Key Taxa of the Gut Microbiome Associated with the Relationship Between Environmental Sensitivity and Inflammation-Related Biomarkers.

Individual differences in environmental sensitivity are linked to stress-related psychiatric symptoms. In previous research, we found that high environmental sensitivity can be a risk factor for increased inflammation and gut permeability, particularly when gut microbiome diversity is low. However, the specific gut bacterial taxa involved in this interaction remain unclear.

Administration of nicotinamide mononucleotide suppresses the progression of age-related hearing loss in mice.

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a widespread problem in the elderly, significantly impairing their quality of life. Despite its high prevalence, no fundamental treatment for ARHL has been established. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is required for various biological processes and tissue levels of the coenzyme NAD are known to decrease with age.

Nicotinamide mononucleotide suppresses cellular senescence and increases aquaporin 5 expression in the submandibular gland of aged male mice to ameliorate aging-related dry mouth.

Dry mouth results from decreased saliva secretion due to aging or drug side effects. Decreased saliva secretion causes dryness in the oral cavity that makes swallowing difficult and increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia. There are few fundamental treatments for dry mouth.

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase in mammary gland epithelial cells is required for nicotinamide mononucleotide production in mouse milk.

Tissue-specific deficiency of nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPT), the rate-limiting enzyme of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-salvage pathway, causes a decrease of NAD in the tissue, resulting in functional abnormalities. The NAD-salvage pathway is drastically activated in the mammary gland during lactation, but the significance of this has not been established. To investigate the impact of NAD perturbation in the mammary gland, we generated two new lines of mammary gland epithelial-cell-specific Nampt-knockout mice (MGKO).

Changes in the composition of molecular species of covalently bound and free ceramides [EOS], and their correlation with disease severity in atopic dermatitis.

Ceramides are major constituents of stratum corneum (SC) intercellular lipids involved in skin barrier function. The ratio of molecular species of ceramides and their correlation with disease severity was examined in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Thirty-eight patients with AD and 32 healthy controls (HCs) were assessed for transepidermal water loss, SC collection and clinical assessment.

Effect of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Concentration in Human Milk on Neurodevelopmental Outcome: The Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

(1) Background: Breast milk is the only source of nutrition for breastfed infants, but few studies have examined the relationship between breast milk micronutrients and infant neurodevelopmental outcome in exclusively breastfed infants. The aim of this study was to characterize the association between nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-related compounds in the breast milk of Japanese subjects and infant neurodevelopmental outcome. (2) Methods: A total of 150 mother-child pairs were randomly selected from the three-generation cohort of the Tohoku Medical Megabank in Japan.

Interactions between environmental sensitivity and gut microbiota are associated with biomarkers of stress-related psychiatric symptoms.

Background: Humans vary in their sensitivity to stressful and supportive environments and experiences. Such individual differences in environmental sensitivity are associated with mechanisms of stress-related psychiatric symptoms. In recent years, researchers have focused on bidirectional interactions in the brain-gut-microbiota axis as a neurophysiological pathway contributing to the mechanisms of stress-related psychiatric symptoms, and evidence is rapidly accumulating.

Exopolysaccharides from milk fermented by lactic acid bacteria enhance dietary carotenoid bioavailability in humans in a randomized crossover trial and in rats.

Background: Dietary supplementation with carotenoids can have beneficial health effects, but carotenoids are poorly absorbed.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate how milk fermented by lactic acid bacteria affects dietary carotenoid bioavailability in humans and rats and to investigate mechanisms by which active components in milk fermented by Lactobacilli enhance dietary carotenoid absorption.

Methods: Male rats (n = 8/group) were administered β-carotene or β-carotene + fermented milk.

The beneficial role of functional food components in mitigating ultraviolet-induced skin damage.

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation can chemically alter biological molecules and is one of the major environmental health risks with potential to damage the structure and function of the skin. Numerous dietary supplements are known to optimize the skin's defenses against radiation exposure. Several studies in which the beneficial roles of functional food components, that can protect against UV-induced skin damage, have been demonstrated.

Age-related and seasonal changes in covalently bound ceramide content in forearm stratum corneum of Japanese subjects: determination of molecular species of ceramides.

The stratum corneum (SC) consists of corneocytes surrounded by a neutral lipid-enriched intercellular matrix. Ceramides represent approximately 50% of intercellular lipids, and play important roles in retaining epidermal water. The SC also contains covalently bound ceramides, which are thought to play a crucial role in the formation of lamellar structures, and are involved in maintaining skin barrier function.

Annealing induced atomic rearrangements on (Ga,In) (N,As) probed by hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure.

We study the effects of annealing on (Ga,In) (N,As) using hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure measurements. We observed surface oxidation and termination of the N-As bond defects caused by the annealing process. Specifically, we observed a characteristic chemical shift towards lower binding energies in the photoelectron spectra related to In.

Milk Fermented by Lactic Acid Bacteria Enhances the Absorption of Dietary Sphingomyelin in Rats.

Supplementation with sphingomyelin has been reported to prevent disease and maintain good health. However, intact sphingomyelin and ceramides are poorly absorbed compared with glycerolipids. Therefore, if the bioavailability of dietary sphingomyelin can be increased, supplementation would be more effective at lower doses.

Exopolysaccharides Isolated from Milk Fermented with Lactic Acid Bacteria Prevent Ultraviolet-Induced Skin Damage in Hairless Mice.

Background: We studied the mechanism by which fermented milk ameliorates UV-B-induced skin damage and determined the active components in milk fermented with lactic acid bacteria by evaluating erythema formation, dryness, epidermal proliferation, DNA damage and cytokine mRNA levels in hairless mice exposed to acute UV-B irradiation.

Methods: Nine week-old hairless mice were given fermented milk (1.3 g/kg BW/day) or exopolysaccharide (EPS) concentrate (70 mg/kg BW/day) orally for ten days.

Dietary Milk Sphingomyelin Prevents Disruption of Skin Barrier Function in Hairless Mice after UV-B Irradiation.

Exposure to ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiation causes skin barrier defects. Based on earlier findings that milk phospholipids containing high amounts of sphingomyelin (SM) improved the water content of the stratum corneum (SC) in normal mice, here we investigated the effects of dietary milk SM on skin barrier defects induced by a single dose of UV-B irradiation in hairless mice. Nine week old hairless mice were orally administrated SM (146 mg/kg BW/day) for a total of ten days.

Milk Phospholipids Enhance Lymphatic Absorption of Dietary Sphingomyelin in Lymph-Cannulated Rats.

Supplementation with sphingomyelin has been reported to have beneficial effects on disease prevention and health maintenance. However, compared with glycerolipids, intact sphingomyelin and ceramides are poorly absorbed. Therefore, if the bioavailability of dietary sphingomyelin is increased, then the dose administered can be reduced.

Effect of orally administered collagen hydrolysate on gene expression profiles in mouse skin: a DNA microarray analysis.

Dietary collagen hydrolysate has been hypothesized to improve skin barrier function. To investigate the effect of long-term collagen hydrolysate administration on the skin, we evaluated stratum corneum water content and skin elasticity in intrinsically aged mice. Female hairless mice were fed a control diet or a collagen hydrolysate-containing diet for 12 wk.

A novel mechanism for improvement of dry skin by dietary milk phospholipids: Effect on epidermal covalently bound ceramides and skin inflammation in hairless mice.

Background: Dietary milk phospholipids (MPLs) increase hydration of the stratum corneum and reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in hairless mice fed a standard diet. However, the mechanism by which MPLs improve skin barrier functions has yet to be established.

Objective: This study was designed to examine the mechanism by which MPLs may affect covalently bound ceramides and markers of skin inflammation and improve the skin barrier defect in hairless mice fed a magnesium-deficient (HR-AD) diet.

Collagen hydrolysate intake improves the loss of epidermal barrier function and skin elasticity induced by UVB irradiation in hairless mice.

Background: Ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation induces serious damage to the skin. Collagen hydrolysate and collagen-derived peptides have effects on skin function in vivo and in vitro. However, few studies have investigated changes in the epidermal barrier or dermal elasticity caused by UVB.

Dietary whey protein hydrolysates increase skeletal muscle glycogen levels via activation of glycogen synthase in mice.

Previously, we have shown that consuming carbohydrate plus whey protein hydrolysates (WPHs) replenished muscle glycogen after exercise more effectively than consuming intact whey protein or branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). The mechanism leading to superior glycogen replenishment after consuming WPH is unclear. In this 5 week intervention, ddY mice were fed experimental diets containing WPH, a mixture of whey amino acids (WAAs), or casein (control).

Enhancement of conductivity due to local disorder in a one-dimensional conductor.

We theoretically investigate electron transport in a one-dimensional conductor with a locally disordered potential by using the non-equilibrium Green's function theory. It is found that, by changing the energy of a site in a one-dimensional atomic chain, the electron conductivity can be larger when the modulated site energy is smaller than that of the other sites. This contradicts the conventional picture that an electron is scattered by the disorder of the potential, because such a scattering process usually causes resistivity.

The effect of high-intensity intermittent swimming on post-exercise glycogen supercompensation in rat skeletal muscle.

A single bout of prolonged endurance exercise stimulates glucose transport in skeletal muscles, leading to post-exercise muscle glycogen supercompensation if sufficient carbohydrate is provided after the cessation of exercise. Although we recently found that short-term sprint interval exercise also stimulates muscle glucose transport, the effect of this type of exercise on glycogen supercompensation is uncertain. Therefore, we compared the extent of muscle glycogen accumulation in response to carbohydrate feeding following sprint interval exercise with that following endurance exercise.

Dietary whey hydrolysate with exercise alters the plasma protein profile: a comprehensive protein analysis.

Objective: It has been shown that dietary whey protein accelerates glucose uptake by altering glycoregulatory enzyme activity in skeletal muscle. In the present study, we investigated the effect of dietary whey protein on endurance and glycogen resynthesis and attempted to identify plasma proteins that reflected the physical condition by a comprehensive proteomics approach.

Methods: Male c57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: sedentary, sedentary with whey protein hydrolysate, exercise, and exercise with whey protein hydrolysate.