative stress. Here, we evaluated the neuroprotective effects of mirtazapine against dopaminergic neurodegeneration in models of Parkinson's disease (PD). Mirtazapine administration attenuated the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and increased the expression of the antioxidative molecule metallothionein (MT) in the striatal astrocytes of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-injected parkinsonian mice via 5-HT1A receptors. Mirtazapine protected dopaminergic neurons against 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity in mesencephalic neuron and striatal astrocyte cocultures, but not in enriched neuronal cultures. Mirtazapine-treated neuron-conditioned medium (Mir-NCM) induced astrocyte proliferation and upregulated MT expression via 5-HT1A receptors on astrocytes. Furthermore, treatment with medium from Mir-NCM-treated astrocytes protected dopaminergic neurons against 6-OHDA neurotoxicity, and these effects were attenuated by treatment with a MT-1/2-specific antibody or 5-HT1A antagonist. Our study suggests that mirtazapine could be an effective disease-modifying drug for PD and highlights that astrocytic 5-HT1A receptors may be a novel target for the treatment of PD

A Case Report of Matrix-Producing Carcinoma of the Breast during Lactation : A secondary publication

Matrix-producing carcinoma (MPC) of the breast is relatively rare. We report on a case of MPC of the breast during lactation. A female in her 30s noticed a lump in the upper inner and outer quadrants of her left breast 9 months into her pregnancy. She came hospital at one month after delivery. Ultrasonography revealed a hypoechoic tumor with an unclear border region. An MRI revealed a breast tumor approximately 19 mm in size, with dynamic studies demonstrating early contrast and ring enhancement. A core needle biopsy was performed, resulting in an histopathological diagnosis of invasive carcinoma ［Estrogen receptor-, Progesterone receptor-, Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)-; stage I, T1cN0M0］. Breast-conserving surgery and a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) were performed. The SLNB was negative for cancer. Chemotherapy (FEC100, DTX75) and radiotherapy were performed as adjuvant therapies. Seventeen months after surgery, the patient is recurrence-free

葉酸たまご，アスパラガス，ほうれん草の葉酸含有量に及ぼす加熱調理操作の影響

In this study, we investigated the change in folic acid contents in foods during thermal cooking. The results showed that the folic acid content of boiled beaten eggs was significantly lower than that of raw, boiled, and pan-fry eggs. The folic acid contents of boiled asparagus and spinach was also significantly reduced. In spinach, the folic acid content tended to increase through pan-frying, indicating that folic acid was at least retained. When folic acid-enriched eggs and spinach were mixed and pan-fried, the folic acid content increased significantly more than when they were pan-fried separately. Therefore, folic acid can be more efficiently consumed through pan-frying than boiling, which involves direct exposure to boiling water. In addition, the loss of folic acid is shown to be inhibited by combining spinach with egg solution, which is highly heat stable.原著論

マンガに描かれる女性の体形と日本人若年女性のボディイメージ

日本のマンガの持つ内容の広さ、豊かさ、洗練性および画像表現の自由度は、読む者のボディイメージに強い影響を与える可能性がある。マンガにおける若年女性の体形の描かれ方に関して、ジャンル別(男性向け一女性向け、成人向け-子供向け)の体形の特徴、物語上の役割や人物の性格が体形に及ぼす影響、作者の性別と作品のジャンルの関係について検討した。描かれた身体像は、現代日本の若年女性の標準体形と比較して、若年女子短期大学生らの視点から評価した。男性向けのマンガではやや細いウェストと大きなヒップを持った若年女性が描かれているのに対して、女性向けのマンガではウェスト・ヒップ共に細い若年女性が描かれていた。作品中の若年女性の役割や性格と体形の関係では、女性誌において女性性や母性がいずれも細い身体像と結びつき、また依存性が太いウェストと結びついていた。男性向けのマンガを男性が画いている一方、女性向けのマンガは女性が画いていた。これらの結果から、マンガにおいては非現実的な「やせ理想像」が、女性読者を対象として、女性マンガ家により作られていることが示された

The First Workers of the Ant Camponotus obscuripes Are a Different Allometric Morph with Relatively Long Antennae to Communicate with Other Larger Colony Members

The first workers produced by an ant queen with a claustral founding mode are much smaller than the workers after the second generation and are thus called "nanitics." These nanitics shoulder the initial fate of the colony and thus may be different morphometric morph from the other workers in mature colony to optimize the survival of their own colony. We report here that, in the antCamponotus obscuripes Mayr, the allometric rules of the nanitics are different from those of other workers in mature colonies, suggesting that the nanitics constitute an independent caste as with soldiers or queens in other species. In addition, the antennae of the nanitics show the minimum absolute length-difference with the mother queen compared to the other traits measured. This result suggests that this small size difference enables C. obscuripes nanitics to communicate with the other members of the colony. Our results indicate that polymorphic societies affect the growth rules of workers

Taurine Ameliorates Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes by Modulating Hepatic Glucose Metabolism and Oxidative Stress in Mice

Taurine is a sulfated amino acid derivative that plays an important role in maintaining the cell function of the living body. Although taurine has been shown to ameliorate diabetes, its mechanism of action has not yet been fully elucidated. The present study investigated the effects of taurine on diabetes focusing on glucose metabolism and oxidative stress. Type 1 diabetes was induced by the administration of streptozotocin (STZ) to male C57BL/6J mice. Taurine was dissolved in drinking water at 3% (w/v) and allowed to be freely ingested by diabetic mice. The weight and blood glucose levels were measured weekly. After nine weeks, mice were sacrificed and their serum, liver, and kidney were removed and used for biochemical and histological analyses. A microarray analysis was also performed in normal mice. Taurine alleviated STZ-induced hyperglycemia and hyperketonemia, accompanied by the suppression of the decrease in hepatic glycogen and upregulation of the mRNA expression of hepatic glucose transporter GLUT-2. Furthermore, STZ-induced elevation of oxidative stress in the liver and kidney was suppressed by taurine treatment. These results showed that taurine ameliorated diabetes and diabetic complications by improving hepatic glucose metabolism and reducing oxidative stress

Perceived risk and demands for countermeasures against diabetes and radiation in Fukushima after the nuclear accident: Effects of self-rated risk trade-off view and provision of risk information

It is crucial to examine how risk perception, risk trade-off view, and provision of risk information affect demands for countermeasures against multiple risks after a nuclear disaster. We investigated factors associated with the perceived dread risk of radiation exposure or diabetes and the self-rated risk trade-off view. We examined how the risk perception, self-rated risk trade-off view, and provision of risk information affected the perceived magnitude of the risks and the demands for countermeasures. We distributed an online questionnaire to 2806 panelists aged 20–69 years in the Fukushima Prefecture in 2018 and received 1044 valid responses. Both the perceived dread risk of radiation exposure and diabetes was associated with evacuation experience and trustworthy sources of information. The self-rated risk trade-off view was associated with gender, occupation, educational background, trustworthy sources of information, and a diabetes diagnosis. The perceived magnitude of radiation risk and the demand for countermeasures were governed by the perceived dread risk of radiation rather than the types of information provided or the self-rated risk trade-off view. Conversely, the perceived magnitude of diabetes risk and the demand for countermeasures were associated with both the perceived dread risk of diabetes and the self-rated risk trade-off view. The provision of risk comparison information slightly enhanced the demand for societal countermeasures against diabetes. The perceived dread risk is more strongly associated with the perceived magnitude of the risk and the demands for countermeasures than provided information. Development of a self-rated risk trade-off view is useful for encouraging countermeasures against diabetes