Factors Associated with Food Form in Long-Term Care Insurance Facilities.

We examined factors related to dietary intake status (food form) of long-term care facility (LTCF) residents to identify factors related to proper food form choice for older individuals requiring nursing care. We surveyed 888 residents from 37 LTCFs in Japan. We evaluated basic information (age, sex, body mass index [BMI]), food form (swallowing-adjusted diet class), Barthel Index (BI), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), simply evaluated eating and swallowing functions, the number of present/functional teeth, oral diadochokinesis, repetitive saliva swallowing test (RSST), and modified water swallowing test.

Effectiveness of fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing and dietary intervention during home-visit dental care in older individuals.

Background: Currently, patients with dysphagia are receiving dietary management that deviates from their original swallowing function.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical significance of fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) and dietary intervention (DI) by multi-professional collaboration during visit care for determining the actual oral intake status in patients with dysphagia.

Methods: Five hundred and eighteen patients with dysphagia underwent FEES, focusing on the penetration-aspiration scale, and DI.

Eel sperm cryopreservation: An overview.

The eels are teleost fishes from the order Anguilliformes that includes several species with high commercial value. Due to the high interest for aquaculture production of some eel species and for the need to restore eel species that are endangered, several research groups have directed their research toward developing protocols to cryopreserve the spermatozoa of Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) and European eel (Anguilla anguilla). In this review, we provide an overview on the different protocols that have been developed so far.

Characterization of thyroid hormone receptors during early development of the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica).

We studied the profiles of thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) in Japanese eels (Anguilla japonica) during development from hatched larvae to juveniles. Two TRαs (TRαA and TRαB) and one TRβ (TRβA) cDNA clones were generated by RACE. The TRαA, TRαB and TRβA cDNAs encoded 416, 407 and 397 amino acid proteins with much higher homologies to the Japanese conger eel (Conger myriaster) TRs than to other fish TRs.

Accumulation of the major yolk protein and zinc in the agametogenic sea urchin gonad.

Sea urchins of both sexes store the nutrients necessary for gametogenesis in nutritive phagocytes of the agametogenic gonad. A zinc-binding protein termed the major yolk protein (MYP) is stored here as two isoforms: the egg-type (predominant in egg yolk granules) and the coelomic fluid-type (a precursor with greater zinc-binding capacity). MYP is used during gametogenesis as material for synthesizing gametic proteins and other components.

Species and sex identification of Formosa landlocked salmon using loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

Species and sex identification are among the most important parameters for conservation management. However, it is extremely difficult to perform such identification in Formosa landlocked salmon (Oncorhynchus masou formosanus). Both sexual dimorphism in landlocked dwarf form Formosa landlocked salmon and morphological difference among cherry salmon complex are minimal.

Attempt at cloning high-quality goldfish breed 'Ranchu' by fin-cultured cell nuclear transplantation.

The viability of ornamental fish culture relies on the maintenance of high-quality breeds. To improve the profitability of culture operations we attempted to produce cloned fish from the somatic nucleus of the high-quality Japanese goldfish (Carassius auratus auratus) breed 'Ranchu'. We transplanted the nucleus of a cultured fin-cell from an adult Ranchu into the non-enucleated egg of the original goldfish breed 'Wakin'.

Cryopreservation of sperm from seven-band grouper, Epinephelus septemfasciatus.

In the present study, we examined methods for the cryopreservation of Epinephelus septemfasciatus spermatozoa. The percent motility, average path velocity, and linearity of movement (LIN) of fresh and corresponding post-thaw sperm were evaluated. Sperm motility was investigated using computer-assisted sperm analysis.

Metabolism of a Glycosaminoglycan during Metamorphosis in the Japanese Conger eel, Conger myriaster.

Hyaluronan (HA) is a linear polysaccharide of high molecular weight that exists as a component of the extracellular matrix. The larvae (leptocephali) of the Japanese conger eel (Anguilliformes: Conger myriaster) have high levels of hyaluronan (HA) which is thought to help control body water content. We isolated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) from Japanese conger eel leptocephali and measured the changes in tissue HA content during metamorphosis.

The relationships of cardiovascular disease risk factors to flow-mediated dilatation in Japanese subjects free of cardiovascular disease.

We examined the relationship of several cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors to flow-mediated vasodilatation of the brachial artery (FMD) and the clustering effect of risk factors on FMD in Japanese subjects free of CVD. In 819 Japanese subjects free of CVD (age 45+/-10 years, 611 men and 208 women), FMD correlated significantly with the Framingham risk points score (FRS) (r=-0.27, p<0.

The major yolk protein is synthesized in the digestive tract and secreted into the body cavities in sea urchin larvae.

Major yolk protein (MYP), a transferrin superfamily protein contained in yolk granules of sea urchin eggs, also occurs in the coelomic fluid of male and female adult sea urchins regardless of their reproductive cycle. MYP in the coelomic fluid (CFMYP; 180 kDa) has a zinc-binding capacity and has a higher molecular mass than MYP in eggs (EGMYP; 170 kDa). CFMYP is thought to be synthesized in the digestive tract and secreted into the coelomic fluid where it is involved in the transport of zinc derived from food.

The role of thyroid hormones during the development of eye pigmentation in the Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis).

Thyroid hormones (THs) are essential for the embryonic and post-embryonic development of fish. We studied the role of THs during the early, post-embryonic, development of Pacific bluefin tuna. Embryos were treated with L-thyroxine (T(4)) or the anti-thyroid drug methimazole (MMI), and reared in microtitre plates for 3 days.

Characterization of thyroid hormones and thyroid hormone receptors during the early development of Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis).

We studied the profiles of 3,5,3'-l-triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) in Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) during embryonic and post-embryonic development. Both T3 and T4 were detected in embryos just before hatching, and it was found that the levels of both were increased in postflexion fish. The thyroid follicles were increased in both size and number in postflexion fish compared with preflexion fish.

Effects of redecoration of a hospital isolation room with natural materials on stress levels of denizens in cold season.

We investigated the effects of redecoration of a hospital isolation room with natural materials on thermoregulatory, cardiovascular and hormonal parameters of healthy subjects staying in the room. Two isolation rooms with almost bilaterally-symmetrical arrangements were used. One room (RD) was redecorated with wood paneling and Japanese paper, while the other (CN) was unchanged (with concrete walls).

Zinc-binding property of the major yolk protein in the sea urchin - implications of its role as a zinc transporter for gametogenesis.

Major yolk protein (MYP), a transferrin superfamily protein that forms yolk granules in sea urchin eggs, is also contained in the coelomic fluid and nutritive phagocytes of the gonad in both sexes. MYP in the coelomic fluid (CFMYP; 180 kDa) has a higher molecular mass than MYP in eggs (EGMYP; 170 kDa). Here we show that MYP has a zinc-binding capacity that is diminished concomitantly with its incorporation from the coelomic fluid into the gonad in the sea urchin Pseudocentrotus depressus.

Effects of cryopreservation methods on post-thaw motility of spermatozoa from the Japanese pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata martensii.

In order to develop cryopreservation techniques for Japanese pearl oyster spermatozoa, the effects of various cryopreservation conditions on post-thaw motility were examined. Spermatozoa cryopreserved with 10% methanol (MET), dimethylformamide or dimethylacetamide plus 90% diluent comprising 80% seawater and 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS) showed higher percentages of post-thaw motility than those cryopreserved with 10% dimethylsulfoxide or glycerol. When spermatozoa were cryopreserved with various concentrations (0-20%) of MET and 100-80% diluent, 10% MET showed the highest percentages of post-thaw motility.

Low temperature requirement for embryonic development of Itasenpara bitterling Acheilognathus longipinnis.

The Itasenpara bitterling has an embryonic period up to 7 months, when the embryo experiences large seasonal temperature changes. We examined the temperature requisites for normal development during the embryonic stage. Fertilized eggs reared under any of the constant temperatures ranging from 5 degrees C to 30 degrees C did not achieve complete embryogenesis, and none reached the swim-up stage.

Expression of growth hormone family and growth hormone receptor during early development in the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica).

In a previous study, we identified cDNAs encoding the growth hormone receptor (eGHR1) and eGHR1 homologue (eGHR2) in Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica). In the present study, changes in the developmental expression of growth hormone (GH), eGHR1 and eGHR2 were investigated in the Japanese eel eggs and preleptocephali by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical methods in an attempt to examine the involvement of these proteins in larval growth. The GH transcripts and the production of GH protein were not detected in the newly hatched larvae and preleptocephali at day 3 post-hatch, however, these were detected at day 6 post-hatch, and also detected at higher levels at day 10 post-hatch.

Transactivation activity of thyroid hormone receptors in fish (Conger myriaster) in response to thyroid hormones.

We previously isolated cDNAs encoding conger eel (Conger myriaster) thyroid hormone (TH) receptors (TRs). In the present study, we investigated the transactivation activities of conger eel TRs treated with THs (3,3',5-triiodo-l-thyronine [T3], l-thyroxine [T4], and 3,3',5'-triiodo-l-thyronine [rT3]), or ligands and activators of other nuclear receptors. Following transient transfection into the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) hepatocyte cell line Hepa-E1, the conger eel TRs (cTRs) showed TH-dependent activation of transcription from a TH-responsive promoter.

Ferro- and antiferromagnetic interactions in face-sharing trioctahedral Ni(II)Mn(II)Ni(II) and Ni(II)Fe(III)Ni(II) complexes with the same 1-5/2-1 spin system.

Two heterotrinuclear complexes, [Mn(II)(Ni(II)L)2].2CH3OH (where H3L = 1,1,1-tris(N-salicylideneaminomethyl)ethane) and [Fe(III)(Ni(II)L)2]NO3.C2H5OH, consisting of three face-sharing octahedra have been prepared; although these complexes have closely related structures and have the same 1-5/2-1 spin system, they show completely different magnetic interactions between the adjacent metal ions: ferromagnetic (Ni(II)-Mn(II)) and antiferromagnetic (Ni(II)-Fe(III)).

Characterization of transthyretin in the Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis.

A cDNA encoding transthyretin was cloned from the Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis). This cDNA contains a complete open reading frame encoding 151 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence is 81% and 55% identical to the gilthead seabream and common carp forms, respectively, and 33-39% to mammalian, reptilian, and amphibian forms.

The first success of glass eel production in the world: basic biology on fish reproduction advances new applied technology in aquaculture.

The eel has long been esteemed as an important food fish in the world, especially in Japan, and has been used as an experimental fish for many fields of fish physiology. However, the decreases in eel resources have been a serious concern in recent years. The catches of glass eels as seedlings for aquaculture have shown a long-term decrease in both Europe and East Asia.

Supramolecular spin-crossover iron complexes based on imidazole-imidazolate hydrogen bonds.

The [Fe(II)(H(3)L)](BF(4))(2).3H(2)O (1) complex was synthesized, where H(3)L (tris[[2-[(imidazole-4-yl)methylidene]amino]ethyl]amine) is a tripodal ligand obtained by condensation of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine and 4-formylimidazole (fim) in a 1:3 molar ratio. Starting from 1, a series of complexes, [Fe(II)(H(1.