A Kampo Medicine, Boi-ogi-to, Inhibits Obesity in Ovariectomized Rats

In women facing menopause, end of menstrual activity is accompanied by lower levels of estrogen and gradual weight gain. Postmenopausal weight gain sounds an alarm for women's health and may lead to hyperlipidemia, a lipid increase and glucose intolerance. These phenomena are connected to lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerosis and metabolic syndrome, making it essential to prevent weight gain in women. A Kampo medicine, Boi-ogi-to, is traditionally used to treat obese conditions, but the mechanism has not yet been investigated. In this experiment, we tested the antiobesity properties of Boi-ogi-to in ovariectomized rats by measuring changes of serum cytokine levels and adipocytokines in fat cells. After treatment with this extract for 6 weeks (20-week-old rats), we found that there was a significant weight decrease in rats treated with Boi-ogi-to as compared with that in the control group. Serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Gene expression of adipose tissue in uterus also dose dependently showed a significant increase of TNF-α levels, suggesting that secretion of TNF-α by fat cells might play a role in the ability of Boi-ogi-to to inhibit weight gain. While peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-γ and adiponectin levels did not show a significant difference as compared with those in the control, levels of mRNA expression showed a tendency to increase dose dependently. Resistin did not show any significant change. These results suggest that Boi-ogi-to might be useful for the prevention of obesity that occurs in women with reduction of estrogen

First molecular data of the Borneo Banteng Bos Javanicus lowi from Sabah, Borneo

Phylogenetic relationships among three subspecies of banteng, Burma banteng Bos javanicus birmanicus in mainland Southeast Asia, Javan banteng Bos javanicus javanicus in Java, and Bornean banteng Bos javanicus lowi in Borneo, and the presence/absence of interbreeding between wild Bornean banteng and domestic cattle in Sabah, Malaysia, were investigated by partial sequences of cytochrome b and D-loop of mitochondrial DNA. The results show that genetic distance of the Bornean banteng are relatively close to the gaur Bos gaurus/gayal Bos frontalis (the cytochrome b, 0.004–0.025; the D-loop, 0.012–0.021) followed by Burma banteng (the cytochrome b, 0.027–0.035; the D-loop, 0.040–0.045), and kouprey Bos sauveli (the cytochrome b, 0.031–0.035; the D-loop, 0.037–0.042). There are much greater distances between Bornean banteng and domestic cattle, Bos taurus and Bos indicus (the cytochrome b, 0.059–0.076; the D-loop, 0.081–0.090). These results suggest that the Bornean banteng diverged genetically from other banteng subspecies and that the wild Bornean banteng from this study are pure strain and have high conservation value

First molecular data on Bornean banteng Bos javanicus lowi (Cetartiodactyla, Bovidae) from Sabah, Malaysian Borneo

Phylogenetic relationships among three subspecies of banteng, Burma banteng Bos javanicus birmanicus in mainland Southeast Asia, Javan banteng Bos javanicus javanicus in Java, and Bornean banteng Bos javanicus lowi in Borneo, and the presence/absence of interbreeding between wild Bornean banteng and domestic cattle in Sabah, Malaysia, were investigated by partial sequences of cytochrome b and D-loop of mitochondrial DNA. The results show that genetic distance of the Bornean banteng are relatively close to the gaur Bos gaurus/gayal Bos frontalis (the cytochrome b, 0.004–0.025; the D-loop, 0.012–0.021) followed by Burma banteng (the cytochrome b, 0.027–0.035; the D-loop, 0.040–0.045), and kouprey Bos sauveli (the cytochrome b, 0.031–0.035; the D-loop, 0.037–0.042). There are much greater distances between Bornean banteng and domestic cattle, Bos taurus and Bos indicus (the cytochrome b, 0.059–0.076; the D-loop, 0.081–0.090). These results suggest that the Bornean banteng diverged genetically from other banteng subspecies and that the wild Bornean banteng from this study are pure strain and have high conservation value

Helicobacter pylori induces somatic mutations in TP53 via overexpression of CHAC1 in infected gastric epithelial cells

Infection with Helicobacter pylori is known to decrease the level of glutathione in gastric epithelial cells and increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can lead to DNA damage and the development of gastric cancer. Cation transport regulator 1 (CHAC1) has γ-glutamylcyclotransferase activity that degrades glutathione. We found that cagA-positive H. pylori infection triggered CHAC1 overexpression in human gastric epithelial (AGS) cells leading to glutathione degradation and the accumulation of ROS. Nucleotide alterations in the TP53 tumour suppressor gene were induced in AGS cells overexpressing CHAC1, whereas no mutations were detected in cells overexpressing a catalytically inactive mutant of CHAC1. A high frequency of TP53 mutations occurred in H. pylori-infected AGS cells, but this was prevented in cells transfected with CHAC1 siRNA. These findings indicate that H. pylori-mediated CHAC1 overexpression degrades intracellular glutathione, allowing the accumulation of ROS which subsequently causes mutations that could contribute to the development of gastric cancer.This work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI (16K19077) and Project Grant 525458 from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council

Open-label clinical trial of bezafibrate treatment in patients with fatty acid oxidation disorders in Japan

IntroductionFatty acid oxidation disorders (FAODs) are rare diseases caused by defects in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO) enzymes. While the efficacy of bezafibrate, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonist, on the in vitro FAO capacity has been reported, the in vivo efficacy remains controversial. Therefore, we conducted a clinical trial of bezafibrate in Japanese patients with FAODs.Materials and methodsThis trial was an open-label, non-randomized, and multicenter study of bezafibrate treatment in 6 patients with very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency and 2 patients with carnitine palmitoyltransferase-II (CPT-2) deficiency (median age, 8.2 years; ranging from 5.8 to 26.4 years). Bezafibrate was administered for 6 months following a 6-month observation period. The primary endpoint was the frequency of myopathic attacks, and the secondary endpoints were serum acylcarnitines (ACs, C14:1 or C16 + C18:1), creatine kinase (CK) levels, degree of muscle pain (VAS; visual analog scale) during myopathic attacks, and quality of life (QOL; evaluated using validated questionnaires).ResultsThe frequency of myopathic attacks after bezafibrate administration decreased in 3 patients, increased in 3, and did not change in 2. The CK, AC, and VAS values during attacks could be estimated in only three or four patients, but a half of the patients did not experience attacks before or after treatment. Changes in CK, AC, and VAS values varied across individuals. In contrast, three components of QOL, namely, physical functioning, role limitation due to physical problems (role physical), and social functioning, were significantly elevated. No adverse drug reactions were observed.ConclusionIn this study, the frequency of myopathic attacks and CK, AC, and VAS values during the attacks could not be evaluated due to several limitations, such as a small trial population. Our findings indicate that bezafibrate improves the QOL of patients with FAODs, but its efficacy must be examined in future investigations

Japanese physicians' attitudes towards enteral nutrition treatment for pediatric patients with Crohn's disease: a questionnaire survey

Background/Aims: Enteral nutrition (EN) is recommended for the treatment of pediatric Crohn's disease (CD) in Japan. However, the indications and treatment protocols for EN vary among hospitals. In the present study, we aimed to determine how EN was administered to pediatric patients and whether physicians followed treatment guidelines in their practices.Methods: Two types of questionnaires were administered to 32 physicians who were involved in the treatment of pediatric CD. The consensus questionnaire evaluated the physicians' attitudes towards EN, whereas the efficacy questionnaire collected data on patients with CD, aged <17 years, who had undergone induction therapy between 2006 and 2011.Results: A total of 23 physicians responded to the questionnaires. The results of the consensus questionnaire indicated that 82% and 59% of study participants recommended EN treatment for all newly diagnosed pediatric patients with CD and all relapsed patients, respectively. Exclusive EN (EEN) and elemental formula were recommended by 84% and 85% of physicians, respectively. The efficacy questionnaire revealed that 57 of the 58 patients received EN. Elemental formula was used in 39 of 40 patients who were treated with EEN. Of these 40 patients, 27 were treated with EEN alone; of these, 22 (81%) achieved remission without any other treatment. The mean duration of EEN was 15.9 days.Conclusions: EN is widely recommended by physicians treating pediatric CD in Japan. In contrast to Western countries, clinicians used elemental formula more often and with a shorter EEN treatment duration

Serum magnesium concentration in children with functional constipation treated with magnesium oxide

AIM: To determine whether hypermagnesemia recently reported in adult patients possibly develops in children with functional constipation taking daily magnesium oxide

Psychological Well-Being, Resilience, and Social Support Expectancy : Junior High School Students Facing High School Entrance Examinations

レジリエンスは, 困難な出来事を経験しても個人を精神的健康へと導く心理的特性である。本研究の目的は中学3年生の高校受験期の学業場面における精神的健康とレジリエンスおよびソーシャル・サポートの関連について検討することだった。精神的健康の指標はストレス反応と成長感を用いた。受験前は538名を対象に, レジリエンス尺度, ソーシャル・サポート尺度, 学業ストレッサー尺度そしてストレス反応尺度を用いて解析した。受験後は, 受験前と後の同一被験者263名を対象に, 上記の尺度に成長感尺度を加えて解析した。その結果, (1)レジリエンス尺度は「自己志向性」「楽観性」「関係志向性」の3因子構造だった。(2)ストレス反応の抑制には「自己志向性」, 「楽観性」, 母親, 友だち, 先生のサポートが寄与していた。(3)成長感には「自己志向性」が強く寄与していた。(4)女子のストレス反応の抑制にはレジリエンスよりソーシャル・サポートの方が大きな影響を及ぼしていた。(5)「関係志向性」および「自己志向性」には友だちサポートが最も高い相関を示した。最後にストレス状況下での精神的健康に対するレジリエンスとソーシャル・サポートの役割について討論した。\r\n\r\nResilience is a psychological trait that enables individuals to maintain their psychological well-being despite experiencing difficulties. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship among psychological well-being, resilience, and social support in third-year junior high school students who were preparing for high school entrance examinations. (In Japan, in order to be admitted to a high school, junior high school students must succeed on an entrance examination.) Before taking the entrance examinations, 538 students completed questionnaires measuring their resilience, perc eived social support, stress responses, and experience of academic stressors. After the examination, 263 of the students completed a Self-Growth Scale. The results suggested that resilience consists of 3 factors : self-directedness, optimism, and relation-orientedness. Self-directedness, optimism, and perceived support from mother, friends, and teachers alleviated stress responses, though social support was a more effective stress reliever than resilience for the girls. Self-directedness was found to relate strongly to feelings of self-growth. Friends' support was correlated most positively to self-directedness and relation-orientedness. The role of resilience and social support in the maintenance of psychological well-being under stressful conditions was discussed