Combination of Inulin and Resistant Dextrin Has Superior Prebiotic Effects and Reduces Gas Production During In Vitro Fermentation of Fecal Samples from Older People.

Background: Older people are more susceptible to deterioration of the gut microbiota. Prebiotics help improve the gut microbiota. Inulin, a major prebiotic, stimulates the growth of ; however, it produces a large amount of gas, which leads to abdominal symptoms.

Evaluation of the Effect of Thickeners in Enteral Formulas on the Gastric Emptying Rate of Proteins and Carbohydrates Using a Semi-Dynamic Gastric Model.

The emptying rate of specific nutrients in enteral formulas is poorly understood, despite the importance of controlling the emptying rate in tube-fed patients. Because of their viscosity, thickened formulas are widely used to avoid gastric reflux and reduce the burden on caregivers. This study examined how thickeners in enteral formulas affected the gastric emptying rates of proteins and carbohydrates.

An Evaluation of the Protein Requirements of Japanese Young Men by Consuming Two Types of Dairy Proteins Using the Indicator Amino Acid Oxidation Method.

The indicator amino acid oxidation method is a relatively new method for determining protein requirements. Our hypothesis was that the protein requirement of the casein-whey protein mixture (70% casein and 30% whey protein) was lower than the protein requirement of plain casein, because casein and whey proteins compensate for the lack of the first-limiting amino acids. The optimal mixing ratio was determined based on the amino acid scoring pattern which is used to calculate the digestible indispensable amino acid score.

Digestibility of Carbohydrate Rich in Isomaltomegalosaccharide Produced from Starch by Dextrin Dextranase.

Slowly digestible carbohydrates are needed for nutritional support in diabetic patients with malnutrition. They are a good source of energy and have the advantage that their consumption produces a low postprandial peak in blood glucose levels because they are slowly and completely digested in the small intestine. A high-amount isomaltomegalosaccharide containing carbohydrate (H-IMS), made from starch by dextrin dextranase, is a mixture of glucose polymers which has a continuous linear structure of α-1,6-glucosidic bonds and a small number of α-1,4-glucosidic bonds at the reducing ends.

Evaluation of Protein Requirements Using the Indicator Amino Acid Oxidation Method.

The indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method is a novel method for determining protein requirements. Recently, the protein requirement of healthy young men was reevaluated using this method, and the currently recommended protein requirement based on nitrogen balance study was found to be deficient. Similarly, with respect to experimental animals, the protein concentration used widely in the experimental diets was assumed to be deficient.

A hydrated strontium cobalt oxyhydroxide Ruddlesden-Popper phase as an oxygen electrocatalyst for aqueous lithium-oxygen rechargeable batteries.

This study investigates oxygen electrocatalytic activities of perovskite-related compounds using a rotating disk electrode technique in an aqueous solution containing lithium chloride and lithium hydroxide. A hydrated oxyhydroxide Ruddelesden-Popper phase, SrCoO(OH)·2HO, exhibits excellent performance especially in the oxygen evolution reaction.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester down-regulates claudin-2 expression at the transcriptional and post-translational levels and enhances chemosensitivity to doxorubicin in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells.

Claudin-2 is highly expressed in human lung adenocarcinoma cells and involved in the promotion of proliferation. Here, we searched for a compound, which can decrease claudin-2 expression using lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. In the screening using compounds included in royal jelly and propolis, the protein level of claudin-2 was dose-dependently decreased by caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), whereas the mRNA level and promoter activity were only decreased by 50 μM CAPE.

Kaempherol and Luteolin Decrease Claudin-2 Expression Mediated by Inhibition of STAT3 in Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cells.

Claudin-2 is highly expressed in human lung adenocarcinoma tissues and may be a novel target for cancer chemotherapy because knockdown of claudin-2 decreases cell proliferation. We found that flavonoids including kaempferol, chrysin, and luteolin concentration-dependently decrease claudin-2 expression in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. Claudin-2 expression is up-regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/ extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/c-Fos and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways, but these activities were not inhibited by kaempferol, chrysin, and luteolin.

A reversible dendrite-free high-areal-capacity lithium metal electrode.

Reversible dendrite-free low-areal-capacity lithium metal electrodes have recently been revived, because of their pivotal role in developing beyond lithium ion batteries. However, there have been no reports of reversible dendrite-free high-areal-capacity lithium metal electrodes. Here we report on a strategy to realize unprecedented stable cycling of lithium electrodeposition/stripping with a highly desirable areal-capacity (12 mAh cm) and exceptional Coulombic efficiency (>99.

Effects of a Novel Nutritional Formula Enriched With Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid Specially Developed for Tube-Fed Hemodialysis Patients.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a nutritional formula enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in tube-fed bedridden hemodialysis patients.

Design: A prospective, multicenter, single-arm study.

Setting: Koyukai Memorial Hospital, Orimoto Hospital, and Chofu Hospital, Japan.

Clathrin-dependent endocytosis of claudin-2 by DFYSP peptide causes lysosomal damage in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells.

Claudins are tight junctional proteins and comprise a family of over 20 members. Abnormal expression of claudins is reported to be involved in tumor progression. Claudin-2 is highly expressed in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and increases cell proliferation, whereas it is not expressed in normal tissues.

Quercetin Decreases Claudin-2 Expression Mediated by Up-Regulation of microRNA miR-16 in Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cells.

Claudin-2 is highly expressed in human lung adenocarcinoma tissues and cells. Knockdown of claudin-2 decreases cell proliferation and migration. Claudin-2 may be a novel target for lung adenocarcinoma.

Statins suppress apolipoprotein CIII-induced vascular endothelial cell activation and monocyte adhesion.

Aims: Activation of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) contributes importantly to inflammation and atherogenesis. We previously reported that apolipoprotein CIII (apoCIII), found abundantly on circulating triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, enhances adhesion of human monocytes to ECs in vitro. Statins may exert lipid-independent anti-inflammatory effects.

Structure and photochemistry of dicyanocobalt(III) tetraphenylporphyrin. Photochromic reaction caused by photodissociation of axial ligand.

Chlorocobalt(III) tetraphenylporphyrin, (Cl)CoIIITPP, reacts with potassium cyanide in dichloromethane or benzene containing 18-crown-6 to give a green solution of [crown-K+][(CN)2CoIIITPP-]. The molecular structure of [crown-K+][(CN)2CoIIITPP-] is identified by X-ray crystallography. In methanol, (Cl)CoIIITPP plus KCN also gives a green solution of [(CN)2CoIIITPP-].

Structured triacylglycerol containing medium-chain fatty acids in sn-1(3) facilitates the absorption of dietary long-chain fatty acids in rats.

A study was carried out to examine if the positional distribution of medium chain fatty acids (MCF) in triacylglycerol influences dietary fat absorption in rats. Two types of structure-specific fats, one predominantly composed of MCF in sn-1(3) and iinoleic acid in sn-2 [sn1(3)MCF-structured] and the others of MCF in sn-2 and linoleic acid in sn-1(3) [sn-2MCF-structured], were initially prepared, and the two structure-specific fats were interesterified and designated as sn-1(3)MCF-interesterified and sn-2MCF-interesterified. Synthetic fat was mixed with an equal amount of cocoa butter (103 g/kg of diet) and was supplemented to the AIN93G-based diet.

Cardiovascular effects of (2RS,3SR)- 2-aminomethyl-2,3,7,8-tetrahydro-2,3,5,8,8-pentamethyl-6H-furo- [2,3-e]indol-7-one hydrochloride (UK-1745), a novel cardiotonic agent with vasodilatory and antiarrhythmic properties.

The cardiovascular effects of (2RS,3SR)-2-aminomethyl-2,3,7,8- tetrahydro-2,3,5,8,8-pentamethyl-6H-furo[2,3-e]indol-7-one hydrochloride (CAS 170684-14-7, UK-1745), a novel cardiotonic agent, were investigated using in vitro and in vivo preparations. In paced left atria isolated from guinea pigs, both UK-1745 and vesnarinone (CAS 81840-15-5) showed a concentration-dependent positive inotropic effect. In spontaneously beating guinea pig right atria, both agents caused only a minimal chronotropic effect.

Chronic therapy with nipradilol, a beta-adrenergic blocker, attenuated left ventricular remodeling following myocardial infarction in rats.

We determined whether chronic treatment with nipradilol, a beta-blocker with vasodilating action, reduces left ventricular cavity dilation (LV remodeling) following myocardial infarction and improves cardiac performance. Myocardial infarction was produced by coronary artery ligation in 16-week-old female rats and then the rats were treated for 3-4 months with nipradilol (10 mg/kg/day) or vehicle (0.5% carboxymethylcellulose).

Nipradilol, a new beta-adrenergic blocker, reduces left ventricular remodeling following myocardial infarction in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Left ventricular (LV) cavity dilation (remodeling) following myocardial infarction (MI) is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. This study was undertaken to determine whether nipradilol, a new beta-adrenergic blocker with vasodilating action, reduces LV remodeling after MI produced by coronary ligation in spontaneously hypertensive rats. The effects on LV remodeling of the following drugs, which were administered orally for 4 weeks, were evaluated by assessing LV end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI): (1) vehicle, (2) nipradilol, 10 mg/kg per day.

Experimental myocardial infarction with cartilaginous and osseous metaplasia in SHR and WKY rats.

Myocardial infarction was induced by ligation of the coronary artery in fifteen 32-week-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and fifteen 32-week-old male normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Age-matched male SHR (n = 6) and WKY (n = 7) without the operation were used as non-infarcted control rats. Four weeks after the operation, cartilaginous metaplasia and osseous metaplasia were observed histopathologically in all SHR and 13 of the 15 WKY with myocardial infarction, but not in the control rats.

Synthesis and antiarrhythmic activity of disubstituted phenylpyridine derivative.

A series of disubstituted phenylpyridine derivatives was synthesized and their antiarrhythmic effects against chloroform-induced ventricular arrhythmias in mice were examined. Among them, 2- and 3-[2-(3-aminobutyramido)-4-(2,2,2-trifluroethoxy)phenyl]pyri dines (23h, 24h) and 3-[2-(3-aminobutyramido)-4-ethoxyphenyl]pyridine (24i) showed potent antiarrhythmic activity. They had approximately twice the potency of mexiletine (III).

[The role of protein kinase C in left ventricular relaxation impaired by global ischemia].

The role of protein kinase C (C kinase) in the left ventricular relaxation impaired by global ischemia was investigated in anesthetised dogs. Left ventricular global ischemia model was made by coronary blood flow reduction and atrial pacing (100-180 beats/min). By this maneuver, the time constant T and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were increased in a pacing-rate dependent manner.

The thrombolytic effects of native tissue-type plasminogen activator (AK-124) on experimental canine coronary thrombosis.

To evaluate the thrombolytic effects of the native tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), the authors used a thrombus model simulating clinical situations. The native t-PA (AK-124) was obtained from human-derived normal cells. Experimental canine coronary thrombosis was produced by partial constriction and endothelial denudation of the vessel.

Enhancement of arterial thrombolysis with native tissue type plasminogen activator by pretreatment with heparin or batroxobin: an angioscopic study.

The enhancement of canine arterial thrombolysis with native tissue type plasminogen activator (nt-PA) obtained from human-derived normal cells by pretreatment with heparin or the defibrinogenating agent, batroxobin, was evaluated with angioscopy. The nt-PA, 0.25 mg/kg, was infused intravenously to lyse 1-hour-old thrombus (eight thrombosed arteries without medication, seven with nt-PA alone, seven with nt-PA and heparin, and seven with nt-PA plus batroxobin).

[Effects of prazosin, SGB-1534, dobutamine and isoproterenol on congestive heart failure in dogs].

Effects of prazosin, dobutamine, isoproterenol and SGB-1534, a new alpha-blockade, on congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs were investigated. The model was made by protease injection into the left ventricular free wall, saline loading, and dextran and methoxamine infusions. By this maneuver, left atrial pressure (LAP), systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were markedly increased, aortic blood flow (AoBF) was decreased, and systemic blood pressure was unchanged.