Team-based Learning Impact: A Comparative Study of Student and Faculty Facilitators.

Background: Team-based learning (TBL) refers to the application of an active-learning method that has gained popularity across all health-care disciplines. This study aimed to assess nutrition students' perceptions of the roles of student versus faculty facilitators.

Methods: Participants in the study included, 117 2nd-year nutrition students registered in the "Introduction to Medicine" course in the 2022 academic year at a Japanese university.

Common and specific risk factors for ischemic stroke in elderly: Differences based on type of ischemic stroke and aging.

Background: The risk factors among the types of ischemic stroke (atherothrombotic cerebral infarction: ATI, cardio-embolic infarction: CEI, lacunar infarction: LI) in aged stroke patients have rarely been compared to each other.

Methods: We compared the clinical parameters of 300 elderly patients with ischemic stroke, age 65-98years, to 100 age-matched control patients.

Results: Comparison by parametric test and logistic regression analysis between all 300 and 100 control patients showed higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures (p<0.

Evaluation of Intracranial Microvessel Visualization in Mouse and Dog Models by Using a New Rotating Cerium Anode X-ray System.

Objective: Lacunar stroke may be caused by infarction of small perforating branches of the middle cerebral artery. We developed a microangiographic X-ray system using a cerium anode to evaluate the perforating branches.

Methods: Iodine has K-edges at 33.

A rotating cerium anode X-ray system allows visualization of intramural coronary vessels after cardiac stem cell therapy for myocardial infarction.

Conventional angiography is insufficient for evaluating the therapeutic effect of cardiac regeneration therapy. A microangiographic X-ray system using a cerium anode was developed. Cerium has a characteristic X-ray with a peak at 34.

Cilostazol protects against microvascular brain injury in a rat model of type 2 diabetes.

Cilostazol, a pluripotent phosphodiesterase III-specific inhibitor with anti-platelet and vasculogenic effects, is useful for preventing recurrent brain vascular events, particularly in stroke patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). However, it is unclear whether cilostazol affects autoregulatory responses in small cerebral arteries. Thus, we investigated the effect of cilostazol on diabetic brain vasculopathy in a model of type II DM using male OLETF rats.

The vital prognosis of elderly adults living in a group home in their mid-eighties.

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the vital prognoses of elderly people in their mid-eighties living in a group home (GH) compared to age- and sex-matched outpatient clinic (OPC) in an observational study conducted over 6 years. We investigated the association between mortality and general, cardiac, and nutritional parameters, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in 54 GH residents (83 ± 8 years old) and 57 OPC attendees (83 ± 5 years old). Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard ratio analyses were used to assess the association between EPA drug administration and mortality in the GH residents and OPC attendees, respectively.

Nutrition-dependent eicosapentaenoic acid deficiency in care house residents.

Objective: We have identified that vital prognosis of adults in a group home (GH) in their mid-80s is associated with lower eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels. We investigated the cause of EPA deficiency in residents in a GH and the effect of EPA treatment on cardiac function and nutritional function in 130 older adults.

Methods: We compared blood chemistry data among three age- and sex-matched groups-outpatient clinic (OPC) attendees (n = 54, 87 ± 5 y old), GH residents (n = 40, 85 ± 8 y old), and older adults in a geriatric welfare home for the elderly (GWHE) (n = 36, 87 ± 6 y old)-using non-parametric test.

Altered blood flow in cerebral perforating arteries of rat models of diabetes: A synchrotron radiation microangiographic study toward clinical evaluation of white matter hyperintensities.

Aim: As altered blood flow in the cerebral perforating arteries (PA) might be related to development of cerebral white matter hyperintensities, we examined whether the hemodynamic relationship of the PA and middle cerebral artery (MCA) is altered in rat models of diabetes, compared with normal rats and a rat model of sinoatrial denervation (blood pressure fluctuation model).

Methods: We used microangiography with monochromatic synchrotron radiation to measure the diameters of the PA and MCA at 4.5 μm resolution in five groups of rats: (i) Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO); (ii) Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (a model of type 2 diabetes with obesity); (iii) LETO with sinoaortic denervation (LETO + SAD); (iv) F344; and (v) F344 + streptozotocin (a model of type 1 diabetes).

Severity of white matter hyperintensities in older adults aged in their mid 80s and its relationship with hemodynamic and cardiac parameters.

Aim: In the present study, we analyzed the severity of white matter hyperintensities detected on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in older Japanese adults who were aged in their mid 80s, and examined its relationships with the clinical parameters.

Methods: To identify factors related to the severity of white matter hyperintensities in 33 older adult attendees of our outpatient clinic and 17 older adults living in a group home, we carried out logistic regression analyses and/or correlation analyses.

Results: Cognitive function and activities of daily living were significantly correlated with the severity of white matter hyperintensities.

Development of Fingertip Synchrotron Radiation Microangiography toward Clinical Prediction of Diabetic Microangiopathy.

Objectives: The spatial resolution of conventional angiographic systems is not enough to predict diabetic microangiopathy in arterioles (20-200 µm).

Methods: To determine whether fingertip synchrotron (SR) radiation microangiography has enough spatial resolution to quantitate arteriolar diameter changes, and whether an arteriolar paradoxical vasoconstriction is a characteristic observation for diabetic microangiopathy, diameter reduction as arteriolar branching and difference of the diameter changes induced by acetylcholine between control (n = 5) and diabetic rats (n = 5) were analyzed.

Results: Fingertip SR microangiography visualized the arterioles with a diameter range of 30-300 µm and demonstrated vascular diameter reduction as branching with a fixed ratio (r = 0.

Nicorandil prevents sirolimus-induced production of reactive oxygen species, endothelial dysfunction, and thrombus formation.

Sirolimus (SRL) is widely used to prevent restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention. However, its beneficial effect is hampered by complications of thrombosis. Several studies imply that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a critical role in endothelial dysfunction and thrombus formation.

Low plasma eicosapentaenoic acid concentration as a possible risk factor for intracerebral hemorrhage.

N-3 fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), prevent ischemic stroke. The preventive effect has been attributed to an antithrombic effect induced by elevated EPA and reduced arachidonic acid (AA) levels. However, the relationship between intracranial hemorrhage and N-3 fatty acids has not yet been elucidated.

Visualization of microvessels by angiography using inverse-Compton scattering X-rays in animal models.

The fundamental performance of microangiography has been evaluated using the S-band linac-based inverse-Compton scattering X-ray (iCSX) method to determine how many photons would be required to apply iCSX to human microangiography. ICSX is characterized by its quasi-monochromatic nature and small focus size which are fundamental requirements for microangiography. However, the current iCSX source does not have sufficient flux for microangiography in clinical settings.

Protective effect of tryptophan against dextran sulfate sodium- induced experimental colitis.

Background/aims: Little is known about the anti-colitis effect of tryptophan or its metabolites. Here, the protective effect and its mechanism of tryptophan administration on dextran sulfate sodium -induced colitis in mice was studied.

Materials And Methods: Twenty C57black6 female mice were equally divided into the control group, and treatment group.

Comparison of eicosapentaenoic acid concentrations in plasma between patients with ischemic stroke and control subjects.

Objective: ω-3 fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), prevent ischemic stroke. However, the clinical importance of EPA for ischemic stroke and its subtype has not been fully elucidated.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we determined whether ω-3 fatty acids were predictive factors for ischemic stroke.

Investigation into bacteremia and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with liver cirrhosis in Japan.

Background/aims: Liver cirrhosis patients tend to develop bacteremia, but relatively little has been reported about the situation in Japan. Therefore, we investigated the microorganisms involved and the outcome among liver cirrhosis patients with bacteremia, including spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Methods: The subjects were 236 patients who underwent a total of 377 blood cultures and 30 patients diagnosed with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, among 6,096 inpatients with liver cirrhosis admitted to several hospitals during the period 1991-2009.

Investigation of Bacteremia due to Aeromonas Species and Comparison with That due to Enterobacteria in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis.

Background. The role of Aeromonas species (sp.) in bacteremia in Japanese patients with liver cirrhosis is poorly understood.

Therapeutic effects of four molecular-weight fractions of Kurozu against dextran sulfate sodium-induced experimental colitis.

Background/aims: Kurozu has been reported to ameliorate colitis in mice and to have an anti-oxidative effect. However, the active components and mechanism of action remain unknown. Here, as a first step to identify the active components, we chromatographically fractionated Kurozu and investigated the anti-colitis activity of the fractions, focusing on anti-nitration activity.

Protective effects of fermented rice vinegar sediment (Kurozu moromimatsu) in a diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma animal model.

Kurozu moromimatsu is the sediment of Kurozu, a jar-fermented Japanese black vinegar produced from unpolished rice. Here, we examined the protective effects of Kurozu moromimatsu in a diethylnitrosamine-induced model of hepatocellular carcinoma. Thirty-two F344 rats were divided into two groups; the control group received basal CE-2 diet, and the Kurozu moromimatsu group received CE-2 diet containing Kurozu moromimatsu.

Protective effects of Kurozu and Kurozu Moromimatsu on dextran sulfate sodium-induced experimental colitis.

Background: Kurozu, a traditional Japanese black vinegar made from unpolished rice, and Kurozu Moromimatsu (Kurozu-M), its sediment, are both consumed in Japan as health foods or supplements. However, it is not known whether they have anti-colitis activity.

Aims: We examined the protective effects of Kurozu and Kurozu-M in an animal model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis.

Validation of the Friedewald Equation for Evaluation of Plasma LDL-Cholesterol.

In most clinical laboratories, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is usually estimated indirectly with the Friedewald equation or directly with the N-geneous assay. We assessed LDL-cholesterol values obtained by both methods to find an appropriate fasting period and to assess the influence of the energy content of the last meal. Blood samples were taken from 28 healthy volunteers who had consumed a standard meal (107 g of carbohydrate, 658 kcal) followed by a fasting period of 12 and 18 h, or a high-energy meal (190 g of carbohydrate, 1011 kcal) with a fasting period of 12 h.

Activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase increases MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels in ApoE-knockout mice.

Objectives: Atheroma with reduced collagen content becomes fragile, but the underlying mechanisms have not been established. We investigated the influence of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) induction upon matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)s and collagen content in atheroma.

Methods And Results: ApoE-/- x iNOS-/- double knockout and ApoE-/- x iNOS+/+ mice were fed a high-cholesterol diet for 15 weeks.

Reperfusion enhances nitrotyrosine formation in rat focal cerebral ischemia.

The widespread benefit of thrombolysis has been emphasized, but relatively little is known about reperfusion injury. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the difference in nitrotyrosine formation and infarct volume between permanent and transient focal ischemia in rats. Permanent (n = 14) or transient (n = 12) focal ischemia was induced by permanent or 2-hour occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, respectively, with the permanent ligation of the bilateral common carotid arteries in Sprague-Dawley rats.