Neuroprotective effects of Si-based hydrogen-producing agent on 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurotoxicity in juvenile mouse model

Togawa S., Usui N., Doi M., et al. Neuroprotective effects of Si-based hydrogen-producing agent on 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurotoxicity in juvenile mouse model. Behavioural Brain Research 468, 115040 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115040.Neurotoxins have been extensively investigated, particularly in the field of neuroscience. They induce toxic damage, oxidative stress, and inflammation on neurons, triggering neuronal dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases. Here we demonstrate the neuroprotective effect of a silicon (Si)-based hydrogen-producing agent (Si-based agent) in a juvenile neurotoxic mouse model induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). The Si-based agent produces hydrogen in bowels and functions as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. However, the effects of the Si-based agent on neural degeneration in areas other than the lesion and behavioral alterations caused by it are largely unknown. Moreover, the neuroprotective effects of Si-based agent in the context of lactation and use during infancy have not been explored in prior studies. In this study, we show the neuroprotective effect of the Si-based agent on 6-OHDA during lactation period and infancy using the mouse model. The Si-based agent safeguards against the degradation and neuronal cell death of dopaminergic neurons and loss of dopaminergic fibers in the striatum (STR) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) caused by 6-OHDA. Furthermore, the Si-based agent exhibits a neuroprotective effect on the length of axon initial segment (AIS) in the layer 2/3 (L2/3) neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). As a result, the Si-based agent mitigates hyperactive behavior in a juvenile neurotoxic mouse model induced by 6-OHDA. These results suggest that the Si-based agent serves as an effective neuroprotectant and antioxidant against neurotoxic effects in the brain, offering the possibility of the Si-based agent as a neuroprotectant for nervous system diseases

A村の特定健康診査受診者の非肥満者を対象とした健診結果の実態及び血糖と生活習慣の関連

目的：A村の特定健康診査受診者の非肥満者を対象とした健診結果の実態及び血糖と生活習慣の関連を明らかにする． 方法：A村の平成29年度特定健康診査受診者のうち，血圧や血糖等の服薬をしていない非肥満者533人を研究対象者とした．非肥満者533人を高血糖の有無による2群に分け，生活習慣との関連を分析した． 結果：健診結果では，非肥満者は，LDLコレステロールの平均値が特定健診受診者全体よりも高かった． 生活習慣では，非肥満者において高血糖群の方が定期的な運動をしている割合及び遅い時間の夕食をとっていない割合が有意に高く，生活習慣が良好な割合が高かった． 結論：非肥満者のうち高血糖の住民は，生活習慣には留意していると考えられた．今後は，詳細な生活習慣を確認し，その結果とともに健診結果に基づく指導が重要である．Objectives: The purpose of this study was to clarify the actual conditions of specific health checkups for non-obese individuals in A Village and the relationship between blood glucose and lifestyle habits. Method: The research participants were the 533 non-obese people who were not taking medication among of the all people who received a specific health checkup in A Village in 2017. We divided the 533 participants into two groups based on the presence or absence of hyperglycemia, and the relationship between blood glucose and lifestyle habits was analyzed. Results: Average LDL cholesterol was higher in the participants than in the recipients of specific health checkups overall. In terms of lifestyle habits, the proportion of participants in the hyperglycemic group who exercised regularly and those who did not eat dinner late at night was significantly higher than the non-hyperglycemic group, and the proportion of favorable lifestyle habits was higher. Conclusion: Non-obese people with hyperglycemia were considered to be aware of healthy lifestyle habits. It will be important for medical professional to ask more detailed questions about lifestyle during health checkups and to provide health guidance based on the results of blood test data.原

CD206+ M2-like macrophages regulate systemic glucose metabolism by inhibiting proliferation of adipocyte progenitors

Adipose tissue resident macrophages have important roles in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis and regulate insulin sensitivity for example by secreting pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokines. Here, we show that M2-like macrophages in adipose tissue regulate systemic glucose homeostasis by inhibiting adipocyte progenitor proliferation via the CD206/TGFβ signaling pathway. We show that adipose tissue CD206+ cells are primarily M2-like macrophages, and ablation of CD206+ M2-like macrophages improves systemic insulin sensitivity, which was associated with an increased number of smaller adipocytes. Mice genetically engineered to have reduced numbers of CD206+ M2-like macrophages show a down-regulation of TGFβ signaling in adipose tissue, together with up-regulated proliferation and differentiation of adipocyte progenitors. Our findings indicate that CD206+ M2-like macrophages in adipose tissues create a microenvironment that inhibits growth and differentiation of adipocyte progenitors and, thereby, control adiposity and systemic insulin sensitivity

Molecular epidemiology of avian influenza viruses circulating among healthy poultry flocks in farms in northern Vietnam.

Repeated epizootics of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus subtype H5N1 were reported from 2003 to 2005 among poultry in Vietnam. More than 200 million birds were killed to control the spread of the disease. Human cases of H5N1 infection have been sporadically reported in an area where repeated H5N1 outbreaks among birds had occurred. Subtype H5N1 strains are established as endemic among poultry in Vietnam, however, insights into how avian influenza viruses including the H5N1 subtype are maintained in endemic areas is not clear. In order to determine the prevalence of different avian influenza viruses (AIVs), including H5N1 circulating among poultry in northern Vietnam, surveillance was conducted during the years 2006-2009. A subtype H5N1 strain was isolated from an apparently healthy duck reared on a farm in northern Vietnam in 2008 and was identified as an HPAI. Although only one H5N1 virus was isolated, it supports the view that healthy domestic ducks play a pivotal role in maintaining and transmitting H5N1 viruses which cause disease outbreaks in northern Vietnam. In addition, a total of 26 AIVs with low pathogenicity were isolated from poultry and phylogenetic analysis of all the eight gene segments revealed their diverse genetical backgrounds, implying that reassortments have occurred frequently among strains in northern Vietnam. It is, therefore, important to monitor the prevalence of influenza viruses among healthy poultry between epidemics in an area where AIVs are endemic

Omecamtiv mecarbil in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, GALACTIC‐HF: baseline characteristics and comparison with contemporary clinical trials

Aims: The safety and efficacy of the novel selective cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil, in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is tested in the Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure (GALACTIC‐HF) trial. Here we describe the baseline characteristics of participants in GALACTIC‐HF and how these compare with other contemporary trials. Methods and Results: Adults with established HFrEF, New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA) ≥ II, EF ≤35%, elevated natriuretic peptides and either current hospitalization for HF or history of hospitalization/ emergency department visit for HF within a year were randomized to either placebo or omecamtiv mecarbil (pharmacokinetic‐guided dosing: 25, 37.5 or 50 mg bid). 8256 patients [male (79%), non‐white (22%), mean age 65 years] were enrolled with a mean EF 27%, ischemic etiology in 54%, NYHA II 53% and III/IV 47%, and median NT‐proBNP 1971 pg/mL. HF therapies at baseline were among the most effectively employed in contemporary HF trials. GALACTIC‐HF randomized patients representative of recent HF registries and trials with substantial numbers of patients also having characteristics understudied in previous trials including more from North America (n = 1386), enrolled as inpatients (n = 2084), systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg (n = 1127), estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n = 528), and treated with sacubitril‐valsartan at baseline (n = 1594). Conclusions: GALACTIC‐HF enrolled a well‐treated, high‐risk population from both inpatient and outpatient settings, which will provide a definitive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of this novel therapy, as well as informing its potential future implementation

Development of the Japanese Version of the Test of Self-Conscious Affect-3 (TOSCA-3): A Study among Student and Parent Population

Objective: The Test of Self-Conscious Affect-3 (TOSCA-3) is a scenario-based measure of self-conscious emotions. We aimed to create an abridged version of the TOSCA-3 that is appropriate for Japanese populations and has a good fit with the data, as well as validate its subscales. Methods: The TOSCA-3 was distributed to (a) a university student population (n = 512: Study 1) and (b) a parent population (n = 260: Study 2). In both studies, items with factor loading < 0.33 were deleted one by one to select culturally appropriate scenarios for each of the six domains of self-conscious emotions. In Study 1, self-conscious emotions were correlated with the other correlates. Results: Most of the final models showed a good fit with the data. In Study 1, the six domains of self-conscious emotions showed correlations with depression and related items, dispositional coping styles, experiences in childhood, ego function, borderline and narcissistic personality traits, and adult attachment styles, almost in the expected fashions. Conclusions: The TOSCA-3 is a useful tool to measure self-conscious emotions among Japanese student and parent populations if a few culturally inappropriate scenarios are deleted

Valoración de empresa Embotelladora Andina S. A. y sus filiales Transportes Andina Refrescos Ltda. y Servicios Multivending Ltda

Tesis (Ingeniero en Administración de Empresas)Embotelladoras Andina S.A. es una empresa que participa en las categorías de bebidas gaseosas, aguas, jugos, isotónicas y energéticas, que van dirigidas a distintos tipos de consumidores, comercializando productos bajo las marcas Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Dasani, PowerAde, NordicMisc, Quatro, Inca Kola, Benedictino, entre otras, incluyendo todos los productos derivados de estas marcas. En el año 2012 se fusiona y absorbe a Coca- Cola Polar aumentando su expansión territorial pasando a ser franquicias de Embotelladoras Andina S.A. y así hoy opera fuertemente en el mercado latinoamericano con participación en los países de Argentina, Brasil, Chile y Paraguay. Para The Coca-Cola Company, Latinoamérica es un mercado relevante en términos de volumen de ventas, porque representa un 29% del volumen total vendido a nivel mundial, seguido por América del Norte (21 %), Eurasia y África (18%), el Pacífico (18%) y Europa (14%), siendo México y Brasil los países con mayor consumo per cápital