Effect of anti-inflammatory supplementation with whey peptide and exercise therapy in patients with COPD

SummaryBackgroundOne of the major pathophysiologies in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been attributed to systemic inflammation. Meta-analysis of the 2005 Cochrane Database concluded the effect of nutritional supplementation alone on stable COPD was insufficient to promote body weight gain or exercise capacity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of nutritional supplementation therapy using a nutritional supplement containing whey peptide with low-intensity exercise therapy in stable elderly patients with COPD.MethodIn stable elderly COPD patients with %IBW and %FEV1 of less than 110 and 80%, respectively, anti-inflammatory nutritional supplementation therapy was added to low-intensity exercise therapy. Thirty-six COPD patients were divided into those with and those without the ingestion of an anti-inflammatory nutritional supplement containing whey peptide, which exhibited an anti-inflammatory effect. These two groups were designated as the nutritional support and the control groups, respectively. The body composition, skeletal muscle strength, exercise tolerance, health-related QOL (HRQOL), and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated before and three months after nutritional support combined with exercise therapy in both the nutritional support group and the control group.ResultsIn the nutritional support group, the body weight, %IBW, FM, energy intake, %AC, Alb, PImax, PEmax, 6MWD, WBI, emotional function, and CRQ total were significantly increased, and the levels of hsCRP, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were reduced significantly, while no significant change was noted in any item of physiological evaluation or any biomarker in the control group.ConclusionConcomitant use of a anti-inflammatory nutritional supplement containing whey peptide, which exhibits an anti-inflammatory effect, with exercise therapy in stable elderly COPD patients with %IBW<110% and %FEV1<80% may not only increase body weight but may also inhibit systemic inflammation and thus improve exercise tolerance and HRQOL

ネパール ニ オケル トキソプラズマショウ ノ ケッセイ エキガク チョウサ

We studied the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies among inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal (location of the capital, Kathmandu) and inhabitants of a village area in Lekhnath City, Kaski District (central Kathmandu), epal. A total of 376 serum samples were collected from apparently healthy participants. Toxoplasma antibodies (IgM and IgG) were detected by enzyme- linked fluorescent assay (ELFA). In the Kathmandu Valley, positive rates for Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies were 1.4% (2/146) and 35.6% (52/146) respectively. In Lekhnath City, positive rates were 2.6% (6/230) for IgM antibodies and 60.4% for IgG antibodies, i.e., comparatively higher than those in the Kathmandu Valley. The higher prevalence of these antibodies in the Lekhnath City village area was associated with animal keeping in almost all households, while in the Kathmandu Valley only a few households kept animals. However, the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies in these areas was relatively high in each case. Environmental conditions may be responsible for the transmission of Toxo- plasma parasites in both areas

Analysis of the Nutrient Intake and the Nutritional and Health State of the people in a Nepalese Mountainous Village:Dithal VDC

【目的】世界辺境地区の一つであるネパール山間地方の住民の摂取栄養と健康状態について解析した。【方法】神戸常盤大学を中心に共同調査プロジェクト(JICA 草の根事業)を編成し、ネパールデタール村でのフィールドワークを行った。住民208名(年齢5～82歳、男女比82:126)の健康調査を施行し、身体計測とBIA法を用いた体構成成分測定、および血液検査(TP、Albumin、GPT、BUN、Ca)を行った。また住民の内科診療を行い、下痢などの消化管疾患の有無を調査した。さらに、一般家庭における日々の食事内容をデジタルカメラに撮影し、摂取熱量、摂取栄養素を計測すると同時に、村の採水所30ヵ所での飲水を含めた生活用水の細菌学的検査を行った。【結果】身体計測上、BMI<18.5の比率が50%を超え、12歳以下の子供では80%近くに及んだ。体構成成分測定では、特に子供で体内脂肪、筋肉量の減少と、体内水分量の増加が見られた。また一見肥満体系であっても、栄養障害による浮腫や、筋肉量の減少による下腹部の突出(クワシオルコル)を示す症例も、12歳以下の子供で見られた。血液検査は、血清総タンパク、アルブミンの低下以外は、ほぼ正常値内であった。食事は、ネパール特有のダル・バート・タルカリという炭水化物が中心の料理で、摂取栄養素の80%を占めた。1日2食が標準である現地人の平均摂取熱量は800～1000kcal程度と推計された。飲料水の細菌学的検査では、大腸菌、及び大腸菌群が80～100%の頻度で検出された。【結論】未だカースト制度の現存するネパールの山間地方における栄養状態と衛生環境は劣悪であったが、これは過去に先進国が経た道であり、自らの事として手を差しのべる必要があると考えられた。The research team jointed with Kobe Tokiwa University, Kobe University, and Nepal Medical College has been organized to implement the fieldwork at Dithal Village in Nepalese mountainous area for JICA Kusanone Project. In the fieldwork, the nutritional and health state of 208 village inhabitants (5 to 82 years old : 82 of male and 126 of female) were investigated, and their daily dietary foods were analyzed intake of calories and nutrients. The state of hygiene was also studied including of checking the contamination of drinking water microbiologically. The results showed that the high presence of over 50% of thinness, which is defined as less than 18.5 of BMI, was estimated in all age-groups, however among the age group under 12 years, the rate was much higher up to 75~80%. In body component analysis, the decreased fat and muscle volume and increased body water volume were manifested in children. Some of the children showed the distended abdomen, which is the typical sign of Kwashiorkor type malnutrition. The average calorie intake of daily diet was estimated about 800～1000kcal, and the content of it was 80% of carbohydrate, 10% each of fat and protein. The contaminations of Coliform bacilli and E. coli could be detected 80 to 100% of drinking water at 30 water places. The internal medical check revealed the prevalence of water-borne digestive diseases with abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. The deteriorated nutritional and public health state in Nepalese mountainous area could be disclosed in this study, but these are the similar paths on which the advanced countries have gone through in their past. We are entrusted to give our hands to them

ネパール ノ Kaski チク ニ オケル セイカツスイ ノ ビョウゲンセイ ビセイブツ オセン ジッタイ チョウサ

Diarrheal disease is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality particularly among children in the developing countries with poor water sanitation. In the rainy season of 2009, a study on enteropathogenic contamination was performed for the water supply in the Kaski District of Nepal. A total of 23 water samples, including 6 from Pokhara City (central city), 7 from Patneri Village (on the plain side), and 10 from Dhital Village (on the hill side) were investigated using a commercially available coliform bacilli kit, MPN Colilert (IDEXX Laboratories, USA). In total, 87% (20/23) water samples were positive for coliform bacilli (Escherichia coli) and 74% (17/23) for fecal coliform bacilli. All samples collected in Pokhara City and Dhital Village were positive for coliform bacilli while only 57% (4/7) of samples collected from Patneri Village were for coliform bacilli. With regard to fecal coliform bacilli, rates of positivity in these three locations were 100% (6/6), 80% (8/10), and 43% (3/7), respectively. Interestingly, water samples collected from schools at Dhital Village and Patneri Village showed both coliform bacilli and fecal coliform bacilli. These findings, particularly of fecal coliform contamination of water at schools, suggest the possibility of outbreaks of waterborne disease among children. We recommend effective sterilization of the water supply and improvement of knowledge of water safety in school children as well as people in general

Cryptosporidium oocyst検出法

The protozoa Cryptosporidium parvum has been identified as one of the agents responsible for numerous outbreaks of diarrheal diseases. Detection of C.parvum oocysts in clinical and environmental samples is the key in the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis in human and in identifying a water-borne and/or food-borne outbreaks. Therfore, it is very important and necessary to have simples, sensitive and specific methods. However, no such perfect methods are available as yet. In this context, we studies the various methods available by modifying at different aspects and steps using samples collected in Nepal. This study revealed that morphological test using microscopy in combination with specific immunological is valuable for quick screening and the genetic method is effective method for identifying Cryptosporidium species

Assembly of Mid-Nanometer-Sized Gold Particles Capped with Mixed Alkanethiolate SAMs into High-Coverage Colloidal Films

We investigated the influence of the mixed <i>n</i>-alkanethiolate self-assembled monolayer (SAM) formed on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs: 50.0 ± 3.2 nm in diameter) on their assembly into colloidal films. Dodecanethiol and octadecanethiol were selected as the short- and long-chain alkanethiols, respectively. The mixed SAMs were formed by immersing AuNPs in a mixed alkanethiol solution at different molar ratios. Au colloidal films were fabricated on indium tin oxide substrates by our previously reported hybrid method. The composition of the two alkanethiolates in the SAM was deduced from the intensity ratio of two Raman bands at 1080 and 1105 cm^–1. The surface coverage of the colloidal films increased by forming equimolar or dodecanethiolate-dominant mixed SAMs on AuNPs instead of a pure dodecanethiolate or octadecanethiolate SAM. The highest coverage exceeded 80%. This improvement is attributed to the high dispersion stability of AuNPs covered with equimolar or dodecanethiolate-dominant mixed SAMs

ネパール ニ オケル カンセンショウ ニ カンスル ケンキュウ : ネパール オウコク ノ シュト カトマンドゥー ニ オケル ショウガッコウ ガクドウ ノ キセイチュウラン ホユウ チョウサ

In September 2003, a survey on intestinal parasitosis for public primary school children was carried out in Katmandu, Nepal. A total of 147 fecal samples (from 69 male and 78 female, aged 4 to 14 years) collected at public primary school were examined for various kinds of intestinal parasite eggs. Overall, 53.1% (78/147) fecal samples were positive for one or more intestinal parasitic eggs. Sex prevalence was slightly higher in males (53.6%) compared with females (52.6%). The highest prevalence was found in young ages group of older than 12 years (66.7%), followed by youngest ages group of below 11 years (49.6%). A high prevalent rate was found for Ascaris lumbricoides (33.6%), Trichuris trchiura (21.3%) and Giardia intestinalis (11.5%)