Glucosyl hesperidin exhibits more potent anxiolytic activity than hesperidin accompanied by the attenuation of noradrenaline induction in a zebrafish model

Anxiety is a symptom of various mental disorders, including depression. Severe anxiety can significantly affect the quality of life. Hesperidin (Hes), a flavonoid found in the peel of citrus fruits, reportedly has various functional properties, one of which is its ability to relieve acute and chronic stress. However, Hes is insoluble in water, resulting in a low absorption rate in the body and low bioavailability. Glucosyl hesperidin (GHes) is produced by adding one glucose molecule to hesperidin. Its water solubility is significantly higher than that of Hes, which is expected to improve its absorption into the body and enhance its effects. However, its efficacy in alleviating anxiety has not yet been investigated. Therefore, in this study, the anxiolytic effects of GHes were examined in a zebrafish model of anxiety. Long-term administration of diets supplemented with GHes did not cause any toxicity in the zebrafish. In the novel tank test, zebrafish in the control condition exhibited an anxious behavior called freezing, which was significantly suppressed in GHes-fed zebrafish. In the black-white preference test, which also induces visual stress, GHes-fed zebrafish showed significantly increased swimming time in the white side area. Furthermore, in tactile (low water-level stress) and olfactory-mediated stress (alarm substance administration test) tests, GHes suppressed anxious behavior, and these effects were stronger than those of Hes. Increased noradrenaline levels in the brain generally cause freezing; however, in zebrafish treated with GHes, the amount of noradrenaline after stress was lower than that in the control group. Activation of c-fos/ERK/Th, which is upstream of the noradrenaline synthesis pathway, was also suppressed, while activation of the CREB/BDNF system, which is vital for neuroprotective effects, was significantly increased. These results indicate that GHes has a more potent anxiolytic effect than Hes in vivo, which may have potential applications in drug discovery and functional food development

An analyse of image and experience of families of offenders

The purpose of this study was to examine the image of offender's family and experience of them in society. Study 1 was administrated to 163 university students. Students were inquired about the image of the offender and his parents, and degree of think about responsibility of offender's parents for society. Students were divided into two groups at random. One replied to the questionnaire about an atrocious crime, the other answered about a corruption. Study 2 examined the situation of offender's family from a memoir and a novel. The result of study 1 shows that parents of desperate criminals are demanded responsibility for society more than parents of corruptionists are demanded it. The result of study 2 shows that offender's families are suffering badly from their social, economic and psychological conditions

A Review of Studies on Self-help Group for Cancer Survivors

The purpose of this study was to review the previous studies to examine the evidence for self-help groups for cancer survivors. The search strategy began with 5 electronic databases such as PsycARTICLES (2000-2011), CancerLit (2000-2011), PubMed (2000-2011), PsycINFO (2000-2011), and CiNii (Citation Information by NII, 2000-2011). A total of 27 scientific literatures were included with no psychological research, in which most were nursing researches. The authors discussed three issues: the method of the research, the difference between support group and self-help group, and the evidence of the self-help group, and then stressed the importance of researches using quantitative methods and researches conducted by the survivors themselves

Reduced susceptibility to colitis-associated colon carcinogenesis in mice lacking plasma membrane-associated sialidase.

Sialic acids are acidic monosaccharides that bind to the sugar chains of glycoconjugates and change their conformation, intermolecular interactions, and/or half-life. Thus, sialidases are believed to modulate the function of sialoglycoconjugates by desialylation. We previously reported that the membrane-associated mammalian sialidase NEU3, which preferentially acts on gangliosides, is involved in cell differentiation, motility, and tumorigenesis. The NEU3 gene expression is aberrantly elevated in several human cancers, including colon, renal, prostate, and ovarian cancers. The small interfering RNA-mediated knock-down of NEU3 in cancer cell lines, but not in normal cell-derived primary cultures, downregulates EGFR signaling and induces apoptosis. Here, to investigate the physiological role of NEU3 in tumorigenesis, we established Neu3-deficient mice and then subjected them to carcinogen-induced tumorigenesis, using a sporadic and a colitis-associated colon cancer models. The Neu3-deficient mice showed no conspicuous accumulation of gangliosides in the brain or colon mucosa, or overt abnormalities in their growth, development, behavior, or fertility. In dimethylhydrazine-induced colon carcinogenesis, there were no differences in the incidence or growth of tumors between the Neu3-deficient and wild-type mice. On the other hand, the Neu3-deficient mice were less susceptible than wild-type mice to the colitis-associated colon carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate. These results suggest that NEU3 plays an important role in inflammation-dependent tumor development