Preventive Effect of Boiogito on Metabolic Disorders in the TSOD Mouse, a Model of Spontaneous Obese Type II Diabetes Mellitus

“Boiogito” is a Kampo preparation which has been used since ancient times in patients with obesity of the “asthenic constitution” type, so-called “watery obesity”, and its effect has been recognized clinically. In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity effect of Boiogito in the TSOD (Tsumura Suzuki Obese Diabetes) mouse, a model of spontaneous obese type II diabetes mellitus. Boiogito showed a significant anti-obesity effect in TSOD mice by suppressing body weight gain in a dosage-dependent manner. In addition, Boiogito showed significant ameliorative effects on features of metabolic syndrome such as hyperinsulinemia, fasting hyperglycemia and abnormal lipid metabolism. Regarding lipid accumulation in TSOD mice, Boiogito showed a significant suppressive effect on accumulation of subcutaneous fat, but the effect on the visceral fat accumulation that constitutes the basis of metabolic syndrome was weak, and the suppressive effect on insulin resistance was also weak. Furthermore, Boiogito did not alleviate the abnormal glucose tolerance, the hypertension or the peripheral neuropathy characteristically developed in the TSOD mice. In contrast, in the TSNO (Tsumura Suzuki Non-Obesity) mice used as controls, Boiogito suppressed body weight gain and accumulation of subcutaneous and visceral fat. The above results suggested that Boiogito is effective as an anti-obesity drug against obesity of the “asthenic constitution” type in which subcutaneous fat accumulates, but cannot be expected to exert a preventive effect against various symptoms of metabolic syndrome that are based on visceral fat accumulation

Femtosecond laser manipulation of subcellular organelles in living cells

European Conferences on Biomedical Optics 2005, 2005, Munich, GermanyWataru Watanabe, Tomoko Shimada, Kazuyoshi Itoh, Sachihiro Matsunaga, Kiichi Fukui, "Femtosecond laser manipulation of subcellular organelles in living cells," Proc. SPIE 5863, Therapeutic Laser Applications and Laser-Tissue Interactions II, 58630B (26 August 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.633079

三次元バーチャルリアリティを用いた半側空間無視の評価と治療

Previously, it was difficult to detect mild neglect or a lack of stimulus-driven attention in patients using conventional assessments such as the Behavioral Inattention Test, usually performed on patients with unilateral spatial neglect. Here, we developed a method that randomly generates balloons in the left-right, up-down, and near-far spaces on a monitor using a head-mounted display. A head-mounted display can be used as an objective tool to evaluate and treat mild neglect symptoms by quantifying how quickly and accurately a patient can perceive the appearing balloons. In this study, we evaluated a lack of stimulus-driven attention case that was undetected by the paper and pencil test. We could identify mild neglect with our virtual reality method, as later confirmed using the Catherine Bergego scale. In addition to using virtual reality in a three-dimensional space to effectively detect mild neglect, this method can be used for treatment. After repeated practice under a tilted background space condition, the patient demonstrated a reduction in the time needed to perceive the appearing balloons, suggesting a therapeutic effect.東京都立大学学位論文甲第1160号　副論

Difficulties and Coping Strategies Experienced by Employed People with HIV in Japan: A Qualitative Study Comparing High and Low Sense of Coherence Groups

People with HIV experience anxiety about discrimination in the workplace and disclosing their disease. Effective coping ability toward HIV-related challenges may be associated with a person’s sense of coherence (SOC). This study describes the range of difficulties HIV-positive individuals experience and their coping strategies, especially in the workplace. The experiences of those with high and low SOC are compared. Data were collected in Japan from 2007 to 2009 using a qualitative approach. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 40 participants with HIV with work experience. Interviews focused on individual’s perspectives, including self-perceptions of physical and mental functioning, work conditions, and perceived changes in their circumstances. Participants were divided into high and low SOC groups based on SOC-13 scores. A number of categories and subcategories of experiences were extracted, including “acute feeling of the severe social positioning of HIV,” with some categories specific to those with low SOC. Those with high SOC appeared to have a unique perspective that supported more successful coping, for example, “Awareness of death is linked to valuing living in the present,” “Do not be discouraged by uncertainties and difficulties,” and so on. It suggests that development of coping skills may help people with HIV

Nanosurgery of sub-cellular organelles in living cells using a femtosecond laser oscillator

Lasers and Applications in Science and Engineering, 2006, San Jose, California, United StatesWataru Watanabe, Tomoko Shimada, Sachihiro Matsunaga, Hiroshi Ishii, Tsunehito Higashi, Kiichi Fukui, Kazuyoshi Itoh, "Nanosurgery of sub-cellular organelles in living cells using a femtosecond laser oscillator," Proc. SPIE 6108, Commercial and Biomedical Applications of Ultrafast Lasers VI, 610804 (28 February 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.645474

Intracellular disruption of mitochondria in a living HeLa cell with a 76-MHz femtosecond laser oscillator

Shimada T., Watanabe W., Matsunaga S., et al. Intracellular disruption of mitochondria in a living HeLa cell with a 76-MHz femtosecond laser oscillator. Optics Express, 13, 24, 9869. https://doi.org/10.1364/OPEX.13.009869

子宮筋層の内外層に発生する子宮腺筋症おける、それぞれの組織学的特徴

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the phenotypic characterization of fibrotic process in adenomyosis occurring at the inner or the outer myometrium. METHODS: Eight cases of adenomyosis occurring at the inner myometrium (Subtype I) and 10 cases of adenomyosis occurring at the outer myometrium (Subtype II), and 10 normal counterparts were used in this study. A immunohistochemical study for smooth muscle cells (SMCs) was performed using cytoskeletal proteins, Type I and III collagen, TGF-β and its signaling molecules. RESULTS: An increased expression of Type I collagen was observed in the extracellular matrix of adenomyotic foci. In normal uteri, immunostaining of SMC differentiation marker proteins (Desmin, Smoothelin, Myosin heavy chain (MHC)) were absent or only found in low numbers at the inner myometrium, while all of these marker proteins were clearly stained at the outer myometrium. In both types of adenomyotic foci, Desmin, Smoothelin, and MHC commonly showed a negative staining at the adjacent area to the glands. A significant staining of Non-muscle myosin IIB, TGF-β, and phosphorylated TGF-β type I receptors were found only at the SMCs of Subtype II adenomyosis. The Smad3/2 ratio of Subtype II adenomyosis was significantly higher than that of Subtype I. CONCLUSIONS: The inner myometrium of normal uteri was composed of undifferentiated phenotypes of SMCs, while the outer myometrium was composed of terminally differentiated SMCs. Various fibrotic processes have been suggested in the development of uterine adenomyosis. Distinct expression patterns of fibrosis related proteins have been shown to be implicated with differences in the subtypes of adenomyosis.博士（医学）・甲第681号・平成30年3月15日Copyright: © 2017 Kishi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited