Efficacy of Using Aroma Mouthwash in Recoverying from Short-term Cognitive Stressor

Mouthwash prevents bad breath and sterilizes bacteria that cause dental caries and periodontal disease, so it provides important means for improving oral hygiene in our daily life. Along with active ingredients such as bactericides, mouthwash contains a variety of aromas to mask the bitterness of base ingredients and increase palatability. However, given that numerous aroma studies have demonstrated various physiological efficacies of aromas on autonomic/central nervous systems, it is no wonder that aroma mouthwash has some sort of physiological impact when it is used. In this study, we investigated the effect of aroma in mouthwash on peripheral and cardiac autonomic nervous system activity. The experiment was carried out in a within-subject design wherein 20 healthy women under 5 conditions, which are 4 types of mouthwashes: peppermint, peppermint + bergamot, peppermint + orange, and peppermint + lavender, and water as a control. Participants performed a 20-minute calculation task as a cognitive stressor, and then rinsing by a mouthwash or water. We evaluated the recovery period from acute stress response for 20 minutes after the task. As a result, it was observed that a mouthwash with citrus flavor had a relaxing effect in terms of subjective scores and recovering from physiological stress response. The results may illustrate a potential benefit of using aroma mouthwash

Measurement and correlation of solubilities for trifluoromethylbenzoic acid isomers in supercritical carbon dioxide

金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科生産プロセスThe solubilities of 2-, 3- and 4-trifluoromethylbenzoic acids in supercritical carbon dioxide were measured at 308.2, 313.2 and 323.2 K by a flow-type apparatus. The pressure range of the measurement was from 9 to 23 MPa. The enhancements of solubility by fluorination were markedly observed for 2- and 3-trifluoromethylbenzoic acids. The solubilities of 4-trifluoromethylbenzoic acids are almost the same as those of 4-methylbenzoic acid. The experimental data were correlated by the Peng-Robinson equation of state. The correlated results show good agreement with the experimental data by adjusting binary interaction parameters. The results can represent the tendency of solubility enhancement. The interaction parameter between carbon dioxide and 3-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid is smaller than that between carbon dioxide and 2-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid or methylbenzoic acid isomers. While the estimated sublimation pressure for 4-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid is smaller than those for the other compounds, the solubilities of 4-trifluoromethylbenzoic acids are almost the same as those of 4-methylbenzoic acid. The interaction parameter between carbon dioxide and 4-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid show the negative values. This fact indicates that the interaction between carbon dioxide and 4-trifluoromethylbenzoic acid is stronger than those between carbon dioxide and the other compounds. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Erythropoietin Receptor Signaling Mitigates Renal Dysfunction-Associated Heart Failure by Mechanisms Unrelated to Relief of Anemia

ObjectivesWe examined the effect of asialoerythropoietin (asialoEPO), a nonerythrogenic derivative of erythropoietin (EPO), on renal dysfunction-associated heart failure.BackgroundAlthough EPO is known to exert beneficial effects on cardiac function, the clinical benefits in patients with chronic kidney disease are controversial. It remains to be addressed whether previously reported outcomes were the result of relief of the anemia, adverse effects of EPO, or direct cardiovascular effects.MethodsMice underwent 5/6 nephrectomy to cause renal dysfunction. Eight weeks later, when renal dysfunction was established, anemia and cardiac dysfunction and remodeling were apparent. Mice were then assigned to receive saline (control), recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) at 5,000 IU (714 pmol)/kg, or asialoEPO at 714 pmol/kg, twice/week for 4 weeks.ResultsAlthough only rhEPO relieved the nephrectomy-induced anemia, both rhEPO and asialoEPO significantly and similarly mitigated left ventricular dilation and dysfunction. The hearts of rhEPO- or asialoEPO-treated mice showed less hypertrophy, reflecting decreases in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and degenerative subcellular changes, as well as significant attenuation of fibrosis, leukocyte infiltration, and oxidative deoxyribonucleic acid damage. These phenotypes were accompanied by restored expression of GATA-4, sarcomeric proteins, and vascular endothelial growth factor and decreased inflammatory cytokines and lipid peroxidation. Finally, myocardial activation was observed of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase and signal transducer and activator of transcription pathways in the treated mice.ConclusionsEPO receptor signaling exerts direct cardioprotection in an animal model of renal dysfunction-associated heart failure, probably by mitigating degenerative, pro-fibrosis, inflammatory, and oxidative processes but not through relief of anemia

Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Associated with Unilateral Hemispheric Porencephaly

We report an 18 year-old male with a hemispheric large porencephaly who demonstrated symptomaticWest syndrome and then developed into Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. An electroencephalogram showed anasymmetrical high voltage slow spike and wave discharges only on the right side as a side of porencephalichemisphere. Interestingly, on the opposite side of the porencephalic hemisphere, an electroencephalogramshowed a low amplitude background activity in general. In this unique features both right side hemisphericporencephaly and asymmetric high voltage slow spike and waves due to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, theporencephalic hemisphere due to cortical parenchymal loss may be more affected than the other hemisphereby epileptiform discharge in this patient