Hypolipidemic potential of squid homogenate irrespective of a relatively high content of cholesterol

BACKGROUND: Our previous study has shown that regardless of a relatively high amount of cholesterol, squid homogenate lowers serum and hepatic cholesterol in animals. Since this work, we have developed a new method to inhibit autolysis of squid proteins with sodium citrate. This study aims to investigate how squid homogenate prepared with sodium citrate affects lipid metabolism in Sprague–Dawley rats at the molecular level. METHODS: We prepared squid homogenate with sodium citrate to inhibit autolysis of squid protein. In Experiment 1 (Exp. 1), rats were given a cholesterol-free control diet or a squid diet, with squid homogenate added at the level of 5% as dietary protein for 4 weeks. Blood, the liver and adipose tissue were taken after 6 hours fasting. Serum and hepatic lipids and activities of enzymes related to lipid metabolism were measured. In Experiment 2 (Exp. 2), the above-mentioned diets had cholesterol added at the level of 0.1% and given to rats. Lipid parameters, enzyme activities, and gene expression of proteins involved in lipid metabolism in the liver and the small intestine were determined. In addition, feces were collected for two days at the end of Exp. 2 to measure fecal excretion of steroids. RESULTS: In Exp.1, serum triglyceride and cholesterol were ~50% and ~20% lower, respectively, in the squid diet-fed rats than in the control diet-fed animals while hepatic cholesterol was ~290% higher in the squid diet-fed rats. When cholesterol was included into the diets (Exp. 2), serum lipids were significantly lower in the squid group while no difference of hepatic lipid was seen between two groups. Activities of hepatic lipogenic enzymes were significantly lower in rats on the squid diet while the enzyme responsible for fatty acid oxidation was not modified (Expt. 1 and 2). Hepatic level of mRNA of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein was significantly lower in the squid group. In the small intestine, the squid diet exhibited significantly lower gene expression of proteins involved in fatty acid transport and cholesterol absorption. Fecal secretion of acidic steroids, but not neutral steroids, was higher in rats fed the squid diet than in those fed the control diet. CONCLUSION: These results imply that newly-developed squid homogenate has hypolipidemic potential primarily through decreased absorption of bile acids in the small intestine and suppressed lipogenesis in the liver

The Effect of Olive Leaf Extract on Hepatic Fat Accumulation in Sprague-Dawley Rats Fed a High-fat Diet

Oleuropein, the active constituent of olive leaf extract, possesses anti-oxidant, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic activities. We aimed to assess whether the effect of olive leaf extract on hepatic fat accumulation is preventive or therapeutic. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed a high-fat diet with (ODOD group) or without (HDHD group) olive leaf extract (1,000 mg/kg diet) for 38 weeks. Another group of rats were fed a high-fat diet for 23 weeks, followed by a high-fat diet with olive leaf extract (1,000 mg/kg diet) for 15 weeks (HDOD group). Serology, histopathology, anti-oxidative activity, and liver fatty acid synthesis were compared to those fed a standard diet (LDLD group) at 26 and 41 weeks of age. The serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and aspartate aminotransferase tended to be lower in the ODOD group as compared to the HDHD and HDOD groups, although there were no significant differences. Histopathologically, hepatic steatosis tended to be less evident in the HDOD and ODOD groups as compared to the HDHD group, and lobular inflammation was not observed in the ODOD group at 26 weeks of age. Hepatic thioredoxin-1 staining tended to be less evident in the ODOD group than in the HDHD and HDOD groups at 41 weeks of age. There were no significant differences in hepatic lipogenic enzyme activities between the ODOD group and HDHD/HDOD groups. Our data suggest that olive leaf extract had a preventive, rather than therapeutic, effect on hepatic steatohepatitis in SD rats fed a high-fat diet

高齢者に対する足浴は有酸素運動となるか

　本研究の目的は足浴が膝関節などの運動器に負担をかけない有酸素運動となるか検討することである。高齢者29名（平均73.2歳）を対象に、3人1組で開始42℃、終了時40℃の足浴を30分間行った。脈拍数、前額部および両下肢皮膚温の測定、主観的な運動感の評価を行い、分析は対応のある一元配置分散分析、Friedman検定を行った。結果、脈拍数の増加が認められたが、40％の運動強度となる脈拍数になった者はいなかった。前額部皮膚温は足浴による影響の傾向がみられ（ P = 0.058）、下肢皮膚温は影響が認められた（ P ＜ 0.000）。主観的評価では「運動した感じ」、「身体が軽くなった感じ」、「足が軽くなった感じ」の変化に有意差があった（いずれも P ＜ 0.000）。足浴が有酸素運動となるかの指標としては、脈拍数のみではなく、酸素消費量等の観点からの検討も必要と考えられた

Long-Duration Carbon Dioxide Anesthesia of Fish Using Ultra Fine (Nano-Scale) Bubbles

<div><p>Introduction: We investigated whether adding ultrafine (nano-scale) oxygen-carrying bubbles to water concurrently with dissolved carbon-dioxide (CO₂) could result in safe, long-duration anesthesia for fish. Results: To confirm the lethal effects of CO₂ alone, fishes were anesthetized with dissolved CO₂ in 20°C seawater. Within 30 minutes, all fishes, regardless of species, died suddenly due to CO₂-induced narcosis, even when the water was saturated with oxygen. Death was attributed to respiration failure caused by hypoxemia. When ultrafine oxygen-carrying bubbles were supplied along with dissolved CO₂, five chicken grunts were able to remain anesthetized for 22 hours and awoke normally within 2–3 hours after cessation of anesthesia. Conclusions: The high internal pressures and oxygen levels of the ultrafine bubbles enabled efficient oxygen diffusion across the branchia and permitted the organismal oxygen demands of individual anesthetized fish to be met. Thus, we demonstrated a method for safe, long-duration carbon dioxide anesthesia in living fish under normal water temperatures.</p></div

Relationship with the bubble diameter and the rising rate of a bubble in water.

<p>Relationship with the bubble diameter and the rising rate of a bubble in water.</p

Relationship with the bubble diameter and the pressure in the bubble.

<p>Relationship with the bubble diameter and the pressure in the bubble.</p

Various aquatic species and number of samples used for the experiment of conventional carbon dioxide-anesthesia,

<p>Various aquatic species and number of samples used for the experiment of conventional carbon dioxide-anesthesia,</p

Carbon dioxide-anesthesia under water oxygenated with ultrafine bubbles.

<p>Carbon dioxide-anesthesia under water oxygenated with ultrafine bubbles.</p

Chicken grunts anesthetized with carbon dioxide under water oxygenated with fine bubbles.

<p>(a) All chicken grunts were anesthetized. (b) After 22 hours under anesthesia, carbon dioxide level was lowered and chicken grunts started to awaken and swim normally within 2–3 hours.</p