Activated Microglia Disrupt the Blood-Brain Barrier and Induce Chemokines and Cytokines in a Rat in vitro Model

Severe neuroinflammation is associated with blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption in CNS diseases. Although microglial activation and the subsequent changes in cytokine/chemokine (C/C) concentrations are thought to be key steps in the development of neuroinflammation, little data are available concerning the interaction of microglia with BBB cells. In this study, we investigated this interaction by adding LPS-activated microglia (LPS-MG) to the abluminal side of a BBB model composed of endothelial cells (EC), pericytes (Peri) and astrocytes (Ast). We then examined the abluminal concentrations of 27 C/Cs and the interactions between the LPS-MG and BBB cells. LPS-MG caused collapse of the BBB, revealed by decreases in the trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) and by changes in the expression levels of tight junction (TJ) proteins. Under these conditions, 19 C/Cs were markedly increased on the abluminal side. Unexpectedly, although LPS-MG alone released 10 of the 19 C/Cs, their concentrations were much lower than those detected on the abluminal side of the BBB model supplemented with LPS-MG. Co-culture of LPS-MG with Ast caused marked increases in 12 of the 19 C/Cs, while co-culture of LPS-MG with EC and Peri resulted in a significant increase in only 1 of the 19 C/Cs (fractalkine). These results suggest that C/C dynamics in this system are not only caused by activated microglia but also are due to the interaction between activated microglia and astrocytes

4.Rocks and minerals

Frontier Research Program for Subduction Dynamics, Japan Marine Science and Technology CenterFrontier Research Group for the Deep Sea Environment, Japan Marine Science and technology center東京大学Editor : Tazaki, Kazue, Cover:Scanning electoron microscopic photograph of Gallionella sp. in biomats of Aso caldera, Kyusyu, Japan. Various shapes of Gallonella sp. are shown (image:Moriichi, Shingo).COE, 金沢大学 水・土壌環境領域シンポジウム「地球環境における微生物の役割」, 日時：2002年12月4日（水）13：00～, 場所：金沢大学理学部3階第一実験

Effects of Rice Straw Supplemented with Urea and Molasses on Intermediary Metabolism of Plasma Glucose and Leucine in Sheep

An isotope dilution method using [U-13C]glucose and [1-13C]leucine (Leu) was conducted to evaluate the effects of rice straw supplemented with urea and molasses (RSUM-diet) on plasma glucose and Leu turnover rates in sheep. Nitrogen (N) balance, rumen fermentation characteristics and blood metabolite concentrations were also determined. Four sheep were fed either mixed hay (MH-diet), or a RSUM-diet with a crossover design for two 21 days period. Feed allowance was computed on the basis of metabolizable energy at maintenance level. The isotope dilution method was performed as the primed-continuous infusion on day 21 of each dietary period. Nitrogen intake was lower (p = 0.01) for the RSUM-diet and N digestibility did not differ (p = 0.57) between diets. Concentrations of rumen total volatile fatty acids tended to be higher (p = 0.09) for the RSUM-diet than the MH-diet. Acetate concentration in the rumen did not differ (p = 0.38) between diets, whereas propionate concentration was higher (p = 0.01) for the RSUM-diet compared to the MH-diet. Turnover rates as well as concentrations of plasma glucose and Leu did not differ between diets. It can be concluded that kinetics of plasma glucose and Leu metabolism were comparable between the RSUM-diet and the MH-diet, and rumen fermentation characteristics were improved in sheep fed the RSUM-diet compared to the MH-diet

Parental rearing attitudes in childhood is associated with adult sleep disturbances independently from depression and life events: a cross-sectional survey in Japan

Sleep disturbance associated with depression and suicide is a serious public health concern. Previous studies have suggested that sleep disturbances increase the risk of suicide without going through depression. Adverse childhood experience, which has a long-term effect on mental health, is also a serious problem. We conducted a study to investigate the association between parental rearing attitudes in childhood and sleep disturbances in adulthood by performing a questionnaire survey. A cross-sectional survey performed with the residents of a provincial city in Japan. A total of 1,500 male (aged ≧ 30 years) subjects were randomly selected by a computer from the basic resident register after stratifying them by age. The subjects were assessed by personal characteristics, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), and the Parent Bonding Instrument (PBI). We obtained an answer from 400 people (26.7%) among 1,500 subjects. Their average age and standard deviation were 48.3±8.6 years at the time of the survey. According to performing a logistic regression analysis that assessed each parental bonding type compared with optimal bonding adjusted for CES-D and SRRS, “affectionless control” and “awaking during sleep,” and “affectionate constraint” and “a sense of insufficiency of the sleep” were significantly associated, even after controlling for age (OR 2.93, 95% CI: 1.46-5.87; OR 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07-0.79, respectively). Our study raises the possibility that the parental care of a child affects sleep disturbances in adulthood

Improving the efficiency of complete denture treatment

In Japan, the number of elderly people with missing teeth has been decreasing. However, the number of patients wearing complete denture has not decreased. Therefore, suitable complete denture adjustment for the elderly people is important. The chair time and treatment contents (medical interview, medical examination, fitting, occlusion, adjustment, denture cleaning, patient’s instruction, polishing, postoperative instruction, denture score, blank time) involved in complete denture adjustment were investigated and it is confirmed that there was a lot of patient’s and blank time. The blank time is defined as “time not engaged in treatment” for the dentist, “observation time” for the assistant, and “time sitting in the chair doing nothing” for the patient. This research aimed to clarify a treatment procedure that allows for effective use of the blank time to provide appropriate treatment to each patient. The participants included 31 patients with complete dentures, 14 dentists, and 12 less experienced dentists. Treatment timetables were created using video data. Analyses were carried out to develop a more effective treatment protocol by changing treatment procedures and contents. Issues associated with treatment were also investigated. Treatment activities and chair time during denture adjustment (57 participants) were investigated to do treatment smoothly. As a result there were 22 out of 31 patients (deficiency of the denture cleaning etc.) whose treatment activities should be improved. The results suggested that treatment procedures that allow for effective use of patient’s and less experienced dentist’s blank time to provide appreciate treatment to each patient can be clarified

Identification of a Predictive Biomarker for the Beneficial Effect of Keishibukuryogan, a Kampo (Japanese Traditional) Medicine, on Patients with Climacteric Syndrome

Keishibukuryogan (KBG; Guizhi-Fuling-Wan in Chinese) is one of the Kampo (Japanese traditional) medicines used to treat patients with climacteric syndrome. KBG can be used by patients who cannot undergo hormone replacement therapy due to a history of breast cancer. We evaluated whether cytosine-adenine (CA) repeat polymorphism of the estrogen receptor β gene can be a predictor of the beneficial effect of KBG on climacteric syndrome. We also investigated the relationship between CA repeat polymorphism, the patients’ profiles, and the therapeutic effect. We found that CA was an SS, SL, or LL genotype according to the number of repeats. We studied 39 consecutive patients with climacteric disorders who took KBG for 12 weeks. The diagnosis of climacteric disorders was made on the basis of the Kupperman index. KBG significantly improved the patients’ climacteric symptoms (i.e., vasomotor symptoms in the patients with the LL genotype and melancholia in the patients with the SL genotype). No relationship between the patients’ profiles and CA repeat polymorphism was recognized. CA repeat polymorphism could thus be a potential biomarker to predict the efficacy of KBG in climacteric syndrome, and its use will help to reduce the cost of treating this syndrome by focusing the administration of KBG on those most likely to benefit from it