Oral health status: relationship to nutrient and food intake among 80‐year‐old Japanese adults

Objectives The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to investigate the relationship of oral health status defined on the basis of presence of posterior occluding pairs ( POP s) and adequacy of removable denture fit as determined by self‐report to nutrient and food intake among older Japanese. Methods The subjects were 353 Japanese aged 80 years in 2008 and were classified into four groups according to the number of POP s, defined as pairs of occluding natural, restored, or fixed prosthetic postcanine teeth (range: 0–8) and removable denture status. The groups were: (i) good dentition ( n  =   56; 8 POP s and no removable prosthesis), (ii) well‐fitting dentures ( n  =   158; <8 POP s with self‐reported good‐fitting dentures), (iii) ill‐fitting dentures ( n  =   70; <8 POP s with self‐reported ill‐fitting dentures), and (iv) compromised dentition ( n  =   69; <8 POP s and no removable prosthesis). Multivariable analysis of the differences in nutrient and food intake outcome variables which were collected via validated food frequency questionnaire among the four oral health status groups was conducted using general linear models. Results Intake of multiple nutrients was significantly ( P  <   0.05) lower in the group with ill‐fitting dentures or compromised dentition than in the good dentition group. Vegetable, fish, and shellfish consumption was significantly lower in the ill‐fitting dentures or compromised dentition groups. No significant differences were seen in dietary intake between the well‐fitting dentures and good dentition groups. Conclusions Dietary intake was poorer in those with self‐perceived ill‐fitting dentures or fewer POP s than among those having all POP s. Regular dental care to maintain intact dentition, as well as dental treatment to replace missing teeth and ensure adequate denture fit and function, may be important to the diet intake and subsequent nutritional status of older Japanese.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/108691/1/cdoe12100.pd

内モンゴル草原における生活様式の変遷と植生評価のための衛星ALOS/AVNIR-2データの有効性

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between village lifestyle and desertification, and to attempt to reveal the availability of AVNIR-2 data onboard the ALOS satellite for vegetation mapping in the grasslands of Talture, Inner Mongolia. We conducted interviews and questionnaires about nomadic lifestyle, collecting data on livestock and population change. We also recorded 58 species including Aneurolepidium chinense, Stipa grandis, Artemisia frigida, Carex korshinskii., Potentilla acaulis in the grasslands, and GPS data for analyzing the data of ALOS satellite. Interview investigation suggested that the grassland around the village has a complex relation to not only climate change such as rainfall decrease or overgrazing caused by increase in livestock but also lifestyle by settlement policy, method of land use and conservation policy change. We examined species diversity of plain colonies both on grazing land and on pasture land where grazing has been nearly prohibited for approximately 20 years. In both study sites, 58 species were identified: 34 species on grazing land, 52 species on pasture land and 28 species common to both sites. Furthermore, we noticed land use types around Talturu, the spectral reflected each vegetation were analyzed using satellite sensor data. The features of vegetation were extracted into 5 types such as the grassland for nomadic hunter-gathers, the grassland for feeding, the grassland which livestock avoid eating, wetland and bare land. We concluded that ALOS/AVNIR-2 data is available for the classification into these categories and spatially understanding the land use

Let-7 MicroRNA Family Is Selectively Secreted into the Extracellular Environment via Exosomes in a Metastatic Gastric Cancer Cell Line

Background: Exosomes play a major role in cell-to-cell communication, targeting cells to transfer exosomal molecules including proteins, mRNAs, and microRNAs (miRNAs) by an endocytosis-like pathway. miRNAs are small noncoding RNA molecules on average 22 nucleotides in length that regulate numerous biological processes including cancer pathogenesis and mediate gene downregulation by targeting mRNAs to induce RNA degradation and/or interfering with translation. Recent reports imply that miRNAs can be stably detected in circulating plasma and serum since miRNAs are packaged by exosomes to be protected from RNA degradation. Thus, profiling exosomal miRNAs are in need to clarify intercellular signaling and discover a novel disease marker as well. Methodology/Principal Findings: Exosomes were isolated from cultured cancer cell lines and their quality was validated by analyses of transmission electron microscopy and western blotting. One of the cell lines tested, a metastatic gastric cancer cell line, AZ-P7a, showed the highest RNA yield in the released exosomes and distinctive shape in morphology. In addition, RNAs were isolated from cells and culture media, and profiles of these three miRNA fractions were obtained using microarray analysis. By comparing signal intensities of microarray data and the following validation using RT-PCR analysis, we found that let-7 miRNA family was abundant in both the intracellular and extracellular fractions from AZ-P7a cells, while low metastatic AZ-521, the parental cell line of AZ-P7a, as well as other cancer cell lines showed no such propensity. Conclusions/Significance: The enrichment of let-7 miRNA family in the extracellular fractions, particularly, in the exosome

在来種ネズミモチと移入種トウネズミモチ(モクセイ科) の保全遺伝学的研究

Genetic introgression from introduced, non-native species into native populations is a growing challenge for biological conservation, and one that raises unique practical and ethical issues. Ligustrum lucidum is native to China, and cultivated or used in gardens in various areas in Japan. Recently, some studies reported that this species escaped from cultivated areas and was sympatric with L. japonicum. This indicates that L. japonicum faces the ecological and genetic risk of hybridization and introgression with non-native L. lucidum. Therefore, we examined whether hybridization between L. japonicum and the non-native L. lucidum has occurred in a coexisting population using phenological and molecular analyses. The phenological results indicate that there is very little overlap in the flowering times of the two species. Moreover, molecular analyses using PCR-RFLP of chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequences could not detect any hybridization or introgression of L. lucidum and L. japonicum in the population.移入種から在来種への遺伝子移入は生物学的保全のための懸念課題であり，実用的かつ倫理的な問題を提起している。中国原産のトウネズミモチ（Ligustrum lucidum）は日本の広い地域で園芸として栽植されているが逸出により分布を拡大しており，在来種のネズミモチ（L. japonicum）と同所的に生育していることが近年報告されている。このため，ネズミモチはトウネズミモチとの雑種形成や浸透交雑の生態学的リスクにさらされていると考えられる。そこで本研究では，在来種のネズミモチと移入種のトウネズミモチの間での雑種形成による遺伝的攪乱の有無を明らかにすることを目的として，開花期調査および分子遺伝学的調査を行った。開花期の調査結果より，両種の開花期がずれていることが明らかとなった。PCR-RFLP解析の結果，ネズミモチとトウネズミモチの間に交雑個体および浸透交雑個体を検出することはできなかったため，両種間での交雑は起こっていないと考えられる